US3787867A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Navigational aid system
Assignee: Automatic Power Inc
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Filing: 1971-04-12
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Granted: 1974-01-22
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Expires: 1991-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A navigational aid system is disclosed in which the operation of a plurality of navigational aid devices is synchronized by a distinctive radiated energy signal received by each of the devices so that the navigational signals emitted by the devices occur either simultaneously or in a predetermined sequence. The distinctive radiated energy signal may be provided by a radio beacon or a signal generated from a transmitter in one of the navigational devices of the system.
Inventors
- 👤 R Dodge
- 👤 W Huffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S1/00; G01S1/70; G01S1/703; G01S1/7032; G01S1/7038; G08; G08G; G08G3/00; H; H05; H05B; H05B47/00; H05B47/10; H05B47/155; G01S2201/00; G01S2201/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
265 words
A system for generating a plurality of intermittent, navigational aid signals in response to receipt of a distinctive radiated energy signal, generated independently and externally of the system, and being generated at regular relatively short time intervals, said system comprising in combination: a plurality of independently powered and operated wireless navigational aid devices for providing said navigational aid signals, each of said navigational aid devices respectively including emitting means for emitting such a navigational aid signal, switch means connected to the respective emitting means, the switch means of each navigational aid device adapted to intermittently connect its respective emitting means to a source of electrical energy to cause one of said navigational aid signals to be emitted; receiver means for receiving said distinctive radiated energy signal at each of said navigational aid devices independently of the receipt of said signal at any other of said devices; and synchronizing means connected between the respective receiver means and respective switch means and responding to receipt by said receiver means of said distinctive radiated energy signal to independently provide synchronizing signals respectively at each of said navigational aid devices at a substantially fixed point in time with respect to receipt of said distinctive radiated energy signal, each of said switch means responding to its respective synChronizing signal to cause each of said emitting means to provide its respective navigational aid signal so that the operation of each of said navigational aid devices is independently synchronized to have a desired time relationship with the operation of said other navigational aid devices at each of said relatively short time intervals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
265 words
A system for generating a plurality of intermittent, navigational aid signals in response to receipt of a distinctive radiated energy signal, generated independently and externally of the system, and being generated at regular relatively short time intervals, said system comprising in combination: a plurality of independently powered and operated wireless navigational aid devices for providing said navigational aid signals, each of said navigational aid devices respectively including emitting means for emitting such a navigational aid signal, switch means connected to the respective emitting means, the switch means of each navigational aid device adapted to intermittently connect its respective emitting means to a source of electrical energy to cause one of said navigational aid signals to be emitted; receiver means for receiving said distinctive radiated energy signal at each of said navigational aid devices independently of the receipt of said signal at any other of said devices; and synchronizing means connected between the respective receiver means and respective switch means and responding to receipt by said receiver means of said distinctive radiated energy signal to independently provide synchronizing signals respectively at each of said navigational aid devices at a substantially fixed point in time with respect to receipt of said distinctive radiated energy signal, each of said switch means responding to its respective synChronizing signal to cause each of said emitting means to provide its respective navigational aid signal so that the operation of each of said navigational aid devices is independently synchronized to have a desired time relationship with the operation of said other navigational aid devices at each of said relatively short time intervals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each of said navigational aid signals are emitted sequentially.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which each switch means includes delay means connected to the respective synchronizing means and emitting means and responding to the respective synchronizing signal to produce a triggering pulse after a predetermined delay period, the delay period of the delay means of each of said navigational aid devices being such with respect to the delay period of the delay means of the other navigational aid devices that the triggering pulses in each of said navigational devices are generated sequentially with respect to each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 3 in which said navigational aid devices are channel lights disposed in a row to mark a navigation channel and the delay means in each device has a different period of delay so that the channel lights are flashed in sequence along such a row.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each of said switch means includes resettable clock means adapted to be reset by said synchronizing signal and having substantially the same repetition rate as the other clock means of the system so that when each of said clock means receives and is reset by its respective synchronizing signal all of the emitting means will emit said navigational aid signals substantially simultaneously until said clock means are subsequently reset.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
292 words
A system for generating a plurality of flashing lamp navigational aid signals in substantial synchronism in response to receipt of a distinctive radiated energy signal at regular relatively short time intervals substantially less than the time at which sufficient deviation between the flash on time of any two of the plurality of flashing lamps occurs such that substantial synchronism of all of said lamps is not provided, said system comprising in combination: a plurality of navigational aid devices for providing said navigational aid signals, each of said navigational aid devices respectively including a lamp for emitting such a navigational signal, switch means connected to the respective lamp, the switch means of each navigational aid device each navigational aid device adapted to intermittently connect its respective emitting means to a source of electrical energy to cause one of said navigational aid signals to be emitted; receiver means for receiving said distinctive radiated energy signal at each of said navigational aid devices independently of the receipt of said signal at any other of said devices; and synchronizing means connected between the respective receiver means and respective switch means and responding to receipt by said receiver means of said distinctive radiated energy signal to independently provide synchronizing signals respectively at each of said navigational aid devices at a substantially fixed point in time with respect to receipt of said distinctive radiated energy signal, each of said switch means responding to its respective synchronizing signal to cause each of said emitting means to provide its respective navigational aid signal so that the operation of each of said navigational aid devices is independently synchronized to have a desired time relationship with the operation of said other navigational aid devices at each of said relatively short time intervals.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
292 words
A system for generating a plurality of flashing lamp navigational aid signals in substantial synchronism in response to receipt of a distinctive radiated energy signal at regular relatively short time intervals substantially less than the time at which sufficient deviation between the flash on time of any two of the plurality of flashing lamps occurs such that substantial synchronism of all of said lamps is not provided, said system comprising in combination: a plurality of navigational aid devices for providing said navigational aid signals, each of said navigational aid devices respectively including a lamp for emitting such a navigational signal, switch means connected to the respective lamp, the switch means of each navigational aid device each navigational aid device adapted to intermittently connect its respective emitting means to a source of electrical energy to cause one of said navigational aid signals to be emitted; receiver means for receiving said distinctive radiated energy signal at each of said navigational aid devices independently of the receipt of said signal at any other of said devices; and synchronizing means connected between the respective receiver means and respective switch means and responding to receipt by said receiver means of said distinctive radiated energy signal to independently provide synchronizing signals respectively at each of said navigational aid devices at a substantially fixed point in time with respect to receipt of said distinctive radiated energy signal, each of said switch means responding to its respective synchronizing signal to cause each of said emitting means to provide its respective navigational aid signal so that the operation of each of said navigational aid devices is independently synchronized to have a desired time relationship with the operation of said other navigational aid devices at each of said relatively short time intervals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 6 further including a navigational aid device in which a transmitting means is provided for emitting said distinctive radiated energy signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 7 in which said transmitting means includes means connected to the respective switch means and responding thereto to cause said transmitting means to emit said distinctivelY radiated energy signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
The device of claim 6 in which said distinctive radiated energy signal includes pulses of relatively short duration and at least one pulse of relatively long duration in a coded sequence, and wherein said synchronizing means includes means deocding said distinctive radiated signal and providing said synchronizing signal in response to receipt of said long duration pulse.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The device of claim 9 wherein said last memtioned means provides a first signal in response to receipt of each pulse of said coded sequence, and provides a second signal in response to said relatively long duration pulse of said distincive radiated energy signal, and further including means generating said synchronizing signal in response to the coicidence of said first and second signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
219 words
A navigational aid device for generating intermittent navigational aid signals at selected points in time in response to a distinctive radiated energy signal which transmits a distinctive character at regular, relatively short time intervals, said distinctive radiated energy signal including pulses of relatively short duration and at least one pulse of relatively long duration in a coded sequence, said coded sequence being repeated at regular short time intervals and said relatively long duration pulse providing said distinctive character, said device comprising, in combination: emitting means emitting said navigational aid signals; switch means connected to said emitting means and adapted to intermittently connect said emitting means to a source of electrical energy to cause it to emit said navigational aid signals; receiver means for receiving said distinctive radiated energy signal; and synchronizing means connected between said receiver means and said switch means and responding to receipt by said receiver means of said distinctive character of said distinctive radiated energy signal to provide a synchronizing signal at a substantially fixed point in time with respect to receipt of said distinctive radiated energy signal, said synchronizing means including means decoding said distinctive radiated signal and providing said synchronizing signal in response to receipt of said long duration pulse, said switch means responding to said synchronizing signal to provide said navigational aid signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
219 words
A navigational aid device for generating intermittent navigational aid signals at selected points in time in response to a distinctive radiated energy signal which transmits a distinctive character at regular, relatively short time intervals, said distinctive radiated energy signal including pulses of relatively short duration and at least one pulse of relatively long duration in a coded sequence, said coded sequence being repeated at regular short time intervals and said relatively long duration pulse providing said distinctive character, said device comprising, in combination: emitting means emitting said navigational aid signals; switch means connected to said emitting means and adapted to intermittently connect said emitting means to a source of electrical energy to cause it to emit said navigational aid signals; receiver means for receiving said distinctive radiated energy signal; and synchronizing means connected between said receiver means and said switch means and responding to receipt by said receiver means of said distinctive character of said distinctive radiated energy signal to provide a synchronizing signal at a substantially fixed point in time with respect to receipt of said distinctive radiated energy signal, said synchronizing means including means decoding said distinctive radiated signal and providing said synchronizing signal in response to receipt of said long duration pulse, said switch means responding to said synchronizing signal to provide said navigational aid signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The device of claim 11 in which said decoding means includes a capacitor, means for charging said capacitor in response to receipt of said coded pulses, and means resPonding to the charge on said capacitor to provide said seocnd signal when this charge reaches a predetermined level.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 12 in which said last mentioned means is a zener diode and said predetermined level is the breakdown voltage of said zener diode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device of claim 13 wherein the RC timing constant of said capacitor and charging means and the breakdown value of said zener are such that this value is not reached on said capacitor until it is charged for a period of time longer than the duration of said relatively short duration pulses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
The device of claim 11, in which said switch means includes clock means connected to said synchronizing means and generating a series of triggering pulses, said clock means being reset in response to said synchronizing signals, and means connected to said emitting means and to said clock means and responding to each triggering pulse to connect said emitting means to said source of electrical energy.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
63 words
The device of claim 11 wherein said last mentioned means provides a first signal in response to receipt of each pulse of said coded sequence, and provides a second signal in response to said relatively long duration pulse of said distinctive radiated energy signal, and further including means generating said synchronizing signal in response to the coincidence of said first and second signals.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-21 | 1977-07-23 | 1978-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-21 | 1981-07-23 | 1982-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-21 | 1985-07-23 | 1986-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |