US3898519A - System for generating multistable voltage and/or current steps - Google Patents

System for generating multistable voltage and/or current steps Download PDF

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Publication number
US3898519A
US3898519A US473617A US47361774A US3898519A US 3898519 A US3898519 A US 3898519A US 473617 A US473617 A US 473617A US 47361774 A US47361774 A US 47361774A US 3898519 A US3898519 A US 3898519A
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United States
Prior art keywords
electrode
accelerating
voltage
emitter
collector
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Expired - Lifetime
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US473617A
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English (en)
Inventor
Wolfgang Schroder
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Nokia Deutschland GmbH
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International Standard Electric Corp
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Priority claimed from DE19732326772 external-priority patent/DE2326772C3/de
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Assigned to ALCATEL N.V., DE LAIRESSESTRAAT 153, 1075 HK AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, A CORP OF THE NETHERLANDS reassignment ALCATEL N.V., DE LAIRESSESTRAAT 153, 1075 HK AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, A CORP OF THE NETHERLANDS ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORP OF DE
Assigned to NOKIA GRAETZ GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHRANKTER HAFTUNG reassignment NOKIA GRAETZ GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHRANKTER HAFTUNG ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: ALCATEL N.V.
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K3/00—Circuits for generating electric pulses; Monostable, bistable or multistable circuits
    • H03K3/02—Generators characterised by the type of circuit or by the means used for producing pulses
    • H03K3/37—Generators characterised by the type of circuit or by the means used for producing pulses by the use, as active elements, of gas-filled tubes, e.g. astable trigger circuits
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03J—TUNING RESONANT CIRCUITS; SELECTING RESONANT CIRCUITS
    • H03J5/00—Discontinuous tuning; Selecting predetermined frequencies; Selecting frequency bands with or without continuous tuning in one or more of the bands, e.g. push-button tuning, turret tuner
    • H03J5/02—Discontinuous tuning; Selecting predetermined frequencies; Selecting frequency bands with or without continuous tuning in one or more of the bands, e.g. push-button tuning, turret tuner with variable tuning element having a number of predetermined settings and adjustable to a desired one of these settings
    • H03J5/0209—Discontinuous tuning using an electrical variable impedance element, e.g. a voltage variable reactive diode, by selecting the corresponding analogue value between a set of non preset values
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K3/00—Circuits for generating electric pulses; Monostable, bistable or multistable circuits
    • H03K3/02—Generators characterised by the type of circuit or by the means used for producing pulses
    • H03K3/36—Generators characterised by the type of circuit or by the means used for producing pulses by the use, as active elements, of semiconductors, not otherwise provided for

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data
  • a multistable device consisting of an emitter, an ac- I 75 1972 German 232672,, celeratmg electrode and a collector, serving as the May y controlling element in conjunction with a control circuit, is used eg for the remote control of television [52] 7 d receivers.
  • a closed control circuit is formed 56 R f Ct d between the collector and the accelerating electrode, 1 e erences l e for causing stabilization at one of the possible voltage UNiTED STATES PATENTS or current steps.
  • Momentary variation of the accelerl.465,998 8/1923 Rentschler 315/350 X ating voltage will effect the changing to different volt- 2,651,7l7 9/1953 Uttley et al. 1.
  • 328/205 age urrent stepa 2.8l0,072 10/1957 Amatniek 328/205 2,934,657 4/1960 Rack 307/283 X 17 Clalms, 9 Drawing Flg res PATENTED AUG 5 I975 SHEE? 1 PATENTEU 5
  • the present invention relates to a system for generating multistable voltage and/or current steps.
  • Arrangements for generating multistable voltage or current steps are used as electric control elements especially in broadcast and television receivers as well as in related equipments, together with remote controls. They may also be used, however, in computers, counters, measuring instruments, as digital-to-analog converters or as electronic storages. Multistable arrangements have also already been referred to as information storages (see e.g. German Patent Nos. 1,272,368, 1,059,508, 1,085,912, 1,063,207).
  • Multistable arrangements of the aforementioned kind are set by a signal of corresponding duration or by several short-time, e.g. also encoded signals, to the desired voltage or current step which, thereafter, may be stored for any optionally long period of time.
  • test assembly set-up by Franck and Hertz in 1913 for proving the activation of mercury atoms is known, for example, from the book by Wilhelm H. Westphal Lehrbuch der PhysikSpringerverlag Berlin 1941, p. 594. It is the object of the invention, however, to provide a component and to enable the utilization of the effect or the arrangement for generating multistable voltage or current steps respectively.
  • the known test or measuring set-up does likewise not provide for influencing the potential difference between the emitter and the accelerator electrode by the current or voltage variation at the collector electrode.
  • FIG. 1 shows an inventive type of multistable tube in the inventive application to a functionable circuit
  • FIG. 2 shows a diagram of the type known per se, for explaining the activation voltage
  • FIG. 3 is an amendment of the diagram shown in FIG. 2, measured with respect to the accelerator electrode,
  • FIG. 4 shows an enlargement of the circuit employing an amplifier stage in the control circuit at the accelerator electrode
  • FIG. 5 shows a modification of the circuit according to FIG. 1,
  • FIGS. 6a and 6b show a semiconductor arrangement doped in accordance with the invention, of the PNP- and NPN-type, for being used in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 7 shows a circuit example relating to FIGS. 6a and 6b.
  • FIG. 8 shows the use of the example of embodiment shown in FIGS. 6a, 6b or 7, in a closed control circuit.
  • the normal state of an atom is hereinafter referred to as its ground state. From any other higher quantum state it may automatically reach the ground state by the release of energy (e.g. the emission of light).
  • An atom not in the ground state is referred to as an activated (stimulated) atom.
  • the energy required for its activation may be supplied to an atom in different ways, e.g. by the absorption of a light quantum, by mechanical energy (collisions of the molecules at a sufficiently high temperature), moreover by electronic impact, i.e. by the collision of an electron with the atom.
  • Ionization voltage or potential refers to the energy which is necessary for effecting the expulsion of an electron from the atom.
  • the activation voltage provides the colliding electrons with the necessary energy for lifting the atom from its ground state to the next higher step of energy. In order that it can excite again in response to a further impact, the same energy must be supplied to it again. The same is repeated when the applied voltage has become an integral multiple of the activation voltage. When sufficiently increasing the applied voltage, there will thus be obtained that particular electron energy which is sufficient for effect ing the ionization of the atom (ionization voltage or energy necessary for effecting the expulsion of an electron from the atom respectively).
  • FIG. 1 illustrates the realization of the inventive system with the aid of an inventive multistable tube. Since also in this case, the multistable voltage steps are controlled by quantum-mechanical processes, the tube will hereinafter be briefly referred to as the quantum tube.
  • the quantum tube consists of the evacuated bulb or envelope 1 filled with the gas or the vapor of suitable atoms 2 (e.g. mercury) under corresponding pressure.
  • the emitter electrode E is a filament comprising the terminals 3 and 4, for emitting the electrons as soon as it is heated from the source of supply voltage 5.
  • the grid-like accelerating electrode B is connected across the resistor R3 to the positive pole of the source of supply voltage 5, thus causing the electrons which, during their emission, very often collide with the gas atoms elastically without causing any loss of energy but, in the case of unelastic collisions, lose some of their activation energy (about 5 V in the case of mercury), to be attached by suction.
  • the collector electrode K is either reached or not reached, because K is at a lower potential than the accelerating electrode B. Electrons no longer capable of reaching K, are taken up by B.
  • the NPN-transistor T1 is controlled as an emitter follower at its base by the accelerating voltage at B.
  • the collector electrode K is connected to the emitter of T1 while the resistor R4, on the other hand, is applied to the reference potential of the emitter electrode of the quantum tube.
  • the multistable voltage steps are available in low-ohmic fashion.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates how both the stability and the accuracy of the voltage steps can be multiplied by means of an additional amplifier.
  • the transistor T2 has been inserted with its base-emitter path into the current path of the collector electrode K. With its collector current the transistor T2 acts upon the accelerating voltage at the resistor R3; a rising collector current causes a dropping of the accelerating voltage at B. The output voltage is taken off at A.
  • the zener diodes D1 and D2 are applied on one hand to the variable voltage at the output of the emitter follower T1 and, on the other hand, across the series resistors R5 and R6, to the minus and the plus pole of the supply voltage 5 respectively.
  • the zener voltages are chosen thus that they at least exceed the activation voltage and, consequently, one voltage step. With the aid of the switch S these zener voltages can be either added to the voltage at the accelerating electrode B or may be subtracted therefrom respectively.
  • With the aid of the capacitor C1 the time duration of the voltage application is dosed in order thus to release each time only one voltage step variation.
  • the resistor R7 serves to discharge the capacitor C1 during the switching intervals.
  • the switch S may also be replaced by electronic elements, especially for the use in remotecontrol circuits.
  • it may also be appropriate to provide for the capacitor C2 as indicated by the dashline in the drawing, as well as to bridge the capacitor C1, and to remove the Zener diodes D1 and D2.
  • the capacitor C2 When closing the switch S in direction towards R5, the capacitor C2 is charged in accordance with the time constant to more positive values (full battery voltage across R5 to the base of T1 for remaining at the reached voltage step when interrupting the switch S.
  • the switch S When actuating the switch S in direction towards R6, the voltage will drop to lower values (battery voltage via B, R6 to or mass (ground respectively)), for remaining at the reached voltage step when the switch S is interrupted.
  • the switch S may be replaced by electronic elements.
  • FIG. 6a in a way equivalent to the described tube arrangement, shows the inventive system of a semiconductor arrangement with an extrinsic conduction, which is e.g. of the PNP-conductivity type.
  • the N-doped base layer with the terminal B here also designated as the accelerating electrode.
  • the N-doped emitter area which is provided with the emitter contact E, is additionally doped with the atoms or groups or atoms to be activated, if necessary also in a layer-wise manner, with the layers extending vertically in relation to the direction of movement of the charge carriers.
  • the diffusion length in the base layer is adapted in such a way that the charge carriers injected by the emitter will possibly only reach the collector barrier layer and, consequently, the collector terminal K, provided that they, prior thereto and during the activation work, have not lost so much of their energy to the atoms that they recombine already prior thereto.
  • a transistor controlled by energy quantum which, hereinafter, is briefly referred to as a quantum transistor.
  • FIG. 6b For the sake of completeness there is shown in FIG. 6b an NPN-doped design of otherwise the same mode of operation.
  • FIG. 7 shows a practically employed circuit comprising the quantum transistor wherein the resistor R1 as applied to the load resistance R2 of the collector electrode K serves to transfer the voltage variations to the accelerating electrode B.
  • the resistor R1 as applied to the load resistance R2 of the collector electrode K serves to transfer the voltage variations to the accelerating electrode B.
  • the current at K is at a minimum, and the voltage at R2 increases and is transferred across R1 to the base.
  • the multistable voltage steps may be taken off across the resistor R2.
  • R1 and V may also be integrated into the semiconductor arrangement in accordance with the known monolithic IC technique.
  • the amplifier or inverter V is inserted into the control circuit between the collector electrode and the accelerating electrode.
  • the emitter potential of the multistable arrangement serves as the reference potential.
  • An apparatus exhibiting a plurality of stable voltage or current levels comprising:
  • gas disposed in said envelope, said gas being of the type having atoms that may be activated to different stable energy levels;
  • an emitter electrode disposed in said envelope for emitting electrons
  • collector electrode disposed in said envelope and spaced from said emitter electrode for collecting the electrons
  • a closed control circuit means responsive to collector current for stablizing the potential at the accelerat- I ing electrode; and means for maintaining the potential of the collector electrode at a level below the potential of the accelerating electrode.
  • the closed control circuit comprises an amplifier having an input connected to the collector electrode and an output connected to the accelerating electrode so that the output voltage of said amplifier varies in accordance with the current or voltage at the input.
  • An apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein the means for applying potential difference between the emitter electrode and the accelerating electrode, comprises:
  • the closed control circuit comprises an amplifier having an input connected to the collector electrode and an output connected to the accelerating electrode so that the output current flows across said resistor.
  • a resistor disposed between said supply voltage source and said accelerating electrode for further stablizing the apparatus at multistable operating levels in response to current flowing through the accelerating electrode.
  • a transistor having an emitter connected to the collector electrode, a base connected to the accelerating electrode and a collector connected to a positive terminal of the supply voltage source;
  • switch means for selectively connecting the other side of the capacitor to one of the positive and negative terminals of the supply voltage source in accordance with the desired change in voltage level.
  • An apparatus as described in claim 10 additionally comprising a capacitor connected between the emitter and accelerating electrodes for delaying potential difference variations 13.
  • resistors and capacitors are selected to have values zenor diodes.

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  • Amplifiers (AREA)
  • Elimination Of Static Electricity (AREA)
  • Particle Accelerators (AREA)
US473617A 1973-05-25 1974-05-28 System for generating multistable voltage and/or current steps Expired - Lifetime US3898519A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19732326772 DE2326772C3 (de) 1973-05-25 System zum Erzeugen munistabiler Spannungs- und/oder Stromstufen

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FR (1) FR2231157B3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1465998A (en) * 1919-02-27 1923-08-28 Westinghouse Lamp Co Detector tube
US2651717A (en) * 1949-06-22 1953-09-08 Nat Res Dev Electronic valve circuits
US2810072A (en) * 1951-08-04 1957-10-15 Joseph Greenspan Multistable networks
US2934657A (en) * 1949-03-05 1960-04-26 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Transistor trigger network
US3053998A (en) * 1959-10-14 1962-09-11 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Three stable state semiconductive device
US3430150A (en) * 1964-08-19 1969-02-25 Inst Mat Sib Otdel Akademii Pulse width control system with n-stable states of dynamic equilibrium

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1465998A (en) * 1919-02-27 1923-08-28 Westinghouse Lamp Co Detector tube
US2934657A (en) * 1949-03-05 1960-04-26 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Transistor trigger network
US2651717A (en) * 1949-06-22 1953-09-08 Nat Res Dev Electronic valve circuits
US2810072A (en) * 1951-08-04 1957-10-15 Joseph Greenspan Multistable networks
US3053998A (en) * 1959-10-14 1962-09-11 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Three stable state semiconductive device
US3430150A (en) * 1964-08-19 1969-02-25 Inst Mat Sib Otdel Akademii Pulse width control system with n-stable states of dynamic equilibrium

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2231157A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-12-20
DE2326772A1 (de) 1974-12-05
DE2326772B2 (de) 1975-06-12
FR2231157B3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1977-03-18

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Owner name: ALCATEL N.V., DE LAIRESSESTRAAT 153, 1075 HK AMSTE

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORP OF DE;REEL/FRAME:004718/0023

Effective date: 19870311

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Owner name: NOKIA GRAETZ GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHRANKTER HAFTUNG

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Effective date: 19890130