# US 12,536,391 B2 · Detecting passing RFID tags in a sports event > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,536,391 B2 - Document ID: US12536391B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 19/102,028 - Filed: 2023-08-07 - Published: 2025-08-14 - Granted: 2026-01-27 - Earliest claimed: 2022-08-08 - Assignees: Race Result AG - Applicants: Race Result AG - Inventors: Sven Hofmann; Nikias Klohr; Martha Augsburger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12536391B2 ## CPC - G06K 7/10356: {using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas} - G06F 13/426: {using an embedded synchronisation, e.g. Firewire bus, Fibre Channel bus, SSA bus} - G07C 1/22: in connection with sports or games - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## Abstract The present invention relates to a detection assembly (102) for detecting passing sports timing transponders (14) in a sports event, comprising: an antenna (106) and a calculation unit (104) connected to the antenna; and a channel element (22) for positioning the antenna and the calculation unit on an underlying surface and for protecting the antenna and the calculation unit from external forces, wherein said channel element is connectable to a preceding channel element (108) and a following channel element (110) to form a line; said calculation unit is connectable to a first neighboring calculation unit (112) via a first cable (114) extending into the preceding channel element and to a second neighboring calculation unit (116) via a second cable (118) extending into the following channel element; and said calculation unit includes a voltage detection circuitry (124) for detecting whether power is provided to the calculation unit via the first cable or via the second cable. The present invention further relates to a floor cable channel (20) and a race timing system (16). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A detection assembly for detecting passing sports timing transponders in a sports event, comprising: an antenna and a calculation unit connected to the antenna; and a channel element for positioning the antenna and the calculation unit on an underlying surface and for protecting the antenna and the calculation unit from external forces, wherein said channel element is connectable to a preceding channel element and a following channel element to form a line; said calculation unit is connectable to a first neighboring calculation unit via a first cable extending into the preceding channel element and to a second neighboring calculation unit via a second cable extending into the following channel element; and said calculation unit includes a voltage detection circuitry for detecting whether power is provided to the calculation unit via the first cable or via the second cable, wherein the voltage detection circuitry is configured to determine from which one of the first cable or the second cable power is provided and to then initialize a through connection to provide power to the respective neighboring calculation unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The detection assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the calculation unit includes a data bus circuitry to provide a data bus communication with further calculation units of further detection assemblies connected via the first cable and via the second cable in a daisy chain. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The detection assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the calculation unit includes a terminal detection circuitry for detecting whether the calculation unit is connected to only one of the first neighboring calculation unit and the second neighboring calculation unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The detection assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the calculation unit includes a position detection circuitry for detecting a first number of calculation units connected via the first cable and/or a second number of calculation units connected via the second cable. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The detection assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the calculation unit includes a reconfiguration circuitry for detecting a change in a first number of calculation units connected via the first cable and/or a second number of calculation units connected via the second cable. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The detection assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication circuitry is configured to receive from the decoder a synchronization signal for synchronizing operation of the calculation units in the line; and/or to receive from the decoder a position information indicating a position of the calculation unit in a chain of calculation units from the point of view of the decoder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The detection assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the calculation unit includes a defect detection circuitry for detecting a defect in the calculation unit and for establishing a direct connection between the first cable and the second cable. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The detection assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the calculation unit includes an RFID reader circuitry for detecting passing passive RFID tags in spatial vicinity of the antenna and determining a corresponding passing time. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The detection assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channel element includes: a first connection portion for connecting the channel element to the preceding channel element and a second connection portion for connecting the channel element to the following channel element; a center protection area for receiving the antenna; a first protection area for receiving the first cable, wherein the first protection area is designed to connect the center protection area to the first connection portion, and a second protection area for receiving the second cable, wherein the second protection area is designed to connect the center protection area to the second connection portion; and a bypass protection area for receiving a cable, wherein the bypass protection area is designed to connect the first connection portion to the second connection portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The detection assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the calculation unit is connectable to the first cable and/or the second cable by means of a first connector part and a second connector part that are designed for being screwed together to establish an electric connection. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The detection assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first connector part and the second connector part include printed circuit boards; and/or include at least one pogo pin for establishing the electric connection upon being screwed together. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The detection assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first connector part includes a threaded connector for receiving a screw, in particular a soldered threaded connector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The detection assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first connector part and/or the second connector part are designed for holding a sealing in between for protecting the electric connection from moisture. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A floor cable channel comprising multiple detection assemblies according to claim 1 connected to one another to form a line. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The floor cable channel according to claim 14, wherein the calculation units in every second detection assembly are connected via cables so that two independently connected chains are formed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The floor cable channel as claimed in claim 14, wherein a connection portion of a first channel element is designed for being connected to a connection portion of a second channel element by means of a connection element allowing a rotational movement of the first channel element relative to the second channel element about a rotational axis orthogonal to a first longitudinal axis of the first channel element and orthogonal to a second longitudinal axis of the second channel element; and by means of said rotational movement, the floor cable channel is brought into a transport position in which the channel elements are parallel to each other and into an operating position in which the channel elements are arranged one behind the other along their longitudinal axes. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A race timing system including a floor cable channel as claimed in claim 14 and a decoder connected to a calculation unit of the first and/or second detection assembly in the line, wherein the decoder is configured to synchronize operation of the connected detection assemblies. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The race timing system as claimed in claim 17, including a further decoder connected to a calculation unit of the last and/or last-but-one detection assembly.