Author Topic: Possible system enhancement (Read 5557 times)

MurrayPeterson · « **on:** October 17, 2017, 01:33:33 PM »

I was thinking about a winter project for me, and here is what I came up with:

A single digit display that plugs into an existing display, and shows any penalties applies to the car before he crosses the finish line.

0 means no penalty
1-9 is number of cones
"d" for a dnf

Since it will plug into an existing display, it doesn't need a battery or radio, so the cost should be reasonable. I haven't done a costing yet, but I think it could be done for $150 or less. Of course, the first one is always a pain, since I need to modify the display firmware, add wiring and a socket to the existing display, and modify MJTiming software to transmit the penalty out to the display.

Thoughts?

nnywg · « **Reply #1 on:** October 17, 2017, 01:51:12 PM »

Sound slick. I always struggle to know my cone count and am usually out of range for the score keeping on my phone out in grid.

Reijo · « **Reply #2 on:** October 17, 2017, 03:26:56 PM »

Sounds like a good idea!

ZiG · « **Reply #3 on:** October 17, 2017, 06:35:07 PM »

I like it. On the subject of the display though, is there also a way to make it refresh all digits at the same time? I have noticed that my gopro really doesn't like the refresh rate (when recording at 60 fps) and it makes it hard to see the time. Example: https://youtu.be/YBdIJrJw_78?t=47s

I'm sure you are already aware of it, but thought I'd ask.

MurrayPeterson · « **Reply #4 on:** October 17, 2017, 07:20:47 PM »

Nope -- the entire circuit board and the firmware would need to be redesigned, and the cost would double (or more). I consider that far too high a cost just to make your camera happy. Stop the car for a few seconds while facing the display, and you can read the digits sequentially in the video.

ZiG · « **Reply #5 on:** October 17, 2017, 07:29:34 PM »

Fair enough. Do you know the refresh rate off hand? Maybe I can play with frame rates too..

MurrayPeterson · « **Reply #6 on:** October 17, 2017, 07:34:32 PM »

Refresh rate is variable, but probably around 15-20 per second -- too low for you to get a good action video as well as getting a clear display shot.

The sign refresh is algorithm is limited by the number of control pins available on the cpu. It has enough pins to select the active segments for a single digit, and then uses one pin to cycle that digit's power on or off.

Pat S · « **Reply #7 on:** October 19, 2017, 11:04:05 AM »

Sounds like a great idea, I'm often not entirely confident if I've hit something or not. One consideration:

Does it need to indicate quantity of cones? A Binary clean/dirty indicator could probably fit within the original hardware (this could also be an intermediate lower cost step in product development). To be fair, $150 sounds more than reasonable for the added feature.

jordan13 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 19, 2017, 11:46:05 AM »

If it can fit in the original display, clean/dirty is probably good enough. I only want to know my cone count if it's my fast lap, and it doesn't matter if it's 1 or 5 cones. Another thing to consider, takes time to call in the penalty, confirm and enter it so if you cone in the latter part of your lap it probably won't show up in time anyway.

MurrayPeterson · « **Reply #9 on:** October 19, 2017, 12:05:14 PM »

That is an interesting idea. I was thinking of using one of the digit circuit boards I have in stock, so adding a complete digit was my cheapest option.

However, the binary suggestion gives me an idea. Very, very few courses exceed 99 seconds, which means that the leftmost digit of the display is free for other uses. I could use one segment pattern to indicate a cone penalty, and a different segment patter to indicate a DNF. Neither would look like a number, so there would be no confusion about it being a time.

I really want DNFs to be indicated, since beginners go off course without knowing. If they have an indication of this, it would induce them to go for a ride or get a navigator.

And, yes, some penalties would be missed because they hadn't been entered before the finish beam was tripped.

So, cheapest option by far is to play with leftmost digit in existing signs. Firmware change only.
Something like:
- middle horizontal segment means one or more cones
- All three horizontal segments means a DNF
- blank digit means no penalty

Reijo · « **Reply #10 on:** October 19, 2017, 06:47:50 PM »

What about just displaying DNF and no time?

MurrayPeterson · « **Reply #11 on:** October 19, 2017, 06:55:04 PM »

Quote from: Reijo on October 19, 2017, 06:47:50 PM

What about just displaying DNF and no time?

I can display "dnF" I suppose, but lots of people are probably still interested in their time, even if they missed a gate.
I'll add this to the list of suggestions -- we can have a poll later.

MurrayPeterson · « **Reply #12 on:** October 20, 2017, 07:29:43 PM »

Added a poll. Let me know if you want other options added.

E6Cueman · « **Reply #13 on:** October 22, 2017, 08:49:20 AM »

I think for convenience sake, incorporating this information into the existing display would be great. I.E. Less to haul around and set up and trip over on site.

Myz · « **Reply #14 on:** October 23, 2017, 11:03:27 AM »

I think if we deem it necessary to reflect the time even if the person missed a gate or hit a cone, we should reflect the cone count as well.
Its pointless showing a time without a cone count. One may be aware of hitting a cone but may not be aware they hit a 2nd cone or 3rd cone further in the run.
Therefore, we should consider cone counts as well

Poll

What enhancement for the display would you like:

Author Topic: Possible system enhancement (Read 5557 times)

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