Apparatus for determining the optimal value of a control parameter

An apparatus for determining a control parameter t=t.sub.0 at which the sum S of n functions F.sub.i (t) (i=1, . . . n) reaches a minimum or a maximum value, wherein each function F.sub.i (t) changes its first derivative only at given discrete values t.sub.ij of the control parameter t, comprising:

• a random access memory (RAM) addressed by said values t.sub.ij and means to add the contents of an addressed memory location of said RAM to a value F**.sub.ij (t.sub.ij) of the second derivative of said functions F.sub.i (t) and to restore the result at said addressed memory location;
• a gate array (GA) for consecutively reproducing all values t.sub.ij used to address said RAM, while skipping all addresses pointing to memory locations of said RAM at which no second derivative or sum of second derivatives of the functions F.sub.i (t) have been stored;
• an integration circuit for double integrating the contents of said RAM, consecutively determining the values S(t.sub.ij) of the sum S of the n functions F.sub.i (t) at the values t.sub.ij of the control parameter t;
• and
• a comparator circuit for comparing consecutively one value S(t.sub.ij) of the sum S to a previously determined value S(t.sub.ij) of S and to register the value to of the control parameter t at which the sum S reaches said maximum or minimum value.