Digital waveform generator

Claim 2

A digital waveform generator comprising difference equation computer means for providing first signals representative of a first sequence of values of a polynomial function of time, presetting means for setting said compUter means with predetermined initial values, and memory means coupled to receive said first signals for providing second signals in response thereto representative of a second sequence of numerical values corresponding to said first sequence in accordance with a predetermined function thereof.

Claim 3

Apparatus of the character recited in claim 1 in which said computer means comprises a plurality of digital accumulator means coupled to each other in cascade configuration, the number in each accumulator means having combined therewith the number in the preceding accumulator means before being combined with the number in the following accumulator means.

Claim 4

Apparatus of the character recited in claim 2 in which said memory means is coupled to receive the signals provided by the last accumulator means in said cascade configuration.

Claim 5

Apparatus of the character recited in claim 2 in which said presetting means includes means for setting the last accumulator means of said cascade configuration with an initial value of said first sequence and the sequentially preceding accumulator means with the initial values of the differences of sequentially increasing order corresponding to said initial value, respectively.

Claim 6

Apparatus of the character recited in claim 1 in which said memory means comprises digital memory means coupled to be sequentially addressed by said first signals thereby providing said corresponding second signals.

Claim 7

Apparatus of the character recited in claim 1 in which said predetermined function is a sinusoidal function.

Claim 8

Apparatus of the character recited in claim 1 further including multiplying means coupled to receive said second signals and a digital signal representative of predetermined numbers for providing the product thereof.

Claim 9

A digital waveform generator comprising digital storage means (11) for providing first digital signals representative of a first sequence of numerical values in accordance with the frequency of said waveform, digital summation means (13) responsive to said first digital signals and to second digital signals for providing the algebraic sum thereof, said second digital signals representative of a second sequence of numerical values varying in accordance with a function of time thereby frequency modulating said waveform in accordance with said function of time, accumulator means (15) coupled to said digital summation means for accumulating said algebraic sum of said first and second signals thereby providing third digital signals representative of a third sequence of numerical values in accordance with the phase of said waveform, and memory means coupled to receive said third digital signals for providing fourth digital signals in response thereto representative of a fourth sequence of numerical values corresponding to said third sequence in accordance with a predetermined function thereof.

Claim 10

A digital waveform generator comprising digital storage means (11) for providing first digital signals representative of a first sequence of numerical values in accordance with the frequency of said waveform, digital summation means (13) responsive to said first digital signals and to second digital signals for providing the algebraic sum thereof, said second digital signals representative of a second sequence of numerical values varying in accordance with a function of time thereby frequency modulating said waveform in accordance with said function of time, accumulator means (15) coupled to said digital summation means for accumulating said algebraic sum of said first and second signals thereby providing third digital signals representative of a third sequence of numerical values in accordance with the phase of said waveform, and memory means coupled to receive said third digital signals for providing fourth digital signals in response thereto representative of a fourth sequence of numerical values corresponding to said third sequence in accordance with a predetermined function thereof.

Claim 11

Apparatus of the character recited in claim 8 further including means (10, 12) for setting said digital storage means with a predetermined initial value.

Claim 12

Apparatus of the character recited in claim 8 in which said memory means comprises digital memory means coupled to be sequentially addressed by said third digital signals thereby providing said corresponding fourth digital signals.

Claim 13

Apparatus of the character recited in claim 8 in which said predetermined function is a sinusoidal function.

Claim 14

Apparatus of the character recited in claim 8 further including multiplying means (23, 24) coupled to receive said fourth digital signals and a digital signal representative of predetermined numbers for providing the product thereof, thereby amplitude modulating said waveform.

Claim 15

Apparatus of the character recited in claim 8 further including means (14) for providing said second digital signals.

Claim 16

Apparatus of the character recited in claim 8 further including feedback connection means (19) coupling the output of said digital summation means (13) to the input of said digital storaGe means (11).

Claim 17

A digital waveform generator comprising digital storage means (11) for providing first digital signals representative of a first sequence of numerical values in accordance with the frequency of said waveform, first digital summation means (13) responsive to said first digital signals and to second digital signals for providing the algebraic sum thereof, said second digital signals representative of a second sequence of numerical values varying in accordance with a first function of time thereby frequency modulating said waveform in accordance with said first function of time, accumulator means (15) coupled to said first digital summation means for accumulating said algebraic sum of said first and second signals thereby providing third digital signals representative of a third sequence of numerical values in accordance with the phase of said waveform, second digital summation means (16) responsive to said third digital signals and to fourth digital signals for providing the algebraic sum thereof, said fourth digital signals representative of a fourth sequence of numerical values varying in accordance with a second function of time thereby phase modulating said waveform in accordance with said second function of time, and memory means (20) coupled to receive said algebraic sum of said third and fourth digital signals for providing fifth digital signals in response thereto representative of the fifth sequence of numerical values corresponding to said algebraic sum of said third and fourth signals in accordance with a predetermined function thereof.

Claim 18

A digital waveform generator comprising digital storage means (11) for providing first digital signals representative of a first sequence of numerical values in accordance with the frequency of said waveform, first digital summation means (13) responsive to said first digital signals and to second digital signals for providing the algebraic sum thereof, said second digital signals representative of a second sequence of numerical values varying in accordance with a first function of time thereby frequency modulating said waveform in accordance with said first function of time, accumulator means (15) coupled to said first digital summation means for accumulating said algebraic sum of said first and second signals thereby providing third digital signals representative of a third sequence of numerical values in accordance with the phase of said waveform, second digital summation means (16) responsive to said third digital signals and to fourth digital signals for providing the algebraic sum thereof, said fourth digital signals representative of a fourth sequence of numerical values varying in accordance with a second function of time thereby phase modulating said waveform in accordance with said second function of time, and memory means (20) coupled to receive said algebraic sum of said third and fourth digital signals for providing fifth digital signals in response thereto representative of the fifth sequence of numerical values corresponding to said algebraic sum of said third and fourth signals in accordance with a predetermined function thereof.

Claim 19

Apparatus of the character recited in claim 15 further including means (14, 17) for providing said second and fourth digital signals.

Claim 20

A digital waveform generator comprising difference equation computer means for providing first signals representative of a first sequence of values of a polynomial function of time, presetting means for setting said computer means with predetermined initial values, interpolator means coupled to receive said first signals for providing second signals representative of interpolated values between the values of said first sequence, and memory means coupled to receive said second signals for providing third signals in response thereto representative of a third sequence of numerical values corresponding to said interpolated values in accordance with a predetermined function.

Claim 21

A digital waveform generator comprising difference equation computer means for providing first signals representative of a first sequence of values of a polynomial function of time, presetting means for setting said computer means with predetermined initial values, interpolator means coupled to receive said first signals for providing second signals representative of interpolated values between the values of said first sequence, and memory means coupled to receive said second signals for providing third signals in response thereto representative of a third sequence of numerical values corresponding to said interpolated values in accordance with a predetermined function.

Claim 22

Apparatus of the character recited in claim 17 in which said computer means comprises a plurality of digital accumulator means coupled to each other in cascade configuration, the number in each accumulator means having combined therewith the number in the preceding accumulator means before being combined with the number in the following accumulator means.

Claim 23

Apparatus of the character recited in claim 18 in which said interpolator means comprises register means coupled to receive a fraction of the number stored in the next to last accumulator means (32) of said cascade configuration, accumulator means coupled to receive the number stored in the last accumulator means (31) of said cascade configuration and coupled to accumulate the number stored in said register means, first clock means for providing a first clock signal to said accumulator means (41) of said interpolator means for controlling the arithmetic rate thereof, and second clock means for providing a second clock signal to said plurality of accumulator means (31-35) of said cascade configuration for controlling the arithmetic rate thereof, the rate of said second clock signal being said fraction of the rate of said first clock signal.

Claim 24

Apparatus of the character recited in claim 19 in which said memory means is coupled to receive the signals from said accumulator means (41) of said interpolator means.