Acoustic range measuring device

Claim 2

An acoustic range measuring device, capable of direct connection to digital computers and digital controllers as well as analog controllers, comprising a transducer for transmitting acoustic pulses and for receiving return echos therefrom; a transceiver for supplying electric signals to said transducer and for processing electric signals representing return echos; a reference oscillator for generating pulses of predetermined frequency; an electronic counter for counting the pulses from the reference oscillator that occur between the time of transmission of an acoustic pulse and the receipt of a return echo of said acoustic pulse; means for storing the count information; utility means responsive to said count information; means for determining whether or not an echo is received by the transducer; means for controlling the transfer of information from the counting means to the count storing means in accordance with the nature of said output means if and when the transducer receives a return echo for any given acoustic pulse, said transfer controlling means including means compirising a NAND gate for controlling the transmission of reference pulses from the oscillator to the electronic counter; and means for providing an alarm signal if such a return echo is not received.

Claim 3

An acoustic range measuring device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the transfer controllinG means comprises a falling edge trigger and a NAND gate.

Claim 4

An acoustic range measuring device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the means for providing an alarm signal comprises means for setting the means for storing the count information to a predetermined count.

Claim 5

An acoustic range measuring device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the predetermined count is zero.

Claim 6

An acoustic range measuring device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the means for providing an alarm signal includes means for maintaining the last valid count information in the means for storing the count information.

Claim 7

An acoustic range measuring device capable of direct connection to digital computers and digital controllers as well as analog controllers, comprising a transducer for transmitting acoustic pulses and for receiving return echos therefrom; a transceiver for supplying electric signals to said transducer and for processing electric signals representing return echos; a reference oscillator for generating pulses of predetermined frequency; an electronic counter for counting the pulses from the reference oscillator that occur between the time of transmission of an acoustic pulse and the receipt of a return echo of said acoustic pulse; means for storing the count information; utility means responsive to said count information; means for determining whether or not an echo is received by the transducer; means for transferring information from the counting means to the count storing means in accordance with the nature of said output means if and when the transducer receives a return echo for any given acoustic pulse; means for providing an alarm signal if such a return echo is not received; means for giving an alarm signal if a preset range is exceeded or not reached, said means comprising two variable analog timers; means for connecting said timers to the means for storing the count information during setting of said timers; means for determining if the time from transmission of an acoustic pulse to receipt of a return echo thereof is greater than or less then the preset time of said analog timer; and alarm signal means arranged for actuation by said time determining means.

Claim 8

An acoustic range measuring device capable of direct connection to digital computers and digital controllers as well as analog controllers, comprising a transducer for transmitting acoustic pulses and for receiving return echos therefrom; a transceiver for supplying electric signals to said transducer and for processing electric signals representing return echos; a reference oscillator for generating pulses of predetermined frequency; an electronic counter for counting the pulses from the reference oscillator that occur between the time of transmission of an acoustic pulse and the receipt of a return echo of said acoustic pulse; means for storing the count information; utility means responsive to said count information; means for determining whether or not an echo is received by the transducer; means for transferring information from the counting means to the count storing means in accordance with the nature of said output means if and when the transducer receives a return echo for any given acoustic pulse; means for providing an alarm signal if such a return echo is not received; means for giving an alarm signal if a preset range is exceeded or not reached, said means comprising two variable analog timers; means for connecting said timers to the means for storing the count information during setting of said timers; means for determining if the time from transmission of an acoustic pulse to receipt of a return echo thereof is greater than or less then the preset time of said analog timer; and alarm signal means arranged for actuation by said time determining means.

Claim 9

An acoustic range measuring device capable of direct connection to digital computers and digital controllers as well as analog controllers, comprising a transducer for transmitting acoustic pulses and for receiving return echos therefrom; a transceiver for supplying electric signals to said transducer and for processing electric signals representing return echos; a reference oscillator for generating pulses of predetermined frequency; an electronic counter for counting the pulses from the reference oscillator that occur between the time of transmission of an acoustic pulse and the receipt of a return echo of said acoustic pulse; means for storing the count information; utility means responsive to said count information; means for transferring information from the counting means to the count storing means in accordance with the nature of said output means if and when the transducer receives a return echo for any given acoustic pulse; means for providing an alarm signal if such a return echo is not received; a multiplicity of transducers and count storing means; means for sequentially operating the multiplicity of transducers, said means comprising a timer; means for synchronizing the output of said timer with the sending of the signal from the transceiver to the transducer; scan-counting means for selection of one or another of the said multiplicity of transducers and of a corresponding means for storing the count information to the selected means for storing count information; and delay means to activate said scan-counter and said transfer means upon a delayed signal from said synchronizing means.

Claim 10

An acoustic range measuring device capable of direct connection to digital computers and digital controllers as well as analog controllers, comprising a transducer for transmitting acoustic pulses and for receiving return echos therefrom; a transceiver for supplying electric signals to said transducer and for processing electric signals representing return echos; a reference oscillator for generating pulses of predetermined frequency; an electronic counter for counting the pulses from the reference oscillator that occur between the time of transmission of an acoustic pulse and the receipt of a return echo of said acoustic pulse; means for storing the count information; utility means responsive to said count information; means for transferring information from the counting means to the count storing means in accordance with the nature of said output means if and when the transducer receives a return echo for any given acoustic pulse; means for providing an alarm signal if such a return echo is not received; a multiplicity of transducers and count storing means; means for sequentially operating the multiplicity of transducers, said means comprising a timer; means for synchronizing the output of said timer with the sending of the signal from the transceiver to the transducer; scan-counting means for selection of one or another of the said multiplicity of transducers and of a corresponding means for storing the count information to the selected means for storing count information; and delay means to activate said scan-counter and said transfer means upon a delayed signal from said synchronizing means.

Claim 11

An acoustic range measuring device capable of direct connection to digital computers and digital controllers as well as analog controllers, comprising a transducer for transmitting acoustic pulses and for receiving return echos therefrom; a transceiver for supplying electric signals to said transducer and for processing electric signals representing return echos; a voltage-controlled oscillator for generating pulses of predetermined frequency; an electronic counter for counting the pulses from the reference oscillator that occur between the time of transmission of an acoustic pulse and the receipt of a return echo of said acoustic pulse; means for storing the count information; utility means responsive to said count information; means for determining whether or not an echo is received by the transducer; means for transferring information from the counting means to the count storing means in accordance with the nature of said output means if and when the transducer receives a return echo for any given acoustic pulse; means for providing an alarm signal if such a return echo is not received; means for automatic compensation of the reference pulse frequency with changes in the acoustic pulse velocity, said means comprising first and second transducers positioned a predetermined distance apart such that the said second transducer will receive only a portion of the transmitted acoustic pulse from the said first transducer; an amplifier arranged to amplify the electrical signals from said second transducer; a detector to determine, and to produce a relatively short output pulse, when a signal from said second transducer represents receipt by said second transducer of said acoustic pulse; a voltage ramp generator for providing an increasing voltage with increasing time and which is reset with the transmission of the acoustic pulse from said first transducer; and a sample and hold circuit which stores and applies to said voltage-controlled oscillator the voltage value of said voltage ramp at the time of receipt of said output pulse from said detector.

Claim 12

An acoustic range measuring device capable of direct connection to digital computers and digital controllers as well as analog controllers, comprising a transducer for transmitting acoustic pulses and for receiving return echos therefrom; a transceiver for supplying electric signals to said transducer and for processing electric signals representing return echos; a voltage-controlled oscillator for generating pulses of predetermined frequency; an electronic counter for counting the pulses from the reference oscillator that occur between the time of transmission of an acoustic pulse and the receipt of a return echo of said acoustic pulse; means for storing the count information; utility means responsive to said count information; means for determining whether or not an echo is received by the transducer; means for transferring information from the counting means to the count storing means in accordance with the nature of said output means if and when the transducer receives a return echo for any given acoustic pulse; means for providing an alarm signal if such a return echo is not received; means for automatic compensation of the reference pulse frequency with changes in the acoustic pulse velocity, said means comprising first and second transducers positioned a predetermined distance apart such that the said second transducer will receive only a portion of the transmitted acoustic pulse from the said first transducer; an amplifier arranged to amplify the electrical signals from said second transducer; a detector to determine, and to produce a relatively short output pulse, when a signal from said second transducer represents receipt by said second transducer of said acoustic pulse; a voltage ramp generator for providing an increasing voltage with increasing time and which is reset with the transmission of the acoustic pulse from said first transducer; and a sample and hold circuit which stores and applies to said voltage-controlled oscillator the voltage value of said voltage ramp at the time of receipt of said output pulse from said detector.