The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 04, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 13, 1997
Brian P. Elfman, Alameda, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A timing device for keeping time by marking the time boundaries between contiguous time periods. Time is measured by measuring charging voltage on a pair of capacitances where each capacitance is charged and discharge in successive cycles. Detection of a preset value of potential on each one of the capacitances is used to initiate commencement of charge on the other capacitance and detection of another preset value on the other capacitor is used to record measurement of potential at a full scale potentail point on the one capacitor. By this means “dynamic” measurements of potential are made by which is meant that the potentials are measured while the potential is changing and rather than when the potential has reached a target end point. This technique eliminates errors arising from unstable conditions at the capacitor due to, for example, dielectric hysteresis, a requirement to measure a charging or discharging step simultaneous with a measuring step, etc. Among the various applications of the invention, there is adaptation to a real time clock, calibrated pulses, etc., all involving measurement requiring a high resolution as provided with this invention. In many instances, the resolution required is less than a nanosecond.