GB812829A - Method of generating pulse groups and multiples thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

812,829. Digital electric calculating-apparatus. KIENZLE APPARATE G.m.b.H. Dec. 9, 1955, No. 35417/55. Class 106 (1). A method of generating groups of pulses consists in transmitting at least one sawtooth pulse to a multi-anode deflector tube and supplying the pulses generated at its anodes to a collector bar from either end of which groups of pulses may be obtained. The method is described with regard to an example of multiplication in an electrical calculating machine. For each order of the multiplicand a deflector tube Rd<SP>1</SP>, Rd<SP>2</SP> is provided having its anodes connected to separate points in a chain of normally-closed switches described as a collector bar. By depression of a selected key any one of the switches in a collector bar may be opened to represent the multiplicand digit in that order. As shown, digit " four." is set up in the tens order Md<SP>2</SP> and digit "nine" in the units order Md<SP>1</SP>. The multiplier digits are entered one at a time on a key bank, the multiplier collector bar Mr being shown registering digit " two ". The depression of a multiplier key activates a one-shot multivibrator M1, causing it to deliver a sawtooth waveform to the deflector plates of the multiplier deflector tube Rr. This causes the beam of the tube to be scanned across all the anodes and gives rise to a succession of pulses in the anode leads. The first group of these pulses is available at the left-hand end of the collector bar, but after the open switch contact has been passed subsequent pulses are delivered from the right-hand end of the collector bar to a one-shot multivibrator M3. For each pulse received this device delivers a sawtooth waveform which, preferably, is applied to the multiplicand tubes in succession so as to avoid overlap of entry pulses and carry-over pulses in the final accumulator Z1... Z12 which may consist of decimal counting tubes or flip-flops, transistors; ferrite elements, relays, &c. Thus, from the right-hand end of each collector bar Md<SP>1</SP>, Md<SP>2</SP>, &c., groups of pulses are delivered, the number of groups corresponding to the multiplier digit and the number of pulses in each group corresponding to the multiplicand digit. When the multiplier key is released and the corresponding contact of the collector bar Mr is closed again, a signal is delivered via a oneshot multivibrator M4 to a series of tubes S1, S2, &c. which move only one step for each pulse received. Thus, the position of the beam in each tube moves forward one step to mark the next one of the output terminals A ... K, A<SP>1</SP> ... K<SP>1</SP>, and so control the groups of diode gates forming the entry circuits to the accumulator Z1 . . . Z12 to effect a one-denomination shift preparatory to the arrival of more groups of pulses initiated by the next depression of a multiplier key. Another method of avoiding overlap of entry pulses and carry pulses by alternate operation of odd-number orders and even-number orders, is suggested.