Test message generator for use with communication and computer printing and punching equipment

Claim 2

A generator for producing a signal for testing a computer printer normally adapted to be actuated by a series of output words from a computer operatively connected thereto, said generator comprising storage means having an output and a plurality of different test characters stored at predetermined address locations therein, said test characters singly and in various combinations defining output words adapted to actuate said computer printer, addressing means operatively connected to said storage means and effective when selectively actuated to transfer a predetermined one or more of said test characters to said output, thereby to define said output words, test signal selecting means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to selectively actuate said addressing means in accord with a desired output word to be supplied to the computer printer, and means operatively connected to the output of said storage means and effective to transfer the selected output word to the computer printer.

Claim 3

The signal generator of claim 1, in which a control word is stored in said storage means, and further comprising means sensitive to the completion of a test message and effective when the completion of a test message is sensed to selectively transfer said control word to the output of said storage means, and means operatively connected to the output of said storage means, effective to detect said control word, and effective to terminate the operation of the generator upon the detection thereof.

Claim 4

The generator of claim 2, in which said control word transfer means comprises means operatively connected to said storage means output, effective to be actuated upon the occurrence of a predetermined generator output, and operatively connected to said addressing means to actuate the latter to address said memory at the address location of said preset word when said means is actuated.

Claim 5

The generator of claim 3, in which said addressing means comprises counting means operatively connected to said storage means output, effective to count said output words and effective to cause said addressing means to select an address in said storage means corresponding to the address location of said control word once said counting means has counted a predetermined number of output words.

Claim 6

The generator of claim 4, further comprising means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to initially set said addressing means to a start address, means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to sequentially change the setting of said addressing means to address different address locations in said storage Means, and means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective upon the transfer of a desired output message to the output of said storage means to reset said addressing means to said start address, thereby to reinitiate an addressing sequence on said storage means.

Claim 7

The generator of claim 4, further comprising means operatively connected to said addressing means, effective to actuate said addressing means to select a single address location in said storage means, and to inhibit said address sequential changing means.

Claim 8

The generator of claim 4, further comprising means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to produce a pair of sequentially alternating address signals to said storage means and to inhibit said address sequential changing means thereby to produce at the output of said storage means an output word having a repeating pattern of two alternating characters.

Claim 9

The generator of claim 3, further comprising means effective to initially set said addressing means to a start address, means to sequentially change the setting of said addressing means to address different address locations in said storage means, and effective upon the transfer of a desired output message to the output of said storage means to reset said addressing means to said start address, thereby to reinitiate an addressing sequence on said storage means.

Claim 10

The generator of claim 8, further comprising means operatively connected to said addressing means, effective to actuate said addressing means to select a single address location in said storage means, and to inhibit said address sequential changing means.

Claim 11

The generator of claim 8, further comprising means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to produce a pair of sequentially alternating address signals to said storage means and to inhibit said address sequential changing means, thereby to produce at the output of said storage means an output word having a repeating pattern of two alternating characters.

Claim 12

The generator of claim 2, further comprising means effective to initially set said addressing means to a start address, means to sequentially change the setting of said addressing means to address different address locations in said storage means, and means effective upon the transfer of a desired output message to the output of said storage means to reset said addressing means to said start address, thereby to reinitiate an addressing sequence on said storage means.

Claim 13

The generator of claim 11, further comprising means operatively connected to said addressing means, effective to actuate said addressing means to select a single address location in said storage means, and to inhibit said address sequential changing means.

Claim 14

The generator of claim 11, further comprising means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to produce a pair of sequentially alternating address signals to said storage means and to inhibit said address sequential changing means, thereby to produce at the output of said storage means an output word having a repeating pattern of two alternating characters.

Claim 15

The generator of claim 1, further comprising means effective to initially set said addressing means to a start address, means to sequentially change the setting of said addressing means to address different address locations in said storage means, and means effective upon the transfer of a desired output message to the output of said storage means to reset said addressing means to said start address, thereby to reinitiate an addressing sequence on said storage means.

Claim 16

The generator of claim 14, further comprising means operatively connected to said addressing means, effective to actuate said addressing means to select a single address location in said storage means, and to inhibit said address sequential changing means.

Claim 17

The generator of claim 14, further comprising means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective tO produce a pair of sequentially alternating address signals to said storage means and to inhibit said address sequential changing means, thereby to produce at the output of said storage means an output word having a repeating pattern of two alternating characters.

Claim 18

A generator for producing a signal for testing a computer printer normally adapted to be actuated by a series of output words from a computer operatively connected thereto, said generator comprising storage means having an output and a plurality of different test characters stored at predetermined address locations therein, said test characters singly and in various combinations defining output words adapted to actuate said computer printer, addressing means operatively connected to said storage means and effective when selectively actuated to transfer a predetermined one or more of said test characters to said output, thereby to define said output words, and control means operatively connected to said addressing means and selectively actuatable to cause said addressing means selectively to (a) transfer the same word repetitively to said output or (b) transfer a given plurality of words repetitively to said output.

Claim 19

A generator for producing a signal for testing a computer printer normally adapted to be actuated by a series of output words from a computer operatively connected thereto, said generator comprising storage means having an output and a plurality of different test characters stored at predetermined address locations therein, said test characters singly and in various combinations defining output words adapted to actuate said computer printer, addressing means operatively connected to said storage means and effective when selectively actuated to transfer a predetermined one or more of said test characters to said output, thereby to define said output words, and control means operatively connected to said addressing means and selectively actuatable to cause said addressing means selectively to (a) transfer the same word repetitively to said output or (b) transfer a given plurality of words repetitively to said output.

Claim 20

The signal generator of claim 17, in which a control word is stored in said storage means, and further comprising means sensitive to the completion of a test message and effective when the completion of a test message is sensed to selectively transfer said control word to the output of said storage means, and means operatively connected to the output of said storage means, effective to detect said control word, and effective to terminate the operation of the generator upon the detection thereof.

Claim 21

The generator of claim 18, in which said control word transfer means comprises means operatively connected to said storage means output, effective to be actuated upon the occurrence of a predetermined generator output, and operatively connected to said addressing means to actuate the latter to address said memory at the address location of said preset word when said means is actuated.

Claim 22

The generator of claim 19, in which said addressing means comprises counting means operatively connected to said storage means output, effective to count said output words and effective to cause said addressing means to select an address in said storage means corresponding to the address location of said control word once said counting means has counted a predetermined number of output words.

Claim 23

The generator of claim 17, further comprising means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to initially set said addressing means to a start address, means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to sequentially change the setting of said addressing means to address different address locations in said storage means, and means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective upon the transfer of a desired output message to the output of said storage means to reset said addressing means to said start address, thereby to reinitiate an addressing sequence on said storage means.

Claim 24

The generator of claim 17, in which said control means, in transferring a given plurality of words respectively to said output as in (b), is further selectively actuatable to (b1) transfer two words repetitively in the same order, or (b2) transfer an extended sequence of words making up a predetermined message.

Claim 25

The signal generator of claim 22, in which a control word is stored in said storage means, and further comprising means effective at the completion of a test message to selectively transfer said control word to the output of said storage means, and means operatively connected to the output of said storage means, effective to detect said control word, and to terminate the operation of the generator upon the detection thereof.

Claim 26

The generator of claim 23, in which said control word transfer means comprises means operatively connected to said storage means output, effective to be actuated upon the occurrence of a predetermined generator output, and operatively connected to said addressing means to actuate the latter to address said memory at the address location of said preset word when it is actuated.

Claim 27

The generator of claim 24, in which said addressing means comprises counting means operatively connected to said storage means output effective to count said output words and effective to cause said addressing means to select an address in said storage means corresponding to the address location of said control word once said counting means has counted a predetermined number of output words.

Claim 28

The generator of claim 22, further comprising means effective, when said addressing means is caused to operate as in (b1), to initially set said addressing means to a start address, means to sequentially change the setting of said addressing means to address different address locations in said storage means, and means effective upon the transfer of said message to the output of said storage means to reset said addressing means to said start address, thereby to reinitiate an addressing sequence on said storage means.

Claim 29

A generator for producing a signal for testing an output device, said generator comprising storage means having an output and a plurality of different test characters stored at predetermined address locations therein, said test characters singly and in various combinations defining output words adapted to actuate said output device, addressing means operatively connected to said storage means and effective when selectively actuated to transfer a predetermined one or more of said test characters to said output, thereby to define said output words, test signal selecting means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to selectively actuate said addressing means in accord with a desired output word to be supplied to the the output device, and means operatively connected to the output of said storage means and effective to transfer the selected output word to the output device, in which a control word is stored in said storage means, and further comprising means sensitive to the completion of a test message and effective when the completion of a test message is sensed to selectively transfer said control word to the output of said storage means, and means operatively connected to the output of said storage means, effective to detect said control word, and effective to terminate the operation of the generator upon the detection thereof, in which said control word transfer means comprises means operatively connected to said storage means output, effective to be actuated upon the occurrence of a predetermined generator output, and operatively connected to said addressing means to actuate the latter to address said memory at the address location of said preset word when said means is actuated, and in which said addressing means comprises counting means operatively connected to said storage means output, effective to count said output words and effective to cause said addressing means to select an address in said storage means corresponding to the address location of said control word once said counting means has counted a predetermined number of output words.

Claim 30

A generator for producing a signal for testing an output device, said generator comprising storage means having an output and a plurality of different test characters stored at predetermined address locations therein, said test characters singly and in various combinations defining output words adapted to actuate said output device, addressing means operatively connected to said storage means and effective when selectively actuated to transfer a predetermined one or more of said test characters to said output, thereby to define said output words, test signal selecting means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to selectively actuate said addressing means in accord with a desired output word to be supplied to the the output device, and means operatively connected to the output of said storage means and effective to transfer the selected output word to the output device, in which a control word is stored in said storage means, and further comprising means sensitive to the completion of a test message and effective when the completion of a test message is sensed to selectively transfer said control word to the output of said storage means, and means operatively connected to the output of said storage means, effective to detect said control word, and effective to terminate the operation of the generator upon the detection thereof, in which said control word transfer means comprises means operatively connected to said storage means output, effective to be actuated upon the occurrence of a predetermined generator output, and operatively connected to said addressing means to actuate the latter to address said memory at the address location of said preset word when said means is actuated, and in which said addressing means comprises counting means operatively connected to said storage means output, effective to count said output words and effective to cause said addressing means to select an address in said storage means corresponding to the address location of said control word once said counting means has counted a predetermined number of output words.

Claim 31

The generator of claim 27, further comprising means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to initially set said addressing means to a start address, means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to sequentially change the setting of said addressing means to address different address locations in said storage means, and means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective upon the transfer of a desired output message to the output of said storage means to reset said addressing means to said start address, thereby to reinitiate an addressing sequence on said storage means.

Claim 32

The generator of claim 27, further comprising means operatively connected to said addresSing means, effective to actuate said addressing means to select a single address location in said storage means, and to inhibit said address sequential changing means.

Claim 33

The generator of claim 27, further comprising means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to produce a pair of sequentially alternating address signals to said storage means and to inhibit said address sequential changing means, thereby to produce at the output of said storage means an output word having a repeating pattern of two alternating characters.

Claim 34

A generator for producing a signal for testing an output device, said generator comprising storage means having an output and a plurality of different test characters stored at predetermined address locations therein, said test characters singly and in various combinations defining output words adapted to actuate said output device, addressing means operatively connected to said storage means and effective when selectively actuated to transfer a predetermined one or more of said test characters to said output, thereby to define said output words, test signal selecting means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to selectively actuate said addressing means in accord with a desired output word to be supplied to the output device, and means operatively connected to the output of said storage means and effective to transfer the selected output word to the output device, in which a control word is stored in said storage means, and further comprising means sensitive to the completion of a test message and effective when the completion of a test message is sensed to selectively transfer said control word to the output of said storage means, and means operatively connected to the output of said storage means, effective to detect said control word, and effective to terminate the operation of the generator upon the detection thereof, in which said control word transfer means comprises means operatively connected to said storage means output, effective to be actuated upon the occurrence of a predetermined generator output, and operatively connected to said addressing means to actuate the latter to address said memory at the address location of said preset word when said means is actuated, and further comprising means effective to initially set said addressing means to a start address, means to sequentially change the setting of said addressing means to address different address locations in said storage means, and effective upon the transfer of a desired output message to the output of said storage means to reset said addressing means to said start address, thereby to reinitiate an addressing sequence on said storage means.

Claim 35

A generator for producing a signal for testing an output device, said generator comprising storage means having an output and a plurality of different test characters stored at predetermined address locations therein, said test characters singly and in various combinations defining output words adapted to actuate said output device, addressing means operatively connected to said storage means and effective when selectively actuated to transfer a predetermined one or more of said test characters to said output, thereby to define said output words, test signal selecting means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to selectively actuate said addressing means in accord with a desired output word to be supplied to the output device, and means operatively connected to the output of said storage means and effective to transfer the selected output word to the output device, in which a control word is stored in said storage means, and further comprising means sensitive to the completion of a test message and effective when the completion of a test message is sensed to selectively transfer said control word to the output of said storage means, and means operatively connected to the output of said storage means, effective to detect said control word, and effective to terminate the operation of the generator upon the detection thereof, in which said control word transfer means comprises means operatively connected to said storage means output, effective to be actuated upon the occurrence of a predetermined generator output, and operatively connected to said addressing means to actuate the latter to address said memory at the address location of said preset word when said means is actuated, and further comprising means effective to initially set said addressing means to a start address, means to sequentially change the setting of said addressing means to address different address locations in said storage means, and effective upon the transfer of a desired output message to the output of said storage means to reset said addressing means to said start address, thereby to reinitiate an addressing sequence on said storage means.

Claim 36

The generator of claim 31, further comprising means operatively connected to said addressing means, effective to actuate said addressing means to select a single address location in said storage means, and to inhibit said address sequential changing means.

Claim 37

The generator of claim 31, further comprising means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to produce a pair of sequentially alternating address signals to said storage means and to inhibit said address sequential changing means, thereby to produce at the output of said storage means an output word having a repeating pattern of two alternating characters.

Claim 38

A generator for producing a signal for testing an output device, said generator comprising storage means having an output and a plurality of different test characters stored at predetermined address locations therein, said test characters singly and in various combinations defining output words adapted to actuate said output device, addressing means operatively connected to said storage means and effective when selectively actuated to transfer a predetermined one or more of said test characters to said output, thereby to define said output words, test signal selecting means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to selectively actuAte said addressing means in accord with a desired output word to be supplied to the output device, and means operatively connected to the output of said storage means and effective to transfer the selected output word to the output device, in which a control word is stored in said storage means, and further comprising means sensitive to the completion of a test message and effective when the completion of a test message is sensed to selectively transfer said control word to the output of said storage means, and means operatively connected to the output of said storage means, effective to detect said control word, and effective to terminate the operation of the generator upon the detection thereof, and further comprising means effective to initially set said addressing means to a start address, means to sequentially change the setting of said addressing means to address different address locations in said storage means, and means effective upon the transfer of a desired output message to the output of said storage means to reset said addressing means to said start address, thereby to reinitiate an addressing sequence on said storage means.

Claim 39

A generator for producing a signal for testing an output device, said generator comprising storage means having an output and a plurality of different test characters stored at predetermined address locations therein, said test characters singly and in various combinations defining output words adapted to actuate said output device, addressing means operatively connected to said storage means and effective when selectively actuated to transfer a predetermined one or more of said test characters to said output, thereby to define said output words, test signal selecting means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to selectively actuAte said addressing means in accord with a desired output word to be supplied to the output device, and means operatively connected to the output of said storage means and effective to transfer the selected output word to the output device, in which a control word is stored in said storage means, and further comprising means sensitive to the completion of a test message and effective when the completion of a test message is sensed to selectively transfer said control word to the output of said storage means, and means operatively connected to the output of said storage means, effective to detect said control word, and effective to terminate the operation of the generator upon the detection thereof, and further comprising means effective to initially set said addressing means to a start address, means to sequentially change the setting of said addressing means to address different address locations in said storage means, and means effective upon the transfer of a desired output message to the output of said storage means to reset said addressing means to said start address, thereby to reinitiate an addressing sequence on said storage means.

Claim 40

The generator of claim 34, further comprising means operatively connected to said addressing means, effective to actuate said addressing means to select a single address location in said storage means, and to inhibit said address sequential changing means.

Claim 41

The generator of claim 34, further comprising means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to produce a pair of sequentially alternating address signals to said storage means and to inhibit said address sequential changing means, thereby to produce at the output of said storage means an output word having a repeating pattern of two alternating characters.

Claim 42

A generator for producing a signal for testing an output device, said generator comprising storage means having an output and a plurality of different test characters stored at predetermined address locations therein, said test characters singly and in various combinations defining output words adapted to actuate said output device, addressing means operatively connected to said storage means and effective when selectively actuated to transfer a predetermined one or more of said test characters to said output, thereby to define said output words, test signal selecting means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to selectively actuate said addressing means in accord with a desired output word to be supplied to the output device, and means operatively connected to the output of said storage means and effective to transfer the selected output word to the output device, further comprising means effective to initially set said addressing means to a start address, means to sequentially change the setting of said addressing means to address different address locations in said storage means, and means effective upon the transfer of a desired output message to the output of said storage means to reset said addressing means to said start address, thereby to reinitiate an addressing sequence on said storage means.

Claim 43

A generator for producing a signal for testing an output device, said generator comprising storage means having an output and a plurality of different test characters stored at predetermined address locations therein, said test characters singly and in various combinations defining output words adapted to actuate said output device, addressing means operatively connected to said storage means and effective when selectively actuated to transfer a predetermined one or more of said test characters to said output, thereby to define said output words, test signal selecting means operatively connected to said addressing means and effective to selectively actuate said addressing means in accord with a desired output word to be supplied to the output device, and means operatively connected to the output of said storage means and effective to transfer the selected output word to the output device, further comprising means effective to initially set said addressing means to a start address, means to sequentially change the setting of said addressing means to address different address locations in said storage means, and means effective upon the transfer of a desired output message to the output of said storage means to reset said addressing means to said start address, thereby to reinitiate an addressing sequence on said storage means.

Claim 44

The generator of claim 37, further comprising means operatively connected to said addressing means, effective to actuate said addressing means to select a single address location in said storage means, and to inhibit said address sequential changing means.

Claim 45

A generator for producing a signal for testing an output device, said generator comprising storage means having an output and a plurality of different test characters stored at predetermined address locations therein, said test characters singly and in various combinations defining output words adapted to actuate said output device, addressing means operatively connected to said storage means and effective when selectively actuated to transfer a predetermined one or more of said test characters to said output, thereby to define said output words, and control means operatively connected to said addressing meAns and selectively actuatable to cause said addressing means selectively to (a) transfer the same word repetitively to said output or (b) transfer a given plurality of words repetitively to said output, in which said control means, in transferring a given plurality of words respectively to said output as in (b), is further selectively actuatable to (b1) transfer two words repetitively in the same order, or (b2) transfer an extended sequence of words making up a predetermined message.

Claim 46

A generator for producing a signal for testing an output device, said generator comprising storage means having an output and a plurality of different test characters stored at predetermined address locations therein, said test characters singly and in various combinations defining output words adapted to actuate said output device, addressing means operatively connected to said storage means and effective when selectively actuated to transfer a predetermined one or more of said test characters to said output, thereby to define said output words, and control means operatively connected to said addressing meAns and selectively actuatable to cause said addressing means selectively to (a) transfer the same word repetitively to said output or (b) transfer a given plurality of words repetitively to said output, in which said control means, in transferring a given plurality of words respectively to said output as in (b), is further selectively actuatable to (b1) transfer two words repetitively in the same order, or (b2) transfer an extended sequence of words making up a predetermined message.

Claim 47

The signal generator of claim 39, in which a control word is stored in said storage means, and further comprising means effective at the completion of a test message to selectively transfer said control word to the output of said storage means, and means operatively connected to the output of said storage means, effective to detect said control word, and to terminate the operation of the generator upon the detection thereof.

Claim 48

The generator of claim 40, in which said control word transfer means comprises means operatively connected to said storage means output, effective to be actuated upon the occurrence of a predetermined generator output, and operatively connected to said addressing means to actuate the latter to address said memory at the address location of said preset word when it is actuated.