US 11,892,537 B1
Golf ball locating nonlinear radar system employing a snowflake nonlinear passive tag and associated method(s)
Dan Fazzini, Pinellas Park, FL (US); Robert B. Fazzini, Bloomington, IL (US); Steven Johnson, Bloomington, IL (US); Changzhi Li, Lubbock, TX (US); Vishal Gajendrarao Yadav, Lubbock, TX (US); Emmanuel Camacho, Crane, TX (US); Rhyse James Ishmael Joseph, Lubbock, TX (US); and Leya Zeng, Lubbock, TX (US)
Assigned to Ballocalor LLC, South Salt Lake, UT (US); and Texas Tech University System, Lubbock, TX (US)
Filed by Ballocator LLC, South Salt Lake, UT (US); and Texas Tech University System, Lubbock, TX (US)
Filed on May 10, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/315,097.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/364,424, filed on May 10, 2022.
Int. Cl. G01S 13/75 (2006.01); G01S 7/02 (2006.01); G01S 7/03 (2006.01); G01S 13/88 (2006.01); G01S 13/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 13/758 (2013.01) [G01S 7/028 (2021.05); G01S 7/03 (2013.01); G01S 13/88 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A radar system comprising:
a handheld unit including
a display screen,
a first antenna configured to generate and emit an incident signal having a first frequency, and
a second antenna configured to receive a reflected return harmonic signal having a second frequency; and
a transponder tag attached to an existing golf ball, said transponder tag being in communication with and responsive to said handheld unit, said transponder tag including an electromagnetic nonlinear element being configured to be detected by said incident signal, and
wherein upon being detected by said incident signal, said transponder tag being configured to transmit said reflected return harmonic signal having said second frequency different from said first frequency;
wherein said transponder tag is passive and does not require a power source other than incident radiation;
wherein said handheld unit further includes
a transmitting block in communication with said electromagnetic nonlinear element for generating and transmitting said incident signal within civilian-use-permitted frequency bands and at a power of about one watt,
a receiving block in communication with said electromagnetic nonlinear element for receiving and processing said reflected return harmonic signal, and
a processing block configured to determine a signal strength of said reflected return harmonic signal and illustrate on said display screen a distance from the existing golf ball to said handheld unit;
wherein transponder tag includes
a plurality of stems radially extended outwardly from a center of said transponder tag, and
a plurality of lobes coupled to a distal end of said stems, respectively;
wherein a quantity of said stems equals a quantity of said lobes and have a 1:1 ratio.