Variable distance marker
First Claim
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1. A variable, distance marker comprising:
- a housing fixedly positioned on the ground adjacent a first of first and second spaced apart points;
a visual display electrically actuable and including a plurality of variable digits designed to indicate a specific distance in a range of distances between the first and second points and an input for receiving signals to actuate the display and change the digits in accordance with changes in the specific distance due to changed in the second of the spaced apart points, the visual display being mounted in the housing and viewable externally;
electronics circuits mounted in the housing and electrically connected to the visual display input for actuating the visual display to display selected digits indicative of a change in the specific distance between the first and second points as indicated by externally generated control signals;
means mounted in the housing and electrically connected to the electronics circuits for receiving externally generated control signals indicative of a pre-measured change in the specific distance and supplying the received control signals to the electronics circuits; and
means connected to the visual display and the electronics circuits for supplying power thereto.
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Abstract
A variable distance marker system includes a display mounted in a housing and attached to electronics circuits having a light detector for receiving externally generated light signals. A rechargeable battery and a solar cell array are interconnected for supplying power to the display and circuits. An antenna is mounted in the housing for receiving RF signals and a remote RF transmitter is controllable to transmit an actuating signal to the antenna for altering the display. A remote hand-held light generator is controllable to generate a beam of light onto the light detector for controlling the digits displayed.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A variable, distance marker comprising:
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a housing fixedly positioned on the ground adjacent a first of first and second spaced apart points; a visual display electrically actuable and including a plurality of variable digits designed to indicate a specific distance in a range of distances between the first and second points and an input for receiving signals to actuate the display and change the digits in accordance with changes in the specific distance due to changed in the second of the spaced apart points, the visual display being mounted in the housing and viewable externally; electronics circuits mounted in the housing and electrically connected to the visual display input for actuating the visual display to display selected digits indicative of a change in the specific distance between the first and second points as indicated by externally generated control signals; means mounted in the housing and electrically connected to the electronics circuits for receiving externally generated control signals indicative of a pre-measured change in the specific distance and supplying the received control signals to the electronics circuits; and means connected to the visual display and the electronics circuits for supplying power thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A variable distance marker system comprising:
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a housing; an electrically actuable, visual display including a plurality of variable digits and an input for receiving signals to actuate the display and change the digits, the visual display being mounted in the housing and viewable externally; electronics circuits mounted in the housing and electrically connected to the visual display input, the electronics circuits being controllable to actuate the visual display to display selected digits; a light detector mounted in the housing and electrically connected to the electronics circuits for receiving externally generated light signals, converting the received light signals into control signals and applying the control signals to the electronics circuits; an antenna mounted in the housing and connected to the electronics circuits for receiving RF signals including an actuating signal at a predetermined frequency and applying the activating signal to the electronics circuits; a rechargeable battery and a solar cell array connected to the battery for supplying power thereto, the rechargeable battery being connected to the visual display and the electronics circuits for supplying power thereto; a remote portable light generator controllable to generate control signals in the form of a beam of light directable at the light detector; and a remote RF transmitter controllable to transmit RF signals to the antenna at the predetermined frequency. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of marking distances in a sporting event comprising the steps of:
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providing a housing containing a visual display including a plurality of variable digits viewable externally, electronics circuits connected to the visual display and controllable to actuate the visual display to display selected digits, a light detector connected to the electronics circuits for receiving externally generated light signals, converting the received light signals into control signals and applying the control signals to the electronics circuits, an antenna mounted in the housing and connected to the electronics circuits for receiving RF signals including an actuating signal at a predetermined frequency and applying the actuating signal to the electronics circuits, and a rechargeable battery and interconnected solar cell array for supplying power to the visual display and the electronics circuits; providing a remote portable light generator controllable to generate control signals in the form of a beam of light directable at the light detector; providing an RF transmitter controllable to transmit RF signals to the antenna at the predetermined frequency and positioning the RF transmitter at a base point convenient to at least a first official for the sporting event; selecting a designated position in a field of play for the sporting event, it being desirable for contestants to know the distance from the designated position to a first remote point; positioning the housing in a convenient location at the selected designated position so that the visual display is readily discernable by the contestants; operating the remote portable light generator to generate control signals in the form of a beam of light and directing the beam of light onto the light detector to actuate the visual display to indicate a preset default distance from the housing to the first remote point; modifying the distance from the designated position to said first remote point; determining the modified distance from the housing to the first remote point; and operating the RF transmitter to transmit an RF signal including an actuating signal to the antenna in the housing to modify the default distance so as to indicate the determined modified distance. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification