Tracking peak detector
US5304939A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 28, 1991 |
| Grant date | Apr 19, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 28, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R19/04
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A peak detector circuit employs a line receiver of the ECL type, with the analog input signal to be tracked as a receiver input. The other receiver input is connected to the circuit output. A capacitor connects the output node of the circuit to threshold reference voltage input. The capacitor is charged through a resistor from the output of the line receiver when the input signal exceeds the voltage on the output node, and the capacitor discharges to the reference input through this resistor and another resistor connecting the receiver output to the reference input. The output voltage tracks the peaks of the input signal. Oscillation of the receiver is avoided by using a threshold reference greater than zero. The dynamic range of the output can be extended to a level higher than that of ECL levels by summing the thresholds of a number of these detectors, using an operational amplifier.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.