US3879669A — Adjustable trigger level control circuit

Claim 1

Independent Claim 258 words

A circuit for providing a triggering signal at a voltage level which is a selectable fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage level of each input waveform of a plurality of successive waveforms which may vary in peak-to-peak amplitude and D.C. level, comprising: a signal path for said waveform, a first storage capacitor and first transistor means for coupling said first storage capacitor to said input signal path, a second storage capacitor and second transistor means of opposite conductivity type to said first transistor means for coupling said second storage capacitor to said input signal path, a continuously adjustable resistance means which provides at an adjustable tap a selectable output voltage between two voltages applied to two fixed terminals of said resistance means, means coupling one fixed terminal of said resistance means, to one of said storage capacitors and the other fixed terminal to the other of said storage capacitors, said first and second storage capacitors acting to store peak voltage levels of the input waveforms and the adjustable tap selecting an output voltage between said peak voltage levels thereof, a differential amplifier comprising first and second amplifying devices whose current carrying terminals are coupled together to establish differential action therebetween, means connecting the control terminal of one of said amplifier devices to said input signal path, and means coupling the adjustable tap of said resistance means to the control terminal of the other amplifier device for determining the output producing voltage of said differential amplifier in correspondence with the setting of said adjustable tap of Said resistance means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 258 words

A circuit for providing a triggering signal at a voltage level which is a selectable fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage level of each input waveform of a plurality of successive waveforms which may vary in peak-to-peak amplitude and D.C. level, comprising: a signal path for said waveform, a first storage capacitor and first transistor means for coupling said first storage capacitor to said input signal path, a second storage capacitor and second transistor means of opposite conductivity type to said first transistor means for coupling said second storage capacitor to said input signal path, a continuously adjustable resistance means which provides at an adjustable tap a selectable output voltage between two voltages applied to two fixed terminals of said resistance means, means coupling one fixed terminal of said resistance means, to one of said storage capacitors and the other fixed terminal to the other of said storage capacitors, said first and second storage capacitors acting to store peak voltage levels of the input waveforms and the adjustable tap selecting an output voltage between said peak voltage levels thereof, a differential amplifier comprising first and second amplifying devices whose current carrying terminals are coupled together to establish differential action therebetween, means connecting the control terminal of one of said amplifier devices to said input signal path, and means coupling the adjustable tap of said resistance means to the control terminal of the other amplifier device for determining the output producing voltage of said differential amplifier in correspondence with the setting of said adjustable tap of Said resistance means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 258 words

A circuit for providing a triggering signal at a voltage level which is a selectable fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage level of each input waveform of a plurality of successive waveforms which may vary in peak-to-peak amplitude and D.C. level, comprising: a signal path for said waveform, a first storage capacitor and first transistor means for coupling said first storage capacitor to said input signal path, a second storage capacitor and second transistor means of opposite conductivity type to said first transistor means for coupling said second storage capacitor to said input signal path, a continuously adjustable resistance means which provides at an adjustable tap a selectable output voltage between two voltages applied to two fixed terminals of said resistance means, means coupling one fixed terminal of said resistance means, to one of said storage capacitors and the other fixed terminal to the other of said storage capacitors, said first and second storage capacitors acting to store peak voltage levels of the input waveforms and the adjustable tap selecting an output voltage between said peak voltage levels thereof, a differential amplifier comprising first and second amplifying devices whose current carrying terminals are coupled together to establish differential action therebetween, means connecting the control terminal of one of said amplifier devices to said input signal path, and means coupling the adjustable tap of said resistance means to the control terminal of the other amplifier device for determining the output producing voltage of said differential amplifier in correspondence with the setting of said adjustable tap of Said resistance means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 258 words

A circuit for providing a triggering signal at a voltage level which is a selectable fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage level of each input waveform of a plurality of successive waveforms which may vary in peak-to-peak amplitude and D.C. level, comprising: a signal path for said waveform, a first storage capacitor and first transistor means for coupling said first storage capacitor to said input signal path, a second storage capacitor and second transistor means of opposite conductivity type to said first transistor means for coupling said second storage capacitor to said input signal path, a continuously adjustable resistance means which provides at an adjustable tap a selectable output voltage between two voltages applied to two fixed terminals of said resistance means, means coupling one fixed terminal of said resistance means, to one of said storage capacitors and the other fixed terminal to the other of said storage capacitors, said first and second storage capacitors acting to store peak voltage levels of the input waveforms and the adjustable tap selecting an output voltage between said peak voltage levels thereof, a differential amplifier comprising first and second amplifying devices whose current carrying terminals are coupled together to establish differential action therebetween, means connecting the control terminal of one of said amplifier devices to said input signal path, and means coupling the adjustable tap of said resistance means to the control terminal of the other amplifier device for determining the output producing voltage of said differential amplifier in correspondence with the setting of said adjustable tap of Said resistance means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 214 words

A circuit for providing a triggering signal at a voltage level which is a selectable fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage level of a waveform which may vary in peak-to-peak amplitude and D.C. level, comprising: an input path, an amplifying device connected to receive its input from said input path for providing a triggering output, means coupled to said input path comprising a first storage element and a first unilateral conductor for coupling said first storage element to said input path in a first polarity sense to store a first peak value of the input waveform, means coupled to said input path comprising a second storage element and a second unilateral conductor for coupling said second storage element to said input path in a second polarity sense to store a second peak value of the input waveform, adjustable means coupled between said storage elements for selecting an electrical value between said peak values to determine said fraction of said peak-to-peak values of the input waveform, an integrating amplifier receiving the output from said adjustable means, and means for coupling the output of said integrating amplifier to said input path to adjust the D.C. level of the input waveform such that a triggering output is produced by said amplifying device at said selected voltage level.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 214 words

A circuit for providing a triggering signal at a voltage level which is a selectable fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage level of a waveform which may vary in peak-to-peak amplitude and D.C. level, comprising: an input path, an amplifying device connected to receive its input from said input path for providing a triggering output, means coupled to said input path comprising a first storage element and a first unilateral conductor for coupling said first storage element to said input path in a first polarity sense to store a first peak value of the input waveform, means coupled to said input path comprising a second storage element and a second unilateral conductor for coupling said second storage element to said input path in a second polarity sense to store a second peak value of the input waveform, adjustable means coupled between said storage elements for selecting an electrical value between said peak values to determine said fraction of said peak-to-peak values of the input waveform, an integrating amplifier receiving the output from said adjustable means, and means for coupling the output of said integrating amplifier to said input path to adjust the D.C. level of the input waveform such that a triggering output is produced by said amplifying device at said selected voltage level.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

The circuit according to claim 2 further including a differential amplifier receiving the output of said amplifying device and operable to produce a triggering output when a predetermined voltage input level thereof is reached.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 56 words

The circuit according to claim 2 wherein said amplifying device comprises a transistor having its base directly coupled to said input signal path and wherein said unilateral conductors couple the emitter of said transistor to said storage elements, said storage elements comprising capacitors coupled between the respective unilateral conductors and a point of common reference potential.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 43 words

The circuit according to claim 4 wherein said adjustable means comprises a potentiometer coupled between said capacitors, said potentiometer having a variable tap coupled to the input of said integrating amplifier, said integrating amplifier comprising a transistor amplifier connected in a Miller circuit.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 46 words

The circuit according to claim 5 wherein said integrating amplifier includes a first inverting transistor with an integrating capacitor coupled between the input and output thereof, said circuit also including an emitter follower transistor interposed between the input of said inverting transistor and said integrating capacitor.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 67 words

The circuit according to claim 6 wherein means couple the output of said integrating amplifier to said input path, said last mentioned means comprising a common base transistor amplifier circuit having its emitter coupled to the output of said integrating amplifier and having its collector coupled to the input path, and a load resistor for said last mentioned transistor which is also coupled to said input path.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 117 words

A circuit having an input path for waveforms which may vary in peak-to-peak amplitude and D.C. level, including means for deriving from a waveform applied to said input path a voltage corresponding to a selected fixed fraction of its peak-to-peak voltage, means controlled by the simultaneous application thereto of each waveform and said fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage for providing an output signal when the instantaneous voltage of said waveform reaches a level corresponding to said fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage, pulse generating means for generating an output pulse of predetermined form upon each energization thereof, and means for applying the output signal from said controlled means to the pulse generating means for energizing it.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 117 words

A circuit having an input path for waveforms which may vary in peak-to-peak amplitude and D.C. level, including means for deriving from a waveform applied to said input path a voltage corresponding to a selected fixed fraction of its peak-to-peak voltage, means controlled by the simultaneous application thereto of each waveform and said fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage for providing an output signal when the instantaneous voltage of said waveform reaches a level corresponding to said fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage, pulse generating means for generating an output pulse of predetermined form upon each energization thereof, and means for applying the output signal from said controlled means to the pulse generating means for energizing it.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 57 words

A circuit according to claim 8, wherein the means for deriving the fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage includes storage means for storing the respecTive upper and lower peak values of the input waveform, an impedance connected between the storage means, and means for tapping off the selected fraction of said stored peak-to-peak voltage from the impedance.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 19 words

A circuit according to claim 9, wherein the means for tapping off the selected fraction comprises an adjustable potentiometer.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 34 words

A circuit according to claim 8 including means connected to said controlled means for rendering it operative to provide said output signal only when the slope of the waveform is of a selected polarity.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 44 words

A circuit according to claim 8 wherein the controlled means comprises a differential amplifier, one of the amplifier inputs being energized by a waveform and the other of the inputs being energized by the selected fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage of said waveform.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 59 words

A circuit according to claim 12, wherein the output pulse is provided by a switching device upon energization thereof, and means for selectively operating said differential amplifier to energize said switching device by either the increase or decrease of the waveform voltage at the amplifier input to reach the level corresponding to said fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

A circuit according to claim 8 further including means for supplying the output pulse to the sweep circuit of a cathode ray tube to initiate its operation.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 127 words

A circuit having an input path for waveforms which may vary in peak-to-peak amplitude and D.C. level, including means for deriving from a waveform applied to said input path a voltage corresponding to a selected fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage of said waveform, means controlled by the simultaneous application thereto of each waveform and said selected fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage for providing an initiating signal when the instantaneous voltage of said waveform has reached a level corresponding to said fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage, and means rendered operative by said initiating signal for generating a trigger pulse of a predetermined form unrelated to the shape of the waveform independently of further control by said waveform or said fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 127 words

A circuit having an input path for waveforms which may vary in peak-to-peak amplitude and D.C. level, including means for deriving from a waveform applied to said input path a voltage corresponding to a selected fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage of said waveform, means controlled by the simultaneous application thereto of each waveform and said selected fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage for providing an initiating signal when the instantaneous voltage of said waveform has reached a level corresponding to said fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage, and means rendered operative by said initiating signal for generating a trigger pulse of a predetermined form unrelated to the shape of the waveform independently of further control by said waveform or said fixed fraction of the peak-to-peak voltage.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 16 words

A circuit according to claim 15, wherein the generated trigger pulse is a spike voltage pulse.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-04-21	1978-10-21	1979-04-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-04-21	1982-10-21	1983-04-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-04-21	1986-10-21	1987-04-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Adjustable trigger level control circuit

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