Sensing sport ball

Abstract

A sensing sports ball is disclosed that includes an inner core of a RF transparent polymeric potting material encapsulating a circuit board assembly electrically coupled to a power source and a transmitter and including at least one sensor electrically coupled thereto that is operably configured to ascertain at least one dynamic physical property of the sports ball, wherein the inner core defines top indentations and bottom indentations opposing the top indentations that span inwardly toward the circuit board assembly, thereby removing material to substantially equate to the weight of an inner core of a conventional sports ball. The ball also includes an outer shell layup and outer surface of a spherical shape and material of a conventional sports ball.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sensing sports ball comprising:
 an inner core of a RF transparent polymeric potting material encapsulating a circuit board assembly electrically coupled to a power source and a transmitter and including at least one sensor electrically coupled thereto that is operably configured to ascertain at least one dynamic physical property of the sports ball, the inner core defining top indentations and bottom indentations opposing the top indentations, the top and bottom indentations spanning inwardly toward the circuit board assembly; and   an outer shell layup and outer surface of a spherical shape and material of a conventional sports ball.   
     
     
         2 . The sensing sports ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner core further comprises:
 a top end, a bottom end opposing the bottom end, and defining an inner core plane disposed through a geometric mid-point disposed between the top end and bottom end of the inner core, the inner core plane sectioning the inner core into a top section with the top indentations spanning inwardly toward the inner core plane and a bottom section with the bottom indentations spanning inwardly toward the inner core plane and substantially symmetrical to the top indentations with respect to the inner core plane.   
     
     
         3 . The sensing sports ball according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the top and bottom indentations discontinuously surround a circumference of the inner core.   
     
     
         4 . The sensing sports ball according to  claim 2 , wherein the inner core further comprises:
 an outer surface forming a spherical shape.   
     
     
         5 . The sensing sports ball according to  claim 2 , wherein the circuit board assembly further comprises:
 a PCB layup with three PCBs superimposed over one another, wherein the interposed PCB is substantially aligned with the inner core plane.   
     
     
         6 . The sensing sports ball according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the interposed PCB is electrically coupled to an upper PCB board through a rigid board connector to dispose the interposed PCB and the upper PCB in a parallel configuration with one another.   
     
     
         7 . The sensing sports ball according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the interposed PCB is electrically coupled to a lower PCB through a rigid board connector to dispose the interposed PCB and the lower PCB in a parallel configuration with one another.   
     
     
         8 . The sensing sports ball according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inner core is of a weight substantially equal to the inner core of the conventional sports ball.   
     
     
         9 . The sensing sports ball according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 top and bottom indentations define a collective volume equaling approximately 15% of an overall volume of a spherical shape of the inner core of the sports ball.   
     
     
         10 . The sensing sports ball according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inner core is of a polyurethane RF transparent potting material.   
     
     
         11 . A sensing sports ball comprising:
 an inner core of a RF transparent polymeric potting material encapsulating a circuit board assembly electrically coupled to a power source and a wireless data transmitter and including at least one sensor electrically coupled thereto that is operably configured to ascertain at least one dynamic physical property of the sports ball and convey the physical property of the sports ball through the data transmitter, the inner core defining top indentations and bottom indentations opposing the top indentations, the top and bottom indentations spanning inwardly toward the circuit board assembly; and   an outer shell layup including an inner fabric winding encapsulating the inner core, a polymeric fabric winding encapsulating the inner fabric winding, and a cowhide covering encapsulating the polymeric fabric winding.   
     
     
         12 . The sensing sports ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner core further comprises:
 a top end, a bottom end opposing the bottom end, and defining an inner core plane disposed through a geometric mid-point disposed between the top end and bottom end of the inner core, the inner core plane sectioning the inner core into a top section with the top indentations spanning inwardly toward the inner core plane and a bottom section with the bottom indentations spanning inwardly toward the inner core plane and substantially symmetrical to the top indentations with respect to the inner core plane.   
     
     
         13 . The sensing sports ball according to  claim 12 , wherein the circuit board assembly further comprises:
 a PCB layup with three PCBs superimposed over one another, wherein the interposed PCB is substantially aligned with the inner core plane.   
     
     
         14 . The sensing sports ball according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the interposed PCB is electrically coupled to an upper PCB board through a rigid board connector to dispose the interposed PCB and the upper PCB in a parallel configuration with one another.   
     
     
         15 . The sensing sports ball according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the interposed PCB is electrically coupled to a lower PCB through a rigid board connector to dispose the interposed PCB and the lower PCB in a parallel configuration with one another.   
     
     
         16 . The sensing sports ball according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the inner core is of a weight substantially equal to the inner core of the conventional sports ball.   
     
     
         17 . The sensing sports ball according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the inner core is of a polyurethane RF transparent potting material.   
     
     
         18 . The sensing sports ball according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 top and bottom indentations define a collective volume substantially equaling 15% of an overall volume of the spherical shape of the outer surface of the outer shell layup.