Radiant energy signal transmitter

• US 4,972,185 A
• Filed: 04/28/1989
• Issued: 11/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: 3M Company
• Inventors: Stopa, James L., Hoekman, Earl B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Application Number:
  US07/344,748
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 340/906, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.73, 340/825.64, 328/72, 328/73, 328/74, 455/603, 250/206, 358/194.1, 315/200 A, 315/200 R, 315/241 S, 315/DIG. 7, 320/9
• US Class Current: 340/4.62
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/087 Override of traffic control, e.g. by signal transmitted by an emergency vehicle

Abstract

An radiant energy transmitter that includes a d.c. to d.c. converter, a d.c. energy storage circuit portion, a triggered radiant energy signaling device, a trigger pulse circuit to initiate operation of the signaling device and an operator adjustable trigger pulse timer circuit portion supplying signals to the trigger pulse circuit at a repetition rate selected by an operator with each signal causing the trigger pulse circuit to provide a trigger pulse to initiate an operation of the signaling device.

Claims

1. A radiant energy transmitter including a d.c. to d.c. converter for converting a low d.c. voltage to a higher d.c. voltage;

a d.c. storage circuit for storing d.c. energy from said d.c. to d.c. converter;

a triggered radiant energy signaling device connected to said d.c. storage circuit;

a trigger pulse circuit connected to supply a trigger pulse to said triggered radiant energy signaling device to initiate operation of said triggered radiant energy signaling device and an operator adjustable timer circuit coupled to said trigger pulse circuit for supplying thereto a pulse timing signal having a repetition rate selected by an operator, each repetition causing said trigger pulse circuit to provide a said trigger pulse, wherein said operator adjustable timer circuit comprises a crystal controlled means for providing a base time signal having a predetermined repetition rate, decade counter means responsive to said base time signal for enabling a said pulse timing signal when a given number of repetitions of said base time signal are counted, and operator controlled contact means selectively connected to said decade counter means for establishing the said given number of base time signal repetitions required prior to enabling said pulse timing signal.

2. A radiant energy transmitter according to claim 1 wherein said decade counter means includes:

a first decade counter connected to said crystal controlled means for providing a units count output of the base time signal;

a second decade counter connected to said first decade counter for providing a tens count output of the base time signal; and

wherein said operator controlled contact means includes mean s selectively connected to said first and second decade counters for selecting a desired units count output and a desired tens count output from said first and second decade counters, respectively, and for enabling a said pulse timing signal to said trigger pulse circuit when an output is present at both the operator selected units and ten count outputs.

3. A radiant energy transmitter according to claim 2 wherein said enabling means includes an ANd circuit and an electronic switching device, said AND circuit providing an output signal when both a said desired units count output and a said desired tens count output are present, the output of said AND circuit being connected to said first and second decade counters for resetting said first and second decade counters, and said electronic switching device being connected to turn on upon receipt of a "0" tens count output of said second decade counter when said second decade counter is reset, and for thereupon providing a said pulse time signal to the trigger pulse circuit.

4. A radiant energy transmitter according to claim 3 wherein said electronic switching device is a transistor.