Patent US3654312A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3622801A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pulse generator having adjustable threshold level
Assignee: HARNISCHLEGER CORP
•
Filing: 1970-02-12
•
Granted: 1971-11-23
•
Expires: 1990-02-12
Abstract
Abstract A pulse generator generates a pair of complementary pulse train output signals. The pulse generator includes input circuitry which provides the single pulse train signal and a bias signal. These signals are provided to an operational amplifier, the output signal of which alternately energizes a pair of current control devices. The magnitude of the bias signal is adjustable to alter the threshold level of the pulse generator.
Inventors
- 👤 David W Stone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:18
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/14; H03K5/00; H03K5/01; H03K5/04; H03K5/08; H03K5/082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A pulse generator for deriving complementary output pulses comprising in combination, a differential input opErational amplifier having inverting and noninverting inputs and a DC reference voltage applied to one input thereof, means for generating a train of unidirectional input pulses, said input pulse generating means being coupled to the other input of said operational amplifier and each said input pulse varying between a lower potential which is less than said reference voltage and a higher potential which is greater than said reference voltage, first and second transistors having their emitters commoned and connected through a resistance to one side of a DC power source and having their collectors connected through load resistors to the other side of said power source, the base of said first transistor being coupled to a constant DC potential and the base of said second transistor being connected to the output of said operational amplifier, said operational amplifier being adjusted so that its output voltage is approximately equal to said constant DC potential when equal signals are applied to its input terminals, whereby said first and second transistors conduct alternately and complementary pulses are generated across said load resistors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A pulse generator for deriving complementary output pulses comprising in combination, a differential input opErational amplifier having inverting and noninverting inputs and a DC reference voltage applied to one input thereof, means for generating a train of unidirectional input pulses, said input pulse generating means being coupled to the other input of said operational amplifier and each said input pulse varying between a lower potential which is less than said reference voltage and a higher potential which is greater than said reference voltage, first and second transistors having their emitters commoned and connected through a resistance to one side of a DC power source and having their collectors connected through load resistors to the other side of said power source, the base of said first transistor being coupled to a constant DC potential and the base of said second transistor being connected to the output of said operational amplifier, said operational amplifier being adjusted so that its output voltage is approximately equal to said constant DC potential when equal signals are applied to its input terminals, whereby said first and second transistors conduct alternately and complementary pulses are generated across said load resistors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A pulse generator in accordance with claim 1 and including means for adjusting said DC reference voltage applied to said one input of said operational amplifier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A pulse generator in accordance with claim 1 and including a diode connected between the base and emitter of said second transistor which conducts when said second transistor is turned off and supplies current to the emitter-collector junction of said first transistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A pulse generator in accordance with claim 1 wherein said operational amplifier is of the differential input, saturable type and has an amplification factor of approximate unity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A pulse generator in accordance with claim 1 wherein said input pulse generating means includes an electric lamp, a constant voltage source for said lamp, a phototransistor, and light chopper means between said lamp and said phototransistor for alternately blocking and passing light from said lamp to said phototransistor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A pulse generator in accordance with claim 5 and including transistor means for applying said DC reference voltage to said one input of said operational amplifier and having a temperature response characteristic similar to the temperature response characteristic of said phototransistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A pulse generator in accordance with claim 1 and including means for limiting the magnitude of the input signals to said inverting and non-inverting inputs with respect to each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
176 words
A complementary pulse generator comprising, in combination, means for generating a train of unidirectional input pulses which vary between a lower and a higher potential, a direct current power supply, a differential input saturable operational amplifier having inverting and noninverting inputs and one input coupled to said input pulse deriving means and the other input coupled to a DC reference voltage which is intermediate said higher and lower potentials, whereby the output from said operational amplifier varies between a relatively high and a relatively low voltage, first and second controllable semiconductor devices each having input, control, and output electrodes, said control electrodes of said first and second semiconductor devices being commoned and connected through a resistance to one side of said power supply and the output electrodes thereof being connected through individual load resistors to the other side of said power supply, the input electrode of said first semiconductor device being connected to the output of said operational amplifier, and means for applying a constant DC voltage to the input electrode of said second semiconductor device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
176 words
A complementary pulse generator comprising, in combination, means for generating a train of unidirectional input pulses which vary between a lower and a higher potential, a direct current power supply, a differential input saturable operational amplifier having inverting and noninverting inputs and one input coupled to said input pulse deriving means and the other input coupled to a DC reference voltage which is intermediate said higher and lower potentials, whereby the output from said operational amplifier varies between a relatively high and a relatively low voltage, first and second controllable semiconductor devices each having input, control, and output electrodes, said control electrodes of said first and second semiconductor devices being commoned and connected through a resistance to one side of said power supply and the output electrodes thereof being connected through individual load resistors to the other side of said power supply, the input electrode of said first semiconductor device being connected to the output of said operational amplifier, and means for applying a constant DC voltage to the input electrode of said second semiconductor device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
A complementary pulse generator in accordance with claim 8 wherein said constant DC voltage forward biases said second controllable semiconductor device and is approximately equal to the output volTage from said operational amplifier when equal signals are applied to the inputs of said operational amplifier so that said first and second semiconductor devices conduct approximately equal currents when no input signals are applied to said operational amplifier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
A pulse generator in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for generating input pulses includes a phototransistor connected in series with a resistor across said power supply, an electric lamp, means for energizing said lamp with a constant voltage derived from said power supply, and means for intermittently blocking the light from said lamp falling upon said phototransistor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
118 words
A pulse generator in accordance with claim 10 wherein the junction between said phototransistor and said resistor is coupled to the inverting input of said operational amplifier and including a second transistor having its emitter-collector junction connected in series with a potentiometer across said power supply and a constant forward bias derived from said power supply applied to its base-emitter junction, the slider of said potentiometer being coupled to the noninverting input of said operational amplifier and being adjusted so that the voltage on said slider is between the potentials which appear at said junction between said phototransistor and said resistor when the light from said lamp is received by, and when it is blocked from, said phototransistor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A pulse generator in accordance with claim 11 wherein the temperature response of said phototransistor is similar to that of said second transistor so that the response of said pulse generator does not vary with temperature changes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
A pulse generator in accordance with claim 8 wherein said first and second semiconductor devices are similar transistors having their emitters commoned and connected through said resistance to one side of said power supply and their collectors connected through said load resistors to the other side of said power supply.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
A pulse generator in accordance with claim 13 and including a diode connected between the base and emitter of said first semiconductor device poled to conduct and supply current to the emitter of said second semiconductor device when said first semiconductor device is turned off by the output of said operational amplifier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A complementary pulse generator in accordance with claim 8 wherein the gain of said operational amplifier is approximately unity, and including means for limiting the magnitude of the input signals to said inverting and non-inverting inputs with respect to each other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-22 | 1975-05-24 | 1975-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-22 | 1979-05-24 | 1979-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-22 | 1983-05-24 | 1983-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |