US3968697A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sound level meter
Assignee: Deere and Co
•
Filing: 1975-05-30
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Granted: 1976-07-13
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Expires: 1995-05-30
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for processing a sound transducer output by RMS and log converters over a wide dynamic range through automatic ranging circuitry sensing of log converter output to initiate range changes and fast averaging cicuitry responsive to range changes to implement the minimum RMS averaging time and to reset hold circuitry.
Inventors
- 👤 John Stefan Mutziger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:51
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01H; G01H3/00; G01H3/10; G01H3/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
291 words
A sound level meter comprising: preamplifier means responsive to the output of a sound transducer to provide an amplified signal proportional to the input to the sound transducer; RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the amplified signal and switchable between a lower or higher level to produce a plurality of selectable output signals; RMS converter means connected to the RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the driver means output signals to produce RMS value signals; log converter means for receiving and processing the RMS value signals to produce logarithmic value signals; automatic ranging circuitry means connected between the log converter means and the RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the logarithmic value signals above or below a predetermined value to switch the RMS converter driver means respectively between the lower or higher level; said automatic ranging circuitry means including means for producing a first and second signals indicative of the switch of the RMS converter driver means; averaging time circuitry means connected to the RMS converter means for introducing a plurality of times over which the driver means output signals can be averaged in the RMS converter and means to produce the RMS value signals; fast averaging circuitry means connected to the automatic ranging circuitry means and to the averaging time circuitry means responsive to the first signal to cause the averaging time circuitry means to introduce a minimum averaging time to the RMS converter means; summing amplifier means responsive to the logarithmic value signals and to the second signal to provide scaled output signals for a digital indicator; and hold circuit means selectively connectible between the log converter means and the digital indicator for maintaining the highest value signal of the scaled output signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
291 words
A sound level meter comprising: preamplifier means responsive to the output of a sound transducer to provide an amplified signal proportional to the input to the sound transducer; RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the amplified signal and switchable between a lower or higher level to produce a plurality of selectable output signals; RMS converter means connected to the RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the driver means output signals to produce RMS value signals; log converter means for receiving and processing the RMS value signals to produce logarithmic value signals; automatic ranging circuitry means connected between the log converter means and the RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the logarithmic value signals above or below a predetermined value to switch the RMS converter driver means respectively between the lower or higher level; said automatic ranging circuitry means including means for producing a first and second signals indicative of the switch of the RMS converter driver means; averaging time circuitry means connected to the RMS converter means for introducing a plurality of times over which the driver means output signals can be averaged in the RMS converter and means to produce the RMS value signals; fast averaging circuitry means connected to the automatic ranging circuitry means and to the averaging time circuitry means responsive to the first signal to cause the averaging time circuitry means to introduce a minimum averaging time to the RMS converter means; summing amplifier means responsive to the logarithmic value signals and to the second signal to provide scaled output signals for a digital indicator; and hold circuit means selectively connectible between the log converter means and the digital indicator for maintaining the highest value signal of the scaled output signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The sound level meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hold circuit means includes reset means connected to the fast averaging time circuitry means responsive to the inrtroduction of the minimum averaging time to release the highest value signal and maintain a subsequent highest value signal of the scaled output signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The sound level meter as claimed in claim 1 including overload circuitry means for sensing the amplified and driver means output signals above a predetermined overload value and providing an overload indication thereof; said overload circuitry means including means for maintaining overload indication resulting from short duration overloads.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
264 words
A sound level meter comprising: preamplifier means responsive to the output of a sound transducer to provide an amplified signal proportional to the input to the sound transducer; RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the amplified signal and switchable between a lower or higher level to produce a plurality of selectable output signals; RMS converter means connected to the RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the driver means output signals to produce RMS value signals; log converter means for receiving and processing the RMS value signals to produce logarithmic value signals; automatic ranging circuitry means connected between the log converter means and the RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the logarithmic value signals above or below a predetermined value to switch the RMS converter driver means respectively between the lower or higher level; said automatic ranging circuitry means including means for producing first and second signals indicative of the switch of the RMS converter driver means; averaging time circuitry means connected to the RMS converter means for introducing a plurality of times over which the driver means output signals can be averaged in the RMS converter means to produce the RMS value signals; fast averaging circuitry means connected to the automatic ranging circuitry means and to the averaging time circuitry means responsive to the first signal to cause the averaging time circuitry means to introduce a minimum averaging time to the RMS converter means; and summing amplifier means responsive to the log converted signal and to the second signal to provide scaled output signals for a digital indicator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
264 words
A sound level meter comprising: preamplifier means responsive to the output of a sound transducer to provide an amplified signal proportional to the input to the sound transducer; RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the amplified signal and switchable between a lower or higher level to produce a plurality of selectable output signals; RMS converter means connected to the RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the driver means output signals to produce RMS value signals; log converter means for receiving and processing the RMS value signals to produce logarithmic value signals; automatic ranging circuitry means connected between the log converter means and the RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the logarithmic value signals above or below a predetermined value to switch the RMS converter driver means respectively between the lower or higher level; said automatic ranging circuitry means including means for producing first and second signals indicative of the switch of the RMS converter driver means; averaging time circuitry means connected to the RMS converter means for introducing a plurality of times over which the driver means output signals can be averaged in the RMS converter means to produce the RMS value signals; fast averaging circuitry means connected to the automatic ranging circuitry means and to the averaging time circuitry means responsive to the first signal to cause the averaging time circuitry means to introduce a minimum averaging time to the RMS converter means; and summing amplifier means responsive to the log converted signal and to the second signal to provide scaled output signals for a digital indicator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The sound level meter as claimed in claim 4 including overload circuitry means for sensing the amplified and driver means output signals above a predetermined overload value and providing an overload indication thereof; said overload circuitry means including means for maintaining overload indication resulting from short duration overloads.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
185 words
A sound level meter comprising: preamplifier means responsive to the output of a sound transducer to provide an amplified signal proportional to the input to the sound transducer; RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the amplified signal and switchable between a higher or lower level; to produce a plurality of selectable output signals; RMS converter means connected to the RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the driver means output signal to produce RMS value signals; log converter means for receiving and processing the RMS value signals to produce logarithmic value signals; automatic ranging circuitry means connected to the log converter means and the RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the logarithmic value signals above or below a predetermined value to switch the RMS converter driver means respectively between the lower or higher level; said automatic ranging circuitry means including means for producing an indicia signal indicative of the switching of the RMS converter driver means; and summing amplifier means responsive to the logarithmic value signals and to the indicia signal to provide scaled output signals for a digital indicator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
185 words
A sound level meter comprising: preamplifier means responsive to the output of a sound transducer to provide an amplified signal proportional to the input to the sound transducer; RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the amplified signal and switchable between a higher or lower level; to produce a plurality of selectable output signals; RMS converter means connected to the RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the driver means output signal to produce RMS value signals; log converter means for receiving and processing the RMS value signals to produce logarithmic value signals; automatic ranging circuitry means connected to the log converter means and the RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the logarithmic value signals above or below a predetermined value to switch the RMS converter driver means respectively between the lower or higher level; said automatic ranging circuitry means including means for producing an indicia signal indicative of the switching of the RMS converter driver means; and summing amplifier means responsive to the logarithmic value signals and to the indicia signal to provide scaled output signals for a digital indicator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The sound level meter as claimed in claim 6 including overload circuitry means for sensing the amplified and driver means output signals above a predetermined overload value and providing an overload indication thereof; said overload circuitry means including means for maintaining overload indication resulting from short duration overloads.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
208 words
