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US3780280A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Resolution of a triangle from hypotenuse and one side

Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1972-07-03
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Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1992-07-03
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Abstract

Abstract A DC voltage having an amplitude proportional to the length of one side of a right triangle is compared with a sine wave, of arbitrary frequency, having a peak value proportional to the length of the hypotenuse of the triangle so as to generate a square wave of the same frequency as the sine wave, and having a phase relationship to the sine wave which is proportional to the angle opposite the known triangle side. The square wave is then used as the phase reference for synchronously demodulating the sine wave, the average value of the demodulator output being equal to the base, or unknown side, of the triangle. In addition, the sine wave may be squared-up and the original square wave and the squared-up wave used to set and reset a bistable device to provide a pulsewidth modulation indication of the angle opposite the known side. This may be filtered to provide a DC voltage proportional to the angle.

Inventors

  • 👤 J Games

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 07:33
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06G; G06G7/00; G06G7/12; G06G7/22

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 145 words
Apparatus for resolving an unknown element of a right triangle from a known hypotenuse and a known side comprising: first means presenting a sinusoidal signal, the peak magnitude of which is proportional to the length of the hypotenuse of the triangle; second means providing a DC signal the magnitude of which is proportional to the length of a known side of the triangle; third means connected for response to said first and second means for generating a square wave signal at the same frequency as said sinusoidal signal but phase shifted therefrom in an amount proportional to the relative magnitudes of said sinusoidal signal and said DC signal; and fourth means connected to said first means and said third means and responsive to said sinusoidal signal and to said square wave signal for providing an output signal proportional to an additional parameter of said triangle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 145 words
Apparatus for resolving an unknown element of a right triangle from a known hypotenuse and a known side comprising: first means presenting a sinusoidal signal, the peak magnitude of which is proportional to the length of the hypotenuse of the triangle; second means providing a DC signal the magnitude of which is proportional to the length of a known side of the triangle; third means connected for response to said first and second means for generating a square wave signal at the same frequency as said sinusoidal signal but phase shifted therefrom in an amount proportional to the relative magnitudes of said sinusoidal signal and said DC signal; and fourth means connected to said first means and said third means and responsive to said sinusoidal signal and to said square wave signal for providing an output signal proportional to an additional parameter of said triangle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 49 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fourth means comprises means for synchronously demodulating said AC signal utilizing said square wave signal as a reference phase, the output of said synchronous demodulating means comprising a signal, the average magnitude of which is proportional to the base of the triangle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 73 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fourth means comprises: fifth means connected for response to said first means for providing a squared-up signal at the same frequency and phase as said sinusoidal frequency; and sixth means connected to said third means and said fifth means and responsive to said square wave signal and said squared-up signal for generating a signal proportional to the angle of the triangle opposite to the known side.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 42 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said sixth means comprises a bistable device set by said square wave signal and reset by said squared-up signal, said bistable device providing a pulsewidth modulated signal, the pulsewidth of which is proportional to said angle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 145 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said third means comprises: a pair of comparators and a bistable device, the output of a first one of said comparators setting said bistable device and the output of the second comparator resetting said bistable device; and an inverter responsive to said second means; each of sAid comparators being connected for response to said first means, said first comparator being connected for response to said second means, and said second comparator being connected for response to said inverter, whereby said first comparator provides an output when the instantaneous magnitude of said sinusoidal signal becomes as positive as the magnitude of said DC signal and said second comparator provides an output when the instantaneous magnitude of said sinusoidal signal becomes as negative as the inverse of said DC signal, the output of said bistable device comprising said square wave signal.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

No citation records indexed.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-12-17 1977-06-18 1977-12-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-12-17 1981-06-18 1981-12-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-12-17 1985-06-18 1985-12-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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