Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
A signal converter comprising: (a) an operational amplifier having an inverting input, a noninverting input and an output, a scaled signal corresponding to a measured voltage level and an auxiliary signal coupled to the noninverting input of the operational amplifier; (b) an integrator having an input and an output, the output of the integrator being coupled to the inverting input of the operational amplifier as a correction signal; (c) a first lowpass filter having an input and an output, the input coupled to the output of the operational amplifier; (d) a first summing point coupled to the input of the integrator and to the output of the first lowpass filter; (e) a second lowpass filter having an input and an output, the input coupled to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier and the output coupled to the first summing point; (f) a second summing point, having first and second inputs and an output, a signal to be converted being coupled to the first input and the output being the scaled signal coupled to the non-inverting input and of the operational amplifier; (g) a sign circuit having an input an output indicative of the sign of the signal to be converted, the input coupled to the first input of the second summing point; (h) a gain selection circuit having an input and an output, the input being a signal indicative of a measuring range; and (i) an amplifier circuit having first, second and third inputs and an output, the output coupled to the second input of the second summing point, the first input coupled to the output of the gain selection circuit, the second input coupled to the output of the sign circuit and the third input coupled to a reference signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
A signal converter comprising: (a) an operational amplifier having an inverting input, a noninverting input and an output, a scaled signal corresponding to a measured voltage level and an auxiliary signal coupled to the noninverting input of the operational amplifier; (b) an integrator having an input and an output, the output of the integrator being coupled to the inverting input of the operational amplifier as a correction signal; (c) a first lowpass filter having an input and an output, the input coupled to the output of the operational amplifier; (d) a first summing point coupled to the input of the integrator and to the output of the first lowpass filter; (e) a second lowpass filter having an input and an output, the input coupled to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier and the output coupled to the first summing point; (f) a second summing point, having first and second inputs and an output, a signal to be converted being coupled to the first input and the output being the scaled signal coupled to the non-inverting input and of the operational amplifier; (g) a sign circuit having an input an output indicative of the sign of the signal to be converted, the input coupled to the first input of the second summing point; (h) a gain selection circuit having an input and an output, the input being a signal indicative of a measuring range; and (i) an amplifier circuit having first, second and third inputs and an output, the output coupled to the second input of the second summing point, the first input coupled to the output of the gain selection circuit, the second input coupled to the output of the sign circuit and the third input coupled to a reference signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A signal converter according to claim 1, wherein time constants for the first and second lowpass filters have the same magnitude.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A signal converter according to claim 1, the output of the operational amplifier being coupled to a first input of a microprocessor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Signal converter according to claim 3, the microprocessor having a second input, a reference signal being coupled to the second input of the microprocessor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A signal converter according to claim 3, the measuring range input signal to the gain selection circuit being provided by the microprocessor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
165 words
In a signal converter comprising an operational amplifier having an inverting input, a non-inverting input and an output, the input signal to the non-inverting input being an actual signal to be converted, means coupled to the output of the operational amplifier for providing a correctional signal input to the inverting input of the operational amplifier comprising: (a) a first lowpass filter coupled to the output of the operational amplifier; (b) a second lowpass filter coupled to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier; (c) a first summing point having an output and first and second inputs coupled to the first and second lowpass filters respectively for comparing a mean signal value output of the first lowpass filter with an analog signal value output of the second lowpass filter; and (d) an integrator coupled to the inverting input of the operational amplifier and to the output of the first summing point, the integrator providing the correction signal input to the inverting input of the operational amplifier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
165 words
In a signal converter comprising an operational amplifier having an inverting input, a non-inverting input and an output, the input signal to the non-inverting input being an actual signal to be converted, means coupled to the output of the operational amplifier for providing a correctional signal input to the inverting input of the operational amplifier comprising: (a) a first lowpass filter coupled to the output of the operational amplifier; (b) a second lowpass filter coupled to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier; (c) a first summing point having an output and first and second inputs coupled to the first and second lowpass filters respectively for comparing a mean signal value output of the first lowpass filter with an analog signal value output of the second lowpass filter; and (d) an integrator coupled to the inverting input of the operational amplifier and to the output of the first summing point, the integrator providing the correction signal input to the inverting input of the operational amplifier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
162 words
In a signal converter comprising an operational amplifier having an inverting input, a non-inverting input and an output, means coupled between the non-inverting input and the output of the operational amplifier for scaling a signal input to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier, the scaling means comprising: (a) a microprocessor coupled to the output of the operational amplifier for sampling the output of the operational amplifier, comparing the sampled value with a reference signal value, and providing an output signal indicative of a measuring range; (b) a gain selection circuit coupled to the output signal of the microprocessor; (c) an amplifier coupled to the gain selection circuit and to a reference signal input for providing a scaling signal output; and (d) a summing point having a first input being the signal to be scaled, a second input being the scaling signal output of the amplifier, and an output being the scaled signal input to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
162 words
In a signal converter comprising an operational amplifier having an inverting input, a non-inverting input and an output, means coupled between the non-inverting input and the output of the operational amplifier for scaling a signal input to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier, the scaling means comprising: (a) a microprocessor coupled to the output of the operational amplifier for sampling the output of the operational amplifier, comparing the sampled value with a reference signal value, and providing an output signal indicative of a measuring range; (b) a gain selection circuit coupled to the output signal of the microprocessor; (c) an amplifier coupled to the gain selection circuit and to a reference signal input for providing a scaling signal output; and (d) a summing point having a first input being the signal to be scaled, a second input being the scaling signal output of the amplifier, and an output being the scaled signal input to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for scaling a signal input to a signal converter, the signal converter for converting the input signal to a pulse width modulated output signal coupled to a first input of a microprocessor, the scaling method including the steps of: sampling the pulse width modulated output signal at a predetermined frequency to determine a signal value; comparing the signal value result of the sampling with a reference signal value; calculating an actual signal value measuring range from the result of the comparison; providing an output signal indicative of the actual signal value measuring range to a gain selection circuit for an amplifier; establishing a scaling level at the output of the amplifier responsive to the gain selection circuit; and scaling the signal input to the signal converter responsive to the scaling level output of the amplifier.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for scaling a signal input to a signal converter, the signal converter for converting the input signal to a pulse width modulated output signal coupled to a first input of a microprocessor, the scaling method including the steps of: sampling the pulse width modulated output signal at a predetermined frequency to determine a signal value; comparing the signal value result of the sampling with a reference signal value; calculating an actual signal value measuring range from the result of the comparison; providing an output signal indicative of the actual signal value measuring range to a gain selection circuit for an amplifier; establishing a scaling level at the output of the amplifier responsive to the gain selection circuit; and scaling the signal input to the signal converter responsive to the scaling level output of the amplifier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method for operating a signal converter according to claim 8 wherein the step of calculating an actual signal value measuring range when the reference signal value and the signal value are both large includes setting an actual signal value measuring range at the gain selection circuit corresponding to the reference signal value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method for operating a signal converter according to claim 8 wherein the step of calculating a signal value measuring range when the reference signal and the actual signal are both large when referred to a maximum measuring range includes setting an actual signal value measuring range at the gain selection circuit corresponding to the reference signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
87 words
In a signal converter comprising means for converting an input signal to a pulse width modulated output signal, a method of scaling the input signal to the signal converter including the steps of: (a) sampling the pulse width modulated output signal at a predetermined frequency resulting in a signal value; (b) comparing the signal value result of the sampling with a reference signal value; (c) establishing a scaling level responsive to the comparison; and (d) substracting the scaling level from the input signal to the signal converter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
87 words
In a signal converter comprising means for converting an input signal to a pulse width modulated output signal, a method of scaling the input signal to the signal converter including the steps of: (a) sampling the pulse width modulated output signal at a predetermined frequency resulting in a signal value; (b) comparing the signal value result of the sampling with a reference signal value; (c) establishing a scaling level responsive to the comparison; and (d) substracting the scaling level from the input signal to the signal converter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
The scaling method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of: determining the sign of the input signal; and in the event of a negative input signal, establishing a negative scaling level such that a negative scaling level is subtracted from the negative input signal obtaining a less negative input signal to the signal converter.