U.S. patent application number 11/196784 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-08 for transmitter tag.
Invention is credited to Ashley Ratcliffe.
Application Number | 20070032314 11/196784 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37718298 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070032314 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ratcliffe; Ashley |
February 8, 2007 |
Transmitter tag
Abstract
The transmitter tag for a ball includes a transmitter configured
to issue a signal for location of the ball, a power source for
powering the transmitter, an activation circuit for activating the
transmitter when the ball is in use, and a deactivation circuit
operable for manual deactivation of the transmitter after the ball
is located. The activation circuit may include an impact switch,
and the deactivation circuit may be a magnetic switch such as Hall
effect switch.
Inventors: |
Ratcliffe; Ashley;
(Hinckley, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FULWIDER PATTON
6060 CENTER DRIVE
10TH FLOOR
LOS ANGELES
CA
90045
US
|
Family ID: |
37718298 |
Appl. No.: |
11/196784 |
Filed: |
August 2, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/353 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 43/00 20130101;
A63B 24/0021 20130101; A63B 2225/50 20130101; A63B 2024/0053
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/353 |
International
Class: |
A63B 43/00 20060101
A63B043/00 |
Claims
1. A transmitter tag for a ball, the tag comprising: a transmitter
configured to issue a signal for location of said ball; a power
source for powering said transmitter; activation means operable for
activating said transmitter when said ball is in use; and
deactivation means operable for remote manual deactivation of said
transmitter after said ball is located.
2. A tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said activation means
comprises an impact switch operable to activate said transmitter in
response to said ball being struck.
3. A tag as claimed in claim 1 further comprising wherein said
deactivation means comprises a magnetic switch operable to
deactivate said transmitter in response to the presence of a
magnetic field.
4. A tag as claimed in claim 3 wherein said magnetic switch is a
Hall effect switch.
5. A tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transmitter is
configured for issuing a signal comprising a series of pulses
modulated with a carrier signal.
6. A tag as claimed in claim 5 wherein said signal is allocated to
a specific carrier frequency, said frequency being configurable to
provide an identifier for identifying said ball.
7. A tag as claimed in claim 5 wherein said issued signal has a
duty cycle of less than 1%.
8. A tag as claimed in claim 5 wherein each pulse has a width in
the region of 200 .mu.s, and wherein one pulse is issued in the
region of every 60 ms.
9. A tag as claimed in claim 5 wherein said transmitter comprises
an oscillator for producing said carrier signal.
10. A tag as claimed in claim 9 wherein said oscillator comprises a
surface acoustic wave resonator.
11. A golf ball comprising a tag according to claim 1.
12. A golf ball according to claim 11, comprising a substantially
spherical core embedded concentrically within said golf ball,
wherein said tag is embedded in said core, and wherein said core,
tag, and golf ball share substantially the same centre of mass.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a transmitter tag, and more
particularly but not limited to a transmitter tag for a golf
ball.
[0002] Golf is a well known, and popular game in which a
participant attempts to use a golf club to hit a golf ball into one
of a series of holes in as few shots as possible. One issue
associated with the game is the frequent loss of golf balls, which
can occur. Lost or irretrievable balls result in the participant
incurring penalty points thereby negating the objective of the
game. Furthermore, the loss of balls adds to the financial cost of
playing the game, and can result in a relatively large amount of
much time being spent searching for the lost balls. The time spent
searching for golf balls can also reduce the throughput of players
on a golf course, thereby having a negative impact, not just on the
participant, who has lost the ball but on other players also.
[0003] Solutions to help players locate golf balls have been
proposed in the past. One such example comprises a golf ball, which
flashes for a preset period after it has been struck. However, such
systems rely on a line of sight between a player and the ball,
which frequently isn't the case with lost balls. In order to
conserve batteries the ball is designed to stop flashing after a
relatively short period, typically 5 minutes or so. This means that
if the ball is not located within that period the ball might not be
found at all. Additionally, if the ball is located immediately
after flashing is initiated, for example, on a putting green or the
like, the flashing can be distracting either to the player taking
the shot, or other players in the vicinity.
[0004] In another example, a golf ball is provided with an embedded
passive radio frequency tag. The tag contains a microchip that
responds to a signal transmitted from a locater device by returning
a modified signal. The microchip has no independent power source,
but instead operates off power taken from a carrier signal
transmitted from the locator device. Thus, the device is inherently
limited to a relatively short range (.about.9 m).
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
transmitter tag, which mitigates at least one of the above
issues.
[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided a transmitter tag for a ball, the tag comprising: a
transmitter configured to issue a signal for location of said ball;
a power source for powering said transmitter; activation means
operable for activating said transmitter when said ball is in use;
and deactivation means operable for remote manual deactivation of
said transmitter after said ball is located.
[0007] Preferably said activation means comprises an impact switch
operable to activate said transmitter in response to said ball
being struck.
[0008] Preferably said deactivation means comprises a magnetic
switch operable to deactivate said transmitter in response to the
presence of a magnetic field.
[0009] Preferably said magnetic switch is a Hall effect switch.
[0010] Preferably said transmitter is configured for issuing a
signal comprising a series of pulses modulated with a carrier
signal. This may be a periodic on/off key modulated ultra high
frequency carrier signal.
[0011] Preferably, said signal is allocated to a specific carrier
frequency, said frequency being configurable to provide an
identifier for identifying said ball.
[0012] Preferably said issued signal has a duty cycle of less than
1%.
[0013] Preferably each pulse has a width in the region of 200
.mu.s, and wherein one pulse is issued in the region of every 60
ms.
[0014] Preferably said transmitter comprises an oscillator for
producing said carrier signal.
[0015] Preferably said oscillator comprises a surface acoustic wave
resonator.
[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention there
is provided a golf ball comprising the transmitter tag.
[0017] Preferably said golf ball comprises a substantially
spherical core embedded concentrically within said golf ball,
wherein said tag is embedded in said core, and wherein said core,
tag, and golf ball share substantially the same centre of mass.
[0018] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way
of example only with reference to the attached figures in
which:
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a cut-away 3D view of a transmitter tag
according to the invention, installed in a golf ball;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the transmitter tag of FIG.
1;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an Amplitude Shift Key
Superheterodyne receiver for receiving signals transmitted from the
transmitter tag of FIG. 1; and
[0022] FIG. 4 show a hand held unit into which the Amplitude Shift
Key Superheterodyne receiver of FIG. 3 may be incorporated.
[0023] The invention has particular application for the location of
golf balls. Hence, for the sake of clarity, the invention is
described with particular reference to golf balls. It will be
appreciated, however, that the invention has wider application than
to golf balls alone.
[0024] In FIG. 1 a golf ball having a transmitter tag is shown
generally at 10. The golf ball comprises a shell portion 12, a core
portion 14, and a tag 16.
[0025] The shell portion 12 generally comprises a hollow sphere of
external dimensions and appearance corresponding to the standard
requirements for golf balls. For example, at the time of filing the
application, golf balls are required to have a minimum diameter of
1.68 inches. The external appearance may include, for example, the
dimpled effect associated with maximising the distance that a ball
of a particular weight will travel.
[0026] The core portion 14 is embedded for concentric centre of
mass within the shell portion. The core 14 may be made of any
material suitable for ensuring that the golf ball has a weight
conforming to standard requirements, and for ensuring an acceptable
balance and feel. For example, at the time of filing the
application, golf balls are required to have a maximum weight of
1.62 ounces. An example of a suitable material for construction of
the core portion 14 is a plastics material, such as polyurethane,
whose density and other material characteristics (e.g. elasticity),
maybe manipulated to allow conformity of the golf ball both with
appropriate rules, and with the expectations of players.
[0027] The materials of both the shell 12 and the core 14 are of
sufficient durability, and resilient strength both to resist
physical damage and/or deformity during the normal course of play,
and to give the golf ball an acceptable lifespan.
[0028] The tag 16 is embedded for concentric centre of mass within
the core. The tag 16 comprises a transmitter circuit configured for
issuing a suitable signal for minimising power consumption while
the transmitter is operational. In operation, the transmitted
signal is received by a complementary receiver circuit, provided in
a separate unit, for locating the transmitter tag and hence the
golf ball in which it is embedded.
[0029] The shell 12, the core 14 and the tag 16 are further
arranged to ensure compliance with rules concerning spherical
symmetry, initial velocity, the overall distance standard and
similar rules.
[0030] In FIG. 2 a transmitter circuit, suitable for implementation
in the transmitter tag 16, is shown generally at 20. The
transmitter circuit 20 is operable to transmit an amplitude shift
key modulated signal, comprising an ultra high frequency (UHF)
signal modulated by a periodic series of on/off pulses to produce
periodic UHF carrier bursts. Each pulse is relatively short,
thereby resulting in a pulsed signal having a correspondingly low
mark space ratio and the transmitted signal having an equivalent
duty cycle. Typically, for example, the duty cycle is less than
.about.1%, the mark space ratio being less than .about.0.01. A
typical pulse length, for example, is .about.200 .mu.s for a period
of 60 ms. Thus, the power consumption of the transmitter is
minimised thereby prolonging battery life.
[0031] It will be appreciated that different tags may be provided
with transmitter circuits in which the on/off keyed signal is
allocated to a different carrier frequency. Similarly, the
associated receiver may be configured for distinguishing between
the frequencies thereby allowing a player to locate a ball having a
specific identity. Thus, in a different embodiment of the
invention, different frequencies could be used to identify
different golf balls. The identification may be, for example, an
electronic equivalent to the number printed on the side of a ball
for visual identification purposes.
[0032] The transmitter circuit 20 comprises a power source 22,
activation means 24, deactivation means 26, a latching portion 28,
a boost portion 30, oscillator means 32, modulation means 34, and
antenna means 36.
[0033] The power source 22, is a conventional battery or the like
arranged for providing a working voltage to the latching portion
28, and the rest of the circuit. Typically, for example, the
battery is a primary 3V lithium or the like.
[0034] The activation means 24 comprises a normally open switch,
operable in the event of acceleration above a predefined level to
switch temporarily from an open circuit or off state, to a short
circuit or on state. Typically, for example, the switch comprises
an impact, acceleration, or shock sensor, operable to switch
temporarily from the off state, to the on state, in response to a
force between 1000 G and 5000 G. The switch may additionally be
hemispherically omni-directional.
[0035] The latching portion 28 comprises a gated switch or circuit
having a gate terminal 38, an input terminal 40, and an output
terminal 42. The latching portion 28 is operable to switch from a
high impedance off state, between the input and output terminals
40, 42, to a low impedance on state, on the application of an
appropriate voltage to the gate 38. The latching portion 28 is
further operable to latch, on switching to the on state, thereby
maintaining the low impedance state after the applied gate voltage
is removed. In operation, the latched condition is maintained until
a short-circuit condition exists between the gate 38 and
ground.
[0036] The activation means 24 is connected between the power
source 22, and the gate 38 of the latching portion 28. The input
terminal 40 of the latching portion 28 is connected directly to the
power source 22.
[0037] The deactivation means 26, comprises a first terminal 44 and
a second terminal 46 connected respectively to the gate terminal 38
via an internal connection in the latching portion 28, and ground.
The deactivation means 26 is operable to switch from a high
impedance off state, to a low impedance on state, between the first
and second terminals 44, 46, in the presence of a magnetic field of
a suitable flux density. In the embodiment shown the deactivation
means comprises a Hall effect switch, although it will be
appreciated that other remotely influenced switching is
possible.
[0038] Power for operation of the Hall effect switch 26 is
provided, when the latching portion 28 is latched, from the output
terminal 42. Thus, when the latching portion 28 is not latched the
Hall effect switch 26 does not consume power.
[0039] Hence, in operation, when the golf ball is struck the
activation means 24 switches to the on state, thereby activating
the latching portion 28, such that the voltage at the output
terminal 42 rises to that of the input terminal 40, where it is
maintained due the latching action of the latching portion 28.
Power is therefore supplied to the Hall effect switch 26, via the
output terminal 42. Thus, when a magnetic field of suitable flux
density is applied to the Hall effect switch 26, the deactivation
means 26 switches to the on state thereby short-circuiting the gate
38 to ground via the latching portion 28, hence de-latching the
latching portion 28. After de-latching the latching portion 28
switches back to the off state thereby isolating the output
terminal 42 from the input terminal 40, and hence the power source
22.
[0040] The boost portion 30 comprises an input and an output, and
is operable to boost the voltage applied to the input, to yield a
higher working voltage at the output. In the embodiment shown the
boost portion comprises a DC-DC boost converter suitable for
providing a sufficient output voltage for driving the oscillator
and modulation means 32, 34. Typically, for example, the voltage
output is .about.9V. It will be appreciated that alternatively, or
additionally, additional voltage may be provided by providing at
least one lithium power cell or the like, in addition to the power
source 22.
[0041] The output terminal 42, of the latching portion 28 provides
an input to the power boost portion 30. Hence, in operation, when
the latching portion 28 is latched the voltage of the power source
22 is applied to the input of the boost converter 30, thereby
resulting in a boosted voltage at the output.
[0042] The oscillator and modulator means 32, 34 are arranged for
powering by the boosted voltage, in operation, when the latching
portion is latched.
[0043] The oscillator means 32 comprises a UHF radio frequency
oscillator configured for providing a predefined UHF carrier
signal. The modulator means comprises an on/off key modulator
arranged to modulate the carrier signal with a signal comprising a
periodic series of on/off pulses. Thus, in operation the
transmitter produces an associated on/off key modulated signal
comprising UHF carrier bursts, which it then transmits via the
antenna means 36.
[0044] The UHF oscillator 32 may comprise any suitable oscillator.
Typically, for example, the oscillator comprises a single port
surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator operating at an appropriate
frequency. The SAW resonator is particularly advantageous because
it provides a good degree of frequency stability when subject to
excessive mechanical shock of the type the golf ball is likely to
receive during play.
[0045] The antenna means comprises an omni-directional antenna
operable to radiate the UHF carrier bursts in all directions.
[0046] Hence, in operation, when the golf ball is struck the
activation means 24 switches to the on state, and the latching
portion 28 latches thereby supplying the input of the boost
converter, and Hall effect switch with power from the power source
22. Thus, the boost converter provides the boosted voltage to the
oscillator 32 and the modulator 34 and thus the transmitter begins
to transmit the on/off key modulated signal.
[0047] In order to switch off the transmitter, a user brings the
ball into the proximity of a magnetic field, thereby activating the
Hall effect switch to de-latch the latching portion, thereby
isolating the boost converter. Thus, the transmission of UHF bursts
is stopped and power consumption reduced substantially to zero.
[0048] Hence, the deactivation means is manually operable to
deactivate the transmitter. It will be appreciated that in addition
to the manually operable switch, the deactivation means may further
comprise a time delay switch, which automatically switches off the
transmitter after a pre-determined delay, thereby avoiding undue
power loss in the unlikely event that the transmitter is
accidentally switched on.
[0049] The transmitter circuit is designed to comply with
appropriate statutory and other requirements such as, for example,
FCC regulations.
[0050] In FIG. 3 a receiver circuit for receiving the signal
transmitted by the transmitter circuit is shown generally at 50.
The receiver 50 is operable to receive the on/off key modulated
signal, to recover the signal, and to provide an indication of its
strength.
[0051] The receiver circuit 50 forms an amplitude shift key (ASK)
superheterodyne receiver. Superheterodyne receivers are well known
and hence the circuit will not be described in detail other than to
further illustrate the invention.
[0052] The receiver 50 comprises, an antenna 52, a first filter
portion 54, a mixer portion 56, a local oscillator portion 58, a
second filter portion 60, a demodulator portion 62, peak detection
means 64, and indicator means 66.
[0053] The antenna 52 is operable to receive the on/off key
modulated signal transmitted by the golf ball. In the embodiment
described the antenna 52 comprises an omni-directional antenna for
reasons of practicality and cost efficiency. However, it will be
appreciated that the antenna may alternatively be a directional
antenna for assisting directional location of the golf ball
emitting the modulated signal.
[0054] The first filter portion 54 comprises a band pass filter
configured for filtering and amplifying the signal received by the
antenna such that only the UHF frequency corresponding to the
carrier of the modulated signal is amplified.
[0055] The oscillator means 58 comprises a UHF radio frequency
oscillator configured for providing a second carrier signal. The
mixer portion 56 is configured to heterodyne the filtered signal
with the second carrier signal, produced by the oscillator portion
58, to generate a lower sideband at a beat frequency known as the
intermediate frequency. The intermediate frequency is substantially
equal to the difference between the frequencies of the second
carrier and the carrier of the modulated signal.
[0056] The second filter portion 60 is configured to further filter
and amplify the heterodyned signal for subsequent demodulation. The
demodulator portion 62 is operable to amplitude demodulate the
output of the second filter portion 60 to recover the on/off key
encoded signal transmitted by the transmitter tag in the golf
ball.
[0057] The peak voltage of the recovered signal is indicative of
the signal strength of the received signal, and hence the distance
of the golf ball containing the transmitter tag from the receiver.
The peak detection means 64 comprises a peak detector operable to
detect the peak voltage of the recovered on/off key encoded signal
and to convert it into a corresponding DC voltage. The peak
detection means 64 comprises a high impedance unity gain amplifier
having a diode isolated output. The amplifier is configured to have
a suitable bandwidth for the intended application. A parallel
capacitor, resistor arrangement is connected to the amplifier, the
arrangement having a time constant sufficient to convert the on/off
key recovered signal into a DC voltage. The DC voltage is fed into
a further high impedance unity gain amplifier thereby producing a
buffered output suitable for driving the indicator means 66. The
buffered DC voltage is thus indicative of the received signal
strength, and hence the distance of the golf ball incorporating the
transmitter tag from the receiver.
[0058] The indicator means 66 comprises means for providing a
visual and/or audible indication of signal strength to a user.
[0059] The entire circuit is powered by an appropriate power source
VCC.
[0060] An example of a typical hand held receiver unit is shown in
FIG. 4 generally at 70. The receiver unit incorporates the receiver
circuit 50 of FIG. 3 and a switch 72 for switching power to the
circuit on and off as required. In the hand held unit of FIG. 4 the
indicator means 66 is shown as an analogue coil indicator. It will
be appreciated, however, that the indicator means may comprise any
suitable means for indicating signal strength to the user. For
example, the indicator means may alternatively or additionally
comprise a digital display, an audible pitched output, an indicator
bar or the like.
[0061] Hence, in operation, when a golf ball containing the
transmitter tag is struck the tag begins transmitting an on/off key
modulated signal. A user then uses the receiver unit 70 to pick up
the transmitted signal and to give an indication of the associated
received signal strength. The user then moves generally toward the
area where he thinks the ball may have landed. If the indicator
means 66 indicates that the signal strength is increasing the user
knows that he is getting closer to the ball. On the other hand if
the signal strength decreases the user knows that he is getting
further away from the ball and can change direction accordingly. In
this manner the user can find the ball quickly and easily without
distracting other players.
[0062] After the ball is found the user deactivates the transmitter
by putting a magnet of appropriate field strength near the golf
ball. Conveniently, the golf ball may be provided with a storage
container, of suitable dimensions for storing at least one golf
ball, in which a suitable magnet is incorporated for ensuring that
stored balls cannot start to transmit accidentally. Such a
container would also mitigate against a user forgetting to
deactivate the transmitter tag after finishing with the ball.
[0063] The use of a transmitter tag of the type described allows
for a relatively large range, without contravening associated
regulations, and without undue power consumption. Typically, for
example, the transmitter tag has a range in the region of 60 m, and
a life span exceeding 60 hours in continuous operation.
* * * * *