Abstract:
A form of competitive motorcycle racing termed &#34;Enduro racing&#34; comprises a series of race segments. The object of the race is to traverse each race segment at speeds which are as close as possible to the target speeds for the race segment. Along each race segment may be a check point or a series of check points where the elapsed time required by a contestant is measured, with total score for a race being determined at least in part by the success of the contestant in traversing a previously undisclosed portion of each race segment in a target time corresponding to the time required to traverse that portion of the race segment in the target speed. Thus, it is the contestant&#39;s challenge to not only maneuver his motorcycle with considerable skill but to maintain a constant speed, anticipate potential checkpoints along each race segment, and where possible, complete each race segment in the correct amount of time. Accordingly, the instant invention provides an extremely accurate instrument which presents information to the contestant in a simplified visual manner where he should be at any instant in the race and shows concurrently the location, in terms of this &#34;should be&#34; distance, of the next possible check point along a race segment. Thus, the most essential information is constantly displayed to the contestant to simplify the contestant&#39;s task of assessing his progress along a race segment, and optimizing a possible score for each segment in the Enduro race.

Description:
This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 692,666, filed on Jan. 17, 1985, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A popular form of sport competition involving off-road motorcycles is the Enduro race. An Enduro race challenges the skill of the motorcycle rider by providing a rough terrain course having one or more segments of established distance which must be covered at a constant speed or speeds. The object of the race is to maintain the set or chosen speed over the distance of the course. Due to terrain limitations and for other reasons, it is customary that the course is divided into segments of differing difficulty, each segment having a commensurate speed which is to be maintained. 
     In order to judge the accuracy with which individual competition riders maintain the desired speed, unannounced checkpoints, manned by racing officals, are established along the course in order to give multiple points at which the time and distance of each rider can be measured. This time and distance in turn indicate whether the rider is ahead of or behind the chosen speed. 
     Each checkpoint, therefore, provides a score for each rider passing it, and the overall competition results are determined by combining the individual checkpoint scores. 
     It is customary in Enduro racing that the riders are sequenced into &#34;rows&#34; and that each row, that is, a set of 4 to 5 riders, is sequenced for a start time exactly one minute after the preceeding row and one minute before the row immediately subsequent. Thus, an Enduro race has a plurality of individual one-minute starts, each start being one row of riders. This spacing is intended to ease the official&#39;s task in timing and measuring riders. 
     It is customary, for convenience of monitoring the progress of each rider, that unannounced checkpoints will be positioned at one or more points, selected so that a whole tenth of a mile race distance corresponds exactly to a whole minute of time, timing from the beginning of the race. It should be obvious that with this method of checking, every rider should arrive at the checkpoint at exactly that minute, plus or minus zero seconds representing his relative start position on row; thus the error of timing of an individual rider can be determined from the number of seconds the rider is early or late with respect to his individual minute through the specific checkpoint. 
     In order to prevent the obvious expedient of simply stopping prior to entering the checkpoint if one is early, the rule is that the rider must continue to proceed; if, at any time a rider stops in sight of a checkpoint, his stop is timed as though passage has occurred. Thus, the individual riders require a method of continuously monitoring their progress. 
     Enduro racing on motorcycles involves the relatively high speed operation of a motorcycle over rough, back country terrain. The successful operation of the motorcycle under controlled conditions requires the full attention of the rider. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the purpose of this invention to provide an apparatus which, by providing a specific simplified display to a motorcycle operator in an Enduro off-road race, will permit the operator to readily determine the operator&#39;s progress with respect to a perfect, best performance run around a given Enduro course. 
     The apparatus of this invention provides a display, easily interpreted by a Enduro motorcycle rider, which will provide a full indication as to the progress of the race at any point on the circuit. The apparatus in one operation calculates and displays, based on an input race segment length and speed, the distance (corresponding to a motorcycle odometer reading) the rider should have traveled (the &#34;should be&#34; distance) at any time during a perfect (maximum score) race. The apparatus permits a complicated, multi-segment Enduro race to be pre-programmed for sequential display, including an ability to incorporate pauses, to monitor the sequencing of the initial one-minute delay interval start, and to accurately depict the desired status of a rider in a race involving multiple segments with interspersed pauses, including the ability to adapt to variants in the standard mileages of courses, all as established by race course officials. 
     The apparatus also aids the Enduro racer by providing a display which indicates the possible existence of an unannounced checkpoint so as to give advance warning of those locations on the race course at which the rider should be in full synchronization with the appropriate speed and distance as set forth for the race. 
     It is thus an object of this invention to provide a display apparatus for an Enduro motorcycle racer which permits the racer to determine his relative status and position with respect to a complex, multi-segmented Enduro off-road race. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a display apparatus for aiding an Enduro motorcycle rider which will permit the rider to determine those points during an Enduro race when the greatest accuracy in time and distance should be attained for best score. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a display apparatus for aiding an Enduro motorcycle rider which will permit correct display of the rider&#39;s relative progress in a race including one or more segments in which the mileage, for race purposes, is artificially established at an arbitrary value. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a display apparatus for aiding an Enduro motorcycle rider which will, alternatively, aid said motorcycle rider in synchronizing the rider startup, relative to the period start position of those riders preceeding him, and alternatively providing a capability for displaying the rider&#39;s relative position from an instant start. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a single unitized display for an Enduro motorcycle rider which will provide all necessary information for permitting the rider to continuously determine his performance throughout the road race. 
     These and other objects of the invention will be more evident from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment which follows. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 depicts the apparatus of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 depicts, in figurative form, the relative positioning of an Enduro motorcycle rider and a motorcycle positioned for riding in an Enduro road race, depicting thereby the rider&#39;s relative body position in line of sight. 
     FIG. 3 depicts the positioning of an embodiment of the invention positioned, relative to an Enduro motorcycle, as seen by an Enduro motorcycle rider. 
     FIGS. 4-7 depict varying embodiments of the display as presented by the apparatus of the invention. 
     FIG. 8 shows an alpha-numeric digit used in conjunction with the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is an electrical schematic of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, a general depiction of a motorcycle 2 with mounted rider 4 is shown, so as to illustrate the typical positioning of a rider 4 and the line of sight 6 available to the rider in the mounted position. 
     The particular apparatus (14) of the invention, shown in FIG. 1 and described below, is intended to be used to aid such a rider, mounted on a motorcycle, in the environment of an Enduro off-road race course. Such a race course comprises a closed travel loop over rough terrain having multiple race segments. Each such race segment is intended to test the skill of riders in off-road racing and is chosen to present a particular type of difficulty in travel; examples would be a narrow logging road or trail through heavily wooded areas, areas of heavy gullying or hills, presenting an up and down travel, or any similar topography having determinable characteristics and difficulties. 
     For each such segment there is a defined race course distance representing the length of travel: the distance a given motorcycle 2 would travel in following the segment. A desired speed of travel along the segment is selected by the authorities or race committee establishing the race; the speed is chosen so that only the most skilled riders 4 would be able to achieve and hold the chosen speed along the type of terrain chosen for the particular segment. 
     The objective of the race is for every rider 4 to achieve and hold the desired speed along each of the segments for the duration of the race. It is expected that the average Enduro off-road race will last for a number of hours. Various limitations, including limited areas of land upon which to place a race course are such that it is often necessary that the race repeatedly loop a chosen race course. It is therefore customary that a race, having a course consisting of a number of segments which are sequentially ridden at varying chosen speeds, may consist of a number of complete circuits of the race course. It is customary at the end of each circuit of a race course in which the rider 4 will arrive back at a start position 50, that a time pause will be built into the race schedule. This time pause is generally intended such that a large number of the riders, who otherwise would not be expected to complete an initial circuit of the race course within the chosen time, will be able to complete it and will thus restart the second circuit on an approximately even basis; this produces a closer and more competitive result than would otherwise occur. 
     It can thus be seen that the overall Enduro road race consists of a number of segments of varying distance, each to be ridden at a specific speed, with the possibility of intervening periods in which a stoppage or rest point will occur. 
     Since the scoring of the Enduro road race depends upon determining whether the riders are maintaining a constant speed along each of the segments, it is necessary to periodically judge the rider&#39;s progress with respect to the position they should hold. For this reason a number of unannounced checkpoints are established by the race committee along the race course. 
     As is known in Enduro road racing, in order to ease the timing and scoring workload upon the race officials at each of the checkpoints, riders are started along each race course in groups or &#34;rows&#34;, each such row being started in sequence at exactly one minute intervals. It has been determined that when checkpoints are established only at points where a motorcycle, proceeding exactly on the desired speed on the desired course, would reach an exact tenth of a mile position at an exact ending of a minute of time from start, such locations provide a more accurate scoring methodology for the scorekeepers, who must monitor and record the time (early or late) of each of the riders 4 through the race course. Thus unannounced checkpoints are placed along the race course at distances from a start position such that their distance from start is an exact multiple of a tenth of a mile from the start position, and further, such that a race course rider proceeding along the segments at the established speed would arrive at the checkpoint or tenth of a mile multiple at an exact multiple of one minute from the start time of a race. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the apparatus of the current invention 14 is designed to provide a display so as to provide essential information to a motorcycle rider 4 on a motorcycle 2 during such an Enduro race so as to aid rider 4 in improving rider 4&#39;s relative performance within the Enduro race environment described above. Due to the rough terrain and demanding nature of the Enduro race, the rider has a limited capability to divert attention from the actual operation of the motorcycle 2. Thus the apparatus 14 of the current invention is mounted, in coordination with the line of sight 6 of the rider 4, on handle bars 8 of the motorcycle 2 adjacent an instrument cluster 10 (see FIG. 3) so as to provide an easy comparison to an odometer 12 which is found as standard equipment on an Enduro motorcycle 2. It is of course seen that the odometer 12 will at all times provide information as to the actual mileage progress of the motorcycle 2 along the race course. 
     The apparatus 14, mounted conjointly with the odometer 12, along handle bars 8, is further seen to have the appearance of a generally rectangular box 16 (see FIG. 1) having sides 18 and a face 20 visually apparent to the rider 4. Along a left side 24 of the box 16 are found a first or top button 26 and a second or bottom button 28 for manipulation of internal switches to be described within the apparatus of the invention. Each of top button 26 and bottom button 28 are hermetically sealed for environment protection; in the preferred embodiment by being encased within a flexible covering such as rubber. 
     Upon the face 20 of the apparatus 14 is found a display 30, the apparatus 14 being mounted such that the display 30 is visually aligned adjacent the odometer 12. The display comprises a plurality of alpha-numeric digits 32, having, as an integrated whole (see FIG. 9): a left alpha-numeric digit 34, a left center alpha-numeric digit 36, a colon position 37, a right center alpha-numeric digit 38 and a right alpha-numeric digit 40. For purposes of describing a preferred display mode of the instant invention, the alpha numeric digits 36, 38 and 40 are hereindescribed as being a first portion of the display 30, and digit 34 is described as a second portion of the display. The four alpha-numeric digits 32 of display 30 also define three inter-digit positions or decimal positions 42 within the display. 
     Referring to FIG. 8, each of the alpha-numeric digits of the display 30 comprise seven segment displays as well known to the art. These displays comprise seven individually positioned elongate visual members 44A through 44G, which may be individually illuminated or otherwise made visually contrasting to their background, so as to present the ten numeric digits and certain selected alpha characters, including, in this environment, the hyphen, and the letters P, L, H, and E. 
     The box 16 of the apparatus is seen to contain electrical circuitry as shown in FIG. 9. This electrical circuitry comprises the alpha-numeric display 30 which is seen to be operably connected with a display driver 60 and decimal driver 62. Each of display driver 60 and a decimal driver 62 in turn are driven by a microcomputer 64. Microcomputer 64 is operably interconnected through an address latch 66 to a non-volatile memory chip or read-only memory (ROM) chip 68. Frequency controlling or crystal circuitry 70 determines a clock frequency for the activation of microcomputer 64. Electrical power is provided to microcomputer 64 through a battery 72. Power battery 72 is reduced to a required 5 volts for operation of microcomputer 64 by voltage regulator circuitry 74. A voltage comparitor circuit 76 detects a low voltage condition on battery 72 for input into microcomputer 64. First button 26 and second button 28 are individually, operably interconnected to microcomputer 64 to provide electrical signals corresponding to the activation thereof. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention, microcomputer 64 is a microcomputer known as a type 80C39. The supporting circuitry is of a known standard type: address latch 66, required to interconnect the specific microcomputer 64 stated here with the specific ROM 68 of the preferred embodiment, is a 74HC373; latch 66 latches and controls address lines 66A interconnecting microcomputer 64 and memory chip 68 which is a 27C64. 
     Power for operation is provided to microcomputer 64 by voltage regulator 74 which is of a standard design involving a Zener Diode 74A providing a voltage reference to operational amplifier 74B which in turn controls an output current controlling pass transistor 74C. In the preferred embodiment Zener Diode 74A is a 2.5 volt reference Zener, type LM385 connected to a HA5142/OP20 operational amplifier which drives pass transistor 74C (a 2N4401). The preferred operational amplifier (74B) used is a two-section unit. The second section is utilized to form a low, voltage comparitor 76 which signals a low voltage condition through switching transistor 76B, a 2N4401, connected in an open collector pull-up arrangement to an input pin of microcomputer 64. 
     Microcomputer 64 is operably interconnected for output to a display driver 62, in this embodiment a 7211AM or alternatively a CD22105A liquid crystal display (LCD) driver. Microcomputer 64 is also operably interconnected through a 4070 quad nor gate, Decimal Driver 62, to liquid crystal (LCD) display 30, providing for controlled display of one or more decimal portions 42 of display 30. 
     An embodiment of internal software provided in programmable read-only memory 68 is shown in Appendix I. 
     The computer driven electrical circuitry shown in FIG. 9, executing the software as shown in Appendix I, provides the inventive external display 30 as described below. 
     In a normal, standby mode, the external display 30 displays no characters and appears blank to the motorcycle rider 4. As shown in FIG. 9, first button 26 is operably interconnected with an interrupt input into microcomputer 64. Activation of first button 26, through the insertion of an interrupt signal into microcomputer 64, activates the software shown in Appendix I transferring display 30 into one of the following modes. 
     If upon activation, voltage comparitor circuitry 76 detects a low voltage condition in the battery, the software, through microcomputer 64, causes to be displayed upon alpha-numeric display 30 a low battery display the alpha letters H E L P (see FIG. 7) respectively displayed upon the left 34, left center 36, right center 38 and right 40 alpha-numeric positions. 
     Other operational displays are respectively: 
     A mileage display, FIG. 5, comprising numeric data in at least the left center 36, right center 38 and right 40 positions. Decimal portion 42 between the left center 36 and the right center 38 is illuminated, thus depicting mileage in units, tenths, and hundreds. For mileage in excess of 9.99 miles, the tens value is shown in left display 34; if the tens value is less than one, left display 34 is blank. 
     A clock display, FIG. 4, comprising numeric values corresponding to minutes in the left 34 and left center 36 positions, the colon position 37 illuminated, and a seconds value in right center 38 and right 40 digits positions. Two alternative clock displays are available; in the first, right center 38 and right 40 numeric positions provide values equal to the seconds between zero and 60 of the time value concerned. In the alternative mode, right center 38 and right 40 numeric displays provide a decimal value between zero and 99 corresponding to the one-hundredths of a minute of time being counted. The overall alpha-numeric display 30 during the clock display may be that of a clock counting downwards from a preset value to zero time, or of a clock incrementing upwards from a zero time. To distinguish the direction of count, all display digits flash in an on and off manner if the count is downwards. 
     A next checkpoint display, shown in FIG. 6, appears only in conjunction with the mileage display, more specifically, with the &#34;should be&#34; mileage distance being concurrently shown at digits 36, 38 and 40, which digits are termed the first portion of the display 30. Next checkpoint display appears in left numeric digit 34 (previously termed the second portion of the display 30) and is shown as a flashing numeric value corresponding to the tenths of a mile value of the &#34;should be&#34; mileage at which the next checkpoint may be encountered. In the situation exemplified in FIG. 6, the flashing digital value &#34;2&#34; at digit 34 indicates the next possible checkpoint is ahead at a &#34;should be&#34; mileage of 9.2 miles. The next checkpoint display is programatically rendered inoperative for should be mileage values less than three; this is to correlate with a specific rule in Enduro racing that no checkpoint will occur within the first three miles of the start of a race course. A leap back to zero display comprises a form of mileage display in which the mileage values shown are reset to show a value of zero and then reincrement. 
     In a program mode, each of digits 34, 36, 38, and 40 are individually incremented to a desired value from a zero value to a nine value as established by the rider 4 by alternative manipulations of top button 26 and bottom button 28 so as to input data corresponding to a given race course (see FIG. 1). 
     All input is by means of manipulation of first switch 26 and second switch 28. In the preferred embodiment these are buttons or push-type switches, shown schematically in FIG. 9, and physically as shown in FIG. 1, encased in flexible protective coatings or boots 26A and 28A. Manipulation of first switch 26 inserts an electrical value into an interrupt input of microcomputer 64 and into an input port of microcomputer 64. Manipulation of second button 28 inserts an electrical value into a second port of microcomputer 64. Manipulation thus is sensed by microcomputer 64 and timed thereby. The software provides that the activation of switch means 26 or 28 is detected, together with a value representing the length of time switch 26 or switch 28 remain continuously activated. In addition, the wiring of microcomputer 64 and first button 26 is such that the activation of button 26 will be detected by and will activate microcomputer 64 when all of the functions are shutdown or in standby mode. 
     In operation, the apparatus 14 of the invention is utilized by programming speed and distance data, corresponding to the individual race segments of a race course and pause time data corresponding to the various pauses of the race course. In addition, optionally, programming can input a countdown corresponding to the staging of the one-minute intervals between rows at the start of the race or from an arbitrarily picked start time related to the scheduled time for the individual riders of a row. An alternative programming mode permits input of any segment with an arbitrary starting mileage value overriding the calculated &#34;should be&#34; mileage that otherwise would be determined by microcomputer 64 from the speed and distance data of preceding race segments within a race course. 
     In operational use, a memory within microcomputer 64 has been programmed by manipulation of switches 26 and 28 to contain a series of values corresponding to: 
     the number of minutes delay in the prestart countdown; 
     the length, in miles and decimal parts of miles, of each successive race segment of a course, starting with an initial race segment, together with or associated with the speed, in miles per hour, of the specific race segment concerned; or; the length of delay of a pause if the next succeeding race segment is a pause rather than a distance; and 
     a code, identified within a race segment, whether the race segment mileage is to be reset to an arbitrary value. 
     In function, the computer program cycles through the aforementioned stored memory data as follows. The rider 4 activates apparatus 14 at a prestart coundown by activating or depressing first button 26 (see FIGS. 1 and 9). A short depression is detected by microcomputer 64 and initiates a clock-timed countdown, based upon the time established by the frequency of crystal clock control 70, counting down by minutes and seconds from the activation to a zero time representing the start time for rider 4. If, alternatively, rider 4 depresses and holds top button 26 for an extended period of time, the extended holding period is detected by microcomputer 64 and interpreted as an instruction to bypass the prestart countdown and to immediately start the race segment position display or mileage display. 
     The mileage display is designed to display continuously the miles, tenths, and hundredths of miles that the rider should be at each point in time during the running of the race course if the rider were perfectly holding to the speed which the rider has programmed in for each race segment. Thus the mileage display (FIG. 5) begins, at the beginning of the first race segment, at a zero value and increments on a time basis at the speed rate programmed in for the individual race segment. The rider may, by comparison of the mileage shown in the mileage display on display 30 with the mileage shown on odometer 12 (FIG. 3), determine instantly at any point during the race the extent to which the rider is ahead of or behind the position the rider should be at for a perfect, maximum score in the Enduro race. 
     The rider, as mentioned above, will only be scored at checkpoints; however, the rider does not know the exact location of any checkpoint and therefore does not know at what points during the race that best adherence to the should-be mileage should be achieved. The next checkpoint display (FIG. 6) is activated by the software to warn the rider of the imminence of a checkpoint. The location of any possible checkpoint along race course will be only those locations where the distance along a race segment is such that an integral tenth of a mile distance corresponds to a multiple of a whole minute of time from the initiation of the race. At the speeds at which an Enduro race is run, commonly under 50 miles an hour, there will be usually at least one possible checkpoint less than ten miles from any given point along the race course. 
     The pattern of possible checkpoints only at simultaneous occurrence of a tenth of a mile multiple and a whole minute multiple is preserved to the extent that the governing authority establishing a given race course will establish artificial mileage changes or &#34;leaps&#34; at the beginning of segments to manipulate the location of checkpoints to more geographically desirable locations. These mileage changes are known as resets and may be to any arbitrary mileage. 
     The computer program, as shown in Appendix I, calculates the occurrence of the next sequential tenth of a mile at which a possible checkpoint can occur, and then causes left alpha-numeric digit display 34 to flash (FIG. 6) with the tenth of a mile value at which the checkpoint may possibly occur; simultaneously the left center, right center and right alpha-numeric displays 36, 40, 42, show the should-be mileage for comparison with the possible next checkpoint. 
     This continuing pattern of should-be mileage and flashing next checkpoint display provide a unique and innovative display combination for guiding and statusing a rider in an Enduro race course environment. 
     Further flexibility is provided to and further aid is given to the rider by displaying a time countdown for all pauses between race segments where a wait should occur. This countdown, in reverse clock sequence, shows the minutes and seconds remaining until the next start in an overall race course. This display is valuable to a rider who is maintaining good progress and is monitoring his wait at a pause position; it is also invaluable to that rider that who, being of lesser skill, is behind in the race, by indicating whether or not the latter rider will be able to close the distance before the start of the next race segment and thus gain a better score. 
     Thus in summary, in operation, apparatus 14 of the current invention, provides a unitized display device located along the line of sight 6 (FIG. 2) of a motorcylce rider 4 so that it may be viewed in conjunction with an odometer 12 (FIG. 3) to be found upon a motorcycle 2. The device provides the capability of programming in sequence the start timing, individual race segment mileage and speed, and individual pauses within an overall multi-segmented Enduro road race. When activated, the apparatus provides continuously throughout the race, clocked to the time of the start of the race, a display of an indication of the position in which the rider should be to attain maximum score. In combination with this display, the apparatus provides a unique display to alert the rider to those locations at which the rider should attempt to maximize the rider&#39;s accuracy in maintaining speed, distance and time so as to attain maximum score in entering and clocking through various checkpoints. 
     The apparatus of the current invention provides for a race that includes pauses and waits, that includes leaps or artificial changes in mileage, including artificial reduction of mileage through a race course to zero, known as resets. 
     It can thus be seen that the apparatus of the current invention provides a unique unitized display that provides an innovative information source to a motorcycle rider who is riding to the outer limits of the rider&#39;s individual capabilities. The apparatus makes minimum demands upon the operator&#39;s attention during actual riding; it permits pre-programming of all essential information. Once started, it provides a display which may be easily read and correlated with instruments readily available to the rider so that he may measure his progress, while diverting minimum attention from the more demanding task of operating a motorcycle to the rider&#39;s best capacity under circumstances that are intended and designed to test the rider&#39;s capability to the utmost. 
     It can thus be seen that the invention disclosed encompases, in addition to the particular preferred embodiment disclosed herein, those equivalents obvious to those skilled in the art, as emcompassed by the claims. ##SPC1##