Golf club apparatuses and methods

• US 8,624,738 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2010
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tag Golf LLC
• Original Assignee: Radar Corporation
• Inventors: Savarese, Chris, Marshall, Noel H. C., McGill, Susan, Gilliland, Kenneth P., Vickers, Marvin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): OBINIYI, PAULSON IDOWU
• Application Number:
  US12/813,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20100308105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.6, 340/686.1, 340/583.5, 340/571, 340/539.1, 340/583
• US Class Current: 340/568.6
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2055/402 Warning devices for indicating missing golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/14 Geo-tagging, e.g. for correlating route or track location data with specific information related to that specific location
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• 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 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• 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 57/00 Golfing accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• 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 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1481 : with optical detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 : Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0266 : System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact distance between parent and child or surveyor and item
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 : System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 : Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods and systems related to an improved golf data collecting and golf club notification system. The system reminds golfers when a club has been mistakenly left behind on the golf course and notifies the golfer when a golf club or clubs are in or out of the golf bag. The system can notify a golfer if a club or golf bag has been removed without authorization. In one preferred embodiment an apparatus that attaches to a golf club includes dual light sensors—one light sensor configured as a switch and one light sensor configured as a light meter. Algorithms make use of the light sensor data to determine whether a golf club is in or out of a golf bag.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining whether a golf club has been removed from a golf bag, comprising:

a first light sensor which has an output;

a second light sensor;

a light pipe, the light pipe being configured to direct light toward the first light sensor;

a radio frequency (RF) transmitter coupled to the first light sensor, the RF transmitter being configured to transmit one or more signals indicating that a golf club has been removed from or replaced into a golf bag, the one or more signals being generated in response to a change of state of the first light sensor; and

a logic circuit coupled to the first light sensor and coupled to the second light sensor, the logic circuit being configured to be activated based on a comparison of one or more measurements of light from the first light sensor with a first stored value, and wherein the logic circuit is configured to determine whether to change a status of the logic circuit based on a second comparison between one or more measurements of light intensity from the second light sensor and a plurality of second stored values, wherein when the second comparison is smaller than a first value the logic circuit adds the one or more measurements of light intensity from the second light sensor to one of a plurality of stored averages and the status does not change, wherein when the second comparison is greater than the first value the logic circuit compares the one or more measurements of light intensity from the second light sensor with a second value, wherein when the one or more measurements of light intensity from the second light sensor is greater than the second value the status is changed and a golf club identifier and the status are transmitted, wherein when the one or more measurements of light intensity from the second light sensor is less than the second value the status does not change, and wherein the logic circuit is configured to enter a sleep mode when the first and the second light sensors do not detect light for a period of time.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising:

a battery; and

an antenna;

wherein the logic circuit is coupled to the battery and coupled to the antenna, and wherein the logic circuit is configured to cause the RF transmitter to transmit the one or more signals; and

wherein the light pipe is adapted to block light from a first direction and to allow light to enter the light pipe from a second direction.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the light pipe comprises:

an opaque portion, the opaque portion configured to block light from entering in the light pipe; and

a transparent or translucent portion coupled to the opaque portion, the transparent or translucent portion configured to allow light to enter the transparent or translucent portion.

4. The apparatus as in claim 3 the opaque portion further comprising a reflective layer being disposed between the opaque portion and the transparent or translucent portion.

5. The apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the transparent or translucent portion allows light to enter from 360 degrees.

6. The apparatus as in claim 1 the light pipe further comprises a light redirecting feature to direct light toward the first light sensor.

7. The apparatus as in claim 5 the light pipe further comprises a light redirecting feature to direct light toward the first light sensor, and the apparatus includes a diffusely reflective surface.

8. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the light redirecting feature is substantially parabolic.

9. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the light redirecting feature is a countersink.

10. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the light redirecting feature is filled with a material to direct the light toward the at least one sensor.

11. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the light redirecting feature further comprises a reflective surface.

12. A method of determining whether a golf club has been removed from a golf bag, comprising:

comparing one or more measurements of light intensity to a first stored value to provide a first comparison;

activating a processing system based on the first comparison of the one or more measurements of light intensity with the first stored value;

determining whether to change a status of the processing system based on a second comparison between the one or more measurements of light intensity and a plurality of second stored values,

wherein when the second comparison is smaller than a first value, the processing system adds the one or more measurements of light intensity to one of a plurality of a stored averages and the status does not change,

wherein when the second comparison is greater than the first value, the processing system compares the one or more measurements of light intensity with a second value,

wherein when the one or more measurements of light intensity is greater than the second value, the status is changed, and a golf club identifier and the status are transmitted, and

wherein when the one or more measurements of light intensity is less than the second value, the status does not change; and

enabling a sleep mode when one or more light sensors do not detect light for a period of time.

13. The method as in claim 12 wherein the processing system is a microcontroller and wherein activating the microcontroller is triggered by a change in the one or more measurements of light intensity.

14. The method as in claim 12 wherein the processing system is a microcontroller and wherein activating the microcontroller is triggered by an elapse of time.

15. The method as in claim 12 wherein the plurality of second stored values comprises a dark average and a light average.

16. The method as in claim 12 further comprising:

receiving light;

diffusing the light through a light pipe, the light pipe configured to diffuse light toward one or more light sensors, the one or more light sensors configured to receive the diffused light and to provide the one or more measurements of light intensity to the processing system.

17. A computer readable non-transitory storage medium comprising executable instructions which when executed on a processing system cause said processing system to perform a method comprising:

comparing one or more measurements of light intensity to a first stored value to provide a first comparison;

activating a processing system based on the first comparison of the one or more measurements of light intensity with the first stored value;

determining whether to change a status of the processing system based on a second comparison between the one or more measurements of light intensity and a plurality of second stored values,

wherein when the second comparison is smaller than a first value, the processing system adds the one or more measurements of light intensity to one of a plurality of stored averages and the status does not change,

wherein when the second comparison is greater than the first value, the processing system compares the one or more measurements of light intensity with a second value,

wherein when the one or more measurements of light intensity is greater than the second value, the status is changed, and a golf club identifier and the status are transmitted, and

wherein when the one or more measurements of light intensity is less than the second value, the status does not change; and

enabling a sleep mode when one or more light sensors do not detect light for a period of time.

18. The medium as in claim 17 wherein activating the processing system is triggered by a change in the one or more measurements of light intensity.

19. The medium as in claim 17 wherein activating the processing system is triggered by an elapse of time.

20. The medium as in claim 17 wherein the plurality of second stored values comprises a dark average and a light average.

21. The medium as in claim 17 further comprising:

receiving light;

diffusing the light through a light pipe, the light pipe configured to diffuse light toward one or more light sensors, the one or more light sensors configured to receive the diffused light and to provide the one or more measurements of light intensity to the processing system.

22. A tag configured to be attached to a golf club, the tag comprising:

a first light sensor which has a first output;

a second light sensor which has a second output;

a processing system coupled to the first output and coupled to the second output;

a radio frequency (RF) transmitter coupled to the processing system, the RF transmitter being configured to transmit one or more signals indicating that a golf club has been removed from or replaced into a golf bag, the one or more signals being generated in response to signals from the second output; and

wherein the processing system is configured to be activated based on a comparison of one or more measurements of light from the first light sensor with a first stored value, and wherein the processing system is configured to determine whether to change a status of the processing system based on a comparison between one or more measurements of light intensity from the second light sensor and a plurality of second stored values comprising a dark average and a light average, wherein when the second comparison is smaller than a first value, the processing system adds the one or more measurements of light intensity from the second light sensor to one of a plurality of a stored averages and the status does not change, wherein when the second comparison is greater than the first value the processing system compares the one or more measurements of light intensity from the second light sensor with a second value, wherein when the one or more measurements of light intensity from the second light sensor is greater than the second value the status is changed and a golf club identifier and the status are transmitted, wherein when the one or more measurements of light intensity from the second light sensor is less than the second value the status does not change, and wherein the processing system is configured to enter a sleep mode when the first and the second light sensors do not detect light for a period of time.

23. The tag as in claim 22 further comprising:

a light pipe, the light pipe configured to diffuse light toward one or more light sensors, the one or more light sensors configured to receive the diffused light and to provide the one or more measurements of light intensity to the processing system.