US3582777A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronic metering system
Assignee: Physics International Co
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Filing: 1968-07-05
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Granted: 1971-06-01
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Expires: 1988-07-05
Abstract
Abstract A quantum radiometer is provided for use with different photovoltaic cells in probes, each with a different wavelength filter. Temperature compensating, calibrating and scaling resistors mounted in a given probe comprise a voltage divider connected to the output of a low input impedance amplifier. The cell in the probe is connected directly to the input of the amplifier. A switch converts the arrangement of the resistors in the voltage divider to change the output from radiant power (watts) to photocurrent (optical amperes or photons/second). A digital display unit connected to the output of the voltage divider provides numerical display with a fixed radix point and a constant scaling factor. A variable exponent for the scaling factor is changed automatically as the gain of the amplifiers is altered to (1) provide in the display a nonzero digit in the most significant position and (2) prevent a carry out of the most significant digit position. Offset current may be introduced at the voltage divider, such as to introduce a conversion constant.
Inventors
- 👤 Irwin Wunderman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 02:47
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03M; H03M1/00; G; G01; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/10; G01J1/16; G01J1/1626; G01R; G01R17/00; H03M1/12; H03M1/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
An electronic metering system for producing at output terminals a voltage signal to be applied to a utilization means, said voltage signal being proportional to the magnitude of some environmental condition, comprising: a transducer having a predetermined performance characteristic for providing an electrical signal which varies as a function of said environmental condition; an amplifier having input and output terminals, said amplifier being adapted to provide a voltage signal between its output terminals proportional to an electrical signal present between its input terminals; first means for coupling said transduCer between said input terminals of said amplifier; second means for conducting current having an impedance characteristic which varies as a function of said environmental condition; third means for subjecting said second means to the same environmental condition as said transducer; and fourth means for connecting said second means between said output terminals of said amplifier, and coupling said second means to said output terminals of said system, said fourth means including a substantially constant impedance means connected in series with said second means between said output terminals of said amplifier, and wherein one of said constant impedance means and said second means is coupled between said system output terminals, whereby variations in said impedance characteristic of said second means modify said electrical signal at said system output terminals to compensate for variations in the performance characteristic of said transducer, said system output terminals being adapted to be connected to a utilization means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
An electronic metering system for producing at output terminals a voltage signal to be applied to a utilization means, said voltage signal being proportional to the magnitude of some environmental condition, comprising: a transducer having a predetermined performance characteristic for providing an electrical signal which varies as a function of said environmental condition; an amplifier having input and output terminals, said amplifier being adapted to provide a voltage signal between its output terminals proportional to an electrical signal present between its input terminals; first means for coupling said transduCer between said input terminals of said amplifier; second means for conducting current having an impedance characteristic which varies as a function of said environmental condition; third means for subjecting said second means to the same environmental condition as said transducer; and fourth means for connecting said second means between said output terminals of said amplifier, and coupling said second means to said output terminals of said system, said fourth means including a substantially constant impedance means connected in series with said second means between said output terminals of said amplifier, and wherein one of said constant impedance means and said second means is coupled between said system output terminals, whereby variations in said impedance characteristic of said second means modify said electrical signal at said system output terminals to compensate for variations in the performance characteristic of said transducer, said system output terminals being adapted to be connected to a utilization means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 1 wherein said second means comprises two sections connected in series, and wherein said fourth means includes means for selectively switching said coupling of one of said system output terminals from a junction between said second means and said constant impedance means to a junction between said sections of said second means, thereby selectively altering said compensating scaling factor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 2 wherein said transducer is a photovoltaic cell and the impedance of one section of said second means is selected in proportion to the other section thereof to scale the signal at said system output terminals down from units of radiant energy to units of optical beam current as said switching means selectively switches said coupling of one of said system output terminals from between said second means and said constant impedance means to said junction between said two series connected sections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 1 wherein said second means is coupled between said system output terminals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 4 wherein said transducer provides an output signal which increases with an increase in temperature and wherein said second means has an impedance which decreases with an increase in temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 1 wherein said constant impedance means is coupled between said system output terminals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 6 wherein said transducer provides an output signal which increases with an increase in temperature and wherein said second means has an impedance which increases with an increase in temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 1 wherein the impedance ratio of one of said second means and said constant impedance means to the sum of said second means and said constant impedance means is so selected as to calibrate said system for deviation of the performance characteristic of said transducer from a predetermined theoretical performance characteristic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 8 wherein said amplifier has a gain greater than unity, whereby said system may be calibrated for a performance characteristic of said transducer less than a predetermined theoretical performance characteristic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 1 including means for selectively switching a constant current through the one of said constant impedance means and said second means that is coupled to said system output terminals, whereby any voltage signal present between said output terminals of said amplifier is translated to said system output terminals with a compensating scaling factor and an algebraically added constant.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 1 wherein said second means comprises a resistive element the resistance of which varies as a function of said condition; and said constant impedance means is a constant resistor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 11 wherein said resistive element is divided into two series connected sections, and wherein said fourth means includes means for selectively switching said coupling of one of said system output terminals from a junction between said resistive element and said resistor to said junction between said sections of said resistive element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 12 including means for selectively switching a constant current through the one of said resistive element and said constant resistor that is coupled to said system output terminals, whereby any voltage present between said output terminals of said amplifier is translated to said system output terminals with a compensating scaling factor and an algebraically added constant.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
107 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 11 wherein the ratio of the resistance of the one of said resistive element and said constant resistor that is coupled between said output terminals of said system to the sum of the resistance of both said resistive element and said resistor is selected to compensate for the efficiency of said transducer, whereby any voltage signal present between said output terminals of said amplifier is translated to said system output terminals as a voltage signal compensated for variations in the performance of said transducer due to variations of said environmental condition and calibrated for the efficiency of said transducer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 14 wherein said environmental condition is temperature and the resistance of said resistive element varies as function of temperature in a compensating manner over a predetermined range of temperatures.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
135 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 15 wherein said transducer is a photovoltaic cell and said resistive element comprises two temperature dependent sections connected in series, and wherein said fourth means includes means for selectively switching said coupling of one of said system output terminals from a junction between said resistive element and said constant resistor to a junction between said sections of said resistive element, and wherein the resistance of each of said sections is selected to alter the calibrating scale factor provided by said resistive element and said constant resistor, whereby any voltage signal present between said output terminals of said amplifier is translated to said system output terminals as a voltage signal selectively proportional to the radiant energy or photon beam current of light to which said transducer is exposed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 1 wherein said transducer is a thermocouple and said environmental condition is the environmental temperature of the thermocouple reference junctions, said second means comprises a temperature dependent resistive element, and said constant impedance means comprises a constant resistor in series with said resistive element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
71 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 17 wherein said resistive element comprises two temperature independent resistive sections in series, and wherein said fourth means includes means for selectively switching said coupling of one of said output terminals of said system from a junction between said resistive element and said constant resistor to a junction between said two sections of said resistive element, thereby selectively altering said compensating scaling factor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
64 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 18 including means for selectively switching a constant current through whichever of said independent resistive sections and said constant resistor is coupled between said system output terminals, whereby any voltage signal present between said output terminals of said amplifier is translated to said system oUtput terminals with a compensating scaling factor and an algebraically added constant.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
165 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 1 wherein said utilization means comprises a digital display unit and means for coupling said unit to said system output terminals, said unit comprising: a cyclic analog-to-digital converter with means for displaying a numerical value representing the amplitude of a signal at said system output terminals during a given cycle in a given radix notation with a predetermined number of digits, a fixed radix point and a radix factor with an exponent in said given radix notation; out-of-range detecting means connected to said converter for determining when, upon performing a given conversion cycle, the value to be displayed exceeds the largest value that can be displayed by said predetermined number of digits with a given exponent; and scaling means connected to said detecting means for changing said exponent to increase the value of said radix factor and correspondingly decreasing the scale of said signal applied to said analog-to-digital converter for conversion and display during the next cycle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
81 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 20 wherein said out-of-range detecting means further determines when upon performing a given cycle the value to be displayed includes a zero in the most significant digit position, and wherein said scaling means connected to said detecting means includes means for changing said exponent to decrease the value of said radix factor and correspondingly increasing the scale of said signal applied to said analog-to-digital converter for conversion and display during the next cycle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
66 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 20 wherein said analog-to-digital converter includes a counter which counts up from zero to a value representing said signal amplitude during each sampling cycle, and said out-of-range detecting means determines when the value to be displayed exceeds said largest value by detecting a carry from the most significant digit position of said counter during a given sampling cycle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
79 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 21 wherein said analog-to-digital converter includes digital means for counting up from zero to a value representing said signal amplitude during each sampling cycle, and said out-of-range detecting means determines when the value to be displayed includes a zero in the most significant digit position by detecting a failure of said counting means to produce a carry out of the next most significant digit position thereof during a given sampling cycle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
78 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 23 wherein said exponent is negative, and the response of said scaling means to a detection of a carry from the most significant digit position of said counting means is a decrease of the exponent by one, and to a detection of a failure to produce a carry out of the next most significant digit position of said counting means is an increase of the exponent by a value one.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
67 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 23 wherein said exponent is positive, the response to carry from the most significant digit position of said counting means is to increase the exponent by one, and the response to a failure to produce a carry out of the next most significant digit position of said counting means is to decrease the exponent by a value of one.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
81 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 21 wherein said radix is ten, and said means for displaying a numerical value consists of a fixed number of alterable decimal digits, each physically displayed in a fixed position relative to a permanent decimal point, and a permanent number ten with an alterable decimal exponent physically displayed in a fixed exponential position, said permanent number ten being disposed in line with and to the right of said fixed number of alterable digits.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electronic metering system as defined in claim 26 including Output terminals associated with said alterable decimal digits and said alterable decimal exponent for transmission therefrom of electrical signals representative of said digits and exponent being displayed.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic metering system as defined by claim 27 wherein said output terminals are provided for transfer of alterable data displayed to digital means for utilizing said data.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
46 words
An electronic metering system as defined by claim 28 including means for indicating to said data utilization means when said out-of-range detecting means has caused said scale of said signal applied to said analog-to-digital converter to be altered for conversion and display during a given cycle.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electronic metering system as defined by claim 29 including means for indicating to said data utilization means when said analog-to-digital conversion has been completed by said converter during a given cycle.
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) | 1974-05-31 | 1974-11-30 | 1975-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-31 | 1978-11-30 | 1979-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-31 | 1982-11-30 | 1983-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |