Patent US3757234A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3757234A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Function generator
Assignee: TDK Micronas GmbH
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Filing: 1971-12-27
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1991-12-27
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of amplifiers have their outputs connected with an input signal to an analog adder. The amplifiers are disabled successively by a clamp. The adder output voltage versus input voltage curve is then a continuous function of contiguous straight line segments which increase or decline in slope in a steplike fashion. Function generator operation is insensitive to temperature and temperature changes produce no errors as in the prior art. The nonlinear voltage-current characteristic curve of the clamping diodes has no deleterious effect on function generator operation as in the prior art.
Inventors
- 👤 G Ohlsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:53
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06G; G06G7/00; G06G7/12; G06G7/26; G06G7/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
307 words
A function generator comprising: an input lead; an output lead; a reference conductor providing a point of predetermined reference potential; a main differential amplifier having noninverting and inverting inputs, and an output connected to said output lead, the noninverting input to said main amplifier being connected to said reference conductor; a summing junction; a main feedback resistor connected from said input lead to said summing junction; first amplifier means including a first auxiliary differential amplifier and first and second means to provide resistance; second amplifier means including a second auxiliary differential amplifier, and third and fourth means to provide resistance, each of said auxiliary amplifiers havinG noninverting and inverting inputs, and an output, the noninverting input of said first amplifier being connected to one of said leads, the noninverting input of said second amplifier also being connected to one of said leads; a first diode having anode and cathode electrodes, one of said first diode electrodes being connected from the output of said first amplifier; a second diode having anode and cathode electrodes, one of said second diode electrodes being connected from the output of said second amplifier; source of potential means connected between said reference conductor and the other diode electrodes, said diodes being poled in a direction to be back biased by said source of potential means, said first and second means being connected in series in that order from said reference conductor to said one electrode of said first diode, said third and fourth means being connected in series in that order from said reference conductor to said one electrode of said second diode, the inverting input of said first amplifier being connected at a point between said third and fourth means; and first and second auxiliary summing resistors connected from the respective outputs of said first and second amplifiers to said summing junction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
307 words
A function generator comprising: an input lead; an output lead; a reference conductor providing a point of predetermined reference potential; a main differential amplifier having noninverting and inverting inputs, and an output connected to said output lead, the noninverting input to said main amplifier being connected to said reference conductor; a summing junction; a main feedback resistor connected from said input lead to said summing junction; first amplifier means including a first auxiliary differential amplifier and first and second means to provide resistance; second amplifier means including a second auxiliary differential amplifier, and third and fourth means to provide resistance, each of said auxiliary amplifiers havinG noninverting and inverting inputs, and an output, the noninverting input of said first amplifier being connected to one of said leads, the noninverting input of said second amplifier also being connected to one of said leads; a first diode having anode and cathode electrodes, one of said first diode electrodes being connected from the output of said first amplifier; a second diode having anode and cathode electrodes, one of said second diode electrodes being connected from the output of said second amplifier; source of potential means connected between said reference conductor and the other diode electrodes, said diodes being poled in a direction to be back biased by said source of potential means, said first and second means being connected in series in that order from said reference conductor to said one electrode of said first diode, said third and fourth means being connected in series in that order from said reference conductor to said one electrode of said second diode, the inverting input of said first amplifier being connected at a point between said third and fourth means; and first and second auxiliary summing resistors connected from the respective outputs of said first and second amplifiers to said summing junction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein the noninverting inputs of said first and second amplifiers are connected to the selfsame said one lead.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein said one lead is said input lead.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
115 words
The invention as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said first and second means is a portion of a continuous resistive first winding, and a first wiper in slidable engagement with said first winding at said point between said first and second means, each of said third and fourth means being a portion of a continuous resistive second winding, and a second wiper in slidable engagement with said second winding at said point between said third and fourth means, said first winding and said first wiper forming a first potentiometer, said second winding and said second wiper forming a second potentiometer, said first and second wipers being of said first and second amplifiers, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The invention as defined in claim 4, including first and second input resistors connected from said input lead to the noninverting inputs of said first and second amplifiers, respectively, said first amplifier means having a gain different from that of said second amplifier means, said source of potential means being a single source of potential.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein said one lead is said output lead.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
120 words
The invention as defined in claim 6, wherein each of said first and second means is a portion of a continuous resistive first winding and a first wiper in slidable engagement with said first winding at said point between said first and second means, each of said third and fourth means being a portion of a continuous resistive second winding, and a second wiper in slidable engagement with said second winding at said point between said third and fourth means, said first winding and said first wiper forming a first potentiometer, said second winding and said second wiper forming a second potentiometer, said first and second wipers being connected to the inverting inputs of said first and second amplifiers, respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
The invention as defined in claim 7, wherein each of said second input resistors connected from said input lead to the noninverting inputs of said first and second amplifiers, respectively, said first amplifier means having a gain different from that of said second amplifier means, said source of potential means being a single source of potential, said first amplifier means having a gain different from that of said second amplifier means, said source of potential means being a single source of potential.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as defined in claim 3, wherein said first amplifier means has a gain different from that of said second amplifier means, said source of potential means beiNg a single source of potential.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
the invention as defined in claim 6, wherein said first amplifier means has a gain different from that of said second amplifier means, said source of potential means being a single source of potential.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
A function generator comprising: first and second main input leads; first and second main output leads, said second main leads being connected together; an analog adder having at least first and second input leads, and an output lead connected to said first main output lead, said first main input lead being connected to said first adder input lead; amplifier means having an input and an output, said amplifier means input being connected from one of said first main leads, said amplifier means output being connected to said adder second input lead; and means to clamp said amplifier means output to a predetermined constant potential.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
104 words
A function generator comprising: first and second main input leads; first and second main output leads, said second main leads being connected together; an analog adder having at least first and second input leads, and an output lead connected to said first main output lead, said first main input lead being connected to said first adder input lead; amplifier means having an input and an output, said amplifier means input being connected from one of said first main leads, said amplifier means output being connected to said adder second input lead; and means to clamp said amplifier means output to a predetermined constant potential.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
129 words
A function generator comprising: a main input lead; a main output lead; a reference conductor providing a point of predetermined reference potential; an analog adder having at least first and second input leads, a first reference lead connected to said reference conductor, and an output lead connected to said main output lead; first and second amplifier means each having an input lead connected from one of said main leads, and a second reference lead connected to said reference conductor, said first and second amplifier means having first and second output leads, respectively, said amplifier means first and second output leads being connected to said first and second adder input leads, respectively; and means to clamp the outputs of both of said amplifier means to the same constant predetermined potential.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
129 words
A function generator comprising: a main input lead; a main output lead; a reference conductor providing a point of predetermined reference potential; an analog adder having at least first and second input leads, a first reference lead connected to said reference conductor, and an output lead connected to said main output lead; first and second amplifier means each having an input lead connected from one of said main leads, and a second reference lead connected to said reference conductor, said first and second amplifier means having first and second output leads, respectively, said amplifier means first and second output leads being connected to said first and second adder input leads, respectively; and means to clamp the outputs of both of said amplifier means to the same constant predetermined potential.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
130 words
A function generator comprising: a main input lead; a main output lead; a reference conductor providing a point of predetermined reference potential; an analog adder having at least first, second, third ... nth input leads, where n is any positive integer, said adder having an output lead connected to said main output lead; first, second, third ... nth amplifier means each having an input lead connected from one of said main leads, said first, second, third ... nth amplifier means having first, second, third ... nth output leads, respectively, said amplifier means first, second, third ... nth output leads being connected respectively to said first, second, third ... nth adder input leads; and means to clamp the outputs of all of said amplifier means to the same constant predetermined potential.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
130 words
A function generator comprising: a main input lead; a main output lead; a reference conductor providing a point of predetermined reference potential; an analog adder having at least first, second, third ... nth input leads, where n is any positive integer, said adder having an output lead connected to said main output lead; first, second, third ... nth amplifier means each having an input lead connected from one of said main leads, said first, second, third ... nth amplifier means having first, second, third ... nth output leads, respectively, said amplifier means first, second, third ... nth output leads being connected respectively to said first, second, third ... nth adder input leads; and means to clamp the outputs of all of said amplifier means to the same constant predetermined potential.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
141 words
A function generator comprising: a main input lead; a main output lead; a reference conductor providing a point of predetermined reference potential; an analog adder having at least first, second third ... nth input leads, where n is any positive integer, said adder having an output lead connected to said main output lead; first, second, third ... nth amplifier means each having an input lead connected from one of said main leads, said first, second, third ... nth amplifier means having first, second, third ... nth output leads, respectively, said amplifier means first, second, third ... nth output leads being connected respectively to said first, second, third ... nth adder input leads; and means to clamp the outputs of all of said amplifier means to a predetermined potential, said adder having an auxiliary input lead connected from said main input lead.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
141 words
A function generator comprising: a main input lead; a main output lead; a reference conductor providing a point of predetermined reference potential; an analog adder having at least first, second third ... nth input leads, where n is any positive integer, said adder having an output lead connected to said main output lead; first, second, third ... nth amplifier means each having an input lead connected from one of said main leads, said first, second, third ... nth amplifier means having first, second, third ... nth output leads, respectively, said amplifier means first, second, third ... nth output leads being connected respectively to said first, second, third ... nth adder input leads; and means to clamp the outputs of all of said amplifier means to a predetermined potential, said adder having an auxiliary input lead connected from said main input lead.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
91 words
The invention as defined in claim 14, wherein all of said amplifier means have different gains, said clamp means including a single source of potential having one pole connected to said reference conductor, and first, second, third ... nth diodes having one electrode connected from the outputs of said first, second, third ... nth amplifier means, respectively, each of said diodes having its other electrode connected to the other pole of said source of potential, said diodes being poled in a diRection to be back biased by said source of potential.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
91 words
The invention as defined in claim 13, wherein all of said amplifier means have different gains, said clamp means including a single source of potential having one pole connected to said reference conductor, and first, second, third ... nth diodes having one electrode connected from the outputs of said first, second, third ... nth amplifier means, respectively, each of said diodes having its other electrode connected to the other pole of said source of potential, said diodes being poled in a direction to be back biased by said source of potential.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |