US4716518A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Incremental control
Assignee: Videndum PLC
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Filing: 1985-11-14
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Granted: 1987-12-29
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Expires: 2005-11-14
Abstract
Abstract An endstopless incremental control provided by parallely connecting and ganging at least two potentiometer wipers without mechanical endstops, selectively switching, converting and sampling the individual output on the potentiometer wipers and utilizing only the valid outputs for feeding to a control system.
Inventors
- 👤 Nicholas J. Hawkins
- 👤 Robert Saltarelli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:57
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D3/00; G05D3/12; G05D3/14; G05D3/1472; G01; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/12; G01D5/14; G01D5/16; G01D5/165; G01D5/1655
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
An endstopless incremental control arrangement comprising: at least two variable output devices connected in parallel across a voltage supply, said variable output devices each including an output member which is variable in position to vary the output of the associated device; means for ganging said output members together so that there is a predetermined relationship between the positions of the output members relative to the corresponding variable output devices; a selector switching means connected in series with the output member of each of said variable output devices; conversion means connected to the outputs of said switching means for providing a digital output in accordance with the outputs for said switching means; and processing means, connected to said conversion means, for processing said digital output so as to determine which of the variable output devices is producing the most valid output and for producing an output signal corresponding to the said most valid output for use in a control system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
An endstopless incremental control arrangement comprising: at least two variable output devices connected in parallel across a voltage supply, said variable output devices each including an output member which is variable in position to vary the output of the associated device; means for ganging said output members together so that there is a predetermined relationship between the positions of the output members relative to the corresponding variable output devices; a selector switching means connected in series with the output member of each of said variable output devices; conversion means connected to the outputs of said switching means for providing a digital output in accordance with the outputs for said switching means; and processing means, connected to said conversion means, for processing said digital output so as to determine which of the variable output devices is producing the most valid output and for producing an output signal corresponding to the said most valid output for use in a control system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An endstopless incremental control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least two variable output devices each comprises a potentiometer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least two output devices comprise first and second potentiometers having conductive tracks connected 180° out of phase and said output members comprise potentiometer wipers for said first and second potentiometers which are ganged in alignment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An endstopless incremental control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said conversion means comprises an analog to digital converter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An endstopless incremental control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said processing means comprises a microprocessor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
An endstopless incremental control as claimed in claim 1 wherein said selector switching means comprise electronic switches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
An endstopless incremental control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said selector switching means comprise channels of a multiplexer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An endstopless incremental control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said selector switching means comprise relays.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
154 words
An endstopless incremental control arrangement comprising: a variable output device connected across a voltage supply, said variable output device including at least two output members which are variable in position to provide different outputs in accordance wtih the respective positions of the respective output members; means for ganging said output members together so that there is a predetermined relationship between the positions of the output members relative to the variable output device; a selector switching means connected in series with each of the output members of said variable output device; conversion means connected to the outputs of said selector switching means for producing a corresponding digital output; and processing means, connected to said conversion means, for processing said digital output so as to determine which said variable output members is producing the most valid output and for producing an output signal corresponding to the said most valid output for use in a control system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
154 words
An endstopless incremental control arrangement comprising: a variable output device connected across a voltage supply, said variable output device including at least two output members which are variable in position to provide different outputs in accordance wtih the respective positions of the respective output members; means for ganging said output members together so that there is a predetermined relationship between the positions of the output members relative to the variable output device; a selector switching means connected in series with each of the output members of said variable output device; conversion means connected to the outputs of said selector switching means for producing a corresponding digital output; and processing means, connected to said conversion means, for processing said digital output so as to determine which said variable output members is producing the most valid output and for producing an output signal corresponding to the said most valid output for use in a control system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein said output device comprises a potentiometer and said output members comprise first and second potentiometer wipers for said potentiometer which are electrically isolated from each other and which are ganged together so that the wipers are 180° out of phase.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein said variable output device comprises a potentiometer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein said conversion means comprises an analog to digital converter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein said processing means comprises a microprocessor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein said selector switching means each comprise an electronic switch.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
An arrrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein said selector switching means each comprise a channel of a multiplexer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein said selector switching means each comprise a relay.
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) | 1990-12-28 | 1991-06-29 | 1991-12-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-12-28 | 1995-06-29 | 1995-12-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-12-28 | 1999-06-29 | 1999-12-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |