# US 4,399,410 A · Circuit for generating two periodic signals having a controllable phase relationship therebetween > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,399,410 A - Document ID: US4399410A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/291,455 - Filed: 1981-08-10 - Granted: 1983-08-16 - Earliest claimed: 1981-08-10 - Assignees: Reliance Electric Company - Inventors: Gary G. Siegmund; Robert J. Kretschmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4399410A ## CPC - H03K 5/15006: {with two programmable outputs} - H03K 5/151: with two complementary outputs - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) ## Abstract A circuit for generating at least two periodic output signals having a phase relationship controllable between zero and 180 degrees as a function of a d.c. control signal as compared to a ramp signal. Also included is circuitry for controlling the phase relationship to be at substantially 180 degrees when the d.c. control signal is always greater than the ramp signal and to be at substantially zero degrees when the d.c. control signal is always less than the ramp signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A circuit for generating as a function of the amplitude of a d.c. control signal at least two periodic output signals having a phase relationship controllable between zero and 180 degrees, said circuit comprising: (a) oscillator means for generating a periodically recurring signal of predetermined frequency and waveform said signal having during each period a first portion of first predetermined amplitude and a second portion of second predetermined amplitude; (b) means responsive to said oscillator means signal for generating a periodically recurring signal having a ramp waveform said ramp starting each time said first portion of said oscillator signal begins; (c) means for comparing said ramp signal to said d.c. control signal said comparison means generating a signal having a first amplitude when said d.c. control signal exceeds said ramp signal and a second amplitude when said ramp signal exceeds said control signal; (d) first output means responsive to the beginning of said first portion of said oscillator signal for generating one of said periodic output signals; (e) means responsive to the periodic output signal generated by said first output means for generating a delayed version thereof; and (f) second output means responsive to said signal generated by said comparator means and said signal generated by said delay means for generating when said comparator means signal changes from said first amplitude to said second amplitude the other of said periodic output signals whereby the phase relationship between said periodic output signals is controlled as a function of said d.c. control signal to be between zero and 180 degrees. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1 wherein said ramp generating means includes means responsive to said oscillator signal for generating a periodically recurring signal of narrow width each time said first portion begins. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The circuit of claim 2 wherein said second output means includes means responsive to said narrow width signal for generating said other output signal when said d.c. control signal is always greater than said ramp signal to thereby control the phase relationship between said periodic output signals at 180 degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1 further including means responsive to said beginning of said oscillator signal first portion for generating a periodically recurring signal of narrow width said signal having a trailing edge. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The circuit of claim 4 wherein said second output means includes means responsive to said trailing edge of said narrow width signal when said comparator means signal is at said second amplitude for generating a periodically recurring signal of narrow width. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The circuit of claim 5 wherein said second output means further includes means responsive to said narrow width signal generated by said included means for generating said other output signal when said d.c. control signal is always less than said ramp signal to thereby control the phase relationship between said periodic output signals to be substantially at zero degrees. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The circuit of claim 6 wherein said ramp generating means includes means responsive to said oscillator signal for generating a periodically recurring signal of narrow width each time said first portion begins said further includes means responsive to said narrow width ramp generating means signal for generating said other output signal when said d.c. output is always greater than said ramp signal to thereby control the phase relationship between said periodic output signals at 180 degrees. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The circuit of claim 2 further including means responsive to said beginning of said oscillator signal first portion for generating a periodically recurring signal of narrow width said signal having a trailing edge. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The circuit of claim 8 wherein said narrow width signal generated by said means responsive to said oscillator signal is wider than said narrow width signal generated by said means included in said ramp generating means. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The circuit of claim 9 wherein said narrow width signal generated by said means responsive to said oscillator signal is wider than the delay between said one periodic output signal and said delayed version thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1 wherein said second output means includes means responsive to the change in said comparison means signal from said first amplitude to said second amplitude for generating a periodically recurring signal of narrow width. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The circuit of claim 11 wherein said second output means further includes means responsive to said narrow width signal and delay means signal for generating said other output signal having a phase relationship to said one output signal of between zero and 180 degrees. ### Claim 13 A circuit for generating as a function of the amplitude of a d.c. control signal at least two periodic output signals having a phase relationship controllable between zero and 180 degrees, said circuit comprising: (a) oscillator means for generating a periodically recurring signal of predetermined frequency and waveform said signal having during each period a first portion of first predetermined amplitude and a second portion of second predetermined amplitude; (b) means responsive to said oscillator means signal for generating a periodically recurring signal having a ramp waveform said ramp starting each time said first portion of said oscillator signal begins; (c) means for comparing said ramp signal to said d.c. control signal said comparison means generating a signal having a first amplitude when said d.c. control signal exceeds said ramp signal and a second amplitude when said ramp signal exceeds said control signal; (d) first output means responsive to the beginning of said first portion of said oscillator signal for generating one of said periodic output signals and a signal identical to said one output signal said identical signal being at a fixed predetermined delay with respect to said one output signal; and (e) second output means responsive to said signal generated by said comparator means and said identical signal for generating when said comparator means signal changes from said first amplitude to said second amplitude the other of said periodic output signals whereby the phase relationship between said periodic output signals is controlled as a function of said d.c. control signal to be between zero and 180 degrees. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The circuit of claim 13 wherein said ramp generating means includes means responsive to said oscillator signal for generating a periodically recurring signal of narrow width each time said first portion begins. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The circuit of claim 14 wherein said second output means includes means responsive to said narrow width signal for generating said other output signal when said d.c. control signal is always greater than said ramp signal to thereby control the phase relationship between said periodic output signals at 180 degrees. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The circuit of claim 13 further including means responsive to said beginning of said oscillator signal first portion for generating a periodically recurring signal of narrow width said signal having a trailing edge. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The circuit of claim 16 wherein said second output means includes means responsive to said trailing edge of said narrow width signal when said comparator means signal is at said second amplitude for generating a periodically recurring signal of narrow width. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The circuit of claim 17 wherein said second output means further includes means responsive to said narrow width signal generated by said included means for generating said other output signal when said d.c. control signal is always less than said ramp signal to thereby control the phase relationship between said periodic output signals to be substantially at zero degrees. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The circuit of claim 13 wherein said first output means includes delay means responsive to said one output signal for generating said identical signal.