US3886451A
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Random phase modulating time base and method to improve measurement averaging counter resolution
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1974-01-28
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1994-01-28
Abstract
Abstract A time base and method to provide resolution improvement for measurement averaging counters when measuring an applied signal comprising time intervals or pulsed frequencies repetitively occurring at rates synchronous to a counter''s clock frequency. The phase of a reference frequency is varied in response to a random signal. The phase modulated reference frequency is applied to a frequency multiplier chain which multiplies both the frequency and the effective amount of phase modulation. The randomly phase shifting output of the frequency multiplier chain is applied as a clock signal to a measurement averaging counter thereby destroying coherence between the clock signal and the applied signal and allowing statistical averaging to take place.
Inventors
- 👤 David C Chu
- 👤 John H Gliever
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:43
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04F; G04F10/00; G04F10/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for improving resolution of a time interval measuring device wherein reference pulses at a constant frequency are counted comprising the steps of: time varying during a measurement period the phase relationship between an applied signal having a plurality of repetitive intervals to be measured and the reference pulses; applying the reference pulses to a gate synchronized with the reference pulses; passing the reference pulses through the gate a plurality of times in response to the applied signal; counting the number of pulses passed; averaging the count obtained; and multiplying the average by a reference pulse period to obtain a time interval measurement.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for improving resolution of a time interval measuring device wherein reference pulses at a constant frequency are counted comprising the steps of: time varying during a measurement period the phase relationship between an applied signal having a plurality of repetitive intervals to be measured and the reference pulses; applying the reference pulses to a gate synchronized with the reference pulses; passing the reference pulses through the gate a plurality of times in response to the applied signal; counting the number of pulses passed; averaging the count obtained; and multiplying the average by a reference pulse period to obtain a time interval measurement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the step of time varying the phase relationship comprises the steps of: generating a reference signal of known frequency; generating a time varying signal; phase varying the reference signal in response to the time varying signal; and producing reference pulses in response to the phase varying reference signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the step of varying the phase relationshsip comprises the steps of: generating a reference signal of known frequency; generating a time varying signal; phase varying the reference signal in response to the time varying signal; frequency multiplying the phase varying reference signal; and producing phase varying reference pulses in response to the frequency multiplied phase reference signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the step of time varying during a measurement period the phase relationship between an applied signal and the reference pulses comprises the steps of: generating a time varying signal; and phase varying the applied signal in response to the time varying signal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for improving resolution of a frequency measuring device wherein an applied signal to be measured is passed a plurality of times through a synchronized clock gate whose time window is determined by a fixed number of pulses produced at a clock rate by the counter''s time base comprising the steps of: time varying during a measurement period the phase relationship between the applied signal and the clock rate; totalizing the number of periods of the applied signal passed through the synchronized clock gate; summing the number of time windows; and dividing the totalized periods gated by the product of the sum of all the time windows generated and the time interval of a time window.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for improving resolution of a frequency measuring device wherein an applied signal to be measured is passed a plurality of times through a synchronized clock gate whose time window is determined by a fixed number of pulses produced at a clock rate by the counter''s time base comprising the steps of: time varying during a measurement period the phase relationship between the applied signal and the clock rate; totalizing the number of periods of the applied signal passed through the synchronized clock gate; summing the number of time windows; and dividing the totalized periods gated by the product of the sum of all the time windows generated and the time interval of a time window.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein the step of time varying the phase relationship comprises the steps of: generating a reference signal of known frequency; generating a time varying signal; phase varying the reference signal in response to the time varying signal; and producing the fixed number of pulses in response to the phase varying reference signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein the step of time varying the phase relationship comprises the steps of: generating a reference signal of known frequency; generating a time varying signal; phase varying the reference signal in response to the time varying signal; frequency multiplying the phase varying reference signal; and producing the fixed number of pulses in response to the frequency multiplied phase varying reference signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein the step of time varying tHe phase relationship comprises the steps of: generating time varying signal; and phase varying the applied signal in response to the time varying signal.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for improving resolution of a time interval measuring device wherein reference pulses at a constant frequency are counted comprising the steps of: randomly varying during a measurment period the phase relationship between an applied signal having a plurality of repetitive intervals to be measured and the reference pulses; applying the reference pulses to a gate synchronized with the reference pulses; passing the reference pulses through the gate a plurality of times in response to the applied signal; counting the number of pulses passed; averaging the count obtained; and multiplying the average by the reference pulse period to obtain a time interval measurment.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for improving resolution of a time interval measuring device wherein reference pulses at a constant frequency are counted comprising the steps of: randomly varying during a measurment period the phase relationship between an applied signal having a plurality of repetitive intervals to be measured and the reference pulses; applying the reference pulses to a gate synchronized with the reference pulses; passing the reference pulses through the gate a plurality of times in response to the applied signal; counting the number of pulses passed; averaging the count obtained; and multiplying the average by the reference pulse period to obtain a time interval measurment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as in claim 9 wherein the step of randomly varying the phase relationship comprises the steps of: generating a reference signal of known frequency; generating a randomly varying signal; phase varying the reference signal in response to the randomly varying signal; and producing reference pulses in response to the phase varying reference signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as in claim 9 wherein the step of varying the phase relationship comprises the steps of: generating a reference signal of known frequency; generating a randomly varying signal; phase varying the reference signal in response to the randomly varying signal; frequency multiplying the phase varying reference signal; and producing phase varying reference pulses in response to the frequency multiplied phase varying reference signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as in claim 9 wherein the step of randomly varying during a measurement period the phase relationship between an applied signal and the reference pulses comprises the steps of: generating a randomly varying signal; and phase varying the applied signal in response to the randomly varying signal.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for improving resolution of a frequency measuring device wherein an applied signal to be measured is passed a plurality of times through a synchronized clock gate whose time window is determined by a fixed number of pulses produced at a clock rate by the counter''s time base comprising the steps of: randomly varying during a measurement period the phase relationship between the applied signal and the clock rate; totalizing the number of periods of the applied signal passed through the synchronized clock gate; summing the number of time windows; and dividing the totalized periods gated by the product of the sum of all the time windows generated and the time interval of a time window.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for improving resolution of a frequency measuring device wherein an applied signal to be measured is passed a plurality of times through a synchronized clock gate whose time window is determined by a fixed number of pulses produced at a clock rate by the counter''s time base comprising the steps of: randomly varying during a measurement period the phase relationship between the applied signal and the clock rate; totalizing the number of periods of the applied signal passed through the synchronized clock gate; summing the number of time windows; and dividing the totalized periods gated by the product of the sum of all the time windows generated and the time interval of a time window.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein the step of randomly varying the phase relationship comprises the steps of: generating a reference signal of known frequency; generating a randomly varying signal; phase varying the reference signal in response to the randomly varying signal; and producing the fixed number of pulses in response to the phase varying reference signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein the step of randomly varying the phase relationship comprises the steps of; generating a reference signal of known frequency; genearating a randomly varying signal; phase varying the reference signal in response to the randomly varying signal; frequency multiplying the phase varying reference signal; and producing the fixed number of pulses in response to the frequency multiplied phase varying reference signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein the step of randomly varying the phase relationship comprises the steps of; generating a randomly varying signal; and phase varying the applied signal in response to the randomly varying signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2749514A
Cited
US2831162A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |