# US 2020/0391084 A1 · Sports Ball with Electronics Housed in Shock-Absorbing Carrier > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0391084 A1 - Document ID: US20200391084A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/903,652 - Filed: 2020-06-17 - Published: 2020-12-17 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-17 - Assignees: ShotTracker, Inc. - Applicants: ShotTracker, Inc. - Inventors: Bruce C. IANNI; Davyeon D. ROSS; Michael MAZIARZ; Clint A. KAHLER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200391084A1 ## CPC - A63B 43/004: {electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration} - A63B 41/02: Bladders - A63B 45/00: Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls (working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29) - A63B 2024/0028: {Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch} - A63B 2209/00: Characteristics of used materials - A63B 2220/833: Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement - A63B 2225/01: Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages - A63B 2225/15: with identification means that can be read by electronic means - A63B 2225/50: Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry - A63B 2225/54: Transponders, e.g. RFID - A63B 2225/62: Inflatable - A63B 2243/0037: Basketball - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A sports ball includes sensing electronics embedded therein. The electronics are supported on an inner surface of the wall of the ball within an elastomeric boot that extends inwardly toward the center of the ball. The elastomeric boot is configured to protect the electronics from damage due to shock as the ball is used, and to have little if any effect on the performance characteristics of the ball. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sports ball, comprising: an inflatable bladder; and a sensor module attached to the inner surface of the wall of the bladder and extending internally into the bladder, toward the center of the ball, with the sensor module comprising an elastomeric boot and a sensor assembly disposed within a pocket in the elastomeric boot; wherein the sensor assembly includes a substrate; a rechargeable battery secured to one side of the substrate; and a wireless-resonant-charging coil connected to an end of the substrate and arranged to recharge the rechargeable battery, with the wireless-resonant-charging coil being located, within the boot, at a position that is spaced a distance from the wall of the bladder in a direction toward the center of the ball. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sports ball according to claim 1, wherein the wireless-resonant-charging coil is oriented perpendicularly to the substrate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sports ball according to claim 2, wherein the wireless-resonant-charging coil is located at an end of the substrate that is closer to the wall of the bladder than the opposite end of the substrate is located and the wireless-resonant-charging coil is generally parallel to the wall of the bladder in the vicinity of the point of attachment of the sensor module to the bladder. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sports ball according to claim 1, wherein the boot conforms substantially to the shape of the sensor assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The sports ball according to claim 4, wherein the boot includes a longitudinally extending rib extending into the pocket to secure the sensor assembly within the pocket while maintaining a slight amount of unoccupied space within the boot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sports ball according to claim 1, further comprising an antenna disposed on the substrate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The sports ball according to claim 6, wherein the antenna is located on a side of the substrate that is opposite to the side of the substrate on which the battery is located. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The sports ball according to claim 6, wherein the antenna is located at an end of the substrate that is opposite to the end of the substrate to which the wireless-resonant-charging coil is attached. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The sports ball according to claim 6, wherein the antenna is located at an end of the substrate that is closest to the center of the ball. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sports ball according to claim 1, further comprising a radio transmitter connected to the substrate, the radio transmitter configured to transmit a unique identification code that is specific to the ball. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The sports ball according to claim 10, wherein the radio transmitter is a chip-based, ultra-wide-band radio transmitter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The sports ball according to claim 1, further comprising a plug-shaped cap disposed within an end of the pocket that is closest to the bladder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The sports ball according to claim 12, wherein the cap includes a circumferential rib located approximately in the middle of the cap in the lengthwise direction and the pocket includes a circumferential groove formed in a wall thereof and the circumferential rib fits within the circumferential groove to secure the cap, and therefore the sensor assembly, within the boot. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The sports ball according to claim 1, wherein the boot includes a flange by means of which the boot is secured to the wall of the bladder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The sports ball according to claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a printed circuit board. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The sports ball according to claim 1, wherein the boot is longitudinally symmetrical. ### Claim 17 A sports ball, comprising: an inflatable bladder; and a sensor module attached to the inner surface of the wall of the bladder and extending internally into the bladder, toward the center of the ball, with the sensor module comprising an elastomeric boot with an open lower end and a sensor assembly disposed within a pocket in the elastomeric boot and extending beyond the open lower end of the elastomeric boot; wherein the sensor assembly includes a substrate; a rechargeable battery secured to one side of the substrate; and a wireless-resonant-charging coil connected to an end of the substrate and arranged to recharge the rechargeable battery, with the wireless-resonant-charging coil being located, within the boot, at a position that is spaced a distance from the wall of the bladder in a direction toward the center of the ball; and wherein the substrate, the rechargeable battery, and the wireless-resonant-charging coil are overmolded and encased within a covering material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The sports ball according to claim 17, wherein the wireless-resonant-charging coil is oriented perpendicularly to the substrate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The sports ball according to claim 18, wherein the wireless-resonant-charging coil is located at an end of the substrate that is closer to the wall of the bladder than the opposite end of the substrate is located and the wireless-resonant-charging coil is generally parallel to the wall of the bladder in the vicinity of the point of attachment of the sensor module to the bladder. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The sports ball according to claim 17, wherein the boot conforms substantially to the shape of the sensor assembly. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The sports ball according to claim 20, wherein the boot includes a longitudinally extending rib extending into the pocket to secure the sensor assembly within the pocket while maintaining a slight amount of unoccupied space within the boot. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The sports ball according to claim 17, further comprising an antenna disposed on the substrate. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The sports ball according to claim 22, wherein the antenna is located on a side of the substrate that is opposite to the side of the substrate on which the battery is located. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The sports ball according to claim 22, wherein the antenna is located at an end of the substrate that is opposite to the end of the substrate to which the wireless-resonant-charging coil is attached. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The sports ball according to claim 22, wherein the antenna is located at an end of the substrate that is closest to the center of the ball. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) The sports ball according to claim 17, further comprising a radio transmitter connected to the substrate, the radio transmitter configured to transmit a unique identification code that is specific to the ball. ### Claim 27 (depends on 18) The sports ball according to claim 18, wherein the radio transmitter is a chip-based, ultra-wide-band radio transmitter. ### Claim 28 (depends on 17) The sports ball according to claim 17, further comprising a plug-shaped cap disposed within an end of the pocket that is closest to the bladder. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The sports ball according to claim 28, wherein the cap includes a circumferential rib located approximately in the middle of the cap in the lengthwise direction and the pocket includes a circumferential groove formed in a wall thereof and the circumferential rib fits within the circumferential groove to secure the cap, and therefore the sensor assembly, within the boot. ### Claim 30 (depends on 17) The sports ball according to claim 17, wherein the boot includes a flange by means of which the boot is secured to the wall of the bladder. ### Claim 31 (depends on 17) The sports ball according to claim 17, wherein the substrate comprises a printed circuit board. ### Claim 32 (depends on 17) The sports ball according to claim 17, wherein the boot is longitudinally symmetrical.