US 9,808,677 B2 · Ball game apparatus

Abstract

A ball game apparatus comprises a control device (14, 24, 52, 60) which defines a predetermined range of allowable movements of a ball (10, 20, 40, 70) over space and time, sensing means (12, 22, 42) for detecting the actual movements of a ball, comparison means for comparing an actual movement to the predetermined range of allowable movements, and indicating means (16, 34, 54, 62) for indicating the output of the said comparing. The sensing means (12, 22, 42) comprises a multi-axis accelerometer contained in the ball and having accelerometer, gyroscope and/or magnetometer functions. The ball may be activated by an internal magnetically-operated switch (17, 22, 47). The control device and indicating means can be incorporated in the ball itself or in a separate portable computing device.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A golf facility, comprising:

a plurality of balls;
a plurality of holes;
a control device which defines a predetermined range of allowable movements of the balls over space and time, wherein the predetermined range of allowable movements includes a sequence of translational accelerations and rotational accelerations, wherein the sequence includes a valid sequence of shots for each hole, wherein the predetermined range of allowable movements includes specific movements of a ball to define a movement signature, wherein each hole has a respective movement signature for identifying valid strokes for that hole;
sensing means for detecting the actual movements of the ball;
comparison means for comparing an actual movement to the predetermined range of allowable movements;
and
indicating means for indicating the output of the comparing.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ball game apparatus

Life of this patent

Ball game apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11