Method and apparatus for determining the true difference or error between two frequencies

Claim 2

Apparatus for multiplying a determined number of pulses by a function of a frequency, comprising timing means for defining a discrete time inTerval, sampling means responsive to an input frequency and to said timing means for establishing the number of units of said input frequency occurring during said time interval, and multiplying means coupled to said sampling means for interrelating said determined number of pulses and said established number of units occurring during said time interval for deriving a product functionally related to said established number of said units, said determined number of pulses, and said time interval.

Claim 3

The apparatus described in claim 1, wherein said sampling means comprises counting means responsive to said timing means for counting said units of said input frequency.

Claim 4

The apparatus described in claim 2, wherein said counting means is adapted to provide an output functionally related to said time interval and said units of said input frequency.

Claim 5

Apparatus for multiplying a determined number of pulses by a function of a frequency, comprising timing means for defining a discrete time interval, sampling means comprising a counter means responsive to first and second input frequencies and said timing means for counting the number of pulses in said first frequency occurring during said discrete time interval and for generating in response thereto a counter output frequency functionally related to the ratio of said counted first frequency pulses to said second input frequency, and multiplying means for deriving the product functionally related to said second input frequency and said determined number of pulses.

Claim 6

Apparatus for multiplying a determined number of pulses by a function of a frequency, comprising timing means for defining a discrete time interval, sampling means comprising a counter means responsive to first and second input frequencies and said timing means for counting the number of pulses in said first frequency occurring during said discrete time interval and for generating in response thereto a counter output frequency functionally related to the ratio of said counted first frequency pulses to said second input frequency, and multiplying means for deriving the product functionally related to said second input frequency and said determined number of pulses.

Claim 7

The apparatus described in claim 4, wherein said multiplying means includes divider means for deriving a function of the ratio of said determined number of pulses to said counter output frequency.

Claim 8

The apparatus described in claim 5, wherein said multiplying means further includes selection means for selecting pulses functionally related to said second input frequency pulses and corresponding in number to a function of the product of said second input frequency and said function of the ratio of said determined number of pulses to said counter output frequency.

Claim 9

The apparatus described in claim 6, wherein said counter is adapted to receive said second input frequency upon the expiration of said time interval and in response thereto to derive said counter output frequency.

Claim 10

The apparatus described in claim 6, wherein said apparatus further comprises a frequency generator for generating said second input frequency.

Claim 11

The apparatus described in claim 8, wherein said apparatus further comprises a second divider means for generating product pulses at a frequency which is a preselected dividend of said second input frequency, and wherein said selection means is arranged to select product pulses corresponding in number to a preselected dividend of said function of the product of said second input frequency and said function of said determined number of pulses.

Claim 12

Apparatus for deriving the product of a selected number of indicating pulses and a function of a frequency, comprising timing means for defining a discrete time interval, first signal means responsive to a train of first input pulses for deriving a first signal functionally representative of the number of said first input pulses occurring during said time interval, second signal means for deriving a second signal functionally related to the ratio of the frequency of a train of second input pulses to said number of first input pulses occurring during said time interval, third signal means for deriving a third signal functionally related to the ratio of said selected number of indicating pulses to said ratio of the frequency of said second input pulses to said number of said first input pulses occurring during said time interval, and selection means for selecting a number of said second input pulses corresponding to a function of the product of said third signal and the frequency of saId second input pulses.

Claim 13

Apparatus for deriving the product of a selected number of indicating pulses and a function of a frequency, comprising timing means for defining a discrete time interval, first signal means responsive to a train of first input pulses for deriving a first signal functionally representative of the number of said first input pulses occurring during said time interval, second signal means for deriving a second signal functionally related to the ratio of the frequency of a train of second input pulses to said number of first input pulses occurring during said time interval, third signal means for deriving a third signal functionally related to the ratio of said selected number of indicating pulses to said ratio of the frequency of said second input pulses to said number of said first input pulses occurring during said time interval, and selection means for selecting a number of said second input pulses corresponding to a function of the product of said third signal and the frequency of saId second input pulses.

Claim 16

The method described in claim 11, and further including generating a reference input frequency, electrically counting the number of pulses occurring in said sampled input frequency during said time interval, and generating an electrical output which is a function of the ratio of said counted sampled input frequency pulses to said reference input frequency.

Claim 17

The method described in claim 12, including generating an electrical function of the ratio of said determined number of pulses to said function of the ratio of said counted sampled input frequency pulses to said reference input frequency.

Claim 18

The method described in claim 13, including generating electrical pulses functionally related to pulses in said reference input frequency functionally related in number to a function of the product of said reference input frequency and said function of the ratio of said determined number of pulses to said ratio of said counted sampled frequency pulses to said reference input frequency.

Claim 19

The method described in claim 14, wherein said reference input frequency is received upon the expiration of said time interval.

Claim 20

The method described in claim 15, including generating a third frequency functionally related to a preselected dividend of said reference input frequency, and generating pulses from said third frequency and corresponding in number to a function of the product of said reference input frequency and said function of the ratio of said determined number of said counted sampled frequency pulses to said reference input frequency.

Claim 21

Method of deriving the product of a selected number of indicating pulses and a function of a frequency, comprising, for a given number of said selected indicating pulses, electrically sampling a first input frequency, during a given time interval, generating a first pulse output functionally representative of the number of said first input frequency pulses occurring during said time interval, generating a second input frequency, generating a second pulse output functionally related to the ratio of said second input frequency to said first pulse output, generating a third pulse output functionally related to the ratio of said given number of selected indicating pulses to said second pulse output, and generating a number of product pulses corresponding in number to a function of the product of said third pulse output and said second input frequency.

Claim 22

Method of deriving the product of a selected number of indicating pulses and a function of a frequency, comprising, for a given number of said selected indicating pulses, electrically sampling a first input frequency, during a given time interval, generating a first pulse output functionally representative of the number of said first input frequency pulses occurring during said time interval, generating a second input frequency, generating a second pulse output functionally related to the ratio of said second input frequency to said first pulse output, generating a third pulse output functionally related to the ratio of said given number of selected indicating pulses to said second pulse output, and generating a number of product pulses corresponding in number to a function of the product of said third pulse output and said second input frequency.

Claim 23

The method described in claim 17, wherein said second pulse output is derived upon the expiration of said time interval.

Claim 24

The method described in claim 18, including generating a train of divider pulses having a frequency functionally related to a preselected dividend of said second input frequency, and generating said product pulses from said divider pulses in number corresponding functionally to the product of said third pulse output and said second input frequency.

Claim 25

Apparatus for deriving a correction signal, comprising a period counter for generating a period pulse representing the time interval during which a preselected number of master frequency pulses occur, a ratio counter for counting pulses in an incoming measurement frequency, a comparator for generating a comparison pulse when said ratio counter receives and counts a preselected number of measurement pulses, anticoincidence mEans for generating first and second anticoincidence pulses defining the time differential between said period and comparison pulses, bidirectional error counter for counting measurement pulses in response to said first anticoincidence pulse and for terminating such count in response to said second anticoincidence pulse, a stepper oscillator generating a fixed frequency of oscillator pulses, a clock for generating a sample period pulse, a multiplier counter, an AND gate interconnected between said clock and said multiplier counter for admitting master frequency pulses to said multiplier counter during said sample period pulse, holding register for holding the sum of said master frequency pulses counted by said multiplier counter during said sample period pulse, control means for connecting oscillator pulses to said multiplier counter upon the termination of said sample period pulse to cause said multiplier counter to produce a dividend signal functionally related to the dividend of the frequency of said oscillator pulses by said sum of said master frequency pulses in said holding register, and a divider responsive to said stepper oscillator for producing a divider frequency functionally related to the dividend of said oscillator frequency by a preselected divisor.

Claim 26

Apparatus for deriving a correction signal, comprising a period counter for generating a period pulse representing the time interval during which a preselected number of master frequency pulses occur, a ratio counter for counting pulses in an incoming measurement frequency, a comparator for generating a comparison pulse when said ratio counter receives and counts a preselected number of measurement pulses, anticoincidence mEans for generating first and second anticoincidence pulses defining the time differential between said period and comparison pulses, bidirectional error counter for counting measurement pulses in response to said first anticoincidence pulse and for terminating such count in response to said second anticoincidence pulse, a stepper oscillator generating a fixed frequency of oscillator pulses, a clock for generating a sample period pulse, a multiplier counter, an AND gate interconnected between said clock and said multiplier counter for admitting master frequency pulses to said multiplier counter during said sample period pulse, holding register for holding the sum of said master frequency pulses counted by said multiplier counter during said sample period pulse, control means for connecting oscillator pulses to said multiplier counter upon the termination of said sample period pulse to cause said multiplier counter to produce a dividend signal functionally related to the dividend of the frequency of said oscillator pulses by said sum of said master frequency pulses in said holding register, and a divider responsive to said stepper oscillator for producing a divider frequency functionally related to the dividend of said oscillator frequency by a preselected divisor.

Claim 27

Apparatus for multiplying a determined number of pulses by a function of a frequency, comprising sampling means responsive to an input frequency for establishing units of said input frequency, means for operating said sampling means for a discrete time interval for obtaining a base number of units occurring during said time interval, and means coupled to said sampling means for interrelating said determined number of pulses and said base number of units, and for deriving the product of said determined number of pulses and a multiple of said base number of units, said multiple being a function of said time interval.

Claim 28

Apparatus for multiplying a determined number of pulses by a function of a frequency, comprising sampling means responsive to an input frequency for establishing units of said input frequency, means for operating said sampling means for a discrete time interval for obtaining a base number of units occurring during said time interval, and means coupled to said sampling means for interrelating said determined number of pulses and said base number of units, and for deriving the product of said determined number of pulses and a multiple of said base number of units, said multiple being a function of said time interval.

Claim 29

In apparatus in which a number of first pulses is compared to a predetermined number of second pulses and has a specific relationship, multiplying means for producing output pulses as a multiple of the deviation in number of first pulses to the specific relationship comprising: means for receiving deviation pulses representative of the deviation of a number of first pulses from a predetermined number of first pulses relative to a predetermined number of second pulses over a defined time period, means for defining the pulse count of said predetermined number of second pulses, and means for producing output pulses for each deviation pulse by generating and counting pulses and, for each summation equal to said pulse count, producing said output pulses at a multiple determined as a function of the number of summations of said pulse count.

Claim 30

In apparatus in which a number of first pulses is compared to a predetermined number of second pulses and has a specific relationship, multiplying means for producing output pulses as a multiple of the deviation in number of first pulses to the specific relationship comprising: means for receiving deviation pulses representative of the deviation of a number of first pulses from a predetermined number of first pulses relative to a predetermined number of second pulses over a defined time period, means for defining the pulse count of said predetermined number of second pulses, and means for producing output pulses for each deviation pulse by generating and counting pulses and, for each summation equal to said pulse count, producing said output pulses at a multiple determined as a function of the number of summations of said pulse count.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said output pulse producing means further includes a pulse generator, and means responsive to the output of said pulse generator for counting the pulse generator pulses for each deviation pulse at a submultiple of said output pulses.

Claim 32

In apparatus in which a number of first pulses is compared to a predetermined number of second pulses and has a specific relationship, multiplying means for producing output pulses as a multiple of the deviation in number of first pulses to the specific relationship comprising: means for receiving deviation pulses representative of the deviation of a number of first pulses from a predetermined number of first pulses relative to a predetermined number of second pulses over a defined time period, means for producing counting pulses, means for effectively dividing said counting pulses by a factor of 10, and, for each deviation pulse, counting the number of counting pulses relative to a number of second pulses occurring during said defined time period, and means for effectively dividing said counting pulses by a factor of 1,000 to provide output pulses at a multiple of 10 relative to said deviation pulses.

Claim 33

In apparatus in which a number of first pulses is compared to a predetermined number of second pulses and has a specific relationship, multiplying means for producing output pulses as a multiple of the deviation in number of first pulses to the specific relationship comprising: means for receiving deviation pulses representative of the deviation of a number of first pulses from a predetermined number of first pulses relative to a predetermined number of second pulses over a defined time period, means for producing counting pulses, means for effectively dividing said counting pulses by a factor of 10, and, for each deviation pulse, counting the number of counting pulses relative to a number of second pulses occurring during said defined time period, and means for effectively dividing said counting pulses by a factor of 1,000 to provide output pulses at a multiple of 10 relative to said deviation pulses.

Claim 34

Apparatus for multiplying a determined number of pulses by a multiplying factor where said determined number of pulses represents a measurement relative to a ratio of a number of first pulses to a number of second pulses comprising: means for receiving a predetermined number of second pulses over a discrete time interval and for establishing the number of said second pulses occurring during said discrete time interval, means for generating counting pulses, counter means for receiving said counting pulses at a time other than during said discrete time interval and for providing an output control pulse for each determined pulse for each time the number of counting pulses equals the established number of said second pulses, and means responsive to said counting pulses for producing a pulse output as a multiple of the number of output control pulses.

Claim 35

Apparatus for multiplying a determined number of pulses by a multiplying factor where said determined number of pulses represents a measurement relative to a ratio of a number of first pulses to a number of second pulses comprising: means for receiving a predetermined number of second pulses over a discrete time interval and for establishing the number of said second pulses occurring during said discrete time interval, means for generating counting pulses, counter means for receiving said counting pulses at a time other than during said discrete time interval and for providing an output control pulse for each determined pulse for each time the number of counting pulses equals the established number of said second pulses, and means responsive to said counting pulses for producing a pulse output as a multiple of the number of output control pulses.

Claim 46

In apparatus for multiplying in a system having a plurality of pulse trains each representative of a parameter where one pulse train establishes a reference and wherein, during a sampling time period, the number of pulses of a second pulse train in deviation from a norm relative to said one pulse train can be established, the improvement comprising: means for establishing the relationship of the number of pulses of said one pulse train occurring during a sampling time period to a predetermined number of pulses of said one pulse train and means for multiplying said deviation pulses by a time factor functionally related to said sampling time period.

Claim 47

In apparatus for multiplying in a system having a plurality of pulse trains each representative of a parameter where one pulse train establishes a reference and wherein, during a sampling time period, the number of pulses of a second pulse train in deviation from a norm relative to said one pulse train can be established, the improvement comprising: means for establishing the relationship of the number of pulses of said one pulse train occurring during a sampling time period to a predetermined number of pulses of said one pulse train and means for multiplying said deviation pulses by a time factor functionally related to said sampling time period.