US3671870A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tuning system for communication receivers storing predetermined tuning positions within the receiver frequency band
Assignee: BLAUKUNKT WERKE GmbH
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Filing: 1970-04-01
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Granted: 1972-06-20
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Expires: 1990-04-01
Abstract
Abstract The receiver is designed to provide a control signal varying the tuning frequency thereof, for example derived from a signal searching system (7). A pulse source (9) and a digital stepping circuit (11), controlled by the pulse source provides a stepped, digitally changing signal, in a binary progression. A comparator circuit (12) has said stepped signal and said tuning control signal applied thereto, and compares a characteristic, typically voltage, of the signals. Upon detection of coincidence, a characteristic of the signal, for example voltage, is stored, for example as a level of magnetization in a transfluxor core (FIG. 4) or as the count of a flip-flop chain, including magnetic cores, in the digital stepping circuit. Upon re-energization of the receiver after disconnection, a voltage value derived from the digital stepping circuit, or from the storing means can be directly applied to the tuning control, or the signal search system, respectively, so that the receiver will be pre-tuned to the selected frequency.
Inventors
- 👤 Heinz Wellhausen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:40
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03J; H03J5/00; H03J5/02; H03J5/0245; H03J5/0254; H03J5/0263; H03J7/00; H03J7/18; H03J7/20; H03J7/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
Tuning system for communication receivers adapted to be connected to a power source comprising means (7) providing a progressively variable control signal which varies with tuning frequency of the receiver; a pulse source (9) and a digital stepping circuit (11) controlled by said pulse source, said stepping circuit providing a stepped digitally changing signal; a comparator circuit (12) having said stepped signal and said control signal applied thereto and comparing characteristics of said signals; and magnetic means (9, 10, 11; FIG. 5) included in said system and connected to said comparator and storing a characteristic of one of said signals upon detection of coincidence of both said signals by said comparator circuit, said magnetic means storing said characteristic even upon disconnection of the system from the power source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
Tuning system for communication receivers adapted to be connected to a power source comprising means (7) providing a progressively variable control signal which varies with tuning frequency of the receiver; a pulse source (9) and a digital stepping circuit (11) controlled by said pulse source, said stepping circuit providing a stepped digitally changing signal; a comparator circuit (12) having said stepped signal and said control signal applied thereto and comparing characteristics of said signals; and magnetic means (9, 10, 11; FIG. 5) included in said system and connected to said comparator and storing a characteristic of one of said signals upon detection of coincidence of both said signals by said comparator circuit, said magnetic means storing said characteristic even upon disconnection of the system from the power source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
System according to claim 1 wherein said comparator is connected to said pulse source to inhibit further stepping of said digital stepping circuit upon detection of coincidence of the characteristics of said signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
System according to claim 1 for use in a signal searching receiver, further comprising a signal searching system (7) providing an output signal upon detection of a radiated signal of sufficient strength for reception; and means (line 17; FIG. 2) connected to said storing means applying an initial signal to said searching system from said storing means upon re-energization of the receiver after interruption of the energization thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
System according to claim 3 wherein said comparator is connected to said pulse source to inhibit further stepping of said digital stepping circuit; and wherein said output signal controlling said searching system is a varying voltage; said stepped signal is a digitally varying voltage; and the voltage of the digital value stored in said storing means upon coincidence of said control and said stepped signals is applied to said searching system as an initial bias voltage upon re-energization of the receiver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
System according to claim 3 wherein the pulse source causes stepping of said digital stepping circuit (11) in binary progression; and said comparator (12) is connected (line 15) to said pulse source to inhibit application of further pulses to said stepping circuit upon coincidence of the voltage controlling said searching system and voltage value from said digital stepping circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
System according to claim 1 wherein the stepping circuit comprises a plurality of flip-flop circuits (FIG. 5: 70-74) interconnected as a progressing counter; resistances (80-84) connected to the output of each flip-flop circuit and having values providing said digitally stepped output voltage, the resistances connected to any one flip-flop having half, or double the value of the resistance of a next adjacenT resistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
System according to claim 6 wherein up to seven flip-flop stages are present providing 255 discrete digitally stepped output voltages; and a summing amplifier (86) matching the output voltage steps to the varying voltage controlling said searching system, is provided.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
System according to claim 6 wherein each flip-flop includes a rectangular-hysteresis core (88) storing the condition of the flip-flop upon interruption of supply power to the receiver, said cores forming the magnetic means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
System according to claim 1 wherein said pulse source provides square wave pulses; and said digital stepping circuit (11) comprises at least one transfluxor (FIG. 4: 50) and providing a stepped and varying output voltage when pulsed by said pulse source, said transfluxor forming the magnetic means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
System according to claim 1 wherein said comparator (12) comprises: a difference amplifier (FIG. 3) having a pair of load resistances (42, 43); a single output resistance (30) having an extreme voltage value applied thereacross upon coincidence of said signals applied to said comparator; and a semiconductor junction element (45, 46) interconnecting said load resistances (42, 43) in parallel, selectively, with said single output resistance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
93 words
System according to claim 2 for use in a signal searching receiver, wherein said means providing a tuning control signal comprises a signal searching system (7), said signal searching system being connected to one input of said comparator (12); and wherein said comparator is adjusted to permit stepping of said stepping circuit (11) only if the difference between the tuning control signal from said signal searching system (7) and a digital stepped voltage from said stepping circuit (11) is at least as great as the value of one step of said stepped signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
108 words
System according to claim 2 for use in a signal searching receiver, wherein said means providing a tuning control signal comprises a signal searching system (7), said signal searching system being connected to one input of the comparator (12) and providing a varying voltage thereto; said digital stepping circuit (11) providing a stepped voltage connected to the other input of said comparator (12); said storing means storing the voltage value supplied by said stepping circuit upon coincidence of two inputs of the comparator; said stored voltage being applied to the tuning system of the receiver, or the search system, respectively, upon re-energization of the receiver after interruption thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
System according to claim 12 wherein, upon re-energization of the receiver, the greater of the voltages from the comparator, or from the search system, is applied to the tuning circuit of the receiver as a tuning control signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
System according to claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of manually operable storage control keys (10a); and storage means connected to said storage control keys and storing a discrete digital voltage, each, upon operation of said keys, as said voltage varies in steps during tuning of the receiver.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
98 words
Tuning system for communication receivers adapted to be connected to a power source, and subject to be disconnected therefrom, comprising means providing a tuning control signal; a variable capacity diode, having a bias applied thereto which changes as said tuning control signal changes, to provide tuning of the variable capacity diode under control of said tuning control signal; and magnetic means included in said system and connected in circuit with said tuning control signal to store a characteristic thereof and provide a memory of the tuned position of said variable capacity diode, upon disconnection from the power source.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
98 words
Tuning system for communication receivers adapted to be connected to a power source, and subject to be disconnected therefrom, comprising means providing a tuning control signal; a variable capacity diode, having a bias applied thereto which changes as said tuning control signal changes, to provide tuning of the variable capacity diode under control of said tuning control signal; and magnetic means included in said system and connected in circuit with said tuning control signal to store a characteristic thereof and provide a memory of the tuned position of said variable capacity diode, upon disconnection from the power source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
Tuning system according to claim 15, wherein the means providing a tuning control signal comprises a pulse source and a digital stepping circuit controlled by said pulse source, said stepping circUit providing a stepped, digitally changing signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
Tuning system according to claim 16, wherein the stepping circuit comprises a plurality of flip-flop circuits, each including a magnetic core storing the condition of the flip-flop upon interruption of power supply to the receiver, said cores forming the magnetic means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
System according to claim 15, wherein the magnetic means comprises a transfluxor.
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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) | 1975-06-20 | 1975-12-20 | 1976-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-20 | 1979-12-20 | 1980-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-20 | 1983-12-20 | 1984-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |