Patent GB-703178-A (GB)
Title: Electric analogue calculator utilising quadripolar networks
IPC: G06G7/34
Filed: 1951-05-07
Abstract: 703,178. Impedance networks. HONORE, E. A. H., TORCHEUX, E. L. G., and ROY, R. D. C. May 7, 1951 [May 6, 1950], No. 10714/51. Class 40 (8). [Also in Group XXXVI] An electric analogue calculator for e.g. addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division comprises a plurality of grouped quadripolar impedance networks of which one preselected group receives a number of analogue A.C. voltages at the inputs of the respective component quadripoles to develop a combined output voltage across a common load impedance, and another preselected group is arranged to receive a common input voltage from the load impedance and develops a number of analogue voltages at the outputs of the respective component quadripoles ; each quadripole comprising inductances of admittance K at the working frequency across the input and output terminals, a pair of variable capacitances of admittance K+X directly between corresponding input and output terminals and a pair of variable capacitances of admittance K-X diagonally between opposite input and output terminals; where X is a variable factor of the calculation and the pairs of variable capacitances may be combined as a variable differential capacitor, adjustable according to an external parameter. Fig. 1 shows a generalized calculator in which N identical quadripolar network 1, 2 ... P, P+1 ... N, each comprising input terminals 11a, 11b, output terminals 12a, 12b, inductances 13 14 of admittance K across the input and output, variable capacitances 15 of admittance K-X connecting terminals 11a, 12b and 11b, 12b, and variable capacitances 16 of admittance K-X connecting terminals 11a, 12b and 11b, 12a. The output terminals of networks 1 to P are connected in common across terminals 17a, 17b which are connected in common to the several input terminals of networks P+1 to N; the individual output and input inductances across the common terminals being replaceable by a single resultant inductance 18. If alternating analogue voltages VI, V2, V3... VN appear across the respective free input and output terminals 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b of the combined networks, and the variable capacitance parameter X represents external factors X, X2 . . . XN in each case, it is shown that algebraically V 1  X 1 +V 2  X 2 +.... +VN XN=0 if the several voltages are in phase, and that if they are out of phase where P and Q are the resistive and reactive components. The variable capacitances may be combined in a rotary differential condenser comprising two fixed semi-cylindrical plates 19, 19a within which two semi-cylindrical plates 20, 20a are coaxially rotatable according to the external parameter X of the computation, the fixed plates being connected to the input terminals and the moving plates to the output terminals of the quadripole, Fig. 2. Fig. 3 shows a variable quadripole 1 energized by an A.C. analogue voltage V, whose output voltage is connected across an inductance 18 to the input of a non- variable quadripole 25 in which the diagonal capacitances are eliminated and the remaining series capacitances 26 have admittances 2K 2 . The output voltage V 2  is given by where the parameter X 1  is defined by the setting of the variable capacitor controlling the capacitances of quadripole 1. In Fig. 4 two fixed quadripoles 25 without diagonal capacitances are connected to receive A.C. analogue voltages V 1  and V 2  and energize a common load inductance 18 across the input of a third fixed quadripole 25 which develops an output voltage V 3  such that V 1 +V 2 +V 3 =0. In a modification, Fig. 5 (not shown) the analogue voltage V 1  energises a variable quadripole of the kind shown in Fig. 1 whose variable capacitances are defined by a parameter X set in by a variable differential capacitor, while the admittances of the fixed series capacitances in the remaining quadripoles are respectively equal to 2K 2  and 2K 3  so that Fig. 6 shows a device for solving linear simultaneous equations in which an A.C. source 48 supplies a voltage V to the parallel inputs of two variable quadripoles 29, 34, the outputs of which are respectively connected across common inductances 32, 37 to the inputs of variable quadripoles 30, 31 and 35, 36. The outputs of quadripoles 30, 35 and 31, 36 are interconnected and the coefficients X 1 , X 2 , X 3 , X 4 , X 5 , X 6  are set into the variable capacitors of quadripoles 29, 30, 31, 34, 35, 36 as above. Then if the combined output voltages of quadripoles 30, 35 and 31, 36 are denoted by V 1 , V 2 , it is shown that so that if coefficients X 2  X 3  X 1  represent the values A 1 , B 1 , C 1 , and X 5 , X 6 , X 4 , the values A', B', C, of the linear simultaneous equations. and the voltages V, V 1 , V 2  are measured, the V 1  V 3  equations are solved for X= - Y = -. In a V V modification, Fig. 7 not shown) the input inductances of quadripoles 29, 34, and the output inductances of quadripoles 30, 35, and 31, 36 are respectively combined into single inductances. Fig. 8 shows a device for solving the height finding equation Z = Ds-in S where Z is the height and D, S respectively the radar slant range and elevation of a target. A variable quadripolar network 1 is energized from an A.C. source 70 at e.g. 500 c.p.s. and the variable capacitances 15, 16 are adjusted according to a parameter D proportional to radar slant range. The output energizes a fixed quadripole 25 having series capacitances 26, whose output energizes a variable quadripole 1a identical with quadripole 1, whose variable capacitances are adjusted according to a parameter S proportional to the sine of the radar elevation angle. (Alternatively the rotary differential capacitor providing the quadripole capacitances may have a sinusoidal characteristic). The output of quadripole 1a appears across terminals 17a, 17b shunted by a common inductance across the output of a variable quadripole 1b similar to quadripole 1 and energized from source 70, whose variable capacitances are adjusted through reduction gear by a 2-phase motor 72, which also operates a pointer 75 indicating value Z on a dial 74. The combined output across terminals 17a, 17b energizes the primary of transformer 88 through a fixed quadripole 25a similar to quadripole 25, and the secondary energizes the grid of tetrode 82 whose anode current excites field 76 of the motor through amplifier 79. The grid of tetrode 83 is energized by a constant voltage from transformer 90 through a 90 degrees phase shifting network 91, 92, its anode excites motor field 77 through amplifier 78, and the screen grids are together connected to an A.C. supply 86 at e.g. 550 c.p.s. so that the tetrodes operate as frequency changers exciting the motor fields in quadrature in dependence on the output of transformer 88, and motor 72 is driven to adjust the variable capacitances of quadripole 1b until the voltage across the primary of transformer 88 is reduced to zero, when it is shown that Z=Ds-in S and the height of the target is indicated by pointer 75. The apparatus is similarly applicable to determine the co-ordinates X 1  Y of the target in terms of the slant range, the elevation angle, and the azimuth angle given by the radar.