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US 4,383,166 AGranted
Automatic echo-chamber for measuring single time intervals by replication and averaging
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorsDavid C. Chu, Robert W. Offermann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is provided for measuring a single-shot time interval using startable oscillators to replicate indefinitely the time interval for averaging. Also provided is a circuit for automatically selecting a proper ratio of division to ensure that the interval being measured is less than the period of replication.
Claims7
A method for measuring a time interval, the method comprising the steps of:
- selecting the phase of a first oscillator in a constant predetermined relationship to the phase of a reference oscillator in response to a start event, said first oscillator having an output of periodic pulses;
- selecting the phase of a second oscillator in a constant predetermined relationship to the phase of said reference oscillator in response to a stop event, said second oscillator having an output of periodic pulses;
- forming replications of said start and stop events from the outputs of said first and second oscillators by:
- scaling the output of said first oscillator to provide a first signal of periodic pulses having a pulse period equal to the period of M pulses of said first oscillator output, where M is a predetermined integer and said first signal is a repetitive replication of a start event mark;
- and
- scaling the output of said second oscillator to provide a second signal of periodic pulses having a pulse period equal to the period of M pulses of said second oscillator output, where M is said predetermined integer and said second signal is a repetitive replication of a stop event mark;
- and
- measuring the time intervals between said replicated start and stop event marks to determine the time interval between said start and stop events.
5 more elements
An apparatus for measuring a single shot time interval comprising:
- first oscillator responsive to an input start signal to provide an output with a phase fixed in relation to a reference oscillator to mark a start event;
- second oscillator responsive to an input stop signal to provide an output with a phase fixed in relation to said reference oscillator to mark a stop event;
- first scaling means for producing a first signal output having a pulse period equal to the period of M pulses of said first oscillator output signal appearing at the input of said first scaling means, where M is a predetermined integer and said first signal is a replication of the start event mark;
- second scaling means for producing a second signal output having a pulse period equal to the period of M pulses of said second oscillator output signal appearing at the input of said second scaling means, where M is said predetermined integer and said second signal is a repetitive replication of the stop event mark;
- and
- measuring means responsive to said first and second signal outputs to provide an output proportional to the time interval between said start and stop events.
3 more elements
An apparatus for measuring a single shot time interval comprising:
- first oscillator responsive to an input start signal to provide an output with a phase fixed in relation to a reference oscillator to mark a start event;
- second oscillator responsive to an input stop signal to provide an output with a phase fixed in relation to said reference oscillator to mark a stop event;
- first scaling means for producing a first signal output having a pulse period equal to the period of M pulses of said first oscillator output signal appearing at the input of said first scaling means, where M is a predetermined integer and said first signal is a replication of the start event mark;
- second scaling means for producing a second signal output having a pulse period equal to the period of M pulses of said second oscillator output signal appearing at the input of said second scaling means, where M is said predetermined integer and said second signal is a repetitive replication of the stop event mark;
- M-select circuit means responsive to the outputs of said first and second scaling means for automatically selecting said integer M such that the period of said first and second signals is longer than the time interval being measured;
- and
- measuring means responsive to said first and second signal outputs to provide an output proportional to the time interval between said start and stop events.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.