A four-transistor peak detector read-out system for digital magnetic surface recording systems

Straightforward amplitude threshold read-out systems fail at low packing densities in non-return-to-zero recording systems. Several elaborate systems have been designed as a remedy. The present circuit is a very much simplified version which operates satisfactorily, using the regenerative action within a flip-flop to detect the change in current polarity occurring at the peak in a voltage differentiator.