Patent GB-705840-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to electronic translating means
Inventor: BOWYER ALDRED WILLIAM
IPC: G06K15/06
Filed: 1951-02-01
Abstract: 705,840. Digital electric calculating-apparatus. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO.. Ltd. Jan. 15, 1952 [eFb. 1, 1951], No. 2539/51. Class 106 (1). [Also in Group XXXVIII] In electronic apparatus, e.g. in the output of a computer, for translating data from a first code to a second code, the data being represented in both codes by one or more time-coded impulses, all significant combinations of pulses in the first code are generated and the data to be translated is compared in turn with each such combination, and, on comparison agreement, means are operated for reading out the equivalent in the second code of the compared combination. The apparatus described receives the output of an electronic computer in the form of seriesmode decimal-coded pulse trains each representing a ten-digit number or " word-" with four pulse positions, representing 1, 2, 4, 8, allotted to each digit. These pulse positions are defined by clock pulses P1-P40, Fig. 6 (1), and additional pulses P0, P41, mark the beginning and end of a word. The groups of digit pulses are compared in circuit 73, Fig. 1, with master pulse groups representing 9, 8,-1 generated in turn in circuit 72 (as described below) and whenever agreement occurs a corresponding gas-filled gate valve 80, selected by electronic commutator 81, is fired to operate a printing magnet and cause differentially timed engagement of a type-selecting clutch, e.g. as described in Specification 525,985, [Group XVI]. A printing operation is initiated by a computer control pulse from a programming device which is sent over line 106 to actuated a bi-stable trigger stake 63 which then applies an opening or priming potential to multi-- electrode gate valves 64, 66. At the beginning of the next cycle of the printing mechanism, during the " 9 " time, cam-operated contacts 83 close, Figs. 1 and 6a, to apply an actuating pulse through 64 to trigger 67 which then primes gate valve 68 and applies an operative potential through cathode follower 69 to circuit 72 to initiate continuous generation of the master pulse group representing " 9," Fig. 6 (3). The next P41 pulse on line 127 is passed to the computer over line 116 to control read-out of the required word from a store, e.g. of the C.R.T., acoustic delay line, or magnetic type, or comprising trigger circuits with sequential scanning means for converting the static representation into a seriesmode output. The P41 pulse also actuates trigger 70 so that the next P0 pulse is passed through gate valve 71 to actuate the first of a chain of trigger stages forming the commutator 81, each higher stage being actuated by a pulse from the next lower stage when that stage is reset by a P-pulse on line 101 or 102, and being connected to a corresponding valve 80. Towards the ends of the " 9 " time, contacts 84, Figs. 1 and 6a, apply a resetting pulse to triggers 67, 70 through gate 66. Contacts 83 close again at the beginning of the " 8 " time to repeat the above operations with circuit 72 generating " 8 " instead of " 9, " and the alternate operation of 83, 84 is repeated for the following printing cycle times down to "1." During the " 0 " time, contacts 82 apply a resetting pulse to trigger 63 to return the apparatus of Fig. I to normal, a control pulse being sent to the computer over line 85 to indicate that read-out is no longer required. Printing occurs later in the cycle, Fig. 6a. Reference is made to other decimal coding systems (e.g. 0, 1, 3, 5) and to the translation and printing of alphabetical data. Master pulse group generator.-The master pulse groups on line 20, Fig. 2, are obtained from the anodes of gate valves V1, 2, 4 8 which when primed by potentials applied to their suppressor grids from emitter E1, are responsive to the P- pulses indicated corresponding to digit valves 1, 2, 4, 8 respectively which are applied to the control grids through lines 5 (1), (2), (3), (4), and condensers 6. The emitter comprises a brush 1, to which the operative potential is applied, rotated by the printing mechanism so as to engage segments " 9 " to " 10 " at corresponding times in the printing cycle, the segment " 9 " being connected to valves VI, 8, the segment " 8 " to valve V8 and so on. The segments may alternatively be connected to the valves reprosenting complementary valves when the complement of the number from the computer will be printed. Comparing pulse groups.-The circuit 73, Fig. 1, comprises valves V16, V17, Fig. 3, negative master pulses on line 20 being applied to the suppressor grids, and positive word-representing pulses from the computer (e.g. see Fig. 6 (2)) being applied over line 28 to the control grids. The pulses to V17 are applied through inverters V18, V19, and if a pulse appears on one line and not the other, one of V16, V17 will conduct, Fig. 6 (4), thereby applying an actuating pulse to trigger circuit V27, V28 (75, Fig. 1). Whenever this trigger is " on, " Fig. 6 (5), the next resetting pulse P0, 4, 8-applied through valve V29, Figs. 3 and 6 (6), will cause an actuating pulse to be applied through condenser 58 to trigger V20, V21 (76, Fig. 1) which is reset by pulses P3, 7- sent through valve V30, Fig. 6 (7) and (8). The pulses from V29, V30, Fig. 6 (6) and (7), also cause regular switching of trigger V31, V32 (79, Fig. 1), and if at any time both triggers V20, V21 and V31, V32 are " off " (V21 and V31 non- conducting), Fig. 6 (8) and (9), the potential at the junction of resistors 44, 94 will be raised sufficiently to causes cathode follower V22 (78, Fig. 1), to conduct, Fig. 6 (10), and apply an operative potential over line 47 to all the valves 80 thereby firing the one primed by the commutator 81. Thus, in the example of Fig. 6, the second comparison (pulse positions P5-P8) detects agreement; therefore triggers V27, V28 and V20, V21 are not actuated and V22 is rendered conducting during the following four-pulse period. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 595,556.