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US4749879A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Signal transition detection method and system

Assignee: Datalogic Scanning Inc
•
Filing: 1987-06-18
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Granted: 1988-06-07
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Expires: 2007-06-18
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Abstract

Abstract A system and method are provided for determining the occurrence of transitions in a binary encoded analog input signal. The system includes a threshold circuit, responsive to the input signal, for generating first and second grating signals in dependence upon whether the input signal exceeds or is less than a first threshold level, respectively. A first circuit means, responsive to the input signal, differentiates the input signal to form a first derivative signal. A threshold circuit, responsive to the first derivative signal, generates third and fourth gating signals in dependence upon whether the first derivative signal exceeds a second threshold level or is less than a third threshold level, respectively. A second circuit means, responsive to the first derivative signal, differentiates the first derivative signal to form a second derivative signal. The second derivative signal has zero crossings which are detected by a zero crossing means, responsive to the second derivative signal and to the first, second, third and fourth gating signals.

Inventors

  • 👤 Donald S. Peterson
  • 👤 Andrew P. Taussig

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 06:45
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K5/00; H03K5/153; H03K5/1534

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 133 words
A method for determining the occurrence of transitions in a binary encoded analog input signal, comprising the steps of: generating first and second gating signals in dependence upon whether said input signal exceeds or is less than a first threshold level, respectively, differentiating said input signal to form a first derivative signal, generating third and fourth gating signals in dependence upon whether said first derivative signal exceeds a second threshold level or is less than a third threshold level, respectively, differentiating said first derivative signal to form a second derivative signal, said second derivative signal having zero crossings, and detecting said zero crossings during the simultaneous generation of said first and third gating signals and during the simultaneous generation of said second and fourth gating signals, thereby determining transitions in said input signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 133 words
A method for determining the occurrence of transitions in a binary encoded analog input signal, comprising the steps of: generating first and second gating signals in dependence upon whether said input signal exceeds or is less than a first threshold level, respectively, differentiating said input signal to form a first derivative signal, generating third and fourth gating signals in dependence upon whether said first derivative signal exceeds a second threshold level or is less than a third threshold level, respectively, differentiating said first derivative signal to form a second derivative signal, said second derivative signal having zero crossings, and detecting said zero crossings during the simultaneous generation of said first and third gating signals and during the simultaneous generation of said second and fourth gating signals, thereby determining transitions in said input signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of claim 1 in which the step of generating first and second gating signals includes the step of adjusting said first threshold level in dependence upon the level of said analog input signal over a period of time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 52 words
The method of claim 1 in which the step of detecting said zero crossings includes the step of gating said second derivative signal through a zero crossing detector circuit upon the simultaneous occurrence of said first and third gating signals or upon the simultaneous occurrence of said second and fourth gating signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 1 in which said first, second, and third threshold levels are D.C. threshold levels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 4 in which said second and third threshold levels are of opposite polarity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of claim 5 in which said second and third threshold levels are adjusted in dependence upon the level of said input signal over a period of time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 6 in which said second and third threshold levels are adjusted in dependence upon the level of said first derivative signal over a period of time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of amplifying said input signal prior to differentiating said input signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of filtering said input signal after said input signal is amplified and before said input signal is differentiated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 64 words
The method of claim 1 in which zero crossings of said second derivative signal during the simultaneous generation of said first and third gating signals indicate low to high transitions of said input signal, and in which zero crossings of said second derivative signal during the simultaneous generation of said second and fourth gating signals indicate high to low transitions of said input signal.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 193 words
A system for determining the occurrence of transitions in a binary encoded analog input signal, comprising: first threshold means, responsive to said input signal, for generating first and second gating signals in dependence upon whether said input signal exceeds or is less than a first threshold level, respectively, first circuit means, responsive to said input signal, for differentiating said input signal to form a first derivative signal, second threshold means, responsive to said first derivative signal, for generating third and fourth gating signals in dependence upon whether said first derivative signal exceeds a second threshold level or is less than a third threshold level, respectively, second circuit means, responsive to said first derivative signal, for differentiating said first derivative signal to form a second derivative signal, said second derivative signal having zero crossings, and zero crossing means, responsive to said second derivative signal and to said first, second, third and fourth gating signals, for detecting said zero crossings of said second derivative signal during the simultaneous receipt of said first and third gating signals and during the simultaneous receipt of said second and fourth gating signals, thereby determining transitions in said input signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 193 words
A system for determining the occurrence of transitions in a binary encoded analog input signal, comprising: first threshold means, responsive to said input signal, for generating first and second gating signals in dependence upon whether said input signal exceeds or is less than a first threshold level, respectively, first circuit means, responsive to said input signal, for differentiating said input signal to form a first derivative signal, second threshold means, responsive to said first derivative signal, for generating third and fourth gating signals in dependence upon whether said first derivative signal exceeds a second threshold level or is less than a third threshold level, respectively, second circuit means, responsive to said first derivative signal, for differentiating said first derivative signal to form a second derivative signal, said second derivative signal having zero crossings, and zero crossing means, responsive to said second derivative signal and to said first, second, third and fourth gating signals, for detecting said zero crossings of said second derivative signal during the simultaneous receipt of said first and third gating signals and during the simultaneous receipt of said second and fourth gating signals, thereby determining transitions in said input signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 34 words
The system of claim 11 in which said first threshold means includes means for adjusting said first threshold level in dependence upon the level of said analog input signal over a period of time.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 58 words
The system of claim 11 in which said zero crossing means includes a zero crossing detector circuit, a first coincidence gate for enabling said detector circuit upon the simultaneous occurrence of said first and third gating signals, and a second coincidence gate for enabling said detector circuit upon the simultaneous occurrence of said second and fourth gating signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system of claim 11 in which said first, second, and third threshold levels are D.C. threshold levels.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 17 words
The system of claim 14 in which said second and third threshold levels are of opposite polarity.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 41 words
The system of claim 15 in which said second threshold means is responsive to said input signal such that said second and third threshold levels are adjusted in dependence upon the level of said input signal over a period of time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 43 words
The system of claim 16 in which said second threshold means is responsive to said first derivative signal such that said second and third threshold levels are adjusted in dependence upon the level of said first derivative signal over a period of time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system of claim 11 further comprising preamplifier means for amplifying said input signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 34 words
The system of claim 18 further comprising low pass filter means, responsive to said preamplifier means, for filtering said input signal after said input signal is amplified and before said input signal is differentiated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 64 words
The system of claim 11 in which zero crossings of said second derivative signal during the simultaneous generation of said first and third gating signals indicate low to high transitions of said input signal, and in which zero crossings of said second derivative signal during the simultaneous generation of said second and fourth gating signals indicate high to low transitions of said input signal.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3892949A Cited
US4000397A Cited
US4131857A Cited
US4697098A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-06-07 1991-12-07 1992-06-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-06-07 1995-12-07 1996-06-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-06-07 1999-12-07 2000-06-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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