Clocking system for measuring running speeds of track runners

• US 5,737,280 A
• Filed: 11/21/1995
• Issued: 04/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Univert Inc.
• Original Assignee: Univert Inc.
• Inventors: Kokubo, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US08/561,580
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 368/2, 368/3, 368/9-11, 368/110-113, 364/569, 377/20, 377/24, 377/24.2, 235/377, 235/380-385
• US Class Current: 368/2
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/027 Exercising equipment, e.g. tread mills, carousels equipment for racing or riding sports events A63K
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/02 Measuring pulse or heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/543 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/66 using electric or magnetic means G01P3/80 takes precedence; measuring short time intervals G04F8/00, G04F10/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/24 Race time-recorders

Abstract

A clocking system for measuring running speeds such as split time or lap time for a plural number of track runners like racehorses at each one of a plural number of clocking positions provided at predetermined intervals along a running course or track toward a goal position. The clocking system fundamentally includes: a trigger signal transmission means provided at each one of the clocking positions and adapted to release a trigger signal toward a narrow signal receiving zone; a passing signal generating means carried by each runner and adapted to produce a passing signal specific to a particular runner at each clocking position upon reception of the trigger signal; and a measuring means provided either at each clocking position or on each runner and adapted to register a time reading for each runner upon reception of the trigger signal or passing signal. The measuring means can be arranged to include a sensor or a number of sensor means for collecting physical data of the runner during a run on an exercising track in addition to and in relation with the clocking operation.

Claims

1. A clocking system for measuring running speeds of a plural number of track runners at each one of a plural number of clocking positions provided at predetermined intervals along a running course or track toward a goal position, said clocking system comprising:

an ID number transmitter carried by each runner and provided with an ID number generator to release at least an ID signal of said runner at each clocking position;

a trigger signal generator means provided at each one of said clocking positions to release a trigger signal toward said ID number transmitter of said runner passing across a measuring zone in front of said clocking position; and

time measuring means located at each one of said clocking positions to receive said ID signal transmitted by said ID number transmitter in response to said trigger signal from said trigger signal generator means, and arranged to register Identity of said runner passing across said clocking position along with a split time to said clocking position;

said ID number transmitter being arranged to release said ID signal repeatedly for a plural number of times in response to a trigger signal at predetermined time Intervals distinguishable of ID signals from other ID number transmitters carried by other runners.

2. A clocking system as defined in claim 1, wherein said ID number transmitter is arranged to repeat said ID signal for at least five times in response to a trigger signal, and said measuring means Is arranged to compute a mean value of reception times of repeated ID signals as a time reading in split time of said runner.

3. A clocking system as defined in claim 2, wherein said ID number transmitter is arranged to transmit said ID signal on a frequency higher than several tens MHZ and at time intervals smaller than 0.1 second.

4. A clocking system as defined in claim 1, wherein said trigger signal generator means is constituted by a member selected from the group consisting of a low frequency transmission antenna, an ultrasonic transducer and an electromagnet.

5. A clocking system as defined in claim 1, wherein said ID number transmitter comprises, in addition to an ID number transmitting section, a data transmitting section for transmission of data of physical conditions of said runner, said data transmitting section being connected to a physical sensor means attached to said runner, and arranged to transmit physical data in time series along with said ID signal upon receipt of a trigger signal from said trigger signal generator means.

6. A clocking system as defined in claim 5, wherein said physical sensor means is arranged to take physical data at least in heart beat, respiration, step distance and body temperature in case said runner is a biotic athlete thereby to evaluate physical fitness of said runner on the basis of said time reading and physical data.

7. A clocking system as defined in claim 6, wherein said physical sensor means is an electrical cardiometric sensor having three electrodes attached around the heart of said runner for detecting a number of heart beats of said runner over a predetermined distance, two of said electrodes being connected to a differential amplifier while the remaining one of said electrodes is retained at the earth potential.

8. A clocking system as defined in claim 6, wherein said physical sensor means is an ultrasound cardiometric sensor having an ultrasound transducer for transmitting ultrasound pulses toward the heart of said runner, and an ultrasound signal processor for detecting a number of heart beats of said runner over a predetermined distance on the basis of frequency shifts of ultrasound echoes from said heart.

9. A clocking system as defined in claim 6, wherein said physical sensor means Is provided with a microphone attached in the vicinity of a respiratory passage of said runner.

10. A clocking system as defined in claim 6, wherein said physical sensor means is an ultrasound breath sensor having an ultrasound transducer for transmitting ultrasound pulses toward the lung of said runner, and an ultrasound signal processor for detecting a number of breaths of said runner over a predetermined distance on the basis of variations In amplitude of ultrasound return echoes from said lung.

11. A clocking system as defined in claim 6, wherein said physical sensor means is provided with a pedometer employing an acceleration sensor for detecting a number of steps taken by said runner over a predetermined distance.

12. A clocking system as defined in claim 6, wherein said physical sensor means is a thermometer.