Patent GB-712175-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to electronic counting and/or registering arrangements
IPC: H03K29/00
Filed: 1950-01-30
Abstract: 712,175. Electronic counting-apparatus. ERICSSON TELEPHONES, Ltd., and BURNETT. L. C. Jan. 30, 1951 [Jan. 30, 1950], No. 2326/50. Class 106 (1). [Also in Group XL(c)] In a pulse counter circuit comprising an electron discharge tube in which the incoming pulses move the discharge path in the tube from an electrode in one group of electrodes by way of each of two electrodes in two other groups to another electrode of the first group, the potential applied at all times to the electrodes in one of the groups remains constant in value. Fig. 1 shows a frequency divider in which a gas-filled discharge tube of the type described in Specification 712,171, comprises an anode A and three groups of nine commoned signal/ transit electrodes TC, ten commoned first and second guide electrodes Gland G2 respectively, and a single signal/transit electrode SC all of which act as cathodes with the potential at lead PA at approximately 350 volts and that at the junction of resistors R2 and R3 approximately 41-47 volts positive with respect to lead ZA. A discharge takes place between anode A and signal/transit e!ectrode SC. When start key contacts KS1, KS2 are made then the relative voltages at the electrodes SC and TC, G1, G2 are as shown by graphs STC, FG and SG respectively in Fig. 2 during the quiescent period QP which has a duration at least equal to that PP of the input pulses. When the first of a train of positive pulses which are of some 60 volts amplitude as shown by graph STC in Fig. 2 are applied to lead ICA, ie. to electrodes SC and TC the discharge glow moves to the first guide electrode G1 and a pulse is applied to electrodes Gl via integrating network R5, C1 as shown by graph FG, Fig. 2. When the rising voltage on electrodes G1 exceeds by a pre-determined level that of the guide electrodes G2 the discharge moves to guide electrode G2. When the incoming pulse ceases the potential at electrodes SC and TC is restored to that during the quiescent period QP and the discharge moves to the second signal/transmit electrode TC. The receipt of a second pulse on lead ICA will cause the discharge to move from the electrode TC to the next signal/transmit electrode TC via the guide electrodes G1 and G2. Thus the circuit may be used to count the number of input pulses by noting the position of the glow discharge in the tube, on receipt of the tenth of any given cycle of input pulses the discharge will move to the electrode SC from whence it started. The potential at the second guide electrode G2 remains constant throughout the cycle as shown by graph SG in Fig. 2. In a modification, Fig. 3 (not shown), the input pulses are applied to the first guide electrode and every tenth input pulse produces an output pulse across a load resistor in series with the individual signal/transit electrode which may be used as input to a further divider circuit. The circuit is such that the potential at the signal/transit electrodes remains constant throughout the cycle, Fig. 4 (not shown). Other modifications are described, Figs, 5-8, 13 and 14 (not shown), in which the potentials of the electrodes undergo varying changes throughout the operating cycles. In a further modification, Figs. 9, 10 (not shown), the voltage at the first guide electrode varies as the differential of that of the second guide electrode to which the input pulses are applied. In a further modification, Figs. 11, 12 (not shown), the input pulses are of a sharply peaked triangular shape and the voltage at the second guide electrode is of similar waveform. The waveform of the input pulses applied to the first and second guide electrodes may be first shaped by RC networks, Figs. 15, 16 (not shown).