Controllable waveform generator

Claim 2

A controllable waveform generator comprising: an input current source which is adjustable to provide a predetermined input current, an integrator circuit including an input current switching means for receiving said input current and producing a ramp waveform in response thereto, gating means coupled to said integrator circuit for bringing the integration in said integrator circuit to a predetermined intermediate level of integration on said ramp waveform and for diverting said input current from said integrator circuit to prevent further integration when the waveform reaches such level, further including a second current source which is adjustable to provide a redetermined current for coupling to said gating means to provide a return for said diverted input current, means for selectively operating said gating means for interrupting said ramp waveform at said intermediate level, and for selectively restoring said waveform starting at said level, and means for concurrently adjusting said current sources for proportionately changing the currents produced thereby for changing the waveform slope.

Claim 3

The generator according to claim 1 wherein said integrator circuit includes a capacitor charged by said input current.

Claim 4

The generator according to claim 1 wherein said second current source provides a current equaling twice said input current.

Claim 5

A controllable waveform generator comprising: an input current source which is adjustable to provide a predetermined input current, an integrator circuit for receiving said input current and producing a ramp waveform in response thereto, gating means coupled to said integrator circuit for bringing the integration in said integrator circuit to a predetermined intermediate level of integration on said ramp waveform and for diverting said input current from said integrator circuit to prevent further integration when the waveform reaches such level, said gating means comprising a pair of balanced, reverse-poled diodes disposed in series between said integrator circuit and a selectable voltage, means for selectively biasing said diodes for conduction and nonconduction, and a second current source providing a current equaling twice said input current for producing an equal flow of current through each of said diodes and establishing equal voltage drop thereacross whereby the voltage at the diode terminal coupled to said integrator circuit equals said selectable voltage, said second current source providing a return for said diverted input current, and means for concurrently adjusting said current sources for proportionately changing the currents produced thereby.

Claim 6

A controllable waveform generator comprising: an input current source which is adjustable to provide a predetermined input current, an integrator circuit for receiving said input current and producing a ramp waveform in response thereto, gating means coupled to said integrator circuit for bringing the integration in said integrator circuit to a predetermined intermediate level of integration on said ramp waveform and for diverting said input current from said integrator circuit to prevent further integration when the waveform reaches such level, said gating means comprising a pair of balanced, reverse-poled diodes disposed in series between said integrator circuit and a selectable voltage, means for selectively biasing said diodes for conduction and nonconduction, and a second current source providing a current equaling twice said input current for producing an equal flow of current through each of said diodes and establishing equal voltage drop thereacross whereby the voltage at the diode terminal coupled to said integrator circuit equals said selectable voltage, said second current source providing a return for said diverted input current, and means for concurrently adjusting said current sources for proportionately changing the currents produced thereby.

Claim 7

The generator according to claim 4 wherein said means for selectively biasing said diodes comprises an additional diode having an electrode thereof coupled to the interconnection between said pair of diodes, said electrode corresponding to the electrodes of said pair of diodes to which it is connected, and switching means for selectively connecting the remaining electrode of said additional diode to a voltage level which selectively reverse biases and forward biases the said pair of diodes.

Claim 8

A controllable waveform generator comprising: an input currenT source which is adjustable to provide a predetermined input current, an integrator circuit for receiving said input current and producing a ramp waveform in response thereto, said integrator circuit comprising a Miller integrator including an amplifier and a feedback capacitor, gating means coupled to said integrator circuit for bringing the integration in said integrator circuit to a predetermined intermediate level of integration on said ramp waveform and for diverting said input current from said integrator circuit to prevent further integration when the waveform reaches such level, said gating means comprising a pair of substantially similarly poled diodes disposed between input and output terminals of said Miller integrator circuit and a common point, a second current source coupled to said common point to provide a return for said diverted input current, said second current source supplying a current equaling twice said input current, and means for selectively reverse biasing said pair of diodes and rendering the same conductive for discharging said feedback capacitor, and means for concurrently adjusting said current source for proportionately changing the currents produced thereby.

Claim 9

A controllable waveform generator comprising: an input currenT source which is adjustable to provide a predetermined input current, an integrator circuit for receiving said input current and producing a ramp waveform in response thereto, said integrator circuit comprising a Miller integrator including an amplifier and a feedback capacitor, gating means coupled to said integrator circuit for bringing the integration in said integrator circuit to a predetermined intermediate level of integration on said ramp waveform and for diverting said input current from said integrator circuit to prevent further integration when the waveform reaches such level, said gating means comprising a pair of substantially similarly poled diodes disposed between input and output terminals of said Miller integrator circuit and a common point, a second current source coupled to said common point to provide a return for said diverted input current, said second current source supplying a current equaling twice said input current, and means for selectively reverse biasing said pair of diodes and rendering the same conductive for discharging said feedback capacitor, and means for concurrently adjusting said current source for proportionately changing the currents produced thereby.

Claim 10

The generator according to claim 6 wherein said means for selectively reverse biasing said diodes comprises an additional diode having an electrode thereof coupled to the interconnection between said pair of diodes, said electrode corresponding to the electrodes of said pair of diodes to which it is connected, and switching means for selectively connecting the remaining electrode of said additional diode to voltage level which selectively reverse biases and forward biases the said pair of diodes.

