Diode-quad bridge circuit means

• US 3,883,812 A
• Filed: 01/16/1974
• Issued: 05/13/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dean R. Harrison, John Dimeff
• Original Assignee: Dean R. Harrison, John Dimeff
• Inventors: Dimeff, John, Harrison, Dean R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brody, Alfred L.
• Application Number:
  US05/433,968
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 329/166,204 307/321 324/DIG.1 332/47
• US Class Current: 329/340
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 23/06 by converting frequency into an amplitude of current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/16 Measuring impedance of element or network through which a current is passing from another source, e.g. cable, power line
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 3/00 Demodulation of angle-, frequency- or phase- modulated oscillations H03D5/00, H03D9/00, H03D11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 3/26 by means of sloping amplitude/frequency characteristic of tuned or reactive circuit H03D3/28 - H03D3/32 takes precedence

Abstract

Diode-quad bridge circuit means for use as a transducer circuit or as a discriminator circuit and including a diode bridge having first, second, third and fourth bridge terminals consecutively coupled together by four diodes polarized in circulating relationship, a first impedance connected between the second bridge terminal and a circuit ground, a second impedance connected between the fourth bridge terminal and the circuit ground, a signal source having a first source terminal capacitively coupled to the first and third bridge terminals and a second source terminal connected to the circuit ground, and an output terminal coupled to the first bridge terminal and at which an output signal may be taken.

Claims

1. Diode-quad bridge circuit means comprising:

a diode bridge including first, second, third and fourth bridge terminals consecutively coupled together by four diodes polarized in circulating relationship;

a coaxial cable including an inner conductor and an outer conductor, one end of said inner conductor being coupled to said first bridge terminal, and one end of said outer conductor being coupled to said third bridge terminal;

a signal source for developing a signal of balanced alternating polarity, said signal source having a first source terminal coupled to the other end of said outer conductor, and a second source terminal;

a first coupling capacitor coupling said second source terminal to the other end of said inner conductor;

a second coupling capacitor coupling said first bridge terminal to said third bridge terminal;

a first impedance means connected between said second bridge terminal and said one end of said outer conductor;

a second impedance means connected between said fourth bridge terminal and said one end of said outer conductor; and

an output terminal coupled to said other end of said inner conductor whereby the voltage developed between said output terminal and said first source terminal is proportional to the difference of the impedances of said first impedance means and said second impedance means divided by the sum of the impedances of said first impedance means and said second impedance means.

2. Diode-quad bridge circuit means as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second impedance means are respectively comprised of the capacitive portions of a differential capacitor.

3. Diode-quad bridge circuit means as recited in claim 2 and further including a resistor coupling said output terminal to said other end of inner conductor, and a third capacitor coupling said output terminal to said first source terminal.

4. Diode-quad bridge circuit means as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second impedance means are comprised of the respective inductive windings of a differential inductor transducer.

5. Diode-quad bridge circuit means as recited in claim 4 and further including a resistor coupling said output terminal to said other end of inner conductor, and a third capacitor coupling said output terminal to said first source terminal.

6. Diode-quad bridge circuit means, comprising:

first and second conductors;

a first sub-circuit including a diode bridge having first, second, third and fourth bridge terminals consecutively connected together by four diodes polarized in circulating relationship, said first bridge terminal being connected to one end of said first conductor, a first coupling capacitor coupled across said first and third bridge terminals;

a first impedance means connected between said second bridge terminal and one end of said second conductor, and a second impedance means connected between said third bridge terminal and said one end of said second conductor; and

a second sub-circuit including a signal source for developing a signal of balanced alternating polarity, said signal source having a first source terminal conneCted to the other end of said second conductor, and a second source terminal, a second coupling capacitor coupling said second source terminal to the other end of said first conductor, and means forming an output terminal coupled to said other end of said first conductor, whereby the voltage developed between said output terminal and said first source terminal is proportional to the difference of the impedances of said first impedance means and said second impedance means divided by the sum of the impedance of said first impedance means and said second impedance means.

7. Diode-quad bridge circuit means as recited in claim 6 wherein said first and second impedance means are respectively comprised of the capacitive portions of a differential capacitor.

8. Diode-quad bridge circuit means as recited in claim 7 and further including a resistor coupling said output terminal to said other end of said conductor, and a third capacitor coupling said output terminal to said first source terminal.

9. Diode-quad bridge circuit means as recited in claim 6 wherein said first and second impedance means are comprised of the respective inductive windings of a differential inductor transducer.

10. Diode-quad bridge circuit means as recited in claim 9 and further including a resistor coupling said output terminal to said other end of said first conductor, and a third capacitor coupling said output terminal to said first source terminal.