US3626206A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit means for cyclically monitoring and indicating the condition of a function
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1970-09-16
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Granted: 1971-12-07
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Expires: 1990-09-16
Abstract
Abstract A stepping chain-type digitizer for monitoring the condition of a function and for converting the condition into true and false conditions of the steps of the chain whereby any change of the monitored condition produces a change in the condition of the steps. The steps of the stepping chain are utilized to control inhibitor gates placed in the stages of the normally free-running ring counter. Any stage of the ring counter controlled by a step in a selected condition remains in the ''''on'''' position after the counter advances to turn it ''''on,'''' and thereby stops any further advance of the ring counter. The stage of the ring counter which remains locked in the ''''on'''' position provides the indication of the condition of the monitored function.
Inventors
- 👤 Russel T Stebbins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:22
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03M; H03M1/00; H03M1/12; H03M1/14; H03M1/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A monitoring circuit for indicating the range within which an analog signal is located among a plurality of preselected ranges comprising: digitizer means responsive to said analog signal for deriving a digital signal representing the range within which said analog signal is located among said plurality of ranges; counter means having a plurality of stages, each of said stages representing one of said plurality of ranges and being operable in a first and a second condition, said stages being interconnected for switching from said first to said second condition in sequential order from one stage to another such that only one stage is in said second condition at a time; and locking means associated with said counter means, said locking means being coupled to said digitizer means and responsive to said digital signal for locking the stage representing the range within which said analog signal is located in the second condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A monitoring circuit for indicating the range within which an analog signal is located among a plurality of preselected ranges comprising: digitizer means responsive to said analog signal for deriving a digital signal representing the range within which said analog signal is located among said plurality of ranges; counter means having a plurality of stages, each of said stages representing one of said plurality of ranges and being operable in a first and a second condition, said stages being interconnected for switching from said first to said second condition in sequential order from one stage to another such that only one stage is in said second condition at a time; and locking means associated with said counter means, said locking means being coupled to said digitizer means and responsive to said digital signal for locking the stage representing the range within which said analog signal is located in the second condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A monitoring circuit as recited in claim 1 and further including display means coupled to said counter means for identifying the stage of said counter means which is locked in the second condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
A circuit for monitoring and indicating the condition of a function comprising: a ring counter including a plurality of stages, each stage being operable in a first and a second condition and all stages being interconnected such that one and only one stage is in said second condition at any time, each stage being associated with a different condition of said function; locking means included in each stage, each of said locking means being responsive to a locking signal for locking the stage in said second condition during the occurrence of said locking signal; and means for monitoring said function and for providing a locking signal to the stage associated with the monitored condition of said function.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
117 words
A circuit for monitoring and indicating the condition of a function comprising: a ring counter including a plurality of stages, each stage being operable in a first and a second condition and all stages being interconnected such that one and only one stage is in said second condition at any time, each stage being associated with a different condition of said function; locking means included in each stage, each of said locking means being responsive to a locking signal for locking the stage in said second condition during the occurrence of said locking signal; and means for monitoring said function and for providing a locking signal to the stage associated with the monitored condition of said function.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 3 in which said locking means is operative only on a stage in said second condition and maintains the same in said second condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 3 in which said means for monitoring said function comprises a digitizer including a plurality of output terminals, said digitizer being responsive to said function and operative to apply locking signals to selected output terminals to reflect the monitored condition of said function, each output terminal being coupled to a different locking means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 3 in which said means for monitoring said function comprises a stepping chain having a common input terminal and a different output terminal for each step of said stepping chain, said function being monitored being connected to Said input terminal and each of said output terminals being coupled to a different locking means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 6 in which each output terminal of said stepping chain has a first or a second condition in accordance with the condition of said function and in which said output terminals are coupled to said locking means in a preselected manner.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 3 which further includes a reset means coupled to a selected stage of said ring counter and to said monitoring means, said reset means being operative to periodically and simultaneously disable said monitoring means from providing locking signals and locking said selected stage in said second condition for a predetermined time interval.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
114 words
A monitoring circuit for deriving an indication of the state of a function, comprising: digitizer means responsive to said function for deriving a digital signal indicative of the state of said function; normally free-running ring counter means having a stage for each of said derivable digital signals, said counter means having only one stage in the true condition at any time; and each stage of said counter means including a locking means, each locking means being connected to said digitizer means for being responsive to a different digital signal for maintaining the stage with which it is associated in the true condition upon the occurrence of the digital signal to which it is responsive.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
114 words
A monitoring circuit for deriving an indication of the state of a function, comprising: digitizer means responsive to said function for deriving a digital signal indicative of the state of said function; normally free-running ring counter means having a stage for each of said derivable digital signals, said counter means having only one stage in the true condition at any time; and each stage of said counter means including a locking means, each locking means being connected to said digitizer means for being responsive to a different digital signal for maintaining the stage with which it is associated in the true condition upon the occurrence of the digital signal to which it is responsive.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
A monitoring circuit in accordance with claim 9 in which the locking means of adjacent stages are made responsive to digital signals which are indicative of adjoining states of said function whereby a change in the state of said function will lock or release immediately adjacent stages of said ring counter means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A monitoring circuit in accordance with claim 9 which further includes a reset means for providing a cyclically recurring reset pulse, said ring counter means being responsive to said reset pulse and operative to set a selected stage to said true condition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A monitoring circuit in accordance with claim 11 in which said digitizer means is responsive to said reset pulse and operative to disable the same from deriving digital signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
77 words
A monitoring circuit in accordance with claim 9 in which each stage of said ring counter means includes a stage transistor which is on when the stage is in the true condition, and in which said locking circuit includes a locking transistor which is turned on upon the occurrence of the digital signal to which it is responsive, said locking transistor being connected to maintain said stage transistor on as long as said locking transistor is on.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-06 | 1975-06-07 | 1975-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-06 | 1979-06-07 | 1979-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-06 | 1983-06-07 | 1983-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |