US2893632A

US2893632A - Registers

Info

Publication number: US2893632A
Application number: US553639A
Authority: US
Inventors: Philip H Allen; Benjamin J Chromy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-01-11
Filing date: 1955-12-16
Publication date: 1959-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 1976-07-07
Also published as: USRE25621E

Description

July 7, 1959 P. H. ALLEN Erm. 2,893,632.

` REGIsTERs 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 original Fild Jan. 11, 194e mma .9.3.

P. H. ALLEN ETAL `I uly 7, 1959 REGISTERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l: INVENTORS Us Urginal Filed Jan. 11, 1946 Jlly 7 1959 P. H. ALLEN Erm. A2,893,632

REGISTERS original Filed Jan. 11. 194e 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 una. Q ...oz

M QFL ...oz

July 7 1959 P. H. ALLEN ETAL 2,893,632

REGISTERS riginal Filed Jan. 11, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ann;

United States PatentY gf Philiplfl.-V Allen,-Los-Gatos, Calif., and Benjaminl. Chromy, Washington, D.C.

Original applicationlanuary 11, 1946-, Serial No. 640,464, now Patent-"Nm 2,727,683, dated December 20, 1955. yDividedrand. this application December 16,- 1955, Se` riab No. .553,639F

12` Claims. (Cl: 265-92) The Ypresent invention relates to registers" and is con-v cerned' more particularly with the provisions of improved adding and ca1culating apparatus employing electronic devices.

This.l applcationis. a" division of .our application Serial No.. 640,464 tiled January 1F1, 1946, now Patent. No; 2,272,683, for Registers..

Itisza general. object o'f thef invention ltoprovide improved' reg'is'tering apparatus of-fultra high' speed operating.` characteristics;v

Anotherigeneraliobject of! the invention is to provide registering. apparatus includingY an' improvedv` register em-` ploying gaseous or; other-'electric dischargedevices in the various orders; thereof.

Another. object of'the inventionIis to provid'eimproved registering!v apparatus: wherein thermionic dischargev de= vices aree-employed' ini` registering: values:-

f Another object;of-.theinvention is to provide improved registeringapparatus wherein: light sensitive or responsive means is employed in.` effecting` registry of' values;

Another object of the: invention is to'provide' an improvedfcounting;deviceremploying thermionic tubes and light sensitive or responsive tubes -ory cells-r associated therewith in eectinga counting operation.

Other objects andadvantages of tlie invention will be apparentfr'om the:followingdescription of certainv preferred-embodimentsthereof as illustrated' inth'eldr'a'wings, in; which:

Figure 1- is-ial.wiringrdiagramofith'e units order of the: accumulator register.v

Figure.V Z-is' similar.' tozFigure l but-shows th'ef10?s\ order of theregister.

Figure 3.5 is similarzto; Figure al but il'lustratesa modii'ed vform. of the invention.

Figure 4 is .a..fragmentarycwiring 'diagramf of another modification.'

Figure- 5isa.'fragmentary'wiring diagram illustrating azfurther modicationoffthe register circuit; and

Figure 6". is arfragmentary wiring diagram of still another modication of an ordinal circuit.-

Generally, the invention-comprises electronic register ing 'apparatus inwhich the .register or accumulator cornprisesordinalsetsofA electric discharge devices so an ranged and related that successive electrical impulses or differentially-timed; electrical signals applied to the vari# ous orders `thereof willvreslult; in' step bystep registering ofthe pulses` as increments, so that the-registercan'be 2,893,632 Pfanne# f'vr 7,1259

, 2' w'ifllerriite, scheelite,l zinc sulphide or the like. A small amount ofniercury is provided in the inside of eachv of these envelopes for the purpose of generating ultraviolet radiations when the respective tubes are 'red oi' triggered by suitbleelectrical pulses applied tol theA grids thereof, t'he* aforesaid ultraviolet radiations` being employed to bombar'd the fluorescent `coatii'ig's inside of the triggered tubes and the lluor'es'ce'ntcoatings" caused tov lluc'nesce.l The uorescentlight is employed to enablethe various` tubes of the vregfi'ster'as''will be apparent from' further paragraphs'of this description andit is" of course obvious that ins'teadof this fluorescent light, the light' produced by-an ionizedgas may be used; In ythis case the thermioni tub'es ofthe registers need not be provided with fluorescent coating as described above' but the envelopesV thereof may simply be `tille'd with a'suitable atmosphere of ine'rt gas, such as, ne'on', argon,- helium, krypton', zenon or'nitrog'en or suitable mixturesy thereof with or Without asmall drop'of mercury afte'r the air is evacuated from theenvelopes; A

The input terminals 59l and' 60 are Aconnected to the inputs' of all'of Vthe-tubesv- 55, 56, 57 and 581 so that an employedin. adding, subtracting, multiplying anddividing electric pulse from the -light sensitive tubes'17 and4 18 is applied through these terminals to' the aforesaid input circuits. Eachl of the' thermionic tubes 55,l 56, 57- and 58 is Vshun'tedbyl a; light sensitive tube or cell 61, 62, 63 and 64, respectively, and light sensitive tubes or cells 65, 66, 67 and 68 are connected iii sei-ies with the thermionic tubes;:56,1`5 7 and 58; respectively? Likewise, the gloW-*tubesf' 69, 70j 71* andf72v arey connectedv inA series with* the lights'ensitive tube'sfor'cell's 65;-66, 67 and 68, respectively# Theseglo'w tubes'69, 70, 71 and72 may be provided with iluorescent coatings therein as described aboveinfth' cases of'thermion'ic tubes'SS, 56, 57 and'58, ors theymay'besimply filled' withan inert gas or gases' so that they will'eitherores'ce or glow whenfthey are energizedt" The-tube 58is the zero tube,`tube 57`is`the No. l

tube and this is'followedf'bythe No. 2,--No: 3, No. 4, Nol.1 5,.No. 6- and No. 7 tubesY (notI shown); The No: 7 tube* is 'followedby' the' tube 56"'which is'the No: 8 tube@ and this isfiollowed` by'tbe 55 which is theNo.` l9 tube. While only four therhiionictubes, 55 lthrough 58` are shown in Figure 1, it will be understood that tensuch tubes representingthe values 0 through 9., inclusive, are provided-ineach'ordinal register circuit' and the 'c'ora respondingnumbers are` appliedto the glow discharge tubes-69, 70, 71 and' 72fso that lthe-mm'iber corresponding to' the tube-tiring is illuminated "and displayed.

The-grids-ofthe tubes 58; 57, 56 and'55 lareconnected tolthe'inp'ut terminal 60v through capacitors 158, 157,

I

156 and 155, respectively, and thecathodesof these tubes are all-connected to the-inputterininal` 59, the aforesaid termi-nals-f59A and-60-being connected 'togetherv by a high resistance resistor 590.

Gridleakresistors

258, 257, 256 and 255;; are' connected betweenthe-control' grids and cathodesof thetubes 58,57, 56 and55, respectively.

Resistors

358, 357, 356 and ,355 are connected across the tubes'SS, 57, 56l and- 55, respectively, and these resistors arejshunted by *thev` light sensitive or responsive tubes or'cells 64, 63, 62 and 61, respectively.

4As previouslydescribed, light sensitive tubesor.y cells 68, `6'7, 66 and 65, shunted'by

resistors

168, 167, 166 and, 165, respectively, v are connected in'seri'es 'with the outputs of the tubes 58, 57,v 5 6 and 55, respectively; Glow discharge ork gasy tubes y72, 71, 70 and 69, shunted by resistors '172i 171'; 17'0and169,`respectively,'are connected inseries'f'withfthe light" sensitive tubes 5 or cells 68;"67, 66 and 65,'re'spectively These'glovv'discharge tubes-'72,y 71,'. 70 and V69 'are1a1so"shuntd`"by -Ry-C net? works' consisting of resistors'fand` lcapacitors lconncted'il sexies across the respective glow discharge tubes. These R-C networks function to stabilize the circuit and prevent transient impulses. Thus

variable resistors

272, 271, 270 and 269 are connected in series with

capacitors

372, 371, 370 and 369, respectively, and these series connected elements are in turn connected across the

glow discharge tubes

72, 71, 70 and 69, respectively.

The register shown in Figure 2 constitutes the tens order of the register or totalizer and is identical with Figure l except for the addition of carry control elements conditioned by carry impulses from the terminals 90 and 91 of Figure l. The Figure 2 embodiment consists of a plurality of tubes, such as tubes 55a, 56a, 57a and 58a, which are identical to the tubes 55, 56, 57 and 58 shown in the register of Figure 1. 'Ihis register also includes additional tubes which are not shown, the same as the register illustrated in Figure l, and the tubes 55a, 56a, 57a and 58a may be designated as the No. 9 tube, No. 8 tube, No. 1 tube and the "0 tube, respectively, the same as corresponding tubes in Figure 1. The same or similar circuit elements are associated with the tubes 55a, 56a, 57a and 58a, as are associated with the corresponding tubes shown in Figure 1 and like elements of Figures 1 and 2 are designated by like reference numerals except that the reference numerals employed in Figure 2 each have the letter "a as a suffix.

The

different orders

10, 110, 210, 310 and 410 of the register are provided with positive anode battery terminals 92, 92a, 92h, 92e, 92d and 92e, respectively.

Transfer circuit The register circuit of Figure 1 is provided with a transfer circuit in the output of the No. 9 tube, that is, tube 55, for tens transfer purpose, whereby tens transfer pulses are fed to the input terminals 59a and 60a of the circuit shown in Figure 2.

This transfer circuit consists of a transformer 455 (Figure 1) having the primary thereof connected in series with the anode of the tube 55 and the tube output circuit. The secondary of the transformer 455 is connected to terminals' 90 and 91. A tens transfer switch or key 855 is connected in series with the rectier 555, the capacitor 755 and light sensitive tube or cell 955. Furthermore, the capacitor 755 is connected in series with the aforesaid light sensitive tube or cell 955 across a pair of

output terminals

856 and 956, and these in turn are connected to the terminals 59a and 60a, respectively, of 'Figure 2.l

Thus, a tens transfer pulse occasioned by the extinguishing of the No. 9 tube 55 will serve to charge the capacitor 755, the rectifier S55 serving to prevent charging of this capacitor upon initial firing of the tube S5. Subsequently, when the light sensitive cell or tube 95S is rendered conducting or active by a light ray from the selection mechanism 16 as disclosed in our Patent No. 2,727,683, the capacitor 755 will be discharged. A tens transfer pulse is accordingly fed to the input terminals 59a and 60a of Figure 2 as outlined above, whereby a tens transfer pulse may be impressed upon the output or grid circuit of any one of the register tubes 58a, 57a, 56a or 55a of Figure 2, depending upon which of these tubes is conditioned to receive the pulse.

Similarly, the No. 9 tube, that is, tube 55a of the register 110 shown in Figure 2 is provided in the output circuit thereof with a tens transfer circuit coupled to the output of this tube by means of the transformer 455a. The secondary of this transformer is connected to the each order. At the same time, the transfer circuits are momentarily disabled to prevent false tripping of a tens transfer during the value erasing operation. Depression of the resetting control key 14 (Figure 7) results in iirst opening the switch 855 ,(Figure 2), thereby preventing false tripping of a tens transfer, and thereafter opening the switch 13 etc. for momentarily disabling all the register tubes.

The terminals 95-96 are connected to a small light and the primary of a transformer, such as the light 97 and the transformer 98 shown in Figure 1. The light 97 is positioned to energize the light sensitive cell or tube 68, as shown in Figure l, and the secondary of the transformer 98 is connected between a second control grid and the cathode of the 0 tube 58.

When the light sensitive cell or tube 68 is energized by the light 97, the circuit of the zero tube 58 is conditionedfor operation since energizing this light sensitive cell or tube greatly reduces the resistance of this cell or tube and increases the plate voltage applied to the plate of the tube 58 from a battery connected to the terminal 92 and the conductor associated therewith. At

. the same time as the plate voltage applied to the tube 58 is increased in this fashion, the voltage applied across theV glow lamp 72 is increased but not suiciently to ionize the gas in this glow lamp. However, a positive voltage pulse is applied to the auxiliary control grid of the tube 58 with respect to the cathode of this tube from the secondary of the transformer 98 since this transformer is connected to a suitable battery 15 and key 14 and this pulse tires the tube 58 thereby increasing the current through this tube suiciently to ignite or ionize the gas of the glow lamp 72. ionization of the glow lamp 72 illuminates the character 0 associated therewith. Accordingly, the 0 tube 58 and associated glow lamp 72 of the register 10 and corresponding "0 tubes and associated glow lamps in each of a plurality of registers are conditioned for operation when a voltage is applied to the terminals 95 and 96 and the glow lamps associated with the 0 tubes cause each of the registers to indicate zeros.

Register operation With the 0 tube of the ordinal circuits in tiring condition, an impulse fed to the input terminals 59--60 of the register 10, for example, will tire the No. l tube 57 since the light from the ignited "0 tube 58, being directed to the light sensitive tube or cell 67, connected in series with this tube 57, has conditioned the plate circuit of this tube for firing of the tube. The electric pulse applied between the grid and cathode of the tube 57 therefore renders this tube conductive or substantially increases its conductivity and the increased plate current ionizes the glow tube 71 which is associated with the character l of the register 1l) and illuminates this character. Simultaneously the light from the ionized gas of the tube 57 or the light from the fluorescent coating provided in this tube, is directed to the quenching light sensiterminals 90a and 91a which are connected to the transfer circuit leading to the next register order.

Resettng or 0 tube conditioning circuit In order to effect resetting of the accumulator, means is provided to erase any yalues displayed in the various orders thereof by momentarily disabling all the register tubes, and for subsequently enabling the "0 tubes of tive tube or cell 64, connected from the plate to` the cathode of the 0 tube 58. This quenching tube or cell 64 and other similar tubes or cells 63, 62 and 61 in the register 10 and similar tubes or cells in registers 110, 210, 310, 410 and 510 may be resistance type light responsive cells adapted to decrease in resistance by a substantial factor when illuminated or they may be gas type light sensitive tubes the gases in which are ionized by the potentials across them when the tubes are illuminated. Therefore, when the quenching cell or tube 64 is illuminated it functions because of its greatly lowered resistance to shunt the thermionic tube 58 and bleed ofi the current owing through the tube 58 with the result that the tube 58 does not receive sufiicient current to maintainits ionized condition and is quenched. Y Y

As described above, the glow discharge from the tube 58 illuminates the light sensitive tube or cell 67 and primes the thermionic tube 57 so that a pulse applied to 'asse-,ssa

theterminals59 and 60 is received by the i-l Vtube 57 and ytires or renders this .tube conductive. The-light from the glow `discharge `of this tube 57- is receivedb-y the quenching tube'or cell 64 -of thethermionic tube 58 nso that the latter tube is quenched. Light from the-tube 57 is also received by the light sensitive tube'or cell which primes the No. 2 tube (not shown) connected to this tube in the same manner as the light sensitive celll or tube 67 is connected to the No. 1 tube 57. Likewise, when a second pulse energizes the No. 2 tube the -glow discharge from this Atubel energizes the light sensitive quenching -tube or cell 63 whichfunctions as a quenching circuit for the tube 57 and also-primes the circuit of the No. 3 tube so that the third pulse received by the input circuit is applied to the input of the No. 3 thermionic tube. Successive pulses applied to the'input terminals 59 and 60 will cause the No. 4, No. 5, No. 6, No. 7, No. 8 and No. 9 tubes to fire or become conductive successively and the light from the No. 4 tube functions to quench the No. 3, that from the No. 5 tube quenches theNo. 4 tube, the light from theNo. 6 tube quenches the No. 5 tube, the'light from `the No. 7 tube quenches the No. 6 tube, the light from the No. 8 tube 56 quenches the No. 7 tube, and the light from theNo. 9 tube-'55 falls on the cell or tube 62 to quench the tube 56 and the; light from the No. 9 tube 55 also falls on the tube or cell 68 of the "0 tube 58 to enable this O tube for reception of the next pulse applied to the terminals 59 `and, 60.

Operation of transfer y,circuit The transfer circuit-11 connected through terminals 93-and A14-to the terminals 90 and-9.1 of the register 10 functions when the No. 9 tube 55 is quenched as a result of the input circuit of the register 1,0 receiving a tenth pulse, to apply a pulse to the input circuit of the next higher order register 110. The transfer circuit 11 receifves the pulse from the transformer 455 andvstores this pulse in the capacitor 755 for application to the input of the next higher order register 110. The rectifier 555 is connected in such manner that only the decaying current in the primary of the transformer 455 induces an E.M.F. into the secondary of this transformer of the proper polarity to pass a current through the rectier 555 and charge the capacitor 755.- Thus this capacitor 755 is charged when the No. 9 tube 55 is quenched, that is, when the current through the primary ofthe transformer 455y decays. However, if the No. 9 tube 55 is energized when the resetting key 14 is operated to recondition the circuit.

or set it to vzero no transfer impulse will be stored because,

the switch 855 is opened to disable the transfer circuit: before the switch 13 is opened so that the capacitor 755 is `not charged at this time.

Register in which separate glow tubes are eliminated With the provision of fluorescent coatings inside of theregister thyratrons or `thermionic devices 55, 56, 57 and 53 of Figure 1, 55u,y 56a, 57a and 58a of Figure 2 etc., it is rapparent that the function of illumination of the legends, numerals and the like associated withV the

glow lamps

69, 70, 71 and 72 of Figure 1 and` 6941,. 70a, 71aand 72a of Figure 2, respectively, may `be `per-- formed bythe register thyratrons or therrnjonic devices- 55, 56, 57 and 58 of Figure l and,55g, 56a, 57a and 58a of Figure 2, respectively, since suiicient light will be-4 given oif by these thyratrons for such illumination; These

glow lamps

69, 70, 71 and 72 ofFigurel and 69a, 70a, 71a and 72a of Figure 2 together with the resistors 269,. 2695i, 270, 270:1, 271, 271a, 272 and 272a`andcapacitors 369, 36%, 370, 370e, 371, 371a, 372 and 372a of Figures 1 and 2 may therefore be eliminated if desired. The platecurrent supplies for the lthyratrons in these figures may' loe-connected by shorting the glow lamps, that is, by re moving the-glow lamps completely and connecting thethyratron plate current supply directly to the anodes off -thc enabling-.lightresponsive devices 65, 165a,66,-66a, 67

67a, 68. and 68a of Figures l and2. The circuit diagram for anordinal portion of theregister of a reversible character is shown in Figure?, which is vsimilar in all respects tothe circuit of Figure4 with the .exception that provision is made for` transferred increments or pulses during both negative and. positive operation. A register of reversible character as referred to is fully` disclosed in our` Patent No. 2,727,683.

It will be recalled in connection with the circuit shown in Figure 1 that the transfer signals or pulses from one order of the register to the next order are obtained from the decay of the currentthroughthe No. 9 tube 55b, through -thetransformer ,45.5b. Similarly, for negative transfer signals .or pulses, a transformerv 99b'is incorporated in the plate circuit of the No; 0 tube 58b to provide 4a transfer pulse upon .decay .of this circuit. Both the transformers 455b and 99b are connected in parallel to the output terminals 90b and 91h with the provision of respective control switches 88h and 89h, respectively, to -enable the desired transfer circuit in accordance with the ycharacter ofthe operation being performed. Forexample, when the register is set for addition, the switch till) .88h is closed and the switch 89h is open, so that only .additive transfer pulses will be transmitted to the next higher order register circuit. Conversely, in subtraction, the switch 89'b is closed and the switch 88h is open so that only subtractive transfer pulses will be permitted during the subtracting operation.

Modjed register circuits The register 10 consisting of the tubes 55, 56, 57 and 58 may be connected as shown in Figure 1, however, modiiied circuit diagramsusuch as shown in Figures 4, .5 and 6 may be employed if desired and in each of these :figures the .elements having functions corresponding .to theelements shown in Figure 1 are designated by corresponding reference numerals except that .in Figure 4 the reference numerals are provided with a suix "c, and in Figure 5, the elements are provided with the suix d, andin Figure 6, they are provided with a suffix e. In Figure 4, two tubes 58 and 57 of the thyratron tube corresponding to tubes 58 and 57 of Figure l are shown, whereas in Figure5 only one tube 58d corresponding to tube 58 in Figure 1, and in Figure 6 one tube 58e likewise correspondingto tube 58 of Figure 1, are shown.

Referring to Figure 4 in detail, light responsive de- `vice 68e is energized by a suitable light source in a manner previously described in the description of cor- :responding light sensitive devices in Figures l, 2 and 3, :and the impedance of this light responsive device 63e is decreased so that the current through this device, the resistors 172C and 272e and the device 58C is increased. The potential drops across these resistors are therefore increased and the charge -of the capacitor 372e is also increased. The circuit of the thyratron or gas discharge tube 53C is thus enabled since the plate potential kof this tube is increased. A positiveelectrical pulse or wave applied to the grid of the tube 53e iires or triggers this :tube and causes the potential across this tube to ionize .the gas and the small quantity of mercury therein so :that the liuorescent coating therein is energized and the fluorescent light therefrom illuminates another light responsive device such as device 67e for enabling the icircuit of another thyratron 57e. At the same time the iiuorescent light from the thyratron 58C illuminates a 4quenching cell corresponding to cell 64e for quenching or extinguishing lanother thyratron that was energized prior to the energization of thyratron 58C. With the firing of .the thyratron 58e the-impedance thereof decreased kso that the current therethrough-increased and accordingly the current through the light responsive device 68C increased since the potential thereacross increased. However, the same pulse as was used to trigger the thyratron 58e also triggered thegas glow tube 72C since .the trigger electrode thereof is .connected to=the..grid of the 'thyratron through the current limiting resistor 72x. The glow tube 72e is thus energized and caused to glow by the discharge of the capacitor-372C therethrough and by some of the current flowing through the thyratron 58e.

The glow tube 72e thereby illuminates the numeral char- -acter or other legend associated therewith.

' tron illuminates the enabling light responsive device of the third thyratron and the light responsive quenching device 64C associated with thyratron 58C. The light responsive quenching device 64C bleeds off the current from the light responsive device 68e and the thyratron 58e thereby quenching the ionization in these devices.

In the apparatus shown in Figure 5, the tube 58d of the thyratron type is provided with live electrodes, namely, a cathode, a control grid, a second control grid, an anode and a cutoff grid positioned between the anode and the second control grid. The anode of the tube 58d is connected to one terminal of the light sensitive enablingy device 68d and the other terminal of this light sensitive device is connected to one terminal of the glow lamp 72d. The other terminal of the glow lamp 72d is connected to the positive husbar which is connected to the terminal 92d. The control grid of the tube 58d is con-- nected to the signal input line coupling capacitor ISSd and to the grid resistor 258d. The auxiliary control grid of the tube 58d is connected to the secondary of the transformer 98d, the primary of this transformer being connected to the terminals 9S and 96. A small lamp 97d for energizing the light sensitive device 68d is also connected to the terminals 95 and 96.

The operation of this register arrangement is similar to that of the register arrangment shown in Figure l. However, in this case the quenching or cutoff light sensitive device 64d is connected in series with the entire voltf age divider consisting of the series-connected resistors -172a', 168:1 and 358d which are connected between the positive busbar and the cutolf grid of the tube 58d. The

cutoff grid of the tube 53d is connected to one terminal of the light sensitive device 64d and the other terminal of this device is connected to the cathode busbar. The

- resistor 172d is also connected across the glow lamp 72d; resistor 168:1 is connected across the light sensitive device 68d and resistor 35Sd is connected between the anode and cutoff grid of the tube 58d. Consequently, when the light sensitive device 64d is energized for quenching or cutoiiC purposes, the potential on the cuto grid of the tube 58d is substantially reduced so that the ionization of the gas inside of the tube Sa' is quenched. The impedance of this tube, therefore, increases imrnediately after the quenching device 64d is energized and as a result the gas in the tube 72d is also deionized.

The function of the device 72d is the same as the function of the device 72 in Figure 4 and as previously described these functions may be combined into the function of the thyratron 58d, particularly where this thyratron is provided with a fluorescent coating therein as described above.

In Figure 6 the thyratron tube 58e which corresponds to the thyratron tube 58 in Figure l is provided with a cutoff electrode between the cathode and the control grid and this cutoff electrode is connected to the anode through the light sensitive quenching device 64e. In this case when the light sensitive device 64e is energized the space between the cutol electrode and the anodeis shunted by a low impedance path of the energized device 64e, and in this manner, the tube 58e is deionized.

The modified form of this register shown in Figure 6- also shows the register circuit in which the glow lamp corresponding to the glow lamp 72 has been eliminated and in this case 'the resistor 168e corresponding to the resistors 168 and 172 of Figure 4 is connected to the positive busbar. The light sensitive enabling device 68e corresponding to the device 68 of Figure 4 is connected between a variable contacter associated with the resistor 68eand oneof the terminals thereof. This circuit illustrates the manner in which the components may be connected when the glow lamps corresponding to glow lamp 72 of Figure 1 are eliminated. Likewise, in Figures 4 and 5 the glow lamps 72C and 72d, respectively,

may be eliminated and the function thereof incorporated in the functions of thetubes 58C and 58d. From the above description it will be seen that the light from a red gaseous discharge tube will illuminate effectively the priming phototube for the next digitai value and also the quenching phototube for the previously fired tube in the original series of tubes.

We claim:

l. Electrical register and computing apparatus comprising an electrical device lhaving a group of electric discharge paths, said paths being designated as the 0, 1, and "2 paths, each of said paths including an electric discharge device having an anode and a cathode, a light sensitive device connected in series with each said electric discharge device, a second light sensitive device connected across at least a part of the discharge path of each of said electric discharge devices, a common circuit for applying electric pulses to all of said electric discharge devices, means for ring the electric discharge device of the O path, said last mentioned device being adapted to produce luminous radiation to energize the light sensitive device connected in series with the electric discharge device of the l path so as to condition this discharge device pathfor firing upon the receipt of the next electric pulse by said common circuit whereby the-discharge device of said l path is selectively tired by the said next pulse, the discharge device of said l path when fired producing luminous radiation for energizing the light sensitive device connected across the electric discharge device of the O path to quench the firing of this device, the luminous radiation produced by the discharge device of said 1 path also energizing the light sensitive device connected in series with the electric discharge device of the 2 path so as to condition this path for firing by tlhe second pulse received by said common circuit, the electric discharge device of the 0 path having a reset electrode and means connected to said reset electrode for resetting the apparatus.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising resistance elements connected across said light sensitive devices.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim .2 further comprising gas discharge devices connected in series with each of the electric discharge devices, each of said gas discharge devices having a number associated therewith and said number being adapted to be illuminated when the corresponding gas discharge device is tired.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further characterized in that said gas discharge device includes a iiring electrode and means for connecting said tiring electrode to said common circuit.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said electric discharge devices are each provided with a cutoff electrode and means for connecting said second light sensitive device associated with each of said electric discharge devices between the cutoff elec- -trode and another electrode of the associated electric discharge device.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 further characterized in that said other electrode is the cathode of the respective electric discharge devices.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said other electrode is the anode of the respective electric discharge device in each case.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 further comprising a variable resistance connected across each of the light sensitive devices that are connected in series with the anodes of each oct the electric discharge devices.

9. In an electronic calculating apparatus, a plurality of electric discharge devices, connections for connecting said electric discharge devices into a series having means for ring said devices in sequence to place a value therein, a gas indicator tube for each of said electric discharge devices, each indicator tube having a triggering electrode, each triggering electrode being connected to the means for firing said devices in sequence, whereby said gas indicator ltubes are iired in lthe same sequence, means for removing any value standing in said series, means for resetting said series, said last mentioned means including an auxiliary grid electrode in one of said devices.

10. In an electronic calculating apparatus, a plurality of electric discharge devices, connections for connecting said electric discharge devices into a series having means for ring said devices in sequence, a gas indicator tube for each of said electric discharge devices, each indicator tube having a triggering electrode, each triggering electrode being connected to the means for firing said devices in sequence, whereby said gas indicator tubes are fired in the same sequence, means for resetting said se ries, said last mentioned means including an auxiliary grid electrode and means for energizing said electrode to reset the apparatus.

11. In an electronic calculating apparatus, a plurality of electric discharge devices, connections for connecting said electric discharge devices into a series having means for ring said devices in sequence, a gas indicator tube for each of said electric discharge devices, each indicator tube having a triggering electrode, each triggering electrode being connected to the means for ring said devices in sequence, whereby said gas indicator tubes are 10 red in the same sequence, one of said devices having means tor resetting said series, said last mentioned means including a resetting electrode, and means for energizing said electrode to reset the apparatus.

12. In an electronic calculating apparatus, a plurality of electric discharge devices, connections for connecting said electric discharge devices into a series in which said devices yare designated as the 0 and "1 devices, said devices having means for the firing thereof in sequence, a gas indicator tube for each of said electric discharge devices, each indicator Atube having a triggering electrode, each triggering electrode being connected to the means for firing said devices in sequence, whereby said gas indicator tubes are iired in the same sequence, said device designated as the "0 device having an auxiliary grid electrode.

References Cited in the fle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,995,890 Lord Mar. 29, 1935 2,156,969 Bryce May 2, 1939 2,176,720 Rayner et al. Oct. 17, 1939 2,219,676 Barber Oct. 29, 1940 2,234,832 Potts Mar. 11, 1941 2,295,000 Morse Sept. 8, 1942 2,310,105 Michel Feb. 2, 1943 2,398,771 Compton Apr. 23, 1946 2,401,621 Desch etal. June 4, 1946 2,402,988 Dickinson July 2, 1946 2,426,278 Mumma Aug. 26, 1947 2,442,428 Mumma June 1, 1948 2,484,115 Palmer et al. Oct. 11, 1949 2,495,075 Mnmma Jan. 17, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 502,560 Great Britain Mar. 20, 1939 521,871 Great Britain June 3, 1940