Frequency discriminator apparatus

Claim 2

Ferrimagnetic frequency discriminator apparatus, comprising ferrimagnetic filter means having an input and an output including magnetizing structure means having a single magnetic gap in which at least one ferrimagnetic resonator element is located, means receiving signals applied to said discriminator apparatus for coupling said signals to said ferrimagnetic filter means input, means coupled to said ferrimagnetic filter means for electronically cyclically sweeping the frequency of said ferrimagnetic filter means through a frequency range at a sample rate at least twice as great as the information rate of signals to be discriminated, detector means having an input and an output, for detecting signals at the output of said ferrimagnetic filter means, means for connecting the output of said ferrimagnetic means to the input of said detector means, and means coupled to said sweeping means and to the output of said detector means for comparing the timing relationship of said sweeping means and said detector output to generate a discriminator output wherein the discriminator output amplitude versus input signal frequency characteristic is substantially linear.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said at least one ferrimagnetic resonator element is in a band pass filter configuration.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 wherein said at least one ferrimagnetic resonator element is in a band reject filter configuration.

Claim 5

The combination of claims 2 or 3 wherein said means for sweeping the frequency of said ferrimagnetic filter means comprises means for applying a cyclical magnetic field to said at least one ferrimagnetic resonator element, the frequency of said ferrimagnetic filter means being substantially directly proportional to said magnetic field.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 4 wherein said means for applying a cyclical magnetic field includes an electromagnet coil located in said magnetizing structure means magnetic gap.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 5 wherein said electromagnet coil is an air coil.

Claim 8

The combination of claims 2 or 3 wherein said magnetizing structure means includes a permanent magnet for biasing said at least one ferrimagnetic resonator element to establish a quiescent ferrimagnetic filter means frequency.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 5 wherein said magnetizing structure means includes a permanent magnet for biasing said at least one ferrimagnetic resonator element to establish a quiescent ferrimagnetic filter means frequency.

Claim 10

The combination of claims 2 or 3 wherein said magnetizing structure means includes electromagnetic means for biasing said at least one ferrimagnetic resonator element to establish a quiescent ferrimagnetic filter means frequency.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 5 wherein said magnetizing structure means includes electromagnetic means for biasing said at least one ferrimagnetic resonator element to establish a quiescent ferrimagnetic filter means frequency.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 9 wherein said electromagnetic means generates a variable magnetic field to establish a variable quiescent ferrimagnetic filter means frequency.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 10 wherein said electromagnetic means generates a variable magnetic field to establish a variable quiescent ferrimagnetic filter means frequency.

Claim 14

The combination of claims 2 or 3 wherein the width of the frequency range through which the ferrimagnetic filter means is swept is variable.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 5 wherein the width of the frequency range through which the ferrimagnetic filter means is swept is variable.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 11 wherein the width of the frequency range through which the ferrimagnetic filter means is swept is variable.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 4 wherein said cyclical magnetic field is varied in accordance with a triangular waveform.

Claim 18

The combination of claims 2 or 3 wherein said magnetizing structure means has only one ferrimagnetic resonator element.

Claim 19

The combination of claims 2 or 3 wherein said magnetizing structure means has more than one ferrimagnetic resonator element.

Claim 20

The combination of claims 2 or 3 wherein said timing relationship comparison means comprises means for comparing the phase of said sweeping means to the output of said detector means.

Claim 21

The combination of claims 2 or 3 wherein said timing relationship comparison means comprises means referenced to said sweeping means for comparing said detector means outputs.

Claim 22

Microwave frequency modulation receiver apparatus, comprising ferrimagnetic filter means having an input and an output including magnetizing structure means having a single magnetic gap in which at least one ferrimagnetic resonator element is located, means receiving microwave signals applied to said discriminator apparatus for coupling said signals to said ferrimagnetic filter means input, means coupled to said ferrimagnetic filter means for electronically cyclically sweeping the frequency of said ferrimagnetic filter means through a frequency range at a sample rate at least twice as great as the modulation rate of signals to be discriminated, detector means having an input and an output, for detecting signals at the output of said ferrimagnetic filter means, means for connecting the output of said ferrimagnetic means to the input of said detector means, means coupled to said sweeping means and to the output of said detector means for comparing the timing relationship of said sweeping means and said detector output to generate a discriminator output wherein the discriminator output amplitude versus input signal frequency characteristic is substantially linear.

Claim 23

Microwave frequency modulation receiver apparatus, comprising ferrimagnetic filter means having an input and an output including magnetizing structure means having a single magnetic gap in which at least one ferrimagnetic resonator element is located, means receiving microwave signals applied to said discriminator apparatus for coupling said signals to said ferrimagnetic filter means input, means coupled to said ferrimagnetic filter means for electronically cyclically sweeping the frequency of said ferrimagnetic filter means through a frequency range at a sample rate at least twice as great as the modulation rate of signals to be discriminated, detector means having an input and an output, for detecting signals at the output of said ferrimagnetic filter means, means for connecting the output of said ferrimagnetic means to the input of said detector means, means coupled to said sweeping means and to the output of said detector means for comparing the timing relationship of said sweeping means and said detector output to generate a discriminator output wherein the discriminator output amplitude versus input signal frequency characteristic is substantially linear.

Claim 24

The combination of claim 21 further comprising audio amplifier means receiving the discriminator output, and loudspeaker means receiving the amplified discriminator output.

Claim 25

The combination of claims 21 or 22 wherein said means for applying received microwave signals includes antenna means.

Claim 26

The combination of claim 21 wherein said at least one ferrimagnetic resonator element is in a band pass filter configuration.

Claim 27

The combination of claim 21 wherein said at least one ferrimagnetic resonator element is in a band reject filter configuration.

Claim 28

The combination of claims 24 or 25 wherein said magnetizing structure means includes a permanent magnet.

Claim 29

The combination of claims 24 or 25 wherein said means for sweeping the frequency of said ferrimagnetic filter means comprises means for applying a cyclical magnetic field to said at least one ferrimagnetic resonator element, the frequency of said ferrimagnetic filter means being substantially directly proportional to said magnetic field.

Claim 30

The combination of claim 27 wherein said means for applying a cyclical magnetic field includes an electromagnet coil located in said magnetizing structure means magnetic gap.

Claim 31

The combination of claims 24 or 25 wherein said timing relationship comparison means comprises means for comparing the phase of said sweeping means to the output of said detector means.