Ball and manufacturing method therefor

Abstract

A ball. At least one wireless communication terminal is provided inside or on the surface of the ball. The wireless communication terminal comprises an elastic substrate and an elastic covering layer, which are made of an elastic material, wherein the elastic covering layer covers the elastic substrate; and a functional module is provided between the elastic substrate and the elastic covering layer, and the circuit of the functional module is a meander-line circuit. A wireless communication terminal of a ball is made of a flexible and elastic material, such that the wireless communication terminal can adapt to a non-two-dimensional curved surface of the ball, and there is no need to additionally design a complex structure or intra-ball support, thereby improving the adaptability and stability between the wireless communication terminal and the ball.

Description

A ball and a method for manufacturing the same

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on September 18, 2023, with application number 202311198416.4 and invention name “A ball and its manufacturing method”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to the technical field of sporting goods, in particular to a ball with wireless communication function and a manufacturing method thereof. Background Art

[0003] Wireless communication terminals are becoming increasingly common in sports and entertainment, enabling real-time data transmission, location tracking, and interactive experiences. Several domestic and international research institutions and companies have patented and developed products focused on installing electronic systems inside and outside spheres. As early as 1998, a study reported on installing LED lights inside a sphere. The method employed involved suspending an LED circuit board inside the sphere, using hooks and a pull cord to position the LED circuit board at the center of the sphere (Kennedy M, Matsumoto S. Flashing light pneumatic playball: US Patent 5,725,445 [P], March 10, 1998). In recent years, related reports have become even more frequent. In 2013, Adidas proposed a method of pre-installing a bladder-like space outside the inner liner of a ball to accommodate electronic device modules (Steidle V P. Bladder for a ball: US Patent 8,517,869 [P], August 27, 2013). In 2015, NIKE designed a way to place a "pocket" inside the bladder to place electronic devices (Berggren S R. Sport ball bladder with a pocket: US Patent 9,211,446[P], 2015-12-15). A similar idea is also in the 2022 patent (Hall J, White R. Basketball with component holder: US Patent Application 17 / 836,574[P], 2022-9-22). In 2020, Adidas designed a ball motion detection system, which proposed the idea of ​​fixing the electronic device to the center of the sphere with four support columns. The vertices of the four support columns form a stable tetrahedron structure to ensure the stability of the electronic device (Aurel C, Dibenedetto C. Sport ball motion monitoring methods and systems: US Patent Application 17 / 010,226[P], 2020-12-24). In a patent in 2021, an idea of ​​using a strap to fix the GPS chip to the outside of a ball was proposed to monitor the location information of golf balls, softballs, etc. (Hill E. GPS-locating sports ball: US Patent 11,040,254[P], 2021-6-22).A patent in 2022 processed the communication system into a matchbox shape for external communication of the ice hockey (Holzner S, Bohn B J. Method for embedding electronics into a puck and puck having embedded electronics: US Patent 11,458,370[P], 2022-10-4).

[0004] Overall, the research and development of smart balls has received widespread attention in various countries, and researchers have proposed many constructive methods to solve the integration problem of communication terminals and balls. However, these methods still have the following disadvantages: First, from the perspective of the communication terminal, the existing spherical communication terminal is still based on the traditional PCB process, and the prepared circuit module is relatively thick and cannot match the shape of the sphere. Therefore, it is necessary to design an additional complex internal structure to maintain a relatively stable positional relationship between the terminal and the sphere. At the same time, the rigid communication terminal is heavy, and when placed in a position that fits the surface of the sphere, it is easy to cause weight imbalance and affect the movement trajectory of the sphere. In addition, when the sphere is placed in the center of the sphere using a support structure, the communication and charging efficiency of the communication terminal will decrease, and the manufacturing complexity, time and money costs will be increased.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] Purpose of the invention: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a ball and a method for manufacturing the same to solve the problems existing in the prior art.

[0007] Invention content: A ball, wherein a wireless communication terminal is arranged inside or on the surface of the ball; the wireless communication terminal includes an elastic base and an elastic covering layer made of elastic material, and the elastic covering layer covers the elastic base; a functional module is arranged between the elastic base and the elastic covering layer, and the circuit of the functional module is a meandering line circuit; at least one wireless communication terminal is arranged inside or on the surface of the ball.

[0008] Preferably, a wireless communication terminal is provided inside or on the surface of the ball, as well as a counterweight for offsetting the deviation of the ball's center of gravity caused by a wireless communication terminal.

[0009] Preferably, the counterweight is located inside or on the surface of the ball at a position symmetrical to the wireless communication terminal.

[0010] Preferably, a plurality of wireless communication terminals are provided in the ball, and the plurality of wireless communication terminals are evenly or unevenly arranged inside or on the surface of the ball. If they are unevenly arranged, counterweights are provided inside or on the surface of the ball.

[0011] Preferably, the functional modules include a positioning module, an inertial module, a wireless communication module, and a power supply module, and the positioning module, the inertial module, the wireless communication module, and the power supply module are connected via a meandering line circuit.

[0012] Preferably, the power module includes a battery and a wireless charging coil, and the wireless charging coil is a coil made of a stretchable conductive silver paste material, or the wireless charging coil is a coil formed by a meandering wire.

[0013] Preferably, the battery is an aqueous zinc ion battery with a neutral electrolyte.

[0014] Preferably, the wireless communication terminal is connected to the ball via organic silicone.

[0015] Preferably, the elastic substrate and the elastic covering layer are made of PDMS.

[0016] The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a ball, comprising the following steps:

[0017] (1) Spin-coating PDMS on a quartz plate to form an elastic substrate;

[0018] (2) Setting a meandering line circuit on an elastic substrate;

[0019] (3) connecting the components in the functional module through a meandering line circuit;

[0020] (4) Spin-coating PDMS on the functional module to form an elastic covering layer, and after the elastic covering layer is cured, peeling the elastic substrate from the quartz plate to obtain a wireless communication terminal;

[0021] (5) Affixing at least one wireless communication terminal prepared in steps (1) to (4) to the inner wall of the ball or between the bladder and the shell.

[0022] Preferably, the charging coil is arranged on the elastic substrate by screen printing or inkjet printing.

[0023] Preferably, the meandering line circuit is manufactured by one or more methods selected from the group consisting of photolithography, inkjet printing, magnetron sputtering, and laser cutting.

[0024] Beneficial effects: The ball of the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0025] 1. The present invention uses a spherical wireless communication terminal made of a flexible and elastic material, so that the wireless communication terminal can adapt to the non-two-dimensional curved surface of the sphere without the need for additional complex structure or support inside the sphere, thereby improving the adaptability and stability of the communication terminal and the sphere.

[0026] 2. The present invention reduces the manufacturing complexity and time cost of the ball with wireless communication function, reduces the required materials and assembly steps, and helps to reduce manufacturing costs;

[0027] 3. Unlike existing solutions that use rigid communication terminals, the present invention uses an elastic base and elastic cover layer to encapsulate functional modules, forming a soft and elastic wireless communication terminal that can be attached to the inner wall of the ball. This allows the ball to maintain stable electrical performance and communication connection during movement and deformation, ensuring reliable and consistent data transmission.

[0028] 4. Directly attaching wireless communication terminals to the inner wall of the ball can reduce signal loss and interference, improving communication quality. This will help realize functions such as real-time data transmission, location tracking, and interactive experience, enhancing the user experience of players, coaches, and spectators;

[0029] 5. Using a meandering wire as the circuit structure of the wireless communication terminal has the advantages of being stretchable, not prone to breakage, and having high circuit stability compared to the hard-connected circuit solution of the rigid communication terminal in the existing technology;

[0030] 6. The elastic substrate and elastic cover layer combined with the meandering circuit structure make the wireless communication terminal light, thin, flexible and stretchable.

[0031] 7. The solution of combining an elastic base and an elastic cover layer with a meandering line can significantly reduce the overall mass of the wireless communication terminal compared to the existing rigid communication terminal solution, ensuring that the overall mass of the ball does not change significantly;

[0032] 8. The combination of an elastic base and an elastic cover layer with a meandering line allows the wireless communication terminal to better match the shape of a sphere and better adapt to the shape of a sphere compared to conventional rigid communication terminals.

[0033] 9. The light weight and good shape adaptability of the wireless communication terminal can better maintain the movement characteristics of the ball and ensure the balance and stability of the ball.

[0034] 10. Multiple wireless communication terminals cooperate with each other, and each terminal can be selected to work independently or collaboratively according to needs, ensuring the stability of communication between the ball and the outside world. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of spin coating PDMS on a quartz plate to form an elastic substrate, laminating a copper foil and spin coating a photoresist;

[0036] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a meander line circuit after exposure and development;

[0037] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a meandering line circuit after etching;

[0038] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a chip, peripheral components, and an aqueous zinc ion battery after being soldered to a meandering line circuit;

[0039] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a silk-screened wireless charging coil;

[0040] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of a packaged wireless communication terminal;

[0041] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of the wireless communication terminal after laser cutting, which is suitable for fitting inside and outside the sphere;

[0042] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the wireless communication terminal attached to the inner;

[0043] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the wireless communication terminal and the counterweight attached to the inner wall of the ball;

[0044] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the wireless communication terminal and the counterweight bonded between the bladder and the shell;

[0045] FIG11 is a schematic diagram showing a structure in which multiple wireless communication terminals are arranged on a sphere.

[0046] In the figure: 1-quartz plate; 2-elastic substrate, 3-copper foil, 4-photoresist, 5-patterned photoresist, 6-meandering line circuit, 7-chip, 8-peripheral components, 9-aqueous zinc ion battery, 10-wireless charging coil, 11-elastic covering layer, 12-organic silica gel, 13-counterweight, 100-wireless communication terminal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0048] Example 1

[0049] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the present invention provides a ball, wherein a wireless communication terminal 100 is provided inside or on the surface of the ball; the wireless communication terminal 100 includes an elastic substrate 2 made of elastic material, and a functional module is attached to the elastic substrate 2. The functional module is used to implement the functions required by the present invention. Specifically, the functional module may include a UWB positioning module, an IMU inertial module, a wireless communication module, a power module, etc. The positioning module is used to determine the position of the football, the inertial module is used to obtain motion data of the football, the wireless communication module is used to receive and / or send the position, motion and other status data of the football, and the power module is used to supply power to other modules.

[0050] The circuit used by the functional module is a serpentine circuit 6, as shown in Figure 2-8, and the serpentine circuit 6 is serpentine-shaped; the serpentine circuit 6 electrically connects the components of the positioning module, inertial module, wireless communication module, and power module, and the specific circuit structure is designed according to the required functions; the functional module is covered by an elastic covering layer 11 of elastic material; the wireless communication terminal 100 is set inside or on the surface of the ball, and the inside of the ball includes the inner wall of the ball or between the bladder and the ball shell, and at least one wireless communication terminal 100 is set.

[0051] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, when only one wireless communication terminal 100 is provided, it can be provided on the inner wall of the ball, between the ball shell and the bladder, or on the surface of the ball. In this case, a counterweight 13 can be provided inside the ball to offset the offset of the center of gravity of the ball caused by the wireless communication terminal 100.

[0052] The counterweight 13 is located symmetrically with the wireless communication terminal 100 within the sphere, and its weight is the same as that of the wireless communication terminal 100. The purpose of the counterweight 13 is to offset the center offset caused by the wireless communication terminal 100. The counterweight is made of PDMS, specifically a PDMS film. Of course, the counterweight 13 is not limited to the one shown in Figure 9 , nor is it limited to PDMS. Objects made of other materials can be placed elsewhere within the sphere to offset the offset caused by the wireless communication terminal 100.

[0053] As shown in Figure 11, when multiple wireless communication terminals 100 are installed, they can be evenly distributed within the sphere or on the surface, eliminating the need for counterweights. However, when the multiple wireless communication terminals 100 are unevenly distributed within the sphere or on the surface, counterweights are required to offset the imbalance caused by the uneven distribution. The specific counterweighting method is the same as when only one wireless communication terminal 100 is installed. The multiple wireless communication terminals 100 cooperate with each other, allowing each terminal to operate independently or collaboratively as needed, ensuring the stability of communication between the sphere and the outside world.

[0054] The power module includes a battery and a wireless charging coil. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the wireless charging coil 10 is a coil made of stretchable conductive silver paste, or the wireless charging coil 10 is a coil formed by a meandering wire, to ensure the functional stability of the charging coil when the wireless communication terminal 100 is deformed.

[0055] The battery is an aqueous zinc ion battery 9 with a neutral electrolyte, which does not contain any toxic or flammable components and can improve the safety performance of the battery.

[0056] The wireless communication terminal 100 is connected to the ball via silicone rubber 12. The silicone rubber 12 has good flexibility, elasticity, and adhesion, and can effectively adhere to the inside or surface of the ball, ensuring the tightness and stability between the wireless communication terminal 100 and the ball, thereby reducing signal loss and interference.

[0057] The elastic substrate 2 and the elastic covering layer 11 are made of PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane, also known as dimethyl silicone oil). PDMS has good flexibility, tensile properties, wear resistance and resistance to environmental impacts, and can protect the wireless communication terminal 100 from physical and environmental damage that may be encountered during the movement of the ball.

[0058] Example 2

[0059] As shown in FIG1-7, based on Example 1, the wireless communication terminal 100 can be manufactured by the following method:

[0060] (1) Spin-coating PDMS on a quartz plate 1 to form an elastic substrate 2;

[0061] (2) providing a meandering circuit 6 on the elastic substrate 2;

[0062] (3) connecting the components in the functional module through the meandering line circuit 6;

[0063] (4) PDMS is spin-coated on the functional module to form an elastic covering layer 11. After the elastic covering layer 11 is cured, the elastic substrate 2 is peeled off from the quartz plate 1 to obtain the wireless communication terminal 100.

[0064] Example 3

[0065] On the basis of Example 2, in step (1), PDMS is spin-coated on the quartz plate 1 to form an elastic substrate 2, and then a meandering circuit 6 is arranged in the following manner:

[0066] A double layer of copper foil is laminated to an elastic substrate 2. After lamination is completed, the upper copper foil is peeled off and the lower copper foil 3 is used as the conductor material of the meander line circuit 6. Subsequently, a photoresist 4 is spin-coated on the copper foil 3. As a specific embodiment, the thickness of the double layer of copper foil is 18 / 5 microns, wherein the 18-micron copper foil is manually peeled off after lamination, leaving a 5-micron thick copper foil 3. When spin-coating the photoresist, the rotation speed is 3000-4000rpm and the spin-coating time is 30 seconds. As shown in Figure 2, the photoresist is exposed, and the exposed pattern is the designed meander line circuit 6. The photoresist will denature after exposure. The exposed area is washed away by a developing operation, leaving a denatured patterned photoresist 5. The exposure power density is 400-600mJ / cm 2The developer used is AZ-400K model developer raw materials and deionized water in a volume ratio of 1:3. As shown in Figure 3, the denatured patterned photoresist 5 protects the lower copper foil 3. Etching is performed using the etching liquid, and the copper foil protected by the photoresist is retained. After etching, the denatured patterned photoresist 5 is removed to obtain the meandering line circuit 6. The etching liquid is CE-100 from Transense, and the etching time is about 2 minutes, during which deionized water is used for cleaning many times. The photoresist is cleaned and removed using acetone, isopropyl alcohol and deionized water in sequence.

[0067] As shown in Figure 4, the components of each functional module, including the chip 7, peripheral components 8, and other circuit elements, as well as the aqueous zinc-ion battery 9, are sequentially soldered to the meandering circuit 6. The soldering process uses low-temperature solder paste at a temperature of 120-150°C to prevent damage to the elastic PDMS substrate.

[0068] As shown in Figure 5, a wireless charging coil 10 is fabricated using screen printing or inkjet printing and interconnected with a corresponding meandering wire circuit. The wireless charging coil 10 is made of stretchable conductive silver paste JY10, ensuring functional stability during stretching of the wireless terminal. Similarly, the wireless charging coil 10 can also be made using meandering wire.

[0069] As shown in Figure 6, a PDMS layer is spin-coated on the functional module as an elastic cover layer 11. The elastic cover layer 11 can be combined with the elastic substrate 2 to protect the functional module. After curing at room temperature for 20-30 hours, the wireless communication terminal 100 can be peeled off the quartz plate 1.

[0070] As shown in Figure 8, laser cutting is used to remove excess PDMS surrounding wireless communication terminal 100, forming a stretchable communication terminal of the appropriate size to facilitate bonding with the ball. The laser cutting process allows for the cutting path to be customized using software such as CAD to meet the needs of different spheres. This only removes excess PDMS, without affecting the functionality and stretchability of the communication terminal.

[0071] When a wireless communication terminal is set up, as shown in Figure 9, a PDMS film of the same mass and size as the wireless communication terminal 100 is attached at a symmetrical position inside the ball as a counterweight 13 to ensure the counterweight balance of the ball. Figure 9 shows that the wireless communication terminal 100 is located between the shell and the bladder of the ball, and Figure 10 shows that the wireless communication terminal 100 is located on the inside of the bladder. Correspondingly, the counterweight 13 is also located between the shell and the bladder, or on the inside of the bladder. If the wireless communication terminal 100 is located on the surface of the ball, counterweights can be set at symmetrical positions on the surface of the ball. As shown in Figure 11, when multiple wireless communication terminals are set up, the wireless communication terminals evenly distributed inside or on the surface of the ball can balance each other, so no counterweight is required. Non-uniformly distributed wireless communication terminals require counterweights, and the counterweight method is the same as the counterweight method for setting up one wireless communication terminal.

[0072] Example 4

[0073] On the basis of Example 2, organic silicone 12 is coated under the elastic base 2, and the surface coated with organic silicone 12 is attached to the ball and cured at room temperature. Then, a counterweight 13 is set in the ball as needed to offset the offset of the center of gravity of the ball caused by the wireless communication terminal 100, thereby completing the preparation of the ball of the present invention.

[0074] Example 5

[0075] As shown in Figures 2-8 , the meander line circuit 6 extends in a configuration consisting of multiple serpentine (S-shaped) circuits connected end to end. However, the meander line circuit 6 is not limited to this structure. The purpose of the meander line circuit 6 is to stretch or compress like a spring when the wireless communication terminal 100 is deformed by external forces. This prevents the circuit from breaking or damaging like a linear circuit when subjected to external forces. Any circuit that achieves this purpose can be considered a circuit with a structure similar to the meander line circuit of the present invention.

[0076] Example 6

[0077] The circuit principles of the present invention can be the same as those of existing rigid wireless communication devices, enabling functions such as ball motion sensing, wireless communication, positioning, signal transmission and reception, and wireless charging. Alternatively, any other circuit principles known in the art that can achieve these functions can be used. Wireless communication and signal transmission and reception can utilize communication technologies such as WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and 5G, while positioning can utilize GPS, Beidou, and other positioning technologies.

[0078] Example 7

[0079] The balls of the present invention include but are not limited to footballs, basketballs, volleyballs, rugby balls and the like. For balls that need to realize wireless communication functions, the solution of the present invention can be considered.

Claims

1. A ball, characterized in that: A wireless communication terminal is arranged inside or on the surface of the ball; the wireless communication terminal comprises an elastic base and an elastic covering layer made of elastic material, wherein the elastic covering layer covers the elastic base; a functional module is arranged between the elastic base and the elastic covering layer, wherein the circuit of the functional module is a meandering line circuit; at least one wireless communication terminal is arranged inside or on the surface of the ball.

2. A ball according to claim 1, characterized in that: A wireless communication terminal is arranged inside or on the surface of the ball, as well as a counterweight for offsetting the deviation of the ball's center of gravity caused by the wireless communication terminal.

3. A ball according to claim 2, characterized in that: The counterweight is located inside or on the surface of the ball at a position symmetrical to the wireless communication terminal.

4. A ball according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of wireless communication terminals are arranged in the ball, and the plurality of wireless communication terminals are evenly or unevenly arranged inside or on the surface of the ball. If they are unevenly arranged, a counterweight is arranged inside or on the surface of the ball.

5. A ball according to claim 1, characterized in that: The functional modules include a positioning module, an inertial module, a wireless communication module, and a power module. The positioning module, the inertial module, the wireless communication module, and the power module are connected via a meandering line circuit.

6. A ball according to claim 5, characterized in that: The power module includes a battery and a wireless charging coil. The wireless charging coil is a coil made of a stretchable conductive silver paste material, or the wireless charging coil is a coil formed by a meandering wire.

7. A ball according to claim 6, characterized in that: The battery is an aqueous zinc ion battery with a neutral electrolyte.

8. A ball according to claim 1, characterized in that: The wireless communication terminal is connected to the ball via organic silica gel.

9. A ball according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic substrate and the elastic covering layer are made of PDMS material.

10. A method for manufacturing a ball, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: (1) Spin-coat PDMS on a quartz plate to form an elastic substrate; (2) providing a meandering circuit on an elastic substrate; (3) connecting the components in the functional module through a meandering line circuit; (4) spin coating PDMS on the functional module to form an elastic covering layer, and after the elastic covering layer is cured, peeling the elastic substrate from the quartz plate to obtain a wireless communication terminal; (5) Affixing at least one of the wireless communication terminals prepared in steps (1) to (4) to the inside or surface of the ball.

11. The method for manufacturing a ball according to claim 10, characterized in that: The charging coil is arranged on the elastic substrate by screen printing or spray printing.

12. The method for manufacturing a ball according to claim 10, characterized in that: The meandering line circuit is made by one or more methods including photolithography, inkjet printing, magnetron sputtering, and laser cutting.

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