US4754416A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Universal synchronous marine navigation light system
Assignee: Automatic Power Inc
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Filing: 1986-09-08
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Granted: 1988-06-28
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Expires: 2006-09-08
Abstract
Abstract Universal synchronous marine navigation light system comprising plural duplex lamp stations. Each duplex lamp station includes a microcomputer, all microcomputers being interconnected by an RS422 communications loop so as to operate all stations in synchronism and in conformance with any existing international standard of operation. Each duplex station comprises a first section having a pair of ac operated lamps and a second section having a pair of lamps one of which is ac operated and the other of which is dc operated. The ac lamps are operated in an on/off flash pattern under normal conditions in "15 mile" or "12 mile standby" modes. If all ac lamps fail, the dc lamp is operated in a "default" flash pattern in a "10 mile" mode.
Inventors
- 👤 David O. Adams
- 👤 Naresh Patel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:02
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B45/00; G; G08; G08G; G08G3/00; H; H05; H05B; H05B47/00; H05B47/10; H05B47/155; B63B2045/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system, comprising: plural duplex lamp stations, each duplex lamp station being located at a predetermined position and including a first section having two or more ac lamps and a second section having at least one ac lamp, and programmed microcomputer means for operating two of said ac lamps at said station in a normal on/off pattern in unison in a first mode and only one of said ac lamps at said station in said normal on/off pattern in a second mode, and means for interconnecting said microcomputer means for each of said duplex stations in a communications loop, each of said microcomputer means being programmed so as to operate said lamps in said plural lamp stations in synchronism.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system, comprising: plural duplex lamp stations, each duplex lamp station being located at a predetermined position and including a first section having two or more ac lamps and a second section having at least one ac lamp, and programmed microcomputer means for operating two of said ac lamps at said station in a normal on/off pattern in unison in a first mode and only one of said ac lamps at said station in said normal on/off pattern in a second mode, and means for interconnecting said microcomputer means for each of said duplex stations in a communications loop, each of said microcomputer means being programmed so as to operate said lamps in said plural lamp stations in synchronism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system according to claim 1 wherein said second section has at least one dc lamp and said microcomputer means at said station is programmed to operate only said dc lamp at said station in a default on/off pattern in a third mode, said normal and default on/off patterns being different.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
150 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system, comprising: plural duplex lamp stations, each duplex lamp station being located at a predetermined position and including a first section having two or more ac lamps, a second section having at least one ac lamp and a dc lamp, and programmed microcomputer means for operating two of said ac lamps at said station in a normal on/off pattern in unison in a first mode, only one of said ac lamps at said station in said normal on/off pattern in a second mode, and only said dc lamp at said station in a default on/off pattern in a third mode, said normal and default on/off patterns being different, and means for interconnecting said microcomputer means for each of said duplex stations in a communications loop, each of said microcomputer means being programmed so as to operate said lamps in said plural lamp stations in synchronism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
150 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system, comprising: plural duplex lamp stations, each duplex lamp station being located at a predetermined position and including a first section having two or more ac lamps, a second section having at least one ac lamp and a dc lamp, and programmed microcomputer means for operating two of said ac lamps at said station in a normal on/off pattern in unison in a first mode, only one of said ac lamps at said station in said normal on/off pattern in a second mode, and only said dc lamp at said station in a default on/off pattern in a third mode, said normal and default on/off patterns being different, and means for interconnecting said microcomputer means for each of said duplex stations in a communications loop, each of said microcomputer means being programmed so as to operate said lamps in said plural lamp stations in synchronism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system according to claim 2 or 3 wherein each section of said duplex lamp station includes a motorized lamp changer for mechanically replacing one lamp of a section with another lamp of the same section, and wherein said microcomputer means includes means for detecting failure of an ac lamp at said first section of said station and for generating a signal based thereon and means for operating said first section motorized lampchanger so as to mechanically replace a burned out ac lamp with a working ac lamp in response to said signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system according to claim 4 wherein said microcomputer means at a duplex lamp station includes means for detecting failure of all of said ac lamps at said first and second sections of said station and for generating a signal based thereon and means for operating said second section motorized lampchanger so as to mechanically replace a burned out ac lamp with a working dc lamp in said second section in response to said signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system according to claim 1 or 3 wherein said microcomputer means at a duplex lamp station includes means for altering said normal on/off pattern so as to operate said ac lamps in an alternate on/off pattern in either of said first and second modes, said normal and alternate on/off patterns being different.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system according to claim 2 or 3 wherein said microcomputer means at a duplex lamp station includes means for detecting an interruption in an ac power supply and for generating a signal based thereon, said last-mentioned microcomputer means being programmed so as to operate said dc operated lamp in said default on/off pattern in said third mode in response to said signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system according to claim 2 or 3 wherein said microcomputer means at a duplex lamp station includes means for detecting a low condition of a dc power supply and for generating a signal based thereon, said last-mentioned microcomputer means being programmed so as to operate said dc lamp in said default on/off pattern in said third mode in response to said signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system according to claim 1 or 3 including at least one lamp station located at another predetermined position and having two or more dc lamps operatively connected to at least one of said duplex lamp station microcomputer means, said last-mentioned microcomputer means being programmed so as to operate a dc lamp at said at least one lamp station in unison with at least one ac lamp at said last-mentioned duplex lamp station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system according to claim 9 wherein said at least one lamp station includes a motorized lampchanger for mechanically replacing one of said two or more dc lamps with another of said last-mentioned lamps.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system according to claim 1 or 3 wherein said communication loop is a RS422 communications loop.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system according to claim 1 or 3 wherein said microcomputer means at a duplex lamp station includes means for detecting failure of an ac lamp at said station and for generating an alarm output signal based thereon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system according to claim 1 or 3 wherein said microcomputer means at a duplex lamp station includes means for detecting failure of a lamp at said station and for generating a message based thereon over said communications loop, said last-mentioned microcomputer means being programmed to detect such a message over said communications loop and to generate an alarm output signal based thereon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system according to claim 1 or 3 wherein said microcomputer means at a duplex lamp station includes means for testing said ac lamps.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system according to claim 7 wherein said microcomputer means at said duplex lamp station includes means for generating an alarm output signal based on said signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system according to claim 8 wherein said microcomputer means at said duplex lamp station includes means for generating an alarm output signal based on said signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system according to claim 7 wherein said microcomputer means at said duplex lamp station includes means for generating a message over said communications loop based on said signal, said last-mentioned microcomputer means also being programmed to detect such a message over said communications loop and generate an alarm output signal based thereon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system according to claim 8 wherein said microcomputer means at said duplex lamp station includes means for generating a message over said communications loop based on said signal, said last-mentioned microcomputer means being programmed to detect such a message over said communications loop and to generate an alarm output signal based thereon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
57 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system according to claim 5 wherein said microcomputer means at said duplex lamp station includes means for generating a message over said communications loop based on said signal, said last-mentioned microcomputer means being programmed to detect such a message over said communications loop and to generate an alarm output signal based thereon.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
80 words
Universal synchronous marine navigation light system according to claim 1 or 3 wherein said microcomputer means at a duplex lamp station includes means for detecting daylight and night time conditions and for generating a signal based thereon, and means for generating a message over said communications loop based on said signal, said last-mentioned microcomputer means being programmed to detect such a message over said communications loop and shut down if said signal and said detected message indicate day light conditions.
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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) | 1991-06-28 | 1991-12-28 | 1992-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-06-28 | 1995-12-28 | 1996-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-06-28 | 1999-12-28 | 2000-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |