US3766731A - Readout device for numeral display unit - Google Patents

Readout device for numeral display unit Download PDF

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Publication number
US3766731A
US3766731A US00222181A US3766731DA US3766731A US 3766731 A US3766731 A US 3766731A US 00222181 A US00222181 A US 00222181A US 3766731D A US3766731D A US 3766731DA US 3766731 A US3766731 A US 3766731A
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United States
Prior art keywords
wheel
switching means
numeral
switch
readout
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00222181A
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English (en)
Inventor
S Shigeta
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Toyo Radio Co Ltd
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Toyo Radio Co Ltd
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Publication date
Application filed by Toyo Radio Co Ltd filed Critical Toyo Radio Co Ltd
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Publication of US3766731A publication Critical patent/US3766731A/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C17/00—Indicating the time optically by electric means
    • G04C17/0075—Indicating the time optically by electric means by drums or drum-like devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/20—Indicating by numbered bands, drums, discs, or sheets
    • G04B19/21—Drums

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A readout device for a numeral display unit, such as a digital clock, of the type having a rotary numeral wheel with a plurality of numerals indicated thereon at successive positions angularly displaced with respect to the axis thereof is provided.
  • the readout device is further provided with a plurality of switching means disposed about the wheel in a pattern encoded according to a given truth table. Switch means activated by said switching means are also provided for detecting the pattern and producing an electrical signal in response to the detection.
  • the present invention relates to a device for reading and producing a signal representative of a numerical indication on a rotary numeral display device.
  • the numerical display device may, for example, comprise a digital clock, digital meter, or the like.
  • the principal object of the present invention to provide a relatively simple device for reading the numeral currently indicated on a numerical display unit and producing an electrical output in the form of a digital signal representative of the indicated numeral.
  • the indicated numeral may, for example, comprise the time of day, the number of kilowatt hours consumed, the quantity of water or gasoline consumed or the like.
  • a numerical display device of the type comprising at least one rotary wheel having a plurality of numerals disposed in successive angular positions about the wheel periphery and adapted to provide selective indication of a numeral, the indication being determined by the rotational position of the wheel periphery with regard to a fixed reference.
  • the display device further includes a plurality of switching means equal in number'to the numerals affixed to the wheel and adapted to rotate with the'wheel.
  • the switching means are affixed to the wheel in a pattern encoded according to a given truth table. A multiplicity of.
  • switch means is fixed relative to the rotational axis of the wheel and positioned so that at least some of the switch means are successively operatively coupled to at least some of the switching means and thereby able to detect the pattern at any given moment.
  • Readout means connected to the switch means are also provided adapted to generate'an electrical signal in response to the detection.
  • FIG. 1 is a top plan view, partly in section, of a numerical display unit in-the form of a digital clock constructed'in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the clock of FIG.
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, in section, of the digital clock
  • FIG. 3a is a simplified diagrammatic drawing of the connection between the numeral display and a readout device
  • FIG. 4 is a side elevational sectional view taken along reference line a-a of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is a side elevational view.
  • the digital clock of the present invention is generally rectangular in shape having a front panel 1, left side plate 2, right side plate 3 and a rear plate 4.
  • Shaft 5 extends through plates 2 and 3 and is suitably journaled for rotation.
  • a plurality of numeral wheels is rotatably mounted about shaft 5. Accordingly, wheel 6 is provided for hour representation, wheel 7 is provided for 10s unit of minutes representation and wheel 8 is provided for unit of minutes representation.
  • an operation indicating wheel 9 is also provided. The operation indicating wheel 9 is provided with a knurled periphery and moves at a relatively rapid rate so that the operation of the clock may readily be detected. Wheels 6, 7, 8 and 9 are disposed in sequence from left to right along the length of shaft 5.
  • Each of the numeral wheels 6, 7 and 8 is cylindrical in shape and carries numerical indication about its outer periphery. Accordingly,-wheel 6 bears the numerals 1 through 12 at equiangular intervals; the outer periphery of wheel 7 bears the numerals 0 through 5 at equiangular intervals and the outer periphery of wheel 8 bears the numerals 0 through 9 at equiangular intervals.
  • the wheels 6, 7 and 8 are of the same diameter.
  • a gear shaft 10 extends between the left and right plates 3 and 4 at a position adjacent to the outer periphery of the wheels.
  • Gears ll, 12 and 13 arerotatably mounted on shaft 10 and the adjacent numeral wheel and indication wheel 9 are rotationally coupled together at a given ratio of revolution through gears 11, 12 and 13.
  • a motor 14 is secured to the back of plate 4.
  • Motor 14 has a shaft which meshes through intermediate gears 15, 16 and 17 with drive wheel 18.
  • Drive wheel 18 if formed integrally on one side of the operation indicating wheel 9 as shown in FIG.- 1,
  • numeral wheel 8 completes one revolution in 10 minutes
  • numeral wheel 7 completes one revolution in 60 minutes
  • numeral wheel 6 completes one revolution in 12 hours.
  • the rotation of these wheels occurs stepwise to form an angular interval'between the numerical impressions ln this connection, panel I is provided with windows 19;, 20 and 21 positioned so as to enable viewing ofv the wheels.
  • the switching means comprise small pieces of magnetic material secured in the space between adjacent numerals on each of the numeral wheels.
  • the encoded pattern is a binary representation of the numerals on the wheel. Referring to wheel 6, it may be noted that four axial column positions, 23, 24, 25 and 26 are provided between each pair of adjacent numbers.
  • the presence or absence of magnetic material in a particular column serves to establish the binary code with position 23 corresponding to the least significant digit, position 24 corresponding to the second digit, position 25 corresponding to the third digit and position 26 corresponding to the most significant digit.
  • the presence of magnetic material 27 corresponds to a binary one and the absence of such material corresponds to a binary zero.
  • the binary coded numeral appearing below numeral 2 in FIG. 1 is 1-0 -1-0 corresponding to the hour 10, the numeral appearing in window 19.
  • the binary coded numeral is displaced along wheel 6 so that the proper binary coded number appears at the top of the wheel when the numeral is visible through window 19.
  • wheel 7 has binary coded information 29 and wheel 8 has binary coded information30.
  • binary numeral -1-1 appears at the top of wheel 7 when the numeral 3 appears in window and binary number 0-1-0-1 appears at the top of wheel 8 when numeralS appears in window 21.
  • the binary coded material serves as switching means for switch means used to detect and readout the binary code in the form of electrical signals.
  • FIGS. 3-5 The detection means is illustrated in FIGS. 3-5.
  • a pair of transverse bars 31 and 32 extend across the top of plates 3 and 4 adjacent the front and rear sides thereof.
  • A-printed circuit board 33. is mounted on the-bars.
  • a plurality of magneticv detecting elements in the form of reed switches is mounted on the interior surface of board 33.
  • the switches are provided in'indexed registry with the axial positions of the magnetic material associated with wheels 6, 7and 8. Accordingly, four reed switches, 34, 35, 36 and. 317 are mounted on the board to align respectively with axial positions 26, 25, 24 and 23.
  • switches 38, 39 and 40 are aligned with the axial positions associated with wheel 7 and switches 41, 42, Band 44 are aligned with the axial positions associated with. wheel 8
  • the encoded pattern of the magnetic material located opposite the switches will activate the switchesin a pattern representative of the numerals appearing through windows 19, 20 and 21.
  • each of the reed switches is connected-to a common wire 45 which, in turn, is connected to a terminal 71 at one end of board 33.
  • the other end of each of the reed switches is connected to a separate terminal.
  • V l Because thenumeral wheels 7 and 8 are physically located close to each other and thus, would require'the close location of switches 40 and, which may cause a malfunction, the group of reed switches 38, 39 and 40 and the group of reed switches 41, 42, 43 and 44 are staggered fore and aft, as shown.
  • a detecting reed switch 51 is mounted on board 33 in registry with magnet 21 so that the reed will be activated by magnet 50 when the wheel rotates.
  • Reed 51 is connected to a terminal of board 33 in such a manner as to inhibit the reading operation when the reed switch is closed even if a demand for a reading operation is issued by computer as shown in FIG. 3a wherein the single line 73 represents the several connections between the various terminals of board 33 and readout device 75.
  • inhibit means only in conjunction with wheel 8
  • similar means may be provided forthe other wheels.
  • a buffer may be added to store the arrangement of the last settings of reed switches during the inhibit period.
  • wheel 6 contains the numerals 1 through 12 and thus, no automatic distinction is made between AM and PM readings.
  • shaft 57 is rotatably mounted through plate 2 as shown in FIG. 5.
  • a rotating plate 52 is mounted on shaft 57 externally of plate 2.
  • Permanent magnets 53 and 54 are movably secured to the opposite ends of plate 52-and a pair of stationary magnets 55 and 56 are secured to the left-hand side of plate 2 along the circular path of motion of movable magnets 53 and 54.
  • the stationary magnets are positioned 90 apart.
  • Shaft 57 extends into wheel 6' and a cam disc 58 is mounted on its extreme .end.
  • Wheel 6 carries a projection 59 on its inner periphery at a position aligned with cam disc 58.
  • Reed switch 60 ismounted on board 33 in aligned relationship with the rotating plate.
  • the time of day displayed by wheels 6, 7 and 8 in windows 19,20 and 21 is converted into digital signalsin the formof actuated and nonactuated reed switches.
  • the time of day can be read-- out in the form of digital signals.
  • the magnetic elements and reed switches may be replaced by other similar .switching and switch elements suchas Hall elements, magnetosensitive diodes or othermagnetic detecting elements.
  • a numerical display device of the type comprising at least one rotary wheel adapted to rotate during discrete time periods having a plurality of numerals disposed in successive angular positions about the wheel periphery and adapted to provide selective indication of a numeral, said indication being determined by the rotational position of the wheel periphery with regard to a fixed reference
  • the improvement comprising: a plurality of switching means equal in number to said numerals affixed about said wheel periphery in a pattern encoded to said numerals according to a given truth table, said switching means being adapted to rotate with said wheel and disposed in identical successive angular positions about the wheel periphery; a multiplicity of switch means fixed relative to the rotational axis of said wheel and positioned so that at least some of said switch means are successively operatively coupled to at least some of said switching means for detecting said pattern; readout means connected to said switch means, said readout means providing indication of the particular switch means operated by said switching means at any particular time; and, means to inhibit said
  • said inhibiting means comprises a magnetic member extending between each of said successive angular positions, a reed switch fixed adjacent the path of rotation of said wheel and magnetic coupling with said inhibiting magnetic member, and circuit means extending between said last referenced reed switch and said readout means.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Transmission And Conversion Of Sensor Element Output (AREA)
  • Displays For Variable Information Using Movable Means (AREA)
US00222181A 1971-09-29 1972-01-31 Readout device for numeral display unit Expired - Lifetime US3766731A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1971089525U JPS4845520U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-09-29 1971-09-29

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JP (1) JPS4845520U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2341221A1 (fr) * 1976-02-10 1977-09-09 Seikosha Kk Moteur electrique, notamment pour mouvements d'horlogerie
US4426574A (en) 1981-12-11 1984-01-17 Veeder Industries Inc. Fuel pump counter readout

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4861695B2 (ja) * 2005-12-20 2012-01-25 元 小野田 計測量表示機構、この計測量表示機構を備えた計測計、この計測量表示機構を備えた流量計、この計測量表示機構を備えたエネルギー量計、そして、この計測量表示機構を備えた質量流量計

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2127733A (en) * 1932-10-26 1938-08-23 Teleregister Corp Coding and decoding apparatus
US2302769A (en) * 1940-03-02 1942-11-24 Teleregister Corp Indicating device
US2344254A (en) * 1943-01-27 1944-03-14 Ibm Telemetering apparatus
US2855585A (en) * 1953-11-30 1958-10-07 Monroe Calculating Machine Dial reading device
CH339745A (de) * 1956-02-11 1959-07-15 Landis & Gyr Ag Druckende Registriervorrichtung
US2896845A (en) * 1958-07-16 1959-07-28 Gen Dynamics Corp Mechanical character display device for electronic means
US2966670A (en) * 1954-12-17 1960-12-27 Ibm Control systems
US3449736A (en) * 1964-08-07 1969-06-10 Stewart Warner Corp Meter reading system
US3456123A (en) * 1965-03-08 1969-07-15 Miniature Elect Components Programmable digital time switching system
US3484780A (en) * 1965-05-25 1969-12-16 Hitachi Ltd Analog-to-digital signal converter including coder plate device and logic circuitry
US3497138A (en) * 1965-09-27 1970-02-24 United Systems Corp Interrogator-encoder mechanism

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5023345U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1973-06-11 1975-03-15

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2127733A (en) * 1932-10-26 1938-08-23 Teleregister Corp Coding and decoding apparatus
US2302769A (en) * 1940-03-02 1942-11-24 Teleregister Corp Indicating device
US2344254A (en) * 1943-01-27 1944-03-14 Ibm Telemetering apparatus
US2855585A (en) * 1953-11-30 1958-10-07 Monroe Calculating Machine Dial reading device
US2966670A (en) * 1954-12-17 1960-12-27 Ibm Control systems
CH339745A (de) * 1956-02-11 1959-07-15 Landis & Gyr Ag Druckende Registriervorrichtung
US2896845A (en) * 1958-07-16 1959-07-28 Gen Dynamics Corp Mechanical character display device for electronic means
US3449736A (en) * 1964-08-07 1969-06-10 Stewart Warner Corp Meter reading system
US3456123A (en) * 1965-03-08 1969-07-15 Miniature Elect Components Programmable digital time switching system
US3484780A (en) * 1965-05-25 1969-12-16 Hitachi Ltd Analog-to-digital signal converter including coder plate device and logic circuitry
US3497138A (en) * 1965-09-27 1970-02-24 United Systems Corp Interrogator-encoder mechanism

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2341221A1 (fr) * 1976-02-10 1977-09-09 Seikosha Kk Moteur electrique, notamment pour mouvements d'horlogerie
US4426574A (en) 1981-12-11 1984-01-17 Veeder Industries Inc. Fuel pump counter readout

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Publication number Publication date
JPS4845520U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-06-14

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