Means for practicing team games

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a means for practicing team games, and more precisely to a device arranged to support the work of the referee during a match.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

In team games, the rules of the game prescribe, for instance, that a certain formation distance should be observed between the players of the opposing team and the position for starting playing, such as upon kick off or the formation of a wall in connection with a free kick in a football match, or the like in other team games such as handball, bandy, floorball, etc. Particularly, upon a free kick or free hit, said distances may become a subject of discussion and timewasting correction before the free hit/ kick can be executed.

Another question that may lead to discussion is the instant of time for the signal that indicates the end of the time of play, particularly in team games wherein the main referee, who gives the signal by means of his/her whistle, is on the ground and simultaneously should control the time of play and that the rules of the game are observed. In, for instance, football, the judgement of the correct instant of time for the final whistle is further complicated by the application of an extra time of varying length that should compensate for time-outs during the regular time of play.

Furthermore, documentation and reporting of the events of the game constitute an important task for the match referee, such as registration of players' warnings, note of scorer, substitutions, etc. The interaction of the main referee with the linesman and goal umpire is an additional aspect that has scope for improvements and that, in case of shortcomings, may cause irritation and discussions between the players/ coach and the referee.

THE INVENTION IN BRIEF

The invention aims at providing a means that facilitates the judgement of the referee in one or more of the above-mentioned and other respects, and which means obviates one or more of the above-mentioned problems.

Said object is attained by means of a device according to the claims attached. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

In brief, according to the invention there is provided a device that is arranged as a means when refereeing a team-game match, comprising a housing the dimensions of which are adapted to be held in the hand by a referee during the match, which housing comprises

- a timing member in the form of an electronic clock;

- a distance-measurement member comprising a transmitter and receiver of distance-measurement signals;

- a member for the displaying of time and measured distance, and in addition a power supply, electrical driving members and an electronic control unit for the driving and control of said member. The device is further characterized in that the housing comprises a processor in which a data-storage program, arranged to store match data in a storage unit, is executed, which data are possible to input by means of at least one input member available from the outside of the housing, which input member is operative, on one hand, for the selection of menus in the data- storage program under which play-interrupting events are registered in registries in the storage unit corresponding to the menus, and on the other hand for selecting player numbers and the team membership of players under the selected menu, wherein the processor is arranged to add the current time of the match, at each instant of time, as measured by the electronic clock to each registered play-interrupting event.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the device may be formed with an input member comprising

- at least one submember dedicated for the selection of menu in the data- storage program, as well as

- at least one submember dedicated for selecting player numbers and/or team membership under the selected menu, or alternatively

- two or more submembers dedicated for the direct selection of menu in the datastorage program, as well as

- at least one submember dedicated for selecting player numbers, together with

- at least one submember dedicated for selecting team membership, both under the selected menu, wherein particularly the input member may comprise

- submembers dedicated for the separate registration of Free kick, Penalty, Goal, Warning and Substitution under the corresponding menu in the data-storage program.

It is furthermore preferred that the distance-measurement member is separated from the marking member and controlled for repeated measurements at the same time as

the marking member is controlled for displaying continuously. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the distance-measurement member is a transmitter of sound waves in the ultrasonic frequency range and a receiver of the sound waves, and is, in addition, assigned a counter and an averager as well as a display for the displaying of measurement results.

Additional features and advantageous embodiments are seen in the description below and in the dependent claims attached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are described in detail below, reference being made to accompanying schematic drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a device according to the invention in a perspective view;

Fig. 2 shows the device in Fig. 1 in a diametrically opposite view;

Fig. 3 shows a just schematic cross section through the device from one side thereof, along the line III— III in Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 shows a broken-away, schematic view of the device seen from above;

Fig. 5 shows a front view of an alternative embodiment of the device;

Figs. 6-7 corresponding front views of additional embodiments, and

Fig. 8 is a block diagram illustrating functions that are provided by a device according to the embodiments in Figs. 5-7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

With reference to Figs. 1-4 of the drawings, there is shown an embodiment of a device according to the invention, comprising a shell-shaped housing 1 dimensioned to be brought by the referee in the hand during the time of play. Inside the housing 1 , a member for the generation of a sound signal audible to the practisers may be arranged. In the embodiment, one end of the housing is made as a whistle, having a mouthpiece 2 that has an air gap 3 having an internal, air-flow breaking cam by means of which a sound signal is generated when blowing in air into the air gap. It will be appreciated, without the same being shown in the drawing figure, that a

corresponding whistle alternative may be detachably mountable in a custom-made attachment on the housing 1. Alternatively, it is also feasible that the sound signal instead is generated, or is enhanced, by an electrically driven sound generator arranged in the housing, which is fed by batteries intended for the driving also of at least one additional function in addition to said sound signal.

In the end of the housing 1 opposite the mouthpiece 2, two openings are formed through the end wall, one of which is a window 4 for the transmission and reception of a distance-measurement signal and the other is a window 5 for the transmission of a visual signal for the marking of an object of measurement.

On top side of the housing 1, there is arranged an information window or display 6, as well as a first control button 7 for the activation of a distance-measurement member and a second control button 8 for the activation of a timing member.

With reference to Figs. 3 and 4, a description of functions and members carried in the housing 1 follows. In that connection, it should be observed that in both figures a detachable part of the housing 1 has been lifted off in order to show the interior of the housing. In both figures, members discussed below are just schematically represented, which is considered to be sufficient for this description since the components in question by themselves are known and available on the market.

The window 4 is the mouth of a passage that leads into a distance-measurement member 11 , comprising a transmitter part and a receiver part. The transmitter part of the distance-measurement member 11 is arranged to transmit sound or light signals in the form of pulses toward an object of measurement, and is regulated by a control unit that is activated by pressing down the first control button 7. The receiver part of the distance-measurement member 11 is arranged to register sound or light signals that are reflected from the object of measurement, and is assigned a counter that measures the time from the transmission to the reception of a sound or light pulse. The time elapsed is proportional to the distance to the object of measurement. A control software program in the control unit drives the distance-measurement member to execute a number of repeated measurements at each pressing-down of the control button 7, whereupon an averager calculates a mean value and shows the same on the display 6. The control software program is stored in a processor carried on a printed circuit card 12, likewise comprising said control unit, counter and averager.

In a preferred embodiment, the distance-measurement member 11 comprises a generator for the generation of sound waves in the ultrasonic frequency range. A suitable

type of generator or transducer comprises a membrane of metal, which is driven to oscillate with a frequency of the order of 40 kHz by means of a piezo-electric element. However, the invention should not be regarded to be limited to ultrasonic measurements since also other distance-measurement techniques known per se would be adaptable for the purpose, such as measurements using visible or invisible light or electromagnetic signals in other wavelength ranges.

In the window 5, a lens 13, belonging to a member for the marking of an object of measurement, is arranged, comprising a light laser 14 in a preferred embodiment. The light laser 14 is driven by the control unit and is activated in parallel with the distance-measurement member 11 by pressing down the control button 7. More precisely, the light laser 14 is driven for continuous output of a visual signal during the period of time when the control button 7 is pressed down, at the same time as the distance-measurement member transmits a burst of distance-measurement signal pulses toward the object of measurement. The light laser 14 may, as an example, be a red-light laser having an output power of the order of 1 mW and operating at a wavelength of about 650 nm.

Furthermore, on the printed circuit card 12, there is arranged a timing member in the form of an electronic clock, which is driven by the control unit and activated by pressing down the second control button 8. The control software program that regulates the start and stop of the clock is advantageously formed with the condition that the electronic clock should be started and stopped, respectively, only if said second control button 8 is actuated continuously for a certain time, amounting to, for instance, at least one second. For the resetting of the clock, the control software program is preferably formed with the condition that both the first and the second control button 7 and 8, respectively, are actuated simultaneously. The length of the time of play may be stored in the control software program, or, alternatively, be possible to input via the control button 8, for instance, in connection with the resetting of the clock. Played time or remaining time of play is shown on the display 6, which, for instance, may contain a liquid crystal display (LCD).

Preferably, the device comprises an additional member arranged to indicate to the referee that the time of play has run out. Preferably, said member is a vibration motor 15, which is activated by the control software program upon run-out of the time of play and generates a vibration in the hand-held housing 1 perceptible to the referee. In doing so, the control software program may be formed to actuate the vibration for a certain time, for instance, 10-30 s, and, alternatively, to simultaneously turn on the display 6 and show the time of play in the same for a certain period of time, for

instance, 20-30 s. Alternatively, in order to indicate run-out of the time of play, the member may instead consist of a signal from a sound generator.

All members, including the display 6 and the electronics carried on the printed circuit card 12, are electrically driven by batteries 16 mounted in a battery support arranged in the housing 1. The batteries may be of a replaceable or rechargeable type, suitably a contact (not shown) for the connection to a charger being arranged on the housing. In both cases, the control software program is suitably formed to show the status of the batteries on the display 6.

The processor that controls the functions of the device may, in addition to instructions for the driving of the ultrasonic generator, laser, clock, display and vibration motor, also be utilized to execute a data-storage routine according to which information is stored in the storage unit, which information forms the basis for a decision, for instance, statistical information about players. The data-storage program may be formed for the input of information via a menu that is accessible by means of the control buttons 7 and 8 and activable by pressing down either of the same for a certain time, for instance, amounting to, at least, about three seconds.

Alternatively, the control buttons 7, 8 may be replaced by an input member formed in another way, which member is accessible from the outside of the housing 1 and operative for moving between different menus in the data-storage program corresponding to registries in the storage unit, such as is described below and illustrated by the embodiments in Figs. 5-7, at the same time reference being made to the block diagram in Fig. 8.

The device according to Fig. 5 comprises a housing having a member accessible from the outside on the housing for the input and storage of information into a storage unit arranged in the housing. The input is verified visually on a display 6, which also is arranged for the displaying of the time of play/ remaining time of play and the measured distance. In addition, the device may be equipped with a speech memory for the storage and playback of speech or form of sound information. The sound information may be stored and playbacked via a microphone and a loudspeaker carried in the housing, or via a radio link, for instance, a blue-tooth solution, for wireless connection with a headset carried by the referee during a match. A communication port 17 for data transfer to and/ or from the device may be arranged in the form of a wire- based connection such as a USB-connection, a radio-based connection such as a blue-tooth connection, or an IR-connection. Furthermore, in the housing 1, a transmitter/receiver may be included for radio signals or a mobile-telephone solution such

as a GPRS/GSM-unit, by means of which contact with peripheral units may be established for the exchange of speech or other signals, for instance, between the main referee and the linesmen. A whistle 2' may, where appropriate, be carried on the housing, preferably turnably or detachably received in a seating intended therefor on the housing.

The member for the input of data offers the selection between menus corresponding to registries in a storage unit that is administered by a data-storage program executed by a processor included in the housing. Examples of menus in a device adapted to the refereeing of football matches are shown in Fig. 7, comprising Clock; Free kick; Goal; Warning; Substitution; Penalty; Speech memory; Setup. Moving between said menus may be made by means of scrolling buttons 18 and 19, respectively, one of which, when being pressed down, executes a movement upward in the menu hierarchy, while pressing down the other results in a movement downward. Correspondingly, the same buttons 18 and 19 may be utilized for selecting player numbers and the team membership of players, respectively, under the menus Goal, Warning, Substitution and Penalty. Input of data into the storage unit is executed by means of an input button 20.

Of course, the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 may be varied in respect of the design of the input member for the selection of menu and input of player information into the registry in question in the storage unit. For instance, it is feasible that the input member is formed circular having submembers in the form of keys or buttons 21, 22 dedicated for the menu selection and formed as peripheral segments of a circle, and having a central submember 20 for the registration of data in the storage unit, such as is illustrated in Fig. 6.

Another feasible alternative is an input member in the form of pressure-sensitive, or in another way activable, fields on a display acting as a touch screen (not shown in the drawings). It is also feasible to form the input member like a joystick, or in another corresponding way, in the form of an individual input member made as a rocker button having, for example, two activation positions (not shown in the drawings).

In addition, in the input member, a respective key or button may be included that is dedicated for the determination of the team membership under the listed menus Goal, Warning, Substitution and Penalty, suitably one of the buttons being dedicated for the home team and the other for the away team. Selections made of menu, team membership and player number are verified on the display 6, before the information

is stored in the memory.

Alternatively and preferably, the device may be arranged for the direct selection of the menus of the program. In one application for the refereeing of football, illustrated in Fig. 7, for this purpose, a button 23 may be arranged on the front side of the housing, which button is dedicated for warning/yellow card, while a button 24 is dedicated for the ordering off the field/red card. Pressing down the button 23 results in the opening of the menu Warning, only the team membership and the player number needing to be selected by pressing down the button 25 or 26 for the selection between the home team/ away team, and the selection of the player number by means of the button 18 or 19 for scrolling up or down in the number series, respectively, whereupon the registration of yellow card on the correct player takes place by pressing down the input button 20. In the same way, pressing down the button 24 results in the opening of the menu Warning, whereupon the team membership and the player number is selected correspondingly before the registration of red card on the player in question takes place via the input button 20. It will be appreciated that in another team game than football, warnings or markings may occur that are of another type than the yellow and red cards, which here just have been given as examples of play- interrupting events of the match.

For the direct selection of the menus Goal and Substitution, the buttons 27 and 28, respectively, are utilized, whereupon the team membership and the player number are registered in the way described above.

During the running time of play or in the initial position (default), the software may be formed to work under the menus Clock and Free kick, suitably either of the input buttons 18 and 19 being dedicated for the direct selection of the menu Clock and, under said menu, effective for the start and stop of the clock/ timekeeping, and the other dedicated for the direct selection of the menu Free kick and, under said menu, effective for the distance measurement by means of a distance-measurement member carried in the housing 1', as has been described above.

Hence, the direct selection of the menus shown in Fig. 7 may be achieved by adding the requisite number of buttons to the housing. Alternatively, as has been mentioned above, the advance buttons 18, 19 may be utilized for accessing submenus that lack direct selection from a button. Alternatively, the selection of an underlying menu may be effected by a double-pressing, or by a longer pressing-down of a button intended for the direct selection of a front menu, such as when pressing down the button for more than three seconds. In some of these ways, a menu Speech memory, for

instance, may be selected, under which the advance buttons 18, 19 are operative for the start/ stop of sound recording and for the playback of sound/ deletion of stored sound information, respectively.

Furthermore, access to a menu Setup may be allowed in some of the ways indicated, under which the store function of the device may be reset and filled with current match data on players and assistant referees, respectively. Under said menu, current data of the match and settings such as the time of play, automatic registration of time-outs for different events, registration of the main referee and/or assistant referees may be stored in the storage unit. Under said menu, the unit may be configured, for instance, with the result that the unit of the main referee is configured as a master unit and the assistant referees' units become slave units having limited capability of storing data of the match.

In the storage unit, the events of the match entered via the buttons on the front side of the housing are stored continuously. Stored data may, for instance, relate to player-specific information about issued warnings, whereby the football referee when registering a new yellow card on the same player is alerted via the display 6 or by a sound signal that the player should be ordered off the field. Other examples of data that may be stored in the storage unit via the input member are goal, scorer, substitution, extra time, sound recording, etc. All inputs are correlated with the time of the match in a time log, which is generated by the processor, which, for the purpose, is arranged to add the current time of the match, at each instant of time, as measured by the electronic clock to each registered play-interrupting event. Via the data-transfer port 17, stored data may be transferred to an external unit, from which data may be transferred in the opposite direction for the Setup of the device before the match.

Transfer of data to/from the device may, where appropriate, also be made by means of radio signals or by means of a mobile telephone included in the device, which, for example, offers a possibility of also showing video sequences on the display 6 of courses of play recorded from a position outside the ground.

The core of solution provided is that the input member is operative for

• the selection of menus in the data-storage program corresponding to play-interrupting events of the match, and

• the simple selection of the team membership and the player number,

which, according to the invention, is attained by an input member operative, on one hand, for the selection of menus in the data-storage program, under which play-inter-

rupting events are registered in registries in the storage unit corresponding to the menus, and on the other hand for selecting player numbers and the team membership of players under the selected menu. The input member may advantageously be composed of submembers, at least one of which is dedicated for the selection between menus in the data-storage program, and at least one other submember of which is dedicated for selecting player numbers and/or team membership under the selected menu. It is even more preferred that the input member comprises two or more sub- members dedicated for the direct selection of the corresponding menus in the datastorage program, at least one additional submember dedicated for selecting player numbers, and in addition at least one further submember dedicated for selecting team membership, both under the selected menu. In an application particularly formed for the refereeing of football, suitably the input member comprises separate submembers dedicated for the registration of Free kick/ throw/ hit, Penalty, Goal, Warning and Substitution under the corresponding menus in the data-storage program.

Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, the processor is arranged to add the current time of the match, at each instant of time, as measured by the electronic clock to each registered play-interrupting event. The electronic clock is advantageously controlled for the displaying of the remaining time of play, and the processor arranged to add the period of time for a registered time-out to the remaining time of play. In doing so, the device may be arranged to show the extra time separately on the display beside the displaying of the regular time of play, for instance.

By the device described above, the referee is provided a means having the capacity of relieving the referee in the documenting work and as well as facilitating the focusing on the play by the referee. It will be appreciated that features and properties described here, individually or in different combinations, can be utilized by a person skilled in the art in meritorious embodiments of the solution defined in the main patent claim.