EP0074330B1 - 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

Info

Publication number
EP0074330B1
EP0074330B1 EP82810312A EP82810312A EP0074330B1 EP 0074330 B1 EP0074330 B1 EP 0074330B1 EP 82810312 A EP82810312 A EP 82810312A EP 82810312 A EP82810312 A EP 82810312A EP 0074330 B1 EP0074330 B1 EP 0074330B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
frequency
signal
identification
radio
oscillator
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP82810312A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0074330A1 (en
Inventor
Rudolf Schaffer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Longines Watch Co Francillon Ltd
Original Assignee
Compagnie des Montres Longines Francillon SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
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
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0074330B1 publication Critical patent/EP0074330B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • 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

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
  • Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)

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 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 radio-électrique d'identification caractéristique du mobile, une an-, tenne 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 perform automatic timing of events such as car 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 antenna, receiving antenna located in the vicinity of said determined point and designed to receive the various signals of identification, and means for processing 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 .

Le brevet US-A-3 546 696 décrit une installation de ce type qui comprend au moins une station fixe disposée au voisinage du point déterminé et comportant un émetteur-récepteur pour, d'une part, émettre un signal radio-électrique de fréquence déterminée et, d'autre part, recevoir des signaux radio-électriques d'identification émanant des différents mobiles, chacun de ces mobiles comprenant également un émetteur-récepteur embarqué pour recevoir ledit signal radio-électrique, élaborer, en réponse à ce signal, l'un desdits signaux d'identification dont la fréquence est différente de toutes les fréquences pouvant être émises par les émetteurs-récepteurs embarqués sur les autres mobiles de manière à identifier le mobile concerné, et émettre ce signal d'identification vers ladite station, fixe; ledit émetteur-récepteur embarqué comprenant un oscillateur produisant ladite fréquence d'identification, et des moyens de commutation qui n'autorisent l'alimentation en énergie dudit émetteur-récepteur embarqué que pendant la période de réception dudit signal radio-électrique émis par ladite station fixe, cette dernière comprenant également des moyens de traitement des signaux d'identification pour déterminer, pour chaque signal, l'identité du mobile qui l'a émis et l'instant de passage de ce mobile à la hauteur de ladite station fixe.US-A-3,546,696 describes an installation of this type which comprises at least one fixed station arranged in the vicinity of the determined point and comprising a transceiver for, on the one hand, transmitting a radio-frequency signal of determined frequency and, on the other hand, receive radio identification signals from the various mobiles, each of these mobiles also comprising an on-board transceiver for receiving said radio signal, developing, in response to this signal, the one of said identification signals the frequency of which is different from all the frequencies that can be emitted by transceivers on board other mobiles so as to identify the mobile concerned, and transmit this identification signal to said station, fixed; said on-board transceiver comprising an oscillator producing said identification frequency, and switching means which only allow power to be supplied to said on-board transceiver during the period of reception of said radio signal emitted by said fixed station , the latter also comprising means for processing the identification signals to determine, for each signal, the identity of the mobile which transmitted it and the instant of passage of this mobile at the height of said fixed station.

Le brevet précité divulgue, par ailleurs, la possibilité de moduler le signal émis par les mobiles pour en constituer la «signature» -et, en outre, d'y superposer d'autres signaux chargés de véhiculer d'autres informations relatives au mobile considéré.The aforementioned patent also discloses the possibility of modulating the signal emitted by the mobiles in order to constitute its “signature” - and, moreover, superimposing thereon other signals responsible for conveying other information relating to the mobile considered .

Un problème majeur lié à cette installation connue réside dans l'obtention d'une stabilité de l'oscillateur embarqué sur les mobiles. En effet, puisque la fréquence constitue ici le critère d'identification, une variation de fréquence de deux mobiles dont les fréquences d'identification sont proches l'une de l'autre, pourrait créer une confusion. Ce problème est d'autant plus crucial que les émetteurs-récepteurs embarqués fonctionnent dans un environnement dans lequel les parasites sont omniprésents.A major problem linked to this known installation lies in obtaining stability of the oscillator on board the mobiles. Indeed, since the frequency here constitutes the identification criterion, a variation in frequency of two mobiles whose identification frequencies are close to each other, could create confusion. This problem is all the more crucial as the on-board transceivers operate in an environment in which parasites are omnipresent.

Dans le document antérieur précité, la stabilité de l'oscillateur est réalisée en y incorporant un quartz dont on connaît bien les propriétés de constance en fréquence.In the aforementioned prior document, the stability of the oscillator is achieved by incorporating therein a quartz of which the properties of frequency constancy are well known.

Cependant, les quartz sont des composants extrêmement sensibles notamment aux chocs, ce qui rend leur utilisation délicate surtout si l'installation est utilisée pour le chronométrage de courses automobiles, par exemple. De fait, il s'est avéré que de tels oscillateurs provoquent de nombreuses défaillances.However, quartz is an extremely sensitive component, in particular to impact, which makes it difficult to use, especially if the installation is used for timing automobile races, for example. In fact, it has been found that such oscillators cause many failures.

L'invention a pour but de proposer une installation d'identification de mobiles dans laquelle la stabilité en fréquence des émetteurs-récepteurs est toujours garantie, sans qu'il soit nécessaire de faire appel à des composants stabilisateurs fragiles.The object of the invention is to propose a mobile identification installation in which the frequency stability of the transceivers is always guaranteed, without the need to use fragile stabilizing components.

L'invention a donc pour objet une installation telle que définie ci-dessus, qui est caractérisée en ce que chaque émetteur-récepteur embarqué comprend des moyens pour convertir la fréquence du signal reçu de ladite station fixe en une fréquence déterminée servant à stabiliser ledit oscillateur, et des moyens de commande connectés entre lesdits moyens de conversion de fréquence et ledit oscillateur de telle façon que les fréquences respectives des signaux d'identification engendrées par lesdits oscillateurs soient échelonnées progressivement entre une fréquence inférieure et une fréquence supérieure et séparées l'une de l'autre par un écart de fréquence constant égale à la valeur en hertz de ladite fréquence produite par lesdits moyens de conversion, la fréquence du signal émis par ladite station fixe étant ainsi l'unique référence commune à toutes les fréquences des signaux d'identification.The subject of the invention is therefore an installation as defined above, which is characterized in that each on-board transceiver comprises means for converting the frequency of the signal received from said fixed station into a determined frequency serving to stabilize said oscillator , and control means connected between said frequency conversion means and said oscillator such that the respective frequencies of the identification signals generated by said oscillators are progressively staggered between a lower frequency and a higher frequency and separated from one the other by a constant frequency difference equal to the value in hertz of said frequency produced by said conversion means, the frequency of the signal transmitted by said fixed station thus being the only common reference to all the frequencies of the identification signals .

Il résulte de ces caractéristiques que la fréquence d'identification de chaque mobile est régulée par un signal dérivé du signal engendré par la station fixe, où il est aisé d'assurer une grande stabilité en fréquence de ce signal, car l'émetteur de cette station peut être complexe et encombrant et être facilement protégé contre les chocs mécaniques ou les influences parasitaires.It follows from these characteristics that the identification frequency of each mobile is regulated by a signal derived from the signal generated by the fixed station, where it is easy to ensure high frequency stability of this signal, since the transmitter of this station can be complex and bulky and easily protected against mechanical shock or parasitic influences.

Le US-A-4 068 232 décrit une installation d'identification d'objets mobiles dans laquelle la fréquence émise par ceux-ci est également dérivée de la fréquence de l'énergie reçue de la station fixe, mais dans ce cas, l'énergie est renvoyée par l'objet mobile vers la station fixe, avec une fréquence qui est une simple harmonique de la fréquence reçue. Dans ce cas, le signal émis par l'objet mobile n'est donc pas régulé en fréquence par un signal de pilotage qui est issu de la fréquence de la station fixe.US-A-4,068,232 describes an installation for identifying mobile objects in which the frequency emitted by them is also derived from the frequency of the energy received from the fixed station, but in this case the energy is returned by the mobile object to the fixed station, with a frequency which is a simple harmonic of the received frequency. In this case, the signal emitted by the mobile object is therefore not frequency-regulated by a control signal which comes from the frequency of the fixed station.

Une disposition analogue résulte du US-A-4 274 089 dans lequel il s'agit d'une installation de protection contre le vol de marchandises vendues dans un magasin. Dans ce cas, la fréquence reçue par l'étiquette d'identification est multipliée ou démultipliée par un facteur n. Il convient de noter, par ailleurs, qu'une telle installation ne nécessite pas de distinction entre les fréquences émises par les étiquettes, le but étant de simplement signaler qu'un article est indûment sorti du magasin.A similar arrangement results from US-A-4 274 089 in which it is an installation for theft protection of goods sold in a store. In this case, the frequency received by the identification tag is multiplied or multiplied by a factor n. It should also be noted that such an installation does not require no distinction between the frequencies emitted by the labels, the aim being to simply signal that an item has been improperly taken out of the store.

Dans le US-A-4 087 753, on précise en substance (colonne 4, lignes 15 à 20) que «le signal émis par l'appareil du second objet est plus particulièrement en relation cohérente avec le signal d'interrogation reçu ou, en d'autres termes, pour chaque groupe prédéterminé de cycles du signal d'interrogation, le second objet émet un cycle prédéterminé ou un groupe de cycles prédéterminé.»In US-A-4 087 753, it is specified in substance (column 4, lines 15 to 20) that "the signal emitted by the device of the second object is more particularly in coherent relationship with the interrogation signal received or, in other words, for each predetermined group of cycles of the interrogation signal, the second object emits a predetermined cycle or a group of predetermined cycles. ”

Dans cette installation, la fréquence de l'émetteur fixe et celle de l'émetteur embarqué sont donc également dans une relation prédéterminée. Cependant, l'émetteur embarqué ne compte au-. cun moyen pour dériver de la fréquence reçue, une référence servant à la régulation de la fréquence émise par cet émetteur embarqué.In this installation, the frequency of the fixed transmitter and that of the on-board transmitter are therefore also in a predetermined relationship. However, the on-board transmitter does not count. no means for deriving from the received frequency, a reference used for regulating the frequency emitted by this on-board transmitter.

Enfin, d'après le chapitre 2, pages 11 à 20 d'un ouvrage de la Société Signetics Corporation intitulé «Signetics Linear Phase locked loop Application Book», il est connu de stabiliser une fréquence à l'aide d'une boucle de verrouillage de phase dont l'application pratique peut être de synthétiser plusieurs fréquences (voir figures 8 et 9 et la description correspondante de ces figures).Finally, according to chapter 2, pages 11 to 20 of a book by the Signetics Corporation entitled "Signetics Linear Phase locked loop Application Book", it is known to stabilize a frequency using a locking loop phase whose practical application can be to synthesize several frequencies (see Figures 8 and 9 and the corresponding description of these figures).

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;
  • - 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;
  • - 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.The 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 fi 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 f i of 80 kHz.

Les dispositifs embarqués comportent une an- . tenne réceptrice 5 pour recevoir le signal de pilo- . tage, 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 year. receiver 5 to receive the pilo signal. stage, 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 respectively show 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 f2 = 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 f, 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 f3 = 2,5 et f4 = 3,5 MHz. Elle pourra donc varier par pas dé 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 f 2 = 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 allowing respectively to choose the digit of the unit, of the ten and of the hundred of the ratio between the frequency f, of the signal d ' identification developed by oscillator 12 and the frequency of the reference signal of 20 kHz. Preferably, this loop is constituted so that the frequency of the identification signal is between f 3 = 2.5 and f 4 = 3.5 MHz. It can therefore vary in steps of 20 kHz 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 passage du mobile au voisinage de l'antenne 3 est représenté dans la figure 2g et il est constitué par la superposition du signal de pilotage de 80 kHz et du signai 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 3 is represented in FIG. 2g and it consists of the superposition of the 80 kHz control signal and the identification signal.

Pour limiter la consommation du dispositif em- . barqué, 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'antenne fixe 3.To limit the consumption of the em- device. locked, 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 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.In addition, 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 represented 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 métiér.It will be understood that the device shown in Figure 1 could be the subject of many its 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'inven- . tion 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. tion 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 identification signal processing means 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 cha-. que 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 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 issued by cha-. mobile, and a so-called reference identification signal. It would suffice for this purpose to produce from the piloting 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 time 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 en-. droits 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 times. rights different from 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 indica-. tif, 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 ontété définis par des cadres en traits pointillés sur la figure 3, aux- . quels on a attribué en chiffres romains les références correspondantes de la figure 1.FIG. 3 represents, purely by way of indication. tif, 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 the references of the elements used. For clarity, the blocks of Figure 1 have been defined by dashed lines in Figure 3, aux-. which have been assigned in Roman numerals the corresponding references in Figure 1.

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 raison- . nable 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 reason. level of passages of the on-board device 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 (10)

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 antoher 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.
2. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said oscillator (12) is controlled by a voltage and is connected to a phase locked loop whose reference signal is the frequency (f2) that is produced when converting said radio-electric signal (f1) in said frequency conversion means (9) and whose feed-back signal is formed from the signal from said oscillator via a circuit (13, 14, 15) for selecting the grade of the frequency (fi) of the signal generated by the oscillator (12) in the grading of the identification frequencies, said selection circuit thereby setting the frequency (fi) of the characteristic identification signal for the moving body concerned.
3. A system according to claim 2, characterized in that said switching means further include a switching element (19) which is actuated to supply the transmitter (33) of said on-board transceiver only when the identification signal (fi) that is generated via the phase locked loop has become stable.
4. A system according to claim 3, characterized in that said switching element (19) is connected to a phase comparator (19) in said phase locked loop for it to be actuated when the comparator establishes equality between its two inputs.
5. A system according to either of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that said switching means further include a second switching element (15) that is connected to supply said phase locked loop only during the time said radio-electric signal (f1) is being received.
6. A system according to claim 5, characterized in that said second switching element (15) is connected to a frequency detector (16) that is tuned to the frequency (f1) of said radio-electric signal whereby said second switching element may be actuated only when the detector (16) actually detects this signal and in that this detector itself connected to the supply via a third switching element (17) only when the presence of the radio-electric signal (f1) is detected.
7. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radio-electric signal (f1) that is transmitted by the transmitter (22) at said stationary station (1) is also used as a carrier frequency for information having to be sent to the moving bodies and in that the receiver of each on-board transceiver includes means for decoding said information.
8. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the identification signal (fi) that is transmitted by the transmitter (33) of each on-board transceiver is also used as a carrier frequency for additional information having to be sent to the stationary station (1).
9. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (4) for processing the identification signals compare the frequency (fi) of a reference identification signal that is obtained in an equivalent manner to that of the identification signal produced by the on-board transceiver, but in a stationary transceiver (24), with that of each identification signal being received, and determines the instant when the difference is smallest.
10. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises several stationary stations at a plurality of spaced apart points along the path of travel of the moving bodies.
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

Publications (2)

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

Family

ID=25698319

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP82810312A Expired EP0074330B1 (en) 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

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0074330B1 (en)
DE (1) DE3277944D1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2453415A1 (en) 2010-11-16 2012-05-16 SPORTident GmbH Method and arrangment for determining passing times at control points, in particular for sport events

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2545952B1 (en) * 1983-05-13 1987-03-20 Omega Electronics Sa DEVICE FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC TRANSMISSION OF AN EVENT IN A DISTURBED MEDIUM
FR2619644A1 (en) * 1987-08-19 1989-02-24 Braconnier Dominique Detection device, particularly for timing vehicles in sporting competitions
GB8813066D0 (en) * 1988-06-02 1988-07-06 Pi Research Ltd Vehicle data recording system
FR2656447B1 (en) * 1989-12-26 1992-03-27 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

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4068232A (en) * 1976-02-12 1978-01-10 Fairchild Industries, Inc. Passive encoding microwave transponder
US4274089A (en) * 1978-05-19 1981-06-16 U.S. Philips Corporation Detection system

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3546696A (en) * 1969-06-17 1970-12-08 Digimetrics Inc Sports computer system
DE2045797B2 (en) * 1970-09-16 1979-07-05 Siemens Ag, 1000 Berlin Und 8000 Muenchen Identification and location system for local service trains - deploys units along track to send audio signal combinations to central control for decoding
US3720911A (en) * 1971-06-15 1973-03-13 T Bomar Motor vehicle identification and speed control system
US3839717A (en) * 1972-01-28 1974-10-01 Identification Co Inc Communication apparatus for communicating between a first and a second object
NL162494C (en) * 1973-02-28 1980-05-16 Philips Nv DEVICE FOR IDENTIFYING VEHICLES.

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4068232A (en) * 1976-02-12 1978-01-10 Fairchild Industries, Inc. Passive encoding microwave transponder
US4274089A (en) * 1978-05-19 1981-06-16 U.S. Philips Corporation Detection system

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
"Signetics Linear Phase Locked Loops Applications Book", 1972, Section 2, pages 9 à 20 *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2453415A1 (en) 2010-11-16 2012-05-16 SPORTident GmbH Method and arrangment for determining passing times at control points, in particular for sport events

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3277944D1 (en) 1988-02-11
EP0074330A1 (en) 1983-03-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0074330B1 (en) 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
FR2647241A1 (en) INTEGRATED CIRCUIT BOARD WITHOUT CONTACT
FR2479509A1 (en) DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM HAVING ASYNCHRONOUS DETECTION UNITS
EP0570289B1 (en) Device for the detection of the passage of a vehicle using a passive transponder
EP0150880A2 (en) Demodulator using phase-locked loop
EP0048200B1 (en) Tuning-frequency search device for a frequency-modulation radio receiver
FR2512294A1 (en) RECEIVER COMPRISING A FREQUENCY DISPLAY DEVICE
EP0128055B1 (en) Delay device and its use in a decoding arrangement of a distance measuring equipment
EP3301838A1 (en) Method and system for determining a distance between a portable object and a base station
EP0020205B1 (en) Device for synchronizing a clock signal and synchronous data transmission system comprising such a device
EP0211714B1 (en) Device for increasing the dynamic range of an amplifying circuit, in particular of an mls board receiver
EP0600796B1 (en) Radio navigation method and management system for a fleet of vehicles
EP0163346B1 (en) System for aircraft terminal guidance or position reseting using range and angle measurement
FR2922641A1 (en) METHOD AND DEVICE FOR RECALING THE POSITION OF AN AIRCRAFT.
FR2514175A1 (en) Motor race finish electronic timing installation - involves mobile transmitters triggered by reference signal from fixed finishing line antenna
EP0550360A1 (en) Lock detector for a phase locked loop
EP0274958A1 (en) Device for compensating the Doppler effect produced by the relative motion between receiver and transmitter, tuned at the same frequency, in a radioreceiver
EP0847193A1 (en) Intermediate frequency amplifier circuit for radiowave receiver
EP1214607B1 (en) Method and device for determining transit time between a space craft and a ground station
FR2489059A1 (en) FREQUENCY MODULATION RADIO RECEIVER AND CONTROL SWITCH
FR2706659A1 (en) Electronic anti-collision device for ships
WO1998037431A1 (en) System for remote sensing of the position of a moving vehicle
FR2571193A1 (en) MESSAGE TRANSMITTER AND RECEIVER COMPRISING SUCCESSIVE PULSES MODULATING A FIXED FREQUENCY CARRIER
EP0084004A1 (en) Method and equipment for combined radionavigation with distances and pseudo-distances
EP1477004A1 (en) Frequency modulator for digital transmissions

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19821217

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): AT CH DE FR GB IT LI

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19861208

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: DE DOMINICIS & MAYER S.R.L.

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT CH DE FR GB IT LI

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 31829

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19880115

Kind code of ref document: T

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3277944

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19880211

GBT Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977)
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
ITTA It: last paid annual fee
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19960619

Year of fee payment: 15

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19960712

Year of fee payment: 15

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19960717

Year of fee payment: 15

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 19960718

Year of fee payment: 15

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Payment date: 19960726

Year of fee payment: 15

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19970719

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19970719

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19970731

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19970731

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19970719

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19980331

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19980401

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST