US3746843A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital compass repeater readout device
Assignee: Litton Marine Systems Inc
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Filing: 1970-12-15
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Granted: 1973-07-17
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Expires: 1990-12-15
Abstract
Abstract A solid state digital readout device for use with gyrocompass step data in the form of either current sinking logic or current sourcing logic. The input data is waveshaped in a plurality of parallel connected Schmitt trigger circuits and coupled through inverter and switching circuits to decode gates connected in parallel with an integrated circuit decoder unit. Outputs from the decoder unit are coupled to a segmented display which provides a visual indication of direction of turn in accordance with the clockwise and counterclockwise sequential illumination of the segments and a visual indication of heading in sixths of a degree. The decode gates provide count up pulses or count down pulses for each degree of rotation in accordance with heading. These pulses are summed in an up/down counter which has its outputs coupled through a binary coded decimal decoder and applied to a display unit which indicates heading in degrees.
Inventors
- 👤 C Wesner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/02; G01C19/04; G01C19/28; H; H03; H03K; H03K21/00; H03K21/02; H03K21/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A ditial compass repeater readout device coupled to a gyrocompass apparatus which provides three wire compass step data indicative of direaction of turn and heading in degrees and factions of a degree comprising input circuit means coupled to said gyrocompass apparatus for receiving said three wire compass step data and producing three wire coded pulse data, first decoding means coupled to said input circuit means for receiving said three wire coded pulse data and providing decoded output pulses in accordance with direction of turn and heading in fractions of a degree, second decoding means coupled to said input circuit means for receiving said three wire coded pulse data and providing serial output pulses in accordance with direction of turn and heading in degrees, pulse counter means coupled to said second decoding means for producing binary coded decimal output signals in response to said serial output pulses, third decoding means coupled to said counter means for receiving said binary coded decimal output signals and providing decimal output signals, and display means coupled to said first and third decoding means for providing a visual digital readout indicative of direction of turn and heading in degrees and fractions of a degree.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A ditial compass repeater readout device coupled to a gyrocompass apparatus which provides three wire compass step data indicative of direaction of turn and heading in degrees and factions of a degree comprising input circuit means coupled to said gyrocompass apparatus for receiving said three wire compass step data and producing three wire coded pulse data, first decoding means coupled to said input circuit means for receiving said three wire coded pulse data and providing decoded output pulses in accordance with direction of turn and heading in fractions of a degree, second decoding means coupled to said input circuit means for receiving said three wire coded pulse data and providing serial output pulses in accordance with direction of turn and heading in degrees, pulse counter means coupled to said second decoding means for producing binary coded decimal output signals in response to said serial output pulses, third decoding means coupled to said counter means for receiving said binary coded decimal output signals and providing decimal output signals, and display means coupled to said first and third decoding means for providing a visual digital readout indicative of direction of turn and heading in degrees and fractions of a degree.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A digital compass repeater readout device as described in claim 1 in which said input circuit means includes three parallel adaptive circuits coupled between said gyrocompass and said first and second decoding means for receiving said compass step data signals in current sinking and current source logic form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A digital compass repeater readout device as described in claim 1 in which said first decoding means includes means for converting three wire coded pulse data into sequential output pulses indicative of direction of turn and changes in heading in fractions of a degree.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A digital compass repeater readout device as described in claim 1 in which said second decoding means includes means for converting said three coded pulse data into serial pulses on a first output terminal indicative of changes in heading in a first direction and on a second output terminal indicative of changes in heading in a second direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A digital compass repeater readout device as described in claim 1 in which said pulse counter means includes means for providing binary coded decimal output signals in accordance with the net accumulation of said serial output pulses applied to said counter means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A digital compass repeater readout device as recited in claim 5 in which said pulse counter meaNs further includes an up/down counter having a preset minimum value threshold for decreasing changes in heading and a preset maximum value threshold for increasing changes in heading.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A digital compass repeater readout device as recited in claim 1 in which said display means includes a single segmented display for indicating changes in heading in fractions of a degree and direction of turn.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A digital compass repeater readout device as recited in claim 7 in which said segmented display includes elements arranged in a closed geometrical figure for indicating direction of turn by sequentially illuminating said elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
A digital compass repeater readout device as recited in claim 1 in which said display means includes four standard seven segmented displays of which three displays indicate heading in degrees and the six outer elements of the fourth display are used to indicate changes in heading in sixths of a degree and to indicate direction of turn by the direction in which said elements are sequentially illuminated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3405221A
Cited
US3307143A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-16 | 1977-01-15 | 1977-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-16 | 1981-01-15 | 1981-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-16 | 1985-01-15 | 1985-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |