Adjustable output level signal transmitter
First Claim
1. An adjustable output level signal transmitter comprising:
- a direct current source of electrical energy;
L-C tank circuit means for providing the adjustable output level signal, the direct current source of electrical energy and the L-C tank circuit means having a common ground;
the L-C tank circuit means comprising inductor L and capacitor C, said capacitor C further comprising a plurality of capacitors;
switch means disposed between the direct current source of electrical energy and each one of the plurality of capacitors of the L-C tank circuit means for electrically coupling and decoupling selected ones of the plurality of capacitors of the L-C tank circuit means and the direct current source of electrical energy for adjusting thereby the level of the adjustable output level signal; and
means for controlling the switch means for electrically coupling and decoupling selected ones of the plurality of capacitors of the L-C tank circuit means and the direct current source of electrical energy at a predetermined frequency.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An adjustable output level transmitter includes a direct current energy source, an L-C tank circuit and a switching means for sequentially coupling the capacitors of the tank circuit to the direct current energy source and ground. The output signal frequency is equal to the resonant frequency of the L-C tank circuit and the output signal level is a function of which capacitors of the L-C tank circuit are sequentially coupled to the energy source. The circuit functions in a Class D mode with the inherent advantages of minimal power loss and very high efficiency. Due to the manner of switching utilized, the output signal frequency is very stable and unaffected by the mode of capacitor switching.
107 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An adjustable output level signal transmitter comprising:
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a direct current source of electrical energy; L-C tank circuit means for providing the adjustable output level signal, the direct current source of electrical energy and the L-C tank circuit means having a common ground;
the L-C tank circuit means comprising inductor L and capacitor C, said capacitor C further comprising a plurality of capacitors;switch means disposed between the direct current source of electrical energy and each one of the plurality of capacitors of the L-C tank circuit means for electrically coupling and decoupling selected ones of the plurality of capacitors of the L-C tank circuit means and the direct current source of electrical energy for adjusting thereby the level of the adjustable output level signal; and means for controlling the switch means for electrically coupling and decoupling selected ones of the plurality of capacitors of the L-C tank circuit means and the direct current source of electrical energy at a predetermined frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An adjustable output level signal transmitter comprising:
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a direct current source of electrical energy; an L-C tank circuit providing the adjustable output level signal, the direct current source of electrical energy and the L-C tank circuit having a common ground, the L-C tank circuit having a fundamental frequency of oscillation which remains constant independent of the level of the adjustable output level signal, the L-C tank circuit comprising; a first capacitor C1 having first and second terminals; a second capacitor C2 having first and second terminals, the second terminals of each capacitor connected together; and an inductor L coupled between the second terminals of the capacitors and ground, the adjustable output level signal available at the second terminals of the capacitors, the fundamental frequency of oscillation F0 of the L-C tank circuit being determined by the relationship;
##EQU5## where F0 is measured in cycles per second (Hertz);
C is the value of capacitance equal to the combined capacitance of C1+C2; and
L is the value of the inductance of the inductor L,switch means disposed between the direct current source of electrical energy and the first terminals of capacitor C1 and capacitor C2 of the L-C tank circuit for selectively coupling and decoupling capacitor C1 and capacitor C2 of the L-C tank circuit and the direct current source of electrical energy; and means for controlling the switch means for electrically coupling and decoupling capacitor C1 and capacitor C2 of the L-C tank circuit and the direct current source of electrical energy at a predetermined frequency. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An adjustable output level signal transmitter comprising:
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a direct current source of electrical energy; an L-C tank circuit, the direct current source of electrical energy and the L-C tank circuit having a common ground, the L-C tank circuit comprising; a first capacitor C1 having first and second terminals; a second capacitor C2 having first and second terminals, the capacitors C1 and C2 in series circuit connection with the second terminals of each capacitor connected together; and an inductor L coupled between the second terminals of the capacitors and ground, the adjustable output level signal available at the second terminals of the capacitors, the fundamental frequency of oscillation F0 of the L-C tank circuit being determined by the relationship;
##EQU6## where F0 is measured in cycles per second (hertz);
C is the value of capacitance equal to the combined capacitance of C1+C2; and
L is the value of the inductance of the inductor L,a separate driver coupled to each capacitor, each driver operable between two logical states for connecting each capacitor to the direct current source of electrical energy or to ground, depending on the state of the respective driver, such that the level of the output of the signal transmitter is adjustable to discrete values as a function of the logical states of the drivers, wherein the fundamental frequency of oscillation remains constant independent of the logical states of the drivers; and means for controlling the drivers for electrically coupling and decoupling the L-C tank circuit and the direct current source of electrical energy at a predetermined frequency.
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17. An adjustable output level signal transmitter comprising:
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a direct current source of electrical energy; L-C tank circuit means having an inductor L and a capacitor C for providing the adjustable output level signal at a frequency determined as a function of the values of inductor L and capacitor C, the direct current source of electrical energy and the L-C tank circuit means having a common ground and wherein C comprises capacitors C1 and C2; a driver coupled between the direct current source of electrical energy and C1 and another driver coupled between the direct current source of electrical energy and C2; and means for controlling each of the drivers for electrically coupling and decoupling the respective capacitors and the direct current source of electrical energy at a predetermined frequency. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. An adjustable output level signal transmitter comprising:
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a direct current source of electrical energy; L-C tank circuit means having an inductor L and a capacitor C for providing the adjustable output level signal at a frequency of oscillation determined by the values of inductor L and capacitor C, wherein C comprises a plurality of capacitors; a plurality of drivers, a different one of the plurality of drivers coupled between the direct current source of electrical energy and a respective one of the plurality of capacitors; and means for controlling each one of the plurality of drivers for electrically coupling and decoupling the respective ones of the capacitors and the direct current source of electrical energy at a predetermined frequency. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification