Racecourse lap counter and racecourse for radio controlled vehicles

• US 20040156467A1
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel Freifeld
• Original Assignee: Daniel Freifeld
• Inventors: Freifeld, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,072,792 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 377/100
• 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; and

a scoreboard having a receiver capable of receiving information from said transmitter and displaying said information according to a desired format.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein one of said at least one gates defines a finish point of said predefined path.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein there are a plurality of gates.

4. The combination of claim 3 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.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein each of said plurality of gates is of a size effective to receive at least two of said plurality of racing vehicles at the same time.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein at least some of said plurality of gates are portable to facilitate changing of said predefined path.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein each of said plurality of racing vehicles has an indicator that confirms one of said unique identifiers has been detected.

8. The combination of claim 2 wherein said unique identifier is a bar code and said sensor is an optical scanner.

9. The combination of claim 2 wherein said unique identifier is a color and said sensor is an optical spectrum detector.

10. The combination of claim 2 wherein said unique identifier is a wire loop transmitting a radio signal at a unique frequency and said sensor is an inductive antenna.

11. The combination of claim 2 wherein said information is displayed as one or more of speed, relative position and lap count for said plurality of racing vehicles.

12. The combination of claim 1 wherein said information is displayed on a handheld radio controller either in combination with or in lieu of said scoreboard.

13. The combination of claim 1 wherein said information is displayed on said racing vehicles either in combination with or in lieu of said scoreboard.

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

each one of said plurality of racing vehicles having a unique identifier;

said racecourse having a predefined path defined by at least one gate, each one of said at least one gate including a sensor capable of detecting said unique identifier, and

said scoreboard having a receiver capable of receiving information from said sensor and displaying said information according to a desired format.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein one of said at least one gates defines a finish point of said predefined path.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein there are a plurality of gates.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein a time to travel between gates determined by said gates (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.

18. The combination of claim 16 wherein each of said plurality of gates is of a size effective to receive at least two of said plurality of racing vehicles at the same time.

19. The combination of claim 18 wherein at least some of said plurality of gates are portable to facilitate changing of said predefined path.

20. The combination of claim 19 wherein each of said plurality of racing vehicles has an indicator that confirms one of said unique identifiers has been detected.

21. The combination of claim 14 wherein said unique identifier is a reflective material appended to an exterior surface of said plurality of racing vehicles.

22. The combination of claim 21 wherein an optical conduit is adjacent said predefined path and transmits a beam of light at said at least one gate whereby a portion said beam of light is reflected from said exterior surface.

23. The combination of claim 22 wherein a photodetector determines a source of said reflected portion and transmits information regarding said portion to said scoreboard.

24. The combination of claim 14 wherein said information is displayed on a handheld radio controller either in combination with or in lieu of said scoreboard.

25. The combination of claim 14 wherein said information is displayed on said racing vehicles either in combination with or in lieu of said scoreboard.

26. A method for detecting the position of a moving object traveling along a predefined path comprising the steps of:

defining said path with a plurality of gates, each said gate including a unique identifier;

providing said moving object with a sensor capable of detecting said unique identifier and causing said sensor to communicate identification of said sensor to a logic circuit supported by said moving object;

transmitting information from said logic circuit to a display; and

displaying said information in a desired format.

27. A race circuit, comprising:

at least one flexible strip defining a border of said race circuit and releasably supported by a plurality of stanchions; and

said stanchions non-permanently bonded to a surface of said race circuit.

28. The race circuit of claim 27 wherein said non-permanent bond is selected from the group consisting of sticky plastic, suction, weights and stakes.

29. The race circuit of claim 28 further including one or more of bridges, over passes, chicanes and four-way intersections.