Signal simulation apparatus and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of simulating an initial component of a signal to approximate a component of a reference signal, the method characterised by the steps of; i) generating a source signal which includes at least one harmonic component, and ii) determining the average amplitude and duration of the source signal, and iii) referencing the amplitude of the reference signal component to be simulated, and iv) integrating the source signal over a period of time sufficient to produce a value for the signal component amplitude approximate to the reference signal component amplitude.

1 . A method of simulating an initial component of a signal to approximate a component of a reference signal, the method comprising the steps of:
 i) generating a source signal which includes at least one harmonic component;   ii) determining the average amplitude and duration of the source signal;   iii) referencing the amplitude of the reference signal component to be simulated; and   iv) integrating the source signal over a period of time sufficient to produce a value for the signal component amplitude approximate to the reference signal component amplitude, the signal component having the same frequency as the source signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of simulating a signal approximating a reference signal as claimed in  claim 1 , including the further steps of:
 v) phase shifting the source signal; and   vi) repeating steps (iii) to (v) over a total integration period until the required simulation of the signal approximating the reference signal has occurred.   
     
     
         3 . The method of simulating a signal approximating a reference signal as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the phase of the source signal is shifted in accordance with the required resolution of the simulation signal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of simulating a signal approximating a reference signal as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a ratio between the integration time of step (iv) for each repetition is determined by sampling the reference signal and comparing the ratio of separation between the resulting amplitude values. 
     
     
         5 . The method of simulating a signal approximating a reference signal as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a ratio between the phase shifts for each repetition is determined by sampling a reference signal equivalent to the signal to be simulated and comparing the ratio of separation in time between the reference signal components. 
     
     
         6 . The method of simulating a signal approximating a reference signal as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the source signal has a duty cycle of less than 50%. 
     
     
         7 . A signal simulation apparatus, comprising:
 a source signal generator configured to generate a source signal which includes at least one harmonic component;   a phase adjustment element configured to adjust the phase of a source signal supplied by the source signal generator;   a processing device configured to simulate a signal approximating a reference signal by executing a set of computer executable instructions including the steps of:   i) determining the average amplitude and duration of the source signal;   ii) referencing the amplitude of a reference signal component to be simulated;   iii) integrating the source signal over a period of time sufficient to produce a value for a signal component amplitude approximate to the reference signal component amplitude, the signal component having the same frequency as the source signal;   iv) phase shifting the source signal using the phase adjustment element, and   v) repeating steps to (ii) to (iv) over a total integration period until a simulation signal approximating the reference signal has simulated; and   a simulation signal output element configured to output a simulation signal.   
     
     
         8 . The signal simulation apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the source signal has a duty cycle of less than 50%. 
     
     
         9 . A transducer output system, comprising:
 a source signal generator configured to generate a source signal which includes at least one harmonic component;   a phase adjustment element configured to adjust the phase of a source signal supplied by the source signal generator; and   a processing device configured to simulate a signal approximating a reference signal by executing a set of computer executable instructions including the steps of:   i) determining the average amplitude and duration of the source signal,   ii) referencing the amplitude of a reference signal component to be simulated,   iii) integrating the source signal over a period of time sufficient to produce a value for a signal component amplitude approximate to the reference signal component amplitude, the signal component having the same frequency as the source signal,   iv) phase shifting the source signal using the phase adjustment element, and   v) repeating steps (ii) to (iv) over a total integration period until a simulation signal approximating the reference signal has simulated;   a simulation signal output element configured to output a simulation signal;   a signal integration element configured to integrate at least one transducer signal supplied by a transducer over an integration period; and   a transducer modulation element configured to modulate the operation of the transducer using the simulation signal output by the signal simulation apparatus.   
     
     
         10 . The transducer output system as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the transducer modulation element is an image intensification element. 
     
     
         11 . A signal simulation apparatus, comprising:
 a processing device including a set of computer executable instructions for carrying out a method of simulating a component of a signal to approximate a component of a reference signal, comprising the steps of:
 i) generating a source signal which includes at least one harmonic component, 
 ii) determining the average amplitude and duration of the source signal, 
 iii) referencing the amplitude of the reference signal component to be simulated, and 
 iv) integrating the source signal over a period of time sufficient to produce a value for the signal component amplitude approximate to the reference signal component amplitude, the signal frequency as the source signal. 
   
     
     
         12 . A transducer output system, comprising:
 a signal simulation apparatus, comprising:
 a processing device including a set of computer executable instructions for carrying out a method of simulating a component of a signal to approximate a component of a reference signal, comprising the steps of:
 i) generating a source signal which includes at least one harmonic component, 
 ii) determining the average amplitude and duration of the source signal, 
 iii) referencing the amplitude of the reference signal component to be simulated, and 
 iv) integrating the source signal over a period of time sufficient to produce a value for the signal component amplitude approximate to the reference signal component amplitude, the signal component having the same frequency as the source signal. 
 
   
     
     
         13 .- 15 . (canceled)