Data indicator unit

Claim 2

A combined data input/output unit for generating outgoing output data representing electrically encoded teletype characters and displaying incoming input data representing teletype characters, comprising a data input for input data to be displayed, a data output for generated output data, a display means includes indicator means and a support with a number of character fields, each character field having an individual indicator means associated therewith and having at least one teletype character thereon, the totality of the characters forming a substantially complete set of teletype characters, an input keyboard having not more than ten setting keys, a switching unit provided with a number of different possible switching states corresponding to the number of character fields of the support and having an output connected to said data output, said output data being constituted by said switching states, a decoding means responsive to the switching unit and selectively activating the individual indicator means in response to the switching states of the switching unit, a setting stage controlled via the setting keys of the input keyboard and connected in series with the switching unit and selectively setting the various switching states of the switching unit, and a means connected to said data input and to said indicator means and being responsive to incoming encoded teletype input data and selectively activating said indicator means in response to said input data.

Claim 3

The unit as in claim 1 wherein the switching unit is a forward/reverse counter, the setting stage comprises a single pulse generator which, when triggered, switches the counter by one step, a repeater stage which, when started, continuously switches the counter and a delay stage which, when triggered, prevents the repeater stage from switching the counter for a predetermined delay time; and the keyboard comprises two keys controlling the single pulse generator, the repeater stage, the delay stage and the counter so as to trigger the single pulse generator and thus to advance or reverse the counter by one step on each actuation of one or other of the two keys and so as to start the repeater stage and thus to continuously advance or reverse the counter when one or other of the two keys is actuated for a longer time period than said predetermined delay time and to stop the repeater stage as soon as the respective key is no longer actuated.

Claim 4

The unit as in claim 1 wherein the keyboard is a decimal keyboard producing signals representing decimal numbers, a single-digit or a two-digit decimal number is associated with each individual character field, the switching unit is a settable shift register, the setting stage is built to set the shift register in a different state in response to each individual one-digit or two-digit decimal number, and the decoding means is built to activate precisely that one of the indicator means which is associated with the character field allocated to the particular decimal number.

Claim 5

A unit according to claim 1, wherein the two keys are formed by a rocker.

Claim 6

A unit according to claim 1, wherein the indicator means are formed by a set of light-emitting diodes disposed substantially in a straight line, and two sets of character fields comprising different sets of characters are associated with them each on one side of the diode line.

Claim 7

A unit according to claim 5, wherein the set of character fields are interchangeable.

Claim 8

A unit according to claim 5, wherein one of the character sets contain letters and numbers in an alphabetical or natural sequence.

Claim 9

A combined enciphering/deciphering unit comprising a display means including indicator means and a support with number of character fields, each character field having an individual indicator means associated therewith and bearing at least one teletype character thereon, the totality of the characters forming a substantially complete set of teletype characters, an input keyboard, a switching unit provided with a number of different possible switching states corresponding to the number of character fields of the support and generating different output signals in each switching state, a decoding means responsive to the switching unit and selectively activating the individual indicator means in response to the switching states of the switching unit, a setting stage controlled via the input keyboard and connected in series with the switching unit and selectively setting the various switching states of the switching unit, an electronic enciphering/deciphering stage generating from signals introduced into it enciphered or deciphered signals at its output, mode selecting means for selecting the enciphering or the deciphering mode of the said enciphering/deciphering stage, a gate circuit controlled by said key board for introducing into the enciphering/deciphering stage the output signals of the switching unit, a means connected to the output of said enciphering/deciphering stage selectively activating said indicator means in response to the enciphered or deciphered output signals of the enciphering/deciphering stage, and control means controlling data transfer and processing between and within the several stages of the unit.

Claim 10

A combined enciphering/deciphering unit comprising a display means including indicator means and a support with number of character fields, each character field having an individual indicator means associated therewith and bearing at least one teletype character thereon, the totality of the characters forming a substantially complete set of teletype characters, an input keyboard, a switching unit provided with a number of different possible switching states corresponding to the number of character fields of the support and generating different output signals in each switching state, a decoding means responsive to the switching unit and selectively activating the individual indicator means in response to the switching states of the switching unit, a setting stage controlled via the input keyboard and connected in series with the switching unit and selectively setting the various switching states of the switching unit, an electronic enciphering/deciphering stage generating from signals introduced into it enciphered or deciphered signals at its output, mode selecting means for selecting the enciphering or the deciphering mode of the said enciphering/deciphering stage, a gate circuit controlled by said key board for introducing into the enciphering/deciphering stage the output signals of the switching unit, a means connected to the output of said enciphering/deciphering stage selectively activating said indicator means in response to the enciphered or deciphered output signals of the enciphering/deciphering stage, and control means controlling data transfer and processing between and within the several stages of the unit.

Claim 11

The unit as in claim 8 wherein the switching unit is a forward/reverse counter, the setting stage comprises a single pulse generator which, when triggered, switches the counter by one step, a repeater stage which, when started continuously switches the counter and a delay stage which, when triggered, prevents the repeater stage from switching the counter for a predetermined delay time; and the keyboard comprises two keys controlling the single pulse generator, the repeater stage, the delay stage and the counter so as to trigger the single pulse generator and thus to advance or reverse the counter by one step on each actuation of one or other of the two keys and so as to start the repeater stage and thus to continuously advance or reverse the counter when one or other of the two keys is actuated for a longer time period than said predetermined delay time and to stop the repeater stage as soon as the respective key is no longer actuated.

Claim 12

The unit as in claim 8 wherein the keyboard is a decimal keyboard producing signals representing decimal numbers, a single-digit or a two-digit decimal number is associated with each individual character field, the switching unit is a settable shift register, the setting stage is built to set the shift register in a different stage in response to each individual one-digit or two-digit decimal number, and the decoding means is built to activate precisely that one of the indicator means which is associated with the character field allocated to the particular decimal number.

Claim 13

The unit as in claim 9 wherein the enciphering/deciphering stage comprises an encipher generator settable to a given starting state by a number of cipher characters, wherein the repeater stage and the forward/reverse counter form a random generator controller by said control means and said input keyboard to produce said number of cipher characters, and wherein a black-out stage is provided which blocks actuation of said indicator means as long as the repeater stage and the counter act as random generator.