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US 4,047,168 AGranted
Digital compass and gimbal assembly for two conductor connection
AssigneeLaitram, L.L.C.
InventorJohn T. Fowler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A remote reading magnetic compass operative with only two electrical connections for both power and data purposes. The compass includes a disc which is photoelectrically sensed to provide output signals representative of compass heading and is supported by a gimbal assembly including pivots which serve as electrical terminals by which energizing power is supplied to the compass electronics and by which data is read out from the compass.
Claims19
A remote reading compass comprising:
- a compass disc having a plurality of optically coded tracks providing coded representations of compass headings;
- magnetic means affixed to and rotatable with said compass disc about a normally vertical axis;
- means for mounting said compass disc for rotation about said normally vertical axis;
- photoelectric means for sensing said coded tracks to provide digital signal representations of compass headings;
- electronic circuit means including said photoelectric means and having only first and second terminals by which energizing power is applied to said circuit means and by which digital output signals are coupled from said circuit means representative of compass heading;
- current source means for providing a limited energizing current;
- and
- means for coupling said current source means to said first and second terminals of said circuit means;
- said electronic circuit means further including means for selectively shunting said first and second terminals to transmit said digital signals.
6 more elements
A remote reading compass comprising:
- a compass disc having a plurality of optically coded tracks providing coded representations of compass headings;
- magnetic means affixed to and rotatable with said compass disc about a normally vertical axis;
- means for mounting said compass disc for rotation about said normally vertical axis;
- photoelectric means for sensing said coded tracks to provide digital signal representations of compass headings;
- electronic circuit means including said photoelectric means and having only first and second terminals by which energizing power is applied to said circuit means and by which digital output signals are coupled from said circuit means repesentative of compass heading;
- and
- a gimbal assembly supporting said compass for rotation about first and second axes which are mutually orthogonal to each other and to said normally vertical axis, said gimbal assembly having pivot bearings providing rotation about said first and second axes;
- and wherein the first and second terminals of said electronic circuit means are provided by said pivot bearings.
5 more elements
A remote reading compass comprising:
- a compass disc having a plurality of optically coded tracks providing coded representations of compass headings;
- magnetic means affixed to and rotatable with said compass disc about a normally vertical axis;
- means for mounting said compass disc for rotation about said normally vertical axis;
- photoelectric means for sensing said coded tracks to provide digital signal representations of compass headings;
- electronic circuit means including said photoelectric means and having only first and second terminals by which energizing power is applied to said circuit means and by which digital output signals are coupled from said circuit means and representative of compass heading;
- and
- a gimbal assembly supporting said commpass for rotation about first and second mutually orthogonal axes and having electrically conductive pivot bearings for providing rotation about said mutually orthogonal axes and electrical coupling of said electronic circuitry to said first and second terminals.
4 more elements
A remote reading compass comprising:
- an outer housing;
- an inner housing disposed within said outer housing and including:
- a compass disc disposed within said inner housing and supported for rotation about a normally vertical axis, said compass disc having a plurality of optically coded tracks providing coded representations of compass headings;
- a magnet affixed to and rotatable with said compass disc;
- photoelectric means for sensing said coded tracks to provide digital signal representations of compass heading;
- a gimbal assembly supporting said inner housing within said outer housing for rotation about first and second axes which are mutually orthogonal to each other and to said normally vertical axis;
- first and second electrically conductive pivot assemblies defining said first mutually orthogonal axis and coupling said inner housing to said gimbal assembly;
- third and fourth pivot assemblies defining said second mutually orthogonal axis and coupling said gimbal assembly to said outer housing;
- first and second conductive paths connecting respective ones of said first and second pivot assemblies to respective ones of said third and fourth pivot assemblies;
- first and second output terminals on said outer housing and in electrical communication with the interior of said outer housing;
- and
- third and fourth conductive paths connecting respective ones of said third and fourth pivot assemblies to respective ones of said output terminals.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.