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:
Jan. 15, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 18, 1998
Truman L. Allison, York, PA (US);
Daniel R. Mitchell, Morgantown, PA (US);
Dennis R. Stauffer, Birdsboro, PA (US);
Graco Children's Products Inc., Elverson, PA (US);
Abstract
A control ( ) for an infant and child swing ( ) driven by a direct current motor ( ) includes a user interface ( ) for selecting from a plurality of swing heights (or amplitudes), a microcontroller ( ) having a processor ( ), a swing angle indicator ( ) having a light interrupter detector ( ), and a music system ( ). Processor ( ) receives an output signal from light interrupter detector ( ) for monitoring the current swing amplitude. At the end of each swing cycle processor ( ) compares the current swing amplitude with the user selected maximum swing amplitude, and, if not substantially equal, generates a control signal to adjust the power output from motor ( ) so that the current swing amplitude substantially equals the user selected maximum swing amplitude. This cycle-by-cycle adjustment produces a swing arc having improved accuracy and consistency. Processor ( ) also ends operation of motor ( ) after an optional, user preselected, fixed time period, and facilitates maintenance and repair by displaying the status of light interrupter detector ( ) upon selected actuation of user interface ( ).