Communication system
View Patent ↗To communicate with a magnetometer ( 82 ) within a golf ball ( 20 ) used in a golf facility, an electromagnetic coil ( 30 ) is configured to supply pulsed signals to the magnetometer. A plurality of coils ( 30 ) are provided at different locations around the golf facility, and the pulsed signals are preferably coded so that the location of the golf ball is known.
1 . A golf facility comprising:
a plurality of tee apparatus each of which includes:
a support;
an electromagnetic coil that is mounted on the support and transmits a unique identification code by generating a changing magnetic field;
a cover plate that carries a marking for ball positioning; and
circuitry that supplies electrical signals to the electromagnetic coil to generate the changing magnetic field; and
a golf ball including:
a magnetometer that:
receives the unique identification code of one of the plurality of tee apparatus by detecting the changing magnetic field of the electromagnetic coil;
transitions from a low-power state to a high-power state upon detection of the changing magnetic field of one of the plurality of tee apparatus; and
upon receipt of the unique identification code, subsequently serves as a compass to monitor movement of the golf ball; and
circuitry that identifies at which of the plurality of tee apparatus the golf ball is located based on the unique identification code.
2 . A golf facility according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry of each of the plurality of tee apparatus supplies pulsed signals that are coded with the unique identification code to the electromagnetic coil.
3 . A golf facility according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry of each of the plurality of tee apparatus supplies successive messages over a predetermined range of frequencies.
4 . A golf facility according to claim 3 , wherein a data rate of the magnetometer varies by as much as plus or minus 10%.
5 . A golf facility according to claim 1 , wherein the golf ball includes a radio signal transmitter and each of the plurality of tee apparatus includes a radio signal receiver, wherein the radio signal transmitter transmits, by a radio signal, an identification code that is unique to the golf ball to the radio signal receiver of a respective one of the plurality of tee apparatus at which the golf ball is positioned.
6 . A golf facility according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of tee apparatus further includes a frame member that houses the circuitry.
7 . A golf facility according to claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of tee apparatus further includes:
a base member supported by the frame member and defining a central hole; and
a base support plate located below the central hole of the base member.
8 . A golf facility according to claim 1 , wherein the golf ball includes a radio signal transmitter that is activated when the circuitry of the golf ball transitions to the high-power state and transmits a signal including an identification code unique to the golf ball, and wherein each of the plurality of tee apparatus further includes a radio signal receiver that receives the signal including the identification code unique from the golf ball.
9 . A golf system comprising:
a tee apparatus that includes:
a support;
an electromagnetic coil mounted on the support and configured to transmit a unique identification code by generating a changing magnetic field;
a marking for ball positioning; and
circuitry configured to supply electrical signals to the electromagnetic coil to generate the changing magnetic field; and
a golf ball including:
a magnetometer configured to:
receive the unique identification code of the tee apparatus by detecting the changing magnetic field of the electromagnetic coil;
transition from a low-power state to a high-power state upon detection of the changing magnetic field of the tee apparatus; and
upon receipt of the unique identification code, subsequently serve as a compass to monitor movement of the golf ball; and
circuitry configured to identify when the golf ball is located at the tee apparatus based on the unique identification code.
10 . A golf facility according to claim 9 , wherein the golf ball includes a radio signal transmitter that is configured to activate when the circuitry of the golf ball transitions to the high-power state and transmit a signal including an identification code unique to the golf ball, and wherein the tee apparatus further includes a radio signal receiver configured to receive the signal that includes the identification code unique from the golf ball.
11 . A golf system according to claim 9 , wherein the circuitry of the tee apparatus is configured to supply pulsed signals that are coded with the unique identification code to the electromagnetic coil.
12 . A golf system according to claim 9 , wherein the circuitry of the tee apparatus is configured to supply successive messages over a predetermined range of frequencies.
13 . A golf facility according to claim 12 , wherein a data rate of the magnetometer is configured to vary by as much as plus or minus 10%.
14 . A golf system according to claim 9 , wherein the golf ball includes a radio signal transmitter and the tee apparatus includes a radio signal receiver, wherein the radio signal transmitter is configured to transmit, by a radio signal, an identification code that is unique to the golf ball to the radio signal receiver of the tee apparatus at which the golf ball is positioned.
15 . A golf system comprising:
a tee apparatus that includes:
a support;
an electromagnetic coil mounted on the support and configured to transmit a unique identification code by generating a changing magnetic field;
a marking for ball positioning;
circuitry configured to supply electrical signals to the electromagnetic coil to generate the changing magnetic field; and
a frame member that houses the circuitry; and
a golf ball including:
a magnetometer configured to:
receive the unique identification code of the tee apparatus by detecting the changing magnetic field of the electromagnetic coil; and
upon receipt of the unique identification code, subsequently serve as a compass to monitor movement of the golf ball; and
circuitry configured to identify when the golf ball is located at the tee apparatus based on the unique identification code.
16 . A golf system according to claim 15 , wherein the tee apparatus further includes:
a base member supported by the frame member and defining a central hole; and
a base support plate located below the central hole of the base member.
17 . A golf facility according to claim 15 , wherein the circuitry of the tee apparatus is configured to supply pulsed signals that are coded with the unique identification code to the electromagnetic coil.
18 . A golf facility according to claim 15 , wherein the circuitry of the tee apparatus is configured to supply successive messages over a predetermined range of frequencies.