* GB786049 (A)

Description: GB786049 (A) ? 1957-11-13

Improvements in or relating to signal storage devices digital data

Description of GB786049 (A)

PATENT SPECIFICATION 786,049 Date of Application and filing Complete Specification June 23, 1950. No 37231/54. Application made in Germany on Oct I, 1948. (Divideu o of No 786,021). Complete Specification Published Nov 13, 1957. Index at Acceptance:-Class 106 ( 1), C(I 1 D: 2 G: 4 A: 5). International Classification: -GOOL CONIIPLETE SPECIFICATION Improveraents in or relating to Signall Storage Devices Digital Data I, GERHARD DIRKS, of Moerfelder Landstrasse, 44, Frankfurt on Main, Germany, of German Nationality, do hereby declare 'the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - This invention relates to digital data signal storage devices in which signals are stored on 11 a magnetisable surface. In my co-pending Application No 15773/ (Serial No 786,021) there is described a calculator employing a rotatable drum or disc, with a magnetisable surface, as a signal storage member The surface of the storage member has a number of tracks, each of which may be used for storing numbers etc, each track being provided with recording, sensing and erasing heads so that signals may be entered into, and extracted from, the storage. Each track is divided into a number of storage locations in which signals may be recorded. In addition to merely recording or sensing signals in a particular storage location or locations, it is convenient to be able to transfer a recorded signal from one storage location to another, since this facilitates the performance of various operations such as addition,

multiplication etc. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide means for transferring signals from one storage location to another of a magnetic storage member. It is a further object of the invention to provide means for transferring signals from one storage location selectively to any one of a plurality of other storage locations. According to one feature of the invention, digital data signal storage apparatus includes a rotatable storage member with a magnetisable signal storage surface having a plurality of signal storage locations, a sensing head and a recording head, the relative positioning of the two heads being such that when the sensing head is sensing one storage location, the recording head is adapted to record in a different storage location, electric signal amplifying and gating means interconnecting and sensing and recording heads, and control means synchronised with the rotation of the storage member and adapted to operate said gating means to pass electric signals selectively from the sensing to the recording head to effect transfer of stored signals from one storage location to another. According to another feature of the invention, digital data signal storage apparatus includes a rotatable storage member with a magnetisable signal storage surface, a plurality of signal storage tracks on said surface, each track containing a plurality of signal storage locations, a signal sensing head positioned to sense the storage locations of one of said tracks, a plurality of recording heads for recording on said tracks, electric sifnal amplifying and gating means interconnecting said sensing and recording heads, and control means synchronised with the rotation of the storage member and adapted to operate said gating means to pass electric signals selectively from said sensing head to a selected one of said recording heads to effect transfer of signals from one storage location to another. According to a further feature of the invention, digital data signal storage apparatus includes a rotatable storage member with a magnetisable signal storage surface having a plurality of signal storage locations, a plurality of sensing heads and a recording head, the relative positioning of the heads being such that when the sensing heads are all simultaneously sensing different storage locations the recording head is adapted to record in a further one of said locations, electric signal amplifying and gating means interconnecting said sensing and recording heads, and control means synchronized with the rotation of the storage member and adapted to operate said gating means to pass electric signals selectively from the sensing heads to the recording head 786,049 to effect transfer of a stored signal from

one storage location to another. The calculating apparatus described in this specification is also described wholly or in part in Specifications Nos 15773/50, 37226/54 and 37227/54 (Serial Nos 786,021, 786,044 and 786,045) but the scope of the claims differs in each case. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig 1 is a diagrammatic view of a signal storage disc with a magnetisable surface, various signal storage positions being indicated for the purpose of explanation; Figs 2 a-2 e show various forms of magnetic signal heads; Fig 3 shows diagrammatically various signal sensing and recording heads in association with the disc of Fig 1; Figs 4 a and 4 b and 5 ce-5 c are schematic representations of signal tracks to illustrate the transfer of values between tracks; Figs 6 a-6 c illustrate the recording of a value on a signal track under the joint control of another track and a keyboard; Figs 7 a-7 c illustrate the recording of an intermediate sum value on a signal track; Figs 8 e-8 c illustrate an arrangement for recording a digit on either of two tracks in accordance with whether or not a carry is required; Figs 9 a-9 c illustrate the recording of the final sum value on a result track; Figs 10 a-l Oc show various forms of amplifier and gating circuits for selectively operating a plurality of recording heads; Figs 10 d-l Of, are views of a distributor arm and an inductive distributor; Fig l Og show another form of amplifying and gating circuit employing the distributor of Fig 10 f; Figs 11 a-11 d show amplifvin and grating circuits used for selective recording in accordance with the presence or absence of a carry; Figs 12 a-12 c show further amplifyving and gating circuits for effecting addition; Figs 13 a-13 c show amplifying and gating circuits utilised in effecting subtraction; and Figs 14 a and 14 b show amplifhing and gating circuits for handling a subtractive carry. Fig 1 shows a magnetic signal storage device in the form of a disc 7 The disc is mounted on a shaft 18 which is continuously driven by a suitable motor, for example, in the manner shown in my co-pending Application No. 15773/50 (Serial No 786,021) The disc has a magnetisable surface, which may be in the form of a magnetisable layer on the disc if the disc itself is of non-magnetic material. As Fig 1 shows, the disc must be thought to be sub-divided not only into the said different sectors I-XIII corresponding to the different denominations of a given number, but also in such a way, that each sector is subdivided into digit areas or fields representing different digit values The denominational area of sector I is for the recording of the digit values in the last denomination of a number; sector II is

for the recording of digit values 70 in the penultimate denomination of that number; sector III is for the recording of digit values in the ante-penultimate denomination of the number, and so on. Fig 1 shows also that, within each denomi 75 nation area or sector there are different groups of digit-areas or fields, these being indicated in sector 1 as fields 0-9; 10-19; 20-39 To illustrate the way in which signals of different digit-values in any denomination in a number 80 are recorded on the magnetisable disc 7, one must understand that, in each sector, the digitvalue " O " will always be in the field "c O "; digit-value " 1 " will always be in the field " 1 "; digit-value " 2 " will always be in the 85 field " 2 "; digit-value " 3 " will always be in the field " 3 " digit-value " 4 " will always be in the field " 4 "; digit-value " 5 " will always be in the field " 5 "; and so on, and digit-value " 9 '" will always be in the field " 9 " The 90 fields 10-19 are provided for intermediate recordings and the fields 20-39 to allow for processing time. The number 28 therefore, would be recorded in track a as shown in Fig 1 in such 95 a way that there is an " 8 " digit-value signal recorded within the field " 8 " in track a of sector r, whereas a digit-value signal " 2 " is recorded in the field " 2 " track a of sector II, and digit-value " O " is recorded within field 100 "O" track a of sector III, and further digitvalues " O " are recorded within the fields " O " of all the remaining sectors of the said track a. It is further to be seen from Fig 1 that the magnetisable layer may be regarded as divided 105 into side-by-side concentric tracks a-e; f,m and n, the said digit-value signals corresponding to " 28 " being shown in track a. During relative movement between the disc 7 and signal heads, the said different tracks are 110 traversed by these heads, which have recording, sensing and erasing means, the respective heads being fixed within the stator in appropriate positions. Whereas the tracks a, c, d and e are repre 115 sented generally as single tracks in the example now being described, the tracks b and f,-f, are shown as a plurality of sub-tracks, each being traversable by a recording, sensing and erasing head, these heads being either movable 120 from track to track or more usually there being signal heads for each track which can be switched on and off as required The sub-dividing of track b is illustrated fully in Figs 4 a and 4 b 125 Within the tracks c and d there are interruptions in the magnetisable layer Within each sector a magnetisable layer is present within track c only within the fields 0-9, whereas it is present within track d only within 13 C recording head 30 and therefore with the same ligit value, since the slots 26 and 26 ' are not displaced angularly relative to each other as shown latssr on in Fig 5 b If the slots 26

and Z 61 are mutually displaced angularly, then with 70 such a transfer of a signal from the sensed tack to the track under the recording head 30 i change of position angularly of the disc will take place in the same sector, and therefore with a change of digit value of the signal (see 75 Fig 5 c). Fig 2 b shows two signal heads 29-30 positioned side-by-side in such a way that the slot 26 of the sensing head 29 is distant from the slot 26 ' of the recording head 30 by one field 80 in the direction of the relative movement between the heads and the magnetizable layer. Fig 2 c shows a combined set of one sensing head 31 with slot 310 and ten recording heads 32 with slots 32 '-32 ' by means of which the 85 transfer of signals from one track to other tracks can be effected in such manner that any pre-determined changing of the position of the signal on the signal-carrier, e g, the magnetizable disc 7 can take place The slot 310 of the 90 sensing head 31 is in the same angular position as the slot 320 of the first of the recording heads 32, the slots 311, 322 329 of the other recording heads being progressively advanced angularly with respect to that of the 95 I previous recording heads by the extent of one digit value field. Fig 2 d represents the same set of heads as shown in Fig 2 c but in the working position relatively to a magnetizable signal carrier or 100 rezord means in the form of a disc, namely disc 7, this set of heads being able to change the position of signals in dependence on switches (not shown) and operating with one sensed track a and a track b divided into ten sub 105 tracks arranged side-by-side. Fig 2 e shorws an alternative arrangement in which such a set of heads operates with only two tracks a and b, track b not being subdivided The disc lies in the slots of the heads, '10 these being in line and signals are sensed in track a and recorded in track b The arrangement shown in Fig 2 d has the advantage that the several slots can be arranged much closer to each other, whereas the arrangement shown 15 in Fig 2 e is that it requires, no more space for track b than for track a. As shown in Fig 3 the signal heads are arranged as a stator over the rotating disc 7. There are different sets of signal heads to be 120 seen The signal head 31 is for the sensing of signals within track a, from whence these signals are Dicked up and are transferred by signal-transmission means, which are switchable, to the recording heads 32 -329 over the res 125 pective sub-tracks in tract b These elements for transferring signals from track a to track b are the digit-value-processing means. The sets of signal heads 33-38 are the signal heads of carry-over means Of these the 130 the fields 10-19 The non-magnetisable por r tions of these tracks are shown cross hatched c In addition to the

tracks a-e, which are c used for the processing of digit-value signals E there are two further tracks m and N which contain permanent signals In track N in each sector there is such a signal in field 0, and in 1 track m in each sector there are permanent signals in the fields 0-9 These permanent i signals are sensed by a sensing head, whereby from track N in each sector a zero signal can be put into the field " O " of for example track a, and track m provides registering signals for use during computation proceedings as described below. The recording, sensing and erasing of the magnetic signals on to and from the disc can be carried out in any manner known from magnetic tape sound technology and the like. Examples of signal heads and their manner of use are described in my copending Application No 37214/54 (Serial No 786,033). Fig 2 a shows a usual magnet head in diagramrnatic representation In particular, the iron core 25 is shown with a slot 26 and a winding 27, the head overlying the magnetic layer 28 of the disc 7 A magnetic flux in the head induced by an electric current within the winding 27 flows through the arms of the iron core 25 and partly through the magnetic layer 28 and thereby brings about an increased magnetic saturation of this layer, and the remanent magnetising-effect within the magnetisable layer 28 constitutes a signal which may be of any of the known recordable types. The sensing of such magnetically recorded signals takes place in the reverse manner, by means of sensing heads or sensing windings in the same heads as the recording windings A magnetic signal which passes the slot 26 of a sensing head brings about a change of voltage within the winding of that head, which constitutes a signal and which when amplified can be used for computation or control functions or the like. Erasing takes place mainly by means of energizing an erasing head by a high-frequency current Alternatively, the erasing could take place by a suitable direct current erasing head, which would saturate the magnetic layer and again demagnetize it to bring about the original condition of such layer The sensing and recording heads may, as shown in Figs 2 b2 c, be mechanically united into a set of two or more heads In this case the sensing can take place with the aid of a sensing head and the subsequent recording with the aid of a recording head if they are connected to each other over signal transmission means, for co example, an amplifier If the sensing and recording slots 26 and 26 ' of this combination of heads are in alignment radially of the disc then a magnetic signal passing the sensing head is transmitted from the sensed track to the corresponding field in the track under the 786,049 signal heads 33-34 are for separating or distinguishing between signals on track b which are equal to or lower than a

denominational limit value, for example, digit value 9, and those on track b which exceed that liniting value, the former being recorded on track c and the latter on track d Signal heads 35 are for the performance of the carry-over of the digit value " 1 " from the preceding denomination. The transfer from the tracks c and d to the track e is effected by the signal heads 36-38. When transferring from track c to track e there is no change of digit-value, whereas when 1 5 transferring from track d to tract e value diminishing means are provided comprising signal heads 37-38 There are provided also means which determine whether, within the next denomination, the recording heads 34 or 35 shall operate, dependent upon whether or not there are signals in track d for transfer to track e Only one arrangement of these sets of signal heads is provided irrespective of the number of sectors on the rotating disc such one arrangement processing different denominations in succession. The tracks f-#; of Fig 1 are for the recording of the results of 12 numbers, that is to say, for example, the calculator with twelve tracks fi-fl is a twelve-number calculator. By enlarging the size of the disc or by arranging a second or more discs moving together in synchronism it is possible to have as many signal-tracks as are required for any number of numbers. As there is high-speed relative movemnent between the record means and the signal heads, there is an air gap between the relatively moving parts preventing friction, but determining a recording and/or sensing of signals in the required frequency and intensity. Fig 4 a shows diagrammatically the different fields on the rotating disc in which signals can be recorded -whereas Fig 4 b shobws in which different fields of the stator the sensing, recording and erasing heads are prodived Both these diagrams show the different sectors as rectangles in order to have enough room to show exactly the different fields in which the signals are to be recorded, and in which the different signal heads are arranged For convenience the tracks f,-f are omitted from Figs 4 a and 4 b their purpose being similar to that of track e. Fig 4 a also shows diagrammatically the different sectors, fields and tracks of the manetizable disc 7, used as a signal carrier or record means Four sectors of a thirteen-sector disc are shown, placed next to one another as r O rectangles, the third from the left representing the identical sectors m 11-,II The comnplete signal carrier comprises the thirteen sectors, of which the sectors I-XII are used as record means, for processing up to twelve denominations The diagram shows sector II at the right of sector I, but it is to be understood that on the disc sector II is arranged in sequence to sector I, so that the

fields 0-40 of the sector I have their continuation in the fields 0-40 of the sector II, which lead again in continuation to the 40 fields of a sector III, and so on and finally to the fields of the sector XII and then to the switching sector XIII. The permanent signals for " zero " in track n and for registering purposes in the fields 75 0-9 of track 7 t which are used as signal generators in combination with sensing heads, are indicated by stroke markings with the fields of the track mn and n Within track a is shown the recording of the number 028 by 80 means of signals within the field 8 of sector I, being the sigral for the lasc denomination 8 of this number 028, and within field 2 of sector II bcing the nonel for the nenultimate denominat on c'o such number: 85 both such signals being indicated in the diagram Fig 4 a by hatched fields in the track a In' th' fo 11 v'-ino sectors IIIX 1 T there would be signals onlv in the fields 0 of track a, ?nd the comeote reccrdin wo O lcd 90 therefore represent the number 00900000028. Corresponding in pesition to the ten recording heads 32 of the digit value disp larcement arrangement the track b is made up into ten sub-tracks, this as above stated allowing of 95 an easier construction and arrangement of the sets of signal heads with their slots in a small angular distance. Within the fields 0-9 of the tracks c and d there is a magnetizable layer in track c only, IOC whereas in track d the said fields are not magnetizable, the layer being absent The crosswise hatched lines indicate that there is no Possibility for recording within the fields as indicated, as in these the layer is removed M( 19 in order to separate signals having a digit value equal to and lower than 9 and which are recorded on track c, from those whose digit value is higher than 9 and are recorded on track d For the same reason there is no mag 1 netizable layer within the fields 10-19 in track c, whereas the same fields in track d can magnetized Finally track e constitutes the result track. Fig 4 b shows diagrammatically an example " 1 of the arrangement ofr the signal heads within the stator For indicating the different types of signal head the following symbols are used:-I+ a recording head o a sensing head I 3 a non-switching erasing head, and O a switchable erasing head. This diagram makes it possible to describe by means of symbols the exact position of the signal heads within the stator, and the dif 175 ferent kinds of signal heads. To facilitate the description, the following symbols will be used A signal head of the stator within sector I, track a, field 9, is

symbolized e g in all the following diagrams by: 13 C 78 'S CA,q 786,049 I a 9; a signal head of the stator within sector I, track b, field 9 is symbolized e g in all the following diagrams by I b 9 etc. In order to simplify the description of the position of the signal heads arranged within the stator, their position is indicated by a combined symbolism of letters and figures The Roman figure indicates the sector of the stator, in which the signal head is to be found, the small following letter indicates the track in which the signal head is situated, and the figure finally indicates the field within the sector of the track in which the slot of the signal head is situated. " I a 9 " indicates, therefore, that the slot of this signal head is in sector I, track a and field 9 of the stator. In the stator there are provided sensing and recording heads for the following processes: COMPUTING PROCESS ( 1): DIGIT VALUE PROCESSING. This process effects the change of the digit value of a signal in dependence of another digit value The means for this process comprise sensing heads 32 in the stator fields I b 0 to I b 9 for the signal transfer from track a to track b, see A in Fig 4 b. COMPUTING PROCESSES ( 2)-( 5): CARRYOVER PROCESSES. COMPUTING PROCESS ( 2) Within this process is effected the statement, whether the resulting sum of the digit values of the respective denomination exceeds the limiting value, and further, on the carryover forwarding by a correction of the resulting digit value by " 1 " in dependence on a carryover pre-mark signal of the preceding denomination. The means for this computing process comprise sensing head 33 in stator position I b 19, recording heads 341 and 342 in stator positions I c 19 and I d 19 and the recording heads 35 ' and 35 ' in stator positions I c 18 and I d 18 for the signal transfer from track b to track c or d. (B of Fig 4 b). COMPUTING PROCESS ( 3) The unchanged transfer of the digit value signals, if the sum of the digit values does not exceed the limiting value, the means for this process 3 comprising sensing head 36 in stator position II c 5 and recording head 38 in stator position II e 5, for the signal transfer from track c to track e (C of Fig 4 b). COMPUTING PROCESS ( 4) The digit value diminishing within the same denomination and the pre-marking of a carryover as correction of a resulting digit value in the following denomination is effected by the means of this process, if the resulting sum of the digit value exceeds the limiting value. The means of this process comprise sensing head 37 in stator position I d 35 and recording head 38 in stator position II e 5 for the signal

transfer from track d to track e (D of Fig 4 b). COMPUTING PROCESS ( 5) The addition of the " fugitive one " in subtraction and the re-transfer to track a The means for this process are the sensing head 58 in stator position XIII e 19 and the recording heads 59 and 60 in stator positions XIII a 19 and XIII a 18 for the signal transfer from track e to track a (E of Fig 4 b). Erasing heads are provided in the stator positions II a-d 19 and XII e 39 The erasing heads in the tracks b and e are uncontrolled. They automatically erase the signals from these tracks after they have been processed. The erasing head in track a is effective only during addition or subtraction processes It is provided with a compensation winding, by which the erasing effect can be moved if no further addition or subtraction is to be effected, for several rotations may run through without processing, for instance, in multiplication or division or if, instead of computing, sensing for indicating the result is to be effective. During a co-operation with the selective storage it is likewise necessary to make use of controlled erasing heads in tracks which are to receive signals from the selective storage or are to deliver signals for the result and the like into storage. COMPUTING PROCESSES FOR ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION. 1 DIGIT VALUE PROCESSING IN ADDITION 95 Computing by means of such a signal carrier or record means and signal heads depends on the changing of the position of signals on the signal carrier, in this case the magnetizable disc 7 The description of the computing pro 100 cesses therefore requires first an explanation as to how the signals representing the digit values in a number are recorded A part of the tracks a of the signal carrier is therefore shown enlarged and elongated in the various 105 diagrams of Figs 5 a-5 c. Fig 5 a shows two sectors of the track a (sectors I and II) for the recording of the last and penultimate denominations of the number 028, and the subdivision of these two sectors 110 into four times ten fields The sectors are noted with Roman figures I and II, starting with the last denomination of a number which is to be represented Thus, for example, for the recording of the number 028 sector I is provided for 115 the recording of the signal of the last denomination, which is in this case the digit value 8, whereas the signal which represents the digit value 2 of the penultimate denomination of this number is recorded within the sector II 120 The next sectors II/IV etc record only signals in the fields for the digit value 0. The recording of a signal representing the digit value 8 takes place within the field 8 of the first quarter of the sector I by means of an increased or otherwise altered remanence of the magnetizable layer or

in any other suitable known manner (e g a change of amplitude, frequency, phase, etc) The recording of the digit value 2 (penultimate digit) takes place in a corresponding manner by means of a magnetic signal within the field 2 of the first quarter of the sector II With numbers which contain more than two denominations signals for the corresponding digit values are recorded in the remaining sectors; in this example (" 028 ") the digit value 0 is recorded in the remaining sectors. For the transfer of signals in a sector from one track to another, for instance from track a to track b a sensing head is located within the track a and a recording head is located within the track b In Fig 5 b two such signal heads are connected over an amplifier, being symbolized by the usual amplifier symbol If the slot of the sensing head 29 and of the recording head 30, as shown in this example, are in the tracks a and b respectively but in the same line of stator fields and within the same sector, signals recorded in tracks a with the record means rotating in the direction of the arrow, are sensed from track a, and transferred to track b without a change of their digit value position In Fig 5 b the signal 8 is being sensed within the track a in exactly the same moment when the field 8 of track b passes below the slot of the recording head 30 as the two slots of the sensing and recording heads are in the same line of fields, whereby the sensed signal for 8 on track a is recorded again as a signalfor 8 on track b With further movement of the signal carrier to the extent of one sector, the digit value 2 in the track a in the sector II, that is the penultimate denomination of the number 028 is likewise transferred unchanged in value on to track b as a magnetic signal in field 2 of the sector II, since sector II, field 2, track a of the rotor passes below the slot of the sensing head 29 just at the moment when sector II field 2 of the track b is below the slot of the recording head 30. If, however, as demonstrated in Fig 5 c the slot of the sensing head 29 is displaced from the slot of the recording head 30 by one field, for example, if the slot of this recording head is just over the field 9 oft the sector I, then the magnetic signal of track a in field S induces a voltage in the sensing head, and the recording head produces a magnetic signal in the magnetizable layer, of track b and in a position altered by one field compared with the original signal in track a. By means of this displacement of the heads by one field, the signals when being transferred from track a to track b are changed in position so that the digit value of the signal sensed on track a is increased by " one " on transfer to track b. Figs 6 a-6 c shows the computing process C'e i CC 9, 35-Sg G 023 5 =c

02 i" 8 The T g 6 a shows the keyboard 1 with the different vertical and horizontal rows of contacts The horizontally connected contacts 16-165 indicate the different digit-values 0-9, - wviereas the 70 vertical rows of contacts 15 15 ' indicate the different denominations, for example, 151 is the row of contacts for the last or unit denomination of a number, 152 is the row for the penultimate or tens denomination of the number, 75 152 is the row for the hundreds denomination, and so on In Figs 6 a-6 c the full keyboard 1 shows that in the last denomination there is pressed down the key " 8 ", which has made a contact between the horizontal contact line 80 16 ' and the vertical contact line 15 ', such contact being maintained so long as -this key is kept down In the contact row for the penultimate denomination, there is pressed down the key " 2 " which connects the horizontal contact 85 line 162 for the digit value 2 with the vertical contact line 152 Therefore within the full keyboard, the number 28 is introduced into the calculator As there are no keys pressed down in the preceding vertical rows of contacts 153 go ' there is indicated an " O " because contacts below row 16 are normally connected but are separated when and so long as another key in the same vertical row is pressed down Also, Fig Ga show,7,rs the sector switch 22 with peri 95 pheral contacts 39 '-39 ' and a centre contact This contact 40 is connected to the anode circuit of the amplifier 41 which amplifies signals from the sensing head 31 which, as shown, is sensing a signal in track a at slot 31 The lbc peripheral contacts 391-39 ' are connected to the respective vertical contact rows 15 '-151 as shown and are wiped by the contact 42 which rotates with the sector switch. In Fig 6 a the arm 42 is wiping the peri 105 pheral contact 391 and at that instant only digit values in the vertical row 151 can be processed. Fig 6 a also shows that the sensing head 31 over track a of the rotating disc 7 is sensing the signal " O " in the digit value field " O " li C of sector I, which signal is transferred over the amplifier 41 to the centre contact 40 of the sector switch 22 and wiping arm 42 to the peripheral contact 39 ' thence to the vertically connected contacts in row 151 and through the 115 closed contact below the depressed key " 8 " via the horizontal connection 16 ' to one side of the winding of the recording head having the slot 32 ', see also Fig 2 c-2 d There is thus recorded in track b a signal in field 8 of sector 12 ( I representing the computation " O + 8 = 8 ", effected by the digit value processing means. The other side of the winding of the recording head is connected back to the amplifier 41 again Instead of zero signals being sensed from 125 track a they may be, in certain cases, sensed on track N and

conveyed to the amplifier 41, the alternatives being determined by the switch 43. Fig 6 b shows the same processing means for 13 C 786,049 786,049 dealing with the digit values " O + 2 = 2 " or " 00 + 20 = 20 " of the penultimate denomination of the number 028 There is again shown the keyboard 1 with pressed down keys " 20 " and 8 " so that, within the penultimate vertical contact row 152 the key 2 " is pressed down to close the contacts below it By this means there is a connection between the vertical contact row 152 and the horizontal contact row 16 ' Within the sector I 1 the sensing head 31, after passing over the area of sector 1, senses a signal 0 in the track a (or n) which, through the amplifier 41, the sector switch 22 and the contacts 39 of the depressed key is transmitted to the recording head with slot 32 ', whereby a signal is recorded in track b in field 2 representing the computation " 00 + = 20 " In the same manner, sectors IHI, IV and V and so on in track b receive a zero signal transmitted through an amplifier 41, sector switch 22 and the normally closed contacts in rows 153-15 ', representing the computations " 000 + 000 = 000 " according to Fig 6 c. Figs 7 a-7 c show the digit-value processing (without subsequent carry-over) for the addition of the numbers:" O 2: 8 + O 9 1 -0 11 9 " within the sectors III, II, I for the three last denominations of numbers 028 and 091. Fig 7 a shows sector I of the tracks a and b during that instant of the relative movement between signal carrier and signal heads, when sector I field 8 of track a is below the slot 310 of the sensing head which is in the position I a 9 in the stator (see Fig 4 b). Over the track b there is again shown the set of the ten recording heads with their slots 32 -329 each displaced by one field from the next within the stator positions I b 9 to I b 0. These recording heads receive electric signals induced in the sensing head 31 and transmitted via the amplifier 41, the sector switch 22 and the contacts of key " 1 ", (representing the last denomination of the number 91) and the horizontal connection 161 to recording head with slot 321 representing the computation " 8 + 1 = 9 " As the slot 32 ' of the energized recording head is displaced from the slot 310 of the sensing head by one field, the magnetic signal of the recorded digit value on to track b will in this case be " 9 ", instead of the sensed digit value " 8 " The displacement by one field effects an addition of " 1 " by these processing means These processing means are referred to in the following description as "amplifying circuit A ". With the further relative movement of the rotor with respect to the signal heads, a magnetic signal in the sector II, field 2, of track a

(digit value of the penultimate digit of the number " 28 ") passes under the slot 31 of the sensing head This moment is shown in Fig 7 b. As 20 and 90 are now to be added tne record 65 ing head 32 ' is switched in within the sector II of the disc 7 so that the magnetic signal " 2 " in sector II track a is changed in position by 9 fields when transferred from track a to track b and is recorded as " 11 " in sector II 70 of track b. As on the further relative movement of the rotor by one sector, the recording head becomes effective in sector ill, in dependence on the connection of the horizontal line 16 ' to 75 the vertical row 15 ' for the third-last denomination of the number, and the sensing head 31 in the position I a 9 of the stator is connected with the recording head 32 ' in position I b 9 via the amplifier 41, sector switch 22 and the zero con 80 tacts in row 16 ' of the keyboard 1, so that there is no changing of digit value position during the signal transfer from track a to track b. The means for changing the digit value position of signals during transfer from track to 85 track are called in the following description value-processing means They operate within the example so far described during a transfer from track a to track b The result received on track b by an addition of " 0: 2: 8 to 0: 9: 90 1 " by means of the set of signal heads 31-32 in combination with the digit value switches in lines 16 -16 ' and the amplifier 41 will be " 0: 11:9 " These signals are recorded in track b as an intermediate result of the corm 95 puting processes effected by the processing means as shown in Figs 7 a-7 c In order to transform this intermediate result " 0:11:9 " into the final result " 1: 1:9 " a carry-over is still essential and is effected by carry-over 100 means operating in this example during signal transfer from track b to tracks c and d and from those tracks to track e. The several phases of these processes may be brought together by corresponding switch 105 means and the like As it is possible, however, to demonstrate in this example the different operations in different phases, the following description will explain this. 2 CARRY-OVER The carry-over means which is illustrated diagrammatically in Figs 8 a-8 c and 9 a-9 c consists of signal-separating means, valuediminishing means, and signal-forwarding means. a CASES EXCEEDING THE LIMITING VALUE AND FORWARDING THE CARRY-OVER INTO THE NEXT DENOMINATION. The separating means are for separating signals representing resulting digit values equal to or lower than a predetermined digit value (e.g, " 9 ") from signals representing resulting digit values which are higher than such predetermined digit value They comprise, in the

example now described, means for a signal transfer from track b to tracks c and d; usually sensing head 33, the recording heads 341342, the amplifier, 44 non-magnetizable areas in the fields " 10-19 " of track c and nonmagnetizable area 46 in the fields " 0-9 " of track d, and also two recording heads 35 '352, being distant from the recording heads 34 I-342 by one field in each case and being effective as forwarding means, if a carry-over oef 1 " into the next sector has to be efected. The transfer of signals from track b to the track c or d takes place via " the amplifier circuit B " which consists of the amplifier 44, the forwarding switch 47 having two ways 48 and 49, a sensing head 33 in the position E b 19 n the stator, two recording heads 341-34 ' in the positions I c 19 and I d 19 within the stator for the separating of signals and two further recording heads 351 J 352, being distant from the recording heads 341-34 by one field in each case and being efiiective as means for forwarding the value " 1 " if a carry-over into the next sector has to be efflected The recording heads 34 '-34 are connected in parallel and connected to switch way 48 whilst 351352 are in parallel and connected to switch way 49 of the forwarding switch 47 All the signal heads are suitable mounted fixedly on the frame 21. By means of the chequered arrangement of magnetizable and non-magnetizable areas 4546 of the tracks c and d, the recording of any one signal can only take place either in the track c or in the track d since at any one instant there is only one of the slots in each pair of the recording heads 341342 and 35 L 352 over a magnetizable layer Within the tracks c and d signals of digit values lower than or equal to 9, are therefore always recordable only on the track c, whereas digit value signals exceeding " 9 " are always recordable only on the track d. In Fig 8 a the separating of the signal " 9 " sensed from the track b in sector I is effective during the transfer of that signal from track b to tracks c and d only in track c, notwithstanding that it is presented to both tracks, and the effect is that the signal " 9 " of track b is now recorded in the field position " 9 on the track c whilst on track d no recording can take place. If the forwarding switch 47 were in switch c position 49, it would connect the amplifier 44 with the second pair of recording heads 351352 In such event a forwarding of the signal " 9 " fromn track b would take place, so that there would be a change of digit value position by " 1 " and a signal " 10 " in track d would result This forwarding switch 47 as is described later may consist of a plurality of electronic tubes but alternatively could consist of relays or other suitable switch means.

Fig 8 b shows the separating of the magnetic signal " 11 " sensed from track b in sector II, after a rotation of the disc 7 by one sector. As a magnetizable layer in field " 11 " is provided in the track d only, a transfer of a signal " 11 " from the track b to the tracks c and d can only be efective on track d, in field " 11 " in sector II of that track. With the procedure described hitherto in the example 02 t;+ 091 = 119 ", the first sum 028 is still in track a During the transfer from track a to track b, namely, during the value changing by the processing means, there has taken place a changing of the digit value position by one field because of the pressed down key '" i in the last denomination row 151 of the keyboard 1 having been effective within sector I of the magnetizable disc, as controlled by the sector switch 22 (see Fig 7 a). Alter a relative movement by one sector there has taken place within sector II a changing oi the digit value position of the signal 2 in a by " nine fields because of the pressed down key " 9 in the penultimate denomination row 152 of the keyboard i, " 028 + 091 = 0:11:9 " having been erected within the sector II as controlled by the sector switch 22 (Fig 7 b). Within sector III no change of signal position has taken place during this transfer from track a to track b as the sector switch 22 has made only zero contacts esective (see Fig 2 c). After the separating means has been effective in the three different sectors, according to Figs 8 a-8 c during a transfer from track b to tracks c and a, the signals are now to be found in the tracks a, b, c and d as follows: Track a b c d Sector III 0 0 Sector II 2 Sector I 8 9 t b NON-DIMINISHING OR DIMINISHING THE DIGIT VALUE IN THE SAME DENOMINATION. To complete the processing a diminishing 10 o means is required Such means is operated during a transfer of the signals from the tracks c and d to the result track e, as shown in Figs. 9 a-9 c This transfer is effected in such a way that two sensing heads 36-37 are connected lie respectively via the amplifiers 50 and 51 to the windings of the recording head 38 The sensing head 36 is in position Ii c 5 over track c, whereas the recording head is in the stator position II e 5 over the track e Therefore, sig 115 nals on the track c are transferred to the track e with the same digit value For example, in Fig 9 a, the transferring of the signal " 9 " in sector I from track c to track e is shown. The diminishing means consists of two 120 amplifier circuits, the amplifier circuit C, by which those signal are transferred from track c to track e when no diminishing is to take place, and the amplifier circuit D for transferring signals from track d to track e, whilst 125

at the same time diminishing them in digit value by a corresponding change of digit value position The extent by which diminishing 786,049 786,049 takes place (diminishing value) depends upon the limiting value For example, in decimal notation it would be by 10 fields, and in converting pence to shillings it would be by 12 fields, and so on. The amplifier circuit C consists of a winding of the recording head 38 in the stator position II e 5, the amplifier 50 and the sensing head 36 over the track c in position II c 5 The amplifier circuit D consists of another or the same winding on sensing head 38 in the stator position II e 5, the amplifier 51 and the sensing head 37 which is distant by 10 fields from the recording head 38 over track d in the stator position I d 35 The amplifier circuit D controls the carry-over forwarding switch 47 of circuit B and which moves over from position 48 to position 49, dependent upon whether signals As the n of the D, th d to digit so th: recor " 1 ", fer ei tube energ switc so th or 11 next TI withi 7 c ti proc ings acc OI On t show' over over sectc ing s N, III f meai chan the 0 erase posii resp oper so t foun T These result signals may either be transferred back to track a for further processing, or transferred to one of the tracks f,-f,,, or transferred to output means. Subtraction may be effected by utilising complementary values, the transfer of signals between heads being effected in a manner similar to that already described for addition. Further examples of addition and examples of subtraction are set out in detail in my copending Application No 15773/50 (Serial No. 786,021). For a better understanding these are described in the following electric switching means for the different single processes 1-5, which connect the sensing heads with the recording heads. ire being sensed from track c or track d 1 DIGIT VALUE PROCESSING MEANS FOR PROwith the further rotation of the disc 7 CESS 1 IN AMPLIFIER CIRCUIT A. iagnetic signal " 11 " runs below the slot The processing means, which are in prim 85 e sensing head 37 of the amplifier circuit ciple described above (the Figs 5-7) ere takes place, on the transfer from track effect the transfer of a signal from track a to track e, a field displacement (change of track b In Fig 10 a the arrangement is shown value position) of the signal by ten fields by means of symbols The transfer of signals at the magnetic signal " 11 " on track d is from track a by the sensing head 31 in stator 90 ded in track e diminished to the value field I a 9 to one of the recording heads in field 1 of track e (Fig 9 b) This trans 32 in stator fields 1 b 9-0 effects the fects also the ignition of the gas discharge change of the position or

displacement of the 52 of the forwarding switch 47 and by computing signals for digit values This transgizing the relay winding 53 effects a fer is effected via a low frequency amplifier 41 95 hing over from the way 48 to the way 49 as an equivalent for the losses of the airslot, of at on the transfer from track b to track c the leakage field and magnetizing losses, etc, rack d the signal is forwarded into the at the transfer and via the digit value switches sector m (and denomination switches 540-D). he transfer from tracks c and d to track e In Fig l Ob the contacts of the horizontal 100 in sector III is shown in Fig 9 c In Fig contact rows 16 '-', which are arranged below iere has been shown the operating of the the keys of the full keyboard 1, correspond to assing means with amplifier circuit A dur- the above-mentioned switches 54 The cona signal transfer from track a to track b tacts are made effective beginning from the last :ding to the computation: " 0 + 0 = 0 " denomination successively by the sector switch 105 he transfer from track b to tracks c and d 22 with the single distributor contacts 391 to in in Fig 8 c the forwarding of the carry 39 In the example shown the number 028 is signal " 1 " was controlled by a tens carry pressed down within the keyboard in similar signal from the previous denomination in manner with reference to Fig 6. Dr II, via the switch way 49 of the forward At the full keyboard the distributing con 110 switch 47 tacts 39 ' are connected with the vertical Cow the transfer of the signal " 1 " in sector denomination contacts 151-15 ' (compare also rom track c to track e, takes place by Fig 6 and 7). is of the amplifier circuit C without any When using a tens keyboard of one of the ge of digit value position, and therefore usual book-keeping machines the denomina 115 signal " 1 " is recorded in track e tion contacts 15 '-15 ' would have to be subrn the further rotation of the disc 7 the stituted, however, by denomination contacts r heads 61-64 (see Figs 3 and 4 b stator controlled by the denomination position of the dions II a-d 19) of the tracks a, b, c and d booking-carriage or the like whereby these ectively which are permanently effective, denomination contacts are adjustable 120 ate to remove the signals in those tracks, The denomination switches (sector switches) hat only in the track c are signals to be can be as the Figs lob to l Og show, electroid, as follows: mechanical, or electronic distributing switches. rack Sector III Sector II Sector I Electronic switches for instance can be disa charge tubes, which are switched on succes 125 b sively according to the relative position of the c rotor to the stator. d On the other hand there can be used e 1 1 9 switches which are practically without inertia -10 736,049 directly as the digit value

switches 54 o-549, for instance by means of a tens keyboard or the like, wherein the digit value signals are not switched directly, but are first recorded for instance in a magnetic storage or record means. For the understanding of the digit value processing at higher speed it is sufficient to know that the unit is provided with a practically inertia-less control device, which makes effective those digit values for the different denominations which are recorded in the corresponding sectors I, II, III, etc. a AMPLIFIER CIRCUIT BY CONTACT SWITCHING. The operation of the amplifier circuit by contact switching and full keyboard is as follows: The sensing head 31 in stator field I a 9 (corresponding to the stator diagram of the Fig. 4 a) is connected according to Fig lob with the control grid and the cathode resistance of the pentode 67 of the amplifier 41 The voltage surge, which is generated within the sensing head 31 by the passing magnetic signal, is made effective after its amplification via a coupling capacitor 69 at the control grid of the discharge tube 68 The capacitor 70 is loaded via the resistance 71, so that its voltage is only a little below the ignition voltage of the discharge tube 68, as the discharge tube is biassed by means of the resistance 72 Due to the high resistance 71, only a single discharge occurs within each sector. A signal, coming from the sensing head 31 and amplified by the pentode 67 effects the ignition of the discharge tube 68 and subsequently the discharge of the capacitor 70 The current surge resulting from the discharge of the capacitor 70 is conveyed to one of the recording heads (Fig lob recording head 32 ' in stator field I b 1) via the contact below the pressed down key " 8 " of the keyboard 1 which connects the vertical row 151 with the horizontal row 16 ', via the contact 391 of the sector switch, wiping contact 42 in sector I position and central contact 40 of the sector switch 22 The bias is preferably stabilized by an electronic stabilizer (not shown) In case a transfer process according to Fig 6 a the magnetic signal " 8 " is recorded by the discharge tube 68 via the recording head 325 in stator field I b 1 at the instant, when the magnetic signal in field 0 sector I track a of the rotor passes the slot of the sensing head 31 and in track b the field 8 passes the slot of the recording head 328 in stator field I b 1, whereby this recording head is switched on by the pressed down coordinated key of the last denomination on the keyboard By this means the magnetic signal " 8 " is recorded as the resulting signal of the addition of the "zero-signal" plus " 8 " on track b ( 0 + 8 = 8). In order to ensure that the signals receive a defined position within track b, which is independent of the exactness of the position of the 6 signals sensed within track a, at the transfer from track a to track

b an electronic " registering " is provided This registering effects the recording of the resulting signals at defined fields regardless of little inaccuracies which 7 may occur in a longer row of additions. In this case the electronic registering records the result according to computing process The amplifier circuit A which is co-ordinated to this process is also designed for a higher counting 7 speed by the arrangement of reliable electronic means. Fig 1 Oc shows this modification of the switching diagram of this amplifier circuit It effects by means of an additional registering 8 ( circuit, that during one computing period at the transfer from track a to track b the signals for the results are recorded at defined fields by signal switching control means, which are operating either with photo-sensing or an 8 ' inductive signal generator. In this figure the sensing head 31 is connected with the control grid and the basic point of the cathode resistance of the amplifier tube 74 Photo-cell 79 makes it possible to take 9 c from punchcards the computing signals in a photo-electric way Voltage signals occurring in the sensing head 31 in stator field I a 9 cause the pre-amplifier pentode 74 to ignite the pre-relay discharge tube 73 via the coupling 9 ' capacitor 75 and open hereby the pentode 67, which then receives the required screen grid voltage as a voltage drop at the resistance 77 in the discharge circuit of the discharge tube 73 on discharge of the capacitor 86 loi The opened pentode 67 is the amplifier tube for the signal markings (magnetic or optic on the signal carrier), whereby in case of magnetic markings the sensing is effected by the sensing head 76 in stator field XIII nz 19 or in 10: case of optic markings by photocell 78 Hereby either the sensing head 76 is excited by magnetic signals within track m or the photocell 78 is excited by corresponding optical markings Both means, signal head as well as photo 1 ii cell, effect in the same way, via the pentode 67 the discharge of capacitor 70 via the discharge tube 68 This discharge will become effective by that recording head, which is switched on by its co-ordinated digit value switch 54 (see 11 l Fig l Ob) and hereby effects the recording of signals on track b displaced according to the computing process 1 (" processing "). b AMPLIFIER CIRCUIT A BY ELECTRONIC SWITCHING 12 C In Figs ld and 10 e are shown as modifications of the sector switch 22 (compare Figs 6, 7, and lob), designed as a contact distributor, a rotating magnetic yoke as an inductively effective signal distributing arm Such 12 i a signal distributor arm will be preferably used at speeds, at which contact distributors like the sector switch 22 are unreliable The signal disvia the pentode 87 and the discharge distributor tubes 88 '', of which there is provided one for each denomination of the full keyboard 1 Such discharge distributor tubes 88 s operate together with the

contact rows 151-15 ' 70 Only at the ignition of one of these distributing tubes 881-888 the full keyboard will be effective in that vertical denomination row, which is co-ordinated with the ignited tube. Therefore all the discharge tubes 88 W-88 75 have a defined voltage drop between anode and cathode, which is below the ignition voltage (it is to be preferred to stabilize the voltage by stabiliser 89) The control grids of the discharge tubes 881-88 ' are adjusted negatively 80 compared to the cathode by means of the voltage division between resistance and secondary coil 82 of the respective discharge This voltage drop (low ohmic coil) has such a dimension that at the ignition of one of the discharge 85 tubes 88 '-88 ' the voltage at all the other discharge tubes is decreasing almost to the arcvoltage, so that ignitions of other discharge tubes 881-88 ' of this circuit is prevented. Before the "zero "-position of a sector is 90 reached during the rotation of the signal carrier disc 7 the discharge tube which corresponds to this particular value must be ignited. Immediately after the sensing head 31 has been excited in stator field I a 9 (see above), 95 the capacitor 70 is discharged by the registering signals via the discharge tube 68 and resistance 90. The voltage drop, which is effected at resistance 90 " opens " the pentode 87 and loo effects a strong current surge in its plate circuit. The discharge tube 88 ', which is ignited, tries to keep its arc-voltage despite the enlarged current of the pentode 87, and therefore a volt 105 age surge in the switched-on recording head 323 in stator field I b 1 (pressed down key " 8 " of the last denomination of the keyboard)is effected, which in turn effects the recording of the resulting digit value signal 110 By means of pentode 91 and discharge tube 92 the extinction of the discharge tubes 88188 ' is precisely controlled at the end of the passing of each sector For this purpose there is sensed either a permanent magnetic signal 115 by a signal head or, as a variation, a permanent optic signal sensed by a photocell is used as an extinguishing signal This signal, which is preferably the permanent "zero "-signal in each sector in track n, is sensed by the sensing 120 head 93 and effects an ignition of discharge tube 92 via a coupling capacitor By the resistance 94, the cathode of pentode 87 will be for a short time strongly positive compared with the voltage on the control grid Thus 125 pentode 87 will be closed for a short while and the ignited discharge tube 881 will be extinguished by the blocking of the plate current. According to the position of the switch 121, an output can be obtained via a distributor 23 a 130 tributing arm 80 is fixed on shaft 18

