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US4449114A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

System for identifying and displaying data transmitted by way of unique identifying frequencies from multiple vehicles

Assignee: DATASPEED Corp A CORP OF
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Filing: 1982-03-26
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Granted: 1984-05-15
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Expires: 2002-03-26
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Abstract

Abstract A system for detecting the location and identification of a number of vehicles at multiple points on a given track against a time gauge which includes an on-board transmitter on each vehicle of a unique identifying frequency, spaced receiving circuit elements along the track at multiple points connected to individual transmitters to receive and modify the identifying signal and transmit the signal to a programmed computer for translating the multiple signals of the different unique identifying frequencies into signals ascertainable on a portable hand apparatus selectively to indicate the speed of any selected vehicles as in a race, and to keep track of position standings and lap times.

Inventors

  • 👤 Anthony C. Fascenda
  • 👤 Daniel L. Gregg
  • 👤 Rollin W. Ache

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 23:08
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H18/00; A63H18/005; G; G07; G07C; G07C1/00; G07C1/22; G07C1/24; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/28; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/123; G08G1/127

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 260 words
A system for detecting and indicating relative location and speed of a number of vehicles on a closed racetrack where each vehicle generates a unique radio frequency identification signal, said vehicle making a plurality of laps around said racetrack in a given race and also temporarily leaving and then re-entering said racetrack, said system comprising: a plurality of antennas on said track at spaced locations for sensing said signals as said vehicles pass; a first pair of antennas spaced relatively close together compared to the overall racetrack length to provide a speed trap; a second pair of antennas spaced significantly greater apart than said first pair and located relatively far from said first pair; common cable means for interconnecting all of said antennas for receiving said signals of various frequencies on a common transmission path; timing means connected to said cable means for recording elapsed times of vehicles between antenna locations having minimum valid times between said various antenna locations and having preset and different maximum times for the passage of a vehicle between said two antennas of said first pair and said antennas of said second pair, said maximum times being based on said antenna pair spacing and a minimum vehicle speed, said timing means including update means responsive to a vehicle not passing through one of said antenna pairs in said preset maximum time for said one antenna pair for updating the location of said vehicle to said other antenna pair, whereby the true location of said vehicle on said racetrack is established despite pitstops and/or mechanical difficulties.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 260 words
A system for detecting and indicating relative location and speed of a number of vehicles on a closed racetrack where each vehicle generates a unique radio frequency identification signal, said vehicle making a plurality of laps around said racetrack in a given race and also temporarily leaving and then re-entering said racetrack, said system comprising: a plurality of antennas on said track at spaced locations for sensing said signals as said vehicles pass; a first pair of antennas spaced relatively close together compared to the overall racetrack length to provide a speed trap; a second pair of antennas spaced significantly greater apart than said first pair and located relatively far from said first pair; common cable means for interconnecting all of said antennas for receiving said signals of various frequencies on a common transmission path; timing means connected to said cable means for recording elapsed times of vehicles between antenna locations having minimum valid times between said various antenna locations and having preset and different maximum times for the passage of a vehicle between said two antennas of said first pair and said antennas of said second pair, said maximum times being based on said antenna pair spacing and a minimum vehicle speed, said timing means including update means responsive to a vehicle not passing through one of said antenna pairs in said preset maximum time for said one antenna pair for updating the location of said vehicle to said other antenna pair, whereby the true location of said vehicle on said racetrack is established despite pitstops and/or mechanical difficulties.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 43 words
A system as in claim 1 where said timing means includes signal receiving means responsive only to signals above a predetermined threshold level and delay means for causing said timing means to ignore subsequent signals above said threshold for a predetermined delay time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 38 words
A system as in claim 1 where said second pair of antennas are spaced from each other at opposite ends of a corner on said racetrack to provide the time of passage of a vehicle around such corner.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
A system as in claim 1 including a hand-held portable receiver for selectively receiving the relative location and speed of said vehicles on said track.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
A system as in claim 1 where said first pair of antennas is on a straightaway of said racetrack to provide a maximum speed.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3546696A Cited
US3714649A Cited
US3795907A Cited
US3876980A Cited
US4048619A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-05-15 1987-11-14 1988-05-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-05-15 1991-11-14 1992-05-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-05-15 1995-11-14 1996-05-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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