US3585509A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Logarithm frequency converter
Assignee: Scientific Atlanta LLC
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Filing: 1968-09-27
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Granted: 1971-06-15
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Expires: 1988-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A logarithm frequency converter produces a logarithm DC output proportional to the frequency of an input signal by providing control pulses for each cycle, which control pulses time the charge of a storage unit and a transfer of a portion of the stored charge into a hold storage unit, which charge in the hold storage unit is processed by a logarithm converter to a DC logarithm output signal that is proportional to the frequency of the input signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert D Davis
- 👤 Norman F Stellman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 01:31
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K9/00; H03K9/06; H03D; H03D3/00; H03D3/02; H03D3/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
322 words
A logarithm frequency converter for providing a logarithm output proportional to the frequency of an input signal comprising, first means responsive to the input signal for providing output pulses at a rate proportional to the frequency of the input signal, storage means responsive to said output pulses for storing voltages having a magnitude buildup proportional to the time width of said output pulses, gating means responsive to said output pulses for sequentially gating said stored voltage at the rate of said output pulses, holding means for holding said gated voltages, logarithm converter means for converting the voltage level stored in said second holding means to a logarithm voltage output, said first means comprising a one-shot multivibrator circuit and a flip-flop circuit, said one-shot multivibrator circuit for providing an output pulse at the start of each cycle of the received signal, said flip-flop circuit responsive to said one-shot multivibrator output pulses for changing states at the termination of said one-shot multivibrator output pulses, said storage means including a current source and a pair of separate chargeable capacitor means, said storage means including means responsive to the two states of said flip-flop circuit for alternately charging and discharging said capacitor means upon the changing of states of said flip-flop circuit, said gate means comprising first and second gates for providing first and second gating pulses with said first gates electrically responsive to the coincidence of said output pulse of said one-shot multivibrator circuit and one state of said flip-flop circuit and said second gate electrically responsive to the coincidence of said output pulses of said one-shot multivibrator circuit and the other state of said flip-flop circuit, said holding means comprising a capacitor circuit having a charging time that is substantially less than the charging time of said capacitor means, and means responsive to said gating pulses for applying the charge in charged ones of said first and second capacitor means to said capacitor circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
322 words
A logarithm frequency converter for providing a logarithm output proportional to the frequency of an input signal comprising, first means responsive to the input signal for providing output pulses at a rate proportional to the frequency of the input signal, storage means responsive to said output pulses for storing voltages having a magnitude buildup proportional to the time width of said output pulses, gating means responsive to said output pulses for sequentially gating said stored voltage at the rate of said output pulses, holding means for holding said gated voltages, logarithm converter means for converting the voltage level stored in said second holding means to a logarithm voltage output, said first means comprising a one-shot multivibrator circuit and a flip-flop circuit, said one-shot multivibrator circuit for providing an output pulse at the start of each cycle of the received signal, said flip-flop circuit responsive to said one-shot multivibrator output pulses for changing states at the termination of said one-shot multivibrator output pulses, said storage means including a current source and a pair of separate chargeable capacitor means, said storage means including means responsive to the two states of said flip-flop circuit for alternately charging and discharging said capacitor means upon the changing of states of said flip-flop circuit, said gate means comprising first and second gates for providing first and second gating pulses with said first gates electrically responsive to the coincidence of said output pulse of said one-shot multivibrator circuit and one state of said flip-flop circuit and said second gate electrically responsive to the coincidence of said output pulses of said one-shot multivibrator circuit and the other state of said flip-flop circuit, said holding means comprising a capacitor circuit having a charging time that is substantially less than the charging time of said capacitor means, and means responsive to said gating pulses for applying the charge in charged ones of said first and second capacitor means to said capacitor circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
200 words
A logarithm frequency converter for providing a logarithm output proportional to the frequency of an input signal comprising, first means responsive to the input signal for providing output pulses at a rate proportional to the frequency of the input signal, storage means responsive to said output pulses for storing voltages having a magnitude buildup proportional to the time width of said output pulses, gating means responsive to said output pulses for sequentially gating said stored voltage at the rate of said output pulses, holding means for holding said gated voltages, logarithm converter means for converting the voltage level stored in said second holding means to a logarithm voltage output, said gated voltages having a magnitude proportional to the time interval of each cycle of the input signal, said logarithm converter providing a DC output that is the logarithm of the inverse magnitude of the voltage magnitude in said holding means, said output pulses comprising first pulses and second pulses with each of said first pulses having a time duration that is substantially less than the time interval of each cycle, and said gating means being energized for a time period substantially equal to the time duration of said first pulses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
200 words
A logarithm frequency converter for providing a logarithm output proportional to the frequency of an input signal comprising, first means responsive to the input signal for providing output pulses at a rate proportional to the frequency of the input signal, storage means responsive to said output pulses for storing voltages having a magnitude buildup proportional to the time width of said output pulses, gating means responsive to said output pulses for sequentially gating said stored voltage at the rate of said output pulses, holding means for holding said gated voltages, logarithm converter means for converting the voltage level stored in said second holding means to a logarithm voltage output, said gated voltages having a magnitude proportional to the time interval of each cycle of the input signal, said logarithm converter providing a DC output that is the logarithm of the inverse magnitude of the voltage magnitude in said holding means, said output pulses comprising first pulses and second pulses with each of said first pulses having a time duration that is substantially less than the time interval of each cycle, and said gating means being energized for a time period substantially equal to the time duration of said first pulses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
328 words
A logarithm frequency converter for providing a logarithm output proportional to the frequency of an input signal comprising, first means responsive to the input signal for providing output pulses at a rate proportional to the frequency of the input signal, storage means responsive to said output pulses for storing voltages having a magnitude buildup proportional to the time width of said output pulses, gating means responsive to said output pulses for sequentially gating said stored voltage at the rate of said output pulses, holding means for holding said gated voltages, logarithm converter means for converting the voltage level stored in said second holding means To a logarithm voltage output, said output pulses comprises first pulses and second pulses, said first means including third means for providing said first pulse for each cycle of the input signal which first pulse has a time duration less than the time duration of said cycle, fourth means responsive to said first pulse for providing said second pulse to said first storage means for a time duration that is substantially equal to the time duration of said cycle, each of said second pulses occurring a given time after the start of each cycle, said gating means is responsive to the coincidence of said second pulse for one cycle of the input signal and said first pulse for the next succeeding cycle for gating said stored voltage in said first storage means that increased during said one cycle, said storage means comprises first and second storage means with each of said first and second storage means having a charging circuit and a discharging circuit, and means in said storage means and responsive to said second pulses for energizing said charging circuit of said first storage means and energizing said discharging circuit of said second storage means for one cycle and energizing said charging circuit of said second storage means and energizing said discharging circuit for said first storage means for the next succeeding cycle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
328 words
A logarithm frequency converter for providing a logarithm output proportional to the frequency of an input signal comprising, first means responsive to the input signal for providing output pulses at a rate proportional to the frequency of the input signal, storage means responsive to said output pulses for storing voltages having a magnitude buildup proportional to the time width of said output pulses, gating means responsive to said output pulses for sequentially gating said stored voltage at the rate of said output pulses, holding means for holding said gated voltages, logarithm converter means for converting the voltage level stored in said second holding means To a logarithm voltage output, said output pulses comprises first pulses and second pulses, said first means including third means for providing said first pulse for each cycle of the input signal which first pulse has a time duration less than the time duration of said cycle, fourth means responsive to said first pulse for providing said second pulse to said first storage means for a time duration that is substantially equal to the time duration of said cycle, each of said second pulses occurring a given time after the start of each cycle, said gating means is responsive to the coincidence of said second pulse for one cycle of the input signal and said first pulse for the next succeeding cycle for gating said stored voltage in said first storage means that increased during said one cycle, said storage means comprises first and second storage means with each of said first and second storage means having a charging circuit and a discharging circuit, and means in said storage means and responsive to said second pulses for energizing said charging circuit of said first storage means and energizing said discharging circuit of said second storage means for one cycle and energizing said charging circuit of said second storage means and energizing said discharging circuit for said first storage means for the next succeeding cycle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A logarithm frequency converter as claimed in claim 3 in which, said gating means providing gating pulses for alternately gating the stored voltage in said charging circuits in time sequence with the start of each cycle and for a time duration substantially equal with the time duration of said first pulses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A logarithm frequency converter as claimed in claim 3 including, limiter means for limiting the magnitude of the input signal and providing a magnitude limited signal to said first means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A logarithm frequency converter as claimed in claim 5 including, frequency divider means electrically positioned between said limiter means and said first means for selectively dividing the frequency of the input signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
146 words
