- Speed Skating System
- Alpine Skiing System
Effective June 30, 2008, our company name has been changed from SEIKO S-YARD CO., LTD. to SEIKO SPORTS LIFE CO., LTD.
Sports Timing
Alpine Start Timer
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In some Alpine Skiing events, the next competitor starts before the previous competitor-or even the competitor before that-has crossed the finish line. On the other hand, if competitors were to start in quicker succession, one might catch up with or collide with the person in front. So the competitors need to be started at appropriate intervals. The Alpine Start Timer performs this useful function. Usually it is set up to start competitors at 60-second intervals, and it outputs alerts that can be seen and heard. The Start Timer displays the seconds remaining as it counts down to zero (the start time). When there are ten seconds to go, the competitor hears an electronic alert. The same sound is output each second for the last five seconds, and the competitor must start less than five seconds before or after zero is reached. |
Photo Beam Unit
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Photo Beam Units are used in many events requiring the measurement of time and speed. A unit is set up on either side of the course at such locations as the finish line, with light-emitting equipment on one side of the course and light receiving equipment on the other. When a competitor breaks the beam of red and infrared light, a signal is sent to the timer. A Photo Beam Unit is used with slightly different specifications for different events. For example, in Speed Skating events, a slim beam is used in order to detect the thin skate blades. In Alpine Skiing events, where the course may be as wide as 50 metres, the Photo Beam Unit is set up to function optimally in those conditions. |
Alpine Timer
| The Alpine Timer is at the heart of the Alpine Timing System, calculating the time for each competitor. It receives the start signal generated as each competitor kicks open the start gate, and the signal received from each Photo Beam Unit placed at intermediate points and at the finish line. Even when more than one skier is on the course, the Alpine Timer can instantly output the finish time of a skier. It can be used to print the athlete's number, start time and race time, and this data can also be sent to TV broadcasters. |  |
Scoreboard
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A Scoreboard must be easy to see even from a long way
off, so highly-visible reflective characters are used. Each character is
made up of elements that are flipped by magnetic switches. Before the start, the Scoreboard displays a list of competitors. Once the event has started, it displays the current competitor's number and each intermediate time as it is registered, along with the time difference (plus or minus) compared with the current fastest time. At the end, it shows the competitor's time for the event. The Scoreboard also maintains continuously updated rankings of the top competitors. |
