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(11) | EP 2 963 507 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMISING THE TIME RECORDINGS IN REGULARITY MOTOR RACES. SYSTEM UND VERFAHREN ZUR OPTIMIERUNG DER GEMESSENEN ZEITPUNKTE IN EINEM REGELMÄSSIGKEITSAUTORENNEN. SYSTÈME ET PROCÉDÉ POUR OPTIMISER LES ENREGISTRATIONS DES TEMPS DANS UN RALLYE DE RÉGULARITÉ. |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
Field of invention.
[0001] The method and system according to the patent application are in the field of assisting the competitors in a regularity motor race in improving their own temporal accuracy along a predetermined route.
State of the art.
[0003] In conducting a regularity motor race, the accuracy requested from the competitors is of the order of hundredths of a second and the competitors use a device that, substantially, is a very accurate race chronometer that acoustically indicates (in the technical field is also used to say - beat the times-) the last few seconds before the end of the imposed time (usually, but not necessarily, the last fifteen seconds). The counting of seconds is started and stopped by the actuation of a button by one of the competitors, taking as a reference, at each step, as shown in Fig. 1, the point P in which the front wheels of the car cross the sensor S (see Figures. 2 and 3) in the form of a linear element sensitive to pressure or in the form of photocell (in the following, simply -sensor- will be referred to) placed orthogonally to the direction of the route. Obviously, if the situation is the top view, as shown in Fig. 2, the pilot or co-pilot, indifferently, are able to start and stop the stopwatch, each by viewing the sensor S at about the same position (to simplify, omit the possible different sitting positions and different heights between the pilot and co-pilot).
[0004] However, it often so happens that the car is not able to arrive on the sensor S perpendicularly to the same, as shown in Fig. 3. It would therefore create a situation where the point where the sensor S is seen is quite different between the pilot and co-pilot.
[0005] Though apparently said situation might be irrelevant in the case, absolutely delated, at the expense of accuracy
[0006] Two commercial timing systems are known and frequently employed in regularity rallies: the Digitech Borino (XP055177309) and the C-200 chronometer by Bizz Timing (XP055174611).
[0007] These known chronometers are provided with a single input for starting/stopping the chronometer at any point of a regularity rally.
Purpose of the invention.
[0008] The purpose of the invention, as defined in the appended claims, is to allow the reception of signals to the pilot and co-pilot by connecting the respective activation buttons with a same chronometer, making the same chronometer able to use only one of the two signals, the one that, conventionally only, is considered primary or secondary, and better controls the compliance with the times imposed in the race.
Background of the invention.
[0009] According to the invented method and system a chronometer constructed with two inputs, one for the button of the pilot and the other for the button of the co-pilot, and two outputs for each headset worn by the pilot and co-pilot, so that each headset is capable of receiving its own signal (the one relevant to the signal generated by its corresponding button), allows the crew, after a simple initial setting, to identify the two buttons (for example, calling them "primary" and "secondary") so that, in any moment between a passage and the other, it is possible, by means of one, two or more buttons of a suitable keyboard associated with the chronometer, or through the combined use of them, to choose the one of the two signals that is believed correct, being helped in the decision, in addition to their own experience, also by the acoustic indication dedicated to each of them. It is clarified that, once set one of the two buttons to confer, for example, the role of primary button, the pilot and co-pilot operate independently, each on its own button, on the passage of the car on a sensor S. A screen associated with the chronometer allows competitors to check the times kept during the journey.
Advantages of the invention.
[0010] This invention overcomes the problem of frequent mistakes made when the car does not arrive perpendicular to the linear sensor, allowing competitors to choose from time to time the signal deemed more appropriate to proceed with the best in the regularity race.
Example of embodiment.
[0011] The invention is illustrated in more detail below with the aid of the drawing in which Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic top view showing the basic components of the system installed in a car in the race driven by a pilot 1 and by a co-pilot 2.
[0012] The figure shows that the system comprises in a car C:
- a) a race chronometer 1-8-9 constructed with two inputs, each adapted to receive signals transmitted from the driver 2 and the copilot 3, placed on their seats s, and comprising a screen 8 in which are shown the times kept by the car on the way and a keyboard 9 which enables to choose the signal that it is considered the more accurate;
- b) two buttons 5, 6, one for the pilot and one for the co-pilot, to transmit to the chronometer 1-8-9, along the connection wires W, the signals at each passage on a sensor S;
- c) two headphones 7a, 7b, one for the pilot and one for the co-pilot, each with two outputs, suitable to voice the signals transmitted by the buttons 5, 6;
- d) a steering wheel 11 of the car C.
[0013] The system uses the primary signal to start the counts in correspondence with each passage on a sensor S and displays the times relevant to both signals on the screen 8 of the chromometer (1-8-9 in the figure) and possibly on an auxiliary chronometer, not shown in the figure, for a time period adjustable in the initial settings. The crew is enabled, as long as the next survey presents, to choose whether to use the signal "primary" (in which case they will have nothing to do on the chronometer equipment), or whether to use the signal "secondary", in wich case they will operate on said equipment that will "update" the counts by using the secondary signal, the choice, obviously, being reversible at the discretion of the crew. As soon as the car presents on the subsequent detection sensor, the system will use again the primary signal and repropose the routine described above. In other words, the crew has the option to select one of the two possible signals as long as they are within the timed race portion.
a) activation buttons (5, 6) foreseen to be activated by one of the competitors at the moment of passage of a front wheel of the car on a sensor (S), to indicate, on a screen (8), travel times during the last seconds of the regularity motor race;
b) a chronometer (1, 8, 9) comprising a dual push button input, one for the button (5) of the driver (2) and the other for the button (6) of the co-pilot (3);
c) a dual headphones output (7a, 7b) adapted to connect to two headphones, one worn by the pilot and the other worn by the co-pilot, and configured to cause each headphone to receive the signal generated by its corresponding button (5, 6);
d) one, two or more buttons in a keyboard (9) associated with the chronometer (1, 8, 9) and configured to enable the crew (2, 3), using them alone or in combination and setting the chronometer (1-8-9), to identify conventionally the two buttons (5, 6) so that at any moment between a passage and the other, the crew (2, 3) is allowed to select the signal that is considered the most reliable.
i) providing a system according to one of claims 1-3;
ii) receiving signals transmitted from the driver (2) and the co-pilot (3) through the chronometer (1, 8, 9) with its screen (8) in which the times kept along the way are shown and with a keyboard (9) that allows the competitors to choose the signal that is considered the most reliable;
iii) getting the signals caused by the car (C) on each passage on a sensor S transmitted to the chronometer (1, 8, 9) from the two buttons (5, 6) and along connection wires (W);
iv) voicing in the two headphones (7a, 7b) the signals transmitted from the two buttons (5, 6).
a) Aktivierungsknöpfe (5, 6), die dazu vorgesehen sind, durch einen der Wettbewerber im Moment des Passierens eines Vorderrades des Fahrzeugs auf einem Sensor (S) aktiviert zu werden, um, auf einer Anzeige (8), Fahrtzeiten während der letzten Sekunden des Gleichmäßigkeitsmotorrennens anzugeben;
b) ein Chronometer (1, 8, 9), das einen zweifachen Druckknopfeingang, einen für den Knopf (5) des Fahrers (2) und den anderen für den Knopf (6) des Copiloten (3), umfasst ;
c) einen zweifachen Kopfhörerausgang (7a, 7b), angepasst zur Verbindung mit zwei Kopfhörern, einer getragen durch den Piloten und der andere getragen durch den Copiloten, und dazu konfiguriert, dass jeder Kopfhörer das Signal, das durch seinen entsprechenden,Knopf (5, 6) erzeugt wird, empfängt;
d) einen, zwei oder mehr Knöpfe in einer Tastatur (9), die mit dem Chronometer (1, 8, 9) verknüpft ist und dazu konfiguriert ist, es der Besatzung (2, 3) zu ermöglichen, sie allein oder in Kombination zu verwenden und das Chronometer (1-8-9) einzustellen, um konventionell die zwei Knöpfe (5, 6) zu identifizieren, sodass in einem Moment zwischen einem Passieren und dem anderen der Besatzung (2, 3) erlaubt wird, das Signal auszuwählen, das als das zuverlässigste betrachtet wird.
i) Bereitstellen eines Systems gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3;
ii) Empfangen von Signalen, die von dem Fahrer (2) und dem Copiloten (3) durch das Chronometer (1, 8, 9) mit seiner Anzeige (8), in der die während des Weges genommenen Zeiten angezeigt werden, und mit einer Tastatur (9), die den Wettbewerbern erlaubt, das Signal zu wählen, das als das zuverlässigste betrachtet wird, übertragen werden;
iii) Erlangen von Signalen, die von dem Fahrzeug (C) bei jedem Passieren eines Sensors S an das Chronometer (1, 8, 9) übertragen werden von den zwei Knöpfen (5, 6) und über Verbindungsdrähte (W);
iv) Äußern der Signale, die von den zwei Knöpfen (5, 6) übertragen werden, in den zwei Kopfhörern (7a, 7b).
a) des boutons d'activation (5, 6) destinés à être activés par l'un des compétiteurs lors du passage d'une roue avant du véhicule sur un capteur (S) pour indiquer, sur un écran (8) les temps de parcours au cours des dernières secondes de la course automobile de régularité,
b) un chronomètre (1, 8, 9) comprenant une entrée à double bouton poussoir, l'une pour le bouton (5) du conducteur (2) et l'autre pour le bouton (6) du copilote (3),
c) une sortie double casque à écouteurs (7a, 7b) susceptible d'être connectée à deux casques à écouteurs, l'un porté par le pilote et l'autre porté par le copilote est conformée de sorte que chaque casque à écouteur reçoive le signal généré par son bouton (5, 6) associé,
d) un, deux ou un plus grand nombre de boutons situés sur un clavier (9) associé au chronomètre (1, 8, 9) et conformé(s) pour permettre à l'équipe (2, 3) de l'(les) utiliser seul(s) ou en combinaison et de régler le chronomètre (1, 8, 9) pour identifier de manière conventionnelle les deux boutons (5, 6) de sorte qu'à n'importe quel moment entre un passage et un autre, l'équipe (2, 3) puisse sélectionner le signal qui est considéré comme étant le plus fiable.
caractérisé en ce que
l'écran (8) et le clavier (9) sont externes au chronomètre (1).
caractérisé en ce que
l'écran (8) est un écran double séparé (8) montrant les temps maintenus le long du trajet.
i) se procurer un dispositif conforme à l'une des revendications 1 à 3,
ii) recevoir des signaux transmis par le conducteur (2) et le copilote (3) par le chronomètre (1, 8, 9) avec son écran (8) sur lequel les temps maintenus le long du trajet sont représenté, et avec un clavier (9) qui permet aux compétiteurs de choisir le signal qui est considéré comme étant le plus fiable,
iii) obtenir les signaux provoqué par le véhicule (C) à chaque passage sur un capteur S transmis par le chronomètre (1, 8, 9) à partir des deux boutons (5, 6) et le long de fils de liaison (W),
iv) exprimer dans les deux casques à écouteurs (7a, 7b) les signaux transmis à partir des deux boutons (5, 6).