A logarithm frequency converter for providing a logarithm output proportional to the frequency of an input signal comprising, first means responsive to the input signal for providing output pulses at a rate proportional to the frequency of the input signal, a constant current source, storage means responsive to said output pulses and said constant current source for storing voltages from said constant current source having a magnitude buildup proportional to the time width of said output pulses, gating means responsive to said output pulses for sequentially gating said stored voltage at the rate of said output pulses, said constant current source is electrically connected to supply constant current to said storage means when said gating means is sequentially gated, holding means for holding said gated voltages, and logarithm converter means for converting the voltage level stored in said second holding means to a logarithm voltage output.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
146 words
A logarithm frequency converter for providing a logarithm output proportional to the frequency of an input signal comprising, first means responsive to the input signal for providing output pulses at a rate proportional to the frequency of the input signal, a constant current source, storage means responsive to said output pulses and said constant current source for storing voltages from said constant current source having a magnitude buildup proportional to the time width of said output pulses, gating means responsive to said output pulses for sequentially gating said stored voltage at the rate of said output pulses, said constant current source is electrically connected to supply constant current to said storage means when said gating means is sequentially gated, holding means for holding said gated voltages, and logarithm converter means for converting the voltage level stored in said second holding means to a logarithm voltage output.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
223 words
A logarithm frequency converter as claimed in claim 7 in which, said first means comprising a one-shot multivibrator circuit and a flip-flop circuit, said one-shot multivibrator circuit for providing an output pulse at the start of each cycle of the received signal, said flip-flop circuit responsive to said one-shot multivibrator output pulses for changing states at the termination of said one-shot multivibrator output pulses, said storage means including a current source and a pair of separate chargeable capacitor means, said storage means including means responsive to the two states of said flip-flop circuit for alternately charging and discharging said capacitor means upon the changing of states of said flip-flop circuit, said gate means comprising first and second gates for providing first and second gating pulses with said first gates electrically responsive to the coincidence of sAid output pulse of said one-shot multivibrator circuit and one state of said flip-flop circuit and said second gate electrically responsive to the coincidence of said output pulses of said one-shot multivibrator circuit and the other state of said flip-flop circuit, said holding means comprising a capacitor circuit having a charging time that is substantially less than the charging time of said capacitor means, and means responsive to said gating pulses for applying the charge in charged ones of first and second capacitor means to said capacitor circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
231 words
A logarithm frequency converter as claimed in claim 7 in which, said output pulses comprises first pulses and second pulses, said first means including third means for providing said first pulse for each cycle of the input signal which first pulse has a time duration less than the time duration of said cycle, and fourth means responsive to said first pulse for providing said second pulse to said first storage means for a time duration that is substantially equal to the time duration of said cycle, each of said second pulses occurring a given time after the start of each cycle, said gating means is responsive to the coincidence of said second pulse for one cycle of the input signal and said first pulse for the next succeeding cycle for gating said stored voltage in said first storage means that increased during said one cycle, said storage means comprises first and second storage means with each of said first and second storage means having a charging circuit and a discharging circuit, and means in said storage means and responsive to said second pulses for energizing said charging circuit of said first storage means and energizing said discharging circuit of said second storage means for one cycle and energizing said charging circuit of said second storage means and energizing said discharging circuit for said first storage means for the next succeeding cycle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
A logarithm frequency converter as claimed in claim 9 in which, said gating means providing gating pulses for alternately gating the stored voltage in said charging circuits in time sequence with the start of each cycle and for a time duration substantially equal with the time duration of said first pulses.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A logarithm frequency converter as claimed in claim 7 including, limiter means for limiting the magnitude of the input signal and providing a magnitude limited signal to said first means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A logarithm frequency converter as claimed in claim 11 including, frequency divider means electrically positioned between said limiter means and said first means for selectively dividing the frequency of the input signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
A logarithm frequency converter as claimed in claim 7 in which, said gated voltages having a magnitude proportional to the time interval of each cycle of the input signal, and said logarithm converter providing a DC output that is the logarithm of the inverse magnitude of the voltage magnitude in said holding means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
A logarithm frequency converter as claimed in claim 13 in which, said output pulses comprising first pulses and second pulses with each of said first pulses having a time duration that is substantially less than the time interval of each cycle, and said gating means being energized for a time period substantially equal to the time duration of said first pulses.
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) | 1974-06-14 | 1974-12-14 | 1975-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-14 | 1978-12-14 | 1979-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-14 | 1982-12-14 | 1983-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |