Patent GB-873572-A (GB)
Title: Asynchronous counting circuits and number checking apparatus embodying such circuits
IPC: G06F11/10
Filed: 1958-11-26
Abstract: 873,572. Digital electrical calculating-apparatus. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. Nov. 26, 1958 [Dec. 2, 1957], No. 38060/58. Class 106 (1). As a check on the accuracy of account numbers entered into an accounting machine the several digits are weighted according to a code, accumulated and divided by a predetermined number to leave a prescribed remainder, failure of this check locking the keyboard of the machine. Unit circuit, Fig. 2. The apparatus makes use of several unit circuits each of which comprises a magnetizable core 30 and five windings L1-L5. Pulses on windings L1 or L3 drive the core to a magnetization state 1, while pulses on L2 or L4 drive it to state 0. If the core is in state 1 an interrogation pulse on L2 causes an associated transistor T to conduct and drive, through L5, the core to state 0. Operation of checking circuit, Figs. 5a, 5b. The keyboard comprises row leads KR0-KR9 and column leads KC1-KC10, one of each set being connected when a digit key on a full keyboard is operated. Cross connection plug board 21 is used for weighting the several columns of the keyboard. In the example the connections are P1 to P11, P2 to P12 and so on so that successive digits from left to right are weighted 1-10, respectively. When Entry of first digit into accumulator. When an account number has been entered momentary operation of switch LSS pulses lead LS to enter 1 in units A1, B1, F1 and J, all other units being at 0. J is biased back to 0 by lead LB and triggers transistor TJ into conduction. This TJ pulse excites B1, so triggering TB1 which shifts the column control register from B1 operative to B2. The TB1 pulse passes over the operated switch in the first column of the keyboard to the corresponding unit, say E3, in the valuation register E, setting this unit to state 1. This pulse also operates M momentarily. When M restores a TM pulse shifts the valuation. register E from E3 to E2, so operating V momentarily. The resulting TV pulse shifts accumulating register F from F1 to F11, thereby operating M again. In successive cycles E and F step together until E is at E0 and F is at F9. The pulse TEO does not interrogate the accumulating register F, however, but merely clears unit EO and operates J, so indicating that the first digit has been entered into the accumulating register. Entry of subsequent digits. The TJ pulse resulting from the automatic return of J to O shifts the column control register to B3 operative. The resulting TB2 pulse causes the second digit to be entered in the valuation register and to be counted into the accumulating register F as described in connection with the first digit. Subsequent digits are dealt with in the same manner as the column control register is shifted step-by-step. Subsequent scans of keyboard. When a first scan of the keyboard has been completed and the column control register has stepped to B11 operative unit H is operated momentarily. The resulting TH pulse shifts the A register to A2 operative whereupon a new cycle of the B register is started beginning, however, with B2 operative. As a consequence the new scan of the keyboard omits that column controlled by B1 i.e. that digit which has a weighting of one. Repeated scans of the keyboard take place omitting a new column each time whereby the several different weightings are allowed for. At the end of the last scan the accumulating register F has received the weighted sum of all the digits, and as F has 11 units has divided this sum by 11 to leave a remainder. When H operates momentarily at this time the TH pulse is applied to A10 to produce a TA10 pulse which sets G and is applied also to a predetermined unit of the accumulating register F. Assuming that the remainder should be 0, this unit is F1. If therefore the check is correct TF1 conducts to set M. Pulse TM then interrogates G, transistor TG conducts and triggers TRC, so energizing relay RY. This relay permits the keyed information to be entered into the accounting machine proper. Failure of the check means that RY remains unenergized, the keyboard is locked and an alarm brought up. Modifications. Account symbols other than decimal digits may. be used, e.g. digits to a base of 12, 8, 4, 2, alphabetical or mixed numerical and alphabetical.