Timing method and apparatus for sports events

• US 6,369,697 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1999
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trevor Poole
• Original Assignee: Trevor Poole
• Inventors: Poole, Trevor
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/345,816
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 340/309.15, 340/323.R, 340/539, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 368/11, 368/113
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/28 Indicating playing time

Abstract

The timing system for a game or timed event comprises a mobile device (1) including a transmitter (4) adapted to transmit a wireless electromagnetic radiation signal from the field of play. At least one receiver (5) is located outside the field of play in any one direction to a maximum distance allowed by radio frequency laws to receive such signal. Each of the device (1) and the main scoreboard (2) has a timer system (9, 10), adapted alternately to start and stop timing in response to each actuation signal from switch (3). Hence any interruption of time played in the game is made visible and conveyed to the supporters in an unambiguous way, and which allows the umpire or referee on the field to control the game absolutely.

With a further need to improve refereeing decisions an addition to the system, a 4th official device (A) also located outside of the field of play in a game or timed event, that includes:—A receiver (B) adapted to receive signals from the mobile device transmitter (4). A transmitter (d) adapted to transmit electromagnetic radiation signals to mobile device receiver (E) in the field of play, in response to each actuation signal of switch (C). On receipt of a signal from transmitter (0) a message will be displayed to the referee or umpire on display screen (F), thus ending all human errors in refereeing decisions.

Claims

1. A timing system for a sports game or other timed spectator event that has stoppage time, which system comprises:

at least one mobile device having a manually operated switch means and a transmitter means responsive to the switch means and adapted to transmit a wireless electro-magnetic radiation signal from the field of play;

at least one receiver means located outside of the field of play, but not surrounding the field of play, to receive said signal and emit an actuation signal in response thereto;

a timer associated with the receiver means and adapted alternately to start and stop timing in response to each actuation signal from said at least one receiver means;

time display means outside the field of play to display the output from the timer, the at least one mobile device having its own timer display means adapted to respond to operation of the switch means to provide a simultaneous timing display on the at least one mobile device; and

an additional device located outside the field of play under control of an official, including a receiver adapted to receive signals from the at least one mobile device in the field of play, a switch, and a transmitter means responsive thereto and adapted to transmit signals to the at least one mobile device.

2. A timing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitted signal is radiation in the infrared or radio range.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a wrist worn or pocket held unit including a transmitter means and a switch means under manual control of an official hand of a timed game being played.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitted signal is a timer start/stop signal.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitted signal is of such a selected frequency as to cause selective actuation by the receiver means of a predetermined display in addition to or replacing the timer display.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frequency of transmission between the controller and the receiver is so coded as to prevent interference from alternative transmission means.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiver and the time display outside the field of play are mobile.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiver means located outside the field of play can be adapted to accept any time means of display already in use in stadia.

9. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one signal transmits a pseudorandom number from over 16 million possible combinations and changes combination on each actuation of the mobile device switch.

10. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said additional device has a light or buzzer to indicate when a signal has been transmitted or received thereby.

11. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a signal block in the timer system allows only one mobile device to control said time system while the count-down is in stop mode.

12. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein more than one mobile device is used in the field of play and each can transmit and receive signals to and from each other device, stop/starting a time display in said mobile devices.

13. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the mobile device(s) is adapted to display messages transmitted from outside the field of play.