Patent US3801970A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3801970A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Signal translating circuit and methods for handling unidirectional input signals
Assignee: Wilkinson Sword Ltd
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Filing: 1972-02-25
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Granted: 1974-04-02
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Expires: 1992-02-25
Abstract
Abstract The unidirectional output voltage from a thermocouple is chopped to produce a corresponding alternating signal which is then amplified and fed to a frequency modulator. The latter produces an output signal whose frequency is dependent on the magnitude of the alternating signal from the chopper, and this output frequency is superimposed on power supply lines for transmission to a distant point. In addition, the output frequency from the frequency modulator is used to drive the signal chopper so as to maintain the alternating signal from the chopper continuously in phase with the operation of the frequency modulator.
Inventors
- 👤 A Barnes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:42
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K1/00; G01K1/02; G01K1/024
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
An electrical circuit arrangement responsive to the output voltage of a thermocouple, comprising signal converting means connected to receive the output voltage of the thermocouple and operative when supplied with a gating frequency to convert the thermocouple voltage into an alternating signal whose frequency is dependent on the gating frequency and whose magnitude corresponds with that of the input signal, frequency modulating means connected to receive the alternating signal and operative to produce an output signal whose frequency is dependent on the magnitude of the alternating signal, gating means responsive to the said output frequency to produce the said gating frequency in phase therewith, means supplying the said gating frequency from the gating means to the signal converting means, and cold-junction compensating means operative to compensate for variations in the thermocouple output voltage due to changes in the temperature of the thermocouple cold-junction, the coldjunction compensating means comprising a semi-conductor junction physically juxtaposed with the cold-junction of the thermocouple, means producing a compensating voltage dependent on the voltage across the semi-conductor junction, means algebraically summing the thermocouple output voltage and the compensating voltage, and biasing means connected to forwardbias the semi-conductor junction so that the latter changes its forward voltage drop with temperature and the compensating voltage varies in a manner to compensate for variations in the thermocouple output voltage arising from changes in the temperature of the cold-junction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
An electrical circuit arrangement responsive to the output voltage of a thermocouple, comprising signal converting means connected to receive the output voltage of the thermocouple and operative when supplied with a gating frequency to convert the thermocouple voltage into an alternating signal whose frequency is dependent on the gating frequency and whose magnitude corresponds with that of the input signal, frequency modulating means connected to receive the alternating signal and operative to produce an output signal whose frequency is dependent on the magnitude of the alternating signal, gating means responsive to the said output frequency to produce the said gating frequency in phase therewith, means supplying the said gating frequency from the gating means to the signal converting means, and cold-junction compensating means operative to compensate for variations in the thermocouple output voltage due to changes in the temperature of the thermocouple cold-junction, the coldjunction compensating means comprising a semi-conductor junction physically juxtaposed with the cold-junction of the thermocouple, means producing a compensating voltage dependent on the voltage across the semi-conductor junction, means algebraically summing the thermocouple output voltage and the compensating voltage, and biasing means connected to forwardbias the semi-conductor junction so that the latter changes its forward voltage drop with temperature and the compensating voltage varies in a manner to compensate for variations in the thermocouple output voltage arising from changes in the temperature of the cold-junction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
121 words
An electrical circuit arrangement responsive to the output voltage of a thermocouple, comprising signal converting means connected to receive the thermocouple output voltage, gating means for gating the signal converting means with a gating frequency so that the signal converting means converts the thermocouple voltage into an alternating signal whose magnitude corresponds to the amplitude of the thermocouple votage, frequency modulating means connected to receive the alternating signal from the signal converting means to produce an output frequency whose value is dependent on the magnitude of the alternating signal, and means interconnecting the gating means and the frequency modulating means whereby the said gating frequency is derived from and in phase with the output frequency of the output frequency modulating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
121 words
An electrical circuit arrangement responsive to the output voltage of a thermocouple, comprising signal converting means connected to receive the thermocouple output voltage, gating means for gating the signal converting means with a gating frequency so that the signal converting means converts the thermocouple voltage into an alternating signal whose magnitude corresponds to the amplitude of the thermocouple votage, frequency modulating means connected to receive the alternating signal from the signal converting means to produce an output frequency whose value is dependent on the magnitude of the alternating signal, and means interconnecting the gating means and the frequency modulating means whereby the said gating frequency is derived from and in phase with the output frequency of the output frequency modulating means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, including a power supply circuit for feeding unidirectional power to the signal converting means and the frequency modulating means, and means responsive to the output frequency from the frequency modulating means for superimposing a frequency modulation on the power supply circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
117 words
An electrical circuit arrangement responsive to a unidirectional electrical input signal, comprising signal converting means connected to receive the unidirectional input signal and operative when supplied with a gating frequency to convert the input signal into an alternating signal whose frequency is dependent on the gating frequency and whose magnitude corresponds with that of the input signal, frequency modulating means connected to receive the alternating signal and operative to produce an outPut signal whose frequency is dependent on the magnitude of the alternating signal, gating means responsive to the said output frequency to produce the said gating frequency in phase therewith, and means supplying the said gating frequency from the gating means to the signal converting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
117 words
An electrical circuit arrangement responsive to a unidirectional electrical input signal, comprising signal converting means connected to receive the unidirectional input signal and operative when supplied with a gating frequency to convert the input signal into an alternating signal whose frequency is dependent on the gating frequency and whose magnitude corresponds with that of the input signal, frequency modulating means connected to receive the alternating signal and operative to produce an outPut signal whose frequency is dependent on the magnitude of the alternating signal, gating means responsive to the said output frequency to produce the said gating frequency in phase therewith, and means supplying the said gating frequency from the gating means to the signal converting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An arrangement according to claim 4, including amplifying means connected to receive the alternating signal from the signal converting means and to amplify it before it is applied to the frequency modulating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
An arrangement according to claim 4, in which the frequency modulating means comprises a multivibrator circuit connected to be responsive to the magnitude of the alternating signal so as to have its frequency determined thereby.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
191 words
An electrical circuit arrangement responsive to a unidirectional electrical input signal, comprising signal converting means connected to receive the unidirectional input signal and operative when supplied with a gating frequency to convert the input signal into an alternating signal whose frequency is dependent on the gating frequency and whose magnitude corresponds with that of the input signal, phase splitting means connected to receive the alternating signal from the signal converting means and operative to produce two complementary signals whose frequency and magnitude are dependent on those of the alternating signal, a multivibrator comprising two electronic switching devices connected to be switched on and off alternately, and means responsive to the two complementary signals and connected to control the electronic switching means whereby the complementary signals respectively vary the off-times of the two electronic switching devices so that the frequency of the multivibrator varies in dependence on the magnitude of the alternating signal but its mark/space ratio does not, gating means responsive to the multivibrator output frequency to produce the said gating frequency in phase therewith, and means supplying the said gating frequency from the gating means to the signal converting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
191 words
An electrical circuit arrangement responsive to a unidirectional electrical input signal, comprising signal converting means connected to receive the unidirectional input signal and operative when supplied with a gating frequency to convert the input signal into an alternating signal whose frequency is dependent on the gating frequency and whose magnitude corresponds with that of the input signal, phase splitting means connected to receive the alternating signal from the signal converting means and operative to produce two complementary signals whose frequency and magnitude are dependent on those of the alternating signal, a multivibrator comprising two electronic switching devices connected to be switched on and off alternately, and means responsive to the two complementary signals and connected to control the electronic switching means whereby the complementary signals respectively vary the off-times of the two electronic switching devices so that the frequency of the multivibrator varies in dependence on the magnitude of the alternating signal but its mark/space ratio does not, gating means responsive to the multivibrator output frequency to produce the said gating frequency in phase therewith, and means supplying the said gating frequency from the gating means to the signal converting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
An arrangement according to claim 7, in which the signal converting means comprises a signal chopping circuit including two electronic switching devices connected to receive and chop the unidirectional input signal, and means responsive to the conductive state of each of the switching devices of the multivibrator for controlling the conductive state of a respective one of the switching devices of the signal chopping circuit.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of transmitting a unidirectional electrical signal, in which the unidirectional signal is converted to an alternating signal of corresponding amplitude, which is then used to produce a frequency modulation dependent on the alternating signal amplitude, and the frequency modulation is then superimposed on power supply lines, and in which the frequency of the frequency modulation and of the said alternating signal are maintained continuously equal and in phase.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of transmitting a unidirectional electrical signal, in which the unidirectional signal is converted to an alternating signal of corresponding amplitude, which is then used to produce a frequency modulation dependent on the alternating signal amplitude, and the frequency modulation is then superimposed on power supply lines, and in which the frequency of the frequency modulation and of the said alternating signal are maintained continuously equal and in phase.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-01 | 1977-10-01 | 1978-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-01 | 1981-10-01 | 1982-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-01 | 1985-10-01 | 1986-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |