US3796960A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronic signal multiplier
Assignee: Halliburton Co
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Filing: 1972-09-05
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Granted: 1974-03-12
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Expires: 1992-09-05
Abstract
Abstract A frequency multiplier for frequency variable electronic signals for use with a fluid flow measuring system. The generally sinusoidal output signal from a fluid flowmeter is converted to a square wave signal of the same frequency. The square wave signal is integrated to form a triangular wave signal variable in both amplitude and frequency with the frequency of the square wave signal. The peak-to-peak amplitude of the triangular wave signal is then adjusted to a predetermined value irrespective of input signal amplitude or frequency in an automatic gain control circuit, and the frequency of the triangular wave is thereafter doubled to the desired value by cascaded doubling stages. Each doubling stage includes a two-channel half-wave rectifier, means for shifting the bias of the rectified waves, and means for both inverting one of the bias shifted waves for combining the inverted wave with the other bias shifted wave to center the combined wave about a zero volt axis. In an alternative embodiment, with the output signal from the flowmeter in the form of a series of constant amplitude, constant width, variable recurrence rate pulses, a reversible ramp generator is used to form a triangular wave signal having an amplitude and a frequency variable with the frequency of pulse recurrence. The peak-to-peak amplitude of this triangular wave is likewise adjusted to a predetermined constant value and the frequency multiplied in cascaded doubling stages as described above.
Inventors
- 👤 J Frizzell
- 👤 J Hulme
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:10
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03B; H03B19/00; G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/05; G01F1/10; G01F1/12; G01F1/125; G01F15/00; G01F15/07; G01F15/075; G01F15/0755
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
Apparatus for multiplying the frequency of a frequency variable input signal, comprising: means for generating a square wave signal corresponding in frequency to the frequency of said input signal; means for integrating said square wave signal for providing a triangular wave signal related in both peak-to-peak amplitude and frequency to the frequency of said input signal; means for adjusting the peak-to-peak amplitude of said triangular wave signal to a predetermined constant value while leaving the frequency thereof unchanged; and doubling means including means for simultaneously full wave rectifying said amplitude adjusted triangular wave signal and biasing the full wave rectified signal by an amount sufficient to center it about a zero reference potential axis, thereby to provide a triangular wave signal having a frequency double that of said input signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
Apparatus for multiplying the frequency of a frequency variable input signal, comprising: means for generating a square wave signal corresponding in frequency to the frequency of said input signal; means for integrating said square wave signal for providing a triangular wave signal related in both peak-to-peak amplitude and frequency to the frequency of said input signal; means for adjusting the peak-to-peak amplitude of said triangular wave signal to a predetermined constant value while leaving the frequency thereof unchanged; and doubling means including means for simultaneously full wave rectifying said amplitude adjusted triangular wave signal and biasing the full wave rectified signal by an amount sufficient to center it about a zero reference potential axis, thereby to provide a triangular wave signal having a frequency double that of said input signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said doubling means includes: means for separating the positive and negative components of said amplitude adjusted triangular wave signal into two separate signals; means for shifting the bias of said two separate signals in opposite directions by a predetermined amount equal to one-fourth the peak-to-peak amplitude of the amplitude adjusted triangular wave; and means for inverting one of said bias shifted signals and for combining the inverted signal with the other of said bias shifted signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 2 and further including additional cascaded doubling means identical to said first mentioned doubling means, said additional cascaded doubling means being coupled to said frequency doubled triangular wave signal for successive doubling of the frequency thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for combining has a gain of two, whereby all biasing for each of said doubling means can be made identical and frequency independent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said combining means includes an amplifier having an inverting and a non-inverting input terminals, said signal separating means including a pair of back-to-back diodes, each of said input terminals coupled to one terminal of different diodes, the other terminals of said diodes being inter-connected, for forming an input terminal to said doubling means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said bias shifting means includes two oppositely polarized constant current sources, and two resistive elements connected between different constant current sources and said non-inverting terminal and said one terminal of the diode connected to said inverting input terminal, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for adjusting the peak-to-peak amplitude includes a wide-band automatic gain control circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said automatic gain control circuit includes an electro-optical feedback circuit for reducing transient effects.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and further including means for converting said frequency doubled triangular wave signal to a square wave signal.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for increasing the frequency of an electrical signal comprising the steps of: generating a square wave signal corresponding in frequency to that of said electrical signal; integrating said square wave signal over time; modifying the amplitude of said integrated signal so as to maintain the peak-to-peak amplitude of said integrated signal at a predetermined level without changing the basic waveform; and, full wave rectifying said modified signal for generating a signal of like form having a frequency double that of the signal prior to amplification.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for increasing the frequency of an electrical signal comprising the steps of: generating a square wave signal corresponding in frequency to that of said electrical signal; integrating said square wave signal over time; modifying the amplitude of said integrated signal so as to maintain the peak-to-peak amplitude of said integrated signal at a predetermined level without changing the basic waveform; and, full wave rectifying said modified signal for generating a signal of like form having a frequency double that of the signal prior to amplification.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus for multiplying the frequency of an input signal which is rapidly variable in frequency over a wide range comprising: means for generating a triangular wave signal related in both peak-to-peak amplitude and frequency to the frequency of said input signal, means for adjusting the peak-to-peak amplitude of said triangular wave signal to a predetermined constant value while leaving the frequency thereof unchanged; and, means for doubling the frequency of said adjusted triangular wave signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus for multiplying the frequency of an input signal which is rapidly variable in frequency over a wide range comprising: means for generating a triangular wave signal related in both peak-to-peak amplitude and frequency to the frequency of said input signal, means for adjusting the peak-to-peak amplitude of said triangular wave signal to a predetermined constant value while leaving the frequency thereof unchanged; and, means for doubling the frequency of said adjusted triangular wave signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said doubling means includes: means for full wave rectifying said amplitude adjusted triangular wave signal, and for biasing of the full-wave rectified signal by a predetermined amount sufficient to center it about a zero reference potential to thereby provide a triangular wave having double the frequency of that of said input signal.
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) | 1977-03-11 | 1977-09-10 | 1978-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-11 | 1981-09-10 | 1982-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-11 | 1985-09-10 | 1986-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |