US3229282A - Resettable visual signal indicator - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 11, 1966 D. E. PALMER RESETTABLE VISUAL SIGNAL INDICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 1, 1960 DONALD E. PALMER INVENTOR.

BY I

Q M QM Jan. 11, 1966 D. E. PALMER RESETTABLE VISUAL SIGNAL INDICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1, 1960 MR m Lm AV Pm D M m 0 .cm, a. b a a s w w n n R M m 5 D Q /MMXW A 7TORNEY5 signals.

United States Patent 3,229,282 RESETTABLE VISUAL SIGNAL INDECATGR Donald E. Palmer, Berkeley, Calif., assignor to Secode Corporation, San Francisco, Calif.

Filed June 1, 1960, Ser. No. 33,170 6 Claims. (Cl. 340-378) This invention relates to visual signal indicators and more particularly to a new and improved anuunciator for registering coded electrical signals.

In radio communication systems, particularly in mobile signal transmitting and receiving units, it is frequently impractical to provide continuous monitoring of a r ceiver for incoming messages. In the absence of a signal registering device at a receiver, transmitted messages may be lost whenever the receiver is unattended. Although signal annunciators are known in the art which are capable of registering distince output indications in response to partcular applied control signals, the number of distinct signals which may be registered is generally limited. Furthermore, known annunciators generally consume a substantial amount of power which is a disadvantage where a battery operated receiver is employed.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved signal annunciating device.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a coded signal annunciator which is simple and rugged in construction for use with mobile receiver units.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a signal annunciator which is capable of furnishing any one of a plurality of signal indications for an indefinite period until reset without consuming electrical power.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a new and improved annunciator, or visual signal indicator, in which individual ones of a plurality of light interrupting shutters are released in response to coded electrical One particular embodiment of the invention incorporates a face plate having a plurality of apertures therein, each individually associated with a spring loaded shutter. In a released position, the shutters are displaced from their associated apertures so as to permit the passage of light therethrough from a light source mounted behind the face plate. The shutters are mounted on a rotatable plate to which is attached a reset knob. When the plate is rotated by the reset knob, each shutter is moved into position to cover its associated aperture. Positioned behind each shutter is a corresponding control solenoid having a spring loaded movable coaxial core of a magnetic material. In an extended position, each core serves as a stop for its associated shutter. Thus, when the shutters are moved to cover the apertures by rotating the reset knob, they are held in reset position by the corresponding magnetic cores of the solenoids. In accordance with the invention, the solenoids are arranged to be energized in a selective manner by binary coded signals so that when a particular solenoid is energized, its magnetic core is drawn down into the solenoid, thus releasing the associated spring loaded shutter to uncover the corresponding aperture. This permits light to shine through the aperture so that in accordance with the invention, the selective energization of the solenoids provides a predetermined arrangment of light and dark apertures, thus affording an indication of a particular signalapplied to the solenoids. Moreover, each shutter, when released by the core of its associated solenoid, remains in a released position until reset by the rotation of the reset lmob. Thus, it can be seen that, in accordance with the invention, a registration of a message may be maintained for an indefinite period without requiring electrical power.

A better understanding of the invention may be had 3,229,282 Patented Jan. 11, 1966 from a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings throughout the several views of which like reference characters have been employed to designate like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a signal annunciator in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view, partially broken away, of the annunciator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the annunciator of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the face plate and collar removed;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the face plate and shutter mechanism of the annunciator of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of part of the annunciator of FIG. 1 taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the face plate similar to FIG. 5 except that the shutters are shown in reset position; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a control circuit for energizing an annunciator in accordance with the invention.

In FIG. 1 there is shown an annunciator in accordance with the invention, including an apertured face plate 1. Each of the apertures of the face plate I may be cordance with signals applied to the annunciator. A reset mitting light to provide a visual representation in accordance with signals applied to the annunciator. A reset knob 4 is mounted in the center of the face plate 1 on a shaft 14 (FIG. 6) which extends through the face plate 1.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the annunciator of FIG. 1 with a portion of the collar 2 being cut away for purposes of illustration. The face plate 1, the jewels 3, and the reset knob 4 are visible through the cut away section. The face plate 1 and retaining collar 2 are attached to a solenoid assembly housing 5 which in turn is fastened to a mounting bracket 6 for the mounting of the assembly as desired, as, for example, to the instrument panel of an automobile. Electrical connection wires are brought into the housing 5 through a cable 7.

Within the housing 5 are a number of solenoids 8a through 8e (FIG. 3) each having a movable core 9 of a magnetic material. A lamp it) serves to cast light on the underside of the face plate 1 so that light may be passed by selected ones of the jeweled lenses 3a-3e as described below.

FIG. 4 is a sectional vieW of the solenoid assembly housing 5 of FIG. 3 taken along the line 44. In this view can be seen two of the solenoids 8a and 8b with their magnetic cores 9a and 9b. Each core 9 is encased by an associated spiral spring 11 which normally holds the core 9 in an extended position as is shown in the case of the core 9a. When a particular solenoid 8 is energized, however, its magnetic core 9 is retracted against the force of its associated spring 11. In FIG. 4 the core 912 is shown retracted against its spring 11 as it would be by the energization of the solenoid 85.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the face plate 1 of FIG. 1 and shows a shutter mounting plate 12 to which are fastened a plurality of shutters 13a through 13a. The shutter mounting plate 12 is adapted to be rotated by the reset knob 4 of FIG. 1 via the shaft 14. Each of the shutters 13 is normally held in a release position by a corresponding shutter spring 15. Similarly, the shutter mounting plate 12 is normally maintained in a released position by the force of the shutter mounting plate spring 16. The circles 9 indicate the positions of the ends of the solenoid cores 9 of FIG. 3 with respect to the shutters 13.

Attached to the face plate 1 between the shutter mounting plate 12. and the face plate 1 are a plurality of shutter guide lugs 17 which cause the corresponding shutters 13 to rotate about their respective shutter pins 18 when the shutter mounting plate 12 is rotated to the reset position. The two positions of the shutters are illustrated in FIG. 5 by the solid and dashed line views of the shutter 13b. The dashed outline 13b illustrates a shutter in the reset position in which it is maintained against the force of its retaining spring by its solenoid core 9. Similarly, 131; represents the shutter in its released position to which it is directed by its retaining spring 15 when its corresponding solenoid core 9 is retracted. In FIG. 5 the shutter 13d is shown in the released position so that its corresponding jewelled lens 3d is uncovered and light from the lamp 1!) of FIG. 3 is enabled to pass therethrough.

In the sectional view of FIG. 6 it can be seen that the upper core 9a is in an extended position, thus maintaining its associated shutter 13a reset. However, the lower core 9d is retracted, corresponding to the energization of its associated solenoid 8d so that the shutter 13d is permitted to assume its released position.

FIG. 7 is another rear view of the face plate 1 and mounting assembly 12 showing the various elements in the reset position which is assumed when the mounting plate 12 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the solid arrows. The dashed line arrows indicate the directions taken by the respective elements when the mounting plate 12 returns from the reset position under the force of its retaining spring 16. During the resetting each of the shutters rotates about its shutter pin 18 and moves inward slightly as it slides against the is shown having individual output leads connected respectively to the solenoids 8a through 8e. A return path for the control signal pulses 19 is provided at a reference potential.

In the operation of the annunciator of the invention, signals may be received which are indicative of a selected one of the dilferent messages which have been given prearranged code designations. The signal decoder 20 receives and decodes the signal and produces individual control signal pulses on its respective output leads in accordance with the received coded signal. These pulses 19, when applied to the respective solenoids 8, bring about the retraction of the corresponding magnetic cores 9. In the manner described above, the retracted cores 9 release their associated shutters 13 which in turn uncover the corresponding jewelled lenses 3. The lamp 10 of FIG. 3 may be energized, as for example, by turning on an automobile ignition switch, to illuminate the uncovered jewelled lenses so as to provide visualindication of the message designated by the received coded signal. In accordance with the invention, this visual indication is advantageously maintained until the shutters are reset by rotating the reset knob 2- of FIG. 1.

