US3581183A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Character indicator with means for monitoring the correct positioning
Assignee: Autophon AG
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Filing: 1970-02-02
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Granted: 1971-05-25
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Expires: 1990-02-02
Abstract
Abstract A character indicator system for sequentially displaying data and having means to monitor the characters indicated to thereby determine the correctness of the display. The character carriers are advanced by a step-by-step motor which advances one step for each alternation of the input energy. The monitor means, as a function of the position of the character carrier or the motor armature, affects at least one alternating current signal whose frequency lies within the order of magnitude of several times the frequency of the energy used for driving the motor. Switch means feed the alternating current signal to the motor input where it can be picked up at the other end of the input and used for monitoring purposes.
Inventors
- 👤 Gian-Franco Piazza
- 👤 Rudolf Streit
- 👤 Martin Ulrich
- 👤 Werner Laber
- 👤 Adolf Burkert
- 👤 Manfred Tron
- 👤 Wolfgang Waluga
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 01:38
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02K; H02K29/00; H02K29/06; H02K37/00; H02K37/10; H02K37/12; H02K37/14; H02K37/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A character indicator system comprising a character carrier, means including a motor operatively connected to drive said character carrier, input means to supply energy to said motor, means which, as a function of the position of the character carrier, act on at least one alternating current signal whose frequency lies in the order of magnitude of a multiple of the frequency of the energy used for driving the motor, and switch means for feeding said alternating current Signal to said input means so that the alternating signal can be taken out at the end remote from the motor, where the drive energy for said motor is fed, and can be used for monitoring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A character indicator system comprising a character carrier, means including a motor operatively connected to drive said character carrier, input means to supply energy to said motor, means which, as a function of the position of the character carrier, act on at least one alternating current signal whose frequency lies in the order of magnitude of a multiple of the frequency of the energy used for driving the motor, and switch means for feeding said alternating current Signal to said input means so that the alternating signal can be taken out at the end remote from the motor, where the drive energy for said motor is fed, and can be used for monitoring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A character indicator system according to claim 1, in which the motor, in addition to a main winding, also has an auxiliary winding to which the alternating current signal is fed and from which this alternating current signal is transmitted inductively to the main winding and thus to the input means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
95 words
A character indicator system according to claim 1, wherein said motor is a step-by-step motor the armature of which is advanced by means of alternately polarized pulses and has first and second stable positions which correspond in alternating sequence to separate positive and negative polarized pulses, stationary means, and means connected to an armature of the step-by-step motor which, together with said stationary means, fix the alternating current signal at one of two different values, one of which is associated with the first position of the step-by-step motor and the other with the second position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A character indicator system according to claim 1, in which said switch means affect the amplitude of the alternating current signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A character indicator system according to claim 4, in which said switch means control said alternating current signal by means of a second input means feeding current to said switch means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
A character indicator system according to claim 5, further comprising means controlled by a locking magnet for locking and releasing the movement of the character carrier in given positions, a circuit including said locking magnet, said switch means, as a function of the position of the step-by-step motor, connecting said circuit with the input means for the step-by-step motor in a manner which is passable only by alternating current so that an alternating current signal fed said circuit is modulated in amplitude by the switch means and is fed to the input means of the step-by-step motor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A character indicator system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one oscillation generator which produces said alternating current signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A character indicator system according to claim 7, in which the oscillation generator is fed from said input means via a full-wave rectifier.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A character indicator system according to claim 3 in which the switch means which controls the alternating current signal is responsive to a magnetic field.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A character indicator system according to claim 9, in which the magnetic field responsive switch means consists of at least one protective tube contact means the contacts of which open and close in response to the presence of a magnetic field.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A character indicator system according to claim 9, in which the magnetic field response switch means comprise at least one resistance the ohmic value of which is dependent on the presence and strength of a magnetic field.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
102 words
A character indicator system according to claim 9, further comprising a permanent magnet fixedly mounted in the vicinity of the magnetic field responsive switch means, at least one plate fixedly connected to said character carrier drive means, which plate, in the one stable position of the motor armature, is positioned between the permanent magnet and the magnetic field responsive switch means and thereby prevents the action of the magnet on said switch means, while the plate in the other stable position of the armature is removed from between said permanent magnet and magnetic field responsive switch means and thus permits such action.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A character indicator system according to claim 12, wherein said plate is fixed to the armature of said motor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A character indicator system according to claim 12, wherein said plate is made of magnetic material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
A character indicator system according to claim 9, further comprising at least one permanent magnet fixedly connected to said character carrier drive means and which in one stable position of the armature acts on said switch means, while in the other stable position of the armature no such action is present.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A character indicator system according to claim 4, in which said switch means, as a function of the position of the character carrier, applies a code-determined selection of several signals of different frequency to the input means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
A character indicator system according to claim 16, further comprising a plurality of oscillation generators operating on different frequencies, the signals of which are fed, as a function of the position of the character carrier, in a code-determined selection to the input means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A character indicator system according to claim 7, in which said switch means act, as a function of the position of the character carrier, on the frequency produced by the generator.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
65 words
A character indicator system according to claim 7, further comprising a coil having an air gap and contained in the generator, and at least one plate fixedly connected with the character carrier drive means and which in one stable position of the armature is positioned in said air gap, while in the other stable position of the armature it is out of said air gap.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
64 words
A character indicator system according to claim 18, in which said magnetic responsive switch means and frequency-determining switch elements are selectively connected to and disconnected from the oscillation generator, whereby the frequency of said generator is influenced, and means which, in the region of said switch means, produce a magnetic field which is dependent on the position of the armature of the step-by-step motor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
A character indicator system according to claim 20, in which said magnetic field responsive switch means comprises a protective tube contact means the contacts of which are opened and closed in response to the presence of a magnetic field.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
A character indicator system according to claim 20, in which said magnetic field responsive switch means consists of a resistance the ohmic value of which varies in response to the presence and strength of a magnetic field.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
93 words
A character indicator system according to claim 20, further comprising a permanent magnet fixedly mounted in the vicinity of the magnetic-field responsive switch means and at least one plate of magnetic material fixedly connected to said character carrier drive means, which plate, in the one stable position of the motor''s armature, is positioned between the permanent magnet and the magnetic-field responsive switch means and thereby prevents the action of the magnet on said switch means, while the plate in the other stable position of the armature is removed and thus permits such action.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
A character indicator system according to claim 20, further comprising at least one permanent magnet fixedly connected to said character carrier drive means and in one stable position of the motor acts on the magnetic-field responsive switch means, while in the other stable position of the armature has no such action.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
48 words
A character indicator system according to claim 18, further comprising a mechanically adjustable frequency-determining capacitor contained in the generator, the adjustable part of said capacitor being connected to the character indicator drive means whereby the capacitance of said capacitor is dependent on the position of the character carrier.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
A character indicator system according to claim 18, further comprising a plurality of oscillation generators and means for varying the frequency thereof as a function of the position of the character carrier in accordance with a given code.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
A character indicator system according to claim 1, in which said drive means further comprises transmission means operatively connecting said motor to drive said character carrier.
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) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |