Patent GB-946825-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to time interval marking apparatus
IPC: H04J3/17
Filed: 1960-03-31
Abstract: 946,825. Transistor switching circuits. WESTERN ELECTRIC CO. Inc. March 31, 1960 [April 14, 1959]. No. 11381/60. Heading H3T. A circuit for the accurate marking of a time interval comprises two like networks each comprising a resistive and a reactive element, the two networks having equal time constants, a voltage source, and switching means, said networks, source and switching means being so disposed and interconnected that before the switching means are actuated the junction points between the resistive and reactive elements of each network are held at potentials equal to those at respective ones of the two terminals of the voltage source and so that after actuation of the switching means the potential at each junction point moves towards that previously existing at the other, the completion of the time interval to be marked occurring at the instant at which the potentials at the two junction points become equal and means being provided responsive to the occurrence of said equality. In a modified version of the circuit the two like networks are replaced by a single network comprising two equal resistors and a single capacitor, actuation of the switching means resulting in the potential on each electrode commencing to move towards that on the other, and the time interval to be marked being completed upon equality of potential being attained. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3A, switches S are initially closed so that points P 1 , P 2  are initially at potentials E 2 , E 1  respectively. Upon opening switches S these two potentials decay with equal time constants. towards E 1  and E 2  respectively and achieve equality after an interval which is independent of the precise values of E 1  and E 2 . When equality is reached, diodes D 1 , D 2 , previously reversed biased, become conducting and supply current to a current-sensitive device M such as a blocking oscillator or multivibrator which then delivers a pulse whose leading edge marks the end of the timing interval. In Fig. 5 (not shown), the resistors R 1 , R 2  are replaced by constant-current circuits, for example resistors, to which feedback is supplied by a bootstrap connection to maintain the charging current for the capacitors constant. In a further embodiment, Fig. 4 (not shown), the resistorcapacitor networks are replaced by inductorresistor networks. Fig. 6 illustrates the modified version of the circuit comprising a single capacitor and two equal-valued resistors, while Fig. 7 shows the same circuit in which transistor switches are used as the switches S. In Fig. 7, capacitor C is connected in series with equal resistors R 1 , R 2  between the positive and negative terminals of a source represented respectively by E 1  and E 2 . The initial state of the circuit is established by the application of a positive pulse to the input terminal which causes both transistors T 1  and T 2  to be switched off and junction points P 1  and P 2  between the capacitor C and resistors R 1  and R 2  to assume voltages E 2  and E 1  respectively, resistors R 3  and R 4  being very small compared to R 1  and R 2 . At the end of the initial positive pulse, transistors T 1  and T 2  resume conduction so that diodes D 3  and D 7  become reverse-biased, isolating points P 1 , P 2  from terminals E 2 , E 1  respectively so that the potentials at these points decay towards E 1 , E 2  respectively. When equality of potential at these points is reached diodes D 1 , D 2  become conducting, transistors T 3 , T 4  are switched on and multivibrator MV is energized to deliver an output pulse. Specification 845,174 is referred to.