Patent Application
20240123318
The present invention relates to a conventionally shaped golf bag for carrying golf clubs and accessories. The golf bag is open at the top end for insertion of golf clubs, includes a shoulder strap, a stand, and an electronic command station. The electronic command station includes a number of device modules, enabling the communication and its control by a command station application running on a mobile electronic device. The device module may include a display module with a display, communication ports and charging receptacles for communicating with and charging mobile electronic devices. The electronic command station resides within the conventionally shaped golf bag such that the face of the display is externally accessible.
Traditional golf bag 51 (
Golfers often carry mobile electronics devices, including, for example, wireless headphones, mobile phones, computer laptops, and tablets. Mobile electronic devices often improve the enjoyment and skill level of the golfer, as there are several applications available to track and improve on the golfer's swing and play, to assist in the practice or game play, to record their golf game, or to communicate with others during their play. Additionally, it is common for golfers to bring a portable speaker to play music (produced by their mobile electronics) during the round of golf.
Unfortunately, due to the time it takes to play a round of golf, golfers often find that their mobile electronic device runs out of power. The mobile electronic device battery may also be drained more quickly when the mobile device experiences ongoing difficulties in connecting to a cellular telephone network.
The present invention overcomes the challenges stated above, and other problems (s as will be apparent after reading the present specification), by providing an electronic command station for a golf bag that centralizes the key functionalities of multiple electronic devices into one electronic command station that can be logically controlled by a command station application operating in association with a mobile electronic device.
More particularly, the electronic command station for a golf bag may include a device module for controlling functionality of a device, the device having a front face; a communication module for communicating with at least one mobile electronic device; a micro-processing module for the physical control of the device module; and an application operating in association with the mobile electronic device and the device module, whereby the application logically controls the functionality of the device module. The electronic command station may also have a display physically associated with the golf bag such that the application may generate visual output on the display. The electronic command station may also further include a user input device physically associated with the golf bag, the application being alternately controlled by the user input device.
The communication module of the electronic command station may provide for communicating with at least one electronic data network, such as a cellular telephone network (e.g. 4G, 5G). The communication module of the electronic command station may further comprise a transceiver implementing one or more point to point wireless communications protocols, such as one or more of ad hoc communications protocol, Bluetooth®, cellular, LiFi, WiFi, WIMAX, and ZigBee.
The electronic command station may further include a battery and one or more electronics connection ports operably connected to the battery, each of the one or more electronics connection ports being configured to provide electrical power to an electronic device toward powering the electronic device. The battery may be rechargeable. Where the battery is rechargeable, the electronic command station further comprising a battery charging module operably connected between the battery and an external power source.
The electronic command station may further include a camera operably associated with the micro-processing module. The camera may be mounted on the face of the device. The electronic command station may further include an extension member operably connected between the camera and the front face of the device. The extension member allows the camera to be more easily positioned to capture the swing of a golfer.
The golf bag, itself, in addition to including an electronic command station described above may include a main pocket configured to hold one or more golf clubs. The golf bag may be made of nylon, canvas and/or leather. It may have plastic or metal framing to maintain and reinforce the shape of the bag. It may also have additional pockets, each configured to carry accessories. The golf bag may also have shoulder straps and one or more stand legs to keep the golf bag substantially upright. The stand legs may fold out or otherwise retract in to the golf bag, which may make the bag easier to mount on the back of a golf cart or manually carry.
While the golf bag may be generally conventional, the incorporation of the electronic command station enhances the experience of the one or more golfer in physical proximity to the bag. In addition to the electronic command station the golf bag may further include a pull-out tray in close physical proximity to (e.g., within about 2-8 inches of) the one or more electronics connection ports, the pull-out tray dimensioned to physically receive and support at least one electronic device. The golf bag may also include an audio speaker operably connected to the electronic command station. The golf bag may additionally include a refrigerator operably connected to and controlled by the electronic command station. Finally, the golf bag may include a wireless antenna to improve wireless connectivity between the communication module and the cellular network.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiment exemplifying the modes of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
In the accompanying drawings that form a part of the specification illustrate one or more implementations described herein and, together with the description, explain these implementations. The drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale, and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated, to scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness. Not every component may be labeled in every drawing. Like reference numerals in the figures may represent and refer to the same or similar element or function. In the drawings:
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments by which the invention may be practiced. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Among other things, the present invention may be embodied as methods or devices. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
In the following detailed description of embodiments of the inventive concepts, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the inventive concepts. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the inventive concepts within the disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, certain well-known features may not be described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the instant disclosure.
Further, as used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
The use of the term “at least one” or “one or more” will be understood to include one as well as any quantity more than one. In addition, the use of the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z” will be understood to include X alone, Y alone, and Z alone, as well as any combination of X, Y, and Z.
As used herein, “components” or “modules” may be analog or digital components that perform one or more functions. The term “component” may include hardware, such as a processor (e.g., microprocessor), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a combination of hardware and software, and/or the like. The term “processor” or “micro-processor” as used herein means a single processor or multiple processors/micro-processors working independently or together to collectively perform a task.
Software, application, or computer application may include one or more computer executable instructions that when executed by one or more components cause the component to perform a specified function. It should be understood that any and all algorithms described herein may be stored on one or more non-transitory memory. Exemplary non-transitory memory may include random access memory, read only memory, flash memory, and/or the like. Such non-transitory memory may be electrically based, optically based, and/or the like.
A portion of the invention may be described herein in terms of steps. It should be appreciated that such steps may be realized by alternative order.
The overall purpose of the electronic command station 100 is to provide the controllable functionality of a mobile electronic device and may include the ability to play sound, record golf swings, record location data, communicate with other electronic devices, provide power to an electronic device and be logically controlled by an electronic command station application running on a mobile electronic device, like a mobile phone (e.g. iPhone, Pixel 6A, Samsung Galaxy) whereby the recording, playing music, and charging of electronic devices can be turned on and off through the command station application.
In one embodiment of the invention, illustrated in
The electronic data network may be any type of network for providing data and/or voice communication and it along with the first wireless connection 20 may be implemented by using one or more network topology and/or protocol, such as the World Wide Web (or Internet using a TCP/IP protocol), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan network, a small cell network, a wireless network, a cellular telephone network, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, a 3G network, a 4G network, a 5G network, a satellite network, a radio network, Wi-Fi (e.g., IEEE 802.11), a Near Field Communications protocol (e.g., Zigbee network, an IEEE 802.15.4/802.15.5 network, Bluetooth network and/or the like), a wireless mesh network, a P2P network, an LPWAN network, a Z-wave network, and combinations thereof, and/or the like. As shown in
As further illustrated by
The communication module 130 may be comprised of one or more transceivers designed to support the wireless communication protocols associated with either or both of the first and second wireless connections. Communication module 130 may also distribute data received over either or both of first and second wireless connections to the other modules of electronic command station 100.
As illustrated in
The micro-processing module 110 physically controls the electronic command station 100 and may be a conventional microprocessor, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP), programmable gate array (PGA), field programmable gate array (FPGA), and/or the like. Microprocessor 110 may include volatile and non-volatile memory.
The battery 125 provides power to modules and devices of electronic command station 100. The storage size, current(s) and voltage(s) provided by battery 125 is a matter of design choice. The battery 125 may be non-rechargeable or rechargeable. Where battery 125 is non-rechargeable it may be accessed from the exterior of the golf bag and replaced. Where battery 125 is rechargeable, the electronic command station 100 may further include battery charging module 120 and external power source 122 wherein battery charging module 120 is operably connected between the battery 125 and an external power source 122. As illustrated, external power source 122 may be AC line voltage. It is contemplated that external power source 122 may include a power transformer, an AC-to-DC converter, and/or one or more filters.
Battery charging module 120 may be a constant voltage or constant current source to recharge the battery 125 or it may be comprised of electrical circuitry capable of more actively managing charging of battery 125, including, for example, circuitry for sensing the voltage level and/or current generated by battery 125, generating desired voltage/current timing and/or waveform shape, providing overcharging protection, trickle charging, and battery conditioning. The battery charging module 120 may have local processing capabilities or be managed directly by the microprocessor 110.
Display screen 140 may be located in association with the front face of the electronic component housing of the electronic command station 100 physically associated with the golf bag. Display screen 140 may be used to display text and graphics generated in association with the electronic command station 100. Accordingly, display screen 140 is preferably located toward the top of the golf bag on the front face thereof to make it easier for one or more golfers 10a-d to see. In some embodiments, electronic command station 100 may further comprise a user input device. The user input device may be used by a golfer 10 to control operations associated with electronic command station 100. In some embodiments, the user input device may be operably associated with display screen 140, i.e. a touch screen device. As discussed more fully below, it may be preferable to control the electronic command station 100 (and one or more device modules associated therewith) via an application operating in association with a mobile electronic device 15
The camera 150 is an optical device that captures and encodes digital images based on the light that enters through the camera lens. The camera 150 may be operably associated with micro-processing module 110. Various lenses may be used to implement camera 150. Various digital image sensing technologies (e.g., CCD, CMOS) involving one or more sensors may be used to implement camera 150. Various sensor sizes may also be used. The camera 150 is provided to capture images of the golf swing/putting mechanics, golf ball flight mechanics, range finding, or combinations thereof. As such, the camera 150 preferably captures full-motion video. The resolution, sharpness, and angle of view of camera 150 is a matter of design-choice.
As shown in
The one or more electronics connection ports 160 are operably connected to the battery 125.
As illustrated in
The electronic command station 100 may further comprise at least one device module for controlling functionality of a device. The device modules may include an audio speaker module for playing music, a camera module for recording golf swings and ball location, a location determining or Global Positioning Service (GPS) module for recording and tracking the location of the electronic command station 100, a communication module that incorporates wireless communication protocols enabling communication with mobile electronic devices, like the Near Field Communication protocol and the Bluetooth® communication protocol, a ports module for wired communication and to power an mobile electronic device, a display module for displaying information about the electronic command station or information about the round of golf, memory for storing photos, GPS locations, and ball locations, a power module with a rechargeable battery for power, and a micro-processing module with a microprocessor connected to a power and communication buss for physically controlling the power and communication to each device module, and accessory module for additional on/off control of devices within a golf bag like the refrigerator 250 to keep beverages cold.
The electronic command station 100 may further include an application operating in association with the mobile electronic device 15 and the micro-processing module 110, whereby the application logically controls the functionality of the one of the at least one device module. The application may be physically running on the micro-processing module 110 of the electronic command station 100 and operably connected to the mobile electronic device 15 via the second wireless connection 30, such that control of the application may be performed via the mobile electronic device and the output generated by the application received by the mobile electronic device. In another embodiment, the application may be physically running on the mobile electronic device 15, which may send commands via the communication module to the micro-processing module 100 toward operating one particular device module or another. In one embodiment where electronic command station 100 includes display screen 140, the application may further generate a visual output on the display screen 140. In an embodiment where electronic command station 100 includes a user input device, the application may further be alternatively controlled by the input device on the electronic command station 100.
In any of the foregoing embodiments (and other embodiments), the Golfer 10a controls the application via mobile electronic device 15a. This control is accomplished through the graphical user interface UI of the application. In one embodiment, the graphical user interface UI of the application may include a graphical representation of each device module along with the control functionality available for that specific device module. For example, the graphical user interface UI may include a representation of the speaker module along with logical control functionality enabling the speaker module operably associated with the electronic command station 100 to be physically turned on and turned off, increasing and decreasing the sound, and playing music. In use, when the golfer 10a chooses to turn the speakers on, they choose a logical “on” switch represented in the graphical user interface UI on their mobile electronic device 15a. The graphical user interface UI then communicates the “on” command through the second wireless protocol 30a to the micro-processing module 110 (via the communication module 130). The micro-processing module transmits the logical “on” command to the power and communication buss which, through relays, which physically turns on the audio speakers 260 within the speaker module by providing power.
In another example, the graphical user interface UI may include a graphical representation of the camera module along with the logical control functionality enabling the physical control of the camera, including turning the camera on and off, displaying the image on the display module, recording images and video, and transferring images and video to other electronic devices.
In another embodiment, the graphical user interface UI may include a graphical representation of the power module in order to turn on/off the circuit to charge mobile electronic devices or to turn on/off a power invertor for inverting low voltage direct current (DC) power from the battery 125 to alternating current (AC) for devices that require an AC power source, like a computer laptop or the refrigerator 250. The graphical user interface UI in this embodiment may further logically control the operation of the refrigeration unit by, for instance, adjusting the temperature.
As illustrated in
From the above description, it is clear that the inventive concepts disclosed and claimed herein are well adapted to carry out the objects and to attain the advantages mentioned herein, as well as those inherent in the invention. While exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the spirit of the inventive concepts disclosed and claimed herein.
