Golf ball with encapsulated rfid tag

Abstract

The golf ball includes an RFID tag, a substrate, a conductive ink, a single golf core material and a dimpled cover. The RFID tag includes an integrated circuit and an antenna. The antenna includes a circular antenna that is electrically coupled to the integrated circuit. The substrate material encapsulates the RFID tag to generate an encapsulated RFID tag on the planar surface. The substrate material has the substantially circular shape to encapsulate the antenna.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball, comprising:
 an RFID tag that includes an integrated circuit and an antenna;   an encapsulated RFID tag that includes a substrate material that encapsulates the integrated circuit and the antenna, wherein the encapsulated RFID tag has a planar surface and a substantially circular shape;   a single golf core material that encases the encapsulated RFID tag; and   a dimpled cover that further encases the single core material and the encapsulated RFID tag.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1  wherein the single golf core material that encases the encapsulated RFID tag is generated with a mold that is heated. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 1  wherein the antenna includes a circular antenna that is electrically coupled with the integrated circuit. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1  wherein the integrated circuit includes at least one contact pad that is electrically coupled to the circular antenna. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 1  wherein the integrated circuit includes at least two contact pads that are electrically coupled to the circular antenna. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1  wherein the substrate materials includes a rigid material that includes a resin material. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 1  wherein the substrate includes a flexible material. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 1  wherein the antenna includes a conductive ink that is printed on the substrate material and the conductive ink is electrically coupled to the integrated circuit. 
     
     
         9 . A golf ball, comprising:
 an RFID tag that includes an integrated circuit and an antenna, wherein the antenna includes a circular antenna on a planar surface that is electrically coupled to the integrated circuit;   a substrate material that encapsulates the RFID tag to generate an encapsulated RFID tag on the planar surface, wherein the substrate material has the substantially circular shape to encapsulate the antenna;   the substrate material includes a rigid material;   a single golf core material that encases the encapsulated RFID tag; and   a dimpled cover that further encases the single core material and the encapsulated RFID tag.   
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 9  wherein the single golf core material that encases the encapsulated RFID tag is generated with a mold that is heated. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 9  wherein the integrated circuit includes at least one contact pad that is electrically coupled to the circular antenna. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 9  wherein the integrated circuit includes at least two contact pads that are electrically coupled to the circular antenna. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 9  wherein the substrate includes a flexible material that is selected from a silicon based compound, PVC, Teslin and urethane. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 9  wherein the rigid material includes a resin. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 9  wherein the circular antenna includes a conductive ink that is printed on the substrate material and the conductive ink is electrically coupled to the integrated circuit. 
     
     
         16 . A golf ball, comprising:
 an RFID tag that includes an integrated circuit and an antenna, wherein the antenna includes a circular antenna that is electrically coupled to the integrated circuit;   a substrate material that encapsulates the RFID tag to generate an encapsulated RFID tag on the planar surface, wherein the substrate material has the substantially circular shape to encapsulate the antenna;   the substrate material includes a polymer compound having a rigid material property;   a conductive ink is printed on the substrate material;   the conductive ink is electrically coupled to the integrated circuit;   a single golf core material that encases the encapsulated RFID tag;   a single golf core material that encases the encapsulated RFID tag, wherein the single golf core material that encases the encapsulated RFID tag is generated with a mold that is heated; and   a dimpled cover that further encases the single core material and the encapsulated RFID tag.   
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 16  wherein the integrated circuit includes at least one contact pad that is electrically coupled to the circular antenna. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 16  wherein the integrated circuit includes at least two contact pads that are electrically coupled to the circular antenna. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball of  claim 16  wherein the substrate includes a flexible material that is selected from a silicon based compound, PVC, Teslin and urethane.