US3909691A — Direction indicating display system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 422 words

In an antenna rotator system including a remotely located drive means for rotating an antenna in azimuth and a local control means for controlling the rotated position of the antenna, an indicator system in combination therewith comprising: at least one pair of conductive strips with said strips arranged in a circle with an insulating gap separating the strips at both opposite ends thereof, at least four indicator lights with each light having a pair of terminals and when a given one of said lights is illuminated indicating said antenna oriented in azimuth in one of the four major compass directions of north, south, east or west, a selected first and second of said indicator lights indicating consecutive major compass bearings each having one of its terminals coupled to the first of said pair of conductive strips, a sElected third and fourth of said indicator lights indicating a different pair of consecutive major compass bearings each having one of its terminals coupled to the second of said pair of conductive strips, means connectable to a source of alternating current for applying current in only one direction to the second terminal of said first and said third lights where said first and third lights when illuminated indicate opposite compass directions, means connectable to said source of alternating current for applying current only in a second direction opposite said one direction to the second terminal of said second and fourth indicator lights, at least two rotatable contactors with each arranged to when rotated follow said circle to provide contact of said contactors on either of said two conductive strips or the insulating gaps therebetween, said two contactors being arranged to contact said conductive strips at points located about 90* of arc from each other, a first rectifying means coupled between a point of reference potential and a first of said two rotatable contactors to permit current conduction in only said one direction and a second rectifying means coupled between said point of reference potential and the second of said two rotatable contactors to permit current conduction in only said second direction, and means coupled to said drive means for rotating said contactors relative to said conductive strips so that when said first contactor touches said first conductive strip said first light is illuminated, when said first contactor touches said second strip said third indicator light is illuminated, when said second contactor touches said first strip said second light is illuminated, and when said second contactor touches said second strip said fourth indicator light is illuminated.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 422 words

In an antenna rotator system including a remotely located drive means for rotating an antenna in azimuth and a local control means for controlling the rotated position of the antenna, an indicator system in combination therewith comprising: at least one pair of conductive strips with said strips arranged in a circle with an insulating gap separating the strips at both opposite ends thereof, at least four indicator lights with each light having a pair of terminals and when a given one of said lights is illuminated indicating said antenna oriented in azimuth in one of the four major compass directions of north, south, east or west, a selected first and second of said indicator lights indicating consecutive major compass bearings each having one of its terminals coupled to the first of said pair of conductive strips, a sElected third and fourth of said indicator lights indicating a different pair of consecutive major compass bearings each having one of its terminals coupled to the second of said pair of conductive strips, means connectable to a source of alternating current for applying current in only one direction to the second terminal of said first and said third lights where said first and third lights when illuminated indicate opposite compass directions, means connectable to said source of alternating current for applying current only in a second direction opposite said one direction to the second terminal of said second and fourth indicator lights, at least two rotatable contactors with each arranged to when rotated follow said circle to provide contact of said contactors on either of said two conductive strips or the insulating gaps therebetween, said two contactors being arranged to contact said conductive strips at points located about 90* of arc from each other, a first rectifying means coupled between a point of reference potential and a first of said two rotatable contactors to permit current conduction in only said one direction and a second rectifying means coupled between said point of reference potential and the second of said two rotatable contactors to permit current conduction in only said second direction, and means coupled to said drive means for rotating said contactors relative to said conductive strips so that when said first contactor touches said first conductive strip said first light is illuminated, when said first contactor touches said second strip said third indicator light is illuminated, when said second contactor touches said first strip said second light is illuminated, and when said second contactor touches said second strip said fourth indicator light is illuminated.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

The combination claimed in claim 1 wherein two of said strips are 135* of arc long along the circumference of said circle.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 64 words

The combination claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for coupling said first and second rectifying means between said first contactor and second contactor respectively and said point of reference potential includes an inner conductive member centered within said circle and isolated from said conductive strips and a third contactor always touching said inner conductive member and coupled to said first and second rectifiers.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

The combination claimed in claim 1 including means for in response to a given location of said drive means illuminating all of said lights.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 48 words

The combination claimed in claim 4 wherein said last mentioned means includes a fourth and a fifth contactor coupled to said first, second and third contactors and an enlarged portion of said inner conductive member and an enlarged portion of one of said first and second conductive strips.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 311 words

A direction indicating display for use with a rotating drive means comprising: at least four indicator lights each having a pair of terminals, a point of reference potential means connected with a terminal of each of said lights for permitting current from a source of alternating current to be applied in only a first direction through said first and third lights and to be applied in only a second reverse direction through said second and fourth lights, switch means including a first switch terminal coupled to a terminal of said first and second lights, a second switch terminal coupled to a terminal of said third and fourth lights, and a pair of unidirectional current conducting contactor elements with the first of said contactor elements adapted to pass current in said first direction when connected between one of said switch terminals and said point of reference potential and the second of said contactor elements adapted to pass current in said second direction when connected between one of said switch terminals and said point of reference potential, said contactor elements being disposed relative to each other and to Said first and second switch terminals and responsive to the rotation of said drive means for, when said drive means is rotated to a first position, said first switch terminal is contacted by said first contactor element and said first light is illuminated, when said drive means is rotated to a second position, said first switch terminal is contacted by said second contactor element and said second light is illuminated; when said drive means is rotated to a third position, said second switch terminal is contacted by said first contactor element and said third light is illuminated; and, when said drive means is rotated to a fourth position, said second switch terminal is contacted by said second contactor element and said fourth light is illuminated.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 311 words

A direction indicating display for use with a rotating drive means comprising: at least four indicator lights each having a pair of terminals, a point of reference potential means connected with a terminal of each of said lights for permitting current from a source of alternating current to be applied in only a first direction through said first and third lights and to be applied in only a second reverse direction through said second and fourth lights, switch means including a first switch terminal coupled to a terminal of said first and second lights, a second switch terminal coupled to a terminal of said third and fourth lights, and a pair of unidirectional current conducting contactor elements with the first of said contactor elements adapted to pass current in said first direction when connected between one of said switch terminals and said point of reference potential and the second of said contactor elements adapted to pass current in said second direction when connected between one of said switch terminals and said point of reference potential, said contactor elements being disposed relative to each other and to Said first and second switch terminals and responsive to the rotation of said drive means for, when said drive means is rotated to a first position, said first switch terminal is contacted by said first contactor element and said first light is illuminated, when said drive means is rotated to a second position, said first switch terminal is contacted by said second contactor element and said second light is illuminated; when said drive means is rotated to a third position, said second switch terminal is contacted by said first contactor element and said third light is illuminated; and, when said drive means is rotated to a fourth position, said second switch terminal is contacted by said second contactor element and said fourth light is illuminated.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 275 words

A direction indicating display for use with a rotating drive means comprising in combination: a plurality of conductive strips with insulating gaps separating said strips, first and second movable contactors connectable to a point of reference potential and adapted when moved to make electrical contact with said strips and gaps between said strips, said first movable contactor adapted to pass current in only a first direction and said second movable contactor adapted to pass current in only a second direction, the reverse of said first direction, at least four indicator lights each having a pair of terminals with a first and second of said lights coupled at a first terminal thereof to a first of said strips and with a third and fourth of said lights coupled at a first terminal thereof to a second of said strips, means connected with the second terminal of each of said lights for permitting current from a source of alternating current to be applied only in said first direction through said first and third lights and to be applied only in said second reverse direction through said second and fourth indicator lights, means coupled to said contactors and responsive to the rotation of said drive means for moving said contactors in synchronization with said drive means causing when said first strip is contacted by said first contactor illumination of said first light; when said first strip is contacted by said second contactor illumination of said second light; when said second strip is contacted by said first contactor illumination of said third light; and when said second strip is contacted by said second contactor illumination of said fourth light.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 275 words

A direction indicating display for use with a rotating drive means comprising in combination: a plurality of conductive strips with insulating gaps separating said strips, first and second movable contactors connectable to a point of reference potential and adapted when moved to make electrical contact with said strips and gaps between said strips, said first movable contactor adapted to pass current in only a first direction and said second movable contactor adapted to pass current in only a second direction, the reverse of said first direction, at least four indicator lights each having a pair of terminals with a first and second of said lights coupled at a first terminal thereof to a first of said strips and with a third and fourth of said lights coupled at a first terminal thereof to a second of said strips, means connected with the second terminal of each of said lights for permitting current from a source of alternating current to be applied only in said first direction through said first and third lights and to be applied only in said second reverse direction through said second and fourth indicator lights, means coupled to said contactors and responsive to the rotation of said drive means for moving said contactors in synchronization with said drive means causing when said first strip is contacted by said first contactor illumination of said first light; when said first strip is contacted by said second contactor illumination of said second light; when said second strip is contacted by said first contactor illumination of said third light; and when said second strip is contacted by said second contactor illumination of said fourth light.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-09-29	1979-03-31	1979-09-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-09-29	1983-03-31	1983-09-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-09-29	1987-03-31	1987-09-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Direction indicating display system

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