Frequency changing apparatus and methods

Claim 2

Apparatus for dividing the frequency of an electrical signal comprising: means for shifting said electrical signal such that the peaks of one extremity thereof touch zero volts; means coupled to said shifting means for generating a mirror image of said shifted signal; means coupled to said shifting means for generating switch signals when said peaks of said shifted signal touch zero volts; and means for coupling alternately to an output during the periods between said generated switch signals, said shifted signal and said mirror image of said shifted signal.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes a bistable device coupled to said means for generating switch signals and being triggered thereby; and a pair of switches coupled to said bistable device, said switches alternately coupling to an output said shifted signal and said mirror image of said shifted signal.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said shifting means includes means for summing said electrical signal with a voltage.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said means for generating a mirror image of said shifted signal includes a phase inverter coupled to said summing means.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said means for generating switch signals includes a zero sensor coupled to said summing means.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said coupling means includes a bistable device coupled to said zero sensor; a pair of switches, one coupled to each output of said bistable device; and a summer coupled to said pair of switches.

Claim 8

Apparatus for dividing the frequency of an electrical signal comprising: means for shifting said electrical signal such that the peaks of one extremity thereof touch zero volts; means coupled to said shifting means for generating switch signals when said peaks touch zero volts; and a bistable device coupled to said switch signal generating means whereby the output of said bistable device is the divided signal.

Claim 9

Apparatus for dividing the frequency of an electrical signal comprising: means for shifting said electrical signal such that the peaks of one extremity thereof touch zero volts; means coupled to said shifting means for generating switch signals when said peaks touch zero volts; and a bistable device coupled to said switch signal generating means whereby the output of said bistable device is the divided signal.

Claim 10

Apparatus for dividing the frequency of an electrical signal, comprising: a phase splitter having first and second outputs with said electrical signal being applied to an input thereto; first means coupled to said first output of said phase splitter for summing a signal from said first output with a first voltage such that the lower peaks of said signal from said first output will touch zero volts; second means coupled to said second output of said phase splitter for summing a signal from said second output with a second voltage such that the upper peaks of said signal from said second output will touch zero volts; means coupled to said first summing means for sensing when the summed signal derived from said first output touches 0 volts; a bistable device coupled to said sensing means; a first switch coupled to said first summing means and to a first output from said bistable device; a second switch coupled to said second summing means and to a second output from said bistable device; and a summer coupled to said first and second switches.

Claim 11

Apparatus for dividing the frequency of an electrical signal, comprising: a phase splitter having first and second outputs with said electrical signal being applied to an input thereto; first means coupled to said first output of said phase splitter for summing a signal from said first output with a first voltage such that the lower peaks of said signal from said first output will touch zero volts; second means coupled to said second output of said phase splitter for summing a signal from said second output with a second voltage such that the upper peaks of said signal from said second output will touch zero volts; means coupled to said first summing means for sensing when the summed signal derived from said first output touches 0 volts; a bistable device coupled to said sensing means; a first switch coupled to said first summing means and to a first output from said bistable device; a second switch coupled to said second summing means and to a second output from said bistable device; and a summer coupled to said first and second switches.

Claim 12

Apparatus for dividing the frequency of an electrical signal, comprising: a phase splitter having first and second outputs with said electrical signal being applied as an input thereto; first means coupled to said first output of said phase splitter for DC restoring above a voltage level a signal from said first output; second means coupled to said second output of said phase splitter for DC restoring below said voltage level a signal from said second output; means coupled to said second DC restoring means for generating switch signal pulses when said DC restored signal from said second output is at its peak; and means for coupling alternately to an output during the periods between said generated switch signals, said signals from said first and second DC restoration means.

Claim 13

Apparatus for dividing the frequency of an electrical signal, comprising: a phase splitter having first and second outputs with said electrical signal being applied as an input thereto; first means coupled to said first output of said phase splitter for DC restoring above a voltage level a signal from said first output; second means coupled to said second output of said phase splitter for DC restoring below said voltage level a signal from said second output; means coupled to said second DC restoring means for generating switch signal pulses when said DC restored signal from said second output is at its peak; and means for coupling alternately to an output during the periods between said generated switch signals, said signals from said first and second DC restoration means.

Claim 14

Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said first DC restoration means includes a capacitor; a resistor coupled from said capacitor to ground; said signal from said first output being applied to said capacitor; and a diode shunting said resistor.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said second DC restoration means and said switch signal generator includes a voltage source; a capacitor; a resistor coupled from said capacitor to ground, said signal from said second output being applied to said capacitor; and a transistor having first, second, and third electrodes, said first electrode being coupled to ground, said second electrode being coupled to said resistor and said capacitor, and said third electrode being coupled to said voltage source whereby a DC restored signal is derived at the junction of said capacitor and resistor and switch signals are derived at said third electrode of said transistor.

Claim 16

Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said coupling means includes a bistable device coupled to said third electrode of said transistor; a pair of switches, one coupled to each output of said bistable device; and a summer coupled to said pair of switches.

Claim 17

Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said coupling means includes a bistable device coupled to said switch signal generating means; first and second series coupled resistors coupled from said second DC restoration means to the output of said apparatus; a third resistor coupled from said first DC restoration means to said apparatus output; and a switch coupled from the junction of said series coupled first and second resistors to ground, said switch being operated by said bistable device, and said third resistor having an ohmic value twice that of said first and second resistors combined.

Claim 18

Apparatus for dividing the frequency of an electrical signal, comprising: a phase splitter having first and second outputs with said electrical signal being applied as an input thereto; means coupled to said second output of said phase splitter for DC restoring a signal from said second output; means coupled to said DC restoring means for generating switch signal pulses when said DC restored signal is at its peak; a bistable device coupled to said switch signal generator; first and second series connected resistors coupled from said DC restoration means to the output of said apparatus; a third resistor coupled from said first output of said phase splitter to said output of said apparatus; and a switch coupled from the junction of said series connected first and second resistors to ground, said switch being coupled to and operated by said bistable device.

Claim 19

Apparatus for dividing the frequency of an electrical signal, comprising: a phase splitter having first and second outputs with said electrical signal being applied as an input thereto; means coupled to said second output of said phase splitter for DC restoring a signal from said second output; means coupled to said DC restoring means for generating switch signal pulses when said DC restored signal is at its peak; a bistable device coupled to said switch signal generator; first and second series connected resistors coupled from said DC restoration means to the output of said apparatus; a third resistor coupled from said first output of said phase splitter to said output of said apparatus; and a switch coupled from the junction of said series connected first and second resistors to ground, said switch being coupled to and operated by said bistable device.

Claim 20

Apparatus for dividing the frequency of an electrical signal, comprising: a phase splitter having first and second outputs with said electrical signal being applied as an input thereto; first means coupled to said first output of said phase splitter for DC restoring a signal from said first output; second means coupled to said second output of said phase splitter for DC restoring a signal from said second output;

Claim 21

Apparatus for dividing the frequency of an electrical signal, comprising: a phase splitter having first and second outputs with said electrical signal being applied as an input thereto; first means coupled to said first output of said phase splitter for DC restoring a signal from said first output; second means coupled to said second output of said phase splitter for DC restoring a signal from said second output;

Claim 22

Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said means for generating switch signal pulses during only one peak each cycle of said input signal includes a first bistable device; means coupled to said second output of said phase shifter for generating set pulses at each top peak of said input signal, said set pulses being applied to said first bistable device; means coupled to said first output of said phase shifter for generating reset pulses at each bottom peak of said input signal, said reset pulses being applied to said first bistable device.

Claim 23

Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said second DC restoration means and said means for generating set pulses includes a voltage source; a capacitor coupled to said second output of said phase splitter; a resistor coupled from said capacitor to ground; and a transIstor having first, second and third electrodes, said first electrode being coupled to ground, said second electrode being coupled to said resistor and said capacitor, and said third electrode being coupled to said voltage source whereby a DC restored signal is derived at the junction of said capacitor and resistor and set pulses are derived at said third electrode of said transistor.

Claim 24

Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said means for generating reset pulses includes means coupled to said first output of said phase splitter for inverting the output signal from said first output of said phase splitter; means for DC restoring said inverted signal; and means for generating pulses at the peaks of said inverted signal.

Claim 25

Apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said coupling means includes a second bistable device coupled to said first bistable device; a pair of switches, one coupled to each output of said second bistable device; and a summer coupled to said pair of switches.

Claim 26

Apparatus for dividing the frequency of an electrical signal, comprising: a phase splitter having first and second outputs with said electrical signal being applied as an input thereto; first means coupled to said first output of said phase splitter for DC restoring a signal from said first output; second means coupled to said second output of said phase splitter for DC restoring a signal from said second output; means coupled to said second DC restoring means for generating switch signal pulses; and means for coupling alternately to an output during the periods between said generated switch signals said first DC restored signal with one-half said second DC restored signal and one-half said second DC restored signal.

Claim 27

Apparatus for dividing the frequency of an electrical signal, comprising: a phase splitter having first and second outputs with said electrical signal being applied as an input thereto; first means coupled to said first output of said phase splitter for DC restoring a signal from said first output; second means coupled to said second output of said phase splitter for DC restoring a signal from said second output; means coupled to said second DC restoring means for generating switch signal pulses; and means for coupling alternately to an output during the periods between said generated switch signals said first DC restored signal with one-half said second DC restored signal and one-half said second DC restored signal.

Claim 28

Apparatus for dividing the frequency of an electrical signal f, comprising: means for generating a signal f/2+ kf wherein k is a constant; means for generating a signal -kf; means for summing the f/2+ kf and -kf signals.

Claim 29

Apparatus for dividing the frequency of an electrical signal f, comprising: means for generating a signal f/2+ kf wherein k is a constant; means for generating a signal -kf; means for summing the f/2+ kf and -kf signals.

Claim 30

Apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said means for generating a signal f/2+ kf includes; means for DC restoring said electrical signal and for generating switch signal pulses, a bistable device coupled to said means for generating switch signals; a switch coupled to said bistable device and being switched thereby; and means for applying said restored signal to said summing means when said switch is open.

Claim 31

Apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein said means for generating a signal -kf includes means for inverting said electrical signal; and means for applying said inverted signal to said summing means.

Claim 32

Apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said means for generating a signal f/2+ kf includes a first bistable device; means for generating set pulses; means for generating reset pulses; means for applying said set and reset pulses to said first bistable device; a second bistable device coupled to said first bistable device; means for DC restoring said electrical signal; a switch coupled to said second bistable device and being switched thereby; and means for applying said restored signal to said summing means when said switch is open.

Claim 33

Apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein said means for generating a signal -kf includes means for inverting said electrical signal; and means for applying said inverted electrical signal to said summing means.

Claim 34

Apparatus for producing a multifrequency signal from an electrical signal f, comprising: apparatus as defined in claim 21 for generating a divided signal; means for generating a signal 2f; and means for combining the divided signal, the f signal, and the 2f signal.

Claim 35

Apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein said means for generating a divided signal includes a first bistable device; means for generating set pulses, means foR generating reset pulses; means for applying said set and reset pulses to said first bistable device; a second bistable device coupled to said first bistable device; means for DC restoring said electrical signal; a switch coupled to said second bistable device and being switched thereby; means for applying said restored signal to said summing means when said switch is open; means for inverting said electrical signal; and means for applying said inverted electrical signal to said summing means.

Claim 36

Apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein said means for generating a signal 2f includes a half wave rectifier to which said electrical signal is applied; and means for subtracting from the output of said half wave rectifier a portion of said electrical signal.

Claim 41

The method of claim 30, wherein said summed signals are alternately applied to the output at a rate equal to the frequency of said electrical signal.

Claim 44

The method of claim 32, wherein said DC restored signals are alternately applied to the output at a rate equal to the frequency of said electrical signal.

Claim 47

The method of claim 52, wherein said alternate signals are applied at a rate equal to the frequency of said electrical signal.

Claim 50

The method of claim 36, wherein said alternate signals are applied at a rate equal to the frequency of said electrical signal, f.