US4068308A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Calculator-like device especially useful as an adjunct to a CB radio
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-07-19
•
Granted: 1978-01-10
•
Expires: 1996-07-19
Abstract
Abstract A device useful in a moving vehicle to locate the position of the vehicle relative to a particular point of reference at any time the vehicle is moving along a given highway. The device resembles a calculator in form and employs storage or memory banks the elements of which are key controlled. Numerical key controlled means are provided for input to said device of numerical information respectively to identify a point of reference along a given highway and individual mileage readings referenced to spaced locations along said highway. Function keys are provided to store this numerical input in said storage or memory banks and the last to operate of said function keys is arranged to interrelate the stored numerical information and to transmit an output signal from said device which enables an accurate location of the position of said vehicle along said highway in accordance with the last numerical input. In preferred embodiments of the invention the function keys are variously provided so that the user of the device may obtain the desired information as referenced to a highway mile marker system irrespective of whether the mile marker numbers, as observed, are progressively increasing or decreasing in the direction of travel.
Inventors
- 👤 Lincoln I. Opper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:36
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04G; G04G21/00; G04G21/04; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/023; G06F3/0232; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/08; G07C5/10; H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/84
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A calculator-like device useful in a vehicle to locate the position of the vehicle relative to a point of reference on a given highway along which the vehicle is traveling comprising numerical key controlled means for input to said device of numerical information respectively and individually identifying a point of reference along said given highway and mileage readings referenced to spaced locations along said highway, and sequentially operated function keys operable to store said numerical information following the entry thereof, the last to operate of said function keys having in association therewith means to interrelate the total of said numerical information and to transmit an output signal from said device which accurately locates the position of said vehicle along said highway.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A calculator-like device useful in a vehicle to locate the position of the vehicle relative to a point of reference on a given highway along which the vehicle is traveling comprising numerical key controlled means for input to said device of numerical information respectively and individually identifying a point of reference along said given highway and mileage readings referenced to spaced locations along said highway, and sequentially operated function keys operable to store said numerical information following the entry thereof, the last to operate of said function keys having in association therewith means to interrelate the total of said numerical information and to transmit an output signal from said device which accurately locates the position of said vehicle along said highway.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
156 words
A calculator-like device according to claim 1, numerical keys being provided for entering into the device a number which is the number of a mile marker at a vehicle starting position and for entering into the device in first and second instances a number which in the first instance is the number displayed by a vehicle mileage indicator at a vehicle starting position and in the second instance is the number displayed by a vehicle mileage indicator at another vehicle position to which the vehicle has traveled from said starting position, the entry of the last named number producing in the device a display of a number which is the number of the mile marker nearest the vehicle at its said other position, said function keys being provided in pairs and the function keys of each pair being alternatively operable according to whether the mile marker numbers are in an increasing or decreasing order of progression.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A calculator-like device according to claim 2, wherein said function keys are arranged in banks of three each, a bank of keys being selected for sequential operation of the keys therein according to the direction of travel of the vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A calculator-like device according to claim 3, providing a keyboard embodying said numerical keys and said function keys, wherein blocking means having an attached relation to the keyboard is adjustable relatively thereto alternatively to deny access to a nonselected bank of keys while exposing for access a selected bank of keys.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
86 words
A calculator-like device as in claim 1 wherein two of said function keys are respectively related to separate numerical inputs to said device which respectively represent a point of reference along said highway and the reading on the vehicle mileage indicator when said vehicle is adjacent to said point of reference and a third said function key is operatively related to a numerical input comprising a reading on the vehicle mileage indicator at a particular point along said highway the location of which must be identified.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A calculator-like device as in claim 1 wherein said function keys are provided in three pairs, one of each of which is selectively operated in any given use of said device, the selection being determined in accordance with the direction of the vehicle travel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A calculator-like device according to claim 1 wherein said function keys are arranged in banks of three each, a bank of keys being selected for a sequential operation of the keys therein in accordance with the direction of travel of the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein means are provided to selectively block out non-selected banks of keys to obviate misoperation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein there are two banks of said keys and blocking means is provided in a manner to enable the coverage of one of said banks of keys while exposing the other for operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device according to claim 7 including a keyboard embodying said numerical keys and said function keys and means for selectively blocking banks of keys while exposing one thereof for operation in accordance with the direction of travel of the vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
110 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein there are separate memory registers in connection with said numerical keys to separately receive and to store the respective numerical inputs one of which identifies said point of reference along said given highway and another of which identifies a mileage reading on the vehicle mileage indicator at the time the vehicle is adjacent said point of reference on said highway and the last to operate of said function keys is related to a third numerical input corresponding to the reading on the vehicle mileage indicator when the vehicle is positioned on said highway at a point disclosed from said point of reference.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
136 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said function keys are series operated and comprise three in number, two of said function keys are operatively related to store numerical input respectively identifying the reading on the vehicle mileage indicator at a particular point of reference along said highway and the mileage from said point of reference to a point of destination and the third said function key is operable in reference to an input of the reading of the vehicle mileage indicator at a particular point in the travel of the vehicle between the point of reference and the point of destination whereby the output from said device indicates the distance of the vehicle from the point of destination at the time of the reading of said vehicle mileage indicator to provide said third numerical input.
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) | 1981-01-09 | 1981-07-11 | 1982-01-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-09 | 1985-07-11 | 1986-01-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-09 | 1989-07-11 | 1990-01-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |