US3731118A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Voltage detector for sensing and digitally encoding states of potential
Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
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Filing: 1971-05-12
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Granted: 1973-05-01
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Expires: 1991-05-12
Abstract
Abstract In a detector for sensing four different states of potential applied to its input and for digitally encoding them at two detector outputs, there are provided two semiconductor components, each connected to the detector input and to one detector output; each semiconductor component is associated with a voltage divider, a reference source, a comparison source and a digital source. On either detector output there may appear either a logic 1 or a logic 0, allowing four possible digital signal pair combinations at the detector output, whereby each digital signal pair characterizes one state of potential applied to the detector input.
Inventors
- 👤 W Harms
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:38
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q1/00; H04Q1/18; H04Q1/30; H04Q1/38; H04L; H04L5/00; H04L5/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
273 words
A detector for sensing and digitally encoding a plurality of states of potentials applied to a signal input thereof comprising, in combination: a. a plurality of semiconductor components, each component having first, second and third terminal means, and a signal input terminal means, each of said signal input terminal means being coupled to said signal input for applying the states of potential to be encoded to each said semiconductor component; b. a plurality of digital signal sources delivering digital 1 and digital 0 potentials, each of said first terminal means being coupled respectively to a respective one of said digital sources; c. a plurality of reference sources delivering potentials smaller than the 0 potential and greater than the 1 potential, each said second terminal means being coupled respectively to a respective one of said reference sources; d. a plurality of comparison sources delivering potentials with which the states of potential applied to said signal input are compared, each said third terminal means being coupled respectively to a respective one of said comparison sources for placing selectively each said semiconductor component into a conductive and blocking state in response to the difference of potential between the particular state of potential being applied to said signal input and the potential supplied from respective ones of said comparison sources; e. a plurality of voltage dividers, each voltage divider being positioned in a respective current path which includes a respective said first terminal means and a respective said third terminal means and each voltage divider having a tap; and f. a plurality of output terminals, each output terminal being coupled to a respective one of said taps.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
273 words
A detector for sensing and digitally encoding a plurality of states of potentials applied to a signal input thereof comprising, in combination: a. a plurality of semiconductor components, each component having first, second and third terminal means, and a signal input terminal means, each of said signal input terminal means being coupled to said signal input for applying the states of potential to be encoded to each said semiconductor component; b. a plurality of digital signal sources delivering digital 1 and digital 0 potentials, each of said first terminal means being coupled respectively to a respective one of said digital sources; c. a plurality of reference sources delivering potentials smaller than the 0 potential and greater than the 1 potential, each said second terminal means being coupled respectively to a respective one of said reference sources; d. a plurality of comparison sources delivering potentials with which the states of potential applied to said signal input are compared, each said third terminal means being coupled respectively to a respective one of said comparison sources for placing selectively each said semiconductor component into a conductive and blocking state in response to the difference of potential between the particular state of potential being applied to said signal input and the potential supplied from respective ones of said comparison sources; e. a plurality of voltage dividers, each voltage divider being positioned in a respective current path which includes a respective said first terminal means and a respective said third terminal means and each voltage divider having a tap; and f. a plurality of output terminals, each output terminal being coupled to a respective one of said taps.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A detector as defined in claim 1, wherein said semiconductor components are two in number and comprise respectively a first and a second transistor and wherein said reference source associated with said first transistor comprises said comparison sources for both transistors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A detector as defined in claim 2, wherein the potential of said reference sources corresponds to the lowest one of said states of potential and all said digital sources deliver a 1 potential.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
172 words
A detector as defined in claim 3, wherein said first transistor is an n-p-n transistor and said second transistor is a p-n-p transistor; and said detector includes: a resistance of high ohmic value having a first end connected to said signal input and to the base of said first transistor and a second end connected to the emitter of said first transistor and to the reference source associated therewith, a Zener diode connected to said signal input, and an additional voltage divider having one end connected to said Zener diode and another end connected to the digital source associated with said second transistor and to the emitter of said second transistor; and wherein said additional voltage divider is formed of two resistances coupled to a center tap which is connected to the base of said second transistor and the ratio of resistances in said additional voltage divider is such that in the conductive state of said Zener diode, the base of said second transistor is negative with respect to the emitter thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A detector as defined in claim 4, wherein the digital source associated with said second transistor has a 1 potential and said Zener diode has a gating voltage corresponding to the desired switching threshold for the highest state of potential, said gating voltage being at least identical to the 1 potential.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
A detector as defined in claim 5, wherein the voltage divider associated with said first transistor is connected at one end to the collector of said first transistor and at the other end to the digital source associated with said first transistor; one resistance of the voltage divider associated with said second transistor is connected to the digital source associated with said second transistor and to the emitter thereof; and the other resistance of the last-named voltage divider is connected to the collector of the second transistor and to the reference source associated therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
A detector as defined in claim 2, further comprising a first diode and a second diode; and wherein the taps of said voltage dividers associated with said first and said second transistors are connected to a zero reference potential point through the respective said first and said second diodes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2975305A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-30 | 1976-10-30 | 1977-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-30 | 1980-10-30 | 1981-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-30 | 1984-10-30 | 1985-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |