US3694630A — Mechanical events counter

Claim 1

Independent Claim 157 words

An electronic counting device for counting mechanical events, said device comprising the combination of a plate positioned to receive an impact in response to the occurrence of each of said events, transducer means coupled to said plate for producing an electrical output signal in response to each impact on said plate, linear amplifier means coupled to said transducer for providing an amplified output signal, count display means, and means including a threshold detector circuit coupled between said amplifier means and said count display means for advancing said display means one count for each impact on said plate, said threshold detector circuit including a bias means and a controlled rectifier having a gate coupled to said amplifying means and a cathode coupled to said bias means, whereby said controlled rectifier is fired only when the amplified output signal exceeds a threshold level established by said bias means and said amplifier means is substantially isolated from said bias means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 157 words

An electronic counting device for counting mechanical events, said device comprising the combination of a plate positioned to receive an impact in response to the occurrence of each of said events, transducer means coupled to said plate for producing an electrical output signal in response to each impact on said plate, linear amplifier means coupled to said transducer for providing an amplified output signal, count display means, and means including a threshold detector circuit coupled between said amplifier means and said count display means for advancing said display means one count for each impact on said plate, said threshold detector circuit including a bias means and a controlled rectifier having a gate coupled to said amplifying means and a cathode coupled to said bias means, whereby said controlled rectifier is fired only when the amplified output signal exceeds a threshold level established by said bias means and said amplifier means is substantially isolated from said bias means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 78 words

An electronic counting device according to claIm 1 wherein said transducer means includes a piezoelectric crystal for producing said electrical output signal, and further including a biasing means for applying a predetermined bias voltage to said amplifier, and a reference means for supplying a reference voltage substantially equal to said bias voltage, said transducer means being coupled between said biasing means and said reference means whereby substantially zero current flows through said transducer means under quiescent operating conditions.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 49 words

An electronic counting device according to claim 1 wherein said bias means is adjustable to permit selection of an optimum threshold level, and the isolation between said amplifier means and said bias means prevents the selection of the threshold level from having any significant effect on said amplifier means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 157 words

An electronic counter for counting mechanical events, said counter comprising the combination of a member positioned to be stressed upon the occurrence of each of said events, a piezoelectric transducer coupled to said member for producing an electrical output signal proportional to the stress applied to said member, a normally balanced electrical network having a pair of terminals at substantially equal potentials coupled across said transducer so that said transducer is substantially free of any externally applied bias, an amplifying means coupled to said transducer and to said network for receiving a bias from said network and for amplifying said output signal, a count display means, and means including a threshold detector coupled between said amplifying means and said display means for advancing said display means one count in response to each amplified output signal exceeding a predetermined threshold level selected to distinguish events to be counted from other conditions which might cause stressing of said member.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 157 words

An electronic counter for counting mechanical events, said counter comprising the combination of a member positioned to be stressed upon the occurrence of each of said events, a piezoelectric transducer coupled to said member for producing an electrical output signal proportional to the stress applied to said member, a normally balanced electrical network having a pair of terminals at substantially equal potentials coupled across said transducer so that said transducer is substantially free of any externally applied bias, an amplifying means coupled to said transducer and to said network for receiving a bias from said network and for amplifying said output signal, a count display means, and means including a threshold detector coupled between said amplifying means and said display means for advancing said display means one count in response to each amplified output signal exceeding a predetermined threshold level selected to distinguish events to be counted from other conditions which might cause stressing of said member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 41 words

An electronic counter according to claim 4 further including a capacitive load coupled across said transducer for limiting said output signal to a predetermined maximum voltage level, and wherein said amplifier has a high input impedance for substantially isolating said transducer.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 89 words

An electronic counter according to claim 4 wherein said threshold detector comprises a bias means for supplying a voltage to establish said threshold level, and a controlled rectifier including an anode-cathode circuit coupled to said count display means and gate-cathode circuit coupled between said amplifying means and said bias means, whereby said controlled rectifier is fired to advance said display means only when the amplified output signal exceeds said threshold level and said amplifying means is isolated from said bias means by the gate-cathode circuit of said controlled rectifier.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 167 words

An electronic counter for counting mechanical events, said counter comprising the combination of a member positioned to be stressed upon the occurrence of each of said events, a piezoelectric transducer coupled to said member for producing an electrical output signal proportional to said stress, a linear amplifying means coupled to said transducer for supplying an amplified output signal, a count display means, and a threshold detector means coupled between said amplifying means and said display means for advancing said display means one count each time the amplified output signal exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage, said detector means including a bias means for supplying an adjustable voltage to set said threshold level, and a controlled rectifier having a gate-cathode circuit including a gate coupled to said amplifying means and a cathode coupled to said bias means, whereby the gate-cathode circuit of said rectifier affords isolation so that the amplified output signal supplied by said amplifying means is substantially independent of the voltage selected to set said threshold level.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 167 words

An electronic counter for counting mechanical events, said counter comprising the combination of a member positioned to be stressed upon the occurrence of each of said events, a piezoelectric transducer coupled to said member for producing an electrical output signal proportional to said stress, a linear amplifying means coupled to said transducer for supplying an amplified output signal, a count display means, and a threshold detector means coupled between said amplifying means and said display means for advancing said display means one count each time the amplified output signal exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage, said detector means including a bias means for supplying an adjustable voltage to set said threshold level, and a controlled rectifier having a gate-cathode circuit including a gate coupled to said amplifying means and a cathode coupled to said bias means, whereby the gate-cathode circuit of said rectifier affords isolation so that the amplified output signal supplied by said amplifying means is substantially independent of the voltage selected to set said threshold level.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 126 words

A mechanical events counter comprising the combination of an input circuit, including a piezoelectric crystal and a normally balanced electrical network having a pair Of terminals at substantially equal potentials coupled across said crystal so that said crystal is substantially free of any externally applied electrical biases and is stressed upon the occurrence of each of said events, for supplying an electrical signal in response to each of said events; a count display means; and a sensing means, including a threshold detecting means, coupled between said transducer means and said display means for advancing said display means one count each time said electrical signal reaches a predetermined threshold level selected to distinguish events to be counted from other conditions which may cause stressing of said crystal.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 126 words

A mechanical events counter comprising the combination of an input circuit, including a piezoelectric crystal and a normally balanced electrical network having a pair Of terminals at substantially equal potentials coupled across said crystal so that said crystal is substantially free of any externally applied electrical biases and is stressed upon the occurrence of each of said events, for supplying an electrical signal in response to each of said events; a count display means; and a sensing means, including a threshold detecting means, coupled between said transducer means and said display means for advancing said display means one count each time said electrical signal reaches a predetermined threshold level selected to distinguish events to be counted from other conditions which may cause stressing of said crystal.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

A mechanical events counter according to claim 8 further including capacitive means coupled across said piezoelectric crystal for limiting said electrical signal to a predetermined maximum voltage level.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 114 words

A mechanical events counter according to claim 8 wherein said sensing means further includes an amplifying means coupled between said input circuit and said detecting means for amplifying said signal to provide an amplified signal; and said detecting means includes a bias means for supplying a voltage to establish said threshold level, and a controlled rectifier having an anode-cathode circuit coupled to said display means and a gate-cathode circuit coupled between said amplifying means and said bias means, whereby said rectifier is fired to advance said display means only when said amplified signal reaches said threshold level and said amplifying means is isolated from said bias means by the gate-cathode circuit of said rectifier.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 184 words

An electronic counting device for registering the number of parts ejected from a machine, comprising in combination, a metal plate disposed perpendicular to the path of the parts to be ejected; transducer means including a holding bracket mounted on said plate and a piezoelectric crystal held by said bracket and adapted to be stressed along a line perpendicular to said plate and to produce an electrical signal in response to said stress whenever a part strikes said plate; amplifying means driven by said transducer to produce an output at a voltage proportional to said transducer signal, said amplifying means including an input circuit defining a normally balanced electrical network having a pair of input terminals connected across said transducer means with said terminals being at substantially equal potentials under quiescent conditions so that said transducer means is substantially unbiased under said conditions; detector means coupled to said amplifier and actuated upon the achievement of a predetermined level by said amplifier output; and count display means controlled by said detector means and adapted to advance one count position with each actuation of said detector means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 184 words

An electronic counting device for registering the number of parts ejected from a machine, comprising in combination, a metal plate disposed perpendicular to the path of the parts to be ejected; transducer means including a holding bracket mounted on said plate and a piezoelectric crystal held by said bracket and adapted to be stressed along a line perpendicular to said plate and to produce an electrical signal in response to said stress whenever a part strikes said plate; amplifying means driven by said transducer to produce an output at a voltage proportional to said transducer signal, said amplifying means including an input circuit defining a normally balanced electrical network having a pair of input terminals connected across said transducer means with said terminals being at substantially equal potentials under quiescent conditions so that said transducer means is substantially unbiased under said conditions; detector means coupled to said amplifier and actuated upon the achievement of a predetermined level by said amplifier output; and count display means controlled by said detector means and adapted to advance one count position with each actuation of said detector means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 58 words

An electronic counting device according to claim 11 wherein said amplifier means further includes a pair of direct coupled emitter follower transistor stages biased into a low state of conduction by said electrical network under quiescent operating conditions so as to produce a maximum dynamic impedance to a transducer signal generated in response to ejection of a part.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 179 words

A device for counting mechanical events comprising in combination, mechanical-to-electrical transducer means detecting events to be counted and producing an electrical signal in response thereto; threshold detector means including a silicon controlled rectifier which is rendered conductive in response to the achievement of a predetermined amplitude by said transducer signal; a source of alternating current; a count display device adapted to be advanced one count with each successive application of alternating current thereto; relay means including a coil, a normally closed contact pair for conducting power for said controlled rectifier, and a normally open contact pair coupled between said alternating current source and said count display device, said coil being energized in response to conduction in said detector means to change the states of said contact pairs and thereby simultaneously (a) connect said alternating current source to said display device to advance the count, and (b) render said detector means non-conductive in readiness for the next transducer signal; and time delay means for maintaining said coil energized for a predetermined interval after conduction in said detector means has ceased.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 179 words

A device for counting mechanical events comprising in combination, mechanical-to-electrical transducer means detecting events to be counted and producing an electrical signal in response thereto; threshold detector means including a silicon controlled rectifier which is rendered conductive in response to the achievement of a predetermined amplitude by said transducer signal; a source of alternating current; a count display device adapted to be advanced one count with each successive application of alternating current thereto; relay means including a coil, a normally closed contact pair for conducting power for said controlled rectifier, and a normally open contact pair coupled between said alternating current source and said count display device, said coil being energized in response to conduction in said detector means to change the states of said contact pairs and thereby simultaneously (a) connect said alternating current source to said display device to advance the count, and (b) render said detector means non-conductive in readiness for the next transducer signal; and time delay means for maintaining said coil energized for a predetermined interval after conduction in said detector means has ceased.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 45 words

A counting device according to claim 11 wherein said time delay means is a capacitor in parallel with said relay coil, said capacitor being charged during conduction in said rectifier and discharged to maintain energization of said coil after conduction in said rectifier has ceased.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-09-26	1976-03-27	1976-09-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-09-26	1980-03-27	1980-09-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-09-26	1984-03-27	1984-09-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Mechanical events counter

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