Abstract: A low-current transceiver, powered by two small low-voltage batteries, for use in wireless headset/phoneset applications, such as hands-free headsets used with cellular telephones. Re-use of current from at least one circuit to provide power to at least one other power-consuming element of the transceiver, along with interrupt-driven control of the current made available to transmit and receive circuits, enables extended battery life (e.g., 120 hours). The headset/phoneset circuits incorporate a technique that draws an extremely low supply current from two low-voltage batteries while providing clear two-way communication over a range of about 3 meters.

Abstract: A combined range and tag finder for determining distances to objects in an environment is described. Such a combined range and tag finder includes a system for determining distances to objects on a golf course and for finding golf balls for use with a system for finding golf balls. In the case of one exemplary integrated device, the device has at least two receivers, one to receive an RFID signal from the golf ball, another to receive a signal for positioning of the device location. At least one processor is coupled to both the receivers and can determine at least a direction and/or distance of the device from an object on the golf course. Other embodiments of a combined range and tag finder are also described.

Abstract: Golf balls and a system for finding golf balls and methods for making golf balls and methods for using such balls. In the case of one exemplary golf ball, the ball includes a shell and a core material which is encased in the shell and a tag which is disposed within the core material and which has at least one perforation. The tag includes a diode and an antenna which are coupled together. Another exemplary golf ball includes a shell and a core material which is encased within the shell and a tag which is within the core material and which includes an electrical element which is coupled to an antenna; the tag is detectable over a range of at least 20 feet from a handheld device, and the golf ball has high durability and substantially complies with the golf ball specifications of the United States Golf Association.

Abstract: Golf balls and a system for finding golf balls and methods for making golf balls and methods for using such balls. In the case of one exemplary golf ball, the ball includes a shell and a core material which is encased in the shell and a tag which is disposed within the core material and which has at least one perforation. The tag includes a diode and an antenna which are coupled together. Another exemplary golf ball includes a shell and a core material which is encased within the shell and a tag which is within the core material and which includes an electrical element which is coupled to an antenna; the tag is detectable over a range of at least 20 feet from a handheld device, and the golf ball has high durability and substantially complies with the golf ball specifications of the United States Golf Association.

Abstract: Golf ball locators and components of such locators and methods of operating such locators and processing signals within such locators. In one aspect of the inventions described herein, an exemplary method of initializing a golf ball locator includes receiving received RF signals while also transmitting signals used to locate balls and determining a parameter representative of received signal strength of the received RF signals and setting a threshold to determine when subsequent received signals are to cause an indication of golf ball detection. In another aspect of this disclosure, the golf ball locator is a handheld unit having a volume of less than about 150 inches cubed and includes a transmitter, a transmit antenna, a receiver, a receive antenna and a processor coupled to the transmitter and to the receiver, and the handheld unit achieves a signal isolation, between a second harmonic of a transmitted signal from the transmitter and the receiver's received signal, of greater than about 130 to 160 dB.