# US 5,708,378 A · Frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 5,708,378 A
- Document ID: US5708378A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/455,895
- Filed: 1995-05-31
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1994-05-31
- Assignees: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Masakiyo Horie; Takuya Harada
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5708378A

## CPC

- G01P 3/4805: {by using circuits for the electrical integration of the generated pulses (measuring impulse frequency by integration G01R23/09)}
- H03K 9/06: of frequency- or rate-modulated pulses
- G01R 23/06: by converting frequency into an amplitude of current or voltage
- H03D 3/04: by counting or integrating cycles of oscillations {(arrangements for measuring frequencies G01R23/10)}
- G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G})
- 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)
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)
- H03D: DEMODULATION OR TRANSFERENCE OF MODULATION FROM ONE CARRIER TO ANOTHER (masers, lasers H01S; circuits capable of acting both as modulator and demodulator H03C; details applicable to both modulators and frequency-changers H03C; demodulating pulses H03K9/00; transforming types of pulse modulation H03K11/00; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M; repeater stations H04B7/14; demodulators adapted for AC systems of digital information transmission H04L27/00; synchronous demodulators adapted for colour television H04N9/66)

## Abstract

In a frequency-to-voltage converting circuit, a clamping frequency is maintained constant without being adversely influenced by circuit constants, and temperature characteristics. The frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus has voltage converting means for converting a frequency of an input pulse signal into a voltage, arranged by frequency judging means for judging whether or not the frequency of the input pulse signal reaches a predetermined clamping frequency. Setting pulse signal generating means outputs a setting pulse signal having the clamping frequency, and means for causing the voltage converting means to convert the frequency of the input pulse signal into the voltage when the frequency of the input pulse signal does not reach the clamping frequency based on a judgement result of the frequency judging means. The voltage converting means is caused to convert the clamping frequency of the setting pulse signal derived from the setting pulse signal generating means when the frequency of the input pulse signal reaches the clamping frequency.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus comprising:
clock signal generating means for outputting a clock signal having a clamping frequency;
frequency judging means, connected to said clock signal generating means to receive said clock signal, for generating a judgment signal representative of whether or not a frequency of an input pulse signal applied to said frequency judging means reaches said clamping frequency;
voltage converting means for generating, responsive to a control signal applied thereto, a converted output signal having a voltage representative of a frequency of a conversion signal applied thereto; and
control means connected to said frequency judging means to receive said judgment signal for, when said judgment signal indicates that said frequency of said input pulse signal is less than said clamping frequency, generating said control signal to cause said voltage converting means to generate said converted output signal having a voltage representative of said frequency of said input pulse signal, and for, when said judgment signal indicates that said frequency of said input pulse signal reaches said clamping frequency, generating said control signal to cause said voltage converting means to generate said converted output signal having a voltage representative of said clamping frequency of said clock signal.

### Claim 2

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus comprising:
counting means for counting each time period of an input pulse signal applied thereto and for generating a count signal representative thereof;
clock signal generating means for generating a clock signal having a set time period corresponding to a clamping frequency;
comparing means connected to said counting means for receiving said count signal and comparing said time period of said input pulse signal counted by said counting means with said set time period, every time period of said input pulse signal, and outputting a comparison result;
selecting/outputting means connected to said clock signal generating means and said comparing means to respectively receive said clock signal and said comparison result for receiving said input pulse signal and selecting, based on said comparison result of said comparing means, one of said input pulse signal and said clock signal, and outputting said selected signal; and
voltage converting means for generating a converted output signal having a voltage corresponding to a frequency of said pulse signal output from said selecting/outputting means.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said selecting/outputting means comprises:
selecting means for receiving said input pulse signal and said clock signal and for selecting as an output one of said input pulse signal and said clock signal; and
constant-width pulse signal generating means connected to said selecting means to receive said output thereof for generating a constant-width pulse signal having a constant width triggered by an edge of said output from said select means.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said voltage converting means comprises:
switching means, connected to said constant-width pulse signal generating means and operable in response to said constant-width pulse signal for supplying a constant current from a constant current source to a time constant circuit including
a resistor, and
a capacitor connected in parallel with said resistor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:
clock generating means connected to said counting means, for generating a clock having a predetermined frequency;
wherein said counting means is for receiving said clock and for performing said counting operation based on said clock; and
said clock signal generating means a frequency-divider connected to said clock generating means to generate said clock signal by frequency-dividing said clock.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:
clock generating means, connected to said counting means, for generating a clock having a predetermined frequency;
wherein said counting means is for receiving said clock and for performing said counting operation based on said clock; and
said clock signal generating means includes a frequency-divider to generate said clock signal by frequency-dividing said clock.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:
clock generating means, connected to said counting means, for generating a clock having a predetermined frequency;
wherein said counting means is for receiving said clock and for performing said counting operation based on said clock; and
said clock signal generating means includes a frequency-divider to generate said clock signal by frequency-dividing said clock.

### Claim 8

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus comprising:
edge detecting means for detecting an edge of an input pulse signal applied thereto and outputting an edge detection signal representative thereof;
counting means for counting a time period of said input pulse signal using said edge detection signal output from said edge detecting means and for generating data indicative of said time period;
setting data outputting means for outputting clamping frequency data corresponding to a set time period of a predetermined clamping frequency;
comparing means, connected to said counting means to receive said count data and to said setting data outputting means to receive said clamping frequency data, for comparing data indicative of said time period of said input pulse signal with said clamping frequency data, to produce a comparison result;
clock signal generating means for generating a clock signal having said set time period;
selecting/outputting means connected to said comparing means to receive said comparison result and to said clock signal generating means to receive said clock signal, for receiving said input pulse signal and for selecting, based on said comparison result of said comparing means, one of said input pulse signal and said clock signal, and outputting an output pulse signal representative thereof; and
voltage converting means connected to said selecting/outputting means for generating a converted output signal having a voltage corresponding to a frequency of said pulse signal output from said selecting/outputting means.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said selecting/outputting means comprises:
select means for receiving said input pulse signal and said clock signal and for selecting as an output one of said input pulse signal and said clock signal; and
constant-width pulse signal generating means connected to said select means to receive said output thereof for generating a constant-width pulse signal having a constant width triggered by an edge of said output from said select means.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said voltage converting means comprises:
switching means, connected to said constant-width pulse signal generating means and operable in response to said constant-width pulse signal for supplying a constant current from a constant current source to a time constant circuit including
a resistor, and
a capacitor connected in parallel with said resistor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:
clock generating means connected to said counting means, for generating a clock having a predetermined frequency;
wherein said counting means is for receiving said clock and for performing said counting operation based on said clock; and
said clock signal generating means includes a frequency-divider to generate said clock signal by frequency-dividing said clock.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:
clock generating means, connected to said counting means, for generating a clock having a predetermined frequency;
wherein said counting means is for performing said counting operation based on said clock; and
said clock signal generating means includes a frequency-divider to generate said clock signal by frequency-dividing said clock.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:
clock generating means, connected to said counting means for generating a clock having a predetermined frequency;
wherein said counting means is for receiving said clock and for performing said counting operation based on said clock; and
said clock signal generating means includes a frequency-divider to generate said clock signal by frequency-dividing said clock.

### Claim 14

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus comprising:
time period measuring means for measuring a time period of an input pulse signal applied thereto and outputting time period data representative of said time period;
time period data converting means connected to said time period measuring means to receive said time period data for converting said time period data to clamped data indicative of a predetermined clamping frequency;
pulse signal generating means connected to said time period data converting means to receive said clamped data for generating an output pulse signal having a time period and a constant pulse width corresponding to said clamped data; and
voltage converting means connected to said pulse signal generating means for outputting a converted output signal having a voltage proportional to a duty ratio of said output pulse signal.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said time period data converting means comprises clamping means connected to said time period data converting means to receive said time period data for clamping said time period data based on clamping frequency data.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said time period data converting means comprises storage means connected to said time period data converting means to receive said time period data for converting said time period data based on stored conversion data.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein:
said conversion data stored in said storage means is such that said voltage converting means converts said pulse signal in a stepwise manner.

### Claim 18

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus comprising:
edge detecting means for detecting an edge of an input pulse signal applied thereto and outputting an edge detection signal representative of said edge;
counting means, connected to said edge detecting means to receive said edge detection signal, for counting a number of clock signals between successive edge detection signals corresponding to a time period of said input pulse signal;
setting data outputting means for outputting clamping frequency data corresponding to a set time period corresponding to a clamping frequency;
comparing means, connected to said counting means to receive said count of said number of clock signals and said setting data outputting means to receive said clamping frequency data, for comparing data indicative of said time period of said input pulse signal with said clamping frequency data, to produce a comparison result;
clock signal generating means for generating a clock signal having said set time period;
selecting/outputting means, connected to said edge detecting means, said comparing means and said clock signal generating means, and to which said edge detection signal from said edge detection means and said clock signal from said clock signal generating means are input as input signals, and to which said comparison result from said comparing means is input as a selection signal, for selecting, based on said comparison result, one of said clock signal and said input pulse signal as an output pulse signal; and
voltage converting means, connected to said selecting/outputting means to receive said output pulse signal, for generating a converted output signal having a voltage indicative of a frequency of said pulse signal.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

A frequency-to-voltage conversion apparatus according to claim 18, wherein:
said edge detecting means is for detecting a rising edge of said input pulse signal.

### Claim 20

A frequency-to-voltage conversion apparatus comprising:
edge detecting means for detecting an edge of an input pulse signal a thereto and outputting an edge detection signal representative of said edge;
counting means, connected to said edge detecting means to receive said edge detection signal, for counting a number of clock signals between successive edge detection signals corresponding to a time period of said input pulse signal and outputting time period data representative thereof;
period data converting means, connected to said counting means to receive said time period data, for converting said time period data to converted time period data;
pulse signal generating means, connected to said period data converting means to receive said converted time period data, for generating an output pulse signal having a time period and constant pulse width corresponding to said converted time period data; and
voltage converting means, connected to said pulse signal generating means to receive said output pulse signal, for outputting a signal having a voltage which is proportional to a duty factor of said output pulse signal.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

A frequency-to-voltage conversion apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:
said edge detecting means is for detecting a rising edge of said input pulse signal.

### Claim 22

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus comprising:
a clock signal generator to output a clock signal having a clamping frequency;
a comparator to generate a comparison signal representative of whether or not a frequency of an input pulse signal applied thereto reaches said clamping frequency;
a frequency-to-voltage converter to generate an output signal having a voltage corresponding to a frequency of an input conversion signal thereto; and
a switch, connected to said clock signal generator to receive said clock signal and controlled by said comparison signal, to receive said input pulse signal and provide as said input conversion signal, said input pulse signal when said frequency of said input pulse signal is less than said clamping frequency, and said clock signal when said frequency of said input pulse signal is greater than said clamping frequency.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus according to claim 22, wherein:
said clamping frequency is a frequency below which said input signal is clamped.

### Claim 24

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus comprising:
a counter to count each time period of an input pulse signal applied thereto as count data;
a clock signal generator to generate a clock signal having a set time period corresponding to a clamping frequency;
a comparator connected to said counter to receive said count data and to compare said time period of said input pulse signal counted by said counter as represented by said count data with said set time period, every time period of said input pulse signal, and to output a comparison result indicative thereof;
a switch, connected to said comparator to receive said comparison result and to said clock signal generator to receive said clock signal, to receive said input pulse signal and select, based on said comparison result of said comparator, one of said input pulse signal and said clock signal as an output pulse signal; and
a frequency-to-voltage converter to generate a converted output signal having a voltage representative of a frequency of said pulse signal.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus according to claim 24, wherein:
said frequency is a frequency below which said input signal is clamped.

### Claim 26

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus comprising:
an edge detector to detect an edge of an input pulse signal applied thereto and output an edge detection signal representative thereof;
a counter connected to said edge detector to receive said edge detection signal to count a time period of said input pulse signal using said edge detection signal;
a memory to output clamping frequency data indicative of said time period of a predetermined clamping frequency;
a comparator connected to said counter to receive said counted input pulse signal time period and to said memory to receive said clamping frequency data indicative of said time period of a predetermined clamping frequency to compare said data indicative of said time period of said input pulse signal with said clamping frequency data, to produce a comparison result;
a clock generator to generate a clock signal having said set time period;
a switch connected to said clock generator to receive said clock signal and to said comparator to receive said comparison result to receive said input pulse signal and select, based on said comparison result of said comparator, one of said input pulse signal and said clock signal as an output pulse signal; and
a frequency-to-voltage converter connected to said switch to receive said output pulse signal and to generate a converted output signal having a voltage corresponding to a frequency of said output pulse signal.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

A frequency-to-voltage converting apparatus according to claim 26, wherein:
said clamping frequency is a frequency below which said input signal is clamped.