US3184710A - Method and arrangement for checking the operative condition of a contact matrix - Google Patents

Method and arrangement for checking the operative condition of a contact matrix Download PDF

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Publication number
US3184710A
US3184710A US100072A US10007261A US3184710A US 3184710 A US3184710 A US 3184710A US 100072 A US100072 A US 100072A US 10007261 A US10007261 A US 10007261A US 3184710 A US3184710 A US 3184710A
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Prior art keywords
matrix
output
arrangement
contact
read
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US100072A
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English (en)
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Martens Gunter
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Digital Kienzle Computersysteme GmbH and Co KG
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Kienzle Apparate GmbH
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J29/00—Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J29/38—Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism
    • B41J29/393—Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns electrical calculating, bookkeeping and similar machines.
  • Machines of this type are conventionally equipped with a printing mechanism and with mechanical means for introducing, or for setting the machines for the particular data or numerical values to be processed.
  • many machines of .this type are equipped with an electric or electronic calculating arrangement.
  • an array of electrical contacts is provided which constitutes the operative link between the mechanical and the electrical components of the machine.
  • a numerical value introduced and determined by the actuation of selected ones of the mechanical setting means is represented in the array of contacts by the closing of one or more of these contacts located at selected points within the array so that an electrical or electronic value can be transmitted through such closed contacts to the calculating arrangement for being processed therein.
  • the array of contacts is a cont-act matrix which has a plurality of input lines in parallel array (rows) and a plurality of output lines in parallel array (columns) intersecting all of the input lines, the individual rows being assigned consecutively to different digits while the individual columns are respectively assigned to consecutive order positions of a number.
  • Connector contacts are located at each intersection between a row and a column so that by selectively closing a contact in a particular intersection point between a row and a column the corresponding digit Value can be represented thereby in the appropriate order position thereof.
  • the connector contacts may also have the characteristic of storage devicesv so that in this manner the various digit values can be stored in the matrix.
  • output signals representing respectively the digit values stored or determined by the closed cont-acts can be transmitted from the output lines or columns to the calculating apparatus in their proper order positions.
  • read-out impulses are introduced into the columns, signals according to the digit values represented by the closed contacts or stored at the intersections of rows and columns can be read out in relation to the respective order position.
  • a contact array or matrix in machines of the type mentioned above has the fiunction of transmitting a mul-ti-order number from the mechanical elements of the machine to an electric or electronic calculating arrangement.
  • the contact arrays are constructed as matrix type storage devices from which a stored value, e.g. a constant factor, can be read out whenever desired or required in the course of a calculating operation.
  • the transmission of digit representing signals from a contact array or matrix to a calculating arrangement can be carried out either in serial sequence, i.e. for one order position after the other, or also in parallel for all order positions simultaneously. Which one of these procedures is utilized depends upon the construction of the calculating arrangement and has no bearing on the present invention.
  • An unintended closed condition of a contact before the introduction of digit values may occur for instance it due to mechanical damage the contact springs of a contact are bent so that they are in engagement without being moved into engagement by the setting of the associated pin in the pin carriage. Any one such contact which is permanently in closed condition would necessarily falsify the transmission of digit representing signals from the respective column into the calculat-ing arrangement. A malfunction of this type is hard to determine or discover and most likely it would show up only after a substantial number of erroneous calculations have been carried out and checked.
  • the invention provides a method of checking the operative condition of a contact matrix arrangement having a plurality of input lines in parallel array, and a plurality of output lines in parallel array intersecting all of the input lines with connector contacts arranged at the intersection points, respectively, and capable of being independently and selectively changed between open and closed condition, comprising the steps of introducing read-out pulses into all of the input lines in order to determine whether all contacts are in open condition, deriving an output pulse from any output line associated with a contact which is unintentionally in closed position and thus connecting one of the input lines with the particular output line, utilizing such output pulse as a first error signal for signaling that a contact is unintentionally in closed condition, storing information in the matrix arrangement by selectively moving in each output line at the intersection thereof with a selected one of the input lines one of the contacts toward closed condition, introducing read-out pulses again into all of the input lines in order to determine whether in every output line a contact is in closed condition, deriving an output pulse from every one of the output lines
  • the invention provides, in combination with a contact matrix arrangement a calculating device and having a plurality of input lines in parallel array, and a plurality of output lines in parallel array intersecting .all of the input lines with connector contacts arranged at the intersection points, respectively, and capable of.
  • first checking means for determining whether all of the contacts are in open condition and including signal means connected with the plurality of output lies and actuatable by an output pulse appearing at any output line upon introduction of read-out pulses into all theinput lines, provided that any contact associated with the output line is in closed position
  • second checking means for, determining Whether all of the contacts are in closed condition and including a plurality of storage means each connected with a different one of theoutput lines for storing output pulses appearing at the respectively connected output line upon introduction of read-out pulses into all the input lines, provided that the contactassociated with the particular output line is in closed condition, and circuit means connecting the plurality of storage means with the signal means and constructed so as to actuate the latter when at least one of the storage means has no output pulse stored therein, so that after actuation of the signal means by either the first or the second checking means further operation of the matrix arrangement can be stopped.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating one embodiment of the invention, all mechanical components not necessary for understanding the invention and not forming a part thereof being omitted for the sake of clarity;
  • FIG. 2 illustrates in the same manner a second em-.
  • a switch or contact matrix VK is shown diagrammatically as being composed of ten input lines of rows 10 to 19 respectively assigned to digital values ranging from 0. to 9, and a plurality of output lines or columns corresponding in number to the number of order positions that can be handled by the associated calculating arrangement.
  • FIG. 1 only three columns or output lines MP, 21, 22 are shown which correspond respectively to the first order, second order and third order of decimal numbers to be handled.
  • the calculator arrangement is of the impulse processing type which operates as is Well-known in such a manplus key on the keyboard of the machine.
  • the actuating impulses originate at an astable impulse generator TG which is controlled by a start-stop input circuit arrangement 30 as explained further below.
  • a stepping switch arrangement ZWS isprovided for intro- 7 ducing read-out impulses into the matrix VK, this switch arrangement being preferably constructedas a magnetic shift register.
  • Each impulse furnished by the impulse generator Tu and applied by a shift generator VG to the register ZWS shifts any information stored first in the register element 0 stepwise from the element 0 into one after the other of the other elements 1 to 9.
  • Each of the register elements has an output winding, not shown, which is connected at S with the corresponding input line or row it? to 19, respectively, of the matrix VK, as shown in FIG. 1.
  • a signal or pulse issuing from the last element 9 of the register is transmitted through a connection 31 to the first element 0 of the register.
  • signal from the element 9 is simultaneously applied through the--con nection 32 to'the control circuit 36 of the generator T6 for terminating a series of impulses after the register ZWS has been completely passed by the shift of information therethrough.
  • All the output line'sor columns 20, 21, 22, etc. are connected with a common conductor 35, but for the purpose of avoiding undesirable interference effects, the connection between each of the output lines and the conductor 35 is made by means of a corresponding decoupling diode 40.
  • the conductor 35 leads via a gate T to an error relay FR. l i
  • the gate T is controlled by a flip-flop 36, and it can be seen from FIG. 1 that the impulse through line 34 is also applied to the flip-flop 36 whereby. the gate T is opened simultaneously with the start of the operation of the generator TG. i Q
  • the relay FR may also be connected to control a blocking device B which is opera net to prevent the setting of the matrix by the pin carriage and the transmission of any digit signals to the calculating arrangement.
  • a blocking device B which is opera net to prevent the setting of the matrix by the pin carriage and the transmission of any digit signals to the calculating arrangement.
  • the cam A causes closing of a second pair of contacts a whereby from an outside source an impulse is supplied to the start input of the generator TG whereby the process of transmitting the values set or stored in the matrix VK in the form of corresponding numbers of pulses to the calculating arrangement is started.
  • the impulse in line 37 is also transmitted through a line 38 to the flip-flops as, respectively associated with the columns or output lines 20, 21, 22, etc. and controlling, respectively, the corresponding transfer gates RT.
  • All the flip-flops 39 are hereby switched to that condition in which they open the associated gates RT.
  • the output terminals of the transfer gates RT are respectively connected by lines 41, 42, 43 with the corresponding calculator sections assigned to the respective first, second and third order of the number to be processed.
  • the pulse through line 37 starts the pulse generator TG which delivers the sequence of pulses to the register ZWS whereby information is shifted once through the entire register. With every shift of a signal from one register element to the next following one a read-out impulse is introduced into the corresponding row or input line of the matrix VK. However, as can be seen from FIG. 1, every register element, with the exception of element 9, has a second output through which together with every shift or step a pulse is delivered into a common line 46. These nine sequential pulses are applied to a delay circuit VZ and from there;
  • a read-out pulse is introduced from the register element 1 to the row 11 while at the same time again a pulse is delivered into line 46.
  • a pulse is delivered to the associated flip-flop 39 so as to close the associated transfer gate RT so that the following pulse appearing in line 47 again finds its path blocked. Consequently from this particular transfer gate only one shift impulse has been delivered to the corresponding section of the calculator arrangement and no further pulse can be delivered thereafter which means that the information in this section of the calculator arrangement has been shifted only one step corresponding to the digit value 1 which, in turn, corresponds to the setting of the contact in the corresponding column at its intersection with the row 11.
  • shift impulses have been transmitted through the still open transfer gates RT so as to produce, upon the second read-out impulse from the shift register, a corresponding shift of information in the respective section of the calculator arrangement.
  • each of the flip-flops 39 is composed of a portion F which causes closing of the associated gate RT, and a portion F which causes opening of the associated gate. From each of the portions P of the flip-flops 39 a line 48 is taken via a decoupling diode 44 to a line which leads to a gate Pt. Consequently, whenever anyone of the flip-flops 39 is in that condition in which it keeps the associated transfer gate RT in open condition, voltage is applied from the respec tive port-ion F to the control input of the gate Pt whereby the latter is held in open or conductive condition.
  • the last register element 9 of the register ZWS is connected by line 32 to the stop input i.e. the closing portion F controlling the multivibrator MV of the pulse generator TG. Consequently upon the tenth pulse from the generator TG the corresponding output pulse from register element 9 causes the flip-flop 39 to stop the operation of the generator TG.
  • the secondchecking operation as to whether in every column of the matrix one contact has been closed, can be carried out during the transmission of information from the matrix VK to the calculator arrangement also when multiplication (multiple-addition) is to be effected, because this checking operation can be carried out every time when the respective information concerning the multiplicand is transmitted. Consequently a malfunction of the matrix arrangement will be discovered immediately even if the transmission of information has been carried out correctly several times in sequence. This feature certainly constitutes a remarkable advantage entailed by the invention.
  • the contact setting pins no matter whetherthey are arranged on a pin carriage or otherwise in which case only one contact pin is to be provided for each column, and which causes the closing of contact between a column and a selected row, should be preferably positively connected operatively with mechanical control elements of the machine so that one can be sure that in the matrix VK that digit value is set or stored which is available to the operator for checking by means of it being printed.
  • the contact setline 47 to the transfer gates RT. Consequently none of these pulses will be transferred. through lines 41, 42, 43
  • ting pins are so constructed that it is impossible to simultaneously actuate or set two adjacent contacts.
  • means are provided making it impossible that two adjacent contacts are actuated simultaneously.
  • both checking operations may be carried out as a preliminary step before the actual transmission of stored information from the matrix to the calculator arrangement.
  • the second checking operation can be carried out concurrently with the individual transfer operation.
  • FIG. 1 is characterized by the fact that the read-out operations concerning the matrix VK are carried out stepwise in accordance with the delivery of read-out pulses sequentially and simultaneously with the shift pulses which shift information through the register ZWS.
