US4928102A — Flash analog-to-digital converter with logarithmi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 131 words

In combination, a member provided with an electrically resistive material on one surface of the member, the member being defined by first and second side edges and top and bottom edges, means for providing a reference voltage on the resistive material along the first side edge of the member, means for providing an energizing voltage on the resistive material at the juncture between the top edge and the second side edge of the resistive material, and means for obtaining an output voltage at progressive positions along the second side edge of the resistive material the progressive positions at the second side edges of the resistive material being substantially equally spaced to provide a logarithmic relationship in the voltage at the progressive position with respect to the positions of such successive terminals.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 131 words

In combination, a member provided with an electrically resistive material on one surface of the member, the member being defined by first and second side edges and top and bottom edges, means for providing a reference voltage on the resistive material along the first side edge of the member, means for providing an energizing voltage on the resistive material at the juncture between the top edge and the second side edge of the resistive material, and means for obtaining an output voltage at progressive positions along the second side edge of the resistive material the progressive positions at the second side edges of the resistive material being substantially equally spaced to provide a logarithmic relationship in the voltage at the progressive position with respect to the positions of such successive terminals.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 47 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 1, means for providing an input voltage, and means for comparing the input voltage with the output voltage at the progressive positions along the second side edge of the resistive material to provide an indication of the input voltage.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 27 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 2, the reference voltage being an electrical ground and the energizing voltage being a voltage with a particular magnitude.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 78 words

In combination a member having a thin resistive film and having a plurality of terminals equally spaced from one another along one edge of the film, means for applying voltages to the thin film to obtain a logarithmic progression of voltages at successive terminals in the plurality with respect to the positions of such successive terminals, and means for calibrating the voltages produced at the successive terminals to determine any deviations in such voltages from the logarithmic progression.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 78 words

In combination a member having a thin resistive film and having a plurality of terminals equally spaced from one another along one edge of the film, means for applying voltages to the thin film to obtain a logarithmic progression of voltages at successive terminals in the plurality with respect to the positions of such successive terminals, and means for calibrating the voltages produced at the successive terminals to determine any deviations in such voltages from the logarithmic progression.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 90 words

In combination a substantially planar member having first and second opposite edges and having top and bottom edges, an electrically resistive material disposed on the surface of the planar member, a plurality of terminals at equally spaced positions along one of the side edges of the resistive material, and means for applying an energizing voltage to the resistive material to obtain voltages in a magnitude having a logarithmic relationship at the successive terminals along the side edge of the resistive material with respect to the positions of such successive terminals.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 90 words

In combination a substantially planar member having first and second opposite edges and having top and bottom edges, an electrically resistive material disposed on the surface of the planar member, a plurality of terminals at equally spaced positions along one of the side edges of the resistive material, and means for applying an energizing voltage to the resistive material to obtain voltages in a magnitude having a logarithmic relationship at the successive terminals along the side edge of the resistive material with respect to the positions of such successive terminals.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 5, the resistive material constituting a thin substantially uniform layer of an electrical resistance material on the member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 72 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 6, a plurality of comparators having first and second input terminals, means for applying an input signal to the first input terminal of each of the comparators, means for applying the voltage from each terminal on the resistive material to the second input terminal of an individual one of the comparators, and means for determining the input voltage from the outputs of the comparators.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 36 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 7, the voltage means applying the energizing voltage to the resistive material at a particular position relative to the terminals on the side edge of the resistive material.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 54 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 8, means for applying a ground voltage to the side edge of the resistive material opposite the side edge with the terminals, and the energizing voltage being applied to the corner of the resistive material adjacent the side edge of the resistive element with the terminals.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 29 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 5, means for applying a reference voltage to the side edge of the resistive material opposite the side with the terminals.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 128 words

In combination a member having an electrically resistive material on a defined big surface first and second opposite side edges and top and bottom edges, a plurality of terminals disposed at the first side edge of the electrically resistive material in equally spaced relationship to one another, means associated with the electrically resistive material for producing, at first successive terminals in the plurality, voltages having a logarithmic relationship with respect to the positions of such successive terminal, and means associated with the electrically resistive material for producing, at second successive terminals in the plurality, voltages having a linear relationship with respect to the positions of such second successive terminals, the second successive terminals on the member being displaced from the first successive terminals on the electrically resistive material.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 128 words

In combination a member having an electrically resistive material on a defined big surface first and second opposite side edges and top and bottom edges, a plurality of terminals disposed at the first side edge of the electrically resistive material in equally spaced relationship to one another, means associated with the electrically resistive material for producing, at first successive terminals in the plurality, voltages having a logarithmic relationship with respect to the positions of such successive terminal, and means associated with the electrically resistive material for producing, at second successive terminals in the plurality, voltages having a linear relationship with respect to the positions of such second successive terminals, the second successive terminals on the member being displaced from the first successive terminals on the electrically resistive material.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 49 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 11, means for applying a reference voltage to the second side edge of the electrically resistive surface at positions opposite the first successive terminals, and the second successive terminals being displaced from the first successive terminals and the reference voltage means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 36 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 12, means for applying the reference voltage to the particular one of the top and bottom edges of the electrically resistive, material close to the second successive terminals.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 34 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 13, the electrically resistive material on the member being in the form of a thin film having substantially constant characteristics at different positions across said material.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 49 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 12, the reference voltage means extending along the length of the second side edge of the electrically resistive material, and the second successive terminals being disposed at a particular one of the top and bottom edges of the electrically resistive material.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 42 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 13, means for applying an energizing voltage to the electrically resistive material at the juncture between the first side edge of the resistive material and the other one of the top and bottom edges.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 106 words

In combination a planar member defined by first and second side edges and top and bottom edges, a thin film of an electrically resistive material disposed substantially uniformly on the member, a plurality of terminals disposed on the member at the first side edge of the member in equally spaced relationship to one another and in electrical communication with the thin film of the electrically resistive material, and means for applying a voltage difference to the thin film of the electrically resistive material in a relationship to produce on the successive terminals voltages having a logarithmic relationship with respect to the positions of such successive terminals.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 106 words

In combination a planar member defined by first and second side edges and top and bottom edges, a thin film of an electrically resistive material disposed substantially uniformly on the member, a plurality of terminals disposed on the member at the first side edge of the member in equally spaced relationship to one another and in electrical communication with the thin film of the electrically resistive material, and means for applying a voltage difference to the thin film of the electrically resistive material in a relationship to produce on the successive terminals voltages having a logarithmic relationship with respect to the positions of such successive terminals.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 37 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 17, means associated with the successive terminals for calibrating the voltages produced on such terminals by the voltage difference applied to the thin film of the electrically conductive material.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 51 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 17, the voltage difference means applying the voltage difference between one of the side edges of the thin film and the juncture of the other side edge of the thin film with one of the top and bottom edges of the thin film.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 52 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 19, the second side edge of the thin film receiving a reference voltage, and means for applying an energizing voltage to the thin film at the juncture between the first side edge of the thin film and the top edge of the thin film.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 53 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 17, means for providing an input voltage, and a plurality of comparators each connected to the input voltage means and to an individual one of the successive terminals to co-operate with the other comparators in providing an indication of the value of the input voltage.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 148 words

In combination a planar member defined by first and second side edges and top and bottom edges, a thin film of an electrically resistive material disposed substantially uniformly on the member, a first plurality of terminals disposed on the thin film at the first side edge of the member in equally spaced relationship to one another and in electrical communication with the thin film of the electrically resistive material, means for applying a voltage between the first and second side edge of the thin film to obtain a logarithmic relationship of the voltages at the first successive terminals with respect to the positions of such first successive terminals, and second successive terminals disposed on the thin film relative to the first successive terminals film to obtain a linear relationship of the voltages at the second successive terminals with respect to the positions of the such second successive terminals.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 148 words

