US3843873A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Counter having selective direction and variable rate control
Assignee: Tektronix Inc
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Filing: 1972-09-19
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Granted: 1974-10-22
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Expires: 1992-09-19
Abstract
Abstract A control means is connected to a reversible programmable counter in order to select the direction of the count and to vary the repetition rate at which the counter can be incremented or decremented. The counter, which provides a visible readout of the counter information, can be increased or decreased towards the value desired at a high rate when the number has to be changed by a large amount or at a low rate if the change of the number is small.
Inventors
- 👤 R Beville
- 👤 B Hofer
- 👤 W Peek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06M; G06M3/00; G06M3/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
Variable rate and selective direction programmable counter means including electrical-mechanical control to program said counter means for precisely operating electronic circuitry during selected time intervals, comprising: means for selecting positive, negative, or zero voltage levels dependent upon amount of movement of said mechanical control; means for determining the absolute values of said selected voltage levels; means for converting said absolute values to frequency values; means for determining the polarity of said selected voltage levels; coincident means for receiving the output of said converting means and said polarity determining means to provide coincident signals thereof; reversible programmable counter means for receiving the output of said coincident means to operate said programmable counter in a forward or reverse direction; and means for providing a visual display of the information stored in said programmable counter means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
Variable rate and selective direction programmable counter means including electrical-mechanical control to program said counter means for precisely operating electronic circuitry during selected time intervals, comprising: means for selecting positive, negative, or zero voltage levels dependent upon amount of movement of said mechanical control; means for determining the absolute values of said selected voltage levels; means for converting said absolute values to frequency values; means for determining the polarity of said selected voltage levels; coincident means for receiving the output of said converting means and said polarity determining means to provide coincident signals thereof; reversible programmable counter means for receiving the output of said coincident means to operate said programmable counter in a forward or reverse direction; and means for providing a visual display of the information stored in said programmable counter means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
116 words
The control means according to claim 1 wherein said means for selecting positive, negative or zero voltage levels is a substantially symmetrical-taper potentiometer, said potentiometer having at one of its end terminals a positive voltage and at the other end terminal a negative voltage of a magnitude equal to said positive voltage so that an electrical null of zero volts exists at the center of the resistive element thereof, said potentiometer also including spring means for moving a wiper arm thereof in response to a knob means for rotating said wiper arm, said spring means maintaining such electrical null and maintaining such condition when it is not desired to increment or decrement the programmable counter means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
The control means according to claim 1 wherein said means for determining the absolute values of the said selective voltage levels comprises a differential amplifier including an emitter-coupled pair of transistors of opposite-polarity conductivity types and a pair of serially-connected diodes between the bases of said pair of transistors, the junction of said iodes being connectEd to said wiper arm of said potentiometer to receive said selective voltage levels, said differential amplifier exhibiting increased conduction in response to both positive and negative voltage levels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The control means according to claim 1 wherein said means for converting the absolute voltage values to frequency values thereof comprises a sawtooth generator including capacitor means whose charge rate between a pair of fixed voltage levels varies in response to changes in said absolute voltage values.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The control means according to claim 4 wherein said means for converting the absolute voltage values to frequency values thereof also includes a voltage comparator, said comparator producing a binary output pulse in response to each voltage sawtooth generated by said capacitor means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The control means according to claim 1 wherein said means for determining the polarity of the selective voltage levels comprises a voltage comparator, said comparator producing a pair of control signals corresponding respectively to each positive and negative voltage polarities.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
132 words
A reversible variable-rate counter circuit, comprising: mechanical operating means connected to means for selecting positive or negative voltage levels, said selection in response to the amount of rotation of said operating means; polarity-sensing means for producing counter-direction control signals in response to the voltage polarity selected by said operating means; amplifier circuit means for determining the absolute values of said selected voltage levels; voltage-to-frequency conversion means for producing a substantially digital count signal, the frequency of which is determined by the absolute value of said selected voltage level; reversible counter means for receiving said counter-direction control signals and said count signal, said counter means incrementing or decrementing the count in response to said operating means; and display means for providing a visual display of the count information contained in said counter means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
A reversible variable-rate counter circuit, comprising: mechanical operating means connected to means for selecting positive or negative voltage levels, said selection in response to the amount of rotation of said operating means; polarity-sensing means for producing counter-direction control signals in response to the voltage polarity selected by said operating means; amplifier circuit means for determining the absolute values of said selected voltage levels; voltage-to-frequency conversion means for producing a substantially digital count signal, the frequency of which is determined by the absolute value of said selected voltage level; reversible counter means for receiving said counter-direction control signals and said count signal, said counter means incrementing or decrementing the count in response to said operating means; and display means for providing a visual display of the count information contained in said counter means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The counter circuit according to claim 7 wherein said operating means includes a single knob.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
The counter circuit according to claim 7 wherein said means for selecting positive or negative voltage levels includes a substantially symmetrical taper potentiometer means, said potentiometer means having a positive voltage applied to a first end terminal thereof and a negative voltage applied to second end terminal thereof, thereby producing an electrical null point midway between said end terminals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The counter circuit according to claim 9 wherein said potentiometer means also includes spring means for moving the wiper arm thereof to said electrical null point.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The counter circuit according to claim 7 wherein said polarity-sensing means comprises a voltage comparator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The counter circuit according to claim 7 wherein said amplifier circuit means includes an emitter-coupled pair of transistors of opposite-polarity conductivity types and a pair of steering diodes connected between the wiper arm of said potentiometer and the respective bases of said emitter-coupled pair of transistors, said steering diodes connected in forward-bias relation to the respective transistors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The counter circuit according to claim 7 wherein said voltage-to-frequency conversion means includes capacitor means which charges and discharges between a pair of fixed levels at a rate determined by said absolute voltage value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The counter circuit according to claim 13 wherein said voltage-to-frequency conversion means also includes voltage comparator means for producing a digital count signal and an electronic switch means for discharging said capacitor means in response to said count signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
122 words
In combination, means for incrementing or decrementing a counter at a variable rate determined by the amount an operating means is rotated, comprising potentiometer means having equal and opposite-polarity voltages applied to end terminals thereof, self-centering spring means to automatically return the wiper arm of said potentiometer means to the electrical null midway between said end terminals, means for sensing voltage polarity selected by said potentiometer means and producing counter-direction control signals relative thereto, means for determining the absolute value of said selected voltage and converting said absolute voltage value to frequency representations thereof, reversible counter means responsive to said counter-direction control signals and said frequency representations, and means for providing a visual display of the content required of said counter means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
122 words
In combination, means for incrementing or decrementing a counter at a variable rate determined by the amount an operating means is rotated, comprising potentiometer means having equal and opposite-polarity voltages applied to end terminals thereof, self-centering spring means to automatically return the wiper arm of said potentiometer means to the electrical null midway between said end terminals, means for sensing voltage polarity selected by said potentiometer means and producing counter-direction control signals relative thereto, means for determining the absolute value of said selected voltage and converting said absolute voltage value to frequency representations thereof, reversible counter means responsive to said counter-direction control signals and said frequency representations, and means for providing a visual display of the content required of said counter means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-21 | 1978-04-22 | 1978-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-21 | 1982-04-22 | 1982-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-21 | 1986-04-22 | 1986-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |