U.S. patent application number 12/965570 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-16 for method and system for shot tracking.
This patent application is currently assigned to CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY. Invention is credited to JOSEPH BALARDETA, SCOTT DENTON.
Application Number | 20110143849 12/965570 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44143573 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110143849 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BALARDETA; JOSEPH ; et
al. |
June 16, 2011 |
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SHOT TRACKING
Abstract
A device for shot tracking is disclosed herein. The device
comprises a housing, a battery disposed within the housing, a
circuit board disposed within the housing, a sensor disposed on the
circuit board, a plurality of board components disposed on the
first side and the second side of the circuit board, wherein the
shot tracking device transmits a signal when the golf club strikes
a golf ball, the signal comprising identification of the golf
club.
Inventors: |
BALARDETA; JOSEPH;
(ENCINITAS, CA) ; DENTON; SCOTT; (CARLSBAD,
CA) |
Assignee: |
CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
CARLSBAD
CA
|
Family ID: |
44143573 |
Appl. No.: |
12/965570 |
Filed: |
December 10, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61286326 |
Dec 14, 2009 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/223 ;
473/407 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 24/0021 20130101;
A63B 2220/12 20130101; A63B 2220/20 20130101; A63B 2225/54
20130101; A63B 2024/0031 20130101; A63B 69/3632 20130101; A63B
2102/32 20151001; A63B 69/3658 20130101; A63B 2220/803 20130101;
A63B 2220/833 20130101; A63B 2220/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/223 ;
473/407 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/36 20060101
A63B069/36; A63B 57/00 20060101 A63B057/00 |
Claims
1. A shot tracking device for attachment to a grip of a golf club,
the shot tracking device comprising: a housing; a battery disposed
within the housing; a circuit board disposed within the housing,
the circuit board having a first side and a second side; a sensor
disposed on the circuit board; and a plurality of board components
disposed on the first side and the second side of the circuit
board; wherein the shot tracking device transmits a signal when the
golf club strikes a golf ball, the signal comprising an
identification of the golf club.
2. The shot tracking device according to claim 1 wherein the
housing is a rubberized material formed around the battery, the
circuit board, the sensor and the plurality of chips.
3. The shot tracking device according to claim 1 wherein the
housing is an epoxy material formed around the battery, the circuit
board, the sensor and the plurality of board components.
4. The shot tracking device according to claim 1 wherein the
plurality of board components comprises a microprocessor, an RFID
chip, a capacitor, a resistor and an enabler.
5. The shot tracking device according to claim 1 wherein the sensor
is a shock switch.
6. The shot tracking device according to claim 1 wherein the
housing comprises a main body and projection body.
7. The shot tracking device according to claim 1 wherein the
housing has a diameter D that ranges from 20 mm to 25 mm.
8. The shot tracking device according to claim 6 wherein the
projection body has a length that ranges from 5 mm to 10 mm.
9. The shot tracking device according to claim 1 wherein the
battery is a CR1620 having at least 75 milliamps of power.
10. A shot tracking device for attachment to a grip of a golf club,
the shot tracking device comprising: a housing having a main body
and a projection body extending downward from the main body; a
battery disposed within the housing; a circuit board disposed
within the housing and below the battery, the circuit board having
a first side and a second side; a shock switch disposed on the
second side of the circuit board; and a plurality of board
components disposed on the first side and the second side of the
circuit board, the plurality of board components comprises a
microprocessor, an RFD chip, a capacitor, a resistor and an
enabler; wherein the shot tracking device transmits a signal when
the golf club strikes a golf ball, the signal comprising an
identification of the golf club.
11. The shot tracking device according to claim 10 wherein the
housing is a rubberized material formed around the battery, the
circuit board, the sensor and the plurality of chips.
12. The shot tracking device according to claim 10 wherein the
housing is an epoxy material formed around the battery, the circuit
board, the sensor and the plurality of board components.
13. The shot tracking device according to claim 10 wherein the
battery is a CR1620 having at least 75 milliamps of power.
14. The shot tracking device according to claim 10 wherein the
sensor is a shock switch.
15. The shot tracking device according to claim 10 wherein the
housing has a diameter D that ranges from 20 mm to 25 mm.
16. The shot tracking device according to claim 10 wherein the
projection body has a length that ranges from 5 mm to 10 mm.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application 61/286,326 filed on Dec. 14, 2009.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to shot tracking. More
specifically, the present invention relates to a method and system
for tracking shots of a golfer during a round of golf.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] Golf clubs combine with the players swing to propel a ball
toward a favored location and through a favored path. The
orientation and speed of the club head at impact largely determines
the ball path including carry distance and roll.
[0007] The prior art is lacking in a method and system to measure
the motion of the club through measurement of the shaft.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is a shot tracking device for
attachment to the grip of a golf club. The shot tracking device
comprises a housing, a battery disposed within the housing, a
circuit board with a first and second side, the circuit board also
disposed within the housing. A sensor is disposed on the circuit
board. There exists a plurality of board components disposed on the
first side and the second side of the circuit board. The shot
tracking device transmits a signal when the golf club strikes a
golf ball and the signal comprises the identification of the golf
club.
[0009] The invention also includes a shot tracking device
comprising a housing with a main body and a projection body
extending downward from the main body. A battery is disposed within
the housing and a circuit board is disposed within the housing and
below the battery. The circuit board is double sided, and has a
shock switch located on the second side. A plurality of components,
including a microprocessor, an RFID chip, a capacitor, a resistor,
and an enabler, are disposed on both the first and second side of
the circuit board. The shot tracking device transmits a signal when
the golf club strikes a golf ball, the signal comprising an
identification of the golf club.
[0010] Having briefly described the present invention, the above
and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be
recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following
detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of components of a system for
shot tracking.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of components of a system for
shot tracking, including the main body and projection body
extending downward.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shot tracking device and
the housing component.
[0014] FIG. 4 is an illustration of the circuit diagram of the
components of a system for shot tracking.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method of shot tracking.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of components of a system for shot
tracking with the switch open.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of components of a system for shot
tracking with the switch closed.
[0018] FIG. 8 is an illustration of a system for shot tracking.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] FIG. 1 shows components of the system which can be attached
to a golf club.
[0020] FIG. 2 shows the components of a system for shot tracking,
including the main body of the housing and a projection extending
downward.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows the housing component of the shot tracking
device and illustrates the diameter.
[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates a circuit diagram of the present
invention. The components of the system 20 within the golf club 50
preferably include a power source, such as a battery 24, a
microprocessor 30a, an RFID transponder and antenna 30b, a
capacitor 30c, a resistor 30d, and an enabler 30e.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method 1000 for shot tracking.
At block 1001, a golfer swings a club and impacts a golf ball. At
block 1002, an accelerometer is activated by the impact of the golf
club with the golf ball. At block 1003, a switch located between a
power source and an active RFID transponder is temporarily closed
due to the activation of the accelerometer. At block 1004, the
active RFID transponder is powered by the power source. At block
1005, the active RFID transponder transmits at least one signal
containing data about the golf club. At block 1006, the signal is
received at a receiver.
[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates components of the system located within a
golf club prior to impact of a golf club with a golf ball.
[0025] FIG. 7 illustrates components of the system located within a
golf club subsequent to impact of a golf club with a golf ball.
[0026] FIG. 8 illustrates the system. The device 20 attached to a
golf club 50 swung by a golfer sends a signal 62 to a receiver 60.
The receiver is attached to a golf bag 61, however, those skilled
within the pertinent art will recognize that the receiver may be
attached to any pertinent device including the golfer, or may stand
alone.
[0027] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a shot
tracking device 20 for attachment to a golf club 50 comprises a
housing 22, a battery 24 disposed within the housing and a circuit
board 26 disposed within the housing 22. A sensor 28 is disposed on
the circuit board 26. A plurality of components 30 are disposed on
both the first and second side of the circuit board 26. The shot
tracking device 20 transmits a signal when the golf club 50 strikes
a golf ball and the signal comprises the identification of the golf
club 50.
