GB2235101A - Computer interface device - Google Patents

Abstract

A computer interface device (10) includes a housing (12) in which are mounted dials (14) and scales (16). The device is adapted to interface with a computer running an applications program, the dials being arranged to input variables to the program and the scales displaying output values from the program. The device is useful in providing an analogue representation of the results of the program (on the scales), given the digitally convened analogue input of variables (from the dials). <IMAGE>

Description

Computer program interface device This invention relates to digital computers and more particularly to an analogue device enabling information to be input to and output from a computer in a convenient and meaningful way having regard to the type of program being run by the computer. Such a device may be referred to as a computer program interface device.

There are many programs available for use on computers, from the larger "main-frame" type, down to the smallest personal computers.

These programs may assist the user interpret data input to the computer. Such programs are frequently referred to as applications programs, which are as distinct from operating programs which generally enable a computer running the operating program to work in a particular way, such as to run an applications program.

In this respect, the present invention is concerned mainly with applications programs because, on the whole, data is not input, nor is information output, in the operation of an operating program. This is not the case with most applications programs, however, whose main function usually is to receive data from the program operator, manipulate the data in a particular way, and then output the result in a manner helpful to the operator.

Most computers employ a keyboard by means of which data may be input, and a screen or a printer on which the output may be displayed. So-called mouse devices enable a cursor to be moved easily around a computer screen, but their application is somewhat limited.

Light pencils perform essentially the same function.

However, there are many programs which, although perfectly satisfactory in terms of the tasks they perform, are not easily manipulated by a user and do not present their results in perhaps the most convenient and easily comprehensible way.

For example, a program which models real events, such as some financial or scientific programs, are frequently most useful because certain parameters can be varied and the results of these variations can be seen in the final output.

Thus a financial spreadsheet-type program which calculates a company's profits given specific sales and costs figures is useful if the effects on profit can be seen when different sales or costs etc are entered. The same is true of numerous other programs, where different inputs lead to variations in the output. Furthermore a financial-type program could be made more useful still if, for example, the way in which profits vary could be seen as sales or expenses change. Generally, however, this is not readily available with existing programs.

As mentioned above, the present invention is concerned with digital computers and programs for such computers, but it is inherent in many of the programs referred to above that the type of information required from the operation of the program is often judgemental, rather than specifically quantitative, and in this respect, it would sometimes be desirable if data could be input, and information could be output, in an analogue fashion enabling such judgemental representation of both inputs and outputs to be achieved.

This is already possible to an extent by adjustment of existing equipment and programs. For example output to a screen can be in graphical form. Mouse devices or even specified keys operating on a time-held-on principle can simulate analogue input. But in both cases substantial adjustment to the program itself is normally required, whereas the program may in other respects be entirely satisfactory.

Consequently it is an object of the present invention to provide a means whereby the aforementioned problems may be mitigated.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a computer program interface device adapted to be connected to a computer running an application program, the device comprising a housing in which is mounted a number of dials which are manipulable by an operator and which each comprise a variable potentiometer; a number of scales, also mounted in the housing, and which may be viewed by the operator; an analogue to digital converter which receives an analogue signal from each potentiometer and outputs to the computer a corresponding digital value for input to the program as an input variable; and means to receive digital output from the program and display such output on the scales as analogue or pseudo-analogue values.

Preferably, said analogue to digital converter and said means are mounted on a circuit board for inclusion in a personal computer as an "add-on" card. Said means may also comprise a separate interface program to be run on the computer in conjunction with the application program and which directs outputs from, and inputs to, the computer through said add-on card.

The scales may comprise an array of light emmitting diodes mounted in the housing, successive diodes being energised as the digital output Increases. In this respect the scales are pseudo-analogue because they appear analogue but are in fact directly driven by digital values.

The invention is further described hereinafter by way of example only with reference to the following Example and accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 is a schematic view of a computer program interface device according to the invention; and, Fig 2 is a block circuit diagram of the device shown in Fig 1.

In the drawings, a computer program interface device 10 comprises a housing 12 in which is mounted several dials or knobs 14 and two scales 16 in the form of arrays of light emitting diodes 18. An enunciator panel 20 is provided by means of which each dial and scale may be labelled to indicate its purpose in relation to an applications program which an associated computer (not shown) may be running. A communications port and cable 22 enable connection to the computer.

Alternatively, the housing 12 may include its own micro-processor, memory and disc drive (none shown) and have a screen 23 as shown.

In this case, connection to a remote computer is not required.

With specific reference to Fig 2, each dial 14 is in the form of a potentiometer 14' placed across a power source 30. The output of each potentiometer is fed to a 16 channel analogue multiplexer 32, such as the 16 channel analogue multiplexer sold by Dl-AN Micro Systems, of Mersey House, Battersea Road, Heaton Mersey Industrial Estate, Stockport, Cheshire, SK4 3EA, under the code number DMS 233. The multiplexer 32 is in turn connected to a successive approximation analogue to digital converter 34, such as that also supplied by DI-AN under the code number DMS 230. An IBM PC computer 36, or one compatible therewith, operating in PCL, is connected to the multiplexer 32 and converter 34 by bus 40. Bus 40 also addresses a 16 bit digital open collector output module 38 such as that also supplied by DI-AN under the code number DMS 221. The outputs of the collector module 38 are in turn connected to between puil-up resistors 42 and to serial input display drivers 44. There are as many of these as required to drive the light emitting diodes 18 in the arrays 16.

The multiplexer 32, converter 34 and module 38 may all be mounted on a circuit board 50 which may itself comprise an "add-on" card for insertion in the computer 36. Thus only the dials 14 and scales 16,18, together with associated components and power source 30 need be mounted in the housing 12.

EXAMPLE The following is an exemplary general format PCL program enabling analogue input/output as described above.

!t*****************t Intro ********************** ! General format PCL PROGRAM for analogue input/output The first 3 sections: ! Screen set up ! System declarations and Control Loop are common to all applications.

The next 2 sections: PROC INIT and PROC CALCULATE are tailored by a computer & PCL literate systems operator to fit the particular application Once this has been done and converted into a runtime module the analogue interface can then set up and used by anyone.

The remaining procedures (PROC) in the program are standard and do not need changing. They: Read the input dials (DIALSIN & READADC) ! Update the output bars (BARSOUT, OUTPUT, SENDDIG & TOGGLECLK) and ! Update the screen (if there is one) (SCREEN) ! afp/rwt June '88 - Ferranti PC1-256k module setup:ADC = DMS230 (analogue/digital convertor) ! 0 = DMS233 (16 ch analogue multiplexor) ! 1 = DMS221 (16 ch digital output) !****************** Screen set up *************** FORMAT '******.*' SM 2,0 CLS WINDOW 2,30,4,50,2FH PAINT ,,,,20H CURSOR 2,8; ? "GIYER" !****************** System Declarations ********* DEFAULT INTEGER ! all variables are integer, unless declared otherwise INTEGER WORDOUT [ 36,2 ] ! serial data sent to display chip(s) ! 0 to 30 are the bars. 31 to 36 are the blocks INTEGER POT [ 10 ] ! to hold the dial h/ware read values (0 to 1000 each) FLOAT HIGH#1Oi, LOW[10] ! dial scaling values FLOAT FPOT [ 10 ] ! scaled dial values for calcn (may be -'ve, 3.06 etc) FLOAT MAx [ 2J, ZERO [ 2 ] , MIN [ 2 ] , SCALE [ 2 ] ! output scaling values FLOAT RGRATIO, FLEN ! ratio of geen segments to red, & total no of segments FLOAT FRESULT [ 2j ! result array for the L/H (1) and R/H (2) LEDs outputs INTEGER RESULT [ 2 ] ! FRESULT converted to 0-30 for h/ware output routine INTEGER PREV.RESULT(2 ] ! to check need to update output MUXLP=300H; MUXHP=301H; MUXCP=302H;ADCCP=303H ! ports for mux & adc MODULE~l=304H; ! port address for DMS221 module when in position 1 !****************** Control Loop **************** CALL RESET ! set bar display outputs to OFF CALL INIT ! initialise application variables CALL SYSVARS ! & then system variables START: CALL DIALSIN ! get dial values 1 to 10 into FPOT( ] CALL CALCULATE ! calculate & put results into FRESULT[] CALL BARSOUT ! update the output bars CALL SCREEN ! output key values GOTO START PROC INIT ! *** Initialise *********************** application variables ************** LOW[1]=0; HIGH[1]=1000 LOW#2 ] =0; HIGH(2 ] =l000 LOW[3]=0;HIGH[3]=1000 ! input LOW(4 ] =0; HIGH [ 4 ] =10000 LOW=0; HIGH[5]=1000 ! scaling factors for full dial twist LOW=0; HIGH[6]=1000 LOW[7]=0; HIGH[7]=1000 ! to be ammended for each application LOW [ 8 ] =0; HIGH(8 ] =1000 LOW[9]=0; HIGH[9]=1000 ! LOWE10l=O; HIGHE1Oi=1000 MAX[1]=15000; ZERO[1]=6000 ! output scaling factors.

MAX[2]=15000; ZERO(21=6800 ! MAX is all GREENLEN segments lit ! ZERO is no lights, ie red/green border ENDPROC PROC CALCULATE !*** Calculate results *********** put into FRESULT [ 1) (L/H) & [ 2 ] (R/H) FRESULT [ 1 ] =0; FRESULT(2 ] =0 1::1 ! counter again DO 10 FRESULT[1]=FRESULT[1]+FPOT[I] ! dummy calculation routines FRESULT[2]=FRESULT[2]+FPOT[I] I=I+1 ENDDO ENDPROC PROC SYSVARS !*** system variables ************* ..requires applications scaling factors DO GREENLEN=20 ! no of green segments on output bars REDLEN=10 ! no of red segments FLEN=FNUM GREENLEN + FNUM REDLEN !total no of segments RGRATIO=FNUM GREENLEN / FNUM REDLEN ! ratio of green segments to red 1=1 DO 2 MIN [ I ] =ZERO [ I3-(MAX [ I ] -ZERO [ I3)/RGRATI0 ! establish full output scale SCALE [ I ] =MAX [ I3-MIN [ I ] ! for calcn I=I+1 ENDDO ENDDO ENDPROC PROC DIALSIN !*** Get and scale dials into RPOTt10 ] ** I = 1 counter DO 10 ! for each dial CALL READADC 1-1 ! returns POT[I], each approx 0 to 1024 FPOT [ Ij = FNUM POT[I] ! assignment into float data type FPOT [ I ] = FPOT [ I ] /1000 * ( HIGH[I] - LOW[I] ) + LOW [ I ] ! scale I = I+1 ENDDO ENDPROC PROC BARSOUT !**** Update Bars ****************** with values in FRESULT [ ] 1=1 ! Bar counter DO 2 ! for each bar RESULT [ Ij=INUM ((FRESULT[I]-MIN[I]/SCALE[I]*FLEN) ! scale to bar size POS=30 ! start at the bottom of the bar IF RESULT[I] < > PREV.RESULT[I] THEN DO 30 ! worth updating ?>I<>/I< IF RESULT > 30-POS THEN WORDOUT[POS,I]=1 ! switch on if greater ELSE WORDOUT(POS,I ] =0 ! or off if not POS=POS-1 ENDDO CALL OUTPUT I ! update display PREV.RESULT[I]=RESULT[I] ! & history I=I+1 ENDDO ENDPROC PROC SCREEN !*** Key values to screen ********* WINDOW 8,2,19,79,70H ! output window PAINT ,,,,70H ! black on white CURSOR 12,77,2 ! keep visible cursor out of the way CURSOR 2,1,1 ! move logical cursor from here on 1=1 ! input values to screen DO 10 ? 'POT',I,' =',POT [ I ] ,' FPOT =',FPOT[I] 1=1+1 SKIP ENDDO CURSOR 6,50,1; ? 'RESULT1 =', RESULT [ 1 ] ! now output values to screen...

CURSOR 5,50,1; ? 'FRESULT1 =',FRESULT [ 11 CURSOR 9,50,1; ? 'RESULT2 = ', RESULT [ 2# CURSOR 8,50,1; ? 'FRESULT2 = ',FRESULT[2] ENDPROC PROC RESET !*** Reset routine *************** A=1; DO 35; WORDOUT [ A,1j=0; WORDOUT [ A,2j=0; A=A+1; ENDDO A=1; DO 10; POT(Ai=0; A=A+1; ENDDO CALL OUTPUT 1; CALL OUTPUT 2 ENDPROC PROC READADC DIAL !*** Hardware read - DIAL is 0-9 **** OUTB ADCCP,00000100B; ! set adc to external measure, adc gain=1 OUTB MUXCP,10000000B+DIAL;! set mux to single-ended, gain=1, read channel lower nibble is channel 0 to 15 LOOP=1 TEST: ! check if ADC has completed conversion LOOP=LOOP + 1 IF LOOP > 5 THEN DO; ? "ADC NOT COMPLETED" ;STOP;ENDDO INB ADCV,MUXCP ! read ADC status IF AND ADCV,10000000B = 0 THEN GOTO TEST ! repeat if not completed INB ADCL,MUXLP; INB ADCH,MUXHP ! read low & high data ports POTV=256*ADCH + ADCL - 50 ! pot value converted to decimal DIF=INUM(ABS(FNUM(PREV)-FNUM(POTV))) ! check with previous value IF DIF > 15 THEN PREV=POTV ! hysteresis, update previous IF PREV < 1024 & PREV > =O THEN POT[DIAL+1] = PREV !trim value & exit with POT ENDPROC PROC TOGGLECLK ! clk is bit 0 VALUE=VALUE - 1; OUTB MODULE~1,VALUE VALUE=VALUE + 1;OUTB MODULE#1,VALUE ENDPROC PROC SENDDIG ! 8 bit word, c to j, c=clk, d=data, e=enablel, f=enable2, g to j=unused VALUE=0 IF C=O THEN VALUE=VALUE +1 IF D=O THEN VALUE=VALUE +2 IF E=1 THEN VALUE=VALUE +4 IF F=1 THEN VALUE=VALUE +8 IF G=O THEN VALUE=VALUE +16 IF H=0 THEN VALUE=VALUE +32 IF 1=0 THEN VALUE=VALUE +64 IF J=0 THEN VALUE=VALUE +128 OUTB MODULE#1 , VALUE ENDPROC PROC OUTPUT BAR !*** Hardware output - BAR is 1 or 2 **** chip 2 is L/H, chip 1 R/H.

C=O;D=O;E=O;F=O;G=O;H=O;I=0;J=0; CALL SENDDIG IF BAR=1 THEN DO; F=1; CALL SENDDIG; ENDDO ! enable chip 2 if BAR=1 IF BAR=2 THEN DO; E=1; CALL SENDDIG; ENDDO ! enable chip 1 if BAR=2 D=1; CALL SENDDIG; CALL TOGGLECLK D=0; CALL SENDDIG A=1; DO 35; D=WORDOUT [ A,BAR ] ; CALL SENDDIG; CALL TOGGLECLK; A=A+1; ENDDO D=O; CALL SENDDIG; CALL TOGGLECLK F=0; E=O; CALL SENDDIG ENDPROC ******************* End ************************ More specific description of the invention is considered unnecessary as further detail would be specific to particular applications which would be apparent to anyone skilled in the art when they applied the teachings contained herein to the particular applications considered.

Some applications for the computer program interface device according to the present invention are given hereinafter, but only by way of example and not as an exhaustive list of such applications.

1. Financial There are a large number of financial applications for this invention, in areas such as Financial Planning, Treasury, Credit Control and Cost Accounting. Some specific examples are: Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return calculations, taking as input the cashflows for each time period and the interest and tax environment and calculating and outputting the Internal Rate of Return and Net Present Value.

The invention is highly applicable to financial models of all kinds, including pricing, budgeting, objective setting, and investment models to help decision making.

2. Personal Pension calculators. Inputting current age, retirement age, pay, tax rates, state benefits, investment return expectations, etc and outputting future benefits levels.

Domestic budget models. Inputting (for example) income, deductions, interest rates, borrowings, savings, general outgoings and outputting monthly surplus/deficits and borrowing potential.

3. Sales Models to assist a prospective purchaser to identify and concentrate on key issues of a purchase decision. An example is in the sale of a drinks vending machine where a prospective purchaser needs to understand the relationship between the price he wants to charge for the drink, the number of people likely to use the machine and the type of machine that he needs. The salesman can demonstrate these relationships with the use of the invention.

4. Games/Teaching Games or teaching aids based on the control of a modelled relationship by manually adjusting the input dials. For example: "Balance the Budget", where the input dials represent the major economic controllables. The outputs are key economic indicators. The object of the game is to maintain economic stability and growth.

"Nuclear Reaction", where the input dials represent the controllable aspects of a nuclear reactor (core temperature, plutonium quantity, chemical mixes etc) and the object is to maintain maximum output despite the occasional crisis.

5. Commercial/Consulting The invention can be used by business managers or consultants to demonstrate the inter-relationships between key business factors and the results likely from any particular set of decisions and circumstances. For example a study of a distribution system may have shown up the relationship between customer service, stock requirements, production flexibility, product range and unit cost. Using the present invention the inter-relationship between these variables can be easily and convincingly demonstrated and the optimum decisions taken.

6. Mathematics Simple mathematical relationships can be demonstrated with the present invention. For example, a simple curve fitting program can be used to accept four pairs of x,y data points, the type of curve (exponential, parabolic etc), and output a measure of the fit (rsquared) and the y-value for a given x-value.

While the invention has been described with reference to specific elements and combinations of elements, it is envisaged that each element may be combined with any other or any combination of other elements. It is not intended to limit the invention to the particular combinations of elements suggested. Furthermore, the foregoing description is not intended to suggest that any element mentioned is indispensable to the invention, or that alternatives may not be employed. What is defined as the invention should not be construed as limiting the extent of the disclosure of this specification.

Claims (5)

1. A computer program interface device adapted to be connected to a computer running an applications program, the device comprising a housing In which is mounted a number of dials which are manipulable by an operator and which each comprise a variable potentiometer; a number of scales, also mounted in the housing, and which are visible by the operator; an analogue to digital converter, which receives ~ an analogue signal from each potentiometer and outputs to the computer a corresponding digital value for input to the program as an input variable; and means to receive digital output values from the program and display such output values on the scales as analogue or pseudo-analogue values.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said analogue to digital converter and said output values receiving means are mounted on a circuit board for inclusion in a personal computer as an "addon" card.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which said receiving means comprise a separate interface program to be run on the computer in conjunction with the applications program and which directs outputs from, and inputs to, the computer through said add-on card.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the scales comprise an array of light emmitting diodes mounted in the housing, successive diodes being energised as the digital value of said outputs increases.

5. A computer program interface device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Example and the accompanying drawings.