Capacitive Touch Timing Device for Cup Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current timing methods for sport stacking and competitive cubing competitions are inaccurate due to human reaction time variations, and existing timers do not effectively prevent competitors from starting or stopping the timer with their hands holding the cups, leading to rule infractions and the need for video review.
Innovation Solution
A timing device with four capacitive touch triggers that require simultaneous activation to start and stop the timer, ensuring competitors' thumbs are engaged on the backside, preventing hand contact with the cups, and featuring a mode switch for different competitions, with visual indicators on the display to confirm the operating mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If human judges use stopwatches to time competitions, then the timing process is simple and inexpensive, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to human reaction time variations exceeding several tenths of a second
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical stopwatch system operated by human judges with an electronic timing system that uses capacitive touch triggers and electronic circuits to automatically start and stop timing. This substitution eliminates human reaction time errors while maintaining relatively simple device complexity through the use of standard electronic components.
2Measurement precision
If a trigger-based timing system is used, then the measurement precision improves, but the reliability deteriorates because competitors can activate triggers with their hands holding the cups, leading to rule infractions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the triggering mechanism into two separate capacitive touch triggers positioned on opposite sides of the timer. This segmentation ensures that a competitor must use both hands to activate the triggers, making it impossible to hold cups in either hand while starting or stopping the timer. The segmented design inherently prevents rule infractions without requiring additional monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates preliminary anti-action by positioning the triggers and designing the activation mechanism to prevent competitors from gaining an unfair advantage before the timing begins. The system is designed to detect and prevent improper hand positioning with the cups before timing starts, and to ensure proper hand placement on the triggers before activation can occur.
3Measurement precision
If multiple judges are used to mitigate reaction time errors, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity and loss of time increase due to the need to take multiple measurements and determine the median time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by designing an electronic timing system that automatically performs the timing function without requiring multiple judges to manually operate stopwatches and record times. The system electronically captures the start and stop times with high precision and automatically calculates the result, eliminating the time-consuming process of multiple manual measurements and median calculation while maintaining high measurement precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides accurate and reliable timing, eliminating the need for live judging and video review, ensuring a fair competition by preventing hand contact with the cups during timing and allowing for efficient operation in various competitive modes.
Implementation Method 1
The trigger mechanism includes a first capacitive touch trigger and a second capacitive touch trigger
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems, methods and devices for timing manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination competitions are provided. In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for timing cup stacking competitions. The present disclosure includes a timer for timing various competitions and wherein the timer comprises a plurality of trigger points or touch points to ergonomically require a user to perform certain actions to activate and operate the timer.