Apparatus and method for detecting and analyzing spectral components in predetermined frequency bands within a signal, frequency filter, and related computer-readable media

• US 7,539,582 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2007
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Variance Dynamical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Variance Dynamical, Inc.
• Inventors: Goodwin, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wachsman; Hal D
• Application Number:
  US11/732,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20070208522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 702 74- 77
• US Class Current: 702/76
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 23/165 using filters

Abstract

An apparatus for detecting spectral components in a predetermined frequency band within a signal includes first and second processing devices and first, second, and third connectors tuned to the frequency band. The first processing device includes first, second, and third elements. The second processing device includes fourth, fifth, and sixth elements. The first connector is coupled to the first and fourth elements, the second connector to the second and fifth elements, and the third connector to the third and sixth elements. An apparatus for analyzing spectral components in predetermined frequency bands within a signal includes an input for receiving the signal, a device for isolating a portion of the signal, and frequency detectors coupled in parallel to the device. Each frequency detector corresponds to a frequency band and generates an output signal component corresponding to a proportion of energy of the spectral components detected by the frequency detector.

Claims

1. An apparatus for analyzing an input signal, the input signal comprising multiple components, each component corresponding to a frequency band, comprising:

a) an input for receiving the input signal;

b) a device coupled to the input for isolating a portion of the input signal extending over a discrete time period;

c) a plurality of frequency detectors coupled in parallel to the device; and

d) an output device coupled to the frequency detectors;

e) wherein each frequency detector corresponds to one of the input signal components,

f) wherein each frequency detector generates an intermediate signal component comprising an amplitude corresponding to the proportion of energy of the corresponding input signal component to the total energy of the input signal portion,

g) wherein the output device generates a plurality of output signal components, and

h) wherein each of the output signal components corresponds to one of the intermediate signal components.

2. An apparatus for analyzing detected spectral components in predetermined frequency bands within an input signal, comprising:

a) an input for receiving the input signal;

b) a device coupled to the input for isolating a portion of the input signal extending over a discrete time period; and

c) a plurality of frequency detectors each coupled in parallel to the device;

d) wherein each frequency detector corresponds to one of the frequency bands, wherein each frequency detector comprises;

I) a first processing device having;

i) a first element;

ii) a second element; and

iii) a third element;

iv) wherein said first element, second element and third element are electrically interconnected and forming an active, analog circuit component; and

II) a second processing device, having;

i) a fourth element;

ii) a fifth element; and

iii) a sixth element;

iv) wherein said fourth element, fifth element and sixth element are electrically interconnected and forming an active, analog circuit component;

III) a first connector coupled to the first and fourth elements;

IV) a second connector coupled to the second and fifth elements; and

V) a third connector coupled to the third and sixth elements;

VI) wherein each connector is tuned to the predetermined frequency band; and

e) wherein each frequency detector generates an output signal component corresponding to a proportion of energy of the spectral component or components detected by the frequency detector of the total energy of the input signal portion.

3. A method for analyzing one or more detected spectral components in predetermined frequency bands within an input signal, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving the input signal;

b) inputting the input signal to a device for isolating a portion of the input signal extending over a discrete time period;

c) passing the input signal portion to a plurality of frequency detectors coupled in parallel to the device, wherein each of said plurality of frequency detectors being tuned to a corresponding predetermined frequency band, and further wherein each of said plurality of frequency detectors comprises

I) a first processing device having

i a first element

ii) a second element, and

iii) a third element,

iv) and further wherein said first element, second element and third element are electrically interconnected and forming an active, analog circuit component, and further including

II) a second processing device having

i) a fourth element,

ii) a fifth element, and

iii) a sixth element,

iv) wherein said fourth element, fifth element and sixth element are electrically interconnected and forming an active, analog circuit component,

III) a first connector coupled to the first and fourth elements,

IV) a second connector coupled to the second and fifth elements, and

V) a third connector coupled to the third and sixth elements,

VI) wherein each connector is tuned to the predetermined frequency band;

d) generating an output signal having a plurality of components, each of said plurality of components corresponding to a proportion of energy of the spectral component or components detected by each of said plurality of frequency detectors of the total energy of the input signal portion; and

e) outputting the output signal from the plurality of frequency detectors.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the output signal components comprise a voltage proportional to a voltage of the spectral component or components detected by the frequency detector.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the output signal components comprise a current proportional to a current of the spectral component or components detected by the frequency detector.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:

a) storing the output signal on a computer-readable medium.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the output signal is stored on the computer-readable medium in analog form.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the output signal is stored on the computer-readable medium in digital form.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the output signal comprises at least one digitized data word.