US3729620A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stroke counter mechanism
Assignee: ELECTRONIC DATA PREPARATION CO
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Filing: 1971-10-04
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Granted: 1973-04-24
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Expires: 1991-10-04
Abstract
Abstract Stroke counting mechanism for counting the number of strokes which an operator makes in actuating the keys of a keyboard including apparatus for precluding a false count that otherwise would result when a key is stroked and held for a sustained period.
Inventors
- 👤 D Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:45
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06M; G06M1/00; G06M1/08; G06M1/10; G06M1/108; G06M3/00; G06M3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
290 words
Stroke counting apparatus for a keyboard having a plurality of systematically arranged keys which may be individually manually stroked to operate a machine, said counting apparatus comprising: means for producing an electrical pulse signal each time one of said keys is stroked; electrically energizable and deenergizable counting means connected in circuit with said pulse producing means for registering a pulse signal, and thereby a stroke, each time it is energized; first electrical valve means connectible to a source of electrical power operable in current conducting and nonconducting states and connected in circuit with said counting means for energizing, in said conducting state, said counting means; second electrical valve means coupled to said pulse producing means and said first electrical valve means and operable in current conducting and non-conducting states for rendering, in said non-conducting state, said first valve means conductive in response to a pulse signal, and for rendering said first valve means non-conductive when said second valve means is in said conducting state; and count inhibiting means for precluding said counting means from registering successive pulse signals which are spaced from each other less than a predetermined time interval including means coupled to said second valve means for maintaining said second valve means in said non-conducting state for a predetermined time to preclude said first valve means from changing its conducting state, said means for maintaining said second valve means in said non-conducting state comprising third valve means which is rendered non-conductive when said second valve means is non-conducting and precludes said second valve means from conducting when said third valve means is non-conductive, and means responsive to said third valve means being rendered nonconductive for maintaining said third valve means in said nonconducting state for a predetermined time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
290 words
Stroke counting apparatus for a keyboard having a plurality of systematically arranged keys which may be individually manually stroked to operate a machine, said counting apparatus comprising: means for producing an electrical pulse signal each time one of said keys is stroked; electrically energizable and deenergizable counting means connected in circuit with said pulse producing means for registering a pulse signal, and thereby a stroke, each time it is energized; first electrical valve means connectible to a source of electrical power operable in current conducting and nonconducting states and connected in circuit with said counting means for energizing, in said conducting state, said counting means; second electrical valve means coupled to said pulse producing means and said first electrical valve means and operable in current conducting and non-conducting states for rendering, in said non-conducting state, said first valve means conductive in response to a pulse signal, and for rendering said first valve means non-conductive when said second valve means is in said conducting state; and count inhibiting means for precluding said counting means from registering successive pulse signals which are spaced from each other less than a predetermined time interval including means coupled to said second valve means for maintaining said second valve means in said non-conducting state for a predetermined time to preclude said first valve means from changing its conducting state, said means for maintaining said second valve means in said non-conducting state comprising third valve means which is rendered non-conductive when said second valve means is non-conducting and precludes said second valve means from conducting when said third valve means is non-conductive, and means responsive to said third valve means being rendered nonconductive for maintaining said third valve means in said nonconducting state for a predetermined time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
208 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said first valve means comprises a first transistor having an input circuit, and an output circuit coupled to said coUnting means; a second transistor having an input circuit, and an output circuit coupled to a source of electrical power and the input circuit of said first transistor; said second valve means comprises a third transistor having an input circuit coupled to said pulse producing means and an output circuit coupled to said source and the input circuit of said second transistor said third valve means comprises a fourth transistor having an input circuit coupled to the output circuit of said third transistor and an output circuit coupled to said source, means is connected to said first, second, and third transistors for biasing said first and second transistors to conducting and non-conducting states when said third transistor is in said non-conducting and conducting states, respectively, and for biasing said fourth transistor into a non-conducting state when said third transistor is in said non-conducting state; said count inhibiting means including a capacitor charging circuit connected to said source and the output circuit of said fourth transistor for maintaining said fourth transistor non-conductive for a predetermined time to maintain said third transistor non-conductive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said count-inhibiting means includes variable resistance means coupled to the output circuit of said fourth transistor for varying the time said fourth transistor remains non-conductive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said counting means includes wheel means having count indicating indicia thereon; and a count coil connected in the output circuit of said first transistor for indexing said wheel means when said first transistor is in its conducting state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
282 words
In combination a machine comprising operative elements movable between inoperative and operative positions, a keyboard having a plurality of keys individually movable between inoperative and operative positions, at least one of said keys being movable to an additional operative position for causing a series of operations to be performed by at least one of said elements, means coupling said keys and said operative elements for causing said elements to move from said inoperative to said operative positions when the keys are stroked including means for producing electrical pulses which are spaced from each other not less than a predetermined time interval and means for producing at least one electrical pulse signal each time one of said keys is moved to its operative position, and means for producing a train of electrical pulse signals which are spaced from each other less than said predetermined time interval each time said one key is stroked to said additional operative position, stroke counting apparatus for counting the keys stroked to said operative position for said additional operative position comprising: electrically energizable and deenergizable counting means connected in circuit with said pulse producing means and a source of electrical power for registering a pulse signal, and thereby a stroke, each time it is energized, normally non-conductive valve means coupled to said counting means; means for rendering said valve means conductive in response to a pulse signal to energize said counting means and for rendering said valve means non-conductive in less time than said predetermined time interval; and count inhibiting means for maintaining said valve means in said conductive condition for a time interval greater than said lesser predetermined time interval but less than said predetermined time interval.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
282 words
In combination a machine comprising operative elements movable between inoperative and operative positions, a keyboard having a plurality of keys individually movable between inoperative and operative positions, at least one of said keys being movable to an additional operative position for causing a series of operations to be performed by at least one of said elements, means coupling said keys and said operative elements for causing said elements to move from said inoperative to said operative positions when the keys are stroked including means for producing electrical pulses which are spaced from each other not less than a predetermined time interval and means for producing at least one electrical pulse signal each time one of said keys is moved to its operative position, and means for producing a train of electrical pulse signals which are spaced from each other less than said predetermined time interval each time said one key is stroked to said additional operative position, stroke counting apparatus for counting the keys stroked to said operative position for said additional operative position comprising: electrically energizable and deenergizable counting means connected in circuit with said pulse producing means and a source of electrical power for registering a pulse signal, and thereby a stroke, each time it is energized, normally non-conductive valve means coupled to said counting means; means for rendering said valve means conductive in response to a pulse signal to energize said counting means and for rendering said valve means non-conductive in less time than said predetermined time interval; and count inhibiting means for maintaining said valve means in said conductive condition for a time interval greater than said lesser predetermined time interval but less than said predetermined time interval.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination of claim 5 wherein said counting means includes indexible wheel means having count indicating indicia thereon; and a count coil connected in circuit with said valve means for indexing said wheel means when said valve means is conductive.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for rendering said valve means conductive and non-conductive comprises a fiRst normally conductive valve coupled to said valve means and being rendered non-conductive in response to a pulse signal to render said valve means conductive, and a normally conductive second valve coupled to said first valve and being rendered non-conductive when said first valve is rendered non-conductive; and means for maintaining said second valve non-conductive for a time greater than said lesser predetermined time and lesser than said predetermined time.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3571574A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-23 | 1976-10-23 | 1977-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-23 | 1980-10-23 | 1981-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-23 | 1984-10-23 | 1985-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |