US3566092A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Averaging computer
Assignee: Industrial Nucleonics Corp
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Filing: 1966-04-26
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Granted: 1971-02-23
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Expires: 1986-04-26
Abstract
Abstract Specifically disclosed is an averaging system for obtaining the average value of a signal representing a transduced parameter such as the thickness of a sheet of material which is scanned by a gauge. The signal is integrated and the integral is divided by a signal representing the elapsed averaging time. The division is performed by a divider including an operational amplifier integrator having two summing circuit inputs, with the integral signal applied to one input and the amplifier output fed back to the other input through a resistive voltage divider. The feedback signal input to the summer is alternately applied and reduced to zero in response to a time-modulation signal comprising constantduration pulses which are time-spaced in dependence on the signal representing the elapsed averaging time.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael P Grant
- 👤 Henry T Jaggers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:49
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06G; G06G7/00; G06G7/12; G06G7/16; G06G7/161; G01; G01B; G01B15/00; G01B15/02; G06G7/18; G06G7/184; G06G7/186; G06G7/1865
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
339 words
A system for measuring the average value of a parameter which varies with time, the system comprising: means for transducing the parameter to an electrical signal, means for integrating the transduced electrical signal with respect to time from a given instant of time, means for generating an electrical signal representative of the time elapsed from said instaNt of time, and means for dividing the integrated signal by the elapsed time signal to generate a signal representative of the said average of said parameter, said divider circuit including an operational amplifier, a summing network for applying an input signal to the input terminal of said amplifier, said integrated signal being applied to one input of said summing network, time division multiplier means responsive to said elapsed time signal and the output signal from said operational amplifier for applying a time-modulated input signal to said summing network, said time modulation being proportional to a characteristic of said elapsed time signal, said multiplier comprising; means responsive to said elapsed time signal for generating a further signal whose amplitude changes monotonically with time, the amount of time required for said amplitude to change from a first predetermined value to a second predetermined value being a function of said characteristic of said elapsed time signal, said further signal generating means including capacitive and resistive means for controlling the amount of time said amplitude changes from said first predetermined value to said second predetermined value, means for generating a pulse signal of constant width in response to said further signal attaining said second predetermined value; gating means for generating said time-modulated input signal in response to said constant pulse width signal and said operational amplifier input signal; the cycle time or period of said time-modulated input signal being a function of the time required for said further signal characteristic to change from said first predetermined value to said second predetermined value; and the duty cycle of said time-modulated input signal being a function of said cycle time and the width of said constant width signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
339 words
A system for measuring the average value of a parameter which varies with time, the system comprising: means for transducing the parameter to an electrical signal, means for integrating the transduced electrical signal with respect to time from a given instant of time, means for generating an electrical signal representative of the time elapsed from said instaNt of time, and means for dividing the integrated signal by the elapsed time signal to generate a signal representative of the said average of said parameter, said divider circuit including an operational amplifier, a summing network for applying an input signal to the input terminal of said amplifier, said integrated signal being applied to one input of said summing network, time division multiplier means responsive to said elapsed time signal and the output signal from said operational amplifier for applying a time-modulated input signal to said summing network, said time modulation being proportional to a characteristic of said elapsed time signal, said multiplier comprising; means responsive to said elapsed time signal for generating a further signal whose amplitude changes monotonically with time, the amount of time required for said amplitude to change from a first predetermined value to a second predetermined value being a function of said characteristic of said elapsed time signal, said further signal generating means including capacitive and resistive means for controlling the amount of time said amplitude changes from said first predetermined value to said second predetermined value, means for generating a pulse signal of constant width in response to said further signal attaining said second predetermined value; gating means for generating said time-modulated input signal in response to said constant pulse width signal and said operational amplifier input signal; the cycle time or period of said time-modulated input signal being a function of the time required for said further signal characteristic to change from said first predetermined value to said second predetermined value; and the duty cycle of said time-modulated input signal being a function of said cycle time and the width of said constant width signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A measuring system as in claim 1 wherein said elapsed time signal generating means comprises means for generating a signal having an amplitude representative of said elapsed time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A measuring system as in claim 1 where said multiplier means includes means for resetting said means for generating said further signal to said first predetermined amplitude in response to said further signal attaining said second predetermined amplitude, said resetting means including at least two transistors operated in the inverted mode for discharging said capacitive means to said first predetermined voltage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
A measuring system as in claim 3 where said resetting means includes means for generating a pair of signal pulses having opposite polarity in response to said further signal attaining said second predetermined amplitude, and where said two inverted transistors are of opposite conductivity type, said transistors being connected to opposite ends of said capacitive means and respectively responsive to said signal pulses to discharge said capacitive means to said first predetermined voltage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A measuring system as in claim 1 where said means for generating said constant width pulse signal includes capacitive means for controlling said constant width, said capacitive means of said further signal generating means and said capacitive means of said constant pulse width signal generating means being substantially equal in value, thereby reducing variations of said duty cycle with respect to such factors as temperature or time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
194 words
A measuring system as in claim 1 where the cycle time of said time-modulated signal is determined by the sum of (1) the time said further signal amplitude changes from said first predetermined value to said second predetermined value and (2) the time required for resetting said further signal to said first predetermined value after it attains said second predetermined value and where the time required for said further signal to change from said first value to said second value is inversely proportional to the said characteristic of the elapsed time signal, said resistive Means including means for increasing the amount of time required for said further signal to increase from said first value to said second value for small values of the characteristic of the elapsed time signal with respect to larger values thereof thereby causing the duty cycle of said time-modulated signal to vary by a constant factor of proportionality from a predetermined, desired relationship between the duty cycle and the characteristic of the said elapsed time signal, and means for adjusting the value of the characteristic of said elapsed time signal so that said proportionality factor is changed to substantially one.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
A measuring system as in claim 6 where said means for increasing the amount of time said further signal increases from said first value to said second value includes a further resistor connected in parallel circuit with the capacitor of the resistor-capacitor combination that basically determines the time for said further signal to change from said first value to said second value, the product of said further resistor and said capacitor being approximately 100 times greater than the product of said resistor-capacitor combination.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
252 words
A system for measuring the average value of a parameter which varies with time, including means for transducing said parameter to an electrical signal, means for integrating the transduced electrical signal with respect to time from a given instant of time to produce in integrated signal, means for generating an electrical signal representative of the time elapsed from said instant of time, and a divider circuit comprising: an operational amplifier for producing an output signal, said amplifier having a summing network at the input thereof, said integrated signal being applied to one input of said summing network, means responsive to said elapsed time signal for generating a further signal which repetitively changes from a first predetermined value to a second predetermined value during a time period determined by said elapsed time signal, means for generating a pulse signal of constant width in response to said further signal''s attaining said second predetermined value. means for means for resetting said means for generating said further signal so as to return said further signal to said first predetermined value in response to said further signal''s attaining said second predetermined value, means for producing a signal which is responsive to said amplifier output signal and which is time-modulated in accordance with said constant width pulse signal and said time period, and means coupling said time-modulated signal to another input of said summing network at said input of said summing amplifier to cause said amplifier output signal to be representative of said average value of said parameter.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
252 words
A system for measuring the average value of a parameter which varies with time, including means for transducing said parameter to an electrical signal, means for integrating the transduced electrical signal with respect to time from a given instant of time to produce in integrated signal, means for generating an electrical signal representative of the time elapsed from said instant of time, and a divider circuit comprising: an operational amplifier for producing an output signal, said amplifier having a summing network at the input thereof, said integrated signal being applied to one input of said summing network, means responsive to said elapsed time signal for generating a further signal which repetitively changes from a first predetermined value to a second predetermined value during a time period determined by said elapsed time signal, means for generating a pulse signal of constant width in response to said further signal''s attaining said second predetermined value. means for means for resetting said means for generating said further signal so as to return said further signal to said first predetermined value in response to said further signal''s attaining said second predetermined value, means for producing a signal which is responsive to said amplifier output signal and which is time-modulated in accordance with said constant width pulse signal and said time period, and means coupling said time-modulated signal to another input of said summing network at said input of said summing amplifier to cause said amplifier output signal to be representative of said average value of said parameter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A measuring system as in claim 8 where said operational amplifier includes means responsive to said operational amplifier output signal for averaging said operational amplifier output signal and grounding said amplifier input terminal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as in claim 8 wherein said further signal changes in amplitude and the means for generating said further signal includes capacitive and resistive means for controlling the amount of time said amplitude changes from said first predetermined value to said second predetermined value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system as in claim 10 including means for resetting said further signal to said first predetermined amplitude in response to said further signal attaining said second predetermined amplitude, said resetting means including at least two transistors operated in the inverted mode for discharging said capacitive means to said first predetermined voltage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
A system as in claim 11 wherein said resetting means includes means for generating a pair of signal pulses having opposite polarity in response to said further signal attaining said second predetermined amplitude, and where said two inverted transistors are of opposite conductivity type, saId transistors being connected to opposite ends of said capacitive means and respectively responsive to said signal pulses to discharge said capacitive means substantially to said first predetermined voltage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
A measuring system as in claim 10 wherein said means for generating said constant width pulse signal includes capacitive means for controlling said constant width, said capacitive means of said further signal generating means and said capacitive means of said constant pulse width signal generating means being substantially equal in value thereby reducing variations of said duty cycle with respect to such factors as temperature or time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
190 words
A measuring system as in claim 10 wherein the cycle time of said time-modulated signal is determined by the sum of (1) the time said further signal amplitude changes from said first predetermined value to said second predetermined value and (2) the time required for resetting said further signal to said first predetermined value after it attains said second predetermined value and where the time required for said further signal to change from said first value to said second value is inversely proportional to the said characteristic of said second signal, said resistive means including means for increasing the amount of time required for said further signal to increase from said first value to said second value for small values of the characteristic of the second signal with respect to larger values thereof thereby causing the duty cycle of said time-modulated signal to vary by a constant factor of proportionality from a predetermined, desired relationship between the duty cycle and the characteristic of the said second signal, and means for adjusting the value of the characteristic of said second signal so that said proportionality factor is changed to substantially one.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
83 words
A measuring system as in claim 14 wherein said means for increasing the amount of time said further signal increases from said first value to said second value includes a further resistor connected in parallel circuit with the capacitor of the resistor-capacitor combination that basically determines the time for said further signal to change from said first value to said second value, the product of said further resistor and said capacitor being approximately 100 times greater than the product of said resistor-capacitor combination.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A multiplier as in claim 8 where the amplitude of said time-modulated signal is a function of the amplitude of said first signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as in claim 8 including means for substantially reducing to zero said time-modulated signal coupled to said another input of said summing network in the absence of said constant width pulse.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-22 | 1974-08-24 | 1975-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-22 | 1978-08-24 | 1979-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-22 | 1982-08-24 | 1983-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |