Title: Successive approximation analog to digital converter

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording electrical signals on moving paper charts in which the magnitude of the electrical signal is translated into a digital number by a successive approximation type of analog to digital converter. The digital number can be used, as an example, to activate a group of switching elements to select and pass current through one of a plurality of small resistive elements diffused into a semiconducting material. This current causes the selected element to increase temperature to a value sufficient to cause an adjacent thermally sensitive paper to change its state and darken in the small area so heated, thus giving a record on the paper of the discrete position represented by the particular digital number and hence the magnitude of the original electrical signal.

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Inventors: Aiken, Howard H. (Fort Lauderdale, FL, US)

Application Number: 607992
Filing Date: 1975-08-26
Publication_date: 1976-06-15
Assignee:
Primary Class(es): 341/165 341/133
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

3475749	Oct, 1969	Plice	340/347.
3505668	Apr, 1970	Ottesen	340/347.
3626407	Dec, 1971	Drangeld	340/347.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Sloyan, Thomas J.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Cushman, Darby & Cushman