US3728530A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Binary to decimal converter circuit
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1972-03-13
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Granted: 1973-04-17
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Expires: 1992-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A circuit for changing binary to decimal numbers is disclosed in which the driver transistor for the display device breaks down in an avalanche mode at a higher voltage than similar prior art circuits and in which threshold antinoise means and an improved transistor biasing means are included.
Inventors
- 👤 G Alexander
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 04:59
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03M; H03M7/00; H03M7/02; H03M7/06; H03M7/08; H03K; H03K21/00; H03K21/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
333 words
A binary decimal converter comprising: a plurality of input terminals to which a binary number may be applied, a plurality of diodes, each of said input terminals being connected to the cathode of a respective diode, a first plurality of NPN transistors each having an emitter, a collector and a base, the anodes of said diodes being connected to respective bases of said first plurality of transistors, a plurality of zener diodes, a plurality of second transistors having collectors, emitters and bases, a connection between the emitters of said first plurality of transistors to the bases of respective transistors of said second plurality of transistors by way of respective zener diodes, means to render said first and second transistors and said zener diodes conductive, a display device having at least a first and a plurality of second electrodes, a first plurality of power transistors each having an Emitter, a collector and a base, connections between a second electrode and a collector of respective power transistors, a constant voltage biasing current source, means to directly connect said bases of said first power transistors to each other, a resistor, means to connect said bases of said first power transistors to said constant voltage source through said resistor, a second plurality of power transistors having collectors, emitters and bases, respective connections between the emitters of said first power transistors to the collectors of said second power transistors, a third plurality of transistors each having a base, a collector and a plurality of emitters, a connection between the base of at least one of said second plurality of power transistors to the collector of one of said transistors having a plurality of emitters, a connection between the emitter of at least one of said second plurality of power transistors to the collector of a transistor of said second plurality of transistors, and means to connect a collector of at least one of said second plurality of transistors to at least one emitter of a plural emitter transistor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
333 words
A binary decimal converter comprising: a plurality of input terminals to which a binary number may be applied, a plurality of diodes, each of said input terminals being connected to the cathode of a respective diode, a first plurality of NPN transistors each having an emitter, a collector and a base, the anodes of said diodes being connected to respective bases of said first plurality of transistors, a plurality of zener diodes, a plurality of second transistors having collectors, emitters and bases, a connection between the emitters of said first plurality of transistors to the bases of respective transistors of said second plurality of transistors by way of respective zener diodes, means to render said first and second transistors and said zener diodes conductive, a display device having at least a first and a plurality of second electrodes, a first plurality of power transistors each having an Emitter, a collector and a base, connections between a second electrode and a collector of respective power transistors, a constant voltage biasing current source, means to directly connect said bases of said first power transistors to each other, a resistor, means to connect said bases of said first power transistors to said constant voltage source through said resistor, a second plurality of power transistors having collectors, emitters and bases, respective connections between the emitters of said first power transistors to the collectors of said second power transistors, a third plurality of transistors each having a base, a collector and a plurality of emitters, a connection between the base of at least one of said second plurality of power transistors to the collector of one of said transistors having a plurality of emitters, a connection between the emitter of at least one of said second plurality of power transistors to the collector of a transistor of said second plurality of transistors, and means to connect a collector of at least one of said second plurality of transistors to at least one emitter of a plural emitter transistor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
143 words
A binary to decimal converter comprising: a plurality of input terminals to which binary numbers may be applied, a first plurality of pairs of transistors, means including respective ones of said terminals for rendering said transistors of a pair thereof either conductive or non-conductive, a second plurality of pairs of transistors, means for so coupling a pair of transistors of the first plurality thereof to a respective pair of transistors of a second pair thereof that the coupled pairs have opposite states of conductivity, a display device having a plurality of terminals, a plurality of power transistors each having an emitter and a collector, means for connecting the collector of a power transistor to a respective terminal of said display device and, means to provide an emitter current path for said power transistors including a transistor of one of said pairs of transistors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
143 words
A binary to decimal converter comprising: a plurality of input terminals to which binary numbers may be applied, a first plurality of pairs of transistors, means including respective ones of said terminals for rendering said transistors of a pair thereof either conductive or non-conductive, a second plurality of pairs of transistors, means for so coupling a pair of transistors of the first plurality thereof to a respective pair of transistors of a second pair thereof that the coupled pairs have opposite states of conductivity, a display device having a plurality of terminals, a plurality of power transistors each having an emitter and a collector, means for connecting the collector of a power transistor to a respective terminal of said display device and, means to provide an emitter current path for said power transistors including a transistor of one of said pairs of transistors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
239 words
A display device having input means for receiving digital data in the form of bi-level electronic signals and having output display means with a first contact connected to a first voltage source, and a plurality of second contacts, for selectively displaying a decimal representation of the digital data comprising: a. first inverting means having input means for receiving and inverting the electronic signals, and having output means; b. second inverting means having output means, and having input means connected to the output means of the first inverting means for receiving and inverting the once inverted electronic signals to effectively provide the bi-level electronic signals, not inverted, at the output means of the second inverting means; c. gating means, having output means, and having input means connected to the output means of the first and second inverting means, to be selectively activated; d. switching means, connected to the output means of the first and second inverting means and the output means of the gating means, to be selectively opened and closed; and e. a plurality of output transistors, each having collector, base and emitter, the collector of each being connected to a respective one of the second contacts of the output display means, the emitter of each being connected to the switching means and the base of each being connected together to a bias voltage source, to provide conduction in one selected output transistor, thereby selectively displaying the decimal representation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
239 words
A display device having input means for receiving digital data in the form of bi-level electronic signals and having output display means with a first contact connected to a first voltage source, and a plurality of second contacts, for selectively displaying a decimal representation of the digital data comprising: a. first inverting means having input means for receiving and inverting the electronic signals, and having output means; b. second inverting means having output means, and having input means connected to the output means of the first inverting means for receiving and inverting the once inverted electronic signals to effectively provide the bi-level electronic signals, not inverted, at the output means of the second inverting means; c. gating means, having output means, and having input means connected to the output means of the first and second inverting means, to be selectively activated; d. switching means, connected to the output means of the first and second inverting means and the output means of the gating means, to be selectively opened and closed; and e. a plurality of output transistors, each having collector, base and emitter, the collector of each being connected to a respective one of the second contacts of the output display means, the emitter of each being connected to the switching means and the base of each being connected together to a bias voltage source, to provide conduction in one selected output transistor, thereby selectively displaying the decimal representation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The display device of claim 3 wherein the input means further comprises four terminals, each to receive a bi-level electronic signal designated, respectively, A, B, C and D.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
The display device of claim 4 wherein the first inverting means further comprise four high-threshold-sensitivity inverting stages each connecteD to a respective one of the four input terminals of the display device to produce respectively, inverted signals designated A, B, C and D, and wherein the second inverting stages, each connected to a respective one of the four first inverting stages produce, respectively, signals designated A, B, C and D.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The display device of claim 3 wherein the output display means further comprise 10 discrete gas discharge display positions, each for being singly and selectively activated to provide, respectively, a decimal digit from 0 to 9.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The display of claim 6 wherein the plurality of output transistors comprises one output transistor associated with each of the 10 gas discharge positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
95 words
The display device of claim 7 wherein the switching means further comprise: d. (i) 10 switching transistors each having collector, base and emitter, the collector of each being connected to the emitter f a respective one of the output transistors, and the emitters of five of the switching transistors being connected together to the output means of the first inverting means, and the emitters of the other five switching transistors being connected together to the output means of the second inverting means, and having each base connected to the output means of the gating means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The display device of claim 8 wherein the input means further comprise four terminals, each to receive a bi-level electronic signal designated, respectively, A, B, C and D.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
76 words
The display device of claim 9 wherein the first inverting means further comprise four high-threshold-sensitivity inverting stages each connected to a respective one of the four input terminals of the display device to produce respectively, inverted signals designated A, B, C and D, and wherein the second inverting means further comprise four inverting stages, each connected to a respective one of the four first inverting stages to produce, respectively, signals designated A, B, C and D.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The display device of claim 10 wherein the gating means further comprise five gates logically combining the output means of the first and second inverting means to produce, respectively, signals designated B C D, B C D, B C D, B C D, and B C D.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
74 words
The display device of claim 11 wherein the switching transistors are logically connected to the output means of the first and second inverting means in the gating means to produce respectively, signals designated A B C D, A B C D, A B C D, A B C D, A B C D, A B C D, A B C D, A B C D, A B C D, and A B C D.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
138 words
A display device comprising: a. output display means having a first and a second contact, the first contact being connected to a first voltage source; b. an output transistor having a collector, base and emitter, its collector being connected to the second contact of the output display means and its base being connected to a bias voltage source; and c. switching means, connected between a second voltage source and the emitter of the output transistor, for activating the output display means providing a current path, when closed, from the first voltage source through the output display means, through the collector-emitter of the output transistor to the second voltage source, and for deactivating the output display means, when opened, by opening the emitter of the output transistor to present only a collector-to-base avalanche path to the output display means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
138 words
A display device comprising: a. output display means having a first and a second contact, the first contact being connected to a first voltage source; b. an output transistor having a collector, base and emitter, its collector being connected to the second contact of the output display means and its base being connected to a bias voltage source; and c. switching means, connected between a second voltage source and the emitter of the output transistor, for activating the output display means providing a current path, when closed, from the first voltage source through the output display means, through the collector-emitter of the output transistor to the second voltage source, and for deactivating the output display means, when opened, by opening the emitter of the output transistor to present only a collector-to-base avalanche path to the output display means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The display device of claim 13 wherein the display means further comprise a gas discharge display tube.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
78 words
The display device of claim 14 wherein the switching means further comprise: c. (i) a switching transistor having a collector, base and emitter, the collector being connected to the emitter of the output transistor, and the emitter being connected to the second voltage source; and (ii) switch control means connected to the base of the switching transistor for selectively causing the switching transistor to turn on to provide a current Path for the emitter of the output transistor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-16 | 1976-10-16 | 1977-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-16 | 1980-10-16 | 1981-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-16 | 1984-10-16 | 1985-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |