The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 10, 1997
Filed:
Mar. 30, 1995
David Schuman, Naperville, IL (US);
Other;
Abstract
A channel extender apparatus is provided for use with a radio control system for a controlled device such as a model airplane, model boat, model car or the like. The control system includes a control box housing plural standard input devices, one for each of X channels. An encoder encodes user input commands from the input devices into a standard digital signal. A trainer connector is provided for connection to a similar control box. The trainer connector is connected to the encoder for developing an instructor output to the similar control box and for receiving a trainer input from the similar control box comprising a substitute digital signal. A switch is connected to the encoder and the trainer connector for selecting one of the standard digital signal and the substitute digital signal. A transmitter is connected to the switch for transmitting a through the air signal based on the selected digital signal. A control system associated with the control device includes a receiver capable of receiving data for Y channels, where Y is greater than X and a plurality of servo systems connected to the receiver for controlling operation of controlled elements in the controlled device to operate the same. The channel extender apparatus includes a housing having a cable connectable, in use, to the trainer connector. A receive circuit in the housing is connected via the cable to the instructor output for decoding the standard digital signal for the X channels. A plurality of extended user input devices are one the housing, one for each of Z extended channels. A processing circuit is connected to the receive circuit and the extended user input devices for combining user input commands from the extended user input devices with the decoded standard digital signal to develop the substitute digital signals for the X channels and the Z channels. A modulating circuit connects the processing circuit to the cable to transfer the substitute digital signal to the switch so the transmitter transmits a through the air signal based on the substitute digital signal instead of the standard digital signal.