Patent US3750474A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3750474A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Altitude encoder
Assignee: Aerosonic LLC
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Filing: 1971-06-28
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Granted: 1973-08-07
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Expires: 1991-06-28
Abstract
Abstract An altitude encoder which provides a digital readout from a barometric sensor comprised of an aneroid bellows linked mechanically with a means to control the frequency of a sense oscillator. The sense oscillator produces a frequency proportional to altitude which constitutes an output signal to a counter. The output of a counter represents altitude and is stored for readout or fed into a transponder for transmission to the ground.
Inventors
- 👤 D Pollack
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:45
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01L; G01L9/00; G01L9/0041; G01L9/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
An altitude encoder for providing a digital output representative of altitude comprising transducer means responsive to barometric pressure, sensing means coupled to said transducer means, oscillator means responsive to said sensing means to control the frequency output thereof, wave shaping pulse generating means coupled to said oscillator means to produce a shaped pulse signal in response to said oscillator output signal, gate signal means coupled to said wave shaping pulse generating means to receive said shaped pulse signal, said gate signal means generating signals for a predetermined time period, counter means coupled to said gate signal means, said counter means generating an output signal representative of altitude, storage means coupled to said counter means for encoding the output of said counter and output means to generate a digital output signal connected to said storage means wherein said digital output provides an indication calibrated in terms of altitude.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
An altitude encoder for providing a digital output representative of altitude comprising transducer means responsive to barometric pressure, sensing means coupled to said transducer means, oscillator means responsive to said sensing means to control the frequency output thereof, wave shaping pulse generating means coupled to said oscillator means to produce a shaped pulse signal in response to said oscillator output signal, gate signal means coupled to said wave shaping pulse generating means to receive said shaped pulse signal, said gate signal means generating signals for a predetermined time period, counter means coupled to said gate signal means, said counter means generating an output signal representative of altitude, storage means coupled to said counter means for encoding the output of said counter and output means to generate a digital output signal connected to said storage means wherein said digital output provides an indication calibrated in terms of altitude.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The encoder of claim 1 wherein said oscillator means comprises first oscillator means responsive to said seNsing means to control the frequency output thereof and a second oscillator means providing a reference signal, means to combine the signal outputs of said first and second oscillators to produce a beat frequency output signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The encoder of claim 2 further comprises a mixer and filter means whereby said outputs of said first and second oscillators are combined to produce a beat frequency output signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The encoder of claim 1 wherein said oscillator means comprises a single sense oscillator means responsive to said sensing means to control the frequency output to produce an output signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The encoder in claim 1 wherein said transducer means includes an aneroid bellows mechanically coupled to said sensing means which is in turn electrically connected to said oscillator means such that changes in barometric pressure resulting from altitude variations will cause the output frequency of said oscillator means to vary.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The encoder in claim 5 wherein said transducer means further comprises a compensating connector means to compensate for changes in transducer means characteristics due to changes in environmental conditions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The encoder in claim 6 wherein said compensating connector means comprises a bi-metallic linkage arranged between said aneroid bellows and said sensing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The encoder in claim 1 wherein said sensing means which is mechanically coupled to said transducer means comprises a core which is electromagnetically coupled with a coil and said coil is electrically connected with said oscillator means whereby the movement of said core changes the inductance in said coil to vary the output frequency of said oscillator means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The encoder in claim 1 wherein said sensing means which is mechanically coupled to said transducer means comprises a variable capacitor which is electrically connected to said oscillator means such that changes in capacitance of said variable capacitor causes the output frequency of said oscillator means to vary.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The encoder in claim 1 wherein said sensing means which is mechanically coupled to said transducer means comprises a variometer which is electrically connected to said oscillator means such that changes in inductance of said variometer causes the output frequency of said oscillator means to vary.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The encoder of claim 1 further comprising a comb mixer gate coupled between said means to produce a square wave pulse signal and said counter to gate the said pulse signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The encoder of claim 11 further comprising means for producing storage clock signals for said storage encoding means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The encoder of claim 12 further comprising reset generator means to provide a reset signal for said counter whereby the count in said counter is proportional to the frequency of said pulse signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The encoder of claim 13 further comprising gate control means to control the output of said gate signal means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The encoder of claim 14 wherein said gate control includes a one-shot multivibrator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The encoder of claim 15 wherein said gate control means further includes means to calibrate and adjust its output.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The encoder of claim 1 wherein said wave shaping pulse generating means comprises a Schmitt trigger circuit to generate a square pulse signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The encoder of claim 1 wherein said output means comprises transponder means to generate transponder output signal, said transponder output signal transmitted to a remote readout means for providing an indication calibrated in terms of altitude.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3513708A
Cited
US3625060A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-06 | 1977-02-05 | 1977-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-06 | 1981-02-05 | 1981-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-06 | 1985-02-05 | 1985-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |