Disc drive diagnostic display apparatus

Claim 2

In a computer memory disc drive having an input circuit for receiving instructions and an execution signal from a file control unit, means for generating a plurality of binary signals representative of various stored commands to disc drive functions and representativE of the status of various mechanical and electrical elements of the disc drive, an output circuit for communicating said command and status binary signals to the file control unit, and means responsive to an instruction at said input from the file control unit for connecting one of said command and status binary signals at a time to said output circuit, the improvement comprising: means receiving the command and status binary signals and responsive to the execution signal for connecting a selected one of said command and status binary signals to said output circuit when no execution signal is being received by said input circuit, and means connected to said output circuit for visually displaying said selected one of said command and status signals.

Claim 3

The improved disc drive of claim 1 wherein said display means includes means responsive to said execution signal for receiving said selected one of said command and status signals from the output circuit only when no command execution signal is being received at the input circuit.

Claim 4

The improved disc drive of claim 2 wherein said receiving means includes means for storing said selected one of said command and status signals from the output that exists when a command execution signal is being received at the input circuit.

Claim 5

The improved disc drive of claim 3 wherein said display means additionally includes a visual indicator connected to said receiving means including one independent light source responsive to each bit of the selected one of said command and status signals.

Claim 6

A computer memory disc drive, comprising: a plurality of drive function registers each having a binary signal output, a plurality of status buses carrying in binary form signals representative of the state of various electrical and mechanical elements of the disc drive, means receiving the binary signals from said plurality of function registers and from said plurality of status buses for connection to a single data bus, a plurality of switches, one switch placed in the path of each of said binary signals from said plurality of registers and status buses before the signals are applied to said combining means, each switch additionally being operable between conductive and non-conductive states by a control signal, means for generating a control signal to one of said switches at a time, said generating means including a decoder receiving command signals from a file control unit for generating a control signal according to the command signal when a decode signal from the file control unit is in a first state, said generating means additionally including means manually operated for generating a control signal according to a manual selection when a decode signal from the file control unit is in a second state, line driving circuit means receiving signals from the single data bus for presenting them to an output for connection to the file control unit when the decode signal from the file control unit is in its said first state, and means receiving signals from the single data bus for visually displaying said signals that occur while said decode signal from the file control unit is in its said second state, whereby a binary signal commanded by said file control unit is presented at said output from the single data bus when said decode signal is in its first state and another binary signal selected by the manually operated means is visually displayed in another period of time from said data bus when said decode signal is in its second state.

Claim 7

A computer memory disc drive, comprising: a plurality of drive function registers each having a binary signal output, a plurality of status buses carrying in binary form signals representative of the state of various electrical and mechanical elements of the disc drive, means receiving the binary signals from said plurality of function registers and from said plurality of status buses for connection to a single data bus, a plurality of switches, one switch placed in the path of each of said binary signals from said plurality of registers and status buses before the signals are applied to said combining means, each switch additionally being operable between conductive and non-conductive states by a control signal, means for generating a control signal to one of said switches at a time, said generating means including a decoder receiving command signals from a file control unit for generating a control signal according to the command signal when a decode signal from the file control unit is in a first state, said generating means additionally including means manually operated for generating a control signal according to a manual selection when a decode signal from the file control unit is in a second state, line driving circuit means receiving signals from the single data bus for presenting them to an output for connection to the file control unit when the decode signal from the file control unit is in its said first state, and means receiving signals from the single data bus for visually displaying said signals that occur while said decode signal from the file control unit is in its said second state, whereby a binary signal commanded by said file control unit is presented at said output from the single data bus when said decode signal is in its first state and another binary signal selected by the manually operated means is visually displayed in another period of time from said data bus when said decode signal is in its second state.