GB1288452A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1288452 Numerical indicators SANYO ELECTRIC CO Ltd and TOTTORI SANYO ELECTRIC CO Ltd 6 May 1970 [6 May 1969 12 Sept 1969] 21853/70 Heading G4H An indicator for decimal numbers comprises a register 50 holding the number to be indicated, indicators 10a-10n each adapted to display a numeral or a minus sign, means responsive to the data registered to indicate the corresponding numerals and means for providing a signal indicating the position adjacent the most significant right position and means responsive to an indication of the sign of the decimal number to indicate the minus sign, if necessary, in the appropriate position. The indicators may each consist of seven bars forming a rectangle with a central horizontal cross-bar, a combination of bars being illuminated to display the desired numeral; the central bar alone being illuminated to show a minus sign. Corresponding bar lamps in each indicator are connected together and to transistors 15, for the central bar and 8b-8g. The indicators are repeatedly selected in turn via transistors 5a-5w by a pulse distributer 30. The number in the register 50 is shifted and recycled in synchronism with the operation of distributer 30 and as each numeral occupies the end stage 50a it is converted in unit 40 to an appropriate combination of signals on leads 11allg. Transistors 8b-8g are connected to the negative source 14 via transistor 9 controlled by circuit 60. This circuit also passes a signal over line 19 via or gate 17 to transistor 15 to illuminate the minus sign. Circuit 60, Fig. 3, comprises an auxiliary register 70 having the same number of stages as register 50, "1" or "0" being stored in each to represent the presence or absence of a numeral in the corresponding stage of register 50. When there is a "1" in the end stage an output on lead 13 turns transistor 9 on. Transistor 9 allows the display lamps to be illuminated. For positions above the highest significant digit the "0" in the end position of register 70 does not turn transistor 9 on and no display is made on the corresponding position of the indicator, i.e. zeros above the highest significant digit are suppressed. The bits are entered in register 70 by applying the numeral codes of register 50 in turn to a gate which responds to all numerals except "0" to enter a "1" on the corresponding stage of register 70. Gate 90 responds when there is a "1" digit in stage 70n, "0" in stage 70a and an output from circuit 80 indicating that the value is minus. The minus sign is then displayed in the position adjacent the most significant digit. If all the indicator positions are occupied by digits a separate minus sign indicator may be provided to the left of the display. Instead of bar indicators Nixie tubes may be used. Provision may also be made for indicating the plus sign.