Abstract: A rollable antenna mat for sports timing comprises one or more planar antenna structures connected to one or more transmission lines for conveying signals to and/or from the one or more planar antenna structures. Each of the one or more planar antenna structures comprises a conductive plate positioned above a conductive ground plane. A spacer element is positioned between the conductive ground plane and the conductive plate. The planar antenna structure is configured to generate a radiation field having a main axis that is substantially perpendicular to the conductive plate. The planar antenna structure and a transmission line is embedded in a flexible elongated sheet structure of one or more elastomeric materials, and comprises the embedded one or more planar antenna structures being suitable to be rolled up in a roll, the axis of the roll being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible elongated sheet structure.

Abstract: Methods are described for providing access to one or more transponder functions of sports timing transponder that is configured for transmitting a signal comprising a transponder identifier to a receiver of a timing system that is configured to determine the point in time that said transponder passes said receiver. The method may comprise: establishing a communication link between said transponder and an access module configured to determine time information; determining rights information stored in a memory of said transponder, said rights information comprising one or more access conditions for determining when a user of said transponder has a right to access at least part of said transponder functions; receiving time information from said access module; and, determining whether said user has a right to access at least part of said one or more transponder functions on the basis of at least part of said access conditions and said time information.

Abstract: In a method for determining the passing time of a moving transponder passing a detection antenna of a base station, a sequence of first signals are exchanged between a first transponder coil and the detection antenna, and a sequence of second signals are exchanged between a second transponder coil and the detection coil. The first and/or second signals are associated with time instances indicating the time when the first and/or second signals are exchanged between the transponder and the base station. The passing time of said transponder is determined on the basis of the signal strengths of the first and second signals and the time instances.

Abstract: A tag assembly is described wherein the tag assembly is affixable to clothing and/or a body and wherein the assembly includes a support sheet; a tag disposed on the support sheet, the tag being configured to transmit a signal to a receiver; and, an expandable spacer structure disposed the support sheet, the expandable spacer structure providing a predetermined spacing between the tag and the body, the expandable spacer being configured to expand from a thin non-expanded state to a expanded state of a predetermined spacer thickness.

Abstract: A wearable sport timing tag assembly comprising at least a first and second tag is described for transmitting data associated with the wearer of the tag assembly to at least one detection antenna, wherein the tag assembly comprises means for attaching the tag assembly to at least a body part or clothing of the wearer, wherein when attached to said body or clothing the main signal transmission direction of said first tag being in a first direction; and, the main signal transmission direction of said second tag being in a second direction which is different from said first direction.

Abstract: A portable free-standing vertical RF antenna structure for use in an UHF timing system comprises a base structure for supporting the vertical antenna structure on a substantially horizontal surface. At least a first antenna unit comprising a first planar RF antenna and at least a second antenna unit comprising a second planar RF antenna, the second antenna unit being located above the first antenna unit, are coupled to the base structure and form a vertical RF antenna structure. The first and second antenna unit is positioned such that the inclination angle between a main axis of the radiation field of the first RF antenna and the horizontal surface is selected between 10 and 50 degrees. The inclination angle between a main axis of the radiation field of the second RF antenna and the horizontal surface is selected between ?20 and 20 degrees.

Abstract: A method is described for establishing a data link between an access module and a sports timing transponder module comprising: connecting said access module to a CAN bus, said CAN bus being connected to one or more transponder modules, a transponder module being associated with a transponder ID; sending one or more announce CAN messages over said CAN bus, the payload of an announce CAN message comprising an answer CAN address; receiving one or more request CAN messages from said one or more transponder modules, a request CAN message comprising said answer CAN address and a transponder ID of one of said one or more transponder modules; and, said access node selecting a transponder module on the basis of said one or more request CAN messages for establishing said data link.

Abstract: Method and a system for detecting the passing between a transmitter module and a detecting module is described. The method may comprise: detecting a plurality of signals transmitted by said transmitter module; determining phase information associated with at least a part of said plurality of detected signals; and, determining said passing on the basis of said phase information.

Abstract: Method and a system for detecting the passing between a transmitter module and a detecting module is described. The method may comprise: detecting a plurality of signals transmitted by said transmitter module; determining phase information associated with at least a part of said plurality of detected signals; and, determining said passing on the basis of said phase information.