US4017858A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for generating a nutating electromagnetic field
Assignee: Rockwell Collins ElectroMechanical Systems Inc
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Filing: 1975-02-24
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Granted: 1977-04-12
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Expires: 1995-02-24
Abstract
Abstract A field (e.g., a magnetic field) which nutates about a pointing vector is used to both track or locate an object in addition to determining the relative orientation of this object. Apparatus for generating such a field includes mutually orthogonal coils and circuitry for supplying an unmodulated carrier, hereafter called DC signal, to one coil and an AC modulated carrier signal, hereafter called AC signal, to at least one (usually two) other coil, such that the maximum intensity vector of a magnetic field produced by the currents in the coils nutates about a mean axis called the pointing vector direction of the field.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack Kuipers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:09
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S1/00; G01S1/02; G01S1/08; G01S1/42; F; F41; F41G; F41G7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for generating a nutating electromagnetic field which comprises: a. three orthogonal radiators adapted to pass a current; and b. means for supplying the appropriate mixture of signals from three sources, supplying a DC signal, a first AC signal and a second AC signal in phase quadrature with the first AC signal, respectively, to the three radiators such that the electromagnetic field produced by the currents in the three radiators is caused to nutate in a conical manner about an arbitrarily directed pointing vector of the field, the apex of the cone being at the intersection of the generating radiators.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for generating a nutating electromagnetic field which comprises: a. three orthogonal radiators adapted to pass a current; and b. means for supplying the appropriate mixture of signals from three sources, supplying a DC signal, a first AC signal and a second AC signal in phase quadrature with the first AC signal, respectively, to the three radiators such that the electromagnetic field produced by the currents in the three radiators is caused to nutate in a conical manner about an arbitrarily directed pointing vector of the field, the apex of the cone being at the intersection of the generating radiators.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus for generating a nutating electromagnetic field which comprises: a. at least two orthogonal radiators adapted to pass a current; and b. means for supplying the appropriate mixture of signals from sources supplying a DC signal, and a first AC signal to the radiators such that the electromagnetic field generated by the currents in the radiators is caused to nutate about an arbitrarily specified pointing vector of the field.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus for generating a nutating electromagnetic field which comprises: a. at least two orthogonal radiators adapted to pass a current; and b. means for supplying the appropriate mixture of signals from sources supplying a DC signal, and a first AC signal to the radiators such that the electromagnetic field generated by the currents in the radiators is caused to nutate about an arbitrarily specified pointing vector of the field.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which the excitation signals cause the field to nutate in a nodding motion in a plane defined by the axes of the two radiators excited.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
85 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which there are three radiators and in which the signal source also supplies a second AC signal in phase quadrature to the first AC signal; and, means for supplying the appropriate mixture of each of the three source signals to the three radiators whereby the magnetic field is caused to nutate in a conical manner about an arbitrarily but specifically directed pointing vector of the field, the apex of the cone being at the intersection of the generating coils.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3121228A
Cited
US3838409A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-04-11 | 1980-10-11 | 1981-04-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-11 | 1984-10-11 | 1985-04-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-11 | 1988-10-11 | 1989-04-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |