An electronic timer is provided of the type used for producing command signals to initiate and discontinue the operation of external devices such as pool pumps, lights, and the like. The timer is organized to adapt it to a modular arrangement whereby modules are easily added to increase the number of different command signals provided. The timer includes a common bus to which there are applied a plurality of parallel pulse signals that in combination define a timing interval divided into a seque...

This is a selector circuit for an electronic device such as a pager that has a plurality of functions with each of the functions having a plurality of levels. First and second switches are provided for selecting the functions and levels. A controller such as a microprocessor is responsive to the first and second switches for selecting the functions and levels. The functions are selected by first actuating the first switch and then actuating the second switch while the first switch is maintained ...

An aircraft instrument for providing a pictorial display of a vertical plane position of an aircraft, helicopter or other space operated vehicle in flight in relation to radio navigation aids or other selected reference points on the ground or in space. The instrument utilizes a computing device to establish the location of the references with respect to the vehicle in flight and the vertical pictorial display portrays the vehicle as a moving symbol, such as a red dot of light or other indicator...

A process and apparatus for facilitating the landing of a vehicle such as an aircraft on a landing surface by projecting two radiation beams downward from the aircraft at fixed angles criss-crossing the beams below the aircraft coincident with the elevation of the landing gear and producing spots on the landing surface that move together in relation to the rate of descent of the aircraft. The spots come together when the landing gear touches down. Display means is provided to present representat...

An apparatus for converting aircraft altitude encoder measurements into higher resolution values, including a microprocessor connected to monitor the aircraft altitude encoder output signals, a pressure transducer and converter network for providing incremental pressure change readings, also connected to the microprocessor; the microprocessor being programmed to utilize the incremental pressure readings to calculate corresponding incremental altitude signals between transition points of the airc...

A programmer for a household appliance, such as a washing machine or a dishwasher, comprises a disk-shaped carrier 41 and a position indicator 43 synchronized therewith, the indicator working into a comparator 36 also receiving a signal pattern from a read-only memory 35 addressed by a counter 30 which advances under the control of a timing circuit. The latter comprises a frequency divider 20, driven by alternating current from a utility network, certain of whose stages work into a set of AND ga...

An aircraft instrumentation having inherent self-checking features. Radar and barometric altitude information are displayed on the dial face of a single instrument. A cooperating dial and first pointer displays barometric altitude. A manually settable indicator "bug" cooperates with the dial to provide a presentation of the height of the airstrip relative to sea level. A second indicator "bug" of a different shape from the landing field bug is servo-driven from both radar and barometric altitude...

A system for providing a digital display of aircraft altitude, a selected altitude which it is desired the aircraft to assume and when the selected altitude is achieved, an audio and visual indication is produced. When within 1000 feet of the selected altitude, the visual indication gives the direction the aircraft must continue (i.e., up or down). When the aircraft exceeds a prescribed range, either above or below the selected altitude, an audio signal is produced. Barometric pressure obtained ...

An airplane flies through the air because the forward speed of its wings through the air produces lift which is greater than the total weight of the craft. When the forward speed decreases below a certain amount, there is insufficient lift to counteract the weight of the plane and the plane will drop down (or stall). This is the ideal condition of speed at which an airplane lands, but it is important that the stall occur when the plane is only a very short distance (like three feet) above the gr...

An altimeter instrument is provided with display means which is locked or unlocked as a function of the output of a sensor which indicates whether the instrument or the apparatus whose altitude the instrument is sensing is in motion or about to be placed in motion or is stationary for a more than a predetermined period of time.