US4073194A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Noise chrono-dosimeter system
Assignee: United States Department of Health and Human Services
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Filing: 1976-10-08
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Granted: 1978-02-14
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Expires: 1996-10-08
Abstract
Abstract A system for the periodic sampling and recording of a condition, such as noise. The system employs a transducer which gates strings of pulses to a tape recorder. The gating time is in accordance with the transducer output voltage at sampling time. At each sampling, a delay in recording is provided to allow the recorder motor to come up to speed. The recorded tape may be played back and the grouped recorded pulses counted and presented as noise levels which can be plotted against time.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert D. Willson
- 👤 Terry L. Henderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01H; G01H3/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A system for the periodic sampling and recording of a changeable condition in an area, comprising magnetic tape recorder means, timed clock and operating period-defining means drivingly connected to said tape recorder means and driving said tape recorder means for a predetermined operating period at the end of successive sampling spaced periods, condition-responsive trasducer means located in said area to develop an electrical signal changing in strength in accordance with said condition, oscillator means generating constant-frequency waves, variableperiod gating means, means to adjust the gating period of said gating means in accordance with the strength of said electrical signal, means controlled by said timed clock and period-defining means to gate said waves with said gating means after each sampling spacing period and during an operating period of said tape recorder means, whereby to produce successive timed strings of pulses whose number is in accordance with the respective strengths of said electrical signal after said sampling spacing periods, means to supply said strings of pulses as an input to said magnetic recorder means, whereby to provide a tape recording containing the respective strings of pulses representing the respective strengths of said transducer-developed electrical signals during the gating periods, and means to delay each gating of said oscillator waves for a time sufficient to enable said tape recorder means to attain a substantially steady speed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
223 words
A system for the periodic sampling and recording of a changeable condition in an area, comprising magnetic tape recorder means, timed clock and operating period-defining means drivingly connected to said tape recorder means and driving said tape recorder means for a predetermined operating period at the end of successive sampling spaced periods, condition-responsive trasducer means located in said area to develop an electrical signal changing in strength in accordance with said condition, oscillator means generating constant-frequency waves, variableperiod gating means, means to adjust the gating period of said gating means in accordance with the strength of said electrical signal, means controlled by said timed clock and period-defining means to gate said waves with said gating means after each sampling spacing period and during an operating period of said tape recorder means, whereby to produce successive timed strings of pulses whose number is in accordance with the respective strengths of said electrical signal after said sampling spacing periods, means to supply said strings of pulses as an input to said magnetic recorder means, whereby to provide a tape recording containing the respective strings of pulses representing the respective strengths of said transducer-developed electrical signals during the gating periods, and means to delay each gating of said oscillator waves for a time sufficient to enable said tape recorder means to attain a substantially steady speed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1, and means to delay each gating of said oscillator waves for at least 200 milliseconds to enable said tape recorder means to attain said substantially steady speed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1, and means to vary the sampling spacing periods over a range of between approximately 5 seconds to approximately 120 seconds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1, and wherein said oscillator means generates waves of a constant frequency below approximately 2500 Hz.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 4, and wherein the gating periods of said waves varies between approximately 0.3 second and 1.0 second.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 5, and means to delay each gating of said oscillator waves for a period of at least 200 milliseconds after the beginning of the driving of the tape recording means to enable said tape recorder means to attain said substantially steady speed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1, and wherein said transducer means is responsive to sound to develop an electrical signal changing in accordance with sound level.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of monitoring a changeable condition in an area comprising generating an electrical signal in accordance with said condition, establishing a series of periodic sampling intervals, successively gating the output of a constant-frequency oscillator at said periodic intervals for time periods corresponding to the strength of said electrical signals at each interval, whereby to provide strings of pulses whose numbers correspond to the strengths of the electrical signals, sequentially recording the strings of pulses in said intervals, imposing a predetermined time delay between the beginning of each interval and the gating of said output sufficient to compensate for recording apparatus inertia effects and to insure inclusion of all pulses in the recording, and subsequently chronographically plotting the numbers of the recorded strings of pulses.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of monitoring a changeable condition in an area comprising generating an electrical signal in accordance with said condition, establishing a series of periodic sampling intervals, successively gating the output of a constant-frequency oscillator at said periodic intervals for time periods corresponding to the strength of said electrical signals at each interval, whereby to provide strings of pulses whose numbers correspond to the strengths of the electrical signals, sequentially recording the strings of pulses in said intervals, imposing a predetermined time delay between the beginning of each interval and the gating of said output sufficient to compensate for recording apparatus inertia effects and to insure inclusion of all pulses in the recording, and subsequently chronographically plotting the numbers of the recorded strings of pulses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8, and wherein said changeable condition comprises changing sound levels in said area.
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) | 1981-02-13 | 1981-08-15 | 1982-02-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-13 | 1985-08-15 | 1986-02-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-13 | 1989-08-15 | 1990-02-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |