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US3999123A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Digital voltage level measuring device

Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1975-02-13
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Granted: 1976-12-21
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Expires: 1995-02-13
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Abstract

Abstract A digital voltage level measuring device includes an amplifier having a capacitive feedback the output voltage of which is brought to a value dependent upon the integration result reached within a given interval of time of a voltage to be measured. After disconnection of the voltage which is to be measured, the output voltage is fed back to the amplifier input. The interval of time from the beginning of the feedback phase until the reaching of a given voltage value by the exponentially changing output voltage is then digitally measured.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gerhard Thoener

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-22 22:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R19/00; G01R19/25; G01R19/255; H; H03; H03M; H03M1/00; H03M1/12; H03M1/18; H03M1/181; H03M1/182

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 235 words
A digitally and logarithmically evaluating voltage measuring device comprising: a. an integrating amplifier having an input for a voltage to be measured logarithmically and a capacitor connected between said input and an output thereof to provide a linear integrating feed back; b. a first switch to connect and disconnect the voltage to be measured to and from the integrating amplifier input for a given first period of time, whereby an output voltage of said integrating amplifier represents the integration result achieved upon the expiration of said first period of time; c. connection means by which the amplifier output voltage is fed back to the amplifier input during an exponential feed back phase which follows the said first period of time; d. digital measuring means whereby a second interval of time from the beginning of the exponential feed back phase until the reaching of a reference voltage by the output voltage altering within said exponential feed back phase is digitally measured; and e. means for feeding back the output voltage to the integrating amplifier input with the same polarity as the input voltage when said output voltage, which increases in absolute value during the given first period of time, does not reach said reference voltage value and for feeding back the output voltage with a polarity opposite to that of the input voltage when the reference voltage is exceeded in absolute value by the output voltage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 235 words
A digitally and logarithmically evaluating voltage measuring device comprising: a. an integrating amplifier having an input for a voltage to be measured logarithmically and a capacitor connected between said input and an output thereof to provide a linear integrating feed back; b. a first switch to connect and disconnect the voltage to be measured to and from the integrating amplifier input for a given first period of time, whereby an output voltage of said integrating amplifier represents the integration result achieved upon the expiration of said first period of time; c. connection means by which the amplifier output voltage is fed back to the amplifier input during an exponential feed back phase which follows the said first period of time; d. digital measuring means whereby a second interval of time from the beginning of the exponential feed back phase until the reaching of a reference voltage by the output voltage altering within said exponential feed back phase is digitally measured; and e. means for feeding back the output voltage to the integrating amplifier input with the same polarity as the input voltage when said output voltage, which increases in absolute value during the given first period of time, does not reach said reference voltage value and for feeding back the output voltage with a polarity opposite to that of the input voltage when the reference voltage is exceeded in absolute value by the output voltage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 192 words
A voltage measuring device as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a polarity reversal stage and a comparator which is connected by a first input to said reference voltage, each of said polarity reversal stage and a second input of said comparator connecting to said amplifier output, the comparator emitting a signal upon the integrator output voltage reaching the reference voltage; second and third switches to effect said connection of the output voltage to the amplifier input, the second switch closing at the end of said first time period in the absence of a signal by said comparator during said first time interval, to connect a polarity reversal stage output to the amplifier input through a resistor, and the third switch closing at the end of said first time period after occurrence of said signal to connect the amplifier output to said amplifier input through said resistor; and a gate means which triggers said digital time measuring means into operation from the time of the switching of one of said second and third switches until the occurrence of a comparator signal during the exponential feed back phase during the second time interval.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 22 words
A voltage measuring device as defined in claim 2, wherein the first time interval is established by said digital time measuring device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 66 words
A voltage measuring device as defined in claim 1, further comprising automatic flow control means controlling: the first switch, to connect the input voltage for the duration of the first time interval; the second and third switches, to connect one of the polarity reversal output and the amplifier output as a feed back voltage to the amplifier input; and actuation of the digital time measuring device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 90 words
A voltage measuring device as defined in claim 1, further comprising switching means affording an optional integrating measurement of an input voltage instead of an input voltage level, said switching means comprising: a first switch means for disconnecting said reference voltage from the first input of the comparator; second switch means for connecting said reference voltage to the integrator input; and third switch means connecting said first comparator input to earth potential, whereby for said optional integrating measurement the second and third switches both remain open for said voltage measurement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 18 words
A voltage measuring device as defined in claim 2, wherein all of said switches and gates are electronic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
A voltage measuring device as defined in claim 5, wherein all of said switches, gates, and switch means are electronic.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3566265A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-12-21 1980-06-21 1980-12-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-12-21 1984-06-21 1984-12-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-12-21 1988-06-21 1988-12-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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