JPH04250178A - Golf information apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a golf information device which automatically provides a golfer with reference points and distant information of a lot of points in holes of a specific golf course. CONSTITUTION: In a practical case, radio-frequency tags are arranged along a golf cart, route, for example, buried under the route, a readout carried by the golf cart, outputs a question signal, the tag is operated by the question signal so as to output a code signal, the code signal is read by the readout, and the readout reads information about a position from a memory so as to output it to a golfer. And the golf information device displays advertising message so that it may be used for providing the points of golf course management such as usage of the cart and advancing speed of the play.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

This application is a continuation-in-part of US Patent Application No. 172,458, filed May 21, 1988.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for providing distance and position information at various points on a hole on a golf course as a golf aid.

0003

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The game of golf has long been a delicate test of human adjustment, requiring years of patience. The powerful must restrain their powers to favor timing, touch, and guile. Variations in a golfer's swing, form adjustment, and grip can affect the wind,
The combination of weather, trees, hills, sand and water makes the goal of stability in golf play elusive.

[0004] Professional golfers recognize the importance of removing as much variation from the game as possible in order to improve one's scores. These golfers use slightly heavier clubs and new balls that are not scratched or warped. These golfers practice their swings for hours on end, striving to obtain a consistent or "stable" swing. When professional golfers come to a tournament course, they carefully study the tees, greens, and hazards and plan their game. One of the key points of strategy is knowing the distances from various points on the golf course to the green and to various hazards, such as water hazards or bunkers. This distance information allows the golfer to strategize ball placement and select the appropriate club for a given distance. Satisfying the inspection and careful planning of golf strategies, whether it involves knowing distance information to greens and hazards, is a challenge for amateurs.
This is impossible for golfers. Amateur golfers cannot take the time to accurately assess the location of the ball. This is because play is extremely slow and many courses do not have even the most basic distance criteria, such as the marker often used to mark 137 meters from the center of the green. be.

[0005]

Various mechanical solutions are currently known for determining the distance to various points or hazards. Examples of such devices include pins and
It is equipped with an optical rangefinder that is pointed at targets such as flags and calculates the exact distance by triangulation. Furthermore, other solutions using radio frequency communication techniques to measure the distance to a target are also known. Although such devices provide the desired distance information, they violate the rules of golf because the exact distance is known. Additionally, such devices require the golfer to perform several special steps each time distance information is needed. This is an "active" device in that it causes a delay in play, can be seen as unfair, and is an annoyance to other players. Furthermore, such devices do not provide distances to other important course markings or non-visible features such as bunkers or water hazards.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Golf information systems according to various embodiments of the present invention improve upon the prior art. These embodiments generally provide distance and position information to the golfer that has the effect of speeding up play, and are passive in the sense that they do not require special attention each time the information is needed. In a first embodiment, the golf information device of the present invention is embedded in soil along a certain path specified for a hole on a golf course, or configured to define a two-dimensional matrix through the hole surface. A plurality of radio frequency (r.f.) identification transponders or "tags" are arranged and each have a unique identification signal encoded therein. Preferably, when a golf cart-mounted reader passes over the tag, it is activated to emit an encoded identification signal for the tag. The code of this identification signal is then processed by the reader to read and output a set of look-up tables programmed in memory for visual display to the golfer. Thus, as the golf cart moves around the hole, distance and position information is obtained at various incremental positions. Such information includes distance information to greens and hazards, and possibly distance from the tee. Using this information, the golfer can then make golf decisions on the ball.
Predict the true distance of the ball to the green or hazard for that player, taking into account the location of the cart.

[0007] This golf information device does not require the golfer's skill and judgment in adjusting the golfer's club selection and strategy in comparison to designated reference points established by the tag, and thus the rules of golf. There will be no violation. Furthermore, this golf information device is passive,
The golfer has no active involvement and simply reads the information on the digital display on the golf cart. In addition to location and distance, various types of information can also be output by the device, including announcement messages displayed at preselected times and information regarding the rate of progress of play. The device provides additional information about the golfer's reach and location, thereby improving golf scores and thus reducing playing time, which is of commercial benefit to golf course managers. bring. The radio frequency identification tag is preferably embedded in the soil so that it does not detract from the natural beauty of the golf course in any way. Additionally, tags may be placed only along preselected golf cart paths as a means of mitigating damage to the golf course caused by golf carts being operated in unauthorized areas. The reason for this is that information devices become inoperable in such areas.

In another embodiment, the golf information devices of the present invention are each coupled to an antenna and implanted through each fairway (ie, golf cart path) of a typical golf course, and each of the golf information devices of the present invention is coupled to an antenna. The golf cart uses multiple transmitters that transmit location information to the golfer as it passes. Said other embodiment employs a transmitter with two oscillators operating at different frequencies. Each of these oscillators is connected to a plurality of separate drive circuits, which are connected to a key modulator.

A digital signal generator is connected to the key modulator, and causes the key modulator to select one of the drive circuits and output it to the antenna. In this way, a digital position signal is transmitted at a frequency associated with the oscillator. Regeneration in this embodiment uses a key demodulator, which converts the received digital position signal to substantially the original output of the digital signal generator. A third embodiment of the invention uses a radio frequency link between a golf cart and a clubhouse to obtain golf course management location information for golf carts on a golf course.

Additional advantages and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the following description of the preferred embodiments, and the claims. Become.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, a typical golf course hole, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, is shown with a tee area 12, a creek 22 and a green 14. The green 14 is provided with a cup 16 that supports a flag or "pin" 17. On the left side of fairway 18,
A designated golf cart path 20 is provided. The golf course hole 10 shown in FIG.
The present invention relates to a golf information device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present invention, a number of radio frequency beacon tags 24 are embedded under the golf cart path 20 at a number of points represented by "x" marks in FIG. Radio frequency beacon tags 24 may be regularly spaced over several meters apart. The reader 30 of the radio frequency beacon tag 24 is the reader 30 of the radio frequency beacon tag 24.
4, the interrogation signal output from the reader 30 causes the radio frequency beacon tag 24 to output the feature encoded signal stored therein. This feature-encoded signal is analyzed by the reading device 30 to provide information regarding the distance traveled from that point to the green 14;
Additional information such as the distance from that point to a hazard, such as the creek 22, is output to the golfer. Upon receiving the information at a preselected point on the radio frequency beacon tag 24, the operator can determine the true distance of the ball's location to the cup 16. Accordingly, fairway 18 can be viewed as being divided into a number of regions associated with specific radio frequency beacon tag 24 information. In another configuration according to this first embodiment, the fairway 18 includes a number of radio frequency beacon tags 24 arranged in a two-dimensional matrix to keep the golf cart 28 on the golf cart path 20. At the very least, reading is possible at multiple points. When expanded into such a matrix, several radio frequency beacon tags 24 may output the same code signal since a particular set of range and location information is available at multiple points.

The physical components and electronic devices of a golf information system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2-6. Following the physical explanation of the elements, we will explain the operation of this golf information device. FIG. 2 shows a golf cart 28 equipped with a reader 30 for radio frequency tags 24. As shown in FIG. Reader 30 essentially includes an antenna assembly 32, a radio frequency interrogation board 34, a battery 36, and a computer and display board 38. Illustrated is a radio frequency beacon tag 24 embedded beneath the golf cart path 20.

Referring to FIG. 3, radio frequency beacon tag 2
4 internal functional subsystems are shown. Radio frequency beacon tag 24 includes a signal transmitter/receiver 40;
Signal transmitter/receiver 40 receives the interrogation signal through receive coil antenna 42 and drives transmit coil antenna 44 to cause transmit coil antenna 44 to transmit a digitally encoded message. Signal transmitter/receiver 40
is controlled by a microprocessor 46. R.O.
M48 stores a unique code associated with radio frequency beacon tag 24. This radio frequency beacon tag 24 distinguishes it from other tags on a particular golf course.
are arranged differently in relation to the important features of the course. A lithium battery 50 provides power to the golf information device. Lithium battery 50, with current technology, may be expected to provide millions of read cycles or more and will last for periods of three years or more. Signal transmitter/receiver 40 is microprocessor 46
controlled by. Alternatively, passive marking tags may be used which are activated and operated entirely by electrical power provided by the reading station.

Radio frequency beacon tag 24 is designed to minimize battery drain by remaining dormant after each read cycle. When a suitable question signal is received, the golf information device is activated and the RO
The digitally encoded word is fetched from M48 and output via transmit coil antenna 44. In one embodiment invented by the inventor, 12 bits (
A tag employing an identification message (ie, three binary digits) is used which is transmitted in serial form via the transmit coil antenna 44. If a particular golf course requires more than 999 discrete code signals, even larger numbers of binary numbers may be used so that an appropriate number of unique codes are available. Once the message has been sent (preferably several times), microprocessor 46 returns the tag to a dormant state. In order to ensure discrimination between the interrogation signal and the identification signal, it is desirable to separate the frequencies between them to some extent. Here, the interrogation signal is set to 132KHz.
It is conceivable that the interrogation signal be broadcast at 66 KHz. Radio frequency beacon tag 24 preferably monitors the voltage of lithium battery 50;
It has an internal housekeeping device that sends out a "battery discharge" signal. This battery discharge signal is received and stored by reader 30 to alert the operator of the need to replace a particular radio frequency beacon tag 24. Current technology allows radio frequency beacon tags 24 to be miniaturized to the size of very small cubes or cards. All that is required for installation is to zone the land, drop the radio frequency beacon tag 24 into the ground, and bury it. Because radio frequency beacon tags 24 must be encapsulated and protected from the surrounding environment, when a particular radio frequency beacon tag 24 fails, it will likely be replaced rather than repaired.

4-6 illustrate various elements of reader 30. FIG. Referring to FIG. 4, antenna assembly 3
2 is shown. The antenna assembly 32 consists of two separate loops, a transmit loop 52 and a receive loop 54. In the first embodiment, the transmission loop 52
has four turns of wire and a center lead wire to generate a magnetic field of opposite polarity to filter out electrical noise. A fixed capacitor 60 and a variable capacitor 64 are used to tune the transmit loop 52 to maximum resonance. Reception loop 54
is a four-turn coil surrounding a small area and further including a rotating capacitor 62, connected for flow in one direction. As previously mentioned, the interrogation signal and the identification signal are transmitted on different frequencies and the transmit loop 52 and receive loop 54 are matched for optimal performance. The range of the transmit loop 52 and receive loop 54 is intentionally limited so that the position output to the golfer is accurate to, for example, ±0.914 m.

Radio frequency interrogation board 34 is shown in detail in FIG. 5 and includes a microprocessor 66. Radio frequency interrogation board 34 is shown in detail in FIG. Microprocessor 66 has operating system software stored in EEPROM 68 and RAM 70. Microprocessor 66 connects radio frequency signal transmitter/receiver 7 to antenna assembly 32.
2, the radio frequency signal transmitter/receiver 72 operates in the same manner as that of the signal transmitter/receiver 40, except that it broadcasts on the frequency of the interrogation signal and receives on the frequency of the identification signal. . Voltage regulator 74 is powered from golf cart battery 36 and provides a filtered and controlled power source for reader 30 . As shown in FIG. 5, a number of input/output signal lines are connected to the microprocessor 66, including a read tag signal 76 and a transmit data signal 78 output from the microprocessor 66, and a receive data signal 80 and a reset signal 82 input. It is connected. Below, read tag signal 76 to reset signal 82
The operation of the reading device 30 in response to the following will be described in detail.

Referring to FIG. 6, the functional components and subsystems of computer and display board 38 are shown. Microcontroller 88 has an operating system stored in EPROM 90, and several RAMs 92 and 94 are provided for data storage. Real time clock 96 provides a time and date standard and may be used to display local time messages to the golfer and/or to time the golfer's progress through the golf course. The computer and display board 38 is powered by the battery 36, which also includes a voltage regulator 98. lithium battery 1
02 and a battery backup control 104, the stored information is retained when power supply from the battery 36 is interrupted. microcontroller 88
drives a display device 106 which is preferably of liquid crystal type. The reason is that the liquid crystal type can be easily read under bright sunlight. Transmission data signal 78
and received data signal 80 are input to a microcontroller 88, and a reset signal 82 is output. Read tag signal 76 directly drives LED tag marker 108 to indicate to the user that reader 30 is receiving an identification signal. The received data signal 80 is input to and operates the golf information device and allows control over the use of the golf information device. Typically, the received data signal 80 is in a condition that causes the radio frequency signal transmitter/receiver 72 to continuously transmit interrogation signals. When the tag is activated and an encoded message is received, the reset signal 82 prepares the reader 30 for another read cycle. Transmit data signal 78 consists of the encoded signal output from radio frequency beacon tag 24 and is processed and reformatted by microprocessor 66.

The operation of the golf information device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will now be explained from the viewpoint of the above explanation. Assuming that the golf information device is activated, interrogation signals are continuously output from the transmission loop 52 of the reader 30. When one of the radio frequency beacon tags 24 receives a suitable interrogation signal via the receiver coil antenna 42, it is activated to output a unique three (or more) binary digit identification signal to identify the identification signal. A signal is received by receive loop 54. The range within which the interrogation and identification signals can be received is intentionally limited so that the reader 30
communicates with only one of a number of radio frequency beacon tags 24 located approximately on the golf course to provide the desired location accuracy. When the tag identification signal is received, the LE
D-tag marker 108 is activated. The operating system software of the radio frequency interrogation board 34 measures the time it receives the identification signal. radio frequency beacon tag 24 for a preselected period of time, e.g., golf cart 2.
8 moves at a sufficiently low speed to maintain communication with the reader 30 for 0.2 seconds, position and distance information is displayed. When the speed of the golf cart 28 is excessive, such that there is insufficient time for the reader 30 to receive the identification signal, a display message is output indicating that the cart speed must be reduced to obtain the information. do.

The signals output from radio frequency beacon tag 24 and received by receive loop 54 are processed by microprocessor 66 and sent to microcontroller 88 . Microcontroller 88 is EPROM90
and/or fetching a set of instructions from lookup tables stored in RAMs 92 and 94. line 7
The signals from microprocessor 66 via 8 are sent in serial form, for example, 12 bit words at 1200 baud. As previously discussed, more binary digits may be used to identify more radio frequency beacon tags 24. FIG. 7 shows the display output generated by one of the radio frequency beacon tags 24, from tee 12 to water hazard 22 to water hazard 2.
2 and provides information regarding the distance of the reference point to the pin 17. As can be seen from FIG. 7, more digital bits than the binary three digit signal from the radio frequency beacon tag 24 will of course be required to define the information output to the golfer. In other words, the radio frequency beacon tag 24 does not directly output all the information it provides to the golfer according to normal radio frequency identification practices. A simple tag code associated with a detailed set of stored information minimizes tag memory size, increases the speed and reliability of tag information transmission, and allows modification of the output information. is easily accomplished by reprogramming the reader 30.

In addition to the above features, the golf information device according to this first embodiment also provides a number of additional functions. Input from real time clock 96 causes microcontroller 88 to determine play time for a particular hole or section of the golf course by:
The path time between readings from a series of radio frequency beacon tags 24 through a golf course at a particular hole or generally can be measured. If play is excessively slow, a reminder message may be displayed, which may be further supplemented by an audio signal from the golf course hole 10. Additionally, look up tables provided in EPROM 90 and RAM 92 and 94 for microcontroller 88 may also store promotional messages activated by radio frequency beacon tags 24. With appropriate programming, those who do not wish to pay for the use of the golf information device will continue to receive promotional messages. The golf information device can include a number of housekeeping functions. For example, the internal count may consist of the number of read cycles by a particular golf cart. The battery discharge signal is output from the radio frequency beacon tag 24,
Alerts the operator of the need for maintenance.

