US2366357A

US2366357A - Electronic relay

Info

Publication number: US2366357A
Application number: US445253A
Authority: US
Inventors: Schlesinger Kurt
Original assignee: RCA Corp
Current assignee: RCA Corp
Priority date: 1942-05-30
Filing date: 1942-05-30
Publication date: 1945-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 1962-01-02

Description

Jan. 2, 1945. K. SCHLESINGER ELECTRONIC RELAY 'i iled May 50, 1942 2 ,SheetsSheet 1 llllll w a 5% .5; Qlll-k INVENTOR J ATTORNEY 2 Spats-Sheet 2 K. SCHLESINGER ELECTRONIC RELAY Filed my 30, 1942 Jan. 2, 1945.

kh v a h-% m v my. W .l: r In .1: v any I m M M 33 w: 90x) QMK F W m \k Mw Ii- 1 b H UM Rh t hv K MK n 1 i 11 nbk Tg 3: w u I A ATTORNEY moraines "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE militia...

Kurt Schlesinger, watwmm, ma, ml

to Radio Corporation tlon of Delaware of America, v a corporamuaaoam; so 1942, Serial No. 445.253

(01. 111- 45) ling pulses over a wide range'oi frequencies and 1: Claims.

This invention relates to electronic apparatus and is particularly concerned with electronic relays and square wave generators which are capable of operating under the control of driving impulsessupplied from an external source.

' In the prior art, many systems for producing square waves have been described from time to time. Most devices of such a nature are in the form of oscillators. In many instances, some such devices of the prior art operate on the principle of the multi-vibrator and, as such, they continuously perform their oscillations. They are subject, however, to the material disadvantage that they cannot be properly synchronized by input pulses or signals, exceptover a relatively narrow range of frequency which has been found to be rather close to the natural period of the syste Other arrangements of the prior art which have been used for square wave generators and electronic relays have embodied uses of the socalled gas filled tubes,. such as those-known by the trade name Thyratron. In many respects switchlnil circuits of this general type satisfy many operational conditions to be expected from a relay and square wave generator, but they. are subject to the substantial disadvantage that the presence of the gas filling within the switching tubes usually leads to prematured aging of the stage which is conductive during the standby period in the operation.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an electronic relay and square wave generator unit which is of an inherently meant the condition of operation will be of nonchanging character pending the receipt of a controlling or trigger-mg" impulse.

.Further, the present invention has, as one of its aims and objects, that of providing an extremely rapid switching oi the transient in the square waves from the lower to the higher levels, or vice versa, which usually occupy an extremely short period of time, for example, a time period not exceeding 100 micro-secon a A further object of the invention is to provide a circuit of the character hereinabove referred to which embodies only high vacuum tubes and which functions with an efiiciency at least as great as that of the gas filled tubes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a circuit of the square wave generator and relay type which is capable of responding to control thus capable of functioning and operating as an electronic commutator throughout an especially wide frequency range. i A further object of the invention is to provide an electronic relaying and square wave genera r ystem for use in co-operative relationship with a cathode ray oscilloscope so as to enable an observer of the luminescent pattern traced upon the tube to observe simultaneously two distinct transient phenomena. A further object otthe invention is to provide a relaying and square wave generator systemior use with cathode ray oscillograph apparatus for observing multiple transientsin which the true wave forms oi theplurality of transients are shown in their entirety without any visible interruption because of the switchingaction and thus 5 to provide a system wherein the switching action in its totality occursiollowing a predetermined completion of reproduced-transient effects.

Further objects and advantages of the invention are those ofproviding apparatus which overcomes one or more difllculties and defects 0! the prior art by simplified inexpensive and efliciently operating circuit instmimentalities.

Still other objects and advantages will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 represents a schematic representation of the circuit of a square wave generator;

Fig. 2 represents a modification oi the circuit of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 represents the inclusion of a circuit of the general character shown by Pig. 1 with a cathode ray oscilloscope or oscillograph for observing multipl transients, and,

F18. 4 is a further modification of the circuit arrangement of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings for a further understanding ofthe invention, it will be seen Accordingly, the

In one preferred form of the invention as it is disclosed in this application, the square wave generator unit comprises a pair of vacuum tubes II and I2 which may, for instance, each be of the general type known in the art as the type 6N7, which are thus understood to be twin triodes, although it is obvious that separate triodes may also be used, if desired.

In the arrangement as it is disclosed by Fig. 1, the tube II will be understood to serve as the driver tube and the tube l2 will be understood to constitute the electronic relay tube. The circuit of the electronic relay l2 resembles, in some respects, the well known multi-vibrator in that the plate and control electrode elements are cross connected, but, it must be noted, the use of usual capacitive connections is avoided.

In the preferred form of the circuit, a source of positive voltage is connected at the terminal point [4 and supplied to the plate or anode elements l6 and I6 of the tube l2 through the resistor elements I! and i3 by way of the conductor H, which connects intermediate the resistors l1 and I3. Output energy from the system is derived from the terminal points 20 and 2| connected to the plate or anode elements l and I6 respectively. Connections are made from the plate element ii of the first half of the relay tube l2 to the control electrode 22 of the second half of the tube by way of the resistor element 23, and also a connection i made by way of the conductor 24 from the plate or anode element I! to the plate or anode element 25 of the second half of the driver tube ll. Similarly, the plate or anode element l6 of the second half of the relay tube l2 connects to the control electrode or grid 26 of the first half of this relay tube l2 by way of the resistor 21 and, as was the case with the connection of the plate or anode element is of the relay tub 12 to the plate or-anode element 25 of the driver tube H, the plate or anode element l6 of the second half of the relay tube I2 connects to the plate or anode 23 of the first half of the driver tube l l by way of a similar conductor 29.

The cathode elements 30 of the relay tube l2 connect to ground 3| by way of the cathode res'istor 32 and, similarly, a, leak resistor 33 is provided between ground 3| and the control electrode 26 of the first half of the tube, and, likewise, a leak resistor 34 connects between ground 3| and the grid or control electrode 22 of the second half of the relay tube l2.

Connections to the driver tube l I from the relay tube l2 are also made by way of the conductor 35 connecting the control electrode 26 of the first half of the relay tube [2 to the grid or control electrode 36 of the first half of the driver tube I I. This connection is made by way of the time constant circuit comprising the resistor element 31 and the condenser 38, which condenser element 38 has one terminal connected to ground 3| and'the other terminal connected both to the control electrode 36 and to the lower end of the resistor 31. Similarly, the second half of the relay tube l2 connects with the second half of the driver tube in such a manner that the grid or control electrode 22 of the relay tube l2 connects to the grid or control electrode 33 of the driver tube H by way of a similar time constant circuit comprising the resistor 40 and a capacitor 41, which latter element also has one of its'terminals connected to ground 3| and the other terminal connected to the lower end of the resistor 40 and alsoto the control electrode 39.

assess:

Biasing voltage for the cathode elements 42 of the driver tube II is provided by means of the resistor 43 connected by way of the conductor 44 to the terminal l4, whereat high positive potential for the plate or anode elements of each of the relay and driver tubes I2 and II is provided, so that normally the cathode elements 42 are biased positively relative to ground 3| from the source connected to the terminal l4 through the second biasing resistor 46 which connects to ground 3|.

Impulse potentials arranged for controlling the driver and relay unit are applied from an appropriate source (not shown) so connected at the terminal point 46 that the signals are applied by way of the condenser 41 to control the tube ll. Thus, if the applied impulses are applied with negative polarity at the terminal point 46, the cathode elements 42 of the driver tube II will be carried in the negative direction. The wave representations shown adjacent the input terminal 46 and the output terminals 20 and 2| are intended to represent schematically the general form of the input and the output signals or waves in the system.

In the operation of the arrangement hereinabove disclosed, it is seen that the tube arrangement I2 is essentially resistance coupled with mutual feedback provided by the

resistors

23 and 34 on the one hand, and 21 and 33 on the other hand, Consequently, it becomes apparent that the system is stable in only two conditions of operation and that is with either the left half or the right half, also called the first half and the second half, of the tube l2 cut oil respectively, so that at the plate or anode elements I5 and I6 only two levels of voltages are available, as are shown by the curves adjacent the output terminal points 23 and 2!.

If it is desired to drive this relay tube l2 by a series of applied impulses of substantially uniform polarity occurring at an arbitrary repetition rate, this is then provided by means of the driver tube l I to which the impulses shown adjacent the input terminal 46 are applied.

It can be seen that the two plate or

anode elements

26 and 25 of the first and second halves of the driver tube I l are in parallel with opposite plate or anode elements l6 and i5, respectively, of the relay tube l2. The

control electrodes

36 and 33 of the driver tube H are also in parallel with

like control electrodes

26 and 22, respectively, of the relay tube, and are connected with this relay tube by way of the retardation or time constant circuits comprising the resistor 31 and condenser 38 on the one hand, and the resistor 40 and the condenser 4| on the other hand. Therefore, in the stationary condition and in a non-operative state, the grid bias on the

grids

36 and 26 and upon the

grids

33 and 22 are mutually identical, but by virtue of the application of positive biasto the cathode elements 42 from the source of positive voltage connected to the terminal 14, this cathode is maintained at sufficiently high positive bias relative to the

anode elements

28 and 25 that both halves of the tube are cut off. Any controlling signal pulses applied from the input terminal point 46 by way of the condenser 41 and the conductor 49 to the cathode elements 42 are intended, in the arrangement of Fig. 1, to be of negative polarity so as to overcome the effect of the positive cathode. bias applied from the connection of positive voltage to the'source l4. If, now, an impulse of negative polarity is applied to the input terminal 46, only one of the two halves resistors the retardation or 1 ,ing action of the tube l pletely cancelled and the complete functioning preventing the-grid bias on the ,onestate of operation amass? Y 3 of the driver tube II that is the half in which the ing; such negative peaks are without objection. arid or control electrode 8! or I! was of less negbut in some applications in the arrangement of ative bias prior to the arrival of the impressed the system it is particularly desirable that the impulses, will give a negative and amplified plate current peak. If it is assumed, for instance, that this is the left hand half or first half of the driver tube II, then it becomes apparent that the right hand half'of the tube is left half of the relay tube blocked and that the I! also becomes conducting; with its right hand half also non-conducting-and the plate or anode element ll then at the higher positive voltage, level. as is indicated by the voltage curve appearing at the ter- 'I'his causes then a voltage peak minal point 2|. of negative polarity to appear across the'resistor II, and this voltage peak is' transmitted back to the grid or control conducting half of electrode of the previously the relay tube I! by the voltage divider arrangement provided byway of the 2! and I). Accordingly, the first 1 half of the-relay tube l2 willnow become non-con-- ducting with'the effect thatithe electronic relay 1 jumpsinto the other stable condition with the two triode sections changing in the operational state.

g V .25 time delay" circuits provided ;-by the resistor 31 and the condenser-[ll become'oi Under these circumstances itjwillbe seen that importance, as doesthe time delay circuit probecomes apparent at once that without'the in= vided' by the resistor so and the {condenser u. -f. It

instantaneously eil'ective on the grid orcontrol electrode 26 of' the tube r with the grid or control electrode fnectsto ground at ll.- iorming a part of the .designated in Fig. -2 as smaller than the condenser shown in Fig. 1.

.clusion of the timedelay circuits, the'p'ot'entialj noted, particularly-in this connection,

negative peaks be avoided, so that the arrangement of Fig. 2 provides a suitable arrangement for accomplishing this aim and objective, and this is" done through the use of two separate relay tubes III and II which are of the tetrode or screen grid type. instead of the single relay tube dis- BI and I! respectively, rather asshown by Fig. l. It will be erally speaking, the connections from troi electrode 66 of: the

relay tube 60 is connected I 36 ofthe' driver tube II by way of conductor and the time cone ,mnt circuit comprising'ithe-resistor- 11 and the [condenser 38, which latter 'element-,also 'con- The condenser element ime; constant circult is "(since it .is usually Y similarly, the control'electrode I9 ofthe driver I? would be transmitted I withoutdelay to the grid or-control electrode 38. I of the tube I I, which'would form a 'sortof undee: sirable feedback with the result that the drive I would tend to be, comof the systemarrested in theabsenceof such' delay.- The delay circuits, however, take care of driving-tube ll V electrodes of the tubes fromchanging itsivalue forfthe duration pmhe :driving impulses as impressed upon theterminal point 46. The delay circuit also introcliuiesa"de- I lay for'any change in'the grid'bias immediately efiective after the relay tubell hasshifted from to the other. should be understood that the delay circuit provided by either the resistor 31 and

condenser

36, 1

38 or the resistor 40 and condenser 4| was of the order of micro-seconds, so that it becomes apparent that the relay tube l2 will be capable of following and performing extremely high frequency relaying action while of course there is no low frequency limit on the output of the square waves.

Fig. 2, discloses a modification of the arrangement ofrFig. 1, and in this figure, various common parts have like reference numerals.

From what has been explained, it is apparent that the arrangement of Fig. 1, while providing square waves of desired character, is generally of the type where, in some instances, some sharp negative peaks may occur in the output due to the action of the driver stage. Generally speak- However, it

the time constant at the terminals to the cathode 42 pentode tube could be is shown by Fig. 3

tube I I connectswith the "grid or: control. electrade 6'! of the relay tube ll-fby way'oi'the conl and the time constant, circuit .comprising the resistor ill and the condenser 4|,

ductor 68 similar to the connection 'made' to the-control yelectrode'" of the tube 80.2;

. It will be seen, from the by Fig. 2, that suitable potentials for the" screen '80 and are provided by way of the voltage divider arrangement in the 1 form of the resistors 89. 10,1! and 12, of which the latter is by-passedby a condenser I3, connected to receive energy from the source of potential connected between the terminals l4 and I4 and fed to supply voltages'for all Of the tubes Ii and by way of the conductor ll. Output energy from the relay tubes 80 and BI, is derived l'l' andlil respectively. in accordance with the controlling impulses supplied of the driver tube ll by way .of suitable connections made at the terminal points 46 and-46'.

The high frequency response of the arrangement of Fig. 2 is, generally speaking, about twice that of the arrangement of Fig. 1 but, as contrasted with the arrangement of Fig. 1, three separate tubes are included against the two tubes of the arrangement of Fig. 1, although a twin substituted for tubes 60 and 6|, if desired, withoutany substantial circuit modifications.

In a further application of the arrangement of Fig. I particularly, a modification of the system where the square wave generator unit has been combined with the cathode ray oscillograph device to enable an observer to view on the screen or target of the cathode ray tube, simultaneously two waves which it is desired to observe. As shown by the arrangement of Fig. 3, the square wave generator comprising the driver tube ll and the relay tube 12 is substantially in accordance with the arrangement of Fig. 1, as are the time delay circuits comprising Pulses from the driving tube ii are fed by wayof the conductors l2 and 63 to the the plate and output circuits or the plate ,to the screen and the-grid to the grid ofthe tubes of Fig. 2 are reversed, as, compared to the arrangementofFlgJ. v I g f f In the arrangementoi Fig. 2, the grid or-conarrangement shown the plate. I and control electrode I09 4 the resistor-condenser combination 31-40 and In the arrangement shown by Fig. 3, the transients to be observed will be produced on the screen or target (not shown) of the cathode ray tube conventionally represented as 00. This tube includes the usual arrangement of the deflector plate pairs 0I0I' and 02-02, herein shown as electrostatic plates for deflecting the beam in two mutually perpendicular patterns. A conductive coating forming the second anode 03 of the tube is connected to ground 04 by way of the conductor shown. and one deflecting plate 0| of the plate pair lI-0I' is maintained at the resultant second anode voltage. The second anode element 03 is connected ahead of the first deflecting plate pair 0202. and next adjacent this anode element 03' is the first anode 00. which is maintained at a suitable potential relative to the cathode 00 by means of the connection to the adjustable tap of the potentiometer 00.

tube I02, and as was indicated in my above mentloned co-pending application, a substantially linear saw-tooth voltage wave is then adapted to appear across any of the selected capacity elements III which may be connected in circuit by the switching arm III, so that linear amplification of the developed saw-tooth voltage wave may be carried on in the amplifier tube III without distortion.

This connection of the output energy from the oscillator tube I02 to the control electrode II2 of the amplifier tube I00 is provided by the indicated connection through the resistors Ill and The control electrode 01 is connected adjacent Y the cathode emitter 00 and suitable control potentials for providing blanking, for instance, on the beam return path or "snap-back are applied by way of the conductor 00 connected to the control electrode on the one hand, and to the beam blanking control means (later to be described herein) on the other hand. 7

At the terminal point 90 a, suitable source of negative potential relative to ground 04 is connected. This voltage source is provided for the purpose of applying proper bias to the control electrode 31 at the same time maintaining the cathode ata predetermined potential relative to the first and second anode elements 05, 03' and 03 as indicated.

Deflection potentials for deflecting the beam developed within the tube in one of its two directions of deflection are provided by.the-conductor f2 and the capacity coupling 03, so that a connection is provided directly to the relay tube I2. A second connection by way of the'conductor 04 and the capacitor 95 is provided for supplying energy to the deflecting plate from the output or the amplifier tubes 80-01, later to be described. Similarly, deflection voltage from a deflection voltage generator is applied by way of the conductor 98 and the capacity coupling 00 for deflecting the developed cathode ray beam in a direction mutually perpendicular to the direction of deflection provided by the plate pair 02-42.

Considering now the square wave generator unit comprising the driver tube. II and the relay tube I2, energy for driving this combination is supplied by way of the conductor IM and thecapacity 41- from a deflection voltage generator which is capable of producing suitable driving impulses. erator is similar to that disclosed particularly by my co-pending application Serial No.*434,805, filed March 16, 1942, wherein the sweep generator unit consists essentially of a blocking oscillator tube I02 and an amplifier tube I03, as explained in the last referred to co-pending application.

Generally speaking, there is provided in this arrangement a connection for a source of synchronizing impulses which may be provided by way of the terminal connection I04 and fed to the oscillator tube I02 by way of the condenser I05 and into the cathode circuit by way of the The feedback potentiometer connection I00. transformer I01 is connected, as shown, between 0! the H5 and the conductor IIB, as was explained in the aforesaid co-pending application. Suitable voltages for operating all of the tubes in the system are provided by the rectifier tube I20 connected by way of the transformer l2I in known manner with the source of voltage applied to the terminal points I22, which voltage source is preferably such that the supplied energy is fed to the transformer at the power supply frequency of 60 cycles. Connected to the output of the rectifier tube I20 are two separate filter chains comprising the condenser and resistance filter combinations I23-I24 and I25-I28 respectively, at which the desired voltages are developed and across which condensers appear currents of pre- ,polarity so as to provide determined magnitude, it being appreciated that the current rating supplied by way of the conductor I! for the driver and relay tubes and the amplifiers 90 and 91 is, generally speaking, higher than that supplied by way of the conductor I21 to energizethe oscillator and amplifier tubes I02 and I03.

In the oscillator combination, the energy developed across the plate or output resistor I20, which is connected with the plate coil of the transformer I01 is, strictly speaking, of negative the impulses which may be fed by way of the connection IOI and the coupling condenser 41 to the cathode 42 of the driver tube of the square wave generator. These impulses occur at tive impulses, which occur at the saw-tooth fre- Y quency, are caused to appear in the conductor 09 which connects to the control electrode 81 of the cathode ray tube, so that they can be used to blank out the cathode ray during the 'eturn motion of its deflection, that is, during the snapback period while the beam is moving most rapidly. The cathode ray tube control electrode 01 Generally speaking, this sweep genthus couples to the oscillator I02 by way of the conductor 09 and the coupling condenser I30.

Output energy from the amplifier tube I00 is derived from the conductor I3I connected to the plate or anode element I32 of this tube, and

this is supplied by way of the coupling condenser 99 and conductor 90 to deflect the beam in the cathode ray tube by the application of potential between the deflecting plate elements 0|. and 0|. The output energy from the relay tube I2 is supplied from the plate or anode element IE to the screen electrode I33 of the first relay tube 96 by way of the condenser I34, and, similarly, the screen electrode I35 of the amplifier tube 91 is energized through a coupling condenser I26 and the conductor I31 so that it rethe saw-tooth frequency and thus trigger the driver tube-relay tube combinaceives energy output from the plate or anode II of the first half of the relay tube I2.

At the same time that the energy output from the relay tube I2 is being supplied to the amplifler units 90 and 91, this output is also being supplied by way of the conductor 92, so as to control the vertical shitting or displacement or the wave traces produced upon the luminescent target or screen (not shown) of the cathode ray tube so that successive transients, as they appear upon the tube screen, shall be shifted or displaced rela-- tive to each other, and the rapid deflection, as applied from the deflection unit comprising the tubes I02 and I03, shall not follow successive identical traces, but rather be shifted laterally so that the arrangement becomes particularly useful for studying phenomena of time lag or relative phase shift between two signals. It is, of

.course, evident that in such use the two "zero lines" are displaced, but, even so, this is desirable as it gives a better opportunity to compare wave phenomena. For this purpose a suitable volume control is provided in the form of the potentiometer I40 connected between the plate or anode elements I5 and I0 and the conductor 92 connected to the adjustable tap or this potentiometer.

at terminal points I44 and I45 alternately influence the deflecting electrode 92'.

With the slider on potentiometer I40 in a midpoint position, as shown by Fig. 3, the two produced transient tracings on the cathode ray tubev 90 appear along the same axis. with the slider moved to the right or left, that is, toward the connection to anode or plate I5 or toward or to the connection to anode or plate I6 will determine whether the transients traced for the signals applied at terminals I44 and I45 shall be moved to a position above or below each other. In other words, the adjustment of the tapping point on potentiometer I40 determines the relative displacement of the two transient tracings produced.

The circuit arrangement of Fig. 4 shows a still slightly further modification which is particularly adaptable for use where the controlling pulses are 01' positive polarity as contrasted with the negative polarity pulse control shown by the arrangements of Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

In the arrangement of Fig. 4, the input voltage is schematically represented as being the source I6I which connects between the terminal point I62 and ground I53 and feeds its energy by way I of the conductors I64 and I65 through the cou- The energy output from the square wave generator and relay unit, as it is applied to'the amplifler tubes 99 and 91 on the screen grid elements thereof, controls the amplification so that there appears in the output conductor 94 connected to the plate elements I42 and I43 of the tubes 00 and 91 respectively,.suitable amplified energy and input signals applied to terminal points I44 and I45 respectively, which is controlled in accordance with whether or not the first or the second half of the relay tube I2 is in operation, so that one or the other of the tubes 95 and 91 will be amplifying the signal energy impressed at the terminal points I44 and I45 which represent the two transients to be observed through the application thereof to the deflecting plate element 92'. The impressed transients are fed to the tubes 99 and 91 by way of the coupling condensers I45 and I41 respectively, so as to be applied between the control grids I 49 and I49 and the cathodes I50 and I5I respectively of these tubes by way or the potentiometer connections I52 and I53, as shown.

The driver tube II, as above explained, controls the operation of the relay tube I2 so that onehalf of the relay tube or the other half thereof is in a conductive state. Thus, with the plate members I5 and I6 of relay tube I2 being connected to the grid electrodes I35 and I33 of tubes 91 and 90 it can be seen that one or the other of the last named tubes is conducting in accordance with which of the relay tube halves draws current. The tubes 96 and 91 have their anode or plate elements I42 and I43 connected to the source of positivevoltage in conductor I9 through a common load resistor I 99'and these plate or anode elements likewise connect to the deflecting electrode 82' through conductor 94 and the coupling condenser 95. The input signals which represent the two transients to be observed are continuously and independently applied at terminal points I44 and I45 and depending upon which of tubes 99 and 91 conduct either of these transients is applied to the deflecting electrode 02'. With the arrangement as disclosed the relay tube I2 is so triggered that each half thereof draws current on every second cycle of the oscillator I02 and consequently the transients applied pling condensers I81 and I50 of the delay circuit including the resistors I59 and I10 respectively which connect to ground I63'by way oi the leak resistors Ill and I12. In this way, a positive pulse from the source I I BI is fed to the grid or control electrodes I12 and I13 respectively of the driver tube I14 which has its plate or anode elements I 15 and I15 cross connected to the plate or anode elements I11 and I19 respectively of the relay tube I19 and, as above pointed out in connection with the. description of Fig. l, the grid or control electrodes I and I8I of the relay tube I19, in an inoperative state of the tubes I14 and I19, have a potential corresponding respectively to the grid or control electrodes I12 and I13 of the driver tube I14.

The arrangement, as it is disclosed by Fig. 4, provides that positive potential for the plate or anode elements of the driver and relay tubes I14 and I19 may be applied at the terminal points I03 and I04, of which the latter is connected to ground, for instance, I53, and, accordingly, the positive voltage for the plate or anode elements of the tubes is applied by way of the conductors I85 and I85 and the resistors I91 and I 90. The resistors I99 and I respectively form, with the resistors I91 and I98, a voltage divider by which suitable bias is applied to the grid or control electrodes I80 and I 0i of the relay tube I19.

For the purpose of applying a constant bias to the cathode element I9I of the driver tube I14,

suitable bleeder resistors I92 and I93 are connected with the conductor I85 which carries the positive voltage from the source connected to the terminal I03, and the other terminal of these resistors connects, as indicated, to ground at I53, so that the cathode elements I9I have a constant bias and the cathodes are blocked from ground by means of the condenser element I94. Similarly, the cathodes I95 arebiased relative to ground by means or the resistor I99, as indicated. i

Output energy from the system is derived at the terminals I91 and I99 respectively, and the output voltages are, relatively speaking, as indicated by the wave forms immediately adjacent each output terminal. Similarly, the impressed input voltage is of the general nature indicated by the wave form adjacent the input source schematically represented as Iii.

The action of the circuit of Fig. 4, generally speaking, is substantially like that explained in connection with Fig. 1, provided the impedance of the source IGI is generally small as compared to the leakage of the resistors I69 and H0, which are preferably of the general order of one megohm.

Further, generally speaking, the arrangement of Fig. 4 is so constituted that the power taken from the source is usually less than explained in connection with the modification of Fig. 1, and similarly, the reaction of the system upon the source is also generally reduced.

A still further advantage of the arrangement of Fig. 4 is that it is possible, in this connection, to take advantage of the gain provided by the driver tube ill, with the result that the system has an increased voltage sensitivity which enables it to respond fully to input and controlling pulses which are of lesser magnitude, generally speaking, than those applied with the system of Fig. 1, wherein the control is under the influence of negative pulses.

It is, of course, apparent that many and other modifications may be made in this system without departing from the spirit and scope or the foregoing disclosure, and therefore I believe myself to be entitled to make and use any and all of these modifications which fall fairly within the spirit and scope of the invention and the hereto appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A signalling circuit including thermionic driver tube means which include a first and a second independent electron path and wherein collector and control electrode means are included in each path, thermionic relay tube means which include a first and a second independent electron path and wherein collector and control electrode means are also included in each path, means to parallelly connect the control electrode means of the first path of the driver and relay means and to similarly connect the control electrode means of the second electron paths of said driver and relay means, means to connect the collector electrode means of the first electron path of the driver and the second electron path of the relay tube and to similarly connect the col lector electrode means of the second path of the driver means and the first path of the relay means, a time delay circuit included in the connection between the parallelly connected control electrode means of each paths, and terminal means for applying impulse signals to the thermionic driver means, and terminal means for deriving output energy from the thermionic relay means.

2. An electron tube circuit including thermionic driver tube means which comprise a first and a second independent electron path and wherein collector and control electrode means are included in each path, thermionic relay tube means which include a first and a second independent electron path and wherein collector and control electrode means are also included in each path, means to parallelly connect the control electrode means of the first electron paths of the driver tube and relay tube means and to similarly connect the second electron paths of said driver tube and relay tube means, means to connect the collector electrode means of the first electron path of the driver tube means and the second electron of the driver and relay:

path of the relay tube means and to similarly connect the collector electrode means of the second path of the driver means and the first path of the relay means, impedance means included in the connection between each of the said parallelly connected control electrode means or each of the driver and relay paths, terminalmeans for applying controlling impulse signals to the said driver tube means, and terminal means for deriving output energy from the said relay tube means.

3. A signal keying circuit including thermionic driver tube means which include a first and a second independent electron path and wherein collector and control electrode means are included.

in each path, thermionic relay tube means which include a first and a second independent electron path and wherein collector and control electrode means are also included in each path, means to parallelly connect the control electrode means of the first electron paths of the driver means and relay means and to similarly connect the second electron paths of said driver means and said relay means, means to connect the collector electrode means of the first electron path of the driver means and the second electron path of the relay means and to similarly connect the collector electrode means of the second path of the driver means and the first path of the relay means, terminal means for applying impulse signals to the driver tube means to initiate an electron flow in one of the said electron paths thereof and thereby control an electron flow in one of the electron paths of the relay tube means, time delay means included in the interconnection of the control electrode means between the driver and relay means, said time delay means being adapted to control the rate at which the conductivity conditions of the alternate electron paths of said driver tube are able to follow changes in conductivity of the said relay means, and terminal means for deriving output energy from the relay means.

4. A signalling circuit including thermionic driver tube means which include a first and a second independent electron path and wherein a collector means, a control electrode means and a cathode are included in each path, thermionic relay tube means which include a first and a second independent electron pathand wherein a collector means, a controlelectrode means'and a cathode are also included in each path, means to parallelly connect the control electrode means of the first path of the driver and relay means and to similarly connect the control electrode means of the second electron path of said driver and relay means, means to connect the collector electrode means of the first electron path of the driver and the second electron path of the relay tube and to similarly connect the collector electrode means of the second path of the driver means and the first path of the relay means,

means to connect all of the cathodes to a common point of fixed potential, a pair of time delay circuits each including a series resistor and condenser combination, the resistor element of said time delay circuits being included in the connection between the parallelly connected control electrode means of each of the driver and relay paths and the condensers of said circuits being connected between the driver tube means control electrodes and the said point of fixed potential, terminal means for applying impulse signals to the control electrode to cathode circuit of each 15 electron path of the driver tube means, and terrections of deflection,

minal means for deriving output energy from the thermionic relay means.

5. A signalling circuit including thermionic driver tube means which include a first and a second independent electron path and wherein an electron emitter, a collector electrode and control electrode means are included in each path,

thermionic relay tube means which include a first I and a second independent electron path 'and wherein an electron emitter and a plurality of cold electrode means are also included in each path, means to parallelly connect the control electrode means of the first electron path of the driver tube means and one of the cold electrodes of the relay tube means, and means to similarly connect the control electrode means of the second electron paths of said driver tube means and a cold electrode of the relay tube means corresponding to that connected in the first parallel connection, means to connect the collector electrode means of the first electron path of the driver and an independent cold electrode of one of the electron paths of the relay tube means and to similarly connect the collector electrode means of the second path of the driver means and an independent cold electrode in the other electron path of the relay means, means to connect all of the electron emitter electrode to a point of substantially constant potential, a pair of time delay circuits having one element connected to the point of fixed potential, said delay circuits each being included in the connection between the control electrode of the driver means and the said connected cold electrodes of the relay means, terminal means for applying impulse signals to the said thermionic driver means, and terminal means for deriving output energy from the thermionic relay means.

6. Cathode ray oscillograph apparatus comprising a cathode ray tube having means included therein for developing a cathode ray beam and a target upon which the cathode ray beam is adapted to impinge to produce a record, electrode means for deflecting the cathode ray beam in two directions each substantially normal with respect to the other, commutating means comprising thermionic driver tube means and thermionic relay tube means, said driver tube means including a first electron path and a second independent electron path and having a collector electrode means and a control electrode means included in each of said paths, and said relay tube means also including a first electron path and a second independent electron path and having a collector electrode means and a control electrode means included in each of said paths, means for parallelly connecting the control electrode means of the first electron paths of each of the driver means and the relay means and to similarly connect the control electrode means of the second electron paths of each of said driver means and said relay means, means to connect the collector electrode means of the first electron path of the driver means and the collector electrode means of the second electron path of the relay means and to similarly connect the collector electrode means of the second path of the driver means and the collector electrode means of the first electron path of the relay means, impedance means included in the connection between each of the said connected control electrode means of the driver and relay means, a deflection generator for developing substantially sawtooth wave formations connected to deflect the electron beam of the cathode ray tube in one oi its two dimeans for energizing the driver tube means of the commutator with impulses at a frequency corresponding to the sawtooth frequency generated by said deflection generator means. means for deriving from the relay means of said commutator pulse energy of alternating positive and negative polarity from the collector electrode means of the said relay means, and means for biasing the other of said deflecting means by said pulse energy alternately, and means responsive to the output of the said relay mean for applying a multiplicity of transients for observation alternately to the said last named deflecting means.

7. The system claimed in claim 6 comprising, in addition, a plurality of amplifying means to which independent transient signals are applied, and means for rendering said amplifier tubes operative and inoperative under the control of the output energy from said relay means, and means for applying, the triggering impulses supplied to the said driver tube also to control the beam production within the cathode ray tube.

8. Cathode ray oscillograph apparatus comprising a cathode ray tube having means included therein for developing and modulating acathode ray beam, and a target element upon which the said cathode ray beam is adapted to impinge, a pair of deflecting electrode means for deflecting the developed cathode ray beam relative to the target in two mutually perpendicular directions, a plurality of terminal connections for connecting to a plurality of signal circuits-electron tube amplifiers connected to receive energy from each terminal connection, said electron tube amplifiers having a common output circuit and means for connecting one of the pair of beam deflecting means to the said common output circuit, a sweep generator means for developing substantially saw-tooth wave energy,'means for applying saidsaw-tooth wave energy to the second of said pair of beam deflecting means, a commutating means comprising a driver tube means and a relay tube mean said driver tube and relay tube means each including a first and a second independent electron path with control electrode means and collector electrode means included in each path, means for parallelly connecting the control electrode means of the first electron paths of each of said driver and said relay means and for similarly connecting the control electrode means of the second electron paths of each of said driver and said relay means, mean to connect the collector electrode means of the first electron path of the driver means and the collector electrode means of the second electron path of the relay means and to similarly connect the collector electrode means of the second electron path of the driver means and the collector electrode means of the first electron path of the relay means, a time constant circuit included as a part of the connection between the said collector electrode means of the said driver to relay paths, means for developing pulse energy at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the said sweep circuit generator, connection means for simultaneously applying saiddeveloped pulse energy to trigger the electron paths of the driver tube means and simultaneously to suppress instantaneously the developed electron beam in the said tube, means for developing from the separate electron paths of the relay tube means energy alternately varying between minimum and maximum values, connection means for supplying said energy to the said amplifiers for alteralternate wave traces are nately rendering the independent amplifiers operative and inoperative at a rate coinciding with the rate at which pulse energy is developed, and a second connection for simultaneously biasing the deflecting electrode means to which the transient signals are applied by fixed amounts, so that displaced one from the other by predetermined amounts.

9. Cathode ray oscillograph apparatus comprising a cathode ray tube having means included therein for developing and modulating a cathode ray beam and a target element upon which the said cathode ray beam is adapted to impinge, a pair of deflecting electrode means for deflecting the developed cathode ray beam relative to the target in two mutually perpendicular directions, a plurality of terminal connections for connecting to a plurality of signal sources, electron tube amplifier means connected to receive energy from each terminal connection, said electron tube amplifiers having a common output circuit and means for energizing one of the pair of beam deflecting means to the said common output circuit for deflecting the developed cathode ray beam in one of its directions of traverse of the target under the control of the signal output from the said amplifiers, a sweep generator means for developing substantially saw-tooth wave energy, and means for applying said saw-tooth wave energy to the second of said pair of beam deflecting means for deflecting said beam along a timing axis in a direction mutually perpendicular to the direction of deflection initiated by the output energy from said amplifiers, a commutating means comprising a driver tube means and a relay tube means, said driver tube and relay tube means each including a first and a second independent electron path with control electrode means and collector electrode means included in each path, means for parallelly connecting the control electrode means of the first electron paths of each of said driver and said relay means and for similarly connecting the control electrode mean of the second electron paths of each of said driver and said relay means, means to connect the collector electrode means of the first electron path of the driver means and the collector electrode means of the second electron path of the relay means and to similarly connect the collector electrode means of the second electron path of the driver means and the collector electrode means of the first electron path of the relay means, a time constant circuit included as a part of the connection between the said collector electrode means of the said driver to relay paths, means for developing pulse energy at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the said sweep circuit generator, connection means for simultaneously applying said developed pulse energy to trigger one or the other of the electron paths of thedriver tube means and simultaneously to suppress instantaneously the developed electron beam in the said tube, means for developing from the sep arate electron paths of the relay tube means energy alternately varying between minimum and maximum values, connection means for supplying said energy from the relay to key the said amplifiers and alternately rendering the independent amplifiers operative and inoperative at a rate coinciding with the rate at which pulse energy is developed, and a second connection means for simultaneously supplying the relay output energy to the deflecting means to provide a bias whereby alternate wave traces are displaced one from the other by predetermined amounts.

10. Cathode ray oscillograph apparatus comprising a cathode ray tube having means included therein for developing and modulating a cathode ray beam and a target element upon which the said cathode ray beam is adapted to impinge, a pair of deflecting electrode means for deflecting the developed cathode ray beam relative to the target in two mutually perpendicular directions, a plurality of terminal connections for connectin to a plurality of transient signal circuits, an electron tube amplifier connected to receive energy from each terminal connection, said electron tube amplifiers having a common output circuit and means for connecting one of the pair of beam defleeting means to the said common output circuit, a sweep circuit generator means for developing substantially saw-tooth wave energy, and means for applying said saw-tooth wave energy to the second of said pair of beam deflecting means, a commutating means comprising a frequency dividing and switching amplifier tube means, mean for developing pulse energy at a frequency corresponding to the saw-tooth fre- I quency generated by the said sweep circuit generator, connection means for simultaneously applying said developed pulse energy to trigger the frequency dividing and switching amplifier tube means and to suppress instantaneously the developed electron beam in the said tube, and connection means for supplying output energy from the said frequency dividing and switching amplifier to alternately render the independent transient signal amplifiers operative and inoperative at a rate corresponding to half that of the sawtooth energy, and a second connection for simultaneously biasing by flxed amounts the deflecting electrode means to which the transient signals are applied so that alternate wave traces are displaced one from the other.

11. Cathode ray oscillograph apparatus comprising a cathode ray tube having means included therein for developing and modulating a cathode ra beam and a target element upon which the said cathode ray beam is adapted to impinge, a pair of deflecting electrode means for deflecting the developed cathode ray beam relative to the target in two mutually perpendicular directions, a plurality of terminal connections for connecting to a plurality of transient signal circuits, an electron tube amplifier connected to receive energy from each terminal connection, said electron tube amplifiers having a common output circuit and means for connecting one of the pair means and to suppress instantaneously the de-,

veloped electron beam in the said tube, connection means for supplying output energy from the said frequency dividing and switching amplifier to alternately render the independent transient signal amplifiers operative and inoperative at a rate corresponding to half. that of the saw-tooth energy, a second connection for simultaneously biasing by fixed amounts the deflecting electrode means to which the transient signals are applied so that alternate wave traces are displaced one from the other, and means to initiate each alternate scanning cycle at a like time in the scanning cycle of the timing axis path.

12. Cathode ray oscillograph apparatus comprising a cathode ray tube having means included therein for developing and modulating a cathode ray beam and a target element upon which the said cathode ray beam is adapted to impinge, a pair of deflecting electrode means for deflecting the developed cathode ray beam relative to the target in two mutually perpendicular directions, a plurality of terminal connections for connecting to a plurality of transient signal circuits, an electron tube amplifier connected to receive energy from each terminal connection, said electron tube amplifiers having a common output circuit and means for connecting one of the pair of beam deflecting means to the said common output circuit, a sweep circuit generator means for developing substantially saw-tooth wave energy, and means for applying said sawtooth wave energy to the second of said pair of beam deflecting means, a commutating means comprising a frequency dividin and switching amplifier tube means, means for developing pulse energy at a frequency corresponding to the sawtooth irequency generated by the said sweep cir cuit generator, connection means for simultaneously applying said developed pulse energy to trigger the frequency dividing and switching amplifier tube means and to suppress instantaneously the developed electron beam in the said i tube, connection means for supplying output energy from the said frequency dividing and switching amplifier to alternately render the independent transient signal amplifiers operative and inoperative at a rate corresponding to half that of the saw-tooth ene gy, a second connection for simultaneously biasing by fixed amounts the deflecting electrode means to which the transient signals are applied so that alternate wave traces are displaced one from the other, and means for interlocking the switching and timing of the defiection paths to align the successive wave traces with regard to each other.

13. A signalling circuit including thermionic driver tube means which include a first and a second independent electron path and wherein collector and control electrode means are included in each path, thermionic relay tube means which include a first and a second independent electron path and wherein a collector, a control electrode, and at least a screen electrode means are also included in each path, means to parallelly connect the control electrode means of the first path of the driver and the relay means and to similarly connect the control electrode means of the second electron paths of the said driver and relay means, means to connect the collector electrode means of the first electron path of the driver and the screen electrode element of the first electron path of the relay tube means and to similarly connect the collector electrode means of the second path of the driver means and the second path of the relay'means, a time delay circuit includedin the connection between the parallelly'connected control electrode means of each of the driver and relay paths, terminal means for applying impulse signals to the thermionic driver means, and terminal means for deriving output energy from the thermionic relay means.

KURT SCHLESINGER.