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US3777267A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for searching for people who are buried or trapped and equipped with the same type of apparatus
Assignee: Autophon AG
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Filing: 1972-12-18
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1992-12-18
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for searching and determining the location of a transmitter carried on a person buried or trapped by a landslide, cave-in, and the like wherein the apparatus consists of a single unit having a selectively operative transmitter stage portion and a selectively operable receiver stage portion, a portable power supply, the receiver having an antenna and an input circuit wherein the efficiency of the input circuit is selectively adjustable in step-like manner to at least two different values by utilization of a transistor along with an optional resistor interposed between the transistor and the antenna, an input amplifier for receiving and amplifying the input signal, a manually operative progressively adjustable attenuation damping element electrically connected to the input amplifier and the input circuit, a receiver oscillator having an output frequency different from the normal frequency of the receiver, the output signal from the receiver oscillator being fed into a mixing stage along with the signal from the attenuation damping amplifier being fed into the mixing stage for comparison and mixing of the two signals, the mixing stage output signal being fed to a filter stage for initial filtering, the output signal from the filter stage being fed to an amplifier stage for amplification and feeding through a control element to an earphone-type device for converting the electrical signal into an audio detectable signal, the attenuation damping element comprising a manually operable switch including at least two switch segments each having a plurality of corresponding contacts and switch positions, the number of switch positions for controlling the receiver exceeding the number of steps available for adjusting the attenuation damping element, some of the contacts of the first switch segment being electrically connected to the attenuation damping element for effecting adjustment of the damping element upon changing the switch to different switch positions, some of the contacts of the second switch segment being electrically connected to the input circuit for effecting the control voltage provided to the transistor for adjustably changing the efficiency of the input circuit, the two switch segments being manually interconnected and operative such that a different total damping effect is obtained for each different switch receiving position with the total damping effect being a function of the selected efficiency of the input circuit in combination with the selected adjustments of the damping element.
Inventors
- 👤 Der Floe H Van
- 👤 S Affolter
- 👤 H Kully
- 👤 V Stverak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:56
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/02; G01S3/14; G01S11/00; G01S11/02; G01S11/06; G08; G08B; G08B3/00; G08B3/10; G08B3/1008; G08B3/1016; G08B3/1083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
386 words
Apparatus for searching and determining the location of a transmitter carried on a person buried or trapped by a landslide, cave-in, and the like, the apparatus comprising a selectively operative transmitter stage and a selectively operative receiver stage; a power supply; the receiver including an antenna and an input circuit; the efficiency of the input circuit being selectively adjustable in intermittent steps to at least two different values by means of at least one transistor and at least one resistor selectively operable in the input circuit between the transistor and the antenna; an input amplifier; a manually operative progressively adjustable attenuation damping element connected to the input amplifier and the input circuit; a receiver oscillator having an output frequency different from the normal frequency of the receiver; a mixing stage in the receiver for receiving signals from the receiver oscillator and from the attenuation damping amplifier for comparing and mixing the signals; a filter stage connected to the mixing stage for filtering the output signal from the mixing stage; an amplifier stage connected to the filter stage for receiving and amplifying the output signal received from the filter stage; a control element connected to the amplifier for receiving and controlling the output signal from the amplifier stage; an electrically powered audio device connected to the control element for receiving the output signal therefrom and converting it into corresponding audio signals; the attenuation damping element comprising a manually operable switch including at least two switch segments each having a plurality of corresponding contacts and switch positions, the number of switch positiOns for controlling the receiver exceeding the number of steps available for adjusting the attenuation damping element, the first switch segment having some of its contacts electrically connected to the attenuation damping element such that operation of the switch to change switch positions directly effects the adjustment of the attenuation damping element, the second switch segment having some of its contacts electrically connected to the input circuit for switching and controlling the control voltage provided to the transistor for adjustably changing the efficiency of the input circuit; such that a different total damping effect is obtained at each different switch receiving position, the total damping effect being a function of the selected efficiency of the input circuit in combination with the selected adjustment of the damping element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
386 words
Apparatus for searching and determining the location of a transmitter carried on a person buried or trapped by a landslide, cave-in, and the like, the apparatus comprising a selectively operative transmitter stage and a selectively operative receiver stage; a power supply; the receiver including an antenna and an input circuit; the efficiency of the input circuit being selectively adjustable in intermittent steps to at least two different values by means of at least one transistor and at least one resistor selectively operable in the input circuit between the transistor and the antenna; an input amplifier; a manually operative progressively adjustable attenuation damping element connected to the input amplifier and the input circuit; a receiver oscillator having an output frequency different from the normal frequency of the receiver; a mixing stage in the receiver for receiving signals from the receiver oscillator and from the attenuation damping amplifier for comparing and mixing the signals; a filter stage connected to the mixing stage for filtering the output signal from the mixing stage; an amplifier stage connected to the filter stage for receiving and amplifying the output signal received from the filter stage; a control element connected to the amplifier for receiving and controlling the output signal from the amplifier stage; an electrically powered audio device connected to the control element for receiving the output signal therefrom and converting it into corresponding audio signals; the attenuation damping element comprising a manually operable switch including at least two switch segments each having a plurality of corresponding contacts and switch positions, the number of switch positiOns for controlling the receiver exceeding the number of steps available for adjusting the attenuation damping element, the first switch segment having some of its contacts electrically connected to the attenuation damping element such that operation of the switch to change switch positions directly effects the adjustment of the attenuation damping element, the second switch segment having some of its contacts electrically connected to the input circuit for switching and controlling the control voltage provided to the transistor for adjustably changing the efficiency of the input circuit; such that a different total damping effect is obtained at each different switch receiving position, the total damping effect being a function of the selected efficiency of the input circuit in combination with the selected adjustment of the damping element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising positions on the switch connected to power feed circuits of the transmitter stage and receiver stage for turning the power on and off to the various circuits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an oscillating crystal connected to the input amplifier and adapted for alternate utilization by both the transmitter and the receiver stages, and at least one switching transistor having its control voltage controlled by the positions of the switch for cooperating in switching the modes of operation of the oscillating crystal between the transmitter operation and the receiver operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least one switching transistor having its emitter and collector connected between the antenna and the input of the amplifier stage of the receiver so that when the transistor is switched into a conducting condition it is possible for the person operating the apparatus to check that both the transmitter and amplifier stage of the receiver are working when the transmitter and the amplifier stage of the receiver are turned on.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the switch is provided with a plurality of positions for controlling the receiver, a position for controlling the transmitter, a position for checking the operation of the transmitter and receiver, and an on-off position, the manual switch exclusively containing the first and second switch segments, the second switch segment having rectifier circuits associated therewith for controlling the feeding of voltages partially via the rectifiers to various parts of the receiver stages and transmitter stages, the second switch segment also feeding a control voltage to a plurality of switching transistors, such that at least some of the contacts of the second switch segment are feeding a voltage simultaneously to more than a single stage of the apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the switch is provided with a plurality of positions for controlling the receiver, a position for controlling the transmitter, a position for checking the operation of the transmitter and receiver, and an on-off position, the manual switch exclusively containing the first and second switch segments, the second switch segment having rectifier circuits associated therewith for controlling the feeding of voltages partially via the rectifiers to various parts of the receiver stages and transmitter stages, the second switch segment also feeding a control voltage to a plurality of switching transistors, such that at least some of the contacts of the second switch segment are feeding a voltage simultaneously to more than a single stage of the apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the antenna includes an antenna coil common to both the transmitter and receiver, an output stage of the transmitter utilizing the transistor in the receiver input circuit, the transistor having its collector and emitter connected to two different points of the antenna coil such that the transistor serves to change the efficiency of the input circuit when the transmitter is turned off and the receiver is turned on.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising an oscillating crystal electrically connected to the transmitter via the first switch segment when the switch is in a position for transmitting or in a position for checking the operation of the apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further comprising an oscillating crystal electrically connected to the transmitter via the first switch segment when the switch is in a position for transmitting or in a position for checking the operation of the apparatus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2039663A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |