Patent GB-1034104-A (GB)
Title: A frequency modulated pulse generator
Inventor: MARSHALL RICHARD CARLILE
IPC: H03K17/18
Filed: 1962-03-27
Abstract: 1,034,104. Pulse modulation circuits; pulse and triangular wave generators. GEORGE KENT Ltd. March 19, 1963 [March 27, 1962], No. 11632/62. Headings H3T and H4L. In an apparatus for producing a train of pulses having a repetition rate proportional to the amplitude of an input current, the input current i from a high resistance source IS, Fig. 1, is supplied via a change-over switch S to charge a capacitor C, and a voltage detector VD continuously senses the voltage across the capacitance. When the charge voltage rises to a predetermined level Vp + Vb, the voltage detector causes switch operating means SO to reverse the position of the switch S, whereby the capacitor C is discharged until its voltage falls to a predetermined level Vb and the voltage detector VD again causes the switch operating means SO to reverse the switch S and repeat the cycle. Each operation of the control means SO to cause current to flow into the capacitor C in one direction initiates an output current pulse on line OP and each operation of SO to cause current to flow to the capacitance in the opposite direction terminates the pulse so that the output consists of a continuous train of pulses at a repetition rate proportional to i. Circuit details, Fig. 2.-The input i is supplied via cascade-connected transistors J1, J2, J3 providing a high output impedance, to the reversible switch S comprising a diode bridge network D1 to D4. Assuming capacitor C has been charged so that the electrode y is at a negative potential of Vb + Vr, when electrode y becomes more negative, diode D5 conducts and transistor J4 is turned on, transistor J6 being off at this time. Transistors J4, J5 constitute the voltage detector VD and operate as a bistable circuit. When transistor J4 conducts, transistor J5 is bottomed and its collector assumes the supply voltage-6-8 volts, thus causing transistor J7 to cut off. Transistors J7, J8 and diode D7 constitute the switch operating means SO. With transistor J7 cut off the diode D7 is blocked and transistor J8, which was cut off, is bottomed. This causes capacitor C to discharge via transistor J8, diode D3, the input circuit and through diode D1, and diode D5 is cut off. Since transistor J5 is bottomed a bias is supplied via diode D6 to transistor J4 which remains on. When the voltage across capacitor C falls below Vb transistor J6 starts to conduct and causes the base current of transistor J4 to fall, thereby causing a shut down of both transistors J4, J5. When transistor J5 is cut off, the base of transistor J7 becomes positive so that J7 conducts and sets up a charging circuit for capacitance C via diode D2, diode D7, transistor J7 and Vb + Vr + Va to one side of capacitor C and via diode D4 to the other side, this continuing until the voltage across capacitor C again reaches the value Vr + Vb and the cycle is repeated. When the input i is less than a critical value the operation is inhibited since although transistor J6 may be conducting the input is insufficient to trigger the voltage detector VD. This value may be selected by a suitable choice of R4. The output OP may be supplied to an electromechanical counter, if necessary via binary dividing stages. Temperature effects may be made self-cancelling as by providing the capacitor C with a negative temperature coefficient and controlling the reference power supply by means of a Zener diode of positive temperature coefficient.