Method and apparatus for automatic lap counting

Claim 1

A device which allows an individual in a recurring event to automatically count the number of times that said person passes within range of a stationary point on a recurring event path such that each pass by said person is counted as one event, said device comprising: a receiver having means for attaching said receiver to a person, said receiver further having photoelectric detector means for detecting an infrared light beam and means for counting discrete detection signals; an infrared light beam transmitter for placement at said stationary point, said infrared light beam transmitter having means for pulse encoding an infrared light beam; and in association with said receiver, time-delay, lock-out means for locking out detection of said infrared light beam for a predetermined interval after said signal can no longer be detected by said receiver.

Claim 2

A device which allows an individual in a recurring event to automatically count the number of times that said person passes within range of a stationary point on a recurring event path such that each pass by said person is counted as one event, said device comprising: a receiver having means for attaching said receiver to a person, said receiver further having photoelectric detector means for detecting an infrared light beam and means for counting discrete detection signals; an infrared light beam transmitter for placement at said stationary point, said infrared light beam transmitter having means for pulse encoding an infrared light beam; and in association with said receiver, time-delay, lock-out means for locking out detection of said infrared light beam for a predetermined interval after said signal can no longer be detected by said receiver.

Claim 7

A method for an individual in a recurring event activity to automatically count the number of times that said individual passes within range of a stationary point on a recurring event path such that each pass by said individual is counted as one event, said method comprising the steps of: attaching a receiver to said individual, said receiver having photoelectric detector means for detecting an infrared light beam; placing an infrared light beam transmitter at said stationary point by which said individual to which said receiver is attached passes with said range; positioning said transmitter such that said transmitted infrared light beam is directed to form a zone of detection which extends from said transmitter at least as far as said range, said transmitted infrared light beam having an intensity within said zone of detection sufficient to be detected by said receiver once said receiver is spaced from said transmitter within said range; periodically passing said individual and said attached receiver within said range of said transmitter and through said zone of detection; sensing the presence of said infrared light beam as said individual having said attached receiver passes within said zone of detection by detecting said infrared light with said photoelectric means to produce a discrete detection signal each time said individual passes through said one of detection; determining the number of separate events that said detector has been sensed within said one of detection by counting said discrete detection signals with a counting means in association with said receiver; and displaying the number of separate events countered by said counting means with a display means.

Claim 8

A method for an individual in a recurring event activity to automatically count the number of times that said individual passes within range of a stationary point on a recurring event path such that each pass by said individual is counted as one event, said method comprising the steps of: attaching a receiver to said individual, said receiver having photoelectric detector means for detecting an infrared light beam; placing an infrared light beam transmitter at said stationary point by which said individual to which said receiver is attached passes with said range; positioning said transmitter such that said transmitted infrared light beam is directed to form a zone of detection which extends from said transmitter at least as far as said range, said transmitted infrared light beam having an intensity within said zone of detection sufficient to be detected by said receiver once said receiver is spaced from said transmitter within said range; periodically passing said individual and said attached receiver within said range of said transmitter and through said zone of detection; sensing the presence of said infrared light beam as said individual having said attached receiver passes within said zone of detection by detecting said infrared light with said photoelectric means to produce a discrete detection signal each time said individual passes through said one of detection; determining the number of separate events that said detector has been sensed within said one of detection by counting said discrete detection signals with a counting means in association with said receiver; and displaying the number of separate events countered by said counting means with a display means.

Claim 12

A method for an individual in a recurring event activity to automatically count the number of times that said individual passes within a range of a stationary point on a recurring event path such that each pass by said individual is counted as one event, said method method comprising the steps of: attaching an infrared light beam transmitter to said individual; placing a receiver at said stationary point by which said individual to which said transmitter is attached passes within said range, said receiver having photoelectric detector means for detecting an infrared light beam; positioning said receiver such that said receiver is directed to a zone which extends from said receiver at least as far as said range, said transmitted infrared light beam having an intensity within said zone sufficient to be detected by said receiver once said transmitter is spaced from said receiver within said range; periodically passing said individual and said attached transmitter within said range of said receiver and through said zone; sensing the presence of said infrared light beam as said individual having said attached transmitter passes within said zone by detecting said infrared light with said photoelectric detector means to produce a discrete detection signal each time said individual passes through said zone; determining the number of separate events that said transmitter has been sensed within said zone by counting said discrete detection signals with a counting means in association with said receiver; and displaying the number of separate events counted by said counting means with a display means.

Claim 13

A method for an individual in a recurring event activity to automatically count the number of times that said individual passes within a range of a stationary point on a recurring event path such that each pass by said individual is counted as one event, said method method comprising the steps of: attaching an infrared light beam transmitter to said individual; placing a receiver at said stationary point by which said individual to which said transmitter is attached passes within said range, said receiver having photoelectric detector means for detecting an infrared light beam; positioning said receiver such that said receiver is directed to a zone which extends from said receiver at least as far as said range, said transmitted infrared light beam having an intensity within said zone sufficient to be detected by said receiver once said transmitter is spaced from said receiver within said range; periodically passing said individual and said attached transmitter within said range of said receiver and through said zone; sensing the presence of said infrared light beam as said individual having said attached transmitter passes within said zone by detecting said infrared light with said photoelectric detector means to produce a discrete detection signal each time said individual passes through said zone; determining the number of separate events that said transmitter has been sensed within said zone by counting said discrete detection signals with a counting means in association with said receiver; and displaying the number of separate events counted by said counting means with a display means.

Claim 17

A device which allows a person in a recurring event to automatically count the number of times that said person passes within range of a stationary point on a recurring event path such that each such pass by said person is counted as one event, said device comprising: an infrared light beam transmitter having means for attaching said transmitter to a person, said infrared light beam transmitter further having means for pulse encoding an infrared light beam; a receiver for placement at said stationary point, said receiver having photoelectric detector means for detecting an infrared light beam and means for counting discrete detection signals; and said receiver further having time-delay, lock-out means for locking out detection of said infrared light beam for a predetermined interval after said signal can no longer be detected by said receiver.

Claim 18

A device which allows a person in a recurring event to automatically count the number of times that said person passes within range of a stationary point on a recurring event path such that each such pass by said person is counted as one event, said device comprising: an infrared light beam transmitter having means for attaching said transmitter to a person, said infrared light beam transmitter further having means for pulse encoding an infrared light beam; a receiver for placement at said stationary point, said receiver having photoelectric detector means for detecting an infrared light beam and means for counting discrete detection signals; and said receiver further having time-delay, lock-out means for locking out detection of said infrared light beam for a predetermined interval after said signal can no longer be detected by said receiver.