Patent US3280781A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3280781A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Auto-pilot system
Assignee: Bunker Ramo Corp
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Filing: 1965-09-27
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Granted: 1966-10-25
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Expires: 1985-09-27
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph J Koerner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:32
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/02; G05D1/0206
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
IN COMBINATION WITH A SHIP HAVING A RUDDER ADAPTED FOR VARIABLY TURNING IN FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FROM A QUIESCENT POSITION, AN AUTO-PILOT SYSTEM INCLUDING MEANS FOR DEFINING A COURSE OF TRAVEL OF SAID SHIP WITH RESPECT TO A UNDIRECTIONAL AMBIENT MAGNETIC FIELD AND FOR TURNING SAID RUDDER BY AN AMOUNT PROPORTIONAL TO DEVIATION OF THE SHIP''S HEADING FROM SAID DEFINED COURSE OF TRAVEL AND IN A DIRECTION TO TEND TO ROTATE SAID SHIP AND ALIGN THE HEADING THEREOF WITH SAID DEFINED COURSE, SAID AUTO-PILOT SYSTEM INCLUDING: MAGNETIC FIELD SENSING MEANS FOR SENSING SAID UNIDIRECTIONAL AMBIENT MAGNETIC FIELD AND PRODUCING FIRST SIGNALS WHOSE CHARACTERISTICS ARE A FUNCTION OF THE DEGREE AND DIRECTION OF ANGULAR DEVIATION OF SAID MAGNETIC FIELD SENSING MEANS FROM A QUIESCENT PREDETERMINED ORIENTATION WITH RESPECT TO THE DIRECTION OF SAID AMBIENT MAGNETIC FIELD; MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID MAGNETIC FIELD SENSING MEANS ON SAID SHIP TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY ALIGNED IN A QUIESCENT PREDETERMINED ORIENTATION WITH RESPECT TO THE DIRECTION OF SAID AMBIENT MAGNETIC FIELD WHEN THE HEADING OF SAID SHIP IS ALIGNED WITH SAID DEFINED COURSE OF TRAVEL SO THAT SAID FIRST SIGNALS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO ZERO; FEED BACK MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE POSITION OF SAID RUDDER IN SAID FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FROM SAID QUIESCENT POSITION FOR PROVIDING RUDDER POSITION FEEDBACK SIGNALS WHOSE CHARACTERISTICS ARE RELATED TO THE POSITIONS OF SAID RUDDER; AND
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
IN COMBINATION WITH A SHIP HAVING A RUDDER ADAPTED FOR VARIABLY TURNING IN FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FROM A QUIESCENT POSITION, AN AUTO-PILOT SYSTEM INCLUDING MEANS FOR DEFINING A COURSE OF TRAVEL OF SAID SHIP WITH RESPECT TO A UNDIRECTIONAL AMBIENT MAGNETIC FIELD AND FOR TURNING SAID RUDDER BY AN AMOUNT PROPORTIONAL TO DEVIATION OF THE SHIP''S HEADING FROM SAID DEFINED COURSE OF TRAVEL AND IN A DIRECTION TO TEND TO ROTATE SAID SHIP AND ALIGN THE HEADING THEREOF WITH SAID DEFINED COURSE, SAID AUTO-PILOT SYSTEM INCLUDING: MAGNETIC FIELD SENSING MEANS FOR SENSING SAID UNIDIRECTIONAL AMBIENT MAGNETIC FIELD AND PRODUCING FIRST SIGNALS WHOSE CHARACTERISTICS ARE A FUNCTION OF THE DEGREE AND DIRECTION OF ANGULAR DEVIATION OF SAID MAGNETIC FIELD SENSING MEANS FROM A QUIESCENT PREDETERMINED ORIENTATION WITH RESPECT TO THE DIRECTION OF SAID AMBIENT MAGNETIC FIELD; MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID MAGNETIC FIELD SENSING MEANS ON SAID SHIP TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY ALIGNED IN A QUIESCENT PREDETERMINED ORIENTATION WITH RESPECT TO THE DIRECTION OF SAID AMBIENT MAGNETIC FIELD WHEN THE HEADING OF SAID SHIP IS ALIGNED WITH SAID DEFINED COURSE OF TRAVEL SO THAT SAID FIRST SIGNALS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO ZERO; FEED BACK MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE POSITION OF SAID RUDDER IN SAID FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FROM SAID QUIESCENT POSITION FOR PROVIDING RUDDER POSITION FEEDBACK SIGNALS WHOSE CHARACTERISTICS ARE RELATED TO THE POSITIONS OF SAID RUDDER; AND
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1969-10-24 | 1970-04-25 | 1970-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1973-10-24 | 1974-04-25 | 1974-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1977-10-24 | 1978-04-25 | 1978-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |