Racecourse lap counter and racecourse for radio controlled vehicles

• US 7,474,984 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2006
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel Freifeld
• Original Assignee: Daniel Freifeld
• Inventors: Freifeld, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; John H
• Application Number:
  US11/448,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20060229843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 702/176, 702/178, 702/177, 731/67, 235/377, 238/10, 250/559.29, 340/468, 340/573.1, 340/539.1, 340/588, 340/446, 340/513.1, 340/870.28, 340/988, 342/44, 342/457, 404/6, 406/3, 406/6, 406/59, 377/100, 455/500
• US Class Current: 702/178
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 18/005 Accessories for indicating the winner of a race, e.g. lap counters, speed indicators
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 18/026 Start-finish mechanisms; Stop arrangements; Traffic lights; Barriers, or the like A63H18/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/24 Race time-recorders

Abstract

A combination of a racecourse and a plurality of racing vehicles where the racecourse has a predefined path defined by at least one gate. This gate further includes a unique identifier. Each of the plurality of racing vehicles has a sensor capable of detecting the unique identifier and the sensor is further coupled to a logic circuit and to a transmitter. A scoreboard has receiver to receive information from the transmitter and display that information, such as lap speed and ranking, according to a desired format. Alternatively, the unique identifier is mounted to the racing vehicle and the sensor to the gate.

Claims

1. A combination of a racecourse and a plurality of racing vehicles, comprising:

said racecourse having a predefined path defined by at least one gate, each one of said at least one gate including a unique identifier;

each one of said plurality of racing vehicles having a sensor capable of detecting said unique identifier, said sensor coupled to a logic circuit and to a transmitter, wherein the logic circuit transmits vehicle race progress information less frequently than at each gate passing; and

a scoreboard having a receiver capable of receiving information directly from said transmitter and displaying said information according to a desired format, wherein a time to travel between gates determined by said racing vehicle (T₁) is compared to said time to travel between gates determined by said scoreboard (T₂) and displaying a false start if T₂ is less than T₁.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said racecourse has a starting line gate and a finish line gate.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein race progress data is transmitted only at or beyond said finish line gate.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein a timer in said racing vehicle electronics module determines time T₁ and said transmitter transmits T₁ to said scoreboard.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein a velocity of said racing vehicle is displayed on said scoreboard based on a known distance between said starting line gate and said finish line gate and said race progress data that includes elapsed time.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said racecourse is configured as a drag strip.