Noise reduction system

Claim 2

In a noise control system having an input and an output, the combination of: means for connecting a stepped wave signal to the input; circuit means defining a signal path for connecting the input to the output for signal transmission along said signal path from said input to said output; a storage capacitance; means connecting said storage capacitance between circuit ground and said circuit means at a first junction for charging to a voltage level continuously varying as an integral function of the voltage at said output, with said storage capacitance serving as a memory device to provide a reference voltage; a first diode having one terminal connected to said circuit means between said input and said first junction; and a first control circuit connected to the other terminal of said first diode so that said diode is out of said signal path, said control circuit providing a bias voltage to said diode for limiting the magnitude of voltage change at said output as the voltage changes at said input, and including means connecting the reference voltage of said storage capacitance as an input to said first control circuit.

Claim 3

A system as defined in claim 1 in which the reference voltage of said storage capacitance provides the only input to said first control circuit.

Claim 4

A system as defined in claim 1 including: a second diode having one terminal connected to said circuit means adjacent to and of opposite polarity to said first diode; and a second control circuit connected to the other terminal of said second diode so that said diode is out of said signal path, said control circuit providing a bias voltage to said diode for limiting the magnitude of voltage change at said output as the voltage changes at said input, and including means connecting the reference voltage of said storage capacitance as an input to said second control circuit.

Claim 5

A system as defined in claim 3 in which the reference voltage of said storage capacitance provides the only input to each of said first and second control circuits.

Claim 6

A system as defined in claim 1 including means for connecting an external voltage as a second input to said first control circuit, with the control circuit output to the diode varying as a function of the combined inputs of the control circuit.

Claim 7

A system as defined in claim 3 including: first means for connecting an external voltage as a second input to said first control circuit, with the control circuit output to the diode varying as a function of the combined inputs of said first control circuit; and second means for connecting an external voltage as a second input to said second control circuit, with the control circuit output to the diode varying as a function of the combined inputs of said second control circuit.

Claim 8

In a noise control system having an input and an output, the combination of: means for connecting a stepped wave signal to the input; circuit means defining a signal path for connecting the input to the output for signal transmission along said signal path from said input to said output; a storage capacitance; means connecting said storage capacitance between circuit ground and said circuit means at a first junction for charging to a voltage level continuously varying as an integral function of the voltage at said output, with said storage capacitance serving as a memory devicE to provide a reference voltage; a first diode having one terminal connected to said circuit means between said input and said first junction; a second diode having one terminal connected to said circuit means adjacent to and of opposite polarity to said first diode; a control circuit connected to the other terminal of each of said diodes so that each of said diodes is out of said signal path, said control circuit providing a bias voltage to the diodes for limiting the magnitude of voltage change at said output as the voltage changes at said input, and including means connecting the reference voltage of said storage capacitance as one input to said control circuit; and means for connecting an external voltage as a second input to said control circuit, with the control circuit output to the diodes varying as a function of the combined inputs of the control circuit.

Claim 9

In a noise control system having an input and an output, the combination of: means for connecting a stepped wave signal to the input; circuit means defining a signal path for connecting the input to the output for signal transmission along said signal path from said input to said output; a storage capacitance; means connecting said storage capacitance between circuit ground and said circuit means at a first junction for charging to a voltage level continuously varying as an integral function of the voltage at said output, with said storage capacitance serving as a memory devicE to provide a reference voltage; a first diode having one terminal connected to said circuit means between said input and said first junction; a second diode having one terminal connected to said circuit means adjacent to and of opposite polarity to said first diode; a control circuit connected to the other terminal of each of said diodes so that each of said diodes is out of said signal path, said control circuit providing a bias voltage to the diodes for limiting the magnitude of voltage change at said output as the voltage changes at said input, and including means connecting the reference voltage of said storage capacitance as one input to said control circuit; and means for connecting an external voltage as a second input to said control circuit, with the control circuit output to the diodes varying as a function of the combined inputs of the control circuit.

Claim 10

A system as defined in claim 7 including switch means connected in said signal path at a location between said diodes and said first junction for opening and closing the connection of said circuit means between said system input and output.

Claim 11

In a noise control system having an input and an output, the combination of: circuit means defining a signal path for connecting the input to the output for signal transmission along said signal path from said input to said output; a storage capacitance; means connecting said storage capacitance to said circuit means at a first junction for charging to a voltage level continuously varying as a function of the voltage of said output, with said storage capacitance serving as a memory device to provide a reference voltage; a first diode having one terminal connected to said circuit means between said input and said first junction; a first noninverting negative voltage feedback amplifier; means for combining an external control voltage and the reference voltage of said storage capacitance at a mixing point as an input to said first amplifier; and means connecting the output of said first amplifier to the other terminal of said first diode so that said first diode is out of said signal path.

