Analog interface for digital instrumentation

• US 7,498,964 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2006
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Albert G. Beyerle
• Original Assignee: Albert G. Beyerle
• Inventors: Beyerle, Albert G
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Linh V
• Application Number:
  US11/611,884
• Time in Patent Office: 807 Days
• Field of Search: 341/108, 341/110, 341/114, 341/120, 341/132, 250/253, 250/288, 250/206, 250/208.2, 250/282, 250/283, 250/551, 375/222, 375/522, 375/506, 375/220, 375/354
• US Class Current: 341/132
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/17 Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular type of detector pulse-selection circuits H03K, G01R

Abstract

Nuclear spectroscopy systems have improved over the course of time especially with the advent of digital pulse processing. One disadvantage of digital processing, however, is that it has eliminated the older, universally compatible interface standard of analog signals. Digital component interfaces are often defined by computer software, protected by copyright and unique to a single manufacturer. Consequently, all components of an entire spectroscopy system must be from a single manufacturer. This not only dictates system wide component replacement, but also impedes optimization that would otherwise occur were component compatibility the rule rather than the exception. The present innovation describes a method and apparatus to relieve the present incompatibility between digital components of a nuclear spectroscopy system that are supplied by more than one manufacturer.

Claims

1. A method for creating interface compatibility between digital components of a nuclear spectroscopy system comprising:

a. presenting a nuclear spectroscopy system, wherein said nuclear spectroscopy system comprises a plurality of components, wherein said plurality of components defines a signal processing flow,

b. mapping said signal processing flow,

c. identifying an analog signal component interface between two of said plurality of components with incompatible digital data communication protocol that interrupts said signal processing flow,

d. interposing a digital signal processor followed by a digital to amplitude converter within said incompatible component interface,

whereby interface compatibility is created at said incompatible component interface.

2. A method for creating interface compatibility between digital components of a nuclear spectroscopy system comprising:

a. presenting a nuclear spectroscopy system, wherein said nuclear spectroscopy system comprises a plurality of components, wherein said plurality of components defines a signal processing flow,

b. mapping said signal processing flow,

c. identifying an incompatible component interface that interrupts said signal processing flow,

d. presenting a first digital component of said incompatible component interface, wherein said first digital component is the product of a first manufacturer, wherein said first digital component has a first digital output, and wherein said first digital output has a first communication protocol,

e. presenting a second digital component of said incompatible component interface, wherein said second digital component is the product of a second manufacturer, wherein said second digital component anticipates a second digital input, wherein said second digital input is characterized by a second communication protocol, and wherein said second communication protocol is incompatible with said first communication protocol, and

f. interposing a digital signal processor and a digital to amplitude converter within said incompatible component interface between said first digital component and said second digital component, wherein said digital signal processor is capable of receiving said first digital output from said first digital component, wherein said digital signal processor has an output responsive to said first digital output of said first digital component, wherein said output of said digital signal processor is capable of being received by said digital to amplitude converter, wherein said digital to amplitude converter produces an analog signal in response to said output of said digital signal processor,

wherein said analog signal is capable of being received by said second digital component, whereby interface compatibility is created at said incompatible component interface.

3. A method for creating interface compatibility between incompatible digital components of a nuclear spectroscopy system comprising:

a. presenting a nuclear spectroscopy system, wherein said nuclear spectroscopy system comprises a plurality of components,

b. presenting a first digital component of said nuclear spectroscopy system, wherein said first digital component is the product of a first manufacturer, wherein said first digital component has a first digital output, and wherein said first digital output has a first communication protocol,

c. presenting a second digital component of said nuclear spectroscopy system, wherein said second digital component is the product of a second manufacturer, wherein said second digital component anticipates a second digital input, wherein said second digital input is characterized by a second communication protocol, and wherein said second communication protocol is incompatible with said first communication protocol, and

d. interposing a digital signal processor and a digital to amplitude converter between said first digital component and said second digital component, wherein said digital signal processor is capable of receiving said first digital output from said first digital component, wherein said digital signal processor has an output responsive to said first digital output of said first digital component, wherein said output of said digital signal processor is capable of being received by said digital to amplitude converter,

wherein said digital to amplitude converter produces an analog signal in response to said output of said digital signal processor,

and wherein said analog signal is capable of being received by said second digital component,

whereby interface compatibility is created at said incompatible component interface.