EP0074330A1 - System for the identification and the determination of the passing moment of a plurality of moving objects at a predetermined point of their travel path - Google Patents

System for the identification and the determination of the passing moment of a plurality of moving objects at a predetermined point of their travel path Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0074330A1
EP0074330A1 EP82810312A EP82810312A EP0074330A1 EP 0074330 A1 EP0074330 A1 EP 0074330A1 EP 82810312 A EP82810312 A EP 82810312A EP 82810312 A EP82810312 A EP 82810312A EP 0074330 A1 EP0074330 A1 EP 0074330A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
signal
frequency
identification
installation according
board
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP82810312A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0074330B1 (en
Inventor
Rudolf Schaffer
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Longines Watch Co Francillon Ltd
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Compagnie des Montres Longines Francillon SA
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Priority claimed from FR8118752A external-priority patent/FR2514175A1/en
Application filed by Compagnie des Montres Longines Francillon SA filed Critical Compagnie des Montres Longines Francillon SA
Priority to AT82810312T priority Critical patent/ATE31829T1/en
Publication of EP0074330A1 publication Critical patent/EP0074330A1/en
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Publication of EP0074330B1 publication Critical patent/EP0074330B1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C1/00—Registering, indicating or recording the time of events or elapsed time, e.g. time-recorders for work people
    • G07C1/22—Registering, indicating or recording the time of events or elapsed time, e.g. time-recorders for work people in connection with sports or games
    • G07C1/24—Race time-recorders
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
    • G07C9/20—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass
    • G07C9/28—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/01—Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled
    • G08G1/017—Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled identifying vehicles

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an installation for identifying and determining the instant of the passage of a plurality of mobiles at a determined point on their trajectory.
  • the constituent elements of the phase-locked loop are supplied through a transistor 15 controlled by the output of a tone detector 16 tuned to the frequency of the control signal.
  • the loop thus works only when the control signal is received by the antenna 5, that is to say in the immediate vicinity of the other fixed antenna 3.
  • a fixed installation comprising a fixed antenna associated with a transmitter and a fixed receiver can be provided at several different places on the trajectory of mobiles. In particular, some of them could then be reserved for timing, and the others for the transfer of information between mobiles and fixed installations.
  • the total consumption of this circuit is approximately 3.5 mA when it does not receive a piloting signal, and, otherwise, that is to say when it transmits an identification signal, of the order of 140 mA.
  • This latter value is equivalent to the consumption of the devices of the prior art.

Abstract

1. A system for identifying a plurality of moving bodies at a particular point of their path of travel and for determining the instant at which they pass said point, comprising near said point a stationary station (1) which includes a transceiver for transmitting a radio-electric signal having a set frequency (f1) and for receiving radio-electric identification signals from the various moving bodies, each of said bodies also including an on-board transceiver (2) for receiving said radio-electric signal, for producing, in response to this signal, one of said identification signals with a frequency (fi) that is different all of the other frequencies at which the transceivers (2) on board the other moving bodies can transmit thereby to identify the moving body concerned, and for transmitting this identification signal to said stationary station (1), said on-board transceiver (2) having an oscillator (12) for producing said identification frequency (fi), and switching means (15, 16, 17) that will allow said on-board transceiver (2) to be supplied with energy only during the time said radio-electric signal being transmitted by said stationary station is being received, said station including also means (4) for processing the identification signals to determine, for each signal, the identity of the moving body that transmitted it and the instant when this moving body moves past said stationary station, said system being characterized in that each on-board transceiver (2) has means (a) for converting the frequency (f1) of the signal that is received from said stationary station (1) into a set frequency (f2) able to stabilize said oscillator (12), and control means (10, 11, 13, 14, 15) that are connected between said frequency conversion means (9) and said oscillator (12) such that the respective frequencies (fi) of the identification signals generated by said oscillators (12) be progressively graded between a lowermost frequency (f3) and an uppermost frequency (f4) and separated from one another by a frequency difference of constant value equal to the value in hertz of the frequency (f2) that is produced by said conversion means (9), the frequency (f1) of the signal being transmitted by the stationary station (1) thus being the only reference that is common to all of the frequencies (fi) of said identification signals.

Description

La présente invention concerne une installation pour l'identification et la détermination de l'instant du passage d'une pluralité de mobiles en un point déterminé de leur trajectoire.The present invention relates to an installation for identifying and determining the instant of the passage of a plurality of mobiles at a determined point on their trajectory.

De telles installations permettent'de réaliser le chronométrage automatique d'épreuves sportives du type des courses automobiles par exemple. Elles comprennent généralement un dispositif embarqué sur chaque mobile et comportant un émetteur susceptible d'émettre un signal radioélectrique d'identification caractéristique du mobile, une antenne réceptrice fixe disposée au voisinage dudit point déterminé et prévue pour recevoir les différents signaux d'identification, et des moyens de traitement des signaux d'identification reçus par l'antenne réceptrice susceptibles de déterminer pour chaque signal l'identité du mobile qui l'a émis et l'instant de son passage à la hauteur de l'antenne réceptrice.Such installations make it possible to carry out automatic timing of sporting events of the type of motor racing for example. They generally include a device on board each mobile and comprising a transmitter capable of transmitting a radio identification signal characteristic of the mobile, a fixed receiving antenna arranged in the vicinity of said determined point and designed to receive the various identification signals, and means for processing the identification signals received by the receiving antenna capable of determining for each signal the identity of the mobile which transmitted it and the instant of its passage at the height of the receiving antenna.

Dans les installations connues à ce jour, comme par exemple dans celle décrite dans le brevet anglais 1 517 173, l'émetteur embarqué comporte un multivibrateur ou un oscillateur à quartz accordés sur une fréquence propre au mobile qui le porte, et il émet en permanence le signal d'identification du mobile. L'antenne réceptrice est le plus souvent disposée au sol, en travers de la trajectoire des mobiles.In the installations known to date, such as for example that described in English patent 1,517,173, the on-board transmitter comprises a multivibrator or a quartz oscillator tuned to a frequency specific to the mobile which carries it, and it transmits permanently the mobile identification signal. The receiving antenna is most often placed on the ground, across the path of the mobiles.

Ces installations présentent un certain nombre de désavantages, dont celui de conduire à une consommation électrique très forte des dispositifs embarqués. Il en résulte que ces dispositifs, qui doivent comporter leur propre alimentation, sont difficiles à miniaturiser et qu'il est nécessaire de prévoir des dispositifs et des procédures pour les mettre hors tension chaque fois qu'il n'est pas nécessaire de procéder au chronométrage des mobiles. Dans le cas des courses automobiles par exemple, les équipes de chronométrage doivent intervenir sans arrêt, par exemple entre les différentes séances d'essais, pour couper ou remettre en marche les différents émetteurs. Ceci impose une gêne non négligeable aux équipes engagées dans la course, et en outre, en cas d'oubli, la source d'alimentation de l'un ou l'autre émetteur se trouvera déchargée, ou alors des émetteurs pourront s'avérer non branchés au moment du départ de la course.These facilities have a number of disadvantages, including that of driving very high electrical consumption of on-board devices. As a result, these devices, which must have their own power supply, are difficult to miniaturize and it is necessary to provide devices and procedures to turn them off whenever it is not necessary to perform the timing. mobiles. In the case of car racing, for example, the timing teams must intervene without stopping, for example between the different test sessions, to cut or restart the different transmitters. This imposes significant inconvenience to the teams engaged in the race, and in addition, in case of forgetfulness, the power source of one or the other transmitter will be discharged, or else transmitters may prove to be non connected at the start of the race.

Une autre difficulté liée au fonctionnement continu des émetteurs sur toute la trajectoire des mobiles, qui s'étend souvent sur plusieurs kilomètres, découle de la très grande emprise radioélectrique qu'une telle installation peut exercer sur le voisinage de circuit où se déroule l'épreuve à chronométrer. L'étendue de cette emprise, alliée à la rigueur des réglementations relatives à 1'uti-. lisation des fréquences radioélectriques, conduit à une limitation des possibilités d'utilisation des installations connues.Another difficulty linked to the continuous operation of the transmitters over the entire trajectory of the mobiles, which often extends over several kilometers, stems from the very large radio footprint that such an installation can exert on the vicinity of the circuit where the event takes place. to time. The extent of this hold, combined with the rigor of the regulations relating to the utility. The use of radio frequencies leads to a limitation of the possibilities of using known installations.

D'autres désavantages sont liés à la nature même des émetteurs utilisés sur les mobiles. Lorsqu'il s'agit de circuits électroniques multivibrateurs, il est difficile de les stabiliser parfaitement dans les conditions sévères qui peuvent régner, notamment lors des épreuves de courses automobiles. L'utilisation d'oscillateurs à quartz a également été développée, mais la fragilité de ces dispositifs a conduit à de nombreuses défaillances, notamment en cas de choc.Other disadvantages are linked to the very nature of the transmitters used on mobiles. When it comes to multivibrator electronic circuits, it is difficult to stabilize them perfectly under the harsh conditions that may prevail, especially during motor racing events. The use of quartz oscillators has also been developed, but the fragility of these devices led to many failures, especially in the event of an impact.

Par ailleurs, dans la mesure où la seule caractéristique des signaux d'identification est constituée par leur fréquence, leur détection par les moyens de traitement de ces signaux au sein d'une ambiance généralement génératrice de parasites est délicate. Cette constatation conduit le plus souvent à augmenter la puissance des émetteurs, ou alors à utiliser des antennes complexes, formées par exemple d'une combinaison d'antennes comme décrit dans le brevet américain 4 274 076.Furthermore, insofar as the only characteristic of the identification signals is constituted by their frequency, their detection by the means for processing these signals within an environment generally generating parasites is delicate. This observation most often leads to increasing the power of the transmitters, or else to using complex antennas, formed for example of a combination of antennas as described in American patent 4 274 076.

C'est pourquoi l'objet de la présente invention est de proposer une installation qui remédie aux inconvénients mentionnés ci-dessus, en permettant de réduire de façon très importante la consommation des dispositifs embarqués ainsi que l'étendue de l'emprise radioélectrique de l'installation, en autorisant la suppression de tout oscillateur à quartz et en offrant de nouvelles possibilités de détection des signaux d'identification.This is why the object of the present invention is to provide an installation which overcomes the drawbacks mentioned above, by making it possible to very significantly reduce the consumption of on-board devices as well as the extent of the radio footprint of the installation, authorizing the removal of any quartz oscillator and offering new possibilities for detecting identification signals.

Parmi les nouveaux avantages découlant de l'invention, on citera la possibilité de sélectionner facilement pour les différents dispositifs embarqués de construction identique la fréquence caractéristique de leur signal d'identification, et également celle de déterminer très précisément l'instant du passage du mobile au voisinage de l'antenne réceptrice. En outre, l'installation de l'invention pourra très aisément être utilisée pour transférer diverses informations des mobiles à l'antenne réceptrice fixe ou inversement.Among the new advantages arising from the invention, there will be the possibility of easily selecting for the different on-board devices of identical construction the characteristic frequency of their identification signal, and also that of very precisely determining the instant of the passage from the mobile to the vicinity of the receiving antenna. In addition, the installation of the invention can very easily be used to transfer various information from the mobiles to the fixed receiving antenna or vice versa.

Ces objets et avantages sont atteints en prévoyant notamment que l'installation comprend en outre un émetteur fixe disposé au voisinage du point de la trajectoire au voisinage duquel les mobiles sont identifiés et chronométrés, et, sur chaque dispositif embarqué, un récepteur d'un signal de pilotage émis par l'émetteur fixe. Seule la réception du signal de pilotage provoque l'élaboration et l'émission du signal d'identification, de sorte que la zone d'émission et sa durée sont limitées au voisinage de l'émetteur fixe et à la durée du passage du mobile dans ce voisinage, respectivement.These objects and advantages are achieved by providing in particular that the installation further comprises a fixed transmitter arranged in the vicinity of the point of the trajectory in the vicinity of which the mobiles are identified and timed, and, on each on-board device, a receiver of a piloting signal emitted by the fixed transmitter. Only the reception of the piloting signal causes the identification signal to be produced and transmitted, so that the transmission zone and its duration are limited to the vicinity of the fixed transmitter and to the duration of the passage of the mobile in this neighborhood, respectively.

Selon un mode de réalisation particulièrement avantageux de l'invention, le signal d'identification est élaboré à partir du signal de pilotage, de sorte qu'une relation de phase existe entre ces différents signaux, dont les moyens de traitement des signaux d'identification peuvent tirer profit.According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the identification signal is developed from the control signal, so that a phase relationship exists between these different signals, including the means for processing the identification signals can profit.

L'invention sera bien comprise à la lecture de la description suivante faite en liaison avec les dessins joints, parmi lesquels:

  • - la figure 1 est une représentation schématique par blocs d'une installation selon un mode de réalisation particulier de l'invention;
  • - la figure 2 est un diagramme représentant la forme des signaux relevés en divers points du schéma de la figure 1; et
  • - la figure 3 est un schéma électronique détaillé du dispositif embarqué représenté dans la figure 1.
The invention will be clearly understood on reading the following description made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, among which:
  • - Figure 1 is a schematic block representation of an installation according to a particular embodiment of the invention;
  • - Figure 2 is a diagram showing the shape of the signals noted at various points in the diagram of Figure 1; and
  • - Figure 3 is a detailed electronic diagram of the on-board device shown in Figure 1.

Dans la figure 1, on a représenté de façon schématique et par blocs une installation selon l'invention, comprenant des éléments fixes 1 et une pluralité de dispositifs embarqués 2.In FIG. 1, there is shown schematically and in blocks an installation according to the invention, comprising fixed elements 1 and a plurality of on-board devices 2.

Les éléments fixes comportent une antenne réceptrice fixe 3 constituée par exemple par un câble placé au travers de la piste d'une épreuve sportive, au niveau de la ligne d'arrivée. L'antenne fixe 3 reçoit des signaux d'identification émis par les dispositifs embarqués 2, qui sont exploités d'une manière en soi connue dans les moyens de traitement 4.Fixed elements include a fixed receiving antenna 3 constituted for example by a cable placed across the track of a sporting event, at the finish line. The fixed antenna 3 receives identification signals emitted by the on-board devices 2, which are used in a manner known per se in the processing means 4.

L'installation comporte en outre un émetteur fixe 22, utilisant de préférence la même antenne 3 pour émettre un signal de pilotage des dispositifs embarqués 2, par exemple d'une fréquence de 80 kHz.The installation also includes a fixed transmitter 22, preferably using the same antenna 3 to transmit a control signal from the on-board devices 2, for example with a frequency of 80 kHz.

Les dispositifs embarqués comportent une antenne réceptrice 5 pour recevoir le signal de pilotage, qui est alors filtré dans un filtre passif 6 et un filtre actif 7, puis mis en forme dans le circuit de mise en forme 8. Les figures 2a et 2b montrent respectivement la forme des signaux au points a et b de la figure 1 obtenus après le filtre actif 7 et le circuit 8, dans un diagramme de la tension en fonction du temps.The on-board devices include a receiving antenna 5 for receiving the control signal, which is then filtered in a passive filter 6 and an active filter 7, then shaped in the shaping circuit 8. FIGS. 2a and 2b show respectively the shape of the signals at points a and b of FIG. 1 obtained after the active filter 7 and the circuit 8, in a diagram of the voltage as a function of time.

Après passage dans un diviseur 9 de fréquence par quatre, le signal mis en forme, de fréquence 20 kHz est fourni à une boucle à verrouillage de phase d'un type connu (PLL), constituée par un comparateur de phase 10, un filtre 11, un oscillateur commandé par la tension 12 et des dispositifs de sélection 13, 14, 15 permettant respectivement de choisir le chiffre de l'unité, de la dizaine et de la centaine du rapport entre la fréquence du signal d'identification élaboré par l'oscillateur 12 et la fréquence du signal de référence de 20 kHz. De préférence, cette boucle est constituée de façon que la fréquence du signal d'identification est comprise entre 2,5 et 3,5 MHz. Elle pourra donc varier par pas de 20 kHz entre ces limites, ce qui permet d'identifier et de chronométrer 50 mobiles distincts.After passing through a frequency divider 9 by four, the shaped signal, of frequency 20 kHz is supplied to a phase-locked loop of a known type (PLL), constituted by a phase comparator 10, a filter 11 , an oscillator controlled by the voltage 12 and selection devices 13, 14, 15 respectively making it possible to choose the number of the unit, of the ten and of the hundred of the ratio between the frequency of the identification signal produced by the oscillator 12 and the frequency of the reference signal of 20 kHz. Preferably, this loop is formed so that the frequency of the identification signal is between 2.5 and 3.5 MHz. It can therefore vary in 20 kHz steps between these limits, which allows 50 separate mobiles to be identified and timed.

Le signal obtenu après le filtre 11, c'est-à-dire au point e de la figure 1 est représenté dans la figure 2e.The signal obtained after the filter 11, that is to say at point e in FIG. 1, is shown in FIG. 2e.

Le signal d'identification élaboré par l'oscillateur 12 est ensuite injecté dans un étage de sortie 33, puis filtré dans un filtre 34 avant d'être renvoyé sur l'antenne 5 du dispositif embarqué. Le signal présent sur l'antenne 5 au moment du pasage du mobile au voisinage de l'antenne 4 est représenté dans la figure 2g et il est constitué par la superposition du signal de pilotage de 80 kHz et du signal d'identification.The identification signal produced by the oscillator 12 is then injected into an output stage 33, then filtered in a filter 34 before being returned to the antenna 5 of the on-board device. The signal present on the antenna 5 at the time of the passage of the mobile in the vicinity of the antenna 4 is represented in FIG. 2g and it consists of the superimposition of the 80 kHz control signal and the identification signal.

Pour limiter la consommation du dispositif embarqué, les éléments constitutifs de la boucle à verrouillage de phase sont alimentés au travers d'un transistor 15 commandé par la sortie d'un détecteur de tonalité 16 accordé sur la fréquence du signal de pilotage. La boucle ne fonctionne ainsi que lorsque le signal de pilotage est reçu par l'antenne 5, c'est-à-dire au voisinage immédiat de l'autre antenne fixe 3.To limit the consumption of the on-board device, the constituent elements of the phase-locked loop are supplied through a transistor 15 controlled by the output of a tone detector 16 tuned to the frequency of the control signal. The loop thus works only when the control signal is received by the antenna 5, that is to say in the immediate vicinity of the other fixed antenna 3.

De la même façon, le détecteur de tonalité 16 n'est alimenté au travers d'un transistor 17 que pendant la durée où un signal est présent à la sortie du circuit de mise en forme 8. A cet effet l'enveloppe de ce dernier signal est élaborée par un circuit formateur d'enveloppe 18 dont la sortie commande le transistor 17. Le signal de sortie du circuit 18, au point c, est représentée dans la figure 2c, tandis que celle du détecteur de tonalité 16, au point d est représentée dans la figure 2d.In the same way, the tone detector 16 is only supplied through a transistor 17 for the duration that a signal is present at the output of the shaping circuit 8. For this purpose the envelope of the latter signal is produced by an envelope-forming circuit 18, the output of which controls the transistor 17. The output signal of the circuit 18, at point c, is represented in FIG. 2c, while that of the tone detector 16, at point d is shown in Figure 2d.

En outre, pour garantir que l'étage de sortie 33 n'est activé que lorsque la boucle à verrouillage de phase est effectivement stabilisée, l'étage 33 est alimenté au travers d'un transistor 19 commandé par un signal de verrouillage élaboré par le détecteur de phase 10. Ce signal, au point f, est représenté dans la figure 2f.Furthermore, to guarantee that the output stage 33 is only activated when the phase-locked loop is effectively stabilized, the stage 33 is supplied through a transistor 19 controlled by a locking signal produced by the phase detector 10. This signal, at point f, is shown in FIG. 2f.

Dans la figure 1, on remarquera également que les circuits 9, 10 et 15 ont été groupés dans un cadre en traits pointillés 20, tandis que les circuits 13 et 14 l'ont été dans un cadre 21. Ces cadres représentent les circuits intégrés uniques utilisés pour réaliser les fonctions des différents blocs inclus dans les cadres, dans le schéma électronique détaillé de la figure 3.In FIG. 1, it will also be noted that the circuits 9, 10 and 15 have been grouped in a frame in dotted lines 20, while the circuits 13 and 14 have been grouped in a frame 21. These frames represent the single integrated circuits used to perform the functions of the different blocks included in the frames, in the detailed electronic diagram in Figure 3.

On comprendra que le dispositif représenté dans la figure 1 pourrait faire l'objet de nombreuses modifications et variantes qui apparaîtront à l'homme du métier.It will be understood that the device shown in FIG. 1 could be the subject of numerous modifications and variants which will appear to those skilled in the art.

Par exemple, le signal de pilotage de 80 kHz pourrait aisément être remplacé par un signal modulé en fréquence, notamment pour réduire encore l'influence des parasites. Il suffirait alors de modifier les dispositifs embarqués par l'adjonction d'un démodulateur 23 représenté en traits pointillés à l'entrée du décodeur de tonalité 16.For example, the 80 kHz control signal could easily be replaced by a frequency modulated signal, in particular to further reduce the influence of parasites. It would then suffice to modify the on-board devices by adding a demodulator 23 shown in dotted lines to the input of the tone decoder 16.

Bien entendu, le signal alimentant la boucle à verrouillage de phase étant alors modulé en fréquence également, le filtre 11 de cet boucle devrait être adapté en conséquence.Of course, the signal supplying the phase locked loop then being also frequency modulated, the filter 11 of this loop should be adapted accordingly.

De manière analogue, l'installation de l'invention pourrait être mise à profit pour transmettre diverses informations de l'antenne fixe au dispositif embarqué ou réciproquement. Dans le premier cas, il suffirait par exemple de moduler le signal de pilotage émis par l'antenne fixe et d'associer au dispositif embarqué des moyens de décodage des informations ainsi inclues dans le signal de pilotage. Une modulation appropriée du signal fourni par l'oscillateur du dispositif embarqué et un décodage au niveau des moyens de traitement de signaux d'identification réaliseraient l'effet inverse.Similarly, the installation of the invention could be used to transmit various information from the fixed antenna to the on-board device or vice versa. In the first case, it would suffice, for example, to modulate the control signal emitted by the fixed antenna and to associate with the on-board device means for decoding information thus included in the control signal. Appropriate modulation of the signal supplied by the oscillator of the on-board device and decoding at the level of the processing of identification signals would achieve the opposite effect.

