Patent US3721905A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3721905A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pulse train sorter
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
•
Filing: 1971-08-11
•
Granted: 1973-03-20
•
Expires: 1991-08-11
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for detecting and extracting individual signal video pulse trains from a composite video signal consisting of many individual signal video pulse trains. The apparatus includes a plurality of electronic channels each of which is capable of locking onto an individual signal video pulse train having a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) over a wide bandwidth. The first electronic channel locks up to the signal video pulse train having the highest PRF. After lock-on the channel gates that signal video pulse train out of the composite video signal, and directs the remaining composite video signal to the second electronic channel which locks onto the signal video pulse train having the second highest PRF, and gates that signal video pulse train out of the remaining composite video signal. The second channel then gates the then remaining composite video signal to the third electronic channel wherein the same operation is repeated, etc. Each electronic channel searches for a signal video pulse train which may have a PRF within a given range by utilizing gating circuitry which first attempts to gate a signal video pulse train with a high PRF and then in a continuous manner attempts to gate a signal video pulse train with a lower and lower PRF. Lock-on is indicated by the sequential passage through the gating circuitry of a series of video pulses with a particular PRF. After lock-on is indicated, the searching function is terminated for that particular electronic channel. The gating circuitry has early, mid, and late gating windows. The gating circuitry detects which gating window the signal video pulse train is passing through, and the timing of the gating circuitry is then finely adjusted accordingly to gate the signal video pulse train through the mid gating window. In this manner the timing of the gating circuitry may be shifted slightly either forward or backward in time to center the signal video pulse train at the mid gating window.
Inventors
- 👤 W Newman
- 👤 A Cohen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 08:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
Apparatus for sorting component pulse trains from a first composite pulse train which includes a plurality of component pulse trains, and comprising: a. a first electronic channel including detecting means, having a given pulse repetition frequency range, for detecting the component pulse train in the first composite pulse train having the highest pulse repetition frequency within said pulse repetition frequency range of the detEcting means of said first electronic channel, and means for removing the detected component pulse train from the first composite pulse train to produce a second composite pulse train; and b. a second electronic channel including means for receiving said second composite pulse train, detecting means, having a given pulse repetition frequency range, for detecting the component pulse train in the second composite pulse train having the highest pulse repetition frequency within said pulse repetition frequency range of the detecting means of said second electronic channel, and means for removing the detected component pulse train from said second composite pulse train, whereby each electronic channel detects the component pulse train then present in the composite pulse train having the highest pulse repetition frequency within its pulse repetition frequency range, removes the detected component pulse train from the composite pulse train, and passes the remaining composite pulse train to the next electronic channel for a repetition of the same operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
Apparatus for sorting component pulse trains from a first composite pulse train which includes a plurality of component pulse trains, and comprising: a. a first electronic channel including detecting means, having a given pulse repetition frequency range, for detecting the component pulse train in the first composite pulse train having the highest pulse repetition frequency within said pulse repetition frequency range of the detEcting means of said first electronic channel, and means for removing the detected component pulse train from the first composite pulse train to produce a second composite pulse train; and b. a second electronic channel including means for receiving said second composite pulse train, detecting means, having a given pulse repetition frequency range, for detecting the component pulse train in the second composite pulse train having the highest pulse repetition frequency within said pulse repetition frequency range of the detecting means of said second electronic channel, and means for removing the detected component pulse train from said second composite pulse train, whereby each electronic channel detects the component pulse train then present in the composite pulse train having the highest pulse repetition frequency within its pulse repetition frequency range, removes the detected component pulse train from the composite pulse train, and passes the remaining composite pulse train to the next electronic channel for a repetition of the same operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
209 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said detecting means in each electronic channel includes: a. gating means, responsive to gating signals, for gating a pulse train having a given pulse repetition frequency within a given bandwidth; b. means for developing gating signals for said gating means for enabling said gating means to gate a pulse train having a given pulse repetition frequency; c. sweeping means for causing said developing means to sweep the frequency of the developed gating signals over the given bandwidth until a pulse train is gated by said gating means to enable said gating means to sequentially gate pulse trains with different pulse repetition frequencies over the given bandwidth until a pulse train having a given pulse repetition frequency is gated; and d. means for detecting the gating of a pulse train by said gating means and for maintaining the gating signals at the pulse repetition frequency of the pulse train being gated by said gating means in response to the detection of a gated pulse train, whereby the gating signals are swept through different pulse repetition frequencies until a pulse train is gated, and then said sweeping means is disabled to allow the continued gating of the pulse train by said gating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein: a. said developing means includes timing means for establishing a variable time interval, and means for developing said gating signal after the passage of said variable time interval; and b. said sweeping means includes means for controlling said timing means for causing said timing means to establish different time intervals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein: a. said timing means includes a first clock means for generating clock signals, and a counting means for counting said clock signals; and b. said sweeping means includes means for controlling the counting rate of said first clock means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein: a. said developing means includes a second clock means for generating said gating signals; and b. said counting means includes means for enabling said second clock means after said counting means counts a given number of clock signals from said first clock means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein: a. said gating means includes an early gate, a mid gate and a late gate; b. said second clock means includes means for generating an early gating signal for said early gate, a mid gating signal for said mid gate, and a late gating signal for said late gate; and c. said means for detecting the gating of a pulse train includes means, responsive to the gating of a pulse by said early gate or said late gate, for finely adjusting the counting rate of said first clock means to cause the detected pulse train to be gated by said mid gate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said sweeping means includeS means for generating a staircase voltage pattern to cause said developing means to sweep the frequency of the gating signals in a number of discrete steps over the given bandwidth.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein: a. said gating means further includes an extended late gate; b. said developing means includes means for generating an extended late gating signal for said extended late gate after the generation of said late gating signal to enable said extended late gate to gate a pulse after the expiration of said late gating signal; and c. said sweeping means includes means for generating another step in said staircase voltage pattern in response to the gating of a pulse by said extended late gate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 and further including a lock-up means for locking said gating signal at a given pulse repetition frequency after the successive gating in sequence of a predetermined number of pulses of the detected pulse train by said gating means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 and further including means for determining whether the detected pulse train is a subharmonic pulse train of a component pulse train of the composite pulse train.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein: a. said gating means further includes an extended late gate; b. said developing means includes means for generating an extended late gating signal for said extended late gate after the generation of said late gating signal to enable said extended late gate to gate a pulse after the expiration of said late gating signal; and c. said sweeping means includes means for generating another step in said staircase voltage pattern in response to the gating of a pulse by said extended late gate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
111 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein: a. said developing means includes means for developing an early gating signal, a mid gating signal, and a late gating signal; b. said gating means includes an early gate responsive to said early gating signal, a mid gate responsive to said mid gating signal, and a late gate responsive to said late gating signal; and c. said means for detecting the gating of a pulse train includes means responsive to the gating of a pulse by said early or late gate to finely adjust the timing of said gating signal to cause the detected pulse train to be gated by said mid gate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said sweeping means includes means for generating a staircase voltage pattern to cause said developing means to sweep the frequency of the gating signals in a number of discrete steps over the given bandwidth.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 and further including a lock-up means for locking said gating signal at a given pulse repetition frequency after the successive gating in sequence of a predetermined number of pulses of the detected pulse train by said gating means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 and further including means for determining whether the detected pulse train is a subharmonic pulse train of a component pulse train of the composite pulse train.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for detecting a pulse train, and including: a. gating means, responsive to gating signals, for gating a pulse train having a given pulse repetition frequency within a given bandwidth; b. means for developing gating signals for said gating means for enabling said gating means to gate a pulse train having a given pulse repetition frequency; and c. sweeping means for causing said developing means to systematically sweep the frequency of the developed gating signals over the given bandwidth until a pulse train is gated by said gating means to enable said gating means to sequentially gate pulse trains with different pulse repetition frequencies over the given bandwidth until a pulse train having a given pulse repetition frequency is gated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for detecting a pulse train, and including: a. gating means, responsive to gating signals, for gating a pulse train having a given pulse repetition frequency within a given bandwidth; b. means for developing gating signals for said gating means for enabling said gating means to gate a pulse train having a given pulse repetition frequency; and c. sweeping means for causing said developing means to systematically sweep the frequency of the developed gating signals over the given bandwidth until a pulse train is gated by said gating means to enable said gating means to sequentially gate pulse trains with different pulse repetition frequencies over the given bandwidth until a pulse train having a given pulse repetition frequency is gated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 and including means for detecting the gating of a pulse train by said gating means And for maintaining the gating signals at the pulse repetition frequency of the pulse train being gated by said gating means in response to the detection of a gated pulse train, whereby the gating signals are swept through different pulse repetition frequencies until a pulse train is gated, and then said sweeping means is disabled to allow the continued gating of the pulse train by said gating means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein: a. said developing means includes timing means for establishing a variable time interval, and means for developing said gating signal after the passage of said variable time interval; and b. said sweeping means includes means for controlling said timing means for causing said timing means to establish different time intervals.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 18 wherein: a. said timing means includes a first clock means for generating clock signals, and a counting means for counting said clock signals; and b. said sweeping means includes means for controlling the counting rate of said first clock means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein: a. said developing means includes a second clock means for generating said gating signals; and b. said counting means includes means for enabling said second clock means after said counting means counts a given number of clock signals from said first clock means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein: a. said gating means includes an early gate, a mid gate and a late gate; b. said second clock means includes means for generating an early gating signal for said early gate, a mid gating signal for said mid gate, and a late gating signal for said late gate; and c. said means for detecting the gating of a pulse train includes means, responsive to the gating of a pulse by said early gate or said late gate, for finely adjusting the counting rate of said first clock means to cause the detected pulse train to be gated by said mid gate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said sweeping means includes means for generating a staircase voltage pattern to cause said developing means to sweep the frequency of the gating signals in a number of discrete steps over the given bandwidth.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein: a. said gating means further includes an extended late gate; b. said developing means includes means for generating an extended late gating signal for said extended late gate after the generation of said late gating signal to enable said extended late gate to gate a pulse after the expiration of said late gating signal; and c. said sweeping means includes means for generating another step in said staircase voltage pattern in response to the gating of a pulse by said extended late gate.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 and further including a lock-up means for locking said gating signal at a given pulse repetition frequency after the successive gating in sequence of a predetermined number of pulses of the detected pulse train by said gating means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 24 and further including means for determining whether the detected pulse train is a subharmonic pulse train of a component pulse train of the composite pulse train.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein: a. said gating means further includes an extended late gate; b. said developing means includes means for generating an extended late gating signal for said extended late gate after the generation of said late gating signal to enable said extended late gate to gate a pulse after the expiration of said late gating signal; and c. said sweeping means includes means for generating another step in said staircase voltage pattern in response to the gating of a pulse by said extended late gate.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein: a. said developing means includes timing means for establishing a variable time interval, and means for developing said gating signal after the passage of said variable time interval; and b. said sweeping means includes means for controlling said timing means for causing said timing means to establish different time intervals.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein: a. said timing means includes a first clock means for generating clock signals, and a counting means for counting said clock signals; and b. said sweeping means includes means for controlling the counting rate of said first clock means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 28 wherein: a. said developing means includes a second clock means for generating said gating signals; and b. said counting means includes means for enabling said second clock means after said counting means counts a given number of clock signals from said first clock means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 29 wherein: a. said gating means includes an early gate, a mid gate and a late gate; b. said second clock means includes means for generating an early gating signal for said early gate, a mid gating signal for said mid gate, and a late gating signal for said late gate; and c. said means for detecting the gating of a pulse train includes means, responsive to the gating of a pulse by said early gate or said late gate, for finely adjusting the counting rate of said first clock means to cause the detected pulse train to be gated by said mid gate.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
111 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein: a. said developing means includes means for developing an early gating signal, a mid gating signal, and a late gating signal; b. said gating means includes an early gate responsive to said early gating signal, a mid gate responsive to said mid gating signal, and a late gate responsive to said late gating signal; and c. said means for detecting the gating of a pulse train includes means responsive to the gating of a pulse by said early or late gate to finely adjust the timing of said gating signal to cause the detected pulse train to be gated by said mid gate.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said sweeping means includes means for generating a staircase voltage pattern to cause said developing means to sweep the frequency of the gating signals in a number of discrete steps over the given bandwidth.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 and further including a lock-up means for locking said gating signal at a given pulse repetition frequency after the successive gating in sequence of a predetermined number of pulses of the detected pulse train by said gating means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 and further including means for determining whether the detected pulse train is a subharmonic pulse train of a component pulse train of the composite pulse train.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3484704A
Cited
US3575215A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-19 | 1976-09-18 | 1977-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-19 | 1980-09-18 | 1981-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-19 | 1984-09-18 | 1985-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |