Patent US3587055A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3587055A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Plural operator-station time-shared analog computer apparatus
Assignee: Reliance Electric Co
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Filing: 1968-12-02
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Granted: 1971-06-22
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Expires: 1988-12-02
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of users situated at a plurality of remote terminal units are enabled to utilize a general-purpose analog computer in a time-sharing arrangement allowing each user to obtain solutions of his own versions of one or several basic problems which are simultaneously patched on the analog computer. An addressing system services the remote terminal units sequentially, and the analog computer runs one or more problem solutions when a given terminal unit is being serviced using coefficient data and problem configuration data established by the user at the given terminal unit. Both analog and digital arrangements for transmitting coefficient data from each terminal unit to the analog computer are illustrated.
Inventors
- 👤 Elmer G Gilbert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 06:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06G; G06G7/00; G06G7/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
An analog computer installation comprising, in combination: a central analog computer having a plurality of computing elements interconnected to solve a problem; a plurality of remote terminal units each having a plurality of controls adjustable by a respective operator and a display device observable by said respective operator; and an interconnection bus system including a number of lines extending between said central computer and each of said remote terminal units, said computer including address means for applying address signals over said interconnection bus system to address each of said terminal units in succession, the plurality of controls in each of said terminal units being adjustable to provide a respective first plurality of further signals, each of said terminal units including transmitting means responsive to receipt of a respective address signal identifying the terminal unit for transmitting said first plurality of further signals from said terminal unit to said computer over a first plurality of said lines of said bus system, said computer including control means responsive to various of said further signals of said first plurality for causing said computer to operate to solve said problem utilizing data represented by various of said further signals of said first plurality and to simultaneously provide a plurality of output signals, said output signals being connected over said interconnection bus system to said display device of said terminal unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
An analog computer installation comprising, in combination: a central analog computer having a plurality of computing elements interconnected to solve a problem; a plurality of remote terminal units each having a plurality of controls adjustable by a respective operator and a display device observable by said respective operator; and an interconnection bus system including a number of lines extending between said central computer and each of said remote terminal units, said computer including address means for applying address signals over said interconnection bus system to address each of said terminal units in succession, the plurality of controls in each of said terminal units being adjustable to provide a respective first plurality of further signals, each of said terminal units including transmitting means responsive to receipt of a respective address signal identifying the terminal unit for transmitting said first plurality of further signals from said terminal unit to said computer over a first plurality of said lines of said bus system, said computer including control means responsive to various of said further signals of said first plurality for causing said computer to operate to solve said problem utilizing data represented by various of said further signals of said first plurality and to simultaneously provide a plurality of output signals, said output signals being connected over said interconnection bus system to said display device of said terminal unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
A computer installation according to claim 1 in which said control means includes timing means for cycling a group of said computing elements through a sequence of operating modes in order to solve said problem, and in which one of said further signals from the terminal unit addressed aT a given time is operative either to halt said timing means and advance said address means to provide a successive address signal or to advance said timing means through said sequence of operating modes, depending upon the character of said one of said further signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
An installation according to claim 1 in which said transmitting means in each of said terminal units includes adjustable switch circuit means responsive upon receipt of said respective address signal to provide a first logic signal on a further line of said interconnection bus system in which said computer includes means responsive to said first logic signal for applying a second logic signal over said interconnection bus system, and in which the transmitting means of each of said terminal units is operative to connect a set of said further signals of said first plurality to a set of said lines of said first plurality upon simultaneous receipt of its respective address signal and said second logic signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
A computer installation according to claim 1 in which the plurality of controls at each terminal unit includes switch means adjustable to provide a respective multibit digital signal representing the sign and magnitude of a numerical coefficient, and in which each of said transmitting means is operative in response to receipt of its respective address signal for applying said multibit digital signal over said interconnected bus system as one of said further signals of said first plurality.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
A computer installation according to claim 1 in which said computing elements include an electronic analog integrator controllable between plural operating modes, and said computer includes timing means for repetitively cycling said electronic integrator between said modes, said timing means being operable to control said address means to increment said address signals at the completion of a given one of said modes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
A computer installation according to claim 1 in which said computer includes timing means for repetitively cycling said computer through a sequence of operating modes, in which the transmitting means of each of said remote terminal units includes switch circuit means for providing a logic signal on one of said lines of said first plurality, and in which said logic signal is connected to interrupt or enable the cycling of said timing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
A computer installation according to claim 1 in which the transmitting means in each of said remote terminal units comprises a plurality of adjustable electrical devices connected through respective switches to a group of said lines of said first plurality, and in which each of said terminal units includes means responsive to receipt of its respective address signal for closing said switches.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
86 words
A computer installation according to claim 1 in which said computing elements of said analog computer are interconnected in a plurality of groups to solve a plurality of respective problems, and in which said various of said further signals are connected to each of said groups of computing elements and output signals are connected over said bus system from each of said groups of computing elements, each of said terminal units including means for selectively connecting various of said output signals to its respective display device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
112 words
A computer installation according to claim 1 in which said output signals are connected to a second plurality of lines of said bus system, in which said bus system includes a third plurality of lines extending to each of said remote terminal units, each of said remote terminal units includes first switching means for connecting the output signals received by the respective unit on said second plurality of lines to said third plurality of lines, and each of said remote terminal units includes second switching means for connecting signals on said third plurality of lines to its respective display device in lieu of said output signals on said second plurality of lines.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
A computer installation according to claim 1 in which the plurality of controls at each terminal unit includes at least one adjustable resistance device and in which each of said transmitting means is operative in response to receipt of its respective address signal for applying an electrical signal commensurate in magnitude with the adjustment of said resistance device over one of said lines of said first plurality to constitute one of said further signals of said first plurality.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
A computer installation according to claim 1 in which the plurality of controls at each terminal unit includes at least one adjustable switch and in which said each of transmitting means is operative in response to receipt of its respective address signal for applying an electrical logic signal having a character dependent upon the adjustment of said switch over one of said lines of said first plurality to constitute one of said further signals of said first plurality.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
123 words
A computer installation according to claim 1 in which the transmitting means in each of said terminal units includes adjustable switch circuit means responsive upon receipt by its respective transmitting means of its respective address signal to provide a first logic signal on a further line of said interconnection bus system, in which said computer includes means responsive to said first logic signal for applying a second logic signal over said interconnection bus system, and in which the transmitting means of each of said terminal units is operative upon simultaneous receipt of its respective address signal and said second logic signal to apply a sequence of said further signals of said first plurality over said first plurality of lines of said bus system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A computer installation according to claim 2 in which said timing means is operative to provide an incrementing signal upon used of one of said operating modes to advance said address means to provide a successive address signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
A computer installation according to claim 4 in which said central computer includes register means connected to receive and store said multibit digital signal and switching means responsive to the stored contents of said register means for controlling the magnitude of a current connected to one of said computing elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A computer installation according to claim 4 in which said central computer includes register means connected to receive and store said multibit digital signal and switching means responsive to the stored contents of said register means for establishing a selected interconnection between said plurality of computing elements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
88 words
An installation according to claim 6 in which said computer means includes means responsive to said logic signal for applying a second logic signal over said interconnection bus system to the then-addressed terminal unit, said timing means is operable to apply a third logic signal over said interconnection bus system upon occurrence of a selected one of said operating modes, and in which each terminal unit includes a gating circuit responsive to said second and third logic signals for activating the display device in the then-addressed terminal unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
An installation according to claim 6 in which the transmitting means of each of said terminal units includes second switch circuit means for controlling a second logic signal on a second one of said lines of said first plurality, and in which said second logic signal is connected to control the speed of said timing means to vary the time durations of said operating modes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
An installation according to claim 6 in which said computer includes means responsive to receipt of said logic signal for applying a further signal over said interconnection bus system to reset said switch circuit means to alter the character of said logic signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A computer installation according to claim 8 in which at least one of said further signals of said first plurality is operative to prevent the operation of one of said groups of computing elements to solve its respective problem.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
65 words
A computer installation according to claim 9 in which said bus system includes a fourth plurality of lines extending to each of said remote terminal units, one of said terminal units includes means for applying a continuous address signal to said fourth plurality of lines, and each of said terminal units includes means responsive to said continuous address signal for controlling said first switching means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
87 words
A computer installation according to claim 12 in which said transmitting means in each of said terminal units includes adjustable means for storing a plurality of bit patterns, and sampling means operative upon simultaneous receipt of the respective address of a given terminal unit and said second logic signal for transmitting successive bits of each of said bit patterns sequentially over said first plurality of lines to said central computer, said central computer including a plurality of register means connected to receive and store said bit patterns.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
85 words
A computer installation according to claim 12 in which said transmitting means in each of said terminal units includes adjustable means for storing a plurality of bit patterns, and sampling means operative upon simultaneous receipt of the respective address of a given terminal unit and said second logic signal for transmitting each of said bit patterns in succession over said first plurality of lines to said central computer, said central computer including a plurality of register means connected to receive and store said bit patterns.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
57 words
A computer installation according to claim 13 in which one of said further signals is operative to prevent the application of said incrementing signal to advance said address means, and thereby cause said timing means to cycle through said sequence of operating modes a plurality of times before said address means is advanced to a successive address.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-21 | 1974-12-21 | 1975-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-21 | 1978-12-21 | 1979-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-21 | 1982-12-21 | 1983-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |