Slot track management system
A slot track management system for use with at least one racecar includes a track having a plurality of slots and a plurality of metal strips along the slots for conveying current to a respective racecar. A starting line is perpendicular to the slots. The system includes a processor, start and information displays. At least two south-pole sensors are situated adjacent each slot and the starting line for detecting the presence of a racecar. The processor includes programming for distinguishing between race cars based on data from the sensors, calculating race performance information, actuating the information display to display the calculated race performance data, and actuating the start display indicative of a start time. The start display may include a lighting configuration characteristic of a NHRA Christmas tree. The system enables race fans to experience characteristics of multi-lap racing and drag racing.
This invention relates to slot car racing and, more particularly, to a slot track management system that combines features of drag racing with traditional slot track racing.
Slot car racing is the hobby of racing electrically powered model cars on tracks that have a groove or slot to guide the cars. Users control the speed of the cars using handheld controllers that regulate a small, electric motor situated within respective cars. Most handheld controllers used in slot car racing are touchy and too much speed causes a slot car to be thrown from the track. This characteristic often leads to relatively slow, multi-lap races by slot car racing players. Another important observation regarding slot car racing is that most slot car race tracks are designed to emulate NASCAR style tracks. However, the defined lanes in a typical slot car track are naturally characteristic of drag racing.
Various slot car race tracks and electronics for managing slot car racing are known in the art. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices do not include race features common to both stock car racing and drag racing. More particularly, the existing devices do not include an accurate clock feature that would enable shorter, faster and more exciting races to take place.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a slot track management system that combines features of both multi-lap racing characteristic of stock car racing with accurate clock features and defined lanes characteristic of drag racing. Further, it would be desirable to have a slot track management system having a lighting interface indicative of NHRA racing. In addition, it would be desirable to have a slot track management system that utilizes sensors to track individual slot cars and to calculate race performance data for display.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, a slot track management system according to the present invention includes a racetrack having one or more slots forming a raceway. A metal strip is situated adjacent each slot for conveying an electric current to at least one racecar. A starting line is positioned perpendicular to each slot and provides the basis for many additional features. A sensor is also positioned along each slot for detecting the presence of a racecar at a particular position therealong.
A processor is in data communication with the sensors and with electronic displays, audio devices, and input devices. The processor includes programming, in cooperation with the sensors, for distinguishing between the racecars, and for calculating race performance information and for comparing current race performance information with prior race performance information. A clock for timing items such as lap time, reaction time to start, and other data is in electrical communication with the processor. The system may include a start display in the form of a so-called NHRA Christmas Tree in which a user must start the race as quickly as possible following a sequence of lights. The programming, in cooperation with the clock and start displays also allow for handicapping the races based on a user's abilities and experience levels.
Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a slot track management system for having features characteristic of both multi-lap racing and drag racing.
Another object of this invention is to provide a slot track management system, as aforesaid, that incorporates an accurate clock and lighting features indicative of drag racing.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a slot track management system, as aforesaid, having sensors for distinguishing between racecars, a starting line, and a processor having programming for calculating race performance data.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a slot track management system, as aforesaid, which can vary race characteristics based on user-supplied handicapping information.
A further object of this invention is to provide a slot track management system, as aforesaid, which can compare and display current race performance information and previous race performance information.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a slot track management system, as aforesaid, which enables one user to race against another user or to race against his previous race performance statistics.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.
A slot track management system 100 for use with at least one racecar 10 according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to
As shown in
At least one sensor 150 may be adjacent each slot 112 for detecting the presence of a racecar 10 at a particular location (i.e., a start and/or finish line) along the raceway 115. As shown in
A processor 160 (
The processor 160 may have programming for determining a start time, actuating the start displays 120a to display start information that includes the start time, determining if a racecar 10 crossed the starting line 116 before the start time, and actuating at least one of the displays 120 to display a false start signal if a racecar 10 crossed the starting line 116 before the start time. Data from the sensors 150 may be used to determine if a racecar 10 crossed the starting line 116 before the start time. The start time may be determined randomly, may follow a predictable pattern, or may be based on handicapping information and/or race length information. The handicapping information and/or the race length information may be provided to the processor 160 through the input device(s) 140. The race length information may include, for example, track distance data and a number of laps.
The processor 160 may have programming for calculating race performance information and actuating at least one information display 120b to display the race performance information. The processor 160 may actuate the audio device(s) 130 to audibly present the race performance information and/or other appropriate sounds (e.g., sounds that would be heard at a racetrack). Data from the sensors 150 may be used to calculate the race performance information. The race performance information may include, for example, a number of laps completed for each respective racecar 10, a number of laps remaining for each respective racecar 10, lap speed information for each respective racecar 10, and comparison data for each respective racecar 10. The comparison data may compare race performance information for racecars 10 currently racing, and/or the comparison data may compare race performance information for racecars 10 currently racing to racecars 10 that have previously raced. Race performance information for racecars 10 that have previously raced may be referred to as prior race performance information.
Some exemplary logic used by the processor 160 is shown in
In use, the racecar(s) 10 may be coupled to the slots 112 as is known in the art. The user may provide the processor 160 with the handicapping information or the race length information to make competition more fair and/or enjoyable, and the processor 160 may determine the start information, actuate the start displays 120a, and check for false starts as described above. The processor 160 may calculate the race performance information using data from the sensors 150, and the processor 160 may actuate the information display(s) 120b and/or the audio device(s) 130 as described above.
It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. A slot track management system for use with at least one racecar, said system comprising:
- a track having a plurality of slots that form at least a part of a raceway;
- a plurality of metal strips adjacent said slots for conveying electrical current to the at least one racecar;
- a starting line generally perpendicular to said slots;
- a processor;
- at least two south-pole sensors adjacent each said slot for detecting the presence of a racecar along said raceway, said sensors being adjacent said starting line and in data communication with said processor;
- a start display corresponding to each respective slot, said start displays being in data communication with said processor;
- at least one information display in data communication with said processor;
- wherein said processor has programming for: distinguishing between the at least one racecar based on data from said sensors; calculating race performance information using said data from said sensors; actuating said at least one information display to display said race performance information; and actuating said start displays to display start information that includes a start time.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor has programming for:
- determining if a racecar crossed said starting line before said start time; and
- actuating said at least one information display to display a false start signal if a racecar crossed said starting line before said start time.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein:
- a first racecar has a magnetically-south side and a magnetically-north side;
- a second racecar has a magnetically-south side and a magnetically-north side;
- the magnetically-south side of the first racecar corresponds to the magnetically-north side of the second racecar; and
- said processor distinguishes between the first and second racecars by relating said data from said sensors to the respective magnetically-south sides of the first and second racecars.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein:
- an input device is in data communication with said processor for providing said processor with handicapping information; and
- said processor has programming for determining said start information based on said handicapping information.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein said race performance information includes at least one item selected from the group consisting of number of laps completed for each respective racecar, number of laps remaining for each respective racecar, lap speed information for each respective racecar, and comparison data for each respective racecar.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor has programming for determining said start information based on track distance data.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein:
- an input device is in data communication with said processor for providing said processor with race length information that includes a number of laps;
- said processor has programming for determining said start information based on track distance data and said number of laps; and
- said race performance information includes at least one item selected from the group consisting of number of laps completed for each respective racecar, number of laps remaining for each respective racecar, lap speed information for each respective racecar, and comparison data for each respective racecar.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein said processor, said input device, said start displays, and said at least one information display are integral with said track.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein:
- said processor is in data communication with an audio device; and
- said processor includes programming for actuating said audio device.
10. The system of claim 2, wherein:
- at least one input device is in data communication with said processor for providing said processor with at least one item selected from the group consisting of handicapping information and race length information;
- said race length information includes a number of laps; and
- said processor has programming for determining said start information based on at least one item selected from the group consisting of said handicapping information and said race length information.
11. A slot track management system for use with at least one racecar, said system comprising:
- a track having a plurality of slots that form at least a part of a raceway;
- a plurality of metal strips adjacent said slots for conveying electrical current;
- a starting line generally perpendicular to said slots;
- a processor;
- at least one sensor adjacent each said slot for detecting the presence of a racecar at a particular location along said raceway, said sensors being in data communication with said processor;
- a start display corresponding to each respective slot, said start displays being in data communication with said processor; and
- at least one information display in data communication with said processor.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein:
- said processor actuates said start displays to display start information;
- said start information includes a start time;
- said processor calculates race performance information using data from said sensors; and
- said processor actuates said at least one information display to display said race performance information.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein:
- said processor determines if a racecar crossed said starting line before said start time using data from said sensors; and
- said processor actuates at least one item selected from the group consisting of one said start display and one said information display to display a false start signal if a racecar crossed said starting line before said start time.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein:
- an input device is in data communication with said processor for providing said processor with at least one item selected from the group consisting of handicapping information and race length information;
- said race length information includes a number of laps; and
- said processor determines said start information based on at least one item selected from the group consisting of said handicapping information and said race length information.
15. The system of claim 12, wherein said race performance information includes at least one item selected from the group consisting of number of laps completed for each respective racecar, number of laps remaining for each respective racecar, lap speed information for each respective racecar, and comparison data for each respective racecar.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein:
- said processor is in data communication with an audio device; and
- said processor actuates said audio device to audibly present said race performance information.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein:
- said processor compares said race performance information to prior race performance information; and
- said processor actuates said at least one information display to display said comparison of said race performance information and said prior race performance information.
18. The system of claim 15, wherein:
- said processor is in data communication with an audio device;
- said processor compares said race performance information to prior race performance information; and
- said processor actuates said audio device to audibly present said comparison of said race performance information and said prior race performance information.
19. The system of claim 11, wherein:
- said at least one sensor adjacent each said slot is at least two south-pole sensors adjacent each said slot;
- a first racecar has a magnetically-south side and a magnetically-north side;
- a second racecar has a magnetically-south side and a magnetically-north side;
- the magnetically-south side of the first racecar corresponds to the magnetically-north side of the second racecar; and
- said processor distinguishes between the first and second racecars by relating data from said sensors to the respective magnetically-south sides of the first and second racecars.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 15, 2006
Publication Date: Dec 20, 2007
Inventor: Daniel W. Tyler (Portland, OR)
Application Number: 11/454,167
International Classification: A63F 9/14 (20060101);