US3921085A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Frequency discriminator apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-11-23
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Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1993-11-23
Abstract
Abstract A frequency discriminator having a bandwidth variable from a relatively narrow range to a very wide range in which the center frequency is simultaneously tunable over an extremely wide frequency range. The discriminator is insensitive to amplitude variations of the input signal and is capable of demodulating low level signals. The frequency discriminator is particularly useful for microwave frequency applications wherein the basic discriminator element is a ferrimagnetic resonator. The frequency discriminator forms a portion of several preferred embodiments including devices for the frequency control of signal sources, frequency measurement of signal sources, demodulation of frequency modulated signals and frequency tracking control for other ferrimagnetic devices.
Inventors
- 👤 William J Keane
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:17
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03D; H03D3/00; H03D9/00; H03D9/02; H03D9/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
An automatic frequency control system comprising resonator means a variable center frequency, electronically tunable oscillator means, means for coupling a portion of the power output of said oscillator means to said resonator means, means for electroncially providing a relative frequency sweeping over a common predetermined frequency range of the center frequency of said resonator means and said oscillator means frequency, detector means receiving an output from said resonator means, means for comparing the phase of said sweeping means to the output of said detector means to provide an output signal, and means for applying said output signal to said oscillator means to track said electronically tunable oscillator means to said tunable resonator means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
An automatic frequency control system comprising resonator means a variable center frequency, electronically tunable oscillator means, means for coupling a portion of the power output of said oscillator means to said resonator means, means for electroncially providing a relative frequency sweeping over a common predetermined frequency range of the center frequency of said resonator means and said oscillator means frequency, detector means receiving an output from said resonator means, means for comparing the phase of said sweeping means to the output of said detector means to provide an output signal, and means for applying said output signal to said oscillator means to track said electronically tunable oscillator means to said tunable resonator means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said relative sweeping means comprises means for electronically sweeping said resonator means about its center frequency.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said relative sweeping means comprises means for electronically sweeping said oscillator means frequency.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said oscillator means comprises electronically tunable means for generating a plurality of frequency outputs each covering a different frequency range and wherein said resonator means comprises one or more resonators and each of said frequency outputs is tracked to a single resonator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combinAtion of claim 4 wherein said plurality of frequency outputs are contiguous in frequency coverage and are selectively tracked to a single resonator whereby frequency discontinuities at the frequency range band edges are minimized.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said resonator means comprises a band-pass filter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said resonator means comprises a band-reject filter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein said filter means includes a single ferrimagnetic resonator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said filter means includes a single ferrimagnetic resonator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein said filter means includes multiple ferrimagnetic resonators.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the sweeping means causes a linear frequency excursion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said sweeping means provides a relative sweeping in accordance with a linear sawtooth waveform.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 12 further comprising a narrow band filter means for filtering out the fundamental frequency component from the output of said detector means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein said ferri-magnetic resonator is tuned by said sweeping means, said sweeping means comprising a coil located in proximity of the magnetic gap of the resonator electromagnet and a current generating means driving said coil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein said ferri-magnetic resonator is tuned by said sweeping means, said sweeping means comprising a coil located in proximity to the magnetic gap of the electromagnet and a current generating means driving said coil.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein the bandwidth of relative sweeping of said resonator means is electronically variable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein said resonator means comprises a ferrimagnetic filter tunable over a multi-octave frequency range.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein the center frequency of said resonator is electronically tunable.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein the sweeping rate is variable over a wide range from DC to MHz.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
69 words
The combination of claim 2 in a broadband oscillator system wherein said oscillator means comprises a low frequency oscillator means and a harmonic generator means, and wherein said resonator means comprises a ferrimagnetic resonator, the combination further comprising means for coarsely tuning said low frequency oscillator means to selected operating frequencies, and means for accurately tuning said ferrimagnetic resonator to a selected harmonic of low frequency oscillator operating frequency.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 20 further comprising RF filter means placed after said harmonic generation means to filter unwanted harmonics.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 21 wherein said RF filter means comprises ferrimagnetic filter means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
94 words
An automatic frequency control system comprising ferrimagnetic resonator means, oscillator means, means for coupling a portion of the power output of said oscillator means to said resonator means, means for electronically sweeping the center frequency of said ferrimagnetic resonator means across said oscillator means frequency, detector means receiving an output from said resonator means, means for comparing phase of said sweeping means to the output of said detector means to provide an output signal, and means for applying said output signal to said oscillator to track said oscillator means to said ferrimagnetic resonator means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
94 words
An automatic frequency control system comprising ferrimagnetic resonator means, oscillator means, means for coupling a portion of the power output of said oscillator means to said resonator means, means for electronically sweeping the center frequency of said ferrimagnetic resonator means across said oscillator means frequency, detector means receiving an output from said resonator means, means for comparing phase of said sweeping means to the output of said detector means to provide an output signal, and means for applying said output signal to said oscillator to track said oscillator means to said ferrimagnetic resonator means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 23 wherein said ferrimagnetic resonator means comprises a band-pass filter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 23 wherein said ferrimagnetic resonator means comprises a band-reject filter.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 23 wherein said means for electronically sweeping the center frequency of said ferrimagnetic resonator means comprises a coil located in proximity of the magnetic gap of the ferrimagnetic resonaTor electromagnet and a current generating means driving said coil.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |