Patent US3918035A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3918035A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Quantity level gauge
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1972-10-24
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Granted: 1975-11-04
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Expires: 1992-10-24
Abstract
Abstract Indicating apparatus comprising a plurality of indicator lamps connected to respective outputs of a plurality of voltage comparators. The comparators have a first input connected to a common input supplied with an input voltage related to a quantity to be measured and a second input connected to respective reference voltages whereby each comparator energizes its respective lamp when the input voltage equals its respective reference voltage.
Inventors
- 👤 Kamran Eshraghian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:44
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/22; G01F23/24; G01F23/241; G01F23/243; G01R; G01R13/00; G01R13/40; G01R13/404; G01R13/405; H; H03; H03M; H03M1/00; H03M1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
Apparatus for indicating the value of an unknown quantity comprising, a plurality of light emitting indicator elements, a plurality of voltage comparators each having an output coupled to a respective one of the indicator elements to control the energization thereof, means connecting a first input each of said comparators to a common input terminal supplied with an input voltage related to the unknown quantity, means connecting a second input of each comparator to a predetermined reference voltage that is different for each comparator whereby each comparator supplies an energizing signal to its respective indicator element when the input voltage exceeds its respective reference voltage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus for indicating the value of an unknown quantity comprising, a plurality of light emitting indicator elements, a plurality of voltage comparators each having an output coupled to a respective one of the indicator elements to control the energization thereof, means connecting a first input each of said comparators to a common input terminal supplied with an input voltage related to the unknown quantity, means connecting a second input of each comparator to a predetermined reference voltage that is different for each comparator whereby each comparator supplies an energizing signal to its respective indicator element when the input voltage exceeds its respective reference voltage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
A voltage indicator as claimed in claim 1 for representing the value of a physical quantity including circuit means for connecting the comparators together so that the energisation of each indicator depends only upon the state of response of its own respective voltage comparator of the plurality irrespective of the state of response or non-response of the remaining comparators of the plurality, and means for supplying a DC energization voltage to said indicator elements and said voltage comparators.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for continuously energizing each indicator as long as the input voltage exceeds the reference voltage to which its respective comparator is coupled via its second input and for increasing the intensity of the indicator energization as the input voltage increases in magnitude beyond the predetermined reference voltage magnitude of its respective comparator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for intermittently supplying electric energy to a chosen one of said indicators so that the chosen indicator is intermittently energized when the input voltage falls below a particular level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a selector switch for coupling the outputs of the comparators to the indicator elements whereby a particular indicator may be selected to be intermittently energized when the input voltage falls below said particular level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein at least one of said comparators comprises a switching circuit that exhibits a hysteresis effect such that the input voltage required to switch the comparator on is different from the input voltage at which the comparator is switched off.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising circuit means for interconnecting the indicators and the comparators so that the energization of each indicator depends jointly upon the state of response of all of said plurality of comparators in such a manner that only one indicator can be energized at a time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said circuit means comprises, a multi-input multi-output decoder circuit arranged so that each indicator is energized by a different decoder circuit output, and means connecting each comparator output to a different input of the decoder circuit, said decoder circuit being responsive to the combined input signals applied thereto to energize only one indicator at a time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further comprising means for intermittently supplying electric energy to a chosen one of said comparators at a level such that the chosen comparator responds intermittently thereto when the input voltage is below the predetermined reference voltage of the chosen comparator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further comprising means for intermittently supplying electric energy to a chosen one of said indicators so that the chosen indicator is intermittently energized when the input voltage falls below a particular level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said comparators comprises a switching circuit that exhibits a hysteresis effect such that the voltage level required to switch the comparator on is different from the voltage level at which the comparator is switched off, said hysteresis effect being related to variations in the input voltage due to factors other than a true variation in the value of the unknown quantity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for intermittently supplying electric energy to a chosen one of said comparators at a level such that the chosen comparator responds intermittently thereto when the input voltage is below the predetermined reference voltage of the chosen comparator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising delay means having a time constant related to the time constant of undesired transient variations of the input voltage and connected in series with the first input of at least one of said comparators.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-05-05 | 1979-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-03 | 1983-05-05 | 1983-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-03 | 1987-05-05 | 1987-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |