Data conversion apparatus

Claim 2

Data conversion apparatus including a number store, input means for algebraically adding to the number held in the store a further number as represented in value and sign by an input signal, timing means for defining repetitive time periods of equal duration, sign-representing means for representing the sign of the number held in the store, distributing means operable after each such addition for reading out the number then in the store to provide for reading out the number then in the store to provide a like number of output pulses spaced substantially uniformly over one such time period, and direction controlling means for enabling an output channel so as to cause said output pulses to represent the sign of the number held in said store by the output channel over which they are delivered.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the store is in the form an n stage binary counter and the distribution means includes a second n stage binary counter, means for applying timing pulses to the second counter to step it upwards from zero to its full capacity of 2n pulses during each of said time periods, and a gating network which so connects the digit stages of the second counter and those of the store in inverse pairs to the direction controlling means that on the stepping by a said timing pulse of any stage of the second counter from digit nought to digit one a said output pulse is delivered provided that the store digit stage which is paired with that counter stage holds digit one.

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the store is in the form of an n stage binary counter and the distribution means includes a second n stage binary counter, means for applying timing pulses to the second counter to step it downwards from its full capacity of 2n pulses to zero during each of said time periods, and a gating network which so connects the digit stages of the second counter and those of the store in inverse pairs to the direction controlling means that on the stepping by a said timing pulse of any stage of the second counter from digit one to digit nought a said output pulse is delivered provided that the store digit stage which is paired with that counter stage holds digit nought.

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the store is an n-bit store and the distribution means includes a second n-bit store, means for algebraically adding the contents of the first-mentioned store to the second store 2n times during each of said time periods, and means for deriving a said output pulse each time the second store empties on becoming filled to capacity.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sign-representing means includes a bistable stage arranged to represent the respective signs by its stable states and to be switched from one state to the other as the contents of said first-mentioned store pass through zero on the instructions of an input signal requiring a change of sign.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the direction controlling means includes gating stages arranged to be controlled by said means for representing the sign of said number so as to direct each output pulse into one or other of two output channels in dependence on that sign.

Claim 8

Data conversion apparatus including a plurality of number stores, for each numBer store input means for algebraically adding to the number held in the store a further number as represented in value and sign by an input signal, and sign-representing means for representing the sign of the number held in the store, and common to all said stores timing means for defining repetitive time periods of equal duration together with distributing means operable after each such addition to all the stores for reading out the number then held in each store to provide over an output channel individual to that store a number of output pulses equal to the number held by that store and spaced substantially uniformly over one such time period, each store being further provided with direction controlling means for enabling an output channel so as to cause associated output pulses to present the sign of the number held in that store by the output channel over which they are delivered.

Claim 9

Data conversion apparatus including a plurality of number stores, for each numBer store input means for algebraically adding to the number held in the store a further number as represented in value and sign by an input signal, and sign-representing means for representing the sign of the number held in the store, and common to all said stores timing means for defining repetitive time periods of equal duration together with distributing means operable after each such addition to all the stores for reading out the number then held in each store to provide over an output channel individual to that store a number of output pulses equal to the number held by that store and spaced substantially uniformly over one such time period, each store being further provided with direction controlling means for enabling an output channel so as to cause associated output pulses to present the sign of the number held in that store by the output channel over which they are delivered.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 including a generator of gate-controlling waveforms together with gating stages in said channels arranged to be operated by those waveforms to ensure that the pulses in any channel do not overlap in time with the pulses in any of the other channels.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 including a pulse counter arranged to add together algebraically all the pulses delivered by all the channels and provide a fault indication when the sum differed from a predetermined value.