US 4,069,452 AGranted

Apparatus for automatically detecting values of periodically time varying signals

AssigneeDana Laboratories, Inc.

InventorsArch W. Conway, Nelson Urdaneta

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Abstract

Apparatus which automatically measures the range and the lower and upper peak values of an unknown signal which varies periodically as a function of time. More specifically, an unknown time varying input signal is applied through a programmable attenuator to one input of a comparator. A direct current voltage which changes in equal incremental steps between predetermined levels is applied to the other input of the comparator. When coincidence occurs an output signal is developed by the comparator responsive thereto. The output signal thus developed is utilized to maintain the attenuator at the range level to which it was set when the coincidence was detected and also causes the reference level applied to the comparator to sequentially change in such a manner as to ascertain the lower and upper peak values of the applied signal. The upper and lower peak values when determined are applied to a storage means and subsequently to an arithmetic computer means to ascertain predetermined values of the applied signal which values are then displayed in a display means.

Claims15

Dependent claims

Apparatus having a plurality of ranges for automatically detecting the peak values of an applied unknown electrical signal the magnitude of which varies as a function of time comprising:

A. comparator means having first and second input terminals and an output terminal;
B. means for applying said unknown signal to said first input terminal of said comparator means;
C. detector means connected to said output terminal for providing detection signals responsive to output signals from said comparator;
D. means for generating a plurality of voltage levels, each representative of a predetermined range of said apparatus, each of said voltage levels having a sequentially changing direct-current voltage, said changes occurring in predetermined equal increments, means for applying said voltage levels to said second input terminal of said comparator, thereby to provide a reference level signal against which said unknown signal is compared;
E. said comparator means providing a first signal at the output terminal thereof in response to a first predetermined relationship between said reference level signal and said unknown signal representative of one peak of said unknown signal and a second signal at the output terminal thereof responsive to a second predetermined relationship between said reference level signal and said unknown signal representative of the other peak of said unknown signal, said voltage level signals being applied to said second terminal of said comparator consecutively from the level representative of the largest range of said apparatus to the level representative of the lowest range of said apparatus in the absence of a detection signal responsive to said first output signal.

2 more elements

Apparatus for automatically detecting the peak values of an applied unknown electrical signal the magnitude of which varies as a function of time comprising:

A. comparator means having first and second input terminals and an output terminal;
B. means including range level setting means for applying said unknown signal to said first input terminal of said comparator means;
C. means for generating a sequentially changing direct-current voltage, said changes occurring in predetermined equal increments;
D. means for applying said direct-current voltage signal to said second input terminal of said comparator as a reference level signal against which said applied signal is compared for a first predetermined time period during which the range level of said applied signal is determined;
E. means for automatically changing said range level setting means to a different range setting in the absence of a signal at said output terminal of said comparator a second predetermined period of time after said direct-current signal is applied to said first terminal of said comparator;
F. means for inhibiting said automatic range changing means responsive to a signal at said output terminal of said comparator during said first predetermined time period thereby establishing the range setting for said applied signal;
G. means for applying said direct-current signal to said second input terminal of said comparator as a reference level signal against which said applied signalis compared for a third predetermined time period during which the value of one peak of said applied signal is determined;
and
H. means for applying said direct-current signal to said second input terminal of said comparator as a reference level signal against which said applied signal is compared for a fourth predetermined time period during which the value of the other peak of said applied signal is determined.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.