US4298953A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Programmable zero-bias floating gate tapping method and apparatus
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Filing: 1979-02-28
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Granted: 1981-11-03
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Expires: 1999-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A method and an apparatus for selectively summing the time-varying components of a plurality of electrical voltages are disclosed. The electrical voltages can each be characterized by a quiescent bias component and a time-varying small signal information component. Each electrical voltage is selectively connected to at most one of a plurality of summing buses and each bus is allowed to separately float to a quiescent voltage level corresponding approximately to a selected average value of the bias components of the signals connected thereto. The potential difference measured between the buses corresponds to the difference in the weighted average values of the time-varying components connected to each bus. The weights may be equal or unequal. The method and apparatus provide means for implementing programmable transversal filters and correlation devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott C. Munroe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:40
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06G; G06G7/00; G06G7/12; G06G7/19; G06G7/1907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for selectively summing the time-varying components of a plurality of electrical potentials for obtaining a selectively weighted average of said time-varying signal components, each electrical potential able to be characterized by the sum of a bias component and a said time-varying signal component, said method comprising the steps of selectively connecting using electrical control signals said electrical potentials to at most one of a first and a second summing bus through respective selected impedances, for each bus, allowing the voltage level thereon to float at a voltage substantially equal to a weighted average of the bias components of the electrical potentials connected thereto, and measuring the potential difference across said buses, whereby said potential difference characterizes the selectively weighted average of said time-varying components.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for selectively summing the time-varying components of a plurality of electrical potentials for obtaining a selectively weighted average of said time-varying signal components, each electrical potential able to be characterized by the sum of a bias component and a said time-varying signal component, said method comprising the steps of selectively connecting using electrical control signals said electrical potentials to at most one of a first and a second summing bus through respective selected impedances, for each bus, allowing the voltage level thereon to float at a voltage substantially equal to a weighted average of the bias components of the electrical potentials connected thereto, and measuring the potential difference across said buses, whereby said potential difference characterizes the selectively weighted average of said time-varying components.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrical potentials correspond to voltages on taps of a delay line and further comprising the steps of non-destructively reading tap signals from selected taps of said delay line, and weighting each read tap signal by a selected weighting factor, each non-zero weighting factor having substantially the same magnitude, to generate said electrical signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of programming the selected connections of the electrical potentials to said buses, while maintaining a substantially constant quiescent operating point on each bus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of maintaining each said bias component substantially equal to said other bias components.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of selectively summing the time-varying signal components of a plurality of electrical potentials for obtaining a selectively weighted average of said time-varying signal components, each electrical potential being adapted to be characterized by the sum of a bias component and a said time-varying signal component, the method comprising the steps of non-destructively reading tap signals from selected taps of a delay line, weighting each read tapped signal by a selected weighting factor, each non-zero weighting factor having substantially the same magnitude, selectively connecting, according to a program control element, the weighted electrical signals to at most one of a first and a second summing bus through respective selected impedances, for each bus, allowing the voltage on said bus to float at a voltage substantially equal to the average value of the bias components of the electrical signals connected to said bus, connecting said buses through a load impedance for measuring the potential difference across said connected buses, whereby said voltage difference characterizes the selectively weighted average of said time-varying components.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of selectively summing the time-varying signal components of a plurality of electrical potentials for obtaining a selectively weighted average of said time-varying signal components, each electrical potential being adapted to be characterized by the sum of a bias component and a said time-varying signal component, the method comprising the steps of non-destructively reading tap signals from selected taps of a delay line, weighting each read tapped signal by a selected weighting factor, each non-zero weighting factor having substantially the same magnitude, selectively connecting, according to a program control element, the weighted electrical signals to at most one of a first and a second summing bus through respective selected impedances, for each bus, allowing the voltage on said bus to float at a voltage substantially equal to the average value of the bias components of the electrical signals connected to said bus, connecting said buses through a load impedance for measuring the potential difference across said connected buses, whereby said voltage difference characterizes the selectively weighted average of said time-varying components.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of maintaining each said bias component substantially equal to said other bias components.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of changing the selected connections of the electrical signals to said buses, while maintaining a substantially constant information signal-to-background signal ratio at said measured potential difference signals.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus for selectively summing the time-varying signal components of each of a plurality of electrical potentials for obtaining a selectively weighted average of said time-varying signal components, each potential being characterized by the sum of a bias component and a said time-varying signal component, said apparatus comprising first means for selectively connecting each said electrical potential through a respective impedance to at most one of a first and a second summing bus, the voltage level on each bus being allowed to float at a voltage substantially equal to a weighted average of the bias components of the electrical potentials connected thereto, and second means for measuring a potential difference across said buses, whereby said measured potential difference characterizes the selectively weighted average of said time-varying signal components.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus for selectively summing the time-varying signal components of each of a plurality of electrical potentials for obtaining a selectively weighted average of said time-varying signal components, each potential being characterized by the sum of a bias component and a said time-varying signal component, said apparatus comprising first means for selectively connecting each said electrical potential through a respective impedance to at most one of a first and a second summing bus, the voltage level on each bus being allowed to float at a voltage substantially equal to a weighted average of the bias components of the electrical potentials connected thereto, and second means for measuring a potential difference across said buses, whereby said measured potential difference characterizes the selectively weighted average of said time-varying signal components.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of weighting means, each weighting means for generating from an electrical input, a corresponding weighted output substantially equal to the sum of a resulting bias component and the multiplicative product of a selected weighting factor and an information component of said corresponding input, wherein at least one of said weighting factors is a non-zero weighting factor and said weighted outputs correspond to said electrical potentials.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a delay line having a plurality of taps for providing a plurality of tap output signals, each said tap output signal corresponding to a said electrical input, and wherein each said weighting means comprises a series connection of at least first and second FET devices, said first device having one said tap signal connected to a gate terminal and a gate bias connected to a gate terminal of said second device, and wherein the signal appearing at said series connection is a said electrical potential.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said non-zero weighting factors each have the same magnitude and each said first connecting means comprises third and fourth FET devices, each of said third and fourth devices being connected to a corresponding weighting means at said series connection for connecting said electrical potential to at most one of said summing buses.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a charge transfer device having a plurality of signal taps for providing a plurality of tap signals, and means for non-destructively reading said tap signals and for providing said read tap signal to said first connecting means, said electrical potentials corresponding to the signals appearing at said taps.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said second means for measuring said potential difference across said buses comprises a series resistance connected between said bus lines whereby said potential difference is generated across said resistance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said second means for measuring the potential difference across said buses comprises a transformer having at least a primary and a secondary winding, one of said windings being connected between said first and second summing buses, and means connected across said other winding for measuring a potential difference across it.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising programming control means for selectively varying the connections of said electrical potentials to said summing buses, said selectively connecting first means being responsive to said programming control means for connecting each said electrical potential to one or the other of said buses, and said apparatus maintaining a substantially constant quiescent operating point on each bus as said connections are varied by said program control means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising an impedance connected across said summing buses.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
227 words
An apparatus for selectively summing the time-varying signal components of each of a plurality of electrical potentials for obtaining a selectively weighted average of said time-varying signal components, each potential being characterized by the sum of a bias component and a said time-varying signal component, said apparatus comprising a delay line having a plurality of taps for providing a plurality of tap output signals, a plurality of weighting means, each weighting means for generating from each said tap output signal a corresponding electrical output, each output being substantially equal to the sum of a resulting bias component and the multiplicative product of a selected weighting factor and a time varying component of the corresponding input, at least one of said weighting factors being a non-zero weighting factor and said non-zero weighting factors each having the same magnitude, said output corresponding to said electrical potentials, a programming control means, first means responsive to said programming control means for selectively connecting each said electrical output to at most one of a first and a second summing bus, and second means for measuring a potential difference between said buses, the quiescent operating point on each bus corresponding substantially to an average value of the bias components of the signals connected to said bus, whereby said potential difference between said buses characterizes the selectively weighted summation of said time-varying signal components.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
227 words
An apparatus for selectively summing the time-varying signal components of each of a plurality of electrical potentials for obtaining a selectively weighted average of said time-varying signal components, each potential being characterized by the sum of a bias component and a said time-varying signal component, said apparatus comprising a delay line having a plurality of taps for providing a plurality of tap output signals, a plurality of weighting means, each weighting means for generating from each said tap output signal a corresponding electrical output, each output being substantially equal to the sum of a resulting bias component and the multiplicative product of a selected weighting factor and a time varying component of the corresponding input, at least one of said weighting factors being a non-zero weighting factor and said non-zero weighting factors each having the same magnitude, said output corresponding to said electrical potentials, a programming control means, first means responsive to said programming control means for selectively connecting each said electrical output to at most one of a first and a second summing bus, and second means for measuring a potential difference between said buses, the quiescent operating point on each bus corresponding substantially to an average value of the bias components of the signals connected to said bus, whereby said potential difference between said buses characterizes the selectively weighted summation of said time-varying signal components.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-11-02 | 1985-05-04 | 1985-11-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-11-02 | 1989-05-04 | 1989-11-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-11-02 | 1993-05-04 | 1993-11-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |