Indicator apparatus for developing output indications indicative of input signals

Claim 2

Apparatus for developing a signal indicative of an input signal, comprising: means developing a first signal having a predetermined amplitude; means receiving the first signal and the input signal, and integrating the difference between the input signal and the first signal thereby producing an integrated output signal; means receiving the integrated output signal and developing a sample signal indicative of the amplitude of the input signal at a predetermined minimum level of the integrated output signal; means clamping the integrated output signal at a predetermined level below the predetermined minimum level of the integrated output signal to prevent the integrated output signal from going below the predetermined level for clamping, the sample signal being developed at the predetermined minimum level of the integrated output signal above the predetermined level for clamping the integrated output signal; and means receiving the sample signal having a portion holding the sample signal.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the trigger signal generator means is defined further to include: differentiator means receiving the integrated input signal from the peak detector means and producing the output signal in response thereto, the output signal of the differentiator means being responsive to a negative value of the rate-of-change of the integrated input signal with respect to time.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the trigger signal generator means is defined further to include: diode means connected to the differentiator means output signal conducting the trigger signal at a predetermined differentiator means output signal; and diode means connected between the integrated input signal and the differentiator means output signal constructed to cooperate with the first-mentioned diode means to assure the integrated input signal and the differentiator means output signal are each at a predetermined ''''high'''' level in a conducting position of the first-mentioned diode means.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the peak detector means is defined further to include: inverter amplifier means receiving and inverting the input signal; and integrator capacitor means connected generally between the input and the output of the inverter amplifier means, the inverter amplifier means and the integrator capacitor means cooperating to produce the integrated input signal.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the peak detector means is defined further to include: sample capacitor means; diode means connecting the sample capacitor means to the integrated input signal at a predetermined level of the integrated input signal, the sample capacitor means being charged when connected to the integrated input signal; switch means connected to the sample capacitor means biased closed and conducting a current in response to the charge on the sample capacitor means; and means receiving the current from the switch means and developing the sample signal in response thereto.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means holding the samplE signal is defined further to include: switching means connected to the peak detector means, having an on and an off position, clamping the signal connected to the sample capacitor means via the diode means at a level below the predetermined level connecting the sample capacitor means to the integrated input signal preventing further charging of the sample capacitor means in an on position of the switching means; and means connected to the switching means positioning the switching means in the on position in response to the development of the sample signal.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the switching means includes: a switching transistor means connected to the output of the inverter amplifier means, the switching transistor means being biased in the conducting position in the on position of the switching means connecting the output of the inverter amplifier means to ground.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 defined further to include: control signal generator means receiving the trigger signal and generating a control signal in response thereto; and reference network means receiving the control signal and developing a predetermined reference signal in response thereto; and wherein the means holding the sample signal and providing the output indication is defined further to include a portion receiving the reference signal and holding the sample signal in response thereto.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the trigger signal generator means is defined further to include: diode means connected to the differentiator means output signal conducting the trigger signal at a predetermined forward biased position thereof; and transistor amplifier means interposed between the diode means and the integrated input signal of the peak detector means, having a conducting position and an off position, providing a signal to forward bias the diode means conducting the trigger signal in a conducting position of the transistor amplifier means in response to a sensed predetermined level of the integrated input signal connected thereto and a sensed predetermined level of the differentiator means output signal.

Claim 11

Apparatus for developing a signal indicative of an input signal, comprising: means receiving and integrating the input signal and developing a sample signal indicative of the amplitude of the input signal at a predetermined minimum level of the integrated input signal, said means sensing the integrated input signal and generating a trigger signal in response to the development of the sample signal; means receiving the sample signal and the trigger signal and providing an output indication indicative of the received sample signal in response to the received trigger signal; amplifier means, having a biased on position, connected to the means receiving and integrating the input signal, the amplifier means receiving and amplifying the input signal in a biased on position thereof; bias control means connected to the amplifier means biasing the amplifier means in the on position in an activated position of the bias control means; and means receiving the trigger signal and connected to the bias control means deactivating the bias control means in response to a received trigger signal.

Claim 12

Apparatus for developing a signal indicative of an input signal, comprising: means receiving and integrating the input signal and developing a sample signal indicative of the amplitude of the input signal at a predetermined minimum level of the integrated input signal, said means sensing the integrated input signal and generating a trigger signal in response to the development of the sample signal; means receiving the sample signal and the trigger signal and providing an output indication indicative of the received sample signal in response to the received trigger signal; amplifier means, having a biased on position, connected to the means receiving and integrating the input signal, the amplifier means receiving and amplifying the input signal in a biased on position thereof; bias control means connected to the amplifier means biasing the amplifier means in the on position in an activated position of the bias control means; and means receiving the trigger signal and connected to the bias control means deactivating the bias control means in response to a received trigger signal.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 defined further to include: active filter network means connected to the amplifier means interposed between the bias control means and the amplifier means, the active filter network means receiving the input signal and the bias control means output signal providing a substantially high impedance to the differential input signals connected thereto and providing a relatively low impedance to common mode input signals and bias control means output signals connected thereto.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the active filter network means includes: bridge network means having a pair of input-output junctions and a pair of control junctions, the input signal and the bridge network means output signal being connected to the input-output junctions; and operational amplifier means having an inverting and a non-inverting input and an output, the inverting input being connected to one of the control junctions and the output being connected to the other control junction, the bias control means output signal being connected to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier means.

Claim 15

Apparatus for developing a signal indicative of an input signal, comprising: means receiving and integrating the input signal and developing a sample signal indicative of the amplitude of the input signal at a predetermined minimum level of the integrated input signal, said means sensing the integrated input signal and generating a trigger signal in response to the development of the sample signal, comprising: peak detector means receiving and integrating the input signal and developing the sample signal; and trigger signal generator means receiving the integrated input signal and producing an output signal in response thereto, having a portion sensing the integrated input signal and the output signal produced in response to the received integrated input signal, the trigger signal being generated in response to a sensed predetermined level of the integrated input signal and a sensed predetermined level of the output signal produced in response to the received integrated input signal; means receiving the sample signal and the trigger signal and providing an output indication indicative of the received sample signal in response to the received trigger signal; and low pass filter network means connected to the means receiving and integrating the input signal, comprising: a pair of conductor means carrying the input signal; capacitor means connected between the pair of conductor means; and bifilar wound torroidal core means, having the pair of conductor means wound thereabout, providing a relatively high impedance to common mode input signals and a relatively low impedance to differential input signals.

Claim 16

Apparatus for developing a signal indicative of an input signal, comprising: means receiving and integrating the input signal and developing a sample signal indicative of the amplitude of the input signal at a predetermined minimum level of the integrated input signal, said means sensing the integrated input signal and generating a trigger signal in response to the development of the sample signal, comprising: peak detector means receiving and integrating the input signal and developing the sample signal; and trigger signal generator means receiving the integrated input signal and producing an output signal in response thereto, having a portion sensing the integrated input signal and the output signal produced in response to the received integrated input signal, the trigger signal being generated in response to a sensed predetermined level of the integrated input signal and a sensed predetermined level of the output signal produced in response to the received integrated input signal; means receiving the sample signal and the trigger signal and providing an output indication indicative of the received sample signal in response to the received trigger signal; and low pass filter network means connected to the means receiving and integrating the input signal, comprising: a pair of conductor means carrying the input signal; capacitor means connected between the pair of conductor means; and bifilar wound torroidal core means, having the pair of conductor means wound thereabout, providing a relatively high impedance to common mode input signals and a relatively low impedance to differential input signals.