US3803974A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fire control system
Assignee: Wahl W Corp
•
Filing: 1972-11-03
•
Granted: 1974-04-16
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Expires: 1992-11-03
Abstract
Abstract A fire control system that can be readily installed with minimum change on existing aircraft, actually tests all weapon positions and stores a number of status words representing the current state of the various weapon positions. Upon occurence of a selected number of firing conditions such as firing interval, remaining quantity of a salvo to be fired and the fire command, the system will automatically extract from the store of weapon status words, one word corresponding to an unfired weapon of selected type. The extracted word is automatically sent to the weapon firing station in a time division multiplexing arrangement that shares a single communication channel among fire command, test command and sensed status words. Although the system will automatically select an unfired weapon of a chosen type, the pilot is provided with a complete display of status of all weapons and a remaining stores display indicating the total remaining weapons of the respective types. Comparison of a commanded word with the actual status of a given weapon position is employed to provide the pilot with a hung ordnance alarm.
Inventors
- 👤 C Everest
- 👤 H Voznick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 19:39
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41A; F41A31/00; B; B64; B64D; B64D7/00; H; H04; H04Q; H04Q9/00; H04Q9/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 75
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
In a system having a plurality of weapon stations and at least one multistate weapon device at each station, A. means for testing said devices to detect the state thereof, B. means responsive to said testing means for generating status words each including information denoting the state of one of said devices, C. storage means responsive to said status word generator for storing said status words, D. means for extracting from said storage means a status word corresponding to one of said devices having a preselected state, and E. means responsive to said extracted status word for actuating said one device to change its state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
In a system having a plurality of weapon stations and at least one multistate weapon device at each station, A. means for testing said devices to detect the state thereof, B. means responsive to said testing means for generating status words each including information denoting the state of one of said devices, C. storage means responsive to said status word generator for storing said status words, D. means for extracting from said storage means a status word corresponding to one of said devices having a preselected state, and E. means responsive to said extracted status word for actuating said one device to change its state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 1 including means for including in each status word information designating a classification of the device whose state is denoted thereby, said means for extracting a status word from said storage means including means for extracting words corresponding to devices of a selected classification and selected state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
state sensor means for sensing the states of said devices and transmitting status words each including a representation of the sensed state of a device, B. a command station comprising
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
state sensor means for sensing the states of said devices and transmitting status words each including a representation of the sensed state of a device, B. a command station comprising
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
means for transmitting said test words to said state sensor means to actuate said sensor means and cause transmission of said status words,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
means for transmitting said test words to said state sensor means to actuate said sensor means and cause transmission of said status words,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
4 words
a multistate weapon device,
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
4 words
a multistate weapon device,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
a command status memory for receiving and storing status words each having an address code and a device status code,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
a command status memory for receiving and storing status words each having an address code and a device status code,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
power supply means for supplying energizing power to said information processing means, said power supply means comprising a. storage means responsive to data words received from said communication channel for storing electrical energy contained in said data words, and b. means responsive to said storage means for supplying said electrical energy from said storage means to said means for processing information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
power supply means for supplying energizing power to said information processing means, said power supply means comprising a. storage means responsive to data words received from said communication channel for storing electrical energy contained in said data words, and b. means responsive to said storage means for supplying said electrical energy from said storage means to said means for processing information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
station identification means for recognizing the address code of a command word received by the remote station,
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
station identification means for recognizing the address code of a command word received by the remote station,
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
command enable means for extracting a status word from said command status memory having a preselected device status code, said extracted status word comprising a command word,
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
command enable means for extracting a status word from said command status memory having a preselected device status code, said extracted status word comprising a command word,
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
a command status memory for receiving and storing status words transmitted from said state sensor means,
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
a command status memory for receiving and storing status words transmitted from said state sensor means,
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A control system for changing the state of one or more of a group of multistate aircraft weapon devices, said control system comprising A. a remote station including
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A control system for changing the state of one or more of a group of multistate aircraft weapon devices, said control system comprising A. a remote station including
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
actuator means for effecting a change of state of the device,
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
actuator means for effecting a change of state of the device,
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
means for selecting a word having a predetermined state from said command status memory, and reading out the selected word as an actuator word, and
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
means for selecting a word having a predetermined state from said command status memory, and reading out the selected word as an actuator word, and
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
means for transmitting said extracted command word from said command station, B. a plurality of remote stations each including
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
means for transmitting said extracted command word from said command station, B. a plurality of remote stations each including
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
48 words
The control system of claim 3 wherein said command station includes means for establishing a state change command prerequisite, and wherein said means for reading out a selected word includes means responsive to both said means for selecting a word and to said means for establishing a prerequisite.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
72 words
The system of claim 3 wherein each said actuator word, test word and status word includes an address identifying a unique one or group of said multistate devices, and wherein said remote station includes means for identifying a unique address in each transmitted actuator and test word and for controlling state change or state sensing respectively of the device or group of devices uniquely identified by the actuator or test word address.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
means for transmitting said actuator word to said state change actuator means to effect a change of state of one or more of said multistate devices.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
means for transmitting said actuator word to said state change actuator means to effect a change of state of one or more of said multistate devices.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
9 words
sensor means for determining the state of the device,
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
9 words
sensor means for determining the state of the device,
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 5 including a single communication channel interconnecting said remote station and said command station, and wherein at least a Group of said words is transmitted between said command and remote stations along said single communication channel.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
11 words
function decoding means for selectively enabling the actuator and sensor means,
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
11 words
function decoding means for selectively enabling the actuator and sensor means,
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for enabling said remote substation in response to said station identification means,
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for enabling said remote substation in response to said station identification means,
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 6 wherein all of said actuator words are transmitted to said remote station through said single channel of communication.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
The control system of claim 6 wherein all of said test words are transmitted to said remote station through said single channel of communication.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
means responsive to said sensor Means for assembling a status word including an address code and a status code representing the state of the device,
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
means responsive to said sensor Means for assembling a status word including an address code and a status code representing the state of the device,
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
70 words
means for transmitting the status word from said remote station to said command station, C. a communication channel connecting said command station with all of said remote stations, each said test word and command word being transmitted from said command station to all of said remote stations through said communication channel and each said status word being transmitted from respective remote stations to said command station through said communication channel.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
70 words
means for transmitting the status word from said remote station to said command station, C. a communication channel connecting said command station with all of said remote stations, each said test word and command word being transmitted from said command station to all of said remote stations through said communication channel and each said status word being transmitted from respective remote stations to said command station through said communication channel.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
24 words
The control system of claim 6 wherein all of said status words are transmitted from said remote station through said single channel of communication.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
24 words
The control system of claim 6 wherein said single channel of communication comprises a single electrical current path interconnecting said remote and command stations.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
118 words
The control system of claim 3 wherein said remote station comprises a plurality of remote substations each having a transceiver and each having a plurality of multistate devices of a predetermined type, each remote substation transceiver comprising a state change actuator means for changing the state of a selected device at the associated remote substation and state sensor means for sensing the state of selected devices at the associated remote substation, each said transceiver further including means for identifying a unique address contained in an actuator or test word that uniquely identifies the associated remote substation and selecting and uniquely identifying one of the devices at said substation that is uniquely identified by the actuator or test word.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
69 words
The control system of claim 11 wherein each transceiver includes means for including in each status word generated thereby a type code uniquely identifying fixed characteristics of devices at the associated substation, and wherein said status selection means at said command station includes means for selecting from said command status memory a word having a preselected type code, whereby devices of a particular type may be selected for actuation.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said command status memory includes priority override means for selecting a word from said command status memory which word has an address code identifying a unique address of a unique remote substation, said priority override means including means for overriding operation of said type code selecting means.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
36 words
The control system of claim 11 wherein said command station includes means responsive to status words transmitted from said remote stations for providing a display of the state of each of a plurality of said devices.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
107 words
The apparatus of claim 11 including a command actuator memory for storing actuator words transmitted from said command status memory, and means responsive to status words transmitted from said remote station for comparing the state of said multistate devices with the state of devices whose state is commanded to be changed by actuator words transmitted from said command status memory, and means responsive to said means for comparing for providing a failure to actuate signal that indicates one of said devices has failed to properly change its state in response to a change of state command embodied in an actuator word transmitted from said command status memory.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
45 words
The control system of claim 11 wherein said command station includes means for establishing state change prerequisites, and wherein said means for reading out a selected word includes means responsive to both said means for selecting a word and to said means for establishing prerequisites.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
97 words
The control system of claim 16 wherein said remote stations are armanent stations of an aircraft and wherein said multistate weapon devices are ordnance devices each having an active state in which state the ordnance may be fired and having an expended state that exists after firing of the ordnance, wherein said command station is accessible to the pilot of the aircraft, and wherein at least a plurality of said state change prerequisites may be manually established by the aircraft pilot, and wherein one of said state change command prerequisites is a pickle signal that commands firing.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
90 words
The control system of claim 17 wherein said state change command prerequisites comprise at least one of the following conditions A. a predetermined timed interval has elapsed since the previous firing, B. a predetermined quantity of ordnance has not been fired since the beginning of a presently command salvo of firing, C. an ordnance of a preselected type exists in an active state at one of said remote substations, D. an ordnance exists in an active state at a preselected position of a preselected substation, E. a pickle signal exists.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
33 words
The control system of claim 18 including means responsive to said command status memory for providing a display of quantities of ordnance of different type remaining in active state at said remote stations.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
44 words
The control system of claim 5 wherein each said actuator word includes an actuator pulse, and wherein each state change actuator includes means for transmitting said pulse to effect a change of state for one of said devices identified by the actuator word address.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
63 words
The control system of claim 5 wherein each said actuator word includes an actuator function code and an actuator pulse and wherein each state change actuator includes decoder means for recognizing said actuator function code and means responsive to said decoder means for transmitting said actuator pulse to effect change of state of one of said devices identified by the actuator word address.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
62 words
The control system of claim 5 including timing means for controlling said sensor command means and said command status memory, said timing means including means for disabling reading from said command status memory during a period including the transmittal of a test word from said command station and during the subsequent transmittal of a status word in response to such test word.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
60 words
The control system of claim 22 wherein said timing means includes means for transmitting a plurality of test words during said period, and receiving at said command station a plurality of status words in response to respective ones of said transmitted test words, said command status memory including means for writing said plurality of status words therein during said period.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
70 words
A weapon control system comprising A. a command station comprising means for transmitting a data word having information coded therein in the form of data bits, B. a communication channel connected at one point to receive data words transmitted from said command station, and C. a remote weapon station connected to another point of said communication channel to receive data words transmitted from said command station, said remote station including
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
70 words
A weapon control system comprising A. a command station comprising means for transmitting a data word having information coded therein in the form of data bits, B. a communication channel connected at one point to receive data words transmitted from said command station, and C. a remote weapon station connected to another point of said communication channel to receive data words transmitted from said command station, said remote station including
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
76 words
The control system of claim 24 wherein said remote station includes a plurality of substations, wherein each said data word includes an address unique to at least a given one of said remote substations, wherein each said substation includes recognition means for recognizing a unique address code in a received data word and for providing a station identification signal and wherein said storage means includes means for supplying electrical energy to said station address recognition means.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
78 words
The control station of claim 25 wherein at least one of said substations includes a weapon device adapted to be actuated by an actuator signal and wherein said command statIon includes means for sending an actuator signal through said communication channel in sequence with a transmitted data word, said information processing means including means for enabling said device at said one substation so that it may be actuated by an actuator signal received by said one remote substation.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
83 words
The control system of claim 26 wherein the amplitude of said actuator signal transmitted through said communication channel is substantially equal to the amplitude of the data word pulses transmitted through said communication channel, each said substation including means for attenuation received data word pulses, whereby an actuator signal having a relatively high energy level is fed to actuate said divice and data pulses of relatively low energy level are received by said transceiver data processing means and said transceiver power storage means.
Claim 65
Independent Claim
226 words
The method of selectively changing the states of a plurality of multistate weapon devices at a remote station comprising the steps of A. sending a plurality of test words to each of said remote stations through a communication channel, each said test word including a station address and a test function code, B. receiving each test word at each remote station and enabling a particular one or more of said stations identified by the test word address code, C. determining the state of a device at a station enabled by an identified address code in response to a received test word test function code, and transmitting from such station through said communication channel a status word including an address unique to such transmitting station, said status word also including a status code representing sensed state of the device at the station enabled by the address code, D. storing status words from said remote stations in a command status memory, E. extracting from said command status memory a status word having an address code, an actuate function code and a preselected status code, F. transmitting said extracted status word through said communication channel to said remote stations, and G. changing the state of a device at one of said remote stations in response to receipt of a transmitted status word having the address code of such station.
Claim 66
Independent Claim
226 words
The method of selectively changing the states of a plurality of multistate weapon devices at a remote station comprising the steps of A. sending a plurality of test words to each of said remote stations through a communication channel, each said test word including a station address and a test function code, B. receiving each test word at each remote station and enabling a particular one or more of said stations identified by the test word address code, C. determining the state of a device at a station enabled by an identified address code in response to a received test word test function code, and transmitting from such station through said communication channel a status word including an address unique to such transmitting station, said status word also including a status code representing sensed state of the device at the station enabled by the address code, D. storing status words from said remote stations in a command status memory, E. extracting from said command status memory a status word having an address code, an actuate function code and a preselected status code, F. transmitting said extracted status word through said communication channel to said remote stations, and G. changing the state of a device at one of said remote stations in response to receipt of a transmitted status word having the address code of such station.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 28 including the step of transmitting an actuator signal through said communication channel after transmission of a status word extracted from said command status memory, and employing said actuator signal to change the state of a device at the station whose address is identified by the address code of the command status word received by such station.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
12 words
An armament information and control system comprising A. a command station comprising
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
12 words
An armament information and control system comprising A. a command station comprising
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
91 words
The system of claim 30 wherein said command station includes timing means for causing said test word generator to transmit a plurality of test words one after the other and for causing a status word transmitted from a remote station to be entered into said command status memory after each test word is transmitted from said command station, said timing means including means for causing the test words transmitted from said command station through said communication channel to alternate with status words transmitted from said remote stations through said communication channel.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
52 words
The control system of claim 31 wherein said command station includes means for generating an actuate pulse after the extraction from said command status memory of a predetermined number of command words, and means for transmitting said actuate pulse to said remote stations after transmittal of said predetermined number of command words.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
29 words
The control system of claim 32 wherein said command station includes means for displaying the status of devices at each of at least a group of said remote substations.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
82 words
The control system of claim 33 wherein said command station includes means for storing command words extracted from said command status memory for transmission from said command station, and means for comparing a. the status of devices at said remote stations, as represented by said status words transmitted from said remote stations after transmission of a command word with b. the status of the device represented by such extracted command word, thereby indicates whether or not the commanded change of state occurred.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
26 words
The control system of claim 33 including means for counting and storing the total of all words in the command status memory having a preselected status.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
80 words
The control system of claim 31 wherein each said remote station includes energy storage means for receiving and storing electrical energy contained in said command word test words transmitted from said command station through said communication channel, said remote station actuator means, sensor means, station identification means, decoding means, and status word assembler means, each comprising electronic circuits, said power storage means including means for providing operating power to at least one of said electronic circuits of the remote station.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1155450A
Cited
US3713148A
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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) | 1977-04-15 | 1977-10-15 | 1978-04-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-15 | 1981-10-15 | 1982-04-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-15 | 1985-10-15 | 1986-04-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |