Method and apparatus for measurement of wide dynamic range signals
US6098463A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 18, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 8, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 18, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01H3/14
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for measurement of wide dynamic range signals is provided. The method and apparatus is particularly suited to measurement of physical parameters over a wide dynamic range and utilizes a plurality of concurrently operating channels of moderate dynamic range, each of which incorporates a detector. The method has the steps of transducing the physical signal into an electrical signal; amplifying and filtering the electrical signal through a plurality of channels, each of which operating within a preselected range of levels; applying the filtered and amplified electrical signals to a plurality of detectors, one for each channel; averaging, using a first time constant, the electrical signals to create a plurality of outputs; sampling the outputs; determining which channel of the plurality of channels has a valid output; averaging, using a second time constant greater than the first time constant, the resultant series of valid output samples (i.e., averaging the resultant magnitude signal) to provide a time-weighted decibel value, a series of which over time representing a varying average magnitude output signal; and periodically displaying the decibel value to the …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.