Patent US3708659A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3708659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Function generator
Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
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Filing: 1971-09-23
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Granted: 1973-01-02
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Expires: 1991-09-23
Abstract
Abstract Approximation of a function relating an independent to a dependent variable. A first resistance furnishes signals corresponding to the independent variable values at a plurality of first taps, a second resistance furnishes dependent variable signals at a corresponding plurality of second taps. A first and second contact arm respectively scan the first and second resistors simultaneously. A feedback circuit has an input terminal connected to the input furnishing the value of independent variable for which the value of dependent variable is to be found. It has a feedback input connected to receive the signals scanned by the first contact arm. Movement of contact arms is stopped when signal at first contact arm is equal to input signal. Signal at second contact arm then equal to desired value of dependent variable.
Inventors
- 👤 G Schirmer
- 👤 E Fauser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:27
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06G; G06G7/00; G06G7/12; G06G7/26; G06G7/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
Function generator for approximating a predetermined function relating a dependent variable to an independenT variable, comprising, in combination, an input terminal receiving an independent variable signal corresponding to a selected value of said independent variable; first signal furnishing means furnishing a plurality of first signals, each of thus said first signals corresponding to a determined value of said independent variable; second signal furnishing means furnishing a corresponding plurality of second signals, each of said second signals corresponding to a value of dependent variable related by said predetermined function to the value of independent variable associated with the corresponding one of said first signals; first scanning means scanning said first signal furnishing means and furnishing a plurality of scanned first signals; second scanning means connected to said first scanning means for simultaneous scanning therewith, said second scanning means scanning said second signal furnishing means and furnishing a plurality of scanned second signals, each related to the corresponding one of said scanned first signals by said determined function; and closed loop control means having a first input connected to said input terminal, a feedback input connected to said first scanning means, and output control means responsive to the difference between said signals applied at said first and feedback inputs, for stopping said first and second scanning means when said difference is a predetermined difference, said second scanning means thereby furnishing a scanned second signal signifying the value of dependent variable related by said determined function to said selected value of independent variable.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
Function generator for approximating a predetermined function relating a dependent variable to an independenT variable, comprising, in combination, an input terminal receiving an independent variable signal corresponding to a selected value of said independent variable; first signal furnishing means furnishing a plurality of first signals, each of thus said first signals corresponding to a determined value of said independent variable; second signal furnishing means furnishing a corresponding plurality of second signals, each of said second signals corresponding to a value of dependent variable related by said predetermined function to the value of independent variable associated with the corresponding one of said first signals; first scanning means scanning said first signal furnishing means and furnishing a plurality of scanned first signals; second scanning means connected to said first scanning means for simultaneous scanning therewith, said second scanning means scanning said second signal furnishing means and furnishing a plurality of scanned second signals, each related to the corresponding one of said scanned first signals by said determined function; and closed loop control means having a first input connected to said input terminal, a feedback input connected to said first scanning means, and output control means responsive to the difference between said signals applied at said first and feedback inputs, for stopping said first and second scanning means when said difference is a predetermined difference, said second scanning means thereby furnishing a scanned second signal signifying the value of dependent variable related by said determined function to said selected value of independent variable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second signal furnishing means comprise voltage furnishing means; and first and second resistance means, each having at least a first and second connecting terminal connected to said voltage furnishing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first and second scanning means respectively comprise first and second wiper means, mechanically intercoupled; and wherein said output control means comprise motor means moving said mechanically intercoupled first and second wiper means along said first and second resistance means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein said closed loop control means comprise comparator means furnishing a comparator output signal in response to the difference between signals at said first and feedback inputs; and wherein said motor means is connected to the output of said comparator means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
197 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 4, further comprising input potentiometer means furnishing said independent variable signal at an input potentiometer tap; means connecting said input potentiometer tap to said first input terminal; and means connecting said first wiper means to said feedback input of said comparator means. 6. An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second signal furnishing means comprise, respectively, a first and second plurality of series-connected resistance means, each of said plurality of series-connected resistance means having a plurality of connecting terminals; means applying predetermined voltages at selected ones of said connecting terminals of said first and second plurality of series-connected resistance means; wherein said first and second scanning means comprise, respectively, a first and second movable contact; wherein said closed loop control means comprise comparator means having a first input connected to said input terminal, a feedback input connected to said first movable contact, and a comparator output; and first switch means connected to said comparator output for moving said first and second movable contacts along said connecting terminals until the difference between the signal at said first input and said feedback input is said predetermined difference.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 6, wherein said predetermined difference is zero.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
An arrangement as set fortH in claim 2, wherein said voltage furnishing means comprise a source of voltage having a first and second voltage furnishing terminal; a plurality of third resistance means connected in parallel with said source of voltage, each of said third resistance means having a movable arm; and means connecting each of said movable arms to a corresponding one of said connecting terminals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 8, wherein each of said third resistance means is a low resistance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
224 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second signal furnishing means respectively comprise first and second coarse approximation signal furnishing means furnishing respectively a plurality of first and second coarse approximation signals; further comprising first and second fine approximation signal furnishing means each having a first and second end terminal and intermediate terminals, and furnishing fine approximation signals at said intermediate terminals in correspondence to signals applied at said first and second end terminals; wherein said first and second scanning means respectively comprise first and second coarse scanning means applying, respectively, successive ones of said first and second coarse approximation signals to said end terminals of said first and second fine approximation signal furnishing means, and first and second fine scanning means respectively scanning said first and second fine approximation signal furnishing means; and wherein said closed loop control means comprise coarse closed loop control means moving said coarse approximation scanning means until said independent variable signal is within the range of said fine approximation signals furnished by said first fine approximation signal furnishing means, and wherein said closed loop control means further comprise fine closed loop control means moving said first and second fine scanning means until said independent variable signal has a predetermined relationship to said fine approximation signal of said first fine approximation signal furnishing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
179 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first and second coarse approximation signal furnishing means comprise means furnishing predetermined voltages at corresponding voltage terminals; wherein said first and second scanning means comprise, respectively, a first and second pair of mechanically intercoupled contacts, each of said pairs of contacts being adapted to contact simultaneously sequential ones of said voltage terminals; wherein said first and second fine approximation signal furnishing means each comprises corresponding fine resistance means; and wherein said coarse closed loop control means comprise logic circuit means responsive to said independent variable signal and said signals at said first and second end terminal of said first fine approximation signal furnishing means, and furnishing a first logic signal signifying an independent variable signal exceeding the maximum one of said fine approximation signals, a second logic signal signifying an independent variable signal less than the minimum of said fine approximation signals; and coarse step switch means for moving said pairs of contacts in a first or second direction in response to said first and second logic signal respectively.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
198 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 11, wherein said logic circuit means comprise first logic comparator means furnishing a first logic comparator output signal when said independent variable signal is less than the maximum one of said fine approximation signals; second logic comparator means furnishing a second logic comparator output signal when said independent variable signal is less than the minimum one of said fine approximation signals; first AND gate means having a first input connected to the output of said first logic comparator means and a second input connected to the output of said second logic comparator means and a first AND gate output; second AND gate means having a first input connecteD to the output of said first logic comparator means, a second input connected to the output of said second logic comparator means and a second AND gate output; inverter means connected between said first logic comparator output and said first input of said second AND gate; further inverter means connected between said second logic comparator output and said second input of said second AND gate means; and first and second monostable multivibrator means respectively connected to said first and second AND gate outputs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 11, wherein said fine closed loop control means comprise comparator means having a first input connected to said input terminal and a second input connected to said first fine scanning means, said comparator means furnishing a comparator output signal at a comparator output; and servo motor means connected to said comparator output and controlling said first and second fine approximation scanning means as a function of said comparator output signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 11, wherein said logic circuit means comprise means responsive to the scanning of said end terminals by said first fine scanning means and furnishing a first logic signal when said first scanning means scans said first end terminal and a second logic signal when said first scanning means scans said second end terminal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 11, wherein said logic circuit means comprise circuits responsive to the scanning of said first and second end terminals by said first scanning means and furnishing said first and second logic signal in dependence upon the sign of said comparator output signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein said second resistance means comprise linear resistance means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein said second resistance means comprise resistance means varying logarithmetically.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein said second resistance means comprise trigonemetrically varying resistance means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
183 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first scanning means comprise means simultaneously scanning a first and second consecutive one of said first signals and furnishing an Xi and Xk scanned signal in response thereto; wherein said second scanning means comprise means simultaneously scanning a first and second consecutive one of said second signals and furnishing a Yi and Yk scanned signal in response thereto; wherein said closed loop control means comprise means stopping said scanning means when the value of independent variable corresponding to said independent variable signal has an amplitude less than the amplitude of independent variable signal corresponding to said Xk scanned signal and greater than the value of independent variable corresponding to said Xi scanned signal; further comprising first, second and third subtraction means connected, respectively, to said first scanning means, said second scanning means, and said input terminal and said first scanning means, and furnishing a first, second, and third subtraction output signal at, respectively, a first, second, and third subtraction output; further comprising computer means connected to said first, second, and third subtraction outputs.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 19, wherein said first subtraction signal corresponds to Xk - Xi ; wherein said second subtraction signal corresponds to Yk - Yi; and wherein said third subtraction signal corresponds to X - Xi, where X signifies said independent variable signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
107 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 20, wherein said computing means comprise division means dividing said second subtraction output signal by said first subtraction output signal thereby furnishing a division signal; and wherein said computing means further comprise multiplier means mUltiplying said division signal by said third subtraction output signal thereby furnishing a computer output signal. 22. An arrangement as set forth in claim 21, further comprising adder means having a first input connected to the output of said computer means and a second input connected to said second scanning means and furnishing an adder output signal corresponding to Yi added to said computer output signal.
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) | 1976-01-02 | 1976-07-03 | 1977-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-02 | 1980-07-03 | 1981-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-02 | 1984-07-03 | 1985-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |