US3711774A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automatic gain calibration
Assignee: Applied Biosystems Inc
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Filing: 1971-03-01
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Granted: 1973-01-16
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Expires: 1991-03-01
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for causing unknown electrical signals to be measurable directly on a desired ''''scale'''' performs the functions of: determining the ''''scaling'''' gain factor to make a (known) standard electrical signal equal a (manually set) particular voltage level; storing this gain factor; subsequently regenerating the stored gain factor; and applying this regenerated gain factor to an unknown electrical signal. The disclosed embodiment determines the desired gain factor by integrating the standard signal until it equals the manually set voltage level, stores this integration time factor by a second integrator integrating the same standard input signal for the same time and preserving the integrated output value at the end of this timing, regenerates this integration time by the second integrator integrating again the same input until it reaches the value of the previously preserved output, and causes the first integrator to integrate the unknown signal during this same regenerated integration time (as determined by the second integrator).
Inventors
- 👤 W Bohler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:55
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R27/00; G01R27/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for causing an unknown signal to be presented according to a predetermined desired scale, comprising: means for determining the effective gain factor necessary to make a standard known input signal reach a particular set voltage level; means for storing this gain factor; means for regenerating said stored gain factor; and means, operatively controlled by said regenerating means, for applying this regenerated gain factor to an unknown input signal, said determining means and said applying means comprising substantially the same structure, used in substantially the same manner but at different times, whereby the unknown signal is presented as a final signal according to a scale determined by the proportionality constant between the standard known input signal and the set voltage level, and systematic error in determining the effective gain factor tends to be cancelled by similar compensating error in the application of this effective gain factor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for causing an unknown signal to be presented according to a predetermined desired scale, comprising: means for determining the effective gain factor necessary to make a standard known input signal reach a particular set voltage level; means for storing this gain factor; means for regenerating said stored gain factor; and means, operatively controlled by said regenerating means, for applying this regenerated gain factor to an unknown input signal, said determining means and said applying means comprising substantially the same structure, used in substantially the same manner but at different times, whereby the unknown signal is presented as a final signal according to a scale determined by the proportionality constant between the standard known input signal and the set voltage level, and systematic error in determining the effective gain factor tends to be cancelled by similar compensating error in the application of this effective gain factor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which: said storing means and said regenerating means comprise substantially the same structure, utilized in substantially the same manner, whereby systematic error in the gain factor caused by the storing tends to be cancelled by similar compensating error in the regenerating of the gain factor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which: said set voltage level is produced by a manually adjustable voltage source, variable over substantially more than one decade of voltage values, whereby said proportionality constant may be chosen by the operator from at least two different values differing by a factor of ten, so that the final signal is presented according to a particular chosen scale.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, in which: an over-range warning device is additionally provided for indicating that the proportionality constant between the standard signal and the voltage level chosen by the manually adjustable voltage source is no greater than the largest gain factor available from the other elements of the apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
116 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which: said storIng means and said regenerating means receive a constant input signal substantially equal to said standard signal; said storing means and said regenerating means, respectively, operate according to the same mathematical function of said constant input signal, and said determining means and said applying means operate according to the same mathematical function of said standard input signal and said unknown input signal, respectively; whereby any noncompensating systematic errors of said determining means, said storing means, said regenerating means, and said applying means tend to be at least of the same order of magnitude, so as to tend to produce minimum absolute and percentage error in the final signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which: said determining means comprises a first integrator for integrating said standard signal for such time until the integrated value thereof is equal to said predetermined set voltage level, said integration time thereby being the effective gain factor; said storing means effectively stores said integration time; said regenerating means effectively repetitively supplies said integration time; and said applying means comprises said first integrator, which integrates said unknown signal for the same said integration time as supplied by said regenerating means, whereby systematic error in said first integrator causes compensating error in both the integration time determined from the standard signal and the integrated value of the unknown signal forming the final signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
134 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, in which: said storing means comprises a second integrator integrating a constant input signal for the same integration time as said first integrator, and holding means for storing this time integral of said constant input signal at the end of said integration time; said regenerating means comprises the same second integrator receiving the same constant input signal, and means for generating an integration complete signal when the output of said second integrator equals said time integral of said constant input signal stored by said holding means; and said first integrator comprising said applying means is controlled by said integration complete signal generated by said regenerating means; whereby systematic error in said second integrator during said storing operation tends to be compensated by similar systematic error in its regeneration operation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, in which: said constant input signal supplied to said second integrator is substantially identical to said standard input signal, whereby any noncompensating systematic errors in said first integrator and associated elements and in said second integrator and its associated elements will tend to be at least the same order of magnitude, so that the additive effect of such errors in the final signal tends to be minimized.
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) | 1976-01-16 | 1976-07-17 | 1977-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-16 | 1980-07-17 | 1981-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-16 | 1984-07-17 | 1985-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |