US3898454A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical air data sensor
Assignee: King Radio Corp
•
Filing: 1973-08-27
•
Granted: 1975-08-05
•
Expires: 1993-08-27
Abstract
Abstract An optical servo mechanism transmits data corresponding to variations in pressure, said data being derived from an associated aneroid. In the preferred embodiment a pair of adjacently located light emitting diodes are excited out of phase with each other and emit light to a photoconductive receiver element. Interposed between the diodes and the photoconductor is an aneroid operated shutter mechanism having diagonally opposed windows through which the diode light must pass. Aneroid induced shutter displacement will variably impede light propagation from the diodes, resulting in varying illumination of the photo conductor. Phase information in the output signal thereby generated will indicate the direction of pressure change, while the output signal amplitude will correspond to the amount of pressure change.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E Friday
- 👤 Ralph V Cole
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:39
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01L; G01L9/00; G01L9/0082; G01L9/0088; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/26; G01D5/32; G01D5/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
An optical air data sensor avionics system for use with a pressure sensitive aneroid, the system comprising: a light activated sensor element having a signal output therefrom; at least two effective light sources, said light sources remotely located from said sensor element and operable to variably illuminate same; a shutter located between said light sources and said light activated sensor and operable to variably impede light passage between said sources and said sensor, said shutter defining at least two openings to allow the passage of light from a respective source therethrough; means interconnecting said shutter and said aneroid to effect the movement of said shutter in accordance with the pressure being sensed by said aneroid; said openings and said sources being arranged to inversely vary light transmission therethrough to said sensor in accordance with said shutter movement; and said signal output from said sensor element being variable in accordance with the direction and amount of said shutter movement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
An optical air data sensor avionics system for use with a pressure sensitive aneroid, the system comprising: a light activated sensor element having a signal output therefrom; at least two effective light sources, said light sources remotely located from said sensor element and operable to variably illuminate same; a shutter located between said light sources and said light activated sensor and operable to variably impede light passage between said sources and said sensor, said shutter defining at least two openings to allow the passage of light from a respective source therethrough; means interconnecting said shutter and said aneroid to effect the movement of said shutter in accordance with the pressure being sensed by said aneroid; said openings and said sources being arranged to inversely vary light transmission therethrough to said sensor in accordance with said shutter movement; and said signal output from said sensor element being variable in accordance with the direction and amount of said shutter movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination as in claim 1 wherein said light source is comprised of a pair of light emitting diodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination as in claim 2 including means for energizing said light emitting diodes 180* out of phase with each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination as in claim 3 wherein said shutter defines openings oriented at diagonally opposite locations within the shutter.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for converting aneroid displacement in an avionics air data system into an electrical signal, said method including the steps of generating light from two effective light sources; directing said generated light along a path toward a photo sensitive element from each source; interrupting each of said light paths by a shutter mechanism having two openings defined therein; each of said openings permitting corresponding light paths to be directed therethrough; coupling said shutter to said aneroid thereby variably impeding each of said light paths to correspondingly variably illuminate said photo sensitive element; and detecting and amplifying the output of said photo sensitive element.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for converting aneroid displacement in an avionics air data system into an electrical signal, said method including the steps of generating light from two effective light sources; directing said generated light along a path toward a photo sensitive element from each source; interrupting each of said light paths by a shutter mechanism having two openings defined therein; each of said openings permitting corresponding light paths to be directed therethrough; coupling said shutter to said aneroid thereby variably impeding each of said light paths to correspondingly variably illuminate said photo sensitive element; and detecting and amplifying the output of said photo sensitive element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as in claim 5 wherein said generating step includes the further step of alternately energizing each of a pair of adjacently located light emitting diodes to accomplish said generation of light.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as in claim 6 including the step of directing the output of said light emitting diodes toward a pair of diagonally opposite rectangular openings in said shutter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3100997A
Cited
US3654480A
Cited
US3628024A
Cited
US3673607A
Cited
US3742233A
Cited
US3721123A
Cited
US3783277A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| 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 |