Encoder

Claim 2

An encoder comprising first means for generating a continuous sequence of signals having a constant period, a plurality of second counting means each coupled to receive said signals and each operative to provide a binary signal coincident with each counting means counting a predetermined and unique number of said period signals during a time interval, third means actuated by receiving said binary signals simultaneously from at least a pair of said second means to produce output signals having a period substantially equal to the time interval represented by the total number of counts and said output signal constituting a tone signal, output circuit means, and switching circuit means for sequentially coupling said pair of actuated third means to said output circuit means to sequentially transmit said tone signals.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said first means comprises an oscillating circuit means and said second counting means comprises a plurality of serially connected frequency dividing means which respectively actuate the next consecutive dividing means to count in response to the preceding means making a predetermined number of counts.

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said third means comprises a plurality of gate circuit means each having a plurality of input terminals, certain of said input terminals being connected to receive preselected ones of the binary signals.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said gate circuit means comprises AND gate circuit meaNs.

Claim 6

The combination set forth in claim 3 and including switch means associated with each of the gate circuit means and a plurality of push button means each interconnected with at least a pair of said switch means for actuating the same to initiate at least a pair of tone signals.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein switching circuit means includes sequencing gate means connected to a different one of said pair of actuated third means and circuit means for sequentially providing enabling signals to said gate means.

Claim 8

The combination set forth in claim 6 and including reversing switch means connected between said pair of actuated gate circuit means and said sequencing gate means for reversing the sequence of said enabling signals to said gate circuit means.

Claim 9

The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said plurality of third means are arranged in at least two groups, each of said push button means being operative to actuate at least one push switch means in each group.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said switching circuit means includes at least a pair of sequencing gate means, each of said sequencing gate means being connected to each of the switch means in one of said groups and circuit means for sequentially providing enabling signals to said gate means.

Claim 11

The combination set forth in claim 9 and including reversing switch means connected between said pair of actuated third means and said gate means for reversing the sequence of said enabling signals to said gate circuit means.

Claim 12

The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said first means comprises a clock oscillator and said second means comprises a binary counter having a plurality of elements, preselected ones of the input terminals of each gate circuit means being connected to receive preselected ones of the elements of said binary counter.

Claim 13

The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein said gate circuit means comprises AND gate circuit means.

Claim 14

The combination set forth in claim 1 and including switch means associated with each of the third means and a plurality of push button means each interconnected with at least a pair of said switch means for actuating the same to initiate at least a pair of tone signals.

Claim 15

The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said plurality of third means are arranged in at least two groups, each of said push button means being operative to actuate at least one push switch means in each group.

Claim 16

The combination set forth in claim 14 wherein said switching means includes at least a pair of sequencing gate means, each of said gate means being connected to each of the switch means in one of said groups and circuit means for sequentially providing enabling signals to said gate means.

Claim 17

The combination set forth in claim 15 and including reversing switch means connected between said pair of actuated gate circuit means for reversing the sequence of said enabling signals to said gate circuit means.

Claim 18

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said switching circuit means includes sequencing gate means connected to a different one of said pair of actuated second means and circuit means for sequentially providing enabling signals to said gate means.

Claim 19

The combination set forth in claim 17 and including reversing switch means connected between said pair of actuated second means and said sequencing gate means for reversing the sequence of said enabling signals to said gate circuit means.

Claim 20

A tone generator comprising first means for generating time signals, a plurality of summing means each coupled to receive signals representative of predetermined numbers of said time signals and each operative to provide a tone signal pulse when said representative signals have a predetermined relation, switching means connected with the summing means, respectively, to permit selecting a tone signal from at least one of said summing means, and means responsive to occurrence Of a tone signal by resetting said counting means.

Claim 21

A tone generator comprising first means for generating time signals, a plurality of summing means each coupled to receive signals representative of predetermined numbers of said time signals and each operative to provide a tone signal pulse when said representative signals have a predetermined relation, switching means connected with the summing means, respectively, to permit selecting a tone signal from at least one of said summing means, and means responsive to occurrence Of a tone signal by resetting said counting means.

Claim 22

The combination set forth in claim 19 wherein said summing means comprises a plurality of gate circuit means each having a plurality of input terminals, certain of said input terminals being connected to receive preselected ones of the time representative signals.

Claim 23

The combination set forth in claim 20 wherein said gate circuit means comprises AND gate circuit means.

Claim 24

The combination set forth in claim 21 wherein said first means comprises an oscillating circuit means and a plurality of serially connected frequency dividing means.

Claim 25

The combination set forth in claim 22 wherein said oscillating circuit means comprises a clock oscillator and said frequency dividing means comprises a binary counter having a plurality of elements.

Claim 26

Means for generating a tone signal comprising: a. first means for producing electric pulses at a constant repetition rate so that selected numbers of said pulses will represent a total time interval, b. a second plurality of pulse counting means receiving said pulses and each counting means being constructed and arranged to count a certain number of pulses and to produce a characteristic signal when said number is reached, at least some of said counting means counting different numbers than the others to thereby represent different time increments of said total time interval, c. third means coupled with each of said counting means, said third means being responsive to simultaneously receiving said characteristic signals by producing an output signal and repeating the same each time said simultaneous signals are received, said output signals constituting a tone comprised of signals occurring with a period corresponding in time with the total number of pulses counted in an interval.

Claim 27

Means for generating a tone signal comprising: a. first means for producing electric pulses at a constant repetition rate so that selected numbers of said pulses will represent a total time interval, b. a second plurality of pulse counting means receiving said pulses and each counting means being constructed and arranged to count a certain number of pulses and to produce a characteristic signal when said number is reached, at least some of said counting means counting different numbers than the others to thereby represent different time increments of said total time interval, c. third means coupled with each of said counting means, said third means being responsive to simultaneously receiving said characteristic signals by producing an output signal and repeating the same each time said simultaneous signals are received, said output signals constituting a tone comprised of signals occurring with a period corresponding in time with the total number of pulses counted in an interval.

Claim 28

The signal generator set forth in claim 24 including: a. a plurality of said third means each of which are responsive to different combinations of said characteristic signals to provide tone signals, respectively, having different frequencies.

Claim 29

The invention set forth in claim 25 including: a. output circuit means, and b. switching means for sequentially coupling output signals from said third means to said output circuit means to sequentially transmit said tone signals in consecutive pairs.

Claim 30

The invention set forth in claim 24 wherein: a. said third means comprise a plurality of gate means each having a plurality of input terminals, certain of said input terminals being connected with said counting means to receive preselected ones of said characteristic signals.

Claim 31

The invention set forth in claim 27 wherein: a. there are at least two groups of said third means and including switching means, respectively connected to at least certain of said third means to permit selection of output signals from said means, and b. means for actuating selectively at least two of said switches simultaneously whereby to permit delivery of at least two tone signals.

Claim 32

The invention set forth in claim 28 including: a. output circuit means, b. at least a pair of gate means each of which is in circuit with said switch means and said output circuit means, c. means for sequentially operating said gate means to couple alternate signals from said selectively actuated switch means to said output circuit means.

Claim 33

The invention set forth in claim 29 including: a. means for producing consecutive pairs of control signals at a rate corresponding with the desired repetition rate of said tone signals, b. reversing switch means coupling said last named signal producing means to said last named gate means, said control signals alternatingly operating said gate means to transmit said tone signals in close succession to said output circuit means, said reversing switch means being operable to change the sequence of said control signals to thereby change the sequence of said tone signals.

Claim 34

The invention set forTh in claim 24 including: a. means responsive to an output signal from said third means to reset said counting means.

Claim 35

Means for producing a signal having a predetermined frequency, comprising: a. first means for generating pulses at a constant repetition rate, b. a plurality of means for receiving and counting said pulses, each of said counting means having an output terminal and being constructed and arranged to repeatedly produce a predetermined time representative signal thereon in response to the associated counting means counting a predetermined number of pulses, c. summing means coupled with said counting means and actuated by receiving said predetermined time representative signals simultaneously to produce output signals which have a period corresponding with the time interval for accumulating the total number of counts required to produce said predetermined time representative signals at said predetermined frequency, and d. means responsive to occurrence of output signals by resetting said counting means.

Claim 36

Means for producing a signal having a predetermined frequency, comprising: a. first means for generating pulses at a constant repetition rate, b. a plurality of means for receiving and counting said pulses, each of said counting means having an output terminal and being constructed and arranged to repeatedly produce a predetermined time representative signal thereon in response to the associated counting means counting a predetermined number of pulses, c. summing means coupled with said counting means and actuated by receiving said predetermined time representative signals simultaneously to produce output signals which have a period corresponding with the time interval for accumulating the total number of counts required to produce said predetermined time representative signals at said predetermined frequency, and d. means responsive to occurrence of output signals by resetting said counting means.