Controlled hybrid microcircuit oscillator

Claim 2

An amplitude-corrected signal source for inducing a fixed AC current in an element of a given fixed electrical impedance, said source comprising: a square wave oscillator for producing a square wave signal at its output; a first summing node; rectifier means connected between the output of the square wave oscillator and said first summing node for rectifying said square wave signal; low-pass filter means having an input connected to said first summing node for receiving said rectified square wave signal and for producing a corresponding alternating current sinusoidal signal; a second summing node having one input thereto connected to a terminal to receive a feedback current responsive to the amplitude and frequency of said sinusoidal signal and having another input connected to a terminal to receive a constant reference current of opposite polarity and to produce a resultant output error current; and an integrator having its input connected to receive said error current and an output connected to supply said first summing node with a direct current voltage level which changes as a function of the product of the amplitude and frequency of said sinusoidal signal.

Claim 3

A signal source as in claim 1 further comprising output amplifier means to amplify said sinusoidal signal.

Claim 4

A signal source as in claim 1 further comprising temperature compensation means for changing said constant reference current as a function of temperature to compensate for temperature changes.

Claim 5

An amplitude-corrected signal source for inducing a predetermined AC current in an element of a given electrical impedance, said source comprising: a square wave oscillator for producing a square wave signal at its output; a first summing node; rectifier means connected between the output of the square wave oscillator and said first summing node for rectifying said square wave signal; low-pass filter means having an input connected to said first summing node for receiving said rectified square wave signal and for producing a corresponding alternating current sinusoidal signal; simulated load means connected to receive said sinusoidal signal for simulating the electrical response of said element at a given electrical impedance; amplitude-frequency product to current converter means for producing a feedback current proportional to the product of the amplitude and frequency of the current flowing through said simulated load means; a second summing node having one input thereto connected to said current converter means to receive said feedback current and having another input connected to a terminal to receive a constant reference current of opposite polarity and to produce a resultant output error current; and an integrator having its input connected to receive said error current and an output connected to supply said first summing node with a direct current voltage level which changes with respect to the product of the amplitude and frequency of said sinusoidal signal.

Claim 6

An amplitude-corrected signal source for inducing a predetermined AC current in an element of a given electrical impedance, said source comprising: a square wave oscillator for producing a square wave signal at its output; a first summing node; rectifier means connected between the output of the square wave oscillator and said first summing node for rectifying said square wave signal; low-pass filter means having an input connected to said first summing node for receiving said rectified square wave signal and for producing a corresponding alternating current sinusoidal signal; simulated load means connected to receive said sinusoidal signal for simulating the electrical response of said element at a given electrical impedance; amplitude-frequency product to current converter means for producing a feedback current proportional to the product of the amplitude and frequency of the current flowing through said simulated load means; a second summing node having one input thereto connected to said current converter means to receive said feedback current and having another input connected to a terminal to receive a constant reference current of opposite polarity and to produce a resultant output error current; and an integrator having its input connected to receive said error current and an output connected to supply said first summing node with a direct current voltage level which changes with respect to the product of the amplitude and frequency of said sinusoidal signal.

Claim 7

A signal source as in claim 4 further comprising output amplifier means to amplify said sinusoidal signal.

Claim 8

A signal source as in claim 4 further comprising temperature compensation means for changing said constant reference current with respect to temperature to compensate for errors otherwise caused by changes in temperature.

Claim 9

An amplitude-corrected signal source for inducing a fixed AC current in an element of a given electrical impedance comprising: signal generating means for producing an alternating current sinusoidal signal which has an output controllable in amplitude in response to a supplied control voltage input; simulated load means connected to said sinusoidal signal for simulating the electrical response of said element at a given electrical impedance; current converter means for producing a feedback current proportional to the current flowing through said simulated load means; a summing node having one input thereto connected to said current converter means to receive said feedback current and having another input connected to a terminal to receive a constant reference current of opposite polarity and to produce a resultant output error current; and an integrator having its input connected to receive said error current and an output connected to supply said signal generator means with said control voltage input which changes as a function of the product of the amplitude and frequency of said sinusoidal signal so as to maintain said product substantially constant.

Claim 10

An amplitude-corrected signal source for inducing a fixed AC current in an element of a given electrical impedance comprising: signal generating means for producing an alternating current sinusoidal signal which has an output controllable in amplitude in response to a supplied control voltage input; simulated load means connected to said sinusoidal signal for simulating the electrical response of said element at a given electrical impedance; current converter means for producing a feedback current proportional to the current flowing through said simulated load means; a summing node having one input thereto connected to said current converter means to receive said feedback current and having another input connected to a terminal to receive a constant reference current of opposite polarity and to produce a resultant output error current; and an integrator having its input connected to receive said error current and an output connected to supply said signal generator means with said control voltage input which changes as a function of the product of the amplitude and frequency of said sinusoidal signal so as to maintain said product substantially constant.

Claim 11

A signal source as in claim 7 further comprising temperature compensation means for changing said reference current to compensate for changes in temperature.

Claim 12

An amplitude-corrected signal source for inducing a fixed AC current in an element of a given electrical impedance, said source comprising: signal generating means for producing an alternating current sinusoidal signal of amplitude controlled by a control signal; simulated load means connected to said sinusoidal signal for simulating the electrical response of said element at a fixed predetermined impedance value; current converter means for producing a feedback current proportional to the product of the amplitude and frequency of the sinusoidal signal applied to said simulated load means; a summing node having as a first input a reference current which is caused to change as a function of temperature to compensate for changes in temperature and as a second input said feedback current; and an integrator having an input connected to said summing node and an output connected to supply said signal generating means with said control signal which changes as a function of the product of the amplitude and frequency of said sinusoidal signal.

Claim 13

An amplitude-corrected signal source for inducing a fixed AC current in an element of a given electrical impedance, said source comprising: signal generating means for producing an alternating current sinusoidal signal of amplitude controlled by a control signal; simulated load means connected to said sinusoidal signal for simulating the electrical response of said element at a fixed predetermined impedance value; current converter means for producing a feedback current proportional to the product of the amplitude and frequency of the sinusoidal signal applied to said simulated load means; a summing node having as a first input a reference current which is caused to change as a function of temperature to compensate for changes in temperature and as a second input said feedback current; and an integrator having an input connected to said summing node and an output connected to supply said signal generating means with said control signal which changes as a function of the product of the amplitude and frequency of said sinusoidal signal.