Multiple choice selector device

Claim 2

A selector switch and interlock arrangement comprising: a plurality of momentary contact switches, each of said momentary contact switches adapted to initiate a sustained function; memory means responsive to actuation of a momentary contact switch to record that said one momentary contact switch has been actuated and thereby sustain the continuing function after de-actuation of said one momentary contact switch; erasing means responsive to actuation of a momentary contact switch to erase any record in said memory means of any prior actuations of a momentary contact switch; and limiting means rendering said erasing means ineffective with respect to momentary contact switch actuations that are coextensive for any period of time.

Claim 3

An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said memory means comprises a plurality of electronic gating devices.

Claim 4

An arrAngement as claimed in claim 2 wherein: said electronic gating devices are complementary silicon controlled rectifiers having anode, cathode and gate electrodes; and each of said momentary contact switches is connected to the gate electrode of an associated complementary silicon controlled rectifier to trigger conduction thereof upon closure of the associated switch.

Claim 5

An arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein said erasing means comprises: a power transistor conveying current to each of said complementary silicon controlled rectifiers; and control means responsive to closure of a momentary contact switch to reduce conduction of said power transistor.

Claim 6

An arrangement as claimed in claim 4 wherein said limiting means comprises a differentiator adapted to limit reduction of conduction by said power transistor to a very short period of time.

Claim 7

An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said erasing means may be rendered ineffective by a controlling pedal switch.

Claim 8

A selector switch and interlock arrangement comprising: a plurality of momentary contact switches, each of said switches adapted to initiate a sustained function; an electronic gate connected to each momentary contact switch, said gate being placed in a conducting state upon closure of its associated momentary contact switch and adapted to remain in the conducting state until the current passing therethrough is decreased below a given level; a power transistor supplying current to said electronic gates; an erase control means adapted to decrease conduction of said power transistor in response to closure of a momentary contact switch; and a limiting differentiator adapted to limit the decrease in conduction of said power transistor to a period of time long enough to cause any gates in a conducting state to be transferred to a non-conducting state and short enough to prevent release of the momentary contact switch while said power transistor is in a reduced conducting state.

Claim 9

A selector switch and interlock arrangement comprising: a plurality of momentary contact switches, each of said switches adapted to initiate a sustained function; an electronic gate connected to each momentary contact switch, said gate being placed in a conducting state upon closure of its associated momentary contact switch and adapted to remain in the conducting state until the current passing therethrough is decreased below a given level; a power transistor supplying current to said electronic gates; an erase control means adapted to decrease conduction of said power transistor in response to closure of a momentary contact switch; and a limiting differentiator adapted to limit the decrease in conduction of said power transistor to a period of time long enough to cause any gates in a conducting state to be transferred to a non-conducting state and short enough to prevent release of the momentary contact switch while said power transistor is in a reduced conducting state.

Claim 12

A multiple choice selector device for providing operator desired output current signals in response to the operator choice comprising: a multiplicity of electrical current gating means for individually shifting from a non-conducting state to a conducting state upon individual external excitation to provide a corresponding output current, for providing an erasing current upon external excitation; and for individually shifting back to a non-conducting state upon reduction of input current below a determinable level, when no corresponding external excitation is present; a pulse amplifying means for amplifying the erasing current and providing an output current pulse in response to the erasing current; and a normally conducting power switch means for providing input current to said gating means and for reducing the input current below the level necessary to shift said gating means form a conducting to non-conducting state in response to the input of a current pulse from said amplifying means, whereby, one or more output currents may achieve by external excitation of the corresponding gating means and all previously conducting non-externally excited gating means may be shifted to a non-conducting state.

Claim 13

A multiple choice selector device for providing operator desired output current signals in response to the operator choice comprising: a multiplicity of electrical current gating means for individually shifting from a non-conducting state to a conducting state upon individual external excitation to provide a corresponding output current, for providing an erasing current upon external excitation; and for individually shifting back to a non-conducting state upon reduction of input current below a determinable level, when no corresponding external excitation is present; a pulse amplifying means for amplifying the erasing current and providing an output current pulse in response to the erasing current; and a normally conducting power switch means for providing input current to said gating means and for reducing the input current below the level necessary to shift said gating means form a conducting to non-conducting state in response to the input of a current pulse from said amplifying means, whereby, one or more output currents may achieve by external excitation of the corresponding gating means and all previously conducting non-externally excited gating means may be shifted to a non-conducting state.

Claim 14

A multiple choice selector device for providing operator desired output voltage signals to means for receiving and responding to the output voltage signals comprising: an electrical power source; a multiplicity of gate controlled rectifying means, each having an anode, a cathode and a gate terminal and shiftable from a non-conducting state to a conducting state upon reduction of the gate terminal voltage below a predetermined level and remaining in a conducting state until the anode to cathode current is reduced below a predetermined level when the gate terminal voltage is above the level necessary to shift the gate rectifying means to a conducting state, said gate terminal normally biased by the power source to hold said controlled rectifier in a non-conducting state; a multiplicity of load resistor means individually in series from ground to the cathode of the controlled rectifying means for providing output voltage signals when said controlled rectifying means are in a conducting state; a multiplicity of normally open triggering switch means individually connected at one side with the gate terminals for reducing the gate terminal voltage and placing the rectifier means in a conducting state when closed; a first resistor means commonly connected from the opposite side of the triggering switch means to ground for providing an erasing voltage upon closing of a triggering switch means; a pulse amplifying means for amplifying the erasing voltage and providing an output pulse of electrical current; a normally conducting power switch means having an input, output and control terminal for providing current from said power source to the anodes and for reducing the current below the level necessary to shift said controlled rectifiers to a non-conducting state when the control terminal is grounded; a grounding switch means controlled by the output pulse from said pulse amplifying means for grounding the control terminal of power switch means in response to a pulse provided by said pulse amplifying means; whereby, one or more output voltage signals may be achieved across the load resistor means by closing of one or more corresponding triggering switch means thereby shifting the corresponding control rectifying means to a conducting state and whereby all previously conducting control rectifying means for which corresponding triggering switch means are not closed are shifted to a non-conducting state by the grounding of the control terminal of the power switch means.

Claim 15

A multiple choice selector device for providing operator desired output voltage signals to means for receiving and responding to the output voltage signals comprising: an electrical power source; a multiplicity of gate controlled rectifying means, each having an anode, a cathode and a gate terminal and shiftable from a non-conducting state to a conducting state upon reduction of the gate terminal voltage below a predetermined level and remaining in a conducting state until the anode to cathode current is reduced below a predetermined level when the gate terminal voltage is above the level necessary to shift the gate rectifying means to a conducting state, said gate terminal normally biased by the power source to hold said controlled rectifier in a non-conducting state; a multiplicity of load resistor means individually in series from ground to the cathode of the controlled rectifying means for providing output voltage signals when said controlled rectifying means are in a conducting state; a multiplicity of normally open triggering switch means individually connected at one side with the gate terminals for reducing the gate terminal voltage and placing the rectifier means in a conducting state when closed; a first resistor means commonly connected from the opposite side of the triggering switch means to ground for providing an erasing voltage upon closing of a triggering switch means; a pulse amplifying means for amplifying the erasing voltage and providing an output pulse of electrical current; a normally conducting power switch means having an input, output and control terminal for providing current from said power source to the anodes and for reducing the current below the level necessary to shift said controlled rectifiers to a non-conducting state when the control terminal is grounded; a grounding switch means controlled by the output pulse from said pulse amplifying means for grounding the control terminal of power switch means in response to a pulse provided by said pulse amplifying means; whereby, one or more output voltage signals may be achieved across the load resistor means by closing of one or more corresponding triggering switch means thereby shifting the corresponding control rectifying means to a conducting state and whereby all previously conducting control rectifying means for which corresponding triggering switch means are not closed are shifted to a non-conducting state by the grounding of the control terminal of the power switch means.

Claim 16

A multiple choice selector device as claimed in claim 10 and further comprising: a cancelling switch means for grounding the control terminal of said power switch means when closed to shift all conducting gate controlled rectifying means from a conducting state to a non-conducting state.