Lap counter system for multiple runners

Abstract

A lap counter system for multiple runners automatically counts and times one or more runner(s) during a workout session exercise at either an indoor or outdoor running track suitable for use at a health club, school, business, government or other organization promoting physical activity to enhance the health of their members. The system includes standalone, computer controlled, end user friendly components that displays fitness statistics during the use of the running track for each runner without impeding the athletic activity with a cumbersome wearable device. The system preferably includes a display visible to the runner at one or more points around the track such as a scoreboard with the aforementioned statistics displayed providing the runner with a virtual coach.

1 . A lap counter system for counting and timing a runner during a workout session at a track comprising: 
 A receiver located a predetermined distance from the track, an antenna electrically coupled to said receiver creating an electrical field that the runner passes through during each lap around the track, a RFID tag affixed to the runner for generating a signal when it passes through said electrical field, a computer connected to the receiver for capturing and processing said signal to provide counting and timing information related to the cumulative laps completed by said runner.    
   
   
       2 . A lap counter system of  claim 1 , further comprising a RFID reader electrically connected to said antenna for processing said signal.  
   
   
       3 . A lap counters system of  claim 2 , wherein the RFID reader is capable of reading two or more runner tags and extracting unique information related to each tag.  
   
   
       4 . A lap counters system of  claim 1 , wherein said RFID tag is either an active or passive device.  
   
   
       5 . A lap counters system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer is a programmable microprocessor having one or more programs subject to activation by the end user and related to a desired runner data or information output.  
   
   
       6 . A lap counter system of  claim 1 , further comprising a graphic display device connected to the computer and located at a predetermined point around the track for viewing unique counting and timing information related to the accumulated laps related to each runner during a workout session.  
   
   
       7 . A lap counter system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver is a pedestal Kiosk positioned next to said track for housing all of the hardware and software components of said lap counter system having a RFID printer for generating a disposable RFID label tag and for encoding information on the RFID label tag unique to an individual runner, said pedestal Kiosk having an integrated active receptacle for receiving and reading a durable active RFID tag to prompt the runner to begin the workout session and wherein the pedestal Kiosk reads the disposable RFID label tag to prompt and initiate a workout session for the runner.  
   
   
       8 . A lap counter system for accumulating lap information about a runner doing laps around a track during a workout session, comprising: 
 (a) a pedestal positioned adjacent the track;    (b) computing means housed within the pedestal for acting upon the accumulated lap information about the runner and for generating a graphical display of the accumulated lap information that is viewable by the runner during the workout session;    (c) a RFID antenna connected to the computing means for creating an electrical sensing field across the track;    (d) a RFID tag removably affixed to the runner for generating a signal each time the RFID tag passes on the runner passes through the antenna sensing field during a lap on the track; and    (e) sensing means on or in the pedestal for recognizing the runner RFID tag when it is positioned on or about the pedestal to initiate the computing means to begin a workout session of that runner and to accumulate the lap information for display and to end a workout session when the runner approaches the pedestal for a second time and places the RFID tag on or about the pedestal.    
   
   
       9 . A lap counter system of  claim 8 , wherein the pedestal is a kiosk type interface with an angled touch screen display having a keypad, a RFID printer and an output tray for producing a RFID tag with the appropriate unique runner information for each workout session.  
   
   
       10 . A lap counter system of  claim 8 , wherein the pedestal is a kiosk type interface with an active integrated receptacle for the insertion of a durable, active RFID tag to read the unique runner information and to begin the runner workout session.  
   
   
       11 . A lap counter system of  claim 8 , wherein the RFID tag is either a passive RFID label tag or an active, durable RFID tag.  
   
   
       12 . A lap counter system of  claim 8 , further including an RFID reader connected to the RFID antenna wherein the RFID reader is capable of receiving signals from the RFID antenna to handling runner data from several hundred distinct RFID tags simultaneously from multiple runners on the track.  
   
   
       13 . A lap counter system of  claim 8 , wherein the acted upon accumulated lap information includes laps completed, pace (minutes/mile), speed, total distance completed (miles or kilometers), total time, last lap time, and average lap time.  
   
   
       14 . A method of a lap counter system for a runner on a track, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) affixing a removable RFID tag to a runner for generating an encoded signal with unique characteristics related to the identity of the runner and to cumulative lap information derive about each runner during a workout session;    (b) sensing the encoded signal each lap around the track;    (c) feeding the sensed encoded signal to a computer for calculating various variables concerning the laps completed by the runner; and    (d) displaying the various variables on a monitor viewable by the runner on the track during a workout session.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the RFID tag is affixed to the running shoes of the runner.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the encoded signal from the RFID tag is sensed by an external antenna of an omni-directional array type or of a directional type.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the RFID tag is either an active or passive device for tracking the running information around the track.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , further including: 
 (a) utilizing a computer based pedestal Kiosk having a sensing means for sensing the presence of an RFID tag and having an antenna projecting an antenna field for sensing the encoded signal from an RFID tag;    (b) placing the RFID tag near or about the sensing means on the Kiosk to initiate or terminate the workout session;    (c) running laps pass and through the antenna field projected by the Kiosk to generate the encoded signal;    (d) feeding a plurality of encoded signals to the computer in the Kiosk for generating the running information; and    (e) developing running information from the accumulated encoded signals for logging onto a data bank about a runner workout session.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the RFID is plugged into the Kiosk having a RFID reader therein to gather information about the unique runner information to begin a workout session.  
   
   
       20 . The method of claim  28  wherein the RFID is placed near or next to a point on a touch screen in the Kiosk to initiate or end a workout session.