US4563588A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for measuring the luminous lifetime of samples
Assignee: Horiba Ltd
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Filing: 1983-12-16
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Granted: 1986-01-07
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Expires: 2003-12-16
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for measuring the luminous lifetime samples, which eliminates the deviation of the time axis of each channel of a multichannel TAC, deviations resulting from differences the wiring or the time lag of the elements of each channel of the multichannel TAC constituting a principal part of the apparatus. The apparatus operates by adding a respective variable offset voltage to the output of each channel of the TAC and by regulating the offset voltage in every channel without using any delay element so as to eliminate the time axis deviations of the channels.
Inventors
- 👤 Masaru Tanaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:15
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K5/00; H03K5/15; H03K5/15013; H03K5/1506; H03K5/1508; G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/6408; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/17; G04; G04F; G04F10/00; G04F10/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
In an apparatus for measuring the luminous lifetime of samples comprising a multichannel time-to-amplitude converter having N channels numbered 1 through N wherein N is a positive integer, said converter comprising a start pulse input means for receiving a start pulse and a stop pulse input means for receiving a plurality of stop pulses, wherein each of said channels includes a flip-flop having its set input connected to said start pulse input means and having an output connected to a time-to-amplitude converter connected to a sample and hold means; and wherein said flip-flop of channel 1 has a reset input connected to said stop pulse input means and said channels 2 through N are arranged such that reset inputs of their respective flip-flops are connected to said stop pulse input means through corresponding gate means, each corresponding gate means of channel N having an enabling input connected to and controlled by a corresponding flip-flop of said channel N-1 such that said start pulse sets all of said flip-flops and a first stop pulse resets said first flip-flop and a second stop pulse resets said second flip-flop . . . and N stop pulse resets said N flip-flop, the improvement comprising: a plurality of voltage adders each connected to a corresponding sample and hold means; a plurality of variable offset voltage means each connected to a corresponding one of said plurality of adder means wherein each offset voltage may be manually adjusted so as to compensate for errors in a time axis of its corresponding channel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
In an apparatus for measuring the luminous lifetime of samples comprising a multichannel time-to-amplitude converter having N channels numbered 1 through N wherein N is a positive integer, said converter comprising a start pulse input means for receiving a start pulse and a stop pulse input means for receiving a plurality of stop pulses, wherein each of said channels includes a flip-flop having its set input connected to said start pulse input means and having an output connected to a time-to-amplitude converter connected to a sample and hold means; and wherein said flip-flop of channel 1 has a reset input connected to said stop pulse input means and said channels 2 through N are arranged such that reset inputs of their respective flip-flops are connected to said stop pulse input means through corresponding gate means, each corresponding gate means of channel N having an enabling input connected to and controlled by a corresponding flip-flop of said channel N-1 such that said start pulse sets all of said flip-flops and a first stop pulse resets said first flip-flop and a second stop pulse resets said second flip-flop . . . and N stop pulse resets said N flip-flop, the improvement comprising: a plurality of voltage adders each connected to a corresponding sample and hold means; a plurality of variable offset voltage means each connected to a corresponding one of said plurality of adder means wherein each offset voltage may be manually adjusted so as to compensate for errors in a time axis of its corresponding channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said time-to-amplitude converter channels are arranged to have at least two ranges and wherein each of said offset voltages is arranged to have a different value for each of said ranges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein each of said time-to-amplitude converter means comprises a current source controlled by a switching means which charges a capacitor, a voltage across said capacitor feeding said sample and hold circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-01-06 | 1989-07-08 | 1990-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-06 | 1993-07-08 | 1994-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-06 | 1997-07-08 | 1998-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |