# US 8,465,376 B2 · Wireless golf club shot count system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,376 B2 - Document ID: US8465376B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/048,850 - Filed: 2011-03-15 - Published: 2012-03-01 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-26 - Assignees: Blast Motion Inc. - Applicants: Michael Bentley - Inventors: Michael Bentley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465376B2 ## CPC - A63B 69/3623: {for driving (A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence)} - A63B 24/0006: {Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement} - A63B 24/0021: {Tracking a path or terminating locations} - A63B 60/46: Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing - A63B 71/0622: {Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user} - A63B 2024/0031: {at the starting point} - A63B 2071/0647: {Visualisation of executed movements} - A63B 2102/02: Tennis - A63B 2102/18: Baseball, rounders or similar games - A63B 2102/32: Golf - A63B 2220/10: Positions - A63B 2220/12: Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS - A63B 2220/30: Speed - A63B 2220/40: Acceleration - A63B 2220/805: Optical or opto-electronic sensors - A63B 2220/806: Video cameras - A63B 2220/807: Photo cameras - A63B 2220/833: Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement - A63B 2220/836: Sensors arranged on the body of the user - A63B 2225/20: with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like - A63B 2225/50: Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry - G06V 40/23: {Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training} - H04M 1/72412: using two-way short-range wireless interfaces - H04M 2250/52: including functional features of a camera - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Wireless golf club shot count system configured to obtain spatial data from at least one sensor that is coupled with a microcontroller wherein the apparatus fits into a golf club handle or weight port or otherwise couples to a golf club. The apparatus may send a unique identifier and spatial data over a self-contained radio and antenna wirelessly to an external system that may analyze and display the spatial data in a user-friendly manner. The unique identifier and/or radio through use of non-interfering communications mechanisms allows for multiple clubs one or more players to be within range of a wireless receiver and not interfere. Adapters that may be specific to each golf club manufacture allow for coupling the apparatus to any type of golf club. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wireless golf club shot count system comprising: a golf club; an identifier coupled with said golf club wherein said identifier is associated with a golf club number and wherein said identifier is passive and does not couple with a battery; a mobile device comprising a computer, an input device configured to accept a user input, a display configured to display information including said golf club number; said mobile device further coupled with an identifier reader; said computer programmed to obtain said identifier and query a golfer whether to increment a shot count or not increment said shot count; wherein said computer is further programmed to accept an input to said input device from said golfer to indicate that said shot count should be incremented for said golf club number in response to said query; wherein said input comprises one or more of an audio-based input, a tactile-based input, or a motion-based input; wherein said golf club does not comprise a switch or button or LED to increment said shot count; wherein said mobile device comprises an accelerometer and said input comprises a motion-based input; and wherein said accelerometer is configured as said input device to accept said motion-based input from said golfer to increment said shot count or to not increment said shot count so that said golfer can respond to said query while wearing one or more golf gloves. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to accept an input to said input device to indicate that said shot count should not be incremented or should be decremented for said golf club number. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said motion-based input to increment said shot count comprises a first motion while said input to not increment said shot count comprises a second motion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said identifier is a passive RFID. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said identifier is a passive RFID mounted on an end of said golf club. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said identifier is a passive RFID mounted on a shaft of said golf club. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said identifier reader is an RFID reader configured to identify multiple golf clubs in range including said golf club with said golf club number, wherein said range is a limited distance in near proximity to said mobile device; indicate proximity to said golf club with said golf club number when only said golf club from said multiple golf clubs in range is detected within a time threshold, and wherein said query is made when said proximity is indicated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said identifier reader is an RFID reader configured to identify multiple golf clubs in range including said golf club with said golf club number, and wherein said range is a limited distance in near proximity to said mobile device; indicate proximity to said golf club with said golf club number through attenuation of an input signal to said RFID reader, wherein said RFID is limited in a proximity range so that said RFID reader indicates only said golf club from said multiple golf clubs that is closest in near proximity within said proximity range. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said identifier reader is an RFID reader and wherein said computer is further configured to detect that said golfer has moved and detect when said golfer has moved after said mobile device is stationary for a time threshold, and provide said query or an additional query to said golfer whether to increment said shot count or not to increment said shot count after detecting when said golfer has moved after said mobile device is stationary for a time threshold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said mobile device further comprises a vibration component and wherein said computer is programmed to provide one or more of said query or an additional query to said golfer using vibration via said vibration component. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said mobile device comprises a position determination component configured to mark a location associated with said increment of said shot count. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said mobile device comprises a position determination component configured to mark a location associated with said increment of said shot count and present said location on a map shown on said display of said mobile device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said mobile device comprises a GPS component configured to mark a location associated with said increment of said shot count. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said mobile device comprises a GPS component configured to mark a location associated with said increment of said shot count and present said location on a map shown on said display of said mobile device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor configured to determine when said golf club strikes a golf ball. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor configured to determine when said golf club strikes a golf ball via vibration analysis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 3) The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 3 wherein said first motion comprises a first shake of said mobile device and said second motion comprises a second shake of said mobile device, wherein said first shake and said second shake are of different directions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further programmed to identify multiple golf clubs in range; and, query said user as to which golf club of said multiple golf clubs is selected, or automatically select said golf club from said multiple golf clubs through attenuation of an input signal to said RFID reader, wherein said RFID reader indicates only said golf club from said multiple golf clubs with the strongest input signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 16 further comprising at least one sensor configured to detect a speed range of said golf club when said golf club strikes a golf ball to determine whether said golf club is travelling within an acceptable speed range for incrementing said shot count or not incrementing said shot count. ### Claim 20 A wireless golf club shot count system comprising: a golf club; an identifier coupled with said golf club wherein said identifier is associated with a golf club number and wherein said identifier is passive and does not couple with a battery; a mobile device comprising: a computer; an input device configured to accept a user input; a display configured to display information including said golf club number; said mobile device further coupled with an identifier reader; said computer programmed to obtain said identifier and query a golfer whether to increment a shot count or not increment said shot count; wherein said computer is further programmed to accept an input to said input device from said golfer to indicate that said shot count should be incremented for said golf club number in response to said query; wherein said input comprises one or more of an audio-based input, a tactile-based input, or a motion-based input; wherein said golf club does not comprise a switch or button or LED to increment said shot count; wherein said mobile device comprises an accelerometer and said input comprises a motion-based input; wherein said accelerometer is configured as said input device to accept said motion-based input from said golfer to increment said shot count or to not increment said shot count so that said golfer can respond to said query while wearing one or more golf gloves; wherein said identifier reader is a passive RFID reader and wherein said computer is further configured to detect that said golfer has moved and detect when said golfer has moved after said mobile device is stationary for a time threshold, and provide said query or an additional query to said golfer whether to increment said shot count or not to increment said shot count after detecting when said golfer has moved after said mobile device is stationary for a time threshold.