Patent US5664098A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5138589A
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US
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Distance self timer
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1990-10-19
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Granted: 1992-08-11
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Expires: 2010-10-19
Abstract
Abstract A device and a method for displaying to a person moving on a course the elapsed time between two points on the course. Generally, the person would be on or in a mode of transportation, such as a race car. A retroreflective switch is attached to the car and includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter emits an infrared light beam such that the light beam strikes a reflector adjacent the course when the car is on the course adjacent the reflector. The receiver includes a light detector that outputs a detection signal in response to detecting the reflected light beam from the reflector. A processor connected to the receiver receives a first detection signal as the car is adjacent a first reflector and receives a second detection signal when the car is adjacent a second reflector and determines the elapsed time between said first and said second detected signals. A display connected to the processor receives the elapsed time and displays it to the person driving the vehicle. A first reflector is disposed adjacent the course adjacent the first point on the course for receiving the light beam emitted from the transmitter and for reflecting the light beam back to the receiver. A second reflector is disposed adjacent the course adjacent the second point on the course and similarly aligned. To display lap time only a single reflector is disposed. The processor will compute, display, and record continuously, regardless of how many reflectors are used.
Inventors
- 👤 Curtis L. Kimbel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 02:18
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07C; G07C1/00; G07C1/22; G07C1/24; G04; G04F; G04F8/00; G04F8/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for displaying lap time to a person moving in, a circuitous course comprising the steps of: placing a light beam reflector adjacent the course; attaching to a moving object including a person a transmitter that emits a light beam; positioning the transmitter such that the emitted light beam will strike the reflector when the moving object is on the course adjacent the reflector; positioning the light reflector such that a light beam received by the reflector from the transmitter will be reflected to the moving object; attaching a receiver including a light detector to the moving object such that the detector detects the reflected light beam; moving the moving object along the course such that the reflected light beam is detected by the light detector on two separate occasions; determining the elapsed time between the detected beams with a processor connected to the receiver that, in response to light beam detection by the detector, determines the elapsed time between the first and the second reflected light beams, and displaying to the person the elapsed time determined by the processor with a display connected to the processor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for displaying lap time to a person moving in, a circuitous course comprising the steps of: placing a light beam reflector adjacent the course; attaching to a moving object including a person a transmitter that emits a light beam; positioning the transmitter such that the emitted light beam will strike the reflector when the moving object is on the course adjacent the reflector; positioning the light reflector such that a light beam received by the reflector from the transmitter will be reflected to the moving object; attaching a receiver including a light detector to the moving object such that the detector detects the reflected light beam; moving the moving object along the course such that the reflected light beam is detected by the light detector on two separate occasions; determining the elapsed time between the detected beams with a processor connected to the receiver that, in response to light beam detection by the detector, determines the elapsed time between the first and the second reflected light beams, and displaying to the person the elapsed time determined by the processor with a display connected to the processor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the light beam is infrared.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the light beam is laser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the light beam is pulsed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the display is a visual display.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of: storing the determined elapsed time for later use.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
222 words
A method for displaying to a person moving on a course the elapsed time between two points on the course; the method comprising the steps of: placing a light beam reflector adjacent the course adjacent the first point on the course; placing a light beam reflector adjacent the course adjacent the second point on the course; attaching to a moving object including a person a transmitter that emits a light beam; positioning the transmitter such that the emitted light beam will strike a placed reflector when the moving object is on the course adjacent that reflector; positioning each light reflector such that a light beam received by the reflector from the transmitter will be reflected to the moving object; attaching a receiver having light beam detector means to the moving object such that the light beam detector detects the reflected light beam; moving the moving object along the course such that the reflected light beam is detected by the light detector on two separate occasions; determining the elapsed time between the detected beams with a processor connected to the receiver that, in response to light beam detection by the detector, determines the elapsed time between the first and the second reflected light beams, and displaying to the person the elapsed time determined by the processor with a display connected to the processor.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
222 words
A method for displaying to a person moving on a course the elapsed time between two points on the course; the method comprising the steps of: placing a light beam reflector adjacent the course adjacent the first point on the course; placing a light beam reflector adjacent the course adjacent the second point on the course; attaching to a moving object including a person a transmitter that emits a light beam; positioning the transmitter such that the emitted light beam will strike a placed reflector when the moving object is on the course adjacent that reflector; positioning each light reflector such that a light beam received by the reflector from the transmitter will be reflected to the moving object; attaching a receiver having light beam detector means to the moving object such that the light beam detector detects the reflected light beam; moving the moving object along the course such that the reflected light beam is detected by the light detector on two separate occasions; determining the elapsed time between the detected beams with a processor connected to the receiver that, in response to light beam detection by the detector, determines the elapsed time between the first and the second reflected light beams, and displaying to the person the elapsed time determined by the processor with a display connected to the processor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the light beam is infrared.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the light beam is laser.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the light beam is pulsed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the display is a visual display.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7 further including the step of: storing the determined elapsed time for later use.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
217 words
A self timing system for displaying lap time to a person moving on a circuitous course; said system comprising; moving object means including a person for moving on a circuitous course; transmitter means attached to said moving object means for emitting a light beam such that said light beam strikes a reflector means adjacent the circuitous course when said moving object is on the circuitous course adjacent said reflector means; reflector means disposed adjacent the circuitous course for receiving said light beam emitted from said transmitter means and for reflecting said light beam back to a receiver means on said moving object; receiver means including light detector means attached to said moving object for detecting said reflected light beam from said reflector means and for outputting a detection signal in response thereto; processing means connected to said receiver means; said processing means for receiving a first said detection signal as said moving object is first adjacent said reflector means and, after a time delay, for receiving a second detection signal when said moving object is adjacent said reflector means, and for determining the elapsed time between said first and said second detected signal; and display means connected to said processing means for receiving said determined elapsed time and for displaying said determined elapsed time to said person.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
217 words
A self timing system for displaying lap time to a person moving on a circuitous course; said system comprising; moving object means including a person for moving on a circuitous course; transmitter means attached to said moving object means for emitting a light beam such that said light beam strikes a reflector means adjacent the circuitous course when said moving object is on the circuitous course adjacent said reflector means; reflector means disposed adjacent the circuitous course for receiving said light beam emitted from said transmitter means and for reflecting said light beam back to a receiver means on said moving object; receiver means including light detector means attached to said moving object for detecting said reflected light beam from said reflector means and for outputting a detection signal in response thereto; processing means connected to said receiver means; said processing means for receiving a first said detection signal as said moving object is first adjacent said reflector means and, after a time delay, for receiving a second detection signal when said moving object is adjacent said reflector means, and for determining the elapsed time between said first and said second detected signal; and display means connected to said processing means for receiving said determined elapsed time and for displaying said determined elapsed time to said person.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The self timer of claim 13 wherein said light beam is an infrared beam.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The self timer of claim 13 wherein said light beam is a laser.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The self timer of claim 13 wherein said light beam is a pulsed beam.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The self timer of claim 13 wherein said processing means includes a time delay lock out after receiving said first detection signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The self timer of claim 13 wherein said display is a visual display.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The self timer of claim 13 including storage means for storing the determined elapsed time for later retrieval.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
283 words
A self timing system for displaying to a person moving on a course the elapsed time between two points on the course; said system comprising; moving object means including a person for moving on a course; transmitter means attached to said moving object means for emitting a light beam such that said light beam strikes a reflector means adjacent the course when said moving object means is on the course adjacent a reflector means; first reflector means disposed adjacent the course adjacent the first point on the course for receiving said light beam emitted from said transmitter means when said moving object means is at said first point and for reflecting said light beam back to a receiver means on said moving object means; second reflector means disposed adjacent the course adjacent the second point on the course for receiving said light beam emitted from said transmitter means when said moving object means is at said second point and for reflecting said light beam back to a receiver means on said moving object means; receiver means including light detector means attached to said moving object means for outputting a detection signal in response to detecting said reflected light beam from said reflector means; processing means connected to said receiver means; said processing means for receiving a first said detection signal as said moving object is adjacent said first reflector means and for receiving a second detection signal when said moving object is adjacent said second reflector means, and for determining the elapsed time between said first and said second detected signals; and display means connected to said processing means for receiving said elapsed time and for displaying said elapsed time to said person.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
283 words
A self timing system for displaying to a person moving on a course the elapsed time between two points on the course; said system comprising; moving object means including a person for moving on a course; transmitter means attached to said moving object means for emitting a light beam such that said light beam strikes a reflector means adjacent the course when said moving object means is on the course adjacent a reflector means; first reflector means disposed adjacent the course adjacent the first point on the course for receiving said light beam emitted from said transmitter means when said moving object means is at said first point and for reflecting said light beam back to a receiver means on said moving object means; second reflector means disposed adjacent the course adjacent the second point on the course for receiving said light beam emitted from said transmitter means when said moving object means is at said second point and for reflecting said light beam back to a receiver means on said moving object means; receiver means including light detector means attached to said moving object means for outputting a detection signal in response to detecting said reflected light beam from said reflector means; processing means connected to said receiver means; said processing means for receiving a first said detection signal as said moving object is adjacent said first reflector means and for receiving a second detection signal when said moving object is adjacent said second reflector means, and for determining the elapsed time between said first and said second detected signals; and display means connected to said processing means for receiving said elapsed time and for displaying said elapsed time to said person.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The self timer of claim 20 wherein said light beam is an infrared beam.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The self timer of claim 20 wherein said light beam is a laser.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The self timer of claim 20 wherein said light beam is a pulsed beam.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The self timer of claim 20 wherein said processing means includes a time delay lock out after receiving said first detection signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The self timer of claim 20 wherein said display is a visual display.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The self timer of claim 20 including storage means for storing the determined elapsed time for later retrieval.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-08-11 | 1996-02-10 | 1996-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-11 | 2000-02-10 | 2000-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-11 | 2004-02-10 | 2004-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |