Analog calculation apparatus for performing convolution

Claim 1

An analog computer apparatus comprising: first means for supplying a first analog data signal; second means, responsive to said first means, for successively generating a plurality of second analog data signals identical to said first analog data signal but being successively delayed with respect to each other and said first analog data signal by successive predetermined periods of time, said second means comprising a first track of an analog storage tape recorder, a first record head coupled to said first means for supplying said first analog data signal to said first track, a reproduction head spaced apart by a predetermined distance from said record head, so that when said first track is moved in the direction from said reproduction head toward said record head, after said first analog data signal has been stored on said first track, said reproduction head will produce said first signal delayed with respect to the reproduction of said first signal during a previous pass of said track; third means, responsive to said second means, and being coupled to said reproduction head, for multiplying each of said successively generated second analog data signals by predetermined weighting coefficients, each multiplication corresponding to an individual pass of said tape past said reproduction head, to produce third analog signals; and fourth means, responsive to said third means, for generating an analog output signal representative of the convolution of said first analog data signal with a signal representative of said weighting coefficients, including an adder circuit, having a first input connected to the output of said third means, a second storage tape track coupled to the output of said adder circuit through a record head, whereby the output of said adder circuit will be recorded on said second track, a reproduction head spaced apart from said record head a predetermined distance, so that when said second track passes by said reproduction head in the direction of said record head, the signal on said second track will be detected by said reproduction head and an output will be produced therefrom, and means for coupling the output of said reproduction head to a second input of said adder circuit, whereby the signal stored on said second tape track will be successively added with the output of said coefficient multiplier, and further including means for coupling the output of said reproduction head associated with said second track to an output terminal whereby said analog output signal representative of said convolution will be reproduced.