Temporal Offset Detection Between Signals Using Derivative Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining temporal offsets between signals at different signal inputs are limited by their discrete nature and cannot accurately measure small offsets, especially when signals experience drifts or environmental influences, necessitating a method that can operate in analog form and handle very small temporal deviations.
Innovation Solution
A method involving continuous signal traces and their derivatives, where a signal product is integrated over time to determine the temporal offset, allowing for precise measurement of small offsets, and an apparatus comprising pulse generators, integration interval generators, and signal integral generators to achieve this.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If discrete counter time units are used to determine temporal offset, then the method is simple to implement, but measurement precision deteriorates for small temporal offsets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the discrete mechanical counter system with an analog continuous measurement system. Instead of using discrete time units to count temporal offsets, the invention employs continuous signal traces and their derivatives in an analog manner, enabling precise measurement of very small temporal offsets while maintaining implementation simplicity through the use of standard signal processing components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter from discrete counter values to continuous signal characteristics. By using continuous signal traces that rise and fall monotonically and computing their derivatives, the system transitions from coarse discrete measurements to fine-grained continuous measurements, thereby improving precision for small temporal offsets without sacrificing ease of implementation.
2Measurement precision
If analog continuous signal traces are used to determine temporal offset, then measurement precision improves for small temporal offsets, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal processing task into distinct functional modules: a first signal trace generator, a second signal trace generator, a multiplier for computing the product of traces, and an integrator for computing the temporal offset. This segmentation allows each component to be implemented independently using standard circuit elements, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision through the systematic combination of these modular functions.
Data Source
AI summary
In order to determine a temporal offset between a first signal at a first signal input and a second signal at a second signal input, a first momentary value of a first continuous signal trace, which rises strictly monotonically in a first early signal subperiod and falls strictly monotonically to zero in a first late signal subperiod and which is the first signal or is generated therefrom, is multiplied by a second momentary value of a derivative with respect to time of a second continuous signal trace, which rises strictly monotonically in a second early signal subperiod and falls strictly monotonically to zero in a second late signal subperiod and which is the second signal or generated therefrom, whereby a signal product is obtained. The signal product is integrated over time. Thus, a signal integral is obtained, which indicates the temporal offset of the first signal to the second signal.