Readout device for numeral display unit

Claim 1

In a numerical display device of the type comprising at least one rotary wheel adapted to rotate during discrete time periods having a plurality of numerals disposed in successive angular positions about the wheel periphery and adapted to provide selective indication of a numeral, said indication being determined by the rotational position of the wheel periphery with regard to a fixed reference, the improvement comprising: a plurality of switching means equal in number to said numerals affixed about said wheel periphery in a pattern encoded to said numerals according to a given truth table, said switching means being adapted to rotate with said wheel and disposed in identical successive angular positions about the wheel peRiphery; a multiplicity of switch means fixed relative to the rotational axis of said wheel and positioned so that at least some of said switch means are successively operatively coupled to at least some of said switching means for detecting said pattern; readout means connected to said switch means, said readout means providing indication of the particular switch means operated by said switching means at any particular time; and, means to inhibit said readout means during said periods of rotation.