Patent US3731307A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3731307A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrical detecting means
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1971-07-09
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Granted: 1973-05-01
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Expires: 1991-07-09
Abstract
Abstract A pulsed mode radar detector the pulse repetition rate of which is a function of environment and moving object reflected signals which has a negative feedback voltage regulator for maintaining the radar detector pulse rate constant from one environment to another. The detector pulse interval is essentially constant but the interpulse interval, for a given supply voltage, varies according to the reflected signal phase and amplitude. The negative feedback voltage regulator compensates for a change in the environment reflected signal to provide a constant duration interpulse interval from one environment to another.
Inventors
- 👤 L Charlot
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:33
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/02; G01S13/50; G01S13/52; G01S13/56; G01S13/06; G01S13/08; G01S13/10; G01S13/12; G01V; G01V3/00; G01V3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
333 words
In a radar detector having a radio frequency feedback oscillator for producing an interrogating wave of radio frequency signals, the radio frequency oscillator being responsive to a composite feedback signal to set the interrogating wave frequency to correspond to the phase of the composite feedback signal, the oscillator being responsive to the amplitUde of a bias voltage to produce pulses of radio frequency signals, the pulse interval corresponding to the oscillator state of sustained oscillation and the inter-pulse interval corresponding to the oscillator state of nonsustained oscillation, the oscillator being responsive to a bias voltage of a first amplitude to produce sustained oscillations at a first frequency when the composite feedback signal has a first phase and amplitude and the oscillator being responsive to a bias voltage of another amplitude to produce sustained oscillations at another frequency when the composite feedback signal has another phase and amplitude; an external feedback loop which receives reflections of the interrogating wave and superimposes the reflections upon the oscillator internal feedback signal to form the composite feedback signal; means for producing the bias voltage, the amplitude of the bias voltage increasing according to a mathematical function of a supply voltage during each oscillator inter-pulse interval and decreasing to a base level during each oscillator pulse interval; and an output circuit for providing a detector output signal having a repetition rate which corresponds to the radio frequency oscillator repetition rate; the improvement comprising: a negative feedback voltage regulator for providing an output voltage as the supply voltage, which supply voltage is inversely proportional to the repetition rate of the detector output signal, the regulator being responsive to a change in the detector output repetition rate that lasts a given length of time to adjust the supply voltage a predetermined time after the change in detector output repetition rate, the amount of the voltage adjustment being directly proportional to the difference between the first bias voltage amplitude and second bias voltage amplitude in magnitude and of the same sign.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
333 words
In a radar detector having a radio frequency feedback oscillator for producing an interrogating wave of radio frequency signals, the radio frequency oscillator being responsive to a composite feedback signal to set the interrogating wave frequency to correspond to the phase of the composite feedback signal, the oscillator being responsive to the amplitUde of a bias voltage to produce pulses of radio frequency signals, the pulse interval corresponding to the oscillator state of sustained oscillation and the inter-pulse interval corresponding to the oscillator state of nonsustained oscillation, the oscillator being responsive to a bias voltage of a first amplitude to produce sustained oscillations at a first frequency when the composite feedback signal has a first phase and amplitude and the oscillator being responsive to a bias voltage of another amplitude to produce sustained oscillations at another frequency when the composite feedback signal has another phase and amplitude; an external feedback loop which receives reflections of the interrogating wave and superimposes the reflections upon the oscillator internal feedback signal to form the composite feedback signal; means for producing the bias voltage, the amplitude of the bias voltage increasing according to a mathematical function of a supply voltage during each oscillator inter-pulse interval and decreasing to a base level during each oscillator pulse interval; and an output circuit for providing a detector output signal having a repetition rate which corresponds to the radio frequency oscillator repetition rate; the improvement comprising: a negative feedback voltage regulator for providing an output voltage as the supply voltage, which supply voltage is inversely proportional to the repetition rate of the detector output signal, the regulator being responsive to a change in the detector output repetition rate that lasts a given length of time to adjust the supply voltage a predetermined time after the change in detector output repetition rate, the amount of the voltage adjustment being directly proportional to the difference between the first bias voltage amplitude and second bias voltage amplitude in magnitude and of the same sign.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
The detector of claim 1 wherein the negative feedback voltage regulator further comprises a single-shot circuit for producing an output signal the duty cycle of which is directly proportional to the repetition rate of the detector output signal, the active interval of the single-shot circuit output signal being initiated by the detector output signal portion corresponding to the oscillator state of sustained oscillation; and an integrating circuit for producing the regulator output as an analog output voltage, the amplitude of which is inversely proportional to the duty cycle of the single-shot output signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The detector of claim 2 wherein the integrating circuit comprises a first emitter follower coupled to receive the single-shot output signal as an input signal; a Miller integrator coupled to receive the first emitter follower output as its input; and a second emitter follower responsive to the Miller integrator output to produce the regulator output voltage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The detector of claim 3 wherein the Miller integrator has an integrating constant of approximately 600 seconds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The radar detector of claim 4 wherein the single-shot circuit includes means for adjusting the width of the active interval.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The radar detector of claim 5 wherein the active interval adjustment means is a variable resistance potentiometer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The radar detector of claim 1 wherein the negative feedback voltage regulator comprises a single-shot circuit; a multistage integrator having a first integrator coupled to receive the single-shot circuit output signal for producing an output signal; and a second integrating stage coupled to the output of the first integrating stage for producing an analog output voltage as the regulator output voltage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The radar detector of claim 7 wherein the first integrator has an integration constant of approximately 0.02 seconds and wherein the second integrator has an integration constant of approximately 600.0 seconds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The radar detector of claim 7 further including an alarm-and-indicator cirCuit for producing an electrical output signal in response to prescribed deviations of the first integrator output signal from a predetermined reference level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
99 words
The radar detector of claim 9 wherein the alarm-and-indicator circuit includes a trigger circuit for producing a bistable output signal, one state of the trigger circuit producing a first output signal when the first integrator output signal is less than the prescribed deviation from the predetermined reference level, the other state of the trigger circuit producing a second output signal when the first integrator output signal is greater than the prescribed deviation from the predetermined reference level; and means for integrating the trigger circuit output and for producing the electrical output signal when the integration exceeds a specified limit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The radar detector of claim 10 wherein the alarm-and-indicator circuit further includes means for momentarily and periodically disabling the means for producing the electrical output signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The radar detector of claim 10 wherein the alarm-and-indicator circuit further includes means for temporarily holding the trigger circuit in the state corresponding to the first integrator output signal being less than the prescribed deviation from the predetermined reference level for a fixed time after the supply voltage is turned on.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
206 words
In a pulsed mode radar detector including a radio frequency oscillator which produces a pulse of radio frequency energy each time a bias voltage of a bias voltage producing means reaches a level sufficient to support sustained oscillation of the oscillator, the oscillator producing sustained oscillations at a first bias voltage level for a first environment and producing oscillations at a second bias voltage level for another environment, the bias voltage increasing as a known mathematical function of a supply voltage during each oscillator inter-pulse interval and returning to base level during each oscillator pulse interval, the improvement comprising: a negative feedback voltage regulator for providing an output voltage which is inversely proportional to the repetition rate of the detector output signal, the regulator being responsive to a change in the detector output repetition rate that lasts a given length of time to adjust the supply voltage a predetermined time after the change in detector output repetition rate, the amount of the voltage adjustment being directly proportional to the difference between the first bias voltage amplitude and second bias voltage amplitude in magnitude and of the same sign; and means for coupling the regulator output voltage to the bias voltage producing means as the supply voltage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
206 words
In a pulsed mode radar detector including a radio frequency oscillator which produces a pulse of radio frequency energy each time a bias voltage of a bias voltage producing means reaches a level sufficient to support sustained oscillation of the oscillator, the oscillator producing sustained oscillations at a first bias voltage level for a first environment and producing oscillations at a second bias voltage level for another environment, the bias voltage increasing as a known mathematical function of a supply voltage during each oscillator inter-pulse interval and returning to base level during each oscillator pulse interval, the improvement comprising: a negative feedback voltage regulator for providing an output voltage which is inversely proportional to the repetition rate of the detector output signal, the regulator being responsive to a change in the detector output repetition rate that lasts a given length of time to adjust the supply voltage a predetermined time after the change in detector output repetition rate, the amount of the voltage adjustment being directly proportional to the difference between the first bias voltage amplitude and second bias voltage amplitude in magnitude and of the same sign; and means for coupling the regulator output voltage to the bias voltage producing means as the supply voltage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
150 words
A radar type detecting apparatus wherein an interrogating wave of radio frequency signals is produced from an oscillator during pulse intervals controlled by a supply voltage charged bias network, is propagated into an environment, and is reflected therefrom to produce a reflected signal and wherein the quiescent frequency of the interrogating wave and the repetition rate of the pulse intervals are dependent upon a combination of the supply voltage amplitude and the reflected signal amplitude and phase; whereby a change in the environment changes the amplitude and phase of the reflected signal and thereby causes said quiescent frequency and repetition rate to vary; wherein the improvement comprises regulating means for maintaining said quiescent frequency and repetition rate constant from one environment to another, by regulating the supply voltage in response to changes in the repetition rate which result from changes in the environment, as opposed to movement within the environment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
150 words
A radar type detecting apparatus wherein an interrogating wave of radio frequency signals is produced from an oscillator during pulse intervals controlled by a supply voltage charged bias network, is propagated into an environment, and is reflected therefrom to produce a reflected signal and wherein the quiescent frequency of the interrogating wave and the repetition rate of the pulse intervals are dependent upon a combination of the supply voltage amplitude and the reflected signal amplitude and phase; whereby a change in the environment changes the amplitude and phase of the reflected signal and thereby causes said quiescent frequency and repetition rate to vary; wherein the improvement comprises regulating means for maintaining said quiescent frequency and repetition rate constant from one environment to another, by regulating the supply voltage in response to changes in the repetition rate which result from changes in the environment, as opposed to movement within the environment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
76 words
A radar type detecting apparatus according to claim 14, characterized by the feature that the regulating means comprise integrating means for providing to said bias network as said supply voltage, a signal obtained by integrating a signal representative of said repetition ratE, wherein the integrating means has a time constant representative of a period of time characteristic of a change in the environment, as opposed to a period of time characteristic of movement within the environment.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
A radar type detecting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said apparatus further comprises means for sensing for changes in the repetition rate which result from movement within the environment as opposed to changes in the environment and for producing an alarm signal in response thereto.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3440650A
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 |