US4036057A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic threshold control means and the use thereof
Assignee: Babcock and Wilcox Co
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Filing: 1975-04-15
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Granted: 1977-07-19
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Expires: 1995-04-15
Abstract
Abstract A threshold actuated information detection system comprising a noise level converter, and a non-inverting voltage totalizer, and a voltage comparator interconnected such that the comparator will not trigger any logic circuit if an amplified signal is lower than the threshold level, and the use thereof in acoustic emission and other informational discriminating systems.
Inventors
- 👤 Carroll F. Morais
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 07:11
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03G; H03G3/00; H03G3/20; H03G3/30; H03G3/32; G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/14; G01R; G01R19/00; G01R19/165; G01R19/16566; G01R19/16576; G01R19/1658; H03G11/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
An acoustic emission apparatus for the detection and/or location of structural flaws comprising sensor means, and means for receiving signals emitted from said sensor means and for determining the location of flaws in the workpiece being monitored, the improvement comprising an automatically variable threshold voltage level control means connected to said means for receiving signals from said sensor means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
An acoustic emission apparatus for the detection and/or location of structural flaws comprising sensor means, and means for receiving signals emitted from said sensor means and for determining the location of flaws in the workpiece being monitored, the improvement comprising an automatically variable threshold voltage level control means connected to said means for receiving signals from said sensor means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An acoustic emission apparatus comprising a plurality of sensor means for detecting stress waves in the object being monitored, and means for continuously varying the threshold voltage level in proportion to the noise level as the noise level rises, falls or remains constant interconnected therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
An acoustic emission apparatus comprising a plurality of sensor means for detecting stress waves in the object being monitored, and means for continuously varying the threshold voltage level in proportion to the noise level as the noise level rises, falls or remains constant interconnected therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
An automatically variable threshold voltage level control means, comprising means for varying the threshold voltage level in proportion to the noise level as the noise level rises, falls or remains constant connected to a threshold reference voltage controller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An automatically variable threshold voltage level control means, comprising means for varying the threshold voltage level in proportion to the noise level as the noise level rises, falls or remains constant connected to a threshold reference voltage controller.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
An improved threshold actuated information detection system comprising in combination: a peak detector noise level converter adapted to receive an amplified signal, a non-inverting voltage summer interconnected to said converter, and to a threshold reference voltage control, and a voltage comparator interconnected to said summer and adapted to receive the same amplified signal as the converter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
An improved threshold actuated information detection system comprising in combination: a peak detector noise level converter adapted to receive an amplified signal, a non-inverting voltage summer interconnected to said converter, and to a threshold reference voltage control, and a voltage comparator interconnected to said summer and adapted to receive the same amplified signal as the converter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The threshold actuated information detection system of claim 4 further including a DC threshold reference voltage control connected to said summer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The threshold actuated information detection system of claim 5 further including voltage amplification means interconnected to both said converter and said comparator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 6 further including sensing means interconnected to said voltage amplification means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The threshold actuated information detection system of claim 4 further including voltage amplification means interconnected to both said converter and said comparator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 8 further including sensing means interconnected to voltage amplification means.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
64 words
The method of automatically controlling the threshold voltage in a threshold actuated information detection system comprising: a. Generating a voltage equal to or greater than the background noise; b. Summing a predetermined threshold voltage level with the voltage of step (a); c. Comparing the summed voltage with a signal input voltage, d. Controlling the actuation of a system responsive apparatus below the threshold voltage.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
64 words
The method of automatically controlling the threshold voltage in a threshold actuated information detection system comprising: a. Generating a voltage equal to or greater than the background noise; b. Summing a predetermined threshold voltage level with the voltage of step (a); c. Comparing the summed voltage with a signal input voltage, d. Controlling the actuation of a system responsive apparatus below the threshold voltage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10 further including the step of triggering a system response apparatus when the signal input voltage is greater than summed voltage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 10 including the step of determining a constant threshold voltage level prior to the summing step.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 12 including the step of measuring the background noise level prior to step (a).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 12 including the step of sensing both the background noise and stress wave emissions, amplifying the sensed signals and feeding the amplified signals to both a noise level converter and to a voltage comparator, all prior to step (a).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
In a microseismic detection system, comprising detection means, amplification means and a threshold level voltage generator, the improvement which comprises at least one automatically controlled threshold level actuating means for each channel of detection, and at least one channel of detection for each automatically controlled threshold level actuating means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
In a microseismic detection system, comprising detection means, amplification means and a threshold level voltage generator, the improvement which comprises at least one automatically controlled threshold level actuating means for each channel of detection, and at least one channel of detection for each automatically controlled threshold level actuating means.
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) | 1980-07-18 | 1981-01-17 | 1981-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-18 | 1985-01-17 | 1985-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-18 | 1989-01-17 | 1989-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |