US3742468A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means for the reliable transmission of digital signals across slip rings and the like
Assignee: ELECTRIC PROCESSORS Inc
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Filing: 1972-05-03
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Granted: 1973-06-26
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Expires: 1992-05-03
Abstract
Abstract A principal application of the subject invention is in magnetic tape digital data recorders of the type in which the tape is wrapped partially around a rotating record/reproduce head assembly. Digital signals are transmitted to and from the rotating head assembly via slip rings, which may be subject to momentary contact interruptions. In one form of the subject invention, a pair of slip rings are used for each digital signal, one carrying the normal form of the signal and the other carrying the same signal in inverted polarity. A flip-flop circuit is used as a data receiving circuit. Current sinking logic circuits, of the type in which a logical 0 is transmitted by the sinking of current, are used. Data is transmitted by setting the data receiving flip-flop to one state or the other via currents transmitted through one slip ring or the other. A mementary open circuit in a slip ring connection will not erroneously alter the state of the data receiving flip-flop and, hence, not result in the transmission of incorrect data.
Inventors
- 👤 T Lode
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 00:50
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/02; G11B15/12; G11B15/14; G11B15/18; G11B15/1808; G11B5/00; G11B5/008; G11B5/00813; G11B5/00847; G11B5/0086; G11B5/02; G11B5/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
Means for the transmission of electrical signals from a first assembly to a second assembly through a contact assembly comprising a plurality of electrical contacts each having an input on the first assembly and an output on the second assembly, said first assembly including a source of signals having one of two predetermined states, means connecting said source of signals in said one state to the input of a first electrical contact in said contact assembly, means connected to said source of signals and having a second output providing a signal in a second of said predetermined states, means connecting said second output to the input of a second electrical contact in said contact assembly, said second assembly including a bi-stable circuit having a pair of inputs and a third output, means connecting the inputs of said bi-stable circuit to the outputs of said first and second electrical contacts respectively, means for setting the output of said bi-stable circuit into a first signal state when the signal on said first electrical contact is in said one signal state and means for setting the output of said bi-stable circuit into a second signal state when the signal at said second electrical contact is in said one signal state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
Means for the transmission of electrical signals from a first assembly to a second assembly through a contact assembly comprising a plurality of electrical contacts each having an input on the first assembly and an output on the second assembly, said first assembly including a source of signals having one of two predetermined states, means connecting said source of signals in said one state to the input of a first electrical contact in said contact assembly, means connected to said source of signals and having a second output providing a signal in a second of said predetermined states, means connecting said second output to the input of a second electrical contact in said contact assembly, said second assembly including a bi-stable circuit having a pair of inputs and a third output, means connecting the inputs of said bi-stable circuit to the outputs of said first and second electrical contacts respectively, means for setting the output of said bi-stable circuit into a first signal state when the signal on said first electrical contact is in said one signal state and means for setting the output of said bi-stable circuit into a second signal state when the signal at said second electrical contact is in said one signal state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 1 further characterized by at least one of said electrical contacts of said contact assembly moving relative to the other during operation and being subject to momentary interruption.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 1 further characterized by said bi-stable circuit including a plurality of current sink type logic circuit elements, said one signal state comprising the current sinking state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 1 further characterized by said bi-stable circuit including a plurality of current source type logic circuit elements and by said one signal state being the current soUrce state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The means for transmission of claim 1 wherein said said electrical signals comprise digital signals representing binary ones or zeros.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The means for transmission of claim 1 wherein said second assembly comprises a rotating recording and reproducing head for a digital signal information system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
The circuit of claim 1 wherein said bi-stable circuit comprises a first and second NAND gate, each having a pair of input terminals and an output terminal, the output of the bi-stable circuit comprising the output of said first NAND gate, one of the inputs of said first NAND gate being connected to the output of said second electrical contact and the other of the inputs of said first NAND gate being connected to the output of said second NAND gate, the inputs of the second NAND gate being connected to the output of said first electrical contact and the output of said bi-stable circuit, respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
The means for transmission of claim 1 further comprising two sources of electrical signals, one on said first assembly and one on said second assembly, means connecting said two sources to the same first and second electrical contacts, control means to prevent signal transmission from one of the first and second assemblies to the other across said same electrical contacts when the signal source of the other assembly is transmitting signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
289 words
Means for the transmission of digital signals in a first mode from a first assembly to a second assembly through a contact assembly including a plurality of electrical contacts, and in a second mode from said second assembly to said first assembly through said contact assembly, including means for controlling and selecting one of said modes, a bi-stable circuit in each of said first and second assemblies, a source of digital signals in each of said first and second assemblies, means in each of said first and second assemblies providing said digital signals in both non-inverted and inverted polarities, means in each of said first and second assemblies connecting said digital signals in one of said polarities to a first electrical contact in said contact assembly and means in each of said first and second assemblies connecting said digital signals of opposite polarity to a second electrical contact in said contact assembly, means in each of said first and second assemblies connecting said bi-stable circuits to said first and second contacts, means in each of said first and second assemblies for setting each of said bi-stable circuits into a first state when the signal on said first contact is of a predetermined state and means in each of said first and second assemblies for setting said bi-stable circuits into a second state when the signal on said second contact is of a predetermined state, means for disabling the transmission of signals from said second assembly through said first and second contact when said means for transmission is in said first mode, and means for disabling the transmission of signals from said first assembly through said first and second contacts when said means for transmission is in said second mode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
289 words
Means for the transmission of digital signals in a first mode from a first assembly to a second assembly through a contact assembly including a plurality of electrical contacts, and in a second mode from said second assembly to said first assembly through said contact assembly, including means for controlling and selecting one of said modes, a bi-stable circuit in each of said first and second assemblies, a source of digital signals in each of said first and second assemblies, means in each of said first and second assemblies providing said digital signals in both non-inverted and inverted polarities, means in each of said first and second assemblies connecting said digital signals in one of said polarities to a first electrical contact in said contact assembly and means in each of said first and second assemblies connecting said digital signals of opposite polarity to a second electrical contact in said contact assembly, means in each of said first and second assemblies connecting said bi-stable circuits to said first and second contacts, means in each of said first and second assemblies for setting each of said bi-stable circuits into a first state when the signal on said first contact is of a predetermined state and means in each of said first and second assemblies for setting said bi-stable circuits into a second state when the signal on said second contact is of a predetermined state, means for disabling the transmission of signals from said second assembly through said first and second contact when said means for transmission is in said first mode, and means for disabling the transmission of signals from said first assembly through said first and second contacts when said means for transmission is in said second mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 9 further characterized by at least one of said electrical contacts of said contact assembly being subject to momentary interruption.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 9 further characterized by the bi-stable circuits in said assemblies including a plurality of current sink type logic circuit elements and by said predetermined signal states being the current sinking state.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 9 further characterized by the bi-stable circuits in said assemblies including a plurality of current source type logic circuit elements and by said predetermined signal states being the current source state.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3558909A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-25 | 1984-12-25 | 1985-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |