US3676696A - Time measuring system for swimming competitions - Google Patents

Time measuring system for swimming competitions Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3676696A
US3676696A US98361A US3676696DA US3676696A US 3676696 A US3676696 A US 3676696A US 98361 A US98361 A US 98361A US 3676696D A US3676696D A US 3676696DA US 3676696 A US3676696 A US 3676696A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
plate
transducer
signal
touching
producing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US98361A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Francois J Leu
Peter M Tosin
Ernst Werner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Omega Louis Brandt and Frere SA
Original Assignee
Omega Louis Brandt and Frere SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Omega Louis Brandt and Frere SA filed Critical Omega Louis Brandt and Frere SA
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3676696A publication Critical patent/US3676696A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04F—TIME-INTERVAL MEASURING
    • G04F8/00—Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by electromechanical means
    • G04F8/08—Means used apart from the time-piece for starting or stopping same

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a time measuring system for swimming competitions, comprising a plate fixed at the wall of the swimming pool and means for producing an electric signal upon touching of said plate.
  • Prior systems of this kind include a plate or mat which may locally be deformed by pressure acting thereon, a system of elements responsive to local pressure being accommodated in or on this plate. These elements are either tubes wherein pressure pulses acting onto a pneumo-electric relay are produced when pressure acts against the plate, or such elements are pressure-responsive contact cables wherein conductors are urged against each other when local pressure is excerted onto the plate. A control circuit for a time counter is closed either by said pneumo-electric relay or by said contact cables and the time counter is stopped when a competitor touches the plate. All prior systems are relatively complicated and expensive and they require continuous maintenance. Pneumatic systems are also slow in operation.
  • This invention is based on the idea not to make use of a local deformation of a plate or mat for acting onto pressure responsive elements, but to pic up the vibrations of relatively high frequency occuring in the plate or the displacement of the whole plate when the same is touched by a competitor.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view of the plate
  • FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the plate and FIG. 3 is a horizontal section through a lateral support for the plate.
  • a lower supporting rail 2 is fixed at the finishing wall 1 of a swimming pool.
  • a metal plate having a thickness of 1-2 mm is supported on the rail 2 by means of an insert 3 of elastical material such that the plate 5 may easily swing towards and away from the wall on which it is fixed.
  • the plate is perforated on the areas 4 surrounded by dash-dotted lines. Near its upper end the plate 5 engages grooves 6 of two lateral supports 7 fixed to the finishing wall.
  • Each support 7 has a base plate 8 and a transducer casing 9.
  • a piezo-electric transducer 11 is accommodated in the chamber of casing 9.
  • a transducer crystal of the bending type is used of which the one end is fixed on a block while the free end carries a feeler pin 12.
  • the feeler 12 is guided in a sleeve and has a feeler head 13 at its outer end.
  • An elastic membrane 14 connected to the transducer casing is spanned over the feeler head 13.
  • the rim of plate 5 engaging groove 6 is maintained in touch with the membrane 14 by means of a spring-loaded head 15.
  • the output conductors of the transducer crystal are lead through a water-proof sealing of the transducer casing.
  • the conductors are connected to a control circuit (not shown) responsive to signals of a level above a predetermined threshold for stopping a time counter in a manner well known per se.
  • a difierentiating circuit or high-pass filter may be connected into the canal transmitting the signals from the transducers to the control circuit in order to emphasize the components of higher frequency of the signals.
  • the transducer 11 Due to the pressure excerted by the head 15 and by the waves in the basin onto the plate 5, the transducer 11 produces a base signal.
  • the threshold of the control circuit is so adjusted that t is well above the level of said base signal so that the circuit cannot respond to the base signal.
  • substantial pressure changes are transmitted to the transducer 11. Usually the pressure will first diminue. This causes a sudden and marked change of the signal produced by the transducer whereby the control circuit is operated and stops the time counter.
  • the high simplicity of the device resides in the use of a simple metal plate without any measuring elements attached to the plate itself.
  • the plate may be inserted into its supports and removed therefrom in an extremely simple manner. Trouble may only occur with the transducers which are above the water level and are thus always easily accessible for maintenance and repair.
  • Modified embodiments are feasible.
  • other active transducers such as electromagnetic or electrodynamic transducers may be used.
  • Passive transducers such as field plates (Hall elements) may be used.
  • the transducers may be located in other places, and more than two transducers may be provided. However, a single properly located transducer may be sufficient in some cases.
  • a time measuring system for swimming competitions comprising a plate to be attached to a wall of a swimming pool, means for producing an electric signal upon touching of said plate, a time counter adapted to be controlled by said signal, at least one contact-free electromechanical transducer operable for producing said electric signal upon touching of the plate, said transducer having feeler means and said plate engaging without clearance between said feeler means and an elastic supporting portion.
  • a time measuring system for swimming competitions comprising a plate to be attached to a wall of a swimming pool, means for producing an electric signal upon touching of said plate, a time counter adapted to be controlled by said signal, at least one contact-free electro-mechanical transducer operable for producing said electric signal upon touching of the plate, wherein said plate is substantially stiff and is supported by a plurality of supports, said transducers being inserted between said plate and portions of said supports at the outer side of said plate opposite said wall of the swimming pool.
  • a time measuring system for swimming competitions comprising a plate to be attached to a wall of a swimming pool, means for producing an electric signal upon touching of said plate, a time counter adapted to be controlled by said signal, at least one contact-free electromechanical transducer operable for producing said electric signal upon touching of the plate, said transducer having a feeler and said plate engaging without clearance between said feeler and an elastic supporting portion, wherein said elastic supporting portion is placed between said plate and the adjacent wall of the swimming pool.
  • transducer is accommodated in a casing sealed at one side by a membrane disposed between a feeler of said transducer and said plate.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Unknown Time Intervals (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
US98361A 1969-12-23 1970-12-15 Time measuring system for swimming competitions Expired - Lifetime US3676696A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH1907669A CH506835A (de) 1969-12-23 1969-12-23 Zeitmesseinrichtung für Wettschwimmen

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3676696A true US3676696A (en) 1972-07-11

Family

ID=4437202

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US98361A Expired - Lifetime US3676696A (en) 1969-12-23 1970-12-15 Time measuring system for swimming competitions

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US3676696A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS4842989B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH506835A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5152876A (en) * 1974-08-16 1976-05-10 Montoru Ronjin Furanshon Sa Co Kyoeishano goorutaimusokuteisochi
US4117283A (en) * 1976-10-14 1978-09-26 Societe Suisse Pour L'industrie Horlogere Management Services, S.A. Swimming pool touch pad construction
US4292696A (en) * 1979-08-30 1981-10-06 Annesberg Associates N.V. Swimmer arrival signal panels incorporated in a swimming pool bulkhead
US4475016A (en) * 1982-09-21 1984-10-02 Annesberg Associates N.V. Swimmer arrival signal panel
US4700369A (en) * 1986-01-28 1987-10-13 Joseph Siegal Athletic activities counter
US5285428A (en) * 1991-11-15 1994-02-08 Eric Rosow Swimmer's lap counter
EP3223429A1 (fr) * 2016-03-24 2017-09-27 The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd. Capteur de force, notamment pour une plaque de touche

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3090226A (en) * 1955-02-16 1963-05-21 Ulrich A Corti Motion measuring apparatus
US3230325A (en) * 1961-10-06 1966-01-18 William C Parkinson Pressure responsive switch
US3263168A (en) * 1962-10-05 1966-07-26 Wilhelm J Hanhart Stopping device for a time measuring apparatus, particularly for swimming races
US3544989A (en) * 1967-02-20 1970-12-01 William T Maccreadie Judging system for competitive swimming activities
US3584169A (en) * 1968-03-22 1971-06-08 Omega Brandt & Freres Sa Louis Finishing-contact system for swimming competitions

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS441744Y1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1966-06-07 1969-01-23

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3090226A (en) * 1955-02-16 1963-05-21 Ulrich A Corti Motion measuring apparatus
US3230325A (en) * 1961-10-06 1966-01-18 William C Parkinson Pressure responsive switch
US3263168A (en) * 1962-10-05 1966-07-26 Wilhelm J Hanhart Stopping device for a time measuring apparatus, particularly for swimming races
US3544989A (en) * 1967-02-20 1970-12-01 William T Maccreadie Judging system for competitive swimming activities
US3584169A (en) * 1968-03-22 1971-06-08 Omega Brandt & Freres Sa Louis Finishing-contact system for swimming competitions

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5152876A (en) * 1974-08-16 1976-05-10 Montoru Ronjin Furanshon Sa Co Kyoeishano goorutaimusokuteisochi
US4117283A (en) * 1976-10-14 1978-09-26 Societe Suisse Pour L'industrie Horlogere Management Services, S.A. Swimming pool touch pad construction
US4292696A (en) * 1979-08-30 1981-10-06 Annesberg Associates N.V. Swimmer arrival signal panels incorporated in a swimming pool bulkhead
US4475016A (en) * 1982-09-21 1984-10-02 Annesberg Associates N.V. Swimmer arrival signal panel
US4700369A (en) * 1986-01-28 1987-10-13 Joseph Siegal Athletic activities counter
US5285428A (en) * 1991-11-15 1994-02-08 Eric Rosow Swimmer's lap counter
EP3223429A1 (fr) * 2016-03-24 2017-09-27 The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd. Capteur de force, notamment pour une plaque de touche
WO2017162352A1 (fr) * 2016-03-24 2017-09-28 The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd Capteur de force, notamment pour une plaque de touche
CN109075786A (zh) * 2016-03-24 2018-12-21 斯沃奇集团研究和开发有限公司 尤其用于触摸垫的力传感器
US11190184B2 (en) 2016-03-24 2021-11-30 The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd Force sensor, particularly for a touch pad

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2060906A1 (de) 1971-07-15
CH506835A (de) 1971-04-30
JPS4842989B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-12-15
DE2060906B2 (de) 1973-02-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3676696A (en) Time measuring system for swimming competitions
US4644100A (en) Surface acoustic wave touch panel system
BE770893Q (fr) Diaphragme plat destine aux transducteurs de sons et procede defabrication d'un tel diaphragme
US3692936A (en) Acoustic coordinate data determination system
CN102301318A (zh) 带有触摸保持功能的触摸感应装置和相应的方法
CA1152604A (en) Two coordinate position sensing systems
US3631271A (en) Burglar alarm switch
CH636494GA3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
ES8207360A1 (es) Procedimiento de vigilancia acustica de una instalacion in- dustrial
CH638364GA3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB2170008A (en) Vibration detecting device
US3754225A (en) Portable equipment security system
JPS5569158A (en) Operation checking system of detector of copying machine
US3225535A (en) Time keeping apparatus possessing sounding alarms
NO153785C (no) Anordning for bestemmelse av mottagningstidspunktet for en akustisk impuls i en transduser.
GB1111145A (en) Improvements in or relating to indicating and/or measuring devices
JPS5357022A (en) Movable coil acoustic transducer vibrator plate
Broadbent Precautions on experiments on noise.
SE9801247D0 (sv) Mätutrustning
JPS5746187A (en) Electronic watch with timer
US2009460A (en) Means for measuring depths or distances
JPS5690286A (en) Electronic clock with melody function
CA2037977A1 (en) Display control apparatus enabling clear display of operation performance of an arithmetic processor
GB1152355A (en) Discontinuity Sensing Apparatus
FR2404850A1 (fr) Appareil pour la detection du seuil de cavitation