US3609565A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Extreme level detector
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1969-12-29
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Granted: 1971-09-28
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Expires: 1989-12-29
Abstract
Abstract A system for identifying and selecting the maximum or minimum value signal from among a plurality of signals. The system includes an amplifier for each input signal. The outputs of the amplifiers are connected to a common load through individual diodes. A negative feedback connection is provided from the load to an amplifier input. The polarity of the voltage drop across the diodes is monitored to determine the diode which is forward biased. This indicates the amplifier with the extreme valued input signal. A second set of diodes across the amplifiers limits the output voltage to reduce overload conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W Arnold
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:25
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R19/00; G01R19/30; G01R19/0038; G06; G06G; G06G7/00; G06G7/12; G06G7/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for identifying the extreme value from among a plurality of input signals comprising, a plurality of amplifiers each having an output terminal, an input terminal, and a negative feedback terminal; load means, circuit impedance means connecting said output terminals to said load means, means connecting said negative feedback terminal to be supplied by the signal at said load means, means individually connected to said circuit impedance means and responsive to the polarity of the voltage across said circuit impedance means for indicating the presence or absence of the extreme signal at the input terminal of the associated amplifier.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for identifying the extreme value from among a plurality of input signals comprising, a plurality of amplifiers each having an output terminal, an input terminal, and a negative feedback terminal; load means, circuit impedance means connecting said output terminals to said load means, means connecting said negative feedback terminal to be supplied by the signal at said load means, means individually connected to said circuit impedance means and responsive to the polarity of the voltage across said circuit impedance means for indicating the presence or absence of the extreme signal at the input terminal of the associated amplifier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
A system according to claim 1 further including voltage limiting means connected between said output terminal and said negative feedback terminal to limit the voltage difference between the signal at said negative feedback terminal and the signal at said output terminal, said voltage limiting means being effective to limit said voltage difference only when the voltage at said output terminal is less than the voltage at said negative feedback terminal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said circuit impedance means is a diode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein said circuit impedance means and said voltage limiting means are diodes. 5 A system according to claim 4 wherein said means responsive to the polarity of the voltage across said circuit impedance (diode) means is a differential amplifier having its inputs connected to the anode and cathode electrodes of that diode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 5 wherein said differential amplifier provides an output signal indicating when the diode connected between the differential inputs is reverse biased.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
123 words
A system for identifying the extreme value from among a plurality of input signals comprising, a plurality of differential amplifiers each having an inverting input terminal, a noninverting input terminal, and an output terminal; load means, diode means connecting said output terminals to said load means, said diodes being polarized to permit current flow from said amplifiers to said load and to inhibit current flow in the reverse direction, means connecting said inverting input terminal to be supplied by the signal at said load means, means individually connected to said diode means and responsive to the polarity of the voltage across said diode means for indicating the presence or absence of the extreme signal at the noninverting input terminal of the associated amplifier.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
123 words
A system for identifying the extreme value from among a plurality of input signals comprising, a plurality of differential amplifiers each having an inverting input terminal, a noninverting input terminal, and an output terminal; load means, diode means connecting said output terminals to said load means, said diodes being polarized to permit current flow from said amplifiers to said load and to inhibit current flow in the reverse direction, means connecting said inverting input terminal to be supplied by the signal at said load means, means individually connected to said diode means and responsive to the polarity of the voltage across said diode means for indicating the presence or absence of the extreme signal at the noninverting input terminal of the associated amplifier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
A system according to claim 7 further including voltage limiting means connected between said output terminal and said inverting input terminal to limit the voltage difference between the signal at said inverting input terminal and the signal at said output terminal, said voltage limiting means being effective to limit said voltage difference only when the voltage at said output terminal is less than the voltage at said inverting input terminal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 8 wherein said voltage limiting means is a diode polarized to permit current flow from said inverting input terminal to said output terminal and to inhibit current flow in the reverse direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein said means responsive to the polarity of the voltage across said diode means are differential amplifiers having their inputs connected to the anode and cathode electrodes of those diodes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-27 | 1975-03-29 | 1975-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-27 | 1979-03-29 | 1979-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-27 | 1983-03-29 | 1983-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |