Method and apparatus for accurate, high speed pulse-echo measurement calibration
First Claim
1. A method for processing signals, the method comprising steps of:
- receiving an input signal;
providing a non-volatile information store having therein desired sensitivity time control threshold information;
extracting specific values of the desired sensitivity time control threshold information at successive time intervals to provide specific successive values of the desired sensitivity time control threshold information;
converting the specific successive values of the desired sensitivity time control threshold information to analog values to provide an analog calibration signal; and
comparing the analog calibration signal to a present input signal to provide a comparison signal.
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Abstract
An apparatus comprises a signal input and a sampler and analog-to-digital (A/D) converter coupled to the signal input. The sampler and A/D converter forms a digital pre-look signal from an input signal. The apparatus further comprises a digital memory coupled to the sampler and A/D converter. The digital memory stores sensitivity time control (STC) data and provides specific STC data in response to the digital pre-look signal. The apparatus further comprises a digital-to-analog converter coupled to the digital memory. The digital-to-analog converter converts the specific digital STC data to a first analog STC signal. The apparatus also includes a first comparator coupled to the signal input and to the digital-to-analog converter. The first comparator has an input for receiving the first analog STC signal. The first comparator compares a present input signal to the first analog STC signal to provide a detection signal.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for processing signals, the method comprising steps of:
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receiving an input signal; providing a non-volatile information store having therein desired sensitivity time control threshold information; extracting specific values of the desired sensitivity time control threshold information at successive time intervals to provide specific successive values of the desired sensitivity time control threshold information; converting the specific successive values of the desired sensitivity time control threshold information to analog values to provide an analog calibration signal; and comparing the analog calibration signal to a present input signal to provide a comparison signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus, comprising:
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a signal input for receiving input signals; sampling and analog-to-digital conversion means coupled to said signal input, said sampling and analog-to-digital conversion means for forming a digital pre-look signal from an input signal; digital memory means coupled to said sampling and analog-to-digital conversion means, said digital memory means storing sensitivity time control data and providing specific sensitivity time control data in response to said digital pre-look signal; digital-to-analog conversion means coupled to said digital memory means, said digital-to-analog conversion means for converting said specific sensitivity time control data to a first analog sensitivity time control signal; and first comparator means coupled to said signal input and to said digital-to-analog conversion means, said first comparator means having an input for receiving said first analog sensitivity time control signal, said first comparator means for comparing a present input signal to said first analog sensitivity time control signal to provide a first detection signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus, comprising:
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signal receiving means for providing one or more input signals, each of said one or more input signals having a bandwidth Bn ; a digital control and timing generator for providing control signals and clocking signals; a sampler and analog-to-digital converter, said sampler and analog-to-digital converter coupled to said digital control and timing generator, said sampler and analog-to-digital converter for storing at least one of said one or more input signals in response to control signals from said digital control and timing generator, said sampler and analog-to-digital converter providing a digitized calibration signal; a sensitivity time control generator for providing an analog calibration signal, said sensitivity time control generator coupled to said sampler and analog-to-digital converter; and one or more comparators coupled to said signal receiving means and having inputs each having an attenuator having an attenuation G1 coupled to said analog calibration signal, each of said one or more comparators for comparing one of said one or more input signals to said analog calibration signal to provide a detection signal to a comparison signal output, said each of said one or more comparators and said each of said one or more input signals coupled to said sensitivity time control generator to provide a bandwidth-gain ratio for each of said one or more comparators substantially in accordance with;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">(B.sub.n).sup.0.5 /G.sub.n =K,wherein K has a constant value in the range of between ten billion and one and wherein K has dimensions of square root Hertz. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification