Patent ID: 6188250
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
Apparatus for detecting peaks of a first polarity in an information signal, the apparatus comprising: first peak detector means for detecting the peaks of said first polarity in the information signal,the first peak detector means comprising a first capacitor, the first peak detector means having means for charging the first capacitor with an attack time and a means for discharging the first capacitor with a decay time, the attack time being smaller than the decay time, the first peak detector means having an output for generating an output signal having a first output signal value when the first peak detector means is in a charging state for charging said first capacitor and having a second output value when the first peak detector means is in a non-charging state, the first peak detector means including means for discharging the first capacitor to a first level and to further maintain the first capacitor charged at said first level during time intervals that the information signal level is below said first level, said first level being greater than the zero signal levels and means for holding the first peak detector means in a charging state when the information signal level exceeds the charging level of the first capacitor.