US3720281A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remotely controlled vehicle
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-02-16
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Granted: 1973-03-13
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Expires: 1991-02-16
Abstract
Abstract A three-wheeled remotely controlled vehicle is provided whose direction, speed and braking are automatically controlled by a remote transmitter. The signal from the transmitter is radiated to an electronic power control unit on the vehicle, and the power control unit causes a control to be exerted on the rear wheels of the vehicle. The front wheel of the vehicle is swivelly mounted to be freely rotatable about a vertical axis. The direction, speed and braking of the vehicle are controlled by individually controlling the rotation and direction of rotation of the rear wheels of the vehicle independently of one another.
Inventors
- 👤 J Frownfelter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:16
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D61/00; B62D61/06; B60; B60K; B60K1/00; B62B; B62B5/00; B62B5/0026; G; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/02; G05D1/021; G05D1/0276; G05D1/028; B62B2202/00; B62B2202/40; B62B2202/404; B62B5/0069; B62B5/0076
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
A remotely controlled vehicle comprising: a chassis; a pair of wheels mounted to said chassis; first and second reversible electric motors mechanically coupled to respective ones of said wheels for driving said wheels at variable speeds and in a forward or reverse direction; a forward wheel swivelly mounted to said chassis for rotation about a vertical axis; a pair of antennas mounted on said vehicle at each side thereof and spaced apart from one another for intercepting controlling signals from a remote control source; circuit means coupled to said antennas for producing a first signal representative of the difference in the amplitudes of the signals intercepted by said antennas and for producing a second signal representative of the sum of The amplitudes of the signals intercepted by said antennas; a first electronic system connected to said circuit means and responsive to said first signal for producing a direct current heading signal having an amplitude and polarity representative of the direction of said remote control source with respect to said vehicle; a second electronic system coupled to said circuit means and responsive to said second signal for producing a direct current position signal having an amplitude representative of the distance of the vehicle from said remote control source; and a motor control circuit coupled to said first and second electronic systems and responsive to said direct current heading signal and to said direct current position signal for controlling the speed and direction of rotation of said first and second electric motors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
A remotely controlled vehicle comprising: a chassis; a pair of wheels mounted to said chassis; first and second reversible electric motors mechanically coupled to respective ones of said wheels for driving said wheels at variable speeds and in a forward or reverse direction; a forward wheel swivelly mounted to said chassis for rotation about a vertical axis; a pair of antennas mounted on said vehicle at each side thereof and spaced apart from one another for intercepting controlling signals from a remote control source; circuit means coupled to said antennas for producing a first signal representative of the difference in the amplitudes of the signals intercepted by said antennas and for producing a second signal representative of the sum of The amplitudes of the signals intercepted by said antennas; a first electronic system connected to said circuit means and responsive to said first signal for producing a direct current heading signal having an amplitude and polarity representative of the direction of said remote control source with respect to said vehicle; a second electronic system coupled to said circuit means and responsive to said second signal for producing a direct current position signal having an amplitude representative of the distance of the vehicle from said remote control source; and a motor control circuit coupled to said first and second electronic systems and responsive to said direct current heading signal and to said direct current position signal for controlling the speed and direction of rotation of said first and second electric motors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
250 words
A remotely controlled vehicle comprising: a chassis; a pair of wheels mounted to said chassis; first and second reversible electric motors mechanically coupled to respective ones of said wheels for driving said wheels at variable speeds and in a forward or reverse direction; a forward wheel swivelly mounted to said chassis for rotation about a vertical axis; a pair of antennas mounted on said vehicle at each side thereof and spaced apart from one another for intercepting controlling signals from a remote control source; circuit means coupled to said antennas for producing a first signal representative of the difference in the amplitudes of the signals intercepted by said antennas and for producing a second signal representative of the sum of The amplitudes of the signals intercepted by said antennas; a first electronic system connected to said circuit means and responsive to said first signal for producing a direct current heading signal having an amplitude and polarity representative of the direction of said remote control source with respect to said vehicle; a second electronic system coupled to said circuit means and responsive to said second signal for producing a direct current position signal having an amplitude representative of the distance of the vehicle from said remote control source; and a motor control circuit coupled to said first and second electronic systems and responsive to said direct current heading signal and to said direct current position signal for controlling the speed and direction of rotation of said first and second electric motors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
250 words
A remotely controlled vehicle comprising: a chassis; a pair of wheels mounted to said chassis; first and second reversible electric motors mechanically coupled to respective ones of said wheels for driving said wheels at variable speeds and in a forward or reverse direction; a forward wheel swivelly mounted to said chassis for rotation about a vertical axis; a pair of antennas mounted on said vehicle at each side thereof and spaced apart from one another for intercepting controlling signals from a remote control source; circuit means coupled to said antennas for producing a first signal representative of the difference in the amplitudes of the signals intercepted by said antennas and for producing a second signal representative of the sum of The amplitudes of the signals intercepted by said antennas; a first electronic system connected to said circuit means and responsive to said first signal for producing a direct current heading signal having an amplitude and polarity representative of the direction of said remote control source with respect to said vehicle; a second electronic system coupled to said circuit means and responsive to said second signal for producing a direct current position signal having an amplitude representative of the distance of the vehicle from said remote control source; and a motor control circuit coupled to said first and second electronic systems and responsive to said direct current heading signal and to said direct current position signal for controlling the speed and direction of rotation of said first and second electric motors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The remotely controlled vehicle defined in claim 1, in which said controlling signals from said source have a predetermined carrier frequency, and in which said circuit means includes filter means for passing only said predetermined carrier frequency.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The remotely controlled vehicle defined in claim 1, in which said second electronic system includes circuitry for reversing the polarity of said direct current position signal when said remote control source is within a predetermined distance from said vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The remotely controlled vehicle defined in claim 1, in which said motor control circuit includes relay means for controlling the application of power to said first and second electric motors, and which includes signal monitoring circuit means coupled to said first-named circuit means and responsive to said second signal therefrom for controlling said relay means to prevent the energization of said motors when said second signal is below a predetermined amplitude.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
101 words
The remotely controlled vehicle defined in claim 1, in which said motor control circuit includes relay means for controlling the application of power to said first and second electric motors, and in which the controlling signals from said source include a key tone signal of predetermined frequency, and which includes key tone detector means coupled to said first-named circuit means for detecting said key tone signal, and circuitry coupled to said detector means and responsive to the detected key tone signal for controlling said relay means to prevent the energization of said motors in the absence of said key tone signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The remotely controlled vehicle defined in claim 1, and which includes signal limiting means in said first and second electronic systems to limit the amplitudes of said heading signal and said position signal so that the amplitude of said heading signal exceeds the amplitude of said position signal for all amplitudes of said position signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
The remotely controlled vehicle defined in claim 1, in which said motor control circuit includes relay means for controlling the application of power to said first and second electric motors, and which includes circuit means controlled by said relay means effectively to short circuit said first and second electric motors to provide dynamic braking for the vehicle when the power is not applied to the motors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination defined in claim 1, and which includes a transmitting unit for radiating the aforesaid signals at a predetermined carrier frequency.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination defined in claim 8, in which said transmitting unit includes three rod-like antennas positioned at right angles to one another, and three oscillators respectively coupled to said antennas.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-12 | 1976-09-11 | 1977-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-12 | 1980-09-11 | 1981-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-12 | 1984-09-11 | 1985-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |