# US 11,113,972 B2 · Position detector and system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,113,972 B2 - Document ID: US11113972B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/393,791 - Filed: 2019-04-24 - Published: 2019-10-10 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-06 - Assignees: Precision Triatholon Systems Limited - Applicants: Precision Triathlon Systems Limited - Inventors: Marcus Neary Clyne; James Colin Elvery; Dylan Charles McNeice - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11113972B2 ## CPC - G08G 1/166: {for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes} - A63K 3/00: Equipment or accessories for racing or riding sports - B60Q 9/00: Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} - B62J 45/41: characterised by the type of sensor - B62J 50/25: intended to provide information to other road users, e.g. signs or flags - G08G 1/163: {involving continuous checking} - B62J 50/21: intended to provide information to rider or passenger - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) - A63K: RACING; RIDING SPORTS; EQUIPMENT OR ACCESSORIES THEREFOR - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - B62J: CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS ## Abstract A proximity monitor for monitoring a zone associated with a vehicle, such as during a race. In a race each vehicle may have a proximity monitor to enable monitoring of distances between proximate vehicles. Each proximity monitor may include an RF transmitter and an RF receiver to communicate with proximate monitors and use signal timing information to determine spacing between monitors. The monitor may use Ultra Wide Band (UWB) signals to determine spacing and other protocols for communication. The monitor may also detect whether another monitor passes. An alert signal may be generated if the spacing information, and optionally other information, satisfies an alert criterion. A system including such monitors may enable race officials to monitor infringement of rules and enforce penalties in real time on a race course. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A proximity monitor for monitoring a zone associated with a vehicle, the proximity monitor comprising: a first radiofrequency (RF) transmitter configured to communicate data with one or more proximate RF receivers of a proximate vehicle in the monitored zone; a first RF receiver configured to acquire signal timing information from signals transmitted by one or more proximate RF transmitters of the proximate vehicle; a long-range communication module configured to receive a penalty signal from a remote device; and a processor configured to: generate spacing information as to the spacing between the vehicle and the proximate vehicle; generate an alert signal based on the penalty signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A proximity monitor as clamed in claim 1, further comprising a pass detection device configured to detect one of the vehicle and the proximate vehicle passing the other, and wherein generating an alert signal comprises generating the alert signal if a passing detection or non-detection and the spacing information satisfy an alert criterion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A proximity monitor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a Bluetooth communications module for transmitting and receiving position information. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A proximity monitor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first RF transmitter is, or each of the first and second RF transmitters is, an ultrawideband (UWB) transmitter, and wherein the first RF receiver is a UWB receiver. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A proximity monitor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a user indicator configured to indicate when the penalty signal is received at the proximity monitor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A proximity monitor as claimed in claim 5, wherein the user indicator is configured to generate an audible signal or a visual signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A proximity monitor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a visual or audible indicator to indicate to a user of the proximate vehicle when the alert signal has been generated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A proximity monitor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a camera, and wherein the proximity monitor is configured to transmit an output of the camera to a remote device upon determination of an alert condition. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A proximity monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine information indicative of an amount of time spent by the proximate vehicle in the monitored zone. ### Claim 10 A race communication system comprising: a plurality of vehicles, each vehicle including a proximity monitor for monitoring a zone associated with a vehicle , the proximity monitor comprising: a first radiofrequency (RF) transmitter configured to communicate data with one or more proximate RF receivers of a proximate vehicle in the monitored zone; a first RF receiver configured to acquire signal timing information from signals transmitted by one or more proximate RF transmitters of the proximate vehicle; a processor configured to generate spacing information as to the spacing between the vehicle and the proximate vehicle; and a user indicator; and one or more remote devices, each including an RF transceiver and a user interface; wherein the proximity monitor of each vehicle is configured to: transmit a signal to the remote device based on the spacing between the vehicle and a proximate vehicle; and wherein the remote device is configured to: receive the signal from the vehicle using the RF transceiver, present information based on the spacing between the vehicle and the proximate vehicle to a user via the user interface; receive an input from the user via the user interface; generate a penalty signal based on the input from the user; and wherein the penalty signal indicates that a penalty is to be applied to the proximate vehicle or a user thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A race communication system as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of the vehicles is provided with a camera, and wherein each of the vehicles is configured to transmit visual images recorded by the camera to the remote device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A race communication system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a user indicator configured to present a visible or audible signal to the proximate vehicle or a user thereof. ### Claim 13 A race communication system as claimed in clam 10, wherein the remote computer is configured to record an amount of time spent by a vehicle in the monitored zone associated with another vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A race communication system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a penalty enforcement system, wherein the penalty enforcement system comprises: a communications interface configured to receive the penalty signal from the remote device; a processor configured to determine whether the proximate vehicle of user thereof has fulfilled requirements of the penalty.