US4686458A — Pulse alignment system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 120 words

An automated method for aligning first and second pulse signals in relation to each other where the second pulse signal is generated at a substantially fixed time delay after a reference trigger signal, comprising the steps of: providing a variable time delay means for varying the time delay between said trigger signal and said first pulse signal; providing a means for generating a coincidence signal indicating when said first pulse signal is in coincidence with said second pulse signal, and in an iterative process, stepping said time delay means through a plurality of time delays while monitoring said coincidence signal to find the time delay parameter resulting in the coincidence of said first pulse signal and said second pulse signal.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 120 words

An automated method for aligning first and second pulse signals in relation to each other where the second pulse signal is generated at a substantially fixed time delay after a reference trigger signal, comprising the steps of: providing a variable time delay means for varying the time delay between said trigger signal and said first pulse signal; providing a means for generating a coincidence signal indicating when said first pulse signal is in coincidence with said second pulse signal, and in an iterative process, stepping said time delay means through a plurality of time delays while monitoring said coincidence signal to find the time delay parameter resulting in the coincidence of said first pulse signal and said second pulse signal.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing in a memory device impervious to electrical power interruption said time delay parameter for subsequent retrieval.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 91 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said coincidence signal has a first state corresponding to the condition wherein the amount of said time delay is too small to achieve coincidence, and a second state corresponding to the condition wherein said time delay is too great to achieve coincidence, and in said iterative process, the time delay means is stepped through said plurality until the coincidence signal changes states, then stepped in opposite directions in smaller steps until the coincidence signal changes state again, at which time the delay parameter is found.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 122 words

The invention of claim 3 wherein said time delay means is adapted to vary said time delay between a minimum delay and a maximum delay in dependence on a delay parameter, and wherein said iterative process comprises the steps of: (i) setting said variable time delay means at the delay parameter resulting in the minimum time delay between said trigger signal and said first signal; (ii) reading the state of said coincidence signal; (iii) increasing said time delay by changing said parameter value by a first predetermined value; (iv) reading the state of said coincidence signal to determine if the state of said coincidence signal has changed; and (v) repeating steps (iii) and (iv) until the state of said coincidence signal changes.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 111 words

The method of claim 4 wherein said iterative process further comprising the steps of (vi) after the state of said coincidence signal has changed, decreasing the time delay by changing said parameter value by a second predetermined value corresponding to a smaller difference in the time delay than said first predetermined value; (vii) reading the states of said coincidence signal; (viii) repeating steps (vi) and (vii) until the state of said coincidence signal changes a second time; and (ix) identifying the delay parameter resulting in the second change of state of said coincidence signal as the time delay parameter resulting in the coincidence of said first signal and said second signal.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 149 words

A system for aligning first and second pulse signals so that they coincide, comprising: programmable timing means for timing the incidence of the first pulse signal in response to timing parameter signals; pulse coincidence means for generating a coincidence signal indicative of the temporal relationship of the first and second pulses; and controller means for providing said timing parameter signals to said programmable timing means, said controller means being operable in a calibration mode for progressively stepping the programmable timing means through a range of timing parameter values and monitoring the coincidence signal to determine a calibrated value for the timing parameter signal corresponding to the timing of the first pulse signal necessary for coincidence between the first and second pulses, and said controller means is further operable in an operational mode for controlling the timing parameter value of said programmable timing means in dependence on said calibrated value.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 149 words

A system for aligning first and second pulse signals so that they coincide, comprising: programmable timing means for timing the incidence of the first pulse signal in response to timing parameter signals; pulse coincidence means for generating a coincidence signal indicative of the temporal relationship of the first and second pulses; and controller means for providing said timing parameter signals to said programmable timing means, said controller means being operable in a calibration mode for progressively stepping the programmable timing means through a range of timing parameter values and monitoring the coincidence signal to determine a calibrated value for the timing parameter signal corresponding to the timing of the first pulse signal necessary for coincidence between the first and second pulses, and said controller means is further operable in an operational mode for controlling the timing parameter value of said programmable timing means in dependence on said calibrated value.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 94 words

The system of claim 6 wherein said coincidence signal has first and second states, the first state indicative of the condition wherein said first pulse is initiated before said second pulse, and said second state is indicative of the condition wherein said first pulse is initiated after said second pulse, and the coincidence of the two pulses is indicated by crossover of said coincidence signal from one state to the other, whereby said controller means determines the coincidence of the first and second pulses by receiving the change in state of said coincidence signal.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 57 words

The system of claim 7 wherein, during said calibration mode, said controller means iteratively steps the programmable timing means through a plurality of timing parameter values while monitoring the coincidence signal to determine a crossover point wherein the coincidence signal switches from one state to the other as a result of a change in the timing parameter.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 67 words

The system of claim 7 wherein, during said calibration mode, said controller means is also for programming said programmable timing means to a minimum timing setting, and for iteratively increasing the timing parameter by a predetermined first parameter value until said coincidence signal changes states, and thereafter for decreasing the timing parameter by a predetermined second parameter value until said coincidence signal changes states a second time.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system of claim 9 wherein said calibrated value is the delay parameter value resulting in the second change of state of said coincidence signal.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 10 wherein said predetermined second parameter value is less than said first predetermined parameter value.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 109 words

In a pulsed traveling-wave-tube (TWT) amplifier, a system for aligning the TWT cathode current pulse with the input RF pulse to the TWT, comprising: current pulse means for initiating a cathode current pulse in response to a cathode current trigger signal; variable timing means for controlling the initiation of said cathode current pulse in response to timing parameter signals; pulse alignment indicating means for generating an alignment signal indicative of the temporal relationship of the cathode current pulse and the RF input pulse; central processor means for providing said timing parameter signals to said variable timing means so as to align said current pulse and said RF input pulse.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 109 words

In a pulsed traveling-wave-tube (TWT) amplifier, a system for aligning the TWT cathode current pulse with the input RF pulse to the TWT, comprising: current pulse means for initiating a cathode current pulse in response to a cathode current trigger signal; variable timing means for controlling the initiation of said cathode current pulse in response to timing parameter signals; pulse alignment indicating means for generating an alignment signal indicative of the temporal relationship of the cathode current pulse and the RF input pulse; central processor means for providing said timing parameter signals to said variable timing means so as to align said current pulse and said RF input pulse.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 53 words

The system of claim 12 wherein said central processor means is also for operating in a calibration mode wherein the variable timing means is iteratively varied and said alignment signal is monitored so as to determine the calibrated timing parameter signal resulting in alignment of the current pulse and the RF input pulse.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 59 words

The system of claim 13 wherein said central processor means operating in said calibration mode is also for initializing said variable timing means to a minimum timing parameter value, and for incrementing the timing means in progressive timing parameter steps while monitoring said alignment signal as the TWT amplified is pulsed so as to determine the calibrated timing parameter.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 61 words

The system of claim 12 further comprising input RF pulse detector means for providing a first signal indicative of the input RF signal level to the TWT amplifier, and TWT RF detector means for providing a second signal indicative of the level of the TWT RF output, and wherein said pulse alignment means is responsive to said first and second signals.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 68 words

The system of claim 15 wherein said pulse alignment means is for employing said first signal as the basis for a time reference signal, and further comprises means for providing a binary-level alignment signal having a first state indicative of the condition wherein said current pulse leads said RF input pulse, and a second state indicative of the condition wherein said current pulse lags said RF input pulse.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 95 words

The system of claim 16 wherein said first signal is coupled to a first comparator means adapted to provide a first binary-level signal indicative of the "on/off" status of said RF input pulse, and said second signal is coupled to a second comparator means for providing a second binary-level signal indicative of the "on/off" status of said TWT RF signal, and said pulse alignment means further comprises a flip-flop means clocked by said first binary-level signal, and whose output is dependent on the state of said binary-level signal when clocked by said first binary-level signal.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 140 words

An automated method for aligning first and second pulse signals in relation to each other where the second pulse signal is generated at a substantially fixed time delay after a reference trigger signal, comprising the steps of: providing a variable time delay means for varying the time delay between said trigger signal and said first pulse signal and for setting said time delay in response to a time delay parameter; generating a coincidence signal indicating when said first pulse signal is in coincidence with said second pulse signal; in an interative process, stepping said time delay means through a plurality of time delays while monitoring said coincidence signal to find the time delay parameter resulting in the coincidence of said first pulse signal and said second pulse signal; and supplying said time delay parameter to said variable time delay means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 140 words

An automated method for aligning first and second pulse signals in relation to each other where the second pulse signal is generated at a substantially fixed time delay after a reference trigger signal, comprising the steps of: providing a variable time delay means for varying the time delay between said trigger signal and said first pulse signal and for setting said time delay in response to a time delay parameter; generating a coincidence signal indicating when said first pulse signal is in coincidence with said second pulse signal; in an interative process, stepping said time delay means through a plurality of time delays while monitoring said coincidence signal to find the time delay parameter resulting in the coincidence of said first pulse signal and said second pulse signal; and supplying said time delay parameter to said variable time delay means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-08-10	1991-02-09	1991-08-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-08-10	1995-02-09	1995-08-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-08-10	1999-02-09	1999-08-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Pulse alignment system

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