US3573618A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solid-state characteristic curve tracer attachment for oscilloscopes
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-05-27
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Granted: 1971-04-06
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Expires: 1988-05-27
Abstract
Abstract An all solid-state attachment unit for various types of standard oscilloscopes to enable them to perform the functions of a characteristic curve tracer for solid-state devices. The attachment may be modular, constructed as a plug-in unit for certain types of standard oscilloscopes so as to make use of available power, electronic capability, and display contained within such oscilloscopes, or it may be similar but containing a plug-in facility for a power supply auxiliary to those contained within the oscilloscope, so it can be used with certain other types of standard oscilloscopes not providing all the required power supplies, or it may be a completely separate console adapted for plug-in connection with a power source and with the vertical and horizontal amplifier inputs, respectively, of various other types of standard oscilloscopes that are not constructed to receive plug-in units. When connected with a standard oscilloscope, the attachment unit of the invention in effect constitutes an integral part of the oscilloscope and provides augmented capability therefor, so as to make possible the visual display of characteristics of solid-state devices undergoing test.
Inventors
- 👤 William G Dilley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:50
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/26; G01R31/2607; G01R13/00; G01R13/20; G01R13/208; G01R13/22; G01R31/2601; G01R31/2603
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A solid-state, characteristic curve tracer attachment for oscilloscopes, comprising: means for generating a staircase waveform, said means including an isolation transformer for stepping down line voltage to a relatively low voltage sine wave, a differential amplifier having positive feedback for converting the low voltage sine wave to a square wave, a differentiator for converting the square wave to a pulse train, and means for converting said pulse train to a staircase waveform; means for applying said waveform to a test device to produce a resultant waveform; means for converting said resultant waveform tO horizontal and vertical waveforms suitable for feeding to the horizontal and vertical terminals, respectively, of an oscilloscope; respective means for feeding said horizontal and vertical waveforms to the horizontal and vertical terminals, respectively, of an oscilloscope; means for supplying power to said test device; n means for b, power to Jstaircase waveform generating means; and means, including polarity selecting means, for supplying power to the staircase waveform applying means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A solid-state, characteristic curve tracer attachment for oscilloscopes, comprising: means for generating a staircase waveform, said means including an isolation transformer for stepping down line voltage to a relatively low voltage sine wave, a differential amplifier having positive feedback for converting the low voltage sine wave to a square wave, a differentiator for converting the square wave to a pulse train, and means for converting said pulse train to a staircase waveform; means for applying said waveform to a test device to produce a resultant waveform; means for converting said resultant waveform tO horizontal and vertical waveforms suitable for feeding to the horizontal and vertical terminals, respectively, of an oscilloscope; respective means for feeding said horizontal and vertical waveforms to the horizontal and vertical terminals, respectively, of an oscilloscope; means for supplying power to said test device; n means for b, power to Jstaircase waveform generating means; and means, including polarity selecting means, for supplying power to the staircase waveform applying means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
An attachment for oscilloscopes Jrecited in claim 1, wherein: K81 the means for applying the staircase waveform to the test device comprises a pair of complementary emitter followers connected in series, means supplying a plurality of resistors for selective connection with said followers to produce a current output, and means for connecting said current output to the test device in appropriate polarity; and wherein the polarity selecting means of the means for supplying power to the staircase waveform applying means is a multiple-acting electronic switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
An attachment for oscilloscopes as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for converting the resultant waveform to horizontal and vertical waveforms comprises means supplying a plurality of resistors for selectively connecting the power supplying means for the test device to said test device and to the vertical waveform feeding means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An attachment for oscilloscopes as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for feeding the vertical waveform to the vertical terminal of an oscilloscope includes a vertical amplifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
An attachment for oscilloscopes as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for supplying power to the test device, comprises a pair of DC power supplies, electronic means for controlling one of said DC power supplies, and means for adding the other of said DC power supplies to the electronically controlled power supply.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An attachment for oscilloscopes as recited in claim 5, wherein the electronic controlling means comprises a cascaded emitter follower, and voltage adjusting means arranged to drive said emitter follower.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
An attachment for oscilloscopes as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for supplying power to the staircase waveform generating means also constitutes the polarity selecting means of the power supplying means for the staircase waveform applying means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
An attachment for oscilloscopes as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for supplying power to the staircase waveform generating means also constitutes the power supply for the staircase waveform applying means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
An attachment for oscilloscopes as recited in claim 8, wherein the means for supplying power to the staircase waveform generating means comprises a static DC power supply including Zener diode means arranged to regulate and to switch the applied DC voltage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
An attachment for oscilloscopes as recited in claim 1, wherein the several components are mounted within a supporting structure constructed to be plugged into a plug-in type of oscilloscope.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3076140A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-05 | 1974-10-05 | 1975-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-05 | 1978-10-05 | 1979-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-05 | 1982-10-05 | 1983-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |