RACE TIMING SYSTEM WITH VERTICALLY POSITIONED ANTENNAE

• US 20140104046A1
• Filed: 12/17/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chronotrack Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Chronotrack Systems Corporation
• Inventors: HOWELL, DANIEL R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,930,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/323.R
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/24 Race time-recorders

Abstract

An electronic timing system for timing of athletic events is provided. The timing system includes one or more vertically oriented radio-frequency identification reader assembly, a portable timing controller, a remote server, and a radio-frequency identification timing tag that is configured for attachment to an athlete. The vertically oriented radio-frequency identification reader includes an antenna assembly, a water-resistant radome surrounding said antenna assembly, and a tripod supporting said radome and antenna assembly. The portable timing controller includes input/output means for exchanging data with the radio-frequency identification antenna. The remote server also includes input/output means for exchanging data with the input/output means of the portable timing controller. The timing tag and antenna include means for wirelessly communicating data between one another.

Claims

1. An electronic timing system for timing of athletic events comprising:

a vertically oriented radio-frequency identification reader assembly;

a portable timing controller having input/output means for exchanging data with said radio-frequency identification antenna;

a remote server having input/output means for exchanging data with said input/output means of the portable timing controller; and

a radio-frequency identification timing tag that is configured for attachment to an athlete, said timing tag and said antenna having means for wirelessly communicating data between one another.

2. The electronic timing systems according to claim 1, wherein the vertically oriented radio-frequency identification reader assembly comprises:

an antenna assembly;

a water-resistant radome surrounding said antenna assembly; and

a tripod supporting said radome and antenna assembly.

3. The electronic timing system according to claim 2, wherein the antenna assembly comprises:

a two-element dual linear phased array antenna assembly;

a feed network disposed on a printed circuit board, said feed network being electrically coupled to said two-element dual linear phased array antenna assembly;

a portal ground plane positioned between said antenna assembly and said printed circuit board; and

a pair of RF cables electrically connected to the feed network.

4. The electronic timing system according lto claim 3, wherein the two-element dual linear phased array antenna assembly comprises a pair of dual-feed U-shaped radiating elements.

5. The electronic timing system according to claim 4, further comprising a plurality of spacers positioned between the U-shaped radiating elements and the portal ground plane.

6. The electronic timing system according to claim 5, wherein the U-shaped radiating elements and the portal ground plane are formed of a conductive material.

7. The electronic timing system according to claim 6, wherein the U-shaped radiating elements and the portal ground plane are formed of anodized aluminum alloy.

8. The electronic timing system according to claim 7, wherein the anodized aluminum alloy is 5052-H32 aluminum.

9. The electronic timing system according to claim 3, wherein the portal ground plane is at least 57 cm in length and at least 21 cm in width.

10. The electronic timing system according to claim 2, wherein the radome is formed of a durable acrylic-pvc alloy.

11. The electronic timing system according to claim 10, wherein the acrylic-pvc alloy is KYDEX®

.

12. The electronic timing system according to claim 2, further comprising a back lobe suppressor having a front face positioned adjacent a rear surface of the antenna assembly.

13. The electronic timing system according to claim 12, wherein the front face of the back lobe suppressor is formed out of a radiant barrier material.

14. The electronic timing system according to claim 13, wherein the radiant barrier material is selected from a group consisting of aluminum and stainless steel.

15. The electronic timing system according to claim 12, wherein the front face of the back lobe suppressor is formed out of a metallic mesh material.

16. The electronic timing system according to claim 15, wherein the metallic mesh material is copper mesh.

17. The electronic timing system according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of vertically oriented radio-frequency identification reader assemblies positioned on opposing sides of a race path.

18. The electronic timing system according to claim 17, further comprising a portable timing controller associated with each one of said pair of vertically oriented radio-frequency identification reader assemblies.

19. The electronic timing system according to claim 18, further comprising a horizontally oriented radio-frequency identification reader assembly extending across the race path, said horizontally oriented radio-frequency identification reader assembly having a corresponding portable timing controller associated therewith.

20. The electronic timing system according to claim 17, wherein the pair of vertically oriented radio-frequency identification reader assemblies are positioned twenty-eight feet or less from one another.