  • FIG. 2 is based on a procedure in which read-out pulses are introduced simultaneously into all of the rowsof the matrix. While generally the circuit arrangement is very similar to that of FIG. 1, so that all like parts and elements are marked by the same, reference symbols and numerals, the following differences are to be recognized.
  • a switch 5% is interposed between the generator TG and the shift generator VG for connecting, in one position, these generators with each other, and for connecting, in a second position, the generator TG.via a line 51 with a multiple switch 52 which in closed position connects line 51 with all the lines or rows It to 1h.
  • a second .delay circuit 54 is connected by means of a line 53 between the line 32 and the line 51.
  • a diode 55 is connected between the first register element and the line 10.
  • both switches 49 and 50 are moved to their second positions, respectively, as indicated in dotted lines, before the two checking operations of the matrix VK are carried out.
  • the multiple switch 52 is moved to closed position.
  • a read-out pulse is transmitted via line 51 and the closed switch contacts 52 into all of the rows or lines -19 of the matrix simultaneously.
  • the diode 55 prevents the already energized or activated core of the register element 0 to be returned to its non-energized or nonactivated condition.
  • connection 53 and delay circuit 54 has the eifect that immediately after the delivery of the single read-out pulse, but by all means before a second pulse is delivered by the multivibrator MV, a closing impulse is applied to the flip-flop 36 whereby the first checking operation is terminated.
  • the delayed pulse appearing in line 53 and in line 32 causes the pulse generator TG to stop delivering pulses.
  • the pulse generator TG is started, as in the first described example after information has been set or stored in the matrix VK, and delivers again a read-out pulse via line 51 and closed switches 52 into all of the lines or rows 10-19.
  • the answer to the checking operation is obtained through the gate Pt, however the pulse indicating whether in every column one contact has been closed, is now not derived from a last output from the register ZWS, namely from its last register element 9, but in this case this pulse controlling the gate Pt is obtained from line 53 as delivered by the delay circuit 54.
  • the components of the arrangement according to FIG. 2 operate in exactly the same manner as those of the embodiment according to FIG. 1.
  • each of said connector contacts representing a digit ditferent from the others of said connector contacts and comprising a single input line and a single output line
  • first checking means for determining whether all of the contacts are in open condition and including signal means connected with the plurality of output lines and actuatable by an output pulse appearing at any output line upon introduction of read-out pulses into all the input lines, provided that any contact associated with said output line is in closed position
  • second checking means for determining whether in all of said output lines at least one contact is in closed condition and including a plurality of storage means each connected with a different one of the output lines for storing output pulses appearing at the respectively connected output line upon introduction of read-out pulses into all the input lines, provided that the contact associated with the particular
  • each of said connector contacts representing a digit different from the others of said connector contacts and comprising a single input line and a single output line
  • first checking means for determining whether all of the contacts are in open condition and including read-out means for introducing read-out pulses into all the input lines, respectively, and relay means for controlling an emergency circuit, connected with the plurality of output lines and actuatable by an output pulse appearing at any output line upon introduction of read-out pulses into all the input lines, provided that any contact associated with said output line is in closed position
  • second checking means for determining whether in all of said output lines at least one contact is in closed condition and including a plurality of storage means each connected with a different one of the output lines for storing output pulses
  • gate means are arranged between the output lines and said relay means and so connected with said read-out means that output pulses can be passed to said relay means only during said sequential introduction of read-out pulses into the input lines.
  • each of said connector contacts representing a digit dififerent from the others of said connector contacts and comprising a single input line and a single output line
  • first checking means for determining Whether all of the contacts are in open condition and including read-out means 'for introducing read-out pulses into all the input lines, respectively, and relay means for controlling an emergency circuit, connected with the plurality of output lines and actuatable by an output pulse appearing at any output line upon introduction of read-out pulses into all the input lines, provided that any contact associated with said output line is in closed position
  • second checking means for determining whether in all of said output lines at least one contact is in closed condition and including a plurality of storagemeans each connected with a different one of the output lines for
  • each of said storage means includes each a flip-flop device which is in a first stable condition'before an output pulse is applied thereto, and in a second stable condition after application of an output pulse from the respective output line, all of said fiip-fiop devices being connected to said gate means in such a manner that the latter is in open condition as long as at least one of said flip-flop devices is in said first stable condition, so that a read-out pulse will pass through.
  • said gate to said relay means if after introduction of read-out pulses into all the input lines any one of the flip-flop devices has not been changed to said second condition.
  • each of said storage means further includes a transfer gate device adapted to pass counting pulses from said read-out means to a calculating device, said transfer gate device being controllable by the respective flip-flop device of the particular storage device so as to be kept open thereby until said flip-flop device is changed to its second stable condition, control circuit means being provided between said readout means and all of said transfer gate devices and including delay means for transmitting, in synchronism with said readout pulses, counting pulses to all of said transfer gate devices with a predetermined delay, so that counting pulses are transmitted to the calculating device through all the transfer gate devices until individual transfor gates are closed depending upon the change of the respectively associated flip-flop devices to the second stable condition thereof by, an output pulse representing a decimal value to be transmitted through the particular transfer gate and identical with the number of said counting pulses passed through the particular transfer gate before its being closed.
  • control circuit means include switch means for disconnecting said read-out means from all of said transfer gate means for rendering the transmission of counting pulses to said transfer gates impossible, while any of said first and second checking means are operated.
  • control flip-flop device is arranged for controlling said second gate means, and wherein means are provided for applying a starting impulse to said readout means for starting the latter and for simultaneously applying a control pulse to said control flip-flop device for causing the latter to open said second gate for the passage of an output pulse in case that any of the contacts of the matrix arrangement is in closed condition.

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DEK40339A DE1113320B (de) 1960-04-04 1960-04-04 Verfahren und Anordnung zur Funktionsueberpruefung von Kontaktfeldern

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3395389A (en) * 1962-12-18 1968-07-30 Int Standard Electric Corp Apparatus to indicate faults of components in self-correcting translators

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2716230A (en) * 1952-11-08 1955-08-23 Monroe Calculating Machine Keyboard checking alarm
US2946984A (en) * 1952-01-29 1960-07-26 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Tape-to-card converter circuit
US2978641A (en) * 1956-10-31 1961-04-04 Siemens And Halske Ag Berlin A Circuit ambiguity testing apparatus
US2989729A (en) * 1958-12-10 1961-06-20 Burroughs Corp Keyboard checking apparatus

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2885146A (en) * 1952-06-07 1959-05-05 Burroughs Corp Electronic checking device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2946984A (en) * 1952-01-29 1960-07-26 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Tape-to-card converter circuit
US2716230A (en) * 1952-11-08 1955-08-23 Monroe Calculating Machine Keyboard checking alarm
US2978641A (en) * 1956-10-31 1961-04-04 Siemens And Halske Ag Berlin A Circuit ambiguity testing apparatus
US2989729A (en) * 1958-12-10 1961-06-20 Burroughs Corp Keyboard checking apparatus

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3395389A (en) * 1962-12-18 1968-07-30 Int Standard Electric Corp Apparatus to indicate faults of components in self-correcting translators

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SE323544B (forum.php) 1970-05-04

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