Patent US4234960A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4234960A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Antenna automatic tuning apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1978-07-03
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Granted: 1980-11-18
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Expires: 1998-07-03
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for automatically tuning a circuit to a radio frequency signal. The apparatus has a signal supply for supplying the radio frequency signal to the circuit. A frequency counter and variable impedance are also connected in the circuit. A motor changes the setting of the variable impedance to vary its impedance. The frequency counter is connected to the signal supply means and produces a digital signal representative of the frequency of the radio frequency signal for controlling operation of the motor. The impedance of the circuit is thus varied in relation to the frequency of the radio frequency signal to provide coarse tuning of the circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald W. Spilsbury
- 👤 Ashton J. Spilsbury
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:36
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03H; H03H7/00; H03H7/38; H03H7/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
Apparatus for automatically tuning an antenna circuit for an antenna to any transmitter signal of a radio transmitter coupled to said circuit, comprising a tuner for the antenna, a motor for operating the tuner, a controller for the motor, apparatus coupled to the tuner to produce an antenna tuner position signal in accordance with the impedance of the antenna circuit, a frequency counter coupled to the circuit and adapted to produce a frequency counter signal representative of the frequency of each transmitter signal and comparing apparatus coupled to the frequency counter and to the tuner position signal apparatus and to the motor controller for comparing the frequency counter signal and the antenna tuner position signal, said comparing apparatus being adapted, when there is a significant difference between the signals being compared, to apply a coarse position control signal to the motor controller to tune the antenna circuit until there is no significant difference between the compared signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
Apparatus for automatically tuning an antenna circuit for an antenna to any transmitter signal of a radio transmitter coupled to said circuit, comprising a tuner for the antenna, a motor for operating the tuner, a controller for the motor, apparatus coupled to the tuner to produce an antenna tuner position signal in accordance with the impedance of the antenna circuit, a frequency counter coupled to the circuit and adapted to produce a frequency counter signal representative of the frequency of each transmitter signal and comparing apparatus coupled to the frequency counter and to the tuner position signal apparatus and to the motor controller for comparing the frequency counter signal and the antenna tuner position signal, said comparing apparatus being adapted, when there is a significant difference between the signals being compared, to apply a coarse position control signal to the motor controller to tune the antenna circuit until there is no significant difference between the compared signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a phase detector coupled to the circuit for applying a fine tune control signal for said each transmitter signal to the motor controller to tune the antenna circuit until the circuit comes into resonance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a matching transformer coupled to said antenna tuner adapted to further vary the impedance of said antenna circuit, the operation of said matching transformer being controlled by said frequency counter signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2901614A
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US3454881A
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US3537010A
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US3475703A
Cited
US3590385A
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US4112395A
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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) | 1983-11-18 | 1984-05-19 | 1984-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-11-18 | 1988-05-19 | 1988-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-11-18 | 1992-05-19 | 1992-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |