WO2002011823A1 - Device for finding golf ball - Google Patents

Device for finding golf ball Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2002011823A1
WO2002011823A1 PCT/SE2001/001690 SE0101690W WO0211823A1 WO 2002011823 A1 WO2002011823 A1 WO 2002011823A1 SE 0101690 W SE0101690 W SE 0101690W WO 0211823 A1 WO0211823 A1 WO 0211823A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
arrangement
ball
accordance
transmitter
golf ball
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SE2001/001690
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Björn LUNDGREN
Karl-Ingemar Blomsterberg
Hans-Erik Magnusson
Johan Lundgren
Original Assignee
Aluwave Ab
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Aluwave Ab filed Critical Aluwave Ab
Priority to AU2001282747A priority Critical patent/AU2001282747A1/en
Publication of WO2002011823A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002011823A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B43/00—Balls with special arrangements
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B24/00—Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
    • A63B24/0021—Tracking a path or terminating locations
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B24/00—Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
    • A63B24/0021—Tracking a path or terminating locations
    • A63B2024/0053—Tracking a path or terminating locations for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an arrangement in conjunction with playing golf to enable the ball to be found in the terrain on the golf course, which comprises a searching apparatus and indication means carried by the ball.
  • a problem for golfers is that the golf ball is often difficult to find in the rough, i.e. that part of the golf course which lies outside the finely mown area. This is highly inconvenient and is the cause of considerable irritation for the golfer. This also applies to his partners and following players, since the time taken to look for the ball delays the game. Another problem for the golfer is that he loses strokes if the ball is not found. If he finds the ball with the help of the invention described below, he will improve his score. In accordance with the current rules of golf, the following apparatus may only be used in friendly games, i.e. rounds of golf in which the player is not required to adhere strictly to the official rules of golf.
  • aids for this purpose in the form of apparatuses, for example an apparatus of the kind disclosed in US 5,662,533 A, which functions with different transmitter and receiver devices, for example functioning with radiation from a transmitter, and with the ball exhibiting means which the radiation senses.
  • Other aids can be of a kind which generates a high-frequency electromagnetic field which senses metallized balls or may involve the use of radar, which similarly senses metallized balls.
  • the advantage of using transmitters which function with radiation to a receiver makes it possible not only to sense the ball when the person is in the immediate vicinity of the ball, but also to obtain information about the direction in which the ball is located. This previously disclosed arrangement is excessively complicated, however, and does not function with simple means .
  • the principal object of the present invention is thus, in the first instance, to solve the aforementioned problems by simple end efficiently functioning means.
  • the aforementioned object is achieved by means of an arrangement in accordance with the present invention, which is characterized essentially in that the searching apparatus consists of a hand-held transmitter so arranged as to function at a microwave frequency, in that the respective golf ball is provided with an electrically conducting pattern so arranged as to be resonant at the microwave frequency, in that the aforementioned electrically conducting metallic pattern carried by the golf ball is tuned to the microwave frequency range for position finding of the ball, in that the searching apparatus comprises a receiver unit with a directional antenna so arranged as to be capable of detecting the reflected output from the electrically conducting pattern of the respective golf ball, and in that the arrangement is so arranged that different polarization is used for transmission and reception.
  • Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of an arrangement in accordance with the invention in function
  • Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of a transmitter in the aid
  • Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of a receiver in the aid in accordance with the invention.
  • this arrangement 1 comprises on the one hand a searching apparatus 6 and on the other hand an indication means 7 carried by the ball.
  • the searching apparatus 6 consists of a hand-held transmitter 8, which is so arranged as to function at a microwave frequency, see Fig. 2, and has a directional antenna 9, which is arranged for searching for the position of the golf ball 3 in question in the terrain 4.
  • Each golf ball 3 is provided with an electrically conducting metallic pattern 7, preferably on its envelope surface, which is so arranged as to be resonant at the microwave frequency.
  • the aforementioned electrically conducting metallic pattern 7 carried by the golf ball is tuned to the microwave frequency range for position finding of the ball 3.
  • the searching apparatus 6 also comprises a receiver unit 10 with a receiving directional antenna 11 so arranged as to be capable of detecting the reflected output from the electrically conducting pattern 7 of the respective golf ball 3.
  • the respective golf ball 3 is thus provided with a conducing metallically resonant pattern 7, for example silver paint in a desired pattern, so that the manner in which the ball ended up in the grass 4 is of no consequence, which metallic pattern 7 is tuned to the microwave frequency.
  • the conducting pattern 7 on the ball 3 can be executed in a way which gives rise to conversion of the electromagnetic energy from linear, i.e. vertical, to horizontal polarization.
  • the conducting pattern 7 can also be executed for conversion between circular, i.e. left-right, polarization or for conversion between linear and circular polarization.
  • the arrangement 1 it is important in this case for the arrangement 1 to be so arranged that different polarization is used for transmission via the transmitter 8 and reception via the receiver unit 10.
  • the function of the arrangement 1 is for the transmitter 8 and the receiver 10 to be tuned for the generation of output and for the detection of the same through reflection of a preferably converted wave from the resonant metallic pattern 7 of the golf ball 3.
  • the transmitter 8 and the receiver 10 are arranged with bluetooth modules intended for short-range communication in the globally available ISM 2.4-2.5 GHz frequency range.
  • the transmitter 8 and the receiver 10 are so arranged that use is made of the given form and specific dielectric characteristics of the golf ball, which are so arranged as to give rise to volume resonance in the microwave range.
  • the aforementioned transmitter 8 and receiver 10 are so arranged as to detect both direct reflection and conversion between different polarizations.
  • the aforementioned receiver 10 comprises a display 12 on which there is present a pointer or some other directional aid, which indicates the direction in which, in relation to the person 2 using the ball-finding arrangement 1, the ball 3 is concealed in the long grass in the rough 4.
  • the golf ball 3 With an arrangement 1 in accordance with the invention with the golf ball 3 and its electrically conducting pattern 7, which is resonant at microwave frequencies, for example at 2.4-2.5 GHz, and the hand-held equipment 6, with a transmitter 8 and a receiver 10 with directional antennae for searching for the position of the golf ball 3 and for being able to detect the reflected output from the metallized pattern 7 of the golf ball, and by tuning the receiver 10 to the narrow-band output frequency of the transmitter, the golf ball 3 can now be readily identified from non-metallic surroundings out in the terrain 4, as well as from surrounding metallic objects in the vicinity of the golf ball, for example if other golf balls marked in other ways with a metallic coating have been left in the terrain 4 or other metallic objects that are of no interest to the golf player have been left in the rough 4.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement (1) for use in conjunction with playing golf to enable a golfer (2) to find the ball (3) easily in the terrain (4) on the golf course. The arrangement (1) comprises on the one hand the golf ball (3) provided with an electrically conducting pattern (7) which is resonant at microwave frequencies. The arrangement (1) also comprises hand-held equipment comprising a transmitter which generates output effect at a microwave frequency tuned for an applied golf ball pattern (7) and a receiver tuned to the narrow-band output frequency of the transmitter, so that the marked golf ball (3) in question can now be readily identified directionally from non-metallic surroundings. Different polarization is used in conjunction with this for transmission and reception.

Description

DEVICE FOR FINDING GOLF BALL
The present invention relates to an arrangement in conjunction with playing golf to enable the ball to be found in the terrain on the golf course, which comprises a searching apparatus and indication means carried by the ball.
A problem for golfers is that the golf ball is often difficult to find in the rough, i.e. that part of the golf course which lies outside the finely mown area. This is highly inconvenient and is the cause of considerable irritation for the golfer. This also applies to his partners and following players, since the time taken to look for the ball delays the game. Another problem for the golfer is that he loses strokes if the ball is not found. If he finds the ball with the help of the invention described below, he will improve his score. In accordance with the current rules of golf, the following apparatus may only be used in friendly games, i.e. rounds of golf in which the player is not required to adhere strictly to the official rules of golf.
There are aids for this purpose in the form of apparatuses, for example an apparatus of the kind disclosed in US 5,662,533 A, which functions with different transmitter and receiver devices, for example functioning with radiation from a transmitter, and with the ball exhibiting means which the radiation senses. Other aids can be of a kind which generates a high-frequency electromagnetic field which senses metallized balls or may involve the use of radar, which similarly senses metallized balls. The advantage of using transmitters which function with radiation to a receiver makes it possible not only to sense the ball when the person is in the immediate vicinity of the ball, but also to obtain information about the direction in which the ball is located. This previously disclosed arrangement is excessively complicated, however, and does not function with simple means .
Other known aids for finding golf balls in the rough are previously disclosed, for example through DE 4,335,169 Al, US 4,991,851 A, US 5,007,647 A and US 5,330,195 A.
US 5,662,534 A and DE 8709503 Ul also describe ball finders, although in this case the balls are provided with external objects that are intended to be seen on radar. Such balls and equipment are complicated both to use and to manufacture .
The principal object of the present invention is thus, in the first instance, to solve the aforementioned problems by simple end efficiently functioning means. The aforementioned object is achieved by means of an arrangement in accordance with the present invention, which is characterized essentially in that the searching apparatus consists of a hand-held transmitter so arranged as to function at a microwave frequency, in that the respective golf ball is provided with an electrically conducting pattern so arranged as to be resonant at the microwave frequency, in that the aforementioned electrically conducting metallic pattern carried by the golf ball is tuned to the microwave frequency range for position finding of the ball, in that the searching apparatus comprises a receiver unit with a directional antenna so arranged as to be capable of detecting the reflected output from the electrically conducting pattern of the respective golf ball, and in that the arrangement is so arranged that different polarization is used for transmission and reception.
The invention is described below in the form of a preferred illustrative embodiment, in conjunction with which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, where:
Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of an arrangement in accordance with the invention in function; Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of a transmitter in the aid; and
Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of a receiver in the aid in accordance with the invention. In accordance with the invention, which relates to an arrangement 1 for enabling a player 2 to find the ball 3 in the terrain 4, for example in the rough on the golf course 5, in conjunction with a game of golf, this arrangement 1 comprises on the one hand a searching apparatus 6 and on the other hand an indication means 7 carried by the ball.
The searching apparatus 6 consists of a hand-held transmitter 8, which is so arranged as to function at a microwave frequency, see Fig. 2, and has a directional antenna 9, which is arranged for searching for the position of the golf ball 3 in question in the terrain 4.
Each golf ball 3 is provided with an electrically conducting metallic pattern 7, preferably on its envelope surface, which is so arranged as to be resonant at the microwave frequency. The aforementioned electrically conducting metallic pattern 7 carried by the golf ball is tuned to the microwave frequency range for position finding of the ball 3.
The searching apparatus 6 also comprises a receiver unit 10 with a receiving directional antenna 11 so arranged as to be capable of detecting the reflected output from the electrically conducting pattern 7 of the respective golf ball 3. The respective golf ball 3 is thus provided with a conducing metallically resonant pattern 7, for example silver paint in a desired pattern, so that the manner in which the ball ended up in the grass 4 is of no consequence, which metallic pattern 7 is tuned to the microwave frequency. The conducting pattern 7 on the ball 3 can be executed in a way which gives rise to conversion of the electromagnetic energy from linear, i.e. vertical, to horizontal polarization. The conducting pattern 7 can also be executed for conversion between circular, i.e. left-right, polarization or for conversion between linear and circular polarization.
It is important in this case for the arrangement 1 to be so arranged that different polarization is used for transmission via the transmitter 8 and reception via the receiver unit 10.
The function of the arrangement 1 is for the transmitter 8 and the receiver 10 to be tuned for the generation of output and for the detection of the same through reflection of a preferably converted wave from the resonant metallic pattern 7 of the golf ball 3.
The transmitter 8 and the receiver 10 are arranged with bluetooth modules intended for short-range communication in the globally available ISM 2.4-2.5 GHz frequency range.
The transmitter 8 and the receiver 10 are so arranged that use is made of the given form and specific dielectric characteristics of the golf ball, which are so arranged as to give rise to volume resonance in the microwave range. The aforementioned transmitter 8 and receiver 10 are so arranged as to detect both direct reflection and conversion between different polarizations.
The aforementioned receiver 10 comprises a display 12 on which there is present a pointer or some other directional aid, which indicates the direction in which, in relation to the person 2 using the ball-finding arrangement 1, the ball 3 is concealed in the long grass in the rough 4.
With an arrangement 1 in accordance with the invention with the golf ball 3 and its electrically conducting pattern 7, which is resonant at microwave frequencies, for example at 2.4-2.5 GHz, and the hand-held equipment 6, with a transmitter 8 and a receiver 10 with directional antennae for searching for the position of the golf ball 3 and for being able to detect the reflected output from the metallized pattern 7 of the golf ball, and by tuning the receiver 10 to the narrow-band output frequency of the transmitter, the golf ball 3 can now be readily identified from non-metallic surroundings out in the terrain 4, as well as from surrounding metallic objects in the vicinity of the golf ball, for example if other golf balls marked in other ways with a metallic coating have been left in the terrain 4 or other metallic objects that are of no interest to the golf player have been left in the rough 4.
The invention is not restricted to the illustrative embodiment described above and shown in the drawings, but may be varied within the scope of the Patent Claims without departing from the idea of invention.

Claims

P a t e n t C l a i m s
1. Arrangement (1) in conjunction with playing golf to enable the ball (3) to be found in the terrain (4) on the golf course (5), which comprises a searching apparatus (6) and indication means (7) carried by the ball (3), characterized in that the searching apparatus (6) consists of a hand-held transmitter (8) so arranged as to function at a microwave frequency, in that the respective golf ball (3) is provided with an electrically conducting pattern (7) so arranged as to be resonant at the microwave frequency, in that the aforementioned electrically conducting metallic pattern (7) carried by the golf ball is tuned to the microwave frequency range for position finding of the ball (3), in that the searching apparatus (6) comprises a receiver unit (10) with a directional antenna (11) so arranged as to be capable of detecting the reflected output from the electrically conducting pattern (7) of the respective golf ball (3), and in that the arrangement (1) is so arranged that different polarization is used for transmission and reception.
2. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 1, characterized in that the transmitter (8) has a directional antenna (9) arranged for searching for the position of the golf ball (3) in question.
3. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of the above Patent Claims., . characterized in that the respective golf. ball (3) is provided with a conducting metallic pattern (7) tuned to microwave frequencies.
4. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 3, characterized in that the conducting pattern (7) is executed for conversion from linear, i.e. vertical-horizontal, polarization.
5. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 3, cha.tracte2ri.red in that the conducting pattern (7) is executed for conversion between circular, i.e. left-right, polarization.
6. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 3, characterized in that the conducting pattern (7) is executed for conversion between linear and circular polarization.
7. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of the above Patent Claims, characterized in that the transmitter (8) and the receiver (10) are tuned for the generation of output and for the detection of the same through reflection of a preferably converted wave from the resonant metallic pattern (7) of the golf ball (3) .
8. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of the above Patent Claims, characterized in that the transmitter (8) and the receiver (10) are arranged with bluetooth modules intended for short-range communication in the globally available ISM 2.4-2.5 GHz frequency range.
9. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of the above Patent Claims, characterized in that the transmitter (8) and the receiver (10) are so arranged that use is made of the given form and specific dielectric characteristics of the golf ball, which give rise to volume resonance in the microwave range.
10. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 9, characterized in that the transmitter (8) and receiver (10) are so arranged as to detect both direct reflection and conversion between different polarizations.
11. Arrangement " in accordance With "One" or other of Patent Claims 7-10, characterized in that the receiver (10) comprises a display (12) on which there is present a pointer to indicate the direction of the ball (3) .
PCT/SE2001/001690 2000-08-08 2001-08-01 Device for finding golf ball WO2002011823A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2001282747A AU2001282747A1 (en) 2000-08-08 2001-08-01 Device for finding golf ball

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE0002842-3 2000-08-08
SE0002842A SE0002842L (en) 2000-08-08 2000-08-08 Device in connection with golf

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002011823A1 true WO2002011823A1 (en) 2002-02-14

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ID=20280641

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/SE2001/001690 WO2002011823A1 (en) 2000-08-08 2001-08-01 Device for finding golf ball

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AU (1) AU2001282747A1 (en)
SE (1) SE0002842L (en)
WO (1) WO2002011823A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006017910A2 (en) * 2004-08-20 2006-02-23 Track 'n' Find Pty Ltd Device for assisting in finding an article using fluorescence
JP2007501042A (en) * 2003-08-05 2007-01-25 ゴルフスピード・インターナショナル・エルティディ Method and apparatus for searching for location of lost golf ball
GB2506896A (en) * 2012-10-11 2014-04-16 Fraser Masefield Golf ball finder system using metal detector

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4660039A (en) * 1985-02-14 1987-04-21 Barricks Mary S System for locating a sport object
DE8710803U1 (en) * 1987-08-07 1987-12-03 Schindel, Wilfried, 4150 Krefeld Golf ball
DE8709503U1 (en) * 1987-07-10 1987-12-10 Mayer, Helmut, 7342 Bad Ditzenbach Golf ball
DE3926684A1 (en) * 1989-08-12 1991-02-14 Guenter Prof Dr Hermann Golf ball locating device - analyses electromagnetic locating beam reflected from or transmitted from specially prepared golf ball
DE4335169A1 (en) * 1993-10-15 1995-04-20 Juergen Hoppe Golf ball and detector for it
US5662534A (en) * 1995-06-26 1997-09-02 Kroll; Braden W. Golf ball finding system

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4660039A (en) * 1985-02-14 1987-04-21 Barricks Mary S System for locating a sport object
DE8709503U1 (en) * 1987-07-10 1987-12-10 Mayer, Helmut, 7342 Bad Ditzenbach Golf ball
DE8710803U1 (en) * 1987-08-07 1987-12-03 Schindel, Wilfried, 4150 Krefeld Golf ball
DE3926684A1 (en) * 1989-08-12 1991-02-14 Guenter Prof Dr Hermann Golf ball locating device - analyses electromagnetic locating beam reflected from or transmitted from specially prepared golf ball
DE4335169A1 (en) * 1993-10-15 1995-04-20 Juergen Hoppe Golf ball and detector for it
US5662534A (en) * 1995-06-26 1997-09-02 Kroll; Braden W. Golf ball finding system

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2007501042A (en) * 2003-08-05 2007-01-25 ゴルフスピード・インターナショナル・エルティディ Method and apparatus for searching for location of lost golf ball
WO2006017910A2 (en) * 2004-08-20 2006-02-23 Track 'n' Find Pty Ltd Device for assisting in finding an article using fluorescence
WO2006017910A3 (en) * 2004-08-20 2006-10-26 Track N Find Pty Ltd Device for assisting in finding an article using fluorescence
GB2506896A (en) * 2012-10-11 2014-04-16 Fraser Masefield Golf ball finder system using metal detector

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE0002842L (en) 2002-02-09
SE0002842D0 (en) 2000-08-08
AU2001282747A1 (en) 2002-02-18

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