Compensated sweep generator

Claim 2

A compensated sweep generator comprising: means for receiving a signal having instantaneous frequency variance, said receiving means including a single-shot multivibrator, the output power of the multivibrator for any given period of time being a function of the instantaneous frequency of the received signal; means for generating a time base for a sweep signal output, the time base being a function of the instantaneous frequency variance of the received signal; means for varying the characteristics of the sweep, including means for varying the sweep length, said sweep length varying means including means for minimizing any errors due to the single-shot multivibrator not returning to a desired reference potential, and means for controlling the generation of the sweep, the sweep signal output being compensated for any instantaneous variances in the received frequency variant signal; and means for attenuating the power received by the sweep length varying means from the receiving means a predetermined amount, a single-shot multivibrator being operatively connected to the sweep length varying means.

Claim 3

A compensated sweep generator comprising: means for receiving a signal having instantaneous frequency variance, said receiving means including a means for converting the instantaneously frequency variant signal into a series of identically shaped pulses, said converting means including a single shot multivibrator, the output power of the multivibrator for any given period of time being a function of the instantaneous frequency of the received signal and the converted signal width; means for generating a time base for a sweep signal output, the time base being a function of the instantaneous frequency variance of the received signal, said time base generation means including an integrator, the output of said time base generation means being a stairstep voltage, the rate Of change of the voltage varying as the input frequency varies with wow and flutter, the time base generation means compensating for the instantaneous frequency variance by varying the instantaneous value of the sweep voltage; means for varying the characteristics of the sweep and controlling the generation of the sweep, the sweep signal output being compensated for any instantaneous variances in the received frequency variant signal, said sweep generation controlling means including a means for discharging the time base generation means when a desired step level is reached, said means for varying the characteristics of the sweep including a means for varying the sweep length and the sweep amplitude, said sweep length varying means including means for minimizing any errors due to the single-shot multivibrator not returning to a desired reference potential, said sweep generation controlling means further including a means for initiating and terminating the sweep at selected intervals, said sweep initiating and terminating means including a means having two states, a blanking signal being generated in at least one state, the one state being the state in which a sweep is not being generated, said sweep generation controlling means further including a means for changing the state of the sweep initiating and terminating means; and means for attenuating the power received by the sweep length varying means from the receiving means a predetermined amount, the single-shot multivibrator being operatively connected to the sweep length varying means.

Claim 4

A compensated sweep generator comprising: means for receiving a signal having instantaneous frequency variance, said receiving means including a means for converting the instantaneously frequency variant signal into a series of identically shaped pulses, said converting means including a single shot multivibrator, the output power of the multivibrator for any given period of time being a function of the instantaneous frequency of the received signal and the converted signal width; means for generating a time base for a sweep signal output, the time base being a function of the instantaneous frequency variance of the received signal, said time base generation means including an integrator, the output of said time base generation means being a stairstep voltage, the rate Of change of the voltage varying as the input frequency varies with wow and flutter, the time base generation means compensating for the instantaneous frequency variance by varying the instantaneous value of the sweep voltage; means for varying the characteristics of the sweep and controlling the generation of the sweep, the sweep signal output being compensated for any instantaneous variances in the received frequency variant signal, said sweep generation controlling means including a means for discharging the time base generation means when a desired step level is reached, said means for varying the characteristics of the sweep including a means for varying the sweep length and the sweep amplitude, said sweep length varying means including means for minimizing any errors due to the single-shot multivibrator not returning to a desired reference potential, said sweep generation controlling means further including a means for initiating and terminating the sweep at selected intervals, said sweep initiating and terminating means including a means having two states, a blanking signal being generated in at least one state, the one state being the state in which a sweep is not being generated, said sweep generation controlling means further including a means for changing the state of the sweep initiating and terminating means; and means for attenuating the power received by the sweep length varying means from the receiving means a predetermined amount, the single-shot multivibrator being operatively connected to the sweep length varying means.

Claim 5

A compensated sweep generator in accordance with claim 2 wherein: the integrator includes a summing junction, the output of the sweep length varying means being fed directly to the integrator summing junction, the stairstep voltage output of the integrator being directly proportional to the power fed into the integrator summing junction over any given period of time, the integrator input being the series of identically shaped pulses, and the stairstep voltage output increasing incrementally for each input pulse.

Claim 6

A compensated sweep generator in accordance with claim 3 wherein: the integrator further includes a high gain, chopper stabilized, operational amplifier, and a capacitive feedback means for the operational amplifier, the feedback means being connected between the operational amplifier input and output, the integrator being substantially linear over a desired operating range.

Claim 7

A compensated sweep generator in accordance with claim 4 wherein: the time base generation discharge means includes a gating means, a positive voltage level being generated by the sweep initiating and terminating means at the end of the sweep, the positive level turning on the gating means, the gating means being connected directly between the input and output of the operational amplifier, the gating means providing a short circuit 180* feedback path to drive the integrator output voltage to reference potential when the gating means is in the on-state, the integrator output voltage thereby discharging to reference potential, the gating means preventing the initiation of a new sweep when the gating means is in the on-state, the discharge time being independent on the time base selected.

Claim 8

A compensated sweep generator in accordance with claim 5 wherein: the initiating and terminating state changing means changes the state of the time base generation discharge means each time the state changing means generates a negative pulse, a negative pulse being generated each time the state changing means reaches a firing potential.

Claim 9

A compensated sweep generator in accordance with claim 6 wherein; the sweep initiating and terminating means includes a flip-flop means, the flip-flop means being set by a sync pulse input signal, the gating means being turned off when the sync pulse is received; the state changing means going positive until the firing potential is reached; the state changing negative pulse being generated, turning on the gating means, ending the sweep; the state only being changed when another sync pulse is received by the sweep initiating and terminating means.

Claim 10

A compensated sweep generator in accordance with claim 7 wherein: the sweep signal output is a sawtooth, one sawtooth being generated for each sync pulse input received by the sweep initiating and terminating means.