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 Title: |
US4245334:
Device for measuring and indicating the time between the reception
of first and second airborne signals
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Country: |
US United States of America
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Inventor: |
Bieramperl, Erich; A-4020 Linz, Austria
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Assignee: |
None
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Published / Filed: |
Jan. 13, 1981 /
June 29, 1979
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Application Number: |
US1979000053404
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IPC Code: |
G04F 8/00;
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U.S. Class: |
Current: 368/002; 368/003; 368/006; 968/398; 968/846; 968/DIG.001;
Original: 368/002; 368/003; 368/006;
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Field of Search: |
058/145 A,145 D,145 R,152 E,152 F,74,75,23 R,39.5
364/565,569 324/181 235/92 GA,92 T 368/2,3,6,8,107,47,1
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Priority Number: |
| June 29, 1979 |
US1979000053404 |
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Abstract: |
A system for measuring and indicating the time required for
a movement from a first location to a second location that is spaced
from the first location, including a first transmitter located at
the first location and adapted to transmit either an RF or an
acoustical signal, a second transmitter located at the second
location and then adapted to transmit a second acoustical or RF
energy signal, a moving vehicle, such as a sports implement,
designed to travel between the first and second locations and having
a receiver with a sensing antenna, for receiving the first and
second acoustical or RF energy signals. The receiver is connected by
a start-switch and a stop-switch to an electronic stopwatch which is
capable of delivering timed clock signals to a memory circuit. An
electronic read-out display, such as a liquid crystal display, is
connected to the memory circuit, so that as the vehicle travels past
the first transmitter, the start-switch connected to the receiver
will turn on the stopwatch to begin a count of the pulse train and,
as the vehicle passes the second transmitter, the stop-switch will
turn off the stopwatch and the display will provide the elapsed time
for the movement between the first and second locations.
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Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Kelman, Kurt ;
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Primary / Assistant Examiners: |
Weldon, Ulysses;
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INPADOC Legal Status: |
Show
legal status actions
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Family: |
None
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First Claim: |
Show all 7 claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system
mounted on a vehicle for measuring and indicating the time required
for a movement from a first location to a second location spaced
from the first location, said system comprising:
- a first transmitter located at said first location and adapted
to transmit a first energy signal;
- a second transmitter located at said second location and
adapted to transmit a second energy signal;
- an electronic stopwatch for delivering clock signals;
- a memory coupled to said watch for receiving and storing said
clock signals;
- display means coupled to said memory means for providing a
visual indication of the clock signals stored by said memory;
- an energy signal receiver having a sensor for receiving said
first and second energy signals;
- a start switch for coupling the output of said receiver to the
input of said stopwatch and responsive to said first energy
signal, so as to turn on said watch to provide clock signals; and
- a stop switch for coupling the output of said receiver to the
input of said stopwatch and responsive to said second energy
signal, so as to turn off said watch and terminate the clock
signals.
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Background / Summary: |
This invention relates to a
time-measuring and -indicating device comprising an electronic stop
watch and associated start and stop switches as well as a memory and
display means for determining and indicating the time required by a
moving object to move over a course having a selected finite length,
which device is mounted on the moving object, such as a sports
implement.
Known time-measuring and
-indicating devices comprising electronic watches can be mounted on
a moving object if the time is to be ascertained which is required
by said object to move over a course of finite length. Such stop
watches are manually triggered by an operator. If a plurality of
objects move over a plurality of objects provided with such
time-measuring device, the device cannot be started and stopped
exactly at the same time and in a reproducible manner and the times
thus ascertained cannot be exactly compared. The same disadvantages
arise when the same object is to move over the course several times
in succession.
It is known to eliminate
these disadvantages by the use of a time-measuring device which is
stationary or in any case is separate from the moving object and is
triggered by remote control. Such devices are triggered when the
moving object passes through the starting point and the final point
of the course. That practice has the disadvantage that when the
moving object is constituted, e.g., by an athlete the time which has
been ascertained must be indicated to the athlete by additional
transmitting means carried by him. So much time and personnel are
required to set up said system that the same can be used only for
public events.
It is an object of the
invention to provide an automatic time-measuring and -indicating
device which is inconspicuous and can be used with a minimum of
expenditure and indicates the time which has been measured to the
user as directly as possible.
In a
time-measuring and -indicating device of the kind described first
hereinbefore that object is accomplished according to the invention
in that the start and stop switches are connected to a sensor, which
is actuable by remote control by means of stationary transmitters,
which are positioned at the ends of the course, and that in response
to the reception of a first signal from a first transmitter the
start switch connects the electronic stop watch to the memory and/or
the display means, and in response to the reception of a second
signal from a second transmitter the stop switch element interrupts
the first-mentioned connection and connects the memory to the
display means.
The invention thus
provides an arrangement in which the stopped time can be read by the
user, such as a skier, or at the moving object itself, immediately
when the finishing line has been reached. This is accomplished in a
surprisingly simple and advantageous manner. No transmission lines
are required for that purpose and the two signal transmitters can be
installed inconspicuously. Besides, that device for measuring time
can be manufactured at low cost as an absolutely shockproof modular
assembly, which is reliable in operation. As a result, particularly
athletes training for themselves in preparation for a competition
can optimize their motions over longer and even over extremely short
distances, as is desirable mainly in cycling, riding,
track-and-field athletics, bobsledding, motoring and particularly
skiing.
According to an additional
feature of the invention the sensor, the start and stop switches,
the electronic stop watch, the memory and the display means are
accommodated in a hermetically sealed housing, which is fixed to a
sports implement, such as a ski. In this way, a definite relation is
established to the transmitters and cannot be adversely affected by
the motion of the athlete.
According to
another feature of the invention the transmitters comprise active
(signal-generating) or passive (signal-modifying) transmitters for
transmitting acoustic or electromagnetic waves or radiant energy
signals, or magnetic or metal tapes because this ensures a
particularly inconspicuous triggering of the several control
functions.
Finally it is within the
scope of the invention to accommodate each transmitter together with
associated power supply means in a liquid-tight housing, which is
preferably provided with holding means that are adapted to be driven
into the soil. That feature will facilitate the definition of the
limits of the course and will minimize the expenditure.
To facilitate the
understanding of the invention an embodiment thereof will now be
explained more fully and by way of example with reference to the
drawings, in which
FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of an embodiment of the
time-measuring and -indicating device according to the invention.
FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of that time-measuring and
-indicating device on a ski,
FIG. 3 shows diagrammatically a path of finite length and a
time-measuring and -indicating device with the associated transmitter
and
FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation showing the transmitter.
The time-measuring
and -indicating device 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises an electronic stop
watch 2, which is preferably monolithically integrated, start and stop
switches 3, 4, and a memory 5. There are also a power supply element
6, a master switch 7, and a resetting key 8, which is connected to the
electronic stop watch 2. The memory 5 is coupled to 4-, 5- or 6-digit
display means 9, which comprise a liquid crystal or gas display. Each
of the start and stop switches 3 and 4 is connected by a lead to a
receiver 10, which is responsive to acoustic sound or electromagnetic
waves and belongs to a sensor 11. A transmitter 12 for sound or
radiant energy signals, such as electromagnetic waves is associated
with the sensor.
It is apparent from FIG. 2 that the time-measuring and -indicating
device 1 is accommodated in a hermetically tight housing 13, which is
fixed to the scoop of a ski 14. The display means 9, the master switch
7 and the resetting key 8 are provided on the top of the housing 13. A
receiver 10 of the sensor 11 is disposed near each longitudinal side
of the ski.
The mode of operation of the device according to the invention
will now be explained more fully with reference to the diagrammatic
FIG. 3, which shows two transmitters 12 located at the start and
finishing line of a slalom course, respectively. The time-measuring
and -indicating device 1 moves along said course. As the receiver 10
mounted on the ski 14 moves past the transmitter 12 at the start, the
receiver 10 responds to cause the start switch 3 to transmit the clock
pulses from the electronic stop watch 2 to the memory 5. When the
receiver 10 moves past the transmitter 12 at the finishing line, the
stop switch 4 interrupts the connection between the stop watch 2 and
the memory 5 and causes the measured time to be indicated by the
display means 9.
When the user has read the time, he actuates the resetting key 8
to restore the device to its initial condition. The entire device can
be de-energized by the master switch 7.
FIG. 4 shows a transmitter unit 12 comprising an active or passive
transmitter 15 for transmitting acoustic or electromagnetic waves and
a power supply 16. Transmitter unit 12 could also be a magnetic tape.
The parts 15 and 16 are accommodated in a liquid-tight housing 17,
which is provided with means 18 for fixing the unit to the soil.
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Drawing Descriptions: |
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Description: |
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Forward References: |
Show 4 U.S. patent(s) that reference this
one
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