Claims
- 1. A time keeper system comprising:(a) time component means for generating a plurality of successive component values, each of which is dependent on time; (b) means for making a series of measurements of each of said values, each measurement marking an end of one time period and the beginning of another time period contiguous with said one time period with said series of measurements corresponding to a series of continguous time periods corresponding to real time, said measurement having deviations; (c) means for compensating for accumulated deviations in said measurements; and (d) means for processing said series of component values as compensated.
- 2. The system of claim 1 wherein:(a) said time component means is a capacitor means for storing a charging potential value; (b) each of said values is said potential value; (c) said means for making said series of measurements comprises: (d) means for tracking said potential value to where said potential value equals an end potential whereby an end of said one time period is indicated; (e) means for holding said end potential value; (f) further including means for synchronizing as part of said means for compensating, comprising: (g) means for calculating correction of said end potential value using preceding values from corrected earlier ones of said corrected end values; and (h) means for applying said correction to said end potential value whereby a corrected end value is obtained.
- 3. The system of claim 2 wherein said means for making a series of measurements comprises means for relating said end potential value to a time value whereby an exponential relation between said end potential and time is converted to a linear relation.
- 4. The system of claim 3 comprising:(a) said capacitor means being a plurality of capacitors; (b) each said capacitor having a charge potential value representing a period of time beginning at a preselected instant defined as being when said charge potential value is zero; (c) said potential value of each said capacitor having a range of values extending from zero corresponding to said preselected instant to a maximum value corresponding to a maximum period; (d) each said capacitor having detection means connecting each said capacitor to another said capacitor and detecting said charge potential value of said another capacitor whereby said plurality of component means forms an array of continuous connected capacitors; (e) each said detection means having means for setting said potential value of said respective capacitor means equal to zero when said potential value of said another capacitor equals a preselected first potential value; (f) each said detection means having means for measuring a potential value of said another capacitor when said potential value of said one capacitor equals a preset second value of potential, said measured potential being said end potential; and (g) said means for holding including a holding capacitor connected to hold said end potential value for a period of time that is shorter than said maximum period.
- 5. The system of claim 4 wherein said means for relating said end potential value to said period of time comprises:(a) means for converting said end potential value in said holding capacitor from an analog expression to a digital expression; (b) a lookup table being a table listing potential value, V, equal to V0(1−e−åt) vs. t where t represents time, VO represents a maximum charging potential value, and å represents a time constant wherein all entries of V and t in said lookup table are expressed in digital 00form; (c) means for selecting from said lookup table a value of end time corresponding to said end potential value; (d) means for subtracting said value of end time from a value of start time corresponding to said preset second value of potential whereby a value of said period is calculated.
- 6. The system of claim 5 wherein said means for calculating correction comprises:(a) means for storing said value of said period; (b) means for applying an algorithm to compute a correction factor from said stored value of said period and a group of periods measured during preceding periods; (c) said correction factor being one of a positive and negative quantity; (d) means for adding said correction factor to said value of said period whereby a corrected value of said period is calculated.
- 7. The system of claim 6 wherein said means for applying said algorithm comprises:(a) means for calculating a summation of periods by adding a group of corrected periods where said group includes a preset quantity of successive periods beginning with a beginning period and ending with said period; (b) means for dividing said summation by said quantity whereby a corrected period is calculated; (c) means for substituting said corrected period for said period.
- 8. The system of claim 6 which comprises:(a) start gate means for receiving a start signal and providing starting of a series of contiguous time periods; (b) stop gate means for receiving stop signals; (c) output terminals where appears a signal representing a time indicating time of stopping said series of contiguous time periods.
- 9. The system of claim 1 which comprises means for marking real time by said series of contiguous time periods.
- 10. The system of claim 2 which comprises means for marking real time by said series of contiguous time periods.
- 11. The system of claim 4 comprising means for marking real time by said series of contiguous time periods.
- 12. The system of claim 11 wherein said means for marking real time by said series of contiguous time periods comprises:(a) terminal means for receiving a continuing series of input signals; (b) each input signal representing a segment of time; (c) means for computing a total number of signals received, said total number representing real time.
- 13. The system of claim 2 which comprises means for calibrating said system.
- 14. The system of claim 13 wherein said means for calibrating comprises:(a) a pair of wave guide tubes constructed to provide that light can enter one end of each said tube and pass out another end of said respective tube; (b) said tubes positioned in line and end to end with respect to one another wherein two adjacent ends are separated by a space; (c) one said tube being longer than said other tube by a length difference; (d) a light emitting means positioned in said space; (e) a pair of light detectors, one said detector positioned at one end of one said tube opposite said end adjacent to said light source and another said detector positioned at one end of said another tube opposite said end adjacent to said light source providing that, when a pulse of light is generated, by said light source, one said detector will emit a signal at a time later than a pulse emitted by said other detector by a time period that equals a difference of length of said two tubes divided by the velocity of light.
- 15. The system of claim 14 wherein said light emitting source is a spark generator.
- 16. The system of claim 2 wherein said plurality of capacitors is two capacitors.
- 17. The system of claim 16 wherein said two capacitors are sapphire capacitors.
- 18. The system of claim 8 wherein said output terminals are connected to said start terminal of the system of claim 12.
- 19. The system of claim 2 wherein said capacitor means comprises:(a) a charging capacitor connected through a charging switch to a reference potential; and connected through a discharging switch to ground; (b) a level converter means for applying signals to control terminals of said charging switch and discharging switch; (c) said level converter having one output connected to said a controlling terminal of said charging switch and another output connected to a controlling terminal of said discharging switch whereby said capacitor charges when said level converter closes said charging switch and discharges when said level converter closes said ground switch; (d) a latch means connected to said level controller and having set and reset terminals for controlling polarities of said level converter.
- 20. The system of claim 2 wherein said means for tracking and said means for holding comprises:(a) an end potential holding capacitor connected to said charging capacitor means through a potential holding switch; (b) a comparator having an output connected to a controller terminal of said potential holding switch; (c) said comparator means having a pair of input terminals; (d) one said terminal of said terminal adapted for connection to an output terminal of a complementary capacitor means and another input terminal adapted for connection to a reference potential.
- 21. A time base generator comprising:(a) a pair of capacitors for storing a charging potential value on each capacitor; (b) means for tracking said potential value on each capacitor to where said potential value on each capacitor equals an end potential whereby an end of one time period is indicated; (c) means for holding said end potential value; (d) means for succesively calculating correction of end potential values using corrected earlier ones of said corrected end potential values; (e) means for applying said correction to said end potential value whereby a corrected end value is obtained; (f) means for relating said end potential value to a time value whereby an exponential relation between said end potential and time is converted to a linear relation; (g) said charge potential value on each capacitor representing a period of time beginning at a preselected instant defined as being when said charge potential value is zero; (h) said potential value of each said capacitor occurring in a range of values extending from zero corresponding to said preselected instant to a maximum value corresponding to a maximum period; (i) each said capacitor having detection means connecting each said capacitor to other said capacitor and detecting said charge potential value of said other capacitor; (j) each said detection means having means for setting said potential value of said respective capacitor equal to zero when said potential value of said other capacitor equals a preselected first potential value; (k) each said detection means having means for measuring a potential value of said other capacitor when said potential value of said one capacitor equals a preset second value of potential, said measured potential being said end potential; and (l) a holding capacitor connected to hold said end potential value for a period of time that is shorter than said maximum period; (m) processor means for marking real time from said series of contiguous time periods; (n) start signal means for initiating a charging cycle of one of said capacitors whereby said time base generator begins marking time; (o) stop signal means for interrupting and holding charge potential on one of said capacitors whereby said time and base generator cases to mark time; (p) means for providing a sum of end potential measurements accumulated between time of said start signal and said stop signal.
- 22. A calibrated timer unit which comprises:(a) a pair of capacitors, each capacitor for storing a charging potential value; (b) means for tracking said potential value to where said potential value equals an end potential failure whereby an end of one time period is indicated; (c) means for holding said end potential value; (d) means for calculating correction of said end potential value using preceding values from corrected earlier ones of said corrected end values; (e) means for applying said correction to said end potential value whereby a corrected end value is obtained; (f) means for relating said end potential value to a time value whereby an exponential relation between said end potential and time is converted to a linear relation; (g) a charge potential value on each capacitor representing a period of time beginning at a preselected instant defined as being when said charge potential value is zero; (h) said potential value of each said capacitor occurring in a range of values extending from zero corresponding to said preselected instant to a maximum value corresponding to a maximum period; (i) each said capacitor having detection means connecting each said capacitor to other said capacitor and detecting said charge potential value of said other capacitor; (j) each said detection means having means for setting said potential value of said respective capacitor means equal to zero when said potential value of said another capacitor equals a preselected first potential value; (k) each said detection means having means for measuring a potential value of said other capacitor when said potential value of said one capacitor equals a preset second value of potential, said measured potential being said end potential; and (l) said means for holding including a holding capacitor connected to hold said end potential value of each capacitor for a period of time that is shorter than said maximum period; (m) means for converting said end potential value in said holding capacitor from an analog expression to a digital expression; (n) a lookup table being a table listing potential value, V, equal to Vo(1−e−åt) vs. t where t represents time, Vo represents a maximum charging potential value, and å represents a time constant wherein all entries of V and t in said lookup table are expressed in digital form; (o) means for selecting from said lookup table a value of end time corresponding to said end potential value; (p) means for subtracting said value of end time from a value of start time corresponding to said preset second value of potential whereby a value of said period is calculated; (q) means for storing said value of said period; (r) means for applying an algorithm to compute a correction factor from said stored value of said period and a group of periods measured during preceding periods; (s) said correction factor being one of a positive and negative quantity; (t) means for adding said correction factor to said value of said period whereby a corrected value of said period is calculated; (u) start gate means for receiving a start signal and displaying a time of starting a series of a series of contiguous time periods; (v) stop gate means for receiving a stop signals; (w) output terminals where appears a signal representing a time indicating time of stopping said series of contiguous time periods.
