US4035736A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
FM discriminator having low noise characteristics
Assignee: California Microwave Inc
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Filing: 1976-02-09
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Granted: 1977-07-12
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Expires: 1996-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A low noise discriminator circuit having particular utility for use in determining the spectral purity characteristics of an rf signal source and comprising, in addition to standard discriminator components, a down-locked reference signal source including a voltage-controlled signal generator for developing a reference signal and a corresponding train of signal pulses, a stabilizing voltage-controlled oscillator which responds to the discriminator error signal and generates a stabilizing signal having a frequency at least an order of magnitude greater than the frequency of the reference signal, and a sampling phase detector which samples the stabilizing signal at the signal pulse frequency and develops a control signal which is fed through a feed-back loop to stabilize the reference signal generator.
Inventors
- 👤 Drew R. Lance
- 👤 John E. Altstatt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 03:15
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03D; H03D3/00; H03D3/02; H03D3/24; H03D3/241
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
In a discriminator including a voltage-controlled reference source for generating a reference signal, a detector for comparing the phase of an input test signal to the phase of the reference signal and for generating an error signal commensurate with any difference therebetween, and a feed-back circuit for coupling the error signal to the control input of the reference source, an improved reference source comprising: voltage-controlled signal generating means responsive to a control signal and operative to generate a reference signal of a first frequency; first voltage-controlled oscillator means responsive to the error signal and operative to develop a stabilizing signal having a second frequency which is at least an order of magnitude greater than said first frequency; phase detector means for comparing the phase of said reference signal to the phase of said stabilizing signal and for developing an error signal commensurate with any difference therebetween; and feed-back circuit means for coupling said error signal to said signal-generating means for causing the phase of said reference signal to follow the phase of said stabilizing signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a discriminator including a voltage-controlled reference source for generating a reference signal, a detector for comparing the phase of an input test signal to the phase of the reference signal and for generating an error signal commensurate with any difference therebetween, and a feed-back circuit for coupling the error signal to the control input of the reference source, an improved reference source comprising: voltage-controlled signal generating means responsive to a control signal and operative to generate a reference signal of a first frequency; first voltage-controlled oscillator means responsive to the error signal and operative to develop a stabilizing signal having a second frequency which is at least an order of magnitude greater than said first frequency; phase detector means for comparing the phase of said reference signal to the phase of said stabilizing signal and for developing an error signal commensurate with any difference therebetween; and feed-back circuit means for coupling said error signal to said signal-generating means for causing the phase of said reference signal to follow the phase of said stabilizing signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a discriminator as recited in claim 1 wherein said signal generating means includes a second voltage-controlled oscillator means responsive to said error signal and operative to generate said reference signal, and a pulse generator responsive to said reference signal and operative to generate a pulse signal of a frequency corresponding to that of said reference signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
In a discriminator as recited in claim 2 wherein said phase detector means is a sampling phase detector responsive to said pulse signal and operative to sample said stabilizing signal at the frequency of said pulse signal and to develop said error signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
In a discriminator as recited in claim 2 wherein said second oscillator means includes an L-C oscillating circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
In a discriminator as recited in claim 1 wherein said first oscillator means includes an L-band cavity oscillator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a discriminator as recited in claim 5 wherein said L-band cavity oscillator has an operating frequency at least one order of magnitude greater than the operating frequency of said signal-generating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
In a discriminator as recited in claim 1 wherein said first oscillator means includes a slab-line oscillator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
In a discriminator as recited in claim 7 wherein said slab-line oscillator has an operating frequency at least one order of magnitude greater than the operating frequency of said signal-generating means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a discriminator as recited in claim 1 wherein said first oscillator means operates at a frequency at least 10 times that of the frequency of said reference signal, and wherein said signal-generating means includes a second voltage-controlled oscillator means responsive to said control signal and operative to generate said reference signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
In a discriminator as recited in claim 9 wherein said signal-generating means operates over the frequency band of from 30 to 75 mHz.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3600683A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-11 | 1981-01-10 | 1981-07-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-11 | 1985-01-10 | 1985-07-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-11 | 1989-01-10 | 1989-07-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |