Bistable comparator means with means for selectively holding the comparator means in an output current state

Claim 1

BISTABLE COMPARATOR MEANS WITH MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY HOLDING THE COMPARATOR MEANS IN AN OUTPUT CURRENT STATE COMPRISING: A BISTABLE COMPARATOR HAVING AN INPUT TO RECEIVE AN ANALOG INPUT SIGNAL AND AN OUTPUT AT WHICH APPEARS A CURRENT STATE NORMALLY DETERMINED BY SAID ANALOG INPUT SIGNAL, SAID COMPARATOR HAVING A BISTABLE PART INCLUDING A HYSTERESIS CIRCUIT FOR PROVIDING POSITIVE FEEDBACK IN RESPONSE TO THE COMPARATOR OUTPUT TO ENHANCE THE SWITCHING OF SAID BISTABLE PART OF THE COMPARATOR; MEANS CONNECTED TO THE INPUT OF SAID COMPARATOR FOR LIMITING THE INPUT SIGNAL TO A PREDETERMINED EXCURSION RANGE OF AMPLITUDE; HOLDING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID HYSTERESIS CIRCUIT FOR INCREASING THE AMPLITUDE OF HYSTERESIS OF SAID HYSTERESIS CIRCUIT BEYOND SAID EXCURSION RANGE, WHEREBY SAID BISTABLE COMPARATOR IS INHIBITED FROM CHANGING OUTPUT STATES BY SUBSEQUENT INPUT SIGNALS; AND CONTROL SIGNAL MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID HOLDING MEANS TO PROVIDE SELECTIVE CONTROL OF SAID INHIBITING CONDITION.