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US3654494A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Capacitor type timing circuit utilizing energized voltage comparator

Assignee: EAGLE SIGNAL CONTROLS CORP A CORP OF DE
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Filing: 1968-08-20
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Granted: 1972-04-04
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Expires: 1988-08-20
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Abstract

Abstract There is provided a strobed timing circuit which includes a timing capacitor connected across a voltage source for charging at a predetermined rate, and a comparator circuit for providing an output signal when the voltage across the capacitor reaches a set-in value. The comparator circuit is turned on for relatively short intervals of time to measure the voltage across the capacitor to thereby provide a comparator circuit with an apparently high input impedance.

Inventors

  • 👤 Peter G Bartlett
  • 👤 Larry K Clark
  • 👤 Frank W Hill

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 08:14
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/28; H03K3/00; H03K3/02; H03K3/26; H03K5/00; H03K5/01; H03K5/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 364 words
A strobed timing circuit including: a first timing capacitor for storing a voltage; means foR connecting said capacitor to a source of voltage for charging said capacitor; a normally de-energized comparator means having an input coupled to said capacitor and having a first and second state; said comparator means, when energized, being responsive to the voltage stored by said capacitor so that when the value of said stored voltage attains a level equal to a predetermined value said comparator means changes from said first state to said second state; a first circuit means for periodically developing a signal pulse; a first switch means for energizing said comparator means at a frequency dependent on the frequency of said periodically developed signal pulse whereby when said comparator means is energized it exhibits a relatively low input impedance and when deenergized it exhibits a relatively high input impedance; a second circuit means for developing a pulsating voltage from a source supply; and a first electronic control device for coupling said second circuit means to said capacitor for charging said capacitor in a stairstep fashion in response to said pulsating voltage; said electronic control device having a first, second, and control electrode, said first electrode being coupled to said source supply, said second electrode being coupled to said capacitor, and said control electrode being coupled to said second circuit means; said timing capacitor including a first and a second terminal; said first terminal of said capacitor being coupled to said second electrode of said first electronic control device and to said comparator; and said switch means including a second electronic control device having a first and a second state, and a first, second, and control electrode; said first electrode of said second control device being coupled to said comparator means; said second electrode of said second control device being coupled to said second terminal of said capacitor, and said control electrode of said second device being coupled to said first circuit means so that upon receipt of a signal from said circuit means said electronic control device changes from said first state to said second state to thereby connect said comparator across said terminals of said timing capacitor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 364 words
A strobed timing circuit including: a first timing capacitor for storing a voltage; means foR connecting said capacitor to a source of voltage for charging said capacitor; a normally de-energized comparator means having an input coupled to said capacitor and having a first and second state; said comparator means, when energized, being responsive to the voltage stored by said capacitor so that when the value of said stored voltage attains a level equal to a predetermined value said comparator means changes from said first state to said second state; a first circuit means for periodically developing a signal pulse; a first switch means for energizing said comparator means at a frequency dependent on the frequency of said periodically developed signal pulse whereby when said comparator means is energized it exhibits a relatively low input impedance and when deenergized it exhibits a relatively high input impedance; a second circuit means for developing a pulsating voltage from a source supply; and a first electronic control device for coupling said second circuit means to said capacitor for charging said capacitor in a stairstep fashion in response to said pulsating voltage; said electronic control device having a first, second, and control electrode, said first electrode being coupled to said source supply, said second electrode being coupled to said capacitor, and said control electrode being coupled to said second circuit means; said timing capacitor including a first and a second terminal; said first terminal of said capacitor being coupled to said second electrode of said first electronic control device and to said comparator; and said switch means including a second electronic control device having a first and a second state, and a first, second, and control electrode; said first electrode of said second control device being coupled to said comparator means; said second electrode of said second control device being coupled to said second terminal of said capacitor, and said control electrode of said second device being coupled to said first circuit means so that upon receipt of a signal from said circuit means said electronic control device changes from said first state to said second state to thereby connect said comparator across said terminals of said timing capacitor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 290 words
A strobed timing circuit including: a first timing capacitor for storing a voltage; means for connecting said capacitor to a source of voltage for charging said capacitor; a normally de-energized comparator means having an input coupled to said capacitor and having a first and second state; said comparator means, when energized, being responsive to the voltage stored by said capacitor so that when the value of said stored voltage attains a level equal to a predetermined value said comparator means changes from said first state to said second state; a first circuit means for periodically developing a signal pulse; a first switch means for energizing said comparator means at a frequency dependent on the frequency of said periodically developed signal pulse; a second circuit means for developing a pulsating voltage from a source supply; means for coupling said circuit means to said capacitor for charging said capacitor in a stair-step fashion in response to said pulsating voltage, said second circuit means including a second timing capacitor for storing a voltage; means for connecting said second capacitor to said source supply for charging said capacitor at a predetermined rate and thereby commencing a timing cycle of operation; and a second comparator means coupled to said second capacitor and having a first and a second condition; said second comparator means being responsive to the voltage stored by said second capacitor so that when the voltage stored by said second capacitor attains a level equal to a second predetermined value said second comparator means changes from said first condition to said second condition to thereby develop said pulsating voltage, whereby when said comparator means is energized it Exhibits a relatively low input impedance and when de-energized it exhibits a relatively high input impedance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 290 words
A strobed timing circuit including: a first timing capacitor for storing a voltage; means for connecting said capacitor to a source of voltage for charging said capacitor; a normally de-energized comparator means having an input coupled to said capacitor and having a first and second state; said comparator means, when energized, being responsive to the voltage stored by said capacitor so that when the value of said stored voltage attains a level equal to a predetermined value said comparator means changes from said first state to said second state; a first circuit means for periodically developing a signal pulse; a first switch means for energizing said comparator means at a frequency dependent on the frequency of said periodically developed signal pulse; a second circuit means for developing a pulsating voltage from a source supply; means for coupling said circuit means to said capacitor for charging said capacitor in a stair-step fashion in response to said pulsating voltage, said second circuit means including a second timing capacitor for storing a voltage; means for connecting said second capacitor to said source supply for charging said capacitor at a predetermined rate and thereby commencing a timing cycle of operation; and a second comparator means coupled to said second capacitor and having a first and a second condition; said second comparator means being responsive to the voltage stored by said second capacitor so that when the voltage stored by said second capacitor attains a level equal to a second predetermined value said second comparator means changes from said first condition to said second condition to thereby develop said pulsating voltage, whereby when said comparator means is energized it Exhibits a relatively low input impedance and when de-energized it exhibits a relatively high input impedance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
A strobed timing circuit as defined in claim 2, wherein said first timing capacitor and said second timing capacitor have approximately the same temperature coefficient.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 361 words
A strobed timing circuit including: a first timing capacitor for storing a voltage; means for connecting said capacitor to a source of voltage for charging said capacitor; a normally de-energized comparator means having an input coupled to said capacitor and having a first and second state; said comparator means, when energized, being responsive to the voltage stored by said capacitor so that when the value of said stored voltage attains a level equal to a predetermined value said comparator means changes from said first state to said second state; a first circuit means for periodically developing a signal pulse; a first switch means for energizing said comparator means at a frequency dependent on the frequency of said periodically developed signal pulse whereby when said comparator means is energized it exhibits a relatively low input impedance and when de-energized it exhibits a relatively high input impedance; a second circuit means for developing a pulsating voltage from a source supply; means for coupling said second circuit means to said capacitor for charging said capacitor in a stairstep fashion in response to said pulsating voltage; said second circuit means including a second timing capacitor for storing a voltage; means for connecting said second capacitor to said source supply for charging said capacitor at a predetermined rate and thereby commencing the timing cycle of operation; and a second comparator means coupled to said second capacitor and having a first and a second condition; said second comparator being responsive to the voltage stored by said second capacitor so that when the voltage stored by said second capacitor attains a level equal to a second predetermined value said second comparator means changes from said first state to said second condition to thereby develop said pulsating voltage; said first timing capacitor and said second timing capacitor having approximately the same temperature coefficient; said first circuit means being coupled to an alternating voltage source of a given frequency; said first circuit means being responsive to said voltage source whereby said signal pulse has a frequency dependent on said given frequency so that the time at which said first comparator circuit is energized is a function of said given frequency.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 361 words
A strobed timing circuit including: a first timing capacitor for storing a voltage; means for connecting said capacitor to a source of voltage for charging said capacitor; a normally de-energized comparator means having an input coupled to said capacitor and having a first and second state; said comparator means, when energized, being responsive to the voltage stored by said capacitor so that when the value of said stored voltage attains a level equal to a predetermined value said comparator means changes from said first state to said second state; a first circuit means for periodically developing a signal pulse; a first switch means for energizing said comparator means at a frequency dependent on the frequency of said periodically developed signal pulse whereby when said comparator means is energized it exhibits a relatively low input impedance and when de-energized it exhibits a relatively high input impedance; a second circuit means for developing a pulsating voltage from a source supply; means for coupling said second circuit means to said capacitor for charging said capacitor in a stairstep fashion in response to said pulsating voltage; said second circuit means including a second timing capacitor for storing a voltage; means for connecting said second capacitor to said source supply for charging said capacitor at a predetermined rate and thereby commencing the timing cycle of operation; and a second comparator means coupled to said second capacitor and having a first and a second condition; said second comparator being responsive to the voltage stored by said second capacitor so that when the voltage stored by said second capacitor attains a level equal to a second predetermined value said second comparator means changes from said first state to said second condition to thereby develop said pulsating voltage; said first timing capacitor and said second timing capacitor having approximately the same temperature coefficient; said first circuit means being coupled to an alternating voltage source of a given frequency; said first circuit means being responsive to said voltage source whereby said signal pulse has a frequency dependent on said given frequency so that the time at which said first comparator circuit is energized is a function of said given frequency.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 63 words
A strobed timing circuit as defined in claim 4 wherein said second circuit means is coupled to said alternating voltage source of a given frequency; said second circuit means is responsive to said voltage source whereby said pulsating voltage has a frequency dependent on said given frequency so that the time required to charge said first capacitor is a function of said frequency.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3058012A Cited
US3184614A Cited
US3449741A Cited
US3365586A Cited
US3435193A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1975-04-04 1975-10-04 1976-04-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1979-04-04 1979-10-04 1980-04-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1983-04-04 1983-10-04 1984-04-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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