MULTI-FORMAT DATA DISPLAY APPARATUS

Abstract: Numerical display apparatus which is particularly useful in connection with energy metering systems. The apparatus includes a data display processor having logic elements (40, 44, 48) capable of recognizing a data word by means of a synchronization code portion at the beginning of the data word, and storage elements (X0) then capable of storing the data word, a decoding circuit (54) for decoding a format code segment of the data word, and a circuit (60) for then formatting the remainder of the data in the data word for display (at 14) according to the format specified by the format code segment of the data word.

Description: -1 - MULTI-FORMAT DATA DISPLAY APPARATUS This invention relates to data display apparatus and more particularly to systems for displaying data in various formats. The invention is es¬ pecially useful in connection with the display of data relating to the metering of electrical energy. Prior multi-format data displays include those having cathode-ray tubes for displaying selected data in selectable formats, hard copy printers, which also can display requested data in select- able formats, and customized displays developed for par icular applications. These prior art multiple format displays are usually complex and expensive. Therefore, a need ' exists for an inexpensive display which is capable of displaying data in various formats, and preferably for various lengths of display time. In addition, a need exists for a display which is capable of accepting data in different formats and reformating this data to the desired display format. The aforementioned needs are met by the present invention which provides an inexpensive variable format display. In carrying out the invention, there is provided a multi-format data display apparatus comprising means for accepting data words in the form of a series of asynchronous digital data bits, each data word including a sync*ccάe portion comprising a predetermined pattern of serial data bits and a BAD ORIGINAL 'synchronization - - -> - variable length message portion, means for separately storing separate segments of said,-message portion including a message length indicating segment and a format code segment and a variable length data seg- 5 rcient; means for recognising said predetermined sync code patterns; first register means for storing said message portion after recognising said predetermined sync code pattern; means for decoding the format code segment of said stored message portions; characterized 10 by the provision of second register means for storing preselected constants contained in the data segment of a stored message portion having a first predeter¬ mined format code; third register means for storing data to be displayed; means for formatting data con- 15 tained in the data segment of a stored message portion having another predetermined format code which is different from said first format code, said data format being determined by the value of said other format code; means for transferring said formatted 20 data into said third register means; and means for displaying the formatted data stored in said third register means. In the accompanying drawings: FIG. 1 is a schematic diagran of a preferred em- 25 bodi ent of a multi-format display apparatus in accordance with the present invention, FIG. 2 illustrates the preferred arrangement of the elements of a data word processed by the multi- format display apparatus of the present invention. > Aό» BAD ORIGINAL FIG. 3 illustrates the preferred arrangement of storage regis-ters in a random access memory of the display controller 12. FIG. 4 is a functional schematic representation of the display apparatus 10 of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a_ schematic diagram of the preferred embodiment of a multi-format display apparatus of the present invention, generally designated 10. The display apparatus 10 comprises a display processor/controller 12 and a display device 14. In the preferred embodiment, the display processor/controller 12 is a Texas Instruments TMS 1070 microcomputer. The display device 14, is preferably a Futaba model number 9-ST-68 9-Digit Vacuum Fluorescent Display. The outputs 00 through 07 of the display processor/controller 12 are electrically connected to the segment control inputs A through H respectively of the display device 14 by means of eight electrical conductors in a display control bus 16. The outputs R0 through R8 of the processor/controller 12 are electrically connected to the digit control inputs R0 through R8 respectively of the display device 14 by means of nine electrical conductors of the dis- play control bus 16. Serial asynchronous data is received through input terminal 4 of the display/ controller 12. A clock signal is received through input terminal K8 . A ready si gnal SOY i s transmi - ed out from output terminal R9 of the displ ay processor/ control ler 12. In the preferred embodiment , power BAD ORIGINAL σy>Pi to the display processor/controller 12 is remotely controlled by means of a signal applied at con¬ nection 18 to an electronic switch 62 which selectively controls the application of power from a power input terminal 20. All data and * control is applied through t5ne three wire serial link 22 which is connected to the K4 and K8 inputs of the display processor/controller 12. _ The preferred schema for data transmission provides for error checking in case incorrect data is received. In FIG. 2, there is shown a preferred embodiment data word 24. The data word comprises a message 26 which is prefixed -by a synchronization code which consists of 5 zeros followed by a 1 as indicated at 28. The massage . 26 comprises up to 12 m ' bbl-es or words, each nibble consisting of four bits of data followed by a 1. The display controller 12 checks for the 1 following the four data bits in each nibble and, if it is not received, begins looJing for the sync code. Within the position of each nibble the least significant bit position is marked by the letters LS3 and the most significant bit position is marked by the letters MSB. Also, in the data section of the message, the nibble corresponding to the least sig¬ nificant digit is marked with the letters LSD, and the nibble corresponding to the most significant digit is marked with the letters ≤D. The first nibble 30 of the message contains data which sets forth the number of nibbles in the message minus 1. The next nibble 32 contains a format code which tells the controller 12 what is to be done with the data received. Since there are four data bits in the format code nibble,there are sixteen possible format codes of which twelve ars used. The format codes of the preferred embodiment are as follows: FORMAT CODE DISPLAY TYPE 0 Constants load 1 Display KH* 2 Blank Display 3 Message 4 3inary coded decimal Data 5 Meter ID (Identification) Number 6 Time 7 . Kilowatt Hour 8 Date 9 * Kilowatt Demand 10 Kilowatt Demand 11 Not Used 12 Not Used 13 Not used 14 Not Used 15 - ' Binary Data All unused format codes direct the controller 12 to data input requests in the communication link, as will be subsequently described in detail. * KH is the calibration constant for the particular meter; its significance is explained subsequently BAD ORIGINAL 0 OMPI Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a map of storage registers in the random access memory of the controller 12. The random access memory preferably has a capacity of sixty-four words organized in four files, each file containing sixteen four bit words. A Y-register in the controller 12 selects one of the sixteen words in a file and an X-register selects one of the four sixteen word files. For purposes of clarity and ease in understanding the description, FIG. 3 depicts the memory map in matrix form, showing the files as X numbered rows and the words as Y numbered columns. Hereinafter, words are referred to as nibbles. The memory map depicted in FIG. 5 shows memory locations used for all processing with the exception of binary to binary coded decimal conversions and binary coded decimal multiplication. The memory maps associated with those functions are very similar and -are not separately illustrated. The individual memory files X0, XI, X2, and X3, and portions of those files, are sometimes referred to below as registers. For instance, within file X0, the nibble position Y0 constitutes a nibble count register 31 to indicate the length of the message, the nibble position Yl constitutes a format code register 33, and the nibbles Y2 through Yll constitute an input scratch register*34 for temporary data storage. In file XI, the nibbles Y0 through Y8 comprise a display memory register 36. In file X3, nibbles Y0 through Y5 constitute a KH register 38, and nibble 11 constitutes a display time register 39. temporary register -7- FIG. 4 is a functional schematic representation of the display apparatus 10, including a separate showing of some of the files and registers ill¬ ustrated in FIG. 3. The synchronization code 28 of a data word, as illustrated in FIG. 2, must be recognized by the system before the data word can be received and processed. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the incoming data on connection K4 is supplied to a "zero" count register 40. If the "zero" count register 40 detects five or more successive zeros from the input con¬ nection K4, it supplies an output signal at connection 42 to an AND gate 44. Another input to the AND gate 44 is provided _through a connection 46 directly from the K4 input so that if the next succeeding input signal is a binary 1, and■the synchronization code requirement of five zeros followed by a one has been fulfilled, the AND gate 44 is enabled, setting a flip- flop 48. The flip-flop 48 then operates through a connection 50 to enable a gate 52, which permits the data word to be stored in the file X0. As previously explained in connection with FIG. 3, file XQ includes the format code register 33, the nibble count register 31, and the scratch register 34. The synchronization code recognition circuitry, just described, operates to process data pulse sig¬ nals whenever they are received. The timing of the signals may be asynchronous (not synchronized with a clock within this apparatus). However, the syn- chronization (sync.) code timing determines the timing of the operation of the apparatus to receive BAD ORIGINAL and process the data in synchronization with timing of that data. The details of the clocking features have not been shown or described in order to simplify the presentation. The important prin- ciple is that, when the synchronization code is recognized, the data word is received and stored in file XO in synchronization with the (asynchronous) incoming signal. Next, the format code stored in the format code register 33, is decoded in a decode circuit 54 to determine which of the possible sixteen format codes is present. Typically, and preferably, the first format code encountered will be "0". This orders the loading of constants relating to the dis- play from file register XO to file register X3. File X3, which was illustrated in FIG. 3, is also shown i FIG. 4. When format code 0 is recognized by the format decode circuit 54, an enablement sig¬ nal is' provided on connection 56 to enable the file X3 to receive the constants from the file XO. The constants include the KH factor, which is stored in the KH register 38, the meter identification number, which is stored in an identification number register 41, and a display time, which is stored in the display time register 39, as well as other flags and constants required for the operation of the system. While the format decode logic is used for the transfer of constants to file X3, that transfer does not immediately result in an actual display of data. ■ The quantity KH , which is stored in register 38, is a constant associated with each watt-hour meter. For each meter, each pulse output rep¬ resents a predetermined amount of energy trans- mitted through the power metering system. The constant Kh represents that predetermined amount for a particular meter. KH is one of the quantities which is to be displayed- KH is also -a factor by which the pulse count must be multiplied to derive . a correct energy reading. The quantities which are to be displayed are ultimately stored in the display memory 36, which is a part of the file XI illustrated in FIG. 3, and which is shown again in FIG. 4. The quantities stored in display memory 36 must be subsequently converted to the seven segment display code by means of a code converter 53, before being supplied through the connection bus 16 to the display device 14. The quantities to be displayed are transferred to the display memory register 36 by means of a format control circuit 60. The format control circuit 60 typically receives data from the scratch register 34 through the connections indicated at 61, modifies that data, if necessary, and then transmits it on to the display memory 36. The format control 60 is operable in response to ap¬ propriate signals from the format decode circuit 54, such as through control connections 62. BAD ORIGINAL In the case of energy measurements, the format control 60 receives a count of pulses from the watt-hour meter through the scratch register 34. That count of pulses must be multiplied by the factor KH which is obtainable from the H register 38 through the connections indicated at 64. Accordingly, in this instance, the format control operates as a " multiplier to provide the resulting product to the display memory 36. . In other instances, other format changes are required from the format control circuit 60. For instance, when the format code is "4", it is necessary to convert the data from binary to binary coded decimal. The length of time for which each quantity is displayed may be specified as one of the constants stored in file X3 in time register 39. This dis¬ play time specification is supplied to a display time control circuit 70, which is connected, as indicated at 72, to control the display time of operation of -the display 14. The representations of components other than the storage files and storage registers in FIG. 4 are schematic in nature, and additional logic gates and timing gates and timing signals may be required in order to provide reliable operation. Also, the logical functions may be carried out by general logical circuitry within the display processor, operating under the control of logic programs in which different operations may be provided by the same components operating in a programmed sequence.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A multi-format data display apparatus comprising means (FIG. 4) for accepting data words in the form of a series of asynchronous digital data bits, each data word including a sync code portion com¬ prising a predetermined pattern of serial data bits and a variable length message portion, means (XO) for separately storing separate segments of said message portion including a message length in— dicating segment and a format code segment and a variable length data segment; means (40,44,48) for recognizing said predetermined sync code patterns; first register means (XO) for storing said message portion after recognizing said predetermined sync code pattern; means (54) for decoding the format code segment of said stored message portions; characterized by the provision of second register means (X3) for storing pre¬ selected constants contained in the data segment of a stored message portion having a first predetermined format code; third register means (36) for storing data to be displayed; means (60) for formatting data contained in the data segment of a stored message portion having another predetermined format code which is different from said first format code, said data format being determined by the value of said other format code; means (60) for transferring said formatted data into said third register means ; and BAO ORIGINAL "SϋREA " OΓΛPI . Cl i 1 (continued) means (14) for displaying the formatted data stored in said third register means. 2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 further characterized by the provision that said means (60) for formatting data includes means for multiplying the data contained in the data segment of a received message portion by a preselected stored constant. 3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 further characterized in that said means for dis¬ playing the formatted data comprises a nine-digit, seven segment display (14). 4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 further characterized in that said means (60) for formatting data includes means for converting binary data contained in the data segment of a received message portion into binary coded decimal data. 5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 further characterized in that there is provided means (70) for controlling said display means (14) to display said preselected formatted data for a length of time which is determined by the value of one of said stored constants.

Inventors: DI MASSIMO DANALD VINCENT, LEMMON MICHAEL DAVID, MAY JOHN BRUCE
Applicants: GEN ELECTRIC, GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
Application year: 1982
Main classification: G09G3
IPC codes: G01R13, G06F3, G09G1, G09G5