Abrégé

Methods and systems for managing golf clubs and for collecting golf data, such as golf strokes, are described. In one embodiment, a golf data collection system includes a golf accessory worn on the golfer's wrist, such as a watch, equipped with a GPS receiver, impact sensing and motion sensing means, and a transceiver to communicate with golf club tags (e.g. at 2.4GHz such as Bluetooth). The golf accessory senses the motion of the golf club being swung by the golf and/or senses the impact of the golf club striking the golf ball. When swinging motion or impact is sensed the device uses the transceiver to communicate with golf club tags. The closest golf club (i.e. the club in the golfer's hand during the swing) is captured as the club used by the swing based on RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator). Other embodiments are also described.

Classes IPC  ?

• A63B 69/36 - Appareils d'entraînement ou appareils destinés à des sports particuliers pour le golf
• A63B 71/06 - Dispositifs indicateurs ou de marque pour jeux ou joueurs
• A63B 57/00 - Accessoires pour le golf

Abrégé

Methods, apparatuses, machine readable non-transitory storage media, and systems which process measured light values in order to determine the status of a golf club relative to a golf club bag are described. In one embodiment, a system uses a floating threshold, which is between a running bright average and a running dark average, to determine whether to add a current light meter value to one or the other of these running averages. In another embodiment, a system resets or re-seeds the running averages so that re-seeded averages are used after exiting from a sleep state such as a dark sleep state. In another embodiment, a system uses light sensor information or other sensor information to determine when a club is in use. In another embodiment, an active golf ball tag includes a sensor (e.g. one or more impact sensors) to detect when a golf ball is hit and to cause an RF transmitter to transmit an RF signal to an RFID reader.

Classes IPC  ?

• A63B 71/06 - Dispositifs indicateurs ou de marque pour jeux ou joueurs
• A63B 57/00 - Accessoires pour le golf
• G08B 13/14 - Déclenchement mécanique par l'enlèvement ou les essais de déplacement d'articles portatifs
• G08B 21/24 - Alarmes aide-mémoire, p. ex. alarmes contre la perte
• G01S 19/19 - Applications sportives
• G08B 21/02 - Alarmes pour assurer la sécurité des personnes

Abrégé

Mobile golf rangefinder and method for golf data collection through the use of a sensor in a golf ball to activate an RFID reader which reads passive RFID tags in golf balls. The ball comprising a battery, a sensor configured to detect a hit, a processing logic and an RF transmitter. These electronic components being surronded by a first core. The ball further comprising an antenna extending outside the first core, within a second core, surrounded by a shell. The RF transmitter communicating with a mobile device. The mobile rangefinder collecting data also from the clubs.

Classes IPC  ?

• A63B 71/06 - Dispositifs indicateurs ou de marque pour jeux ou joueurs
• A63B 37/00 - Balles pleinesBilles
• A63B 45/00 - Appareils ou méthodes pour fabriquer les balles
• G06F 1/16 - Détails ou dispositions de structure
• G08B 13/14 - Déclenchement mécanique par l'enlèvement ou les essais de déplacement d'articles portatifs
• G08B 21/24 - Alarmes aide-mémoire, p. ex. alarmes contre la perte
• G01S 19/19 - Applications sportives
• G08B 21/02 - Alarmes pour assurer la sécurité des personnes
• A63B 55/00 - Sacs pour clubs de golfRâteliers pour clubs de golf à disposer sur le parcoursTransporteurs à roues spécialement adaptés aux sacs de golf
• A63B 57/00 - Accessoires pour le golf

Abrégé

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.

Classes IPC  ?

• A63B 57/00 - Accessoires pour le golf
• G08B 13/14 - Déclenchement mécanique par l'enlèvement ou les essais de déplacement d'articles portatifs
• G08B 21/24 - Alarmes aide-mémoire, p. ex. alarmes contre la perte

Abrégé

Apparatuses, methods and systems relating to at least one or more of golf club reminding and golf data collecting and recording. In one embodiment an apparatus on a golf club includes an integrated reminder and a stroke cancellation system and is semi-automatic in that the recording of the stroke is directly in response to changing the state (e.g. activating) of a switch which indicates that the golfer has pressed a button on the golf club. The pressing of the button indicates that the golfer will or has taken a stroke with the golf club and that the stroke is to be recorded, with the location of the stroke and an identifier of the club (e.g. 9 iron). The system may also be equipped with a missing club reminder and theft prevention function that notifies the golfer is a golf club has been left behind or if a club or golf bag has been removed without authorization.

Classes IPC  ?

• G08B 21/24 - Alarmes aide-mémoire, p. ex. alarmes contre la perte
• G08B 13/14 - Déclenchement mécanique par l'enlèvement ou les essais de déplacement d'articles portatifs
• A63B 71/06 - Dispositifs indicateurs ou de marque pour jeux ou joueurs

Abrégé

In one exemplary embodiment, an integrated GPS device & RFID transceiver is used with passive RFID tagged golf balls and clubs and sequences of events and rules that enable accurate automatic golf data collection. Active tags may also be used in place of passive tags.

Classes IPC  ?

• A63B 71/06 - Dispositifs indicateurs ou de marque pour jeux ou joueurs

Abrégé

A combined range and tag finder for determining distances to objects in an environment is described. Such a combined range and tag finder includes a system for determining distances to objects on a golf course and for finding golf balls for use with a system for finding golf balls. In the case of one exemplary integrated device, the device has at least two receivers, one to receive an RPID signal from the golf ball, another to receive a signal for positioning of the device location. At least one processor is coupled to both the receivers and can determine at least a direction and/or distance of the device from an object on the golf course. Other embodiments of a combined range and tag finder are also described.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01S 5/14 - Localisation par coordination de plusieurs déterminations de direction ou de ligne de positionLocalisation par coordination de plusieurs déterminations de distance utilisant les ondes radioélectriques déterminant des distances absolues à partir de plusieurs points espacés d'emplacement connu
• A63B 43/00 - Balles avec dispositifs particuliers

Abrégé

Methods and apparatuses for activating and powering RPID labels and tags are described herein. A label is activated from an 'off mode in response to receiving an activating signal. The label may include an integrated circuit and one or more powering devices coupled to the IC. The one or more powering devices may include a rechargeable battery, a solar power device, a non-rechargeable battery, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, a power from at least one of the one or more powering devices is provided to the integrated circuit in response to receiving of the activating signal.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06K 19/077 - Détails de structure, p. ex. montage de circuits dans le support