DE2654724A1 - DATA TERMINAL FOR CONVERTING CODED INFORMATION INTO VISIBLE DATA - Google Patents

Description

Data terminal for converting coded information into visible data

The invention relates to data terminals, and more particularly on data terminals for converting encoded information into visible data. Such data terminals can, for example, in totalizator systems be included.

In some types of data communication networks, data is transmitted by means of data display units (VDU) that are on line to a processor connected to the network, entered into the network and received by the network. One of the advantages of a VDU is that the data can be arranged and displayed in a certain order and therefore VDU's there can be used where the arrangement of the data is important. One disadvantage, however, is that a VDU is the one from the unit is not continuously recording the displayed data.

Another method of entering and extracting data into and out of a communications network is through use a printer terminal. In this case, a processor of the network is queried by pressing a keypad, whereby encoded signals are generated and transmitted along a communication line to the processor. The instruction will

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printed out on a playback sheet by the same keypad actuation that actuates the printer. if When a response is received from the processor, the response to the instruction from the printer is printed out on the reproduction sheet. Such a terminal does provide a continuous display of the data entered into and from the network can be received, but the data cannot be arranged in a desired order.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved data terminal for converting encoded information into visible data.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a data terminal for converting coded information into visible data with a Keypad, a device for generating output signals corresponding to the actuation of the keys of the keypad, a Device for decoding output signals in data, a Apparatus for displaying at least some of the data and apparatus for printing at least some of the data on one Playback component, with the output signals being transmitted to the processor when the terminal is connected to a processor and

Input signals from the processor are received by the terminal if the output signals represent information which is determined to be acceptable by the processor ^so that coded information entered via the keypad is converted into visual information which is shown on the display and printed out on the playback component.

The invention is explained below with reference to schematic drawings, for example and with further details.

They represent:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of building blocks of an inventive Data terminals,

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Figures 2a, 2b

and 2c together form a circuit diagram of a control circuit of the terminal,

Figures 3a, 3b

and 3c together form an addressing and memory circuit of the terminal and

Fig.4a and ■

4b together form a print and display control circuit and

Fig. 5 and 6 represent a keypad and a circuit diagram of a Modification.

According to FIG. 1, the data terminal includes a keypad 1, a FIFO buffer connected to the keypad for storing coded signals emitted from the keypad, a control panel. ^; device 3 for controlling .of.output information that is extracted from the FIFO buffer 2 .soll and is to be transmitted via a pair of twisted cables 4 to a central processor (not shown) and for controlling input data that is to be transmitted via a pair of twisted cables '5 are received by the processor, an addressing and storage circuit 6 for extracting data coming from the processor to the terminal via the cables 5 and for storing the data and for controlling the operation of a printer and a display 8.

According to FIG. 2a, the output signals of the FIFO buffer 2 a parallel input of a universal asynchronous receiver / transmitter chip 9 (UART) and fed into a serial output signal converted, which is fed via a line 10 to an input of a driver chip 11 and from the driver chip 11 via the Pair of twisted cables 4 is fed to the processor when the driver chip is triggered. The processor receives pulses via the pair of twisted-pair cables 5 in the form of eight-bit words that are either CONTROL or DATA. TAX words included

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in the four least significant ^B its an address code.

The pulses received by the driver chip 12 are transmitted by the chip serially fed to the UART 9, in which they are distributed to parallel output lines A1 to A1O.

The lines A1 to A4 inclusive are branched so that they form inputs of an address decoder 13 (AD), the output signals of which the clock of a decoder 14 are fed. The lines A5 and A6 are also branched and form together with the line A7 inputs of the decoder 14. The decoder 14 has six output lines in which pulses are present

*)
are, which represent SEND DATA, SHIFT ADDRESS; END-SLIDE;

WRITE DATA; END LETTER and PRINT REQUEST.

If eight coded .BLt words are transmitted over cable .5, they are received in the address decoder 13 and are registered in the address decoder 13 when the address code matches the address code of the terminal. The decoder 14 is clocked in this way and the words that make up the message are used by the decoder 14 decoded.

The first message that is decoded by the processor will be: SEND DATA. When this message is received, will a pulse from the decoder 14 is fed via a line 15 to a second input of the driver chip 11 and the chip is triggered, so that it sends pulses on line 10 through cables 4 to the processor

If the information decoded by the processor is an intelligible message, this message is transmitted in the form of successive eight bit words in a pulse train along the cable 5 and decoded by the decoder 14. Sliding is pulled out by pulses which are supplied 16 along the sliding ADDRESS ^and exit-slide lines of a lock, and em WRITE signal is extracted by pulses transmitted along the WRITE DATA and end-WRITE lines to a lock 17 *) SHIFT (N) = CURSOR **) "Lock" in the sense of "latching"

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will. When locks 16 and 17 are triggered, will signals representing CURSOR from the lock 16 and signals representing WRITE from the lock 17. The 'CURSOR signals are subdivided into STRONG SIGNIFICANT CURSOR and WEAK SIGNIFICANT CURSOR by means of NAND gates 18 and 19 (cf., FIG. 2c). When the entire message has been picked up by the decoder 14, a PRINT signal is decoded by the decoder 14.

Referring to Fig. 3c, the output of the NAND gate with the clock is a shift register 20 and the output of the NAND gate 19 with the clock generator of a shift register 21 tied together. The four inputs of SHIFT REGISTERS 20 and 21 are branched from lines A1, A2, A3 and A4, the Supply random access memories (RAMS) which form a print / display memory 22. The WRITE impulses become MULTIPLEXERS 23 and 24, the output signals of which are also fed to the memory 22 and their first inputs to the outputs the SHIFT REGISTER 20 and 21 are connected. In this way, when locks 16 and 17 are triggered, those in SHIFT REGISTERS 20 and 21 from lines A1 through A4 brought in data from the registers by means of the SHIFT pulse shifted and loaded into the memory 22 by the MULTIPLEXER 23 and 24, which are triggered by the WRITE pulse. The memory 22 is activated by means of a RAM WRITE pulse and the SHIFT REGISTER 21 is set by means of an INCREMENT pulse triggered or actuated, both pulses being generated when a trigger or start pulse is received on line A8 will. The effect of the INCREMENT pulse is that it prevents less significant bits from being entered into memory 22 for such a long time until the highly significant bits are entered.

The display 8 is a cathode ray tube (CRT) with a sampling rate of sixteen lines for each alpha to be displayed. " numeric characters and for each space between characters and a frame of eight rows of thirty-two characters Characters in each row. The printer is a matrix needle printer with three heads, each of which has seven needles and is arranged so that a card supply belt is driven under the needles in synchronism with the actuation of the needles

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is so that the operation of the needles alpha-numeric digits generated, which is composed of five columns of color points are, in each of which a maximum of seven points are possible. Between each group of the five columns of points is located a lölumne free of dots that forms the spaces between the characters. The printer is preferably constructed in the manner described in the description relating to the present application British patent application 49528/75 /.

Referring to Figures 3a and 3b, there are various circuits for assigning positioning codes for every sixteen line scan of the CRT and Address codes for alpha-numeric characters to be displayed and printed are shown, which are assigned by the SHIFT REGISTERS 20 and 21 loaded into memory 22.

To determine where parts of a character are on each sixteen line Scan, a PART BY SIXTEEN circuit 26 is provided which is controlled by a SCAN SYNCHRONIZER circuit is actuated or triggered, the circuit being activated by the PRESSURE pulse. The output signal of the PART BY SIXTEEN circuit 26 is on four lines BO, B1, B2 and B3, which are branched or tapped and form an input of a NOR gate 28, from which a pulse CLS is removed.

The address codes for the positions of the digits in each line the display are made up of a PARTS BY SIXTEEN circuit

30 and on five output lines CO, C1, C2, C3 and C4 distributed. Similarly, a PART BY EIGHT circuit

31 the address codes for which of the eight lines of the displays. Characters are to be arranged, determined and distributed on three output lines C5, C6 and C7. The output lines CO to C3 are connected to second inputs of the MULTIPLEXER 24 and the output lines C4 to C7 are connected to second inputs of the MULTIPLEXER 23 connected. To determine the address codes of the six columns for printing each character and for its distance from a subsequent character is provided by a PARTS BY SIX circuit 32, the output signals of which are set to three *) Patent attorney's file of the German application 1A-48 806

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Output lines DO, D1 and D2 is distributed.

The control of the feed of the paper to be printed by the printer is synchronized with the operation of the printer's needles, by energizing a pulse generator 33 with a PAPER TRIGGER pulse and those generated by the generator Pulses are fed to one input of a lock 34 and the pressure pulse is fed to another input of the lock 34. Only when both pulses are detected is a NAND gate 35 activated, thereby delivering a PRINT MOTOR pulse to one (not shown) circuit to provide a paper feeding device actuated. Interlocking with the paper feeder (not shown) is a rotatable timing disc (not shown) the PAPER RELEASE pulses in a photocell (not shown) generated when it rotates.

The pulses from the pulse generator 33 are also applied to an input of the SCAN SYNCHRONIZATION circuit 27.

Referring to FIGS. 4a and 4b, the output signal of the memory 22 is distributed over eight lines E1 to E8. The six Lines E1 to E6 carry data representing the character code from memory 22 to inputs of a character generation matrix 36 and the two lines E7 and E8 are connected to inputs of a read-only memory (ROM) 37, the output of which is connected to data inputs the matrix 36 which represents a column code. Further inputs of the ROM 37 are with the lines DO, D1 and D2 of the PARTS BY SIX circuit 32 are connected.

The output signals of the matrix 36 are fed to a MULTIPLEXER | 0 via locks 38 and 39. The locks 38 and 39 are triggered by pulses CLS received from NOR gate 28 (Fig. 3b). The MULTIPLEXER 40 is very similar to the Lines BO to B3 supplied (see. Fig.3b). A serial output VIDEO signal of the MULTIPLEXER 40 is sent to the (not shown) CRT is supplied to display the message received by decoder 14 (see Fig. 2a), and the signal also forms a

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Input signal for serially connected SHIFT REGISTERS 41, 42 and 43, the outputs of which are connected to lines for actuating electromagnets of print heads A, B and C.

When the VIDEO pulse train moves the SHIFT REGISTERS 41, 42 and 43 has filled so that they are ready to operate the corresponding working electromagnets in pulses, the Register triggered by the pressure pulse, which actuates the selected electromagnets and the associated needles released to print the message.

Instead of the CRT type, the display can also be in the form of a line SELF-SCAN. In this case it will the control for SELF-SCANING from lines E1 to E6 is taken from memory 22 and via locks .44 and 45 the SELF-SCANING performed (see. Fig. 4a).

Referring to FIGS. 2b and 2c, a circuit 46 is shown with which the width of characters to be printed can be increased. It has been found that when a character is stretched to occupy a space normally occupied by two consecutive characters, that stretched character has a protruding appearance from unexpanded characters. A monostable stage 47 is triggered in circuit 46 when a STRETCH-CHARACTER pulse is present on line A8 from UART 9 (see FIG. 2a). As a result, the monostable stage 47 emits a pulse and a NAND gate 48 is activated. ^{If J 1} BKgIe ^ is given by the counter 49 under the control of data input ^{signals, the n} lines A9 and A10 received from the UART 9, a stretch pulse is output by the NAND gate 48 via a line XO, which is stored in an address in the memory 22 is saved. Similarly, a NOR gate 50 emits a pulse on line X1 indicating that the stretch pulse is for the first half of the character. The process is repeated when the second data word is received, with the exception that the following pulse from the NOR gate 50 *) line - SELF SCAN

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indicates that the stretching impulse for the second half of the
Sign is. The pulses transmitted via line X1
are stored in the memory 22 in addresses.

When the stretched characters are retrieved from memory 22
are the elongated character data on the line E7 into the matrix are input 36 and via the line. E8 pulses are entered, which the first and second parts of the to
represent stretching sign. This way becomes a
Characters stretched on a 7 χ 10 point matrix in comparison
to an unstretched character 'formed by a 7x5 dot matrix.

