Patent GB-1027501-A (GB)
Title: Control means for simultaneously activating selected current operated devices
IPC: G06K1/00
Filed: 1963-01-14
Abstract: 1,027,501. Transistor switching circuits. RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA. Jan. 14, 1963 [Jan. 26, 1962], No. 1645/63. Heading H3T. In a circuit in which selected ones of a number of solenoids are activated simultaneously each of the solenoids is connected in series with a signal controlled three electrode switching device and to a common signal controlled bi-stable switching means, the arrangement being such that when the appropriate signal controlled switching devices associated with the respective solenoids are activated all of these respective solenoids are energized simultaneously when a command signal is applied to the common signal controlled switching means and it is activated. The invention is applied to an M-stage shift register, Fig. 1, comprising M bi-stable storage devices 12a . . . 12m each stage having first and second output terminals (1), (0) and a separate solenoid 16a . . . 16m respectively, each connected to the respective (1) output terminal via signal controlled switching device 14a . . . 14m. A common switching means 22 is provided for simultaneously energizing all of the selected solenoids 16a . . . 16m, i.e. those solenoids whose respective switching devices 14a . . . 14m have been activated. Fig. 2 shows switching means 22 and one of the switching devices 14a in detail. Initially, storage device 12a is in its reset state with the voltage at terminal (1) being at " 0 " volts so that transistor T1 is conducting and the voltage at point 50 is at earth potential, resulting in transistors T2, T3 being biased off and no current flowing through the solenoid 16a. During the first portion of the cycle information is fed into the shift register and storage device 12a is set so that the voltage at terminal (1) is + 6À5V. Transistor T1 is now cut-off and the voltage at point 50 falls to a negative value resulting in transistor T2 being rendered conductive and transistor T3 being in a state that it will conduct when the switching means 22 are activated, the latter comprising S.C.R. 138. After information has been fed into the shift register 10 a timing pulse 90 is applied at 92 which pulse turns normally non-conductive transistor T4 on so that a positive going pulse is coupled through capacitor 130 to S.C.R. 138 to fire the latter. Current therefore flows through the solenoid 16a and all other preselected solenoids 16b . . . 16m whose associated bi-stable devices are set. Capacitor 152 serves as a filter to maintain the voltage at the anode 136 of the S.C.R. constant and the S.C.R. remains conducting until the current through it falls below a certain value and is not turned off when the timing pulse 90 ends. Diode 154 prevents a negative pulse being applied from transistor T4 to the S.C.R. gate when the timing pulse 90 ends and the S.C.R. is conducting. When the shift register is reset transistor T1 is switched on and transistors T2, T3 switched off so that the current path through the solenoids is interrupted and the S.C.R. is rendered non-conducting. Two or more S.C.R's may be paralleled in order to supply more current if need be.