Sports ball with sensors and transmitter

A method of manufacturing a sports ball that communicates parameters to an external electronic device related to an impact of the sports ball by a sporting implement, comprising the steps:

• providing a two-piece resilient shell, a resilient core fixed within the shell, and an electronic circuit including at least one sensor, a transmitter, and a power source, the electronic circuit adapted for communicating sensor data to the external electronic device via the transmitter and cushioned from the impact of the sporting implement by the resilient core;
• applying a center-of-gravity indicia to a first piece of the two-piece resilient shell;
• affixing the electronic circuit and resilient core together within the first piece of the two-piece resilient shell, the electronic circuit positioned so that an axis line through both the center of the resilient core and the center of gravity of the electronic circuit is aligned with the center-of-gravity indicia;
• sealing a second piece of the two-piece resilient shell around the resilient core and electronic circuit;
• and
• providing a transport package for holding a plurality of the manufactured sports balls, wherein a magnet is provided for each sports ball held therewith, whereby while the sports ball is transported the electronic circuit is deactivated by the respective magnet, preserving battery life, wherein
• the at least one sensor includes a multi-axis accelerometer adapted to report acceleration forces experienced by the sports ball in three dimensions;
• and
• the at least one sensor includes an orientation sensor adapted to measure a spin speed and spin direction of the sports ball.

A method of manufacturing a sports ball that communicates parameters to an external electronic device related to an impact of the sports ball by a sporting implement, comprising the steps:

• providing a resilient core and an electronic circuit including at least one sensor, a transmitter, and a power source, the electronic circuit adapted for communicating sensor data to the external electronic device via the transmitter and cushioned from the impact of the sporting implement by the resilient core;
• aligning the resilient core and electronic circuit within a mold for forming a resilient shell;
• injecting molten plastic material around the resilient core and electronic circuit;
• applying a center-of-gravity indicia to the resilient shell so that an axis line through both the center of the resilient core and the center of gravity of the electronic circuit is aligned with the center-of-gravity indicia;
• and
• providing a transport package for holding a plurality of the manufactured sports balls, wherein a magnet is provided for each sports ball held therewith, whereby while the sports ball is transported the electronic circuit is deactivated by the respective magnet, preserving battery life, wherein
• the at least one sensor includes a multi-axis accelerometer adapted to report acceleration forces experienced by the sports ball in three dimensions;
• and
• the at least one sensor includes an orientation sensor adapted to measure a spin speed and spin direction of the sports ball.