In the illustrative example of FIG. 8, the pulses 19,

applied to the solenoids 8b and 8d, bring about the particular visual output indication which corresponds to that shown in FIG, 1 in which the jewelled lenses 3b and 3d are depicted as being illuminated by the lamp 10 behind the face plate 1. Once the desired jewelled lenses, such as 3b and 3d, are uncovered by their respective shutters, the control signal pulses 19 may be terminated while the visual indications remain without the requirement of energizing power to the solenoids 8.

The described specific embodiment of the invention incorporates five apertures each of which may be either illuminated or not in'accordance with the code transmitted from a central control point. Therefore, there are 2 or 32 possible combinations of illuminated and unilluminated jewels. Since one of these combinations namely that of all jewels unilluminated, corresponds to the reset position, this provides for 31 different messages which may be designated by the distinct code combinations. However, it will be understood that the number of message designations available may be varied as desired.

Although there has been described above a specific arrangement of an annunciator in accordance with the invention for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention may be used to advantage, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. Accordingly; any and all modifications, variations or equivalent arrangements falling within the scope of the annexed claims should be considered to be apart of the invention.

What is claimed is: i 1

1. A visual annuciator device comprising indicating means including a plurality of transparent lenses for transmitting light therethrough, a lamp for illuminating said lenses, a plurality of shutters individually associated with said lenses for selectively interrupting the lightfrom said lamp at respective ones of said lenses, meansfor selectively controlling the positions of individual one of said shutters in accordance with the message designation to be visually indicated by the passage of light through said lenses, said last mentioned means comprising a plurality of electromagnetically operated solenoids individually associated therewith, each of said solenoids having a spring loaded core of a magnetic material for holding said associated shutter in a first position, a plurality of springs individually associated with each of said shutters for rotating said shutters to a second position, means for selectively energizing said solenoids in order to retract selected ones of said cores in order that the associated shutters may assume the second position, and resetting means for restoring said shutters to said first position.

2. A visual annunciator device comprising indicating means including a plurality of transparent lenses for transmitting light therethrough, a lamp for illuminating said tively energizing said solenoids in order to retract certain of said cores and permit the associated shutters to assume a second position, and resetting means comprising a rotatable mounting plate, means for rotatably attaching said shutters to said mounting plate, a plurality of shutter guides for restoring said shutters to said first. position as said mounting plate is rotated, and a retaining spring connected to said mounting plate for restoring said mounting plate to its original position after said shutters have been reset.

3. A visual annunciator device comprising a face plate having a plurality of apertures therein, a mounting plate rotatable with respect to said face plate and positioned on one side thereof, a plurality of shutters attached to said mounting plate and individually positionable relative to corresponding ones of said face plate apertures, a plurality of retaining springs individually biasing said shutters for directing said shutters toward positions uncovering said apertures, retractable means individually associated with said shutters for maintaining said shutters in positions covering said apertures, means for selectively etracting said retractable means in order to uncover particular ones of said apertures in a selected pattern, and means for rotating the mounting plate to reset the shutters of the uncovered apertures.

4. An annnnciator device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said retractable means comprises cores of magnetic material positioned coaxially with respect to said solenoids and extending means individually associated with said cores for moving said cores to a position to latch said shutters when said shutters are reset.

