JP2008237779A - Clocking system for race and clocking method for race - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a clocking system for a race and a clocking method for a race, accurately finding the arrival time of a racer to a line. <P>SOLUTION: A current is applied to a loop coil to generate two alternating current magnetic fields 111, 121 repelling each other. The alternating current magnetic fields 111, 211 mutually cancel the magnetic force on a finish line L to form a slit. A racer RN wearing a wireless tag 70 runs toward the finish line L. When the wireless tag 70 passes through the alternating current magnetic fields 111, 211, it detects the respective alternating current magnetic fields to transmit wireless tag ID two or more times. The value obtained by dividing the sum of the latest time among the receiving times of the tag ID transmitted on detecting the alternating current magnetic field 111 and the earliest time among the receiving times of the tag ID transmitted on detecting the alternating current magnetic field 211 by two is found as the arrival time to the finish line L. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a competition timing system and a competition timing method. In particular, the present invention relates to a timing system for competition and a timing method for competition that can be applied to athletics and the like and can accurately determine the time of the athlete.

  2. Description of the Related Art Recently, in athletics and the like, attempts have been made to accurately measure a competitor's time based on information sent from the transmitter of the wireless tag by holding a wireless tag equipped with a transmitter for each athlete.

  An example of a method for measuring a competitor's time using such a wireless tag will be described. When acquiring the arrival time of the competitors to the finish line, for example, an elliptical magnetic field is generated on the finish line as seen from above with a single loop coil so that the center line of the ellipse overlaps the finish line To. Then, the player is allowed to hold a wireless tag including the magnetic field detector and the transmitter. The competitor holding the wireless tag runs and reaches the finish line. At this time, the magnetic field detector built in the wireless tag detects the magnetic field on the finish line. In response to the detection of the magnetic field by the magnetic field detector, the transmitter of the wireless tag transmits a predetermined ID (such as an identification number) a plurality of times. Corresponds to half the value of the first ID transmission time (hereinafter referred to as ST), the last transmission time (hereinafter referred to as ET), or the sum of the first and last transmission times among a plurality of ID transmissions. One of the time (hereinafter referred to as MT) is determined as the arrival time to the finish line.

  With regard to a timing system using such a wireless tag, a technique (Patent Document 1) for counting the number of laps of a competitor from the received number of received IDs and a transmitter of the wireless tag as a weak transmitter in the UHF band A technique (Patent Document 2) for increasing the communication distance of a transmitter is disclosed. Both of these inventions use a single loop coil to generate a magnetic field.

JP 2003-141497 A JP 2004-125765 A

However, in the timekeeping system using the above-described single loop coil, it may not be possible to accurately time the arrival time at the finish line. Specifically, when ST or ET is the arrival time, there are the following problems.
(1) The magnetic field area is elliptical when viewed from above. For this reason, an error occurs in the position between the detection point of the finish line near the center of the loop and the detection point of the finish line at the end of the loop.
(2) When a plurality of wireless tags are used, the magnetic field detection capability of each wireless tag varies, so that it does not always react at the same position with respect to the finish line.
(3) When the current flowing through the single loop coil is controlled, the magnetic field changes, so that it is difficult to match the detection position with the finish line.

Further, when MT is set as the arrival time, there are the following problems.
(1) If the speed of the competitor passing through the finish line is not constant, the ET timing is affected and an error occurs between the actual passing time and MT. For example, a competitor may slow down after passing the finish line. In this case, the timing of ET is delayed, and therefore, MT is later than the actual passing time. In other words, if you run through the finish line without slowing down, the recording will be better.
(2) If the magnetic field is reduced, the timekeeping accuracy of the arrival time of the competitor is improved. However, if the magnetic field is reduced, the detection accuracy of the magnetic field is lowered and it is easy to miss the time measurement. However, if the current to be supplied is increased to maintain the detection accuracy, the side rope becomes larger or the ellipse becomes wider. For this reason, it is difficult to improve the timing accuracy.

  Because of these problems, the timekeeping system that uses a single loop coil cannot accurately measure the arrival time of the competitor, regardless of whether ST, ET, or MT is the arrival time. was there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize a competition timing system and a competition timing method capable of accurately measuring the arrival time of a competitor on a line.

In order to achieve the above object, a time measuring system according to the first aspect of the present invention includes:
A detection unit that is built in a wireless tag held by a competitor who runs toward the time line, and detects a first magnetic field and a second magnetic field adjacent to each other across the time line;
In response to the detection of the first magnetic field by the detection unit, the identification information for identifying the wireless tag is transmitted as the first information a plurality of times, and the second magnetic field Transmitting means for transmitting the identification information as second information a plurality of times in response to being detected by the detecting means;
The last transmission time among the transmission times of the first information transmitted a plurality of times by the transmission means and the first transmission time among the transmission times of the second information transmitted a plurality of times by the transmission means are obtained. And an arrival time acquisition means for obtaining a time when the athlete has reached the timing line based on the acquired time;
It is characterized by providing.

  The arrival time acquisition means calculates a value obtained by dividing the sum of the last transmission time among the plurality of transmission times of the first information and the first transmission time among the plurality of transmission times of the second information by two. The arrival time at which the athlete reaches the timing line can also be obtained.

The transmission means transmits the first information to which the first message number indicating the order of transmitting the first information is added a plurality of times at regular intervals, and indicates the order of transmitting the second information. The second information to which the message number of 2 and the last message number among the first message numbers are added is transmitted a plurality of times at regular intervals;
The arrival time acquisition means acquires a transmission time of the first information corresponding to the last message number among the first message numbers, and the first message number corresponding to the first message number among the second message numbers. The transmission time of the information 2 may be acquired, and a value obtained by dividing the sum of the acquired times by 2 may be obtained as the arrival time.

  When the arrival time acquisition unit cannot acquire the transmission time of the first information corresponding to the last message number among the first message numbers, the arrival time acquisition unit ends the transmission time of the first information that can be acquired. The first message number corresponding to the last first message number is based on the last first message number included in the acquired second information and the transmission interval of the first information. If the transmission time of the information is acquired and the transmission time of the second information corresponding to the first message number among the second message numbers cannot be acquired, the transmission time of the second information that can be acquired The second corresponding to the first second message number based on the first transmission time and the first second message number of the acquired second information and the transmission interval of the second information. information It is also possible to determine the transmission time.

If none of the transmission times of the first information transmitted a plurality of times can be acquired, based on the first transmission time of the acquired transmission times of the second information and the transmission interval of the second information To obtain the arrival time,
If none of the transmission times of the second information transmitted a plurality of times can be acquired, based on the last transmission time of the acquired transmission times of the first information and the transmission interval of the first information The arrival time can also be acquired.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the game timing method according to the second aspect of the present invention is:
A detection step for detecting a first magnetic field and a second magnetic field, which are built in a wireless tag held by a player who runs toward the timing line, and is adjacent to the timing line;
In response to the detection of the first magnetic field in the detection step, the identification information for identifying the wireless tag is transmitted a plurality of times as the first information, and the second magnetic field A transmission step of transmitting the identification information as second information a plurality of times in response to being detected by the detection means;
The last transmission time among the transmission times of the first information transmitted a plurality of times in the transmission step and the first transmission time among the transmission times of the second information transmitted a plurality of times in the transmission step are acquired. A time-of-arrival time measuring step for measuring the time when the athlete has reached the time line based on the acquired time;
It is characterized by providing.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the timing system for competition and the timing method for competition which can time-measure the arrival time of a player correctly can be implement | achieved.

  Hereinafter, a game timing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As an example, a case where the timing system for competition is applied to athletics such as sprinting will be described.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a game timing system applied to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in the figure, this timing system for competition includes LF (Low Frequency) signal generators 10 and 20, tag ID receivers 30 and 40, a processing device 50, and a wireless tag 70 arranged around the competition track. And is configured.

  The LF signal generator 10 is disposed along the competition route, and generates an alternating magnetic field on the single loop coil 11 as shown in FIG. For example, specifically, the LF signal generator 10 generates an alternating magnetic field in synchronization with a predetermined frequency (for example, 125 kHz). In addition, a predetermined ON / OFF pattern signal can be superimposed on the generated AC magnetic field. As shown in FIG. 2B, the LF signal generator 20 generates an alternating magnetic field on the single loop coil 21 and superimposes a signal having an ON / OFF pattern different from that of the LF signal generator 10.

  The single loop coil 11 corresponding to the LF signal generator 10 is disposed immediately before the finish line L, which is a time measuring line, as viewed from the running athlete. The single loop coil 21 corresponding to the LF signal generator 20 is arranged immediately after the finish line L when viewed from the running athlete. The single loop coils 11 and 21 have, for example, a rectangular (rectangular) shape having sides that substantially overlap the finish line L.

  Then, the LF signal generators 10 and 20 cause the single loop coils 11 and 21 to generate an alternating magnetic field so that the currents flowing in the sides almost overlapping the finish line L are in the same direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2A, AC magnetic fields 111 and 211 are generated on the single loop coils 11 and 21, respectively. These magnetic fields have different magnetic field directions with respect to the adjacent finish line L.

  As a result, on the finish line L, magnetic field breaks (slits) are formed by canceling out the magnetic forces of the AC magnetic fields 111 and 211.

  The tag ID receivers 30 and 40 are receivers disposed in the vicinity of the single loop coils 11 and 21 described above, and include single loop antennas 31 and 41, respectively, as shown in FIG. The single loop antennas 31 and 41 receive information such as a tag ID transmitted from the wireless tag 70 that has passed over the single loop coils 11 and 21. The contents of the transmitted information will be described later. Then, the tag ID receivers 30 and 40 transmit the received information to the processing device 50.

  The processing device 50 is an information processing device that counts the time at which the athlete reaches the finish line L based on information such as the tag ID transmitted from the tag ID receivers 30 and 40. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the processing device 50 includes a control unit 51, a storage unit 53, a tag information acquisition unit 55, and a time counting unit 57.

  The control unit 51 controls the entire processing device 50. Specifically, the program stored in the storage unit 53 is read and executed, information such as a tag ID is received from the tag information acquisition unit 55, and time measurement is performed in response to reception of information from the tag information acquisition unit 55. Information indicating the current time is received from the unit 57.

  The storage unit 53 includes, for example, a nonvolatile memory, identification information (tag ID) unique to each wireless tag 70 (for each competitor RN), and a program for timing the arrival time of the competitor to the finish line L. The transmission intervals Da and Db (msec) are stored in advance. In addition, the arrival time to the finish line L of the player which the control part 51 acquired is stored. Here, the transmission intervals Da and Db (msec) are intervals at which the tag ID is transmitted when the wireless tag 70 passes the AC magnetic fields 111 and 211, respectively.

  The tag information acquisition unit 55 acquires the tag ID and additional information transmitted by the wireless tag 70 that has passed over the single loop coils 11 and 21 from the tag ID receivers 30 and 40. Then, the acquired tag ID and the like are transmitted to the control unit 51.

  The time counting unit 57 includes a predetermined timer circuit and the like, and counts a reference time as a reference in the game timing system. For example, the time counting unit 57 includes a highly stable crystal oscillator and the like, and measures an accurate current time and the like.

  The wireless tag 70 is a small device that detects a magnetic field on the loop coils 11 and 21 and transmits information such as a tag ID. The wireless tag 70 is held by the player RN and moves on the track together with the player RN. The wireless tag 70 is a small, light, and thin device that does not feel uncomfortable even if held by the player RN, and is used by attaching it to a bib. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the wireless tag 70 includes a control unit 71, an LF antenna 73, an amplification circuit 75, a detection circuit 77, a storage unit 79, and a communication circuit 81.

  The LF antenna 73 is an antenna that detects the AC magnetic fields 111 and 211 generated by the single loop coils 11 and 21 described above. Then, the LF antenna 73 transmits a detection signal indicating the detected magnetic field strength to the amplifier circuit 75.

  The amplifier circuit 75 is a circuit that amplifies the detection signal received from the LF antenna 73, and transmits the amplified detection signal to the detection circuit 77.

  The detection circuit 77 is a circuit that detects the AC magnetic fields 111 and 211 on the loop coils 11 and 21 in accordance with the detection signal received from the amplification circuit 75. For example, a predetermined voltage signal is output (ON) when the input detection signal voltage increases, and no signal is output (OFF) when the input signal voltage decreases.

  The detection of the alternating magnetic field by the wireless tag 70 will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a side view of the timing system as viewed from the side with respect to the running direction of the athlete, and shows the detection position of the AC magnetic field of the wireless tag 70. As shown in FIG. 6, the wireless tag 70 is attached to the athlete's bib etc., and moves along the runway at a height of 70 to 80 cm from the ground, for example. Adjacent AC magnetic fields 111 and 211 cancel each other's magnetic force on the finish line L. For this reason, when the wireless tag 70 passes over the finish line L, an AC magnetic field is not detected. The gap (slit) between the magnetic fields in which no AC magnetic field is detected is, for example, about 5 cm at a height of 70 to 80 cm. When the wireless tag 70 does not detect an AC magnetic field for a predetermined time, the wireless tag 70 determines that it has entered the slit. Hereinafter, a section from when the wireless tag 70 approaches the slit and detects the AC magnetic field 111 immediately before the slit (ON) until it enters the slit and does not detect the AC magnetic field 111 (turns OFF) is defined as a trigger area TAa. A section from when the wireless tag 70 exits the slit and detects (turns on) the AC magnetic field 211 immediately after the slit until it stops detecting (turns off) the AC magnetic field 211 is defined as a trigger area TAb.

  Then, the LF signal generators 10 and 20 superimpose different ON / OFF pattern signals on the AC magnetic fields 111 and 211 generated by the loop coils 11 and 21, respectively. By detecting these signals, the wireless tag 70 determines whether the trigger area through which the wireless tag 70 passes is TAa or TAb.

  Returning to FIG. 5, the control unit 71 controls the entire wireless tag 70. In response to the output of the ON signal from the detection circuit 77, the control unit 71 reads the tag ID transmission program from the storage unit 79, and executes the program to add predetermined information to the tag ID and thereby the communication circuit. Call from 81. Information to be added will be described later.

  The storage unit 79 includes, for example, a non-volatile memory and stores unique identification information (tag ID) and a tag ID transmission program that are different for each wireless tag 70 (for each player RN).

  The communication circuit 81 transmits the information added to the tag ID or the like by the control unit 71 and the tag ID or the like to the tag ID receivers 30 and 40 via a communication antenna (not shown). At least two transmission channels are provided, and information such as tag IDs can be transmitted at different transmission intervals corresponding to different frequencies.

  With the above configuration, the LF signal generators 10 and 20 generate AC magnetic fields 111 and 211 having different magnetic field directions on the single loop coils 11 and 21, respectively. An AC magnetic field slit is formed on the finish line L between the AC magnetic fields 111 and 211. On the other hand, when the wireless tag 70 passes over the single loop coils 11 and 21, it detects the AC magnetic fields 111 and 211. The wireless tag 70 transmits information such as a tag ID in response to detection of an alternating magnetic field. The tag ID receivers 30 and 40 receive the tag ID and the like and transmit them to the processing device 50. The processing device 50 measures the arrival time of the competitor at the finish line L based on the reception time such as the tag ID.

  7 and 8 show the operation of the wireless tag 70. The detection circuit 77 detects the AC magnetic fields 111 and 211 and turns on when the wireless tag 70 passes over the single loop coils 11 and 21. In response to the detection circuit being turned on, the control unit 71 reads the tag ID transmission program from the storage unit 79 and executes it. FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the tag ID transmission process. This program is for adding predetermined information to the tag ID and transmitting it.

  The controller 71 determines whether or not the trigger area is TAa from the ON / OFF pattern of the signal superimposed on the AC magnetic field (step S10). When it is determined that the trigger area is TAa (step S10: YES), the control unit 71 reads the tag ID from the storage unit 79. Then, the control unit 71 transmits the tag ID at regular intervals (step S20). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 71 includes an area identification “a” (791) indicating the trigger area and a message number (793) indicating the transmission order in the tag ID (795). Add and send. When the control unit 71 sets the frequency of the communication circuit 81, the wireless tag 70 continues to transmit the tag ID at the transmission interval Da (msec). The initial value of the message number is “1” and is incremented by 1 each time it is transmitted. That is, in the trigger area TAa, the information of a1 to an is added to the tag ID and transmitted.

The detection circuit 77 is configured so that the wireless tag 70 passes over the single loop coil 11 and
When entering the lit, the AC magnetic field 111 is not detected and is turned OFF.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 71 determines whether or not the detection circuit 77 has stopped detecting the AC magnetic field (turned off) (step S30). When the detection circuit is turned off (step S30: YES), the control unit 71 stops the transmission of the tag ID and ends the tag ID transmission process. The control unit 71 stores the message number added to the tag ID transmitted last in the storage unit 79 as the final message number “n”. If the detection circuit is not OFF (step S30: NO), the process returns to step S10.

  The detection circuit 77 detects (ON) the alternating magnetic field 211 when the wireless tag 70 passes through the slit and enters the loop coil 21.

  When the trigger area is not TAa (step S10: NO), the controller 71 determines whether or not the trigger area is TAb (step S40). If it is not the trigger area TAb (step S40: NO), the control unit 71 ends the tag ID transmission process because the tag ID is not to be transmitted.

  When it is determined that the trigger area is TAb (step S40: YES), the tag ID and the final message number “n” in the trigger area TAa are read from the storage unit 79, and the tag ID is transmitted at a constant interval (step S40). S50). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 71 includes an area identification “b” (791) indicating the trigger area in the tag ID (795), a message number (793) indicating the transmission order, and the final The message number “n” (797) is added and transmitted. When the control unit 71 sets the frequency of the communication circuit 81, the wireless tag 70 continues to transmit the tag ID at the transmission interval Db (msec). The initial value of the message number is “1” and is incremented by 1 each time it is transmitted. That is, if the last message number in the trigger area TAb is “m”, the trigger area TAb is transmitted with the information of b1n to bmn added to the tag ID.

  When the wireless tag 70 passes over the single loop coil 21, the detection circuit 77 does not detect the AC magnetic field 211 and is turned OFF.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 71 determines whether or not the detection circuit 77 has stopped detecting the AC magnetic field (turned off) (step S60). When the detection circuit is turned off (step S60: YES), the control unit 71 stops the transmission of the tag ID and ends the tag ID transmission process. If the detection circuit is not OFF (step S60: NO), the process returns to step S50.

  The tag ID receivers 30 and 40 receive the tag ID to which the tag ID has been transmitted by the tag ID transmission process described with reference to FIGS. And the control part 51 calculates | requires the arrival time to the finish line L of a player from the reception time of tag ID corresponding to an and b1n of these.

  Here, when there are many competitors or when the number of transmissions increases due to high frequency, the tag ID receivers 30 and 40 cannot receive all the tag IDs transmitted in the trigger areas TAa and TAb. I may miss it. However, even if the tag ID corresponding to an is missed, the final message number “n” in the trigger area TAa is added to the tag ID transmitted in the trigger area TAb. n ”can be acquired. If the reception time of the ID corresponding to any of a1 to a (n-1) can be acquired, the reception time of the tag ID corresponding to an is determined from the reception time, the value of “n”, and the transmission interval Da. Can be sought. Even if the tag ID corresponding to b1n is omitted, if the reception time of the tag ID corresponding to any of b2n to bmn is known, the tag corresponding to b1n is determined from the reception time and the detection interval Db. The reception time of the ID can be acquired. Therefore, the control unit 51 can obtain the arrival time to the finish line L from the reception time of the tag ID corresponding to an and b1n.

  The operation of the control unit 51 that has received the tag ID and the additional information from the tag information acquisition unit 55 is shown in FIGS. When the power is turned on, the control unit 51 reads the control program for the processing device 50 from the storage unit 53 and executes it. Then, each time a tag ID corresponding to a1 to an and b1n to bmn shown in FIG. 8 is received, the tag ID and the added information a1 to an and b1n to bmn are stored in the storage unit 53. Further, the reception time (msec) of each tag ID is acquired from the time counting unit 57 and stored in the storage unit 53.

  In some cases, it is not possible to receive all of the tag IDs corresponding to a1 to an and b1n to bmn. However, in the present embodiment, for ease of explanation, a case is considered in which at least one of tag IDs corresponding to a1 to an and b1n to bmn has been received.

  The control unit 51 reads the arrival time clocking program in the control program by user operation or the like and executes the arrival time clocking process. The arrival time counting process is a process of acquiring the time Tg when the competitor RN has reached the finish line L.

  First, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the control unit 51 reads the additional information bmn from the storage unit 53, the number of detections “m” of the alternating magnetic field in the trigger area TAb, and the number of detections “n” of the alternating magnetic field in the trigger area TAa. Are stored in the storage unit 53 (step S110).

  The control unit 51 reads the reception times of the tag IDs corresponding to a1 to an and b1n to bmn from the storage unit 53, and stores them in the storage unit 53 as Ta1 to Tan (msec) and Tb1 to Tbm (msec) (steps). S120). When the reception time of the tag ID is not stored, that is, when the tag ID is missed, NULL is stored as the reception time of the missed tag ID.

  The control unit 51 determines whether Tan is not NULL (step S130). When Tan is NULL (step S130: YES), the control unit 51 executes a Tan acquisition process (step S140).

  FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of the Tan acquisition process. The Tan acquisition process is a process of acquiring Tan from any value of Ta1 to Ta (n-1) when Tan is missed.

  The control unit 51 substitutes the initial value n-1 for the variable i (step S141). And it is discriminate | determined whether Tai (msec) is NULL (step S143). When Tai (msec) is not NULL (step S143: NO), the control unit 51 reads the value of Da (msec) from the storage unit 53. Then, n-1 is multiplied by the value of Da, the value of Tai (msec) is added, and this value is substituted into Tan (msec) (step S145).

  When Tai (msec) is NULL (step S143: YES) or after step S145, the control unit 51 determines whether i <1 or Tan (msec) is NULL. If i <1 or Tan (msec) is NULL, the process returns to the arrival time counting process. Otherwise, i is subtracted from 1 and steps S143 and S145 are executed (step S141).

  As shown in FIG. 9, when Tan is not NULL (step S130: NO) or after executing the Tan acquisition process (step S140), the control unit 51 determines whether Tb1 is not NULL (step S150). When Tb1 is NULL (step S150: YES), the control unit 51 executes Tb1 acquisition processing (step S160).

  FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of Tb1 acquisition processing. The Tb1 acquisition process is a process of acquiring Tb1 from any value of Tb2 to Tbm when Tb1 is missed.

  The control unit 51 substitutes the initial value 2 for the variable j (step S161). And it is discriminate | determined whether Tbj (msec) is NULL (step S163). When Tbj (msec) is not NULL (step S163: NO), the control unit 51 reads the value of the detection interval Db (msec) from the storage unit 53. Then, the value obtained by multiplying j by the value of Db is subtracted from the value of Taj (msec), and this value is substituted into Tb1 (msec) (step S165).

  When Tbj (msec) is NULL (step S163: YES) or after step S165, the control unit 51 determines whether j> m or Tb1 (msec) is not NULL (step S161). If j> m or Tb1 (msec) is not NULL, the process returns to the arrival time counting process. If j ≦ m and Tb1 (msec) is NULL, 1 is added to j and steps S163 and S165 are executed (step S161).

  As shown in FIG. 9, when Tb1 is not NULL (step S150: NO) or after executing the Tb1 acquisition process (step S160), the control unit 51 determines whether either Tan or Tb1 is NULL. (Step S170). If either Tan or Tb1 is NULL (step S170: YES), the control unit 51 determines whether Tan is NULL (step S180). When Tan is not NULL (step S180: NO), the control unit 51 reads the detection intervals Da and Db from the storage unit 53, adds the value of Da + Db to Tan, and substitutes this value for Tb1 (msec) (step S190). ). As described above, in order to facilitate the description, it is assumed that at least one of Ta1 to Tan and Tb1 to Tbn can be acquired. Therefore, if Tan is NULL (step S180: YES), Tb1 Is not NULL. In this case, the control unit 51 reads Da and Db from the storage unit 53, subtracts the values of Da and Db from Tb1, and substitutes these values into Tan (msec) (step S200).

  When both Tan and Tb1 are not NULL (step S170: NO), or after step S190 and step S200, the control unit 51 divides the sum of Tan and Tb1 by 2, and sets this value to the arrival time Tg (msec). Substitute (step S210). After step S210, the control unit 51 returns to the control program of the processing device 50. And the control part 51 stores the acquired arrival time Tg (msec) in the memory | storage part 53, and displays it on the screen etc. of the processing apparatus 50. FIG.

  With the above configuration, if the control unit 51 can acquire at least one or more of Ta1 to Tan and Tb1 to Tbn which are reception times of tag IDs corresponding to a1 to an and b1n to bmn, the value and Ta1 to Tan Tan and Tb1 can be acquired based on Tb1 to Tbn and the detection intervals Da and Db. Then, the arrival time Tg (msec) of the player RN to the finish line L can be obtained by dividing the sum of the acquired Tan and Tb1 by 2.

(Second Embodiment)
With reference to FIG. 12, an AC magnetic field discrimination method in the timing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Similar to the first embodiment, the system according to the present embodiment includes two sets of LF signal generation devices and tag ID receivers, a processing device, and a wireless tag. However, as shown in FIG. 12, the LF device generators 10 and 20 transmit carrier frequencies having different frequencies. The wireless tag 70 determines whether the trigger area is TAa or TAb based on the carrier frequency (steps S10 and S40).

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 13 shows an example of the configuration of a timekeeping system applied to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 13, this timing system includes an LF signal generator 10a, a tag ID receiver 30a, a processing device 50a, and a wireless tag 70a that are arranged around the competition track. . The timing system according to the third embodiment is different from the timing system according to the first embodiment in that only one set of the LF signal generator and the tag ID receiver is provided, but the other configurations are the same.

  The LF signal generator 10a generates an alternating magnetic field in the loop coil 11a. The loop coil 11a is a coil formed in a substantially “eight-shape” shape. As an example, as shown in FIG. 14B, the rectangular (square) coil portion is formed in a figure 8 like two connected in the running direction of the player RN. More specifically, the loop coil 11a is wound in the forward direction of the figure 8, and is formed so as to have a feeding point s at the center (middle point) of the figure 8, that is, at the intersection, and passes through the feeding point s. The upper and lower parts of the figure 8 are located along two parallel straight lines separated by a predetermined distance from the finish line L extending in a direction perpendicular to the running direction RD of the player RN. Is formed. By passing a current through the loop coil 11a, the LF signal generator 10a generates AC magnetic fields 111a and 211a having different magnetic field directions as shown in FIG. 14A.

  The tag ID receiver 30a is disposed in the vicinity of the loop coil 11a described above, and includes a loop antenna 31a as shown in FIG. In the first embodiment, tag IDs corresponding to a1 to an and b1n to bmn are received by the two antennas (31, 41), whereas the loop antenna 31a receives these information by one. To do. The tag ID receiver 30a transmits the received information to the processing device 50a.

  The operations of the processing device 50a and the wireless tag 70a are the same as those of the processing device 50 and the wireless tag 70 of the first embodiment. However, since there is only one loop coil, in order to determine whether the trigger area through which the wireless tag 70a is passing is TAa or TAb, as in the first and second embodiments, a different ON for each coil. A method for discriminating the / OFF signal pattern or the carrier frequency cannot be adopted. Therefore, after the first detected magnetic field passes through the trigger area TAa and the slit and the detection device is turned off, the detected electromagnetic field is determined as Tb.

  Since the competition timing system according to the third embodiment requires only one set of the LF signal generator and the tag ID receiver, the cost is lower than that of the competition timing system according to the first embodiment, which requires two sets, and the installation etc. Easy. However, when the communication traffic increases, there is a possibility that one receiver cannot cope with it.

The timekeeping system according to the present invention has the following advantageous effects as compared with the prior art.
(1) Each of the adjacent AC magnetic fields has an elliptical shape when viewed from above. However, since the AC magnetic field slit is used as the finish line L, there is no error in the position between the center detection point and the detection point of the finish line L at the end of the loop.
(2) When a plurality of wireless tags are used, the electromagnetic field detection capability of each wireless tag varies. However, even a wireless tag with a low electromagnetic field detection capability can follow several missing tag IDs, and therefore can accurately measure the arrival time.
(3) When the current flowing through the single loop coil is controlled, the electromagnetic field changes. However, since the slit position of the AC magnetic field hardly changes, there is no influence on the time of arrival.
(4) The speed of the competitor before and after passing through the finish line may not be constant. However, in the present invention, the time is measured based on Tan and Tb1, which are reception times before and after the slit of the AC magnetic field, and the gap of the slit is about 5 cm. For this reason, even if the athlete slows down after passing, it can be timed accurately with little effect.
(5) If the electromagnetic field is reduced, the timing accuracy of the arrival time is improved, while the detection accuracy of the electromagnetic field is lowered, and it is easy to miss the timing. However, since the arrival time can be measured even if some tag IDs are missed, it is easy to improve the timing accuracy of the arrival time.

  In the above embodiment, the case of two sets of LF signal generators and tag ID receivers (embodiments 1 and 2) and the case of one set (embodiments 3) are illustrated, but the LF signal generator and The number configuration with the tag ID receiver is arbitrary. For example, one tag ID receiver may be provided for two LF signal generators, and not limited to two sets, three or more sets may be provided.

  Of course, three or more LF signal generators may be provided, three or more AC magnetic fields and two or more slits may be generated, and two or more arrival times may be counted.

  In the above embodiment, the reception time of the tag ID is measured, but the wireless tag may measure the current time and transmit the transmission time together with the tag ID.

  Further, the electromagnetic field generated in the loop coil may be a DC magnetic field instead of an AC magnetic field.

It is a block diagram of the time measuring system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. (A) It is a side view of the alternating current magnetic field which the LF signal generator concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention generates. (B) It is a block diagram of the single loop coil which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the LF antenna which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the processing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the wireless tag which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the position where the wireless tag which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention detects an alternating current magnetic field. It is a flowchart of the tag ID transmission process which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the figure which showed tag ID and additional information which the wireless tag which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention transmits. It is a flowchart of the arrival time timing process which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart of the Tan acquisition process which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart of Tb1 acquisition processing concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the discrimination method of the alternating current magnetic field in the time measuring system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the time measuring system which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. (A) It is a side view of the alternating current magnetic field which the LF signal generator concerning Embodiment 3 of the present invention generates. (B) It is a block diagram of the 8-shaped loop coil which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a block diagram of LF antenna which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10, 20 LF signal generator 30, 40 Tag ID receiver 50 Processing device 70 Wireless tag

Claims (6)

A detection unit that is built in a wireless tag held by a competitor who runs toward the time line, and detects a first magnetic field and a second magnetic field adjacent to each other across the time line;
In response to the detection of the first magnetic field by the detection unit, the identification information for identifying the wireless tag is transmitted as the first information a plurality of times, and the second magnetic field Transmitting means for transmitting the identification information as second information a plurality of times in response to being detected by the detecting means;
The last transmission time among the transmission times of the first information transmitted a plurality of times by the transmission means and the first transmission time among the transmission times of the second information transmitted a plurality of times by the transmission means are obtained. And an arrival time acquisition means for obtaining a time when the athlete has reached the timing line based on the acquired time;
A timing system for competitions, comprising: The arrival time acquisition means calculates a value obtained by dividing the sum of the last transmission time among the plurality of transmission times of the first information and the first transmission time among the plurality of transmission times of the second information by two. , As the arrival time when the competitor reached the time line,
The competition timekeeping system according to claim 1, wherein: The transmission means transmits the first information to which the first message number indicating the order of transmitting the first information is added a plurality of times at regular intervals, and indicates the order of transmitting the second information. The second information to which the message number of 2 and the last message number among the first message numbers are added is transmitted a plurality of times at regular intervals;
The arrival time acquisition means acquires a transmission time of the first information corresponding to the last message number among the first message numbers, and the first message number corresponding to the first message number among the second message numbers. Obtaining the transmission time of the information of 2, and obtaining a value obtained by dividing the sum of the obtained times by 2 as the arrival time;
The game timing system according to claim 2, wherein: When the arrival time acquisition unit cannot acquire the transmission time of the first information corresponding to the last message number among the first message numbers, the arrival time acquisition unit ends the transmission time of the first information that can be acquired. The first message number corresponding to the last first message number is based on the last first message number included in the acquired second information and the transmission interval of the first information. If the transmission time of the information is acquired and the transmission time of the second information corresponding to the first message number among the second message numbers cannot be acquired, the transmission time of the second information that can be acquired The second corresponding to the first second message number based on the first transmission time and the first second message number of the acquired second information and the transmission interval of the second information. information Determine the transmission time,
The game timekeeping system according to claim 3. If none of the transmission times of the first information transmitted a plurality of times can be acquired, based on the first transmission time of the acquired transmission times of the second information and the transmission interval of the second information To obtain the arrival time,
If none of the transmission times of the second information transmitted a plurality of times can be acquired, based on the last transmission time of the acquired transmission times of the first information and the transmission interval of the first information To obtain the arrival time,
The competition timekeeping system according to claim 4, wherein: A detection step for detecting a first magnetic field and a second magnetic field, which are built in a wireless tag held by a player who runs toward the timing line, and is adjacent to the timing line;
In response to the detection of the first magnetic field in the detection step, the identification information for identifying the wireless tag is transmitted a plurality of times as the first information in response to the detection of the first magnetic field. A transmission step of transmitting the identification information as second information a plurality of times in response to being detected by the detection means;
The last transmission time among the transmission times of the first information transmitted a plurality of times in the transmission step and the first transmission time among the transmission times of the second information transmitted a plurality of times in the transmission step are acquired. A time-of-arrival time measuring step for measuring the time when the athlete has reached the time line based on the acquired time;
A timing method for competitions, comprising:

Images