Patent US4146970A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4146970A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Remote-indicating magnetic compass
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-12-26
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Granted: 1979-04-03
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Expires: 1993-12-26
Abstract
Abstract A remote-indicating magnetic compass system for use with automobiles or the like. The system consists of a dashboard-mounted readout unit, which receives and decodes logic signals provided thereto from a remotely located electro-optical shaft encoder, the latter being responsive to and positioned by the earth's magnetic field. The form of bearing readout is discrete rather than continuous, e. g. 8 or 16 bearing states are described. The bearing readout display may be defined by a plurality of discrete indicators, such as light-emitting diodes, or segmented alpha indicators or so forth may be employed. The electro-optical shaft encoder assembly is preferably located at a point on the vehicle distant from large bodies of iron or steel, and where the earth's field is strong relative to fields associated with permanently magnetized auto parts.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A. Edwards
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:16
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C17/00; G01C17/02; G01C17/04; G01C17/20; G01C17/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A remote-indicating magnetic compass system for use by the general public in automobiles or the like comprising: a housing; a transparent viscous damping fluid filling said housing a compass magnet; means rotatably mounting the magnet in the housing for response to the incident magnetic field of the earth; compensation magnets in the vicinity of the compass for imposing an additional magnetic field to compensate for magnetic fields produced by an automobile; an encoder coupled to the compass magnet having a single light modulating arc; a continuous light source adjacent said encoder to illuminate said arc; phototransistors arranged equally spaced on a circle parallel to the circle traversed by said arc such that single or adjacent pairs of phototransistors are illuminated by said light modulating arc; light annunciators corresponding to the number of phototransistor mounted to a map scale to indicate auto heading relative to map letters N. W. W. E. and; electric means directly connecting each phototransistor to a single light annunciator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A remote-indicating magnetic compass system for use by the general public in automobiles or the like comprising: a housing; a transparent viscous damping fluid filling said housing a compass magnet; means rotatably mounting the magnet in the housing for response to the incident magnetic field of the earth; compensation magnets in the vicinity of the compass for imposing an additional magnetic field to compensate for magnetic fields produced by an automobile; an encoder coupled to the compass magnet having a single light modulating arc; a continuous light source adjacent said encoder to illuminate said arc; phototransistors arranged equally spaced on a circle parallel to the circle traversed by said arc such that single or adjacent pairs of phototransistors are illuminated by said light modulating arc; light annunciators corresponding to the number of phototransistor mounted to a map scale to indicate auto heading relative to map letters N. W. W. E. and; electric means directly connecting each phototransistor to a single light annunciator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
160 words
A remote-indicating magnetic compass system for use by the general public in automobiles or the like comprising; a housing; a transparent viscous damping fluid filling said housing; a compass magnet; means rotatably mounting the compass magnet in said housing for response to the incident magnetic fluid of the earth; compensation magnets in the vicinity of said compass magnet for imposing an additional magnetic field to compensate for spurious magnetic fields produced by an automobile; an encoder coupled to said compass magnet having a number of staggered arcs at different radial distances; a continuous light source adjacent said encoder to illuminate said arcs; phototransistor equal in number to the arcs arranged in a cluster such that each phototransistor senses only one arc; a light annunciator for each phototransistor the light annunciators being mounted to a map scale to indicate auto heading relative to map letters N. S. E. W. and; electric means directly connecting each phototransistor to its corresponding light annunciator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
160 words
A remote-indicating magnetic compass system for use by the general public in automobiles or the like comprising; a housing; a transparent viscous damping fluid filling said housing; a compass magnet; means rotatably mounting the compass magnet in said housing for response to the incident magnetic fluid of the earth; compensation magnets in the vicinity of said compass magnet for imposing an additional magnetic field to compensate for spurious magnetic fields produced by an automobile; an encoder coupled to said compass magnet having a number of staggered arcs at different radial distances; a continuous light source adjacent said encoder to illuminate said arcs; phototransistor equal in number to the arcs arranged in a cluster such that each phototransistor senses only one arc; a light annunciator for each phototransistor the light annunciators being mounted to a map scale to indicate auto heading relative to map letters N. S. E. W. and; electric means directly connecting each phototransistor to its corresponding light annunciator.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-04-02 | 1982-10-02 | 1983-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-04-02 | 1986-10-02 | 1987-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-04-02 | 1990-10-02 | 1991-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |