Plural input mode servo driven air data computer

Claim 2

Means for generating a hold signal for any one of a plurality of monitored conditions comprising: plural input means being adapted to generate a signal representing the condition being monitored; signal storage means for storing any such signal; switch means for selectively coupling any one of said input means to said storage means; said storage means including means for storing the value of the signal coupled thereto at the time that the selected input means is coupled thereto and for retaining the stored value indefinitely; means for continuously comparing the stored value in storage means against the output signal of the input means coupled to said storage means for developing a hold signal representing the deviation of the signal from its stored value; output means for receiving said hold signal from said comparison means; said switch means including means for clearing said storage means each time a new input means is selected to store the signal value of the last selected in put means; said storage means comprising an up-down counter; oscillator means for pulsing said counter; means responsive to the operation of said switch means for activating said oscillator means for a predetermined time interval upon the operation of said switch means.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said comparison means is coupled to said up-down counter means for controlling the counting direction of said up-down counter means through the comparison of stored value in said counter means and the value of the signal applied to said comparison means through said switch means.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2 wherein each of said input means is adapted to generate analog signals; means coupled between said counter means and siad comparison means for converging the state of said counter means into an analog signal for use by said comparison means.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 wherein said means for activating said oscillator means is comprised of a monostable multivibrator responsive to operation of said switch means for activating said oscillator means for a predetermined time interval.

Claim 6

The device of claim 4 further comprising monitoring means coupled to said monostable multivibrator and said comparison means for generating an alarm to indicate failure of said counter means to store the value of the signal developed by the input means coupled thereto when said multivibrator has been reset.

Claim 7

The device of claim 5 wherein said monitoring means is further comprised of means for disconnecting the output of said comparison means from said output means until the value of the signal of the input means connected to said counter means has been stored in said counter means. each of said attenuating means being adapted to attenuate the signals applied thereto by differing amounts. A means for developing a hold signal from only one of a plurality of monitored conditions in order to constantly monitor any deviation from the desired hold signal comprising single servo means including input means and an output for generating an electrical signal representing any deviation in the state of said input means, said electrical signal being maintained so long as the deviation exists; a plurality of first means each adapted for converting the condition which it monitors into a state compatible for operating said servo means; means for selectively coupling any one of said first means to said servo means input means for changing the state of said input means at any time after the first means coupled to said input means changes state causing said sPrvo means to generate an output signal representing any deviation in both sense and magnitude in the monitored condition associated with only that first means coupled to said input means After the coupling operation has occurred; each of said first means is comprised of a rotatable input shaft whereby the direction of rotation represents the direction of change of the monitored condition and the amount of rotation represents the amount of change in the monitored condition; said coupling means comprising a plurality of rotatable output shafts each being aligned with an associated one of said input shafts; a plurality of clutch means each being provided between associated input and output shafts for selectively coupling one of said input shafts to its associated output shaft; each of said output shafts being provided with gear means; said gear means being meshed to enable the input shafts whose associated clutch is engaged to drive all output shafts through a predetermined amount of rotation; one of said output shafts being a connecting shaft and being coupled to the input means of said servo for driving said input means regardless of which input shaft is coupled to its associated output shaft; centering means coupled to said connecting shaft for returning said connecting shaft to a reference position and for nulling the output of said servo means whenever all of said input shafts are disconnected from their associated output shafts.

Claim 8

Means for generating a hold signal from only one of a plurality of monitored conditions comprising: input transducer means each being adapted to generate a signal representing the instantaneous value of the monitored condition; each of said transducer means comprising adjustable means operable to null the output of said input means; servo means for each of said input means; hold output means; switch means for each transducer means for coupling the output of each transducer means to its associated servo means and decoupling each transducer means from said hold output means when in a normal condition and for decoupling each transducer from its servo means and coupling the transducer means to said hold output means when in a hold condition, whereby only one of said switch means is in said hold condition at any given time; each servo means including means coupled to the adjustable means of its assOciated transducer means for continuously nulling the output of said transducer means when said servo means is coupled to the output of its associated transducer means; at least first and second transducer means; clutch means for selectively coupling the output of the servo means associated with the second transducer means to the adjustable means of said first transducer means when said clutch means is activated; the switch means associated with said second transducer means including second switch means for selectively coupling the output of said first transducer means to the servo means associated with said second transducer means when the switch means for said first transducer means is in said hold condition for generating a modified hold signal controlled by the outputs of both said first and second transducer means.

Claim 9

Means for generating a hold signal from only one of a plurality of monitored conditions comprising: input transducer means each being adapted to generate a signal representing the instantaneous value of the monitored condition; each of said transducer means comprising adjustable means operable to null the output of said input means; servo means for each of said input means; hold output means; switch means for each transducer means for coupling the output of each transducer means to its associated servo means and decoupling each transducer means from said hold output means when in a normal condition and for decoupling each transducer from its servo means and coupling the transducer means to said hold output means when in a hold condition, whereby only one of said switch means is in said hold condition at any given time; each servo means including means coupled to the adjustable means of its assOciated transducer means for continuously nulling the output of said transducer means when said servo means is coupled to the output of its associated transducer means; at least first and second transducer means; clutch means for selectively coupling the output of the servo means associated with the second transducer means to the adjustable means of said first transducer means when said clutch means is activated; the switch means associated with said second transducer means including second switch means for selectively coupling the output of said first transducer means to the servo means associated with said second transducer means when the switch means for said first transducer means is in said hold condition for generating a modified hold signal controlled by the outputs of both said first and second transducer means.

Claim 10

The device of claim 8 wherein said clutch means is further comprised of means for activating said clutch means when said first transducer means reaches a predetermined value.

Claim 11

The device of claim 9 wherein said input means comprises means for normally causing said servo means output means to automatically be set to a zero output deviation condition prior to the coupling of any of said first means thereto.