Discovery in a fluidic computer

Claim 2

A high speed digital fluidic computer for use in a material handling device, the computer comprising: means for generating a first signal comprising repetitive fluidic pulses, the cumulative quantity of which represents a first variable to be entered into a computation; means for providing a second signal comprising a persistent fluidic representation of a second variable to be entered into said computation by repetitive addition, said second signal providing means including material quantity detecting means and operating to generate said second signal once for each predetermined unit quantity of material detected by said detecting means; and fluidic calculating means arranged to retain a total and responsive to said first and second signals to increment said total by the amount of said second variable for each of said first signal pulses.

Claim 3

A high speed digital fluidic computer for use in a material handling device, the computer comprising: means adjustable for selecting a number; a digital fluidic calculating circuit having a plurality of digital fluidic signal inputs; number-representing means responsive to said number selecting means to present a digital fluidic signal representing said number to a first one of said calculating circuit inputs; and means for repetitively generating a fluidic ''''add'''' signal and applying it to a second one of said calculating circuit inputs, said ''''add'''' signal generating means including material quantity detecting means and operating to generate said ''''add'''' signal once for each predetermined unit quantity of material deTected by said detecting means; said calculating circuit being arranged to accumulate and retain a total, and being responsive to each ''''add'''' signal to add to its current total the number represented by the signal presented to said first input.

Claim 4

A high speed digital fluidic computer for use in a material handling device, the computer comprising: means adjustable for selecting a number; a digital fluidic calculating circuit having a plurality of digital fluidic signal inputs; number-representing means responsive to said number selecting means to present a digital fluidic signal representing said number to a first one of said calculating circuit inputs; and means for repetitively generating a fluidic ''''add'''' signal and applying it to a second one of said calculating circuit inputs, said ''''add'''' signal generating means including material quantity detecting means and operating to generate said ''''add'''' signal once for each predetermined unit quantity of material deTected by said detecting means; said calculating circuit being arranged to accumulate and retain a total, and being responsive to each ''''add'''' signal to add to its current total the number represented by the signal presented to said first input.

Claim 5

A computer as in claim 2 wherein: said calculating circuit includes a digital fluidic adder and a fluidic feedback circuit; said adder has a digital fluidic sum output, and a digital fluidic addend input constituting said first input of said calculating circuit; said feedback circuit has an input connected to said adder sum output, and a return path; and said adder has a digital fluidic augend input connected to said return path and is operative to perform addition in response to each ''''add'''' signal.

Claim 6

A computer as in claim 3 wherein: said feedback circuit includes transfer means and a digital fluidic accumulator; said accumulator has a digital fluidic input; said transfer means is responsive to each ''''add'''' signal to coNnect said adder sum output to said accumulator input; said accumulator is arranged to accumulate said calculating circuit total, and is responsive to said adder sum output to increment said total by the amount of said adder sum; and said accumulator has a digital fluidic total output connected to said return path.

Claim 7

A computer as in claim 4 wherein said transfer means comprises a buffer memory arranged to store said adder sum output temporarily during transfer to said accumulator.

Claim 8

A fluidic computer as in claim 5 wherein said transfer means further comprises a first transfer gate responsive to each ''''add'''' signal to transfer said adder sum output to said buffer memory, and a second transfer gate operable thereafter to transfer the contents of said buffer memory to said accumulator input.

Claim 9

A computer as in claim 1 wherein said number selector means is arranged to select a non-binary number and said number representing means includes a digital fluidic encoder arranged to present to said first calculating circuit input a digital fluidic signal comprising a binary-coded representation of said non-binary number.

Claim 10

A computer as in claim 1 wherein said material handling device is a fluid dispenser, said material quantity detecting means is a fluid flowmeter, and said generator is arranged to generate said ''''add'''' signal for each predetermined volume of fluid dispensed.

Claim 11

A computer as in claim 1 for calculating the cost of a variable quantity of said material wherein said number selected is the price for said unit quantity of material.

Claim 12

A computer as in claim 9 wherein said number selecting means further comprises means for displaying the selected number and incicating that it is the price per unit quantity of said material.

Claim 13

A cost computer as in claim 10 further comprising means responsive to said calculating circuit for displaying the total cost of the cumulative quantity of material detected.

Claim 14

A computer as in claim 1 wherein: said number selecting means is arranged for selecting a plurality of numbers, each constituting one digit of a quantity having a plurality of digit positions when represented in a selected number system; there are a plurality of independently operable ones of said calculating circuits, corresponding to respective ones of said digit positions; means providing said digit position calculating circuits with respective digital fluidic external carry outputs; and each more significant one of said digit position calculating circuits having a third one of said inputs connected to said external carry output of the next less significant digit position calculating circuit, and being arranged to increment its current total by the quantity one for each external carry signal received therefrom.

Claim 15

A computer as in claim 12 wherein: said digit position circuits include respective digital fluidic adders, respective digital fluidic accumulaTors, respective transfer means, and respective return paths; said adders have respective digital fluidic sum outputs, and respective digital fluidic addend inputs constituting said first input of their respective digit position calculating circuits; said accumulators have respective digital fluidic inputs; said transfer means are responsive to each ''''add'''' signal for intermittently connecting said adder sum outputs to their associated accumulator inputs; said accumulators are arranged to accumulate said digit position calculating circuit totals, and are responsive to their associated adder sum outputs to increment their respective totals by the amount of said adder sum; said accumulators have respective digital fluidic total outputs; said return paths are connected to their associated accumulator total outputs; and said adders have respective digital fluidic augend inputs connected to their associated return paths to receive said totals, are operative to perform addition in response to each ''''add'''' signal, and are responsive to said external carry outputs of their next less significant digit position calculating circuits to add the quantity one of said sum input.

Claim 16

A computer as in claim 1 wherein: said digital fluidic calculating circuit operates on a binary-coded basis; and said number representing means is a digital fluidic encoder responsive to said number selecting means to present a binary-coded digital fluidic signal, representing the selected number, to said first calculating circuit input.

Claim 17

A computer as in claim 14 wherein said number selector means includes means for displaying the selected number in nonbinary form.

Claim 18

A high speed digital fluidic computer for use in a material handling device, the computer comprising: means adjustable for selecting each digit of a number having a plurality of digit positions when represented in a nonbinary number system; a plurality of independently operable binary-coded digital fluidic calculating circuits corresponding to respective ones of said non-binary digit positions, and each having a plurality of binary-coded digital fluidic signal inputs; means responsive to said number selecting means to present respective binary-coded digital fluidic signals, representing the respective non-binary digits assigned to said digit positions by said number selecting means, to respective first ones of said digit position calculating circuit inputs; means for repetitively generating a fluidic ''''add'''' signal and applying it to respective second ones of said digit position calculating circuit inputs, said ''''add'''' signal generating means including material quantity detecting means and operating to generate said ''''add'''' signal once for each predetermined unit quantity of material detected by said detecting means; said digit position calculating circuits being arranged to accumulate and retain respective totals, and being responsive to each ''''add'''' signal to add to their respective current totals the respective non-binary digits represented by the signals presented to their respective first inputs; means providing said digit position calculating circuits with respective digital fluidic external carry outputs; and each more significant one of said digit position calculating circuits having a third one of said inputs connected to said external carry output of the next less significant digit position calculating circuit, and being arranged to increment its current total by the quantity one for each external carry signal received.

Claim 19

A high speed digital fluidic computer for use in a material handling device, the computer comprising: means adjustable for selecting each digit of a number having a plurality of digit positions when represented in a nonbinary number system; a plurality of independently operable binary-coded digital fluidic calculating circuits corresponding to respective ones of said non-binary digit positions, and each having a plurality of binary-coded digital fluidic signal inputs; means responsive to said number selecting means to present respective binary-coded digital fluidic signals, representing the respective non-binary digits assigned to said digit positions by said number selecting means, to respective first ones of said digit position calculating circuit inputs; means for repetitively generating a fluidic ''''add'''' signal and applying it to respective second ones of said digit position calculating circuit inputs, said ''''add'''' signal generating means including material quantity detecting means and operating to generate said ''''add'''' signal once for each predetermined unit quantity of material detected by said detecting means; said digit position calculating circuits being arranged to accumulate and retain respective totals, and being responsive to each ''''add'''' signal to add to their respective current totals the respective non-binary digits represented by the signals presented to their respective first inputs; means providing said digit position calculating circuits with respective digital fluidic external carry outputs; and each more significant one of said digit position calculating circuits having a third one of said inputs connected to said external carry output of the next less significant digit position calculating circuit, and being arranged to increment its current total by the quantity one for each external carry signal received.

Claim 20

In a device for transferring flammable material; a high speed digital fluidic cost computer for calculating the cost of material transferred, comprising: means adjustable for selecting a number having a plurality of decimal digit positions, and representing the cost of a predetermined unit quantity of said material; a plurality of independently operable digital fluidic decade cAlculating circuits corresponding to respective decimal digits of said cost, and each having a plurality of digital fluidic signal inputs; digital fluidic encoding means responsive to said cost selector to present repsective binary-coded fluidic signals, representing respective decimal digits of said cost, to respective first ones of said decade circuit inputs; a material quantity detector arranged to detect each unit quantity of said flammable material transferred; means responsive to said detector to generate a fluidic ''''add'''' signal for each unit quantity of said flammable material transferred, and to apply said ''''add'''' signal to respective second ones of said decade circuit inputs; said decade circuits being arranged to accumulate and retain respective totals, and being responsive to each ''''add'''' signal to add to their respective current totals the respective decimal digits represented by the fluidic signals presented to the respective first inputs thereof; and means providing said decade circuits with respective fluidic decimal carry outputs; each said more significant decade circuit having a third one of said inputs connected to said decimal carry output of the next less significant decade circuit, and being arranged to increment its current total by the quantity one for each decimal carry output received.

Claim 21

In a device for transferring flammable material; a high speed digital fluidic cost computer for calculating the cost of material transferred, comprising: means adjustable for selecting a number having a plurality of decimal digit positions, and representing the cost of a predetermined unit quantity of said material; a plurality of independently operable digital fluidic decade cAlculating circuits corresponding to respective decimal digits of said cost, and each having a plurality of digital fluidic signal inputs; digital fluidic encoding means responsive to said cost selector to present repsective binary-coded fluidic signals, representing respective decimal digits of said cost, to respective first ones of said decade circuit inputs; a material quantity detector arranged to detect each unit quantity of said flammable material transferred; means responsive to said detector to generate a fluidic ''''add'''' signal for each unit quantity of said flammable material transferred, and to apply said ''''add'''' signal to respective second ones of said decade circuit inputs; said decade circuits being arranged to accumulate and retain respective totals, and being responsive to each ''''add'''' signal to add to their respective current totals the respective decimal digits represented by the fluidic signals presented to the respective first inputs thereof; and means providing said decade circuits with respective fluidic decimal carry outputs; each said more significant decade circuit having a third one of said inputs connected to said decimal carry output of the next less significant decade circuit, and being arranged to increment its current total by the quantity one for each decimal carry output received.

Claim 22

A cost computer as in claim 17, further comprising means responsive to said cost selector to display a unit cost corresponding to the number selected thereby.

Claim 23

A cost computer as in claim 17, further comprising a digital fluidic decimal counter for accumulating and displaying cost, said counter being responsive to fluidic carry pulses, and the most significant one of said decade circuits being arranged to supply its decimal carry outputs to drive said counter.

Claim 24

In combination with a device for dispensing flammable fluid, a high speed digital fluidic cost computer for calculating the cost of fluid dispensed, comprising: means on said dispensing device adjustable for selecting a number having a plurality of decimal digit positions, and representing the cost of a predtermined unit quantity of said fluid; a plurality of independently operable digital fluidic decade calculating circuits corresponding to respective decimal digits of said cost, and each having a plurality of digital fluidic signal inputs; digital fluidic encoding means responsive to said cost selector to present respective binary-coded fluidic signals, representing respective decimal digits of said cost, to respective first ones of said decade circuit inputs; a flowmeter arranged to detect each unit quantity of said flammable fluid dispensed by said device; means responsive to said flowmeter to generate a fluidic ''''add'''' signal for each unit quantity of said flammable fluid dispensed and to apply said ''''add'''' signal to respective second ones of said decade circuits inputs; said decade circuits being arranged to accumulate and retain respective totals, and being responsive to each ''''add'''' signal to add to their respective current totals the respective decimal digits represented by the fluidic signals presented to the respective first inputs thereof; means providing said decade circuits with respective fluidic decimal carry outputs; each said more significant decade circuit having a third one of said inputs connected to said decimal carry output of the next less significant decade circuit, and being arranged to increment its current total by the quantity one for each decimal carry output received; means on said dispensing device responsive to said cost selector to display a unit cost corresponding to the number selected thereby; and a digital fluidic decimal counter on said dispensing device for accumulating and displaying cost, said counter being responsive to fluidic carry pulses; the most significant one of said decade circuits being arranged to supply its decimal carrY outputs to drive said counter.

Claim 25

In combination with a device for dispensing flammable fluid, a high speed digital fluidic cost computer for calculating the cost of fluid dispensed, comprising: means on said dispensing device adjustable for selecting a number having a plurality of decimal digit positions, and representing the cost of a predtermined unit quantity of said fluid; a plurality of independently operable digital fluidic decade calculating circuits corresponding to respective decimal digits of said cost, and each having a plurality of digital fluidic signal inputs; digital fluidic encoding means responsive to said cost selector to present respective binary-coded fluidic signals, representing respective decimal digits of said cost, to respective first ones of said decade circuit inputs; a flowmeter arranged to detect each unit quantity of said flammable fluid dispensed by said device; means responsive to said flowmeter to generate a fluidic ''''add'''' signal for each unit quantity of said flammable fluid dispensed and to apply said ''''add'''' signal to respective second ones of said decade circuits inputs; said decade circuits being arranged to accumulate and retain respective totals, and being responsive to each ''''add'''' signal to add to their respective current totals the respective decimal digits represented by the fluidic signals presented to the respective first inputs thereof; means providing said decade circuits with respective fluidic decimal carry outputs; each said more significant decade circuit having a third one of said inputs connected to said decimal carry output of the next less significant decade circuit, and being arranged to increment its current total by the quantity one for each decimal carry output received; means on said dispensing device responsive to said cost selector to display a unit cost corresponding to the number selected thereby; and a digital fluidic decimal counter on said dispensing device for accumulating and displaying cost, said counter being responsive to fluidic carry pulses; the most significant one of said decade circuits being arranged to supply its decimal carrY outputs to drive said counter.