US3863160A — Method and apparatus for finding the center ampli…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 158 words

A method for finding the center amplitude of input pulses which are both asymmetric and of random amplitude, comprising the steps of: attenuating each input pulse a fixed percentage of its original amplitude, establishing a pair of time offset parallel channels for receiving the input pulse such that the two channels in combination can contain two derived pulses from each input pulse, comparing in each channel the original with the attenuated amplitudes of each derived pulse, deriving from such comparing two integratable signals that are related to each other in area and are time offset, one signal being in each channel, integrating separately the two signals, forming from the integration signals two wave forms which have different magnitudes, the smaller magnitude wave form being in the channel which is earlier in time and, the two wave forms, by virtue of time offset, intersecting at a center time useable for strobing the input pulse for obtaining its center amplitude.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 158 words

A method for finding the center amplitude of input pulses which are both asymmetric and of random amplitude, comprising the steps of: attenuating each input pulse a fixed percentage of its original amplitude, establishing a pair of time offset parallel channels for receiving the input pulse such that the two channels in combination can contain two derived pulses from each input pulse, comparing in each channel the original with the attenuated amplitudes of each derived pulse, deriving from such comparing two integratable signals that are related to each other in area and are time offset, one signal being in each channel, integrating separately the two signals, forming from the integration signals two wave forms which have different magnitudes, the smaller magnitude wave form being in the channel which is earlier in time and, the two wave forms, by virtue of time offset, intersecting at a center time useable for strobing the input pulse for obtaining its center amplitude.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 77 words

The method according to claim 1 in which said step of attenuating the input pulse is accompanied by stretching the input pulse at a level of amplitude which is a fixed percentage of its maximum amplitude, during said comparing said level intersecting the input pulse at two points between which the input pulse has less asymmetry than the input pulse possesses, thereby causing the two derived signals to be more symmetric with respect to the input pulse.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method according to claim 2 in which the attenuation level is fifty percent of the amplitude of the input pulse.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method according to claim 1 which includes the step of strobing the input pulse at the center time and obtaining its center amplitude.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method according to claim 4 including the step of employing at least one of said steps of forming and integrating to determine the time of intersection of the two wave forms.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method according to claim 5 in which the time of inTersection and thus strobing time is determined to be approximately at sixty percent of the duration of the input pulse.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method according to claim 1 in which said deriving causes the two signals to encompass the same area, and forming of at least one of the two wave forms causes said different magnitudes.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method according to claim 7 in which the rates of integrating the two signals are different from each other.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 30 words

A method according to claim 1 in which the parallel channels are established having a time offset at least equal to one-half the duration of one of the derived signals.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 168 words

Apparatus for finding the center amplitude of input pulses which are both asymmetric and of random amplitude, comprising: means for attenuating each input pulse a fixed percentage of its original amplitude, means for establishing a pair of time offset parallel channels for receiving the input pulse such that the two channels in combination can contain two derived pulses from each input pulse, means coupled into said channels for comparing the original with the attenuated amplitudes of each derived pulse, for deriving two integratable signals that are related to each other in area and are time offset, one signal being in each channel, means for integrating separately the two signals and for forming from the integration signals two wave forms which have different magnitudes, the smaller magnitude wave form being in the channel which is earlier in time and, the two wave forms, by virtue of being in respectively different time offset channels, intersect at a center time useable for strobing the input pulse for obtaining its center amplitude.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 168 words

Apparatus for finding the center amplitude of input pulses which are both asymmetric and of random amplitude, comprising: means for attenuating each input pulse a fixed percentage of its original amplitude, means for establishing a pair of time offset parallel channels for receiving the input pulse such that the two channels in combination can contain two derived pulses from each input pulse, means coupled into said channels for comparing the original with the attenuated amplitudes of each derived pulse, for deriving two integratable signals that are related to each other in area and are time offset, one signal being in each channel, means for integrating separately the two signals and for forming from the integration signals two wave forms which have different magnitudes, the smaller magnitude wave form being in the channel which is earlier in time and, the two wave forms, by virtue of being in respectively different time offset channels, intersect at a center time useable for strobing the input pulse for obtaining its center amplitude.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 32 words

Apparatus according to claim 10 in which said attenuating means is coupled to means for stretching the input pulse at an amplitude level that is a fixed percentage of its maximum amplitude.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus according to claim 10 which includes means responsive to the intersecting of the two wave forms for generating a center time strobe signal.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 39 words

Apparatus according to claim 12 which includes output means coupled to receive the input pulse and the strobe signal for effecting the strobing of the input pulse at the center time and for thereby obtaining the pulse center amplitude.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 33 words

Apparatus according to claim 10 in which at least one of said comparing means and said integrating means includes means for determining the relative difference in the magnitudes of the two wave forms.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 30 words

Apparatus according to claim 14 in which both of said channels separately include said comparing and integrating means and said magnitude difference determining means is in one of said channels.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus according to claim 15 in which said magnitude difference determining means is an attenuator in the channel which is first in time to integrate its integratable signal.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 77 words

Apparatus according to claim 10 in which said attenuating and comparing means comprise the series connection of a pulse stretcher, an attenuator and a first comparator, the first comparator having one input for receiving the stretched and attenuated input pulse and another input for receiving the input pulse delayed for a time at least equal to the time that it takes the attenuated pulse to reach its peak level before the delayed pulse reaches the same level.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 40 words

Apparatus according to claim 17 in which said pulse stretcher, attenuator and first comparator are constructed and arranged to generate one of the integratable signals with a duration the center of which is the symmetry center of the input pulse.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 71 words

Apparatus according to claim 18 in which said comparing means includes a second comparator that also receives the stretched and attenuated input pulse at one input, and there is provided a delay means which couples the input pulse to another input to said second comparator at a time which is at least one-half the duration of the integratable signal later than the delayed input pulse is coupled to said first comparator.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus according to claim 10 which includes as a source of the input pulses a Coulter type of scanning aperture arrangement.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 213 words

Apparatus for finding the center amplitude of each pulse in a train of random amplitude input pulses that are asymmetric, comprising: a source of the input pulses, delay means for generating two quantums of delay and for defining the input end of two time offset parallel channels, input pulse attenuating means and series coupled thereto pulse comparing means, both said delay means and said attenuating means being coupled to receive the input pulses, said comparing means being coupled to the output of said delay means for developing in each said channel an integratable signal two such signals developed from each input pulse, integrating means in both said channels for integrating separately each of said signals to form two time offset wave forms, at least one of said comparing means and said integrating means in at least one of said channels defining the profile of at least one of the offset wave forms such that the two wave forms have different profiles that intersect each other at a point in time, circuit means responsive to said integrating means for identifying said point in time, and output circuit means coupled to receive an input pulse and activated by said identifying circuit means to select the amplitude of the input pulse at said point in time.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 213 words

Apparatus for finding the center amplitude of each pulse in a train of random amplitude input pulses that are asymmetric, comprising: a source of the input pulses, delay means for generating two quantums of delay and for defining the input end of two time offset parallel channels, input pulse attenuating means and series coupled thereto pulse comparing means, both said delay means and said attenuating means being coupled to receive the input pulses, said comparing means being coupled to the output of said delay means for developing in each said channel an integratable signal two such signals developed from each input pulse, integrating means in both said channels for integrating separately each of said signals to form two time offset wave forms, at least one of said comparing means and said integrating means in at least one of said channels defining the profile of at least one of the offset wave forms such that the two wave forms have different profiles that intersect each other at a point in time, circuit means responsive to said integrating means for identifying said point in time, and output circuit means coupled to receive an input pulse and activated by said identifying circuit means to select the amplitude of the input pulse at said point in time.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 55 words

Apparatus according to claim 21 in which a first of said channels comprises in series connection a first delay element, a first comparator and a first integrator; and the second of said channels comprises in series connection a second delay element, a second comparator and a second integrator; and said delay elements are series coupled.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus according to claim 22 in which said input pulse attenuating means is coupled to pulse stretching means for assisting in the operation of said comparators.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus according to claim 22 in which said first channel includes an attenuator for effecting the difference in wave form profiles.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 59 words

Apparatus according to claim 21 in which said attenuating means is constructed to provide a fixed percentage of attenuation of each input pulse and coact with said comparing means to generate the integratable signal with a time duration center that defines said point in time and effectively reduces the asymmetry of each input pulse as seen by the apparatus.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 61 words

Apparatus according to claim 21 in which said comparing means is a comparator interposed between two delay elements which define said delay means, said comparator having an output to said integrating means in one of said channels and to one of said delay elements, said one delay element having an output to the integrating means in the other of said channels.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 19 words

Apparatus according to claim 21 in which said source of input pulses includes a Coulter type of scanning aperture.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-01-27	1978-07-29	1979-01-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-01-27	1982-07-29	1983-01-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-01-27	1986-07-29	1987-01-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for finding the center amplitude of each pulse of a train of random amplitude asymmetric pulses

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