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Transmitter tagRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Ball, Having Locator MeansTransmitter tag description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070032314, Transmitter tag. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The present invention relates to a transmitter tag, and more particularly but not limited to a transmitter tag for a golf ball. [0002] Golf is a well known, and popular game in which a participant attempts to use a golf club to hit a golf ball into one of a series of holes in as few shots as possible. One issue associated with the game is the frequent loss of golf balls, which can occur. Lost or irretrievable balls result in the participant incurring penalty points thereby negating the objective of the game. Furthermore, the loss of balls adds to the financial cost of playing the game, and can result in a relatively large amount of much time being spent searching for the lost balls. The time spent searching for golf balls can also reduce the throughput of players on a golf course, thereby having a negative impact, not just on the participant, who has lost the ball but on other players also. [0003] Solutions to help players locate golf balls have been proposed in the past. One such example comprises a golf ball, which flashes for a preset period after it has been struck. However, such systems rely on a line of sight between a player and the ball, which frequently isn't the case with lost balls. In order to conserve batteries the ball is designed to stop flashing after a relatively short period, typically 5 minutes or so. This means that if the ball is not located within that period the ball might not be found at all. Additionally, if the ball is located immediately after flashing is initiated, for example, on a putting green or the like, the flashing can be distracting either to the player taking the shot, or other players in the vicinity. [0004] In another example, a golf ball is provided with an embedded passive radio frequency tag. The tag contains a microchip that responds to a signal transmitted from a locater device by returning a modified signal. The microchip has no independent power source, but instead operates off power taken from a carrier signal transmitted from the locator device. Thus, the device is inherently limited to a relatively short range (.about.9 m). [0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a transmitter tag, which mitigates at least one of the above issues. [0006] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a transmitter tag for a ball, the tag comprising: a transmitter configured to issue a signal for location of said ball; a power source for powering said transmitter; activation means operable for activating said transmitter when said ball is in use; and deactivation means operable for remote manual deactivation of said transmitter after said ball is located. [0007] Preferably said activation means comprises an impact switch operable to activate said transmitter in response to said ball being struck. [0008] Preferably said deactivation means comprises a magnetic switch operable to deactivate said transmitter in response to the presence of a magnetic field. [0009] Preferably said magnetic switch is a Hall effect switch. [0010] Preferably said transmitter is configured for issuing a signal comprising a series of pulses modulated with a carrier signal. This may be a periodic on/off key modulated ultra high frequency carrier signal. [0011] Preferably, said signal is allocated to a specific carrier frequency, said frequency being configurable to provide an identifier for identifying said ball. [0012] Preferably said issued signal has a duty cycle of less than 1%. [0013] Preferably each pulse has a width in the region of 200 .mu.s, and wherein one pulse is issued in the region of every 60 ms. [0014] Preferably said transmitter comprises an oscillator for producing said carrier signal. [0015] Preferably said oscillator comprises a surface acoustic wave resonator. [0016] According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a golf ball comprising the transmitter tag. [0017] Preferably said golf ball comprises a substantially spherical core embedded concentrically within said golf ball, wherein said tag is embedded in said core, and wherein said core, tag, and golf ball share substantially the same centre of mass. [0018] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the attached figures in which: [0019] FIG. 1 shows a cut-away 3D view of a transmitter tag according to the invention, installed in a golf ball; [0020] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the transmitter tag of FIG. 1; [0021] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an Amplitude Shift Key Superheterodyne receiver for receiving signals transmitted from the transmitter tag of FIG. 1; and [0022] FIG. 4 show a hand held unit into which the Amplitude Shift Key Superheterodyne receiver of FIG. 3 may be incorporated. [0023] The invention has particular application for the location of golf balls. Hence, for the sake of clarity, the invention is described with particular reference to golf balls. It will be appreciated, however, that the invention has wider application than to golf balls alone. [0024] In FIG. 1 a golf ball having a transmitter tag is shown generally at 10. The golf ball comprises a shell portion 12, a core portion 14, and a tag 16. Continue reading about Transmitter tag... Full patent description for Transmitter tag Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Transmitter tag patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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