EP0813125A2

EP0813125A2 - Timing device

Info

Publication number: EP0813125A2
Application number: EP97304103A
Authority: EP
Inventors: William Forsythe; Oliver Benjamin King
Original assignee: Loughborough University; Loughborough University Innovations Ltd
Current assignee: Loughborough University; Loughborough University Innovations Ltd
Priority date: 1996-06-15
Filing date: 1997-06-12
Publication date: 1997-12-17
Also published as: EP0813125A3; GB9612586D0

Abstract

There is disclosed a timing device comprising:-

memory means adapted to store information corresponding to a sequence of time intervals between a start time and a finish time;
an output device;
memory recall means adapted to operate said output device at intervals corresponding to said sequence from a restart time.

Description

This invention relates to timing devices more particularly, though not restricted to, timing devices for use in athletics training.
It would be desirable, according to development in athletics training concepts, to enable athletes in training to assess their performance by comparison to previous performances of the same tasks or training routines or against trainer-set norms, but, short of manual attention using a stop-watch and log book - problematical if not completely infeasible in connection with some athletics disciplines, such as cross-country running - there is no equipment available to facilitate such assessment.
The present invention provides such equipment.
The invention comprises a timing device comprising:-

The timing device may further comprise memory store means comprising an input device operable at a start time and at the end of each time interval of a sequence of time intervals up to a finish time to store said information in said memory means.
Said input device may comprise a push button switch. The output device may comprise an audible signal device.
The timing device may further comprise a mode selection control operable to select an operational mode of the timing device. The timing device may have a "memory store" operational mode and a "memory recall" operational mode and the mode selection control may be operative to select one of said operational modes for the timing device. The timing device may also have a quiescent mode selectable by said mode selection control. It may be arranged that the timing device automatically enters the quiescent mode upon termination of operations in another mode or modes.
The memory means may be adapted to store information corresponding to a plurality of sequences of time intervals. Said mode selection control may be operable to select which of said plurality of sequences is recalled. Said output device may output an identity signal identifying which of said plurality of sequences is operative.
Said mode selection control may comprise a push button switch.
Said output device may output an identity signal identifying the current operational mode of the timing device.
The timing device may have a program load arrangement by which a predetermined sequence of time intervals may be loaded into the memory means, and may have a program download arrangement by which a sequence of time intervals can be downloaded into an auxiliary device from said memory means.
The timing device can be comprised as an athletics training aid in a miniature clip-on case. It may comprise a pause control operable to suspend the timing operation of the device for a desired period.
One embodiment of a timing device according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic circuit;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of an athletics training aid based on the circuit of Figure 1; and
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a cross-country course on which the timing device can be used.

The drawings illustrate a timing device 11 comprising memory means 12, configured in RAM, adapted to store information corresponding to a sequence of time intervals between a start time and a finish time.
The timing device 11 also comprises an output device 13 such as an audible signal device for example a piezo-electric sounder and memory recall means - a multifunction push button R operating a microprocessor 14 - adapted to operate the output device 13 at intervals corresponding to the said sequence of time intervals from a restart time.
The timing device 11 also comprises memory store means - again the multifunction push button R operating the microprocessor 14 in a different operational mode - comprising an input device (the push button R) operable at a start time and at the end of each time interval of a sequence of time intervals up to a finish time to store said information in said memory means 12.
Figure 2 shows how the timing device can be comprised in a small, matchbox-size case 21 apertured at 22 for the sounder 13 and with the push button R and another push button B whose function will be explained presently, with a clip for attachment e.g. to a garment, or it might have a wrist strap or other convenient means of attachment.
The timing device might be used for training purposes on a cross-country track as shown in Figure 3. The track has various landmarks such as a church, trees, bridges, gates, inns and so forth.
In use, with the timing device 11 in a suitable operational mode, as will be described presently, the button R is pressed until the sounder 13 emits a short tone, under the control of the microprocessor 14, and then released. This sets a timer running in the microprocessor 14. The user sets off around the track pressing the button R momentarily at each landmark which causes the microprocessor to store in the memory device 12 a sequence of time intervals t₁, t₂ etc corresponding to the times at which the button R was pressed. At the finish of the run (time t₈) the button R is depressed until the microprocessor causes the sounder 13 to emit another short tone.
The user now has a recallable record of the time of passing each landmark after the start of a run on this particular cross-country course. The timing device can be instructed now to replay short tones at that precise sequence of time intervals. If this is done during a second run around the course, the user will have a guide as to whether the second run is ahead of or behind the schedule set by the first run.
The memory means 12 may be configured to store more than one sequence of time intervals. A cross-country runner may wish to train on more that one cross-country course, or two athletes may wish to share one device. Typically, the memory means 13 can be configured to store up to four different sequences, and each sequence may comprise up to 128 time intervals.
As indicated, the timing device has different operational modes. These are selectable by the button R and a second push button B which essentially causes the microprocessor to step through the various modes. Which mode the timing device 11 has entered is indicated by an identifying signal from the sounder 13.
Thus a quiescent, or "sleep" mode, in which it is inactive for lowest battery current drain from the power source 15 (a small watch type battery) is automatically entered after a memory store or replay procedure has been completed, or whenever the button R is held down until the quiescent state is entered, is indicated, say, by a three triplet sequence of tones.
A program select mode is initiated by pressing button B while the device 11 is in the quiescent mode. The response from the sounder 13 will be one, two, three or four brief tones, perhaps of different frequency, indicating whether sequence 1, 2, 3 or 4 is selected - the sequences can be stepped through by repeated operation of button B, within, say, three seconds of the sequence - identifying tone. Pressing button B after that three seconds gap will simply repeat the previous sequence identity signal.
Replay mode for the selected sequence is entered by momentarily pressing button R. Memory store mode - in which the sequence recorded, if any, in the identified sequence area of the memory means 12 is overwritten - is entered by pressing button R and holding it for one second until the start tone is heard as described above.
Once into a memory store mode or a replay mode, pressing button B will suspend timing and pressing button B again will restart timing - this will enable the user to pause during a run, for example to wait for road traffic to pass.
Programming for the above operations is carried in ROM 16.
In addition to manual input of a sequence as described, the memory means 12 is accessed via the microprocessor 14 and suitable porting to load a predetermined sequence from an auxiliary device A, and, in the same fashion, a sequence already stored can be downloaded into the auxiliary. This enables a predetermined training program to be decided by the athlete's trainer. The sequence may correspond, in this case, for example to jog/sprint intervals. Downloading for analysis by a trainer, for example, can give a measure of an athlete's progress through training and enable the trainer to specify a modified sequence for the athlete.
The uses to which the timing device may be put are many and varied even within the area of athletics training. The device can of course be configured differently for different purposes - more operational modes can be provided for, the audible signal could be replaced or augmented by a visual signal or a low-frequency vibrator for skin-contact signals and so on, all without departing from the broad concepts as described above.
The auxiliary device A could of course be a computer which might be remote and accessed by means of a data link, or, it might be a solid state disc that plugs directly into the device 11.

Claims

A timing device comprising:-
memory means adapted to store information corresponding to a sequence of time intervals between a start time and a finish time;

an output device;

memory recall means adapted to operate said output device at intervals corresponding to said sequence from a restart time.
A timing device according to claim 1, further comprising memory store means comprising an input device operable at a start time and at the end of each time interval of a sequence of time intervals up to a finish time to store said information in said memory means.
A timing device according to claim 2, in which said input device comprises a push button switch.
A timing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which said output device comprises an audible signal device.
A timing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a mode selection control operable to select an operational mode of the timing device.
A timing device according to claim 5, having a "memory store" operational mode and a "memory recall" operational mode and the mode selection control being operative to select one of said operational modes for the timing device.
A timing device according to claim 6, having a quiescent mode selectable by said mode selection control.
A timing device according to claim 6 or claim 7, of which the memory means are adapted to store information corresponding to a plurality of sequences of time intervals.
A timing device according to claim 8, in which said more selection control is operable to select which of said plurality of sequences is recalled.
A timing device according to claim 8 or claim 9, of which said output device outputs an identity signal identifying which of said plurality of sequences is operative.
A timing device according to any one of claims 5 to 10, in which said mode selection control comprises a push button.
A timing device according to any one of claims 5 to 12, of which said output device outputs an identity signal identifying the current operational mode of the timing device.
A timing device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, having a program load arrangement by which a predetermined sequence of time intervals may be loaded into the memory means.
A timing device according to any one claims 1 to 13, having a program download arrangement by which a sequence of time intervals can be downloaded into an auxiliary device from said memory means.
A timing device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, comprised as an athletics training aid in a miniature clip-on case.
A timing device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, comprising a pause control operable to suspend the timing operation of the device for a desired period.