Ball game apparatus
OwnerDavid Victor Jolliffe, Steven Paul Jolliffeinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ball game apparatus in which movements of a coded ball are detected by detector units and an automatic indication of a player's score is given, where data relating to the ball are stored in a database connected to the detector units, the data including the code of a ball and a code relating to a player to whom the ball has been allocated, the ball being configured to temporarily store, and to intermittently transfer to the detector units and thence to the database, data relating to the ball's movements. A rechargeable battery is contained within the ball, and is arranged to be charged by a battery charging system. Features of the game may be controlled by means of a player's mobile telephone.
Claims20
A golf game system, comprising:
- a golf ball including a ball antenna, a rechargeable battery, and memory, wherein the memory is configured to temporarily store ball-movement data of the golf ball during a golf game;
- a tray defining a ball-receiving socket for receiving the golf ball and including a charging coil adjacent the ball-receiving socket for inductively charging the golf ball via the ball antenna;
- an activator unit including an activator antenna and configured to:
- activate the golf ball before the golf game has been started when the golf ball is passed next to the activator antenna;
- and
- subsequently deactivate the golf ball after the golf game has been completed when the golf ball is again passed next to the activator antenna;
- detector units positioned along a course, wherein the detector units are configured to detect movement of the golf ball along the course while the golf game is played based on wireless communication with the ball antenna, wherein the ball-movement data of the golf ball is transferred to at least one of the detector units via the ball antenna;
- a database connected to the detector units and associated with a central control unit, wherein the database is configured to store the ball-movement data of the golf ball and a player code associated with a corresponding player;
- and
- a mobile phone configured to present a score of the player while the golf game is being played.
A method for operating a golf game system, the method comprising:
- inductively charging a golf ball on a tray, wherein the golf ball includes a ball antenna and a rechargeable battery, wherein the tray defines a ball-receiving socket for receiving the golf ball and includes a charging coil adjacent the ball-receiving socket for inductively charging the golf ball via the ball antenna;
- activating the golf ball via an activator unit when the golf ball is passed next to an activator antenna of the activator unit;
- detecting movement of the golf ball along a course while a golf game is played, wherein the movement of the golf ball is detected based on wireless communication between the ball antenna and detector units positioned along the course;
- temporarily storing ball-movement data in memory of the golf ball;
- transferring the ball-movement data via the ball antenna to at least one of the detector units;
- storing the ball-movement data of the golf ball and a player code associated with a corresponding player in a database that is connected to the detector units and associated with a central control unit;
- presenting a score of the player while the golf game is being played;
- and
- deactivating the golf ball after the golf game has been completed when the golf ball is again passed next to the activator antenna of the activator unit.
An activator unit for a ball game, the activator unit comprising:
- a body defining a cavity through which a ball is capable of traveling;
- and
- an activator antenna adjacent to the cavity, wherein the activator unit is configured to communicate with a ball antenna of the ball as the ball travels through the cavity to transition the ball between an “on” condition and an “off” condition,
- wherein the activator unit is configured to switch the ball from the “off” condition to the “on” condition at a start of the ball game to enable monitoring of the ball during the ball game, and
- wherein the activator unit is configured to switch the ball from the “on” condition to the “off” condition at an end of the ball game to stop the monitoring of the ball.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.