Frequency discriminator apparatus
OwnerWilliam J. Keaneinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A frequency discriminator having a bandwidth variable from a relatively narrow range to a very wide range in which the center frequency is simultaneously tunable over an extremely wide frequency range. The discriminator is insensitive to amplitude variations of the input signal and is capable of demodulating low level signals. The frequency discriminator is particularly useful for microwave frequency applications wherein the basic discriminator element is a ferrimagnetic resonator. The frequency discriminator forms a portion of several preferred embodiments including devices for the frequency control of signal sources, frequency measurement of signal sources, demodulation of frequency modulated signals and frequency tracking control for other ferrimagnetic devices.
Claims36
A system for providing frequency tracking between the resonant frequency of a ferrimagnetic device and the frequency of a reference signal, comprising
- ferrimagnetic means, including one or more ferrimagnetic devices, including at least said first recited ferrimagnetic device,
- means for generating a magnetic field to tune said ferrimagnetic means,
- frequency discriminator means, said discriminator means including
- (a) at least a portion of said ferrimagnetic means, said portion including at least one ferrimagnetic device,
- (b) means for applying said reference signal to said portion of said ferrimagnetic means,
- (c) means coupled to said portion of said ferrimagnetic means for electronically sweeping the frequency of said portion of said ferrimagnetic means over a frequency range relative to the frequency of said reference signal,
- (d) detector means receiving an output from said portion of said ferrimagnetic means,
- (e) timing relationship comparison means connected to said sweeping means and to the output of said detector means to generate a feedback signal, and
- means receiving said feedback signal for controlling said magnetic field means to tune said ferrimagnetic means whereby said first recited ferrimagnetic device resonant frequency tracks the frequency of said reference signal.
A system for providing frequency tracking between the resonant frequency of a ferrimagnetic device and the frequency of a reference signal, comprising
- ferrimagnetic means, including one or more ferrimagnetic devices, including at least said first recited ferrimagnetic device,
- means for generating a magnetic field to tune said ferrimagnetic means,
- frequency discriminator means, said discriminator means including
- (a) at least a portion of said ferrimagnetic means, said portion including at least one ferrimagnetic device,
- (b) means for applying said reference signal to said portion of said ferrimagnetic means,
- (c) means coupled to said portion of said ferrimagnetic means for electronically sweeping the frequency of said portion of said ferrimagnetic means over a frequency range relative to the frequency of said reference signal,
- (d) detector means receiving an output from said portion of said ferrimagnetic means,
- (e) timing relationship comparison means connected to said sweeping means and to the output of said detector means to generate a feedback signal, and
- means receiving said feedback signal for controlling the frequency of said reference signal to track the frequency of said reference signal to the resonant frequency of said first recited ferrimagnetic means.
A system for providing frequency tracking between the resonant frequency of a ferrimagnetic device and the frequency of a reference signal, comprising
- ferrimagnetic means, including one or more ferrimagnetic devices, including at least said first recited ferrimagnetic device,
- means for generating a magnetic field to tune said ferrimagnetic means,
- frequency discriminator means, said discriminator means including
- (a) at least a portion of said ferrimagnetic means, said portion including at least one ferrimagnetic device,
- (b) means for applying said reference signal to said portion of said ferrimagnetic means,
- (c) means coupled to said signal for electronically sweeping the frequency of said signal over a frequency range relative to the resonant frequency of said portion of said ferrimagnetic means,
- (d) detector means receiving an output from said portion of said ferrimagnetic means,
- (e) timing relationship comparison means connected to said sweeping means and to the output of said detector means to generate a feedback signal, and
- means receiving said feedback signal for controlling said magnetic field means to tune said ferrimagnetic means whereby said first recited ferrimagnetic device resonant frequency tracks the frequency of said reference signal.
A system for providing frequency tracking between the resonant frequency of a ferrimagnetic device and the frequency of a reference signal, comprising
- ferrimagnetic means, including one or more ferrimagnetic devices, including at least said first recited ferrimagnetic device,
- means for generating a magnetic field to tune said ferrimagnetic means,
- frequency discriminator means, said discriminator means including
- (a) at least a portion of said ferrimagnetic means, said portion including at least one ferrimagnetic device,
- (b) means for applying said reference signal to said portion of said ferrimagnetic means,
- (c) means coupled to said signal for electronically sweeping the frequency of said signal over a frequency range relative to the resonant frequency of said portion of said ferrimagnetic means,
- (d) detector means receiving an output from said portion of said ferrimagnetic means,
- (e) timing relationship comparison means connected to said sweeping means and to the output of said detector means to generate a feedback signal, and
- means receiving said feedback signal for controlling the frequency of said reference signal to track the frequency of said reference signal to the resonant frequency of said first recited ferrimagnetic means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.