Limited average voter circuitry

Claim 2

An analog voter of the averaging type for use in redundant circuitry comprising a signal processing channel including an averaging network connected to a plurality of separate signal sources through individual branches for producing at the output terminal of said network an average signal that is the average of distinct analog signals introduced at said sources intermittently conductive means coupled to said branches and controlled by a feedback means from the output of the averaging network for applying a voltage to said branches to clamp the input voltage to the averaging means from any branch at a predetermined level whenever the excursion of the input analog signal level to that branch exceeds the average signal by a predetermined amount.

Claim 3

The analog voter of claim 1 wherein said intermittently conductive means includes a voltage sensitive conductive device having a discreet threshold potential to establish the predetermined voltage difference between the input analog signal and the average signal required to clamp the voltage at said branch to the average output level.

Claim 4

The analog voter of claim 1 wherein said averaging network includes a plurality of substantially identical network branches converging from said sources to a single amplifier and each said branch includes two resistances separated by a node.

Claim 5

The analog voter of claim 2 wherein said voltage sensitive conductive device includes a unidirectional conductive means coupled to each of said branches.

Claim 6

The analog voter of claim 4 wherein said, unidirectional conductive means includes a pair of oppositely poled unidirectional conductive devices.

Claim 7

The analog voter of claim 4 wherein said unidirectional conductive means includes a pair of oppositely poled diodes.

Claim 8

In an analog voter for use in redundant circuitry having an averaging network connected to a plurality of separate signal sources for producing, at the output terminal of said network, a signal that is the average of distinct analog signals introduced at said sources, said network including a plurality of branches, one for each said source, intermittently conductive means for selectively applying a voltage to the network branches to clamp the voltage from a given branch to the averaging network at a predetermined level whenever the excursion of the input analog signal level to that branch exceeds the average signal by a predetermined amount.

Claim 9

In an analog voter for use in redundant circuitry having an averaging network connected to a plurality of separate signal sources for producing, at the output terminal of said network, a signal that is the average of distinct analog signals introduced at said sources, said network including a plurality of branches, one for each said source, intermittently conductive means for selectively applying a voltage to the network branches to clamp the voltage from a given branch to the averaging network at a predetermined level whenever the excursion of the input analog signal level to that branch exceeds the average signal by a predetermined amount.

Claim 10

In an analog voter for use in redundant circuitry having a plurality of substantially identical branch circuits containing resistances converging from separate input terminals to an input connection of a single unity gain amplifier whereby said amplifier produces an output signal at its output terminal that is the average of analog signals introduced at said separate input terminals, each branch circuit including two resistances connected in series and separated by a node, feedback meaNs from the output of the unity gain amplifier to each said node for clamping the voltage at the node to the average output level from the remaining signals whenever the input signal excursion at any given branch exceeds the average signal by a predetermined amount including intermittently conductive means sensitive to a voltage difference for selectively connecting the output of said unity gain amplifier to said nodes whenever the analog signals at said node exceeds the average of analog signals by a predetermined amount to thereby clamp the voltage at said node.

Claim 11

In an analog voter for use in redundant circuitry having a plurality of substantially identical branch circuits containing resistances converging from separate input terminals to an input connection of a single unity gain amplifier whereby said amplifier produces an output signal at its output terminal that is the average of analog signals introduced at said separate input terminals, each branch circuit including two resistances connected in series and separated by a node, feedback meaNs from the output of the unity gain amplifier to each said node for clamping the voltage at the node to the average output level from the remaining signals whenever the input signal excursion at any given branch exceeds the average signal by a predetermined amount including intermittently conductive means sensitive to a voltage difference for selectively connecting the output of said unity gain amplifier to said nodes whenever the analog signals at said node exceeds the average of analog signals by a predetermined amount to thereby clamp the voltage at said node.

Claim 12

The analog voter of claim 8 wherein said means sensitive to a voltage difference includes a voltage sensitive conductive means having a discrete threshold potential to establish the predetermined voltage difference between the analog input signal and the average output required to drive the device into conduction and clamp the voltage at the node to the average output level.

Claim 13

The analog voter according to claim 9 wherein said voltage sensitive conductive means includes a unidirectional conductive means.

Claim 14

The analog voter according to claim 10 wherein said voltage sensitive unidirectional conductive means includes a pair of oppositely poled unidirectional conductive devices.

Claim 15

The analog voter according to claim 8 wherein the intermittently conductive voltage sensitive means includes a diode.

Claim 16

The analog voter according to claim 9 wherein said intermittently conductive voltage sensitive means includes a pair of oppositely poled diodes.