Radar-Marked Golf Balls for Consistent Launch Data Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radar tracking systems for golf balls face challenges in accurately obtaining launch condition data due to issues with the positioning, alignment, and durability of radar reflective stickers, leading to a decrease in the quality of collected data.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball with one or more layers featuring radar detectable marks formed from electrically conductive ink, such as those comprising vinyl polymers, urethane polymers, or epoxy polymers, and electrically conductive materials like silver, conductive carbon, or graphene, applied using techniques like pad printing, ensuring the marks intersect with every 0.025 inch wide great circle path on the surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If radar reflective stickers are placed on the golf ball surface, then radar tracking systems can obtain launch condition data, but the positioning accuracy and alignment consistency deteriorate due to manual placement challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the radar reflective function directly into the golf ball manufacturing process by incorporating radar detectable material into the ball layers during molding, eliminating the separate sticker application step. This integration ensures consistent positioning and alignment without manual placement errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The radar detectable marks are incorporated into the golf ball layers during the initial manufacturing process before the ball is completed. This preliminary action ensures that the marks are precisely positioned according to design specifications without requiring subsequent manual sticker application.
2Measurement precision
If radar reflective stickers are used on golf balls, then launch condition data can be collected, but the durability of the detection marks deteriorates leading to data quality decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The radar detectable material is combined with the structural layers of the golf ball during manufacturing, making the detection marks an integral part of the ball itself. This merger ensures that the marks maintain the same durability as the ball and cannot detach or deteriorate independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials that incorporate radar detectable properties into the golf ball layer materials. This allows the detection marks to be formed from the same durable materials as the ball structure, ensuring long-term reliability and resistance to environmental factors.
3Measurement precision
If radar reflective stickers are applied to golf balls, then launch condition data collection is enabled, but the process complexity increases due to additional placement and alignment steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the radar detection functionality with the golf ball manufacturing process itself, eliminating the need for separate sticker application equipment and procedures. This merger simplifies the overall system by integrating detection capabilities into the ball production line.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the radar reflective function from the external sticker component and integrates it directly into the golf ball structure. This extraction eliminates the need for separate sticker application processes and reduces system complexity.
4Measurement precision
If radar reflective stickers are placed on golf balls, then launch condition data can be obtained, but time consumption increases due to manual placement requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The radar detectable marks are incorporated into the golf ball layers during the initial manufacturing process before the ball is completed. This preliminary action ensures that no additional time is required at the point of use for sticker application, as the marks are already in place during ball production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the radar mark application with the golf ball manufacturing process, so that both operations occur simultaneously during production. This combination eliminates the sequential time requirement of manufacturing balls and then separately applying stickers.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances the quality of golf ball launch condition data collected by radar tracking systems, providing improved durability and ease of use by integrating radar detectable marks that ensure consistent data collection without the need for stickers.
Implementation Method 1
a mark, or a plurality of marks, disposed on a surface of at least one layer... the mark has a continuous shape and is formed from a radar detectable material
Data Source
AI summary
Golf balls including one or more layers having at least one radar detectable mark disposed on the surface thereof are provided.