GOLF BALL WITH ENCAPSULATED RFID CHIP

• US 20120255999A1
• Filed: 04/11/2012
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edge Technologies, Inc
• Original Assignee: Edge Technologies, Inc
• Inventors: Luciano, Robert Jr., White, Warren, Grieshaber, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,539,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/439
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/027 having an axis of symmetry B29C43/102 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/18 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. compression moulding around inserts or for coating articles B29C43/206 takes precedence

Abstract

A spherical compressible ball having an RFID tag is described. The ball comprises an RFID integrated circuit, an encapsulating material, a first antenna contact, a first conductive wire, a molded compressible core, and a molded shell. The RFID integrated circuit includes a memory that stores a unique identifier. The encapsulating material encapsulates the RFID integrated circuit. The first antenna contact is electrically coupled to the encapsulated RFID integrated circuit. The first conductive wire is electrically coupled to the first antenna contact. The molded compressible core includes a molded impression that receives the encapsulated RFID integrated circuit and the conductive wire. The molded shell further encapsulates the molded compressible core that receives the encapsulated RFID integrated circuit and antenna.

Claims

1. A spherical compressible ball having an RFID tag, the ball comprising,

an RFID integrated circuit that includes a memory configured to store at least one unique identifier;

an encapsulating material that encapsulates the RFID integrated circuit;

a first antenna contact electrically coupled to the encapsulated RFID integrated circuit;

a first conductive wire that is electrically coupled to the first antenna contact;

a molded compressible core that includes a molded impression configured to receive the encapsulated RFID integrated circuit and the conductive wire; and

a molded shell that further encapsulates the molded compressible core that receives the encapsulated RFID integrated circuit and the conductive wire.

2. The compressible ball of claim 1 further comprising,

a second antenna contact electrically coupled to the encapsulated RFID integrated circuit;

and

a second conductive wire that is electrically coupled to the second antenna contact.

3. The compressible ball of claim 1 further comprising a second antenna contact electrically coupled to the encapsulated RFID integrated circuit, wherein the first conductive wire is electrically coupled to the first antenna contact and the second antenna contact.

4. The compressible ball of claim 1 wherein the encapsulating material that encapsulates the RFID integrated circuit comprises a compressible material.

5. The compressible ball of claim 1 wherein the encapsulating material that encapsulates the RFID integrated circuit comprises a rigid material.

6. The compressible ball of claim 1 wherein the first conductive wire further comprises a plurality of conductive wires that are electrically coupled to the first antenna contact.

7. The compressible ball of claim 1 wherein the molded impression is disposed on the surface of the compressible core and the molded impression receives the RFID integrated circuit.

8. The compressible ball of claim 1 wherein the molded impression is disposed at the center of the compressible core and the molded impression receives the RFID integrated circuit, the compressible ball further comprising,

a second antenna contact electrically coupled to the encapsulated RFID integrated circuit;

a second conductive wire that is electrically coupled to the second antenna contact;

the first conductive wire configured to extend from the center of the molded compressible core to the surface of the molded compressible core; and

the second conductive wire configured to extend from the center of the molded compressible core to the surface of the molded compressible core in a direction that is opposite to the first conductive wire.

9. The compressible ball of claim 1 wherein the first conductive wire is shaped as a sinusoidal waveform on the surface of the surface of the molded compressible core.

10. The compressible ball of claim 1 wherein the first conductive wire is joined to the first antenna contact with a conductive material.

11. The compressible ball of claim 1 wherein the first conductive wire is joined to the first antenna contact with a non-conductive material.

12. The compressible ball of claim 1 further comprising,

a plurality of first conductive wires, and

a first thicker wire joined to the plurality of first conductive wires and the first thicker wire coupled to the first antenna contact.

13. An RFID ball reading system, the system comprising,

an RFID reader that includes an antenna;

and

a spherical compressible ball having an RFID tag, the ball including,

an RFID integrated circuit that includes a memory configured to store at least one unique identifier;

an encapsulating material that encapsulates the RFID integrated circuit;

a first antenna contact electrically coupled to the encapsulated RFID integrated circuit;

a first conductive wire that is electrically coupled to the first antenna contact;

a molded compressible core that includes a molded impression configured to receive the encapsulated RFID integrated circuit and the conductive wire; and

a molded shell that further encapsulates the molded compressible core that receives the encapsulated RFID integrated circuit and the conductive wire.

14. The RFID ball reading system of claim 13, wherein the RFID reader is disposed above ground along a vertical plane.

15. The RFID ball reading system of claim 13, wherein the RFID reader is disposed along a horizontal plane.

16. The RFID ball reading system of claim 13 wherein each RFID reader is communicatively coupled to a plurality of antennas that correspond to a particular golf driving bay.

17. The RFID ball reading system of claim 13 further comprising a plurality of RFID readers that are networked and communicate RFID data to a central database.

18. A method for embedding an RFID tag into a compressible ball, the method comprising:

placing a compressible compound in a mold that includes a projection;

heating the compressible compound in the mold;

removing the mold;

generating a molded compressible core that includes a molded impression of the projection, the molded compressible core including a center and a spherical surface;

placing an encapsulated RFID integrated circuit into the molded impression, the RFID integrated circuit including a memory with at least one unique identifier, wherein the encapsulated RFID integrated circuit is electrically coupled to a first antenna contact that is electrically coupled to a first conductive wire; and

further encapsulating the molded compressible core with a molded shell that receives the encapsulated RFID integrated circuit and the conductive wire.

19. The method for embedding an RFID tag into a compressible ball of claim 18, wherein the molded impression configured to receive the encapsulated RFID integrated circuit is on the spherical surface of the molded compressible core.

20. The method for embedding an RFID tag into a compressible ball of claim 18, wherein the molded impression configured to receive the encapsulated RFID integrated circuit is on the center of the molded compressible core.