Comparator and methods for voting therewith
US6321086A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 7, 1999 |
| Grant date | Nov 20, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 7, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B7/022
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A comparator comprising one or more first stage voters (115, 117, 119, 121) operably coupled to a second stage voter (123), and methods of voting with the comparator. The first stage voters receive and vote among a number of instances of a signal (A1-A16, B1-B16), yielding respective first stage voted signals (C1, C2), and the second stage voter operates to receive and vote among the first stage voted signals, yielding a second stage voted signal. In alternative embodiments, the first stage voters independently determine (220) vote conclusion times (T.sub.A, T.sub.B) that are generally non-coincident, independently determine (420) vote conclusion times (T.sub.AB, T.sub.AB ') that are substantially coincident, or one of the first stage voters may determine (320) a common vote conclusion time (T.sub.AB) which is communicated (325) to the other first stage voters. The respective vote conclusion times determines the time at which time the first stage voted signals are sent to the second stage voter. In another embodiment, the first stage voters receive (500, 540) a plurality of instances of a signal, retrieve characteristic information including, for example, context group information …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.