US3824534A — Guidance and information system for mobile objects

Claim 1

Independent Claim 206 words

A guidance and information system for mobile objects travelling along a known predetermined path for automatically providing control functions at a predetermined location along said known predetermined path of travel of a mobile object as a function of distance travelled by said mobile objects comprising: distance simulator means transported by the mobile object having a scale simulating said predetermined path of travel thereof, a control element associated with said distance simulator means and selectively positionable along the scale in relation to the simulated path of travel at a position corresponding to a predetermined location along the actual path of travel at which a control function is to be produced, means responsive to actual distance travelled by said mobile object and adjustable to be positioned along said scale at a point corresponding to the actual position of said mobile object along said known predetermined path and to correspondingly traverse said simulated path of said distance simulator means and to engage said control element upon attaining the position thereof along said simulated path, said control element producing a control output upon being engaged by said traversing means, and utilization means associated with said control element and responsive to said control output therefrom to generate a desired control function.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 206 words

A guidance and information system for mobile objects travelling along a known predetermined path for automatically providing control functions at a predetermined location along said known predetermined path of travel of a mobile object as a function of distance travelled by said mobile objects comprising: distance simulator means transported by the mobile object having a scale simulating said predetermined path of travel thereof, a control element associated with said distance simulator means and selectively positionable along the scale in relation to the simulated path of travel at a position corresponding to a predetermined location along the actual path of travel at which a control function is to be produced, means responsive to actual distance travelled by said mobile object and adjustable to be positioned along said scale at a point corresponding to the actual position of said mobile object along said known predetermined path and to correspondingly traverse said simulated path of said distance simulator means and to engage said control element upon attaining the position thereof along said simulated path, said control element producing a control output upon being engaged by said traversing means, and utilization means associated with said control element and responsive to said control output therefrom to generate a desired control function.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 63 words

A guidance and information system as recited in claim 1, wherein said traversing means comprises: a follower element adapted to advance along the simulated distance path of said distance simulator means, an odometer responsive to the distance travelled by the mobile object and generating a signal proportional thereto, and means responsive to the signal generated by said odometer for advancing said follower element.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 37 words

A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said simulated distance path of said distance simulator means includes start and end positions, and said advancing means includes operable to position said follower element at said start position.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

A system as recited in claim 3, wherein there is further provided switch means at said start and end positions engageable by said follower element to generate start and end signals, respectively.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 56 words

A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said positioning means of said advancing means is responsive to an end signal to return the follower element from the end position to the start position and is responsive to the start signal thereupon generated by said switching means to terminate the return movement of the follower element.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 51 words

A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said simulator includes at least two scales of different scale values, and said advancing means is adjustable to advance said follower element at a rate in proportion to a selected one of said scales in response to the signal generated by said odometer.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 66 words

A system as recited in claim 6, wherein a plurality of control elements are selectively positioned along a given simulated path of travel of said distance simulator means for generating a corresponding plurality of control outputs as said control elements are engaged individually and in succession by said traversing means, and said utilization means generates said desired control function in response to each said control output.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said utilization means comprises a visual indicating means enabled in response to said control output to produce a predetermined visual indication.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said utilization means comprises information reproducing means for reproducing a predetermined recorded message in response to said control output.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 93 words

A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said reproducing means comprises a magnetic tape system having pre-recorded start and stop controls defining a sequence of messages recorded thereon, a plurality of said control elements are selectively positioned along the simulated distance path of said simulator means and respectively produce control outputs in succession as said plurality of control elements are engaged by said traversing means, and said reproducing means reproduces the plurality of messages in succession in accordance with the start and stop controls in response to the succession of control outputs.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 84 words

A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said distance simulator includes a plurality of simulated paths of travel each having associated therewith a control element selectively positionable along the associated simulated paths of travel, said traversing means simultaneously traverses said plural simulated paths of travel thereby to produce a control output upon engaging each such control element for each such simulated path, and said utilization means includes a plurality of utilization means respectively associated with predetermined ones of said pluraltiy of simulated paths.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 56 words

A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said distance simulator means includes contact means disposed along the simulated path of travel for defining incremental sections thereof for producing separately identifiable control outputs from said plurality of contact means in accordance with a control element positioned along said path and engaging one of said contact elements.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 186 words

In a guidance and information system for mobile objects for automatically providing control outputs at a predetermined location along a known predetermined path of travel of the mobile object as a function of the actual distance travelled by said mobile object, a distance simulator comprising: means defining a track and an associated distance scale simulating actual distance along an actual path of travel of said object, an adjustable follower element adjustable to be positioned on said track to a point on said simulated distance scale corresponding to the actual position of said mobile object on the known predetermined path of travel, drive means responsive to movement of said mobile object for advancing said follower element along said track as a function of the actual distance travelled by said mobile object and in relation to the simulated distance scale, and control means selectively positionable along the simulated distance track at a position along the simulated distance scale corresponding to said predetermined location and engaged by said follower element to produce a control output as the mobile object reaches that predetermined location along the actual path of travEl.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 186 words

In a guidance and information system for mobile objects for automatically providing control outputs at a predetermined location along a known predetermined path of travel of the mobile object as a function of the actual distance travelled by said mobile object, a distance simulator comprising: means defining a track and an associated distance scale simulating actual distance along an actual path of travel of said object, an adjustable follower element adjustable to be positioned on said track to a point on said simulated distance scale corresponding to the actual position of said mobile object on the known predetermined path of travel, drive means responsive to movement of said mobile object for advancing said follower element along said track as a function of the actual distance travelled by said mobile object and in relation to the simulated distance scale, and control means selectively positionable along the simulated distance track at a position along the simulated distance scale corresponding to said predetermined location and engaged by said follower element to produce a control output as the mobile object reaches that predetermined location along the actual path of travEl.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 116 words

A distance simulator as recited in claim 13, wherein said track defining means comprises a cylindrical drum having a track extending radially through the side walls of the drum and from a first to a second end thereof, said drive means comprises a further cylindrical drum received within said first drum in coaxial and rotatable relationship therewith and said further drum includes a helical drive path formed in the outer surface thereof, and said follower element is received for movement in said track of said first drum and engages said helical path of said further drum such that by rotation of said further drum said follower element is advanced through said track of said first drum.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 57 words

A system as recited in claim 14, wherein said first drum includes electrical contact means disposed along said track and engaged by said control means when positioned at a desired position on said track, said control means completing an electrical circuit with said contact means when engaged by said follower element to provide an electrical control output.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 44 words

A system as recited in claim 15, wherein said further drum includes an electrically conducting surface, said follower element is an electrical conductor, and said electrical circuit includes said drum, said follower element, said control means and said electrical contact means of said drum.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 74 words

A system as recited in claim 14, wherein said first drum includes a pair of electrical contact means disposed along opposite sides of said track, and said control element includes an electrical switch element normally displaced from said contact means and urged against said pair of contact elements when said control means is engaged by said follower thereby to complete an electrical circuit between said pair of contact elements and provide a control output.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 20 words

A simulator as recited in claim 14, wherein said track is formed in a helical pattern in said first drum.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 52 words

A simulator as recited in claim 14, wherein said first drum includes a plurality of generally longitudinally extending tracks disposed about the circumference thereof, each said track receiving a corresponding follower element engaging a corresponding helical path of said further drum, said follower elements being driven simultaneously along said respectively corresponding tracks.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 32 words

A simulator as recited in claim 19, wherein each of said tracks has contact means respectively associated therewith for producing separately identifiable control outputs as to each of said plurality of tracks.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 38 words

A simulator as recited in claim 14, wherein said electrical contact means is provided as a pluraltiy of separate insulated contact elements providing corresponding, separately identifiable control outputs and corresponding to incremental distances along the simulated distance scale.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-07-15	1978-01-14	1978-07-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-07-15	1982-01-14	1982-07-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-07-15	1986-01-14	1986-07-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Guidance and information system for mobile objects

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