Self-recording golf ball, golf ball cup, and reading device system

Abstract

The present invention provides a self-recording golf ball having an inner core defined by an outer cover, said golf ball further comprising a microprocessor, a power source, a receive and transmit device, and a piezo sensor electrically connected to one another and housed within said inner core of said golf ball; wherein the microprocessor further is programmed to record data corresponding to strokes received by the ball and to transmit the data, via the receive and transmit device, to a second microprocessor.

1 . A golf ball comprising: 
 an inner core surrounded by an outer cover;    a microprocessor, a power source, a receive and transmit device, and a piezo sensor electrically connected to one another and housed within said inner core;    wherein the microprocessor is pre-programmed with information identifying the golf ball,    wherein the piezo sensor is operable to detect when the ball has been struck and to subsequently activate the microprocessor;    wherein the microprocessor is pre-programmed to (i) record data corresponding to one stroke upon activation (ii) to record a magnitude of force of said one stroke, and (iii) to subsequently ignore signals transmitted by said piezo sensor after said one stroke is received by said ball for a period of time thereafter correlative to said magnitude of force of said one stroke;    wherein the receive and transmit device is operable to receive an incoming signal and to transmit the identification of the ball and any recorded data in response the incoming signal.    
     
     
         2 . The ball of  claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is programmed to remain in a low power sleep mode prior to activation by the piezo sensor.  
     
     
         3 . The ball of  claim 1 , wherein the receive and transmit device is selected from radio frequency coils, ultrasonic devices, audio devices, vibratory devices, and optical devices.  
     
     
         4 . The ball of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is rechargeable.  
     
     
         5 . The ball of  claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is further programmed such that upon transmission of data, the data correlating to the number and magnitude of force of the strokes received by the ball is erased.  
     
     
         6 . The ball of  claim 1 , wherein the inner core further comprises a centrally disposed compartment, wherein said microprocessor and power source of said golf ball are housed within said compartment and said piezo sensor and device of said golf ball are disposed between said compartment and said outer cover.  
     
     
         7 . A golf ball cup for receiving a golf ball, said cup comprising: 
 a cup body;    a means for sensing when a golf ball enters the cup body;    a means for signaling the golf ball to transmit data;    a means for receiving data transmitted from the golf ball;    a means for storing data transmitted from the golf ball; and    a means for transmitting the data to a remote computer;    wherein the means for sensing when a golf ball enters the cup body, the means for signaling the golf ball to transmit data, the means for receiving data transmitted from the golf ball, the means for storing data transmitted from the golf ball; and the means for transmitting the data to a remote computer, are all electrically connected to each other and mounted on or within the cup body and powered by a power source.    
     
     
         8 . The cup of  claim 7 , wherein the means for signaling the golf ball to transmit data, the means for receiving data transmitted from the golf ball, and the means for transmitting the data to a remote computer, are all provided by a receive and transmit device.  
     
     
         9 . The cup of  claim 7 , wherein the means for sensing when a golf ball enters the cup body is provided by a piezo sensor.  
     
     
         10 . The cup of  claim 7 , wherein the means for storing data transmitted from the golf ball is provided by a microprocessor.  
     
     
         11 . The cup of  claim 10 , wherein the microprocessor is programmed to remain in a low power sleep mode prior to activation by the piezo sensor.  
     
     
         12 . The cup of  claim 8 , wherein the receive and transmit device is selected from radio frequency coils, ultrasonic devices, audio devices, vibratory devices, and optical devices.  
     
     
         13 . The cup of  claim 7 , wherein the power source is rechargeable.  
     
     
         14 . The cup of  claim 7 , wherein the microprocessor is further programmed such that upon transmission of data to a remote computer, the data is erased from the microprocessor.  
     
     
         15 . The cup of  claim 7 , wherein the data is selected from data corresponding to a number of strokes received by the ball and a magnitude of each stroke received by the ball.  
     
     
         16 . A golf ball scoring method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a golf ball comprising an inner core surrounded by an outer cover, a microprocessor, a power source, a receive and transmit device, and a piezo sensor electrically connected to one another and housed within said inner core, wherein the microprocessor is pre-programmed with information identifying the golf ball;    providing a golf ball cup for receiving the golf ball, said cup comprising a microprocessor, a power source, a receive and transmit device, and a piezo sensor electrically connected to one another and mounted on or within said cup;    providing a central scoring computer remote from the golf ball cup;    hitting the golf ball with a plurality of different golf clubs toward the cup;    recording and storing data within the ball for each time the ball is struck with one of the plurality of different golf clubs;    hitting the ball into the cup with one of the plurality of different clubs such that the ball strikes the cup piezo sensor upon entering said cup,    activating the cup microprocessor based on a signal from the cup piezo sensor that the ball has entered the cup,    transmitting a signal from the cup and receiving the signal by the ball;    transmitting the data from the ball and receiving the data by the cup;    storing the data in the cup microprocessor; and    transmitting the data from the cup microprocessor to the remote central scoring computer.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of: 
 ignoring signals transmitted by said ball piezo sensor after said ball is hit with one of the plurality of clubs for a period of time correlative to a magnitude of force of the hit.