Patent US4020293A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4020293A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Drive circuitry with error detection and compensating threshold arrangement
Assignee: General Dynamics Government Systems Corp
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Filing: 1976-02-25
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Granted: 1977-04-26
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Expires: 1996-02-25
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for producing drive signals on any of several lines in response to input signals. Each of the lines has a drive circuit connected thereto. Resistances connected to the outputs of the drive circuits are connected together at a common juncture which acts as a summing point having a voltage proportional to the number of lines having drive signals thereon. First and second comparators are coupled to the common juncture and to threshold setting arrangements. The first comparator produces a signal if one or more of the lines has a drive signal and the second comparator produces a signal if two or more of the lines have signals. The outputs of the comparators are combined in alogic arrangement to produce an error signal if none of the lines has a signal or if two or more of the lines have signals. The threshold setting arrangements include a threshold setting drive circuit identical to the other drive circuits. The output of the threshold setting drive circuits is coupled to the comparators to provide reference voltages thereto. Conditions which cause variations in the signals from the drive circuits and consequently the voltage at the common juncture cause proportional variations in the output of the threshold setting drive circuit. Thus, a compensating arrangement is provided for adjusting the reference voltages to the comparators.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert H. Ashley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 10:10
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/08; G06F11/085
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
650 words
Apparatus for transmitting signals along a plurality of paths and for determining whether or not signals are being transmitted on a predetermined number of the paths, said apparatus including in combination a plurality of signal paths, each signal path including an input terminal adapted to receive input signal data, an output terminal, and a driving means having an input connection coupled to said input terminal and an output connection coupled to said output terminal; additional driving means having an input connection and an output connection; activating means coupled to the driving means of the plurality and to the additional driving means for applying operating potentials to the driving means; each of said driving means being operable to produce a first output voltage at its output connection in response to a first input condition at its input connection, and being operable to produce a second output voltage at its output connection in response to a second input condition at its input connection when operating potentials are applied thereto by the activating means; a resistance network comprising an equal plurality of resistances, each resistance having one end connected to the output connection of a different one of the driving means of said plurality and the other end connected to a common juncture, the voltage level produced at the common juncture being proportional to the number of output connections having said first output voltage present thereon; first comparator means having a first and a second input, the first input being connected to said common juncture; first threshold setting means connected to the output connection of said additional driving means and to the second input of the first comparator means, said first threshold setting means being operable to produce a voltage at the second input to the first comparator means which is less than the voltage produced at the first input to the first comparator means when a predetermined number (N) of output connections of the driving means of said plurality have said first output voltage present thereon and greater than the voltage produced at the first input to the first comparator means when said predetermined number minus one (N- 1) of output connections of the driving means of said plurality have said first output voltage present thereon; said first comparator means being operable to produce a first output signal when the voltage at its first input is less than that at its second input and to produce a second output signal when the voltage at its first input is more than that at its second input; second comparator means having a first and a second input, the first input being connected to said common juncture; second threshold setting means connected to the output connection of said additional driving means and to the second input of thesecond comparator means, said second threshold setting means being operable to produce a voltage at the second input to the second comparator means which is less than the voltage produced at the first input of the second comparator means when said predetermined number plus one (N + 1) output connections of the driving means of said plurality have said first output voltage present thereon and greater than the voltage produced at the first input to the second comparator means when said predetermined number (N) of output connections of the driving means of said plurality have said first output voltage present thereon; said second comparator means being operable to produce a first output signal when the voltage at its first input is less than that at its second input and to produce a second output signal when the voltage at its first input is more than that at its second input; and output means coupled to said first and second comparator means for producing an error signal in response to a first output signal from the first comparator means or a second output signal from the second comparator means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
650 words
Apparatus for transmitting signals along a plurality of paths and for determining whether or not signals are being transmitted on a predetermined number of the paths, said apparatus including in combination a plurality of signal paths, each signal path including an input terminal adapted to receive input signal data, an output terminal, and a driving means having an input connection coupled to said input terminal and an output connection coupled to said output terminal; additional driving means having an input connection and an output connection; activating means coupled to the driving means of the plurality and to the additional driving means for applying operating potentials to the driving means; each of said driving means being operable to produce a first output voltage at its output connection in response to a first input condition at its input connection, and being operable to produce a second output voltage at its output connection in response to a second input condition at its input connection when operating potentials are applied thereto by the activating means; a resistance network comprising an equal plurality of resistances, each resistance having one end connected to the output connection of a different one of the driving means of said plurality and the other end connected to a common juncture, the voltage level produced at the common juncture being proportional to the number of output connections having said first output voltage present thereon; first comparator means having a first and a second input, the first input being connected to said common juncture; first threshold setting means connected to the output connection of said additional driving means and to the second input of the first comparator means, said first threshold setting means being operable to produce a voltage at the second input to the first comparator means which is less than the voltage produced at the first input to the first comparator means when a predetermined number (N) of output connections of the driving means of said plurality have said first output voltage present thereon and greater than the voltage produced at the first input to the first comparator means when said predetermined number minus one (N- 1) of output connections of the driving means of said plurality have said first output voltage present thereon; said first comparator means being operable to produce a first output signal when the voltage at its first input is less than that at its second input and to produce a second output signal when the voltage at its first input is more than that at its second input; second comparator means having a first and a second input, the first input being connected to said common juncture; second threshold setting means connected to the output connection of said additional driving means and to the second input of thesecond comparator means, said second threshold setting means being operable to produce a voltage at the second input to the second comparator means which is less than the voltage produced at the first input of the second comparator means when said predetermined number plus one (N + 1) output connections of the driving means of said plurality have said first output voltage present thereon and greater than the voltage produced at the first input to the second comparator means when said predetermined number (N) of output connections of the driving means of said plurality have said first output voltage present thereon; said second comparator means being operable to produce a first output signal when the voltage at its first input is less than that at its second input and to produce a second output signal when the voltage at its first input is more than that at its second input; and output means coupled to said first and second comparator means for producing an error signal in response to a first output signal from the first comparator means or a second output signal from the second comparator means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including enabling means for producing an enabling signal in response to predetermined input conditions being applied thereto; and said output means being coupled to said enabling means and being operable to produce said error signal in response to a first output signal from the first comparator means or a second output signal from the second comparator means during an enabling signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said activating means is coupled to said enabling means and is operable to apply operating potentials to the driving means and said second input condition to the input connection of said additional driving means during an enabling signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said output means includes first logic means connected to the first comparator means and to said enabling means, said first logic means being operable to produce a first output signal during an enabling signal in response to a second output signal from the first comparator means and to produce a second output signal during an enabling signal in response to a first output signal from the first comparator means; and second logic means connected to the first logic means and to the second comparator means, said second logic means being operable to produce said error signal during a second output signal from the first logic means or during a second output signal from the second comparator means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said activating means includes means connected to the input connection of said additional driving means for applying said second input condition to the input connection whereby the additional driving means produces said second output voltage at its output connection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said first threshold setting means includes first and second resistance means connected in series between the output connection of said additional driving means and a point of reference potential; said second input of the first comparator means is connected to the juncture of the first and second resistance means; said second threshold setting means includes third and fourth resistance means connected in series between the output connection of said additional driving means and said point of reference potential; and said second input of the second comparator means is connected to the juncture of the third and fourth resistance means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein one of said threshold setting means includes a current source connected to the second input of the associated comparator means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 including enabling means for producing an enabling signal in response to predetermined in put conditions being applied thereto; and said output means being coupled to said enabling means and being operable to produce said error signal in response to a first output signal from the first comparator means or a second output signal from the second comparator means during an enabling signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said activating means is coupled to said enabling means and is operable to apply operating potentials to the driving means and said second input condition to the input connection of said additional driving means during an enabling signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said output means includes first logic means connected to the first comparator means and to said enabling means, said first logic means being operable to produce a first output signal during an enabling signal in response to a first output signal from the first comparator means; and second logic means connected to the first logic means and to the second comparator means, said second logic means being operable to produce said error signal during a second output signal from the first logic means or during a second output signal from the second comparator means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3720938A
Cited
US3940571A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-04-25 | 1980-10-25 | 1981-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-25 | 1984-10-25 | 1985-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-25 | 1988-10-25 | 1989-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |