A locatable device for use inside a golf ball

Abstract

A locatable electronics device that fits inside a standard golf ball. It has multiple Real-Time Location Systems on-board, including UltraWideBand, Bluetooth LE, UHF RFID and Near-Field Communications. Golfers, especially those playing in competitions, spend a lot of time looking for "lost" balls. There is currently no way to guide a golfer from where they have miss - hit a ball to exactly where it lies. Whis this invention and a smart device (watch, phone etc. plus Find My networks) the golfer can use these Real-Time Location Systems to locate and guide them across the entire golf coure, to within centimetres of their "lost" golf ball. The electronic equipment is mounted on a number of wafer thin Printed Circuit Boards which are stacked one on top of the other and their power source, a low environmental risk power unit such as a recyclable SuperCapacitor, is fitted through their centre to provide a weight balanced centre core for a golf ball.

Description

A LOCATABLE DEVICE FOR USE INSIDE A GOLF BALLField of the Invention

[0001] The present Invention relates to systems, methods and computer programs for locating an object. The systems, methods and computer programs may, for example, be an electronic device that can be placed inside a standard golf ball and then, with the supporting methods and computer programs, be used for locating a golf ball when lost.Background

[0002] There are two problems that feature very highly on the priorities of golfers around the world when looking for ways to improve the game and to also improve accessibility of the game. The first issue is slow golf rounds, particularly the time spent looking for golf balls that have been hit astray either by the golfer or by the players in front. The other problem, for a golfer playing in a competition, is having to incur penalty shots after losing a ball.

[0003] The two major golfing authorities, the US Golfing Association (USGA) and the Royal & Ancient (R&A) are very concerned at the time taken searching for balls and, indeed, in 2019, they amended the Rules of Golf to reduce the time allowed for searching for a ball from 10 minutes to 3 minutes.

[0004] A conservative estimate of the time spent searching for balls each round would be 15-20 minutes. With over 500,000,000 rounds of golf played in the USA alone each year the savings in time and money by reducing the time spent searching for balls, are spectacular. There are over 70 million golfers globally who play what is known as “casual” golf i.e. games where their handicap is not affected by their score.

[0005] Within that 70 million there are 10 million or so golfers who play “competitive” golf and maintain a handicap. In a competitive game a lost ball will incur a 2 stroke penalty which will result in lost holes, lost matches and in manycases, higher handicaps. Golf balls used in “competitive” golf must be USGA-approved. It is this group of golfers that will benefit most from a quick, reliable and accurate way of finding their ball when they miss the fairway.

[0006] Searching for a golf ball that has been hit astray on a golf course presents a number of specific challenges. The environment itself is challenging as there are some 40,000 golf courses globally and they tend to be, by design, set in the open countryside, many away from technology infrastructure. There are an almost unlimited number of places for a ball to land and hide, in bushes, under trees, in long grass, in water, in ditches, the list goes on. The golf ball itself does not always go in a straight line for example if the ball hits a tree and is deflected. Many times, the reason a ball can’t be found is that the golfer is actually looking in the wrong place.

[0007] There are no relevant disclosures for an aid for a golfer playing in a “competitive” game to find their ball if it goes astray. All disclosures are designed for the casual golfer and even if they were an aid to finding a ball, they are not able to be used in competitive golf.

[0008] There are no relevant disclosures for an aid for a golfer that will guide them from where they hit a golf ball to the location where the ball is lying out on the golf course. Some devices estimate where the ball might have gone and others describe expecting the golfer to know where the ball has gone but neither of these methods will work if the ball has been deflected e.g. hit a tree, which is a fairly normal scenario in a ball search.

[0009] In all prior disclosures the golfer is not guided until they come within the search range of the method described.

[0010] There are no relevant disclosures for an aid for a golfer that will, quickly and reliably, locate the exact position where a golf ball is lying after beinghit astray by the golfer out on the golf course even when the ball is out of sight e.g. lying in long grass.

[0011] United States US10864410B2 a Bluetooth Enabled Ball Analyzer and Locator discloses using Bluetooth (BLE) where the golfer will start to receive guidance once they are within BLE signal range. The prior disclosure describes the guidance system being limited to taking the golfer to within 5 meters or so from the golf ball.

[0012] All disclosures, other than when using NFC, require a battery to power the electronic device in the golf ball. Batteries pose a problem in that they are quite large, especially when compared to the remainder of the electronics disclosed. They also pose an environmental issue as they are not recyclable containing a number of toxic elements.

[0013] It is the intent of this invention to address and resolve the issues outlined above.Summary of the Invention

[0014] The scope of the protections sought for the various embodiments of the present Invention is set out in the Independent Claims. The embodiments and features, if any, described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the Independent Claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for the understanding of the various embodiments of the present Invention.

[0015] According to a first aspect of the present Invention a Locatable Device is disclosed.

[0016] There follows summary examples of how the Locatable Device may be constructed and used.

[0017] The Locatable Device may be built inside a golf ball and / or may be a standalone device to be put inside a golf ball.

[0018] The Locatable Device may comprise a plurality of Real-Time Location System Solutions and / or a Real-Time Location System Integration Program.

[0019] The Real-Time Location System Solutions may comprise: an Ultra WideBand Solution on a Chip (UWB SoC), which may comprise of a UltraWideBand transceiver, a UltraWideBand antenna, an analogue to digital converter, a UltraWideBand-program wherein the Ultra WideBand-program may control or manage the pre-embedded UltraWideBand protocols including Time-of-Flight calculations and a memory storage facility. This RTLS will receive electric power from the SuperCapacitor.

[0020] The Real-Time Location System Solutions may also comprise a Bluetooth Low Energy Solution on a Chip (BLE SoC), which may comprise: a Bluetooth Low Energy transceiver, a Bluetooth Low Energy antenna, a Bluetooth Low Energy Program, wherein the Bluetooth Low Energy Program may control or manage the pre-embedded Bluetooth Low Energy protocols including Angle-of-Arrival (AoA) calculations and a memory storage facility. This RTLS will receive electric power from the SuperCapacitor.

[0021] The Real-Time Location System Solutions may also comprise a Near-Field Communications Solution Chip (NFC), which may comprise: a NearField Communications transceiver, a Near-Field Communications antenna, a Near-Field Communications Program, wherein the Near-Field Communications Program may control or manage the pre-embedded Near-Field Communications protocols and transfer of data including the RFID identification label and a memory storage facility. This RTLS will get electric power from surrounding electromagnetic fields.

[0022] The Real-Time Location System Solutions may also comprise an Active Ultra High Frequency Radio Frequency IDentification Chip (UHF RFID), which may comprise: a Communications transceiver, an antenna, a UHF RFID Program, wherein the UHF RFID Program may control or manage the preembedded UHF RFID Communications protocols and transfer of data including the RFID identification label and a memory storage facility. This RTLS will receive electric power from the SuperCapacitor.

[0023] The Real-Time Location System Solutions may also comprise a Passive Ultra High Frequency Radio Frequency IDentification Chip (UHF RFID), which may comprise: a Communications transceiver, an antenna, a UHF RFID Program, wherein the UHF RFID Program may control or manage the preembedded UHF RFID Communications protocols and transfer of data including the RFID identification label and a memory storage facility. This RTLS will get electric power from the surrounding electromagnetic fields.

[0024] The Real-Time Location System Integration Program may be configured to interact with and / or operate a device and / or an application inside and / or an application outside of the Locatable Device, the device and / or the application inside and / or the application outside of the Locatable Device comprising of Real-Time Location System Solutions, a Receiving Device, and / or a Connected Application, and / or a Receiving Device User Network.

[0025] The Locatable Device may further comprise: a plurality of Printed Circuit Boards, wherein the Printed Circuit Board may be disc shaped with a hole in the centre and may be mounted one on top of the other, a SuperCapacitor wherein the SuperCapacitor may be cylindrically shaped such that it can be mounted through the central hole of the Printed Circuit Boards.

[0026] The accelerometer-program may be used to measure and transmit spin and acceleration data.

[0027] The Locatable Device may also include a Near-Field Wireless Charging Device.

[0028] One embodiment of the Near-Field Wireless Charging Device may comprise a power source for near-field wireless power, a near field power transmitter, an antenna to transmit the near-field wireless power through the outer layers of a standard golf ball, a cradle for a golf ball to be positioned to enable charging, and a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) control panel.

[0029] Another embodiment of the Near-Field Wireless Charging Device may comprise a power source for near-field wireless power, an induction coil to induce a charge on a matching coil in the Locatable Device, a cradle for a golf ball to be positioned to enable charging, and a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) control panel.

[0030] The Receiving Device may comprise: an ability to operate Ultra WideBand facilities, and / or an ability to operate Bluetooth Low Energy facilities, and / or a Smart Device.

[0031] The Smart Device may be a commercially available electronic device which may include a phone, and / or a pair of glasses, and / or a headset, and / or a watch.

[0032] The Connected Application may include: a commercially available Find My Device Application, and / or a custom Find My Device Application.

[0033] The custom Find My Device Application may be written to provide a search and locate capability for a golfer. It may operate on a Receiving Deviceand / or interface with the Locatable Device taking broadcasts from the multiple RTLS system to guide the Golfer from when they have struck a golf ball to the location, to a precision of within 10cm, of where the ball is now lying. The custom Find My Device Application may also take input from a Private Find My Device Network of users via Bluetooth to locate the ball, across the entire golf course, when not in range of an RTLS.

[0034] The Receiving Device User Network may include: a commercially available Find My Device network, and / or a Private Find My Device network.

[0035] The Private Find My Device network may be a group of Receiving Device Users that agree to share the location of their golf ball, with a Locatable Device inside, via Bluetooth. If one of this group of users is in the vicinity, i.e. within BLE range, of a Locatable Device that is in “Find Me” mode their Receiving Device can relay the location back to the Receiving Device conducting the search.

[0036] In another example this invention may be placed inside something other than a golf ball.

[0037] In this first aspect of the present Invention the issues identified with earlier disclosures may be seen to be addressed as follows:

[0038] As a standalone device, without a battery, smaller than earlier disclosures, with perfect weight balance and with compatibility with widely commercially available Smart Devices and their search and locate capabilities, the present invention is far more likely to be adopted by the main golf ball manufacturers as a method to make their golf balls locatable for competitive golfers.

[0039] The present Invention combines multiple RTLS and having them work in concert with each other as well as the commercial FIND MY Network and / or the Private Find My Network, the present Invention enables a mobile device to track a ball from when hit until the golfer is guided to the ball’s location.

[0040] By using Ultra WideBand transmissions from the present Invention, a Receiving Device will be able to direct the golfer to the precise location of the golf ball, within 10cm, quickly and reliably, even when the ball is lying out of sight, e.g. in a bush or long grass.

[0041] The present Invention can locate the ball and direct the golfer using a Receiving Device without resorting to emitting sounds from the ball, which is only suitable for casual golf and is unlikely to be allowed in competitive golf.

[0042] There are no earlier disclosures for a locatable golf ball that will be USGA-approved and as such there is no golf ball that can be tracked or located that can be used in competitive golf. By enabling USGA-approval for a ball the present Invention improves on all the Prior Art by providing the “registered” golfer, who maintains a handicap, with a precise ball locating capability.

[0043] Preferably the invention incorporates a self-contained rechargeable low environmental risk power source. The power source should preferably be self-contained as it is sealed within the golf ball’s outer shell and is not replaceable during the lifetime of the golf ball. It is preferably rechargeable through inductive charging so as not to have electrical contact on the outer surface of the golf ball. It is preferably a low environmental risk power source because at some point the ball could become irretrievably lost, for example in a pond, and because the ball will have a finite useful lifetime and at some point, will be sent for recycling.

[0044] In this specification, a low environmental risk power source as described herein is one which minimizes ecological harm through the use of non¬ toxic, and / or abundant materials, and / or requires low-energy requirement for their production, and / or is manufactured using renewable energy, and / or has a high level of recyclability and / or is designed to allow managed disposal and / or has a high level of re-usability.

[0045] By using a SuperCapacitor, the present invention does not pose an environmental risk and may be recyclable.

[0046] Other aspects are as set out in the claims herein which are incorporated directly into this summary of invention by way of reference.Description of the Figures

[0047] Figure 1. The figure shows the major components of present Invention.

[0048] The labels 1-9 on this figure refer to the numbering 1-9 in the technical specification.

[0049] Figure 2. The figure shows an impression of the present Invention inside of a golf ball.

[0050] Figure 3. The figure shows a wireless charging device for the SuperCapacitor. The example shown shows the 4-ball device capable of charging 4 golf balls at the same time.Detailed Description

[0051] According to a first aspect of the present Invention a Locatable Device is disclosed. There follows detailed examples of how the present Invention may be constructed and used.

[0052] The Locatable Device in this example is a locatable electronics device that fits inside a standard golf ball. It has multiple Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) on-board, including UltraWideBand (UWB), Bluetooth LE (BLE) and / or UHF RFID and / or Near-Field Communications (NFC).

[0053] No existing RTLS has the capability to fully guide a golfer, across a golf course, without supporting infrastructure, to exactly where the golf ball is lying. It is by using these locating systems in combination that the search process will be able to choose between the RTLS technologies throughout the search, picking the RTLS that is providing the best information at that particular stage in the search. Later in the search another of the RTLS may be providing more accurate information and this will then be used. By using this combination of information from multiple RTLS a golfer, using their Smart Device (watch, phone etc.) and a golf ball with the Locatable Device inside, will be provided with a seamless search over the entire golf course and will be guided to their ball from when the ball is hit through until the golfer is directed to the ball’s exact location.

[0054] Golfers, out on the course, even in a competition, will be able to find their golf ball with centimeters precision.

[0055] This example of the present Invention discloses a rubber polymer-coated sphere that has multiple Real-Time Location Systems including UWB, Bluetooth LE, UHF RFID and NFC capabilities built into it. A Receiving Devices will be connected to the present Invention which enables these devices to access the RTLS transmissions from the present Invention, which will be inside the golf ball, in order to track the ball across the entire golf course and pinpoint thelocation of the ball to within less than 10 centimetres of the ball. The Invention will interface with the major smart devices and also link into their user search networks. It uses a SuperCapacitor instead of a battery which means it is recyclable.

[0056] An example of the technical specification of the present Invention may include:1. a sphere of a shock absorbing silicon gel suspension containing the nano-sized electronics for the Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) equipment,2. the RTLS’ may include Bluetooth LE Solution on a Chip (BLE SoC), Ultra WideBand Solution on a Chip (UWB SoC), UHF RFID chip and NFC solutions and may be installed on a plurality of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) shaped as discs with holes in the centre, an example of the SoCs is the Apple U2 and U3 SoCs which contain all the components necessary to operate UWB, BLE, and NFC protocols, 3. a cylindrical SuperCapacitor may be used to provide enough power for searches during a round of golf and may be mounted in the centre of the disc shaped PCBs - the centre hole being designed to fit around the cylindrical SuperCapacitor at a 90 degree angle. An example of the SuperCapacitor is one that can hold 12Farads,4. the exact positioning of the PCBs on the SuperCapacitor will facilitate an even weight distribution thus ensuring the required symmetry for use inside a golf ball.5. an accelerometer may be used to measure and transmit spin data and also to register that the ball has been struck,6. the shock absorbing centre may be coated with a layer of a reinforced nano-composite polymer,7. a vibrator may provide a audio signal and / or vibrations to help in the search process,an induction coil may be fitted to be close enough to a matching coil to induce the required charge in the SuperCapacitor and / or an RF antenna to receive the near field power transmission to transfer the required charge to the SuperCapacitor,there may be Antenna transmitting BLE, UWB and Accelerometer signals including:a. Time of flight (ToF), and / orb. Time difference of arrival (TDoA), and / orc. Two-way ranging (TWR), and / ord. Time of Arrival (ToA), and / ore. Angle of Arrival (AoA), and / orf. 6-axis acceleration and spin data,a computer program, the RTLS Integration Program, may be created that allows the electronic components inside the present Invention to interact with the RTLS including the UWB SoC, BLE SoC, UHF RFID and NFC solutions. The RTLS Integration Program will also provide an interface to the Receiving Devices and their Connected Applications. The UHF RFID may need a separate signal reading device and this can be linked via Bluetooth to the Receiving Device. The RTLS Integration Program will allow the UHF RFID data to be shared with the Receiving Device,the RTLS Integration Program functions may include:a. instructions to allow the present Invention to be registered with a Receiving Device User Network, using the NFC identification label, b. instructions to allow the present Invention to manage the charging process of the SuperCapacitor including the ability to signal when the charge is in FULL / HALF / LOW / EMPTY states,c. instructions to allow the present Invention to register (through the accelerometer) that the golf ball has been hit and switch the present Invention into a FIND ME mode by starting to transmit the BLE protocols,d. instructions to allow the present Invention to link, via Bluetooth to a UHF RFID Reader,e. instructions to allow the present Invention to transmit a UHF RDIF location once a signal is registered from the UHF RFID Reader, f. instructions to allow the present Invention to enter precision search mode and to start transmitting the UWB protocols once the Receiving Device is within UWB range of the Golf Ball,g. instructions to allow the present Invention to activate the Vibrator when requested,h. instructions to allow the present Invention to switch SLEEP and STANDBY and FIND ME modes,i. instructions to allow the present Invention to transmit the 6-axis acceleration and spin data from the Accelerometer when the ball has been struck,12. the custom Find My Device Application may be written to provide a search and locate capability for a golfer. It may operate on a Receiving Device and / or interface with the Locatable Device taking broadcasts from the multiple RTLS system to guide the Golfer from when they have struck a golf ball to the location, to a precision of within 10cm, of where the ball is now lying. The custom Find My Device Application may also take input from Private Find My Network users via Bluetooth to locate the ball, across the entire golf course, when not in range of an RTLS.

[0057] Electronic Component Configuration: The components in the device, both hardware and software, will need to be especially selected in order that they may be certified for use with the Receiving Device manufacturers. The exact hardware configuration will be dependent upon the hardware and security requirements of the Receiving Device manufacturers. This may result in multiple versions of the present Invention.

[0058] Charging the SuperCapacitor: The Invention requires power to operate and this may be provided by a SuperCapacitor rather than a Battery. The SuperCapacitor is both rechargeable and recyclable. To recharge it may require a device specifically designed to transmit a charge through the golf ball that contains the present Invention, the Near-Field Wireless Charging Device.

[0059] One embodiment of the technical specification for a Near-Field Wireless Charging Device comprises:1. an induction (Qi based) charging device,2. designed specifically to induce a charge to the SuperCapacitor through the skin of the golf ball,3. a cradle for one or more golf balls to be positioned to enable charging, 4. an LED control panel to manage the charging process as well as the Ball registration with the Receiving Device Manufacturers ecosystem, 5. when the golf ball (with the present Invention inside) is placed in the Near-Field Wireless Charging Device and aligned correctly, an electrical charge will be induced into the SuperCapacitor in the present Invention to provide sufficient searching / locating capability for a round of golf,6. the Near-Field Wireless Charging Device will also manage the selection of which Receiving Device User Network.

[0060] A second embodiment for the technical specification for the Near-Field Wireless Charging Device comprises:1. A near field power charging device,2. designed specifically to transfer power wirelessly to a SuperCapacitor through the skin of the golf ball,3. a cradle for one or more golf balls to be positioned to enable charging, 4. an LED control panel to manage the charging process as well as the Ball registration with the Receiving Manufacturers ecosystem,5. when the golf ball (with the present Invention inside) is placed in the Near-Field Wireless Charging Device and aligned correctly, an electrical charge will be transferred using a near field transmitter into the SuperCapacitor in the present Invention to provide sufficient searching / locating capability for a round of golf,6. the Near-Field Wireless Charging Device will also manage the selection of which Receiving Device User Network the golfer wishes to join which in turn will inform the present Invention which version of the integrations is required, ready for the game.

[0061] According to a further aspect of the present Invention a further embodiment of the Locatable Device is disclosed. There follows examples of how the present Invention may be constructed and used.

[0062] The Locatable Device in this example is a locatable electronics device built inside a standard golf ball rather than as a standalone device.

[0063] The electronics deceive may include the SuperCapacitor and / or the RTLS systems on the PCBs. The electronics device will be inserted into the centre of a golf ball during construction and the golf ball manufacturer will surround the electronic device with materials suitable for providing protection to the electronics from being hit with great force.

[0064] This example of the technical specification of the further aspect of the present Invention may include:1. the Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) may include Bluetooth LE Solution on a Chip (BLE SoC), Ultra WideBand Solution on a Chip (UWB SoC), UHF RFID chip and NFC solutions and may be installed on a plurality of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) shaped as discs with holes in the centre, an example of the SoCs is the Apple U2 and U3SoCs which contain all the components necessary to operate UWB, BLE, and NFC protocols,a cylindrical SuperCapacitor may be used to provide enough power for searches during a round of golf and may be mounted in the centre of the disc shaped PCBs - the centre hole being designed to fit around the cylindrical SuperCapacitor at a 90 degree angle. An example of the SuperCapacitor is one that can hold 12Farads,the exact positioning of the PCBs on the SuperCapacitor will facilitate an even weight distribution thus ensuring the required symmetry for use in a golf ball.an accelerometer may be used to measure and transmit spin data and also to register that the ball has been struck,a vibrator may provide an audio signal and / or vibrations to help in the search process,an induction coil may be fitted to be close enough to a matching coil to induce the required charge in the SuperCapacitor and / or an RF antenna to receive the near field power transmission to transfer the required charge to the SuperCapacitor,there may be Antenna transmitting BLE, UWB and Accelerometer signals including:a. Time of flight (ToF), and / orb. Time difference of arrival (TDoA), and / orc. Two-way ranging (TWR), and / ord. Time of Arrival (ToA), and / ore. Angle of Arrival (AoA), and / orf. 6-axis acceleration and spin data,a computer program, the RTLS Integration Program, may be created that allows the electronic components inside the present Invention to interact with the RTLS including the UWB SoC, BLE SoC, UHF RFID and NFC solutions. The RTLS Integration Program will also provide an interface to the Receiving Devices and their Connected Applications.The UHF RFID may need a separate signal reading device and this can be linked via Bluetooth to the Receiving Device. The RTLS Integration Program will allow the UHF RFID data to be shared with the Receiving Device.The RTLS Integration Program functions may include:a. instructions to allow the present Invention to be registered with a Receiving Device User Network, using the NFC identification label, b. instructions to allow the present Invention to manage the charging process of the SuperCapacitor including the ability to signal when the charge is in FULL / HALF / LOW / EMPTY states,c. instructions to allow the present Invention to register (through the accelerometer) that the golf ball has been hit and switch the present Invention into a FIND ME mode by starting to transmit the BLE protocols,d. instructions to allow the present Invention to link, via Bluetooth to a UHF RFID Reader,e. instructions to allow the present Invention to transmit a UHF RDIF location once a signal is registered from the UHF RFID Reader, f. instructions to allow the present Invention to enter precision search mode and to start transmitting the UWB protocols once the Receiving Device is within UWB range of the Golf Ball,g. instructions to allow the present Invention to activate the Vibrator when requested,h. instructions to allow the present Invention to switch SLEEP and STANDBY and FIND ME modes,i. instructions to allow the present Invention to transmit the 6-axis acceleration and spin data from the Accelerometer when the ball has been struck,the custom Find My Device Application may be written to provide a search and locate capability for a golfer. It may operate on a Receiving Device and / or interface with the Locatable Device taking broadcastsfrom the multiple RTLS system to guide the Golfer from when they have struck a golf ball to the location, to a precision of within 10cm, of where the ball is now lying. The custom Find My Device Application may also take input from Private Find My Network users via Bluetooth to locate the ball, across the entire golf course, when not in range of an RTLS.The Technology Description

[0065] Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS): Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) is a technology that tracks objects (& people) in real-time. UltraWideBand (UWB), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), UltraHighFrequency RFID (UHF RFID) and Near-Field Communications (NFC) are all recognised as examples of an RTLS. They are all used throughout industry to track and locate objects. There is no RTLS that can, on its own, provide a start-to-finish golf ball search out on a golf course, however, by combining RTLS, the present Invention can provide a golf course-wide search capability with precision ball locating, to within 10cm of where the ball is lying, even if the ball is not visible.

[0066] The RTLS Integration Program: The RTLS Integration Program, a computer program, may be programmed such that the multiple RTLS systems in the present invention can operate together and communicate with equipment both inside and outside the present Invention including the Receiving Devices and the Connected Applications.

[0067] The RTLS Integration Program may, as well as transmitting the data from the RTLS’ and the 6-axis accelerometer, also (or instead of transmitting) store the data generated in one of the RTLS solutions’ memory storage facilities for later transmission or download. The data may include the velocity, spin, flight and distance of the ball from being hit to coming to rest.

[0068] UltraWideBand (UWB): UltraWideBand (UWB) is a Real-Time Location System that has a long history and has a technical standard IEEE 802.15.4 which is managed by the FIRA Consortium. It is used for precision locating and this has typically involved having a fixed infrastructure of beacons to relay the data back for central analysis. Whilst it is able to give very precise location data, locating an object to within 10cm - not just in distance but also the height of an object, it has a relatively short searching range without fixed infrastructure, dropping to around 10 meters, which limits its usefulness when searching in a wide open space like a golf course The UWB Solution on a Chip (SoC), which includes the transceiver, antennas, protocols, software, signal processing and a core processor needed to manage and operate a UWB solution, may be installed in the present Invention.

[0069] An UltraWideBand (UWB) solution on a chip is an integrated semiconductor device designed to enable short-range, wireless, high-bandwidth communication. It functions by transmitting data through low-power radio pulses across a very wide frequency spectrum (typically over 500 MHz within the 3.1 to 10.6 GHz range). These chipsets allow devices to determine, with centimeter¬ level precision, the location and distance of other UWB-enabled devices in realtime. A UWB solution on a chip typically integrates several components onto a single, compact System-on-Chip (SoC) or Module to minimize power consumption and board space. Key components of a UWB Solution on a chip comprise a radio frequency transceiver which handles the transmission and reception of wideband pulses; a Digital Baseband / Processor which executes complex, high-speed signal processing algorithms for time-of-flight (ToF) calculations; a Power Management Unit (PMU) which manages energy, allowing for low-power operation essential for battery-driven devices; and an Integrated MAC Layer which Adheres to standards such as IEEE 802.15. z, supporting secure ranging. Capabilities and features of a UWB Solution on a Chip comprise Centimeter-Level Accuracy, whereby UWB can measure distances and locations within 1cm to 10cm accuracy, which is vastly superior to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, bycalculating the Time of Flight (ToF) of pulses; High-Security "Range-Bounding" whereby UWB signals are resistant to noise and reflection, and can detect / prevent "man-in-the-middle" relay attacks; High-Speed Data Transfer which Supports high data rates for short-range applications; and low Interference, whereby UWB uses a broad spectrum (3.1-10.6 GHz) at low power density, allowing it to coexist with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

[0070] Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is a Real-Time Location System that can also provide location data and can usually “sense” an object over a wider area than UWB, estimates range from 50 meters to 100 meters. However BLE is not as precise as UWB in actually locating an object and typically can only locate an object to between 2 and 5 metres of where it is lying and without any concept of the height of the object. This, on its own, would not be suitable for many or indeed most golf ball searches.

[0071] The BLE Solution on a Chip (SoC), which includes the RF transceiver, peripherals and circuitry needed to manage and operate a BLE solution - including those using Bluetooth Channel Sounding, may be installed in some embodiments according to the present invention.

[0072] Near-Field Communications (NFC): NFC is a Real-Time Location System that is used primarily to store and read a unique identifying label.

[0073] An NFC label needs to be within a few Centimeters of the reader to be recognised which means it is of little use in actually searching for an object.

[0074] It does not need any power as it will take power from the surrounding electromagnetic fields. The NFC equipment may be installed in the present Invention.

[0075] UltraHighFrequency RFID (UHF RFID) is a Real-Time Location System that can provide location data and can usually “sense” an object over a wider area than UWB, estimates range from 100 meters to 200 meters. However UHF RFID is not as precise as UWB in actually locating an object and typically can only locate an object to a 3 metre or so circle of where the object is lying and does not provide any concept of the height of the object. The current versions of Smart Devices cannot read UHF RFID transmissions however a small commercially available UHF RFID reader can be carried with and link to the Receiving Device via Bluetooth. It is also relatively simple to extend the UHF RFID range by using commercially available UHF RFID signal repeaters which could, for example, be pocket held devices carried by ball spotters at a golf tournament. With relatively few signal repeaters, perhaps 20 or so, the UHF RFID range could be extended to golf-course wide. Active UHF RFID will require power from the SuperCapacitor, Passive UHF RFID will take power from the surrounding electromagnetic fields.

[0076] Accelerometer: An 6-axis accelerometer will measure and transmit spin and acceleration data and also register when a ball has been struck.

[0077] The 6-axis accelerometer used to measure acceleration and spin is also known as a 6-axis inertial measurement unit. In another example there may be a 9-axis inertial measurement unit which will measure gravitational forces as well as spin and acceleration.

[0078] Vibrator: A vibrator which can provide an audio signal or vibrate the ball to help in the search process. This feature may assist the search when in casual golf however it is unlikely to be acceptable to have such a feature present in a USGA-approved ball being used in competitive golf.

[0079] Receiving Devices: The Receiving Device may be a mobile device such as mobile phone, watch, glasses, headset which is UltraWideBand and BLEenabled. For a Receiving Device to be UWB-enabled it must not only have the UWB technology installed in the device but also having at least two UWB antennas to provide Time of Flight (ToF) calculations which in turn provide pinpoint accuracy when finding an object by using UWB in a mobile environment, without beacons. The latest versions of Smartphones and Smart Devices now have UWB and BLE installed as standard including Apple, and / or Samsung, and / or Google Smart Devices.

[0080] The Connected Applications: Through these Receiving Devices the present Invention may interface with one of these Connected Applications running on the Receiving Devices including, Apple’s Find My app using Apple’s Find My User Network, and / or Samsung SmartThings Find App, and / or Google’s Find My Device using Google’s Crowdsourced network, and / or a custom Find My Application.

[0081] The custom Find My Application: The custom Find My Device Application may be written to provide a search and locate capability for a golfer. It may operate on a Receiving Device and / or interface with the Locatable Device taking broadcasts from the multiple RTLS system to guide the Golfer from when they have struck a golf ball to the location, to a precision of within 10cm, of where the ball is now lying. The custom Find My Device Application may also take input from Private Find My Network users via Bluetooth to locate the ball, across the entire golf course, when not in range of an RTLS.

[0082] Receiving Device User Network: The Receiving Device User Network may include Apple’s Find My User Network and / or Google’s Crowdsourced network, and / or the Private Find My Device Network. These networks provide a “wide-area” object locating capability - easily covering the entire Golf Course - by networking their users who are in the same vicinity. Using this feature a Receiving Device will receive location details from other users inthe same network when those users are within BLE range (from 50 meters or so) of the golf ball.

[0083] Private Find My Device network: The Private Find My Device network may be a group of Receiving Device Users that agree to share the location of their golf ball, with a Locatable Device inside, via Bluetooth. If one of this group of users is in the vicinity, i.e. within BLE range, of a Locatable Device that is in “Find Me” mode their Receiving Device can relay the location back to the Receiving Device conducting the search.

[0084] SuperCapacitor: The present Invention requires electrical power to operate but, in the judgement of the inventor, batteries are too big and weigh too much to be placed inside a golf ball without affecting the ball’s performance and they also present an environmental risk. In order to create a device that is as small and light as possible the present Invention is powered by a SuperCapacitor instead of a battery. A SuperCapacitor is approximately 40% smaller and 40% lighter than the equivalent battery. Unlike a conventional capacitor which has a dielectric insulator sandwiched between two charge storing conductive plates, a supercapacitor comprises an electrochemical double layer capacitance, using porous electrodes and an electrolyte. This enables a larger surface area per unit volume and increased charge storage capacity compared to a dielectric capacitor. Super capacitors typically exhibit higher power densities of 1,000 to 10,000 W / kg (1 kW to 10kW per Kg) which is 1 ,000 to 1 m times greater than the capacity per unit volume of a dielectric capacitor and between 10 to 100 times greater than the power density of a conventional battery. Examples of a Supercapacitor include an EDLC (Electric Double Layer Capacitance), a Hybrid Supercapacitor, a PseudoSupercapacitor, a Sodium-ion Supercapacitor, a Sodium-ion Supercapattery, Ultracapacitors and a Sodium-ion capacitor.

[0085] A SuperCapacitor is recyclable and contains little or no toxic components. Standard Lithium-ion batteries do contain toxic components.

[0086] Low environmental risk batteries: Examples of rechargeable low environmental risk batteries include a Sodium-ion Battery, a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4 or LFP) battery, a Nickel-MetalHydride (NiMH) battery and a Solid State Battery and these could be used instead of the Supercapacitor.

[0087] Low environmental risk supercapacitors are next-generation energy storage devices designed to minimize ecological impact throughout their entire lifecycle — from raw material extraction to manufacturing, usage, and disposal. They are distinguished by their use of non-toxic, abundant, and often biodegradable materials, such as bio-derived activated carbon, rather than heavy metals. They are designed to replace conventional energy storage systems (like lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries) in specific applications by offering higher sustainability, improved safety, and better recyclability.

[0088] Key Characteristics of Low-Environmental Risk Supercapacitors include that they are manufactured from sustainable materials. These supercapacitors often utilize activated carbon derived from renewable biomass (e.g., coconut shells, wood, tea leaves, or agricultural waste), that they are made by a green manufacturing processes, with production often involving water-based electrode processing, which reduces the use of toxic, volatile solvents such as N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP).

[0089] Low environmental risk supercapacitors may also use eco-friendly components, and they frequently use paper separators and organic or non-toxic aqueous electrolytes (e.g., NaCI or Na2SO4) to avoid hazardous materials.

[0090] Low environmental risk supercapacitors may also use eco-friendly components, and they frequently use paper separators and organic or non-toxic aqueous electrolytes (e.g., NaCI or Na2SO4) to avoid hazardous materials.

[0091] Low environmental risk supercapacitors may have a long lifespan and high cyclability. They can endure hundreds of thousands of charge-discharge cycles with minimal degradation, reducing the frequency of replacement and resulting waste. They have a high recycling potential, and their composition makes them easier to recycle compared to traditional batteries, with some designs allowing for up to 90% recovery of electrode materials. Such capacitors may also be manufactured in regions with a high renewable energy availability such as Norway or Sweden which results in a significantly lower cradle-to-gate carbon footprint.

[0092] Examples of Low-Environmental Risk supercapacitor Technologies include:• Bio-based Activated Carbon Supercapacitors, which use waste- derived materials as the electrode material.• Hybrid Supercapacitors, which combine electrostatic double-layer mechanisms with battery-type electrodes (e.g., using Lithium Titanate or Sodium-ion) to increase energy density while maintaining safety.• Biodegradable / Organic Supercapacitors which utilize materials like melanin (from squid ink) or other quinone-based organic materials for electrodes.• Solid-State / Gel Electrolyte Devices which replace liquid, potentially toxic electrolytes with safer, solid or gel-based alternatives.

[0093] The biggest influence on the capacitance required to be held in the SuperCapacitor is the number of searches required off a single charge. The smaller the number of searches then the smaller the required SuperCapacitor and so the smaller the overall dimensions of the present Invention will be. The number of searches possible on one charge will be balanced against the desired overall size and weight of the present Invention, which will be influenced by the need to have the golf ball with the present Invention inside approved by the USGA for use in competitive golf. There may be multiple embodiments of the presentInvention utilising different size SuperCapacitors, from one that can only undertake one search per charge to one that can last for multiple searches and indeed for multiple rounds of golf.

[0094] Calculating the required capacity of a SuperCapacitor: An example of the calculation of the required capacitance, in Farads (F), would be a scenario where the charge is required for a total duration of 4 hours, with up to 1.5 hours in Idle mode and 20 minutes in FIND ME mode and the remaining time will be in Super low-power mode.

[0095] A typical power usage for each search mode could be Super low-power mode using 2pA (0.002 mA), Idle mode using 4 mA and FIND ME mode using 8 mA.

[0096] With these search power usages the average current consumption would be Total current consumption = Super low-power + Idle + Find Me

[0097] Which gives 0.002m x 2.17 hours = 0.00434m / i + 4mA x 1.5 hours = 6mA h. + 8mA X 0.33 hours = 2.644mAh

[0098] thus Total current consumption: 0.00434 + 6 + 2.644 = 8.64834m4 / i

[10099] Jand Averagae current consumption:8-64834n ft~ 2.168m4~ 4 hours

[0100] if the main board is designed to run at 3.3V at an assumed pessimistic 75% efficiency the Energy required to power the board is E = I x V x t

[0101] which gives E = 0.0021684 x 3.3V x 14400s = 102.85 /

[0102] when adjusted for efficiency this will give Eadjusted= =137.13 /

[0103] given the Energy required and the desired run time, the required capacitance, assuming an operating voltage range where the final voltage is 0.42E times the initial voltage, and an initial voltage of 3.8V will be C = - -a a 0 84X ^initial

[10104] Jwhich gaives C =02.8x41x373.1832

[0105] and results in a required capacitance of C — 22.65Farads for the mix of search modes in the example.

[0106] Near-Field Wireless Charging Device: Examples of a Near-Field Wireless Charging Device are disclosed that can charge the SuperCapacitor by transmitting near-field wireless power through the golf ball.

[0107] Example 1 - a typical golfer out on the golf course -with commercial application and network.

[0108] In this example the Locatable Device will use UWB, BLE and NFC RTLS technology and the Receiving Device (a Smart Watch) will use a commercially available Find My Application and Find My User Network. The golf ball will be of a type that has been manufactured with the Locatable Device inside the golf ball.

[0109] The golfer will have activated (charged) the ball before playing and as part of that process will have registered the ball with the commercially available searching ecosystem of choice using the NFC RFID label to uniquely identify the ball.

[0110] The ecosystem options are broadly similar and for the purposes of this example the Apple Find My ecosystem is shown.

[0111] After activating the ball the golfer will not usually use the searching application in their Receiving Device unless (or until) they lose track of where their ball has gone after it has been hit.

[0112] When the golfer has lost track of the ball they can request the Receiving Device to switch into "FIND ME" mode. The present Invention will connect to the Receiving Device and this will receive broadcasts from the present Invention i.e. initially Golf Course-wide ball locating using the Receiving Device ecosystem and normal phone data connectivity. Most of the time a golfer will not need this feature as they know roughly where their ball has gone, however, there are occasions when, for example, the ball has ricocheted from say a tree, that this long-range search can be of use. If there are Receiving Device users in the vicinity of the golf ball, which will likely be the case, the golfer will be guided towards the ball and then as the golfer gets within 100-50 metres or so the Receiving Device will start getting the BLE broadcasts from the present Invention and will guide the golfer towards the ball. From this point onwards the present Invention and the Receiving Device will operate in a “Device-to-Device” mode and will not need any data connectivity or infrastructure which is the ideal situation when searching for a golf ball out on a golf course.

[0113] As the golfer gets to within 10 metres or so the Receiving Device will start receiving the UWB broadcasts from the present Invention. Once the UWB transmissions from the present Invention are being received, the Receiving Device, using its multiple antenna and the UWB transmissions from the present Invention, will measure the differences between the time of arrival of the transmissions to each antenna and use a calculation known as Time of Flight(ToF), to give a very precise location of the ball. The golfer will be guided precisely, to within 10cm, of where the golf ball is, even if the ball is not in sight.

[0114] Example 2 - a ball spotter locating the balls for a 4-ball group of golfers playing in a competition - with commercial application and network.

[0115] In this example the Locatable Device will use UWB, BLE and NFC RTLS technology and the Receiving Device (a Smart Watch) will use a commercially available Find My Application and Find My Network. The golf ball will be of a type that has been manufactured with the Locatable Device inside the golf ball.

[0116] In this scenario the ball spotter will activate and register the balls of all four players on the spotter’s Receiving Device.

[0117] It is normal practice for the ball spotter to position themselves roughly where they expect the players to land their balls.

[0118] If one of the golfers hits a wayward ball the spotter will be able to select that golfer's ball and start their search. The search steps will be the same as in Example 1 and, with the present Invention, they will be able to find the ball before the golfers arrive.

[0119] Example 3 - a ball spotter locating the ball for a golfer playing in a competition - with custom applications and no network, with UHF RFID Reader and UHF RFID Signal repeaters.

[0120] In this example the Locatable Device will use UWB, BLE and UHF RFID RTLS technology and the Receiving Device (a Smart Watch) will use the custom Find My Application, without the need for a Receiving Device UserNetwork. The golf ball will be of a type that has been manufactured with the Locatable Device inside the golf ball.

[0121] In this scenario the ball spotter will activate and register the golfer's golf ball on the spotter’s Receiving Device using the unique ID in the UHF RFID chip. Each spotter will also be carrying a commercially available UHF RFID reader. The UHF RFID reader will be linked to the Receiving Device via Bluetooth.

[0122] The tournament organisers will have also arranged for helpers (marshals) to take a number of commercially available UHF RFID signal repeaters out onto the course. This could be the ball spotters if wanted, one repeater positioned somewhere on each of the 18 holes should extend the UHF RFID range from 200 meters to over 1,000 meters which would, in effect, will mean coverage of the entire golf course.

[0123] In this example the present Invention and the Receiving Device will operate in a “Device-to-Device” mode and will not need any data connectivity which is the ideal situation when searching for a golf ball out on a golf course.

[0124] It is normal practice for the ball spotter to position themselves roughly where they expect the players to land their balls.

[0125] If the spotter’s golfer hits a wayward ball the spotter will be able to select that golfer's ball and start their search by requesting the Receiving Device to switch into "FIND ME" mode.

[0126] The present Invention will connect to the Receiving Device and this will receive broadcasts from the present Invention i.e. initially Golf Course-wide ball locating using the UHF RFID RTLS. The UHF RFID reader will receive theboosted signal and pass the location data of the golf ball to the Receiving Device. The Receiving Device will guide the spotter towards the ball.

[0127] As the spotter gets to within 10 metres or so the Receiving Device will start receiving the UWB broadcasts from the present Invention. Once the UWB transmissions from the present Invention are being received, the Receiving Device, using its multiple antenna and the UWB transmissions from the present Invention, will measure the differences between the time of arrival of the transmissions to each antenna and use a calculation known as Time of Flight (ToF), to give a very precise location of the ball. The spotter will be guided precisely, to within 10cm, of where the golf ball is, even if the ball is not in sight.

[0128] Obviously the Golfer or his caddy could carry out the search themselves rather than using a spotter but as spotters are quite normal at tournaments that is the example chosen to show the present Invention in use.

[0129] Example 4 - a typical golfer out on the golf course - with custom applications and the Private Find My Network of users.

[0130] In this example the Locatable Device will use UWB, BLE and NFC RTLS technology and the Receiving Device (a Smart Watch) will use the custom Find My Application and a Private Find My Network of users. The golf ball will be of a type that has been manufactured with the Locatable Device inside the golf ball.

[0131] The golfer will have activated (charged) the ball before playing and as part of that process will have registered the ball with the Private Find My Network of users using the NFC RFID label to uniquely identify the ball.

[0132] The Private Find My Network of users could be like minded golfers for example the members in a club who all agree to share locations of their golf balls via Bluetooth.

[0133] After activating the ball the golfer will not usually use the searching application in their Receiving Device unless (or until) they lose track of where their ball has gone after it has been hit.

[0134] When the golfer has lost track of the ball they can request the Receiving Device to switch into "FIND ME" mode. The present Invention will connect to the Receiving Device and this will receive broadcasts from the present Invention i.e. initially Golf Course-wide ball locating using the Private Find My Network of users and normal phone data connectivity. Most of the time a golfer will not need this feature as they know roughly where their ball has gone, however, there are occasions, for example, when the ball has ricocheted from say a tree, that this long range search can be of use. If there are Private Find My Network users in the vicinity of the golf ball, which will likely be the case, the golfer will be guided towards the ball. As the golfer gets within 100-50 metres or so the Receiving Device will start getting the BLE broadcasts from the present Invention and will guide the golfer towards the ball using the BLE location data. From this point onwards the present Invention and the Receiving Device will operate in a “Device-to-Device” mode and will not need any data connectivity or infrastructure which is the ideal situation when searching for a golf ball out on a golf course.

[0135] As the golfer gets to within 10 metres or so the Receiving Device will start receiving the UWB broadcasts from the present Invention. Once the UWB transmissions from the present Invention are being received, the Receiving Device, using its multiple antenna and the UWB transmissions from the present Invention, will measure the differences between the time of arrival of the transmissions to each antenna and use a calculation known as Time of Flight(ToF), to give a very precise location of the ball. The golfer will be guided precisely, to within 10cm, of where the golf ball is, even if the ball is not in sight.

[0136] Example 5 - a typical golfer out on the golf course - with custom applications and Private Find My Network of users, with UHF RFID Reader.

[0137] In this example the Locatable Device will use UWB, BLE and UHF RFID RTLS technology and the Receiving Device (a Smart Watch) will use a custom Find My Application and a Private Find My Network of users. The golf ball will be of a type that has been manufactured with the Locatable Device inside the golf ball.

[0138] The golfer will have activated (charged) the ball before playing and as part of that process will have registered the ball with the Private Find My Network using the UHF RFID label to uniquely identify the ball. The golfers will also need to have a UHF RFID Reader on their person connected to the Receiving Device via Bluetooth.

[0139] The users in the Private Find My Network could be like minded golfers for example the members in a club who all agree to share locations of their golf balls via Bluetooth.

[0140] After activating the ball the golfer will not usually use the searching application in their Receiving Device unless (or until) they lose track of where their ball has gone after it has been hit.

[0141] When the golfer has lost track of the ball they can request the Receiving Device to switch into "FIND ME" mode. The present Invention will connect to the Receiving Device and this will receive broadcasts from the present Invention i.e. initially Golf Course-wide ball locating using the Private Find My Network and normal phone data connectivity. Most of the time a golfer will notneed this feature as the range of the UHF RFID RTLS, which is up to 200 meters, will be enough for most shots. Also golfers will know roughly where their ball has gone, however, there are occasions, for example, when the ball has ricocheted from say a tree, that this long range search can be of use. If there are Private Find My Network users in the vicinity of the golf ball, which will likely be the case, the golfer will be guided towards the ball. As the golfer gets within 200-150 metres or so the UHF RFID reader will receive the UHF RFID signal and pass the location data of the golf ball to the Receiving Device. Receiving Device will start getting the UHF RFID broadcasts from the present Invention and will guide the golfer towards the ball. From this point onwards the present Invention and the Receiving Device will operate in a “Device-to-Device” mode and will not need any data connectivity or infrastructure which is the ideal situation when searching for a golf ball out on a golf course.

[0142] As the golfer gets to within 10 metres or so the Receiving Device will start receiving the UWB broadcasts from the present Invention. Once the UWB transmissions from the present Invention are being received, the Receiving Device, using its multiple antenna and the UWB transmissions from the present Invention, will measure the differences between the time of arrival of the transmissions to each antenna and use a calculation known as Time of Flight (ToF), to give a very precise location of the ball. The golfer will be guided precisely, to within 10cm, of where the golf ball is, even if the ball is not in sight.

[0143] Whilst The locatable device described herein has been described by way of example fitted within a golf ball, in other embodiments the locatable device is not restricted to use with a golf ball, but could be placed inside or incorporated with any other movable object where it is requires that the location of the object can be found to within a range of within 10 to 50 centimetres using a hand held portable location device.

Claims

ClaimsWe claim:

1. A Locatable Device for use in a golf ball wherein the Locatable Device is built inside a golf ball and / or is a standalone device to be put inside a golf ball, the Locatable Device comprising:an Ultra WideBand communications device on a semiconductor chip, said device comprising a UWB solution on a chip;said UltraWideBand communications device being capable of locating a golf ball containing said location device to within 10cm of the location of said golf ball, even when the ball is lying out of sight; anda low environmental risk power source for powering said UltraWideBand communications device.

2. The Location Device of Claim 1 , wherein the low environmental risk power source comprises a supercapacitor.

3. The Locatable Device of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a Real-Time Location System, said real time location system comprising:a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Solution on a Chip device; and / or a Near-Field Communications (NFC) Solution Chip device; and / or an Ultra High Frequency Radio Frequency Identification (UHF RFID) Chip device.

4. The Locatable Device of Claim 3, further comprising Real-Time Location System Integration Program which is configured to interact with and / or operate with a device and / or an application program inside and / or an applicationoutside of the Locatable Device, said device and / or the application program inside and / or the application outside of the Locatable Device comprising:the Real-Time Location System Solutions;a Receiving Device; and / ora Connected Application; and / ora Receiving Device User Network.

5. The Locatable Device of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a plurality of Printed Circuit Boards; and / or a Near-Field Wireless Charging Device.

6. The Locatable Device of Claim 5, wherein said Near-Field Wireless Charging Device comprises: a power source for near-field wireless power; a near field power transmitter; an antenna to transmit the near-field wireless power; a cradle for holding a golf ball; and a Light-Emitting Diode control panel.

7. The Locatable Device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the Locatable Device further comprises: a reinforced outer shell; a 6-axis accelerometer; an accelerometer-program, wherein the accelerometer-program can measure and transmit acceleration and spin data; and a shock absorbent gel.

8. The Locatable Device in Claim 5, wherein the Near-Field Wireless Charging Device comprises: a power source for near-field wireless power; an induction coil to induce a charge on a matching coil in the Locatable Device; a cradle for holding a golf ball; and a Light-Emitting Diode control panel.

9. The Locatable Device of Claim 4, wherein the Receiving Device has an ability to operate Ultra WideBand facilities; and / oran ability to operate Bluetooth Low Energy facilities; and / ora Smart Device.

10. The Locatable Device of Claim 4, wherein the Connected Application includes: a commercially available Find My Device Application; and / or a customised Find My Device Application.

11. The Locatable Device in Claim 4, wherein the Receiving Device User Network includes: a commercially available Find My Device Network; and / or a Private Find My Device Network.

12. The Locatable Device in Claim 1, wherein the Locatable Device further comprises: a plurality of disc shaped Printed Circuit Boards each with a hole in their centre; and wherein said SuperCapacitor is cylindrically shaped such that it can be mounted through the central holes of said Printed Circuit Boards.

13. The Locatable Device of Claim 1, wherein the low environmental risk power source comprises a supercapacitor; and / or a low environmental risk battery.

14. The Locatable Device of Claim 2, wherein said Supercapacitor comprises:an EDLC (Electric Double Layer Capacitance); and / ora Hybrid Supercapacitor; and / ora PseudoSupercapacitor; and / ora Sodium-ion Supercapacitor; and / ora Sodium-ion Supercapattery; and / oran Ultracapacitor; and / ora Sodium-ion capacitor.

15. The Locatable device of Claim 13, wherein said low environmental risk battery comprises:a Sodium-ion Battery; and / ora Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4 or LFP) battery; and / ora Nickel-MetalHydride (NiMH) battery; and / ora Solid State Battery.

16. The Locatable Device of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a vibrator.

17. The Locatable Device of Claim 4,where the data handled by said Real-Time Location System will be transmitted via the Real-Time Location System; and / orsaid data will be stored in the Real-Time Location System memory storage facility for later transmission or download.

18. The Locatable device of claim 17, wherein said data handled and / or stored by the Real Time Location system comprises data selected from the set: velocity; spin; acceleration; flight distance of the ball from being hit to coming to rest.

19. The Locatable device of claim 17, wherein said data handled and / or stored by the Real Time Location system comprises data generated by a 6 - axis or a 9 - axis inertial measurement unit.

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