In a modified embodiment of the invention
Data terminals are the four address lines that form the input to the address decoder 13, extended to the outside of a housing ■ of the terminal, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2a. Such an arrangement enables the lines to be connected to a T-box via lines which connect the processor to terminals. In the unmodified embodiment of the terminal according to the invention, the terminal would be connected to a local microprocessor, which would be one of several such local processors, each of which serves as a processor.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, there is shown a data terminal suitable for use in retail applications where a
Card or bill is produced. A totalizer card device is described as an example. In such an application, the data terminal is used with a keypad 60 as shown in FIG. 5, which is connected to a microprocessor 61 as shown in FIG.

The keypad 60 is divided into individual areas 60a, 60b, 60c, 60d and 60e. The first area 60a includes a pair of Buttons that form instructions for making payment or selling related to paid bets.

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The second area 60b contains five keys "relating to amounts of money, the amount constituting the wager amount.

The third area 60c is a numeric area and contains digits 0 through 9 on a numbered keypad with the numeric Information can be entered into the terminal. This numerical information can, for example, refer to the Relate the number of the race and the number of the runners on which a bet is placed.

The fourth area 60d relates to several buttons, each of which carries a representation of the type of bet, of which details entered into the processor.

The fifth area "6Oe" relates to instructions to the terminal, to cancel, repeat or accept a bet.

The areas / keypad are connected to control circuits, thereby output signals to be transmitted can be generated according to the actuation of the keys on the keypad.

FIG. 6 shows a data terminal similar to that shown in FIG Data terminal in which the control circuit 3 is replaced by a microprocessor 61, with a keypad, a mechanism for controlling the printing on the terminal and display and printer - connected as peripheral devices are. Communication takes place through a pair of wires from the micro-processor to the central processor, as shown in FIG. 1 described. Similar connections exist with the keypad 1, the matrix printer 7 and the display 8.

The matrix printer 7 contains three dot matrix print heads 62, of which each can be constructed in the manner described in patent application 49528/75, which is related to the present application. Each head has seven needles which are in a line at right angles to the direction of transport of the playback component are arranged, the 'preferably as a continuous band from *) patent attorney files of the German application 1A-48 806

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Card paper is formed. An electromagnet works with each needle together, which is connected to the micro-processor 61 via an amplifier circuit 63.

The printer 7 also includes a card paper feed mechanism, to which the printer control circuit 64 belongs. With this printer control circuit 64 a device cooperates with a release timing disk that synchronizes with the card paper movement is. A trigger pulse is generated by the trigger clock every time the card paper is turned over. a predetermined one Line is transported further, the line corresponding to the position at which the line or row of needles is actuated shall be. The trigger pulse is fed to the micro-processor to trigger the actuation of the print heads.

The display 8 consists of a cathode ray tube or other display unit (for example such as Burroughs Self-Scan Registered display .sold) which displays a series of characters on a single line. The ad is connected to the micro-pro-essor so that details of the through When the keypad is operated, the characters entered appear on the display 8. The display can also show information that is changing relates to the receipt of signals from the keypad pertaining to irrelevant information. For example, if a bet is placed on a runner with a specific number and there is no runner with that number in the race, the fact that this is irrelevant information is indicated.

With the micro-processor there is also a terminal address system 65 connected so that the address of the terminal can be entered into the central processor.

The microprocessor may, for example, be of the type sold under the name M68OO and contain logical ones

Circuits including memory circuits. He continues

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Circuits programmed to convert character-related signals into signals in matrix form, which relate to the printing of the characters in a dot-like matrix - which forms a character .. The printed ones Digits are preferably represented by a 7x5 matrix. The line of seven print wires is thus arranged so that it is actuated five times during a paper transport.

The microprocessor further includes a "divide by six" counter in the processor memory containing the five lines from the dot matrix printer counts generated points and the individual space that form a character.

The micro-processor memory further contains a storage of Details of the characters to be printed and the dot pattern to be created. . . .

The microprocessor operates similarly to the control circuit 3 according to FIG. 1 with the exception that part of the keypad information is held in the microprocessor memory and not necessarily is fed to the control processor.

For example, if details of a bet are to be displayed, the operator presses the keys one by one, they In this way, first presses the sales button 60a, then the Amount of money key 60b, key 60c for numerical information and key 60d for the type of bet. To the Signals are fed to the microprocessor which represent the pressing of the key, with part of the information in the memory of the Micro-Proze.ssors can be saved and other information is brought into the appropriate format and the central processor is supplied at the end of a valid key sequence, for example when the accept key is pressed. The information is in the central Processor processes and, if necessary, an error signal is returned that specifies irrelevant information. If the from Central processor processed information found to be correct a signal is returned to the microprocessor. Thereupon

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is triggered by the microprocessor printing by a control pulse is sent, which activates an electromagnet, which in turn starts the motor of the card paper drum to Feed paper through the printer.

As the paper moves under the printer's three printheads, the microprocessor receives trigger pulses from the clock disk that is synchronized with the paper movement. A trigger pulse is generated every time the pins of the printheads are released to create a line with up to seven points of the printheads. The trigger pulses are fed to a " _{divide by Se 0} J ₁₃ counter in the memory of the microprocessor and are counted there to count the five dotted lines and the space that form a character. The memory of the processor stores the characters to be printed and the pattern of dots The "divide by six" counter controls the memory in steps, whereby a character counter in the memory of the microprocessor brings the character to be printed by a print head out of the character memory and into a The character buffer circuit in the microprocessor then selects the character generator part of the memory to find the dot pattern and, along with the "divide by sschs" counter, brings out the column of dots to be printed the microprocessor contained print buffer introduced.

The next trigger pulse supplied to the microprocessor then causes the contents of the print buffer to be removed from the microprocessor fed out to the printer via the printer head amplifier 63 will. These amplifiers drive the electromagnets which cause the selected print wires to make the required columns of a character on the paper.

The counters within the microprocessor control this Assign the exit to the printer and the start and stop of the printer.

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Through a similar interaction of input signals and output signals, the microprocessor can read data from the keypad, the display etc. received or sent, its speed being such that it does these operations can control at the same time.

If necessary, a circuit to increase the width of the characters similar to the circuit 46 according to FIGS. 2b and 2c be contained in the microprocessor 61 of FIG. 6 or it can Circuits outside the microprocessor can be connected to the microprocessor for this purpose.

The message that comes from the processor does not have to contain all of the information to be printed, because part of this information is present in the keypad information and in memory of the microprocessor is recorded. Information such as the number belonging to only one card or one note must be received by the processor, in which case the information relating to a bet reproduced on the display from the information stored in the micro-processor and is printed out on the printer.

As a result of these tasks, which are now performed in the terminal, the workload is on the central processor and in the Reduced connection lines, which supplies or processes a large number of terminals with a small central processor can be.

A data terminal as described above can also be used in a ticket reservation system, by programming the micro-processor and the central processor accordingly.

Patent claims:

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Claims (8)

Claims > 1 /. Data terminal for converting coded information into visible data, characterized by a keypad (1; 60), a display (8), a printer (7), a Device (3) for generating output signals corresponding to the actuation of the keys on the keypad, a device (6) for decoding output signals into data and means (7,8) for displaying at least some of the Data on the display and for printing at least one of the data on a display component, wherein with a processor connected terminal to transmit the output signals to the processor and input signals from the processor are received by the terminal when the output signals contain information which is found to be acceptable by the processor, so that encoded input via the keypad Information is converted into visual information, which is shown on the display and printed out on the playback part will. 2. Data terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the printer (7) is a matrix printer (62.63) contains. 3. Data terminal according to claim 2, characterized in that the matrix printer (62, 63) has a plurality of needle print heads (62) contains. 4. Data terminal according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a transport mechanism for the playback component and one with the transport of the playback component synchronized trigger pulse generator disc to control the generation of the output signals. 709828 / 0S74 INSPECTED -VtT- 4δ 828 5. Data terminal according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the keypad (60) instruction keys (60a, 60b, 60d, 6Oe) and numeric keys (60c). 6. Data terminal according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by a circuit (46) for enlargement the width of the characters to be printed. 7. Totalization system with a data terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the recorded signals relate to information relating to bets placed relate. 8. Ticket reservation system with a data terminal according to one of claims 1 to .7, characterized in, that the recorded signals relate to information relating to the reservation of tickets. 709828/0574