US3898448A — Spiral scan generator

Claim 1

Independent Claim 283 words

Apparatus for controlling a displacable means so as to have it move along a spiral path comprising a memory having stored therein a sequence of n-bit binary signals designating the + OR - Delta X and + OR - Delta Y values obtained by calculating the positional changes between pre-selected adjacent locations along a spiral path that has one end thereof at the origin of a coordinate system and the other end at a rEmote location therefrom; means for periodically addressing said memory so as to read out the sotred + OR - Delta X and + OR - Delta Y signals as either a forward sequence which corresponds to an expanding spiral or a reverse sequence which corresponds to a contracting spiral; means for converting the + OR - Delta X and + OR - Delta Y signals so read out to a pair of pulse trains whose pulse repetition rates are determined by the numerical values of said + OR - Delta X and + OR - Delta Y signals; a pair of up and down counters; means for feeding each pulse train to a different one of said counters whereby the count registered therein changes in the interval between successive read outs of said memory by amounts equal to the numerical values of said + OR - Delta X, + OR Delta Y signals, the direction of each change of count being determined by the sign associated with said + OR - Delta X and + OR - Delta Y signals; and means for converting the counts registered in said up and down counters to X and Y analog voltages, said analog voltages controlling the movement of said displacable means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 283 words

Apparatus for controlling a displacable means so as to have it move along a spiral path comprising a memory having stored therein a sequence of n-bit binary signals designating the + OR - Delta X and + OR - Delta Y values obtained by calculating the positional changes between pre-selected adjacent locations along a spiral path that has one end thereof at the origin of a coordinate system and the other end at a rEmote location therefrom; means for periodically addressing said memory so as to read out the sotred + OR - Delta X and + OR - Delta Y signals as either a forward sequence which corresponds to an expanding spiral or a reverse sequence which corresponds to a contracting spiral; means for converting the + OR - Delta X and + OR - Delta Y signals so read out to a pair of pulse trains whose pulse repetition rates are determined by the numerical values of said + OR - Delta X and + OR - Delta Y signals; a pair of up and down counters; means for feeding each pulse train to a different one of said counters whereby the count registered therein changes in the interval between successive read outs of said memory by amounts equal to the numerical values of said + OR - Delta X, + OR Delta Y signals, the direction of each change of count being determined by the sign associated with said + OR - Delta X and + OR - Delta Y signals; and means for converting the counts registered in said up and down counters to X and Y analog voltages, said analog voltages controlling the movement of said displacable means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 93 words

In an arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for addressing said memory automatically operates to read out said + or - Delta X and said + or -Delta Y signals as a first forward, a second reverse, a third forward and fourth reverse sequence; and means for reversing the signs of the + or - Delta X signals read out of said memory during said first reverse and said second forward sequence whereby said displacable means moves along four different spirals with each having one end thereof at said origin.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 131 words

In an arrangemnt as defined in claim 1 wherein the remote end of said spiral path is at a pre-selected X axis location; and wherein said means for periodically addressing said memory automatically reads out said + or - Delta X and + or -Delta Y signals as a first forward complete sequence followed by a second reverse complete sequence; and means for reversing the sign of the + or - Delta signals read out of said memory during said first reverse sequence whereby said displacable means moves along a first spiral path of an expanded radius, and when it reaches said remote location, thereafter, moves along a second spiral path of contracting radius back to said origin, said second spiral path being a mirror image of said first spiral path.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 235 words

In a system for controlling the movement of a displacable means so as to have it travel along a chosen path comprising a read out memory having stored therein binary signals designating the magnitude and sign of the Delta X and Delta Y values obtained by calculating the positional changes required to move from one location to another along said path commencing at one end thereof which is at a particular point in a rectilinear coordinate system and terminating at the other end thereof which is remote therefrom; means for reading out of said memory said Delta X and Delta Y binary signals; means for producing from each Delta X signal so read out a number of pulses indicative of the magnitude of said Delta X signal and for producing from each Delta Y signal so read out a number of pulses indicative of the magnitude of said Delta Y signal; a pair of up and down counters; means for feeding the pulses produced from each Delta X signal and Delta Y signal to different ones of said counters; means for controlling the direction of count of said counters in accordance with the sign of the corresponding Delta X and Delta Y signals; and means for converting the counts recorded in said up and down counters to X and Y analog voltages, said analog voltages being utilized to control the movement of said displacable means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 235 words

In a system for controlling the movement of a displacable means so as to have it travel along a chosen path comprising a read out memory having stored therein binary signals designating the magnitude and sign of the Delta X and Delta Y values obtained by calculating the positional changes required to move from one location to another along said path commencing at one end thereof which is at a particular point in a rectilinear coordinate system and terminating at the other end thereof which is remote therefrom; means for reading out of said memory said Delta X and Delta Y binary signals; means for producing from each Delta X signal so read out a number of pulses indicative of the magnitude of said Delta X signal and for producing from each Delta Y signal so read out a number of pulses indicative of the magnitude of said Delta Y signal; a pair of up and down counters; means for feeding the pulses produced from each Delta X signal and Delta Y signal to different ones of said counters; means for controlling the direction of count of said counters in accordance with the sign of the corresponding Delta X and Delta Y signals; and means for converting the counts recorded in said up and down counters to X and Y analog voltages, said analog voltages being utilized to control the movement of said displacable means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 32 words

In an arrangement as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for reading out of said memory automatically reverses the direction of said reading when an end of said path is reached.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 53 words

In an arrangement as defined in claim 4 wherein the Delta X and Delta Y binary signals which are read out of said memory are read out in equal time intervals; and wherein the calculated locations along said path are such that said movable means travels between adjacent locations in equal time intervals.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

In an arrangement as defined in claim 4 wherein said path has the shape of a spiral; and wherein said displacable means corresponds to a directional antenna.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-08-04	1979-02-03	1979-08-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-08-04	1983-02-03	1983-08-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-08-04	1987-02-03	1987-08-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Spiral scan generator

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