Abstract: Two speed measurements of a moving body are generated using a single signal. A sensor generates a composite signal having a series of pulses where each pulse is generated when an element on a moving body passes the sensor. A sensor conditioning unit decouples the composite signal to generate a first conditioned sub-signal having only an AC signal corresponding to an AC component of the composite signal and a second conditioned sub-signal corresponding to the composite signal that may have either or both AC and DC components. A timer/counter input unit computes a first speed measurement by determining a count of pulses in the first conditioned sub-signal and a first time period or the time period of one pulse. The second conditioned sub-signal is transmitted to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and is sampled at a sampling rate to generate a sampled second conditioned sub-signal.

Abstract: A pseudo-absolute position of a rotating axis is sensed at a desired resolution by employing a single absolute encoders of a resolution that is lower than the desired resolution in combination with a home position sensor that is activated by a home position actuator attached to the axis. The home position sensor and actuator provide an initial count and context of absolute encoder rotations about the axis. Whereas the absolute encoder data is utilized directly for the lower bits of the enhanced position data, overflows and underflows of the absolute encoder data are utilized for the purpose of counting the absolute encoder rotations wherein the rotation count forms the upper bits of the enhanced position data. Additionally, the data from the absolute encoder can be manipulated so as to make a mechanical misalignment between the encoder, the home position sensor and actuator essentially inconsequential to the operation and accuracy of the enhanced incremental-absolute position sensor system.

Abstract: A phase digitizing apparatus for generating a corresponding digital value in response to a phase of an input signal is provided. The phase digitizing apparatus includes a coarse phase generator, for generating a coarse phase code according to the phase of the input signal and a first time unit; a fine phase code generator, for generating a fine phase code according to the phase of the input signal and a second time unit; and a calculating unit, for generating the digital value according to the coarse phase code and the fine phase code; wherein the first time unit is greater than the second time unit.

Abstract: A digital radio frequency memory (DFRM) which converts an incoming analog radio frequency signal to a fourteen bit digital signal allowing for digital signal processing and then retransmitted as an analog RF signal. The DFRM provides a time delay for RF signals by storing the signal. The DFRM also changes the signal frequency in the range of plus or minus 100,000 KHz which places a doppler on the signal. The signal phase is changed in a range of 0 to 359 degrees by the DFRM.

Abstract: A multiphase hybrid digital pulse width modulator can comprise a counter that is selectable between at least two different numbers of states to indicate a first portion of a switching period. Unclocked logic can indicate a second portion of the switching period. The unclocked logic can include a delay line.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method of processing a sampled signal stream containing at least one spread spectrum signal is provided together with a receiver, computer, computer-readable storage medium and computer program for the same. The method comprises the steps of processing samples at a first bit level and, either in parallel or subsequently, processing samples at a second bit level, different from the first bit level.

Abstract: A logic device for the transformation of the output of the RDC into series A-B pulses according to the present invention comprises: a chip with its two minimal bits (LSB-LSB-1) simulating as the clock source of A-B pulses, a signal-processing pin (BUSY) which output a TTL pulse wave as a control signal resource while LSB shifts from a low level to a high level and contrariwise, and a logic processing circuit as well as a buffer to output the displacement and velocity of a rotor in the form of A-B serial pulses.

Abstract: An inverse toggle circuit includes a pair of input connections for receiving each of four possible input signal combinations in a sequential rotational manner. Each of four data paths are defined to be exercised in accordance with a respective input signal combination. A first output connection is controlled by first and third data paths. A second output connection is controlled by second and fourth data paths. Each data path is defined such that a currently exercised data path generates an output signal having an asserted state on the output connection that is controlled by the currently exercised data path. The currently exercised data path is also defined to cause a next data path in the sequence to generate an output signal having a non-asserted state on the output connection that is controlled by the next data path.

Abstract: A device for effectuating a digital estimate of a periodic electric signal is described. The device comprising a linear DAC having an output signal, a comparator that compares the output signal of the linear DAC with the periodic electric signal, and logic circuitry having in input the output signal of the comparator and a pulse clock signal. The logic circuitry provides a first digital signal in input to the linear DAC and a second digital signal representative of the estimate of the periodic electric signal.

Abstract: A digital-to-analog converter includes a plurality of current sources, a differential amplifier, and a plurality of switching modules. The plurality of switching modules is operably coupled to the plurality of current sources and the digital amplifier module provides the analog output for the digital-to-analog converter. Each of the plurality of switching modules has a corresponding current source of the plurality of current sources, where a 1st set of the plurality of switching modules couples the corresponding current sources to the differential amplifier module in a 1st manner based on a digital input value and a 2nd set of the plurality of switching modules couples the corresponding current sources to the differential amplifier in a 2nd manner based on the digital input values such that, over time, errors introduced by the coupling in the 1st manner substantially compensates for errors introduced by the coupling in the 2nd manner.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter with a gamma correction function includes a gamma correction unit for generating a plurality of reference voltages corrected according to a gamma function and a decoding unit for selecting at least one corrected reference voltage in response to an input signal and performing analog-to-digital conversion of the selected reference voltage.

Abstract: A high resolution delay line includes a coarse delay having a minimum period of delay and a fine delay having a total delay, wherein the total delay is equal to or greater than half the minimum period. Each delay can be implemented in analog or digital form and the delay line can be implemented with one portion in analog form and the remainder in digital form. The digital delay can provide a delay upward of 1,500 milliseconds. The fine delay provides a resolution of ten microseconds or less. An unknown delay is measured by coupling a signal into two channels, wherein the first channel includes the unknown delay and the second channel includes the coarse delay and the fine delay. The output signals from the channels are correlated while adjusting the coarse delay for maximum correlation and then adjusting the fine delay for maximum correlation.

Abstract: A digital time interpolation system and method for quantizing the time-difference between two digital signals. The present invention measures the time-difference between consecutive zero crossings of a user signal and a reference oscillator. The present invention outputs interpolator data, which represents this time-difference in digital form. The present invention includes a quadrature hybrid, a synchronizer, track-and-holds (T&Hs), analog-to-digital converters (ADC), an encoding circuit, and a boundary detector. The present invention also includes a system for deskewing the recorded coarse time count and the fine time value. According to the present invention, the reference oscillator is a continuous, two-phase signal having a unique pair of output values at any given instant of its period. By using this reference oscillator, the present invention accelerates conversion. The present invention uses a novel boundary detection scheme.

Abstract: An absolute position encoder for detecting the position of a moving object includes a coding part attached to the moving object which receives sinusoidal and cosinusoidal signals through channels. Each channel receiving signals having a different number of cycles from the other channels per unit of movement of the object. The signals received by each channel are converted to digital form by an analog to digital (AD) converter and stored in a ROM. Discrepancies between the sinusoidal and cosinusoidal phase are corrected digitally by comparing the digital results of the channels, adjusting the data from higher-order channels to conform to that of adjacent lower-order channels, and finally combining the data for each channel to obtain the absolute position of the moving object.

Abstract: A new method is presented which converts the phases and frequencies of HF and microwave signals into sequences of digital words. This phase quantization is 10 times faster compared to conventional amplitude quantization by means of extremely fast A/D converters. In this method, n parallel shifted signal phases are initially derived from the HF signals by means of a signal phase generator, and in a bank of comparators these signal phases are then converted into rectangular oscillations (sequences). A subsequent digital sampling of these sequences then furnishes the phases of the HF signals as digital values at the output of the circuit.

Abstract: A motor feedback control system which in addition to a quantized digital position feedback value, uses a feedback signal which represents the error between the actual motor position and the quantized digital position. The error function is combined with the quantized digital position value to produce a digital position value with greater resolution. The combined value is differentiated to produce a velocity value for velocity feedback control of the motor.