Abstract:
Novel golf balls, golf ball cups, and golf ball reading devices are described. Embodiments of each include microprocessors, power sources, receive and transmit devices, and related circuitry for recording and transmitting information about the golf ball in play to the golf ball cup or reading device.  
     It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to ascertain quickly the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 C.F.R. §1.72( b ).

Description:
[0001]    The present invention is directed to golf balls, golf ball cups, and golf ball reading devices designed, in certain embodiments, to record the number of strokes received by a golf ball during play between successive rounds and/or verify original ball-in-play. This and other features of the invention are described more fully in the detailed description of the invention below. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0002]    [0002]FIG. 1 is an exemplary schematic of electrical circuitry of one embodiment of the inventive golf ball illustrated in FIG. 3.  
         [0003]    [0003]FIG. 2 is an exemplary schematic of electrical circuitry of one embodiment of the inventive golf ball cup illustrated in FIG. 4.  
         [0004]    [0004]FIG. 3 is a partial section view of one embodiment of the inventive golf ball.  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 4 is a partial section view of one embodiment of the inventive golf ball cup.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary software processing of the golf ball cup&#39;s microprocessor.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary software processing of the golf ball&#39;s microprocessor.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the invention comprising a reading device for the inventive golf ball.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 8 is an internal view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0010]    As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the present invention, in certain aspects, is directed to a golf ball  10  having an outer cover  11  that defines an inner core  13 . The golf ball further includes a microprocessor  20 , a power source  23 , a receive and transmit (RT) device  22 , a piezo sensor  21 , and related circuitry (collectively referred to herein as “golf ball components). These golf ball components are electrically connected to one another and housed within the inner core  13  of the ball. In one preferred embodiment, the microprocessor  20  and power source  23  are housed within a centrally disposed compartment  12  while the RT device  22  and piezo sensor  21  are disposed outside of the compartment  12  within the inner core  13 , as shown, for example, in FIG. 3. The centrally disposed compartment may comprise a rigid shell or cast core. In one embodiment, the compartment may be a titanium (or similar metal or metal alloy) shell encasing the microprocessor and power source, for example, as well as a filler material, such as plastic, for example, to secure electronics housed therein. Alternatively, the electronics (i.e. microprocessor and power source) may be cast in a high impact plastic or acrylic material. Regardless of the construction of the inner compartment  12 , FIG. 3 illustrates one exemplary arrangement of the RT device  22  and piezo sensor  21 ; however, it will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the RT device  22  and piezo sensor  21  may be arranged differently within the inner core  13 .  
         [0011]    As known by those of ordinary skill in the art, there are several types golf ball constructions, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,269 to Nesbitt, et al. (incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), all of which have an outer cover surrounding some type of inner core. The outer cover  11  of the present invention may be fabricated and designed by any number of materials and methods known to the skilled artisan. Similarly, the inner core  13  of the inventive golf ball may be so fabricated and designed, provided the design is such as to provide for housing of the golf ball components described and illustrated herein. In one embodiment, the inner core  13  may comprise a high energy filling material  14  between the compartment  12  and outer cover  11 . Exemplary filling materials  14  include, but are not limited to, various cross-linked synthetic rubber compounds.  
         [0012]    The inventive golf ball  10  is designed such that when the outer cover  11  of the ball is struck by an outside force, typically by a golfer&#39;s golf club, for example, the piezo sensor  21  generates a voltage to activate the microprocessor  20 . Preferably, the voltage generated is proportionate to the magnitude of the force generated by the golfer&#39;s stroke. An exemplary piezo sensor  21  is a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-based film sensor. It will be appreciated by the skilled artisan that other sensors capable of “sensing” or being responsive to vibrations generated upon impact include, but are not limited to, MEMS-based accelerometers, and the like. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the microprocessor  20  is programmed to record stroke data corresponding to the number of strokes received by the golf ball by a golfer. In one embodiment of the invention, the microprocessor  20  is programmed to operate in a low power “sleep” mode until the impact of the golf club on the ball. The force of impact upon the ball then activates the piezo sensor to generate a voltage to “wake up” the microprocessor  20 , which in turn, records the stroke. The microprocessor  20  is preferably further programmed to “lock out” recordation of any further impact forces acted upon the golf ball for a pre-determined period of time, thereby preventing recordations of false strokes upon the ball as the ball bounces while in play. That is, the microprocessor, in lock-out mode, will ignore signals transmitted by the piezo sensor corresponding to various impacts received by the ball after the golfer&#39;s stroke. The length of the lock-out is based upon the magnitude of the force of the stroke recorded, which is desirable to allow for both long drives and putts. After the lock-out period, the microprocessor returns to a low power “sleep” mode until the golfer&#39;s next stroke.  
         [0013]    In other embodiments, the microprocessor may be further programmed to record various golf ball identification information, including, but not limited to, the golfer&#39;s name and golf ball identification number or code. Recordation of a unique golfer identification number or code is especially useful for “ball-in-play” verification, wherein the system will verify that the same ball is being played (and thus not substituted) during play.  
         [0014]    Referring now to FIGS.  5 - 6 , when the golf ball is played, the microprocessor  20  and RT device  22 , in combination, are designed to transmit information about the ball recorded therein to a system designed to receive and interpret such information. This information includes, but is not limited to, golf ball identification (e.g. golfer&#39;s name, golf ball identification number or code, etc.), the magnitude of force of the strokes received upon the ball, and the number of strokes received by the ball for a given hole. The present invention, therefore, further includes a golf ball cup  100  designed to receive the ball. Preferably the cup  100  is designed for installation within an outdoor golf course hole, and most preferably, for optimal benefits, the inventive cup  100  may be installed in every hole of the golf course. However, other embodiments of inventive system include installation of the cup on artificial putting greens, recreational miniature golf courses (i.e. “putt-putt” golf), and artificial indoor putting holes.  
         [0015]    As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the cup  100  includes a microprocessor  30 , a power source  33 , a receive and transmit (RT) device  32 , and a piezo sensor  31  (collectively referred to herein as the “cup components). The cup components are electrically connected to one another and mounted on or within the cup  100 . FIG. 4 illustrates one arrangement of these cup components wherein the microprocessor  30 , power source  33 , and related circuitry are disposed within a housing compartment  34  located adjacent the outside of the cup  100 . It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that alternative arrangements of the these cup components may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, preferably the piezo sensor  31  is secured to the floor  101  of the cup to ensure that it will be struck by the ball upon entry of the ball into the cup. Alternatively, one or more piezo sensors may be incorporated within, or secured to, the inner wall  35  of the cup  100  (not shown).  
         [0016]    In operation, when the golf ball  10  lands inside the cup  100  and strikes the cup&#39;s piezo sensor  31 , the sensor  31  generates a voltage to activate the cup&#39;s microprocessor  30  to interrogate the ball&#39;s microprocessor  20  via the respective RT devices  22 ,  32  of the ball and cup. The cup&#39;s microprocessor  30  then attempts to communicate with the golf ball&#39;s microprocessor  20  by energizing the cup&#39;s RT devices  32  and generating a signal corresponding to two components: 1) a large field burst that wakes up the ball&#39;s microprocessor  20  and 2) a standard pulsed communication mode for transmitting data. In one embodiment, if a signal is not received by the cup&#39;s microprocessor  20  (i.e. indicating perhaps an inactive or a conventional non-intelligent golf ball) within a specific pre-programmed period of time, the cup&#39;s microprocessor  30  returns to a low power sleep mode. When the inventive ball  10 , however, lands in the inventive cup  100 , the ball&#39;s microprocessor  20  is “awakened,” verifies the integrity of the message, and then preferably transmits to the cup  100  various recorded information contained therein, such as golf ball identification data, the number of strokes received by the ball for that hole, the intensity of the strokes, and the like. Preferably, once the exchange of information between the two microprocessors  20 ,  30  has been made, the ball&#39;s microprocessor  20  is programmed to “reset” the stroke count to zero for the next play (i.e. hole). The ball&#39;s microprocessor  20  then, preferably, reverts back into a low power “sleep” mode until activation again upon impact of the ball  10 .  
         [0017]    The golf ball information retrieved by the cup&#39;s microprocessor  30  may then be forwarded, via the cup&#39;s microprocessor  30  and RT device  32 , to a remote computer  200  for display or storage therein. The remote computer may be in a club house and/or remotely connected to a score terminal for display of some or all of the data transmitted  
         [0018]    The cup components and related circuitry may be powered by a power source  33  comprising a battery, low voltage wiring, or standard AC current. In the case of battery power, a charging probe, such as an RF (radio frequency) probe, may be inserted into the cup for a short period of time, perhaps during routine course maintenance to provide the appropriate charging field for the cup&#39;s power source. The cup&#39;s power source, in turn, is designed to charge the ball&#39;s power source.  
         [0019]    In other embodiments of the present invention, the ball&#39;s microprocessor  20  may be reprogrammed via the cup&#39;s microprocessor  30  and RT device circuitry  32 . The reprogramming may comprise changing the various ball information stored therein (e.g. identification number or code, golfer information, etc.) or the actual software affecting the microprocessor&#39;s actions. During this reprogramming process, the signal received by the ball from the cup&#39;s microprocessor is a sequence of data which the ball&#39;s microprocessor&#39;s kernel directs into flash memory. As with the communication of strokes in play, there is a two-way communication exchanged via the two RT devices for verification of each byte of data received by the ball&#39;s microprocessor  20 .  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate another aspect of the present invention that may be used in lieu of, or in combination with, the inventive golf cup  100 . Specifically in this embodiment, the present invention includes a golf ball reading device  200  that may be of any number of configurations, one of which is illustrated in FIG. 7, wherein the main components are contained within a housing unit  201 . The reading device  200  includes a microprocessor, a power source, and related circuitry, all of which are not specifically shown in FIGS.  7 - 8 , but indicated generally as being housed within a compartment  202 . The reading device  200  further includes a receive and transmit (RT)  203  device similar to or identical to the respective components described above for the golf cup  100 . In addition, the reading device may employ a switching device  204  to activate the reading device. The reading device may also include a display  205 , such as an LCD display, for example, for displaying the information read. Alternatively, the microprocessor could be programmed to activate an auditory device (not shown), which in turn, transmits an auditory alert or a specific auditory alert to confirm that the original ball is in play (or is not in play). The primary function of the inventive golf ball reading device  200 , therefore, would be to verify that the same golf ball is in play, and thus has not been switched during play. The golf ball, and more preferably the inventive golf ball  10  described herein, would therefore be placed near the reading device, or more preferably as shown in FIGS.  7 - 8 , within a receptacle  206  contained within the device. Upon activation of the reading device, the device would read and verify the unique identification number or code, for example, of the golf ball in play via the respective microprocessors and RT devices of the golf ball and reading device  200 . This operation would be performed identically as described above for the inventive golf cup and golf ball. The microprocessor and RT device of the inventive reading device  200  may also be designed to reprogram the inventive golf ball  10  as described above for the inventive golf cup  100 .  
         [0021]    For both the inventive golf ball, golf cup, and reading device described herein, conventional microprocessors known by those of ordinary skill in the art may be employed, such as, for example, MnicroChip&#39;s PIC series of embedded processors. The RT devices for both the cup, ball, and reading device are preferably radio frequency (RF) coils; however, other types of non-contact communication devices may be employed, including, but not limited to, ultrasonic, audio, vibratory, and optical devices.