US3702970A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for determining the maximum output voltage swing on operational amplifiers
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1971-02-24
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Granted: 1972-11-14
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Expires: 1991-02-24
Abstract
Abstract An operational amplifier is rapidly driven through a voltage swing to a maximum value; that is, the excursion of the output voltage attains a maximum value with a prescribed difference between the input and the output voltages. Initially, a voltage equal to the prescribed voltage is fed through an adder feedback circuit to the input of the amplifier and the resulting output voltage is added to the initial voltage to initiate a regenerative build up of the voltage applied to the input. The output voltage instantaneously increases until the prescribed difference exists between the input and the output voltages. A reading of this voltage indicates the maximum voltage swing at the prescribed difference between the input and output voltages.
Inventors
- 👤 Grant F Stetzler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:46
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06G; G06G7/00; G06G7/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
A system for determining the maximum output voltage of a first operational amplifier upon the occurrence of a specified voltage difference between input and output voltages thereof; wherein the first operational amplifier has an inverting input terminal and an output terminal, which comprises: a second operational amplifier having an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting input terminal, and an output terminal; means for applying a voltage to said non-inverting input terminal of said second operational amplifier so that a voltage equal to the specified voltage difference is developed at said output terminal of said second operational amplifier; means for coupling said output terminal of said second operational amplifier to the inverting input terminal of the first operational amplifier; means for coupling the output terminal of the first operational amplifier to said inverting input terminal of said second operational amplifier so that the output voltage of the first operational amplifier is added to the specified voltage difference developed at said output terminal of said second operational amplifier thereby initiating a regenerative feedback action to continuously increase the voltage applied to the inverting input terminal of the first operational amplifier until the voltage difference between the inverting input terminal and the output terminal of the first operational amplifier is equal to the specified voltage difference; and means coupled to the output terminal of the first operational amplifier for measuring the output voltage of the first operational amplifier to determine the maximum output voltage upon the occurrence of the specified voltage difference.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
248 words
A system for determining the maximum output voltage of a first operational amplifier upon the occurrence of a specified voltage difference between input and output voltages thereof; wherein the first operational amplifier has an inverting input terminal and an output terminal, which comprises: a second operational amplifier having an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting input terminal, and an output terminal; means for applying a voltage to said non-inverting input terminal of said second operational amplifier so that a voltage equal to the specified voltage difference is developed at said output terminal of said second operational amplifier; means for coupling said output terminal of said second operational amplifier to the inverting input terminal of the first operational amplifier; means for coupling the output terminal of the first operational amplifier to said inverting input terminal of said second operational amplifier so that the output voltage of the first operational amplifier is added to the specified voltage difference developed at said output terminal of said second operational amplifier thereby initiating a regenerative feedback action to continuously increase the voltage applied to the inverting input terminal of the first operational amplifier until the voltage difference between the inverting input terminal and the output terminal of the first operational amplifier is equal to the specified voltage difference; and means coupled to the output terminal of the first operational amplifier for measuring the output voltage of the first operational amplifier to determine the maximum output voltage upon the occurrence of the specified voltage difference.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
81 words
A system for determining the maximum output voltage of a first operational amplifier as set forth in claim 1 wherein said applying means further comprises a voltage divider network having a junction coupled to said non-inverting input terminal of said second operational amplifier and having an input terminal so that applying a voltage equal to the specified voltage difference to said input terminal of said network produces an output voltage from said second operational amplifier equal to the specified voltage difference.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
258 words
In a system for determining the maximum output voltage of a first operational amplifier which is obtainable without exceeding a predetermined voltage drop between an inverting input terminal and an output terminal of the first operational amplifier; a second operational amplifier having an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting input terminal and an output terminal, the output terminal of the first operational amplifier being coupled to said inverting input terminal of said second operational amplifier; a voltage divider netwoRk coupled to said non-inverting input of said second operational amplifier and having an input terminal, so that applying a preselected voltage equal to the predetermined voltage drop to said input terminal of said voltage divider network produces a voltage at said output terminal of said second operational amplifier equal to the predetermined voltage drop solely in response to the applying of said preselected voltage; means for coupling said output terminal of said second operational amplifier to the inverting input terminal of the first operational amplifier so that a regenerative feedback action is established to drive the first operational amplifier toward saturation, said regenerative action automatically ceasing when the voltage drop between the inverting input terminal and the output terminal of the first operational amplifier equals said preselected voltage; and means coupled to the output terminal of the first operational amplifier for measuring the output voltage to determine when said regenerative feedback action has ceased thereby determining the maximum output voltage from the first operational amplifier corresponding to a predetermined voltage drop between the inverting input terminal and the output terminal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
258 words
In a system for determining the maximum output voltage of a first operational amplifier which is obtainable without exceeding a predetermined voltage drop between an inverting input terminal and an output terminal of the first operational amplifier; a second operational amplifier having an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting input terminal and an output terminal, the output terminal of the first operational amplifier being coupled to said inverting input terminal of said second operational amplifier; a voltage divider netwoRk coupled to said non-inverting input of said second operational amplifier and having an input terminal, so that applying a preselected voltage equal to the predetermined voltage drop to said input terminal of said voltage divider network produces a voltage at said output terminal of said second operational amplifier equal to the predetermined voltage drop solely in response to the applying of said preselected voltage; means for coupling said output terminal of said second operational amplifier to the inverting input terminal of the first operational amplifier so that a regenerative feedback action is established to drive the first operational amplifier toward saturation, said regenerative action automatically ceasing when the voltage drop between the inverting input terminal and the output terminal of the first operational amplifier equals said preselected voltage; and means coupled to the output terminal of the first operational amplifier for measuring the output voltage to determine when said regenerative feedback action has ceased thereby determining the maximum output voltage from the first operational amplifier corresponding to a predetermined voltage drop between the inverting input terminal and the output terminal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
168 words
A method of determining the maximum output voltage of an operational amplifier corresponding to a specified voltage difference between input and output voltages, wherein the first operational amplifier has an inverting input terminal and an output terminal, which comprises: introducing a voltage equal to the specified voltage difference into a regenerative feedback circuit coupling the output terminal to the input terminal of the operational amplifier; increasing the voltage applied to the input terminal of the operational amplifier by said regenerative feedback circuit in steps equal to the sum of the specified voltage difference and the voltage present at the output terminal of the operational amplifier; stabilizing the voltage applied to the input terminal when the voltage drop between the input terminal and the output terminal equals the specified voltage difference; and measuring the output voltage of the operational amplifier to determine when said applied voltage is stabilized thereby determining the maximum output voltage of the operational amplifier corresponding to the specified voltage difference between input and output voltages.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
168 words
A method of determining the maximum output voltage of an operational amplifier corresponding to a specified voltage difference between input and output voltages, wherein the first operational amplifier has an inverting input terminal and an output terminal, which comprises: introducing a voltage equal to the specified voltage difference into a regenerative feedback circuit coupling the output terminal to the input terminal of the operational amplifier; increasing the voltage applied to the input terminal of the operational amplifier by said regenerative feedback circuit in steps equal to the sum of the specified voltage difference and the voltage present at the output terminal of the operational amplifier; stabilizing the voltage applied to the input terminal when the voltage drop between the input terminal and the output terminal equals the specified voltage difference; and measuring the output voltage of the operational amplifier to determine when said applied voltage is stabilized thereby determining the maximum output voltage of the operational amplifier corresponding to the specified voltage difference between input and output voltages.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-14 | 1976-05-15 | 1976-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-14 | 1980-05-15 | 1980-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-14 | 1984-05-15 | 1984-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |