Patent US3781867A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3781867A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Digital control apparatus
Assignee: Postmaster General
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Filing: 1971-07-19
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Granted: 1973-12-25
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Expires: 1991-07-19
Abstract
Abstract Digital display apparatus having a source of electric pulses feeding a counter has an extra binary counting stage interposed between the source and the counter. The setting of the extra stage at the end of a counting period is used to vary very slightly the number of pulses received by the counter during a succeeding counting period.
Inventors
- 👤 L Ellen
- 👤 G Davies
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:06
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03M; H03M1/00; H03M1/06; H03M1/08; G; G01; G01R; G01R19/00; G01R19/25; G01R19/255; G01R21/00; H03K; H03K21/00; H03K21/08; H03M1/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A device for determining the value of a quantity and visually displaying the value in digital form, the device comprising in combination, a first counter for counting electric pulses whose number characterises the value, visual display means connected to the counter for displaying in digital form the number of pulses counted by said first counter, a first transmission path of controlled conductivity connected to said first counter, said electric pulses being transmitted along said first path to said first counter, a binary stage having a first and a second input and a first and a second output, said first input being connected to said first transmission path to receive pulses therefrom, said first output being connected to said first counter, a source of equi-time-spaced electric pulses, further counting means connected to said source for counting pulses therefrom, said further counting means being connected to said first transmission path to render the latter non-conducting when said further counting means has reached a predetermined count, a reset control connected to said further counting means and to said second input of said binary stage, and a further transmission path of controlled conductivity interconnecting said reset control and said further counting means, said second output of said binary stage being connected to said further transmission path to control the conductivity thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
217 words
A device for determining the value of a quantity and visually displaying the value in digital form, the device comprising in combination, a first counter for counting electric pulses whose number characterises the value, visual display means connected to the counter for displaying in digital form the number of pulses counted by said first counter, a first transmission path of controlled conductivity connected to said first counter, said electric pulses being transmitted along said first path to said first counter, a binary stage having a first and a second input and a first and a second output, said first input being connected to said first transmission path to receive pulses therefrom, said first output being connected to said first counter, a source of equi-time-spaced electric pulses, further counting means connected to said source for counting pulses therefrom, said further counting means being connected to said first transmission path to render the latter non-conducting when said further counting means has reached a predetermined count, a reset control connected to said further counting means and to said second input of said binary stage, and a further transmission path of controlled conductivity interconnecting said reset control and said further counting means, said second output of said binary stage being connected to said further transmission path to control the conductivity thereof.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
183 words
A device for determining the value of a quantity and visually displaying the value in digital form comprising in combination a source of time-spaced pulses, gating means connected to said source to receive said pulses, a single binary counting stage connected to said gating means to receive the output therefrom when said gating means is rendered conducting, said binary counter stage having a first output and a second output, a pulse counter connected to receive the first output of said binary counting stage, visual display apparatus connected only to said pulse counter for displaying in visual form a pulse count achieved by said pulse counter but not the condition of said binary counting stage, means connected to said gating means to switch the state of said gating means from a non-conducting condition to a conducting condition for a time period determined by said value and for returning the state to a non-conducting condition at the end of said time period, said second output being connected to said means to vary slightly said time period in order to hold the displayed pulse count steady.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
183 words
A device for determining the value of a quantity and visually displaying the value in digital form comprising in combination a source of time-spaced pulses, gating means connected to said source to receive said pulses, a single binary counting stage connected to said gating means to receive the output therefrom when said gating means is rendered conducting, said binary counter stage having a first output and a second output, a pulse counter connected to receive the first output of said binary counting stage, visual display apparatus connected only to said pulse counter for displaying in visual form a pulse count achieved by said pulse counter but not the condition of said binary counting stage, means connected to said gating means to switch the state of said gating means from a non-conducting condition to a conducting condition for a time period determined by said value and for returning the state to a non-conducting condition at the end of said time period, said second output being connected to said means to vary slightly said time period in order to hold the displayed pulse count steady.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A device as claimed in claim 2 in which the said means comprises comparator means for comparing the value of the quantity with a known value, and in which the single said binary counting stage is connected to said comparator to vary slightly one of the said values in dependence upon the said second output.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A device as claimed in claim 2 in which the said means comprises a comparator for varying the value with an exponentially-varying value derived from a resistor-capacitor combination, and which further comprises control means for starting said source when said exponentially-varying value is at its maximum and for stopping said source when said exponentially-varying value equals the value of said quantity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
A device as claimed in claim 2 in which said means comprises a comparator for comparing the value of the quantity with a standard level, said device further comprising a series of amplifiers, a plurality of additional binary counting stages each connected to an amplifier of said series, interconnections from said pulse counter to said additional binary counting stages whereby each of the latter is enabled, at a predetermined pulse count to bring into operation the amplifier to which it is connected.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-24 | 1977-06-25 | 1977-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-24 | 1981-06-25 | 1981-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-24 | 1985-06-25 | 1985-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |