US3869666A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Maximum slope detectors
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-12-26
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Granted: 1975-03-04
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Expires: 1993-12-26
Abstract
Abstract An instrument and method for obtaining the maximum slope of a function such as a sigmoidally shaped curve is disclosed. The instrument is capable of displaying the point of maximum slope for an indefinite period of time. The disclosed instrument when used in conjunction with conventional converters is ideally suited for reaction rate measurements frequently encountered in the kinetic analysis of enzymes, or in any other chemical reaction which follows a sigmoidally shaped curve and where reliability in determining the point of maximum slope in a minimum of time is critical.
Inventors
- 👤 Julian Saltz
- 👤 Joseph C Wasilewski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:55
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R19/00; G01R19/04; G01R19/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
283 words
A slope detecting instrument for determining the maximum slope of an electrical signal provided by a signal source comprising: a. amplifier means having a relatively low frequency response and input and output terminals, said amplifier means including capacitor feedback and adapted to amplify the electrical signal, said amplifier means input terminal being adapted to be coupled to said electrical signal source; b. differentiator means having input and output terminals for differentiating the amplified signal, said differentiator means input terminal being coupled to said amplifier means output terminal; c. low pass filter means having input and output terminals and a relatively low cut-off frequency for filtering noise appearing on or introduced into said electrical signal, said filter means input terminal being coupled to said differentiator means output terminal; d. peak detector means having input and output terminals for detecting said differentiated and filtered signal, said detector means input terminal being coupled to said low pass filter means output terminal; e. comparator means having two input terminals and an output terminal, one of said input terminals being coupled to the input terminal of said peak detector means, the other of said input terminals being coupled to the output terminal of said peak detector means; f. display means having input and holding terminals, said input terMinal being coupled to the input and output terminals of said peak detector means; and g. switch means having input and output terminals, said switch means input terminal being coupled to said comparator means output terminal, said switch means output terminal being coupled to said display means holding terminal and adapted to cause said display means to hold its last reading when the slope of said electrical signal starts to decrease.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
283 words
A slope detecting instrument for determining the maximum slope of an electrical signal provided by a signal source comprising: a. amplifier means having a relatively low frequency response and input and output terminals, said amplifier means including capacitor feedback and adapted to amplify the electrical signal, said amplifier means input terminal being adapted to be coupled to said electrical signal source; b. differentiator means having input and output terminals for differentiating the amplified signal, said differentiator means input terminal being coupled to said amplifier means output terminal; c. low pass filter means having input and output terminals and a relatively low cut-off frequency for filtering noise appearing on or introduced into said electrical signal, said filter means input terminal being coupled to said differentiator means output terminal; d. peak detector means having input and output terminals for detecting said differentiated and filtered signal, said detector means input terminal being coupled to said low pass filter means output terminal; e. comparator means having two input terminals and an output terminal, one of said input terminals being coupled to the input terminal of said peak detector means, the other of said input terminals being coupled to the output terminal of said peak detector means; f. display means having input and holding terminals, said input terMinal being coupled to the input and output terminals of said peak detector means; and g. switch means having input and output terminals, said switch means input terminal being coupled to said comparator means output terminal, said switch means output terminal being coupled to said display means holding terminal and adapted to cause said display means to hold its last reading when the slope of said electrical signal starts to decrease.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
A maximum slope detecting instrument according to claim 1 further including preamplifer means having input and output terminals, said preamplifier means output terminal being coupled to said amplifier means input terminal and said preamplifier means input terminal being adapted to be coupled to said electrical signal source, said preamplifier means having a relatively high input impedance, a relatively low output impedance, and unity gain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A maximum slope detecting instrument according to claim 2 wherein said preamplifier means additionally includes switch means, said switch means being coupled to said preamplifier means input terminal and adapted to calibrate said maximum slope detector by providing a zero reference.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A maximum slope detecting instrument according to claim 1 wherein said amplifier means is provided with control means coupled from said amplifier means output terminal to said amplifier means input terminal, said control means being adapted to control the amplification of said amplifier means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
A maximum slope detecting instrument according to claim 1 wherein said low pass filter means includes a twoterminal resistor, one resistor terminal being coupled to the differentiator means output terminal, the other resistor terminal being coupled to the peak detector means input terminal and a capacitor, said capacitor being coupled from the peak detector means input terminal to a reference ground terminal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A maximum slope detecting instrument according to claim 5 wherein said low pass filter means further includes an isolation amplifier having input and output terminals, said isolation amplifier input terminal being connected to said other resistor terminal and said isolation amplifier output terminal being coupled to said peak detector means input terminal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
175 words
A maximum slope detecting instrument according to claim 1 wherein said peak detector means includes a first operational amplifier having first and second input terminals and an output terminal, said first input terminal being coupled to the output terminal of said filter means, said second terminal being coupled to the detector output terminal by a first forwardly poled diode, a second operational amplifier having first and second input terminals and an output terminal, said first operational amplifier output terminal being coupled by a serially connected first resistor and a second forwardly poled diode to the first input terminal of said second operational amplifier, a storage capacitor, said storage capacitor being additionally coupled from the first input terminal of said second operational amplifier to said reference ground terminal, a second resistor, said second resistor being coupled from the second input terminal of said first operation amplifier to said second input terminal and commonly connected output terminal of said second operational amplifier, said second operational amplifier output terminal being additionally coupled to said display means input terminal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
107 words
A maximum slope detecting instrument according to claim 1 wherein said switch means includes a flip-flop having first and second input terminals and an output terminal, the electrical signal appearing at said comparator means output terminal being adapted to be coupled to said first flip-flop input terminal to change the state of the voltage appearing at said flip-flop output terminal when the slope of said electrical signal starts to decrease, said second flip-flop input terminal being adapted to be selectively connected to a means for resetting said flip-flop to its originaL state, and said flip-flop terminal being adapted to be coupled to said display means holding terminal.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
149 words
The method of obtaining and indefinitely holding the point of maximum slope of an electrical signal provided by a signal source comprising: a. amplifying said electrical signal with an amplifier having a relatively low frequency response; b. differentiating said amplified electrical signal; c. filtering said differentiated electrical signal with a low pass filter; d. detecting said filtered electrical signal with a peak detector; e. comparing the electrical signal obtained in c., with the electrical signal provided in d.; f. providing a second electrical signal when the electrical signal in d., is less than the electrical signal in c.; g. coupling said second electrical signal to a means for holding said filtered electrical signal or said peak detected electrical signal; h. displaying said filtered electrical signal or said peak detected electrical signal; and i. holding said displayed electrical signal when said second electrical signal is coupled to said holding means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
149 words
The method of obtaining and indefinitely holding the point of maximum slope of an electrical signal provided by a signal source comprising: a. amplifying said electrical signal with an amplifier having a relatively low frequency response; b. differentiating said amplified electrical signal; c. filtering said differentiated electrical signal with a low pass filter; d. detecting said filtered electrical signal with a peak detector; e. comparing the electrical signal obtained in c., with the electrical signal provided in d.; f. providing a second electrical signal when the electrical signal in d., is less than the electrical signal in c.; g. coupling said second electrical signal to a means for holding said filtered electrical signal or said peak detected electrical signal; h. displaying said filtered electrical signal or said peak detected electrical signal; and i. holding said displayed electrical signal when said second electrical signal is coupled to said holding means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of obtaining and holding the point of maximum slope of an electrical signal according to claim 9 further including, preamplifying said electrical signal with a broad-band amplifier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
162 words
A slope detecting instrument for determining the maximum slope of an electrical signal provided by a signal source comprising: a. means coupled to said signal source for amplifying said electrical signal, said amplifying means having a relatively low frequency response; b. means coupled to said amplifying means for differentiating said amplified signal; c. means coupled to said differentiating means for filtering said differentiated signal, said filtering means having a relatively low cut-off frequency for eliminating noise appearing on and introduced into said electrical signal; d. means coupled to said filtering means for peak detecting said filtered signal; e. means coupled to said filtering means and said peak detecting means for comparing said peak detected signal and said filtered signal; f. means coupled to said peak detecting means for displaying said peak detected signal or said filtered signal; g. means coupled to said comparing means for causing said displaying means to hold its last display when said peak detected signal starts to decrease.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
162 words
A slope detecting instrument for determining the maximum slope of an electrical signal provided by a signal source comprising: a. means coupled to said signal source for amplifying said electrical signal, said amplifying means having a relatively low frequency response; b. means coupled to said amplifying means for differentiating said amplified signal; c. means coupled to said differentiating means for filtering said differentiated signal, said filtering means having a relatively low cut-off frequency for eliminating noise appearing on and introduced into said electrical signal; d. means coupled to said filtering means for peak detecting said filtered signal; e. means coupled to said filtering means and said peak detecting means for comparing said peak detected signal and said filtered signal; f. means coupled to said peak detecting means for displaying said peak detected signal or said filtered signal; g. means coupled to said comparing means for causing said displaying means to hold its last display when said peak detected signal starts to decrease.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3786352A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-03 | 1978-09-02 | 1979-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-03 | 1982-09-02 | 1983-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-03 | 1986-09-02 | 1987-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |