Method and apparatus for signal detection

Claim 3

A method of signal detection as defined in claim 1, wherein said transmitted signals are separated in time by a known interval, including generating pulses synchronized with said generated signals which precede and succeed said generated signals by a predetermined interval, providing a first signal when said preceding pulse is coincident with a transmitted signal and providing a second signal when said succeeding pulse is coincident with a transmitted signal, and visually displaying the occurrence of coincidence.

Claim 4

A method of signal detection as defined in claim 1, including receiving said transmitted signals and producing an electric signal corresponding thereto, creating a plurality of time bins within said recurring period, sampling said electric signal a plurality of times within the known duration thereof and producing a binary indication when it is present, storing and counting said binary indications occurring within each time bin, and producing a signal of said known duration when an appropriate plurality of time bins register the occurrence of a predetermined number of binary indications.

Claim 5

A signal detection system responsive to sequentially received signals of known, but different, durations, which are received with a recurring period; comprising means for sequentially generating a plurality of signals having said known, but different, durations, first means for creating a visual display corresponding to the occurrence of each of said generated signals; and second means for creating a visual display corresponding to the reception of each of said received signals, in juxtaposition with the display of said generated signals.

Claim 6

A signal detection system responsive to sequentially received signals of known, but different, durations, which are received with a recurring period; comprising means for sequentially generating a plurality of signals having said known, but different, durations, first means for creating a visual display corresponding to the occurrence of each of said generated signals; and second means for creating a visual display corresponding to the reception of each of said received signals, in juxtaposition with the display of said generated signals.

Claim 7

A signal deTection system as defined in claim 4, including means for adjusting the phase of said generated signals to achieve coincidence of said displays.

Claim 8

A signal detection system as defined in claim 4, wherein said visual displays comprise indicators individual to each signal which are actuated for a predetermined time interval following termination of each signal.

Claim 9

A signal detection system as defined in claim 6, comprising a first plurality of lights individual to each of said generated signals and arranged in a first row in the order said signals are sequentially generated, and a second plurality of lights individual to each of said received signals and arranged in a second row in the order said signals are sequentially received, the lights in one of said rows being arranged in juxtaposition with the lights in the other row individual to signals of corresponding duration.

Claim 10

A signal detection system as defined in claim 4, wherein said second means comprises means responsive to said received signals to produce a discrete output during the presence thereof; detection means for sampling said discrete output a plurality of times within the duration of each said received signal and operative to register the number of times said output is present during said duration, and means controlled by said detection means for generating a display control signal having the duration of each said received signal in accordance with the number registered in said detection means.

Claim 11

A signal detection system responsive to sequentially transmitted signals of known, but different, durations, which are transmitted with a recurring period; comprising digital means for sequentially generating a plurality of local signals corresponding to each of said transmitted signals and having said known durations, first display means responsive to said local signals to visually display the occurrence of each of said local signals, second display means operative in response to said transmitted signals to visually display the occurrence of each of said transmitted signals in juxtaposition with the display of said local signals, and means for phase aligning said local signals with said transmitted signals.

Claim 12

A signal detection system responsive to sequentially transmitted signals of known, but different, durations, which are transmitted with a recurring period; comprising digital means for sequentially generating a plurality of local signals corresponding to each of said transmitted signals and having said known durations, first display means responsive to said local signals to visually display the occurrence of each of said local signals, second display means operative in response to said transmitted signals to visually display the occurrence of each of said transmitted signals in juxtaposition with the display of said local signals, and means for phase aligning said local signals with said transmitted signals.

Claim 13

A signal detection system as defined in claim 9, including receiving means responsive to said transmitted signals to produce an electric signal corresponding thereto, means operative to produce a discrete output when said electric signal exceeds a predetermined threshold, sampling means operative to sample said discrete output a plurality of times within the duration of each transmitted signal and provide a binary indication when said electric signal is present, register means operative to store said binary indications in time bins representing discrete time intervals within said recurring time period, said register means recording the number of said binary indications present in each time bin, and means for producing outputs to control said second display means when said number exceeds a predetermined value.

Claim 14

A signal detection system as defined in claim 10, wherein said last mentioned means comprises counting means operative to produce a signal of the known duration corresponding to a transmitted signal when the numbers in a plurality of time bins exceed said predetermined value, said signal being operative to control said second display means.

Claim 15

A signal detection system as defined in claim 4, wherein said received signals are separated in time by a known interval, including means for generating pulses synchronized with said generated signals and spaced in time to precede and succeed each of said received signals by a predetermined interval, and means for comparing said generated pulses with said received signals to effect phase alignment of said local signals and said received signals.

Claim 16

A signal detection system as defined in claim 12, wherein said last-mentioned means comprises logic means for providing a first signal when said preceding pulse and said received signal appear coinCidentally and for providing a second signal when said succeeding pulse and said received signal appear coincidentally, and visual display means responsive to said first and second signals.

Claim 17

A signal detection system as defined in claim 9, wherein said transmitted signals are separated in time by a known interval, including digital means for generating pulses synchronized with said local signals in time to precede and succeed each of said transmitted signals by a predetermined interval, and logic circuits for comparing said generated pulses with said transmitted signals to effect phase alignment of said local signals and said transmitted signals.

Claim 18

A signal detection system as defined in claim 14, wherein said logic circuitry comprises means for providing a first signal when said preceding pulse and said transmitted signal appear coincidentally and for providing a second signal when said succeeding pulse and said transmitted signal appear coincidentally, and visual display means responsive to said first and second signals.

Claim 19

A method of signal detection as defined in claim 3, wherein following reception of said transmitted signals, they are compared to a threshold level prior to the production of said electric signal, said threshold level being developed from analysis of the time bins registering a minimum number of binary indications.

Claim 20

A signal detection system as defined in claim 8, wherein said discrete output is produced only when said received signals exceed a threshold level, and including means responsive to said detection means operative to establish said threshold level in accordance with the number registered therein during the time periods when no signal is being received.