Claim 12

In a noise control system having an input and an output, the combination of: circuit means defining a signal path for connecting the input to the output for signal transmission along said signal path from said input to said output; a storage capacitance; means connecting said storage capacitance to said circuit means at a first junction for charging to a voltage level continuously varying as a function of the voltage of said output, with said storage capacitance serving as a memory device to provide a reference voltage; a first diode having one terminal connected to said circuit means between said input and said first junction; a first noninverting negative voltage feedback amplifier; means for combining an external control voltage and the reference voltage of said storage capacitance at a mixing point as an input to said first amplifier; and means connecting the output of said first amplifier to the other terminal of said first diode so that said first diode is out of said signal path.

Claim 13

A system as defined in claim 9 including: a second diode having one terminal connected to said circuit means adjacent to and of opposite polarity to said first diode; a second noninverting negative voltage feedback amplifier; means for combining an external control voltage and the reference voltage of said storage capacitance at a mixing point as an input to said second amplifier; and means connecting the output of said second amplifier to the other terminal of said second diode, so that said second diode is out of said signal path.

Claim 14

In a noise control system having an input and an output, the combination of: means for connecting a stepped wave signal to the input; circuit means defining a signal path for connecting the input to the output for signal transmission along said signal path from said input to said output; a storage capacitance; means connecting said storage capacitance between circuit ground and said circuit means at a first junction for charging to a voltage level continuously varying as an integral function of the voltage of said output, with said storage capacitance serving as a memory device to provide a reference voltage; a first diode having one terminal connected to said circuit means between said input and said first junction; a second diode having one terminal connected to said circuit means adjacent to and of opposite polarity to said first diode; switch means connected in said signal path at a location between said diodes and said first junction for opening and closing the circuit therebetween; means for actuating said switch means in response to an externally applied signal; and means for connecting said storage capacitance to the other terminal of each of said diodes so that each of said diodes is out of said signal path.

Claim 15

In a noise control system having an input and an output, the combination of: means for connecting a stepped wave signal to the input; circuit means defining a signal path for connecting the input to the output for signal transmission along said signal path from said input to said output; a storage capacitance; means connecting said storage capacitance between circuit ground and said circuit means at a first junction for charging to a voltage level continuously varying as an integral function of the voltage of said output, with said storage capacitance serving as a memory device to provide a reference voltage; a first diode having one terminal connected to said circuit means between said input and said first junction; a second diode having one terminal connected to said circuit means adjacent to and of opposite polarity to said first diode; switch means connected in said signal path at a location between said diodes and said first junction for opening and closing the circuit therebetween; means for actuating said switch means in response to an externally applied signal; and means for connecting said storage capacitance to the other terminal of each of said diodes so that each of said diodes is out of said signal path.

Claim 16

In a ramp voltage generator for a cathode ray tube display or the like including a counter and a digital-to-analog converter producing a stairsteplike ramp voltage, with a ramp cycle comprising a sweep portion and a return portion, the improvement comprising a noise control system including: a storage capacitance; means connecting said storage capacitance between circuit ground and the converter output at a first junction for charging to a voltage level varying as an integral function of the voltage at said first junction, with said storage capacitance serving as a memory device to provide a reference voltage; a first diode having one terminal connected to said converter output ahead of said first junction; a second diode having one terminal connected to the converter output adjacent to and of opposite polarity to said first diode; a first control circuit connected to the other terminal of said first diode with said diode out of the signal path between said converter and first junction, said control circuit providing a bias voltage to said diode for limiting the magnitude of voltage change at said first junction as the voltage output of the converter changes; a second control circuit connected to the other terminal of said second diode with said diode out of the signal path between said converter and first junction, said control circuit providing a bias voltage to said diode for limiting the magnitude of voltage change at said first junction as the voltage of said converter output changes; means connecting the reference voltage of said storage capacitance as an input to each of said control circuits; means for generating a first control voltage coupled as another input to said first control circuit, said first control voltage having a first value during said sweep portion of a ramp cycle and changing to a second value during said return portion; and means for generating a second control voltage coupled as another input to said second control circuit, said second control voltage having a first value during said sweep portion of a ramp cycle and changing to a second value during said return portion.

Claim 17

In a ramp voltage generator for a cathode ray tube display or the like including a counter and a digital-to-analog converter producing a stairsteplike ramp voltage, with a ramp cycle comprising a sweep portion and a return portion, the improvement comprising a noise control system including: a storage capacitance; means connecting said storage capacitance between circuit ground and the converter output at a first junction for charging to a voltage level varying as an integral function of the voltage at said first junction, with said storage capacitance serving as a memory device to provide a reference voltage; a first diode having one terminal connected to said converter output ahead of said first junction; a second diode having one terminal connected to the converter output adjacent to and of opposite polarity to said first diode; a first control circuit connected to the other terminal of said first diode with said diode out of the signal path between said converter and first junction, said control circuit providing a bias voltage to said diode for limiting the magnitude of voltage change at said first junction as the voltage output of the converter changes; a second control circuit connected to the other terminal of said second diode with said diode out of the signal path between said converter and first junction, said control circuit providing a bias voltage to said diode for limiting the magnitude of voltage change at said first junction as the voltage of said converter output changes; means connecting the reference voltage of said storage capacitance as an input to each of said control circuits; means for generating a first control voltage coupled as another input to said first control circuit, said first control voltage having a first value during said sweep portion of a ramp cycle and changing to a second value during said return portion; and means for generating a second control voltage coupled as another input to said second control circuit, said second control voltage having a first value during said sweep portion of a ramp cycle and changing to a second value during said return portion.

Claim 18

In a ramp voltage generator for a cathode ray tube display or the like including a counter and an integral digital-to-analog converter producing a stairsteplike ramp voltage, with a ramp cycle comprising a sweep portion changing generally in one polarity and a return portion changing in the opposite polarity, the improvement comprising a noise control system including: a storage capacitance; means connecting said storage capacitance to the converter output at a first junction for charging to a voltage level varying as a function of the voltage at said first junction, with said storage capacitance serving as a memory device to provide a reference voltage; a first diode having one terminal connected to said converter output ahead of said first junction; a second diode having one terminal connected to the converter output adjacent to and of opposite polarity to said first diode; a first control circuit connected to the other terminal of said first diode with said diode out of the signal path between said converter and first junction, said control circuit providing a bias voltage to said diode for limiting the magnitude of voltage change in said one polarity at said first junction as the voltage output of the converter changes; a second control circuit connected to the other terminal of said second diode with said diode out of the signal path between said converter and first junction, said control circuit providing a bias voltage to said diode for limiting the magnitude of voltage change in said opposite polarity at said first junction as the voltage of said converter output changes; means connecting the reference voltage of said storage capacitance as an input to each of said control circuits; means for generating a first control voltage coupled as another input to said first control circuit, Said first control voltage having a first value during said sweep portion of a ramp cycle to permit incremental changes in said one polarity of at least a single step, and changing to a second value during said return portion to limit change in said one polarity to substantially zero; and means for generating a second control voltage coupled as another input to said second control circuit, said second control voltage having a first value during said sweep portion of a ramp cycle to limit change in said opposite polarity to substantially zero, and changing to a second value during said return portion to permit change in said opposite polarity of at least said return portion.

Claim 19

In a ramp voltage generator for a cathode ray tube display or the like including a counter and an integral digital-to-analog converter producing a stairsteplike ramp voltage, with a ramp cycle comprising a sweep portion changing generally in one polarity and a return portion changing in the opposite polarity, the improvement comprising a noise control system including: a storage capacitance; means connecting said storage capacitance to the converter output at a first junction for charging to a voltage level varying as a function of the voltage at said first junction, with said storage capacitance serving as a memory device to provide a reference voltage; a first diode having one terminal connected to said converter output ahead of said first junction; a second diode having one terminal connected to the converter output adjacent to and of opposite polarity to said first diode; a first control circuit connected to the other terminal of said first diode with said diode out of the signal path between said converter and first junction, said control circuit providing a bias voltage to said diode for limiting the magnitude of voltage change in said one polarity at said first junction as the voltage output of the converter changes; a second control circuit connected to the other terminal of said second diode with said diode out of the signal path between said converter and first junction, said control circuit providing a bias voltage to said diode for limiting the magnitude of voltage change in said opposite polarity at said first junction as the voltage of said converter output changes; means connecting the reference voltage of said storage capacitance as an input to each of said control circuits; means for generating a first control voltage coupled as another input to said first control circuit, Said first control voltage having a first value during said sweep portion of a ramp cycle to permit incremental changes in said one polarity of at least a single step, and changing to a second value during said return portion to limit change in said one polarity to substantially zero; and means for generating a second control voltage coupled as another input to said second control circuit, said second control voltage having a first value during said sweep portion of a ramp cycle to limit change in said opposite polarity to substantially zero, and changing to a second value during said return portion to permit change in said opposite polarity of at least said return portion.

Claim 20

A process of controlling noise in an electrical signal handling system, including the steps of: generating a stepped wave signal generating a reference voltage as an integral function of the magnitude of the stepped wave signal at a first time; and at a second later time, limiting the magnitude of the signal as a function of the reference voltage combined with a predetermined value whereby changes in signal in the interval between the first and second times of magnitudes greater than the predetermined value are eliminated.

Claim 21

A process of controlling noise in an electrical signal handling system, including the steps of: generating a stepped wave signal generating a reference voltage as an integral function of the magnitude of the stepped wave signal at a first time; and at a second later time, limiting the magnitude of the signal as a function of the reference voltage combined with a predetermined value whereby changes in signal in the interval between the first and second times of magnitudes greater than the predetermined value are eliminated.

Claim 22

A process as defined in claim 14 in which the predetermined value includes a fixed value and a variable value.

Claim 23

A process as defined in claim 15 in which the fixed value is determined by the potential drop of a diode.

Claim 24

A process as defined in claim 14 including a first predetermined value for change in one direction of polarity and second predetermined value for change in the opposite direction of polarity.