US3631352A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Midvalue signal selector
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1970-12-28
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Granted: 1971-12-28
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Expires: 1990-12-28
Abstract
Abstract A midvalue signal selector contains a channel for each of the signals to be compared. Each signal is applied to its respective channel through a comparator which produces a high- or low-level signal depending upon the comparative instantaneous values of the input signal and a feedback signal developed in that channel. Each channel contains a logic voter connected to receive the outputs of all comparators. The logic voter actuates a bipolar weighting switch in accordance with the high or low value of the majority of the signals applied to that logic voter. The output of the weighting switch in each channel is applied to a combination filter and operational amplifier which produces the output and feedback signals for that channel. The hysteresis inherent in a comparator, together with the filter circuit associated with the corresponding operational amplifier, produces an oscillatory signal at the output of the operational amplifier. The comparator receiving the midvalue signal produces a rectangular wave having a duty cycle dependent upon the magnitude of the midvalue signal. The output signal from the corresponding operational amplifier includes a DC component dependent upon the amount that this duty cycle deviates from 50 percent. The comparators of the remaining channels produce steady output signals so that the corresponding logic voters respond only to the midvalue signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael R Kelley
- 👤 David A Le Febre
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R19/00; G01R19/0038
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A midvalue siGnal selector for use with a plurality of analog input signals comprising an individual channel for each signal in said plurality, each of said channels including: input and output means, a signal comparator coupled to receive analog input signals through said input means, feedback means for coupling a feedback voltage representative of the instantaneous voltage at said output means back to said comparator, said comparator being constructed to provide a voltage of a first level whenever the instantaneous magnitude of the input voltage exceeds that of the feedback voltage and a voltage of a second level whenever the instantaneous magnitude of the feedback voltage exceeds that of the input voltage, means responsive to the voltages from the comparators in each of the channels for producing a rising voltage whenever the majority of the comparators is producing a voltage of said first level and for producing a falling voltage whenever the majority of the comparators is producing a voltage of said second level, said rising and falling voltages having a predetermined rate of change that is high with respect to the rate of change expected in said input signals, and means to apply said rising and falling voltages to said output means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
A midvalue siGnal selector for use with a plurality of analog input signals comprising an individual channel for each signal in said plurality, each of said channels including: input and output means, a signal comparator coupled to receive analog input signals through said input means, feedback means for coupling a feedback voltage representative of the instantaneous voltage at said output means back to said comparator, said comparator being constructed to provide a voltage of a first level whenever the instantaneous magnitude of the input voltage exceeds that of the feedback voltage and a voltage of a second level whenever the instantaneous magnitude of the feedback voltage exceeds that of the input voltage, means responsive to the voltages from the comparators in each of the channels for producing a rising voltage whenever the majority of the comparators is producing a voltage of said first level and for producing a falling voltage whenever the majority of the comparators is producing a voltage of said second level, said rising and falling voltages having a predetermined rate of change that is high with respect to the rate of change expected in said input signals, and means to apply said rising and falling voltages to said output means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The signal selector of claim 1 wherein said means for producing rising and falling voltages includes means to provide steady DC voltages having polarities dependent upon the level of the majority of the voltages from said comparators and integrating means coupled to receive said DC voltages, whereby said integrating means produces rising and falling voltages having constant rates of change.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The signal selector of claim 2 wherein the means responsive to the voltages from the comparators include a logic voter for producing a switching signal indicative of the level of the voltages being produced by a majority of the comparators, and means responsive to said switching signal for producing said DC voltages.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The signal selector of claim 3 wherein the means responsive to said switching signal includes positive and negative voltage reference sources and first and second weighting switches responsive to said switching signals for connecting said positive and negative sources, respectively, to said integrating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The signal selector of claim 4 further characterized in that each of said weighting switches are coupled to their respective reference sources through weighting resistors adjusted to provide DC voltages having equal magnitudes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
231 words
A midvalue signal selector for use with a plurality of analog input signals comprising an individual channel for each signal in said plurality, each of said channels including: input and output means, a signal comparator connected to receive a signal through the input means for that channel and a feedback signal from the output means in the same channel, said signal comparator being constructed to produce a high-level signal when the instantaneous magnitude of the input signal exceeds the magnitude of the feedback signal and a low-level signal when the instantaneous magnitude of the feedback signal exceeds the magnitude of the input signal, said comparator being further characterized in that the transition from one to the other of said levels occurs only after a predetermined time delay, logic means coupled to receive signals from the comparators in all channels for producing a DC voltage of one polarity whenever a majority of the comparators produce high-level signals and a DC voltage of the opposite polarity whenever the majority of the comparators in said selector produce low-level signals, wave-forming means for supplying to said output means a gradually increasing signal in response to a DC voltage of one polarity from said logic means and a gradually decreasing signal in response to a DC voltage of the opposite polarity from said logic means, and means for connecting exterior utilization means to said output means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
231 words
A midvalue signal selector for use with a plurality of analog input signals comprising an individual channel for each signal in said plurality, each of said channels including: input and output means, a signal comparator connected to receive a signal through the input means for that channel and a feedback signal from the output means in the same channel, said signal comparator being constructed to produce a high-level signal when the instantaneous magnitude of the input signal exceeds the magnitude of the feedback signal and a low-level signal when the instantaneous magnitude of the feedback signal exceeds the magnitude of the input signal, said comparator being further characterized in that the transition from one to the other of said levels occurs only after a predetermined time delay, logic means coupled to receive signals from the comparators in all channels for producing a DC voltage of one polarity whenever a majority of the comparators produce high-level signals and a DC voltage of the opposite polarity whenever the majority of the comparators in said selector produce low-level signals, wave-forming means for supplying to said output means a gradually increasing signal in response to a DC voltage of one polarity from said logic means and a gradually decreasing signal in response to a DC voltage of the opposite polarity from said logic means, and means for connecting exterior utilization means to said output means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
The signal selector of claim 6 in which the logic means includes a logic voter for producing a switching signal indicative of the level of the majority of the signals being produced by the individual comparators, positive and negative reference voltage sources, switching means for alternatively connecting said positive and negative voltage sources to said wave-forming means in response to said switching signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
The signal selector of claim 7 in which the wave-forming means includes an operational amplifier and a capacitive network shunting said amplifier whereby said wave-forming means cooperates to establish oscillations in said channel, said capacitive network being proportioned so that said oscillations occur at a frequency having a rate of change that is high with respect to the rate of change expected in said input signals.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-27 | 1975-06-28 | 1975-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-27 | 1979-06-28 | 1979-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-27 | 1983-06-28 | 1983-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |