Perimeter LED Clock for Unobstructed Fight Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
In athletic events, particularly mixed martial arts, there is a challenge in displaying the official time remaining in a round or bout to both participants and spectators due to the placement of clocks, which obstructs sightlines and is not readily visible to fighters or spectators, and the lack of real-time information on time adjustments made by referees.
Innovation Solution
A digital clock system with a remote computing device and server that adjusts and displays the official time on a LED screen positioned around the perimeter of a frame structure adjacent to the competition area, allowing real-time transmission and visibility to participants and spectators, while maintaining unobstructed sightlines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the clock is placed above and outside the competition area, then the clock is viewable by spectators without blocking the view of the event, but fighters cannot easily observe the time remaining
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the clock on a support structure that extends into the competition area from the perimeter, utilizing vertical and horizontal spatial dimensions. This places the clock at an elevated position above the competition area while maintaining lateral separation, allowing fighters to see the clock without blocking spectator views from ground level positions.
2Ease of operation
If the clock is placed within the competition area, then fighters can see the time, but it obstructs sightlines for spectators and cameramen
Solution Approach 1:
The clock is positioned in the vertical dimension above the competition area rather than at ground level within it. The support structure extends upward from the perimeter, placing the clock at an elevated position that is visible to fighters looking upward, while maintaining clear ground-level sightlines for spectators and cameras.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure acts as an intermediary element that carries the clock into the competition area without requiring the clock to be directly placed on the competition surface. This mediator allows the clock to occupy a spatial position that serves both fighters and spectators without direct obstruction.
3Reliability
If the referee pauses the clock for stoppage time, then the official time is adjusted, but spectators and participants are not informed of the adjustment in real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The clock system provides continuous visual feedback to all participants and spectators regarding the official time. When the referee pauses or adjusts the clock, the display immediately reflects these changes, providing real-time feedback that eliminates information asymmetry between the timekeeper and other participants.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for controlling a clock device is provided. The system includes a clock device in communication with a remote computing device. The remote device is configured to adjust the time of a countdown and define an adjusted time value. The remote device communicates the adjusted time to the clock device, which automatically displays the adjusted time on a screen. The adjusted time is further communicated to a cloud server via API. The adjusted time is accessible by authorized third parties for display or broadcast. Accordingly, a user may adjust and track a countdown and may define an official time that is automatically displayed to a variety of end-users in real-time. The clock device may be positioned adjacent a competition area and may include a rigid metal frame and a flexible LED screen extending around the perimeter of the frame. The clock device may include hardware and software for processing and outputting the adjusted time to the cloud server.