US4031483A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Limiter circuit for servosystems
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1976-01-15
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Granted: 1977-06-21
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Expires: 1996-01-15
Abstract
Abstract A limiter circuit is installed in a servomechanism that establishes a signal at the output terminal of a filter contained therein, in the absence of an input signal within the lock range of the servomechanism, in a manner that maintains the charge on the filter consistent with the established output signal, thus providing favorable initial conditions for rapid reacquisition and smooth reacquisition transients.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard B. Formeister
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:12
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B5/00; G05B5/01; H; H03; H03L; H03L7/00; H03L7/06; H03L7/08; H03L7/085; H03L7/093; H03L7/10; H03L7/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
In a servomechanism of the type including a feedback loop having an error detecting means with first and second input terminals and an output terminal, for detecting and providing at said output terminal, an error signal consistent with a signal coupled to said first input terminal from an output terminal of said servomechanism and a signal coupled to said second input terminal; means, having an input terminal coupled to said output terminal of said error detecting means and an output terminal and containing means for storing electrical energy, for providing a filtered error signal at said output terminal; and means, coupled between said second input terminal of said error detecting means and said output terminal of said filter means for providing a signal representative of said filtered error signal, the combination with said filter means of means, coupled to said filter means, for limiting said error signal at said output terminal of said filter means to a predetermined signal level, in the absence of a signal at said input terminal to said servomechanism, that is within predetermined upper and lower bounds, said limiting to said predetermined signal level achieved in a manner that substantially maintains energy stored in said energy storage means, contained in said filter means, at a level that said storage means would have attained for a signal at said output terminal of said filter means equal to said predetermined signal level without said limiting.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
In a servomechanism of the type including a feedback loop having an error detecting means with first and second input terminals and an output terminal, for detecting and providing at said output terminal, an error signal consistent with a signal coupled to said first input terminal from an output terminal of said servomechanism and a signal coupled to said second input terminal; means, having an input terminal coupled to said output terminal of said error detecting means and an output terminal and containing means for storing electrical energy, for providing a filtered error signal at said output terminal; and means, coupled between said second input terminal of said error detecting means and said output terminal of said filter means for providing a signal representative of said filtered error signal, the combination with said filter means of means, coupled to said filter means, for limiting said error signal at said output terminal of said filter means to a predetermined signal level, in the absence of a signal at said input terminal to said servomechanism, that is within predetermined upper and lower bounds, said limiting to said predetermined signal level achieved in a manner that substantially maintains energy stored in said energy storage means, contained in said filter means, at a level that said storage means would have attained for a signal at said output terminal of said filter means equal to said predetermined signal level without said limiting.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
In a servomechanism as in claim 1 the combination with said filter means further including a unidirectional current conductive means coupled between said limiter means and said filter means and poled to allow current between said limiter means and said filter means in a direction consistent with the maintenance of said predetermined signal level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a servomechanism as in claim 2 wherein said filter means comprises: means for recieving a reference signal; an amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to said unidirectional current conductive means, a second input terminal coupled to said reference signal receiver means and an output terminal coupled to said means for providing said signal representative of said filter error signal and to said limiter means; a first resistor coupled between said error signal means and said first input terminal of said mplifier; a second resistor having a first terminal coupled to said first input terminal of said amplifier and a second terminal; and a capacitor coupled between said second terminal of said second resistor and said output terminal of said amplifier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a servomechanism as in claim 3 wherein said limiter means comprises: means for receiving a second reference signal; a second amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to said second reference signal receiver means, a second input terminal coupled to said output terminal of said amplifier of said filter means and an output terminal; a third resistor coupled between said first input terminal and said output terminal of said second amplifier; and a fourth resistor coupled between said output terminal of said second amplifier and said unidirectional current conductive means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
117 words
In a servomechanism as in claim 4 wherein said means for providing a signal representative of said filtered error signal is a voltage controlled oscillator and said error signal means is a phase detector, said voltage controlled oscillator coupled between said phase detector and said output terminal of said amplifier of said filter means thereby providing a phase lock loop wherein the signal coupled to a control terminal of said voltage controlled oscillator, in the absence of an input signal within a predetermined frequency range to said input terminal of said servomechanism, is limited to a said predetermined level thereby establishing, in the absence of said input signal, a predetermined oscillating frequency for said voltage controlled oscillator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a servomechanism as in claim 4 wherein said error detector means is a dirrerence circuit in which the differnce between said signals at said first and second input terminals of said error detector means is determined, thereby establishing said error signal, and said means for providing a signal representative of said signal at said output terminal of said filter means is an integrator circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a servomechanism as in claim 1 the combination with said filter means further including a second limiter means coupled to said filter means for limiting said signal at said output terminal of said filter means to a second predetermined level with the presence of an input signal at said first input terminal of said error detecting means whereby said upper and lower bounds are established for said error signal at said output terminal of said filter means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a servomechanism as in claim 7 further including a first unidirectional current conductive means coupled between said limiter means and said filter means and a second unidirectional current conductive means coupled between said second limiter means and said filter means, said first and second unidirectional current conductive means poled to allow current between said filter means and said limiter means and between said filter means and said second limiter means respectively in directions consistent with the maintenance of said first and second predetermined signal levels.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for observing the transient response of a servosystem containing a filter means which comprises: coupling a limiter circuit containing a variable reference source to said filter means; adjusting said reference source to establish a reference signal at said limiter circuit, said reference signal establishing a level to which the output signal of said filter means is servoed, in the absence of an input signal within a predetermined frequency range to said servosystem, such that energy storage devices contained within said filter means exhibit an energy storage that is consistent with said output signal of said filter means; applying an input signal to said servosystem; and observing the output signal of said servosystem from the time said input signal is applied to the time marking the completion of said transient.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for observing the transient response of a servosystem containing a filter means which comprises: coupling a limiter circuit containing a variable reference source to said filter means; adjusting said reference source to establish a reference signal at said limiter circuit, said reference signal establishing a level to which the output signal of said filter means is servoed, in the absence of an input signal within a predetermined frequency range to said servosystem, such that energy storage devices contained within said filter means exhibit an energy storage that is consistent with said output signal of said filter means; applying an input signal to said servosystem; and observing the output signal of said servosystem from the time said input signal is applied to the time marking the completion of said transient.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
179 words
A limiter, in combination with a filter means having an input and an output terminal and containing a storage element therein, comprising: means for receiving a reference signal; a differential operational amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to said reference signal receiver means, a second input terminal coupled to said output terminal of said filter means and an output terminal; a first resistor coupled between said first input terminal and said output terminal of said differential operational amplifier; and a second resistor having a first terminal coupled to said output terminal of said operational amplifier and a second terminal; a unidirectional current conductive device coupled between said second terminal of said second resistor and said filter means and poled to be operative when a signal at said input terminal of said filter means exceeds a specified value so that a signal at said output terminal of said operational amplifier servoes to a predetermined level thereby accomplishing said limiting in a manner that maintains a charge on said storage element at a value consistent with said predetermined signal level.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
179 words
A limiter, in combination with a filter means having an input and an output terminal and containing a storage element therein, comprising: means for receiving a reference signal; a differential operational amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to said reference signal receiver means, a second input terminal coupled to said output terminal of said filter means and an output terminal; a first resistor coupled between said first input terminal and said output terminal of said differential operational amplifier; and a second resistor having a first terminal coupled to said output terminal of said operational amplifier and a second terminal; a unidirectional current conductive device coupled between said second terminal of said second resistor and said filter means and poled to be operative when a signal at said input terminal of said filter means exceeds a specified value so that a signal at said output terminal of said operational amplifier servoes to a predetermined level thereby accomplishing said limiting in a manner that maintains a charge on said storage element at a value consistent with said predetermined signal level.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
A limiter in accordance with claim 10 wherein said filter means is an active filter including an operational amplifier, a resistor coupled to an input terminal of said operational amplifier, a capacitor coupled between said resistor and an output terminal of said operational amplifier, said output terminal coupled to said second input terminal of said differential amplifier and said input terminal coupled to said unidirectional current conductive device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3903482A
Cited
US3944940A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-06-20 | 1980-12-20 | 1981-06-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-20 | 1984-12-20 | 1985-06-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-20 | 1988-12-20 | 1989-06-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |