US3750095A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Assignee: AIRGUIDE INSTRUMENT COMPANY
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Filing: 1970-09-15
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Granted: 1973-07-31
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Expires: 1990-09-15
Abstract
Abstract The apparatus employs transmission and reflection of sonic impulses in water to detect foreign objects. A matrix sequentially and successively primes, individually and at a prescribed rate, each of a plurality of bulbs commencing with transmission of each pulse. Detection of a reflected pulse energizes the bulbs at the time of reception of such pulse. Since the rate of sequencing of the bulbs is fixed and the rate of transmission of sound in water is a constant, depth is indicated by the bulb illuminated by the reflected pulse. Range switching is accomplished by changing in discrete increments the rate of sequencing of the matrix. A one-shot multivibrator is employed to energize the bulbs to insure uniform illumination in spite of large variations in reflected energy.
Inventors
- 👤 O Olesen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:00
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/04; G01S7/06; G01S13/00; G01S13/02; G01S13/06; G01S13/08; G01S13/10; G01S13/14; G01S13/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A depth detector for use in a sonic wave transmitting medium comprising a plurality of indicators, control means for priming said indcators to produce an indication upon application of an energizing signal thereto, means for applying energizing signals to said indicators, said control means including timing means for sequentially and cyclically priming said indicators, one at a time each for the same finite length of time, said timing means including a variable frequency oscillator, means for transmitting a sonic pulse, means responsive to aid timing means for energizing said means for transmitting concurrently with priming of a predetermined one of said indicators, circuit means responsive to said means for energizing for generating said energizing signal to activate said one indicator, means for receiving a sonic pulse, said circuit means being responsive to reception of a sonic pulse by said means for receiving for generating another energizing signal, means for changing the depth range of said depth detector, and said last mentioned means including means for changing the frequency of oscillation of said oscillator in discrete predetermined increments.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A depth detector for use in a sonic wave transmitting medium comprising a plurality of indicators, control means for priming said indcators to produce an indication upon application of an energizing signal thereto, means for applying energizing signals to said indicators, said control means including timing means for sequentially and cyclically priming said indicators, one at a time each for the same finite length of time, said timing means including a variable frequency oscillator, means for transmitting a sonic pulse, means responsive to aid timing means for energizing said means for transmitting concurrently with priming of a predetermined one of said indicators, circuit means responsive to said means for energizing for generating said energizing signal to activate said one indicator, means for receiving a sonic pulse, said circuit means being responsive to reception of a sonic pulse by said means for receiving for generating another energizing signal, means for changing the depth range of said depth detector, and said last mentioned means including means for changing the frequency of oscillation of said oscillator in discrete predetermined increments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said circuit means includes a one-shot multivibrator having a variable period and means for changing the period of said multivibrator as a function of frequency of said oscillator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said means for enerizing said means for transmitting comprises a blocking oscillator, said blocking oscillator having means for terminating oscillation thereof after a prescribed period of time approximately equal to the time of travel of sonic waves in said medium for the minimum depth to be measured in the minimum depth range.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The combination according to claim 3 wherein said circuit means includes a one-shot multivibrator, means establishing a first predetermined period approximately equal to said period of said blocking oscillator during operation of said oscillAtor at a frequency establishing a minimum depth range and establishing a second predetermined period greater than said first predetermined period during operation of said oscillator at a frequency establishing a greater depth range.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination according to claim 3 wherein said variable frequency oscillator has a period equal to said finite length of time, said blocking oscillator having a frequency at least equal to an order of magnitude greater than said variable frequency oscillator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination according to claim 5 wherein said circuit means includes at least one IF stage tuned to the frequency of said blocking oscillator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination according to claim 6 wherein said circuit means includes an active detector for detecting the envelope of the sonic pulse, a one-shot multivibrator and means responsive to the output signal of said active detector for triggering said multivibrator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
91 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a matrix having two groups of electrical buses, means for grounding all but one of said buses of a first group of said buses, means for grounding only one of said buses of a second group of said buses, said indicators comprising electrically energized light emitting means, means connecting each light emitting means across a unique pair of buses of said first and second group of buses and means for applying said energizing signals to said first group of buses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
182 words
A depth detector for use in a sonic wave transmitting medium comprising a plurality of indicators, control means for priming said indicators to produce a detectable indication upon application of an energizing signal thereto, said control means including a matrix having two groups of electrical conductors and a timing means operable at a prescribed cyclic frequency, said indicators each being connected between a unique pair of conductors each of a different group of said two groups of conductors, means responsive to said timing means for generating a sonic pulse, means for receiving a reflected sonic pulse to produce an energizing signal, means responsive to said timing means for sequentially and cyclically connecting said means for receiving to said conductors of a first group of said conductors, said timing means sequentially and cylically applying a priming signal to said conductors of the other of said groups of conductors at a rate which is predetermined relative to the rate at which energizing signals are applied to said conductors of said first group of conductors, and means for varying the frequency of said timing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
182 words
A depth detector for use in a sonic wave transmitting medium comprising a plurality of indicators, control means for priming said indicators to produce a detectable indication upon application of an energizing signal thereto, said control means including a matrix having two groups of electrical conductors and a timing means operable at a prescribed cyclic frequency, said indicators each being connected between a unique pair of conductors each of a different group of said two groups of conductors, means responsive to said timing means for generating a sonic pulse, means for receiving a reflected sonic pulse to produce an energizing signal, means responsive to said timing means for sequentially and cyclically connecting said means for receiving to said conductors of a first group of said conductors, said timing means sequentially and cylically applying a priming signal to said conductors of the other of said groups of conductors at a rate which is predetermined relative to the rate at which energizing signals are applied to said conductors of said first group of conductors, and means for varying the frequency of said timing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
171 words
A depth detector for use in a sonic wave transmitting medium comprising a plurality of indicators, control means for priming said indicators to produce a detectable indication upon application of an energizing signal thereto, said control means including a matrix having two groups of electrical conductors and a timing means operable at a prescribed cyclic frequency, first means responsive to said timing means for sequentially and cyclically connecting all but one of said conductors of a first group of said two groups of conductors to a reference potential, further means responsive to said timing means for sequentially and cyclically connecting one of said conductors of the other of said groups of conductors to the reference potential, said indicators each being connected across a unique pair of conductors of said first and other groups of conductors, means for transmitting a sonic pulse, means for receiving a sonic pulse to generate an energizing signal, and means for applying said energizing signal to said one of said conductors of said first group of conductors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
171 words
A depth detector for use in a sonic wave transmitting medium comprising a plurality of indicators, control means for priming said indicators to produce a detectable indication upon application of an energizing signal thereto, said control means including a matrix having two groups of electrical conductors and a timing means operable at a prescribed cyclic frequency, first means responsive to said timing means for sequentially and cyclically connecting all but one of said conductors of a first group of said two groups of conductors to a reference potential, further means responsive to said timing means for sequentially and cyclically connecting one of said conductors of the other of said groups of conductors to the reference potential, said indicators each being connected across a unique pair of conductors of said first and other groups of conductors, means for transmitting a sonic pulse, means for receiving a sonic pulse to generate an energizing signal, and means for applying said energizing signal to said one of said conductors of said first group of conductors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination according to claim 10 wherein said first and further means comprise transistors connecting said conductors to a reference potential through their collector-emitter circUits when activated, said timing means sequentially and cyclically activating said transistors.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-30 | 1977-01-29 | 1977-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-30 | 1981-01-29 | 1981-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-30 | 1985-01-29 | 1985-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |