Impact-responsive signal transmitting device

• US 5,883,569 A
• Filed: 12/12/1995
• Issued: 03/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chris Kolefas
• Original Assignee: Chris Kolefas
• Inventors: Kolefas, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liew, Julie
• Application Number:
  US08/571,259
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 340/384.1, 340/384.3, 340/384.5, 340/384.7, 340/385.1, 340/539, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/326, 340/691, 340/436, 340/426, 340/323 R, 446/409, 446/397, 446/399, 446/400, 446/401, 446/404, 446/405, 273/371, 273/372, 273/373, 273/374, 273/377
• US Class Current: 340/384.1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/00 Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/48 with transmitting devices, e.g. GSM or Wi-Fi®
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces

Abstract

A mobile object with circuitry which transmits a signal upon impact of the object. The signal is received by a receiver which generates a sound in accordance with the signal. The occurrence of an impact can be detected by the contacting of conductive layers caused by the temporary deformation of the object or acoustically.

Claims

1. A mobile object comprising:

a body in the shape of a ball;

an impact detector arranged in the body for detecting an impact involving the object and generating a first signal in response to the detection of the impact;

a signal generator coupled to the impact detector, the signal generator including a sound signal generator for generating a sound signal representing a sound in response to the first signal; and

a transmitter for transmitting the sound signal for reception by a receiving device responsive to the sound signal,

wherein the body of the object has an inner cavity and the impact detector includes;

a microphone, the microphone being arranged within the inner cavity of the body and generating a signal representative of sounds detected by the microphone; and

a signal analyzer coupled to the microphone, wherein the signal analyzer generates the first signal upon determining that the signal generated by the microphone is representative of an impact involving the object.

2. A mobile object comprising:

a body in the shape of a ball;

an impact detector arranged in the body for detecting an impact involving the object and generating a first signal in response to the detection of the impact;

a signal generator coupled to the impact detector, the signal generator including a sound signal generator for generating a sound signal representing a sound in response to the first signal; and

a transmitter for transmitting the sound signal for reception by a receiving device responsive to the sound signal,

wherein the signal generator generates an initial sound signal representing an initial sound before the first signal is generated.

3. An impact responsive device comprising:

a mobile object comprising;

a body with an inner cavity; and

a circuit assembly mounted in the inner cavity of the body, the circuit assembly including;

a microphone for generating a sound signal representative of actual sounds detected by the microphone;

signal conditioning circuitry coupled to the microphone for conditioning the actual sound signal; and

a transmitter coupled to the signal conditioning circuitry for transmitting the conditioned actual sound signal for reception by a receiving device.

5. The impact responsive device of claim 3, further comprising a base station which includes:

the receiving device for receiving the conditioned sound signal transmitted by the mobile object;

an amplifier coupled to an output of the receiving device; and

a speaker coupled to an output of the amplifier.

6. The impact responsive device of claim 3 including mode selection means, the mode selection means selecting a mode of operation of the mobile object in accordance with a sequence of impacts.

4. An impact detection system comprising:

a mobile object including an impact detector for generating a signal indicative of an impact involving the object, and a transmitter for transmitting the signal indicative of the detected impact; and

a base station including a receiver for receiving the signal indicative of the detected impact, a sound signal generator for generating a sound signal pattern in response to the received impact signal, an amplifier coupled to an output of the sound signal generator and a speaker coupled to an output of the amplifier.