Circuit for determining and evaluating a data signal on which a direct voltage portion is superposed

• US 5,978,422 A
• Filed: 09/02/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Weber, Stephan, Thomas, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fan, Chieh M.
• Application Number:
  US08/921,587
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 375/317, 375/319, 327/307, 330/129, 250/369
• US Class Current: 375/317
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 5/084 modified by switching, e.g. by a periodic signal or by a signal in synchronism with the transitions of the output signal

Abstract

A circuit for determining and evaluating a data signal with a disturbing direct voltage portion has a signal processor with which the direct voltage portion is determined and then subtracted from the signal. A non-linear control is provided that changes a time constant of the circuit in dependence on the signal curve.

Claims

1. A circuit for determining and evaluating a data signal which a direct voltage portion is superposed, comprising:

a signal input that receives a signal;

a signal processor having a filter and that forwards a part of the received signal;

an evaluator means that compares the received signal from the signal input with the part of the signal forwarded by the signal processor, and that determines a data signal;

the signal processor having a time constant controller that is controlled in dependence on a signal preceding the filter, and the signal processor also having a track and hold circuit.

2. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein the entire circuit, and in particular the track and hold circuit and the time constant controller, are integrated on a chip.

3. A circuit for determining and evaluating a data signal on which a direct voltage portion is superposed, comprising:

a signal input that receives a signal;

a signal processor having a filter and that forwards a part of the received signal;

an evaluator means that compares the received signal from the signal input with the part of the signal forwarded by the signal processor, and that determines a data signal;

the signal processor having a time constant controller that is controlled in dependence on a signal preceding the filter;

the time constant controller having a controllable resistance;

the time constant controller also having a control unit that evaluates a difference voltage and that has a connection to the controllable resistance.

4. The circuit according to claim 3, wherein the control unit has a memory for storing a comparison voltage.

5. A method for determining and evaluating a data signal on which a direct voltage portion is superposed, comprising the steps of:

providing an input signal;

providing a signal processor that has a filter and that forwards a part of the input signal; and

providing an evaluator that compares the input signal to the part of the signal forwarded by the signal processor, and that determines a data signal;

providing in the signal processor a time constant controller that is controlled in dependence on a signal preceding the filter;

measuring a difference voltage with a control unit; and

controlling the time constant controller in a non-linear fashion, in order to set a large time constant given small difference voltages and to set a small time constant given large difference voltages.

6. A circuit for determining and evaluating a data signal on which a direct voltage portion is superposed, comprising:

a signal input that receives a signal;

a signal processor having a filter and that forwards a part of the received signal; and

an evaluator means that compares the received signal from the signal input with the part of the signal forwarded by the signal processor, and that determines a data signal;

the signal processor having a time constant controller that is controlled in dependence on a signal preceding the filter;

the time constant controller having a controllable resistance;

the time constant controller also having a control unit that evaluates a difference voltage and that has a connection to the controllable resistance; and

the control unit having a memory for storing a comparison voltage.

7. The circuit according to claim 6, wherein the filter in the signal processor is a low-pass filter.

8. The circuit according to claim 6, wherein the signal processor has a track and hold circuit.

9. The circuit according to claim 6, wherein the circuit further comprises a buffer amplifier at the signal input.

10. The circuit according to claim 6, wherein the evaluator has a comparator.

11. The circuit according to claim 6, wherein the entire circuit, and in particular the track and hold circuit and the time constant controller, are integrated on a chip.