GB721058A - Improvements in or relating to electronic counting devices - Google Patents

Abstract

721,058. Multi-stable state circuits. BRANSON, L. C. July 2, 1953 (July 19,1952], No. 18285/52. Class 40 (6). [Also in Group XIX] In an electronic counter of the type employing rnulti-cathode gas-discharge tubes, carry signals are derived from a selected transfer electrode or electrodes situated between two of the storage cathodes of a tube. The transfer electrodes situated between the " 9 " and " 0 " storage cathodes have separate connections so that each multi-cathode tube has seven terminals as follows: (i) anode 18, Fig. 3; (ii) " 0 " storage cathode 19; (iii) " 1 to 9 " grouped storage cathodes 20; (iv) the transfer electrode 21 of a first group which is situated between the " 9 " and " 0 " storage cathodes; (v) the remaining nine transfer electrodes of the first group 22; (vi) the transfer electrode 23 of a second group which is situated between the " 9 " and " 0 " storage cathodes, and (vii) the. remaining nine transfer electrodes of the second group 24. In a first embodiment each of the two transfer electrodes 21, 23 which lie between the " 9 " and " 0 " storage cathodes are connected to the remaining transfer electrodes of the group 22, 24 to which they belong through the primary winding 38 of a transformer, the secondary windings of the transformers being connected between a source of bias 42 and the input terminals 22, 24 of the next higher tube stage. The order in which pairs of pulses are applied to terminals 22, 24 determines whether the discharge steps round in the positive or negative direction. When the discharge steps across the transfer electrodes 21 and 23 corresponding pulses are transmitted to the input terminals 22, 24 of the next stage, and so on. In another embodiment, Fig. 6 (not shown), the carry pulses developed across the secondary windings of the transformers are amplified before application to the next stage of the counter. In a further embodiment, Fig. 7, differential amplifiers are arranged between the counter stages. The arrangement for one group of transfer electrodes only is shown. Negative voltage pulses at the input 58 are applied also through a capacitor 67 to the R.H. grid 69 of a double-triode amplifier, and through a resistor 60 and capacitor 68 to the L.H. grid 70. When the discharge arrives at the transfer electrode 62 the current flow increases the voltage at the point 61 so as to cause the L.H. half of the double triode to conduct more heavily, whereby a negative pulse at its anode is passed on to the input of the next tube stage. In yet another embodiment, Fig. 8 (not shown), direct coupling is used between stages, and the counter may be operated by sine-wave inputs.