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US4937670A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Peak detector with feedback

Assignee: RCA Licensing Corp
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Filing: 1989-07-14
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Granted: 1990-06-26
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Expires: 2009-07-14
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Abstract

Abstract A very fast peak detector having feedback is presented. A first device charges a storage capacitor to a voltage proportional to the peak voltage of an incoming signal. A second device coupled to the first device in a feedback configuration further charges the storage capacitor with a charging current in addition to the charging current provided by the first device for more rapidly charging the storage capacitor to said voltage proportional to the peak voltage of a low duty cycle short duration incoming pulse. This detector is particularly applicable to a video system having peak luminance detection requirements.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gary A. Whitledge

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 20:45
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/57; H04N5/14

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 214 words
A peak detector for detection of the peak amplitude of an incoming signal comprising: a first transistor of a first polarity type having a first base for receiving the incoming signal, a first emitter, and a first collector, a storage capacitor coupled to the first emitter for receiving a first charging current from the first emitter for charging to a voltage proportional to the peak voltage of the incoming signal, a portion of the first charging current flowing through the first collector, a load coupled to the first collector, a second transistor of a second polarity type complementary to the first polarity type of the first transistor and having a second base, a second emitter, and a second collector, the second base coupled to the first collector for sensing the amplitude of the current flowing through the first collector, and the second collector coupled to the storage capacitor for further charging the storage capacitor to said voltage proportional to the peak voltage of the incoming signal with a second charging current in addition to the first charging current provided to the storage capacitor by the first transistor, and a parasitic oscillation prevention means coupled to at least one of the load, the second base and second emitter, the second emitter, and the second base.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 214 words
A peak detector for detection of the peak amplitude of an incoming signal comprising: a first transistor of a first polarity type having a first base for receiving the incoming signal, a first emitter, and a first collector, a storage capacitor coupled to the first emitter for receiving a first charging current from the first emitter for charging to a voltage proportional to the peak voltage of the incoming signal, a portion of the first charging current flowing through the first collector, a load coupled to the first collector, a second transistor of a second polarity type complementary to the first polarity type of the first transistor and having a second base, a second emitter, and a second collector, the second base coupled to the first collector for sensing the amplitude of the current flowing through the first collector, and the second collector coupled to the storage capacitor for further charging the storage capacitor to said voltage proportional to the peak voltage of the incoming signal with a second charging current in addition to the first charging current provided to the storage capacitor by the first transistor, and a parasitic oscillation prevention means coupled to at least one of the load, the second base and second emitter, the second emitter, and the second base.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 44 words
The peak detector of claim 1 wherein the first base of the first transistor is direct coupled to an incoming signal source and the amplitude of the voltage developed at the storage capacitor includes the amplitude of the DC level of the incoming signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 41 words
The peak detector of claim 1 wherein the first base of the first transistor is AC coupled to an incoming signal source and the amplitude of the voltage developed at the storage capacitor excludes the DC level of the incoming signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
The peak detector of claim 1 further comprising a discharge path coupled across the storage capacitor, said discharge path having a discharge time constant longer than the charge time constant for the storage capacitor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
The peak detector of claim 4 wherein the discharge path comprises an input impedance of an emitter follower for outputting the detected peak voltage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
The detector of claim 1 wherein the load comprises at least one of a diode, a resistor, and an inductance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 255 words
A video system having a peak detector comprising: a signal processing means for receiving a video signal and processing the signal, said signal including contrast display information, and a means for processing the contrast display information for controlling the maximum luminance intensity of a portion of the signal, said means including a peak detector comprising: a first transistor of a first polarity type having a first base for receiving the incoming signal, a first emitter, and a first collector, a storage capacitor coupled to the first emitter for receiving a first charging current from the first emitter for charging to a voltage proportional to the peak voltage of the incoming signal, a portion of the first charging current flowing through the first collector, a load coupled to the first collector, a second transistor of a second polarity type complementary to the first polarity type of the first transistor and having a second base, a second emitter, and a second collector, the second base coupled to the first collector for sensing the amplitude of the current flowing through the first collector, and the second collector coupled to the storage capacitor for further charging the storage capacitor to said voltage proportional to the peak voltage of the incoming signal with a second charging current in addition to the first charging current provided to the storage capacitor by the first transistor, and a parasitic oscillation prevention means coupled to at least one of the load, the second base and second emitter, the second emitter, and the second base.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 255 words
A video system having a peak detector comprising: a signal processing means for receiving a video signal and processing the signal, said signal including contrast display information, and a means for processing the contrast display information for controlling the maximum luminance intensity of a portion of the signal, said means including a peak detector comprising: a first transistor of a first polarity type having a first base for receiving the incoming signal, a first emitter, and a first collector, a storage capacitor coupled to the first emitter for receiving a first charging current from the first emitter for charging to a voltage proportional to the peak voltage of the incoming signal, a portion of the first charging current flowing through the first collector, a load coupled to the first collector, a second transistor of a second polarity type complementary to the first polarity type of the first transistor and having a second base, a second emitter, and a second collector, the second base coupled to the first collector for sensing the amplitude of the current flowing through the first collector, and the second collector coupled to the storage capacitor for further charging the storage capacitor to said voltage proportional to the peak voltage of the incoming signal with a second charging current in addition to the first charging current provided to the storage capacitor by the first transistor, and a parasitic oscillation prevention means coupled to at least one of the load, the second base and second emitter, the second emitter, and the second base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 44 words
The video system of claim 7 wherein the first base of the first transistor is direct coupled to an incoming signal source and the amplitude of the voltage developed at the storage capacitor includes the amplitude of the DC level of the incoming signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 41 words
The video system of claim 7 wherein the first base of the first transistor is AC coupled to an incoming signal source and the amplitude of the voltage developed at the storage capacitor excludes the DC level of the incoming signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 34 words
The video system of claim 7 further comprising a discharge path connected across the storage capacitor, said discharge path having a discharge time constant longer than the charge time constant for the storage capacitor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 23 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the discharge path comprises an input impedance of an emitter follower for outputting the detected peak voltage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 21 words
The video system of claim 7 wherein the load comprises at least one of a diode, a resistor, and an inductance.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3914545A Cited
US4212032A Cited
US4216502A Cited
US4599643A Cited
US4751577A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-06-25 1993-12-25 1994-06-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-06-25 1997-12-25 1998-06-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-06-25 2001-12-25 2002-06-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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