Claims
- 1. An improved mechanical oscillator of the type which includes a mechanical resonator and a resonator driver connected in a regenerative signal loop in which the driver receives the resonant frequency signal of the resonator and provides, in response thereto, a constant magnitude drive signal of equal frequency and supporting phase to the resonator to maintain a minimum amplitude for the resonant frequency signal, the improvement being a resonator driver comprising:
- first and second signal amplifier means, each responsive to the resonant frequency signal from the resonator and each responsive to an associated sum feedback signal presented thereto, said first and second amplifier means each including a signal source for providing a reference signal definitive of the selected constant magnitude of the drive signal and each further including variable gain amplifier means responsive to said reference signal and said sum feedback signal for providing a gain amplification factor at a present value in dependence on a present difference signal magnitude therebetween, said first and second amplifiers each providing an output signal at a magnitude equal to the product of said amplification factor and the resonant frequency signal from the resonator; and
- coupling network means, connected for response to said first and second amplifier means, for providing at an output thereof the drive signal at a constant magnitude equal to a proportionate sum of said output signal magnitudes, said network means providing to each of said first and second amplifier means separate sum feedback signals, each at a magnitude in dependence jointly on the drive signal magnitude and the associated amplifier means output signal magnitude.
- 2. The oscillator of claim 1, wherein said coupling network means includes plural feedback network means, one associated with each of said first and second amplifier means, each of said feedback means having first and second proportional gain means and each being responsive to the output signal magnitude from the associated one of said amplifier means presented to a first input thereof and each being responsive to the drive signal magnitude presented to a second input thereof, for providing to the associated amplifier means said separate sum feedback signal at a magnitude equal to the sum of the products of the associated amplifier means output signal magnitude multiplied by a first proportional gain constant and the drive signal magnitude multiplied by a second proportional gain constant.
- 3. The oscillator of claim 1, wherein said coupling network means includes plural high pass frequency filter means, one associated with each of said first and second amplifier means, each providing AC coupling of said output signal from the associated one of said amplifier means to said coupling network.
- 4. The oscillator of claim 1, wherein said coupling network provides the drive signal at a constant current magnitude equal to the proportionate sum of said output signal magnitudes.
- 5. The oscillator of claim 1, wherein said coupling network provides the drive signal at a constant voltage magnitude equal to the proportionate sum of said output signal magnitudes.
- 6. The oscillator of claim 1, wherein said coupling network provides the drive signal at a constant magnitude equal to said proportionate sum of said output signal magnitudes in the presence of said output signals from each of said first and second amplifier means, said coupling network providing the drive signal at a constant magnitude equal to a proportionate part of a present one of said output signals in the absence of the other one of said output signals.
Government Interests
The Government has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. F33615-77-C-2055 awarded by the United States Air Force, Systems Command ASD/PPMNB.
US Referenced Citations (3)