In combination a planar member defined by first and second side edges and top and bottom edges, a thin film of an electrically resistive material disposed substantially uniformly on the member, a first plurality of terminals disposed on the thin film at the first side edge of the member in equally spaced relationship to one another and in electrical communication with the thin film of the electrically resistive material, means for applying a voltage between the first and second side edge of the thin film to obtain a logarithmic relationship of the voltages at the first successive terminals with respect to the positions of such first successive terminals, and second successive terminals disposed on the thin film relative to the first successive terminals film to obtain a linear relationship of the voltages at the second successive terminals with respect to the positions of the such second successive terminals.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 29 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 22, the first successive terminals on the thin film providing higher voltages than the second successive terminals on the thin film.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 70 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 23, the second side edge of the thin film being grounded in the first portion of the thin film and a particular one of the top and bottom edges of the thin film closest to the second successive terminals being grounded and the first and second successive terminals being disposed at progressive positions on the first side edge of the thin film.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 51 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 24, means for applying an energizing voltage to the thin film at the juncture between the first side edge of the thin film and the particular one of the top and bottom edges of the thin film closest to the first successive terminals.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 44 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 25, the second side edge of the thin film being grounded along the second side edge and the second successive terminals being disposed at progressive positions along the other one of the top and bottom edges.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 57 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 23, means for providing an input voltage, and a plurality of comparators each responsive to the input voltage and to the voltage at an individual one of the terminals in the plurality for cooperating with the other comparators in providing an indication of the magnitude of the input voltage.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 78 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 27, the calibrating means including a capacitance, means for charging the capacitance, means for providing a discharge of the capacitance, and a plurality of comparators each responsive to the voltage on an individual one of the terminals and the voltage from the capacitance to provide a determination of any deviations from the logarithmic progression of the voltages at the successive terminals with respect to the positions of such successive terminals.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 56 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 28, switching means having first and second states of operation, the capacitance-charging means being operative to charge the capacitance in the first state of operation of the switching means, the capacitance-discharging means being operative to discharge the capacitance in the second state of operation of the switching means.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 69 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 29, the terminals being equally spaced along one edge of the thin film, the opposite edge of the thin film receiving a reference voltage, and means for applying an energizing voltage to a juncture on the thin film between the one edge of the thin film and a third edge extending between the first and second edges of the thin film.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 197 words

In combination a member having first and second oppositely disposed side edges and having top and bottom edges, the member having a substantially uniformly thin resistive film on one surface of the thin film and having a plurality of electrical terminals equally spaced from one another along the first side edge of the film, means for applying voltages between the first and second side edges of the thin film along the thin film between the top and bottom edges of the thin film to obtain a logarithmic relationship of the voltages at successive terminals in such thin film with respect to the positions of such successive terminals, means for calibrating the voltages on the thin film at the successive terminals in the plurality to determine any deviations from the logarithmic relationship, the other terminals being disposed on the thin film to obtain a linear relationship of the voltages at such other terminals with respect to the positions of such other terminals, and means for calibrating the voltages on the other terminals on the thin film to determine any deviations from the linear relationship of the voltages on such terminals with respect to the positions of such terminals.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 197 words

In combination a member having first and second oppositely disposed side edges and having top and bottom edges, the member having a substantially uniformly thin resistive film on one surface of the thin film and having a plurality of electrical terminals equally spaced from one another along the first side edge of the film, means for applying voltages between the first and second side edges of the thin film along the thin film between the top and bottom edges of the thin film to obtain a logarithmic relationship of the voltages at successive terminals in such thin film with respect to the positions of such successive terminals, means for calibrating the voltages on the thin film at the successive terminals in the plurality to determine any deviations from the logarithmic relationship, the other terminals being disposed on the thin film to obtain a linear relationship of the voltages at such other terminals with respect to the positions of such other terminals, and means for calibrating the voltages on the other terminals on the thin film to determine any deviations from the linear relationship of the voltages on such terminals with respect to the positions of such terminals.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 88 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 31, the calibrating means for the logarithmic relationship including a capacitance and means for providing a charge in the capacitance at first particular times and means for providing a discharge of the capacitance at second particular times different from the first particular times and means for comparing the voltage across the capacitance with the voltages on the successive terminals on the thin film at the second particular times to calibrate the voltages on the successive terminals on the thin film.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 33 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 32, the calibrating means for the linear relationship including the calibrating means for the logarithmic relationship and further including a source of substantially constant current.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 39 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 33 the other terminals being disposed on the first side edge of the thin film at positions displaced along the first side edge from the successive terminals on the thin film.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 31 words

In a combination as set forth in claim 33, the other terminals being disposed at progressive positions along a particular one of the top and bottom edges of the thin film.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-05-21	1993-11-20	1994-05-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-05-21	1997-11-20	1998-05-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-05-21	2001-11-20	2002-05-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Flash analog-to-digital converter with logarithmic/linear threshold voltages

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