US 6,271,690 B1 · Discriminator

Abstract

A discriminator capable of generating a multi-level signal with less restrictions is provided. In a discriminator D1, a wave-shaping circuit 3 shapes the waveform of one branched multi-level signal MS, according to a control signal CS from a control signal generator 10 so that a detector 4 that follows the wave-shaping circuit 3 can correctly detect a first reference level RL1. The detector 4 detects the first reference level RL1 from an output signal OS3 from the wave-shaping circuit 3. A reference level generator 5 generates a second reference level RL2 of the multi-level signal MS. A threshold generator 6 generates thresholds Th1, Th2, and Th3 as much as required according to the first and second reference levels RL1 and RL2. Comparators 82 to 84 compares the amplitude of the other branched multi-level signal MS with the thresholds Th1, Th2, and Th3. A control signal generator 10 generates a control signal CS according to the comparison results from the comparators 82 to 84. The above structured discriminator D1 enables the transmitting side to generate a multi-level signal with less restrictions.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A discriminator discriminating a multi-level signal varying in amplitude among three or more values, comprising:

a first branching part branching the multi-level signal externally inputted thereto into two;
a wave-shaping circuit shaping a waveform of the multi-level signal branched by said first branching part under a predetermined condition;
a detector detecting a first reference level based on an output signal from said wave-shaping circuit;
a reference level generator generating a second reference level of the multi-level signal externally inputted;
a threshold generator generating a required number of thresholds according to said first and second reference levels;
a comparing circuit comparing the amplitude of the multi-level signal branched by said first branching part with the thresholds generated by said threshold generator;
and
a control signal generator generating a control signal according to a comparison result by said comparing circuit,
said wave-shaping circuit shaping the waveform of the multi-level signal inputted thereto according to the control signal outputted from said control signal generator so that said detector can correctly detect the first reference level.

6 more elements

A discriminator discriminating a multi-level signal varying in amplitude among three or more values, comprising:

a first branching part branching the multi-level signal externally inputted thereto into three and outputting first to third multi-level signals;
a first wave-shaping circuit shaping a waveform of the first multi-level signal outputted from said first branching part under a predetermined condition;
a first detector detecting a first reference level from an output signal from said first wave-shaping circuit;
a second wave-shaping circuit shaping a waveform of the second multi-level signal outputted from said first branching part under a predetermined condition;
a second detector detecting a second reference level from a signal outputted from said second wave-shaping circuit;
a threshold generator generating a required number of thresholds according to said first and second reference levels;
a comparing circuit comparing the amplitude of the third multi-level signal outputted from said first branching part with the thresholds generated by said threshold generator;
and
a control signal generator generating a control signal according to a comparison result by said comparing circuit,
said first wave-shaping circuit shaping the waveform of the first multi-level signal inputted thereto according to the control signal outputted from said control signal generator so that said first detector can correctly detect the first reference level, and
said second wave-shaping circuit shaping the waveform of the second multi-level signal inputted thereto according to the control signal outputted from said control signal generator so that said second detector can correctly detect the second reference level.

8 more elements

A discriminator discriminating a multi-level signal varying in amplitude among three or more values, comprising:

a first branching part branching the multi-level signal externally inputted into two;
a first wave-shaping circuit shaping a waveform of the multi-level signal outputted from said first branching part under a predetermined condition;
a second wave-shaping circuit shaping a waveform of an output signal from said first wave-shaping circuit under a predetermined condition;
a first detector detecting a first reference level based on an output signal from said second wave-shaping circuit;
a second detector detecting a second reference level based on the output signal from said second wave-shaping circuit;
a threshold generator generating a required number of thresholds according to said first and second reference levels,
a comparing circuit comparing the amplitude of the multi-level signal branched by said first branching part with the thresholds generated by said threshold generator;
and
a control signal generator generating a control signal according to a comparison result by said comparing circuit,
said first wave-shaping circuit shaping the waveform of the multi-level signal inputted thereto according to the control signal outputted from said control signal generator so that said first detector can correctly detect the first reference level, and
said second wave-shaping circuit shaping the waveform of the output signal from said first wave-shaping circuit according to the control signal outputted from said control signal generator so that said second detector can correctly detect the second reference level.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Discriminator

Life of this patent

Discriminator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13