[0028] Preferably, the housing 22 is a rubberized material formed
around the battery 24, the circuit board 26, the sensor 28 and the
plurality of chips. In an alternative embodiment, the housing 22 is
an epoxy material formed around the battery 24, the circuit board
26, the sensor 28 and the plurality of components 30.
[0029] The plurality of components, disposed on the circuit board
26, include a microprocessor 30a, an RFID chip 30b, a capacitor
30c, a resistor 30d and an enabler 30e.
[0030] In one embodiment, the sensor 28 is a shock switch. The
housing 22 preferably comprises a main body 22a and a projection
body 22b. The projection body 22b preferably has a length that
ranges from 5 mm to 1 mm. The housing 22 preferably has a diameter,
D, that ranges from 20 mm to 25 mm. The battery 24 is preferably a
CR1620 having at least 75 milliamps of power.
[0031] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the
shot tracking device 20 comprises a housing 22 with a main body 22a
and a projection body 22b extending downward from the main body
22a. A battery 24 is disposed within the housing 22 and a circuit
board 26 is disposed within the housing 22 and below the battery
24. The circuit board 26 is double sided, and has a shock switch
disposed on the second side. A plurality of components 30,
including a microprocessor 30a, an RFID chip 30b, a capacitor 30c,
a resistor 30d, and an enabler 30e, are disposed on both the first
and second side of the circuit board 26. The shot tracking device
20 transmits a signal when the golf club 50 strikes a golf ball,
the signal comprising an identification of the golf club 50.
[0032] Preferably, the housing 22 is a rubberized material formed
around the battery 24, the circuit board 26, the sensor 28 and the
plurality of chips. Alternatively, the housing 22 is an epoxy
material formed around the battery 24, the circuit board 26, the
sensor 28 and the plurality of board components 30.
[0033] The battery 24 is preferably a CR1620 having at least 75
milliamps of power. Preferably, the sensor 28 is a shock switch.
The housing 22 preferably has a diameter, D, that ranges from 20 mm
to 25 mm. The projection body 22(b) preferably has a length that
ranges from 5 mm to 10 mm.
[0034] The receiver is preferably a GPS device such as disclosed in
Balardeta et al., U.S. Patent Publication Number 20090075761 for a
Golf GPS Device And System, which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety. Alternatively, the receiver is a
personal digital assistant (PDA), "smart phone", mobile phone, or
other similar device. However, those skilled in the pertinent art
will recognize that the receiver may be any device capable of
receiving and storing signals from the RFID tag.
[0035] The device is used with a golf club such as disclosed in the
references below.
[0036] Gibbs, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,163,468 is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
[0037] Galloway, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,163,470 is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
[0038] Williams, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,166,038 is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
[0039] Desmukh U.S. Pat. No. 7,214,143 is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
[0040] Murphy, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,600 is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
[0041] Gibbs, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,626 is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
[0042] Galloway, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,631 is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
[0043] Evans, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,273,419 is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
[0044] Hocknell, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,413,250 is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
[0045] The measurements may be inputted into an impact code such as
the rigid body code disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,821,209, entitled
Method for Predicting a Golfer's Ball Striking Performance, which
is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
[0046] The swing properties are preferably determined using an
acquisition system such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,990,
entitled System and Method for Measuring a Golfer's Ball Striking
Parameters, assigned to Callaway Golf Company, the assignee of the
present application, and hereby incorporated by reference in its
entirety. However, those skilled in the pertinent art will
recognize that other acquisition systems may be used to determine
the swing properties.
[0047] Other methods that are useful in obtaining a golfer's swing
characteristics are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,638,175, for a
Diagnostic Golf Club System, U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,634, for an
Instrumented Golf Club System And Method Of Use, and U.S. Pat. No.
6,224,493, for an Instrumented Golf Club System And Method Of Use,
all of which are assigned to Callaway Golf Company, the assignee of
the present application, and all of which are hereby incorporated
by reference in their entireties.
[0048] From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the
pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this
invention and will readily understand that while the present
invention has been described in association with a preferred
embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, numerous changes, modifications and
substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing
from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be
unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following
appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in
which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in
the following appended claims.
* * * * *