5. A visual annunciator device comprising a face plate having a plurality of apertures therein, a mounting plate rotatable With respect to said face plate and positioned on one side thereof, a plurality of shutters attached to said mounting plate and individually positionable relative to corresponding ones of said face plate apertures, a plurality of retaining spring individually biasing said shutters for directing said shutters toward positions uncovering said apertures, retractable means individually associated with said shutters for maintaining said shutters in positions covering said apertures, means for selectively retracting said retractable means in order to uncover particular ones of said apertures in a selected pattern, and resetting means including a knob attached to said mounting plate, a mounting plate retaining spring for returning said mounting plate to its normal position, and a plurality of shutter guide lugs individually associated with said shutters for returning said shutters to positions covering corresponding ones of said apertures as said mounting plate is rotated.

6. A visual annunciator device comprising a face plate having a plurality of apertures therein, a mounting plate rotatable with respect to said face plate and positioned on one side thereof, a lurality of shutters attached to said mounting plate and individually positionable relative to corresponding ones of said face plate apertures, a plurality of retaining springs individually biasing said shutters for directing said shutters toward positions uncovering said apertures, retractable means individually associated with said shutters for maintaining said shutters in positions covering said apertures, means for selectively retracting said retractable means in order to uncover particular ones of said apertures in a selected pattern, and means for directing light through uncovered ones of said apertures including a housing behind said face plate and a lamp enclosed Within said housing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 514,975 2/ 1894 Watson 340-376 1,326,807 11/1919 Tanner 340-378.1 1,521,534 12/1924 Herrman 340376 2,285,544 6/1942 Trogan 34()-373 2,448,959 9/ 1948 Conlan 340-373 2,680,243 6/ 1954 Drathschmidth 340373 3,041,600 6/1962 Gumpertz et al 340-378 NEIL C. READ, Primary Examiner.

E. JAMES SAX, ROBERT H. ROSE, Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,229,282 January 11, 1966 Donald E. Palmer It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, lines 25 to 27, for cordance with signals applied to the annunciator. A reset mitting light to provide a visual representation in accordance with signals applied to the annunciator." read covered by transparent jewelled lenses Sa-Se for transmitting light to provide a visual representation in accordance with signals applied to the annunciator. column 4, line 5, after "combinations" insert 8. comma Signed and sealed this 17th day of January 1967. LSEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

Claims (1)

1. 2. A VISUAL ANNUNCIATOR DEVICE COMPRISING INDICATING MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF TRANSPARENT LENSES FOR TRANSMITTING LIGHT THERETHROUGH, A LAMP FOR ILLUMINATING SAID LENSES, A PLURALITY OF SHUTTERS INDIVIDUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID LENSES FOR SELECTIVELY INTERRUPTING THE LIGHT FROM SAID LAMP AT RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID LENSES, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY CONTROLLING THE POSITIONS OF INDIVIDUAL ONES OF SAID SHUTTERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MESSAGE DESIGNATION TO BE VISUALLY INDICATED BY THE PASSAGE OF LIGHT THROUGH SAID LENSES, SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ELECTROMAGNETICALLY OPERATED SOLENOIDS INDIVIDUALLY ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, EACH OF SAID SOLENOIDS HAVING A SPRING LOADED CORE OF A MAGNETIC MATERIAL ARRANGED TO HOLD SAID ASSOCIATED SHUTTER IN A FIRST POSITION, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ENERGIZING SAID SOLENOIDS IN ORDER TO RETRACT CERTAIN OF SAID CORES AND PERMIT THE ASSOCIATED SHUTTERS TO ASSUME A SECOND POSITION, AND RESETTING MEANS COMPRISING A ROTATABLE MOUNTING PLATE, MEANS ROTATABLY ATTACHING SAID SHUTTERS TO SAID MOUNTING PLATE, A PLURALITY OF SHUTTER GUIDES FOR RESTORING SAID SHUTTERS TO SAID FIRST POSITION AS SAID MOUNTING PLATE IS ROTATED, AND A RETAINING SPRING CONNECTED TO SAID MOUNTING PLATE FOR RESTORING SAID MOUNTING PLATE TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION AFTER SAID SHUTTERS HAVE BEEN RESET.

Images