APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS RELATING TO SEMI-AUTOMATIC GOLF DATA COLLECTING AND RECORDING

• US 20090111602A1
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tag Golf LLC
• Original Assignee: Tag Golf LLC
• Inventors: Savarese, Chris, McGill, Susan, Marshall, Noel H.C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,005,047 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/283
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0611 Automatic tennis linesmen, i.e. in-out detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3605 Golf club selection aids informing player of his average or expected shot distance for each club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10227 loading programming parameters or programs into the interrogator, e.g. for configuring the interrogator

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods and systems relating to golf data collecting and recording are described. In one embodiment an apparatus on a golf club includes an integrated reminder and a stroke cancellation system and is semi-automatic in that the recording of the stroke is directly in response to changing the state (e.g. activating) of a switch which indicates that the golfer has pressed a button on the golf club. The pressing of the button indicates that the golfer will or has taken a stroke with the golf club and that the stroke is to be recorded, optionally with the location of the stroke and an identifier of the club (e.g. 9 iron).

Claims

1. An apparatus for collecting golf data, the apparatus comprising:

a substrate to attach the apparatus to a golf club;

a transmitter coupled to the substrate;

a switch coupled to the transmitter, the switch, when activated by a user, causing the transmitter to transmit an identifier of the golf club and causing the transmitter to cause a golf data collection system to record information that a stroke, using the golf club, was taken.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the switch causes the transmitter to cause the recording of the information directly in response to the activation by the user and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a display device coupled to the substrate, the display device configured to remind the user to activate the switch to record the stroke.

3. The apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the information includes storing a club identifier and a location on a golf course for the stroke taken.

4. The apparatus as in claim 3, the apparatus further comprising:

a solar energy source coupled to the display device to provide power to the display device;

a battery coupled to the transmitter to provide power to the transmitter which is an RFID transmitter.

5. The apparatus as in claim 4, the apparatus further comprising:

logic coupled to the switch and to the transmitter, the logic configured to determine whether a user activation of the switch indicates that the stroke is to be cancelled or recorded.

6. The apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a further switch coupled to the transmitter, the further switch configured to cancel, when the further switch is activated, recording of the stroke.

7. The apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the display device enters, for a period of time, a lower power state after the user activates the switch.

8. The apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the apparatus does not include an RF receiver.

9. A golf club comprising:

a grip;

a shaft coupled to the grip, the shaft having a surface, coupled to the shaft, to contact a golf ball;

a switch coupled to one of the grip and the shaft;

a transmitter coupled to the switch, wherein the switch, when activated by a user, causes the transmitter to transmit an identifier of the golf club and causes the transmitter to cause a golf data collection system to record information that a stroke, using the golf club, was taken.

10. The golf club as in claim 9 wherein the switch causes the transmitter to cause the recording of the information directly in response to the activation by the user and wherein the golf club further comprises:

a display device coupled to one of the grip and the shaft, the display device configured to remind the user to activate the switch to record the stroke.

11. The golf club as in claim 10 wherein the information includes storing a club identifier and a location on a golf course for the stroke taken.

12. The golf club as in claim 11 further comprising:

a solar energy source coupled to the display device to provide power to the display device;

a battery coupled to the transmitter to provide power to the transmitter.

13. The golf club as in claim 12, further comprising:

logic coupled to the switch and to the transmitter, the logic configured to determine whether a user activation of the switch indicates that the stroke is to be canceled or recorded.

14. The golf club as in claim 12 further comprising:

a further switch coupled to the transmitter, the further switch configured to cancel, when the further switch is activated, recording of the stroke.

15. The golf club as in claim 11 wherein the display device enters, for a period of time, a lower power state after the user activates the switch.

16. A golf data collection apparatus comprising:

a radio location receiver configured to receive at least one radio frequency (RF) signal from which a location of the radio location receiver can be determined;

a data collection receiver configured to receive a first signal from a transmitter on a golf club, the first signal indicating a request to record a stroke using the golf club, and the data collection receiver being configured to receive a second signal from the transmitter, the second signal indicating a request to cancel the request to record;

a processor coupled to the radio location receiver and coupled to the data collection receiver and coupled to a storage device, the processor being configured to store, in the storage device, data indicating that the stroke using the golf club was taken at the location if the second signal is not received.

17. The golf data collection apparatus as in claim 16 wherein the apparatus is capable of being held in one hand and wherein the radio location receiver is at least one of a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver or cellular radio communication receiver or a pseudolite receiver.

18. The golf data collection apparatus as in claim 17 wherein the storage device is a non-volatile memory which stores golf course data comprising maps of at least one golf course and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a display device coupled to the processor, the display device being configured to display at least a portion of a golf course with the location; and

wherein the processor stores the data indicating that the stroke was taken if the second signal is not received within a period of time after the first signal was received.

19. The golf data collection apparatus as in claim 18 wherein the data collection receiver comprises an RFID receiver which is configured to receive an identifier of the type of golf club and wherein the processor is configured to store the identifier in association with the data indicating that the stroke was taken at the location using the golf club.

20. The golf data collection apparatus as in claim 19 wherein the radio location receiver and the data collection receiver share common circuitry.

21. The golf data collection apparatus as in claim 19 further comprising:

a data communication port coupled to the processor, the data communication port configured to receive golf course data.

22. The golf data collection apparatus as in claim 19 wherein the processor is configured to store a plurality of club identifiers for a corresponding plurality of golf clubs in the storage device.

23. A golf data collection system comprising:

a golf data collection apparatus comprising;

a radio location receiver configured to receive at least one radio frequency (RF) signal from which a location of the radio location receiver can be determined;

a data collection receiver configured to receive a first signal from a transmitter on a golf club, the first signal indicating a request to record a stroke using the golf club, and the data collection receiver being configured to receive a second signal from the transmitter, the second signal indicating a request to cancel the request to record;

a processor coupled to the radio location receiver and coupled to the data collection receiver and coupled to a storage device, the processor being configured to store, in the storage device, data indicating that the stroke using the golf club was taken at the location if the second signal is not received; and

a golf club comprising;

a grip;

a shaft coupled to the grip, the shaft having a surface, coupled to the shaft, to contact a golf ball;

a switch coupled to one of the grip and the shaft;

a transmitter coupled to the switch, wherein the switch, when activated by a user, causes the transmitter to transmit the first signal and wherein the transmitter is also configured to transmit the second signal.