US3766474A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Signal indicator systems
Assignee: Vernon Instruments Co Ltd
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Filing: 1972-09-28
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Granted: 1973-10-16
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Expires: 1992-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A signal magnitude indicator system includes polarity responsive means whereby a signal of other than predetermined polarity is inverted before being applied to a comparator in which it is compared with a temperature-compensated reference potential developed across a selected one of a plurality of resistors. Any error signal developed by the comparator controls a selector means to change the selection of resistor until the compared signals are alike. The selector means also controls the selection of one of a plurality of luminous electric indicators arranged in linear array to display the signal magnitude.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald W Mac
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R13/00; G01R13/40; G01R13/404; G01R13/405; G01R13/406
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
279 words
A system for indicating the magnitude of an electric signal, comprising: a source of said electric signal; signal comparator means having two inputs; said comparator means being operable to compare the magnitudes of potentials applied to said two inputs and to yield an output signal representative of the difference between said signal magnitudes; a plurality of electric indicator means disposed in a linear array, each said indicator means being excitable by applied electric energy to provide a visible indication; a source of said electric energy; a like plurality of resistance means having mutually different resistance values; a source of a constant direct current; selector means including first and second selector elements, said selector means being settable to a plurality of different conditions in each of which said first selector element selects a respective one of said resistance means to receive and constant current thereby to develop a respective potential thereacross and said second selector means connects a corresponding one of said electric indicator means to said source of electric energy; selector drive means operable by applied control signals to change progressively the setting of said selector means; first circuit means connecting said electric signal to one said input of said comparator means; second circuit means connecting the potential developed across said selected resistance means to the other input of said comparator means; and third circuit means connecting said control signals from said comparator means to control said selector drive means to change the setting of said selector means until said potential has the same magnitude as said electric signal, whereby a selected one of said electric indicator means is excited thereby to denote the magnitude of said electric signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
279 words
A system for indicating the magnitude of an electric signal, comprising: a source of said electric signal; signal comparator means having two inputs; said comparator means being operable to compare the magnitudes of potentials applied to said two inputs and to yield an output signal representative of the difference between said signal magnitudes; a plurality of electric indicator means disposed in a linear array, each said indicator means being excitable by applied electric energy to provide a visible indication; a source of said electric energy; a like plurality of resistance means having mutually different resistance values; a source of a constant direct current; selector means including first and second selector elements, said selector means being settable to a plurality of different conditions in each of which said first selector element selects a respective one of said resistance means to receive and constant current thereby to develop a respective potential thereacross and said second selector means connects a corresponding one of said electric indicator means to said source of electric energy; selector drive means operable by applied control signals to change progressively the setting of said selector means; first circuit means connecting said electric signal to one said input of said comparator means; second circuit means connecting the potential developed across said selected resistance means to the other input of said comparator means; and third circuit means connecting said control signals from said comparator means to control said selector drive means to change the setting of said selector means until said potential has the same magnitude as said electric signal, whereby a selected one of said electric indicator means is excited thereby to denote the magnitude of said electric signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system claimed in claim 1 wherein said electric indicator means comprise light-emissive semi-conductor diodes and said source of electric energy is a source of electric current.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
97 words
The system claimed in claim 1 wherein said selector means includes electric counter means operable by said comparator output signal to assume successively a plurality of conditions in each of which an output potential appears at a predetermined one of a said plurality of counter outputs and said first selector means includes a said plurality of semiconductor switching devices individually controlled by the potential appearing at a respective said counter output, each said switching device being connected to control the passage of said constant current from said source to a respective one of a plurality of resistors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
101 words
The system claimed in claim 1 and including also signal inverter means fed with said electric signal and developing an inverted electric signal, first switching means operable to connect saId electric signal to said comparator means, second switching means operable to connect said inverted electric signal to said comparator means and polarity detector means responsive to an input signal of one polarity to operate said first switching means and responsive to an electric signal of the polarity opposite to said one polarity to operate said second switching means, whereby said comparator means receives always an electric signal of the same polarity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
The system claimed in claim 4 wherein a first series of said electric indicator means denotes electric signals of said one polarity and a second series of said electric indicator means denotes electric signals of said opposite polarity and said polarity detector means operates also to connect said energy source to said first or said second series of said electric indicator means in accordance with the detected polarity of said electric signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
The system claimed in claim 1 wherein said second circuit means includes a difference amplifier, having two inputs, one input of said amplifier being connected to receive current from said constant-current source by way of a resistor and the other input of said difference amplifier being connected to receive the potential appearing across the collector/emitter path of a saturated transistor connected to pass current developed by a further constant-current source identical with the first said constant current source, the output signal of said difference amplifier being applied to said comparator means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system claimed in claim 3 wherein said selector drive means includes a source of pulse signals and pulse signal control means responsive to any excursion of said comparator output signal beyond predetermined lower and upper limiting voltages to permit said pulse signals to pass to said counter means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
144 words
The system claimed in claim 7 wherein said pulse signal control means includes first and second difference amplifiers each having a respective input connected by way of a common resistor to the output of said comparator, said first difference amplifiers having the other input thereof connected to a source of predetermined positive reference voltage and said second difference amplifier having the other input thereof connected to a source of predetermined negative reference voltage, and a two-input logical AND gate fed on its two inputs with the respective output signals of said first and second difference amplifiers, whereby said AND gate yields a logical 0 output signal when and only when the common signal applied to said second and third difference amplifiers has a value intermediate between those of said predetermined positive and negative reference voltages and a logical I signal at all other times.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system claimed in claim 7 wherein said selector control means includes a further AND gate receiving said logical signals from said comparator means, a source of pulse signals and circuit means including said AND gate connecting signals from said source to said counter means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system claimed in claim 1 and including means whereby said energy source is connected to a said series of electric indicator means only when said compared potentials are of the same magnitude.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system claimed in claim 1 and comprising means for comparing a voltage proportional to said electric signal with a reference potential and to respond to an excess of said voltage over said reference potential by providing an out-of-range indicating signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system claimed in claim 11 and including logic means responsive to said out-of-range indicating signal and to a signal denotive of the polarity of an applied electric signal to yield respective signals denotive of said applied signal exceeding the measuring range in one or in the other polarity, and respective indicator means actuated by said respective signals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of electric indicator devices are dispossed in a vertical rectilinear array. >
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |