US3728626A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic measuring system
Assignee: FAIRBANKS Inc A CORP OF KANSAS
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Filing: 1971-03-25
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Granted: 1973-04-17
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Expires: 1991-03-25
Abstract
Abstract The electronic measuring system includes a transducer to develop an analog signal which is a function of a value to be measured, a reference signal generating unit, a first comparison unit to provide a start signal when a reference signal from the reference generating unit reaches a coincidence point with the system ground potential and a second comparison unit to provide a stop signal when the reference and analog signals reach a coincidence point. All of these units are powered from a single power source and referenced to ground potential. A counter system receives and registers pulses in the interval between the start and stop signals and includes a first counter which is preset below zero and a net counter which is activated to count pulses after the first counter reaches zero. A ramp reset circuit is provided to actively drive the reference signal from the reference generating unit to a quiescent state when the stop signal is provided.
Inventors
- 👤 A Douglas
- 👤 H Thomas
- 👤 H Keen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 05:38
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01L; G01L1/00; G01L1/20; G01L1/22; G01L1/225; G01L1/2256; G01G; G01G23/00; G01G23/18; G01G23/36; G01G23/37; G01G3/00; G01G3/12; G01G3/14; G01G3/142; G01G3/147; G01R; G01R19/00; G01R19/25; G01R19/255; H; H03; H03M; H03M1/00; H03M1/12; H03M1/50; H03M1/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
An electronic measuring system for measuring an unknown analog siGnal comprising electrical transducer means for converting a function to be measured to said unknown analog signal, reference generating means (for generating) operative to receive an input signal and to generate a substantially linerally increasing reference signal which varies in response to variations in said input signal for comparison with said analog signal, comparison means connected to receive said reference and analog signals from said reference generating means and transducer means respectively, said comparison means operating to provide an output signal when said reference signal reaches a coincidence point with said analog signal, and a single electrical power supply means connected to supply the current requirements for said transducer means and to supply the input signal to said reference generating means, said input signal varying with variations in the output from said power supply means and said reference generating means operating in response to said input signal to vary said reference signal in response to variations in the output from said power supply means to compensate for variations in the analog signal from said transducer means resulting from said power supply output variations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
An electronic measuring system for measuring an unknown analog siGnal comprising electrical transducer means for converting a function to be measured to said unknown analog signal, reference generating means (for generating) operative to receive an input signal and to generate a substantially linerally increasing reference signal which varies in response to variations in said input signal for comparison with said analog signal, comparison means connected to receive said reference and analog signals from said reference generating means and transducer means respectively, said comparison means operating to provide an output signal when said reference signal reaches a coincidence point with said analog signal, and a single electrical power supply means connected to supply the current requirements for said transducer means and to supply the input signal to said reference generating means, said input signal varying with variations in the output from said power supply means and said reference generating means operating in response to said input signal to vary said reference signal in response to variations in the output from said power supply means to compensate for variations in the analog signal from said transducer means resulting from said power supply output variations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electronic measuring system of claim 1 wherein said power supply means is connected to said transducer means to provide a power supply which is symmetrical about a ground potential for the system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The electronic measuring system of claim 1 wherein said comparison means operates to provide a first output signal when said reference signal reaches a coincidence point with a ground reference potential for said system, said output signal provided by said comparison means when said reference signal reaches a coincidence point with said analog signal constituting a subsequent second output signal from said comparison means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
The electronic measuring system of claim 3 wherein said comparison means includes first comparator means connected to receive said reference signal and operating to provide said first output signal when the reference signal reaches a coincidence point with a ground reference potential for said system and second comparator means connected to receive said analog and reference signals, said second comparator means operating to provide a second output signal when said reference signal reaches a coincidence point with said analog signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electronic measuring system of claim 4 wherein said analog signal is negative with respect to said ground reference potential and said reference signal increases in a positive direction with respect to said ground reference potential.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
The electronic measuring system of claim 3 which includes means for providing constant frequency signals, said reference generating means including ramp and gate control means connected to receive said constant frequency signals and the first and second output signals from said comparison means, said ramp and gate control means operating upon receipt of said first output signal to pass constant frequency signals and upon receipt of said second output signal to inhibit said constant frequency signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The electronic measuring system of claim 6 wherein said ramp and gate control means operates upon receipt of said second output signal to provide a ramp termination signal for said reference generating means, said reference generating means operating upon receipt of said ramp termination signal to rapidly drive said reference signal to the initial potential point thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
129 words
The electronic measuring system of claim 6 which includes first counter means connected to receive and register the constant frequency signals from said ramp and gate control means, tare control means connected to set said first counter means below zero whereby constant frequency signals initially received by said first counter means operate to cause said first counter means to count toward zero, gate means connected to receive said constant frequency signals from said ramp and gate control means, a sEcond counter means connected to said gate means, and sensing means operative to provide a gating signal to said gate means when said first counter means counts to zero, said gate means operating upon receipt of said gating signal to pass subsequent constant frequency signals to said second counter means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
The electronic measuring system of claim 3 wherein said linearly increasing reference signal is initiated at a potential point which is of the same sign relative to said ground reference potential as the analog signal at said first comparator means, said reference generating means causing said reference signal to increase through the level of said ground reference potential to a potential opposite to that of said analog signal at said first comparator means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
The electronic measuring system of claim 7 which includes sequencing means operative to program said electronic measuring system during an automatic cycle of operation, said sequencing means providing control signals to said ramp and gate control means, said ramp and gate control means operating in response to a control signal from said sequencing means to cause said reference generating means to generate said linearly increasing reference signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
102 words
The electronic measuring system of claim 10 wherein said reference generating means includes integrator means operative upon charging to provide said substantially linearly increasing reference signal, and ramp reset means connected between said integrator means and said ramp and gate control means and operative upon receipt of a ramp start signal to initiate charging of said integrator means and upon receipt of said ramp termination signal to drive the charge from said integrator means, said ramp and gate control means operating to provide said ramp start signal to said ramp reset means in response to a control signal from said sequencing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
102 words
The electronic measuring system of claim 11 wherein said ramp reset means includes oppositely poled diodes connected across said integrator means and input means connected to said ramp and gate control means and operative in response to a ramp start signal to provide a potential to the oppositely poled diodes to reverse bias said diodes and permit charging of said integrator means, said input means operating in response to a ramp termination signal from said ramp and gate control means to provide a potential to said oppositely poled diodes to forward bias said diodes and drive the charge from said integrator means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
178 words
The electronic measuring system of claim 12 wherein said ramp reset means includes ramp flip flop means which is switched from an inactive to an active state by the control signal from said sequencing means and back to said inactive state by the second output signal from said comparison means, said ramp flip flop means operating in said active state to provide an enabling output signal, pulse gate means connected to receive said enabling signal, the first output signal from said comparison means and said constant frequency signals, said pulse gate means operating to pass said constant frequency signals in response to the simultaneous reception thereby of said enabling output and first output signals, and switching means connected to receive said enabling output signal from said ramp flip flop means, said switching means operating in the absence of said enabling output signal to provide a first potential to the input means for said ramp reset means and in response to said enabling output signal to provide a second potential to the input means for said ramp reset means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electronic measuring system of claim 4 wherein said reference generating means and first and second comparator means are referenced to the ground reference potential for said system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
76 words
The electronic measuring system of claim 2 wherein said reference signal generating means includes integrator means connected to charge from said single electrical power supply to provide said substantially linearly increasing reference Signal, the charging time of said integrator means varying in response to variations in said power supply to vary the slope of said reference signal to compensate for the effect of said power supply variations on the analog signal produced by said transducer means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The electronic measuring system of claim 15 wherein said single electrical power supply is connected to provide equal supply voltage inputs to said integrator means, said integrator means and comparison means being referenced to the ground reference potential for said system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electronic measuring system of claim 16 which includes amplifier means connected between said transducer means and said comparison means to amplify said analog signal, said amplifier means being referenced to said ground reference potential.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The electronic measuring system of claim 1 which includes compensation means to vary the output of said transducer means, said compensation means including variable resistance means connected between one input to said transducer means from said power supply and said ground reference.
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) | 1976-04-16 | 1976-10-16 | 1977-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-16 | 1980-10-16 | 1981-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-16 | 1984-10-16 | 1985-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |