Patent US3922716A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3922716A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Air traffic controller aid
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-08-15
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Granted: 1975-11-25
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Expires: 1994-08-15
Abstract
Abstract A system for assisting air traffic controllers is disclosed. The system of this invention converts data obtained by sensing devices into a spoken number or statement. This conversion is accomplished automatically without the need of an individual in the conversion chain. The spoken number or statement is stored on storage device which is coupled to a transmitter so that the data can be transmitted in spoken form to pilots or other flight personnel. The system also provides means for entering verbal statements by air traffic controllers or other authorized personnel and means for these persons to override the automatic system.
Inventors
- 👤 Abraham Arnold
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:32
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S1/00; G01S1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
Apparatus for automatically providing air traffic control assistance comprising: a. at least one sensor for sensing a specific parameter and providing an output indicative of the value of said specific parameter; b. an information storage device having a plurality of different verbal data stored thereon; c. pick-up means associated with said storage device; d. converter means coupled to the output of said at least one sensor for converting the output of said at least one sensor to a position value of said pick-up means on said storage device; e. means coupled between said converter means and said pick-up means for positioning said pick-up means to a specific location on said information storage device in response to said position value from said converter means, thereby selecting a specific data bit from said plurality of data stored on said information storage device, said specific data bit being a verbal statement of the value of said parameter as measured by said at least one sensor at that time, a different data bit being selected each time the output of said at least one sensor indicates that the value of said paramter has changed; f. a record/playback Storage device having a record input and a playback output; g. means to couple said pick-up means to said record input of said record/playback storage device to thereby record at a specific location on said record/playback storage device in verbal form said selected data bit; and h. a radio transmitter coupled to said playback output of said record/playback storage device for transmitting said selected data bit, whereby said radio transmitter transmits said value of said parameter with said value being constantly updated so that said value transmitted is the correct value of said parameter at the time of transmission.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
Apparatus for automatically providing air traffic control assistance comprising: a. at least one sensor for sensing a specific parameter and providing an output indicative of the value of said specific parameter; b. an information storage device having a plurality of different verbal data stored thereon; c. pick-up means associated with said storage device; d. converter means coupled to the output of said at least one sensor for converting the output of said at least one sensor to a position value of said pick-up means on said storage device; e. means coupled between said converter means and said pick-up means for positioning said pick-up means to a specific location on said information storage device in response to said position value from said converter means, thereby selecting a specific data bit from said plurality of data stored on said information storage device, said specific data bit being a verbal statement of the value of said parameter as measured by said at least one sensor at that time, a different data bit being selected each time the output of said at least one sensor indicates that the value of said paramter has changed; f. a record/playback Storage device having a record input and a playback output; g. means to couple said pick-up means to said record input of said record/playback storage device to thereby record at a specific location on said record/playback storage device in verbal form said selected data bit; and h. a radio transmitter coupled to said playback output of said record/playback storage device for transmitting said selected data bit, whereby said radio transmitter transmits said value of said parameter with said value being constantly updated so that said value transmitted is the correct value of said parameter at the time of transmission.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said record/playback storage device is a magnetic tape unit having an endless magnetic tape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said record input of said record/playback storage device includes a conventional magnetic tape write head.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said playback output of said record/playback storage device includes a conventional magnetic read head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said means to couple said pick-up means to said record input of said record/playback storage device is a control unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said endless tape has preset verbal data stored thereon, said preset verbal data including identifier codes, a statement identifying said parameter and a statement of the unit by which said parameter is measured, said control unit controlling said endless tape and said write head in such a manner as to insert between said statement identifying said parameter and said statement of said units, the value of said parameter as provided by said pick-up means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said information storage device is a record disk with said plurality of different data being carried in concentric grooves on said record disk.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said pick-up means is a tone arm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The appartus as defined in claim 8 wherein said means to position said pick-up means is a mechanical positioner coupled to said tone arm to mechanically position said tone arm to a specific location on said record disk in response to the output from said converter means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein a plurality of sensors are provided, each sensor measuring a different parameter and providing an output indicative of the value of the parameter measured by that sensor, said plurality of sensors continuously providing updated values of each parameter being measured.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the value indicated by the output of each of said plurality of said sensors is selected from said record disk and recorded on said endless tape at a given position on said endless tape.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said information storage device is a tape player.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said endless tape has preset thereon in addition to said identifier code, statements identifying all the parameters sensed by said plurality of sensors with said parameter identifying statement being followed by a statement of the units by which each parameter is measured, the value of each parameter as measured by each of said plurality of sensors being inserted on said endless tape between the appropriate said parameter identifier statement and said associated units statement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said converter means is an analog to digital converter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said pick-up means is a playback head associated with said tape player, said playback head being controlled by said analog to digital converter to pick up a specific data bit of said plurality of data, said specific data bit being a verbal statement of said parameter as measured by said at least one sensor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein a pluralitY of sensors are provided, a plurality of analog to digital converters equal in number to said plurality of sensors are provided, and wherein a plurality of tape players equal in number to said plurality of analog to digital converters are provided, each one of said plurality of sensors being coupled to a different one of said plurality of tape players through a different one of said plurality of analog to digital converters.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein each of said plurality of tape players has a playback head controlled by the one analog to digital converter of said plurality of analog to digital converters associated with that tape player.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein a switching means having a plurality of inputs equal in number to said plurality of tape players and a single output is provided, and wherein means are provided to couple each one of said plurality of said switch inputs to the output of a different one of said tape players and means is provided to couple said single output to said control unit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein each tape player has recorded thereon a plurality of different verbal data corresponding to different values of the parameter measured by the sensor coupled to that tape player.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein the value indicated by the output of each of said plurality of said sensors is selected from said associated tape player of said plurality of tape players and recorded on said endless tape at a given position on said endless tape.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3767864A
Cited
US3798672A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-24 | 1979-05-26 | 1979-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-24 | 1983-05-26 | 1983-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-05-26 | 1987-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |