Floating point amplifier

Claim 2

A floating point amplifier for amplifying an analog signal for presentation to an analog to digital converter comprising: a. means for amplifying a signal, b. means for measuring the slew rate of change and the amplitude of the signal amplified by said amplifying means and, c. means responsive to a predetermined slew rate of change and a predetermined amplitude of the signal means for modifying the gain of said amplifying means.

Claim 3

A floating point amplifier for amplifying an analog signal to be applied to an analog to digital converter comprising: a. means for amplifying the input signal, b. means for sensing the slew rate and magnitude of the signal amplified by said amplifying means, c. means responsive to said sensing means for indicating a decrease gain, increase gain, or no change in gain, d. adder means responsive to said indicating means for accumulating the desired gain in said floating point amplifier, e. decoding means for decoding the contents of said adder and, f. electronically controlled attentuators responsive to said decoding means for adjusting the attentuation of said amplifier means to adjust the overall gain of the amplifier.

Claim 4

A floating point amplifier for amplifying an analog signal to be applied to an analog to digital converter comprising: a. means for amplifying the input signal, b. means for sensing the slew rate and magnitude of the signal amplified by said amplifying means, c. means responsive to said sensing means for indicating a decrease gain, increase gain, or no change in gain, d. adder means responsive to said indicating means for accumulating the desired gain in said floating point amplifier, e. decoding means for decoding the contents of said adder and, f. electronically controlled attentuators responsive to said decoding means for adjusting the attentuation of said amplifier means to adjust the overall gain of the amplifier.

Claim 5

The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided for measuring the level of the signal amplified by said amplifying means at a first predetermined time and means for measuring the slew rate of change at a second predetermined time.

Claim 6

The invention claimed in claim 1 wherein the amplitude measured is a maximum amplitude.

Claim 7

The invention claimed in claim 1 wherein the amplitude of the signal measured is a minimum amplitudE.

Claim 8

The invention claimed in claim 1 wherein the measurement of the slew rate of change and the amplitude of the signal is a comparison of the amplitude plus the slew rate times a constant compared with an absolute predetermined voltage.

Claim 9

In a floating point amplifier for amplifying an analog signal for presentation to an analog to digital converter, the combination comprising: a. first amplifier means for providing an indication of the signal level of an incoming analog signal; b. second amplifier means for providing an indication of the rate of change in signal level of said incoming analog signal; c. first comparator means for comparing a multiple of the sum of said signal level and said rate of change in signal level to a first constant; d. second comparator means for comparing said signal level to a second constant; e. first logic means responsive to the outputs of said first and second comparator means for providing a decrease gain signal; f. third comparator means for comparing a multiple of the sum of said signal level and said rate of change in signal level to a third constant; g. fourth comparator means for comparing said signal level to a fourth constant; and h. second logic means responsive to the outputs of said third and fourth comparator means for providing an increase gain signal.

Claim 10

In a floating point amplifier for amplifying an analog signal for presentation to an analog to digital converter, the combination comprising: a. first amplifier means for providing an indication of the signal level of an incoming analog signal; b. second amplifier means for providing an indication of the rate of change in signal level of said incoming analog signal; c. first comparator means for comparing a multiple of the sum of said signal level and said rate of change in signal level to a first constant; d. second comparator means for comparing said signal level to a second constant; e. first logic means responsive to the outputs of said first and second comparator means for providing a decrease gain signal; f. third comparator means for comparing a multiple of the sum of said signal level and said rate of change in signal level to a third constant; g. fourth comparator means for comparing said signal level to a fourth constant; and h. second logic means responsive to the outputs of said third and fourth comparator means for providing an increase gain signal.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 7 wherein said first logic means is an OR gate.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 7 wherein said second logic means is an AND gate.