Peak detector

Claim 2

Apparatus for providing a direct current output voltage proportional to the peak to peak amplitude of an input signal comprising: (a) signal processing means adapted to receive said input signal; (b) direct current restoring means operatively connected to said signal processing means; (c) peak detecting means responsive to said direct current restoring means; and (d) first feedback means connected between the output of said direct current restoring means and the input to said direct current restoring means.

Claim 3

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising second feedback means connected between the output of said peak detecting means and the input to said peak detecting means.

Claim 4

Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said signal processing means includes buffering means operatively connected to said direct current restoring means.

Claim 5

Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said signal processing means further includes filtering means connected to the input to said buffering means.

Claim 6

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said signal processing means further includes attenuating means connected between said filtering means and said buffering means.

Claim 7

Apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said peak detecting means includes energy storage means.

Claim 8

Apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said peak detecting means further includes means for discharging said energy storage means.

Claim 9

Apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said signal processing means includes frequency compensation means associated with said attenuating means.

Claim 10

Apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said first feedback means comprises a resistor connected in series with a diode, said resistor connected to the output of said direct current restoring means and the cathode of said diode connected to the input to said direct current restoring means.

Claim 11

Apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said peak detecting means includes an input network having a non-inverting input terminal and an inverting input terminal.

Claim 12

Apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said second feedback means comprises a resistor connected between the output of said peak detecting means and the inverting input terminal of said peak detecting means.

Claim 13

Apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said energy storage means comprises a capacitor and said discharging means comprises a resistor.

Claim 14

Apparatus for providing a direct current output voltage proportional to the peak to peak amplitude of an input signal comprising: (a) signal processing means adapted to receive said input signal, said signal processing means including buffering means; (b) direct current restoring means operatively connected to said buffering means, said direct current restoring means including first feedback means connected between the output of said direct current restoring means and the input to said direct current restoring means; and (c) peak detecting means responsive to said direct current restoring means, said peak detecting means including second feedback means connected between the output of said peak detecting means and the input to said peak detecting means.

Claim 15

Apparatus for providing a direct current output voltage proportional to the peak to peak amplitude of an input signal comprising: (a) signal processing means adapted to receive said input signal, said signal processing means including buffering means; (b) direct current restoring means operatively connected to said buffering means, said direct current restoring means including first feedback means connected between the output of said direct current restoring means and the input to said direct current restoring means; and (c) peak detecting means responsive to said direct current restoring means, said peak detecting means including second feedback means connected between the output of said peak detecting means and the input to said peak detecting means.

Claim 16

Apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein said signal processing means includes filtering means connected to the input to said buffering means.

Claim 17

Apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said signal processing means further includes attenuating means connected between said filtering means and said buffering means.

Claim 18

Apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said peak detecting means includes energy storage means.

Claim 19

Apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said peak detecting means further includes means for discharging said energy storage means.

Claim 20

Apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein said signal processing means includes frequency compensation means associated with said attenuating means.

Claim 21

Apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein said first feedback means comprises a resistor connected in series with a diode, said resistor connected to the output of said direct current restoring means and the cathode of said diode connected to the input to said direct current restoring means.

Claim 22

Apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein said peak detecting means includes an input network having a non-inverting input terminal and an inverting input terminal.

Claim 23

Apparatus as recited in claim 20 wherein said second feedback means comprises a resistor connected between the output of said peak detecting means and the inverting input terminal of said peak detecting means.

Claim 24

Apparatus as recited in claim 21 wherein said energy storage means comprises a capacitor and said discharging means comprises a resistor.

Claim 25

Apparatus for providing a direct current output voltage proportional to the peak to peak amplitude of an input signal comprising: (a) a signal processing network adapted to receive said input signal, said signal processing network including an input filter network, an attenuator network and a buffer network, said attenuator network connected between the output of said filter network and the input to said buffer network; (b) a direct current restorer network operatively connected to the output of said buffer network, the output of said direct current restorer network connected to the input to said direct current restorer network via a first feedback path; and (c) a peak detector network operatively connected to said direct current restorer network, said peak detector network including an input amplifier having a non-inverting input terminal connected to said direct current restorer network and an inverting input terminal connected to the output of said peak detector network via a second feedback path.

Claim 26

Apparatus for providing a direct current output voltage proportional to the peak to peak amplitude of an input signal comprising: (a) a signal processing network adapted to receive said input signal, said signal processing network including an input filter network, an attenuator network and a buffer network, said attenuator network connected between the output of said filter network and the input to said buffer network; (b) a direct current restorer network operatively connected to the output of said buffer network, the output of said direct current restorer network connected to the input to said direct current restorer network via a first feedback path; and (c) a peak detector network operatively connected to said direct current restorer network, said peak detector network including an input amplifier having a non-inverting input terminal connected to said direct current restorer network and an inverting input terminal connected to the output of said peak detector network via a second feedback path.

Claim 27

Apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein said signal processing network includes a frequency compensation network associated with said attenuator network.

Claim 28

Apparatus as recited in claim 24 further including means for alternating current coupling the output of said buffer network to the input to said direct current restoring network.

Claim 29

Apparatus as recited in claim 25 wherein said first feedback path comprises a resistor connected in series with a diode, said resistor connected to the output of said direct current restorer network and the cathode of said diode connected to the input to said direct current restorer network.

Claim 30

Apparatus as recited in claim 26 wherein said second feedback path comprises a resistor.

Claim 31

Apparatus as recited in claim 27 wherein said peak detector network includes a storage capacitor.

Claim 32

Apparatus as recited in claim 28 wherein said peak detector network further includes a resistor for providing a discharge path for said storage capacitor.

Claim 33

Apparatus as recited in claim 29 wherein said signal processing network includes means for controllably connecting said filter network to said signal processing network.

Claim 34

Apparatus as recited in claim 30 wherein said signal processing network further includes means for controllably varying the amount of attenuation provided by said attenuator network.

Claim 35

Apparatus as recited in claim 31 wherein said connecting means comprises a first switch associated with said filter network.

Claim 36

Apparatus as recited in claim 32 wherein said varying means comprises a second switch associated with said attenuator network.

Claim 37

Apparatus as recited in claim 33 wherein said alternating current coupling means includes a first series path comprising a first diode and a first capacitor, the negative electrode of said first capacitor connected to the anode of said first diode, and a second series path comprising a second capacitor and a second diode, the anode of said second diode connected to the negative electrode of said second capacitor.