US3689914A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Waveform generator
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1971-08-09
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Granted: 1972-09-05
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Expires: 1991-08-09
Abstract
Abstract A waveform generator is disclosed in which a constant binary signal is applied to a digital accumulator. For every clock pulse, the accumulator adds the binary signal and its stored contents and then stores the added sum. Periodically the accumulator becomes full and at the next clock pulse, the value of the contents returns to approximately zero. The stored signal from the accumulator is applied to a digital-to-analog converter and an analog signal is derived therefrom corresponding to the binary number stored in the accumulator. A periodic wave appears at the output of the digital-to-analog converter having a frequency equal to K/2N X fc where K is the analog value of the constant, N the number of stages in the accumulator, and fc the clock frequency. This frequency can be varied within one clock cycle without causing a phase discontinuity in the output signal by merely changing the value of the constant binary signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Jaquith Gould Butler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:02
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/02; G06F1/022; H; H03; H03K; H03K4/00; H03K4/02; H03K4/026; H03K4/06; H03K4/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
A periodic waveform generator comprising: generating means for generating and selecting one of a plurality of available predetermined digital numbers; storing means capable of storing a digital number; adding means coupled to said generating means and said storing means for repetitiously adding during a first time period the number then stored in said storing means and the predetermined number then being generated by said generating means and thereafter storing the resulting sum in said storing means, the end of said first time period being dependent upon the value of said number stored in said storing means being greater than a first specified value, said number stored in said storing means thereafter returning to a second specified value which is less than said first specified value and said adding means thereafter repetitiously adding during a second time period the number then stored in said storing means and the predetermined number then being generated by said generating means, and thereafter storing the sum in said storing means; said adding means causing said predetermined number generated by said generating means to be repetitiously subtracted from said number stored in said storing means between said first and second time periods; and converting means for continually converting said number stored in said storing means to an analog value, and providing a periodic waveform at an output thereof, the period of said waveform being dependent upon said selected predetermined digital number generated by said generating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
240 words
A periodic waveform generator comprising: generating means for generating and selecting one of a plurality of available predetermined digital numbers; storing means capable of storing a digital number; adding means coupled to said generating means and said storing means for repetitiously adding during a first time period the number then stored in said storing means and the predetermined number then being generated by said generating means and thereafter storing the resulting sum in said storing means, the end of said first time period being dependent upon the value of said number stored in said storing means being greater than a first specified value, said number stored in said storing means thereafter returning to a second specified value which is less than said first specified value and said adding means thereafter repetitiously adding during a second time period the number then stored in said storing means and the predetermined number then being generated by said generating means, and thereafter storing the sum in said storing means; said adding means causing said predetermined number generated by said generating means to be repetitiously subtracted from said number stored in said storing means between said first and second time periods; and converting means for continually converting said number stored in said storing means to an analog value, and providing a periodic waveform at an output thereof, the period of said waveform being dependent upon said selected predetermined digital number generated by said generating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said first specified value is one more than the maximum value which can be stored in said storing means less the value of said number being generated by said generating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
190 words
Waveform generating apparatus comprising: means for generating a predetermined digital signal, said predetermined digital signal being one of a plurality of predetermined digital signals; storage means capable of storing digital signals; means for recurrently adding, during a first condition, said predetermined digital signal and the then existing digital signal stored in said storage means, said storage means recurrently storing a second digital signal corresponding to the total value of said addition in place of the then existiNg stored signals; means coupled to said recurrent adding means and to said storage means for causing said storage means to store a third digital signal when said second digital signal exceeds a predetermined value, said third digital signal having a value not greater than the value of said predetermined digital signal; converting means for providing a periodic analog signal wave in response to said second digital signal stored in said storage means, the frequency of said analog signal being dependent upon the value of said predetermined signal; and means for selecting any one of said plurality of predetermined digital signals for providing a desired change in frequency of said periodic analog signal wave.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
190 words
Waveform generating apparatus comprising: means for generating a predetermined digital signal, said predetermined digital signal being one of a plurality of predetermined digital signals; storage means capable of storing digital signals; means for recurrently adding, during a first condition, said predetermined digital signal and the then existing digital signal stored in said storage means, said storage means recurrently storing a second digital signal corresponding to the total value of said addition in place of the then existiNg stored signals; means coupled to said recurrent adding means and to said storage means for causing said storage means to store a third digital signal when said second digital signal exceeds a predetermined value, said third digital signal having a value not greater than the value of said predetermined digital signal; converting means for providing a periodic analog signal wave in response to said second digital signal stored in said storage means, the frequency of said analog signal being dependent upon the value of said predetermined signal; and means for selecting any one of said plurality of predetermined digital signals for providing a desired change in frequency of said periodic analog signal wave.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
155 words
Waveform generating apparatus comprising: means for generating a predetermined digital signal, said predetermined digital signal being one of a plurality of predetermined digital signals; storage means capable of storing digital signals; means for recurrently adding, during a first condition, said predetermined digital signal and the then existing digital signal stored in said storage means, said storage means recurrently storing a second digital signal corresponding to the total value of said addition in place of the then existing stored signal, said recurrent adding means, after said first condition, causing said storage means to store a third digital signal having a value not less than the value of the previously then existing stored digital signal less the value of said predetermined digital signal; and converting means for providing a periodic analog signal wave in response to said second and third digital signals, the frequency of said analog signal being dependent upon the value of said predetermined signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
155 words
Waveform generating apparatus comprising: means for generating a predetermined digital signal, said predetermined digital signal being one of a plurality of predetermined digital signals; storage means capable of storing digital signals; means for recurrently adding, during a first condition, said predetermined digital signal and the then existing digital signal stored in said storage means, said storage means recurrently storing a second digital signal corresponding to the total value of said addition in place of the then existing stored signal, said recurrent adding means, after said first condition, causing said storage means to store a third digital signal having a value not less than the value of the previously then existing stored digital signal less the value of said predetermined digital signal; and converting means for providing a periodic analog signal wave in response to said second and third digital signals, the frequency of said analog signal being dependent upon the value of said predetermined signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention according to claim 4 wherein means are provided for selecting any one of said plurality of predetermined digital signals for providing a desired change in frequency of said periodic analog signal wave.
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) | 1975-09-05 | 1976-03-06 | 1976-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-05 | 1980-03-06 | 1980-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-05 | 1984-03-06 | 1984-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |