Patent US3846692A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3846692A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Peak amplitude follower circuit
Assignee: The General Electric Company PLC
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Filing: 1973-11-14
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Granted: 1974-11-05
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Expires: 1993-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A circuit is provided for producing a d.c. output signal which follows variations in the peak value of an alternating input signal in which the input signal is rectified and applied to a capacitor. A reference signal is derived from the voltage across the capacitor and is compared to the rectified signal to produce a control signal for controlling an operational amplifier, the output from the operational amplifier acting to reduce the charge on the capacitor when the peak value of the input signal falls.
Inventors
- 👤 A Hill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:39
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K5/00; H03K5/01; H03K5/04; G; G01; G01R; G01R19/00; G01R19/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
An electrical circuit for producing a d.c. output signal which follows variations in the peak value of an alternating input signal comprising input terminals to which the alternating signal is applied, a rectifier for producing a rectified signal from the input signal, a storage capacitor which is connected to the rectifier output so as to be charged to a value corresponding to the peak value of the rectified signal, output terminals across which the d.c. output is produced, means for deriving a d.c. reference signal from the voltage across the capacitor, means for comparing the reference signal with the rectified signal to produce a control signal in response to variations, from a predetermined value, of the difference between the reference signal and the peak value of the rectified signal, due to falls in said Peak value, and means controlled by said control signal for discharging the capacitor until said predetermined value of said difference is restored.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
An electrical circuit for producing a d.c. output signal which follows variations in the peak value of an alternating input signal comprising input terminals to which the alternating signal is applied, a rectifier for producing a rectified signal from the input signal, a storage capacitor which is connected to the rectifier output so as to be charged to a value corresponding to the peak value of the rectified signal, output terminals across which the d.c. output is produced, means for deriving a d.c. reference signal from the voltage across the capacitor, means for comparing the reference signal with the rectified signal to produce a control signal in response to variations, from a predetermined value, of the difference between the reference signal and the peak value of the rectified signal, due to falls in said Peak value, and means controlled by said control signal for discharging the capacitor until said predetermined value of said difference is restored.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrical circuit according to claim 1, in which the reference signal producing means comprises a potential divider connected across the output terminals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electrical circuit according to claim 1 in which the control signal producing means comprises an operational amplifier having the rectified signal and the reference signal connected to its inputs and the capacitor discharge means connected to its output.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
An electrical circuit according to claim 1 in which the control signal producing means comprises a first operational amplifier having the rectified signal and the reference signal connected to its inputs, an integrating circuit connected to the output of the first operational amplifier, a diode connected in parallel with the resistor of the integrating circuit and a second operational amplifier having its input connected across the integrating circuit output and its output connected to the capacitor discharge means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electrical circuit according to claim 3 in which the capacitor discharge means comprises a diode and a resistor connected in series between the storage capacitor and said operational amplifier output.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electrical circuit according to claim 1 including means for preventing input signal voltage spikes from appearing on the output signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
An electrical circuit according to claim 6 in which the spike preventing means comprises a pair of storage capacitors which are charged respectively to the peak values of the positive and negative half cycles of the input signal, a gating circuit for selecting the lower of the two voltages on the storage capacitors as the d.c. output signal and means for transferring the higher of the two voltages to the reference signal producing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An electrical circuit according to claim 1 in which the rectifier is a 3-phase rectifier.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrical circuit according to claim 1 in which the rectifier is a single phase rectifier.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electrical circuit according to claim 1 in which a diode is connected between the rectifier output and the or each capacitor to prevent discharge thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electrical circuit according to claim 7 in which a diode is connected between the rectifier output and each capacitor to prevent discharge thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrical circuit according to claim 1 in which a buffer amplifier is connected to isolate the output terminals from the capacitor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
106 words
An electrical circuit for connection to the output of the circuit of claim 1 and for giving a response to incremental changes in the d.c. output signal produced thereby, comprising a pair of input terminals, means responsive to a change in the input signal for producing first and second voltages, said second voltage having a value equal to a fraction of the other and decaying at a slower rate and an operational amplifier having its inputs connected to receive said voltages so as to be in a first or second state according to whether said first voltages is greater than or less than said second voltage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrical circuit according to claim 13 in which the voltage producing means comprise first and second differentiating circuits.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electrical circuit according to claim 14 in which a resistor is connected in series with one of the amplifier inputs to increase the input impedance of the amplifier so that it does not affect the time constants of the differentiating circuits.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electrical circuit according to claim 13 in which a resistor and a diode are connected in series between the non-inverting input and the output of the amplifier to produce a bias so that the input signal has to exceed a predetermined value before the amplifier changes to the operative state.
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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) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |