Method and apparatus for producing nonlinear integral functions
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Apparatus for nonlinearly integrating an electrical signal comprising:
- means for integrating over an interval of time an input signal applied to said integrating means;
means coupled to said integrating means for providing during said interval an output signal that is a function of the integral of said input signal, said output signal varying over a first range;
at least one means responsive to said output signal to produce a control signal when said output signal is in a predetermined range within said first range; and
at least one means responsive to said control signal for modifying said electrical signal before it is applied to said integrating means as said input signal, said modifying means being operative during said interval of integration to change the signal that is integrated when said output signal is in said predetermined range, wherein the response of the integrating means to said electrical signal is varied between that when the output signal is within said predetermined range and that when the output signal is not within said predetermined range.
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Abstract
An integrator system is disclosed which incorporates a feedback control loop to vary the linearity of the integrator'"'"'s response. In the preferred embodiment an electrochemical coulometer is used which stores the integral of a current that is passed through it. Control is achieved by feeding back a control signal from the integrating circuit output to vary the rate at which current is passed through the coulometer.
24 Citations
16 Claims
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1. Apparatus for nonlinearly integrating an electrical signal comprising:
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means for integrating over an interval of time an input signal applied to said integrating means; means coupled to said integrating means for providing during said interval an output signal that is a function of the integral of said input signal, said output signal varying over a first range; at least one means responsive to said output signal to produce a control signal when said output signal is in a predetermined range within said first range; and at least one means responsive to said control signal for modifying said electrical signal before it is applied to said integrating means as said input signal, said modifying means being operative during said interval of integration to change the signal that is integrated when said output signal is in said predetermined range, wherein the response of the integrating means to said electrical signal is varied between that when the output signal is within said predetermined range and that when the output signal is not within said predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. Apparatus for nonlinearly integrating an electrical signal comprising:
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coulometer means for integrating over an interval of time an input signal applied to said coulometer means; means coupled to said coulometer means for providing during said interval an output signal that is a function of the integral of said input signal, said output signal varying over a first range; at least one means responsive to said output signal to produce a control signal when said output signal is in a predetermined range within said first range; and at least one means responsive to said control signal for modifying said electrical signal before it is applied to said coulometer means as said input signal, said modifying means being operative during said interval of integration to change the signal that is integrated when said output signal is in said predetermined range, wherein the response of the coulometer means to said electrical signal is varied between that when the output signal is within said predetermined range and that when the output signal is not within said predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for nonlinearly integrating an electrical signal comprising:
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means for integrating over an interval of time an input signal applied to said integrating means; means coupled to said integrating means for providing during said interval an output signal that is a function of the integral of said input signal, said output signal varying over a first range; at least one means responsive to said output signal for modifying said electrical signal before it is applied to said integrating means as said input signal, said modifying means being operative during said interval of integration to change the signal that is integrated when said output signal is a predetermined range within said first range, wherein the response of the integrating means to said electrical signal is varied between that when the output signal is within said predetermined range and that when the output signal is not within said predetermined range; and a display meter which is responsive to said output signal, said display meter bearing a nonlinear scale matched to the varied responses of said integrating means to said electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. Apparatus comprising:
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means for integrating an input signal whose integral is related to a parameter to be measured; means coupled to said integrating means for providing an output signal that is a function of the integral of said input signal, said output signal varying over a first range; at least one means responsive to said output signal to produce a control signal when said output signal is in a predetermined range within said first range; and at least one means responsive to said control signal for modifying a first signal before it is applied to said integrating means as said input signal, said modifying means being operative to change the signal that is integrated when said output signal is in said predetermined range, whereby the response of the integrating means to said first signal is varied between that when the output signal is within said predetermined range and that when the output signal is not within said predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method for nonlinearly integrating an electrical signal comprising the steps of:
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integrating over an interval of time an input signal applied to an integrating means; providing during said interval an output signal that is a function of the integral of said input signal, said output signal varying over a first range; sensing said output signal to determine whether it has a value within a predetermined range within said first range; producing a control signal when said output signal is in said predetermined range; and modifying said electrical signal in response to said control signal, before said electrical signal is applied to said integrating means as said input signal, to change the signal that is integrated when said output signal is in said predetermined range, wherein the response of the integrating means to said electrical signal is varied between that when the output signal is within said predetermined range and that when the output signal is not within said predetermined range.
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15. A method for nonlinearly integrating an electrical signal comprising the steps of:
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integrating over an interval of time an input signal applied to an integrating means; providing during said interval an output signal that is a function of the integral of said input signal, said output signal varying over a first range; modifying said electrical signal in response to said output signal, before said electrical signal is applied to said integrating means as said input signal, to change the signal that is integrated when said output signal is in a predetermined range within said first range, wherein the response of the integrating means to said electrical signal is varied between that when the output signal is within said predetermined range and that when the output signal is not within said predetermined range; and applying said output signal to a display means bearing a nonlinear scale matched to the varied responses of said integrating means to said electrical signal.
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16. A method comprising the steps of:
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integrating in an integrating means an input signal whose integral is related to a parameter to be measured; providing an output signal that is a function of the integral of said input signal, said output signal varying over a first range; sensing said output signal to determine whether it has a value within a predetermined range within said first range; producing a control signal when said output signal is in said predetermined range; and modifying a first signal in response to said control signal, before said first signal is applied to said integrating means as said input signal, to change the signal that is integrated when said output signal is in said predetermined range, whereby the response of the integrating means to said first signal is varied between that when the output signal is within said predetermined range and that when the output signal is not within said predetermined range.
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Specification