Patent US3623100A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3623100A
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Lane counter for digital navigational computer system
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corp
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Filing: 1969-05-01
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Granted: 1971-11-23
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Expires: 1989-05-01
Abstract
Abstract Computing circuitry for a monitoring system to computationally detect the occurrence of a transition which is derived from a time relationship of received input signals. Aperture computing circuitry selectively measures sampled aperture signals produced from the received input signals and circuit storage circuitry categorizes the sampled aperture signal in accordance with its measured time duration by computing a lane or zone status which is stored therein. The zone status data is further processed by a comparator circuit which computationally detects the occurrence of a monitored transition.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce E Rapp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:52
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/02; G01S5/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
In apparatus for navigational aid systems of the kind wherein positional information for a vehicle moving relative to geographic lanes fixed by predetermined lane boundaries is derived from a time relationship between first and second recurring signals transmitted at a predetermined repetition rate and received from a respective first and second transmitter, including: receiving means for receiving the first and the second recurring signals transmitted from the corresponding first and second transmitter; aperture computing means coupled to said receiver means for periodically generating a signal indicative of phase displacement between the first and second recurring signals received by said receiving means; storage circuit means for generating and storing a signal in accordance with the phase displacement between said signals whenever said phase displacement is within one of two predetermined ranges, one of said ranges representing a vehicle position in a zone on one side of a lane boundary, the other of said ranges representing a vehicle position in a zone on the other side of said lane boundary, and comparator circuit means for comparing the stored signal and a succeeding signal in accordance with phase displacement and generating a signal whenever said compared signals represent phase displacements within different ones of said predetermined ranges, said last mentioned generated signal indicating the transition of the vehicle across a lane boundary.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
In apparatus for navigational aid systems of the kind wherein positional information for a vehicle moving relative to geographic lanes fixed by predetermined lane boundaries is derived from a time relationship between first and second recurring signals transmitted at a predetermined repetition rate and received from a respective first and second transmitter, including: receiving means for receiving the first and the second recurring signals transmitted from the corresponding first and second transmitter; aperture computing means coupled to said receiver means for periodically generating a signal indicative of phase displacement between the first and second recurring signals received by said receiving means; storage circuit means for generating and storing a signal in accordance with the phase displacement between said signals whenever said phase displacement is within one of two predetermined ranges, one of said ranges representing a vehicle position in a zone on one side of a lane boundary, the other of said ranges representing a vehicle position in a zone on the other side of said lane boundary, and comparator circuit means for comparing the stored signal and a succeeding signal in accordance with phase displacement and generating a signal whenever said compared signals represent phase displacements within different ones of said predetermined ranges, said last mentioned generated signal indicating the transition of the vehicle across a lane boundary.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said aperture-computing means includes an aperture-forming circuit for generating successive aperture signals present for the same time duration as the phase displacement between the first and second recurring signals received from the corresponding first and second transmitter, and an aperture-select circuit coupled to said aperture-forming circuit for periodically selecting one of a plurality of successively occurring aperture signals to be measured by said aperture-computing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention in accordance with claim 2, wherein said aperture-select circuit includes circuitry to synchronize the storing of said signal in said circuit storage means and the generation of a signal by said comparator circuit means in accordance with the duration of the selected aperture signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention in accordance with claim 2, wherein said aperture-computing means includes a counter means coupled to said aperture-select circuit for measuring the time duration of the selected aperture signal generated by said aperture-forming circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The invention in accordance with claim 4, including a time-pulse generator providing high-frequency clock signals to said counter means, and said counter means include counter circuitry to count the clock signals occurring during an aperture signal selected by said aperture-select circuit, the counter circuitry adapted to attain a count corresponding in value to the time duration of the selected aperture signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said comparator circuit means includes means to compute the vehicle''s direction of transition across a lane boundary and to generate an increment signal or a decrement signal corresponding to the computed direction of transition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention in accordance with claim 6, further including display register means coupled to said comparator circuit means and responsive to the generated increment and decrement signals to provide a summary count of the lane boundary transitions made by the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
187 words
In apparatus for monitoring systems of the kind wherein information as to the occurrence of a transition in either a first or second opposing direction is derived from a time relationship between first and second recurring signals received by the apparatus, including: an aperture-forming circuit means for generating successive aperture signals present for time durations following each of said firSt recurring signals and terminated by each of said second recurring signals; counter means coupled to said aperture-forming circuit means for measuring the time interval of an aperture signal; an aperture-select circuit means coupled to said aperture-forming circuit means and to said counter means for periodically selecting one of a plurality of successively occurring aperture signals to be measured by said counter means; circuit storage means responsive to the time interval measurement made by said counter means for storing a signal in accordance with zone status in memory storage for further processing; and comparator circuit means for computationally detecting a monitored transition by comparing the zone status signal retained in said circuit storage means with a signal in accordance with the time interval of a succeeding aperture signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
187 words
In apparatus for monitoring systems of the kind wherein information as to the occurrence of a transition in either a first or second opposing direction is derived from a time relationship between first and second recurring signals received by the apparatus, including: an aperture-forming circuit means for generating successive aperture signals present for time durations following each of said firSt recurring signals and terminated by each of said second recurring signals; counter means coupled to said aperture-forming circuit means for measuring the time interval of an aperture signal; an aperture-select circuit means coupled to said aperture-forming circuit means and to said counter means for periodically selecting one of a plurality of successively occurring aperture signals to be measured by said counter means; circuit storage means responsive to the time interval measurement made by said counter means for storing a signal in accordance with zone status in memory storage for further processing; and comparator circuit means for computationally detecting a monitored transition by comparing the zone status signal retained in said circuit storage means with a signal in accordance with the time interval of a succeeding aperture signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention in accordance with claim 8, wherein said aperture-select circuit means includes circuitry to synchronize the storing of the zone status signal in said circuit storage means and the comparing of the zone signal by said comparator circuit means in accordance with the duration of the selected aperture signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention in accordance with claim 8, wherein said comparator circuit means includes means to compute the direction of transition and to generate a first or a second signal corresponding to a computed first or second opposing direction of transition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention in accordance with claim 10, including register means coupled to said comparator circuit means and responsive to the first and second signals corresponding to the computed first and second opposing directions of transition to provide a summary count of the transitions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
The invention in accordance with claim 8, including a time pulse generator providing high-frequency clock signals to said counter means, and said counter means including counter circuitry to count the clock signals occurring during an aperture signal selected by said aperture-select circuit means, the counter circuitry adapted to attain a count corresponding in value to the time interval of the selected aperture signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
172 words
In apparatus for navigational aid systems of the kind wherein positional information for a vehicle moving relative to geographic lanes fixed by predetermined lane boundaries is derived from a time relationship between first and second recurring signals transmitted at a predetermined repetition rate and received from a respective first and second transmitter, including: an aperture-forming circuit means for generating successive aperture signals present for a time duration corresponding to the phase displacement between the first and second recurring signals received from the respective first and second transmitters; counter means coupled to said aperture-forming circuit for measuring the time duration of an aperture signal; circuit storage means responsive to the time duration measurement made by said counter means for retaining a signal in accordance with zone status in memory storage for further processing; and comparator circuit means for computationally detecting the vehicle''s transition across a lane boundary by comparing the zone status signal retained in said circuit storage means with a signal in accordance with the time duration of a succeeding aperture signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
172 words
In apparatus for navigational aid systems of the kind wherein positional information for a vehicle moving relative to geographic lanes fixed by predetermined lane boundaries is derived from a time relationship between first and second recurring signals transmitted at a predetermined repetition rate and received from a respective first and second transmitter, including: an aperture-forming circuit means for generating successive aperture signals present for a time duration corresponding to the phase displacement between the first and second recurring signals received from the respective first and second transmitters; counter means coupled to said aperture-forming circuit for measuring the time duration of an aperture signal; circuit storage means responsive to the time duration measurement made by said counter means for retaining a signal in accordance with zone status in memory storage for further processing; and comparator circuit means for computationally detecting the vehicle''s transition across a lane boundary by comparing the zone status signal retained in said circuit storage means with a signal in accordance with the time duration of a succeeding aperture signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention in accordance with claim 13, including an aperture-select circuit coupled to said aperture-forming circuit means for periodically selecting one of a plurality of successively occurring aperture signals to be measured by said counter means
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
The invention in accordance with claim 15, including a counter means coupled to said aperture-select circuit, and a time-pulse generator providing clock signals to said counter means which includes circuitry to count the clock signals occurring during an aperture signal selected by said aperture-select circuit, the counter circuItry adapted to attain a count corresponding in value to the time duration of the selected aperture signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3422433A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-22 | 1975-05-24 | 1975-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-22 | 1979-05-24 | 1979-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-22 | 1983-05-24 | 1983-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |