US5056068A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for detecting sharp signal variations against ambient signals
Assignee: AccuSport International Inc
•
Filing: 1990-02-05
•
Granted: 1991-10-08
•
Expires: 2010-02-05
Abstract
Abstract For detecting a quickly or sharply varying signal (the event) against a background of a more slowly changing ambient signal (the background), the envelope detector inputs the signal and full wave rectifies it. It sends the signal to the background filter and event filter, each of which includes an RC circuit. The background filter and event filter each independently process the signal to be evaluated in different manners based on the intrinsic frequency characteristics of the event signal, and of the background signal. The outputs of the two filter sections are sent to the decision section. Based on its processing, the decision section outputs a signal in one of two states, one corresponding to detection, and the other corresponding to non-detection.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph W. Barnes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:52
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/523; G01S7/526; G01S7/527; G01S7/02; G01S7/28; G01S7/285; G01S7/292; A; A63; A63B; A63B71/00; A63B71/06; A63B71/0605; A63B2071/0611; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
An apparatus for detecting an event against background in an input time varying signal having an input time coordinate, which comprises: a) envelope detector means for receiving the input signal and providing equivalent first and second envelope detector outputs in response thereto; b) background filter means for inputting the first envelope detector output and providing a background filter output responsive thereto; c) event filter means for inputting the second envelope detector output and providing an event filter output responsive thereto, the background filter means and the event filter means independently providing a background filter output and an event filter output, and the background filter output and event filter output differing in response to at least one particular input signal; d) decision means for making a comparison between a background filter base reference responsive to the background filter output and an event filter base reference responsive to the event filter output, and providing an output signal having an output signal time coordinate related to the input signal being in either a detection state or a non-detection state, but not both, in response to the background filter base reference and the event filter base reference.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
193 words
An apparatus for detecting an event against background in an input time varying signal having an input time coordinate, which comprises: a) envelope detector means for receiving the input signal and providing equivalent first and second envelope detector outputs in response thereto; b) background filter means for inputting the first envelope detector output and providing a background filter output responsive thereto; c) event filter means for inputting the second envelope detector output and providing an event filter output responsive thereto, the background filter means and the event filter means independently providing a background filter output and an event filter output, and the background filter output and event filter output differing in response to at least one particular input signal; d) decision means for making a comparison between a background filter base reference responsive to the background filter output and an event filter base reference responsive to the event filter output, and providing an output signal having an output signal time coordinate related to the input signal being in either a detection state or a non-detection state, but not both, in response to the background filter base reference and the event filter base reference.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the background filter means and the event filter means cause said outputs to differ in response to an envelope detector output indicative of an event which is quickly or sharply varying in comparison with the background.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the background filter means further include a means for providing a background filter output responsive to the frequency components of the first envelope detector output, and the event filter means further include a means for providing an event filter output responsive to the frequency components of the second envelope detector output.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the input signal is a time varying electric analog signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the envelope detector further includes means for providing an envelope of the input signal in the first and second envelope detector outputs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the event filter base reference is always of an amplitude at least as great as the background filter base reference.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the background filter base reference is always of an amplitude at least as great as the event filter base reference.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the background filter means has an RC circuit, the event filter means has an RC circuit, and the RC time constant for the background filter means is greater than the RC time constant for the event filter means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the output signal is in the detection state in response to the event filter base reference being of greater amplitude than the amplitude of the background filter base reference plus a threshold, and is in the non-detection state otherwise.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the output signal is in the detection state in response to the background filter base reference being of amplitude greater than the amplitude of the event filter base reference plus a threshold, and is in the non-detection state otherwise.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the event filter base reference is based on an average value of the event filter output.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the background filter base reference is based on an average value of the background filter output.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the event filter base reference is based on an average value of event filter output and the background filter base reference is based on an average value of background filter output.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the event filter base reference is based on an average value of the event filter output.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the background filter base reference is based on an average value of the background filter output.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the event filter base reference is based on an average value of event filter output and the background filter base reference is based on an average value of background filter output.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the event filter base reference is based on the maximum value of the event filter output.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the background filter base reference is based on the maximum value of the background filter output.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the event filter base reference is based on the maximum value of the event filter output and the background filter base reference is based on the maximum value of the background filter output.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the event filter base reference is based on the minimum value of the event filter output.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the background filter base reference is based on the minimum value of the background filter output.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the event filter base reference is based on the minimum value of the event filter output and the background filter base reference is based on the minimum value of the background filter output.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the event filter base reference is instantly responsive to the event filter output and the background filter base reference is instantly responsive to the background filter output.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 where in event filter base reference is instantly responsive to the event filter output and the background filter base reference is instantly responsive to the background filter output.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 23 wherein all means are instantly responsive and the output signal time coordinate is equivalent to the input signal time coordinate.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
77 words
An apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the input signal is a time varying electric analog signal, the envelope detector further includes means for providing an envelope of the input signal in the first and second envelope detector output, the background filter means has an RC circuit, the event filter means has an RC circuit, and the RC time constant for the background filter means is greater than the RC time constant for the event filter means.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for detecting an event against background in a time varying input signal having an input signal time coordinate, which comprises: a) receiving the input signal and providing equivalent first and second envelope detector outputs in response thereto; b) filtering the first envelope detector output with a background filter and providing a background filter output responsive thereto; c) filtering the second envelope detector output with an event filter and providing an event filter output responsive thereto, the background filtering step and the event filtering step independently providing a background filter output and an event filter output, and the background filter output and event filter output differing in response to at least one particular input signal; d) comparing a background filter base reference responsive to the background filter output and an event filter base reference responsive to the event filter output, and providing an output signal having an output signal time coordinate related to the input signal time coordinate, the output signal being in either a detection state or a non-detection state, but not both, in response to the background filter base reference and the event filter base reference.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for detecting an event against background in a time varying input signal having an input signal time coordinate, which comprises: a) receiving the input signal and providing equivalent first and second envelope detector outputs in response thereto; b) filtering the first envelope detector output with a background filter and providing a background filter output responsive thereto; c) filtering the second envelope detector output with an event filter and providing an event filter output responsive thereto, the background filtering step and the event filtering step independently providing a background filter output and an event filter output, and the background filter output and event filter output differing in response to at least one particular input signal; d) comparing a background filter base reference responsive to the background filter output and an event filter base reference responsive to the event filter output, and providing an output signal having an output signal time coordinate related to the input signal time coordinate, the output signal being in either a detection state or a non-detection state, but not both, in response to the background filter base reference and the event filter base reference.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 27 wherein receiving step includes receiving an input signal which includes a component indicative of an event which is quickly or sharply varying in comparison to the background.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to claim 28 wherein the background filtering step further includes a step of providing a background filter output responsive to the frequency components of the first envelope detector output, and the event filtering step further includes a step of providing an event filter output responsive to the frequency components of the second envelope detector output.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 29 wherein the input signal is a time varying electric analog signal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 30 wherein the receiving step further includes providing an envelope of the input signal in the first and second envelope detector output.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 29 wherein the event filter base reference is always of an amplitude at least as great as the background filter base reference.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 29 wherein the background filter base reference is always of an amplitude at least as great as the event filter base reference.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 29 wherein the background filtering step includes filtering with a background RC time constant, the event filtering step includes filtering with an event RC time constant and the background RC time constant is greater than the event RC time constant.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 32 wherein the output signal is in the detection state in response to the event filter base reference being of greater amplitude than the amplitude of the background filter base reference plus a threshold, and is in the non-detection state otherwise.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 33 where in the output signal is in the detection state in response to the background filter base response being of amplitude greater than the amplitude of the event filter base reference plus a threshold, and is in the non-detection state otherwise.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein the event filter base reference is based on an average value of the event filter output.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein the background filter base reference is based on an average value of the background filter output.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein the event filter base reference is based on an average value of event filter output and the background filter base reference is based on an average value of the base filter output.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 36 wherein the background filter base reference is based on the maximum value of background filter output.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 36 wherein the event filter base reference is based on the maximum value of the event filter output and the background filter base reference is based on the maximum value of the background filter output.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 36 wherein the event filter base reference is based on the minimum value of the event filter output.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein the event filter base reference is based on the maximum value of the event filter output.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein the background filter base reference is based on the maximum value of background filter output.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein the event filter base reference is based on the maximum value of the event filter output and the background filter base reference is based on the maximum value of the background filter output.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 36 wherein the event filter base reference is based on the maximum value of the event filter output.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 36 wherein the background filter base reference is based on the minimum value of the background filter output.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 36 wherein the event filter base reference is based on the minimum value of the event filter output and the background filter base reference is based on the minimum value of the background filter output.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein the event filter base reference is instantly responsive to the event filter output and the background filter base reference is instantly responsive to the background filter output.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 36 wherein the event filter base reference is instantly responsive to the event filter output and the background filter base reference is instantly responsive to the background filter output.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 49 wherein all steps are instantly responsive and the output signal time coordinate is equivalent to the input signal time coordinate.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method according to claim 51 wherein the input signal is a time varying electric analog signal, and the receiving step further includes providing an envelope of the input signal in the first and second envelope detector output, the background filtering step includes filtering with a background RC time constant, the event filtering step includes filtering with an event RC time constant, and the background RC time constant is greater than the event RC time constant.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3641267A
Cited
US4006907A
Cited
US3975672A
Cited
US4074325A
Cited
US4195335A
Cited
US4305142A
Cited
US4322828A
Cited
US4409473A
Cited
WO1987005706A1
Cited
US4847817A
Cited
US4898388A
Cited
US4889388A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-07 | 1995-04-08 | 1995-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-07 | 1999-04-08 | 1999-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-07 | 2003-04-08 | 2003-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |