Portable object for regattas

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9821213-B2
Application number	US-201514874689-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 5, 2015
Priority date	Oct 10, 2014
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A race start assistance method for a boat participating in a regatta including a pre-race having a duration before the crossing of the start line, the method including a first step intended to permit the creation and storage of the start line in virtual form, and the determination of the instantaneous speed of the boat and its position with respect to the start line, in order to provide at least one indication on how to proceed in the pre-race.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A race start assistance method for a boat participating in a regatta including a pre-race having a duration before a crossing of the start line, the method comprising:
creating and storing the start line in virtual form, and determining an instantaneous speed of the boat and a position thereof with respect to the start line, in order to provide at least one indication on how to proceed in the pre-race;
simulating, prior to a race, at least one race start by performing a pre-race test, to measure and store, at least once, a parameter that is a maximum speed or test speed of the boat, to deduce therefrom a maximum distance that could be travelled during the pre-race duration when the boat is moved at said test speed and thereby to determine a position of a line called a maximum distance line;
starting, after positioning the boat between the maximum distance line and the start line, a countdown period having a duration during which, the distance line moves towards the start line at the test speed while the boat also moves towards a race line at a lower speed than the maximum test speed and during which, actual motion parameters of the boat are compared to movement of the distance line to provide indications on a closeness of the distance line to the boat to enable the boat to adjust a speed and/or route thereof so that when the distance line catches up with the boat, said boat is moving at a same speed as said distance line; and
adjusting the speed and/or route of the boat based on the indications on the closeness of the distance line to the boat.

2. The race start assistance method according to claim 1 , wherein, during the simulating, storage of the maximum speed occurs several times, the maximum speed of the distance line being a mean of the stored maximum speeds.

3. The race start assistance method for a boat according to claim 1 , wherein the indications on how to proceed are in digital form or in visual form.

4. A race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta, comprising:
processing circuitry;
a satellite positioning device;
a storage; and
a mechanism to enter information relating to a start line position in the processing circuitry and/or the storage, wherein
the processing circuitry is configured to:
pre-determine a maximum test speed,
calculate a separation distance corresponding to the maximum test speed multiplied by a time corresponding to a duration of a pre-race,
simulate movement of a line called a distance line at the maximum test speed,
compare a speed and a position of the boat with respect to the movement of the distance line, and
provide indications as to a difference in speed and/or a distance between the boat and the distance line to a display.

5. The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 4 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to calculate an evolution of the speed of the boat so that a motion thereof coincides with an optimized motion with respect to the start line to be crossed.

6. The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 4 , wherein the device is integrated in a portable object that is a mobile telephone or a tablet.

7. The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 5 , wherein the device is integrated in a portable object that is as a mobile telephone or a tablet.

8. The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 4 , wherein the device is integrated in a watch.

9. The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 5 , wherein the device is integrated in a watch.

10. The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 4 , wherein the display is digital or visual.

11. The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 6 , wherein the display is digital or visual.

12. The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 7 , wherein the display is digital or visual.

13. The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 8 , wherein the display is digital or visual.

14. The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 9 , wherein the display is digital or visual.

15. The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 10 , wherein the display includes at least one hand moving on a scale mark.

16. The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 11 , wherein the display includes at least one hand moving on a scale mark.

17. The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 12 , wherein the display includes at least one hand moving on a scale mark.

18. The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 13 , wherein the display includes at least one hand moving on a scale mark.

19. The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 14 , wherein the display includes at least one hand moving on a scale mark.

20. The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 10 , wherein the display includes indicator lights having a first color, one indicator light having a second color and indicator lights having a third color, so that the indicator lights having the first color are illuminated in an event of a lag position, the indicator lights having the third color are illuminated in an event of an ahead position and the indicator light having the second color is illuminated in an event of an optimal position.

21. The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 11 , wherein the display includes indicator lights having a first color, one indicator light having a second color and indicator lights having a third color, so that the indicator lights having the first color are illuminated in an event of a lag position, the indicator lights having the third color are illuminated in an event of an ahead position and the indicator light having the second color is illuminated in an event of an optimal position.

22. The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 12 , wherein the display includes indicator lights having a first color, one indicator light having a second color and indicator lights having a third color, so that the indicator lights having the first color are illuminated in an event of a lag position, the indicator lights having the third color are illuminated in an event of an ahead position and the indicator light having the second color is illuminated in an event of an optimal position.

23. The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 13 , wherein the display includes indicator lights having a first color, one indicator light having a second color and indicator lights having a third color, so that the indicator lights having the first color are illuminated in an event of a lag position, the indicator lights having the third color are illuminated in an event of an ahead position and the indicator light having the second color is illuminated in an event of an optimal position.

24. The race start assistance device for a boat competing in a regatta according to claim 14 , wh

Assignees

• Swatch Group Res & Dev Ltd
• Swatch Group Res & Dev Ltd

Inventors

• Faure Cedric

Classifications

• G01C21/203

  specially adapted for water-borne vessels · CPC title

• G01C21/10

  by using measurements of speed or acceleration (G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence) · CPC title

• B63B49/00

  Arrangements of nautical instruments or navigational aids (nautical measuring instruments G01C; radio navigation, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) · CPC title

• A63B71/0686 Primary

  Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means · CPC title

• B63J2099/008

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic