Race recording and display system

A race recording and display system, comprising:

• (a) a detection station for detecting each of a plurality of participants in a race, the detection station having a first array which includes a plurality of detection signal transmitting devices and a plurality of identifying signal receiving devices being arranged in a first bank supported over a race course to avoid physically interfering with said participants and to detect each of said participants by detection of a portion of detection signal energy radiated towards said race course by said transmitting devices and reflected from each of said participants and received at said signal receiving devices as an identifying signal when each of said plurality of participants traverse said detection station, the detection station further including a backup array of detection signal transmitting and identifying signal receiving devices being arranged in a second bank parallel to said first bank, wherein said array and said backup array are positioned upon elongated support members erected above said race course, and wherein each of said first and second bank is directed to radiate energy to a fixed position of said course, the first and second banks irradiating said fixed position at a first and second angle, respectively, whereby the difference between the first and second angle for irradiating the fixed position ensures detection of said reflected radiated energy by said signal receiving devices;
• (b) identifying means carried by each of said participants for providing said identifying signal upon being irradiated by said detection signal energy;
• (c) determining means connected to each of said identifying signal receiving devices for converting each received identifying signal to an information signal which defines an identity of each detected said participant and a time when said detected participant traversed said detection station, said determining means further comprising means for transmitting said information signal;
• and
• (d) display means responsive to said transmitted information signal for displaying information regarding a relative position and time of each said participant of said race at said detection station.

A method for monitoring the progress of a number of race participants in a race along a fixed race course, comprising the steps of:

• (a) irradiating a radiation signal energy to a fixed position of said course with a first and second array arranged parallel to each other in the form of a first and second bank, each said array comprising a plurality of identifying signal receiving devices and detection signal transmitting devices, wherein said detection signal transmitting devices of the first array transmit said radiation signal energy at a first angle and the second array transmits said radiation signal energy at a second angle to thereby ensure that each of said race participants traversing said fixed position will be irradiated, said first and second arrays being supported over said race course to avoid physically interfering with said race participants;
• (b) reflecting a portion of said irradiated detection signal energy from each said race participants to provide an identifying signal sufficient to identify each said race participant when said participant crosses said fixed position;
• (c) receiving each said portion of said identifying signal reflected from each said race participant by said first and second arrays at any of a number of identifying signal receiving devices;
• (d) determining an identification of each said race participants and a time each of said race participants traversed said detection station;
• and
• (e) generating an information signal therefrom according to said irradiating step, said reflecting step, said receiving step and said determining step.