US3370279A

US3370279A - Multiaperture core ring counter

Info

Publication number: US3370279A
Application number: US322760A
Authority: US
Inventors: William K English
Original assignee: AMP Inc
Current assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
Priority date: 1963-11-12
Filing date: 1963-11-12
Publication date: 1968-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1985-02-20

Description

W. K. ENGLISH MULTIAPERTURE CORE RING COUNTER Feb.- 20, 1968 Filed NOV. l2, 1963 United States Patent() 3,370,279 MULTIAPERTURE CORE RING COUNTER William K. English, Menlo Park, Calif., assignor to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed Nov. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 322,760 9 Claims. (Cl. 340-174) This invention relates to a multiaperture core ring counter and more particularly to improvements therein.

A ring counter which uses multiaperture magnetic cores normally comprises a shift register wherein one of the cores contains or represents a binary .1 with the rest of the cores representing a binary 0. The count is advanced by shifting the register whereby the 1 is advanced. Counting is usually done by supplying a trigger pulse to a driver circuit which then provides the appropriate pulses to shift the register. If ring counters of this type are to be connected in series (as in the case of several stages of decade counters), or if ring counters are to be used in connection with a magnetic system, each ring counter must have its own driver. It would be advantageous if some methodwere found to provide a single driver for a plurality of ring counters where, however, when the driver is actuated, only the desired ring counter is advanced.

An object of this invention is to provide a ring counter structure wherein the advance pulses are applied continuously, but the count is only enabled to advance in reply to an advancing signal.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a ring counter structure whereby a plurality of ring counters may be connected to a single source of drive pulses, yet the ring counters may be individually controlled in response to the application of individual advance pulses.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel and useful arrangement for controlling the advance of a. magnetic core ring counter.

3,370,279 Patented Feb. 20, 1968 "ice counter can advance in response to the application thereto of drive pulses.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularit-y in the appended claims. The invention itself both as to its organization and method of operation, as well as additional Yet another object of the present invention is the proi vision of an arrangement for controlling a plurality of ring counters which enables a saving in the cost of driver circuits required.

These and other objects of the present invention may be achieved in an arrangement for controlling the advance of a ring counter of the type which comprises two multiaperture ferrite magnetic cores per stage. The output winding of the second core in eachstage is coupled `to drive the first core in that stage as well as the first core of the succeeding stage. Two control cores are provided at the input of the ring counter. One of these control cores has its output winding coupled to all the first cores in each stage of the ring counter in a manner so that when this control core is in its l state, it will inhibit the transfer from the one of the second cores in the one of the stages of the register which is storing a binary 1 to the succeeding core in the next or succeeding stage of the register, as a result of which the binary 1 is transferred to the first core in the register stage in which it presently is stored. The second control core at the input of the ring counter has its output winding coupled to all the first cores of each stage of the ring counter in a manner so that when the second control core is in its l representative binary state, its output when driven back to zero will block the transfer back within a stage of the binary l state of the second core of that stage, resulting in the transfer to the succeeding stage of the binary 1. Accordingly, as long as the first of the control cores at the input to the register are placed in their l states, the counter will not advance despite the application thereto of drive pulses. When the second core at the input of the ring counter is transferred to its l state, then the ring objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic diagram of .an embodiment of the invention and FIGURE 2 illustrates schematically how the invention may be applied to a plurality of ring counters.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 1 wherein is shown a schematic diagram of an embodiment of this invention. As briefly previously described, the circuit arrangement shown is one wherein the 1 which is in the ring counter is shifted back and forth between the two magnetic cores within a single stage of the ring counter, in response to the drive or shift pulses, and it is only when it is desired to count that the 1 is permitted to advance to the next shift register stage.

The number of register stages in the ring counter Ais determined by the largest number that it is desired for the ring counter to count. Thus, by way of example in FIGURE 1, an n stage ring counter is shown and for each one of the n stages there are provided two multiaperture ferrite magnetic cores. The cores are respectively designated as even or odd cores in order to indicate that the cores are alternately driven. In stage 1 of the ring counter there is an odd core 11 and an even core 12. In stage 2 of the ring counter there is an odd core 13 and an even core 14. Stage 3 of the ring counter contains an odd core 15 and an even core 16, stage n of the ring counter contains an odd core n-I-10 and an even core n-l-ll.

Each one of the odd cores in the register has a first and second input aperture respectively, 11A, 11B, 13A, 13B, 15A, 15B, (n-l-10)A, and (n4-.10)B. Each one of the odd cores has an output aperture respectively 11C, 13C, 15C, (n+10)C. All of the cores have main or central apertures, 11M through (n-l-10)M.

Each one of the even cores has an input aperture respectively 12A, 14A, 16A, (n-l-11)A. Each one of the even cores has an output aperture respectively 12C, 14C, 16C, (n-i-11)C. All of the even cores also have center or main apertures, 12M through (n+11)M.

A first transfer winding respectively 21, 22, 23, Irl-20, respectively couples each one of the odd cores in a register stage to the even core in the same register stage. Thus the transfer winding 21 passes through the output aperture 11C of core 11 and thereafter passes through the input aperture 12A of core 12 being wound on the legs of magnetic material adjacent these apertures in a well known manner to enable the transfer of the remanent state of core 11 to core 12 upon a suitable drive being applied to core 11. Similarly, transfer winding 22 couples core 13 to core 14 by passing through the output aperture 13C of core 13 then through the input aperture 14A of core 14. Transfer windings 23 through n-l-20 similarly couple through the output aperture designated with the letter C in the respective odd cores to the input apertures designated by the letter A in the respective even cores of the respective stages.

A second transfer winding respectively 31, 32, 33, 114-30, serves to apply the output from an even core to the input of an odd core within the same stage as the even core and also to an odd core in the succeeding stage. Thus transfer winding 31 passes through the output aperture 12C of core 12 and couples to cores 11 and 13 by passing through their input apertures respectively 11B, 13A. Transfer winding 32 applies the output of core 14 to

cores

13 and 15, passing through the output aperture 14C of core 14 then through the input aperture 15A of core 15 and then through the input aperture 13C of core 13 and back to the output aperture of core 14. The transfer winding n+30, which is the transfer winding in the last stage of the ring counter, applies the output from the last core n-l-11 to the core n+1() and also to the iirst core 11 in the ring counter, passing through the output aperture (n+11)C then through the input aperture (n-l-)B, then through the input aperture 11A and back to the output aperture (n+11)C of core 114-11. It should be further noted that in the event an output indication is required from the ring counter when it attains a full count, the transfer winding 114-30 and inhibit binding 74 may also couple to any suitable output manifestation device such as another core.

Every ring counter which is to be used with the ernbodiment of this invention will have the structures described thus far. In addition, each register may have three control cores respectively 41, 42, 43, for determining whether a ring counter is to advance its count or not, but actually, as will be described subsequently, it only requires two of these cores, 42, 43. The control core 41 iS associated with the odd cores of the ring counter. It has an input aperture 41A to which a current pulse is applied from an advance count input source 46, when it is desired to advance the ring counter in response to applied driving pulses. Core 41 has a central or main aperture and in addition has an output aperture 41C. An advance odd current source 48 applies drive current to a winding 50 which is coupled to all of the odd cores for the purpose of driving them to their clear states when this winding is energized. This winding, as is customary, passes through all the main apertures of all the odd cores. Priming current is provided for all of the odd cores by means of a priming winding 52, driven from a prime odd current source 54 when required, which priming winding passes through all of the output or C apertures of all of the odd cores.

An advance even current source 56 applies current pulses to a drive winding 58 for driving all of the even cores to their clear states. The drive winding 58 couples in well known fashion to all of the even cores by passing through their main apertures. As is well known, the advance odd current source and the advance even current source operate alternatively to one another. A prime even current source 60 applies priming current to a prime winding 62 for priming the output apertures or C apertures of all of the odd cores.

It should be noted that in accordance with this invention only one advance odd current source, advance even current source, prime odd current source, and prime even current source, is necessary for driving a predetermined number of ring counters. Whether or not these ring counters will advance their count in response to the current from the drive sources is determined by the operation of the

control cores

41, 42, and 43. Since, as previously indicated, the ring counters only require one core to be driven at each operation of the advance current sources, no great loading problem exists in driving several ring counters from the one source of driving power.

Magnetic core 41 has two transfer windings 64, v66, one of which is coupled to the input aperture 42A of core 42 with one sense, the other of which is coupled to the input aperture 43A of core 43 with an opposite sense. When core 41 is driven from its one to its zero representative state it drives core 42 to its one representative state. Core 43 is left in its zero representative state since transfer winding 66 is also coupled to a small core 70. It is also to be noted that the advance odd current winding 50 is coupled to core 70 with one sense and the advance even current winding 58 is coupled to core 70 with an opposite sense. The prime odd current winding 52 passes through the output aperture 41C of core 41 to prime the magnetic material surrounding this output aperture should core 41 have been driven to its l representative state in response to a current pulse from the hold count input source.

The prime even current source winding 62 is coupled to

cores

42 and 43 by passing through their output apertures respectively 42C, 43C, in addition to passing through the C apertures of the other even cores of the ring counter. Core 42 has an inhibit winding 72 which is inductively coupled to the core material, passing through the output aperture 42C and thereafter is coupled to all of the odd cores of the ring counter passing through their B input apertures. Core 43 similarly has an inhibit winding 74 which is coupled to the core by passing through its output aperture 43C and thereafter is coupled to the odd cores of the ring counter passing through their A input apertures successively.

In operation of the embodiment of the invention, the drive current sources operate in the same manner whether for one or for a plurality of ring counters, as they have done heretofore. The advance odd current source applies a suiiicient current to the odd core drive winding S0 to drive the one of the odd cores which is coupled thereto and which is in the remanence state wherein it represents a one, to the remanence state where it represents a zero. This followed by the prime even current source 60 applying a priming current to the prime winding 62 whereby the one of the even cores which represents a binary one by its state of remanence is primed. Then the advance event current source is energized whereby the even core drive winding 58 drives the core coupled thereto which is in its one representative remanence state to its zero representative remanence state, thus transferring ferring the one to one of the odd cores. Then the prime odd current source 54 is energized to apply a current to the prime odd core winding 52 whereby the one ofthe odd cores which is in its one representative state is primed. However, despites the norma operation of the drive sources for the ring counter, as will be explained subsequently herein, the ring counter does not advance its count beyond the stage in which the count reposes, solely in response to the drive current pulses.

Assume now that core 13 is in its one representative state of remanence, and that it is not desired to advance the count of the counter. In that instance, no advance count input signal is applied to core 41. The prime odd current source 54 applies priming current to the prime winding 52, whereby core 13 is primed. The advance Wmding 50 is next driven by a current pulse from the advance odd current source 48 in response to which core 13 is driven to its clear state and its state of remanence is transferred over transfer winding 22 to core 14. Core 70 is driven to its one state each time the advance even current source 56 energizes the clear winding 58. When the advance odd core winding 50 receives a current pulse, it clears core 70 whereby sul'licient current flows in trans- -fer winding 66 to drive core 43 to its one state. Core 41 1s not changed since it is in its zero state. The prime even current source 60 next energizes the winding 62 with a pruning current pulse in. response to which core 43 and core 14 are driven to their prime states. Next in response to an output current from the advance even current source 56, the drive winding 58 transfers cores 43 and 14 to their clear states. A voltage is induced in winding 32 from core 14 being driven with a resultant current flow which is applied to both

cores

13 and 15 to drive them toward their set states of remanence. However, in view of an output on inhibit winding 74, which is coupled to input aperture 15A, and which output opposes the magnetomotive force being applied from winding 32, core 15 remains unaffected and the magnetomotive force which is generated due to the current ilow in winding 32 is all applied to core 13 to drive it to its set state of magnetic remanence. As a result, the count of the ring counter was not advanced but remains within the second stage of the register.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that with no advance count signal applied to core 41, core 43 is driven to its one representative state so that its output may oppose the output from the even core which otherwise would transfer the count into the succeeding stage of the counter.v

Should it be desired to permit the ring counter to advance its count, then core 41 is driven to its binary one state of magnetic remanence by an output from the advance count input source 46. Energization of the prime odd current source 54 applies priming currents to winding 52 whereby

cores

41 and 13 are primed. A current pulse is applied to the advance odd winding 50 from the advance odd current source 48 whereby

cores

41 and 13 are driven to their clear state. In response to this, core 14 is driven to its one representative state of magnetic remanence. Core 42 is driven to its one representative state of magnetic remanence and core 43 is left in a zero representative state of magnetic remanence, even though core 70 was driven to its clear state from its one state by the advance odd winding. This occurs because any output current flowing in winding 66 as a result of core 41 being driven is cancelled by current owing as a result of core 70 being driven. The transfer winding opposite coupling sense on core 70 and core 41 insures this.

The prime even current source 6G then applies a priming current to winding 62 whereby cores 42 and 14 are driven to their prime states. The advance even current source 56 next applies a current pulse to winding 58 whereby cores 42 and 14 are driven to their clear states of magnetic remanence. In response to this drive, a cur rent is induced in the inhibit winding 72 which opposes the effects of the current in the transfer Winding 32 at aperture 13B. As a result, the magnetomotive force caused -by the current in winding 32 is applied to drive core 15 to its one representative state of magnetic remanence. This then is an increase or an advance of the count of the ring counter to the succeeding stage. Each time it is desired to advance the count of the ring counter, it is required to apply an advance count pulse to the core 41. Otherwise, the one in a stage of the ring counter remains within that stage.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that a ring counter will adavnce its count only in response to a control pulse applied to the control core 41. Core 41 also can act to receive advance count pulses from other sources such as another ring counter. The control of the ring counter is efectuated by means of an inhibit technique which permits handling a considerable number of cores. The reason for this is that when either

core

42 or 43 is transmitting a one, current in the inhibit winding from that core does not actually switch any iiuX but serves only to inhibit switching in the receiver core to which it is linked. Current in the inhibit loop from these cores is then essentially independent of the number of receiver cores linked, and the single control core could theoretically control a large number of receiver cores. Practical limitations on this can be considered as the wire length and a small zero ux switched around the input apertures of cores not receiving a one FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating how the embodiment of the invention is employed for controlling a multiplicity of ring counters. A single set of drive current sources 80 (Advance Even, Advance Odd, Prime Odd, Prime Even) is required. These are coupled to all of the counters, respectively S2, 84, 86, in the manner shown in FIGURE l. The counter circuits are wired in the manner shown in FIGURE 1. A set of Vcontrol cores, respectively 88, 90, 92, each wired as in FIGURE l, are provided for each counter. A control core control, 94, 96, 98 is provided to control the control cores, respectively 88, 90, 92. The control core control represents the advance count input source 46.

Each counter shown in FIGURE 2 operates identically as has been described for the counter shown in FIGURE 1. Although the -drive current sources continuously apply drive pulses to all of the counters, they will individually only advance or remain stationary under control of the control cores associated with each, in response to the individual control core control.

There has accordingly been described and shown herein a novel, useful and unique arrangement whereby a plurality of ring counters may be individually controlled while having a single source of driving current for these ring counters.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for operating a plurality of ring counters individually while employing a single set of drive current sources for said ring counter comprising for each ring counter, a plurality of register stages, each stage including two magnetic cores each of which has a one representative state of magnetic remanence and a zero representative state of magnetic remanence, one core in each stage being designated as an odd core and the other core in each stage being designated as an even core, in each stage a transfer winding means coupling said odd core to said even core for transferring the state of remanence of said odd core to said even core, in each stage a second transfer winding means coupling each even core to the odd core in its stage and to the odd core in the succeeding stage for transferring the state of remanence of said even core to said odd core, first inhibit means actuatable for preventing the transfer of the state of magnetic remanence by said second transfer winding means to a succeeding stage odd core, and second inhibit means for inhibiting the transfer by said secondtransfer winding means to an odd core in the same register stage.

2. A system for controlling the advance of a counter of the type comprising a plurality of stages, each stage having a rst and a second magnetic core, each of the said magnetic cores having a zero representative stable state of magnetic remanence and a one representative stable state of magnetic remanence, transfer winding means coupling each said second core to the first core in the same stage as said second core and to the first core in the stage succeeding the stage of said second core for transferring one of said rst cores to a one representative state of magnetic remanence in response to one of said second cores being transferred from a one representative state of magnetic remanence to a zero representative state of magnetic remanence, first inhibit means actuatable to inhibit each rst core in the stage succeeding each second core against being transferred to its one representative state of magnetic remanence in response to the second core in a preceding stage being driven from its one to its zero state of magnetic remanence, and second inhibit means actuatable for preventing a rst core from being driven to its one representative state of magnetic remanence in response to a second core in the same stage being driven from its one representative state of magnetic remanence to its zero representative state of magnetic remanence.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said rst and second inhibit means each comprises a magnetic core having a zero representative stable state of magnetic remanence and a one representative stable state of magnetic remanence, and an inhibit winding coupled to said magnetic core, said inhibit winding of said iirst inhibit means being coupled to all of said rst cores, in the same stage as a second core, said inhibit winding of said second inhibit means being coupled to all of said iirst cores in the stages succeeding those of the second cores, means for driving said rst inhibit means core to its one representative state when it is desired to permit said counter to advance its count, means for driving said second inhibit means magnetic core to its one representative state when it is desired to prevent said counter from advancing its count, and means for applying a drive to said cores of said first and second inhibit means to drive the one of them in its one state to its zero state simultaneously with the application of a drive to all said second cores to transfer the one of them in its one state to its zero state.

4. In a ring counter of the type wherein each stage of said ring counter comprises an odd and an even magnetic core each of which has a one representative state of magnetic remanence and a zero representative state of magnetic remanence, and the count in said counter is advanced by transferring the one representative state of magnetic remanence successively from an odd core to an even core in one stage and thereafter, to an odd core in the succeeding stage of said counter, the improvement comprising means for coupling each even core in a stage of said ring counter to the odd core in the same stage and to the odd core in the succeeding stage for applying drives to said odd cores to their one representative states of magnetic remanence when said even core is driven to its zero from the one representative state of magnetic remanence, first means for inhibiting the drive to each odd core in the same stage as an even core being transferred to its zero from its one representative state when it is desired to advance the count of said counter, second means for inhibiting the drive to each odd core in the stage succeeding the stage of an even core lbeing driven from its one to its zero representative `state when it is desired to prevent said counter from advancing its count, and means for selectively actuating one of said first and second means for inhibiting.

5. A counter control system comprising a counter having a plurality of stages, each stage including an odd and an even multiaperture magnetic core, each magnetic core having a one representative state of magnetic remanence, each odd multiaperture magnetic core including a first and second input aperture and an output aperture, each even multiaperture magnetic core including an input aperture and an output aperture, a first transfer winding for each stage of said register, said first transfer Winding coupling each odd core through its output aperture to each even core through its input aperture, a second transfer winding for each stage of `said register, said second transfer Winding coupling each even core in a stage of said register through its output aperture to each odd core. in the same stage of said register through its second input aperture and coupling said even core to the odd core in the succeeding stage of said register through its first input aperture, first inhibit Winding means actuatable for preventing said counter from advancing its count, said first inhibit winding means 'being inductively coupled to all said odd cores through their first input apertures, second inhibit winding means selectively actuatable for enabling said counter to advance its count, said second inhibit winding means being coupled to all the odd cores of said ycounter through their second input apertures, and means for selectively exciting one of said first and said second inhibit winding means simultaneously With a. drive being applied to one of said even cores for inducing a voltage in the second transfer Winding coupled to said one of said even cores, whereby the count of said counter is maintained or advanced in accordance with the one of said first and second inhibit windings which Was excited.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim wherein said means for selectively exciting one of said first and said second inhibit winding means comprises a first and second multiaperture magnetic core, each said core having a first stable stae of magnetic remanence and a second stable state of magnetic remanence and being drivable therebetween, means for coupling said first inhibit winding means to said first magnetic core to be excited in response to said first magnetic core being driven from its first to its second stable state of magnetic remanence, and means for :coupling said second inhiibt Winding means to said second magnetic core for being excited in response to said second magnetic core being driven from its first to its second state of magnetic remanence, said means for driving said even cores also being coupled to said first and second magnetic cores for driving said first and second magnetic cores from their first to their second stable states of magnetic remanence simultaneously with a drive being applied to all of said even magnetic cores.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said means for selectively exciting one of said first and second inhibit windings includes an input multiaperture magnetic core having first and second stable states of magnetic remanence and being drivable therebetween, said input core having a first output Winding coupling said input core to said first multiaperture core for driving said first multiaperture core from its second to its first state of magnetic remanence when said input core is driven from its first to its second state of remanence, a second output winding, and a bucking magnetic core having a first and a second state of magnetic remanence, said second output winding coupling said input core to said second multiaperture core for driving said first multiaperture core from its first t0 its second state of magnetic remanence 4when said input core is driven from its first to its second state of remanence, said bucking magnetic core being coupled to said second output winding for driving said second multiaperture core from its second to its first state of remanence when said bucking core is driven from its first to its second state of magnetic remanence.

8. Apparatus for controlling magnetic core counters comprising a counter having a plurality of stages, each stage including an even and an odd multiaperture magnetic core, each multiaperture magnetic core having a one representative state of magnetic remanence and a zero representative state of magnetic remanence, each odd multiaperture core having a first and a second input aperture and an output aperture, each even multiaperture core having an input aperture and an output aperture, for each counter stage, there being provided a first transfer winding for transferring the state of remanence of an odd multiaperture Core to an even multiaperture core, said first transfer winding being inductively coupled to said odd multiaperture core through its output aperture and to said even multiaperture core through its input aperture, for each stage of said counter there being a second transfer Winding inductively coupling an even multiaperture core by passing through its output aperture to an odd multiaperture core in the same stage as said even multiaperture core by passing through its second input aperture and to the odd multiaperture magnetic core in the succeeding stage of said counter by passing through its first input aperture, first inhibit winding means for providing when energized magnetomotive forces to oppose those from said second transfer winding, said first inhibit Winding means lbeing coupled to all of odd cores in said counter through their second input apertures, second inhibit winding means for providing when energized magnetomotive forces to oppose those of said second transfer winding, said second inhibit winding means being coupled to all of the odd cores in said counter through their first input apertures, a first and a second multiaperture core each having a first and second state of stable magnetic remanence, said first multiaperture core being inductively coupled to said first inhibit winding means for inducing a voltage therein when said first multiaperture core is driven from its first to its second stable state of magnetic remanence, said second inhibit winding means being coupled to said second multiaperture magnetic core for having a voltage induced therein when said second multiaperture magnetic core is driven from its first to its second state of stable magnetic remanence, means for applying a drive to all of said odd magnetic cores for driving them from their one to their zero states of stable magnetic remanence, means for driving one of said first and second magnetic cores to its first state of stable magnetic remanence to determine whether said counter will advance its count or will not advance its count on the next drive applied to said even magnetic cores, and means for applying a drive to said first and second magnetic cores and to all of said even magnetic cores for driving the one of said rst and second magnetic cores from its first to its second state of stable magnetic remanence and the one of said even magnetic cores from its one to its zero representative state of magnetic remanence, Whereby one of said odd magnetic cores either in the same stage as said even magnetic core being driven or in the succeeding stage will be driven to its one representative state of magnetic remanence as determined by the one of said rst and second cores which was driven from its rst to its second state of stable magnetic remanence.

9. Apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said means for driving one of said rst and second magnetic cores to its first state of magnetic remanence includes a third magnetic core having a irst and second stable state of magnetic remanence, a first output winding coupling said third magnetic core to said irst magnetic core for driving said rst magnetic core to its rst state of remanence in response to said third core being driven from the rst to its second state of remanence, a second output winding coupling said third core to said second core for driving said second core to its second state of magnetic remanence in response to said third core being driven from its first to its second state of remanence, and a bucking magnetic core having a rst and a second state of magnetic remanence and being coupled to said second output winding with a sense for driving said second core to its first state of remanence when said ybucking core is driven from its rst to its second state of remanence, said third magnetic core and said bucking core being coupled to said means for applying a drive to all said odd magnetic cores to be respectively driven responsive thereto to their second and their first states of remanence, said second and third magnetic cores and said bucking core being coupled to said means for applying a drive to said even magnetic cores for being driven responsive thereto to their second states of magnetic remanence.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1962 Bennion 340--174 3/1964 Bennion 340-174

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A PLURALITY OF RING COUNTERS INDIVIDUALLY WHILE EMPLOYING A SINGLE SET OF DRIVE CURRENT SOURCES FOR SAID RING COUNTER COMPRISING FOR EACH RING COUNTER, A PLURALITY OF REGISTER STAGES, EACH STAGE INCLUDING TWO MAGNETIC CORES EACH OF WHICH HAS A ONE REPRESENTATIVE STATE OF MAGNETIC REMANENCE AND A ZERO REPRESENTATIVE STATE OF MAGNETIC REMANENCE, ONE CORE IN EACH STAGE BEING DESIGNATED AS AN ODD CORE AND THE OTHER CORE IN EACH STAGE BEING DESIGNATED AS AN EVEN CORE, IN EACH STAGE A TRANSFER WINDING MEANS COUPLING SAID ODD CORE TO SAID EVEN CORE FOR TRANSFERRING THE STATE OF REMANENCE OF SAID ODD CORE TO SAID EVEN CORE, IN EACH STAGE A SECOND TRANSFER WINDING MEANS COUPLING EACH EVEN CORE TO THE ODD CORE IN ITS STAGE AND TO THE ODD CORE IN THE SUCCEEDING STAGE FOR TRANSFERRING THE STATE OF REMANENCE OF SAID EVEN CORE TO SAID ODD CORE, FIRST INHIBIT MEANS ACTUATABLE FOR PREVENTING THE TRANSFER OF THE STATE OF MAGNETIC REMANENCE BY SAID SECOND TRANSFER WINDING MEANS TO A SUCCEEDING STAGE ODD CORE, AND SECOND INHIBIT MEANS FOR INHIBITING THE TRANSFER BY SAID SECOND TRANSFER WINDING MEANS TO AN ODD CORE IN THE SAME REGISTER STAGE.