US3943357A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remote controlled vehicle systems
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-08-31
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Granted: 1976-03-09
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Expires: 1993-08-31
Abstract
Abstract Remote controlled vehicle systems for the surveillance of and/or action on objects spaced from the point of control including a control or information receiving station and means for modulating a beam of light receivable at the control or information receiving station by intelligence bearing signals generated at the vehicle. The beam of light receivable at the control station may be a laser beam or a light beam carried by an optically conductive fiber or fiber bundle. Control signals may be transmitted to the vehicle by a modulated laser beam or a fiber-carried beam or by radio frequency signals.
Inventors
- 👤 William Howard Culver
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/25; H04B10/2587; G; G01; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/74; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/17; G02F1/174
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A communication system for the remote control of a vehicle, control mechanism carried by the vehicle to be controlled, a control station, means for generating electromagnetic control signals at said control station, means for generating intelligence bearing signals at the vehicle, means for modulating a beam of light receivable at the control station by said intelligence bearing signals generated at the vehicle wherein the vehicle is controlled by electromagnetic signals imposed at the control station and wherein the modulating means comprises a retroreflector carried by the vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
A communication system for the remote control of a vehicle, control mechanism carried by the vehicle to be controlled, a control station, means for generating electromagnetic control signals at said control station, means for generating intelligence bearing signals at the vehicle, means for modulating a beam of light receivable at the control station by said intelligence bearing signals generated at the vehicle wherein the vehicle is controlled by electromagnetic signals imposed at the control station and wherein the modulating means comprises a retroreflector carried by the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the beam of light is a laser beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A communication system as defined in claim 2 wherein the laser beam is generated at the control station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the retroreflector is separably associated with the vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A communication system as defined in claim 1 including a laser beam generating means at the control station and the electromagnetic signals comprise signals imposed on said laser beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the vehicle is controlled by radio frequency signals generated at the control station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the laser beam signals are modulated by the use of the Stark effect upon a gas-filled cell in the path of the beam to the retroreflector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the retroreflector is a corner cube retroreflector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A remotely piloted assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein the laser beam signals are modulated by the use of the Stark effect upon a gas-filled cell in the path of the beam to the retroreflector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A remotely piloted assembly including a vehicle, a beam-modulating retroreflector receiving laser-beam-carried control signals from a control station, means for releasably mounting the retroreflector to the vehicle and optical filament means connecting the vehicle and the retroreflector for transmitting signals between the vehicle and the control station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A remotely piloted assembly including a vehicle, a beam-modulating retroreflector receiving laser-beam-carried control signals from a control station, means for releasably mounting the retroreflector to the vehicle and optical filament means connecting the vehicle and the retroreflector for transmitting signals between the vehicle and the control station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A communication system as defined in claim 10 wherein the beam of light is carried by said optical filament means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A remotely piloted assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein the laser beam signals are modulated by the use of the Stark effect upon a gas-filled cell in the path of the beam to the retroreflector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A remotely piloted assembly as defined in claim 10 including a parachute extendible to support the retroreflector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A remotely piloted assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein the retroreflector is mounted on a separate independently controllable carrier means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A remotely piloted assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein the filament means is an electroconductive wire.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A remotely piloted assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein the filament means is an optically conductive fiber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A remotely piloted assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein the retroreflector is a corner cube retroreflector.
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) | 1979-03-09 | 1979-09-08 | 1980-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-09 | 1983-09-08 | 1984-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-09 | 1987-09-08 | 1988-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |