U.S. patent number 3,665,475 [Application Number 05/029,949] was granted by the patent office on 1972-05-23 for radio signal initiated remote switching system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Transcience, Inc.. Invention is credited to Herbert R. Gram.
United States Patent |
3,665,475 |
Gram |
May 23, 1972 |
RADIO SIGNAL INITIATED REMOTE SWITCHING SYSTEM
Abstract
A radio signalling system includes a transmitter operating to
transmit a continuous carrier signal periodically modulated with a
tone signal burst. A receiver includes an amplifier-detector
operating to recover the audio tone signal bursts, which are then
amplified, threshold detected, and converted to corresponding
output pulses. A discriminator, responding to the
amplifier-detector output, enables a gate only during the intervals
between tone signal bursts when unmodulated carrier is received.
The output pulses are passed by the enabled gate and accumulated to
ultimately effect triggering of switching means to initiate a
remote switching function. Energization of the transmitter is
achieved by selectively positioning a pivotally mounted battery to
make an electrical contact between a battery terminal and a
stationary terminal contact.
Inventors: |
Gram; Herbert R. (Madison,
CT) |
Assignee: |
Transcience, Inc. (Stamford,
CT)
|
Family
ID: |
21851744 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/029,949 |
Filed: |
April 20, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/12.5; 455/95;
455/92 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08C
19/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G08C
19/12 (20060101); H04b 007/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;325/37,65,323,350
;343/225,228 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Yusko; Donald J.
Claims
Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is:
1. A radio communications system for initiating actuation of a
device from a remote point, said system comprising, in
combination:
A. a transmitter operable to transmit a continuous carrier signal
periodically modulated with a burst of a tone signal;
B. a receiver adapted to receive transmissions from said
transmitter;
C. a detector in said receiver for recovering said periodic bursts
of tone signal from said continuous carrier signal;
D. means for converting each said tone signal burst to a
corresponding output pulse and for storing said pulse;
E. a gate connected to control passage of each stored pulse from
storage;
F. gate control means connected to the output of said detector for
enabling said gate to pass stored output pulses only during the
periodic intervals of reception of unmodulated carrier signal;
G. means for accumulating output pulses passed by said gate when
enabled; and
H. switching means coupled to said accumulating means and energized
thereby when a desired condition of pulse accumulation has been
reached to initiate actuation of the device.
2. The system defined in claim 1, wherein
1. said detector is of a type which continuously produces a noise
signal at its output in the absence of a received carrier signal,
and
2. said gate control means operates to disable said gate in
response to either a noise signal or a tone signal burst at the
output of said detector.
3. A radio signal initiated remote switching system for actuating a
device from a remote point, said system comprising
A. a transmitter operable to transmit a continuous carrier
signal;
B. means in said transmitter for periodically generating a burst of
tone signal for modulating said carrier signal and leaving
intervals when said carrier signal is free of such tone signal
modulation;
C. a receiver adapted to receive said periodically modulated
carrier signal;
D. a detector in said receiver for recovering said tone signal
bursts;
E. a gate circuit in said receiver;
F. a discriminator connected to the output of said detector and to
a control element of said gate, said discriminator operating to
1. disable said gate during the absence of a received carrier
signal; and
2. enable said gate only during each interval of reception of
substantially noise-free, unmodulated carrier signal;
G. means connected to the output of said detector for converting
said recovered periodic tone signal bursts into corresponding
output pulses;
H. means for receiving each said output pulse and presenting it in
stored form for passage through said gate when enabled;
I. means connected to the output of said gate for accumulating said
output pulses passed by said gate when enabled; and
J. switching means controlling actuation of the device and
connected to said accumulating means,
1. said accumulating means triggering said switching means to
actuate the device after a number of said periodic pulses have been
accumulated.
4. The system defined in claim 3, wherein said detector comprises a
super-regenerative detector.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It has become extremely important and desirable in our modern
technological society to be able to actuate and/or control all
types of apparatus from a distance. This can be accomplished in
many ways; however, one of the more practical ways is to use a
radio signal link between a receiver coupled to the apparatus and a
portable transmitter. Radio signal initiated remote switching
systems can be advantageously used, for example, to actuate
security or burglar alarm systems, conveyor belts, etc., from
remote locations. Currently such systems are in wide use to actuate
powered garage door openers from inside an automobile.
Prior art radio signal initiated remote switching systems have
however been subject to certain operational difficulties. One of
the most serious problems is phantom operation; that is, accidental
or inadvertent actuation of switching apparatus by stray noise
signals. Such accidental or inadvertent actuation can be quite
serious and even dangerous, especially when heavy equipment such as
conveyors or garage doors are involved. With the current wide use
of portable radio transmitters and other electrical or electronic
equipment, the atmosphere is replete with electromagnetic noise
energy, and thus the possibility of phantom operation is ever
present.
To avoid phantom operation, transmitters have been designed to
transmit variously coded signals which must be successfully decoded
by the receivers before the switching function will be carried out.
Such signal codings usually involve various techniques of
discretely modulating a radio frequency (RF) carrier signal so that
only a receiver equipped with the proper demodulating or detector
stage can respond. Many of the proposed solutions to phantom
operation are so complex and expensive as to be wholly impractical.
Moreover, some designs are so sensitive as to reject a proper
actuating signal if it is only slightly distorted or masked by
noise. In locations where noise signals are prevalent, it can be
extremely difficult to initiate the switching function even when it
is desired to do so.
It is accordingly a general object of the present invention to
provide a radio signal initiated remote switching system which is
adapted to prevent the initiation of phantom switching functions
while, at the same time, to readily initiate a switching function
when desired upon reception of a true or proper signal. A further
object is to provide a system of the above character which is
efficient and reliable in operation, simple in design, compact in
size and inexpensive to manufacture.
Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part
appear hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a
transmitter which is energized when it is desired to initiate a
remote switching function. The transmitter is adapted, when
energized, to generate a continuous carrier signal which is
periodically modulated with a tone signal burst. As a consequence,
the signal transmitted by the transmitter is in the form of
alternating bursts of tone signal modulated carrier and unmodulated
carrier.
The receiver of the present invention includes an
amplifier-detector tuned to the carrier frequency and operating to
recover from the carrier signal the bursts of tone signal. A
filter-amplifier, connected to the output of the
amplifier-detector, amplifies only those tone signals received from
the amplifier-detector which are of a predetermined frequency
corresponding to the frequency of the tone signal originated at the
transmitter. Thus, the receiver is tuned to respond only to a
particular companion transmitter which together make up one system
of the invention.
The uniformly time spaced bursts of amplified tone signal are
supplied to a threshold detector which responds only to amplified
tone signal bursts exceeding a predetermined amplitude level. The
receiver therefore rejects at this point any signals, although of
the proper frequency, which are below a predetermined amplitude. In
practice, this rejection would discriminate against low level noise
signals of the proper frequency and also against tone signal bursts
transmitted from beyond a desired signal range.
The response of the threshold detector is translated into an output
pulse corresponding to each tone signal burst of the proper
amplitude.
A discriminator connected to the output of the amplifier-detector
operates in the absence of a received carrier signal and to the
presence of noise to disable a gate. The gate in turn acts to
inhibit the passage of the output pulses derived from the threshold
detector. The discriminator however enables the gate only for the
intervals during which an unmodulated substantially noise-free
carrier signal is received. During these intervals, the gate passes
the output pulses derived from the threshold detector to
accumulating means. After a number of output pulses have been
accumulated, switching means are triggered to initiate the
switching function desired.
In accordance with a feature of the invention the transmitter is
provided with a pivotally mounted battery. The transmitter is
enclosed in a case which mounts a pushbutton which is depressed to
selectively pivotally position the battery so as to achieve
electrically contacting engagement between one of the battery
terminals and a fixed battery terminal contact, thereby completing
the connection of the battery across the transmitter circuit. A
spring normally positions the battery to disconnect it from the
transmitter circuit when the pushbutton is not depressed.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,
combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts which will be
exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the
scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the
invention, reference should be had to the following detailed
description taken in connection with the accompanied drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the transmitter employed in the system
of my invention;
FIG. 2 is a detailed circuit schematic diagram of the transmitter
of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the receiver employed in the system of
the invention;
FIG. 4 is a detailed circuit schematic diagram of a portion of the
receiver of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view, partially broken away, of a case
enclosing the transmitter of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5; and
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 5.
Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the
several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The radio signalling system of the present invention includes a
transmitter which, as seen in the block diagram of FIG. 1, includes
an audio tone signal generator 10 and a periodic pulse gate 12
operating to pass periodic bursts of an audio tone signal for
modulating a continuous RF carrier signal generated by a radio
frequency generator 14. Thus when the transmitter is energized from
a battery 16 by closure of a switch S1, a signal in the form of
alternating bursts of tone signal modulated carrier and unmodulated
carrier is radiated by an antenna 18.
Referring to the detailed receiver circuit schematic diagram of
FIG. 2, the RF generator 14 consists of a modified Hartley
oscillator which includes a transistor Q1. The collector of
transistor Q1 is connected to a tank circuit 15 consisting of a
variable capacitor C1 and an inductor L1. Capacitor C1 is varied to
tune the generator 14 to a desired RF carrier signal frequency
ranging preferably from 220 to 320 megahertz. Antenna 18 is
connected to a tap on inductor L1, while power is supplied to the
RF generator 14 from battery 16 by way of switch S1, an RF
isolating inductor L2 and a second tap on inductor L1. Resistor R1
connected between the collector and base of transistor Q1 provides
appropriate bias, and capacitor C2 connected across resistor R1
provides the proper phase shift feedback signal for sustaining
self-regenerative operation of the RF generator 14 at the carrier
signal frequency set by variable capacitor C1. Capacitor C3
connected between the emitter of transistor Q1 and the battery 16
provides AC bypass, while the emitter resistor R5 serves to limit
the oscillator current to within appropriate limits.
Still referring to FIG. 2, the audio tone generator 10 includes a
transistor Q2 whose collector is connected to the lower end of
resistor R5 and whose emitter is connected to the negative terminal
of battery 16. Audio tone generator 10 is illustrated as being a
phase shift oscillator having a phase shifting network consisting
of capacitors C4, C5 and C6, and resistors R2 and R3. Bias for
transistor Q2 is provided by resistor R4. Resistor R3 is preferably
a variable resistor or potentiometer in order that the audio tone
generator may be tuned to a suitable audio tone signal frequency
within the range of approximately 8 to 20 kilohertz.
The periodic pulse gate 12 seen in detail in FIG. 2 is in the form
of a free-running multivibrator consisting of transistor Q3 and a
unijunction transistor Q4. The collector of transistor of Q3 is
connected to the lower end of resistor R5, while its emitter is
connected to the negative terminal of battery 16. The base of
transistor Q3 is connected to the emitter of transistor Q4 by a
capacitor C7. Resistor R6 connects the base of transistor Q3 to the
positive terminal of the battery, while resistor R7 connects the
emitter of unijunction transistor Q4 to the same battery terminal.
One base of unijunction transistor Q4 is connected directly to the
negative terminal of battery 16 while the other base terminal is
connected through a resistor R8 to the positive battery terminal.
Resistor R8 serves to temperature stabilize the cycling frequency
of periodic pulse gate 12.
The operation of the periodic pulse gate 12 is briefly as follows.
Upon the closure of switch S1, power is applied to the periodic
pulse gate 12 and the RF generator 14 which begins generating the
carrier signal. Current from the battery 16 flows through resistors
R6 and R7 and capacitor C7 into the base of transistor Q3, turning
this transistor on. As a result, the lower end of resistor R5 is
effectively connected to the negative battery terminal through the
now low impedance collector-emitter circuit of transistor Q3. The
audio tone generator 10 is thus shorted out of the transmitter
circuit and does not therefore generate an audio tone signal.
The portion of the base current for transistor Q3 flowing through
capacitor C7 charges this capacitor to progressively raise the
potential of the emitter of unijunction transistor Q4. When the
potential at the emitter of unijunction transistor Q4 reaches a
predetermined percentage of the potential across its base
terminals, transistor Q4 turns on to effectively connect its
emitter to the negative terminal of battery 16 by way of its lower
base terminal. Transistor Q3 is then reversed biased and turns off
with the result that its collector-emitter circuit becomes a high
impedance effective to apply energizing power to the audio tone
generator 10. The audio tone generator turns on to effectively
emitter-modulate transistor Q1 in the RF generator 14. Thus, during
the interval while transistor Q3 of the periodic pulse gate 12 is
turned off, the receiver is radiating the RF carrier signal
modulated by the audio tone signal.
Capacitor C7 in the periodic pulse gate 12 now charges in the
opposite direction through resistor R6 to eventually turn on
transistor Q3 and turn off transistor Q4, completing a cycle. While
transistor Q3 is turned on, the audio tone generator 10 is
de-energized and the RF generator 14 continues to generate and the
transmitter continues to transmit the RF carrier signal which,
during this interval of the periodic pulse gate cycle, is
unmodulated. The cycling rate of the periodic pulse gate 12 is
determined by the values of resistors R6, R7 and capacitor C7. A
suitable pulse gate repetition rate may be on the order of 200
cycles per second.
It is thus seen that the transmitter in FIGS. 1 and 2 operates
during the period of closure of switch S1 to transmit a continuous
RF carrier signal which is modulated with periodic bursts of an
audio tone signal generated by the audio tone generator 10. The
frequency of the RF carrier is determined by adjustment of variable
capacitor C1, while the frequency of the tone signal is adjusted by
variable resistor R3. The cycling rate of the periodic pulse gate
12 determines the repetition rate of the audio tone signal bursts
superimposed on the RF carrier signal.
The receiver of the present invention includes, as seen generally
in FIG. 3, a receiving antenna 20 which acts to couple the signal
radiated by the transmitting antenna 18 to the input of an RF
amplifier-detector 22. Amplifier-detector 22 is tuned to the
carrier signal frequency of the companion transmitter with which it
is associated in the system. This RF amplifier-detector may take
the form of a conventional super-regenerative amplifier-detector
which has the advantages of high amplification and high modulation
detection combined in a single circuit having very few components.
The detected audio tone signal burst, as well as any noise present,
is amplified in a conventional audio amplifier 24 whose output on
lead 26 is supplied to an audio tone signal processor 28 and also
to a tone signal burst and noise discriminator 30. The outputs of
the discriminator 30 and processor 28 are applied as separate
inputs to a gate 32. Under certain circumstances, which will be
detailed in conjunction with the portion of the receiver schematic
shown in FIG. 4, the output of gate 32 effectively provides an
output to trigger a switch 34 which initiates actuation of a
utilization device 36.
Since RF amplifiers and detectors and audio amplifiers are well
known in the art, a schematic of these components is not included
in the circuit diagram of FIG. 4. While I prefer to employ a
super-regenerative amplifier-detector in the receiver of my
invention, it is understood that other known RF amplification and
detection/demodulation devices may be used.
Referring now to FIG. 4, the output of audio amplifier 24 on lead
26 is directly connected to the base of a transistor Q5 included in
the audio tone signal processor 28 and operating as a unity voltage
gain power amplifier. The collector of transistor Q5 is connected
directly to B.sup.+ and its emitter is connected to ground through
an emitter load resistor R10. The output signal at the emitter of
transistor Q5 is coupled into an audio tank circuit 37 consisting
of capacitors C10 and C11 and an inductor L5. Tank circuit 37 is
tuned to the frequency of the audio tone signal generated by the
audio tone signal generator 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the companion
transmitter; tuning may be accomplished by making inductor L5 a
ferrite core inductor whose inductance is readily varied by
adjusting the ferrite core in or out. This tank circuit preferably
has a high Q so as to provide high amplification as well as high
audio tone signal frequency selectivity or filtering.
The audio tone signal in the tank circuit 37 is coupled to the base
of a transistor Q6 through a large series resistor R11. Transistor
Q6, also included in processor 28, acts as a threshold
detector-amplifier. The threshold level which must be exceeded to
achieve conduction of transistor Q6 is pre-established at its
emitter by a voltage divider consisting of resistors R12 and R13,
while its collector is connected to ground through a resistor R14.
Capacitor C12 connected from the emitter of transistor Q6 to ground
acts as a filtering capacitor for maintaining the threshold
operating level of transistor Q6 established at its emitter
substantially constant.
As the amplitude of the audio tone signal builds up in the tank
circuit 37 to the point where it exceeds the threshold level
established for transistor Q6, it breaks into conduction and
develops an essentially square wave signal across its collector
load resistor R14. This square wave signal, though somewhat
delayed, corresponds to the audio tone signal burst supplied to the
tank circuit 37. A filtering capacitor C13, connected across load
resistor R14, improves the wave shape of this square wave signal.
This square wave signal or pulse across load resistor R14 is
supplied to the base of a switching transistor Q7 through a
resistor R15. The collector of transistor Q7 is connected to
B.sup.+ through a resistor R16, while its emitter is connected
directly to ground. Transistor Q7 is turned on by each square wave
pulse such that its collector goes essentially to ground potential
for the duration of each pulse. At the termination of this pulse
input, transistor Q7 turns off and its collector rises immediately
to B.sup.+ potential. Thus, transistor Q7 provides a pulse output
on lead 40 corresponding to each received audio tone signal burst,
but slightly delayed in time.
Still referring to FIG. 4, each time spaced audio tone signal burst
on output lead 26 of audio amplifier 24 is also AC coupled by a
capacitor C14 to the base of a transistor Q8, which is included in
the tone burst and noise discriminator 30 of FIG. 3. The emitter of
transistor Q8 is connected to B.sup.+ and is normally maintained in
a cut-off condition by biasing resistor R17. Capacitor C15
connected between the base and ground provides high frequency
roll-off filtering.
When a detected audio tone signal burst is coupled to the base of
transistor Q8, it turns on to charge up a capacitor C16 connected
across a collector load resistor R18. The DC voltage developed
across capacitor C16 is coupled by a resistor R19 to the base of a
transistor Q9 included as part of the gate 32 in the receiver block
diagram of FIG. 3.
The emitter of transistor Q9 is grounded while its collector is
connected to B.sup.+ through a capacitor C17, output lead 40 for
transistor Q7 and resistor R16. The collector of Q9 is also
connected through a diode D1 and the parallel combination of a
capacitor C18 and a resistor R20 to ground. The cathode of diode D1
is connected by a resistor R21 to the base of a transistor Q10,
whose collector is connected to B.sup.+ through a resistor R22 and
whose emitter is connected to ground through resistor R23.
Transistor Q10 is a power amplifier providing an output on lead 44
connected between its emitter and the switch 34. Switch 34 is
disclosed in FIG. 4 as a silicon controlled rectifier D2 with lead
44 connected to its gate input. When silicon controlled rectifier
D2 is triggered on from the output of transistor Q10, it assumes a
low impedance state to, in effect, complete an energizing circuit
for the utilization device 36.
Still referring to FIG. 4, it is seen that so long as gate
transistor Q9 is turned on from the discriminator transistor Q8,
its collector is effectively grounded. Thus no current can flow
through diode D1 to charge capacitor C18 and ultimately effect
triggering of the silicon controlled rectifier D2 by way of power
amplifier Q10. One of the advantages of using a super-regenerative
detector 22 is that in the absence of a received carrier signal, it
inherently develops considerable noise. This noise output from
detector 22 is effective to turn on the discriminator transistor
Q8. As a result, the gate transistor Q9 is held in conduction,
essentially clamping the anode of diode D1 to ground. This
completely disables the receiver circuit from ever achieving
spurious or phantom triggering of the controlled rectifier D2. That
is, the conductance of the gate transistor Q9 effectively prevents
any signal from switching transistor Q7 from ever affecting
controlled rectifier D2.
During the time an unmodulated carrier is received by the receiver
the output from the audio amplifier 24 on lead 26 goes essentially
to zero, assuming the absence of noise. Of course noise, with or
without an unmodulated carrier, turns discriminator transistor Q8
on and also gate transistor Q9 to effectively disable the remainder
of the receiver circuit. In the absence of an output on lead 26,
discriminator transistor Q8 is biased off by resistor R17 and gate
transistor Q9 is cut off, to disconnect the anode of diode D1 from
ground. No current flows through diode D1 at this point however
since its anode remains at ground potential by virtue of capacitor
C17 and its cathode is essentially also at ground potential by way
of resistor R20.
When a burst of audio tone signal is detected by detector 22,
discriminator transistor Q8 is turned on, driving gate transistor
Q9 into full conductance. The burst of audio tone signal builds up
in the tank circuit 37 to drive threshold detector transistor Q6
into full conduction. Switching transistor Q7 is turned on and its
collector goes from B.sup.+ to ground potential. It is seen that
while transistor Q7 was non-conductive, capacitor C17 is charged
such that the voltage across it is essentially that of the supply
voltage B.sup.+ . Due to this pre-existing charge on capacitor C17
a negative-going pulse is produced at the anode of diode D1 when
the collector of transistor Q7 goes to ground. This negative-going
pulse is blocked by diode D1 and is shunted to ground through gate
transistor Q9. At the termination of the audio tone signal burst,
transistors Q8 and Q9 turn off since the receiver is now receiving
unmodulated carrier signal.
Due to the slight delay in the build-up and decay of the audio tone
signal burst in tank circuit 37, the switching transistor Q7 is
turned off a short time after the reception of the tone signal
burst has terminated and gate transistor Q9 has been cut off (and
the gate of which Q9 is part is enabled). Thus when the collector
of transistor Q7 goes from ground to B.sup.+ , capacitor C17 is
effective to produce a positive-going pulse which is passed by
diode D1 and accumulated in storage capacitor C18. The voltage
across capacitor C18 resulting from a single such charging pulse is
insufficient to turn on output transistor Q10 and fire the
controlled rectifier D2.
Upon reception of the next audio tone signal burst, the process
repeats and a second charging pulse is passed by diode D1 and
accumulated in capacitor C18. The time constant of capacitor C18
and resistor R20 is established such that after a number of
charging pulses, for example five, at properly spaced intervals
have been accumulated in capacitor C18, the voltage across it
becomes sufficient to drive power amplifier Q10 into conduction and
thus fire the silicon controlled rectifier D2. If the interval
between charging pulses is greater than the interval between
modulated carrier bursts, which is indicative of spurious noise
reception, the charge leaks off of capacitor C18 through resistor
R20 at a faster rate than capacitor C18 is charged through diode
D1. In this situation, power amplifier Q10 does not turn on and the
silicon controlled rectifier D2 is not triggered.
It is thus seen that the receiver of my invention is amply equipped
to guard against phantom triggering of controlled rectifier D2. The
receiver must receive a carrier signal of a frequency reasonably
close to the center frequency to which the amplifier-detector 22 is
tuned. The detected tone signal bursts must have the right
frequency (tank circuit 37), have sufficient amplitude (threshold
detector Q6), and have an appropriate repetition rate (storage
capacitor C18 and resistor R20). In addition the receiver must
receive alternate bursts of unmodulated carrier signal and the
level of noise signal must be low, otherwise gate transistor Q9
operates to prevent the passage of charging pulses to storage
capacitor C18. The probability of all of these conditions being met
without reception of a proper signal transmission from the
transmitter which is companioned to a particular receiver is very,
very low.
By the same token, receivers constructed according to the present
invention can be variously tuned to different frequency channels,
both in terms of carrier frequency and tone signal frequency, so as
to discriminate against all signal transmission except the one from
the transmitter which has been correspondingly tuned. Thus, a
plurality of transmitters and receivers can operate in the same
locale without interference.
The utilization device 36 may take a variety of forms. If the
system of the invention is adapted to control the opening and
closing of a garage door, the utilization device would typically be
a relay controlling the energization of an electric motor. The
controlled rectifier D2, when triggered, completes an energizing
circuit for the relay which, in turn, controls the motor energizing
circuit via its associated relay contacts. The relay energizing
circuit may be AC or DC, as controlled rectifiers are suited for
either application. The relay may be of the self-latching type such
that the controlled rectifier need only be rendered momentarily
conductive.
Referring now to FIGS. 5 through 7, the transmitter of FIGS. 1 and
2 is enclosed in a case, generally indicated at 60. The case is
formed in two sections 61 and 62 of a suitable molded plastic. The
case sections are secured together by a bolt 64 which slides
through a sleeve 66 integral with case section 62 and threadedly
engages an internally threaded sleeve 68 integral with case section
61, as best seen in FIG. 6.
The various electronic components of the transmitter are mounted on
a circuit board 70 which, in turn, is secured by suitable means
such as an adhesive between locating ribs 72 in case section 62.
Printed circuit board 70 is provided with an opening 74
accomodating extension of sleeve 66 therethrough.
The battery 16 powering the transmitter is pivotally mounted by a
bracket 76 secured to the circuit board 70. The ends of bracket 76
are bent upwardly and resiliently engage opposite ends of battery
16 to pivotally mount the battery relative to the printed circuit
board 70. As seen in FIGS. 5 and 7, the left end portion 78 of
bracket 76 is formed having a dimple 79 struck therein which
engages the left end of battery 16. The other end portion 80 of
bracket 76 is similarly formed having a dimple 81 which is received
in one of the cup-shaped terminals 82 of a conventional 9 volt
radio battery 16. Bracket end portion 80 thus electrically engages
terminal 82 of the battery 16 and bracket 76 itself is electrically
connected to one side of the transmitter circuit. It is seen that
dimples 79 and 81 essentially constituting opposed pivot points
defining a pivot axis for battery 16.
A second bracket 90 is secured to circuit board 70 and has its
right end portion 92, as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, bent upwardly.
Bracket end portion 92 is positioned such that when battery 16 is
pivoted downwardly about its pivot axis the other battery terminal
94 comes into electrically contacting engagement with the upper
edge thereof. Bracket 90 is electrically connected to the other
side of the transmitter circuit, and thus end portion 92
constitutes a battery terminal contact which, when contacting
battery terminal 94, completes the connection of the battery across
the transmitter circuit to energize the transmitter. The left end
portion of bracket 90, indicated at 96 in FIG. 7, is bent upwardly
to act as a spring member normally biasing the battery 16 upwardly
about its pivot axis such that battery terminal 94 is normally out
of electrically contact engagement with contact 92. Thus, the
transmitter circuit is normally de-energized.
To energize the transmitter circuit, section 61 of case 60 is
formed having a stepped opening 98 which accomodates a pushbutton
100 in overlying engagement with the upper surface of battery 16.
It is thus seen that depression of pushbutton 100 pivots the
battery 16 downwardly about its pivot axis to make the electrical
connection between battery terminal 94 and contact 92.
Thus, by virtue of the pivotal mounting of battery 16 in the case
60 for the transmitter, the transmitter can be turned on and off by
selectively manipulating the position of battery 16. This
eliminates a conventional on-off switch, which, in mass production,
constitutes a significant cost saving.
Throughout the description and in the claims to follow the carrier
signal has been characterized as being "continuous." This is
intended to mean that the carrier signal is "continuous" relative
to the audio tone signal. In certain applications government
regulations may limit the duration of carrier signal generation to,
for example, 1 second out of every 30 seconds in order to reduce
the volume of electromagnetic signal energy in an area. In the
context of the instant invention, a 1 second carrier signal
duration would encompass, for example, 200 bursts of the audio tone
signal, and thus the former is indeed continuous relative to the
latter.
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those
made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently
attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above
constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it
is intended that all matter contained in the above description or
shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as
illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *