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US4118666A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automatic communication signal monitoring system
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1977-03-04
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Granted: 1978-10-03
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Expires: 1997-03-04
Abstract
Abstract A system for automatic monitoring of a communication signal in the RF or IF spectrum utilizes a superheterodyne receiver technique with a VCO to select and sweep the frequency band of interest. A first memory is used to store one band sweep as a reference for continual comparison with subsequent band sweeps. Any deviation of a subsequent band sweep by more than a predetermined tolerance level produces an alarm signal which causes the band sweep data temporarily stored in one of two buffer memories to be transferred to long-term store while the other buffer memory is switched to its store mode to assume the task of temporarily storing subsequent band sweeps. Each alarm signal alternates the roles of the two buffer memories. In a second embodiment, the roles of the two buffer memories are switched at the end of each heterodyne receiver band sweep for display of successive band sweeps at a faster rate and for automatic long-term store of any band sweep producing an alarm.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert J. Bernstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 07:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R17/00; G01R17/02; G01R17/04; G01R23/00; G01R23/02; G01R23/15; G01R23/155; G01R23/16; G01R27/00; G01R27/28; G01R27/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A system for monitoring an RF or IF communication signal as to its power level and spectral quality throughout a selected frequency band comprising means for periodically sweeping the spectrum of said selected frequency band, means for detecting the peak amplitude of evenly spaced increments of said spectrum, means for converting the peak amplitude of each increment of a sweep cycle into digital form to provide digital band sweep data, reference memory means for storing digital band sweep data of a selected sweep cycle for use as a reference, means for comparing digital band sweep data of subsequent sweep cycles with said reference to determine the presence of any deviation, level detecting means for determining when any deviation detected exceeds preset tolerance levels, temporary storage means for temporarily storing digital band sweep data of each of said subsequent sweep cycles while being processed through said comparing means and level detecting means, and long-term store means responsive to said level detecting means for storing band sweep data from said temporary storage means when any deviation of band sweep data of a subsequent sweep cycle exceeds said tolerance levels.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
187 words
A system for monitoring an RF or IF communication signal as to its power level and spectral quality throughout a selected frequency band comprising means for periodically sweeping the spectrum of said selected frequency band, means for detecting the peak amplitude of evenly spaced increments of said spectrum, means for converting the peak amplitude of each increment of a sweep cycle into digital form to provide digital band sweep data, reference memory means for storing digital band sweep data of a selected sweep cycle for use as a reference, means for comparing digital band sweep data of subsequent sweep cycles with said reference to determine the presence of any deviation, level detecting means for determining when any deviation detected exceeds preset tolerance levels, temporary storage means for temporarily storing digital band sweep data of each of said subsequent sweep cycles while being processed through said comparing means and level detecting means, and long-term store means responsive to said level detecting means for storing band sweep data from said temporary storage means when any deviation of band sweep data of a subsequent sweep cycle exceeds said tolerance levels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system as defined in claim 1 including a second temporary storage means and means for alternately operating said temporary storage means for one storage means to store band sweep data while the other storage means in transferring band sweep data into said long-term store following a sweep cycle during which a deviation is found to exceed said tolerance levels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system as defined in claim 2 wherein said alternating means automatically switches operation of said two temporary storage means after every sweep cycle whether or not band sweep data is to be stored in said long-term store and means for automatically displaying band sweep data in one temporary storage means while the other is storing subsequent band sweep data.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
209 words
A system for automatic monitoring of a communication signal in the RF or IF spectrum comprising superheterodyne receiver means for selecting and continually sweeping a frequency band of interest in said signal, means for determining the peak amplitudes of evenly spaced increments of a selected band sweep to obtain a set of band sweep data, reference memory means for storing one set of band sweep data as a reference for comparison with subsequent sets of band sweep data, two buffer memory means for alternately storing sets of band sweep data in one memory means while other buffer memory means is available for reading out sets of band sweep data, means for storing at least one set of said band sweep data for a long term, means for detecting any deviation of a subsequent band sweep from said reference by more than a predetermined tolerance level, and means responsive to said detecting means for causing a set of band sweep data stored in one of said buffer memory means to be transferred to said long-term storing means when it is found to contain a deviation of more than said predetermined tolerance level while a subsequent set of band sweep data is stored in the other of said buffer memory means.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
209 words
A system for automatic monitoring of a communication signal in the RF or IF spectrum comprising superheterodyne receiver means for selecting and continually sweeping a frequency band of interest in said signal, means for determining the peak amplitudes of evenly spaced increments of a selected band sweep to obtain a set of band sweep data, reference memory means for storing one set of band sweep data as a reference for comparison with subsequent sets of band sweep data, two buffer memory means for alternately storing sets of band sweep data in one memory means while other buffer memory means is available for reading out sets of band sweep data, means for storing at least one set of said band sweep data for a long term, means for detecting any deviation of a subsequent band sweep from said reference by more than a predetermined tolerance level, and means responsive to said detecting means for causing a set of band sweep data stored in one of said buffer memory means to be transferred to said long-term storing means when it is found to contain a deviation of more than said predetermined tolerance level while a subsequent set of band sweep data is stored in the other of said buffer memory means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as defined in claim 4 including means for alternating the roles of said two buffer memory means after each set of band sweep data found to contain a deviation of more than said predetermined tolerance level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as defined in claim 4 including means for alternating the roles of said two buffer memory means after each set of band sweep data is stored in one of said two buffer memory means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system as defined in claim 6 including band sweep data display means, and means for continually displaying band sweep data from one of said two bufer memory means while the other is assigned the role of storing a set of band sweep data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
A system as defined in claim 7 wherein said continual display means is comprised of a cathode ray tube and including means for repeatedly reading out a set of band sweep from the buffer memory assigned the role of displaying data at a rate greater than said superheterodyne receiver means is being swept, whereby flicker-free display is provided.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system as defined in claim 8 wherein said means responsive to said detecting means for causing a set of band sweep data stored in one of said buffer memory means to be transferred to said long-term storing means including means for transferring just once a set of band sweep data read out for display on said cathode ray tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3891920A
Cited
US4041387A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-10-02 | 1982-04-03 | 1982-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-10-02 | 1986-04-03 | 1986-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-10-02 | 1990-04-03 | 1990-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |