A critical requirement for many applications of

electronics is a sweep generator which gives

an output voltage waveform, part of which
varies linearly with time. Such a waveform is
commonly called a sweep voltage. Some of
the areas in which linear sweep circuits find
utility are Oscilloscopes, radar, television
indicators, precise time measurements, and
time modulation.
Many types of sweep circuits are presently
available. Some have output waveforms
which are linear for such a short time that they
cannot be used for many important
applications; other rise exponentially so that
linearity must be approximated from the
exponential curve. The Miller Integrator and
the Bootstrap Circuit are two available devices
which give fairly good linearity but they are
relatively complicated in structure and
operation.
Accordingly, a primary object of the present
invention is to provide for electronic devices a
relatively simple linear sweep generator and,
specifically, one which will give sweeps of
excellent linearity for a duration of time up to
seconds.
With these objects in mind, one illustrative
embodiment of the invention is featured by
taking advantage of the constant current
characteristics of a transistor to discharge a
capacitor and thus produce the desired linear
waveform.
Other objects, features, and embodiments of
the invention will be apparent from the
following description and reference to the
accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1(a) is a schematic diagram of a PNP
transistorized linear sweep generator
embodying the invention;
FIG. 1(b) is an NPN transistorized equivalent
of the circuit of FIG. 1(a);
FIGS. 2(ac) are a series of diagrammatic
representations of the output response of the
circuit of FIG. 1(a) to various types of signal
inputs; and
FIGS. 3(a-c) are a series of diagrammatic
reproductions of various oscillograms showing
waveforms produced by a linear sweep
generator constructed in accordance with the
invention.
The linear sweep generator of FIG. 1(a)
features a PNP transistor 10 connected
across the plates 12 and 14 of a capacitor 16.
The collector 18 of the transistor '10 is
connected, through a forwardly biased diode
20, to an input signal source 22 and, in
common with plate '12 of capacitor 16, to an
output terminal 24-. Plate 14 of capacitor 16
and the emitter 26 of transistor 10 are
connected, the latter through a resistor 28', to
ground; and, the base 30 of the transistor is
connected, through a resistor 32, to a bias
potential terminal 34.
The following values and commercial
identities of See components are
recommended for the sweep generator
disclosed.
Potential at source 22 -19 or 0 volts.
Transistor '10 2N404.
Diode 20 1N459.
Resistor 32 47K. Resistor 28 Variable 0 to 1M
ohms. Capacitor 16 Variable ,uf range.
The sweep may be lengthened by increasing
either resistor 28 or capacitor 12. If the
resistance becomes too high, however, there
is noticeable non-linearity in the sweep.
Consequently, the capacitance, which does
not present this problem, is preferably
increased rather than the resistance.
The input signal from source 22 varies
between two voltage levels. The lower level, E
e.g. -19 v., determines the starting point of the
sweep and is limited by the collector voltage
rating of the transistor; the upper level should
be zero volts or higher. This input signal may
be provided in several different types of
waveforms, some of which are shown in
FIGS. 2(a-c).
As long as the lower level is present at the
input, collector current is supplied through the
forward biased silicon diode 20. The
magnitude of the collector current is
determined by the transistor forward bias
voltage at terminal 34, and resistors 28 and
32. This voltage hold-s transistor 10 ON at all
times. It is relatively independent of the lower
voltage level of the signal from source 22.
Once the capacitor 12 is fully charged the
potential across it, which is the output voltage,
is equal to the lower voltage level of the signal
from source 22.
When the voltage level of the signal from
source 22 swings to zero or a positive value,
diode 20 is biased in a reverse direction and
for all practical purposes becomes an open
circuit. The transistor collector voltage, and
thus the collector current, is now derived from
capacitor 16. As the capacitor discharges, the
potential across this capacitor is reduced at a
rate proportional to the discharge current
through the transistor. Since this current is
relatively independent of collector potential, it
remains nearly constant. Meanwhile, the
output voltage at terminal 24 becomes less
negative at a linear rate until it approaches the
bias potential at terminal 34, i.e. E At this
time, conduction through transistor 10 stops
decreasing and tapers off to a constant value
which is determined by E and resistor 28, and
the remaining charge on capacitor 16 remains
constant until the input level once again falls
to E As shown in FIGS. 2(a), 2(b) and 2(0),
respectively, the lower level E of the signal
from source 22 may be a square wave of
variable duration, or a pulse, provided the
duration of the signal is long enough or the
impedance of the source low enough to
charge fully the capacitor 16 before the pulse
ends. Thus, the linear sweep continues as
long as the input signal is at 0' level and it
terminates when the input returns to E Hence
it may taper off within the time duration of a
pulse, as in FIG. 2(a); be coextensive with a
pulse, i.e. measure pulse duration as in FIG.
2(b); or measure, by the amplitude to which it
rises, the time interval between pulses as in
FIG. 2(0).
The diagrams of FIGS. 3(a), 3(b), and 3(0),
are
Potential at terminal 34 w representations of
oscillogra-ms showing extremely linear
sweeps of up to ten full seconds duration
produced by a sweep generator of the type
herein shown and described.
The PNP circuit shown in FIG. 1(a) and
featured in the preceding description may be
altered to the NPN configuration of FIG. 1(b)
with reversal of signal potentials, current flow,
etc. Similarly, other apparent substitutions,
modifications and embodiments of the inven
tion are within the scope of the following
claims.
What is claimed is: I
1. A linear sweep generator comprising: a
capacitor having first and second plate
electrodes; a transistor having collector, base
and emitter electrodes; an input terminal; an
output terminal; means connecting the
collector of said transistor and one plate of
said capacitor, in common, to said output
terminal; isolating diode means connecting
said collector and said same one plate
electrode, in common, to said input terminal; a
source of bias potential adequate to maintain
said transistor in constantly conducting
condition; means connecting said bias source
to said base electrode; a source of reference
potential; and, means connecting said emitter
and the other of said capacitor plates to said
reference potential source.
2. A linear sweep generator comprising: a
capacitor having first and second plate
eletcrodes; a transistor having collector, base
and emitter electrodes; an input ter minal; an
output terminal; means connecting the
collector of said transistor and one plate of
capacitor to said output terminal;
semiconductor means connecting said
collector and said same one plate electrode to
said input terminal; a source of bias potential
adequate to 4 maintain said transistor in
constantly conducting condition; means
connecting said bias source to said base
electrode; a source of reference potential;
and, means connecting said emitter and the
other of said capacitor plates to said reference
potential source.
3. A linear sweep generator comprising:
means for providing an input signal having
first and second voltage reference levels;
means for storing the potential of one of said
signal levels; isolating diode means
connecting said reference voltage level
means to said storage means; and, a
continuously 0N transistor connected to
discharge said storage means, said transistor
having a substantially constant current
characteristic regardless of the amplitude of
said stored potential.
4. A linear sweep generator comprising:
means for providing an input signal having
first and second voltage reference levels;
capacitance means for storing the potential of
one of said signal levels; isolating diode
means connecting said reference voltage
means to said capaci- References Cited in the
file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS
2,891,173 Helbog June 16, 1959 2,923,837-
Willett Feb. 2, 1960 2,933,623 Jones Apr. 19,
1960 3,013,164 Greenberg Dec. 12, 1961