L'installation de l'invention pourrait également être utilisée pour affiner la détection de l'instant de passage des mobiles, en mettant en oeuvre l'effet Doppler, c'est-à-dire le décalage entre la fréquence du signal d'identification émis par chaque mobile, et un signal d'identification dit de référence. Il suffirait à cet effet de produire à partir du signal de pilotage un signal de référence élaboré de la même façon que l'est le signal de référence dans le dispositif embarqué, mais dans un dispositif fixe repéré par le bloc en traits pointillés 24 de la figure 1. Les moyens de traitement 4 pourraient alors être adaptés de manière à enregistrer le temps de passage, pour un mobile donné, au moment précis où les fréquences du signal d'identification et du signal d'identification de référence sont égales.The installation of the invention could also be used to refine the detection of the moment of passage of the mobiles, by implementing the Doppler effect, that is to say the offset between the frequency of the identification signal emitted by each mobile, and a so-called reference identification signal. It would suffice for this purpose to produce from the control signal a reference signal developed in the same way as the reference signal is in the on-board device, but in a fixed device identified by the block in dotted lines 24 of the Figure 1. The processing means 4 could then be adapted so as to record the passage time, for a given mobile, at the precise moment when the frequencies of the identification signal and the reference identification signal are equal.

Bien entendu, une installation fixe comprenant une antenne fixe associée à un émetteur et un récepteur fixe peut être prévue à plusieurs endroits différents de la trajectoire de mobiles. En particulier certaines d'entre elles pourraient alors être réservées à un chronométrage, et les autres au transfert d'information entre les mobiles et les installations fixes.Of course, a fixed installation comprising a fixed antenna associated with a transmitter and a fixed receiver can be provided at several different places on the trajectory of mobiles. In particular, some of them could then be reserved for timing, and the others for the transfer of information between mobiles and fixed installations.

La figure 3 représente, à titre purement indicatif, le schéma électronique détaillé du circuit d'un dispositif embarqué réalisé selon le principe de la figure 1. Ce schéma porte l'indication des valeurs et des références des éléments utilisés. Pour plus de clarté, les blocs de la figure 1 ont été définis par des cadres en traits pointillés sur la figure 3, auxquels on a attribué en chiffres romains les références correspondantes de la figure 1.FIG. 3 represents, for information only, the detailed electronic diagram of the circuit of an on-board device produced according to the principle of FIG. 1. This diagram indicates the values and references of the elements used. For the sake of clarity, the blocks of FIG. 1 have been defined by boxes in dotted lines in FIG. 3, to which the corresponding references of FIG. 1 have been assigned in Roman numerals.

La consommation totale de ce circuit s'élève à 3,5 mA environ lorsqu'il ne reçoit pas de signal de pilotage, et, dans le cas contraire, c'est-à-dire lorsqu'il émet un signal d'identification, de l'ordre de 140 mA. Cette dernière valeur est équivalente à la consommation des dispositifs de l'art antérieur. Lorsque l'on associe le dispositif embarqué de l'invention à une batterie d'une capacité de 700 mAh environ, on voit donc que son autonomie passe de quelques heures pour les dispositifs connus à quelques jours, pour un nombre raisonnable de passages du dispositif embarqué près de l'antenne fixe. C'est pourquoi il devient possible d'installer les dispositifs embarqués, par exemple pour le chronométrage d'une course automobile, au début des journées d'essai, et de ne plus intervenir sur eux jusqu'à la fin de la course.The total consumption of this circuit is approximately 3.5 mA when it does not receive a piloting signal, and, otherwise, that is to say when it transmits an identification signal, of the order of 140 mA. This latter value is equivalent to the consumption of the devices of the prior art. When we associate the on-board device of the invention with a battery with a capacity of approximately 700 mAh, we therefore see that its autonomy goes from a few hours for known devices to a few days, for a reasonable number of passages of the device on board near the fixed antenna. This is why it becomes possible to install the on-board devices, for example for the timing of a car race, at the start of the test days, and not to intervene on them until the end of the race.

Claims (14)

1. Installation pour l'identification et la détermination de l'instant du passage d'une pluralité de mobiles en un point déterminé de leur trajectoire, comprenant notamment: - un dispositif (2) embarqué sur chaque mobile et comportant un émetteur (33) susceptible d'émettre un signal radioélectrique d'identification caractéristique du mobile; - une antenne réceptrice fixe (3) disposée au voisinage dudit point déterminé et prévue pour recevoir les différents signaux d'identification; et - des moyens de traitement (4) des signaux d'identification reçus par l'antenne réceptrice susceptibles de déterminer pour chaque signal l'identité du mobile qui l'a émis et l'instant de son passage à la hauteur de l'antenne réceptrice;
caractérisé en ce que: - elle comprend en outre un émetteur fixe (22) disposé également au voisinage dudit point déterminé et émettant un signal radioélectrique de pilotage des émetteurs (33) des dispositifs embarqués; et - chaque dispositif embarqué (2) comporte en outre un récepteur (5, 6, 7) du signal de pilotage et des moyens (15 à 19) pour émettre le signal d'identification du mobile lorsque le signal de pilotage est reçu. 1. Installation for identifying and determining the instant of the passage of a plurality of mobiles at a determined point in their trajectory, comprising in particular: - a device (2) on board each mobile and comprising a transmitter (33) capable of transmitting a radioelectric identification signal characteristic of the mobile; - a fixed receiving antenna (3) disposed in the vicinity of said determined point and designed to receive the various identification signals; and - processing means (4) of the identification signals received by the receiving antenna capable of determining for each signal the identity of the mobile which emitted it and the instant of its passage at the height of the receiving antenna ;
characterized in that: - It further comprises a fixed transmitter (22) also disposed in the vicinity of said determined point and transmitting a radio signal for controlling the transmitters (33) of the on-board devices; and - Each on-board device (2) further includes a receiver (5, 6, 7) of the piloting signal and means (15 to 19) for transmitting the mobile identification signal when the piloting signal is received. 2. Installation selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif embarqué comporte un détecteur de tonalité (16) accordé sur la fréquence du signal de pilotage, et des moyens d'élaboration (10 à 15) du signal d'identification qui ne sont alimentés que lorsque le détecteur de tonalité détecte le signal de pilotage.2. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the on-board device comprises a tone detector (16) tuned to the frequency of the control signal, and means elaboration (10 to 15) of the identification signal which are only supplied when the tone detector detects the piloting signal. 3. Installation selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif embarqué comporte un dispositif (17, 18) pour n'alimenter le détecteur de tonalité qu'en présence d'un signal de pilotage.3. Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the on-board device comprises a device (17, 18) for supplying the tone detector only in the presence of a control signal. 4. Installation selon la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif pour alimenter le détecteur de tonalité comporte un circuit formateur (18) de l'enveloppe du signal de pilotage.4. Installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the device for supplying the tone detector comprises a forming circuit (18) of the envelope of the control signal. 5. Installation selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que le signal d'identification du mobile est élaboré à partir du signal de pilotage.5. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile identification signal is produced from the piloting signal. 6. Installation selon la revendication 5, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif embarqué comporte une boucle à verrouillage de phase (10 à 15) pour élaborer le signal d'identification, comprenant un oscillateur commandé par la tension (12) et un dispositif de sélection (13 à 15) du rapport entre la fréquence du signal d'identification élaboré par l'oscillateur et la fréquence du signal de référence de la boucle, ce signal de référence étant lui-même élaboré à partir du signal de pilotage.6. Installation according to claim 5, characterized in that the on-board device comprises a phase-locked loop (10 to 15) for developing the identification signal, comprising a voltage-controlled oscillator (12) and a selection device (13 to 15) of the ratio between the frequency of the identification signal produced by the oscillator and the frequency of the reference signal of the loop, this reference signal itself being produced from the control signal. 7. Installation selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que chaque dispositif embarqué comporte en outre des moyens (10, 19) pour ne déclencher l'émission du signal d'identification qu'après stabilisation de ce signal.7. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each on-board device further comprises means (10, 19) for triggering the emission of the identification signal only after stabilization of this signal. 8. Installation selon la revendication 7, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif embarqué comporte un étage de sortie (33) dont l'alimentation est commandée par un signal élaboré par le comparateur de phase (10) de la boucle à verrouillage de phase, lorsque la fréquence du signal d'identification est stabilisée.8. Installation according to claim 7, characterized in that the on-board device comprises an output stage (33) whose supply is controlled by a signal produced by the phase comparator (10) of the phase locked loop, when the frequency of the identification signal is stabilized. 9. Installation selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que le signal de pilotage est émis au moyen de l'antenne réceptrice (3) disposée au voisinage dudit point déterminé.9. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control signal is transmitted by means of the receiving antenna (3) disposed in the vicinity of said determined point. 10. Installation selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif embarqué comporte une antenne unique (5) pour recevoir le signal de pilotage et émettre le signal d'identification.10. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the on-board device comprises a single antenna (5) for receiving the piloting signal and transmitting the identification signal. 11. Installation selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que l'émetteur fixe (22) émet un signal de pilotage qui porte également des informations à transmettre au mobile et en ce que le récepteur de chaque dispositif embarqué comprend des moyens de décodage de ces informations.11. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixed transmitter (22) transmits a control signal which also carries information to be transmitted to the mobile and in that the receiver of each on-board device comprises means for decoding of this information. 12. Installation selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que l'émetteur (33) de chaque dispositif embarqué émet un signal d'identification qui porte des informations supplémentaires à transmettre à l'antenne réceptrice .fixe.12. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmitter (33) of each on-board device emits an identification signal which carries additional information to be transmitted to the receiving antenna .fixed. 13. Installation selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que le moyen de traitement (4) des signaux d'identification compare la fréquence d'un signal d'identification de référence obtenu d'une manière équivalente à celle du signal d'identification élaboré par le dispositif embarqué, mais dans un dispositif fixe, et celle de chaque signal d'identification reçu, et détermine l'instant où cette différence est minimale.13. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for processing (4) identification signals compares the frequency of a reference identification signal obtained in a manner equivalent to that of the signal d 'identification developed by the on-board device, but in a fixed device, and that of each identification signal received, and determines the instant when this difference is minimal. 14. Installation selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte une antenne réceptrice fixe (3) associée à un émetteur fixe (22) en plusieurs points distincts de la trajectoire des mobiles.14. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, ca characterized in that it comprises a fixed receiving antenna (3) associated with a fixed transmitter (22) at several points distinct from the trajectory of the mobiles.
EP82810312A 1981-09-07 1982-07-19 System for the identification and the determination of the passing moment of a plurality of moving objects at a predetermined point of their travel path Expired EP0074330B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT82810312T ATE31829T1 (en) 1981-09-07 1982-07-19 DEVICE FOR IDENTIFYING AND DETERMINING THE TIME OF THE PASSING OF A NUMBER OF MOVING BODIES AT A CERTAIN POINT OF THEIR ORBIT.

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH5751/81 1981-09-07
CH575181 1981-09-07
FR8118752 1981-10-02
FR8118752A FR2514175A1 (en) 1981-10-02 1981-10-02 Motor race finish electronic timing installation - involves mobile transmitters triggered by reference signal from fixed finishing line antenna

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EP0074330A1 true EP0074330A1 (en) 1983-03-16
EP0074330B1 EP0074330B1 (en) 1988-01-07

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EP0125624B1 (en) * 1983-05-13 1987-10-07 Omega Electronics S.A. Device for the electromagnetic transmission of an event in a disturbed environment
FR2619644A1 (en) * 1987-08-19 1989-02-24 Braconnier Dominique Detection device, particularly for timing vehicles in sporting competitions
WO1989012279A1 (en) * 1988-06-02 1989-12-14 Pi Research Ltd. Vehicle data recording system
FR2656447A1 (en) * 1989-12-26 1991-06-28 Omega Electronics Sa MOBILE TIMING DEVICE.
US5905374A (en) * 1994-08-31 1999-05-18 Auto Meter Products, Inc. High performance tachometer
US5982168A (en) * 1996-05-16 1999-11-09 Auto Meter Products, Inc. High performance tachometer with automatic triggering
US6137399A (en) * 1999-11-02 2000-10-24 Auto Meter Products, Inc. High performance tachometer having a shift indicator system with "short-shift" protection

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DE102010060571B3 (en) 2010-11-16 2011-11-17 Sportident Gmbh Method and arrangement for recording pass times at checkpoints, in particular at sports events

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0125624B1 (en) * 1983-05-13 1987-10-07 Omega Electronics S.A. Device for the electromagnetic transmission of an event in a disturbed environment
FR2619644A1 (en) * 1987-08-19 1989-02-24 Braconnier Dominique Detection device, particularly for timing vehicles in sporting competitions
WO1989012279A1 (en) * 1988-06-02 1989-12-14 Pi Research Ltd. Vehicle data recording system
US5173856A (en) * 1988-06-02 1992-12-22 Pi Research Limited Vehicle data recording system
FR2656447A1 (en) * 1989-12-26 1991-06-28 Omega Electronics Sa MOBILE TIMING DEVICE.
EP0435055A1 (en) * 1989-12-26 1991-07-03 Omega Electronics S.A. Time-measuring device for vehicles
US5905374A (en) * 1994-08-31 1999-05-18 Auto Meter Products, Inc. High performance tachometer
US5982168A (en) * 1996-05-16 1999-11-09 Auto Meter Products, Inc. High performance tachometer with automatic triggering
US6137399A (en) * 1999-11-02 2000-10-24 Auto Meter Products, Inc. High performance tachometer having a shift indicator system with "short-shift" protection

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Publication number Publication date
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