US3612910A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Triggered pulse generator having automatic bias adjustment
Assignee: Tektronix Inc
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Filing: 1970-07-28
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Granted: 1971-10-12
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Expires: 1990-07-28
Abstract
Abstract A triggered pulse generator circuit is described including a tunnel diode or other negative resistance device connected as a bistable switching circuit whose forward bias is automatically adjusted to the proper arming level between trigger pulses. A ramp bias current is applied to the tunnel diode along with a fixed bias current until it switches to a high-voltage state and actuates a voltage level detector. The detector output stops the ramp and causes a memory capacitor to store the maximum ramp current which is added to the fixed bias current to provide an arming current corresponding to the peak current of such tunnel diode minus a predetermined bias current related to the amplitude of the trigger pulse. After the device is reset, the stored arming current is again applied thereto to enable a subsequent trigger pulse to trigger the device and produce an output pulse.
Inventors
- 👤 Clarence E Cowan
- 👤 George J Frye
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 03:28
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K3/00; H03K3/02; H03K3/313; H03K3/315
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
270 words
A triggered pulse generator circuit having an automatic bias adjustment in which the improvement comprises: a bistable switching device having a negative resistance characteristic including a peak value above which said device switches from a first stable state to a second stable state, said device producing output pulses when switched by trigger pulses applied thereto; first bias means for supplying a first bias of substantially constant value less than said peak value to said device for forward biasing said device quiescently in said first state; second bias means including a memory means for applying a second bias to said device in addition to said first bias, said second bias increasing in value until the total bias of said device exceeds said peak value and switches said device to said second state; detector means for sensing said switching of said device to said second state and for applying an output to said memory means to cause said memory to store the value reached by said second bias when said device switches; said second bias means including arming means for subtracting an adjustment bias from the total bias formed by said first bias and said stored second bias to provide an arming bias, said adjustment bias being less than the amplitude of said trigger pulses; and control means for reducing said total bias sufficiently to reset said device to said first state, for applying said arming bias to the reset device to arm said device, for applying said trigger pulses to the armed device to trigger said device to the second state, and for resetting said memory means and the triggered device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
270 words
A triggered pulse generator circuit having an automatic bias adjustment in which the improvement comprises: a bistable switching device having a negative resistance characteristic including a peak value above which said device switches from a first stable state to a second stable state, said device producing output pulses when switched by trigger pulses applied thereto; first bias means for supplying a first bias of substantially constant value less than said peak value to said device for forward biasing said device quiescently in said first state; second bias means including a memory means for applying a second bias to said device in addition to said first bias, said second bias increasing in value until the total bias of said device exceeds said peak value and switches said device to said second state; detector means for sensing said switching of said device to said second state and for applying an output to said memory means to cause said memory to store the value reached by said second bias when said device switches; said second bias means including arming means for subtracting an adjustment bias from the total bias formed by said first bias and said stored second bias to provide an arming bias, said adjustment bias being less than the amplitude of said trigger pulses; and control means for reducing said total bias sufficiently to reset said device to said first state, for applying said arming bias to the reset device to arm said device, for applying said trigger pulses to the armed device to trigger said device to the second state, and for resetting said memory means and the triggered device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A pulse generator in accordance with claim 1 in which the switching device is a semiconductor device and the first bias, second bias, adjustment bias, and arming bias are all bias currents.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A pulse generator in accordance with claim 2 in which the second bias means produces a ramp-shaped second bias current.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A pulse generator in accordance with claim 2 in which the semiconductor switching device is a tunnel diode connected as a bistable switching circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A pulse generator in accordance with claim 3 in which the control means includes a timing means for applying a timing pulse to said second bias means for starting the ramp-shaped second bias current which is stopped by the output of said detector means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
A pulse generator in accordance with claim 5 in which the timing means applies a timing pulse to said arming means to cause said predetermined amount of current to be added to the first bias current at least as early as the start of said ramp current and to be subtracted from the total bias current after the end of said ramp current.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A pulse generator in accordance with claim 4 in which the detector means is a voltage level sensing circuit which senses when the tunnel diode switches from a low-voltage first state to a high-voltage second state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A pulse generator in accordance with claim 6 which also includes gate means operated by said timing means for controlling the flow of said first bias current, said second bias current, and said adjustment bias current.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A pulse generator in accordance with claim 1 which also includes a variable resistance for changing the amount of said adjustment bias.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3350576A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-11 | 1975-04-12 | 1975-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-11 | 1979-04-12 | 1979-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-11 | 1983-04-12 | 1983-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |