EP1134006B1 - Device for detecting and signalling hits in fencing - Google Patents

Abstract

A system of hit detection and signaling for fencing, in particular for the epee, includes, for each adversary, an outfit completely conductive surface wise, a fencing conductive mask endowed with a luminous hit signaling device and a weapon, in particular an epee, a guard made of an isolating material or covered with an isolating material and whose tip at least is conductive, the outfit and the mask, and the tip of the weapon for each adversary being connected, separately, to a hit detection unit, appearing as a central detection and signaling unit to which they are wired or as a portable unit carried by each adversary also connected to the luminous signaling device and to the conductive soles of shoes worn by the appropriate adversary.

Description

The present invention relates to combat sports with weapons including fencing sports, and is aimed at detection and signaling of keys in fencing.

• détection d'une touche par simple fermeture de la tête de pointe avec des contraintes de durée,
• annulation de la touche au sol,
• annulation de la touche sur la coquille de l'adversaire,
• discrimination de touches : deux touches successives sont déclarées "simultanées" si elles sont détectées à moins de 50 ms d'intervalle.

Currently, a key detection system for the sword used in international fencing competitions must meet the following specifications:

• detection of a key by simply closing the tip head with time constraints,
• canceling the key on the ground,
• canceling the key on the shell of the opponent,
• Key discrimination: Two successive keys are declared "simultaneous" if they are detected within 50 ms of each other.

All these functions are perfectly realized with the current systems where the fencers and the track are permanently connected by wire to the central detection and signaling apparatus.

The major disadvantage of these existing systems is the need of a metal track.

The slab tracks used in all major Competitions are very expensive, cumbersome and require a tedious job installation. They are out of reach of most fencing clubs.

Such a system is shown in Figure 1 of the drawings annexed (the hatched areas represent the conductive surfaces).

In addition, several detection and signaling systems Wireless fencing keys have been developed in recent years. These systems are based in part or in full on the teachings techniques from documents FR-A-2 280 407 and FR-A-2 739 787.

The devices developed from the contents of these documents have the drawbacks described below, in particular for the sword which is the main weapon of fencing in terms of licensees and important.

Known devices based on document FR-A-2 280 407 use the capacitive coupling of the body with the earth. Each shooter is equipped with a portable radiofrequency transmission / reception system and two notebooks are loosely coupled, because each cell is connected directly to the shooter's body, itself coupled to the ground. Thus, aforementioned portable devices can dialogue after amplification of informative signals generated.

• Le couplage capacitif à travers le corps est une donnée très instable et impossible à quantifier. Il change en fonction du tireur et de la sueur. D'autre part, en sautant, le couplage diminue considérablement nécessitant un réglage différent de chaque dispositif.
• L'annulation de la touche au sol se fait par introduction d'une modulation très puissante dans la piste. L'efficacité de ce signal dépend du degré de couplage de la piste avec la terre. Si la piste est reliée à la terre, le signal ne passe pas. Si la piste est au sol, il faut dans certains cas une puissance énorme pour générer un signal suffisant. Dans tous les cas de figure, les simulations informatiques et l'expérience montrent que cette annulation de touche est aléatoire.
• L'annulation de la touche à la coquille est gravement perturbée dès lors que le corps du tireur est en contact avec sa propre arme, par un gant mouillé de sueur par exemple.
• L'utilisation de la radio est nécessaire afin de procéder à la discrimination de touches avec tous les problèmes que cela comporte : possibilité de perturbations à distance allant jusqu'au brouillage de la compétition etc... La radio est très mal adaptée au traitement de données en temps réel ainsi que l'ont démontré divers exemples de réalisation et de mises en oeuvre qui se sont tous soldés par des échecs.
• Même si tous les points précédents étaient parfaitement résolus, le système est tout de même affecté d'un inconvénient structurel de base : la connexion du système directement à la peau du tireur. En effet, compte tenu de cette disposition, le dispositif précité ne peut passer la moindre homologation médicale.

However, the disadvantages of these devices are numerous:

• Capacitive coupling across the body is very unstable and impossible to quantify. It changes depending on the shooter and the sweat. On the other hand, jumping, the coupling decreases considerably requiring a different setting of each device.
• The cancellation of the ground key is done by introducing a very powerful modulation in the track. The effectiveness of this signal depends on the degree of coupling of the track with the earth. If the track is grounded, the signal does not go through. If the track is on the ground, in some cases it takes a lot of power to generate a sufficient signal. In all cases, computer simulations and experience show that this key cancellation is random.
• The cancellation of the key to the shell is seriously disturbed when the body of the shooter is in contact with his own weapon, by a glove wet with sweat, for example.
• The use of the radio is necessary in order to proceed to the discrimination of keys with all the problems that this entails: possibility of disturbances at a distance up to the scrambling of the competition etc ... The radio is very badly adapted to the treatment of data in real time as demonstrated by various examples of implementation and implementations that have all ended in failure.
• Even if all the previous points were perfectly solved, the system is still affected by a basic structural disadvantage: the connection of the system directly to the shooter's skin. Indeed, given this provision, the aforementioned device can not pass any medical certification.

The device according to document FR-A-2 739 787 (and according to corresponding document EP-A-0 768 101) was developed to solve the most of the disadvantages and problems mentioned above with regard to the known device of the document FR-A-2 280 407.

In the device described in document FR-A-2 739 787, it there is no more direct coupling with the body and therefore the system is no longer interfering because the discrimination is made by signals transmitted in the track.

• nécessité de disposer d'une piste flottante obtenue par isolation ou placée sur un podium,
• délai possible entre le moment où l'escrimeur enregistre une touche et où il retombe par terre dans le cas d'une touche en sautant.

It nevertheless gives rise to the following disadvantages:

• need for a floating track obtained by insulation or placed on a podium,
• possible delay between the moment when the fencer registers a touch and when he falls to the ground in the case of a touch by jumping.

The present invention aims to overcome, if not all, the least the above-mentioned disadvantages and to propose a device can be easily implemented in a wired application free from the implementation of a conductive track and in a wireless application, with very reliable key detection.

For this purpose, the subject of the present invention is a device for detection and signaling of keys in fencing, including keys sword, characterized in that it is mainly constituted, for each adversary, on the one hand, by a suit with conductive properties throughout his surface, on the other hand, by a fencing mask conductor, provided, the case light signaling means and, finally, weapon, in particular a sword, having a shell of insulating material or covered with an insulating material, and whose tip is at least conductor, the outfit and the mask, on the one hand, and the tip at least the weapon, on the other hand, of each opponent, being separately connected to a key sensing unit, in the form of a device central detection and signaling to which they are connected by a link wired or in the form of a portable unit per adversary, also connected luminous signaling means and conductive soles footwear worn by the opponent concerned.

la figure 2 est une représentation schématique d'un dispositif selon l'invention dans une application avec liaison filaire ;

la figure 3 est une représentation schématique d'un dispositif selon l'invention dans une application avec liaison et transmission sans fil ;

la figure 4 est une vue schématique d'un pantalon et de chaussures à semelles conductrices faisant partie de la tenue conductrice conforme à l'invention ;

les figures 5A et 5B sont respectivement des vues en élévation latérale et frontale d'un masque faisant partie du dispositif selon l'invention ;

la figure 6 est une vue en élévation latérale d'une chaussure à semelle conductrice faisant partie du dispositif selon l'invention dans une application à liaison sans fil ;

la figure 7 est une représentation synoptique d'un module portable tel que représenté sur les figures 3 et 4, et,

la figure 8 est une représentation synoptique d'un appareil central de signalisation en relation avec une application à liaison sans fil tel que représentée à la figure 3.

The invention will be better understood, thanks to the following description, which refers to preferred embodiments, given by way of nonlimiting examples, and explained with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a device according to the invention in a wired application;

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a device according to the invention in an application with wireless connection and transmission;

Figure 4 is a schematic view of a pair of trousers and shoes with conductive soles forming part of the conductive clothing according to the invention;

Figures 5A and 5B are respectively side elevational and front views of a mask forming part of the device according to the invention;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a conductive sole shoe forming part of the device according to the invention in a wireless link application;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a portable module as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a central signaling apparatus in connection with a wireless link application as shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in particular in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings appended, the device for detecting and signaling keys is mainly constituted, for each opponent 5, 5 ', on the one hand, by a holding 1, 1 ', 1' ', 1 "' with conductive properties over its entire surface, on the other hand, by a fencing mask 2 driver, provided, where appropriate, means bright 3, 3 'signaling keys and finally by a weapon 4, including a sword, having a shell 4 'of insulating material or covered with an insulating material, and whose tip 4 "at least is conductor, holding 1, 1 ', 1 ", 1' '' and the mask 2, on the one hand, and the tip 4" at least of the weapon 4, on the other hand, of each opponent 5, 5 ', being connected, separately, to a key detecting unit 6 or 7, presenting itself under the form of a central detection and signaling apparatus 6 to which they are connected by a wired link 8 or in the form of a portable unit 7 by opponent 5, 5 ', also connected to the signaling light means 3, 3 'and conductive soles 9' of footwear 9 worn by the opponent 5 or 5 'concerned.

The principle underlying the present invention consists of therefore propose a new concept of key sensing, which leads, especially in the case of the sword, to reverse the problematic at key detection.

The technical translation of this concept in the context of the invention is concretized by the use of an outfit entirely driver by the shooter. This outfit is either made by elements drivers (jackets, trousers) that go over the current outfit, either at using an outfit made with a fabric containing fiber or woven into part with conductive thread, or by treatment of an existing outfit by impregnation, vaporization or any other form of depositing a material driver.

The conductive mask 2 is borrowed from the discipline of the sword as well as the fully conductive glove.

With this outfit, the problem is no longer the cancellation of a touching the shell 4 'or on the track 11, but the detection of a key on the conductive surface of the shooter.

The implementation of a conductive track 11 in the application wired connection of the invention thus becomes superfluous, which allows a practice of fencing at a significantly decreased cost and facilitates the organization of competitions. In addition, in the presence of a wired link, the mask 2 may possibly be devoid of signaling means 3, 3 '.

Although the invention is described in this particularly in connection with the sword, the skilled person will understand it can be easily applied, with minor modifications dictated by the specific regulations of the practice of others disciplines of fencing, to other sports with white weapons, and the case appropriate, even martial arts.

Thus, the holding 1, 1 ', 1 ", 1"' may include surfaces corresponding to the surfaces taken into account for the validation keys depending on the weapon 4 concerned, the possible different parts 1, 1 ', 1 ", 1' '' of said holding, as well as the mask 2, being connected electrically to each other and to the corresponding unit 6 or 7.

The illuminating means 3, 3 'for signaling the keys mask 2, which in the application to wireless radio link is the indication determinant for the validation of a key, may consist of electroluminescent means in several parts or in several portions 3 and 3 ', such as electroluminescent fabric panels or diode arrays electroluminescent, arranged on the front face and the two lateral faces said mask 2, outside the normal field of view of the carrier of said mask 2 (FIGS. 5A and 5B).

According to a characteristic of the invention, represented in particular in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 of the accompanying drawings, the soles 9 ', which are only necessary in the non-bonded application wire, can be connected to the portable 7-key sensing unit corresponding by connection lines 10 based on yarn or fabric insulated conductor, solidarized or integrated into the structure of the pants 1 part of the uniform worn by the opponent 5, 5 'concerned, the articles footwear or shoes 9 comprising the aforementioned soles 9 ', where applicable, electrically insulated conductive surface 9 "rods said flanges 9 ', for example by a circumferential band 9 "' in one flexible insulating material.

The connection lines 10 may, for example, be consisting of a strip of conductive fabric sandwiched between two insulating and waterproof layers forming a sleeve. These composite tapes can be secured in a removable manner on the pants 1 (by example by Velcro ribbons - registered name) and be linked electrically to the soles 9 'by snaps (fabric connection driver / insoles).

The soles 9 'may, for example, be constituted as described in document FR-A-2 739 787 cited above.

To have a common mass that makes the operation of the portable detection unit 7, the device will include preferentially, in its wireless link application, a track 11 in one material or with a conductive surface coating, for a practical without wire connection.

However, the natural grounding of both opponents 5, 5 ' (contact with the ground) may also be sufficient to ensure a good operation of the device according to the invention, especially when only a radio transmission is necessary or desired, the only condition being that said conductive soles 9 'can provide a reference to the units 7 portable detection.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention shown in particular in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7 of the accompanying drawings, each portable detection unit 7 is advantageously integrated in a module 12 comprising, mounted in a housing 12 'attached to the holding, for example received in a pocket 12 "adapted from the pants 1 of the opponent 5, 5 ' considered, a microprocessor 13, a serial communication bus 14, a accumulator 15, a connection socket 16 of a connecting wire 16 'connected to the 4 "point of the weapon 4, a connection socket 17 of a connected 17 'wire the electroluminescent signaling means 3, 3 'of the mask 2, a connection socket 18 of a connecting wire 18 'connected to the holding, and a circuit 19 transmission of radio frequency signals at an authorized frequency, by via a transmitting / receiving antenna 19 'or by intermediate conductive soles 9 'and a conductive track 11.

In the wireless link application, the device according to the invention may also comprise a central signaling apparatus 6 ', located for example next to the fencing track 11, comprising a unit with microprocessor 20 connected by a serial bus 21 to signal lamps 22, to a digital display 23, to a display screen 23 ', for example to liquid crystal, a programming keyboard and a circuit 24 of transmission and reception of radiofrequency signals at frequencies of modules 12 worn by the two opponents 5, 5 ', associated with one or more adapted antennas 24 '.

The operation and realization of modules 12 and Apparatuses 6 and 6 'can be easily derived by those skilled in the art from lessons disclosed in the aforementioned documents.

However, there is a particularity in the context of the wireless link application of the present invention, namely that the Portable Key Detection Units 7 Real-Time Blocking of the opposing key after the duration of the fencing time after detecting a touch.

In the application of the invention to link and transmission without wire, the communication between the portable units 7 or between a portable unit 7 and the central unit 6 'can be established according to different modes, namely, a transmission by radio only, transmission through the flanges 9 'in contact with the conductive track 11 and connected to the units 7 by connection lines 10 (by implementing the provisions described in document FR-A-2 739 787) or a mixed transmission combining the two previous modes.

To further facilitate understanding of the invention in its embodiment wireless radio link, hereinafter briefly described its mode of operation in use (in connection with Figure 3).

Key detection is done as described in the document FR-A-2,280,407 cited above by sending a signal through the tip on the jacket of the opponent.

When the dress detects the key, the light signal in the mask on the side touched. The gun of the shooter hit is disabled in the fencing time allowing a perfect double time management real without the use of radio transmission.

The cancellation of the key to the shell or the track no longer problems since these surfaces are no longer active (the track serves only reference).

The radio transmission is used only to activate the repeaters outside the track.

In case of jamming, the local lamp is authentic, making the device impervious to the problems of the radio transmission.

The device according to the invention will work perfectly with a conductive track, but it can be used to train without a track implementing the system described in FR-A-2,280,407 with a difference in size however, since there is no direct contact with the skin. The reference is always the sole of the shoe that is coupled naturally to the earth.

The extension of this system to other weapons is natural since the sword already has a metallic jacket and it should be even in the future in foil with the announced removal of the key invalid.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the modes of embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substituting technical equivalents, without going out for as much of the field of protection of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. Device for detecting and signalling hits in fencing, in particular epee hits, characterised in that it consists mainly, for each adversary (5, 5'), on the one hand, of an outfit (1, 1', 1", 1''') having conductive properties over all of its surface, on the other hand, of a conductive fencing mask (2), optionally provided with luminous hit signalling means (3, 3'), and, finally, of a weapon (4), in particular an epee, comprising a guard (4') made of an insulating material or covered with an insulating material and of which at least the tip (4") is conductive, the outfit (1, 1', 1", 1''') and the mask (2), on the one hand, and at least the tip of the weapon (4"), on the other hand, for each adversary (5, 5'), being connected, separately, to a hit detection unit (6 or 7) in the form of a central detection and signalling unit (6) to which they are connected by a wire connection (8), or in the form of a portable unit (7) carried by each adversary (5, 5'), also connected to the luminous signalling means (3, 3') and to the conductive soles (9') of footwear (9) worn by the relevant adversary (5, 5').
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that each outfit (1, 1', 1", 1''') comprises conductive surfaces corresponding to the surfaces taken into account for hit validation as a function of the relevant weapon (4), the optionally different parts (1, 1', 1", 1''') of said outfit, as well as the mask (2), being electrically connected to one another and to the corresponding unit (6 or 7).
3. Device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the luminous signalling means (3, 3') of the mask (2) consist of electroluminescent means in a plurality of parts or in a plurality of portions (3, 3'), such as pieces of electroluminescent cloth or electroluminescent diode matrices arranged on the front face and the two lateral faces of said mask (2), outside of the normal field of vision of the person wearing said mask (2).
4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the conductive soles (9') are connected to the corresponding portable hit detection unit (7) by connection lines (10) based on wire or insulated conductive cloth, joined or integrated to the structure of the trousers (1) that are part of the outfit worn by the relevant adversary (5,5'), the footwear or shoes (9) comprising the aforementioned soles (9') optionally having tops (9") that have a conductive surface and are electrically insulated from said soles (9'), for example by a circumferential band (9''') made of a pliable insulating material.
5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that it comprises a strip (11) made of a conductive material or having a conductive surface coating for implementation without the wire connection.
6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that each portable detection unit (7) is integrated into a module (12) comprising, in a box (12') attached to the outfit, for example received in a suitable pocket (12") in the trousers (1) of the relevant adversary (5, 5'), a microprocessor (13), a serial communication bus (14), an accumulator (15), a connector (16) for a connecting wire (16') connected to the tip (4") of the weapon (4), a connector (17) for a connecting wire (17') connected to the electroluminescent signalling means (3, 3') of the mask (2), a connector (18) for a connecting wire (18') connected to the outfit, and a circuit (19) for transmitting radiofrequency signals at an authorised frequency via a receiver/transmitter antenna (19') or via the conductive soles (9') and a conductive strip (11).
7. Device according to claim 6, characterised in that it also comprises a central signalling unit (6), located, for example, next to the fencing strip (11), comprising a microprocessor unit (20) connected by a serial bus (21) to signal lamps (22), a digital display (23), an display screen (23'), for example an LCD screen, a programming keyboard and a circuit (24) for transmitting and receiving radiofrequency signals at the frequencies of the portable modules (12) carried by the two adversaries (5, 5'), which circuit is associated with an adapted antenna or antennas (24').
8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the portable hit detection units (7) implement a real-time hit blocking of the opponent's hit after the fencing time once a hit has been detected.

Images