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US3763380A
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Method and apparatus for measuring rates of random pulses
Assignee: SPX Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1971-05-05
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Granted: 1973-10-02
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Expires: 1991-05-05
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for measuring the amount of material in a conduit by detecting the relative strength of radiation passing through the conduit. Method and apparatus for determining rates of random pulses by comparing the interval between successive random pulses to a predetermined interval and providing electrical pulses (down pulses) when the interval is greater than the predetermined interval, and other electrical pulses (up pulses) when the interval is less than the predetermined interval. The down pulses are provided at a minimum rate when the interval between successive radiation pulses is much longer than the predetermined interval. A high voltage power supply having a clamping zener diode in series between a regulating zener diode and an output filter capacitor to clamp the capacitor to the peak voltage across the regulating zener diode. A bleeder resistor across the regulating zener diode provides a discharge path for the output capacitor through the zener impedance of the clamping zener diode when the supply is turned off. A variable impedance clamping circuit including a zener diode and a conventional diode connected in series so that the zener diode is reverse biased and the conventional diode is forward biased. The series diodes clamp pulses of large amplitude to an acceptable level and provide increasing impedance to pulses of smaller amplitude.
Inventors
- 👤 J Homer
- 👤 J Stock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:17
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P5/00; G01P13/00; G01P13/0006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
In a method for determining average rates of occurrence of random pulses which includes the steps of comparing the time intervals between successive random pulses with a predetermined time interval, producing a first signal when the interval between successive random pulses is greater than the predetermined interval, producing a second signal instead of the first signal and distinct therefrom when the interval between successive random pulses is less than the predetermined interval, balancing the first signals against the second signals and utilizing a preponderance of one signal over the other to provide an output signal, the improvement which comprises increasing the weight of said first signals in accordance with the amount by which the interval between successive random pulses exceeds the predetermined interval.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a method for determining average rates of occurrence of random pulses which includes the steps of comparing the time intervals between successive random pulses with a predetermined time interval, producing a first signal when the interval between successive random pulses is greater than the predetermined interval, producing a second signal instead of the first signal and distinct therefrom when the interval between successive random pulses is less than the predetermined interval, balancing the first signals against the second signals and utilizing a preponderance of one signal over the other to provide an output signal, the improvement which comprises increasing the weight of said first signals in accordance with the amount by which the interval between successive random pulses exceeds the predetermined interval.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improvement as in claim 1 wherein said first and second signals are pulses and the weight of said first pulses is increased by providing said first pulses at intervals no greater than a predetermined maximum interval.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a method for determining average rates of occurrence of random pulses which includes the steps of comparing the time intervals between successive random pulses with a predetermined time interval, classifying pulses that follow a preceding pulse by an interval greaTer than the predetermined time interval in a first category, classifying pulses that follow a preceding pulse by an interval less than the predetermined time interval in a second category, balancing pulses in one of the categories against the pulses in the other and utilizing a preponderance of pulses in one of the categories over the other to provide an output signal, the improvement which comprises producing pulses for said first category distinct from said random pulses and at predetermined maximum intervals when said random pulses occur at intervals greater than said predetermined time interval whereby pulses for said first category occur at a predetermined minimum rate even when the interval between successive random pulses is very long.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a method for determining average rates of occurrence of random pulses which includes the steps of comparing the time intervals between successive random pulses with a predetermined time interval, classifying pulses that follow a preceding pulse by an interval greaTer than the predetermined time interval in a first category, classifying pulses that follow a preceding pulse by an interval less than the predetermined time interval in a second category, balancing pulses in one of the categories against the pulses in the other and utilizing a preponderance of pulses in one of the categories over the other to provide an output signal, the improvement which comprises producing pulses for said first category distinct from said random pulses and at predetermined maximum intervals when said random pulses occur at intervals greater than said predetermined time interval whereby pulses for said first category occur at a predetermined minimum rate even when the interval between successive random pulses is very long.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement of claim 3 wherein said maximum interval is equal to said predetermined time interval.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
The improvement of claim 3 wherein the pulses in said first category are balanced against the pulses in said second category by storing the number of pulses in said second category less the number of pulses in said first category to provide a stored difference between the pulses in said second category and the pulses in said first category, and providing an output signal when the stored difference reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for determining average rates of occurrence of random pulses which includes the steps of comparing the time interval between successive random pulses with a predetermined time interval, producing a first pulse at said predetermined intervals when the interval between successive random pulses is greater than the predetermined interval, producing a second pulse instead of a first pulse and distinct therefrom when the interval between successive random pulses is less than the predetermined interval, balancing the first pulses against the second pulses and utilizing a preponderance of one pulse against the other to provide an output signal.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for determining average rates of occurrence of random pulses which includes the steps of comparing the time interval between successive random pulses with a predetermined time interval, producing a first pulse at said predetermined intervals when the interval between successive random pulses is greater than the predetermined interval, producing a second pulse instead of a first pulse and distinct therefrom when the interval between successive random pulses is less than the predetermined interval, balancing the first pulses against the second pulses and utilizing a preponderance of one pulse against the other to provide an output signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
197 words
In a method for discriminating between rates of random pulses derived from emissions by radioactive materials which includes the steps of detecting the random pulses, comparing the time interval between each detected random pulse and the random pulse immediately preceding it to a predetermined but variable interval, providing in a first path an electrical pulse corresponding to a detected pulse occurring at an interval greater than the predetermined interval, providing in a second path an electrical pulse corresponding to a detected pulse that follows a preceding pulse by an interval less than the predetermined time interval, storing said electrical pulses, electrical pulses through one path increasing the number of pulses in the store and electrical pulses through the other path decreasing the number of pulses in the store, and giving an output signal when the number of pulses in the store reaches a predetermined number, the improvement which comprises producing an electrical pulse in said first path at predetermined maximum intervals when said random pulses occur at intervals greater than said predetermined interval whereby electrical pulses in said first path occur at a predetermined minimum rate even when the interval between successive random pulses is very long.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
197 words
In a method for discriminating between rates of random pulses derived from emissions by radioactive materials which includes the steps of detecting the random pulses, comparing the time interval between each detected random pulse and the random pulse immediately preceding it to a predetermined but variable interval, providing in a first path an electrical pulse corresponding to a detected pulse occurring at an interval greater than the predetermined interval, providing in a second path an electrical pulse corresponding to a detected pulse that follows a preceding pulse by an interval less than the predetermined time interval, storing said electrical pulses, electrical pulses through one path increasing the number of pulses in the store and electrical pulses through the other path decreasing the number of pulses in the store, and giving an output signal when the number of pulses in the store reaches a predetermined number, the improvement which comprises producing an electrical pulse in said first path at predetermined maximum intervals when said random pulses occur at intervals greater than said predetermined interval whereby electrical pulses in said first path occur at a predetermined minimum rate even when the interval between successive random pulses is very long.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
164 words
In apparatus for determining rates of occurrence of random pulses comprising an interval discriminator for comparing the intervals between successive random pulses to a predetermined interval and for providing an electrical down pulse to correspond to each random pulse occurring at an interval greater than the predetermined interval, and an electrical up pulse for each random pulse occurring at an interval less than the predetermined interval, and means for storing said up and down pulses so that up pulses increment said storage means and down pulses decrement said storage means, said storage means providing an output signal when a predetermined stored difference between up pulses and down pulses is reached, the improvement which comprises means included in said interval discrIminator for providing an electrical down pulse at predetermined maximum intervals when said random pulses occur at intervals greater than the predetermined interval, whereby said electrical down pulses occur at a predetermined minimum rate even when the interval between successive random pulses is very long.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
164 words
In apparatus for determining rates of occurrence of random pulses comprising an interval discriminator for comparing the intervals between successive random pulses to a predetermined interval and for providing an electrical down pulse to correspond to each random pulse occurring at an interval greater than the predetermined interval, and an electrical up pulse for each random pulse occurring at an interval less than the predetermined interval, and means for storing said up and down pulses so that up pulses increment said storage means and down pulses decrement said storage means, said storage means providing an output signal when a predetermined stored difference between up pulses and down pulses is reached, the improvement which comprises means included in said interval discrIminator for providing an electrical down pulse at predetermined maximum intervals when said random pulses occur at intervals greater than the predetermined interval, whereby said electrical down pulses occur at a predetermined minimum rate even when the interval between successive random pulses is very long.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
195 words
An interval discriminator for producing first and second pulses indicating the time interval between successive random pulses comprising a flip-flop, a variable rate pulse generator connected to the reset input of said flip-flop, said pulse generator having an inhibit input, a delay circuit connected to the set input of said flip-flop, the input to said delay circuit and the inhibit input to said variable rate pulse generator being connected together and to said incoming random pulses, each random pulse inhibiting said variable rate pulse generator and setting said flip-flop which remains set until the interval between consecutive random pulses is longer than the interval between pulses from the variable rate pulse generator, and an AND gate enabled by the set state of said flip-flop to pass incoming random pulses and thereby provide first pulses indicating that the interval between successive random pulses is less than the interval between pulses from said variable rate pulse generator, said pulse generator providing second pulses at its selected interval when the interval between successive random pulses is greater than its selected interval, whereby said first and second pulses may be balanced to determine the rate of incoming random pulses.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
195 words
An interval discriminator for producing first and second pulses indicating the time interval between successive random pulses comprising a flip-flop, a variable rate pulse generator connected to the reset input of said flip-flop, said pulse generator having an inhibit input, a delay circuit connected to the set input of said flip-flop, the input to said delay circuit and the inhibit input to said variable rate pulse generator being connected together and to said incoming random pulses, each random pulse inhibiting said variable rate pulse generator and setting said flip-flop which remains set until the interval between consecutive random pulses is longer than the interval between pulses from the variable rate pulse generator, and an AND gate enabled by the set state of said flip-flop to pass incoming random pulses and thereby provide first pulses indicating that the interval between successive random pulses is less than the interval between pulses from said variable rate pulse generator, said pulse generator providing second pulses at its selected interval when the interval between successive random pulses is greater than its selected interval, whereby said first and second pulses may be balanced to determine the rate of incoming random pulses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
117 words
The interval discriminator as claimed in claim 9 including a second AND gate enabled by the reset state of said flip-flop to pass incoming random pulses indicating the the interval between successive random pulses is greater than the interval between pulses from said variable rate pulse generator, and an OR gate connected to receive pulses from said second AND gate and from said pulse generator, whereby said OR gate provides pulses corresponding to incoming random pulses that follow a preceding random pulse by an interval greater than the predetermined interval at intervals corresponding to the rate of occurrence of such pulses but at maximum intervals corresponding to the selected pulse rate of said variable rate pulse generator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3473130A
Cited
US3551672A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-01 | 1977-04-02 | 1977-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-01 | 1981-04-02 | 1981-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-01 | 1985-04-02 | 1985-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |