Golf ball with rfid inlay in a molded impression
AssigneeEdge Technology
InventorsRobert Luciano, JR., Warren White, David Grieshaber
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A compressible core with an RFID tag is described. The compressible core includes an RFID integrated circuit, a carrier material, a molded compressible core, and a fill material. The RFID integrated circuit includes a memory that stores at least one unique identifier. The carrier material includes an RFID antenna electrically coupled to the RFID integrated circuit. The molded compressible core has a center and a spherical surface. Additionally, the molded compressible core includes a molded impression that receives the carrier material with the antenna and RFID integrated circuit. The fill material fills the molded impression occupied by the inlay.
Claims20
An RFID golf ball system comprising:
- an RFID golf ball including,
- an RFID integrated circuit that includes a memory configured to store at least one unique identifier;
- an RFID antenna electrically coupled to the RFID integrated circuit;
- a molded compressible core having a center and a spherical surface, wherein the molded compressible core includes a molded impression that is configured to receive the antenna and the RFID integrated circuit,
- a molded shell that encapsulates the molded compressible core generating an RFID golf ball, and;
- an RFID reader antenna disposed near a tee area, wherein the RFID reader antenna is configured to read the unique identifier associated with the RFID golf ball.
A method for reading an RFID golf ball comprising:
- dispensing an RFID golf ball within a driving range, wherein the RFID golf ball includes,
- an RFID integrated circuit that includes a memory configured to store at least one unique identifier,
- an RFID antenna electrically coupled to the RFID integrated circuit,
- a molded compressible core having a center and a spherical surface, wherein the molded compressible core includes a molded impression that is configured to receive the RFID antenna and the RFID integrated circuit,
- a molded shell that encapsulates the molded compressible core;
- and
- reading the RFID golf ball within a driving bay with at least one RFID reader.
A method for embedding an RFID tag into a compressible core, the method comprising:
- placing a compressible compound in a mold, wherein the mold includes a projection configured to leave a molded impression;
- heating the compressible compound in the mold;
- removing the mold;
- generating a molded compressible core having a center and a spherical surface, wherein the molded compressible core includes the molded impression left by the mold projection;
- placing a carrier material in the molded impression, the carrier material includes an RFID antenna electrically coupled to an RFID integrated circuit that includes a memory configured to store at least one unique identifier;
- and
- applying a fill material that fills the molded impression occupied by the carrier material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.