US3745418A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control of operation of a system
Assignee: Australian Government
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Filing: 1971-07-28
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Granted: 1973-07-10
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Expires: 1991-07-28
Abstract
Abstract A system comprising a plurality of signal paths each of which has an operative condition in which it can carry a signal and an inoperative condition in which it cannot, and a control which is normally capable of placing each or any of said paths in the inoperative condition, there being a fuse in each path and the control being above to ensure that a current sufficient to blow the fuse will flow on any path which is in its operative condition when it ought to be in the inoperative condition.
Inventors
- 👤 N Mcleod
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:08
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/22; H04M3/24; H04M3/08; H04M3/12; H04M3/26; H04M3/28; H04M3/32; H04M3/323; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/42; H04Q3/54; H04Q3/545
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for use in control of a system which includes a plurality of conditionable paths each having a first condition which permits the path to carry a normal signal and a second condition which does not permit it to carry such a signal, the paths being such that in normal use they can be placed in their second conditions by a control, said improvement comprising: disabling means actuable, when all controllable ones of said paths have been placed in their second conditions, for rendering any other of said paths still in its first condition at least temporarily incapable of carrying said normal signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for use in control of a system which includes a plurality of conditionable paths each having a first condition which permits the path to carry a normal signal and a second condition which does not permit it to carry such a signal, the paths being such that in normal use they can be placed in their second conditions by a control, said improvement comprising: disabling means actuable, when all controllable ones of said paths have been placed in their second conditions, for rendering any other of said paths still in its first condition at least temporarily incapable of carrying said normal signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which each path includes a corresponding means for permitting such path when in its first condition to carry a normal signal and a disabling signal and for preventing such path when in its second condition from carrying either of those signals, the disabling means comprising first means coupled to said paths and operable for causing any path in its first condition to carry the disabling signal, and a plurality of second means associated with respective paths and each responsive to presence of the disabling signal on the associated path for rendering that path at least temporarily incapable of carrying said normal signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including means for sensing a fault condition of the system, such fault being that control of one of the paths has been lost with that path in its first condition, and in which said first means is responsive to sensing of such a fault.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the system is such that adoption of the first condition by any one of the paths automatically causes the normal signal to appear on that path, the means for sensing the fault condition comprising means to cause all controllable paths to adopt their second conditions, and for sensing the presence of the normal signal on a fault path while the controllable paths are in said second conditions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the plurality of second means comprises a plurality of fuses, one in each path, and the disabling signal is a current flow supplied by said first means and sufficient to blow the fuses, said normal signal being supplied other than by said first means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and including means to apply a test signal successively to the paths, so that each path can be ordered into its first condition by the control when the test signal is applied thereto, the test signal thereby being detected on the controllable paths, but not on a path rendered incapable of carrying the normal signal.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
92 words
A system comprising a plurality of conditionable paths each having a first condition which permits the path to carry a normal signal and a second condition which does not permit it to carry such a signal, a control which in normal use can place the paths in their second conditions, and disabling means actuable when all controllable ones of said paths have been placed in their second conditions by the control for rendering any other of said path still in its first condition at least temporarily incapable of carrying said normal signal.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
92 words
A system comprising a plurality of conditionable paths each having a first condition which permits the path to carry a normal signal and a second condition which does not permit it to carry such a signal, a control which in normal use can place the paths in their second conditions, and disabling means actuable when all controllable ones of said paths have been placed in their second conditions by the control for rendering any other of said path still in its first condition at least temporarily incapable of carrying said normal signal.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for controlling a system which includes a plurality of conditionable paths each having a first condition which permits the path to carry a normal signal and a disabling signal and a second condition which does not permit it to carry either of said signals, such thaT in normal use all paths can be placed in their second conditions by a control, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of means associated with respective paths and each responsive to the presence of the disabling signal on the associated path to render that path at least temporarily incapable of carrying said normal signal, and placing each path in communication with a disabling signal source while causing all controllable paths to adopt their second conditions.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for controlling a system which includes a plurality of conditionable paths each having a first condition which permits the path to carry a normal signal and a disabling signal and a second condition which does not permit it to carry either of said signals, such thaT in normal use all paths can be placed in their second conditions by a control, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of means associated with respective paths and each responsive to the presence of the disabling signal on the associated path to render that path at least temporarily incapable of carrying said normal signal, and placing each path in communication with a disabling signal source while causing all controllable paths to adopt their second conditions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
215 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, in which each path includes at one end thereof gating means having a first input from said control and a second input for said normal signal and responsive to simultaneous actuation of both said inputs for initiating said first condition and causing the corresponding path to carry said normal signal, said gating means each including switch means providing a connection to ground in response to said simultaneous actuation, said system further including a common data highway connected at one end to the other end of each of said paths and a receiver connected to the other end of said data highway, said system further including source means connected to said data highway for causing current flow through said data highway and a connected one of said paths switched to ground, said disabling means including current interrupting means in each said path responsive to a disabling signal for interrupting said path but capable of carrying current flow from said source means to said switching means of the associated gating device of said path, said disabling means further including executioner means selectively actuable in response to signal transfer along a given path when such given path is intended to be in its second condition for applying to said path said disabling signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
281 words
A system comprising: a plurality of conditionable paths, each having a first condition which permits the path to carry a normal signal and a second condition which does not permit it to carry such a normal signal; a gating means at one end of each path having a link input and a control input and responsive to simultaneous actuation of both said inputs for placing the corresponding path in said first condition and causing said corresponding path to carry said normal signal, each said gating means including switch means for connecting said one end of the corresponding path to ground in response to said simultaneous actuation; a common data highway connected at one end to the other ends of said paths; a receiver connected to the other end of said data highway; source means connected to said data highway for causing current flow to said data highway and a connected one of said paths switched to ground; disabling means operable when all controllable ones of said paths have been placed in their second conditions for rendering any one of said paths still in its first condition at least temporarily incapable of carrying said normal signal, said disabling means including a current interrupting means in each said path responsive to a disabling signal for interrupting said path but capable of carrying current flow from said source means to said switching means of the associated gating device of said path, said disabling means further including executioner means selectively actuable when all paths are intended to be in their second condition for applying to any current carrying path said disabling signal, said disabling signal comprising a current exceeding current flow from said source means.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
281 words
A system comprising: a plurality of conditionable paths, each having a first condition which permits the path to carry a normal signal and a second condition which does not permit it to carry such a normal signal; a gating means at one end of each path having a link input and a control input and responsive to simultaneous actuation of both said inputs for placing the corresponding path in said first condition and causing said corresponding path to carry said normal signal, each said gating means including switch means for connecting said one end of the corresponding path to ground in response to said simultaneous actuation; a common data highway connected at one end to the other ends of said paths; a receiver connected to the other end of said data highway; source means connected to said data highway for causing current flow to said data highway and a connected one of said paths switched to ground; disabling means operable when all controllable ones of said paths have been placed in their second conditions for rendering any one of said paths still in its first condition at least temporarily incapable of carrying said normal signal, said disabling means including a current interrupting means in each said path responsive to a disabling signal for interrupting said path but capable of carrying current flow from said source means to said switching means of the associated gating device of said path, said disabling means further including executioner means selectively actuable when all paths are intended to be in their second condition for applying to any current carrying path said disabling signal, said disabling signal comprising a current exceeding current flow from said source means.
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) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-01-08 | 1977-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-09 | 1981-01-08 | 1981-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-09 | 1985-01-08 | 1985-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |