Abstract: Analog-to-digital conversion in which a coarse digital representation of an input analog signal is converted to a coarse analog representation, and the difference between the original analog signal and the coarse analog representation is determined. A ramp waveform signal is generated, and a change in that waveform by an amount substantially equal to the difference between the original analog signal and the coarse analog representation is sensed. A plural bit fine digital signal corresponding to the sensed change of the ramp waveform is produced. The combination of the coarse and fine digital signals constitute the digital representation of the input analog signal. In one embodiment, the ramp waveform is increased until it is equal to the difference between the analog signal and the coarse analog representation, whereupon the ramp waveform is digitized.

Abstract: A programmable delay circuit is formed of at least one channel of cascaded, directly coupled inverter elements, the at least one channel including a power supply terminal to which a controllable operating voltage is supplied. The overall time delay exhibited by the at least one channel is a function of the magnitude of the operating voltage supplied to the power supply terminal and the number of cascaded inverter elements included therein. A desired time delay may be established by generating a voltage representing the actual time delay exhibited by the channel, comparing the generated voltage and a reference voltage representing the desired delay, and adjusting the magnitude of the operating voltage supplied to the power supply terminal as a function of the difference between the compared voltages.

Abstract: A test probe having only two substantially rigid electrically conducting members which are insulated from each other, these members terminating in respective contact portions. When the probe is in use, these two contact portions simultaneously contact spaced apart areas of a current conducting segment then being tested. An insulated handle is formed by a protecting layer of insulation coupled to the two conducting members; and a pair of conducting leads pass through the handle and are electrically connected to the respective conducting members. In a preferred embodiment, the two conducting members are constituted by a cylindrical shaft which is longitudinally bisected into separate longitudinal portions that are bonded to each other by a layer of insulating adhesive. The cylindrical shaft terminates in a conical contact tip which also is longitudinally bisected, the two bisected portions of this tip constituting the contact portions of the probe.