Patent US3934181A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3934181A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solid state light responsive control system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-01-15
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Granted: 1976-01-20
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Expires: 1994-01-15
Abstract
Abstract The control system includes a plurality of light responsive devices and a mask structure having a part which is movable with respect to the devices to control the transmission of light thereto. The movable part of the mask structure may be a ball-like member, which is universally supported in a spherical receptacle which supports the light responsive devices. Four light responsive devices may be used, with the mask structure having a portion with a variable width slot associated with each device, so that as the ball-like member is pivoted universally to control the light transmitted through the slots to the devices, electrical signals are produced which represent the movement. The light responsive devices have an electrical characteristic which changes with the light applied thereto to produce electrical signals, and are connected in a control circuit so that signals therefrom control apparatus, such as drive units for controlling the movement of a device. The ball-like member can control switches connected in the circuit to control the direction of operation of the drive units.
Inventors
- 👤 Ben J. Rosenthal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G5/00; A61G5/04; A61G5/041; A61G5/045; A61G5/10; A61G5/1054; B; B60; B60L; B60L50/00; B60L50/50; B60L50/52; H; H02; H02P; H02P5/00; H02P5/74; A61G2203/00; A61G2203/10; A61G2203/14; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/64; Y02T10/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A control system, including in combination: light supply means; a plurality of light responsive means having an electrical characteristic which changes with the light applied thereto; electrical drive means operable in various modes in accordance with the electrical current applied thereto; circuit means coupled to said light responsive means and to said drive means for supplying an electrical signal to said drive means which varies with the magnitude of light striking said light responsive means from said light supply means; and mounting and masking means comprising a support defining a spherical receptacle surface portion and supporting said light responsive means in fixed spaced relationship adjacent said spherical receptacle surface, mask means comprising a spherical insert surface portion mounted within said spherical receptacle surface portion for universal movement relative thereto, said mask means defining a cavity within said spherical insert surface which receives light from said light supply means, said spherical surface portions having areas of differing light transmitting characteristics which are in overlying relationship and shaped to cooperatively control the amount of light striking said light responsive means as a function of the relative positions of said cooperating spherical surface portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A control system, including in combination: light supply means; a plurality of light responsive means having an electrical characteristic which changes with the light applied thereto; electrical drive means operable in various modes in accordance with the electrical current applied thereto; circuit means coupled to said light responsive means and to said drive means for supplying an electrical signal to said drive means which varies with the magnitude of light striking said light responsive means from said light supply means; and mounting and masking means comprising a support defining a spherical receptacle surface portion and supporting said light responsive means in fixed spaced relationship adjacent said spherical receptacle surface, mask means comprising a spherical insert surface portion mounted within said spherical receptacle surface portion for universal movement relative thereto, said mask means defining a cavity within said spherical insert surface which receives light from said light supply means, said spherical surface portions having areas of differing light transmitting characteristics which are in overlying relationship and shaped to cooperatively control the amount of light striking said light responsive means as a function of the relative positions of said cooperating spherical surface portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A control system of claim 1 wherein said spherical insert surface portion is opaque, and said spherical receptacle surface portion includes a pattern of diaphanous areas adjacent said light responsive means, whereby said amount of light striking said light responsive means varies as the relative positions of said spherical insert surface portion and said spherical receptacle surface portion is changed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A control system of claim 2 wherein said light responsive means comprise photosemiconductor devices.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A control system of claim 2 wherein said movement of said spherical insert surface portion is controlled by actuating means coupled thereto, said actuating means being biased toward a predetermined neutral position by resilient biasing means and universally movable therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
A control system of claim 1 wherein said spherical insert surface portion includes diaphanous areas of varying width adjacent each of said light responsive means, whereby said amount of light striking said light responsive means varies as the relative positions of said spherical insert surface portion and said spherical receptacle receptacle surface portion is changed; said light responsive means comprise photosemiconductor devices; and said movement of said spherical insert surface portion is controlled by actuating means coupled thereto, said actuating means being biased toward a neutral position by resilient biasing means and universally movable therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A control system of claim 2 wherein said light responsive means comprises four light responsive devices located in a fixed spaced relationship and distributed about said spherical receptacle surface portion to exhibit an array of electrical characteristics correpsonding to the orientation of said spherical insert surface portion and responsive to movement thereof and produces orthogonally related drive signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The control system of claim 1 including switching means proximate said spherical insert surface portion comprising a plurality of electrical switching devices coupling said circuit means to said drive means, said electrical switching devices being selectively operable in accordance with the movement of said spherical insert surface portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
107 words
The control system of claim 5: wherein said light responsive means consists of a plurality of photosemiconductor devices located in fixed space relationship and distributed about said spherical receptacle surface portion to exhibit an array of electrical characteristics corresponding to the orientation of said spherical insert surface portion, and wherein said control system includes switching means proximate said spherical insert surface portion comprising a plurality of electrical switching devices coupling said circuit means to said drive means, said electrical switching devices being selectively operated in accordance with the movement of said spherical insert surface portion to alter the polarity of the signals applied to said drive means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A control system of claim 6 wherein said orientation of said spherical insert surface portion is controlled by actuating means coupled thereto, said actuating means being biased toward a neutral position and free to move universally therefrom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
The control system of claim 9 wherein said switches control the direction of electric current supplied to said drive means, said direction corresponding to the orientation of said actuating means and said switches supply no current to said drive means when said actuating means is in said neutral position, and wherein said mask means prevents light from striking said light responsive devices when said actuating means is in said neutral position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
The control system of claim 6 wherein said drive means includes first and second drive motors, and said circuit means includes a first circuit coupled to each of said drive motors for selectively applying current thereto and a second circuit coupling said light responsive devices to said first circuit for controlling the conductivity thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
The control system of claim 9 wherein said light responsive means consists of four light responsive devices distributed at equal intervals about said spherical receptacle surface, and including four electrical switching devices, each positioned adjacent one of said light responsive devices, said electrical switching devices coupling said circuit means to said drive means and being selectively operated by said spherical insert surface to control the polarity of the signals to said drive means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
162 words
A position sensing device comprising: light supply means; a plurality of light responsive means having an electrical characteristic which changes with the light applied thereto; circuit means coupled to said light reponsive means for producing an electrical signal corresponding to the magnitude of light striking said light responsive means from said light supply means; and mounting and masking means comprising a support defining a spherical receptacle surface portion and supporting said light responsive means adjacent said spherical receptacle surface, mask means comprising a spherical insert surface portion mounted within said spherical receptacle surface portion for universal movement relative thereto, said mask means defining a cavity within said spherical insert surface which receives light from said light supply means; and said spherical surface portions having areas of differing light transmitting characteristics which are in overlying relationship and shaped to cooperatively control the amount of light striking said light responsive means as a function of the relative positions of said cooperating spherical surface portions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
162 words
A position sensing device comprising: light supply means; a plurality of light responsive means having an electrical characteristic which changes with the light applied thereto; circuit means coupled to said light reponsive means for producing an electrical signal corresponding to the magnitude of light striking said light responsive means from said light supply means; and mounting and masking means comprising a support defining a spherical receptacle surface portion and supporting said light responsive means adjacent said spherical receptacle surface, mask means comprising a spherical insert surface portion mounted within said spherical receptacle surface portion for universal movement relative thereto, said mask means defining a cavity within said spherical insert surface which receives light from said light supply means; and said spherical surface portions having areas of differing light transmitting characteristics which are in overlying relationship and shaped to cooperatively control the amount of light striking said light responsive means as a function of the relative positions of said cooperating spherical surface portions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
A position sensing device of claim 13 wherein said spherical insert surface portion is opaque, said spherical receptacle surface portion includes diaphanous areas of varying width adjacent said light responsive means, and said amount of light striking said light responsive means varies as the relative positions of said spherical insert surface portion and said spherical receptacle surface portion is changed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
A position sensing device of claim 14 wherein said light responsive means consists of four light responsive devices located in a fixed spaced relationship and distributed about said spherical receptacle surface portion to exhibit an array of electrical characteristics corresponding to the orientation of said spherical insert surface portion and responsive to movement thereof.
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) | 1979-01-19 | 1979-07-21 | 1980-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-01-19 | 1983-07-21 | 1984-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-01-19 | 1987-07-21 | 1988-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |