Patent US3604664A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3604664A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Positional control system
Assignee: BAE Systems Aircraft Controls Inc
•
Filing: 1969-08-21
•
Granted: 1971-09-14
•
Expires: 1989-08-21
Abstract
Abstract A control system in which an output member is positioned so its displacement is proportional to the displacement of a plurality of input members. Signals are generated that have a characteristic, e.g., amplitude or pulse-repetition rate, representative of the rate of change of the displacement of the input members. The signals are combined so the characteristics add. A feedback signal is generated that has a characteristic representative of the movement of the output member. The output member is positioned responsive to the combined signal and the feedback signal such that the displacement of the output member is proportional to the sum of the individual displacements of the input members. In one embodiment, the characteristic of the feedback signal is representative of the rate of change of the displacement of the output member, and the output member is positioned responsive to the difference between the characteristic of the feedback signal and the combined signal. In other embodiments, the characteristic of the feedback signal is representative of the displacement of the output member, and the output member is positioned responsive to the difference between the integral of the characteristic of the combined signal and the characteristic of the feedback signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis J Mahoney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:29
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/0055; G05D1/0061; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19535
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A positional control system comprising: a first physically displaceable input member; means for generating a first signal that has a characteristic representative of the rate of change of the displacement of the first input member; a second physically displaceable input member; means for generating a second signal that has a characteristic representative of the rate of change of the displacement of the second input member; a physically displaceable output member; means for generating a third signal that has a characteristic representative of the movement of the output member; and means responsive to the first, second, and third signals for actuating the output member such that the displacement of the output member is proportional to the sum of the displacements of the first and second input members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A positional control system comprising: a first physically displaceable input member; means for generating a first signal that has a characteristic representative of the rate of change of the displacement of the first input member; a second physically displaceable input member; means for generating a second signal that has a characteristic representative of the rate of change of the displacement of the second input member; a physically displaceable output member; means for generating a third signal that has a characteristic representative of the movement of the output member; and means responsive to the first, second, and third signals for actuating the output member such that the displacement of the output member is proportional to the sum of the displacements of the first and second input members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The control system of claim 1, in which the actuating means comprises means for combining the first and second signals to form a fourth signal that has a characteristic representative of the sum of the characteristics of the first and second signAls and means responsive to the difference between the characteristic of the fourth signal and the characteristic of the third signal for positioning the output member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The control system of claim 2, in which the characteristic of the third signal is the same as the characteristic of the fourth signal and is representative of the rate of change of the displacement of the output member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The control system of claim 3, in which the characteristic of the first, second, third, and fourth signals is amplitude, the combining means is a signal-summing junction to which the first and second, signals are applied, and the positioning means comprises a motor connected to the output member to position it and means for coupling the output of the summing junction to the input of the motor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The control system of claim 4, in which the coupling means includes a normally open switch that closes when the amplitude of the first and second signal exceeds a predetermined threshold level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The control system of claim 5, in which the coupling means also includes a signal amplifier connected between the summing junction and the switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The control system of claim 6, in which a unilateral coupling device connects the motor to the output member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The control system of claim 1, in which the third signal is representative of the rate of change of the displacement of the output member and the actuating means is disabled in the absence of the first and second signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
The control system of claim 2, in which the characteristic of the third signal is representative of the displacement of the output member and the positioning means comprises means for generating a fifth signal that has a characteristic representative of the integral of the characteristic of the fourth signal, means for generating a sixth signal that has a characteristic representative of the difference between the characteristics of the third and fifth signals, and a motor connected to the output member to position it responsive to the characteristic of the sixth signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
103 words
The control system of claim 9, in which the characteristic of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth signals is amplitude, the combining means is a summing junction to which the first and second signals are applied, the means for generating a first signal is a velocity generator, the means for generating a second signal is a velocity generator, the means for generating a third signal is a displacement transducer, the means for generating a fifth signal is a signal integrator, and the means for generating a sixth signal is a summing junction to which the third and fifth signals are applied.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
108 words
The control system of claim 9, in which the characteristic of the first, second, and fourth signals is frequency, the means for generating a first signal is a pulse generator that produces a pulse each time the first input member is displaced a predetermined increment, the means for generating a second signal is a pulse generator that produces a pulse each time the second input member is displaced a predetermined increment, and the means for generating a fifth signal is a counter for registering the pulses in the fourth signal and a digital-to-analog converter for converting the number of pulses registered by the counter into an analog signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The control system of claim 1, in which the first and second input members are rotatably displaceable and free of any stops to limit their angular displacement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The control system of claim 12, in which the first and second input members are each a trim introducing thumb wheel located on an aircraft control wheel, and the output member is a device that adjusts the restoring force exerted on the control wheel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
111 words
A displacement proportional control system comprising: a movable input device: a movable output device to be displaced proportionally to the displacement of the input device; means for generating a first electrical signal that has a charactEristic representative of the rate of change of displacement of the input device; means for generating a second electrical signal that has a characteristic representative of the rate of change of displacement of the output device; and means responsive to the difference between the characteristics of the first and second signals for positioning the output device so its rate of change of displacement is proportional to the rate of change of displacement of the input device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
111 words
A displacement proportional control system comprising: a movable input device: a movable output device to be displaced proportionally to the displacement of the input device; means for generating a first electrical signal that has a charactEristic representative of the rate of change of displacement of the input device; means for generating a second electrical signal that has a characteristic representative of the rate of change of displacement of the output device; and means responsive to the difference between the characteristics of the first and second signals for positioning the output device so its rate of change of displacement is proportional to the rate of change of displacement of the input device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The control system of claim 14, in which the input device is rotatably movable without stops to limit its angular displacement.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The control system of claim 14, additionally comprising means for applying a restoring force on the output device when it is displaced from a rest position, and the means for positioning the output device is a actuator and a unilateral coupling device connecting the actuator to the output device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
68 words
The control system of claim 14, in which the characteristics of the first and second signals are amplitude, and the means for positioning the output device comprises a summing junction to which the first and second signals are applied, an actuator that positions the output device responsive to an electrical input, and an electrical connection between the output of the summing junction and the input of the actuator.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The control system of claim 17, in which the electrical connection includes a normally open switch that closes while the amplitude of the first electrical signal exceeds a predetermined threshold level.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The control system of claim 21, in which the connection also includes a signal amplifier between the output of the summing junction and the switch.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The control system of claim 19, in which a threshold detector is provided, the input of the threshold detector being responsive to the first signal-generating means to produce a switch-closing signal only when the first signal exceeds the threshold level.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The control system of claim 18, in which the positioning means is an actuator coupled to the output device by a unilateral coupling device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
105 words
a displacement proportional control system comprising: a movable input device; a movable output device to be displaced proportionally to the displacement of the input device; means for generating a pulse corresponding to each increment of displacement of the input device; means for counting the generated pulses; means for generating a control signal that has an amplitude representative of the number of pulses counted by the counting means; means for generating a followup signal that has an amplitude representative of the displacement of the output device; and means responsive to the amplitude difference between the control signal and the followup signal for positioning the output device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
105 words
a displacement proportional control system comprising: a movable input device; a movable output device to be displaced proportionally to the displacement of the input device; means for generating a pulse corresponding to each increment of displacement of the input device; means for counting the generated pulses; means for generating a control signal that has an amplitude representative of the number of pulses counted by the counting means; means for generating a followup signal that has an amplitude representative of the displacement of the output device; and means responsive to the amplitude difference between the control signal and the followup signal for positioning the output device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
61 words
The control system of claim 22, in which the signals are electrical and the positioning means comprises a summing junction to which the control signal and followup signal are applied, and actuator for driving the output device, the actuator having an electrical input, and an electrical connection between the output of the summing junction and the electrical input of the actuator.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
90 words
The control system of claim 23, in which the input device is movable in two directions, the pulse-generating means generates a pair of pulses for each increment of displacement of the input device, the relative phase of the pair of pulses determining the direction of displacement of the input device and the counting means comprises a reversible digital counter, means for sensing the relative phase between each pair of pulses generated by the pulse-generating means, and means responsive to the sensing means for controlling the direction of the digital counter.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
105 words
A displacement proportional control system comprising: a movable input device; a movable output device to be displaced proportionally to the displacement of the input device; means for generating a fIrst signal that has an amplitude representative of the rate of change of the displacement of the input device; means for generating a command signal that has an amplitude representative of the integral of the first signal amplitude; means for generating a followup signal that has an amplitude representative of the displacement of the output device; and means responsive to the amplitude difference between the command signal and the followup signal for positioning the output device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
105 words
A displacement proportional control system comprising: a movable input device; a movable output device to be displaced proportionally to the displacement of the input device; means for generating a fIrst signal that has an amplitude representative of the rate of change of the displacement of the input device; means for generating a command signal that has an amplitude representative of the integral of the first signal amplitude; means for generating a followup signal that has an amplitude representative of the displacement of the output device; and means responsive to the amplitude difference between the command signal and the followup signal for positioning the output device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
62 words
The control system of claim 25, in which the signals are electrical and the positioning means comprises a summing junction to which the command signal and the followup signal are applied, and actuator for driving the output device, the actuator having an electrical input, and an electrical connection between the output of the summing junction and the electrical input of the actuator.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
150 words
A control system comprising: a first input device having a variable parameter; means for generating a first signal that has a characteristic representative of the rate of change of the parameter of the first input device; a second input device having a variable parameter that is the same as the variable parameter of the first input device; means for generating a second signal that has a characteristic representative of the rate of change of the parameter of the second input device; an output device having a variable parameter to be controlled; means for generating a third signal that has a characteristic related to the parameter of the output device; and means responsive to the first, second, and third signals for controlling the parameter of the output device such that the parameter of the output device is proportional to the sum of the parameters of the first and second input devices.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
150 words
A control system comprising: a first input device having a variable parameter; means for generating a first signal that has a characteristic representative of the rate of change of the parameter of the first input device; a second input device having a variable parameter that is the same as the variable parameter of the first input device; means for generating a second signal that has a characteristic representative of the rate of change of the parameter of the second input device; an output device having a variable parameter to be controlled; means for generating a third signal that has a characteristic related to the parameter of the output device; and means responsive to the first, second, and third signals for controlling the parameter of the output device such that the parameter of the output device is proportional to the sum of the parameters of the first and second input devices.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
97 words
The control system of claim 27, in which the characteristic of the third signal is representative of the rate of change of the parameter of the output device and the controlling means comprises means for generating a command signal representative of the sum of the first and second signals minus the third signal and an actuator responsive to the command signal to control the parameter of the output device such that the rate of change of the parameter of the output device follows the sum of the rate of change of the parameters of the input devices.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
91 words
The control system of claim 27, in which the characteristic of the third signal is representative of the parameter per se of the output device and the controlling means comprises means for generating a fourth signal representative of the sum of the first and second signals, means for integrating the fourth signal to generate a fifth signal, means for generating a sixth signal representative of the difference between the fifth signal and the third signal, and an actuator responsive to the sixth signal to change the parameter of the output device.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
52 words
The control system of claim 7, in which the third signal is representative of the rate of change of the displacement of the output member so the rate of change of the displacement of the output member follows the sum of the rate of change of the displacements of the input members.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
49 words
The control system of claim 30, additionally comprising first and second aircraft control wheels and the first and second input members are trim-introducing thumb wheels located on the respective aircraft control wheels, and the output member is a device that adjusts the restoring force exerted on the control wheels.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The control system of claim 14, in which the positioning means is an actuator coupled to the output device by a unilateral coupling device.
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) | 1974-09-13 | 1975-03-15 | 1975-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-13 | 1979-03-15 | 1979-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-13 | 1983-03-15 | 1983-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |