Bistable and controllable flip-flop-circuit arrangement

Claim 2

A bistable flip-flop circuit arrangement comprising two amplifier elements each having an output and an input, one of which amplifier elements is conducting in each stable state of said flip-flop, coupling circuit means electrically connected with and disposed between the output and the input of each of said two amplifier elements, said coupling circuit means incorporating at least one coupling element having a variable value, said coupling circuit means forming a circuit capable of oscillating and including said conducting amplifier element and starting the generation of oscillations as soon as said at least one variable coupling element has attained a predetermined value within a given value range, the start of said oscillations switching the conductive condition of each said amplifier elemEnt to cause said oscillations to cease and said bistable flip-flop circuit arrangement to assume another stable state, a mechanically actuatable switching element means for effecting, in a contactless manner, change of the value of said at least one variable coupling element, said mechanically actuatable switching element means effecting a change in the value of said at least one variable coupling element by mechanically approaching and being removed from said at least one variable coupling element, and said at least one variable coupling element comprising a capacitor.

Claim 3

A bistable flip-flop circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said capacitor comprises a single variable capacitor.

Claim 4

A bistable flip-flop circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1, including two variable capacitors.

Claim 5

A bistable flip-flop circuit arrangement comprising two amplifier elements each having an output and an input, one of which amplifier elements is conducting in each stable state of said flip-flop; coupling circuit means electrically connected with and disposed between the output and the input of each of said two amplifier elements, said coupling circuit means incorporating at least one coupling element having a variable value, said coupling circuit means forming a circuit capable of oscillating and including said conducting amplifier element and starting the generation of oscillations as soon as said at least one variable coupling element has attained a predetermined value within a given value range, the start of said oscillations switching the conductive condition of each said amplifier element to cause said oscillations to cease and said bistable flip-flop circuit arrangement to assume another stable state, a mechanically actuatable switching element means for effecting, in a contactless manner, change of the value of said at least one variable coupling element, said mechanically actuatable switching element means effecting a change in the value of said at least one variable coupling element by mechanically approaching and being removed from said at least one variable coupling element, and said at least one variable coupling element comprising a mutual-inductance.

Claim 6

A bistable flip-flop circuit arrangement comprising two amplifier elements each having an output and an input, one of which amplifier elements is conducting in each stable state of said flip-flop; coupling circuit means electrically connected with and disposed between the output and the input of each of said two amplifier elements, said coupling circuit means incorporating at least one coupling element having a variable value, said coupling circuit means forming a circuit capable of oscillating and including said conducting amplifier element and starting the generation of oscillations as soon as said at least one variable coupling element has attained a predetermined value within a given value range, the start of said oscillations switching the conductive condition of each said amplifier element to cause said oscillations to cease and said bistable flip-flop circuit arrangement to assume another stable state, a mechanically actuatable switching element means for effecting, in a contactless manner, change of the value of said at least one variable coupling element, said mechanically actuatable switching element means effecting a change in the value of said at least one variable coupling element by mechanically approaching and being removed from said at least one variable coupling element, and said at least one variable coupling element comprising a mutual-inductance.

Claim 7

A bistable flip-flop circuit arrangement as defined in claim 4, wherein said mutual-inductance comprises at least one variable mutual-inductance.

Claim 8

A bistable flip-flop circuit arrangement as defined in claim 4, wherein said mutual-inductance comprises two variable mutual-inductances.

Claim 9

A bistable and stability controllable flip-flop circuit arrangement, comprising two amplifiers each having an output and an input, means defining respective direct-current coupling paths for mutually coupling the respective output of each amplifier with the input of the other amplifier in such a manner that in each of both operating conditions one of both amplifiers assumes an active amplifying state and the other of both amplifiers is driven into an inactive non-amplifying state, means defining a respective alternating current-feedback path incorporating phase-rotating impedances arranged between both amplifiers between their own respective input and output, a movable control body for changing the value of at least one of the phase-rotating impedances such that selectively for the one or the other of both amplifiers a positive alternating current-feedback condition is fulfilled between its output and its input which renders unstable the amplifying state in which the relevant amplifier is functioning and via the direct current-coupling paths common to both amplifiers switches such amplifier into its other operating state, said movable control body comprising at least one mechanically movable control body capable of assuming different positions, said movable control body when in one of its positions, by contactless action upon one of the phase-rotating impedances of one of the alternating current-feedback paths, fulfilling a positive feedback condition and in another position thereof does not fulfill said Feedback condition, and two adjacently arranged metallic plates which collectively form an open capacitor, said movable control body further comprising a conductor plate arranged at a support movable relative to metallic plates so that said conductor plate can be selectively moved into a position bridging said metallic plates and out of said bridging position to selectively alter the capacitance of said open capacitor.

Claim 10

A bistable and stability controllable flip-flop circuit arrangement, comprising two amplifiers each having an output and an input, means defining respective direct-current coupling paths for mutually coupling the respective output of each amplifier with the input of the other amplifier in such a manner that in each of both operating conditions one of both amplifiers assumes an active amplifying state and the other of both amplifiers is driven into an inactive non-amplifying state, means defining a respective alternating current-feedback path incorporating phase-rotating impedances arranged between both amplifiers between their own respective input and output, a movable control body for changing the value of at least one of the phase-rotating impedances such that selectively for the one or the other of both amplifiers a positive alternating current-feedback condition is fulfilled between its output and its input which renders unstable the amplifying state in which the relevant amplifier is functioning and via the direct current-coupling paths common to both amplifiers switches such amplifier into its other operating state, said movable control body comprising at least one mechanically movable control body capable of assuming different positions, said movable control body when in one of its positions, by contactless action upon one of the phase-rotating impedances of one of the alternating current-feedback paths, fulfilling a positive feedback condition and in another position thereof does not fulfill said Feedback condition, and two adjacently arranged metallic plates which collectively form an open capacitor, said movable control body further comprising a conductor plate arranged at a support movable relative to metallic plates so that said conductor plate can be selectively moved into a position bridging said metallic plates and out of said bridging position to selectively alter the capacitance of said open capacitor.

Claim 11

A bistable and stability controllable flip-flop circuit arrangement, comprising two amplifiers each having an output and an input, means defining respective direct-current coupling paths for mutually coupling the respective output of each amplifier with the input of the other amplifier in such a manner that in each of both operating conditions one of both amplifiers assumes an active amplifying state and the other of both amplifiers is driven into an inactive non-amplifying state, means defining a respective alternating current-feedback path incorporating phase-rotating impedances arranged between both amplifiers between their own respective input and output, a movable control body for changing the value of at least one of the phase-rotating impedances such that selectively for the one or the other of both amplifiers a positive alternating current-feedback condition is fulfilled between its output and its input which renders unstable the amplifying state in which the relevant amplifier is functioning and via the direct current-coupling paths common to both amplifiers switches such amplifier into its other operating state, said movable control body comprising at least one mechanically movable control body capable of assuming different positions, said movable control body when in one of its positions, by contactless action upon one of the phase-rotating impedances of one of the alternating current-feedback paths, fulfilling a positive feedback condition and in another position thereof does not fulfill said feedback condition, each phase-rotating impedance comprising a pair of coils, said control body being arranged at a movable support disposed between two such coils for movement relative thereto for changing their mutual inductance, said control body being positionally adjustable between such coils and movable out of such effectual position into an ineffectual position.

Claim 12

A bistable and stability controllable flip-flop circuit arrangement, comprising two amplifiers each having an output and an input, means defining respective direct-current coupling paths for mutually coupling the respective output of each amplifier with the input of the other amplifier in such a manner that in each of both operating conditions one of both amplifiers assumes an active amplifying state and the other of both amplifiers is driven into an inactive non-amplifying state, means defining a respective alternating current-feedback path incorporating phase-rotating impedances arranged between both amplifiers between their own respective input and output, a movable control body for changing the value of at least one of the phase-rotating impedances such that selectively for the one or the other of both amplifiers a positive alternating current-feedback condition is fulfilled between its output and its input which renders unstable the amplifying state in which the relevant amplifier is functioning and via the direct current-coupling paths common to both amplifiers switches such amplifier into its other operating state, said movable control body comprising at least one mechanically movable control body capable of assuming different positions, said movable control body when in one of its positions, by contactless action upon one of the phase-rotating impedances of one of the alternating current-feedback paths, fulfilling a positive feedback condition and in another position thereof does not fulfill said feedback condition, each phase-rotating impedance comprising a pair of coils, said control body being arranged at a movable support disposed between two such coils for movement relative thereto for changing their mutual inductance, said control body being positionally adjustable between such coils and movable out of such effectual position into an ineffectual position.

Claim 13

The flip-flop circuit arrangement as defined in claim 8, wherein said control body comprises a metallic conductor plate.

Claim 14

A bistable and stability controllable flip-flop circuit arrangement, comprising two amplifiers each having an output and an input, means defining a respective direct-current coupling path for mutally coupling the respective output of each amplifier with the input of the other amplifier in such a manner that in each of both operating conditions of the circuit arrangement, one of both amplifiers assumes an active amplifying state and the other of both amplifiers is driven into an inactive non-amplifying state, means defining a respective alternating current-feedback path incorporating phase-rotating impedances arranged between both amplifiers between their own respective input and output, and means for mechanically changing the value of at least one of the phase-rotating impedances such that selectively for the one or the other of both amplifiers a positive alternating current-feedback condition is fulfilled between its output and its input which renders unstable the amplifying state in which the relevant amplifier is functioning and via the direct current-coupling paths automatically switches such amplifier into its other operating state and the other amplifier into its active amplifying state.

Claim 15

A bistable and stability controllable flip-flop circuit arrangement, comprising two amplifiers each having an output and an input, means defining a respective direct-current coupling path for mutally coupling the respective output of each amplifier with the input of the other amplifier in such a manner that in each of both operating conditions of the circuit arrangement, one of both amplifiers assumes an active amplifying state and the other of both amplifiers is driven into an inactive non-amplifying state, means defining a respective alternating current-feedback path incorporating phase-rotating impedances arranged between both amplifiers between their own respective input and output, and means for mechanically changing the value of at least one of the phase-rotating impedances such that selectively for the one or the other of both amplifiers a positive alternating current-feedback condition is fulfilled between its output and its input which renders unstable the amplifying state in which the relevant amplifier is functioning and via the direct current-coupling paths automatically switches such amplifier into its other operating state and the other amplifier into its active amplifying state.

Claim 16

The flip-flop circuit arrangement as defined in claim 10, wherein both alternating current-feedback paths contain components which simultaneously form components of the direct current-coupling paths.

Claim 17

The flip-flop circuit arrangement as defined in claim 10 wherein both of the alternating current-feedback paths, each associated with one of both amplifier eLements, each contain a respective mechanically variable impedance, a common mechanical actuation element associated with both said mechanically variable impedances such that upon mechanically adjusting said actuation element the values of the variable impedances are changed in opposed relationship to one another.

Claim 18

The flip-flop circuit arrangement as defined in claim 10, wherein said mechanically changing means comprises a movable control body.

Claim 19

The flip-flop circuit arrangement as defined in claim 13, wherein said movable control body comprises at least one mechanically movable control body capable of assuming different positions, said movable control body when in one of its positions, by contactless action upon one of the phase-rotating impedances of one of the alternating current-feedback paths, bringing about a self-oscillating condition in the associated alternating current-feedback path.

Claim 20

The flip-flop circuit arrangement as defined in claim 14, wherein said movable control body comprises a conductor plate which upon approach or withdrawal influences the value of one of said phase-rotating impedances so as to control the self-oscillating condition.

Claim 21

The flip-flop circuit arrangement as defined in claim 15, wherein said movable control body when in its one position fulfills the self-oscillating condition for one of the alternating current-feedback paths and in said another position fulfills the self-oscillating condition for the other alternating current-feedback path.

Claim 22

The flip-flop circuit arrangement as defined in claim 13, further including a plurality of control bodies secured to a common movable support, the movement of said support as a function of its momentary position influencing in a controlled manner a number of similar flip-flop circuit arrangements.

Claim 23

The flip-flop circuit arrangement as defined in claim 13, further including two adjacently arranged metallic plates which collectively form an open capacitor, said movable control body comprising a conductor plate arranged at a support movable relative to metallic plates so that said conductor plate can be selectively moved into a position bridging said metallic plates and out of said bridging position to selectively alter the capacitance of said open capacitor.

Claim 24

The flip-flop circuit arrangement as defined in claim 13, wherein each phase-rotating impedance comprises a pair of coils, said control body being arranged at a movable support disposed between two such coils for movement relative thereto for changing their mutual inductance, said control body being positionally adjustable between such coils and movable out of such effectual position into an ineffectual position.

Claim 25

The flip-flop circuit arrangement as defined in claim 19, wherein said control body comprises a metallic conductor plate.

Claim 26

The flip-flop circuit arrangement as defined in claim 13, wherein each phase-rotating impedance comprises a coil, said control body being secured to a support movable relative to said coil such that said control body can be moved out of an effectual position at the direct region of said coil into an ineffectual position remote from said coil.

Claim 27

The flip-flop circuit arrangement as defined in claim 21, wherein said control body comprises a metallic conductor plate.