US4387307A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic safety ski binding release
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1980-07-29
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Granted: 1983-06-07
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Expires: 2000-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A system for processing analog electrical input signals to produce output signals having frequencies determined by electrical adapting signals, in which the adapting signals may depend upon characteristics of the input signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Nicholas D. D'Antonio
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:24
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K7/00; H03K7/06; A; A63; A63C; A63C9/00; A63C9/08; A63C9/088; G; G01; G01L; G01L5/00; G01L5/03; G06; G06G; G06G7/00; G06G7/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
In an electronic safety ski binding having a release means actuable in response to a trigger signal for placing the binding in releasing condition from a locking condition, a system for actuating said release means, said system comprising: transducing means for generating electrical input steering signals corresponding to forces and moments applied to different portions of the ski binding; adapting signal generator means for generating adapting signals in response to preselected characteristics of the input steering signals; voltage-to-frequency converter means for converting, in response to the adapting signals, the transmitted input steering signal from each of said transducing means into an output signal having a frequency which is a function of a preselected characteristic of the adapting signal; counting means associated with each of said transducing means for counting the number of cycles of the output signal generated by the converter means in response to the input steering signals; and trigger means having means for establishing a trigger threshold, said trigger means generating a trigger signal whenever the number of cycles counted by any of the counting means exceeds the predetermined trigger threshold.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
In an electronic safety ski binding having a release means actuable in response to a trigger signal for placing the binding in releasing condition from a locking condition, a system for actuating said release means, said system comprising: transducing means for generating electrical input steering signals corresponding to forces and moments applied to different portions of the ski binding; adapting signal generator means for generating adapting signals in response to preselected characteristics of the input steering signals; voltage-to-frequency converter means for converting, in response to the adapting signals, the transmitted input steering signal from each of said transducing means into an output signal having a frequency which is a function of a preselected characteristic of the adapting signal; counting means associated with each of said transducing means for counting the number of cycles of the output signal generated by the converter means in response to the input steering signals; and trigger means having means for establishing a trigger threshold, said trigger means generating a trigger signal whenever the number of cycles counted by any of the counting means exceeds the predetermined trigger threshold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the preselected characteristics of the input steering signals to which said adapting signal generator responds, are the amplitude and time rate of change of the input steering signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein said adapting signal generator means establishes an amplitude threshold, and the converter means includes means responsive to said adapting signals to generate an output signal only when the amplitude of a transmitted input steering signal exceeds said amplitude threshold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 3 and further including means for automatically adjusting said adapting signals to compensate for the weight applied to the ski binding.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein said converter means responds to said adapting signals to vary the frequency of the output signal inversely with the changes in the time rate of change of the respective input signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said transducing means generates an initial force signal according to the weight impressed thereon, and wherein the system further includes first initializing means for establishing an amplitude adapting signal according to said initial force signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention according to claim 1 and further including multiplex means for enabling transmission of the input signals from each of said transducing means in repetitive sequence.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention according to claim 1 and further including timing means for synchronizing the transmission of the input steering signals from the respective transducing means and the operation of said counting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said adapting signal generating means generates adapting signals comprising a gradient adapting signal, said system further comprising: second initializing means for establishing an initial amplitude of the gradient adapting signal; adjustment means actuable for adjusting the amplitude of the gradient adapting signal according to the time rate of change of the respective input signals; gradient measuring means for generating a gradient signal reflective of the time rate of change of the amplitude of an input signal; and second actuating means electrically connected to said gradient measuring means for actuating the adjustment means in response to generation of a gradient signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
100 words
The system of claim 1 for further processing input signals to produce a time output signal, said system further comprising: time output signal generating means responsive to the input steering signals for generating the time output signals; adjustment means actuable for adjusting the amplitude of the time output signal according to the time rate of change of the input steering signals; gradient measuring means for measuring the time rate of change of the amplitude of the input steering signal and for actuating said adjustment means in response to changes in the time rate of change of the input steering signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said gradient measuring means includes means for actuating said adjustment means to adjust the amplitude of the time output signal upward if the measured gradient exceeds a predetermined value and downward if the measured gradient is less then the predetermined value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said gradient measuring means includes storing means for storing measured input signal gradients, and wherein said predetermined value is a stored input signal gradient.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3907316A
Cited
US4309760A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-06-06 | 1986-12-06 | 1987-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-06 | 1990-12-06 | 1991-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-06 | 1994-12-06 | 1995-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |