Circuit to analyze a signal amplitude range through frequency discrimination techniques

Claim 2

A signal amplitude range analyzer comprising, a source of periodic signals whose peak amplitude range is to be monitored, window discrimination means defining a window bound by an upper and lower amplitude threshold and coupled to said source of periodic signals, means responsive to said window discrimination means to quantize the transition of the amplitude of said periodic signal into and out of said window into discrete frequencies and frequency discriminator means responsive to the particular frequency quantizing the amplitude range defined by said window.

Claim 3

A signal amplitude range analyzer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said window discrimination means generates an output signal of one level when the amplitude of said periodic signal is outside said window and a different level output signal when the amplitude of said periodic signal is within said window and said means to quantize comprises a switching means responsive to unidirectional transitions in the signal leveL of the output signal of said window discriminator.

Claim 4

A signal amplitude range analyzer as claimed in claim 2 wherein said frequency discriminator means comprises a filter responsive to a frequency one-half the fundamental frequency of said periodic signal.

Claim 5

A signal amplitude range detecting circuit comprising a source of periodic signals whose peak amplitude within a certain amplitude range is to be monitored, window discrimination means coupled to said source of periodic, signals comprising, means to detect a first signal level, means to detect a second signal level greater than said first signal level, said first and second signal levels defining said amplitude range, said window discrimination means selectively generating one of two states of an output signal and changing the state of said output signal whenever the amplitude of said periodic signal enters or leaves said certain amplitude range, a bistable circuit means coupled to said window discrimination means and responsive to the changing state of the signal output of said window discrimination means, said response by said bistable circuit means to said changing state of said signal output when said peak amplitude exceeds said first signal level but is less than said second signal level producing a pulse output with a particular fundamental frequency and signal detection means to discriminate between the various output frequencies of said bistable circuit means.

Claim 6

A signal amplitude range detecting circuit comprising a source of periodic signals whose peak amplitude within a certain amplitude range is to be monitored, window discrimination means coupled to said source of periodic, signals comprising, means to detect a first signal level, means to detect a second signal level greater than said first signal level, said first and second signal levels defining said amplitude range, said window discrimination means selectively generating one of two states of an output signal and changing the state of said output signal whenever the amplitude of said periodic signal enters or leaves said certain amplitude range, a bistable circuit means coupled to said window discrimination means and responsive to the changing state of the signal output of said window discrimination means, said response by said bistable circuit means to said changing state of said signal output when said peak amplitude exceeds said first signal level but is less than said second signal level producing a pulse output with a particular fundamental frequency and signal detection means to discriminate between the various output frequencies of said bistable circuit means.

Claim 7

A signal amplitude range detecting circuit as claimed in claim 4 wherein said signal detection means to discriminate comprises a band-pass filter resonant to a frequency one-half the frequency of said periodic signal, and means responsive to the signal transmitted by said filter to operate indicator means.

Claim 8

A signal amplitude range detecting circuit as claimed in claim 5 further including means to adjust the amplitude of said first and second signal levels, said means to adjust including means to vary the bias signal applied to said window discrimination means.

Claim 9

A signal amplitude analyzer comprising a signal amplitude discriminator responsive to an upper and lower amplitude threshold level, bistable switching means responsive to said signal amplitude discriminator, said bistable switching means changing its signal level output when a signal applied to said amplitude discriminator crosses said upper and lower threshold level, and indicator means responsive to a particular switching frequency of said bistable switching means, said particular switching frequency occurring at a signal amplitude which is within the upper and lower amplitude threshold level.

Claim 10

A signal amplitude analyzer comprising a signal amplitude discriminator responsive to an upper and lower amplitude threshold level, bistable switching means responsive to said signal amplitude discriminator, said bistable switching means changing its signal level output when a signal applied to said amplitude discriminator crosses said upper and lower threshold level, and indicator means responsive to a particular switching frequency of said bistable switching means, said particular switching frequency occurring at a signal amplitude which is within the upper and lower amplitude threshold level.