Apparatuses, methods and systems relating to findable golf balls

Abstract

Golf balls and a system for finding golf balls and methods for making golf balls and methods for using such balls. In the case of one exemplary golf ball, the ball includes a shell and a core material which is encased in the shell and a tag which is disposed within the core material and which has at least one perforation. The tag includes a diode and an antenna which are coupled together. Another exemplary golf ball includes a shell and a core material which is encased within the shell and a tag which is within the core material and which includes an electrical element which is coupled to an antenna; the tag is detectable over a range of at least 20 feet from a handheld device, and the golf ball has high durability and substantially complies with the golf ball specifications of the United States Golf Association.

1 . A handheld apparatus for communicating with a tag, comprising: 
 a receiving device which is capable of detecting a tag,    an antenna coupled to the receiving device;    the handheld apparatus to derive power from a power source coupled to a golf cart.    
   
   
       2 . The handheld apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the tag includes an antenna and both the tag and the antenna are embedded within a golf ball.  
   
   
       3 . The handheld apparatus as in  claim 2  wherein said golf ball complies with golf ball specification of the United States Golf Association or the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and wherein the golf cart is one of a motorized cart or a pull cart.  
   
   
       4 . The handheld apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said transmitting/receiving device is compliant with all regulations of the Federal Communications Commission.  
   
   
       5 . The handheld apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the handheld apparatus has a rechargeable battery that is rechargeable using a battery coupled the golf cart.  
   
   
       6 . The handheld apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a transmitting device.  
   
   
       7 . The handheld apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the cart further includes a recharging unit to deliver said power from said power source to the handheld apparatus.  
   
   
       8 . A handheld apparatus for communicating with a tag, comprising: 
 a display;    a transmitting/receiving device which is capable of detecting a tag,    an antenna coupled to the transmitting/receiving device;    a rechargeable battery to derive power from a power source coupled to a golf-cart.    
   
   
       9 . The handheld apparatus as in  claim 8  wherein the tag includes an antenna and both the tag and the antenna are embedded within a golf ball.  
   
   
       10 . The handheld apparatus as in  claim 9  wherein said golf ball complies with golf ball specification of the United States Golf Association or the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and wherein the golf cart is one of a motorized cart or a pull cart.  
   
   
       11 . The handheld apparatus as in  claim 10  wherein said transmitting/receiving device is compliant with all regulations of the Federal Communications Commission.  
   
   
       12 . The handheld apparatus as in  claim 8  wherein the golf cart further includes a recharging system to deliver said power from said power source to the handheld apparatus.  
   
   
       13 . A system for communicating with a tag, comprising: 
 a handheld apparatus further comprising: 
 a display,  
 a transmitting/receiving device which is capable of detecting a tag,  
 an antenna coupled to the transmitting/receiving device,  
 the handheld apparatus to derive power from a power source coupled to a cart;  
   the cart which is motorized or manually operated; and    an object to which the tag is coupled.    
   
   
       14 . The system as in  claim 13  wherein the tag includes an antenna and both the tag and the antenna are embedded within a golf ball.  
   
   
       15 . The system as in  claim 14  wherein said golf ball complies with golf ball specification of the United States Golf Association or the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and wherein the cart is one of a motorized golf cart or a pull cart.  
   
   
       16 . The system as in  claim 13  wherein said transmitting/receiving device is compliant with all regulations of the Federal Communications Commission.  
   
   
       17 . The system as in  claim 13  wherein the cart is a golf cart and the golf cart is driven by a motor with a rechargeable system connected between the power source and the handheld apparatus.  
   
   
       18 . The system as in  claim 13  wherein the cart is a golf cart which is motorized and powered by one of gasoline and electric power.  
   
   
       19 . A method of communicating with a tag, comprising: 
 deriving power for a handheld apparatus having an antenna and a transmitting/receiving device from a power source coupled to a cart;    transmitting a first electromagnetic signal from the handheld apparatus to a tag embedded in an object;    reflecting, a second electromagnetic signal from the tag back to the transmitting/receiving device in the handheld apparatus; and    finding the tag based on the receiving signal strength of the second electromagnetic signal.    
   
   
       20 . The method as in  claim 19  wherein the tag includes an antenna and both the tag and the antenna are embedded within the object that is a golf ball.  
   
   
       21 . The method as in  claim 20  wherein said golf ball complies with golf ball specification of the United States Golf Association or the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and wherein the cart is one of a motorized golf cart or a pull cart.  
   
   
       22 . The method as in  claim 19  wherein said transmitting/receiving device is compliant with all regulations of the Federal Communications Commission.  
   
   
       23 . The method as in  claim 19  wherein the cart is a golf cart and the golf cart is driven by a motor with the power source of a rechargeable battery.  
   
   
       24 . The method as in  claim 19  wherein the handheld apparatus further comprises a rechargeable battery that is rechargeable from a rechargeable unit coupled to the power source supplying power to the cart which is a golf cart.  
   
   
       25 . The method as in  claim 19  wherein the cart is a golf cart motorized and powered by one of gasoline and electric power.