US3686671A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Radio directional control system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-10-29
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Granted: 1972-08-22
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Expires: 1989-10-29
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure relates to an inexpensive radio directional control system having particular utility for marine applications, and wherein a directional antenna on the vessel is angularly adjusted relative to a fixed distant radio transmitter and thereafter any angular variation from such setting causes the output characteristic of a radio receiver connected to the antenna to increase or decrease in accordance with the direction of such variation, and such output characteristic variation is utilized to control operation of a reversible motor connected to some device, such as the vessel''s rudder, or to the directional antenna itself, to effect a correction in the positioning thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 George M Holley Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 13:56
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/02; G01S3/14; G01S3/38; G01S3/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
298 words
A radio directional control system for automatically positioning a device used in navigation comprising, in combination: a directional antenna, a radio receiver connected to the antenna and having an output signal which rises and falls in accordance with the angular position of the antenna relative to a distant transmitter to which the receive is tuned, a reversible motor for positioning the device to be controlled, a source of selectively variable signal, means connected to the output of the radio receiver and to the source of selectively variable signal and providing an output control signal which is the resultant of the receiver output signal and the selectively variable signal of said source, signal responsive switch means connected to the motor and responsive to said output control signal for operating the motor in one direction or the other in response to a rise or fall of said output control signal, said signal responsive switch means comprising a transistor whose base is connected to the said control signal and whose emitter and collector are operatively connected to the motor, and a pair of transistor circuits with one connected to the emitter of said transistor and to one side of the motor and the other connected to the collector of said transistor and the other side of the motor, and said source of selectively variable signal being operable to initially provide a signal which in combination with the receiver output signal provides an output control signal to the signal responsive switch means at an angular position of the antenna such that the motor is inoperative and thereafter variation in such angular position of the antenna causes variation in the control signal to effect motor operation in one direction or the other in accordance with a rise or fall of such control signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
298 words
A radio directional control system for automatically positioning a device used in navigation comprising, in combination: a directional antenna, a radio receiver connected to the antenna and having an output signal which rises and falls in accordance with the angular position of the antenna relative to a distant transmitter to which the receive is tuned, a reversible motor for positioning the device to be controlled, a source of selectively variable signal, means connected to the output of the radio receiver and to the source of selectively variable signal and providing an output control signal which is the resultant of the receiver output signal and the selectively variable signal of said source, signal responsive switch means connected to the motor and responsive to said output control signal for operating the motor in one direction or the other in response to a rise or fall of said output control signal, said signal responsive switch means comprising a transistor whose base is connected to the said control signal and whose emitter and collector are operatively connected to the motor, and a pair of transistor circuits with one connected to the emitter of said transistor and to one side of the motor and the other connected to the collector of said transistor and the other side of the motor, and said source of selectively variable signal being operable to initially provide a signal which in combination with the receiver output signal provides an output control signal to the signal responsive switch means at an angular position of the antenna such that the motor is inoperative and thereafter variation in such angular position of the antenna causes variation in the control signal to effect motor operation in one direction or the other in accordance with a rise or fall of such control signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 1 characterized in that the pair of transistor circuits are complementary and connected across the motor in push-pull relation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-22 | 1976-02-21 | 1976-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-22 | 1980-02-21 | 1980-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-22 | 1984-02-21 | 1984-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |