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Claims  |
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I claim:
1. A golf information system for providing a golfer with information
regarding the position and distance of designated points on a golf course
comprising:
(a) a plurality of antenna means, each of said antenna means being buried
within and extending across portions of said golf course for transmitting
a digitally encoded signal therefrom, said digitally encoded signal
corresponding to said information;
(b) a plurality of transmitter means, coupled to a corresponding antenna
means, for generating said digitally encoded signal transmitted from said
antenna means; and
(c) receiver means, mounted upon a golf cart, for receiving said digitally
encoded signal when passing over one of said antenna means, said receiver
means having a limited range for receiving comprising the area beneath and
in the immediate vicinity of said golf cart, intended to cause only one
digitally encoded signal to be received at any given time, said receiver
means interpreting said digitally encoded signal via a system memory, said
system memory correlating each of said digitally encoded signals to
corresponding data defining said information, said receiver means relaying
said information derived therefrom to display means for displaying said
information to the golfer.
2. The golf information system of claim 1, wherein said transmitter means
comprises:
(a) first oscillator means, having an input and an output associated
therewith, for generating a first oscillating signal at said output
thereof;
(b) second oscillator means, having an input and an output associated
therewith, for generating a second oscillating signal at said output
thereof;
(c) digital signature generation means, having an input and an output, for
producing said information at said output thereof;
(d) key modulator means, having an input and an output, said input coupled
to said output of said first oscillator means, to said output of said
second oscillator means, and to said digital signature generation means
for coupling, in response to said information, said first and second
oscillating signals at said output thereof;
(e) power amplification means, having an input coupled to said output of
said key modulator means, for amplifying said first and second oscillating
signals and for outputting said amplified signals therefrom.
3. The golf information system of claim 2 further comprising:
(f) antenna coupling means, connected to said antenna means and to said
output of said power amplification means, for coupling said amplified
signals from said power amplification means to said antenna means.
4. The golf information system of claim 3 further comprising:
a lightening arrestor having an input coupled to said antenna means and an
output coupled to electrical ground.
5. The golf information system of claim 1, wherein said receiver means
comprises:
(a) radio frequency receiver means for receiving said information
transmitted from said antenna means;
(b) key demodulator means, coupled to said radio frequency receiver means,
for demodulating said information and for producing an output therefrom;
and
(c) microprocessor means, coupled to said output of said key demodulator
means for interpreting said demodulated information and for displaying the
same to said golfer.
6. The golf information system of claim 1, wherein said portion of said
golf course comprises:
a cart path.
7. A golf information system for providing information regarding the
position of a golf cart upon a golf course comprising:
(a) a plurality of antenna means, each of said antenna means being buried
within and extending across portions of said golf course for transmitting
a digitally encoded signal therefrom, said digitally encoded signal
corresponding to said information;
(b) a plurality of transmitter means, coupled to a corresponding antenna
means, for generating said digitally encoded signal transmitted from said
antenna means;
(c) first receiver means, mounted upon a golf cart, for receiving said
digitally encoded signal when passing over one of said antenna means, said
receiving means having a limited range for receiving comprising the area
beneath and in the immediate vicinity of said golf cart, intended to cause
only one digitally encoded signal to be received at any given time, said
receiver means interpreting said digitally encoded signal via a system
memory, said system memory correlating each of said digitally encoded
signals to corresponding data defining said information, said receiver
means relaying said information derived therefrom to display means for
displaying said information to the golfer;
(d) second transmitter means, coupled to said receiver means, for
transmitting said digitally encoded signal received by said first receiver
means and a current time associated therewith; and
(e) second revolver means, remotely located from said first receiver means,
for receiving said digitally encoded signal and said current time
transmitted from said second transmitter means, said second receiver means
interpreting said digitally encoded signal via a second system memory
correlating each of said digitally encoded signals to corresponding data
defining said information, said second receiver means relaying said
information derived therefrom to display means for displaying the same.
8. The golf information system of claim 7, wherein said transmitter means
comprises:
(a) first oscillator means, having an input and an output associated
therewith, for generating a first oscillating signal at said output
thereof;
(b) second oscillator means, having an input and an output associated
therewith, for generating a second oscillating signal at said output
thereof;
(c) digital signature generation means, having an input and an output, for
producing said information at said output thereof;
(d) key modulator means, having an input and an output, said input coupled
to said output of said first oscillator means, to said output of said
second oscillator means, and to said digital signature generation means
for coupling, in response to said information, said first and second
oscillating signals at said output thereof;
(e) power amplification means, having an input coupled to said output of
said key modulator means, for amplifying said first and second oscillating
signals and for outputting said amplified signals therefrom.
9. The golf information system of claim 8, wherein said first receiver
means comprises:
(a) radio frequency receiver means for receiving said information
transmitted from said antenna means;
(b) key demodulator means, coupled to said radio frequency receiver means,
for demodulating said information and producing an output therefrom; and
(c) microprocessor means, coupled to said output of said key demodulator
means for interpreting said demodulated information and for displaying the
same to said golfer.
10. The golf information system of claim 8 further comprising:
(d) antenna coupling means, connected to said output antenna means and to
said output of said power amplification means, for coupling said amplified
signals from said power amplification means to said antenna means.
11. The golf information system of claim 10 further comprising:
a lightening arrestor having an input coupled to said antenna means and an
output coupled to electrical ground.
12. The golf information system of claim 7, wherein said portion of said
golf course comprises:
a cart path.
13. A golf information system for providing a golfer with information
regarding distances between designated points and predetermined landmarks
on a golf course hole, said golf information system comprising:
a plurality of radio frequency tags positioned at said designated points
along a golf course hole, each of said tags having a digital memory
storing a characteristic digitally coded message, each of said tags having
a first antenna means for receiving an interrogation signal capable of
activating each of said tags and for broadcasting said characteristic
coded message, said tags being in a quiescent state when not activated by
said interrogation signal;
a reading system carried by a golf cart which is movable along said golf
course hole, said reading system having second antenna means for
transmitting said interrogation signal and for receiving said
characteristic coded message when passing means of said first antenna over
one of said tags, said second antenna means having a limited range for
transmitting and receiving comprising the area beneath and in the
immediate vicinity of said golf cart, intended to cause only one of said
tags to be interrogated at any given time;
a reading system memory storing said information, said information
comprising discrete data which individually correspond to each of said
characteristic coded messages; and
signal processing means carried by said golf cart in communication with
said reading system and said reading system memory, said signal processing
means fetching said discrete data corresponding to a proximate tag from
said reading system memory and outputting said discrete data via a visual
display, said visual display generating a message related to said
landmarks, and thereby enabling the golfer to judge the position of a golf
ball relative to said predetermined landmarks.
14. A golf information system according to claim 13 wherein said tags are
buried in the ground.
15. A golf information system according to claim 13 wherein said
information includes the distance of said designated points to a golf hole
cup.
16. A golf information system according to claim 13 wherein said tag
includes an internal battery and provides a low battery warning
indication.
17. A golf information system according to claim 13 wherein said reading
system memory may be modified and wherein said information system further
comprises:
means for modifying said reading system memory to reflect changes in said
distance information relative to said designated points.
18. A golf information system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said
modification occurs by said receiver means receiving information at the
beginning of each round of golf as to said changes for each of said holes.
19. A golf information system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said
information is transmitted by a plurality of programmable transmitter
means and wherein said receiver means receives said information from said
programmable transmitter means when passing thereby.
20. A golf information system according to claim 13 wherein said
information is comprised of more bits of data than said coded message.
21. A golf information system according to claim 13 wherein said coded
message is comprised of no more than four binary numbers defined by four
bits of each and said information is defined by more bits than said coded
message.
22. A golf information system according to claim 13 wherein said reading
system further receives a time-of-day input and said information includes
a time-of-day reading.
23. A golf information system according to claim 13 wherein said reading
system receives a time input and said reading system computes the time
duration of play over portions of the golf course.
24. A golf information system according to claim 13 wherein said
information includes an indicator which informs the user that said reading
system is adjacent one of said tags. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a system for providing yardage and position
information at various points on a golf course hole as a golfing aid.
The game of golf has endured through the years as a test of man's subtle
coordination. Powerful men must restrain their strength in favor of
timing, touch, and strategy. Variations in a golfer's swing, body
alignment, grip, and tempo combine with wind, weather, trees, hills, sand
and water to make golfing consistency an elusive goal.
Professional golfers know the importance of eliminating as many variables
from the game as possible in order to improve their scores. They use
precision weighted clubs and new balls without scars or ovality. They
practice their club swing for hours striving to create a consistent or
"grooved" swing. When the professionals reach a tournament course, they
carefully study the tees, greens and hazards to plan their game strategy.
One of the key aspects of strategy is knowing yardages from various points
on the course to the green, and yardages to various hazards, such as water
or sand traps. The yardage information enables the golfer to plan ball
placement strategy and select the proper clubs for given distances. The
luxury of inspecting and carefully planning golf strategy is not afforded
the amateur golfer, even though they are just as concerned with knowing
yardage information to the greens or hazards. The amateur cannot spend the
time necessary to evaluate their ball positions accurately since play
would become extremely slow and many courses do not have even the most
rudimentary yardage references, such as the markers often used to
designate a position 150 yards from the center of green.
Various mechanized approaches toward determining the yardage to various
points or hazards are presently known. Examples of such systems include
optical rangefinders which is trained on a target such as the pin flag and
calculates the exact distance through triangulation. Other approaches
using radio frequency communication technology are also known for
measuring distance to a target. Although such devices would likely provide
the desired range information, they violate the rules of golf since they
find exact distances. In addition, such devices are "active" devices in
that they require a golfer to take some special steps each time yardage
information is needed which would slow down play, and would likely be
viewed as unfair and awkward to other players. Moreover, such devices do
not find distances to other significant course landmarks such as sand
traps or water hazards, or features hidden from view.
The golf information system in accordance with the various embodiments of
the present invention improves over prior art systems in that these
embodiments generally provide information for the golfer as to range and
position which would have the effect of speeding up play, and are passive
in the sense of not requiring special attention each time information is
desired. The system of the present invention, in one embodiment, includes
a number of radio frequency (r.f.) identification transponders or "tags"
which are buried in the ground along certain designated paths of a golf
course hole or are positioned to define a two dimensional matrix across
the hole surface, each of which contains a characteristic coded
identification signal. A reading device, preferably mounted to a golf
cart, passes over the tags and activates them causing them to transmit
their coded signal. The code is then processed by the reading system to
retrieve a set of information from a programmed look-up table in memory
which is outputted and visually displayed to the golfer. Accordingly, as
the golf cart moves about the hole, range and position information is
provided at various incremental positions. Such information would include
yardage information to the green and hazards, and perhaps distance from
the tee. Using this information, the golfer would then estimate the true
distance of his or her ball to the green or hazards by considering the
cart position with respect to the ball.
This system would not violate the rules of golf since it requires a degree
of golfer's skill and judgment in adjusting their club selection and
strategy as compared with the designated reference points defined by the
tags. It is further passive in that it does not require active
participation by the golfer who merely reads the information from a
digital display on the golf cart. Various types of information besides
position and yardage could also be outputted by this system including
advertising messages displayed at preselected times, and information
regarding speed of play. Since the system would give the golfer additional
information about range and positions, it would improve golf scores and
thus reduce the time of play which provides commercial advantages for the
golf course operator. Since the r.f. identification tags would be
preferably buried in the ground, they would not in any way detract from
the natural beauty of the golf course. Moreover, the tags could be
positioned only along preselected golf cart paths as a means of reducing
damage to the course caused by golf carts being operated in unauthorized
areas since the information system would be inoperative in such areas.
The system of the present invention, in another embodiment, utilizes a
plurality of transmitters, each of which is coupled to an antenna, which
are buried across each of the fairways (or the golf cart paths) of a
typical golf course and which transmit positional information to the golf
cart, and hence to the golfer, as the cart passes thereon. This
aforementioned alternative embodiment employs a transmitter having two
oscillators operating at different frequencies. Each of these oscillators
feed separate driver circuits which are coupled to a key modulator.
A digital signature generator is coupled to the key modulator and causes
the key modulator to select one of the driver circuit outputs to an
antenna. In this manner, a digital positional signature is transmitted to
terms of the frequencies associated with the oscillators. The review, of
this embodiment, utilizes a key demodulator which converts the received
frequency signals to substantially the original output of the signature
generator. A third embodiment of this invention utilizes a radio frequency
link betWeen a golf cart and a clubhouse in order to give golf course
management positional information of the golf carts on the course.
Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from
the subsequent description of the preferred embodiments and the appended
claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of an illustrative golf course hole incorporating
elements of the golf information system according to a first embodiment of
this invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a golf cart incorporating elements of the
golf information system in accordance with the first embodiment of this
invention and showing a radio frequency tag buried in the ground.
FIG. 3 is an electrical schematic diagram showing the functional subsystems
of the r.f. identification tag used in conjunction with the first
embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the antenna system used with the reading
system of the first embodiment of this invention, and carried by a golf
cart.
FIG. 5 is an electrical schematic diagram of the functional subsystems of
the r.f. identification tag interrogator shown generally in FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 is an electrical schematic diagram of the functional subsystems of
the reading system microcontroller shown generally in FIG. 2.
FIG. 7 presents an illustrative output of information for the golfer
provided by the first embodiment of the system of FIG. 2.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of a golf course green illustrating a means for
adjusting information outputted by the golf information system, shown
generally in FIG. 2, for various green pin positions.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of a cart path incorporating programmable tags for
inputting pin position information to the reading system.
FIG. 10 is a plan view of an illustrative golf course hole incorporating
elements of the golf information system according to a second embodiment
of this invention.
FIG. 11 is a plan view of an illustrative golf course hole incorporating
elements of the golf information system according to a second
configuration of the second embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a radio frequency transmitter unit used by
the second and third embodiments of this invention.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a radio frequency transmitter/receiver unit
used upon a golf cart within the second embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of the golf information
system of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference to FIG. 1, a representative golf course hole generally
designated by reference number 10 is shown with a tee area 12, creek 22,
and a green 14 having a cup 16 which supports the flag or "pin" 17. On the
left-hand side of fairway 18, a designated golf cart path 20 is provided.
The golf course hole 10 shown in FIG. 1 incorporates the golf information
system in accordance with a first embodiment of this invention in which a
number of radio frequency (r.f.) identification tags 24 are buried beneath
cart path 20 at a number of points as designated by the "X" marks in the
figure. Tags 24 could be regularly spaced at intervals of several yards or
more. When a reading system 30 for the tags 24 is positioned over any one
of the tags 24, an interrogation signal emanating from the reading system
causes the tag to output its internally stored characteristic coded signal
which is interpreted by the reading system to output information to the
golfer as to the range from that point to the green, and additional
information such as the distance to a hazard such as creek 22 from the
point, etc. While the operator is receiving the information at the
preselected points of tags 24, they can judge the true distance of the
position of their ball to the cup 16. Thus, fairway 18 can be thought of
as being divided into a number of regions 26 over which information from a
particular tag 24 is relevant. In an alternate configuration of this first
embodiment, fairway 18 could have a larger number of tags 24 positioned in
a two dimensional matrix so that readings are available at a multitude of
points without requiring cart 28 to remain on path 20. When deployed in
such a matrix, several tags 24 may output the same coded signal since a
particular set of range and position information may be valid at numerous
points.
A description of the physical components and electronic systems of a golf
information system according to the first embodiment of this invention
will be made with reference to FIGS. 2 through 6. A description of the
operation of the system will be provided following the physical
description of the elements. FIG. 2 shows golf cart 28 which carries an
r.f. identification tag reading system 30. Reading system 30 principally
comprises antenna assembly 32, r.f. interrogator board 34, battery 36, and
computer and display board 38. Identification tag 24 is shown in the
figure buried below cart path 20.
With reference to FIG. 3, the internal functional subsystems of a tag 24
are shown. Tag 24 includes a signal transmitter-receiver 40 which receives
an interrogation signal through receiving coil antenna 42 and drives
transmitting coil antenna 44 which provides a digitally coded message.
Signal transmitter-receiver 40 is controlled by microprocessor 46. ROM 48
stores a unique code associated with that particular tag 24 which
distinguishes it from other tags on the particular golf course which are
positioned differently with respect to significant course features.
Lithium battery 50 powers the system. With present day technology, lithium
battery 50 can be expected to provide several million or more reading
cycles and will likely last a period of three or more years. As an
alternative, a passive type identification tag could be employed which is
activated and operated entirely by power outputted from the reading
station.
Tag 24 is designed to minimize battery drain by remaining in a quiescent
state after each reading cycle. When an appropriate interrogation signal
is received, the system is activated to fetch a digitally coded word from
ROM 48 and outputs it through transmitting coil antenna 44. In one
embodiment developed by this inventor, tags were used employing a twelve
bit (i.e., three binary numbers) identification message which is outputted
through transmitting coil antenna 44 in serial fashion. If more than 999
discrete coded signals are needed at a particular golf course, more binary
members could be used so that an appropriate number of unique codes will
be available. Once the message has been transmitted (preferably several
times) tag microprocessor 46 causes it to return to a quiescent state. In
order to ensure discrimination between the interrogation and
identification signals, some frequency separation between them is
desirable. As presently contemplated, an interrogation signal would be
broadcast at 132 KHz, whereas the identification signal would be at 66
KHz. Tag 24 would preferably include an internal housekeeping system which
monitors the voltage of battery 50 and outputs a "low battery" signal
which is received and stored by reading system 30 to alert an operator of
the need to replace that particular tag 24. With present technology, tag
24 can be miniaturized to the size of a very small cube or card. All that
is necessary for installation is that the ground be separated and the tag
24 dropped into the earth and covered. Since tag 24 needs to be
encapsulated for environmental protection, once a particular tag failed,
it would likely be replaced rather than serviced.
FIGS. 4 through 6 illustrate various elements of reading system 30. With
reference to FIG. 4, antenna assembly 32 is shown which consists of two
separate loops, transmitting loop 52 and receiving loop 54. In one
experimental embodiment, transmitting loop 52 includes four turns of wire
and has center draw line 58 to allow for opposing fields to be generated
for electrical noise filtering. Fixed capacitors 60 and variable capacitor
64 are used to tune transmitting loop 52 to maximum resonance. Receiving
loop 54 encompasses a smaller area and is also a four turn coil with
tuning capacitor 62 but is connected to flow unidirectionally. As
mentioned previously, the interrogation and identification signals are
transmitted at different frequencies and antenna loops 52 and 54 are
matched to these frequencies for optimal performance. The range of loops
52 and 54 is intentionally limited so that the position outputted to the
golfer will be accurate to, for example, plus or minus one yard.
Interrogator board 34 is shown in detail in FIG. 5 and includes
microprocessor 66 having its operating system software stored on EEPROM 68
and RAM 70. Microprocessor 66 drives r.f. signal transmitter-receiver 72
connected to antenna assembly 32 which operates in a manner similar to
that of tag transmitter-receiver 40, except that it broadcasts at the
interrogation signal frequency and receives at the identification signal
frequency. Voltage regulator 74 receives power from golf cart battery 36
and provides a filtered and controlled power supply for reading system 30.
As shown in FIG. 5, a number of data input and output signal lines are
provided for microprocessor 66, including read tag signal 76 and transmit
data signal 78 which are outputted from microprocessor 66, and receive
data signal 80 and reset signal 82 which are inputs. Operation of reading
system 30 in response to signal from lines 76 through 82 will be described
in greater detail below.
The functional components and subsystems of computer and display board 38
are shown with reference to FIG. 6. Microcontroller 88 has its operating
system stored on EPROM 90 and several RAM chips 92 and 94 are provided for
data storage. Real time clock 96 provides a time-of-day reference and can
be used for displaying a local time message to the golfer and/or timing
the golfers progress through the course. The power supply for computer and
display board 38 is the golf cart battery 36 and also includes voltage
regulator 98. Lithium battery 102 and battery backup control 104 are
provided to retain stored information upon interruption of power from golf
cart battery 36. Microcontroller 88 drives display 106 which is preferably
a liquid crystal type since they are easily read in bright sunlight. The
transmit and receive data signals 78 and 80 are inputted to
microcontroller 88, and reset signal 82 is outputted. The read tag signal
76 directly drives an LED tag marker 108 to indicate to the user that
reading system 30 is receiving an identification signal. Receive data
signal 80 is provided to activate the system to enable control over the
use of the identification system. Normally, signal 80 is in a state to
cause interrogation r.f. signal transmitter-receiver 72 to continuously
transmit an interrogation signal. When a tag has been activated and the
coded message received, reset signal 82 prepares reading system 30 for
another reading cycle. The transmit data line 78 consists of the coded
signal outputted from tag 24 which has been processed and reformatted by
microprocessor 66.
Operation of the golf information system according to the aforedescribed
first embodiment of this invention will now be described in view of the
above description. Assuming that the system is activated, an interrogation
signal is continually outputted from reading system antenna loop 52. If
one of tags 24 receives the appropriate interrogation signal through
receiving coil 42, the tag is activated to output its unique three (or
more) digit binary identification signal which is received by receiving
coil 54. The ranges over which the interrogation and identification signal
can be received is intentionally limited so that reading system will
interact with only one of the numerous tags 24 placed about the golf
course and provide the desired position accuracy. Reception of the tag
identification signal activates LED 108. The software of the operating
system of interrogator board 34 measures the time over which the
identification signal is received. If cart 28 is moving at a speed slow
enough to allow tag 24 to remain in communication with the reading system
30 for a preselected time period, for example, 0.2 seconds, the position
and yardage information is displayed. If the speed of golf cart 28 is
excessive thus not providing sufficient time for reading system 30 to
receive the identification signal, a display message is provided noting
that the information is available but only if the cart speed is reduced.
The signal outputted by tag 24 received by receiving antenna 54 is
processed at microprocessor 66 and transmitted to microcontroller 88 which
fetches a set of instructions from a look-up table contained in EPROM 90
and/or RAMs 92 and 94. The signal from microprocessor 66 on line 78 is
sent to microcontroller 88 in serial fashion, for example, as a 12 bit
word at 1200 baud. As mentioned previously, signals having more binary
digits could be used for discrimination of a larger number of tags 24.
FIG. 7 illustrates a representative output generated by one of tags 24
which provides information as to the distances of a reference point from
the tee 12, to and over the water hazard 22, and to the pin 17. As is
evident from FIG. 7, the information outputted to the golfer would
necessarily require more digital bits to define than the three binary
digit signal from tag 24. In other words, tags 24 do not directly output
all the information presented to the golfer in accordance with
conventional r.f. identification practices. By using a simple tag code
which is correlated to a detailed set of stored information, the size of
tag memory is minimized, the reliability and speed of tag information
transmission is enhanced, and modifications to the outputted information
can be easily achieved by reprogramming reading system 30.
In addition to the above features, the golf information system according to
this first embodiment also provides the capability of providing a number
of additional functions and features. With the input from real time clock
96, microcontroller 88 can measure the elapsed time between the readings
from a series of tags 24 on a particular hole or throughout the golf
course as a means of measuring the time of play for a particular hole or a
segment of the course If play is excessively slow, a prompting message can
be displayed which may also be supplemented by an audible signal from
emitter 10. The look-up table contained in EPROM 90 and RAMs 92 and 94 for
microcontroller 88 can also include advertising messages which are
activated by particular tags 24. With appropriate programming, individuals
who choose not to pay for the use of golf information system may still
receive the advertising information. The system can also contain a number
of housekeeping functions. For example, an internal count can be made of
the number of reading cycles by a particular golf cart to evaluate cart
usage and a low battery signal could be outputted by tag 24 to alert the
operator of the necessity of maintenance.
Another refinement for the subject golf information system, of this first
embodiment, comprehends changes in the positioning of cup 16 on the
surface of green 14 which has the effect of changing the distance from the
reference points provided by tags 24 to the cup. As shown in FIG. 8, the
area of green 14 wherein cup 16 could be positioned may be divided into a
plurality of designated zones, for example, nine separate zones 118, which
extend perpendicular to the direction of the typical approach shot. Each
zone may have a distance depth of, for example, about one yard. Once the
cup positions on each of the golf course greens are established, a
determination is made as to which zone that cup position falls into The
zone position for each hole is then recorded and coded. For example, for
the first hole, if the cup falls within zone 5, that information could be
coded as 015, similarly, the 18th hole at zone 2 would be coded as 182,
etc. As shown in FIG. 9, one or more programmable tags 112 could be
provided at the beginning of the golf cart path 20 which would preferably
be located at the exit of the golf cart storage area. An authorized
individual would drive cart 28 over programmable tags 112, which would
load the pin position data into reading system 30 and stored at RAM 92
and/or 94 for later retrieval. This information would then be used to
incrementally decrease or increase the distance to the pin information
outputted to the golfer, as appropriate, and thus custom tailer the system
output for changes in the course. All of the information stored within the
reading system memories would be downloaded from a personal computer for
convenient programming.
A second embodiment of the golf information system of this invention is
shown in FIG. 10, as deployed upon a typical golf course hole 150,
containing a tee 152 and a typical green 154, which are physically
separated by a fairway 156 and further having a cart path 157 traversing
generally alongside fairway 156. A typical golf cart 158 is usually made
to traverse the fairway 156 during the play of golf hole 150.
According to the teachings of the second embodiment of this invention, a
plurality of buried antennas 160 may be placed generally across the
fairway 156 thereby defining distances 162 therebetween. Each of the
antennas 160 are connected, in this second embodiment, to a radio
frequency transmitting unit 164 which is itself connected to a source of
electrical power 166. Each antenna 160 defines a unique position upon hole
50.
The golf cart 158, according to the further teachings of this second
embodiment of this invention, is made to contain a radio frequency
transmitting/receiver unit 168 which is electrically coupled to an antenna
170 thereon. During operation, each transmitter unit 164 transmits
digitally encoded signature data to the golf cart 158 as the golf cart 158
passes over the antenna 160 to which that unit 164 is connected thereto.
This signature data defines the location of the antenna 160 upon fairway
156 thereby giving the golf cart 158 an indication of its placement upon
fairway 156 and the distance between the golf cart 158 and the green 154
or the flag 155 thereon.
A second configuration of the second embodiment of this invention is
generally shown in FIG. 11, in which the plurality of antennas 160 is
confined to and buried within the cart path 157. This is particularly
advantageous in situations in which the golf cart 158 may not be driven
over fairway 156 and is limited only to a traversal of cart path 157. This
is usually done in order to maintain the overall quality of fairway 156
and reduce the wear from play. The signature data from the transmitter
units 164 are sent in the aforementioned manner to each of their
corresponding antennas 160 and is received by the golf cart 158 as it
passes over these antennas 160 during its traversal of cart path 157.
Referring now to FIG. 12, there is shown transmitter unit 164 as containing
a transient surge protector 172 coupled to the power source 166 by bus
174. Further, transmitter unit 164 contains a rectifier 176 and a
regulator 178. Rectifier 176 is coupled to the transient surge protector
172 by bus 180 and is further coupled to regulator 178 by bus 182.
Transmitter unit 164 further contains oscillators 184 and 186, a digital
signature generator 188, drivers 190 and 192, key modulator 194, radio
frequency power amplifier 196, antenna coupler 198, and lightening
arrester 200.
Specifically, the output of regulator 178 is connected to oscillators 184
and 186, digital signature generator 188, drivers 190 and 192, key
modulator 194, and radio frequency power amplifier 196 by bus 202.
Further, the output of oscillator 184 is coupled to driver 190 by bus 204,
while the output of oscillator 186 is coupled to driver 192 by bus 206.
The output of the digital signature generator 188 is coupled to the key
modulator 194 by bus 208, while the key modulator 194 is additionally
coupled to drivers 190 and 192 by buses 210 and 212 respectively. The
output of drivers 190 and 192 are coupled to radio frequency power
amplifier 196 by buses 214 and 216 respectively, while the output of the
radio frequency power amplifier 196 is coupled to the antenna coupler 198
by bus 218. The output of antenna coupler 198 is connected to antenna 160
by bus 220, while antenna 160 is further coupled to lightening arrester
200 by bus 222. Lightening arrester 200 is further coupled to electrical
ground by bus 224.
In operation, approximately one-hundred and twenty (+120) volts of
alternating current is provided by power source 166 and is rectified and
regulated, in the usual manner, by rectifiers 176 and regulator 178
respectively before being coupled to oscillators 182 and 186, signature
generator 188, drivers 190 and 192, key modulator 194, and radio frequency
power amplifier 196. The transient surge protector 172 provides the usual
protection to radio frequency transmitter 164 in the event of a typical
spike or transient surge in electrical power, particularly due to a
lightening strike upon power supply 166.
Oscillators 184 and 186 provide input signals having dissimilar frequencies
to drivers 190 and 192 respectively which amplify these input signals
thereby producing signal outputs on buses 214 and 216 respectively to the
radio frequency power amplifier 196. Drivers 190 and 192 each contain, in
one configuration, potentiometers 193 which are externally accessible
therefrom and connected thereto in the usual manner in order to provide an
adjustment of the output level of drivers 190 and 192. The key modulator
194 operates so as to allow only one of the drivers 190 or 192 to produce
an output signal to the radio frequency power amplifier 196 at any instant
of time. This control is achieved by signals on buses 210 and 212
respectively. The digital signature generator 188, by signals on bus 208,
defines the driver 190 or 194 that is to be activated at an instant of
time by the key modulator 194. That is, the usual output of the digital
signature generator 188 comprises a serial stream of logical zeros and
ones. Similar values contained in this serial stream of data define a
unique one of the drivers 190 and 192, while the other dissimilar values
define the other driver 190 or 192.
Upon receipt of signals on buses 214 or 216, the radio | | |
