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Autopilot system

  • US 4,542,464 A
  • Filed: 08/06/1982
  • Issued: 09/17/1985
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1982
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In apparatus for steering a vessel wherein steering control means is provided for maintaining said vessel on a preset heading, the improvement comprising:

  • incremental encoder means operative to generate signals for each incremental movement of said vessel away from said preset heading including first and second signal-transmitting means for selectively transmitting directional and incremental signals which represent the direction and increments of movement, respectively, of said vessel in a port or starboard direction away from said preset heading;

    counting means including adjustable reference setting means for setting said counting means at a reference position corresponding to said preset heading, said counting means responsive to directional signals received from said first signal-transmitting means to count up or down in response to incremental signals received from said second signal-transmitting means;

    reference position sensing means operative in response to an incremental signal received after an incremental signal causing said counting means to reach its reference position to reverse the count sequence of said counting means; and

    means producing a correction signal in response to said directional and incremental signals received by said counting means whereby to cause said steering control means to return said vessel to its preset heading.

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