US 10,540,827 B1 · Digital chess clock displaying calculated playing speed

Abstract

A game timer, suited in some embodiments as a chess clock, designed to calculate and display minimum average playing speed in moves per unit time over a sequence of one or more time controls based on input for number of moves in each time control, time allotted at the start of each time control, whether or not a delay applies to the moves of a particular time control, and time of the delay. In addition to these inputs, calculation of minimum average playing speed takes into consideration whether a delay comes before or after a move, whether or not a delay constitutes time available in the current time control, shortening of delays by players in the course of a game, and time remaining at the end of a time control. One embodiment estimates playing speed for “sudden death” over an entire game.

Claims12

Dependent claims

An electronic timer for calculating from inputs, displaying, and enforcing minimum average playing speed for each of two alternating sequences of events, including:

(a) a pair of clock means for displaying the starting time for each of said sequences,
(b) a pair of switches coupled to said clock means, each of which starts one of said clock means and simultaneously stops the other of said clock means, whereby the time remaining for each of said sequences is recorded and displayed,
(c) a sequence of one or more event handlers, coupled to said switches and to said clock means, for input, storage, and display of a variable number of events assigned respectively to said event handlers and representing the number of events in a subsequence of said alternating sequences of events,
(d) a sequence of one or more delay handlers, coupled respectively to said event handlers, for input, storage, and display of a variable delay associated with each of said subsequences, whereby said delay may be added to time taken by each of said events in said subsequence,
(e) a speed handler, connected to said delay handlers, for calculating and displaying said minimum average playing speed over the first of said subsequences as number of events per unit time, taking into account the number of said events in said subsequence, said starting time, and said delay.

2 more elements

An electronic timer for timing two alternating sequences of events, including:

(a) a pair of clock means for displaying the starting time for each of said sequences,
(b) a pair of switches coupled to said clock means, each of which starts one of said clock means and simultaneously stops the other of said clock means, whereby the time remaining for each of said sequences is recorded and displayed,
(c) a sequence of one or more event handlers, coupled to said switches and to said clock means, for input, storage, and display of a variable number of events assigned respectively to said event handlers and representing the number of events in a subsequence of said alternating sequences of events,
(d) a sequence of one or more delay handlers, coupled respectively to said event handlers, for input, storage, and display of a variable delay associated with each of said subsequences, whereby said delay may be added to time taken by each of said events in said subsequence,
(e) a speed handler, connected to said delay handlers, for calculating and displaying minimum average playing speed over the first of said subsequences as number of events per unit time, taking into account the number of said events in said subsequence, said starting time, and said delay,
(g) a set/reset mechanism coupled to a toggle button for enabling and disabling input, including means whereby starting time in the first of said subsequences is automatically adjusted if preliminary calculation from said input when said toggle button is turned off causes minimum average playing speed to fall below a preset minimum parameter or to exceed a preset maximum parameter, whereby said set/reset mechanism
(a) displays preset input values when said electronic timer is turned on;
(b) enables input and resets said input values in the course of play to their last set values when said toggle button is turned on,
(c) disables input and fixes said input values for calculation when said toggle button is turned off.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Digital chess clock displaying calculated playing speed

Life of this patent

Digital chess clock displaying calculated playing speed

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12