Timebase Circuit Arrangements
A timebase is provided by a circuit including an optical source emitting a light beam which is detected and integrated by an optical detector/integrator to give an output when the integrated value reaches a preset value. The optical source is a laser or LED. The optical detector/integrator is a photon counter.
1 .- 9 . (canceled)
10 . A timebase generating circuit, comprising:
an optical source for producing a light beam of constant intensity;
an optical detector; and
an integrator connected to integrate the light detected by the optical detector and to provide a timing output when a preset integrated value is achieved.
11 . The circuit as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the optical detector and the integrator are formed by a photon counter.
12 . The circuit as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the optical detector comprises a light sensitive resistor.
13 . The circuit as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the light source is a laser.
14 . The circuit as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the laser is a resonant laser.
15 . The circuit as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the light source is a light-emitting diode.
16 . A radar-based pulse echo level measurement system, comprising:
a timebase generating circuit, comprising:
an optical source for producing a light beam of constant intensity,
an optical detector, and
an integrator connected to integrate the light detected by the optical detector and to provide a timing output when a preset integrated value is achieved.
17 . The system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the optical detector and the integrator are formed by a photon counter.
18 . The system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the optical detector comprises a light sensitive resistor.
19 . The system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the light source is a laser.
20 . The system as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the laser is a resonant laser.
21 . The system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the light source is a light-emitting diode.
22 . A method of generating timebase signals, comprising:
generating a constant intensity light beam;
detecting the light beam;
integrating the detected signal; and
generating a timing output when a preset integrated value is achieved.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the detecting and integrating are performed as a single step by photon counting.