US3596252A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic read-out systems
Assignee: BAC AND BRITISH AEROSPACE
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Filing: 1968-12-11
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Granted: 1971-07-27
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Expires: 1988-12-11
Abstract
Abstract This is an automatic test equipment system which is tape controlled and in which the characters on the tape represent commands or signals which are sent to the equipment under test at predetermined intervals to initiate and control certain test sequences. The time interval between two commands may be critical to the test sequence and therefore the tape is read into a memory bank from which the characters can be read out at fixed time intervals which are independent of tape speed.
Inventors
- 👤 David Anthony Dilwyn Duncan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:02
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F5/00; G06F5/06; G06F5/08; G07; G07C; G07C3/00; G07C3/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A tape reader including a plurality of sensing heads for reading respective tracks of a tape having bit characters recorded thereon, a tape drive for advancing the tape past the sensing heads, a memory store having a plurality of storage banks, first gating means operative to permit loading of the storage banks in cyclic succession with successively sensed characters, second gating means operative to permit unloading of the banks in cyclic succession, a comparator responsive to the loading and unloading of characters to and from the store respectively to assess the number of loaded storage banks at any instant, means responsive to a first output from the comparator indicating less than a predetermined number of loaded storage banks for inhibiting the second gating means to prevent unloading of the storage banks, means responsive to a second output from the comparator indicating at least the said predetermined number of loaded banks for inhibiting the tape drive while enabling the second gating means whereby the characters are serially readout with the loading and unloading occurring substantially in synchronism but out of step with one another and the tape is advanced to load a character only when less than the said predetermined number of storage banks are loaded.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
A tape reader including a plurality of sensing heads for reading respective tracks of a tape having bit characters recorded thereon, a tape drive for advancing the tape past the sensing heads, a memory store having a plurality of storage banks, first gating means operative to permit loading of the storage banks in cyclic succession with successively sensed characters, second gating means operative to permit unloading of the banks in cyclic succession, a comparator responsive to the loading and unloading of characters to and from the store respectively to assess the number of loaded storage banks at any instant, means responsive to a first output from the comparator indicating less than a predetermined number of loaded storage banks for inhibiting the second gating means to prevent unloading of the storage banks, means responsive to a second output from the comparator indicating at least the said predetermined number of loaded banks for inhibiting the tape drive while enabling the second gating means whereby the characters are serially readout with the loading and unloading occurring substantially in synchronism but out of step with one another and the tape is advanced to load a character only when less than the said predetermined number of storage banks are loaded.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
103 words
A tape reader according to claim 1, including a load counter for counting the number of sets of data fed into the said memory store, a read counter for counting the number of sets of data withdrawn from the memory store and a comparator for comparing the load and read counts, the output from the comparator controlling the said unloading means such that the unloading means is permitted to withdraw a set of data from the memory store whenever the difference between the read count and the load count signifies the existence of at least the said predetermined number of loaded storage banks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A tape reader according to claim 2, including a clock generator connected to the read counter such that the sets of data are withdrawn from the memory store at predetermined intervals of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A tape reader according to claim 1, including a control circuit for said first gating means responsive to the load count to open gates connected to each of the storage banks in cyclic succession.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
Automatic test equipment including a tape reader according to claim 3, in which the said sets of data comprise program for performing predetermined test operations, the position of the sets of data along a tape being read determining under control of the said clock generator the order in which and the actual time at which the corresponding operations take place after the commencement of a test.
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) | 1974-07-26 | 1975-01-25 | 1975-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-26 | 1979-01-25 | 1979-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-26 | 1983-01-25 | 1983-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |