US3876840A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic time-temperature-message announcing system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-05-25
•
Granted: 1975-04-08
•
Expires: 1993-05-25
Abstract
Abstract An announcing system in which the time, temperature, and commercial weather message announcements are provided on a single mechanism with one record and the TTA system will operate in any spatial orientation including a horizontal position. A stepping motor is used for a magnetic detent of the recording system and operates to positively position the magnetic sound heat in the center of a magnetic record track. Completely automatic time and temperature services are provided with no daily maintenance or initial time setting to maintain accuracy by utilization of the National Bureau of Standard''s WWV Radio broadcasts.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Ellis H Bryant
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 00:19
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/487; H04M3/4872; H04M3/4876
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
Time-temperature and message announcing apparatus, comprising: means for independently storing hour, minute, seconds, temperature and message data; means for selectively retrieving each of said hour, minute, seconds, temperature and message data; means for independently positioning each of said means for retrieving in selected portions of said hour, minute, seconds and temperature data, respectively; means for receiving hour, minute, and seconds update signals and including means for receiving coded radio signals accurately representing time, means for converting said coded radio signals into respective hour, minute, and seconds codes, logic means responsive to said hour, minute, and seconds codes for generating respective hour, minute, and seconds update signals; means for receiving temperature data from a location remote from said apparatus; and means controlling the position of said means for retrieving said hour, minute, and seconds data in response to said hour, minute, and seconds update signals and for controlling the position of said means for retrieving said temperature data in response to said temperature data signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
Time-temperature and message announcing apparatus, comprising: means for independently storing hour, minute, seconds, temperature and message data; means for selectively retrieving each of said hour, minute, seconds, temperature and message data; means for independently positioning each of said means for retrieving in selected portions of said hour, minute, seconds and temperature data, respectively; means for receiving hour, minute, and seconds update signals and including means for receiving coded radio signals accurately representing time, means for converting said coded radio signals into respective hour, minute, and seconds codes, logic means responsive to said hour, minute, and seconds codes for generating respective hour, minute, and seconds update signals; means for receiving temperature data from a location remote from said apparatus; and means controlling the position of said means for retrieving said hour, minute, and seconds data in response to said hour, minute, and seconds update signals and for controlling the position of said means for retrieving said temperature data in response to said temperature data signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising means for automatically resetting said means for independently positioning to account for a change from standard time to daylight savings time and from daylight savings time to standard time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Time-temperature and message announcing apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for independently storing hour, minute, seconds, temperature and message data is a single recording mechanism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
Time-temperature and message announcing apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for controlling operates automatically in response to said hour, minute and seconds update signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising means for generating said temperature data and including means for measuring the temperature, a servo system rotated in accordance with the temperature measurement at said remote location and means for converting said measured temperature into binary coded signals, said means including an encoder wheel driven by said servo system and a number of light emitting diodes and a corresponding number of phototransistors aligned on respective sides of said encoder wheel, said encoder wheel including a modified Gray code having bits spaced to compensate for the non-linear readings from said means for measuring temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said temperature data is transmitted from said means for measuring the temperature via a pair of telephone lines.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein each of said means for independently positioning further includes encoder means for each of said means for retrieving and each said encoder means having an encoder plate, a set of light emitting diodes mounted on one side of said encoder plate and a set of corresponding phototransistors mounted on the opposite side of said encoder plate and aligned with said set of photodiodes, and means for receiving the signals from each of said set of phototransistors to generate a positioning signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said means for selectively retrieving comprises separate modular carriage assemblies for said hour, minute, seconds and temperature data, each of said carriage module assemblies including a pair of spaced slide rods mounted between a pair of mounting plates, a threaded rod extending between said mounting plates and said slide rods, a ball and screw mechanism engaging with said threaded rod, a sound head carriage mounted to slide on said slide rod and engaging said ball and screw mechanism, a step motor for rotating said threaded rod and a positioning member comprising said encoder plate, said photodiodes and said phototransistors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein each of said means for independently positioning further includes a step motor responsive to that positioning signal from a respective one of said hour, minute, seconds and temperature encoder means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising means for rotating said means for independently storing and including a rotatable drum having a recording surface; means for generating stable oscillation pulses for driving said means for rotating; means for generating period synchronization signals in accordance with the rotation of said drum; means for generating precise repetitive signals from said hour, minute, and seconds update signals; means for synchronizing the rotation of said drum with said hour, minute, and seconds update signals, means for comparing said repetitive signals and said stable oscillation pulses to determine whether the rotation of said drum is slow, fast or accurate, and programmable divider means responsive to said fast, slow or accurate comparison signals for adjusting the division of said stable repetitive oscillation signal; and means for generating pulses responsive to said programmable divider means to control said means for rotating.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said means for generating periodic synchronization signals includes a second photodiode and a second phototransistor mounted in sapced aligned relationship with respect to one another and to the housing of said apparatus, a projection extending from said drum and positioned to rotate with said drum between said spaced photodiodes and phototransistors to periodically interrupt the light path therebetween with each revolution of said drum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as in claim 10 further comprising means for lubricating the surface of said drum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said means for rotating includes a central shaft supporting said drum, a motor for rotating said shaft, first and second flywheels, a first compliance filter member for mounting said first flywheel to said shaft, and a second compliance member for mounting said second flywheel to said shaft for maintaining the smooth rotation of said drum.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said motor is submerged in a fluid to provide viscous damping, cooling and lubrication of said motor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for selectively retrieving includes at least three independent channels and further comprising means for generating voice synthesizing signals, and means responsive to said voice synthesizing signals for generating channel selection control signals whereby a different combined message including said hour, minute, seconds, temperature and message date is periodically generated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as in claim 15 wherein said means for selectively retrieving further includes means for automatically advancing said hour and minute data a predetermined interval prior to the announcement of each new hour and minute.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as in claim 15 wherein said means for selectively retrieving includes hour, minute, seconds, temperature and message analog gates respectively controlled by said synthesis signals for generating voice signals respectively from said means for selectively retrieving.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as in claim 17 wherein each of said analog gates includes a preamplifier and a means for gating the output of said preamplifier in accordance with said voice synthesizing signals.
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) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |