WO1990013069A1

WO1990013069A1 - Method and device for time measuring

Info

Publication number: WO1990013069A1
Application number: PCT/SE1990/000261
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joakim Birgerson; Jan Lundgren
Original assignee: Joakim Birgerson; Jan Lundgren
Priority date: 1989-04-21
Filing date: 1990-04-19
Publication date: 1990-11-01
Also published as: SE8901450D0; SE8901450L; AU5533390A

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for time measuring according to which the time period required for a movement of a vehicle on a certain distance is measured by transmitting a signal from at least one transmitter (10) arranged along said distance, by receiving said signal in a receiver (11) provided on said vehicle, said signal initiating the measuring of time, and by stopping said measuring of time when said vehicle passes a transmitter, by marking said signal with a code of identity and enabling the time measuring when a predetermined code of identity has been recorded at said receiver. The measuring of time is initiated when the receiving of said predetermined code of identity drops off. The device according to the invention comprises a central unit (17) operatively connected to said receiver and a display (14) operatively connected to said central unit.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TIME MEASURING.

The invention relates to a method and a device for time measuring according to which the time period required for a movement of a vehicle a certain distance is measured by transmitting a signal from at least one transmitter arranged along said distance, by receiving said signal in a receiver provided on said vehicle, said signal initiating the measuring of time, and by stopping said measuring of time when said vehicle passes a transmitter. Drivers of competition vehicles are interested, mainly during training, of being informed continuously of the time running during the movement of said vehicle a certain distance, e.g. a lap of a racing track. The information is crucial when the driver tries to find the most time effective way of maneuvering said vehicle the actual distance or track. However, the driver of the vehicle in practice has no possibilities to take any time measuring steps during the driving. Therefore, time measuring has previously been taken care of by a staff on the track informing by signs or something similar the driver about lap time or the time passed for driving said distance. However, to the driver it is a great problem to record and assimilate such external information because the driver first of all has to concentrate on the conditions of the track and the condition of the vehicle. If the time indi¬ cated is a lap time as is the case on closed tracks, the lap time also is the lap time of the preceding lap which is highly unfavourable. Corresponding conditions apply also in training and competition with boats on water.

An object of the invention is to provide, both in respect of reliability and risk minimization, a secure time measuring in a vehicle. The result of the time measuring shall be shown automatically to the driver after a chosen and adjustable delay from the end of the time measuring procedure.

Another object is to achieve a simple operation for the driver with a minimized risk of upcoming problems. Furthermore, the device according to the invention shall not be space-requiring or require fixed connections to the power-supply system of the vehicle.

The present invention overcomes the problems men¬ tioned above, and achieves the objects mentioned above by having obtained the features of the characterizing part of claim and 1 and 3, respectively.

The invention will now be described in more detail by means of an embodiment, reference being made to the accom¬ panying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a more detailed block diagram of the central unit of the device,

FIG. 3 is a more detailed block diagram of the trans- mitter of the device, and

FIG. 4 is a more detailed block diagram of the re¬ ceiver of the device.

As shown in FIG. 1 the device according to the invention comprises a transmitter 10, which in use is disposed on a suitable location along the distance, on ground or on water, in which the vehicle is moving. In track competitions a transmitter, which preferably is disposed in the vicinity of the pit, is used. In this way said transmitter is passed once on each lap made by the vehicle and the time is measured between two successive passes of said transmitter. In other types of competitions, e.g. rally competitions, several transmitters are disposed along the distance of competition and the time is measured *between the passage of a first transmitter to the passage of a second transmitter. Said transmitter will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 3.

Other parts of the device according to the invention is disposed on the vehicle or the vessel, which for instance can be a car. Outside of, or at least exposed on, said car a receiver 11 is provided. The signals transmitted from said transmitter are received and subjected to some signal processing in said receiver, said signals then being directed to a central unit 17. In said central unit the signals received are decoded in a decoding unit 12, which is operatively connected to a time measuring unit 13. The signal processing in said decoding unit is described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2.

An indicating unit 14 is arranged separated from and operatively connected to said central unit and exposed to the driver of the car. The indicating unit comprises a push-button 15 and a display 16. In said display there is indicated first of all the most current measured time, preferably a lap time, after some time delay from the car having passed said transmitter 10. The driver controls by the push-button the time delay by pressing at an appro¬ priate spot along said distance said button, the indication of the time measured then being indicated at this spot (after the same delay) the next lap or the next time that spot is passed. It is also possible to choose several occations for indication. Said push-button is used also to turn on the device disposed on the car and belonging to the invention.

As shown in FIG. 2 said decoding unit 12 and time measuring unit 13 in one embodiment of the invention are realized in a computer circuit 22 with a corresponding memory unit 21, in which the program of the computer is stored. From said computer circuit there is also a transmission for statistics and the like of information in the shape of previously measured time values to a storing unit 20. The information is available so as to be trans¬ mitted to another computer not shown here for processing and indication. All of the units included in the invention and arranged on the car are connected to a battery 19, the condition thereof continuously being monitored by a monitoring unit 18 so as to avoid functional troubles caused by a reduced capacity of said battery. Error conditions arising are indicated on said display. Said computer circuit 22 are supplied with clock pulses in a conventional way from a clock circuit not shown here and carries out on the basis of said clock pulses and the signals processed in said receiver the actual time measuring. With reference to FIG. 3 said transmitter comprises transmitting diodes 23, which are connected to an amplifier 24 and which receive from said amplifier the signals to be transmitted. Said amplifier 24 is connected to a control unit 25, in turn being connected to a encoding unit 26 supplying signal codes to said control unit. All units are power supplied by a battery unit 27. To make possible simultaneous training to several users of the device according to the invention said encoding 26 of the trans¬ mitter and the decoding unit 12 of the central unit, respectively, are adjustable to several different indi¬ vidual codes and at least one common code. Several codes are required when several transmitters intended for different receivers are utilized while a common code can be used to several receivers if there is also a common trans- mitter. In the receiver a common or an individual code is chosen by said push-button 15, for instance by depressing said button during an extended time period.

With reference to FIG. 4 the receiver comprises receiving diodes 28, which are arranged on the car in such a way that the view towards said transmitting diodes 23 is not obstructed when the car passes said transmitter. Said diodes are connected to a preamplifier 29 in which said received signals are amplified before they are fed into a further amplifier circuit 30, a so called AGC. The condi¬ tions of light may vary heavily and different sources of interferences can influence the reception of said signals and as each reception procedure is very short (the car has a high velocity) the function of said amplifier circuit 30 is important. The amplifier circuit 30 is connected to a pulse amplifier 31, in turn being connected to a pulse converter 32, in which the signals received are prepared for the decoding in said decoding unit 12.

To ensure that the time measuring is finished and that next measuring is started at the appropriate moment, i.e. in the appropriate position, a reception of several sequences of coded signals are required. When a predeter¬ mined number of sequences have been received said computer circuit is enabled or prepared for the time measuring. However, the time measuring is not started until the flow of coded signals is interrupted. In this way an adequate security is achieved in spite of the high velocity of the vehicle and in spite of the dispersion effect of said transmitting diodes 23 being restricted for practical reasons.

Claims

1. Method for time measuring, according to which, the time period required for a movement of a vehicle a certain distance is measured by transmitting a signal from at least one transmitter arranged along said distance, said signal is received in a receiver on said vehicle and starting there the time measuring, and the time measuring is finished when said vehicle passes a transmitter, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that said signal is marked with a code of identity, that the time measuring is enabled when a predetermined code of identity has been recorded by said receiver, and that the measuring of time is initiated when the receiving of said predetermined code of identity drops of.

2. Method according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the measured time is indicated after an adjustable delay.

3. Device for time measuring, comprising at least one stationary transmitter (10), a receiver (11) disposed on a vehicle, a central unit (17) operatively connected to said receiver, and a display (14) operatively connected to said central unit, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that said transmitter is arranged for transmitting a signal marked with a code of identity, that said central unit (17) comprises a decoding unit (12) for decoding a code of identity received by said receiver, and a time measuring unit (13) which is turned on and off by said decoding unit (12) and which is operatively connected to said display.

4. Device according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that said central unit (17) comprises a computer circuit (22), which by control of a program stored in a memory unit (21) performs said decoding and time measuring.

5. Device according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that said code of identity is stored in said memory unit (21).

6. Device according to any of claim 3-5, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i s e d in that said receiver comprises receiving diodes (28), an automatic amplifying unit (30) operatively connected to said receiving diodes, and a pulse converter (32) operatively connected to said amplifying unit (30).