Pulse train sorter

Claim 2

Apparatus for detecting at least one given series of pulses having a given frequency, said apparatus comprising: a transmission-device having an input-point and a plurality of readout-points which are arranged into a plurality of groups containing more than one readout-point; means for applying a series of randomly time-spaced pulses which includes said given series to said input-point of said transmission-device; said transmission-device causing each pulse of said random series to produce an individual pulse-signal that is transmitted along said transmission-device, the resultant series of pulse-signals in said transmission-device moving along said transmission-device with the same randomly timespaced separation characteristic that the pulses in said random series have; means for obtaining a set of status-signals from one of said groups of said readout-points of said transmission-device, for indicating the presence of individual pulses at each readout point in a selected one of said groups, each of said groups having more than one readout-point and less than all of the readout points; the simultaneous presence of similar status signals at all the readout-points of said one of said groups of readout-points being indicative of the presence of the given series of pulses having the given frequency; and coincidence means, energized by the set of similar statussignals for producing a trigger signal.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 including: indicating means, associated with said trigger -signal, for producing an indicaTion of the presence of said given series.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 including: selection means, associated with said trigger -signal, for selecting the pulse of said given series at said input point; and means for applying said selected pulse to a utilization-device -whereby a relatively undistorted pulse of said given series is sorted-out.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 3 wherein said selection means includes: an electronic-switch; and means, associated with said trigger-signal, for energizing said electronic-switch for directing said selected pulse of said given series from said input-point to said utilization device.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1 including: additional means for obtaining a second set of status-signals from a second group of readout-points; and additional coincidence means, energized by said second set of status-signals, for producing a second trigger-signal at the simultaneous occurrence of similar status-signals at said second group of readout-points; and means for causing said second trigger-signal to sort-out a pulse of a second series of pulses having a second frequency.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 1 including: means for causing a harmonic-frequency of said pulse-train signal to produce a negate -signal; and means for causing said negate-signal to negate the effect of said trigger-signal.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 1 wherein said coincidence means includes mode-switch means for producing said triggering-signal in the absence of one of said positive status-signals.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 1 including indicating-means comprising: a plurality of indicators; and means, associated with said trigger-signal, for energizing selected indicators at the presence of said given series of pulses.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 1 wherein each said groups of readout-points comprises: a buffer; and a plurality of wires connecting individual readout-points of each of said groups to a respective buffer.

Claim 11

Apparatus for detecting at least one given series of pulses having a given frequency comprising: a shift-register type transmission-device having an input-point and a plurality of readout-points which are arranged into a plurality of groups; means for applying a series of randomly time-spaced pulses which includes said given series to said input-point of said transmission-device; said shift-register type transmission -device causing each pulse of said random series to produce an individual digital -type pulse-signal that is transmitted along said transmission-device, the resultant series of pulse-signals in said transmission-device moving along said transmission-device with the same randomly time-spaced separation characteristic that pulses in said random series have; means for obtaining a set of digital status -signals from one of said groups of said readout-points of said transmission -device, for indicating the presence of individual pulse-signals at said group of readout-points; the simultaneous presence of a set of similar status -signals at all the readout-points of a said one group of readout-points being indicative of the presence of a given series of pulses of interest; a like plurality of buffers; means for connecting individual readout -points of one of said groups to respective ones of said buffers; means, energized by a set of output-signals from said buffer, for producing an indication signal; and indicating means, associated with said indicating-signal, for producing an indication of the presence of a given series of interest.

Claim 12

Apparatus for detecting at least one given series of pulses having a given frequency comprising: a shift-register type transmission-device having an input-point and a plurality of readout-points which are arranged into a plurality of groups; means for applying a series of randomly time-spaced pulses which includes said given series to said input-point of said transmission-device; said shift-register type transmission -device causing each pulse of said random series to produce an individual digital -type pulse-signal that is transmitted along said transmission-device, the resultant series of pulse-signals in said transmission-device moving along said transmission-device with the same randomly time-spaced separation characteristic that pulses in said random series have; means for obtaining a set of digital status -signals from one of said groups of said readout-points of said transmission -device, for indicating the presence of individual pulse-signals at said group of readout-points; the simultaneous presence of a set of similar status -signals at all the readout-points of a said one group of readout-points being indicative of the presence of a given series of pulses of interest; a like plurality of buffers; means for connecting individual readout -points of one of said groups to respective ones of said buffers; means, energized by a set of output-signals from said buffer, for producing an indication signal; and indicating means, associated with said indicating-signal, for producing an indication of the presence of a given series of interest.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 10 including: selection means, associated with said indicating -signal, for selecting the pulse of said given series at said input point; and means for applying said selected pulse to a utilization-device -whereby relatively undistorted pulse of said given series of interest are sorted-out from said random series.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 11 wherein said selection means includes: an electronic-switch; and means, associated with said indicating-signal, for energizing said electronic-switch for directing said selected pulse of said given series from said input.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 10 including: means, comprising said plurality of buffers, for obtaining a second given series of pulses; means, energized by a second given series of pulses from said buffers, for producing a second indicating -signal; and means, associated with said second indicating -signal, for causing said second indicating -signal to produce an indication of the presence of a second given series of interest.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 10 including: means, comprising an additional buffer, for causing a harmonic-frequency of said given series to produce a negate-signal; and means for causing said negate-signal to negate the effect of said indicating-signal.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 10 including: mode-switch means for producing said indicating-signal in the absence of an intermediate one of said pulses in said given series.