Method of and apparatus for providing pulse trains whose frequency is variable in small increments and whose period, at each frequency, is substantially constant from pulse to pulse

摘要

A pulse generator for outputting a train of electric pulses with a controllably constant period (i.e., the reciprocal of pulse rate) between pulses of the pulse train. The generator includes electrical circuitry which produces an internal train of pulses some of whose periods vary an unacceptable amount from one another. Further, modifying circuitry is connected to receive each pulse of the internal train of pulses, the further circuitry being operable to modify the period of each pulse, when necessary, to an acceptable period with respect to the immediately preceding pulse. The modifying circuitry includes delay circuitry which in controlled, in part, by an input pulse to be processed and which is adapted to delay the input pulse by a delay time determined by lateness of the input pulse and to provide an output pulse (which is the output of the generator and which in combination with other pulses forms the output pulse train of the pulse generator) whose period is substantially equal to (or within acceptable variation from) other pulses of the train of electrical pulses.