Claim 11

The generator according to claim 6 further including means for determining the output of said integrator circuit relative to a discharge condition of said capacitor, said last mentioned means comprising a voltage dropping means connected to the output of said Miller integrator circuit, including a resistor and means for passing a predetermined current through said resistor.

Claim 12

A controllable waveform generator comprising: an input current source which is adjustable to provide a predetermined input current, an integrator circuit including an input current switching means for receiving said input current and producing a ramp waveform in response thereto, gating means coupled to said integrator circuit for bringing the integration in said integrator circuit to a predetermined intermediate level of integration on said ramp waveform and for diverting said input current from said integrator circuit to prevent further integration when the waveform reached such level, further including a second current source which is adjustable to provide a predetermined current for coupling to said gating means to provide a return for said diverted input current, and means for concurrently adjusting said current sources for proportionately changing the currents produced thereby, wherein said input current source includes positive nd negative current source means for alternatively providing said input current, said second current source providing a current in a direction for providing a return for input current in a given polarity direction.

Claim 13

A controllable waveform generator comprising: an input current source which is adjustable to provide a predetermined input current, an integrator circuit including an input current switching means for receiving said input current and producing a ramp waveform in response thereto, gating means coupled to said integrator circuit for bringing the integration in said integrator circuit to a predetermined intermediate level of integration on said ramp waveform and for diverting said input current from said integrator circuit to prevent further integration when the waveform reached such level, further including a second current source which is adjustable to provide a predetermined current for coupling to said gating means to provide a return for said diverted input current, and means for concurrently adjusting said current sources for proportionately changing the currents produced thereby, wherein said input current source includes positive nd negative current source means for alternatively providing said input current, said second current source providing a current in a direction for providing a return for input current in a given polarity direction.

Claim 14

A controllable waveform generator comprising: an input current source which is adjustable to provide a predetermined input current, an integrator circuit including an input current switching means for receiving said input current and producing a ramp waveform in response thereto, gating means coupled to said integrator circuit for bringing the integration in said integrator circuit to a predetermined intermediate level of integration on said ramp waveform and for diverting said input current from said integrator circuit to prevent further integration when the waveform reaches such level, further including a second current source which is adjustable to provide a predetermined current for coupling to said gating mans to prOvide a return for said diverted input current, and means for concurrently adjusting said current sources for proportionately changing the currents produced thereby, said generator including a level detector for detecting when the output of the integrator reaches each of a pair of output levels representative of the extremes of said triangular wave, and means responsive to such detection for reversing the polarity of input current flow relative to said integrator circuit whereby said generator produces a substantially triangular wave.

Claim 15

A controllable waveform generator comprising: an input current source which is adjustable to provide a predetermined input current, an integrator circuit including an input current switching means for receiving said input current and producing a ramp waveform in response thereto, gating means coupled to said integrator circuit for bringing the integration in said integrator circuit to a predetermined intermediate level of integration on said ramp waveform and for diverting said input current from said integrator circuit to prevent further integration when the waveform reaches such level, further including a second current source which is adjustable to provide a predetermined current for coupling to said gating mans to prOvide a return for said diverted input current, and means for concurrently adjusting said current sources for proportionately changing the currents produced thereby, said generator including a level detector for detecting when the output of the integrator reaches each of a pair of output levels representative of the extremes of said triangular wave, and means responsive to such detection for reversing the polarity of input current flow relative to said integrator circuit whereby said generator produces a substantially triangular wave.

Claim 16

A controllable waveform generator comprising; an integrator circuit responsive to an input current for producing a substantially triangular wave, said circuit including a level detector for detecting when the output of the integrator reaches each of a pair of output levels representative of the extremes of said triangular wave, and means responsive to such detection for reversing the polarity of input current flow relative to said integrator circuit, gating means controllably responsive to the integration in said integrator circuit reaching at least a predetermined value along said triangular wave for interrupting input current flow relative to said integrator circuit and preventing integration beyond said predetermined value, said gating means being selectively operative for restoring said input current to said integrator circuit in order to reinitiate generation of said triangular wave beginning at a predetermined value, a current source which is adjustable to provide a second predetermined current for coupling to said gating means to provide a return path for said input current when said gating means operates for interrupting said input current flow to said integrator circuit, and means for proportionately adjusting the values of input current and current from said current source for varying the frequency of said triangular wave.

Claim 17

A controllable waveform generator comprising; an integrator circuit responsive to an input current for producing a substantially triangular wave, said circuit including a level detector for detecting when the output of the integrator reaches each of a pair of output levels representative of the extremes of said triangular wave, and means responsive to such detection for reversing the polarity of input current flow relative to said integrator circuit, gating means controllably responsive to the integration in said integrator circuit reaching at least a predetermined value along said triangular wave for interrupting input current flow relative to said integrator circuit and preventing integration beyond said predetermined value, said gating means being selectively operative for restoring said input current to said integrator circuit in order to reinitiate generation of said triangular wave beginning at a predetermined value, a current source which is adjustable to provide a second predetermined current for coupling to said gating means to provide a return path for said input current when said gating means operates for interrupting said input current flow to said integrator circuit, and means for proportionately adjusting the values of input current and current from said current source for varying the frequency of said triangular wave.

Claim 18

The generator according to claim 1 wherein said gating means includes a pair of substantially similar diodes for establishing equal voltage drop thereacross for maintaining said intermediate level substantially constant relative to said waveform with changes in currents produced by said current sources.