Patent GB-1307872-A (GB)
Title: Data terminal apparatus
IPC: G06F21/85
Filed: 1970-06-01
Abstract: 1307872 Terminals for remote data processors ING C OLIVETTI & C SpA 1 June 1970 [3 June 1969] 26366/70 Heading G4H  A data terminal adapted to be linked to a remote processor and operable by various operators comprises a keyboard 1, a store 4, a control unit 3, a printing device 31, a tabulation device 32 and means, for enabling the operation of the apparatus, comprising key-operated lock switches, one for each operator, which switches S, A, B give a signal to enable the control unit to enter a code in the store and to print an indication of the operator of the apparatus. The passage of data to and from the remote processor is controlled by line control 8. The store is a magnetostrictive delay line having a capacity of 500 characters each represented by ten bit periods. The keyboard has four sections : an alphanumeric part 19, a numerical part 20, a function part 21 and a control section. The characters, entered by keyboards 19 and 20, pass to control block 25 which passes them over channel 26 to the store 4 and over channel 29 to the print unit 6. The print unit consists of three main parts, a function recognition unit 30, a printer 31 and a tabulation device 32. The unit 30 responds to function characters from the keyboard to cause tabulation, line feed, space &c. Characters not recognized as functions are passed over line 36 to be printed. Tabulation is controlled over channel 38 by tabulation device 32 consisting of a drum on the periphery of which are 120 stops each capable, by the placing of teeth on its profile, of controlling the stop positions for three tabulation programmes. The function keyboard 21 is capable of sending three tabulation codes over channel 40 and the unit 25 to unit 30 which selects one of the three tabulation programmes. Three more tracks of teeth and gaps control three switches 41, 42, 43 passing signals to a decoder 33. This generates on lines 44, 45, 46 commands for blocking or unblocking the keyboards 19, 20, 21. Similar commands can also be generated by the unit 25 over lines 69, 70, 71. The decoder, depending on the input from switches 41-43, also causes signals to be sent to a code generator 48 to generate an end-of-message code and other special control codes. The control section of the keyboard comprises three lock switches S, A, B and three corresponding keys S<SP>1</SP>, A<SP>1</SP>, B<SP>1</SP>. There may be six possible operators. If operator A wishes to initiate an operation he operates the lock switch A with a key and presses key A<SP>1</SP>. A network 58 responds to signals on lines 56 and 62 and sends a command signal over channel 25 to control unit 25. If the printer is at the beginning of a line switch 66 sends a signal on line 67 to unit 25 which initiates a series of operations: it clears the store 4, it signals code generator 48 to give the first tabulation code so that the first track in the tabulation device is selected, the printer carriage starts and is stopped in the first selected tabulation position. The signals from switches 41-43 in this tabulation position unblock one or more of the keyboards via decoder 33 and sends a corresponding signal to unit 25. This then signals code generator 48 over channel 66 to generate a code corresponding to the operator A, which is then passed to the first position of the store and also printed at the beginning of the message. If the carriage of the printer is not at the beginning of the line, it is brought to this position and the operator can then press key A<SP>1</SP> again to initiate the above operations. Specifications 1,279,491, 1,229,711, 1,196,824 and 1,131,834 are referred to.