A sound level meter comprising: preamplifier means responsive to the output of a sound transducer to provide an amplified signal proportional to the input to the sound transducer; RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the amplified signal to produce a driver means output signal; RMS converter means connected to the RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the driver means output signal to produce RMS value signals; log converter means for receiving and processing the RMS value signals to produce logarithmic value signals; amplifier means responsive to the logarithmic value signals to provide scaled output signals for a digital indicator; averaging time circuitry means connected to the RMS converter means for introducing a plurality of different time intervals over which the driver means output signals can be averaged in the RMS converter means to produce the RMS value signals; fast averaging circuitry means connected to the averaging time circuitry means for introducing a minimum averaging time thereto; and hold circuit means selectively connectible between the log converter means and the digital indicator for maintaining the highest value signal of the scaled output signals responsive to the introduction of the minimum averaging time to release the highest value signal and maintain a subsequent highest value signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
208 words
A sound level meter comprising: preamplifier means responsive to the output of a sound transducer to provide an amplified signal proportional to the input to the sound transducer; RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the amplified signal to produce a driver means output signal; RMS converter means connected to the RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the driver means output signal to produce RMS value signals; log converter means for receiving and processing the RMS value signals to produce logarithmic value signals; amplifier means responsive to the logarithmic value signals to provide scaled output signals for a digital indicator; averaging time circuitry means connected to the RMS converter means for introducing a plurality of different time intervals over which the driver means output signals can be averaged in the RMS converter means to produce the RMS value signals; fast averaging circuitry means connected to the averaging time circuitry means for introducing a minimum averaging time thereto; and hold circuit means selectively connectible between the log converter means and the digital indicator for maintaining the highest value signal of the scaled output signals responsive to the introduction of the minimum averaging time to release the highest value signal and maintain a subsequent highest value signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
219 words
A sound level meter comprising: preamplifier means responsive to the outputs of a sound transducer to provide amplified signals proportional to the input to the sound transducer; RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the amplified signals to produce a driver means output signal; RMS converter means connected to the RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the driver means output signal to produce RMS value signals; log converter means for receiving and processing the RMS value signals to produce logarithmic value signals; automatic ranging circuitry means connected to the log converter means and the RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the logarithmic value signals above or below a predetermined value to switch the RMS converter driver means respectively between the lower or higher level; said automatic ranging circuitry means including means for producing an indicia signal indicative of the switching of the RMS converter driver means; summing amplifier means responsive to the logarithmic value signals and to the indicia signals to provide scaled output signals for a digital indicator, and hold circuit means selectively connectible between the log converter means and the digital indicator means for maintaining the highest value signal of the scaled output signals responsive to the indicia signal to release the highest value signal and maintain a subsequent highest value signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
219 words
A sound level meter comprising: preamplifier means responsive to the outputs of a sound transducer to provide amplified signals proportional to the input to the sound transducer; RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the amplified signals to produce a driver means output signal; RMS converter means connected to the RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the driver means output signal to produce RMS value signals; log converter means for receiving and processing the RMS value signals to produce logarithmic value signals; automatic ranging circuitry means connected to the log converter means and the RMS converter driver means for receiving and processing the logarithmic value signals above or below a predetermined value to switch the RMS converter driver means respectively between the lower or higher level; said automatic ranging circuitry means including means for producing an indicia signal indicative of the switching of the RMS converter driver means; summing amplifier means responsive to the logarithmic value signals and to the indicia signals to provide scaled output signals for a digital indicator, and hold circuit means selectively connectible between the log converter means and the digital indicator means for maintaining the highest value signal of the scaled output signals responsive to the indicia signal to release the highest value signal and maintain a subsequent highest value signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A sound level meter as claimed in claim 9 including overload circuitry means for sensing the amplified and driver means output signals above a predetermined overload value and providing an overload indication thereof; said overload circuitry means including means for maintaining overload indication resulting from predetermined short duration overloads.
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) | 1979-07-13 | 1980-01-12 | 1980-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-13 | 1984-01-12 | 1984-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-13 | 1988-01-12 | 1988-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |