US3856104A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sequential control circuit for a remote-controlled vehicle
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-07-07
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Granted: 1974-12-24
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Expires: 1992-07-07
Abstract
Abstract A remote-controlled motor-driven vehicle responsive to a control signal transmitted by a portable transmitter carried by a moving individual for transporting a load at a predetermined distance behind the individual has an improved control system which includes a receiver for detecting the transmitted signal and developing therefrom a range signal representative of the distance between the individual and the vehicle and bearing signal representative of the heading of the vehicle relative to the individual. A motor control circuit is responsive to the application of the range and bearing signals for controlling the speed and direction of said vehicle. A detector is coupled to the receiver and is responsive to the reception of the control signal for developing an actuating signal. A switching circuit is coupled between the receiver and the motor control circuit and is responsive to the actuating signal for causing the motor control circuit to first respond to the bearing signal and then respond to the range signal to thus sequentially steer the vehicle in the proper direction and then move the vehicle to the desired distance behind the individual.
Inventors
- 👤 S Ohba
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 04:08
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/24; B62D1/28; G; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/02; G05D1/021; G05D1/0276; G05D1/028; G01; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/02; G01S5/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
In a remote-controlled motor-driven vehicle responsive to a control signal transmitted by a portable transmitter carried by a moving individual for transporting a load at a predetermined distance behind said individual, an improved system for controlling said vehicle comprising: means for receiving said transmitted signal and developing therefrom a range signal representative of the distance between said transmitter and said vehicle and a bearing signal representative of the heading of said vehicle relative to said transmitter; controlling means responsive to said range and bearing signals for first steering the vehicle in the direction toward said transmitter and then moving the vehicle to said predetermined distance behind the transmitter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
In a remote-controlled motor-driven vehicle responsive to a control signal transmitted by a portable transmitter carried by a moving individual for transporting a load at a predetermined distance behind said individual, an improved system for controlling said vehicle comprising: means for receiving said transmitted signal and developing therefrom a range signal representative of the distance between said transmitter and said vehicle and a bearing signal representative of the heading of said vehicle relative to said transmitter; controlling means responsive to said range and bearing signals for first steering the vehicle in the direction toward said transmitter and then moving the vehicle to said predetermined distance behind the transmitter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 1, which further includes means for gradually increasing the sensitivity of said controlling means to said bearing signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a remote-controlled motor-driven vehicle responsive to a control signal transmitted by a portable transmitter carried by a moving individual for transporting a load at a predetermined distance behind said individual, an improved system for controlling said vehicle comprising: means for receiving said transmitted signal and developing therefrom a range signal representative of the distance between said transmitter and said vehicle and a bearing signal representative of the heading of said vehicle relative to said transmitter; means responsive to said range and bearing signals for controlling the speed and direction of said vehicle; means coupled to said receiving means and responsive to the reception of said control signal for developing an actuating signal; switching means coupled between said receiver means and said controlling means and responsive to said actuating signal for causing said controlling means to first respond to the bearing signal and then respond to the range signal to thus sequentially steer the vehicle in the proper direction and then move the vehicle to said predetermined distance behind the transmitter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a remote-controlled motor-driven vehicle responsive to a control signal transmitted by a portable transmitter carried by a moving individual for transporting a load at a predetermined distance behind said individual, an improved system for controlling said vehicle comprising: means for receiving said transmitted signal and developing therefrom a range signal representative of the distance between said transmitter and said vehicle and a bearing signal representative of the heading of said vehicle relative to said transmitter; means responsive to said range and bearing signals for controlling the speed and direction of said vehicle; means coupled to said receiving means and responsive to the reception of said control signal for developing an actuating signal; switching means coupled between said receiver means and said controlling means and responsive to said actuating signal for causing said controlling means to first respond to the bearing signal and then respond to the range signal to thus sequentially steer the vehicle in the proper direction and then move the vehicle to said predetermined distance behind the transmitter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system according to claim 3, in which said transmitted control signal is a modulated carrier wave signal and said means for developing said actuating signal comprises a switch and a modulation detector responsive to the detection of said modulation to actuate said switch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A system according to claim 3, in which said switching means comprises a resistor-capacitor timing circuit and a pair of switching transistors coupled between said timing circuit and said vehicle controlling means, said capacitor timing circuit being responsive to the application of said actuating signal for gradually changing the operating state of said transistors in a sequential manner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
A system according to claim 5, in which one of said switching transistors is coupled to said bearing signal and, in the absence of said actuating signal, is operated in the conductive stage to short circuit said bearing signal to ground, and the other of said switching transistors is coupled to said range signal and, in the absence of said actuating signal, is operated in the conductive state to short circuit the range signal to ground.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 3, which further includes means responsive to said actuating signal for gradually increasing the sensitivity of said vehicle controlling means to said bearing signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to claim 7, in which said sensitivity increasing means comprises an operational amplifier having a feedback control circuit, and a switching transistor responsive to said actuating signal for gradually changing the resistance of said feedback circuit.
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) | 1977-12-23 | 1978-06-24 | 1978-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-23 | 1982-06-24 | 1982-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-23 | 1986-06-24 | 1986-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |