Wireless golf club shot count system
View Patent ↗Wireless golf club shot count system configured to obtain spatial data from at least one sensor that is coupled with a microcontroller wherein the apparatus fits into a golf club handle or weight port or otherwise couples to a golf club. The apparatus may send a unique identifier and spatial data over a self-contained radio and antenna wirelessly to an external system that may analyze and display the spatial data in a user-friendly manner. The unique identifier and/or radio through use of non-interfering communications mechanisms allows for multiple clubs one or more players to be within range of a wireless receiver and not interfere. Adapters that may be specific to each golf club manufacture allow for coupling the apparatus to any type of golf club.
1. A wireless golf club shot count system comprising:
a golf club;
an identifier coupled with said golf club wherein said identifier is associated with a golf club number and wherein said identifier is passive and does not couple with a battery;
a mobile device comprising
a computer,
an input device configured to accept a user input,
a display configured to display information including said golf club number;
said mobile device further coupled with an identifier reader;
said computer programmed to obtain said identifier and query a golfer whether to increment a shot count or not increment said shot count;
wherein said computer is further programmed to accept an input to said input device from said golfer to indicate that said shot count should be incremented for said golf club number in response to said query;
wherein said input comprises one or more of an audio-based input, a tactile-based input, or a motion-based input;
wherein said golf club does not comprise a switch or button or LED to increment said shot count;
wherein said mobile device comprises an accelerometer and said input comprises a motion-based input; and
wherein said accelerometer is configured as said input device to accept said motion-based input from said golfer to increment said shot count or to not increment said shot count so that said golfer can respond to said query while wearing one or more golf gloves.
2. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to accept an input to said input device to indicate that said shot count should not be incremented or should be decremented for said golf club number.
3. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said motion-based input to increment said shot count comprises a first motion while said input to not increment said shot count comprises a second motion.
4. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said identifier is a passive RFID.
5. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said identifier is a passive RFID mounted on an end of said golf club.
6. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said identifier is a passive RFID mounted on a shaft of said golf club.
7. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said identifier reader is an RFID reader configured to
identify multiple golf clubs in range including said golf club with said golf club number,
wherein said range is a limited distance in near proximity to said mobile device;
indicate proximity to said golf club with said golf club number when only said golf club from said multiple golf clubs in range is detected within a time threshold,
and wherein said query is made when said proximity is indicated.
8. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said identifier reader is an RFID reader configured to
identify multiple golf clubs in range including said golf club with said golf club number, and
wherein said range is a limited distance in near proximity to said mobile device;
indicate proximity to said golf club with said golf club number through attenuation of an input signal to said RFID reader, wherein said RFID is limited in a proximity range so that said RFID reader indicates only said golf club from said multiple golf clubs that is closest in near proximity within said proximity range.
9. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said identifier reader is an RFID reader and wherein said computer is further configured to detect that said golfer has moved and detect when said golfer has moved after said mobile device is stationary for a time threshold, and provide said query or an additional query to said golfer whether to increment said shot count or not to increment said shot count after detecting when said golfer has moved after said mobile device is stationary for a time threshold.
10. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said mobile device further comprises a vibration component and wherein said computer is programmed to provide one or more of said query or an additional query to said golfer using vibration via said vibration component.
11. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said mobile device comprises a position determination component configured to mark a location associated with said increment of said shot count.
12. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said mobile device comprises a position determination component configured to mark a location associated with said increment of said shot count and present said location on a map shown on said display of said mobile device.
13. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said mobile device comprises a GPS component configured to mark a location associated with said increment of said shot count.
14. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said mobile device comprises a GPS component configured to mark a location associated with said increment of said shot count and present said location on a map shown on said display of said mobile device.
15. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor configured to determine when said golf club strikes a golf ball.
16. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor configured to determine when said golf club strikes a golf ball via vibration analysis.
17. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 3 wherein said first motion comprises a first shake of said mobile device and said second motion comprises a second shake of said mobile device, wherein said first shake and said second shake are of different directions.
18. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further programmed to
identify multiple golf clubs in range; and,
query said user as to which golf club of said multiple golf clubs is selected, or
automatically select said golf club from said multiple golf clubs through attenuation of an input signal to said RFID reader, wherein said RFID reader indicates only said golf club from said multiple golf clubs with the strongest input signal.
19. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 16 further comprising at least one sensor configured to detect a speed range of said golf club when said golf club strikes a golf ball to determine whether said golf club is travelling within an acceptable speed range for incrementing said shot count or not incrementing said shot count.
20. A wireless golf club shot count system comprising:
a golf club; an identifier coupled with said golf club wherein said identifier is associated with a golf club number and wherein said identifier is passive and does not couple with a battery;
a mobile device comprising:
a computer;
an input device configured to accept a user input;
a display configured to display information including said golf club number;
said mobile device further coupled with an identifier reader;
said computer programmed to obtain said identifier and query a golfer whether to increment a shot count or not increment said shot count;
wherein said computer is further programmed to accept an input to said input device from said golfer to indicate that said shot count should be incremented for said golf club number in response to said query;
wherein said input comprises one or more of an audio-based input, a tactile-based input, or a motion-based input;
wherein said golf club does not comprise a switch or button or LED to increment said shot count; wherein said mobile device comprises an accelerometer and said input comprises a motion-based input;
wherein said accelerometer is configured as said input device to accept said motion-based input from said golfer to increment said shot count or to not increment said shot count so that said golfer can respond to said query while wearing one or more golf gloves;
wherein said identifier reader is a passive RFID reader and wherein said computer is further configured to detect that said golfer has moved and detect when said golfer has moved after said mobile device is stationary for a time threshold, and provide said query or an additional query to said golfer whether to increment said shot count or not to increment said shot count after detecting when said golfer has moved after said mobile device is stationary for a time threshold.