Multiple channel amplifier
AssigneeElectronique Marcel Dassault
InventorGilbert Vallas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An amplifier for an electromagnetic radiation receiver has a plurality of amplification channels for the determination of angular separations, especially for use in self guiding equipment in missiles in which each amplification channel has several amplification stages each of which is of fixed gain. Means are provided to vary the number of operational stages as a function of the sum of the outputs of the channels. A converter is disclosed for converting the analog signal values to stochastic values. A division process is disclosed for the data, based on the use of simple operator and stochastic values.
Claims9
A multi-channel amplifier having a plurality of amplification channels each of which comprises a plurality of cascade connected amplification stages, each of said stages having a fixed gain, and each of said amplification stages in a given channel corresponding to an amplification stage in each of the other said channels and having the same gain as the corresponding amplification stages in the other channels, means for selectively and simultaneously shunting corresponding amplification stages in said channels, means for generating coded pulse signals to represent the amplitude of the signal output of each channel, counter means for adding said pulse signals to provide a count signal representative of the sum of the amplitudes of the output signals of the channels, and means for varying the number of amplification stages shunted as a function of said sum, the amplification stages, the means for summing the output voltages of the stages and the means for varying the number of amplification stages forming a closed feedback circuit, so that the gain of any channel remains identical to the gain of the other channels and the amplitude of said sum remains approximately constant independent of variations in the amplitude of the signals at the input terminals of the channels.
An amplifier system for a receiver of a separation measurement radiation installation comprising a plurality of channels for the processing of separate input signals, a coder for transforming analog signals present at the outputs of the channels into signals having stochastic values, means for adding the signals having said stochastic values to provide a sum signal having a corresponding stochastic value, means for converting the stochastic value of the sum signal into an analog signal, means for dividing said stochastic values of said signals by the value of said analog signal to provide corresponding ratio signals, and means for adding or subtracting the values of said ratio signals.
A combined multi-channel amplifier and computer system, said computer comprising means for comparing an output signal of each of said channels with a computed analog value, an up-down counter, means for changing the state of said up-down counter as a result of said comparison, means for comparing said counter state with a pseudo-random value to provide a comparison signal having a stochastic value, means for converting said comparison signal having said stochastic value into an analog signal having a computed value, and means for feeding back said analog signal to said means for comparing in order to change said state of said counter until said computed value of said analog signal is equal to the value of the output signal of said channel, said comparison signal then having a stochastic value which is a coded equivalent of the value of said output signal.
A combined multi-channel amplifier and computer system wherein the output signals of said channels are applied to said computer, said computer comprising means for coding analog values into stochastic values, said means for coding comprising an analog comparator having first and second input terminals and an output terminal, said first input terminal being coupled to one of said output signals of said channels which has an analog value to be coded, an up-down counter having input and output terminals, a first clock pulse generator having a first clock output signal, means for providing the said first clock signal to said input terminals of said up-down counter in response to the signal at the output terminal of said analog comparator, a second clock pulse generator operating in synchronism with said first clock, a pseudo-random register having input and output terminals, the input terminal of said pseudo-random register being connected to said second clock pulse generator, a digital comparator having a first and a second row of inputs and an output, said first row of inputs being connected to said output terminals of said pseudo-random register and said second row of inputs being connected to said output terminals of said up-down counter, the output of said digital comparator having said stochastic value, said computer also comprising stochastic-analog conversion means having input and output terminals, said input of said conversion means being connected to the output of said digital comparator, and said output of said conversion means being connected to said second input terminal of said analog comparator.
A diviser means for dividing a signal having a first analog value by a signal having a second analog value, comprising means for comparing said first analog value with a computed analog value, means for changing the state of an up-down counter as a result of said comparison, means for comparing said counter state with a signal having a pseudo-random value thereby forming a signal having a stochastic digital value, switching means controlled by said signal having said stochastic value for selectively applying said second analog value to a filter means, the output signal of said filter being said computed analog value, means for feeding back said computed analog value to said comparing means in order to modify said counter state until said computed analog value is equal to said first analog value, the output of said comparing means being representative of the dividend of said first and second analog values.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.