Smart ball and locator system

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a wireless signal transmitting ball to be used in practice or gameplay of a sport and/or other entertainment activities. The ball of the disclosure comprises a microprocessor unit configured to record, process, and transmit data to a paired device. Further disclosed is a method of actuating the ball between different modes. The ball could be used by players during practice to record data about their performance. The ball could also be used by players or game officials or referees to keep score, adjudicate and decide the gameplay. For example, the information about location of the ball could be used to track balls that could potentially be lost. Additionally, data about spin, trajectory, speed, force applied and the like could be used by players or broadcasters for gaining insights to add to viewing pleasure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sports ball, comprising:
 an outer membrane including at least two portions stitched together;   an inner core made of a material including a silicone rubber and a ceramic powder; and   a central core overlapping a centroid of the ball, said central core including a metallic material.   
     
     
         2 . The sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of silicone rubber to ceramic powder is in the range 25 to 65 percent silicone rubber to 75 to 35 percent ceramic powder, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of silicone rubber to ceramic powder is approximately 60:40. 
     
     
         4 . The sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic powder includes zirconium. 
     
     
         5 . The sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic powder includes sodium or a sodium compound. 
     
     
         6 . The sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic powder includes a sodium silicate borate. 
     
     
         7 . The sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic powder includes one or more selected from calcium, yttrium, borate, wollastonite, magnesium, aluminium, titanium, carbon, platinum or compounds thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein more than 50 percent by mass of the inner core is composed of a silica sodium borate. 
     
     
         9 . The sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein less than 50 percent by mass of the inner core is composed of a silicone rubber. 
     
     
         10 . The sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein said central core has an internal volume that is less than 30 percent of the total volume of the ball 
     
     
         11 . The sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein said central core has an internal volume that is less than 15 percent of the total volume of the ball. 
     
     
         12 . The sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein said inner core includes a plurality of distinct layers of different materials. 
     
     
         13 . The sports ball of  claim 1 , where the ball has a mass in the range of 156 to 163 grams. 
     
     
         14 . The sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein said central core includes a power source, a movement sensor, and a radio transceiver. 
     
     
         15 . The sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ball is a cricket ball. 
     
     
         16 . The sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ball is a baseball. 
     
     
         17 . A locator system for determining the direction and trajectory of a sports ball put into motion by an impact, the ball including at least one or more accelerometers, at least one magnetometer, and a transmitter, the locator system including:
 a receiver configured for receiving an acceleration signal from the ball indicative of the acceleration that the ball is or has been subjected to due to the impact; and   a directional impact signal from the ball indicative of the direction from which the impact was exerted on the ball;   a processor configured for predicting the direction and trajectory of the ball from the received acceleration signal and the directional impact signal.   
     
     
         18 . The locator system of  claim 17 , further including a geo-location system for determining the coordinates of a location. 
     
     
         19 . The locator system of  claim 17 , wherein the receiver is configured for receiving a spin signal indicative of the spin of the ball. 
     
     
         20 . The locator system of  claim 17 , wherein the receiver is configured for receiving environmental data from the Internet for use in trajectory determination.