Another refinement of the golf information device of this first embodiment allows for the understanding of changes in the placement of the cup 16 on the surface of the green 14 and the reference point provided by the radio frequency beacon tag 24 for the cup 16. It has the effect of changing the distance from As shown in FIG. 8, the area of the green 14 where the cup 16 can be placed includes a plurality of designated zones extending perpendicular to the typical approach shot direction.
For example, it may be divided into nine individual zones 118. Each zone has a depth of, for example, approximately 0.914 m. Once the cup position on each golf course green is determined, it is determined which zone the cup position falls within. The zone position of each hole is recorded and encoded again. For example, in the case of the first hole, when the cap falls within zone 5, the information is coded as 015, and similarly, the 18th hole in zone 2 is coded as 182,
The same applies below. As shown in FIG. 9, one or more programmable tags 112 may be provided at the start of the golf cart path 20 located at the exit of the golf cart storage area. An authorized person drives the golf cart 28 over the programmable tag 112 and causes the reader 30 to load the pin position data and store it in the RAM 92 and/or 94 for later readout. This information is then suitably used to incrementally increase or decrease the distance to pin information output to the golfer, thus causing the device output to respond to changes in the golf course. Reader 3
All information stored in 0 is downloaded from the personal computer for programming convenience.

FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of the golf information system of the present invention deployed on a typical golf course 150. The golf course 150 includes tees 152 and typical greens 154, physically separated by a fairway 156, with a cart path 157 generally traversing the fairway 156. Typically, a typical golf cart 158 is constructed to traverse the fairway 156 during play on the golf course 150.

A plurality of recessed antennas 160 are positioned generally across the fairway 156 in accordance with the disclosure of the second embodiment of the present invention, thereby reducing the distance 1 between them.
62. In this second embodiment, each embedded antenna 160 is connected to a radio frequency transmitter 164. The radio frequency transmitter 164 itself is connected to a power source 166. Each embedded antenna 160 is located in the hole 5
Define a unique position based on 0.

Additionally, the golf cart 158 is equipped with a radio frequency transmitter/receiver 1 according to the disclosure of the second embodiment of the present invention.
68 , the radio frequency transmitter/receiver 168 is electrically connected to the antenna 170 . In operation, each radio frequency transmitting device 164 transmits digitally encoded signal data to the golf cart 158 as the golf cart 158 passes over the embedded antenna 160 connected thereto. . This signal data defines the position of the embedded antenna 160 on the fairway 156 and provides the golf cart 158 with information about its position on the fairway 156 and between the golf cart 158 and the green 154 or the flag 155 on the green 154. Provide distance information.

FIG. 11 schematically shows a second structure of a second embodiment of the present invention. In the illustration, a plurality of embedded antennas 160 are housed within and embedded within cart path 157. This means that the golf cart 158 cannot be driven on the fairway 156 and the cart path 15
This is particularly effective in a situation in which it is restricted only in the lateral direction of 7. Typically, this is done to preserve the overall quality of the fairway 156 and reduce play wear. The signal data from the radio frequency transmitter 164 is transmitted to each corresponding embedded antenna 1 in the format described above.
60 and received by golf cart 158 as it passes over these embedded antennas 160 across cart path 157 .

Referring to FIG. 12, the radio frequency transmitter 1
64 is shown, including a radio frequency transmitter 164
includes a transient surge protector 172 connected to power supply 166 via bus 174. Additionally, radio frequency transmitter 164 includes a rectifier 176 and a regulator 178. Rectifier 176 is connected to transient surge protector 172 via bus 180 and to regulator 178 via bus 182. Furthermore, the radio frequency transmitter 164 is connected to the oscillator 1
84 and 186, digital signal generator 188, drive circuits 190 and 192, key modulator 194, radio frequency power amplifier 196, antenna combiner 198 and lightning arrester 200
including.

In particular, the output of regulator 178 is connected via bus 202 to oscillators 184, 186, digital signal generator 188, drive circuits 190, 192, and key modulator 1.
94 and a radio frequency power amplifier 196 . Additionally, the output of oscillator 184 is connected to drive circuit 190 via bus 204, and the output of oscillator 186 is connected to bus 204.
06 to the drive circuit 192. The output of digital signal generator 188 is connected via bus 208 to key modulator 194, which in turn is connected to drive circuits 190 and 192 via buses 210 and 212, respectively. The outputs of drive circuits 190 and 192 are connected via buses 214 and 216 to an RF power amplifier 196, and RF power amplifier 196 is connected via bus 218 to an antenna combiner 198. The output of antenna coupler 198 is connected to embedded antenna 160 via bus 220 and embedded antenna 1
60 is further connected to lightning arrester 200 via bus 222. Additionally, lightning arrester 200 is electrically grounded via bus 224 .

In operation, approximately 120 volts (+120
V) is supplied from a power supply 166 and is passed through a rectifier 176.
and regulator 178 are rectified and voltage regulated, respectively, in a conventional manner, and then oscillators 184, 186, digital signal generator 188, drive circuits 190, 192,
A key modulator 194 and a radio frequency power amplifier 196 are provided. Transient surge protector 172 provides general protection for radio frequency transmitting device 164 during spikes or transient surges typical of power supply 166, particularly due to lightning strikes on power supply 166.

Oscillators 184 and 186 input input signals having different frequencies to drive circuits 190 and 192, which amplify these input signals and thereby output signals to buses 214 and 216, respectively.
The signal is output to the radio frequency power amplifier 196 via the radio frequency power amplifier 196. Drive circuits 190 and 192 each have an integral potentiometer 193. Potentiometer 193 is externally accessible and connected in conventional manner to adjust the output level of drive circuits 190 and 192. The key modulator 194 is activated by the drive circuit 19 at any time.
Only one of 0 or 192 is the radio frequency power amplifier 1
96 to generate an output signal. This control is accomplished by signals via buses 210 and 212, respectively. Digital signal generator 188 is connected to bus 20
A signal via 8 specifies which drive circuit 190 or 194 is to be activated instantaneously by a key modulator 194. That is, the normal output of digital signal generator 188 consists of a series of logic 0's and 1's, where similar values contained in this series of data columns specify only one of drive circuits 190 and 192; The value of the other drive circuit 190 or 192
Specify.

Radio frequency power amplifier 196 is connected to bus 214.
or 216 , it operates to amplify the input signal and provides an amplified output signal to antenna combiner 198 via bus 218 . Radio frequency power amplifier 196 is driven to amplify only signals having a frequency approximately the same as the frequency of the signals associated with the outputs of drive circuits 190 and 192, in the case of a second embodiment of the invention, and further It is designated as B class or C class type. Antenna coupler 198 then connects this electrical signal to bus 22.
0 to embedded antenna 160 , which also radiates electrical energy present on bus 218 to golf cart 158 and specifically to antenna 170 .

[0031] The lightning arrester 200 has an embedded antenna 160.
becomes an electrical path to the earth when it is struck by lightning's electrical energy. That is, embedded antenna 1
The surge of energy received by 60 is transmitted by lightning arrester 200 to antenna coupler 198 and then to radio frequency transmitter 1
64 to other elements within it. Instead, this lightning energy is transferred to bus 222 and then to lightning arrester 200.
and to ground via bus 224 protects radio frequency transmitter 164 from very high surges in electrical energy.

Referring to FIG. 13, details of a radio frequency transmitter/receiver 168 used in a second embodiment of the present invention are shown, including an antenna 170, a radio frequency transmitter and receiver 226 , a key demodulator 228, and a microprocessor 66 (shown schematically in FIG. 5). Antenna 170 is connected to a radio frequency transmitter and receiver 226 via bus 230, and radio frequency transmitter and receiver 226 is connected to key demodulator 2 via bus 232.
28. The output of key demodulator 228 is connected to microprocessor 66 via bus 234.

In operation, the signal output from embedded antenna 160 is received by antenna 170 and
It is then input as a signal on bus 230 to radio frequency transmitter and receiver 226 . Thereafter, the received radio frequency signal is input to the key demodulator 228 via the bus 232, and the key modulator 228 modulates the received signal to reproduce the original data string output on the bus 208. Key demodulator 228 then inputs this data to microprocessor 66 via bus 234. The microprocessor 66 includes the microcontroller 88, EEPROM 68, and RAM 7 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 in the manner described above.
0, EPROM 90, and RAM 92 and 94 to receive and interpret the digital signal data originally appearing on bus 208.

Referring to FIG. 14, golf cart 1 is shown in conjunction with a typical golf course clubhouse 240.
58 is shown. Clubhouse 240 houses a radio frequency receiver 242 and a typical (ie, cathode ray tube type) display 246. In particular, radio frequency receiver 242 connects antenna 24 to antenna 24 via antenna coupler 250.
8 and further connected to display device 246 via bus 252.
It is connected to the. In operation, the digital signals on bus 208 are transmitted through antenna 170 of golf cart 158 to antenna 248. Antenna 248 directs this digital signal to radio frequency receiver 242 which transmits the digital signal to bus 25.
2 and displayed on the display device 246. usually,
The radio frequency receiving device 242 includes a key demodulator 228 shown in FIG. 13 to reproduce signal data of radio frequency data. In this embodiment, a digital signal generator generates distance data and current time data on the aforementioned bus 208 along with the golf cart signal. Display device 246 then visually displays golf cart position information associated with golf cart 158, as well as digital distance data. In this way, a typical golf
Cart management can determine where each golf cart 158 is located on the golf course at any given time, and by observing display 246 for a period of time, golf cart management can determine where each golf cart 158 is located on the golf course at any given time. The approximate rate of progress of play associated with the user of cart 158 can be determined. This can be used to considerably speed up the overall progression of play on a typical golf course. In this embodiment, if a single golf course 150 is taking too long to play, a message may be displayed by the microcontroller 88 on the display 106.

Although the above description is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is susceptible to modifications, various changes and changes without departing from the scope and clear meaning of the claims. You should understand that.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a hole of a golf course related to an overview of a golf information device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a golf course showing radio frequency tags embedded in the soil in conjunction with elements of a golf information system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an electrical block diagram illustrating functional subsystems of a radio frequency beacon tag used in connection with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an antenna device used in the golf information device according to the first embodiment of the present invention and transported by a golf cart.

FIG. 5 is an electrical block diagram of functional subsystems of the radio frequency beacon tag integrator shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an electrical block diagram of the functional subsystems of the microcontroller of the golf information device shown schematically in FIG. 2;

7 is a diagram showing an example of output of information for golfers obtained by the first embodiment of the golf information device shown in FIG. 2; FIG.

8 is a plan view of a golf course green showing means for adjusting the various green pin position information output from the golf information device schematically shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a top view of a cart path associated with a programmable tag inputting pin location information into a reader.

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a golf course hole in relation to elements of a golf information device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a golf course hole in conjunction with elements of a golf information device according to a second construction of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a radio frequency transmitter used in accordance with the second and third embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a radio frequency transmitter/receiver used on a golf cart in a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a golf information device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

40 Signal transmitter/receiver 46, 66, 88 Microprocessor 48, 92
ROM 68 EEPROM 70, 94 RAM 72 Radio frequency signal transmitter/receiver 90 EPROM 160 Embedded antenna 164 Radio frequency transmitter 168 Radio frequency transmitter/receiver 170, 248 Antenna 184, 186 Oscillator 188 Digital signal generator 190, 192 Drive circuit 194 Key modulator 196 Radio frequency power amplifier 198, 250 Antenna coupler 226 Radio frequency transmitter and receiver 228 Key modulator 242 Radio frequency receiver 200 Lightning arrester 246 Display device

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A golf information device that provides golfers with information regarding distances to predetermined landmarks on a golf course, wherein each of the golf information devices is embedded at a specified point on the golf course, a plurality of antenna means each transmitting a digitally uniquely encoded message and having said digitally uniquely encoded message correspond to said information; a plurality of transmitter means connected to the golf cart, each of which said digitally encoded message corresponds to each antenna means; and a plurality of transmitter means mounted on the golf cart and receiving said digitally encoded message transmitted from adjacent antenna means. receiver means having a limited reception range including the immediate area beneath said golf cart, and adapted to receive only one digitally encoded message at any given time; a system memory in communication with said receiver means and said system memory for storing said information as discrete data corresponding individually to each said digitally encoded message; signal processing means for fetching the discrete data corresponding to the digitally encoded message from a memory and outputting the discrete data by a visual display device, the visual display device being connected to the antenna means; A golf information device that causes a golfer to determine the position of a golf ball with respect to the landmark by generating a message that includes a distance between the landmark and the predetermined landmark. 2. The golf information device according to claim 1,
A golf information system, wherein said plurality of antenna means extend to a plurality of portions of said golf course. 3. The golf information device according to claim 1,
said receiver means having second antenna means; said receiver means having said second antenna means;
An antenna means for activating said transmitter means by transmitting an interrogation signal to receive said digitally encoded message. 4. The golf information device according to claim 1,
The golf information device is characterized in that the system memory is modifiable, and the golf information device further comprises means for modifying the system memory to reflect changes in information regarding the specified point. . 5. The golf information device according to claim 4,
A golf information system characterized in that said modification is performed by said receiver means receiving information for each hole as said change at the start of each round of golf. 6. The golf information device according to claim 5,
A golf information system characterized in that said information is transmitted by a plurality of programmable transmitter means and said receiver means receives said information from said programmable transmitter means in transit. 7. The golf information device according to claim 1,
The transmitter means includes: (a) first oscillator means having an associated input and an output and generating a first oscillating signal at the output; and (b) first oscillator means having an associated input and an output and generating a first oscillating signal at the output. (c) second oscillator means for generating a second oscillating signal;
digital signal generating means having an input and an output and generating said digitally encoded message at said output;
) having said input, said input in response to said digitally encoded message said output of said first oscillator means;
said output of said second oscillator means and said digital signal generating means;
(e) having an input connected to the output of said key modulating means for amplifying said first and second oscillating signals and outputting said amplified signal; A golf information device comprising power amplification means. 8. The golf information device according to claim 7,
The golf information device further comprises antenna coupling means connected to the outputs of the antenna means and the power amplification means and for supplying the amplified signal from the power amplification means to the antenna means. 9. The golf information device according to claim 8,
A golf information device further comprising a lightning arrester having an input connected to the antenna means and an output electrically connected to ground. 10. The golf information device according to claim 1, wherein the specified point on the golf course is a cart route. 11. The golf information apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: (a) radio frequency receiver means for receiving said digitally encoded message transmitted from said antenna means;
(b) key demodulation means connected to said radio frequency receiver means for demodulating said digitally encoded message and producing an output. 12. The golf information apparatus of claim 1 further comprising second transmitter means connected to said receiver means for transmitting said digitally encoded message received by said receiver means; second receiver means located remote to the receiver means for receiving the digitally encoded message transmitted from the second transmitter means; a second system memory for storing the digitally encoded messages as discrete data corresponding individually to each of the digitally encoded messages;
a remote observer by communicating with the receiver means of the antenna means and the system memory, fetching the digitally encoded message of the antenna means and outputting the discrete data via a visible display device. The said golf
A golf information device that monitors the progress and position of golfers on a course. 13. A golf information apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said receiver means receives input of date and time, and said information includes reading of date and time.