Patent US3809864A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3809864A
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Distance event marker
Assignee: NU-METRICS Inc LONGDALE INDUSTRIAL PARK 947 LONGDALE AVENUE LONGWOOD FL 32750 A CORP OF
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Filing: 1972-07-10
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Granted: 1974-05-07
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Expires: 1992-07-10
Abstract
Abstract The recording apparatus shown herein periodically records events as a function of distance traversed from a selected starting point. The system generates a plurality of input pulses, each one of which indicates the traverse of a selected unit distance, while a programmable counter periodically produces an output upon the occurrence of a selected programmable number of pulses thereby indicating a desired interval of traversed distance. A recording device such as a paint sprayer responds to the output of the programmable counter for recording the occurrence of the output at the desired interval of traversed distance.
Inventors
- 👤 H Sampey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:05
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C22/00; G01C22/02; H; H03; H03M; H03M1/00; H03M1/12; H03M1/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A system for use with a vehicle traveling over a road surface to periodically record events directly upon the road surface as a function of distance traversed by the vehicle from a selected starting point thereon comprising: road measuring input means adapted for attachment to said vehicle for generating a plurality of input pulses, each pulse indicating the traverse of a selected unit distance along said road surface by the vehicle; adjustable electronic program means connected to said input means for periodically counting the occurrences of input pulses and producing a program output signal upon the occurrence of any desired selected programmable number of said pulses corresponding to the current adjustment of electrical switch means included therein, said program output signal thereby being indicative of a desired inTerval of traversed distance along said road surface; and means responsive to the program output signal of said adjustable electronic program means for recording the then existing position of the vehicle along the road surface in response to the occurrence of said program output signal by applying a mark directly onto the surface of said road.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
183 words
A system for use with a vehicle traveling over a road surface to periodically record events directly upon the road surface as a function of distance traversed by the vehicle from a selected starting point thereon comprising: road measuring input means adapted for attachment to said vehicle for generating a plurality of input pulses, each pulse indicating the traverse of a selected unit distance along said road surface by the vehicle; adjustable electronic program means connected to said input means for periodically counting the occurrences of input pulses and producing a program output signal upon the occurrence of any desired selected programmable number of said pulses corresponding to the current adjustment of electrical switch means included therein, said program output signal thereby being indicative of a desired inTerval of traversed distance along said road surface; and means responsive to the program output signal of said adjustable electronic program means for recording the then existing position of the vehicle along the road surface in response to the occurrence of said program output signal by applying a mark directly onto the surface of said road.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
The system as described in claim 1 wherein said adjustable electronic program means includes: coincidence gating means responsive to said program output signal and to said input means for enabling said program output signal upon coincidence with the next occurring input pulse; and said road measuring input means including monostable means for producing a pulse of predetermined duration as each of said input pulses thereby controlling the duration of pulses actually input to said adjustable program means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
The system as described in claim 1 wherein said adjustable electronic program means includes: a counter for providing a sequence of interstage outputs representing an accumulated count of said input pulses; and manually adjustable switches connected to said interstage counter outputs for programming said desired interval of traversed distance along the road surface by selecting counter interstage outputs indicative of a counter contents corresponding to a desired selected programmed number of input pulses representing the desired interval of traversed distance along the road surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system as described in claim 3 wherein: AND gate means having inputs thereof connected and controlled in accordance with the operative condition of said switches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus as described in claim 3 further including: reset means responsive to an output of said counter for producing a reset pulse upon the occurrence of said program output signal for resetting said counter in readiness for measuring the next selected interval of traversed distance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1 further including: display means for producing an indication of the occurrence of said program output signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said display means includes: audio oscillator means for producing an audio tone in response to said program output signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system as described in claim 1 further including: monostable flip-flop means for producing a control output in response to the program output signal, said control output having a relatively long duration as compared with the duration of said input pulses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system as described in claim 1 wherein: said last-mentioned means comprises marker means for producing a mark directly onto the road surface for each program output signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system as described in claim 9 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises: a paint sprayer adapted to spray paint directly onto the road surface including a solenoid valve for controlling the spray thereof, said solenoid being operated in response to said program output signal for marking the road surface during the traverse thereof by the vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
The system as described in claim 10 further including: monstable means for producing a control output in response to the program output signal, said control output having a predetermined duration, and wherein said solenoid is operated in response to said control output whereby the mark length of said road surface is controlled. said adjustable electronic program means to begin a new period of counting said input pulses whereby the system may be manually adjusted to begin the desired cyclic marking process at any desired selected starting point along the road surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as in claim 1 further including a manually operable reset switch operatively connected to cause
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as in claim 1 further including a manually operable hold switch for inhibiting the cyclic marking process when desired thus preventing unnecessary undesired marking of the road surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A sYstem as in claim 13 wherein said monostable means includes adjustment means for controllably adjusting said predetermined duration to a desired value whereby said mark length on the road surface is adjustably controlled to a corresponding desired value.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
226 words
A system for periodically recording events as a function of distance traversed from a selected starting point comprising: input means for generating a plurality of input pulses, each pulse indicating the traverse of a selected unit distance; programmable means for periodically producing a program output upon the occurrence of a selected programmable number of said pulses thereby being indicative of a desired interval of traversed distance; said programmable means including a counter for providing a sequence of interstage outputs representing an accumulated count of said input pulses; and a means for programming said desired interval of traversed distance including switch means for selecting counter interstage outputs indicative of a counter contents corresponding to the selected programmed number of input pulses representing the desired interval of traversed distance, reset means responsive to an output of said counter for producing a reset pulse upon the occurrence of said selected output for resetting said counter in readiness for measuring the next selected interval of traversed distance, said reset means including a bi-stable means having one stable state governed by said input means for producing an output indication that said input is present and its other stable state governed by said program output signal thereby producing said reset pulse to reset said counter, and means responsive to the output of said programmable means for recording the occurrence of said output.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
226 words
A system for periodically recording events as a function of distance traversed from a selected starting point comprising: input means for generating a plurality of input pulses, each pulse indicating the traverse of a selected unit distance; programmable means for periodically producing a program output upon the occurrence of a selected programmable number of said pulses thereby being indicative of a desired interval of traversed distance; said programmable means including a counter for providing a sequence of interstage outputs representing an accumulated count of said input pulses; and a means for programming said desired interval of traversed distance including switch means for selecting counter interstage outputs indicative of a counter contents corresponding to the selected programmed number of input pulses representing the desired interval of traversed distance, reset means responsive to an output of said counter for producing a reset pulse upon the occurrence of said selected output for resetting said counter in readiness for measuring the next selected interval of traversed distance, said reset means including a bi-stable means having one stable state governed by said input means for producing an output indication that said input is present and its other stable state governed by said program output signal thereby producing said reset pulse to reset said counter, and means responsive to the output of said programmable means for recording the occurrence of said output.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as described in claim 15 further including: a display means responsive to outputs of said bistable means for producing a display indicative of ongoing counting and reset operations.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for automatically and cyclically marking the surface of a road from a vehicle traveling therealong, said method comprising the steps of: measuring predetermined increments of distance traversed by the vehicle over the road surface, propelling the vehicle over the road surface, producing an input pulse for each such increment of traversed distance. automatically cyclically counting a desired adjustable number of said input pulses, automatically and cyclically producing a program output signal every time said adjustable number of pulses have been counted, adjusting the value of said adjustable number to correspond to a desired distance interval between the start of successive marks to be applied to the road surface, marking the road surface in response to said program output signal whereby marks are automatically and cyclically applied directly to the road surface at said desired distance intervals.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for automatically and cyclically marking the surface of a road from a vehicle traveling therealong, said method comprising the steps of: measuring predetermined increments of distance traversed by the vehicle over the road surface, propelling the vehicle over the road surface, producing an input pulse for each such increment of traversed distance. automatically cyclically counting a desired adjustable number of said input pulses, automatically and cyclically producing a program output signal every time said adjustable number of pulses have been counted, adjusting the value of said adjustable number to correspond to a desired distance interval between the start of successive marks to be applied to the road surface, marking the road surface in response to said program output signal whereby marks are automatically and cyclically applied directly to the road surface at said desired distance intervals.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 17 including the step of optionally inhibiting the marking of the road surface to prevent unnecessary undesired marking thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 17 including the step of manually restarting said cyclically counting step at a desired reference location whereby the cyclic marking process is controlled to begin at said reference location along the road.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 17 including the step of adjustably controlling the duration of the marking step to a desired predetermined value whereby the mark length on the road surface is adjustably controlled to a corresponding desired value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-06 | 1977-11-05 | 1978-05-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-06 | 1981-11-05 | 1982-05-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-06 | 1985-11-05 | 1986-05-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |