US4902948A — Guide wire communication system and method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 107 words

A system for controlling at least one unmanned, task-performing vehicle including vehicle portion and non-vehicle portion, comprising: at least one stationary guide wire essentially defining a path to be traversed by the vehicle; the vehicle portion and the non-vehicle portion of the system each comprising substantially the same electrical means, each of the electrical means transmits and receives substantially the same communicating data signals, comprising signal generating means and antenna means for transmitting generated signal from the vehicle to the guide wire, and vice versa; the antenna means in the vehicle portion comprising at least two opposed conductive loops, each conductive loop comprising a plurality of turns.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 107 words

A system for controlling at least one unmanned, task-performing vehicle including vehicle portion and non-vehicle portion, comprising: at least one stationary guide wire essentially defining a path to be traversed by the vehicle; the vehicle portion and the non-vehicle portion of the system each comprising substantially the same electrical means, each of the electrical means transmits and receives substantially the same communicating data signals, comprising signal generating means and antenna means for transmitting generated signal from the vehicle to the guide wire, and vice versa; the antenna means in the vehicle portion comprising at least two opposed conductive loops, each conductive loop comprising a plurality of turns.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 50 words

The system according to claim 1 wherein the loops of the antenna means collectively comprise an essentially symmetrical figure 8 configuration which is essentially symmetrically located along the center line of the vehicle and wound to steer all current flow unidirectionally along a central bar of the figure 8 configuration.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system according to claim 1 wherein the signals are in the order of 9,600 Hz-19,200 Hz with data transmission rates up to 9,600 BAUD.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system according to claim 1 wherein each conductive loop comprises a printed circuit deposited on a printed circuit board.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 84 words

The system according to claim 1 wherein the antenna means comprises at least two sets of two opposed conductive loops, one set of the opposed conductive loops being carried by the vehicle at one location so as to be essentially symmetrically disposed in respect to the center line of the vehicle, and the second set of the conductive loops being carried by the vehicle at another location so as to be also essentially symmetrically disposed in respect to the center line of the vehicle.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 202 words

A communication system for controlling an unmanned task-performing vehicle caused to traverse a path defined by guide wire means, comprising: a source of control data; vehicle receiver means; transmitter means to which the control data from said source is communicated; guide wire means to which the transmitter means sends control signals corresponding to the control data received from the source; at least one unmanned task-performing vehicle which carries the vehicle receiver means and travels along the guide wire means responsive to the control signals received by the vehicle receiver means from the guide wire means; the transmitter means comprising: means which receives the control data from the source; means comprising memory in which sets of information are respectively stored, each set of information representing a distinct waveform cycle; means which addresses the memory in response to the control data received from the source; means for timely outputting the addressed set of information representative of the distinct waveform cycle desired; means for converting said representative information into the desired waveform cycle; and means for outputting the waveform cycle to the guide wire means and along the guide wire means to the vehicle receiver means whereby the rate of data transmission is greatly increased.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 202 words

A communication system for controlling an unmanned task-performing vehicle caused to traverse a path defined by guide wire means, comprising: a source of control data; vehicle receiver means; transmitter means to which the control data from said source is communicated; guide wire means to which the transmitter means sends control signals corresponding to the control data received from the source; at least one unmanned task-performing vehicle which carries the vehicle receiver means and travels along the guide wire means responsive to the control signals received by the vehicle receiver means from the guide wire means; the transmitter means comprising: means which receives the control data from the source; means comprising memory in which sets of information are respectively stored, each set of information representing a distinct waveform cycle; means which addresses the memory in response to the control data received from the source; means for timely outputting the addressed set of information representative of the distinct waveform cycle desired; means for converting said representative information into the desired waveform cycle; and means for outputting the waveform cycle to the guide wire means and along the guide wire means to the vehicle receiver means whereby the rate of data transmission is greatly increased.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

The communication system according to claim 6 wherein each waveform cycle comprises one or more full cosine waveform cycles whereby the distinct nature of each waveform cycle is preserved.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 40 words

The communication system according to claim 7 wherein the vehicle receiver means comprises means for transforming the cosine waveform cycles received from the guide wire means to one or more full sine waveform cycles whereby decoding errors are less likely.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 49 words

The communication system according to claim 7 further comprising: means for producing at least one complete waveform cycle of at least two different and distinguishable frequencies which produce digital data representing at least two logical states such that the transmission rate is the same as the lowest frequency used.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 49 words

The communication system according to claim 6 further comprising: a source of data carried by the vehicle; control receiver means for two-way transmission; means interposed between the control receiver means and the transmitter means at control site for disabling the control receiver means when the transmitter means is transmitting.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 88 words

The communication system according to claim 6 wherein the sets of information stored in the memory each represents a distortion of a distinct sinusoidal waveform cycle and wherein inductance characteristics of the guide wire means are such that each distorted sinusoidal waveform cycle outputted to and communicated along the wire guide means is altered by said inductance characteristics into an exact sinusoidal waveform cycle and the transition between any two such exact sinusoidal waveform cycles is essentially instantaneous and any signal distortion at said transition is essentially avoided.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 158 words

A low frequency, low power communication system for controlling at least one unmanned, task-performing vehicle by at least one non-vehicle means, comprising: vehicle portion and non-vehicle portion, each comprising substantially the same electrical means, each of the electrical means transmits and receives substantially the same communicating data signals having low frequency and low power; said at least one unmanned, task-performing vehicle comprising signal detecting and tracking means; at least two sources of signals; at least one guide wire loop; means for outputting the signals from the source to and along the guide wire loop; the guide wire loop having characteristics such that said outputted signals are detected by the vehicle signal detecting and tracking means used to cause the vehicle to substantially follow the path defined by the guide wire loop; means for reducing the impedance of the guide wire loop whereby amplitude deterioration in the signals on the guide wire loop, which would otherwise occur, is alleviated.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 158 words

A low frequency, low power communication system for controlling at least one unmanned, task-performing vehicle by at least one non-vehicle means, comprising: vehicle portion and non-vehicle portion, each comprising substantially the same electrical means, each of the electrical means transmits and receives substantially the same communicating data signals having low frequency and low power; said at least one unmanned, task-performing vehicle comprising signal detecting and tracking means; at least two sources of signals; at least one guide wire loop; means for outputting the signals from the source to and along the guide wire loop; the guide wire loop having characteristics such that said outputted signals are detected by the vehicle signal detecting and tracking means used to cause the vehicle to substantially follow the path defined by the guide wire loop; means for reducing the impedance of the guide wire loop whereby amplitude deterioration in the signals on the guide wire loop, which would otherwise occur, is alleviated.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 38 words

The low frequency, low power communication system according to claim 12 wherein the impedance reducing means comprises opposed inductor means respectively in electrical communication with the guide wire loop and capacitor means interposed between the opposed inductor means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 63 words

The low frequency, low power communication system according to claim 12 further comprising a receiver, a resistor means in electrical communication with the receiver and the guide wire loop for increasing the impedance of and decreasing the current flow in the guide wire loop to accommodate improved reception at the receiver whereby the resistor means accommodates accurate detection of the low power signal.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 145 words

A method for controlling an unmanned task-performing vehicle caused to transverse a path defined by guide wire means comprising the steps of: generating data at at least one source; communicating said data from said source to at least one control transmitter site; transforming said data at said control transmitting site into corresponding signals by: receiving the data from the source; addressing memory in response to the data received from the source in which sets of information are respectively stored, each set of information representing a distinct predetermined low frequency waveform; timely outputting the addressed set of information representative of the distinct waveform corresponding to the data received; converting said set of information into desired waveform; outputting the desired waveform to and along the guide wire means; and receiving said desired waveform at a vehicle receiver site whereby the rate of data transmission is greatly increased.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 145 words

A method for controlling an unmanned task-performing vehicle caused to transverse a path defined by guide wire means comprising the steps of: generating data at at least one source; communicating said data from said source to at least one control transmitter site; transforming said data at said control transmitting site into corresponding signals by: receiving the data from the source; addressing memory in response to the data received from the source in which sets of information are respectively stored, each set of information representing a distinct predetermined low frequency waveform; timely outputting the addressed set of information representative of the distinct waveform corresponding to the data received; converting said set of information into desired waveform; outputting the desired waveform to and along the guide wire means; and receiving said desired waveform at a vehicle receiver site whereby the rate of data transmission is greatly increased.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method according to claim 15 wherein the step of outputting the addressed set of information comprises the step of outputting an addressed representation of one or more full cosine waveform cycles.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method according to claim 16 wherein the outputted cosine waveform cycles are communicated along the guide wire means and are transformed at the vehicle receiver site to one or more full sine waveform cycles whereby decoding errors are less likely.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 116 words

The method according to claim 15 wherein the step of addressing the memory comprises the steps of: determining the status of at least three data states, and, on the basis of said data states, addressing the memory in which sets of information are stored, each representing a predetermined distortion of a distinct sinusoidal waveform cycle; and wherein inductance characteristics of the guide wire means are such that each distorted sinusoidal waveform cycle outputted to and communicated along the guide wire means is altered by said inductance characteristics into nondistorted sinusoidal waveform cycle and the transition between any two such nondistorted sinusoidal waveform cycles is essentially instantaneous and any signal distortion of said transition is essentially avoided.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method according to claim 15 wherein the step of outputting the desired waveform to and along the guide wire means comprises the step of disabling a control receiver associated with a control transmitter when the control transmitter site is transmitting.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method according to claim 15 wherein the step of communicating said data further comprises the step of temporarily storing said data.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 94 words

A method for controlling at least one unmanned, task-performing vehicle by at least one non-vehicle means, comprising the steps of: outputting data signals from a source to and along a guide wire; communicating substantially the same data signals bidirectionally between the vehicle and the non-vehicle means; reducing the impedance of the guide wire whereby amplitude deterioration in the data signals on the guide wire, which would otherwise occur, is alleviated; detecting the data signals by vehicle signal detecting and tracking means, causing the vehicle to substantially follow the path defined by the guide wire.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 94 words

A method for controlling at least one unmanned, task-performing vehicle by at least one non-vehicle means, comprising the steps of: outputting data signals from a source to and along a guide wire; communicating substantially the same data signals bidirectionally between the vehicle and the non-vehicle means; reducing the impedance of the guide wire whereby amplitude deterioration in the data signals on the guide wire, which would otherwise occur, is alleviated; detecting the data signals by vehicle signal detecting and tracking means, causing the vehicle to substantially follow the path defined by the guide wire.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method according to claim 21 wherein the step of reducing the impedance of the guide wire comprises the step of positioning an inductor means in opposed relationship in electrical communication with the guide wire and interposing a capacitor means between the inductor means.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method according to claim 21 further comprising the steps of: increasing the impedance of and decreasing the current flow in the guide wire adjacent the vehicle; producing improved reception at the vehicle, and accurate detection of a low power signal.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 173 words

A communication system for controlling an unmanned task-performing vehicle caused to traverse a path at a control site defined by guide wire means, comprising: at least one source of data; at least one receiver means; at least one transmitter means to which the data from said source is communicated; guide wire means to which the transmitter means sends signal corresponding to the data received from the source; at least one vehicle which travels along the guide wire means; the transmitter means comprising: means which receives the data from the source; means comprising memory in which sets of information are respectively stored, each set of information representing a distinct waveform cycle; means which addresses the memory in response to the data received from the source; means for timely outputting the addressed set of information representative of the distinct waveform cycle desired; means for converting said representative information into the desired waveform cycle; and means for outputting the waveform cycle to the guide wire means and along the guide wire means to the receiver means.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 173 words

A communication system for controlling an unmanned task-performing vehicle caused to traverse a path at a control site defined by guide wire means, comprising: at least one source of data; at least one receiver means; at least one transmitter means to which the data from said source is communicated; guide wire means to which the transmitter means sends signal corresponding to the data received from the source; at least one vehicle which travels along the guide wire means; the transmitter means comprising: means which receives the data from the source; means comprising memory in which sets of information are respectively stored, each set of information representing a distinct waveform cycle; means which addresses the memory in response to the data received from the source; means for timely outputting the addressed set of information representative of the distinct waveform cycle desired; means for converting said representative information into the desired waveform cycle; and means for outputting the waveform cycle to the guide wire means and along the guide wire means to the receiver means.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 19 words

The communication system according to claim 24 wherein each waveform cycle comprises one or more full cosine waveform cycles.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 33 words

The communication system according to claim 25 wherein the receiver means comprises means for transforming the cosine waveform cycle received from the guide wire means to one or more fully sine waveform cycles.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 88 words

The communication system according to claim 24 wherein the sets of information stored in the memory each represent a distortion of a distinct sinusoidal waveform cycle and wherein inductance characteristics of the guide wire means are such that each distorted sinusoidal waveform cycle outputted to and communicated along the guide wire means is altered by said inductance characteristics into an exact sinusoidal waveform cycle and the transition between any two such exact sinusoidal waveform cycles is essentially instantaneous and any signal distortion at said transition is essentially avoided.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 108 words

The communication system according to claim 24 wherein the at least one source of data comprises two sources of data, one at the control site and the other on the vehicle; wherein the at least one receiver means comprises two receivers, one at the control site, and the other on the vehicle; wherein the at least one transmitter means comprises two transmitters, one at the control site, and the other on the vehicle for two-way transmission; and said system further comprising means interposed between the receiver and the transmitter at the control site and at the vehicle for disabling the associated receiver when the associated transmitter is transmitting.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-02-19	1993-08-21	1994-02-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-02-19	1997-08-21	1998-02-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-02-19	2001-08-21	2002-02-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Guide wire communication system and method

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