Buffered microsweep receiver

Claim 2

A frequency measuring receiver for detecting the presence of signal energy within a predetermined bandwidth comprising, recirculating delay-line loop means for converting a received radio frequency signal into a train of closely spaced radio frequency pulses recurring for a predetermined interval of time, gating means coupled between said recirculating delay-line loop and the received radio frequency signal for preventing further signal input into said delay-line loop during said predetermined interval of time, oscillator means for scanning the contents of said recirculating loop within said predetermined interval of time so as to produce video signals, and means for receiving said video signals and presenting a display thereof.

Claim 3

The receiver of claim 1 wherein said recirculating delay-line loop means comprises a gated broadband loop amplifier coupled to the output of said gating means, and a delay-line having a fixed time delay interval coupled between the output and the input of said gated broadband loop amplifier.

Claim 4

The receiver of claim 2 wherein said loop is of the traveling-wave tube type.

Claim 5

The receiver of claim 2 wherein said loop amplifier is of the tunnel-diode type.

Claim 6

The receiver of claim 2 wherein said loop amplifier is of the transistor type.

Claim 7

The receiver of claim 1 wherein the gain of the circulating delay-line loop is substantially unity.

Claim 8

The receiver of claim 1 wherein said oscillator means comprises a voltage tuned oscillator.

Claim 9

The receiver of claim 1 further comprising calibration comb generator means for imposing spectral lines upon said display.

Claim 10

The receiver of claim 1 further comprising a nonlinear means in said recirculating loop for imposing strong-signal-capture upon each recirculation.

Claim 11

A frequency measuring receiver for detecting the presence of signal energy within a predetermined bandwidth comprising recirculating delay-line loop means for converting a received radio frequency signal into a train of closely spaced radio frequency pulses recurring for a predetermined interval of time, gating means coupled between said recirculating delay-line loop and the received radio frequency signal for preventing further signal input into said delay-line loop during said predetermined interval of time, oscillator means for scanning the contents of said recirculating loop within said predetermined interval of time so as to produce a beat frequency between said signal and the frequency of said oscillator means, scanning waveform means to control the frequency of said oscillator means, filter means to extract said beat frequency, and display means wherein the output of said filter means is displayed as a function of said scanning waveform.

Claim 12

A frequency measuring receiver for detecting the presence of signal energy within a predetermined bandwidth comprising recirculating delay-line loop means for converting a received radio frequency signal into a train of closely spaced radio frequency pulses recurring for a predetermined interval of time, gating means coupled between said recirculating delay-line loop and the received radio frequency signal for preventing further signal input into said delay-line loop during said predetermined interval of time, oscillator means for scanning the contents of said recirculating loop within said predetermined interval of time so as to produce a beat frequency between said signal and the frequency of said oscillator means, scanning waveform means to control the frequency of said oscillator means, filter means to extract said beat frequency, and display means wherein the output of said filter means is displayed as a function of said scanning waveform.

Claim 13

The receiver of claim 10 wherein said filter means is of zero-frequency or homodyne form.

Claim 14

The receiver of claim 10 further comprising envelope-extraction means in said filter means so as to produce video signals at said filter means output.

Claim 15

The receiver of claim 10 further comprising triggering means responsive to said received signal and connected so as to activate said scanning waveform means.

Claim 16

A frequency measuring receiver for detecting the presence of signal energy within a predetermined bandwidth comprising, recirculating delay-line loop means for converting a received radio frequency signal into a train of closely spaced radio frequency pulses recurring for a predetermined interval of time, gating means coupled between said recirculating delay-line loop means and the received radio frequency signal for preventing further signal input into said delay-line loop during said predetermined interval of time, means for scanning the contents of said recirculating loop within said predetermined interval of time so as to produce video signals, and means for processing said video signals so as to measure the frequency of said signal energy.

Claim 17

A frequency measuring receiver for detecting the presence of signal energy within a predetermined bandwidth comprising, recirculating delay-line loop means for converting a received radio frequency signal into a train of closely spaced radio frequency pulses recurring for a predetermined interval of time, gating means coupled between said recirculating delay-line loop means and the received radio frequency signal for preventing further signal input into said delay-line loop during said predetermined interval of time, means for scanning the contents of said recirculating loop within said predetermined interval of time so as to produce video signals, and means for processing said video signals so as to measure the frequency of said signal energy.

Claim 18

A frequency measuring receiver for detecting the presence of signal energy within a predetermined bandwidth comprising, recirculating delay-line loop means for converting a received radio frequency signal into a train of closely spaced radio frequency pulses recurring for a predetermined interval of time, gating means coupled between said recirculating delay-line loop means and the received radio frequency signal for preventing further signal input into said delay-line loop during said predetermined interval of time, means for measuring the contents of said recirculating loop within said predetermined interval of time so as to produce video signals, and means for processing said video signals so as to measure the frequency of said signal energy.

Claim 19

A frequency measuring receiver for detecting the presence of signal energy within a predetermined bandwidth comprising, recirculating delay-line loop means for converting a received radio frequency signal into a train of closely spaced radio frequency pulses recurring for a predetermined interval of time, gating means coupled between said recirculating delay-line loop means and the received radio frequency signal for preventing further signal input into said delay-line loop during said predetermined interval of time, means for measuring the contents of said recirculating loop within said predetermined interval of time so as to produce video signals, and means for processing said video signals so as to measure the frequency of said signal energy.