US2294956A - Receiving system - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1942.

SHAPING NETWORK W. 'D. BUCKINGHAM RECEIVING SYSTEM Filed.0ct. 15, 1938 FIG. y

TO TRANS.

5 Sheets-Sfieet 1 AMPLIFIER REC.

lNVl ENTdR w. o. BUCKINGHAM AT ORNEY P 1942- w. D. BUCKINGHAM 2,294,956

RECEIVING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed OQt. 15, 1938 fi'llmlll I REC.

INVENTOR M A 1 w m K (H m .N R B d 0 1. m W Y. B

p w. D. BUCKINGHAM 2,294,956

RECEIVING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 15, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet a FIG. 7

INVENTOR Patented Sept. 8, 1942 ascsrvnvc SYSTEM William 10. Buckingham, Southampton, N. Y., assignor to The Western Union Telegraph Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 15, 1938, Serial No. 235,212

-20 Claims.

This invention relates to communication systems wherein a series of impulses are transmitted over media such as land lines, cables, radio channels and the like. More particularly it has reference to a means for nullifying the effects of interference which may be present in the received signals.

The apparatus employed in telegraph systems and the methods of operation are constantly being improved for the purpose of effecting a more economical use of the available line time. These improvements have progressed to a point whereat present the signaling speeds are limited by the presence of extraneous currents superimposed upon the received signals. Such currents may be introduced by static discharges orother forms of inductive interference or, because of inaccurate duplex balances, by the telegraph signals sent in the opposite direction over' A further object of the invention is to prou vide means for delaying the impression of the received signals upon a translating device until a comparison may be made between the positive and negative energy thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for integrating the received signals wherein the length of the integrating periods may be altered without changing the effective frequency thereof with-respect to the received signals.

The following description is taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of which:

Fig. l is a circuit diagram of a receiving system embodying the essential features of the invention;

Fig.-2 is a schematic representation of another form of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a graphic representation of typical transmitted signals;

Fig. '4 shows-the wave form of the signals represented in Fig. 4 as received after having been subjected 'to interference;

Fig. 5 is a graphic representation of the timing of the various elements comprising a preferred form of a correcting device;

Fig. 6 is an illustration of the wave form of the signals shown in Figs. 4 and 5 after being restored by means of the preferred form of the correcting device comprising the invention; and

Fig. '7 shows schematically an arrangement of a receiving system embodying the invention in'a preferred form capable of producing the results shown in Fig. 6.

The receiving systemembodying the present invention will be described in connection with a transmission medium comprising a cable 'conductor for the reason that such a medium presents unique problems not present in other circuits. However, it is obvious that the invention may be employed with other types of systems with equal facility. Accordingly, it is contemplated that the disclosure made herein be, regarded merely as illustrative of the invention.

In its broad aspect the method used here for nullifying the effects of interference which may be present in the received signals is one wherein the signals or predetermined portions thereof, instead of being applied directly to the printer or other translating or relaying device, are impressed upon a correcting device which forms the subject matter of the present invention. Such a device is comprised of two electrical reservoirsor storage condensers, one of which is used to accumulate the positive energy and the other the negative energy. These condensers are connected with a device for alternately switching them from a charging circuit to a discharging circuit whereby they are simultaneously subjected to the received signal for a predetermined time, after which the energy stored therein is compared. The means employed in this disclosure for making this comparison is a polarized relay, so arranged that the tongue thereof will be positioned in response to the polarity of the stored energy which predominates.

For a better understanding of the operation of such areceiving system reference will be had first to Fig. 1. The signals are received from a cable H and are conducted successively through a shaping network l2 and an amplifier I3 and appear as potentials across theterminals of an output resistance [4. Connected to the respective terminals of resistance 14 are the control grids l5 and 16 cf the thermionic tubes ll and I8, respectively. A biasing battery [9 is connected between the mid point of the resistance [4 and the cathodes 2| and 22 of the respective tubes l1 and 18 for thepurpose of conditioning the grids of these tubesso that the conductivity of the tubes may be regulated as desired.

tained when the regulation is such that, in the absence of signals, both tubes are rendered conductive to a predetermined degree. By further adjustment of other elements of the charging circuits, an equal charging of the two storage condensers is effected in response to a no-signal condition. Obviously, when compared these charges cancel each other and therefore have no efiect upon the comparison device. With the tongues 23 and 24 respectively of relays 25 and 26 positioned on their left hand contacts, circuits are established between the anodes 21 and 23 and the cathodes 2| and 22 of tubes l1 and I8, respectively, and includes a source of potential 29 and storage condensers 3| and 32. The capacities of these condensers are sufiiciently large so that they never become fully charged under the conditions of operation.

With the circuits established as.described, let it be assumed that a positive signal is received from cable II. This signal will then appear across the resistance M in such a manner that the grid l5 of tube is conditioned so as to increase conduction in this tube. That is, in the input circuit of the tube which includes the grid I5, the cathode 2|, the biasing battery I9 and the right hand portion of the resistance H, the positive potential of the grid with reference to its associated cathode is increased. Such a condition results in an increase in the charging of condenser 3| with respect to condenser 32. However, if for any reason, such as the presence in the positive received signal of an interference current, the polarity of the signal changes from positive to negative before the termination thereof, conduction will be decreased in tube l1 and increased in tube l8. Such a condition results in an increase in the charging of the condenser 32 with respect to condenser 3| for the length of time that the negative condition of the received signal prevails. If such a condition is present only in the middle of the signal, for example, the condenser 3| will be subjected to an additional increase?' in charging after the negative energy has been stored in condenser 32. In other words, whenever a signal is received from the line, in response to those portions thereof which are of positive polarity with respect to a reference potential such as ground, whether the positive portions are received consecutively or intermittently during the reception time of the signal, the conductivity of the tube I! is varied in proportion to the intensity of the positive portions of the signal. Hence, the condenser 3| accumulates a charge which corresponds in value to the amount of energy contained in the positive portions of the received signal. If, during the reception of this signal, the polarity thereof changes from positive to negative, the tube H3 is rendered more conductive in a manner similar to that of tube 11 and in proportion to the intensity of the negative portion of the received signal. The consequent accumulation of a charge by the condenser 32 results in the storage thereby of the negative portions of the received signal. Thus, it is seen that, during the charging interval of the condensers 3| and 32, all of the positive energy content of that portion of the received signal scanned by the receiving device is accumulated by the condenser 3| and all of the negative energy content of the scanned portion of the received signal is accumulated by the condenser 32.

After the received signal has been impressed It has been found that the best results are obupon the grids of the vacuum tubes l1 and l8 for a predetermined time, the condensers 3| and 32 are disconnected from their charging circuits and connected to a pair of circuits for the purpose of discharge. This switching is accomplished by the movement of the tongues 23 and 24 of relays 25 and 26 to their right hand contacts which are connected to identical windings 33 and 34 of a polarized relay 35. One terminal of each of the windings 33 and 34 is connected with the other and the connection further extended to the common point connecting the condensers 3| and 32. Current flowing through winding 33 tends to position the tongue 36 of the relay on its positive contact and current flowing in the winding 34 tends to move the tongue 36 to its negative contact. The tongue 35 of relay 35 remains banked on either contact until oppositely positioned by one of its windings. Hence it is seen that the tongue 36 will be moved in response to the current having the larger magnitude. In the case assumed, if the affect of the interference current is small in comparison with the portion of the signal impressed upon the tubes l1 and I8, then the current through winding 33 will be substantially greater than that through winding 34 by virtue of the fact that more energy was stored in condenser 3| than in condenser 32.

The tongue 36 of relay 35 is connected to a solid ring 3! of a distributing device which is in turn connected sequentially by means of a brush 38 to segments such as 39, associated with the selecting apparatus of the receiving equipment. Switching of the tongues 23 and 24 of relays 25 and 26 is efiected by applying an alternating current to the respective polarized windings 40 and 4| of these relays. The alternating current may be furnished from a distributing device comprising a solid ring 42 to which the windings are connected and which is traversed by a brush 43 which connects the solid ring alternately to positive and negative segments such as 44.

It will be noted that in this embodiment the integrating device is employed in such a manner that the condensers are being charged with signal energy during only half of the time required for the reception of a complete unit length signal and. are being discharged for the other half of the time. Hence, in order to accomplish this, the switching relays 25 and 26 are required to operate at twice the fundamental signaling frequency. Furthermore the output from the integrating device is in the form of a series of impulses which are spaced in time from one another. These two factors, coupled with the fact that the energy is collected from the received signals during only half of the time, constitute rather severe limitations on such a system.

These difiiculties are obviated by the use of the receiving system shown in Fig. 2. Fundamentally this system is similar to that previously described. However, in this instance, two integrating devices 45 and 45 are employed, being so arranged that while one of them is dissipating its energy through the relay 35, the other is accumulating energy from the succeeding signal. Thus it is seen that the entire energy content of each signal is integrated and. the differential energy applied to the translating relay.

The switching relays 25 and 25 are used to alternately connect the relay coils 33 and 34 to the respective integrators 45 and 46. For example, when the tongues 23 and 24 of these relays are positioned against their upper contacts, circuits are provided for discharging-the condensers of integrator 45 through the coils of the relay 35. Similarly, when the tongues 23 and '24 are positioned against their lower contacts, the condensers of the integrator 45 are provided with discharge paths through the coils of the relay35.

The tubes used in the integrators 45 and 45 are provided with screen grids so that the condensers may be permanently connected to the anodes of these tubes and the conductivity of the tubes controlled by means of the screen grids. Positive potential is alternately applied to the screen grids of the tubes of integrators 45 and 46 by means of a relay 4?. Assume that the tongue 48 of switching relay M is engaged with its lower contact and that the tongues 23 and '24 of switching relays 25 and 26 are engaged with their upper contacts as shown. Positive potential from the battery 28 is then applied through the tongue 43 of relay 4'! and its lower contact of the screen grids 49 and 55 of tubes 5! and 52 of the integrator #55. The signal which is being received from the transmission medium at this time appears as a potential impressed upon the terminals of resistance 14 whereby the grids 53 and 54 of tubes 5i and 52 respectively are conditioned in accordance with the polarities of the terminals of resistance [4 with respect to its midpoint. The conductivity of the tubes 5| and 52 is thus controlled according to the signal polarity whereby the condensers 55 and 56 are charged in accordance with the positive and negative energy content of the signal.

At the same time it will be seen that condensers 5i and 58 of integrator 45 are connected by means of the tongues 23 and 24 and the upper contacts of relays 25 and 25, respectively, to the windings 33 and 34 of relay 35. This relay is actuated in response to the winding through which the greater amount of energy is discharged.

The operation of the tongues 23, 24, and 63 of the switching relays 25, 25 and 4?, respectively, is controlled by an alternating current derived from a solid ring #2 which is traversed by a brush 43 and thereby alternately connected to positive and negative potentials connected to alternate segments of ring 59. At the termination of the signal which was impressed upon the integrator 45 in the manner just described, the tongues of the switching relays 25, 25 and 41 are moved to their opposite contacts and in these positions the following signal which is impressed upon the grids 5i and of the tubes 63 and 64, respectively, of the integrator 35 is employed to control the conductivity of the tubes whereby the condensers 5i 53 are charged in accordance with the energy content of this signal. It will be noted that these tubes are conditioned to be rendered conducting by means of the tongue 48 which was moved to its upper contact thereby applying the positive potential of battery 29 to the screen grids 55 and 5a of these tubes. At the same time the tongues 23 and 24 of the switching relays 25 an 2t have been moved to their lower contacts thereby providing discharge paths through the windings 3 and 35 of relay 35 for the condensers 55 and 55.

Thus it is seen that with an arrangement of two integrators operating alte nately with respect to the incoming signals and to the relaying devices, the entire portion of each signal may be integrated. Also, .the relay 35 is subjected to conseoutive impulses of relatively long duration as compared with the short 'spacedimpulses resulting from the arrangement of Fig. 1. It will also be seen that the alternating current necessary for the operation of the switching relays is supplied at a frequency equal to that of the fundamental signaling frequency.

It may be seen from the consideration of the receiving systems described heretofore that while the frequency of integration may be greater than, it preferably is exactly equal to, the fundamental signaling frequency. Under no circumstances, however, may the integrating frequency be less than the fundamental signaling frequency if the identity of each individual signal is to be preserved. In other words the effective integrating period may not be longer than the timerequired for the reception of a unit length signal. It is a fundamental characteristic of the integrating device that if continuous alternating current signals are put into it having a frequency which is exactly equal to twice the integrating frequency, the output of the integrator will be zero since during each integrating period an equal amount of energy is stored in each of .the two reservoir condensers. Hence any interference effects which may be present in the received signals and which have a frequency double that of integration which is the fundamental signaling frequency, will be substantially eliminated from the signal which appears at the output of the integrator even though the interference be random in time with respect to the signals. Unfortunately such a double frequency relation between the interference and. the signals rarely occurs in practice.

However in cable practice it is customary to interpose a shaping network between the cable terminal and the amplifying and receiving devices. It is well known that the purpose-of such a shaping network is to produce attenuation and phase distortion effects in the received signals opposite to the effects which are produced by the cable during the propagation of the signals therethrough, to the end that certain of the component frequencies of the signals are restored substantially to their transmitted relationship. Such a shaping network is tuned for resonance at a-frequency designed to produce the most beneficial results upon the received signals. It has been found that most forms of interference which may be superimposed upon the signals have a tendency to produce a jar upon the shaping network whereby the network is set into oscillation at its natural or resonant frequency. The result of this oscillatory condition is that, regardless of the frequency of the interference impinging upon the shaping network, the interference is still present in the signals as they appear at the output of the network, but it is transformed into oscillations having a substantially uniform frequency equal to the resonant frequency of the network. However, in most cases the shaping network is tuned for resonance at a frequency slightly less than twice the fundamental signaling frequency. It generally is not feasible to raise the resonant frequency of the shaping network in order to secure this double frequency relation between the interference and the received signals. However by the use of a plurality of integrators, each having an integrating or accumulating period which is substantially greater than the period of a unit length signal, the benefit. of this double frequency relation may be obtained by integrating not only a particular signal but also part of .the preceding signal and part of the succeeding signal as well. By suitably overlapping the integrating periods of thevarious integrators the period of integration may be lengthened without producing any change in the ,eifective integrating frequency.

The manner in which the overlapping of the integrating periods of a plurality of integrators is eifected and the results obtained therefrom are shown graphically in Figs. 3, 4, and 6.

Fig. 3 is a representation of typical signals as they are transmitted over a cable. As shown, these signals comprise a series of alternations of positive and negative potentials. Each half of the first complete cycle is made up of four unit length signals. This cycle is followed by another complete cycle, each half of which comprises one unit length signal. The following half cycle is made up of five unit length signals. This figure is not to be construed to illustrate the actual wave shape of the transmitted signals since it is common practice to shape the transmitted signals whereby some of the higher frequency components are suppressed. The main purpose of this figure is to illustrate the timing of typical signals which may be transmitted.

Fig. 4 is a graphical depiction of the wave shape of the received signals corresponding to the transmitted signals shown in Fig. 3 after having been subjected to interference. The dotted lines in this figure indicate the wave shape which the signals would have in the absence of any interference effects. It is quite obvious that received signals having wave forms such as indicated by the solid lines would produce numerous errors in any translating device upon which they were impressed and hence are entirely unintelligible. However by the use of the present invention embodying the overlapping principle of integration, such signals are restored sufiiciently to their original form as to become intelligible.

Fig. 5 illustrates graphically the timing of a plurality of integrators, in this case five in number, designated A, B, C, D and E. In integrator A, for example, the open block 61 represents the integrating period during which energy is accumulated from the signals. The solid block 68 indicates the time during which integrator A is discharging its accumulated energy through a comparison device. It will be noted in the case chosen for illustration that the integrating period represented by block 61 is twice that of the discharge period represented by block 68. It will become apparent after a more detailed description of the method of and means for securing the overlapping of integrators that other integrating periods may be be used. The integrating period 8'! starts about at the middle of one signal, continues through the entire succeeding signal, and continues further to about the middle of the third signal. After the integrating period 6'! has reached the halfway point a similar integrating period of a second integrator B is started. Such a period is represented by the open block 69. The discharge period of integrator B, which is represented by the solid block I I, is initiated immediately after the termination of the discharge period 68 of integrator A. The other integrators C, D and E have their respective integrating periods overlapped in a similar manner and also have their discharge periods timed to follow that of the preceding integrator. It will be observed that even though the integrating or accumulating periods of the respective integrators are substantially twice as long as that of a unit length signal, the discharge periods of the integrators are exactly equal to that of a unit length signal. In this manner the benefit of a long integrating period is secured whereby enough of the interference currents may be integrated so that they tend to cancel themselves; and by suitably overlapping a plurality of integrators, the effective frequency of integration is maintained equal to that of the fundamental signaling frequency.

Fig. 6 represents the wave form of the signals restored by means of the integrating devices. It is seen that the restored signals are in the form of a series of condenser discharges, one for every unit length signal. For example, the first two half cycles which were transmitted as shown in Fig. 3 comprising four unit length signals are shown in Fig. 6 comprising four condenser discharges, the polarity of which will be observed to be in accordance with the polarity of the signals as transmitted and which will be translated by the differential receiving relay into signals corresponding to the transmitted signals as shown in Fig. 3. The time relations between the illustrations of Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive are indicated by the broken lines Tl, T2 and T3. TZ-TI represents the time required for the first unit length signal. At time T3 the result of the integration of the first signal is applied to the translating device. Hence, because of the intermediate storage, there is a time lag of the translated signals with reference to the transmitted signals equal to T3-Tl.

Having reference now to Fig. '7 a receiving system comprising a plurality of integrators A, B, C, D and E is shown schematically. Each of the integrators comprises identical apparatus, and is connected to a timing mechanism in a manner similar to that of the devices previously described. For example, integrator A is made up of a pair of thermionic tubes 12 and 13 and two condensers 14 and 15, one for the storage of positive energy and the other for negative energy. The tubes 12 and 13 are of types similar to corresponding tubes employed in the system described in connection with Fig. 2. Accordingly, the mode of operation of these tubes will be assumed to be the same as the tubes described hereinbefore.

The integrators are operated sequentially by means of a plurality of distributing devices to produce the results discussed in connection with Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive. For example, the screen grids such as 16 and 11 of integrator A are conditioned by applying the positive potential of the battery 29 thereto by means of a solid ring 13 and the first segment 19 of a ring 8| which are traversed by a plurality of brushes carried by brushholder 82. The discharge of the condensers l4 and 15 through the polarized relay 35 is effected by the passage of brushes 83 and 84 over two pairs of rings 85 and 86, and 81 and 88 respectively.

A detailed description of the complete operation of one of the integrators is deemed to be sufficient for a thorough understanding of the invention. Accordingly, assume that the leading brush 89 of the brushholder 82 is just starting to engage segment 9| of ring 8! and that brushes 83 and 84 are initiating their engagements with segments 92 and 93 of rings 86 and 88 respectively. A circuit is then established from the positive potential of battery 29 to the screen grids 93 and 94 of tubes 95 and 96 of integrator D, and includes conductors 91, 98 and 99, solid ring 18, segment 9| and conductor I 8| As a result of this connection the tubes 95 and96are conditioned to become conducting under the control of grids I62 and I 03 so that condensers IE4 and I05 may accumulate the positive and negative energy content of the signals which are being received at this time and which appear as potentials impressed across the resistance I4. Such a condition exists until the brush 89 has completely traversed segment 9| and has passed on to the succeeding segment. However, the tubes of integrator D are still maintained'in a conductive condition by the engagement of the trailing brush I66 of brushholder 82 with segment 9|. are spaced from one another by the length of one of the segments of ring 89, the traversal of which by either of the brushes is accomplished in the time required for the reception of a unit length signal. In order to insure the continuity of the circuit between the solid ring I8 and the segment 9i during the time that the leading brush 89 is passing on of the segment and the trailing brush I05 is entering the segment, a third brush [61 is interposed between the trailing and leading brushes.

When the brushholder 82 has traveled a distance equal to the length of two segments of ring 8| and is advanced to a position such that the trailing brush IGE is about to become disengaged from the segments 5f, the tubes 95 and 96 of integrator D will have been conducting for a period equal to that of two unit length signals. It will be apparent to those versed in the art that by suitably orienting the brushholder 82 with respect to the segmented ring 8 I, this period of conductivity of the tubes may be timed So as to coincide with the reception of the Whole of any particular signal and any desired fractions (totaling unity) of the preceding and succeeding signals. However, for the purpose of this description, let it be assumed that the tubes are rendered conductive at the midpoint of a received signal. Such a condition is in accordance with the timing relation shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive. In such a case it is obvious that not only will the particular signal which it is desired to translate be integrated but also fifty percent of the preceding and succeeding signals as well.

At the moment that the trailing brush I06 becomes disengaged from the segment 9| the brushes 83 and 84 become engaged with segments 38' and its respectively which results in circuits being established whereby the condensers I94 and I 05 are discharged respectively through the Windings and 53 of relay 35. For example, the discharge circuit of condenser Hit comprises conductor Hi3, segment I63, brush 83, solid ring 85, conductor 5 l i, winding 34 and conductors 98, H2 and H3. The condenser N35 is discharged through a similar circuit whereby winding 33 of relay 35 is energized to the extent of the accumulation of energy in the condenser. As in previously described systems, positive or negative potentials are applied to the solid ring H4 by means of the relay tongue 35 from which ring they are distributed by brush H5 to the segments of ring I I 6 which is connected to a receiving device.

Up to this point the description has dealt with the timing relations of the charging and discharging periods of a single integrator. However, it was seen in the discussion of Fig. 5 that the charging periods of the various integrators were overlapped with one another. This overlapping is accomplished by means of the three element brushholder 82 in the following manner.

It should be noted that brushes 89 and H When the leading brush 89 passes from segment 9 I to segment I ll it will be seen that the charging period of the integrator D has reached its midpoint. However, the engagement of brush 89 with segment I I l is instrumental in applying the positive potential of battery 29 to the screen grids IE8 and H9 of the tubes I2! and I22 respectively of integrator E. These tubes are thereby rendered conductive with the result that the signal impressed uponthe resistance I4, in addition to conditioning the control grids of tubes and 96 of integrator D, also conditionsthe control grids of the tubes of integrator E. It will be apparent that the second half of the signal which is being integrated in its entirety by integrator D is also integrated by means of integrator E.

The other integrator units comprising'this'receiving system are operated in sequence in a manner similar to that described. It is to be noted that in order to secure charging or accumulating periods which extend on either side of the signal for a length of time equal to fiftypercent of a unit length signal, it is not always necessary to utilize five integrating device's. Theoretically for a fifty percent verlap only three are necessary but it has been found in practice that it is desirable to employ agreater number than three for numerous reasons, one ofwhich is that under certain conditions a greater amount of over-lapping may be desired. Also, in adapting such a receiving system to existing installations it is practical to utilize five integrators for the reason that most distributing. devices which are used in connection with the systems employing a five unit code are made up of segments arranged in multiples of five. It will be obvious that if integrating units are used in numbers which are not multiples of five, the receiving system' disclosed herein cannot be so readily adapted to existing installations.

Obviously, the principles of the instant invention may be applied to substantially any communication system employing code impulses fo'r'the transmission of intelligence. Hence, it is not contemplated that the application of the particular type of integrating'system described herein be limited to the specific type of transmission medium chosen for the purpose of illustration. A cordingly, it is desired that the scope of theinstant invention be determined only by the prior art and the limitations of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A telegraph receiving system comprising means for receiving from a single source polarized telegraph signal effects Which include intelligence signals and/or intelligence signals mutilated by the superimposition thereon of interference effects, means for determining the polarity of the predominant energy content of said signal effects, and means controlled by said polarity determining means for producing unidirectional signals, each having the polarity of the predominant energy content of the corresponding signal effects. I

2. A telegraph receiving system comprising means for receiving from a single'source polarized electric effects, means for segregating according to polarity relative to a reference potential the electric effects impinging during each of a series of time intervals, means for periodi cally obtaining the differential of the electric effects segregated during each of said time intervals, a translating device, and means responsive to said differential effects to control said' translating device.

3. A telegraph receiving system comprising a relaying circuit, means for receiving and individually storing both polarities of oscillatory signal efiects impinging during each of a plurality of time itervals, means for sequentially balancing against one another the effects stored during each of said time intervals, and means responsive thereto to control said relaying circuit.

4. A telegraph receiving system comprising means for receiving a single series of polarized electric efiects, means for segregating according to polarity the electric effects impinging during each of a plurality of time intervals, means for periodically opposing to one another the electric efiects segregated during each of said time intervals, a translating device, and means responsive to the stronger of said opposed effects for controlling said translating device.

5. A telegraph receiving system comprising means for receiving signals, means for segregating the positive and negative energy content of a predetermined portion of each of said received signals, a translating device, and means including said translating device for utilizing a portion of the preponderant energy.

6. In a telegraph receiving system, means for integrating polarized signals, said means including condensers to individually store both polarities of signals, and differential means for comparing the energy stored in said condensers.

'7. In a signal receiving system, two condensers, switching means responsive to the received signals for segregating into the respective condensers the positive and negative energy content of a predetermined portion of each received signal, and means for periodically comparing the stored energy of said condensers.

8. In a polarized signal receiving system, two condensers, charging circuits therefor, means responsive to the received signals for energizing the respective charging circuits in accordance with the polarity of the signal components, a differential device, and means for periodically discharging said condensers through said difierential device.

9. In a polarized signal receiving system, a positive energy storage device, a negative energy storage device, means including rectifiers for impressing a predetermined portion of each signal upon said storage devices, means for periodically comparing the energy content of said storage devices, and switchirigmeans for connecting said storage devices alternately with said first and second means.

10. In a receiving system, means for receivingaseriesof intelligence conveying polarized signals, a pair of condensers, a pair of charging circuits therefor, means for impressing received signals upon said circuits, a unidirectional device included in each of said circuits whereby positive signal energy is stored in one of said condensers and negative signal energy is stored in the other of said condensers, a pair of discharging circuits, means for periodically switching said condensers between said charging and discharging circuits, and means included in said discharging circuits for balancing the 'currents in said discharging circuits against each other.

11. In a polar telegraph signal receiving system, means for receiving signal impulses, and means for integrating and comparing the positive and negative energy content of predetermined portions of said impulses, said last means comprising a pair of storage condensers, charging and discharging circuits therefor, a plurality of relays to periodically control said charging and discharging circuits in alternation, and a differential device connected in said discharging circuits.

12. A telegraph receiving system comprising means for receiving polarized electric effects, a plurality of pairs of storage circuits, a periodic element for distributing according to polarity those of said electric efiects impinging during each of a series of time intervals to one pair of said storage circuits, means for periodically discharging said storage circuits in pairs, a translating device, and means responsive to each of the stronger discharges to actuate said translating device.

13. A polarized signal receiving system comprising two storage circuits, means responsive to the received signals for delivering energy to the respective circuits according to the polarity of said signals, means for periodically determining the larger of the stored energies in said storage circuits, a translating device, and means responsive to said determining means for controlling said translating device.

14. A polar impulse receiving system comprising two storage circuits, means for energizing the respective storage circuits according to the polarity of successive instantaneous impulse potentials occurring during a predetermined time interval and in proportion to the magnitude of and equal to the time duration of said potentials, means for periodically determining the one of said storage circuits with the larger energy contact, and translating means responsive to said determining means.

15. In a polarized telegraph signal receiving system, two pairs of electric accumulators, each of said pairs of accumulators serving to segregate positive and negative energy, input and output circuits for each pair of said accumulators, means for impressing successive signals alternately upon said input circuits, a comparison device, and means for associating said comparison device alternately with said output circuits.

16. In a polarized telegraph signal receiving system, two pairs of condensers, individual charging and discharging circuits for each of said condensers, a first periodic switching means for controlling the individual storage in alternate pairs of said condensers of the positive and negative energy content of successive signals, a differential device, and a second periodic switching means for associating said differential device with the discharging circuits of alternate pairs of said condensers.

17. In a polarized telegraph receiving system, means for receiving oscillatory signals, a comparison device, a plurality of storage devices each comprising a condenser for positive energy and a condenser for negative energy, means including a first periodic element to effect the sequential overlapping connections of said storage devices to said receiving means, and means including a second periodic element to efiect the sequential non-overlapping connections of said storage devices to said comparison device.

18. In a polarized telegraph system, means for receiving signal effects, a difierential device, a pluralityof storage devices each comprising a positive energy condenser and a negative energy condenser, means for periodically subjecting each of said storagedevices sequentially to a cycle of operation comprising a storing period and a dissipating period, means for connecting said storage devices to said receiving means during the storing periods, means for connecting said storage devices to said differential device during the dissipating periods, means for initiating the storing period of each of said storage devices before the termination of the storing period of the preceding storage device, and means for timing said dissipating periods to occur successively.

19. In a telegraph receiving system, means for receiving polarized signals, a differential device, a plurality of storage devices each comprising a condenser for positive energy and a condenser for negative energy, means for connecting said storage devices to said receiving means, said connecting means including a distributor having contacts individually associated with said storage 15 devices and" operable sequentially and in overlapping relation, and means including a second distributor having contacts individually associated with said storage devices and operable sequentially and in non-overlapping relation, said last

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