US PATENT CLASS 332
Class Notes
Current as of: June, 1999
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DEFINITION
Classification: 332/
A. BASIC SUBJECT MATTER OF CLASS
This is the generic class for modulators. A modulator is a device which varies a characteristic of a repetitious electrical or electromagnetic wave of less than infrared frequency in accordance with a characteristic of an arbitrarily varying information carrying signal. Classification herein is broadly by the type of modulation exhibited by the output signal.
B. COMBINATIONS WITH BASIC SUBJECT MATTER INCLUDED IN THIS CLASS
1. A modulator combined with structure for measuring or indicating some aspect of the modulation process or characteristic of the modulated signal is classified here. Specifically, measurement or indication of a frequency or
amplitude modulator is classified here.
2. A modulator combined with a specific modulating signal source (e.g., microphone or photocell) is classified here by modulation type unless provided for elsewhere.
3. A modulator combined with structure to improve the modulation is classified here. Such structure might include, for example, a particular power supply for electronic devices within the modulator or structure to correct for distortions in the modulated wave.
4. A combination including both a modulator and a demodulator is classified here where such combination is not provided for elsewhere.
C. MISCELLANEOUS SYSTEMS AND DEVICES USED WITH MODULATORS This class also provides for (1) miscellaneous systems and devices which are not of general utility and which are limited to use with modulators and (2) miscellaneous systems and devices useful with modulators which are not otherwise classified. Examples of such subject matter are a structure limited in use to measurement of a modulated wave, a multiplex modulator where a plurality of modulating signals are imposed on a carrier or pulse wave, or a modulation converter where modulated energy of one character is converted to modulation energy of a different character (e.g., frequency modulation to amplitude modulation).
LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES
Excluded from this class are light wave modulators which are classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below. )
Excluded from this class are pulse code modulators and delta modulators which are now classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below. )
Excluded from this class are those devices comprising an oscillator combined with or including a specific element which is merely responsive to an external physical condition (e.g., ambient temperature) and which thereby varies a parameter (e.g., amplitude or frequency) of the oscillator. Such devices are classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.) However an oscillator in combination with significant modulating structure is classified in Class 332.
Classes 330 Amplifiers and 331 Oscillators contain subject matter directed to subcombinations potentially usable in modulators (e.g., an electrical amplifier combined with suitable gain control structure could be utilized as an amplitude modulator). Therefore, these classes should be considered in completing the search for subject matter of Class 332. See the related SEARCH CLASS notes in References
to Other Classes, below.
Many classes contain subject matter which includes modulators or devices analogous to modulators as subcombinations thereof. Thus, as appropriate, combination classes listed below in the SEARCH CLASS notes in References to Other Classes, below, should be considered in completing the search of subject matter relevant to Class 332.
See the Glossary, below, for nonelectrical modulators.
MODULATORS OF NONELECTRICAL TYPE
The term modulator has a variety of meanings outside of the electrical art. Foremost among these are fluid control devices and optical control devices. Examples of fluid control type modulators and optical type modulators can be found in References to Other Classes, below.
Other diverse types of nonelectrical modulators can be found in References to Other Classes, below. SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
118, for measuring in a frequency modulator.
150, for measuring in an amplitude modulator.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
60, Power Plants, appropriate subclasses for fluid control type modulators.
62, Refrigeration; appropriate subclasses for fluid control type modulators.
73, Measuring and Testing, appropriate subclasses for measuring or testing of a parameter which is typically neither electrical, optical, thermal, nor chemical and which may include a modulation technique.
137, Fluid Handling; appropriate subclasses for fluid control type modulators.
178, Telegraphy,
66.1+, for a teles:graphic system which transmits messages between stations using alternating or pulsating currents and particularly subclass 66.2 for such a system having a transmitter which is turned on and off.
180, Motor Vehicles, appropriate subclasses for fluid control type modulators. 250, Radiant Energy,
200+, for a photocell-controlled modulator combined with a significant optical system for controlling the light intensity on the photocell, subclass 250 for radio and microwave wavemeters and frequency measurement systems for radio waves, subclass 263 for an electrical wave modulated by signals emitted from a radiation detector in or about a well, and subclasses 336.1+ for structure comparable to that of subclasses 200+ described above wherein the photocell is responsive to invisible radiant energy.
257, Active Solid-State Devices (e.g., Transistors, Solid-State Diodes), appropriate subclasses for active semiconductor devices, per se.
264, Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes, appropriate subclasses for diverse types of nonelectrical modulators.
303, Fluid-Pressure and Analogous Brake System, appropriate subclasses for fluid control type modulators.
307, Electrical Transmission or Interconnection Systems,
3, for systems superimposing currents of diverse frequency or phase, subclass 73 for plural supply circuits or sources of diverse frequency, and subclasses 106+ for waveform or wave shape determinative or pulse producing systems which are class appropriate.
313, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices, appropriate subclasses for the structure of electronic tubes.
315, Electrical Lamp and Discharge Devices: Systems,
3+, for a combination of cathode-ray tube with ray control structure which may utilize a modulation technique, subclass 39.3 for a travelling wave tube with delay line and subclasses 39.51+ for a magnetron combined with diverse circuit element.
318, Electricity: Motive Power Systems, 599, for pulse width modulated power control of a servo motor, subclasses 606+ for servo systems utilizing a feedback signal which frequency or phase modulates a system carrier, subclass 684 for a particular modulator structure used in servomotor control, and subclass 811 for pulse width modulated time control of a pulse train supplied to the primary winding of an induction motor.
323, Electricity: Power Supply or Regulation Systems, appropriate subclasses for control of the magnitude or phase of current or voltage in a system comprising a single electrical source coupled to a single electrical load.
324, Electricity: Measuring and Testing, appropriate
subclasses for measurement of electrical properties, in general, and particularly
76.39+, for frequency measurement of electrical waves, subclasses 76.77+ for measurement of the phase relationship between electrical waves, and subclass 118 for modulation of voltage or current to be measured onto a carrier combined with subsequent structure to recover a replica of the original voltage or current by demodulation.
327, Miscellaneous Active Electrical Nonlinear Devices, Circuits, and Systems, particularly
113+, for miscellaneous frequency control, subclasses 291+ for miscellaneous clock or pulse waveform generating, subclasses 231+ for phase shift by less than the period of an input signal, and subclasses 306+ for miscellaneous amplitude control.
329, Demodulators, appropriate subclasses for demodulators, per se.
330, Amplifiers,
10, for an amplifier having an input which is the output of a modulator and an output which is the input of a subsequent demodulator, and subclasses 127+, 144+ and 250+ for an amplifier with gain control structure.
331, Oscillators,
1+, for automatic frequency stabilization of an oscillator and indented thereunder subclasses 23+ for achieving this stabilization through a modulation technique, subclasses 37+ for two nonarbitrary sources of slightly different frequencies and substantially equal amplitudes which are combined to produce the respective sum or difference frequencies, subclasses 46+ for plural oscillator systems in general, subclass 58 for an oscillator with structure to perform an additional simultaneous function, subclasses 65+ for an oscillator responsive to an external condition, subclass 83 for a klystron type oscillator, subclasses 86+ for a magnetron type oscillator, subclass 106 for an oscillator with repetitive amplitude variation, subclasses 177+ for an oscillator combined with frequency adjustment, and subclasses 182+ for amplitude stabilization or control in an oscillator. 333, Wave Transmission Lines and Networks,
20, for passive networks which modify the amplitude-time characteristic of waves passing therethrough, and subclasses 219+ for resonators in general.
340, Communications: Electrical,
870.01+, for telemetry systems and especially subclasses
870.18+ indented thereunder for such systems where the quantity to be telemetered is imposed on a carrier by a particular type of modulation.
341, Coded Data Generation or Conversion,
126+, for a pulse code modulator, per se, and subclass 143 for a delta modulator, per se.
342, Communications: Directive Radio Wave Systems and Devices (e.g., Radar, Radio Navigation), appropriate subclasses for radar systems or subsystems utilizing devices (i.e., radar modulators) which vary the amplitude, frequency or phase of a radar signal in a nonarbitrary manner.
348, Television,
472, for individual television signals combined into a specific transmission format by a pulse code modulated technique, subclass 642 for a natural color television signal generator including a modulator particularly adapted for use therein, and subclass 724 for a modulator using in television transmitter circuitry.
358, Facsimile,
469, for facsimile circuitry including a modulator particularly adapted for use therein. 359, Optics; Systems (Including Communication and Elements),
237+, for light wave modulators; appropriate subclasses for optical type modulators.
360, Dynamic Magnetic Information Storage or Retrieval,
29+, for modulators of particular utility in dynamic magnetic recording or reproducing.
363, Electric Power Conversion Systems,
26, for a DC-AC inverter having pulse width modulated automatic control of output current or voltage, and subclasses 41+ for a DC-AC inverter using a pulse modulation technique to introduce or eliminate frequency components.
367, Communications, Electrical: Acoustic Wave System and Devices, appropriate subclasses for diverse types of nonelectrical modulators.
369, Dynamic Information Storage or Retrieval,
8, for a radio combined with an information retrieval device wherein an oscillator is controlled by a retrieved information signal, subclass 61 for direct storage or retrieval of a modulated carrier signal, subclass 62 for storage or retrieval involving a modulated signal wherein the
carrier is partially or completely suppressed prior to storage and reinserted subsequent to retrieval, subclass 90 for storage of a quadraphonic signal utilizing modulation of an AC wave by at least one of the respective channels, and subclasses 127+ for mechanical modification or sensing of a storage medium which may utilize a modulation technique.
370, Multiplex Communications, appropriate subclasses which may have particular details of modulation techniques.
372, Coherent Light Generators, for optical type modulators. 374, Thermal Measuring and Testing, appropriate subclasses for measurement systems responsive to an external thermal condition which may utilize a modulation technique.
375, Pulse or Digital Communications, appropriate subclasses for subject matter of this class combined with transmitting structure to couple a modulated pulse wave to a transmission medium and
237, and 242+ for a digital communication transmitter or system utilizing pulse number modulation or pulse code modulation, respectively.
379, Telephonic Communications,
64+, for a telephone speech signal transmitter utilizing a carrier modulation technique, and subclasses 93+ (particularly subclass 98) for transmission of a digital message signal over a telephone line which may utilize a modulation technique.
380, Cryptography, for all electrical communications equipment which process an information signal for purposes of concealment and particularly
10+, for scrambling of a video signal using a modulation related technique, subclasses 31+ for cryptos:graphic electrical signal modification using a plural modulation technique, and subclass 35 for cryptos:graphic signal modification using a variable time delay modulation technique.
381, Electrical Audio Signal Processing Systems and Devices,
3+, for audio systems or devices which process a stereo signal which is transmitted in a frequency-only modulated format, subclasses 15+ for audio systems or devices which process a stereo signal which is transmitted in an amplitude modulated or both an AM and angle modulated format, and subclass 316 for control of the output amplitude of a hearing aid as a function of frequency.
386, Television Signal Processing for Dynamic Recording or Reproducing,
26+, for processing of a natural color television signal including frequency in modulation for recording on the same track. 430, Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof, appropriate subclasses for diverse types of nonelectrical modulators.
432, Heating, appropriate subclasses for diverse types of nonelectrical modulators.
455, Telecommunications, appropriate subclasses for subject matter of this class combined with transmitting structure to couple the modulated carrier wave to a transmission medium.
GLOSSARY:
ARBITRARILY VARYING
Indicates having a future value which is not predictable from past values. (Arbitrary is the opposite of repetitious).
CARRIER
Is an electrical or electromagnetic repetitious sinusoidal wave.
CHARACTERISTIC
Is an attribute associated with the size or shape of a wave or signal. Examples are amplitude, frequency, or phase of a sine wave and repetition rate, position, amplitude or width of a nonsine wave.
MODULATING SIGNAL
Is an information carrying signal whose informational content is to be impressed on a carrier or pulse wave. MODULATOR
Is a device which varies a characteristic of a repetitious electrical or electromagnetic wave of less than infrared frequency in accordance with a characteristic of an arbitrarily varying modulating signal.
PULSE WAVE
Is an electrical or electromagnetic repetitious nonsinusoidal wave. Examples are square wave, saw-tooth wave, or trapezoidal wave.
REPETITIOUS WAVE
Is a cyclic wave whose individual component cycles are substantially identical. Examples of repetitious waves are sine waves, square waves, saw-tooth waves, and trapezoidal
waves.