US3864573A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wide-range radiation gage for determining a material property
Assignee: Bethlehem Steel Corp
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Filing: 1973-08-20
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Granted: 1975-02-04
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Expires: 1993-08-20
Abstract
Abstract Photon radiation from a high energy nuclear source is beamed through a test material to gage a material property such as hot steel plate thickness which may be subject to temperature variation during gaging and grade variations from plate-to-plate. Emerging radiation strikes a scintillation detector having a self-balancing measuring loop, the latter consisting of a photodetector having a controlled-gain photomultiplier (PM) tube optically coupled to a scintillator and serially connected with a comparator-integrator which developes an error voltage and a variable dynode voltage source for the PM tube which is controlled by the error voltage. Gage operation is based on the phenomena of a nonlinear PM tube gain characteristic being inverse and nearly equal to a nonlinear radiation absorption characteristic of the test material. Thus, when emerging radiation varies in relation to the material property, it causes the error voltage to vary the dynode voltage which in turn controls tube gain in a manner to maintain anode current constant over a single wide range of material property gaging, even during radiation source decay and PM tube drift. Consequently, the dynode voltage varies slightly nonlinearly as a function of the test material property being gaged. The dynode voltage is also fed to a manual zero and attenuation comparator and then to a stepless linearizer for correcting the slight nonlinearity of a fraction of the dynode voltage. A compensator, operating under control of a data source and a pyrometer, modifies the linearized gaging signal to correct for effects thereon caused by material grade and temperature variations. The linearized and compensated gaging signal is fed through one input of a differential output amplifier to a digital gaging indicator, as well as to a gaging deviation profile meter, thereby providing readings corrected to what the material will gage when cooled to a room temperature. An automatic zero circuit, which consists of a switched integrator controlled by a test material detector, operates on the other input of the differential output amplifier to maintain the output of said amplifier at zero when there is no test material being gaged. Additional circuits provided in the gage enable profiling of the test material as well as calibrating the gage both mechanically and electrically.
Inventors
- 👤 Carvel D Hoffman
- 👤 Duane T Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:11
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/02; G01N23/06; G01N23/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 55
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
In a material measuring system which converts radiation into a light source that varies as a function of a material property and a conversion error due to radiation source decay, said system having a self-balancing measuring loop which includes a controlled-gain photodetector responsive to said variable light source and subject to a gain error caused by photodetector aging, said measuring loop also including comparator means operative therein to cause the production of a material measuring signal which varies as a function of said variable light source and said conversion and gain errors, said errors having an undesirable effect on measuring loop stability, the improvement comprising: a. integrator means circuited to modify said comparator means for stabilizing the self-balancing measuring loop against the undesirable effects of said conversion and gain errors, and b. means for utilizing the stabilized measuring signal to determine a value of said material property.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a material measuring system which converts radiation into a light source that varies as a function of a material property and a conversion error due to radiation source decay, said system having a self-balancing measuring loop which includes a controlled-gain photodetector responsive to said variable light source and subject to a gain error caused by photodetector aging, said measuring loop also including comparator means operative therein to cause the production of a material measuring signal which varies as a function of said variable light source and said conversion and gain errors, said errors having an undesirable effect on measuring loop stability, the improvement comprising: a. integrator means circuited to modify said comparator means for stabilizing the self-balancing measuring loop against the undesirable effects of said conversion and gain errors, and b. means for utilizing the stabilized measuring signal to determine a value of said material property.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a material measuring system which converts radiation into a light source that varies as a function of a material property and a conversion error having the effect of a variable zero shift, said system having a photo-responsive self-balancing measuring loop which produces a material measuring signal that varies as a functIon of said variable light source and the conversion zero shift, the improvement comprising: a. circuit means external said measuring loop which is responsive differentially to the material measuring signal and a zero off-setting signal for producing a material measuring output signal having a constant zero base, b. circuit means including integrator means circuited across the output to the input of means (a) and responsive to a material detector for automatically zeroing said material output signal by generating said zero offsetting signal during the absence of material from said gage and holding the value of said zero offsetting signal the instant material presence is detected in the gage, thereby overcoming the conversion zero shift as well as subsequent electrical drift errors, and c. means for utilizing the zeroed material measuring output signal to determine a value of said material property.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a material measuring system which converts radiation into a light source that varies as a function of a material property and a conversion error having the effect of a variable zero shift, said system having a photo-responsive self-balancing measuring loop which produces a material measuring signal that varies as a functIon of said variable light source and the conversion zero shift, the improvement comprising: a. circuit means external said measuring loop which is responsive differentially to the material measuring signal and a zero off-setting signal for producing a material measuring output signal having a constant zero base, b. circuit means including integrator means circuited across the output to the input of means (a) and responsive to a material detector for automatically zeroing said material output signal by generating said zero offsetting signal during the absence of material from said gage and holding the value of said zero offsetting signal the instant material presence is detected in the gage, thereby overcoming the conversion zero shift as well as subsequent electrical drift errors, and c. means for utilizing the zeroed material measuring output signal to determine a value of said material property.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
adjustable comparator means for cancelling the offset in said correction signal, and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
adjustable comparator means for cancelling the offset in said correction signal, and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
second circuit means for scaling a third material property signal a predetermined amount, said second circuit means adapted to be adjusted by a second external signal for establishing low and high limits to a range of correction needs attributed to the third material property variations,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
second circuit means for scaling a third material property signal a predetermined amount, said second circuit means adapted to be adjusted by a second external signal for establishing low and high limits to a range of correction needs attributed to the third material property variations,
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
comparator-integrator means responsive to the difference between said detector signal and a comparator reference signal for producing an integrated error signal which varies proportional to said zero shift error and slightly nonlinearly relative said material property, whereby the integrator Portion of this means maintains the current of an anode in said photodetector at a virtually constant value while automatically stabilizing said measuring loop against undesirable effects of the aforesaid decay and gain errors, and
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
comparator-integrator means responsive to the difference between said detector signal and a comparator reference signal for producing an integrated error signal which varies proportional to said zero shift error and slightly nonlinearly relative said material property, whereby the integrator Portion of this means maintains the current of an anode in said photodetector at a virtually constant value while automatically stabilizing said measuring loop against undesirable effects of the aforesaid decay and gain errors, and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
second circuit means for scaling a third material property signal a predetermined amount, said second circuit means adapted to be adjusted by a second external signal for establishing low and high limits to a range of correction needs attributed to the third material property variations,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
second circuit means for scaling a third material property signal a predetermined amount, said second circuit means adapted to be adjusted by a second external signal for establishing low and high limits to a range of correction needs attributed to the third material property variations,
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
adjustable comparator means for cancelling the offset in said correction signal, and
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
adjustable comparator means for cancelling the offset in said correction signal, and
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
a scaling amplifier for summing the slightly nonlinear material measuring signal with the correcion signal and including gain adjusting means for setting the initial slope of the summed signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
a scaling amplifier for summing the slightly nonlinear material measuring signal with the correcion signal and including gain adjusting means for setting the initial slope of the summed signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
third circuit means for multiplying the outputs of said first and second circuit means by each other To obtain a product signal, and
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
third circuit means for multiplying the outputs of said first and second circuit means by each other To obtain a product signal, and
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
264 words
In a material measuring system which converts radiation into a light source that varies as a function of a material property and conversion errors due to radiation source decay and a variable zero shift, said system having a self-balancing measuring loop which includes a controlled-gain photodetector responsive to said variable light source and subject to a gain caused by photodetector aging, said measuring loop also including comparator means operative therein to cause the production of a material measuring signal which varies as a function of said variable light source and said conversion, gain and zero shift errors, said errors having an undesirable effect on measuring loop stability, the improvement comprising: a. integrator means circuited to modify said comparator means for stabilizing the self-balancing measuring loop against the undesirable effects of said conversion and gain errors, b. circuit means external said measuring loop which is responsive differentially to the material measuring signal and a zero off-setting signal for producing a material measuring output signal having a constant zero base, c. circuit means including integrator means circuited across the output to the input of means (b) and responsive to a material detector for automatically zeroing said material output signal by generating said zero offsetting signal during the absence of material from said gage and holding the value of said zero offsetting signal the instant material presence is detected in the gage, thereby overcoming the conversion zero shift error as well as subsequent electrical drift errors, and d. means for utilizing the automatically stabilized and zeroed measuring output signal to determine a value of said material property.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
264 words
In a material measuring system which converts radiation into a light source that varies as a function of a material property and conversion errors due to radiation source decay and a variable zero shift, said system having a self-balancing measuring loop which includes a controlled-gain photodetector responsive to said variable light source and subject to a gain caused by photodetector aging, said measuring loop also including comparator means operative therein to cause the production of a material measuring signal which varies as a function of said variable light source and said conversion, gain and zero shift errors, said errors having an undesirable effect on measuring loop stability, the improvement comprising: a. integrator means circuited to modify said comparator means for stabilizing the self-balancing measuring loop against the undesirable effects of said conversion and gain errors, b. circuit means external said measuring loop which is responsive differentially to the material measuring signal and a zero off-setting signal for producing a material measuring output signal having a constant zero base, c. circuit means including integrator means circuited across the output to the input of means (b) and responsive to a material detector for automatically zeroing said material output signal by generating said zero offsetting signal during the absence of material from said gage and holding the value of said zero offsetting signal the instant material presence is detected in the gage, thereby overcoming the conversion zero shift error as well as subsequent electrical drift errors, and d. means for utilizing the automatically stabilized and zeroed measuring output signal to determine a value of said material property.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
116 words
a variable source of gain-controlling energizing signal operative in response to said integrated error signal for varying photodetector gain, said energizing signal varying slightly nonlinear relative said material property and proportional to the aforesaid zero shift error, thereby being designated a material measuring signal, d. circuit means including linearizer means for linearizing a slight nonlinearity in a portion of said material measuring signal, e. circuit means for automatically offsetting the modified material measuring signal for the effects of the aforesaid zero shift error and subsequent errors due to electrical drift in the aforesaid circuits, and f. means for utilizing said modified and automatically stabilized and zeroed measuring signal to determine a value of said material property.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
116 words
a variable source of gain-controlling energizing signal operative in response to said integrated error signal for varying photodetector gain, said energizing signal varying slightly nonlinear relative said material property and proportional to the aforesaid zero shift error, thereby being designated a material measuring signal, d. circuit means including linearizer means for linearizing a slight nonlinearity in a portion of said material measuring signal, e. circuit means for automatically offsetting the modified material measuring signal for the effects of the aforesaid zero shift error and subsequent errors due to electrical drift in the aforesaid circuits, and f. means for utilizing said modified and automatically stabilized and zeroed measuring signal to determine a value of said material property.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
third circuit means for multiplying the outputs of said first and second circuit means by each other to obtain a product signal, and
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
third circuit means for multiplying the outputs of said first and second circuit means by each other to obtain a product signal, and
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
a scaling amplifier for summing the slightly nonlinear material measuring signal with the correction signal and including gain adjusting means for setting the initial slope of the summed signals, and b. means for utilizing the linearized measuring signal to determine a linear value of said material property.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
47 words
a scaling amplifier for summing the slightly nonlinear material measuring signal with the correction signal and including gain adjusting means for setting the initial slope of the summed signals, and b. means for utilizing the linearized measuring signal to determine a linear value of said material property.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
62 words
In a material measuring system which converts radiation into a light source that varies nonlinearly as a function of a material property, said system having a photo-responsive self-balancing measuring loop which produces a material measuring signal that varies slightly nonlinearly as a function of said material property, the improvement conprising: a. circuit means for linearizing the slightly nonlinear material measuring signal, comprising:
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
62 words
In a material measuring system which converts radiation into a light source that varies nonlinearly as a function of a material property, said system having a photo-responsive self-balancing measuring loop which produces a material measuring signal that varies slightly nonlinearly as a function of said material property, the improvement conprising: a. circuit means for linearizing the slightly nonlinear material measuring signal, comprising:
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
54 words
fourth circuit means for selecting a single or combined compensated output signal derived from said material property signal, the first circuit means, the third circuit means and the sum of first and third circuit means, and b. means for utilizing the compensated measuring signal to determine a compensated value of said material first property.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
54 words
fourth circuit means for selecting a single or combined compensated output signal derived from said material property signal, the first circuit means, the third circuit means and the sum of first and third circuit means, and b. means for utilizing the compensated measuring signal to determine a compensated value of said material first property.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
fourth circuit means for selecting a single or combined compensated output signal derived from said material property signal, the first circuit means, the third circuit means and the sum of first and third circuit means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
fourth circuit means for selecting a single or combined compensated output signal derived from said material property signal, the first circuit means, the third circuit means and the sum of first and third circuit means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a measuring system which converts radiation into a light source that varies as a function of a material property and variations in one or more additional properties having a predetermined variable effect on measuring the material first property, said system having a photo-responsive self-balancing measuring loop which produces material measuring signal that varies as a function of said material first property and said one or more additional properties, the improvement comprising: a. circuit means including compensator means for connecting the material measuring signal for variations caused by variations in said one or more additional properties, comprising:
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a measuring system which converts radiation into a light source that varies as a function of a material property and variations in one or more additional properties having a predetermined variable effect on measuring the material first property, said system having a photo-responsive self-balancing measuring loop which produces material measuring signal that varies as a function of said material first property and said one or more additional properties, the improvement comprising: a. circuit means including compensator means for connecting the material measuring signal for variations caused by variations in said one or more additional properties, comprising:
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
187 words
In a material measuring system which converts radiation into a light source that varies as a function of a material property, said system having a photo-responsive self-balancing measuring loop which produces an analog material measuring signal that varies as a function of said variable light source, the improvement comprising: a. analog circuit means external said measuring loop which is responsive differentially to the material measuring signal and another signal for producing a material measuring output signal, b. circuit means for digitizing the material measuring output signal and storing an initial digital value thereof when said material first enters said measuring system, c. circuit means for converting the stored digital material measuring output signal into a steady analog signal corresponding thereto and applying said analog signal to circuit means (a) as said other differential signal, thereby converting circuit means (a) output to a material measuring output signal which deviates from the initial digital signal stored in circuit means (b), and d. means for utilizing the material measuring deviation output signal of circuit means (a) to determine the profile of said material property subsequent to said initial measurement thereof.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
187 words
In a material measuring system which converts radiation into a light source that varies as a function of a material property, said system having a photo-responsive self-balancing measuring loop which produces an analog material measuring signal that varies as a function of said variable light source, the improvement comprising: a. analog circuit means external said measuring loop which is responsive differentially to the material measuring signal and another signal for producing a material measuring output signal, b. circuit means for digitizing the material measuring output signal and storing an initial digital value thereof when said material first enters said measuring system, c. circuit means for converting the stored digital material measuring output signal into a steady analog signal corresponding thereto and applying said analog signal to circuit means (a) as said other differential signal, thereby converting circuit means (a) output to a material measuring output signal which deviates from the initial digital signal stored in circuit means (b), and d. means for utilizing the material measuring deviation output signal of circuit means (a) to determine the profile of said material property subsequent to said initial measurement thereof.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
199 words
In a material measuring system which converts raditation into a light source that varies as a function of a material property, said system having material calibration standards selectively insertable into a measuring beam of radiation, said system also having a photo-responsive self-balancing measuring loop which produces an analog material measuring signal that varies as a funtion of said variable light source, the improvement comprising: a. analog circuit means external said measuring loop which is responsive differentially to the material measuring signal when selectively inserting calibration standards into said radiation beam and to a desired material property signal for producing a material measuring deviation output signal, b. circuit means for selectively generating and storing a desired digital material property signal corresponding to a given material calibration standard inserted into said beam of radiation, c. circuit means for converting the stored desired digital material measuring signal into a steady analog signal corresponding thereto and applying said analog signal to circuit means (a) as said desired material property signal, and d. means for uTilizing the material measuring deviation output signal of circuit means (a) to determine the deviation of said system electrical calibration from said material calibration standards for said material property.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
199 words
In a material measuring system which converts raditation into a light source that varies as a function of a material property, said system having material calibration standards selectively insertable into a measuring beam of radiation, said system also having a photo-responsive self-balancing measuring loop which produces an analog material measuring signal that varies as a funtion of said variable light source, the improvement comprising: a. analog circuit means external said measuring loop which is responsive differentially to the material measuring signal when selectively inserting calibration standards into said radiation beam and to a desired material property signal for producing a material measuring deviation output signal, b. circuit means for selectively generating and storing a desired digital material property signal corresponding to a given material calibration standard inserted into said beam of radiation, c. circuit means for converting the stored desired digital material measuring signal into a steady analog signal corresponding thereto and applying said analog signal to circuit means (a) as said desired material property signal, and d. means for uTilizing the material measuring deviation output signal of circuit means (a) to determine the deviation of said system electrical calibration from said material calibration standards for said material property.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
245 words
In a material measuring system which converts radiation into a light source as a function of a material property and conversion errors due to radiation source decay and a variable zero shift, wide-range photoelectric gaging apparatus, comprising: a. self-balancing measuring loop means which includes a controlled-gain photodetector responsive to said variable light source and subject to a gain error caused by photo-detector aging, said measuring loop means including comparator-integrator means operative therein to cause the production of a material measuring signal which varies as a function of said light source and the aforesaid errors, except that the measuring loop is stabilized against the conversion decay and gain errors by the integrator circuited in said comparator means, c. circuit means external said measuring loop which is responsive differentially to the material measuring signal and a zero offsetting signal for producing a material measuring output signal having a constant zero base, c. circuit means including integrator means circuited across the output to the input of means (b) and responsive to a material detector for automatically zeroing said material output signal by generating said zero offsetting signal during the absence of material from said gage and holding the value of said zero offsetting signal the instant material presence is detected in the gage, thereby overcoming the conversion zero shift error as well as subsequent electrical drift errors, and d. means for utilizing the automatically stabilized and zeroed measuring output signal to determine a value of said material property.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
245 words
In a material measuring system which converts radiation into a light source as a function of a material property and conversion errors due to radiation source decay and a variable zero shift, wide-range photoelectric gaging apparatus, comprising: a. self-balancing measuring loop means which includes a controlled-gain photodetector responsive to said variable light source and subject to a gain error caused by photo-detector aging, said measuring loop means including comparator-integrator means operative therein to cause the production of a material measuring signal which varies as a function of said light source and the aforesaid errors, except that the measuring loop is stabilized against the conversion decay and gain errors by the integrator circuited in said comparator means, c. circuit means external said measuring loop which is responsive differentially to the material measuring signal and a zero offsetting signal for producing a material measuring output signal having a constant zero base, c. circuit means including integrator means circuited across the output to the input of means (b) and responsive to a material detector for automatically zeroing said material output signal by generating said zero offsetting signal during the absence of material from said gage and holding the value of said zero offsetting signal the instant material presence is detected in the gage, thereby overcoming the conversion zero shift error as well as subsequent electrical drift errors, and d. means for utilizing the automatically stabilized and zeroed measuring output signal to determine a value of said material property.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
52 words
The measuring system of claim 8 wherein the light source varies nonlinearly and there is a corresponding slight nonlinearity in the material measuring signal over a wide-range of gage operation, and said gaging apparatus includes the following after means (a): e. circuit means for linearizing the slightly nonlinear material measuring signal, comprising:
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
85 words
The measuring system of claim 8 wherein the light source also varies as function of variations in one or more additional properties having a predetermined variable effect on measuring the material first property, and said material measuring signal also varies as a function of said one or more additional properties, and said gaging apparatus include the following after means (a): f. circuit means including compensator means for correcting the material measuring signal for variations caused by variations in said one or more additional properties, comprising:
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
170 words
The measuring system of claim 8 wherein there is an analog material measuring signal and means (d) is deleted, and said gaging apparatus further includes the following after means (a): g. analog circuit means external said measuring loop which is responsive differentially to the material measuring signal and another signal for producing a material measuring output signal, h. circuit means for digitizing the material measuring output signal and storing an initial digital value thereof when said material first enters said measuring system, i. circuit means for converting the stored digital material measuring output signal into a steady analog signal corresponding thereto and applying said analog signal to circuit means (g) as said other differential signal thereby converting circuit means (g) output to a material measuring output signal which deviates from the initial digital signal stored in circuit means (h), and j. means for utilizing the stabilized, zeroed, material measuring deviation output signal of circuit means (g) to determine the profile of said material property subsequent to said initial measurement thereof.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
188 words
The measuring system of claim 8 modified to exclude means (d) wherein said gaging apparatus further includes: k. material calibration standards adapted to be inserted into a beam of radiation in place of said material to be measured, thus causing said light source to vary as a function of said standards, l. analog circuit means external said measuring loop which is responsive differentially to the material measuring signal when selectively inserting calibration standards into said radiation beam and to a desired material property signal for producing a material measuring deviation output signal, m. circuit means for selectively generating and storing a desired digital material property signal corresponding to a given material calibration standard inserted into said beam of radiation, n. circuit means for converting the stored desired digital material measuring signal into a steady analog signal corresponding thereto and applying said analog signal to circuit means (1) as said desired material property signal, and i. means for utilizing the stabilized, zeroed, material measuring deviation output signal of circuit means (1) to determine the deviation of said system electrical calibration from said material calibration standards for said material property.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for gaging a material property over a wide range, comprising: a. means for producing a substantially constant source of penetrative radiation having a long-term decay while beamed at said material, whereby emerging radiation varies according to a nonlinear absorption characteristic of said material property and an error due to source decay, b. a scintillator for converting said nonlinear radiation into a corresponding nonlinear light source which varies as a function of said material property and said decay error, said scintillator subjected to effects which cause a variable zero shift error in said conversion, c. self-balancing measuring loop means comprising:
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for gaging a material property over a wide range, comprising: a. means for producing a substantially constant source of penetrative radiation having a long-term decay while beamed at said material, whereby emerging radiation varies according to a nonlinear absorption characteristic of said material property and an error due to source decay, b. a scintillator for converting said nonlinear radiation into a corresponding nonlinear light source which varies as a function of said material property and said decay error, said scintillator subjected to effects which cause a variable zero shift error in said conversion, c. self-balancing measuring loop means comprising:
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
84 words
The gaging apparatus of claim 13 wherein said emerging radiation also varies as a function of variations in one or more additional properties having a predetermined variable effect on measuring the material first property, and said modified material measuring signal from means (d) also varies as a function of said one or more additional properties, said gaging apparatus further including: g. means for correcting (d) signal by compensating said signal for predetermined effects thereon caused by variations in said one or more additional properties.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
81 words
The gaging apparatus of claim 13 modified to exclude means (f) and including the following: h. means responsive to means (d) signal for producing an initial material measuring signal when said material first enters said gaging apparatus and thereafter producing a material measuring deviation signal which deviates from the initial material measuring signal, and i. means for utilizing the automatically stabilized and modified material measuring deviation signal to determine the profile of said material property subsequent to said initial measurement thereof.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
132 words
The gaging apparatus of claim 13 modified to exclude means (f) and include the following: j. material calibration standards adapted to be inserted into said beam of radiation in place of said material to be measured, thus causing the stabilized, zeroed and modified material measuring signal of means (e) to vary as a function of said standards, k. means for producing a predetermined electrical calibration signal corresponding to a material calibration standard and for combining said electrical calibration signal with said means (e) signal to generate an automatically stabilized, zeroed and modified material measuring deviation signal based on the difference of said two signals, and l. means for utilizing the means (k) signal to determine the deviation of said gaging apparatus electrical calibration from said material calibration standards for said material property.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a material measuring system which converts radiation into a light source that varies as a function of a material property and a conversion error due to radiation source decay, said system having a self-balancing measuring loop which includes a controlled-gain photodetector responsive to said variable light source and subject to a gain error caused by photodetector aging, said conversion and gain errors having an undersirable effect on measuring loop stability, said measuring loop including: a. comparator-integrator means operative in said measuring loop for causing the production of a material measuring signal which varies as a function of said light source, and for stabilizing said material measuring signal and said measuring loop against the undesirable effects of said conversion and gain errors.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a material measuring system which converts radiation into a light source that varies as a function of a material property and a conversion error due to radiation source decay, said system having a self-balancing measuring loop which includes a controlled-gain photodetector responsive to said variable light source and subject to a gain error caused by photodetector aging, said conversion and gain errors having an undersirable effect on measuring loop stability, said measuring loop including: a. comparator-integrator means operative in said measuring loop for causing the production of a material measuring signal which varies as a function of said light source, and for stabilizing said material measuring signal and said measuring loop against the undesirable effects of said conversion and gain errors.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a material measuring system which converts radiation into a light source that varies as a funcTion of a material property and a conversion error due to radiation source decay, said system having a self-balancing measuring loop which includes a controlled-gain photodetector responsive to said variable light source and subject to a gain error caused by photodetector aging, said conversion and gain errors having an undesirable effect on measuring loop stability, said measuring loop including: a. comparator-integrator means operative in said measuring loop for causing the production of a material measuring signal which varies as a function of said light source, and for stabilizing said material measuring signal and said measuring loop against the undesirable effects of said conversion and gain errors, and b. a voltage controlled high voltage source responsive to the stabilized material measuring signal and operative on said photodetector to control the gain thereof.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a material measuring system which converts radiation into a light source that varies as a funcTion of a material property and a conversion error due to radiation source decay, said system having a self-balancing measuring loop which includes a controlled-gain photodetector responsive to said variable light source and subject to a gain error caused by photodetector aging, said conversion and gain errors having an undesirable effect on measuring loop stability, said measuring loop including: a. comparator-integrator means operative in said measuring loop for causing the production of a material measuring signal which varies as a function of said light source, and for stabilizing said material measuring signal and said measuring loop against the undesirable effects of said conversion and gain errors, and b. a voltage controlled high voltage source responsive to the stabilized material measuring signal and operative on said photodetector to control the gain thereof.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a material measuring system which converts radiation into a light source that varies as a function of a material property and a conversion error due to radiation source decay, said system having a self-balancing measuring loop which includes a controlled-gain photodetector having a photomultiplier tube responsive to said variable light source and subject to a gain error caused by photodetector aging, said conversion and gain errors having an undesirable effect on measuring loop stability, said measuring loop including: a. an amplifier responsive to the output of said photomultiplier tube, b. comparator-integrator means operative in said measuring loop in response to the output of said amplifier for causing the production of a material measuring signal which varies as a function of said light source, and for stabilizing said material measuring signal and said measuring loop against the undesirable effects of said conversion and gain errors, and c. a voltage controlled high voltage source responsive to the stabilized material measuring signal and operative on said photomultiplier tube to control the gain thereof.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a material measuring system which converts radiation into a light source that varies as a function of a material property and a conversion error due to radiation source decay, said system having a self-balancing measuring loop which includes a controlled-gain photodetector having a photomultiplier tube responsive to said variable light source and subject to a gain error caused by photodetector aging, said conversion and gain errors having an undesirable effect on measuring loop stability, said measuring loop including: a. an amplifier responsive to the output of said photomultiplier tube, b. comparator-integrator means operative in said measuring loop in response to the output of said amplifier for causing the production of a material measuring signal which varies as a function of said light source, and for stabilizing said material measuring signal and said measuring loop against the undesirable effects of said conversion and gain errors, and c. a voltage controlled high voltage source responsive to the stabilized material measuring signal and operative on said photomultiplier tube to control the gain thereof.
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Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |