SENSING SPORT BALL

Abstract

A sensing sports ball is disclosed that includes an inner core of a RF transparent polymeric potting material encapsulating a circuit board assembly electrically coupled to a power source and a transmitter and including at least one sensor electrically coupled thereto that is operably configured to ascertain at least one dynamic physical property of the sports ball, wherein the inner core defines top indentations and bottom indentations opposing the top indentations that span inwardly toward the circuit board assembly, thereby removing material to substantially equate to the weight of an inner core of a conventional sports ball. The ball also includes an outer shell layup and outer surface of a spherical shape and material of a conventional sports ball.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to sensing sport balls and, more particularly, relates to a sports ball operably configured to measure and/or relay one or more physical properties associated with the sports ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Whether it is for entertainment, enjoyment, stress relief, and/or financial incentive, many people play sports, which include, but are not necessarily limited to, baseball, softball, football, etc. Many people also desire continuous improvement and/or feedback as it relates to their participation in sports. While feedback is typically provided by second- or third-party individual(s) viewing a particular person's activity in a sport and/or statistic associated with that particular sport, that feedback can be often times subjectively skewed, inaccurate, subject to bias, and/or simply unhelpful. To that end, some products and/or processes have been created to address that problem and provide a more objective and accurate way to provide feedback to an individual engaged in a sporting activity.

Some of these products and/or processes include having a person or machine gauge and/or measure that particular individual's activity through, for example, lasers, timers, or other data measuring and/or sensing devices. These products and/or processes are problematic in that they too can be inaccurate, require time to install, set-up, and maintain, and also typically require the involvement of another person, which is not possible, convenient, or desirous for many individuals.

Some known products and/or processes have also attempted to address some of the above concerns by implanting and/or attaching sensors or other data-measuring devices within or onto an article of clothing of a user and/or a particular piece of equipment associated with a pertinent sport, e.g., the sports ball. For example, some known shoes, shirts, and/or wristbands incorporate one or more sensors to measure the speed and/or acceleration that an individual may be travelling at. These articles of clothing, however, do not effectively and/or efficiently determine dynamic physical properties associated with the sporting equipment employed by a sport, particularly a sports ball.

Those known products that do incorporate one or more sensors and/or other data-measuring device onto or in a sports ball, have many disadvantages. For example, some of those known products and/or processes have sensors embedded therein, which measure dynamic physical properties such ball speed, spin, curve, trajectory, pressure, etc., as discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,073,086; 6,157,898; 6,148,271; 6,151,563; 7,533,569; and 7,966,146 (wherein all of said disclosures are incorporated herein by reference). Those products, however, require multiple sensors and/or constant and/or active involvement with the user, which many users find problematic and/or results in increased purchasing and/or maintenance costs. Those products may also not be conducive and/or operable for an individual to use that particular product repeatedly (if at all) in connection with the game-play of the sporting event. Moreover, many of those products are difficult and/or time- and cost-intensive as it relates to maintaining (e.g., powering/charging) said products.

Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a sensing sports ball that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that is internally configured to house and retain one or more sensors operably configured to ascertain one or more physical properties of the ball during operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a sensing sports ball having an inner core and an outer shell layup akin to a conventional sports ball. The inner core may be of a RF transparent polymeric potting material encapsulating a circuit board assembly electrically coupled to a power source and having a transmitter, wherein the circuit board assembly also includes at least one sensor electrically coupled thereto that is operably configured to ascertain at least one dynamic physical property of the sports ball. The inner core defines top indentation(s) and bottom indentation(s) opposing the top indentations, wherein the top and bottom indentations span inwardly toward the circuit board assembly. The outer shell layup may include an outer surface of a spherical shape and be of a material of a conventional sports ball.

In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the inner core having a top end, a bottom end opposing the bottom end, and defining an inner core plane disposed through a geometric mid-point disposed between the top end and bottom end of the inner core. The inner core plane may section the inner core into a top section with the top indentations spanning inwardly toward the inner core plane and a bottom section with the bottom indentations spanning inwardly toward the inner core plane and substantially symmetrical to the top indentations with respect to the inner core plane. The top and bottom indentations may also discontinuously surround a circumference of the inner core.

In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the inner core includes a surface forming a spherical shape.

