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: A method for determining a passing time of an object passing a timing line across a sports track comprises receiving a sequence of time-stamped video frames captured by at least one camera representing pictures of a scene of one or more objects moving along a track; determining depth maps for the sequence of frames comprising information regarding the distance between the one or more objects in the picture of a frame and the camera system; detecting one or more objects using an object detection algorithm; determining a detected object in the frames passing a timing line across a track, the timing line being defined by a virtual plane at a predetermined distance from the camera, the determination of the passing being based on the coordinates of the virtual plane and the depth maps; determining a passing time based on a time stamp of a frame comprising a detected object passing the timing line.

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 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: 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 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 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: Computer-implemented methods for managing communication between each of the plurality of wireless RF nodes and a base station using frequency hopping over M non-overlapping frequency channels in a wireless network is provided. The communication is carried out according to a time slot schedule comprising M time slot assemblies, each time slot assembly comprising at least one time slot for the base station to transmit, preferably by broadcast, data on a different channel of the M channels, and R time slots, R being an integer equal to or greater than 1, for one or more of the plurality of nodes to transmit data to the base station. The methods described herein enable a point-to-multipoint wireless communication system in an ISM frequency band that can provide a reliable RF data link even in an area that already comprises one or more WLAN networks that operate in the same ISM frequency band.

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: Methods and systems for determining the passing time of a moving transponder passing a detection antenna of a base station are described wherein the method comprises: during said passing exchanging a sequence of first signals between a first transponder coil and said detection antenna and a sequence of second signals between a second transponder coil and the detection coil; associating said first and/or second signals with time instances indicating the time when said first and/or second signals are exchanged between said transponder and said base station; and, determining the passing time of said transponder on the basis of the signal strengths of said first and second signals and said time instances.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods for managing communication between each of the plurality of wireless RF nodes and a base station using frequency hopping over M non-overlapping frequency channels in a wireless network is provided. The communication is carried out according to a time slot schedule comprising M time slot assemblies, each time slot assembly comprising at least one time slot for the base station to transmit, preferably by broadcast, data on a different channel of the M channels, and R time slots, R being an integer equal to or greater than 1, for one or more of the plurality of nodes to transmit data to the base station. The methods described herein enable a point-to-multipoint wireless communication system in an ISM frequency band that can provide a reliable RF data link even in an area that already comprises one or more WLAN networks that operate in the same ISM frequency band.

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 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.