- 23. A method for keeping total time of a series of contiguous time periods which includes the steps in operable order:(a) connecting a first capacitor to a charging source whereby said first capacitor begins to charge: (b) monitoring the potential on said first capacitor and when such potential on said first capacitor reaches a first preset value, connecting a second capacitor to a charging source; (c) monitoring the potential on said second capacitor and when such potential on said second capacitor reaches a second preset value, measuring a full scale potential on said first capacitor; (d) connecting said first capacitor to discharge when potential on said first capacitor reaches a preset maximum value; (e) connecting said first capacitor to charge when said second capacitor reaches said first preset potential value; (f) recording a singular time corresponding to one time period of said series of contiguous time periods as being represented by said full scale potential minus said first preset potential value; (g) repeating steps (b) through (f) thereby creating a sum of potential differences representing said total time, said potential differences having deviations; and (h) compensating for accumulated deviations in said sum of potential differences representing said total time.
- 24. A time base generator having a variable cycle time comprising:(a) a pair of capacitors for storing a charging potential value on each capacitor; (b) a pair of variable resistors, each said resistor connected across one of said capacitances, respectively whereby charging rate of each capacitor is adjustable separately, (c) means for tracking said potential value on each capacitor to where said potential value on each capacitor equals an end potential whereby an end of said one time period is indicated; (d) means for holding said end potential value; (e) means for successively calculating correction of end potential values using corrected earlier ones of said corrected end potential values; (f) means for applying said correction to said end potential value whereby a corrected end value is obtained; (g) means for relating said end potential value to a time value whereby an exponential relation between said end potential and time is converted to a linear relation; (h) said charge potential value on each capacitor representing a period of time beginning at a preselected instant defined as being when said charge potential value is zero; (i) said potential value of each said capacitor occurring in a range of values extending from zero corresponding to said preselected instant to a maximum value corresponding to a maximum period; (j) each said capacitor having detection means connecting each said capacitor to other said capacitor and detecting said charge potential value of said other capacitor; each said detection means having means for setting said potential value of said respective capacitor equal to zero when said potential value of said other capacitor equals a preselected first potential value;(k) each said detection means having means for measuring a potential value of said other capacitor when said potential value of said one capacitor equals a preset second value of potential, said measured potential being said end potential; and (l) a holding capacitor connected to hold said end potential value for a period of time that is shorter than said maximum period; (m) processor means for marking real time from said series of contiguous time periods; (n) start signal means for initiating a charging cycle of one of said capacitors whereby said time base generator begins marking time; (o) stop signal means for interrupting and holding charge potential on one of said capacitors whereby said time and base generator cases to mark time; (p) means for providing a sum of end potential measurements accumulated between the time of said start signal and said stop signal.
- 25. A device for generating a succession of delayed signals, said device comprising:(a) a plurality of capacitors; (b) each said capacitor having a charge potential value representing a period of time beginning at a preselected instant defined as being when said charge potential value is zero; (c) said potential value of each said capacitor having a range of values extending from zero corresponding to said preselected instant to a maximum value corresponding to a maximum period; (d) each said capacitor having detection means connecting each said capacitor to another capacitor and detecting the charge potential value of said another capacitor whereby said plurality of component means forms an array of continuous connected capacitors; (e) each said detection means having means for setting said potential value of said respective capacitor means equal to zero when said potential value of said another capacitor equals a preselected first potential value; (f) each said detection means having means for measuring a potential value of said another capacitor when said potential value of said one capacitor equals a preset second value of potential, said measured potential being said end potential; (g) a plurality of terminals, one terminal connected to each capacitor, whereby when a beginning one of said capacitors is charged, charging of said capacitors proceeds around said array of continuous connected capacitors whereby a signal appears at each terminal at a time determined by a number of capacitors the signal having deviation; and (h) means for compensating for accumulated errors in said signal.
Parent Case Info
This Application claims benefit of Provisional application Ser. No. 60/019,798 filed Jun. 14, 1996.
US Referenced Citations (26)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/019798 |
Jun 1996 |
US |