Golf ball with integrated electronics

Abstract

A golf ball that includes a spherical core and a cover layer having an outer surface defining a plurality of dimples, wherein the spherical core has an internal cavity providing support for an electronics assembly, wherein an electronic assembly is included within the spherical core, and wherein the electronics are configured to automatically determine when a club has impacted the ball and reports such data to an external device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball, comprising:
 a cover layer having an outer surface defining a plurality of dimples and an inner surface opposite the outer surface;   a spherical core having an outer surface disposed within the cover layer, wherein the spherical core has an internal cavity shaped to mate with an electronics assembly; and   an innermost mantle layer and an outermost mantle layer disposed between the spherical core and the cover layer, wherein the innermost mantle layer has an inner surface disposed on the outer surface of the spherical core and the outermost mantle layer has an outer surface disposed on the inner surface of the cover layer, wherein the electronic assembly is configured to automatically determine when a club has impacted the ball and reports such data as a played stroke to an external device.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronics assembly comprises a microprocessor, accelerometer, and wireless transmitting device. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronics assembly comprises a microprocessor, power source, accelerometer sensor, magnetometer sensor, and wireless transmitting device. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover layer is fabricated of at least one of an ionomer resin, urethane, balata, polybutadiene, or another synthetic elastomer, and wherein the outermost mantle layer and the innermost mantle layer are fabricated of a polymer.