In accordance with yet another feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the circuit board assembly having a PCB layup with three PCBs superimposed over one another, wherein the interposed PCB is substantially aligned with the inner core plane. The interposed PCB may be electrically coupled to an upper PCB board through a rigid board connector to dispose the interposed PCB and the upper PCB in a parallel configuration with one another. Additionally, the interposed PCB may be electrically coupled to a lower PCB through a rigid board connector to dispose the interposed PCB and the lower PCB in a parallel configuration with one another, e.g., all PCBs may be parallel with one another.

In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the inner core is of a weight substantially equal to the inner core of the conventional sports ball.

In accordance with an additional feature of the present invention, the top and bottom indentations define a collective volume equaling approximately 15% of an overall volume of a spherical shape of the inner core of the sports ball.

In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the inner core is of a polyurethane RF transparent potting material.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a sensing sports ball, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.

Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale.

Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time.

As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term “longitudinal” should be understood to mean in a direction spanning from a lower end of the sports ball to the upper end of the sports ball. The terms “program,” “software application,” and the like as used herein, are defined as a sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system. A “program,” “computer program,” or “software application” may include a subroutine, a function, a procedure, an object method, an object implementation, an executable application, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an object code, a shared library/dynamic load library and/or other sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sensing sports ball in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially transparent view of an inner core of the sensing sports ball of FIG. 1 with an exemplary circuit board assembly disposed therein;

FIG. 3 is another partially transparent view of an inner core of the sensing sports ball of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary layout of the circuit board assembly depicted in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an inner core mold coupled together to create the inner core of the sensing sports ball in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective rear view of the mold of FIG. 5 sectioned along its longitudinal axis;

FIG. 7 is a perspective front view of the mold of FIG. 5 sectioned along its longitudinal axis;

FIG. 8 is a perspective front view of the mold of FIG. 5 sectioned along its transverse axis; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary partially cross-sectional view of the sensing sports ball in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.

The present invention provides a novel and efficient sensing sports ball operably configured to be utilized as a conventional sports ball would be utilized, yet ascertain, measure, and/or convey physical properties of the sports ball during operation. Specifically, the sensing sports ball is configured to dynamically measure, for example, the speed, acceleration, angular velocity along various data points along a sports ball trajectory, i.e., the path of the sports ball as it is held on and leaves the point-of-contact of the user. Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, one embodiment of the present invention is shown in a perspective view and transparent views. FIGS. 1-3, along with the other figures, shows several advantageous features of the present invention, but, as will be described below, the invention can be provided in several shapes, sizes, combinations of features and components, and varying numbers and functions of the components. Advantageously, the sensing sports ball includes an inner core of a potting material with specially sectioned pieces to equate and balance the inner core to that of a conventional sports ball, yet effectively and efficiently permit transmission of electronic signals and provide adequate deformation and/or elasticity properties akin to that of a conventional sports ball.

Specifically, the first example of a sensing sports ball 100, as shown in FIG. 1, includes an inner core 200 or first “shell” and/or “pill” (as coined for use in sports balls) of a spherical shape and a second shell 102 or covering 102 and/or covering layup 102 of a spherical shape and of a material akin to a conventional sports ball. The covering layup 102 of the sensing sport ball 100 includes a spherical outer surface 104. The term “spherical” is defined as having a shape approximating a sphere. In one embodiment, the outer surface 104 and the first and second spherical shells 200, 104 may include all points disposed on it equidistant to a fixed (and perhaps imaginary) point within the inner core 200, i.e., a center of gravity or centroid of the inner core 200. In other embodiments, the outer surface 104 may have an approximately +/−25% range deviation from a fixed point within the inner core 200. In preferred embodiments, the deviation will be no more than +/−10% and, as seen in FIG. 6, will include defined sections removed from the inner core 200 to substantially equate to the weight and/or size of the pill or core of a convention sports ball, e.g., 7/8 oz. (24.8 grams) for a baseball. In other embodiments, the outer surface 104 and shells 200, 102 may be another shape that may emulate a sports ball as described herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-3, partially transparent perspective views of the sports ball 100 are shown depicting a circuit board assembly 202 encapsulated within the inner core 200. Beneficially, the inner core 200 is completely made of a polymeric potting compound that is radio frequency (“RF”) transparent. With supplemental reference to the block diagram of FIG. 4 depicting an exemplary circuit board assembly 202 referenced above, the potting compound effectuates an uninterrupted and/or distorted transmission of radio signals having data ascertained by one or more sensor(s) 400 electrically coupled to the circuit board assembly 202, wherein the sensors are operably configured to ascertain at least one dynamic physical property (e.g., speed, velocity, acceleration, angular velocity) of the sports ball 100 along its trajectory after thrown by a user.

In one embodiment, the polymeric potting material is an epoxy material. In other embodiments, the polymeric potting material is of a polyurethane material. The potting material may be of a low hardness, i.e., approximately 15-90 shore A, but is preferably within a range of approximately 15-25 shore A. The potting compound may have a stable dielectric constant up to frequencies up to approximately 3 GHz and a dielectric strength of approximately 415 Volts/mil Min. The potting compound may have a coefficient of thermal expansion ranging from approximately 550-575 (10-6) (in/in ° C.). Additionally, the potting compound may have a viscosity (at 25° C.) of approximately 800-1200 cps, a glass transition temperature of approximately (−40) ° C. maximum, and a specific gravity of approximately 0.9. As such, the potting compound is advantageously molded around and encapsulates the electrical components, yet permits their functionality.

The circuit board assembly 202 is electrically coupled to a power source 402, e.g., a two-coin power cell, 250 mAH batteries, that are approximately 3 grams each and are preferably symmetrically disposed on the circuit board assembly 202 to provide better weight balancing within the inner core 200. The circuit board assembly 202 also includes a transmitter 404 for relaying the dynamic ball data, i.e., physical properties of the sports ball 100 in flight, ascertained from the one or more sensors 400. The circuit board assembly 202 may be composed of one or more PCB(s) (or printed circuit boards) centrally and/or symmetrically disposed within the inner core 200 (as best shown in FIG. 2.

One exemplary circuit board assembly 202 is publicly offered under the name InvenSense® MPU-6050, wherein the circuit board assembly 202 may be operably configured to measure (through, for example, a gyroscope and/or accelerometer), store, receive, and/or transmit dynamic physical parameters of the sports ball 100 when the sports ball 100 is in use. Another exemplary sensor may include the circuit board commercially offered under the name “Meta Motion R—10 Axis” by “Mbeintlab.” The circuit board assembly 202 may be powered by an on-board powering source and/or may utilize a powering source 402 as described above, e.g., a battery, electrically coupled thereto. The circuit board assembly 202 may also include a receiver, transmitter, and/or transceiver 404 along with a networking interface 406 that is enabled to provide a user real-time and/or near-real-time data from the sensors disposed on the circuit board assembly 202.

The exemplary circuit board assembly 202 may also include a memory 408, a processing device 410, and an audio or vibrational output 412. The network interface(s) 406 may include one or more network interface cards (NIC) or a network controller. In some embodiments, the network interface 504 may include a personal area network (PAN) interface. The PAN interface may provide the capability for the sensing sports ball 100 to network using a short-range communication protocol, for example, a Bluetooth communication protocol, which may also operate as a receiver, transmitter, and/or transceiver. The PAN interface may permit the sensing sports ball 100 to connect wirelessly to another electronic mobile device and/or electronic device via a peer-to-peer connection or other communicatively coupled configuration. The network interface(s) 406 may also include a local area network (LAN) interface. The LAN interface may be, for example, an interface to a wireless LAN, such as a Wi-Fi network. In one embodiment, there is a wireless LAN that provides the sensing sports ball 100 with access to the Internet for receiving and sending inputs/messages to a server or other electronic device over, for example, the Internet. The range of the LAN interface may generally exceed the range available via the PAN interface. Typically, a connection between two electronic devices via the LAN interface may involve communication through a network router or other intermediary device. In one embodiment, the sports ball 100 and an electrical device may be paired, or establishing a communication linkage, before the user intends the ball 100 to be used and/or after the ball is used. The pairing, which may be activated through a motion sensor disposed inside the sensing sports ball 100 and/or an RFID means.

Additionally, the network interface(s) 406 may include the capability to connect to a wide area network (WAN) via a WAN interface. The WAN interface may permit a connection to a cellular mobile communications network. The WAN interface may include communications circuitry, such as an antenna coupled to a radio circuit having a transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio signals via the antenna. The radio circuit may be configured to operate in a mobile communications network, including but not limited to global systems for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), wideband CDMA (WCDMA), and the like.

The memory 408 associated with the assembly 202 may be, for example, one or more buffer, a flash memory, or non-volatile memory, such as random-access memory (RAM). The circuit board assembly may also include non-volatile storage. The processing device 410 can be, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller, or a microprocessing device, including a “general purpose” microprocessing device or a special purpose microprocessing device. The processing device 410 is operably configured to execute code stored in the memory 408 to carry out operation/instructions of the sensing sports ball 100. The processing device 410 may provide the processing capability to execute the P2P network described above.

The sensing sports ball 100 may include audio input and output structures 412, such as a microphone for receiving audio signals from a user and/or a speaker for outputting audio data, such as audio alerts, and/or a transducer for emitting a vibration. Additionally, the circuit board assembly may include a location detection device 404 that may be associated with a global positioning system (GPS) or other location sensing technologies. The GPS receiver 404 or the like may be employed to determine the location of the sports ball 100 and obtain ambient environmental information associated with said position, e.g., wind speed, humidity, etc. The ambient environmental information may then be conveyed to a user and/or used in accurately ascertaining and/or calculating the one or more physical at least one dynamic physical property of the sports ball 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-9, one exemplary inner core mold 500 is depicted. Specifically, the inner core mold 500 includes a plurality of recesses 502a-n, wherein “n” represents any number greater than 1. When the potting material is malleable and first inserted into the inner mold cavity 700 and given time to cure, the plurality of recesses 502a-n form the plurality of top and bottom indentations 502a-n that are designed to remove weight from the inner core 200 so that it, along with the circuit board assembly 202 encapsulated therein, may substantially equal in weight the pill or inner core of a conventional sports ball, e.g., W_CCSB=24.8 g for a baseball. Generally, this is accomplished by determining the remining weight needed of the inner core of the potting material, W_PM after the weight of the ascertained weight of the internal contents of the sports ball, W_IC, is subtracted from the conventional pill weight, or W_PM=W_CCSB−W_IC.

Then, the ideal shape and corresponding volume of the inner core 200, V_IC, is ascertained, which is multiplied by the density of the potting material when cured, ρ, to determine weight of the original potting material inner core 200 without any portions removed, W_OPM. In one embodiment, W_OPM may be specially designed to exceed W_PM, leaving a weight of the potting material needing removal, W_RPM, to substantially equal the W_PM, i.e., within +/−5% deviation. In one embodiment, spherical inner core of the convention sports ball includes a volume that is 4×π×r³/3. As such, the following calculation may be employed to determine the amount of weight needing removal from the inner core 200 potting material:

$W_{\mathrm{RPM}}=\left(\frac{4}{3}\pi r^3\rho \right)-\left(W_{\mathrm{CCSB}}-W_{\mathrm{IC}}\right)$

In some embodiments, the removed sections are cylindrical, having a volume of π×r²×h×n, wherein “n” represents the amount of cylindrical removed sections needed and/or desired. Therefore, once a desired radius and height is determined for each cylindrical removed, the number of said sections can be ascertained. Alternatively, the number of desired removed sections may be supplied by the user along with, for example, the height so that the radius of said removed sections can be ascertained. In other embodiments, other parameters and/or variables may be utilized to ascertain the weight needing removal of the inner core 200 potting material so that the inner core 200 substantially equals the weight of an inner core of a conventional sports ball. In one embodiment, the top and bottom indentations define a collective volume substantially equaling approximately 15% (+/−10%) of an overall volume of a spherical or other shape of the inner core 200 potting material to maintain structural integrity of the inner core 200.

Still referring to FIGS. 5-9 in connection with FIG. 2, in one embodiment, the inner core 200 defines top indentations and bottom indentations opposing the top indentations, wherein the top and bottom indentations span inwardly toward the circuit board assembly 202. Said differently, the top and bottom indentations may also span inwardly toward an inner core plane 702 disposed through a geometric mid-point 704 disposed between a top end 706 and a bottom end 708 of the inner core 200. The inner core plane 702 may section the inner core 200 into a top section 710 with the top indentations spanning inwardly toward the inner core plane 702 and section the inner core 200 into a bottom section 712 with the bottom indentations spanning inwardly toward the inner core plane 702. Therefore, in one embodiment, the top indentation(s) are substantially symmetrical to the bottom indentation(s) with respect to the inner core plane 702. While FIGS. 5-9 depict the top section 710 of the inner core 200 having approximately 12 top indentations and the bottom section 712 of the inner core 200 having approximately 12 bottom indentations in a preferred configuration and orientation with respect to one another for balance and weight distribution purposes, other configurations and orientations are possible and within the scope of the present invention. Specifically, the top and bottom indentations may discontinuously surround a circumference of the inner core 200 and, as best shown in FIG. 8, may also be equally spaced. Beneficially, larger indentations can be seen surrounding the sides of the inner core 200, with smaller top and bottom cylindrical indentations interposed between the larger side indentations.

With respect to the PCBs encapsulated within the potting material, a PCB layup as shown in FIG. 2 may be employed with three PCBs, e.g., 204, 206, 208, superimposed over one another, wherein the interposed PCB 206 is substantially aligned with the inner core plane 702. The interposed PCB 206 is electrically coupled to an upper PCB board 204 through a rigid board connector 210 to dispose the interposed PCB 206 and the upper PCB 204 in a parallel configuration with one another. Additionally, the interposed PCB 206 is electrically coupled to a lower PCB 208 through a rigid board connector 212 to dispose the interposed PCB 206 and the lower PCB 208 in a parallel configuration with one another. While the PCBs are described in the context of being “upper” and “lower,” those of skill in the art will appreciate that said nomenclature is simply a matter of orientation of the sports ball 100, and that either PCB may be considered upper or lower depending on the orientation of the sports ball 100. The board connectors 210, 212 may be of a rigid polymeric material, e.g., PVC, that couples the PCBs at opposing terminals and transmits electrical current and/or signals between the PCBs 204, 206, 208 coupled by the connectors 210, 212. The rigidity of the connectors 210, 212 provides additional support for the PCBs 204, 206, 208 encapsulated within the potting material of the inner core 200. The three PCBs 204, 206, 208 provide sufficient surface area to house and electrically coupled the components of the circuit board assembly 202 and are advantageously configured to effectuate a more balanced sensing sport ball.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 9, the sensing sports ball 100 includes an outer shell layup 102 and outer surface 104 of a spherical shape and material of a conventional sports ball. Specifically, in one exemplary embodiment applicable to a baseball, the outer shell layup 102 includes an inner fabric winding 900 encapsulating the inner core 200, a polymeric fabric winding 902 encapsulating the inner fabric winding 900, and a cowhide, synthetic, composite, and/or polymeric material covering(s) 106 encapsulating the polymeric fabric winding 902 and the fabric winding 900. The coverings 106 may then be stapled to the windings 900, 902 and machine- or hand-sewn together using approximately 88 inches of waxed red thread.

After the coverings 106 have been stitched together, the staples are removed and further processed for production and use as a conventional sports ball. Said another way, the outer surface 104 of the sports ball 100, along with most of the internal layers, maintain a shape and material consistent with the shape of a typical or conventional sports ball, e.g., a baseball having a spherical body with a diameter of approximately 2.8″ to 3″ and a circumference that is approximately 9″ to 9.3″, and a softball having a spherical body with either a diameter that is approximately 3.5″ (small ball) or 3.8″ (big ball) and a respective circumference that is approximately 11″ or 12″.

In one embodiment, after the power source 402 has been exhausted, the sensing sport ball 100 may then be disposed of. In other embodiments, the sensing sports ball 100 may be broken into for removal of the internal electrical components/PCBs and refurbishment. Beneficially, the power source 402 may be charged through other charging means.

Therefore, the above structure and electrical components beneficially enables the sports ball 100 to receive, measure, transmit, and/or record physical properties of the sports ball 100, such as ball speed, spin, curve, trajectory, pressure, at various selectable time intervals T_0-n along a ball trajectory path. The frequency, f, at which these measurements can be taken may also be selected by the user in advance of usage so that he or she can effectively, efficiently, and objectively provide feedback relating to his or her use of the sports ball 100. The sensing sports ball 100 may also be operable to provide ball characteristics such as peak spin rate, average spin rate, miles per hour of the ball, etc. The software application employed in connection with the sports ball assembly 100 may be operably configured, through a graphical user interface, to depict the path of the sports ball 100 along one or more pitches of the user, wherein the user may selectively maneuver a graphical depiction of the sports ball along the measured path and display certain characteristics of the ball at the data point/time interval selected by the user. In one embodiment, pre-determined physical parameter standard values for the sports ball may be beneficially selected by the user and measured against the values actually measured by the sports ball 100, wherein the deviation from said standard values can be graphically depicted by the software along the ball trajectory so that a user can easily and effectively perceive potential areas of improvement and/or change.

Although a specific order of executing process steps of making and using the sensing sports ball have been discussed, the order of executing the steps may be changed relative to the order shown in certain embodiments. Also, steps described as occurring in succession may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence in some embodiments. Certain steps may also be omitted in for the sake of brevity. In some embodiments, some or all of the process steps described above can be combined into a single process.

Claims

1. A sensing sports ball comprising: an inner core of a RF transparent polymeric potting material encapsulating a circuit board assembly electrically coupled to a power source and a transmitter and including at least one sensor electrically coupled thereto that is operably configured to ascertain at least one dynamic physical property of the sports ball, the inner core defining top indentations and bottom indentations opposing the top indentations, the top and bottom indentations spanning inwardly toward the circuit board assembly; andan outer shell layup and outer surface of a spherical shape and material of a conventional sports ball.

2. The sensing sports ball according to claim 1, wherein the inner core further comprises: a top end, a bottom end opposing the bottom end, and defining an inner core plane disposed through a geometric mid-point disposed between the top end and bottom end of the inner core, the inner core plane sectioning the inner core into a top section with the top indentations spanning inwardly toward the inner core plane and a bottom section with the bottom indentations spanning inwardly toward the inner core plane and substantially symmetrical to the top indentations with respect to the inner core plane.

3. The sensing sports ball according to claim 2, wherein: the top and bottom indentations discontinuously surround a circumference of the inner core.

4. The sensing sports ball according to claim 2, wherein the inner core further comprises: an outer surface forming a spherical shape.

5. The sensing sports ball according to claim 2, wherein the circuit board assembly further comprises: a PCB layup with three PCBs superimposed over one another, wherein the interposed PCB is substantially aligned with the inner core plane.

6. The sensing sports ball according to claim 5, wherein: the interposed PCB is electrically coupled to an upper PCB board through a rigid board connector to dispose the interposed PCB and the upper PCB in a parallel configuration with one another.

7. The sensing sports ball according to claim 6, wherein: the interposed PCB is electrically coupled to a lower PCB through a rigid board connector to dispose the interposed PCB and the lower PCB in a parallel configuration with one another.

8. The sensing sports ball according to claim 1, wherein: the inner core is of a weight substantially equal to the inner core of the conventional sports ball.

9. The sensing sports ball according to claim 1, wherein: top and bottom indentations define a collective volume equaling approximately 15% of an overall volume of a spherical shape of the inner core of the sports ball.

10. The sensing sports ball according to claim 1, wherein: the inner core is of a polyurethane RF transparent potting material.

11. A sensing sports ball comprising: an inner core of a RF transparent polymeric potting material encapsulating a circuit board assembly electrically coupled to a power source and a wireless data transmitter and including at least one sensor electrically coupled thereto that is operably configured to ascertain at least one dynamic physical property of the sports ball and convey the physical property of the sports ball through the data transmitter, the inner core defining top indentations and bottom indentations opposing the top indentations, the top and bottom indentations spanning inwardly toward the circuit board assembly; andan outer shell layup including an inner fabric winding encapsulating the inner core, a polymeric fabric winding encapsulating the inner fabric winding, and a cowhide covering encapsulating the polymeric fabric winding.

12. The sensing sports ball according to claim 1, wherein the inner core further comprises: a top end, a bottom end opposing the bottom end, and defining an inner core plane disposed through a geometric mid-point disposed between the top end and bottom end of the inner core, the inner core plane sectioning the inner core into a top section with the top indentations spanning inwardly toward the inner core plane and a bottom section with the bottom indentations spanning inwardly toward the inner core plane and substantially symmetrical to the top indentations with respect to the inner core plane.

13. The sensing sports ball according to claim 12, wherein the circuit board assembly further comprises: a PCB layup with three PCBs superimposed over one another, wherein the interposed PCB is substantially aligned with the inner core plane.

14. The sensing sports ball according to claim 13, wherein: the interposed PCB is electrically coupled to an upper PCB board through a rigid board connector to dispose the interposed PCB and the upper PCB in a parallel configuration with one another.

15. The sensing sports ball according to claim 14, wherein: the interposed PCB is electrically coupled to a lower PCB through a rigid board connector to dispose the interposed PCB and the lower PCB in a parallel configuration with one another.

16. The sensing sports ball according to claim 15, wherein: the inner core is of a weight substantially equal to the inner core of the conventional sports ball.

17. The sensing sports ball according to claim 16, wherein: the inner core is of a polyurethane RF transparent potting material.

18. The sensing sports ball according to claim 11, wherein: top and bottom indentations define a collective volume substantially equaling 15% of an overall volume of the spherical shape of the outer surface of the outer shell layup.