EP 0051531 B1 19850612 - APPARATUS FOR THE PRECISE DATING OF AN EVENT WITH REGARD TO A TIME REFERENCE
Title (en)
APPARATUS FOR THE PRECISE DATING OF AN EVENT WITH REGARD TO A TIME REFERENCE
Publication
Application
Priority
FR 8023404 A 19801031
Abstract (en)
[origin: ES8300207A1] The apparatus gives an indication of the location in time between two successive clock signals of an event to be timed. Such an event may be the arrival of a laser pulse at a satellite. An integrator circuit (C84) is charged by a relatively high charging current from a first current generator (66) during the period of time between the event and the next clock signal. The integrator circuit is then discharged by a smaller current of opposite sign from a second current generator (80). The ratio of the charge and discharge currents "stretches" the inter clock pulse time interval to a length that can be measured by counting clock pulses as the integrator discharges. For this factor to be useful, it is essential that the charging current remains constant during charging and from one charging occasion to the next. This is achieved by keeping the generator (66) generating current constantly and by diverting the current through an integrator circuit by-pass (R78) when not integrating. Switching is done using two transistors (Q71 and Q72) that are as identical as possible, and independently controlled in phase opposition. The by-pass current is detected and used to regulate the generator (66). Provided both transistors deviate in the same manner from nominal characteristics, this provides accurate compensation for variations in the other transistor also.
IPC 1-7
IPC 8 full level
G04F 10/04 (2006.01); G04F 10/10 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP US)
G04F 10/04 (2013.01 - EP US); G04F 10/105 (2013.01 - EP US)
Designated contracting state (EPC)
AT BE CH DE GB IT LI NL SE
DOCDB simple family (publication)
EP 0051531 A1 19820512; EP 0051531 B1 19850612; AT E13780 T1 19850615; CA 1171290 A 19840724; DE 3170949 D1 19850718; ES 506724 A0 19821001; ES 8300207 A1 19821001; FR 2493553 A1 19820507; FR 2493553 B1 19850503; US 4408895 A 19831011
DOCDB simple family (application)
EP 81401716 A 19811027; AT 81401716 T 19811027; CA 388904 A 19811028; DE 3170949 T 19811027; ES 506724 A 19811030; FR 8023404 A 19801031; US 31560681 A 19811030