(compare Fig 1) in a position defined by key 84. Eig l Of shows the distributing arm in a stator 85. In the stator, primary coils 81 "-" and secondary coils 82 '-", magnetically connected at one side as pairs, by the stationary yokes 83 are arranged If the primary coils are connected electrically in series, as it shall be presumed for the cause of simplification and if during the rotating of the rotor these primary coils are constantly energized, f i direct current, the secondary coils, by the passage of the distributor arm 80, receive voltage surges. These voltage surges are generated within those secondary coils, which are co-ordinated to the corresponding sector, for instance, the secondary coil 821 for sector I, the secondary coil 82 ' for sector II, the secondary coil 82 ' for sector III and so on by an inductive effect at the changing or cutting of the magnetic field by the distributor arm and therefore the changing of the magnetic coupling between coils 81 and 82. In total the stator contains 13 pairs of primary and secondary coils, whereby each sector of the signal carrier 7 has a co-ordinated pair of these coils. The signal distributor arm 80 connects magnetically in turn the primary coil with the secondary coil of each pair of coils and the connection is effected at the beginning of each sector During the time of the passing of the signal distributor arm 80 over a pair of coils this forms an amplified coupling and therefore a lower resistance via the signal distributing arm 80 and the closed magnetic circuit acts as a transformer. Fig l Og shows the wiring of the amplifier circuit A with electronic denomination or sector switches operated inductively by the signal distributor arm. In detail (as in Fig lic) the pentode 74 of amplifier circuit A amplifies the signals sensed in the signal head 31 in stator field I a 9 The amplified signals are led via the coupling capacitor 75 to the discharge tube 73 and effect its ignition to discharge capacitor 86 The screen grid voltage of pentode 67 is effected by a voltage drop at resistance 77. The electronic registering is effected by means of the permanent signals in track m, whereby the signals are sensed from the signal carrier by means of sensing heads 76 As an alternative there can also be used a photocell 78 for sensing optically marked permanent signals in a track corresponding to track m but in an optical way After the amplification by the pentode 67 they effect the ignition of the discharge tube 68. The recording heads 32 in stator fields I b 9-0 are not directly connected with the discharge circuit of the discharge tube 68 as in

Fig l Oc via a contact sector switch 22 The discharge tube 68 control only the recording 786,049 or a visual indicating unit (flash tube 150 utilised as a stroboscopic light source). It will be appreciated that in an arrangement such as that shown in Fig l Ob or l Oc, the lines from the keyboard which are shown connected to the heads 32 o-1 may instead be connected to the grids of a plurality of gas tubes The firing of such gas tubes under control of the keyboard setting is then used to control the energising of the appropriate head. This arrangement avoids any direct connection between the keyboard and the recording heads. THE DIGIT VALUE CARRY-OVER MEANS. The digit value carry-over means comprise: amplifier circuit B, the separating means, which distinguish between resulting digit values of the computing process 1 below or equal to those above a limiting value, and the forwarding means, which effects the carryover forwarding into the next denomination by a displacement of the resulting digit value within the said denomination by " 1 " These carryover means are effective at a signal transfer from track b to track c or d. Amplifier circuit C operates to transfer an unchanged signal from track c to track e. Amplifier circuit D includes diminishing means for the diminishing of the resulting digit values within the same denomination and means for the forwarding of pre-mark signals to the next denomination at the signal transfer from track d to track e. Amplifier circuit E includes means for retransfer of signals from track e to track a and for taking regard of the " fugitive one ". 2 THE SEPARATING AND FORWARDING MEANS. The arrangement is shown by symbols in Fig 11 a The transfer of digit value signals is, as already described in Figs 8 a-8 c effective from track b by means of sensing head 33 in stator field I b 19 to track c or d via the recording head pairs 34 ' and 342, in stator fields I c and d 19 or 35 ' and 35 ' in stator fields I c and d 18 connected in parallel, whereby at any time only one of these recording heads can be effective within one of the tracks c or d, as at any time there is only in one of these tracks a possibility for magnetizing In track c only signals for digit values smaller than 10 can be recorded and in track d only signals for digit values which exceed " 9 " can be recorded By such an arrangement the separating is effected, dependent on whether the respective sum of digit values of this sector is within the limit digit value " 9 " or whether it exceeds it. The digit value signals recorded on track d are transferred to effect the diminishing and the forwarding of pre-mark signals into the next

denomination The digit value signals recorded in track c, are transferred without any further change of value. If at the preceding denomination the gas discharge tube 52 of the pre-mark switch has been 65 ignited in process 4 by a pre-mark signal for a necessary carry-over forwarding into the next denomination, then the signal transfer from track b to track c or d is effected via sensing head 33 in stator field I b 19 to the pair of 70 recording heads 351 and 35 ' in stator field I c and d 18. The ignition of the tube 52 operates switch 47 and therefore the signal is displaced by one field and recorded on track c or d by 75 recording head 35 ' or 352 thus effecting the forwarding of the carry-over by changing the digit value by " one ". The transfer is effected via the amplifier 44 and via one of the two switching ways of the 80 carry-over pre-mark switch 47 (symbolically shown as an electromechanical relay 47), whereby in the resting position of this relay (if no carry-over forwarding was to be effected) in its switching position 48 (Figs 11 a and 85 lib) the signals are led to the pair of recording heads 34 ' and 34 ' of the tracks c and d in the digit value fields 19, and in the operation switching position 49 (if a carry-over forwarding has to be effected) supplied to the go pair of recording heads 351 and 35 ' in the digit value fields 18 of the tracks c and d. At speeds which are higher than 200 denomination additions per second electronic relays instead of telegraphic relays are to be 95 preferred, which can be designed for instance with a wiring diagram according to Fig llc and d or with a wiring diagram corresponding in its effect, for instance by controlled ring modulators or the like Such electronic relays 100 operate practically without inertia and can operate very reliably even at high speeds, for instance 50,000 denomination additions per second etc. As the electronic relay operate with two 105 pentodes or the like and one gas discharge tube according to Fig llc, they effect at the same time the amplification in the required degree, and a separate amplifier can be omitted. a AMPLIFYING CIRCUIT B BY CONTACT 110 SWITCHING. Fig llb shows the amplifying circuit B which effects the transfer from track b to track c and d with an electro-mechanic (telegraphic) relay The sensing head 33 above the track b 115 in stator field I b 19 is connected via the amplifier 44 and the carry-over pre-mark switch 47 with one of the groups of the recording heads 341 and 342 or 35 ' and 352 connected in series or respectively in parallel 120 In the resting position 48 of the carry-over pre-mark switch 47 both recording heads 341 and 342 will be effective in the stator field I c and d 19, whereas after a switching over of the carry-over pre-mark switch 47 to

switch 125 ing way 49, both recording heads 351 and 35 ' in the stator field I c and d 18 are switched 786,049 786,049 on, whereby a digit value signal displacement is effected by one field and thus a carry-over forwarding from the preceding denomination by a change of the digit value by " 1 " At the transfer to track c or d respectively the signals, which have resulted from the counting process 1 are separated according to whether the resulting digit value is equal or lower than the limit digit value or whether it exceeds it, whereby there is taken regard already of carry-over forwarding by one from the preceding denomination. Signals with a digit value which does not exceed the limit digit value (in the example " 9 " according to a decadic number-system) and which are recorded in the rotor fields 0-9, are recorded in track c, as track d has no magnetizable layer in the rotor fields 0-9. The signals, the digit value of which exceeds the limit digit value (higher than 9), are recorded in track d, as the alternative track c has no magnetizable layer in its rotor fields 10-19, and therefore fields of track d can only be magnetized with resulting digit values from 10-19. The sensing head 35 is connected to the control grid of the amplifier pentode 98 In the pentode plate circuit is an electro-mechanical (telegraphic) relay 47, which has a definite bias to the resting position 48 and which is used as carry-over pre-mark switch This switch has two switching ways 48 and 49, the alternative position of which switches in one or other of the two recording head groups 34 ', 342 or 351, 352. b AMPLIFIER CIRCUIT B WITH ELECTRONIC RELAY. Figs llc and lid show two designs of the switching diagram of amplifier circuit B with electronic relay, which can be used for higher speeds of the calculator and which can be used in combination with the amplifier The sensing head 33 in stator field I b 19 is connected via the amplifier pentode 98 of the amplifier 44 and to the carry-over pre-mark switch, which in this case is an electronic two-way switch of a special design Such relay in its resting position is connected to the recording heads 341 and 342 in stator fields I c and d 19, and in the operating switch position to the recording heads 351 and 35 ' in stator fields I c and d 18 according to the carry-over pre-mark signals from the preceding denomination in the winding 99. Such a pre-mark signal is supplied to the grid of the discharge tube 52 (compare also Fig 8 a-c) and it ignites this tube When this tube is ignited, the pentode 101 is opened and the pentode 100 is closed On the contrary, if it remains extinguished, the pentode 100 is opened and the pentode 101 is closed. This opposite and mutual opening and closing of the pentodes is

effected by the resistance 102 and 103, which are connected into the discharge circuit of the gas discharge tube 52, whereby the junction regulates the potential of the cathode and whereby the positive side is connected to the screen grid of the pentode 101 and the negative side is connected to the suppressor grid of the second pentode 100 70 If the gas discharge tube is extinguished, the cathode and the suppressor grid of the pentode 100 have the same potential, so that the tube 100 is effective, it is opened. If the discharge tube is ignited, there is a 75 voltage drop at the resistance 102, 103 according to the current of this tube Thereby the screen grid of pentode 101 receives a positive voltage, whereas the suppressor grid of the second pentode 100 is negatively biassed In 80 consequence of it and contrary to the preceding state, the pentode 101 is now opened, and the pentode 100 is closed. Both groups of recording heads are connected into the plate circuits of the pentodes 85 and 101, whereby the groups of signal heads becoming effective are selected by the switching condition of the gas discharge tube. -The effecting of a carry-over forwarding into the next denomination (next sector) depends 90 therefore on whether the discharge tube 52 is ignited or not The extinguishing of the discharge tube 52 is shown in Fig lic by means of the discharging of the capacitor 104 An extinguishing can also be effected in a different 95 timing instant by the known means of breaking down the plate circuit The description of the amplifier circuit A in Fig l Og shows an electronic solution for it The pentode is not required if two discharge tubes are directly 100 coupled. A further modification of the design according to Fig lid shows as electronic relay, two coupled electronic tubes instead of the use of gas discharge tubes The signals which are 105 induced in Fig lid in the sensing head 33 are in this case amplified as usual by the pentode 98 of the amplifier 44 and hexodes 105, 106, the control grids of which are connected in parallel via the capacitors 107, 108 In the 110 plate circuit of the hexode 106 are the recording heads i 51 and 35 ' of the positions I c and d 18 and in the plate circuit of the hexode are the recording heads 341 and 342 in the positions I c and d 19 115 If a current flows within the hexode 105, the cathode resistance 109 of the hexode 105 supplies the negative bias of suppressor grid of the hexode 106 Alternatively, if there is a current in the hexode 106, the cathode resist 120 ance 110 delivers a negative bias to the hexode Thereby the opened hexode delivers by its cathode resistance the block voltage by which the other hexode is closed By this way only one of the two hexodes can be opened at any 125 instant The control of this electronic relay is effected by means of negative signals, which are

supplied to the relay either from the amplifier circuit C or D at the transfer of computing signals 130 The switching over from the electronic tube to the other electronic tube 106 or vice versa is effected in this case by the suppressing of the current in the electronic tube 105 or 106 for a short instance, either by a negative impulse to the control grid itself or-as in Fig lld-by a negative signal to a second control grid So long as a current flows in one tube, the other one is blocked by the bias of its suppressor grid of the cathode resistances 109 respectively 110 If by a negative impulse the hexode 105 is closed for a short while, in this instant no bias is delivered, and hexode 106 is opened by the blocking of the hexode 105 until the hexode 105 will be opened again by a negative impulse onto the control grid of the hexode 106. 3 AMPLIFYING CIRCUIT C. An unchanged transfer of digit values is effected by means of the amplifier circuit C, symbolically shown in Fig 12 c The transfer is effected from sensing head 36 in stator field II c 5 to the recording head 38 in stator field II e 5 via the amplifier 50 without any alteration of the digit value This transfer is effective, if the resulting digit value of the computing process ( 1) does not exceed the limiting value Special switches deciding whether the transfer process ( 3) or the transfer process ( 4) will be effective are not required, as by the arrangement of the tracks c and d this separation is already effected on the rotor. The signal heads 36 and 38 are in the fields of the stator which correspond radially one to another, so -that the digit value signals are transferred with the same digit value Fig. 12 b shows a modification of the amplifier circuit C The digit value signals sensed by means of sensing head 36 are amplified by tube 111 For the control of the digit -alue pre-mark switch, designed as an electro-magnetic (telegraphic) relay, an additional repositioning winding 53 c is provided at the output side of the amplifier. Fig 12 c shows the same wiring diagram for co-operation with Fig 13 c, that is without the operation of such a repositioning winding. 4 CIRCUIT D. A diminishing of the digit value signals in the same denomination is effected during the signal transfer from track d to track e in the amplifying circuit D in combination with the forwarding pre-mark signal of a carry-over as shown in Fig 13 c. The means which transfer signals of the sensing head 37 track d in stator field I d 15 to the recording head 38 in stator field II e 5, are of a similar design, but regard must be taken of the radial displacement of the signal heads by ten fields, by which the

subtraction of " ten " is effected The circuit is provided with a usual low frequency amplifier 51. The plate circuit of the tube 113 of the amplifier 51, is via a transformer 112 which is 6 directly connected to the ignition electrode of the discharge tube 52 (compare Figs 8, 9 and 12 c), the discharge current of which effects the carry-over pre-mark switch by its winding 53 71 Fig 13 b shows a practical example of the amplifier circuit D The signals sensed by sensing head 37 are amplified by the pentode 113, the plate current of which excites the winding 53 b of the carry-over pre-mark 7 switch and simultaneously effects the recording of computing signals by its recording head 38. The transfer from track d to track e is effected acording to Fig 13 c via the sensing 8 ( head 37 which supplies the signals via the amplifier tube 113 to the recording head 38 in stator field II e 5 By means of the additional winding 99, this recording head 38 effects the ignition of the gas discharge tube 8 52, (amplifier circuit B, Fig 1 ic), for the purpose of the forwarding of the carry-over to the next denomination By this means the transfer of the signal from track d to track e representing the resulting digit value is displaced 9 ( by ten fields according to the difference between the position of the sensing head 37 in stator field I d 35 and the position of the recording head 38 in stator field II e 5 Hereby the discharge tube 52 of the amplifier circuit 9 ' B will be ignited for switching over the carryover pre-mark switch 47. AMPLIFIER CIRCUIT E. From track e signals of digit values can be re-transferred for the purpose of further addi 10 tions to track a These signals can also be transferred to and recorded on other tracks (for instance to a selective signal carrier storage of signal carriers in form of tapes as output means) 10. The re-transfer to track a can be effected without any displacement If during subtractions by complementary additions there is given the carry-over signal for a "fugitive one ", the transfer in the last denomination is 111 effected by the relay in the amplifier circuit according to Fig 14 a This relay can be designed in full accordance with the electronic pre-mark switch of the amplifier circuit B of Fig llc 11 ' The amplifying circuit E of Fig 14 a, via the amplifier 66, connects the sensing head 58 in stator field XIII a 19 to the recording head 59 in stator field XIII a 19 for an unchanged transfer, or to the recording head 60 in stator 12 ( field XIII a 18 if regard has to be taken to a fugitive " 1 ". With computers of medium or greater capacity the amplifier circuit E effects the addition of the fugitive " 1 " without addi 12 ' tional

cycles of operation, whereas in slower operating computors requiring further cycles of operation in computing process ( 2) the fugitive " 1 " is forwarded from the first 786,049 hat when the sensing heads are all simulsensing different storage locations the record 65 Ing head is adapted to record in a further one f said locations, electric signal amplifying and gating means interconnecting said sensing and recording heads, and control means synchronisd with the rotation of the storage 70 member and adapted to operate said gating means to pass electric signals selectively from the sensing heads to the recording head to effect transfer of stored signals from one storage location to another 75

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* GB786050 (A)

Description: GB786050 (A) ? 1957-11-13

Improvements in or relating to electric calculators

Description of GB786050 (A)

PATENT SPECIFICATION 786050 Date of Application and filing Complete Specification: June 23, 1950, No 37232/54. Application made in Germany on Oct 1, 1948. (Divided out of No 786,021). Complete Specification Published: Nov 13, 1957. Index at acceptance:-Class 106 ( 1), A( 1 X: 2 A: 2 B: 2 C: 5 A: 5 B: 6 C: 7 A: 8 B: LOB). International Classification:-GO 6 f. COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

Improvements in or relating to Electric Calculators I, GERHARD DIRKS, of Moerfelder Landstrasse 44, Frankfurt on Main, Germany, of German Nationality, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray ithat a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - The present invention relates to a novel assemblage of magnetic elements and to a system of computation (in particular, of addition or subtraction and of multiplication or division by successive addition or subtraction) making use of the novel assemblage. The novel assemblage of the present invention is simple, and may be made small in size and yet robust, and is particularly suitable for use in combination with magnetic storage means (such as is described in my co-pending Applications Nos 37214/54 and 37215/54, Serial Nos 786,033 and 786,034) By the use of the computing system of the present invention, using the novel assemblage, mathematical operations may be performed directly upon quantities sensed from such a magnetic storage means, and the result recorded directly upon such a storage means; and this may be done inter aria with quantities recorded in decimal notation, thus avoiding translation between decimal and binary or other notations at the input and output of ithe machine. The computing system of the present invention is made possible by using my novel assemblage as a result element: that is to say a device which may be influenced by two digit values jointly to: deliver a result In particular, my novel assemblage is suitable for use as an addition table for use in addition or lsubtraction. The invention provides an assemblage of magnetisable elements with electrical conductors magnetically linked thereto, in which the conductors form two sets such that each conductor is linked to a multiplicity of elements and each element is linked to one and only one conductor of each set whilst no two of the elements to any onductor of one set are linked to the same conductor of the other set; the assemblage being provided with means for passing current along selected conductoris of the two sets so as to set up magnetic flux to determine the magnetic state of the elements linked therewith, and with means for detecting that or those elements which have a particular magnetic state Each such element may have a further or secondary conductor associated therewith, the assemblage having means for causing signals to appear in the secondary conductor associated with any element in dependence upon that element having the said particular magnetic state. The invention also provides a system of computation using an assemblage as above set forth, in which are provided storage means individual to each of the conductors, each such storage means when

receiving an input signal energising the conductor connected with it. The invention may be provided with input means as set forth in my co-pending Applications Nos 37214/54 and 37215/54, (Serial Nos 786,033 and 786,034) and/or with output means as set forth in, my co-pending Applications Nos 37205/54 and 37206/54, (Serial Nos 786,026 and 786,027). The calculating apparatus described in this specification is also described wholly or in part in Specification Nos 15773/50 and 37230154, (Serial Nos 786,021 and 786,048), but the scope of the claims differs in each case. Examples of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating one arrangement of computing system utilising an assemblage of magnetic elements; Fig 2 is a circuit diagram of another arrangement of computing system, adapted for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; Fig 3 is a subsidiary circuit diagram relating to a " carry " operation; Figs 4-7 are diagrams illustrating various methods of computing with the systems illustrated in Figs 1-3; 21 /<> Fig 8 is a side view of one form of distributor for use in the computing systems illustrated; Fig 9 is an edge view of the rotor shown in Fig 8; Fig 10 is a diametral section through the stator shown in Fig 8; Fig 11 is a part-sectional elevation of a plurality of the distributors shown in Figs. 8-10; and Fig 12 is a perspective view of a distributor which also includes commutator switches. Referring to Figs 1 and 2, there are shown examples of a computing arrangement with inductive result elements comprising magnetisable elements, for example cores, having one or more conductors forming windings whereby the magnetic saturation of the cores may be varied. The cores are shown in horizontal rows representing one set of digits 0-9, and in vertical rows representing another set of digits 0-9 Each core is shown in two parts In the drawing, the cores are designated 260 Ta to 260 Ta down the left-hand vertical row and 2600 a to 2690 a along the topmost horizontal row In this arrangement, for example, the two parts comprising the core 263 a would lie in the sixth horizontal row from the top and the fourth vertical row from the left. The respective vertical rows of the elements 260 a to 2699 a may be switched directly by a full keyboard but, in the case shown, control of these groups of elements by the discharge tubes 95 D has been provided. The arrangement illustrated is such that the magnetisable elements have primary coils each having two windings for control purposes, and the windings are insulated from each other. For example, the one part of the core 260 Wa carries the primary

windings 260 and 2700. The windings of each set of primary windings 2600-9, 261 -D etc are connected together and arranged in vertically-connected rows in the anode circuits of the discharge tubes 950, the latter being operated in accordance with one of the digit values which is to control the arrangement The windings of the other sets of primary windings 2700-D, 271 etc, are connected together and arranged in horizontal rows in the anode circuits of the discharge tubes 244 -D, these being controlled in accordance with the second digit value. The arrangement of the windings on their cores is such (as will be apparent from the drawing) that the conductors forming the windings are in two sets such that each conductor is linked to a multiplicity of the elements and each element is linked to one and only one conductor of each set, whilst no two of the elements linked to any conductor of one set are linked to the same conductor of the other set. For each element with its primary windings, there is a secondary winding, and these are sub-divided or separated-except the row 280 co-ordinated to the result digit value " 0 "-each into two groups, which are identrfied by the indices a and b By this arrange 7 ( ment, the energising of a coil marked with index a indicates a result without diminishing of the digit value by ten within the same denomination and without forwarding of a carry-over pre-mark signal into the next 7 ' denomination, whereas the actuation of the coils with the index b effects the diminishing of the digit value and the forwarding of the carry-over pre-mark signal into the next denomination will be effected 8 ( All the elements are suitably provided with an additional winding (not shown) by which a magnetic flux will be induced in one direction, and which exceeds by a small amount the magnetic flux generated in the other direc 8 ' tion by the current of the discharge circuit of one of the gas discharge tubes 244 or 95-9 Thus an effective magnetic flux can only be induced by igniting two gas discharge tubes at the same time to excite the two 9 ( primary windings on a single element. Computation according to this system may be carried out as follows In Fig 1, a digit representing signal is sensed by sensing head 311 from track a which is a magnetisable 9 ' storage track as set forth for example in my co-pending Applications for Patent No. 15773/50 and 37214/54, Serial Nos 786,021 and 786,033 Switch 47 is in position 48 during this sensing and the signal is amplified IC by amplifier 41 prior to being fed to all the primary coils 304 of cores 304 a 9 of the input distributor The signal will pass to only that secondary coil 305 which is connected to its primary coil by one of the magnetic 1 C yokes 304 b-' completing the magnetic circuit between

the two parts of the related core 304 a at the instant of sensing, and thereupon ignite the co-ordinated gas discharge tube 95-9 As a result of this ignition, a current 11 flows through all the co-ordinated and interconnected primary windings in the corresponding one of the columns of elements 260 Ta2699 a. A second digit representing signal, say from 11 a keyboard or from another storage track, is now conveyed (by means not shown) to the control grid of the correspondingly valued tube of the series of discharge tubes 244 connected respectively to the rows 270 -, l U 271 etc of primary windings, and therefore only in that element in which the two primary wvindings on a common coil are energised is there sufficient current to induce a voltage surge in the corresponding secondary 1 L winding 280-289 on the passage of one of the sensing yokes 200 - The surge is conveyed to the co-ordinated gas tube of the gas discharge tubes 407 or 408 dependent on whether the digit value result is below or 1 786,050 effect an ignition of the gas discharge tube 235 through one or other of the tubes 4080-s By means of the displaced recording heads 179 and 181 in the discharge circuits of the tubes 234 and 235, the diminishing is effected in 70 the same process. Corresponding to the excited recording heads, (either 179 or 181), the switch 47 will be in one or other of its two positions Each time the signals are given via the discharge 75 tube 234 to the recording head 179, the sensing head 311 will be connected to the amplifier 41 by switch 47 (in its position 48) If, however, the recording is effected by the signal head 181, because the sum of the digit values 80 exceeds the limiting value, the sensing head 312 will be connected to the amplifier 41 by switch 47 in its other position. The head 312 is displaced from the head 311 by a distance equal to adjacent digit re 85 cording positions on the track a, so that a digit representing signal on the track is sensed one digit time later by the head 312 than by the head 31 ' For example, a signal which is sensed by the head 311 at such a time that the 90 output from the head represents the value " 8 ", is sensed by the head 312 at such a time that the output from that head represents the value " 9 " Thus, ignition of the tube 52 in parallel with the tube 235 by a signal from 95 a secondary coil suffixed b causes shifting of the switch 47 from the position shown,so that the sensing of the next denomination will be effected by the head 312 The value sensed from track a will therefore be increased by 100 unity, so taking account of the carry. The discharge tube 234 will be ignited by exciting the secondary coils 280 a, 281 a, 282 a, 283 a, etc The co-ordinated capacitor will be discharged and by means of the recording head 105 179 will effect a recording of the result in track e of the signal carrier. When one of the secondary coils 281 b289 b is excited, the discharge

tube 235 will be ignited, and a recording by the recording 110 head 181, as well as operation of the switch 47 will be effected The recording heads 179 and 181 are displaced against one another by ten digit recording positions in order to effect the diminishing of the digit value if above the 115 limiting value. Referring now to Figs 2 and 3, the discharge of tube 234 performs at the same time a repositioning of the carry-over pre-mark switch In this arrangement, the 'carry-over 120 pre-mark switch is shown as an electronic relay 292 which is reset by the transformer 254, the primary winding of which is situated in the discharge circuit of the discharge tube 234. The discharge of tube 235 effects the switch 125 ing on of the electronic relay 292 of the carry-over pre-mark switch by the resulting signal induced in the secondary winding of the transformer 255 The digits of one of the values which is to be added are taken from 130 equal to or in, excess of the limiting value of the denomination (namely " 9 " in a decimal notation) and such tube when ignited, effects the recording of a result signal on track e either by recording head 179 or 181 according to its value, that is to say according to whether the result is above or below the limiting value. This discrimination of values is explained in detail in my co-pending Application for Patent No 15773/50, (Serial No 786,021). There are ten yokes co-operating with the distributor cores 304 'a and ten yokes with each of the groups of cores 2600 a-2690 a to 260 'a-269 'a The digit values are sensed from the track a and recorded on the track e serially with only a small distance between the recording positions allocated to adjacent digit values of a denomination The physical position of the yokes co-operating with each group of cores is staggered in relation to the position of the cores so that although the yokes are driven in synchronism with the movement of the tape, the separation of the cores is greater than the separation of corresponding positions on the tracks. The yokes associated with each row of cores are staggered in relation to the other rows, the yokes for three rows being shown in Fig 1 The relative positions of the yokes is such that all the cores which represent a particular result value will have their magnetic circuits completed at the same time The construction of the yokes is described in more detail hereinafter in connection with Figs 9 to 12. The spatial relationship between the yokes and the distributor yokes 304 b is such that the particular tube 95 is ignited under control of the distributor before the yokes 200 complete the magnetic circuits of any of the cores 260 -a to 2690 'a. In the secondary coils it will be seen that coils 281-289 are sub-divided into coils a and b, the subdivision being progressively

shifted from row to row. The operation of the sub-divided secondary coils is as follows: The secondary coils 280 are all connected together and to the tube 407 , since a digit value carry-over cannot be effected, as the highest of the digit value sums, coordinated to this set of coils is less than the limiting value. In the next set of coils 281, the right-hand secondary coil 281 b however, is separated, as it represents the result value " 10 " which requires a digit value carry-over In the next set of coils, the last two coils at the righthand end of the row are separated in order to forward the digit value carry-over of the result values " 10 " and " 11 " The secondary coils, suffixed a, at the left-hand side of the subdivision effect an ignition of the gas discharge tube 234, through one or other of the tubes 407 -, whereas the secondary coils, suffixed b, at the right-hand side of the sub-division 786,050 track a by means of the sensing heads 311-2 (Fig 2), displaced progressively by one denomination relatively to each other Via the step-switch 321 and the switch 247, i e t e "multiplication-division" switch, the signals will be conducted to the transformer 296 and the tubes 291/293 of the electronic relay in Fig 3 Depending on the ignition or extinction of the gas discharge tube 292 effected by the transformers 254/255 which are part of the recording circuit, one or other of the two pentodes 291,293 is effective The digit value signal is amplified and via the corresponding transformer is led to vthe gas discharge tubes 297/299 and 298 which will be ignited The main discharge circuit of the discharge tube 297 is led over the windings 3020, but the current through the discharge tube 298 is led over the windings 302 ' (Fig 2) These windings are arranged in such a way that the windings 3020 correspond to an addition of the digit value " O ", but the windings 302 ' correspond to the addition of the digit value " 1 " to perform the digit value carry-over from the preceding denomination, i e they are equivalent in effect to the windings 260 and 261 of Fig 1. By the yokes 1260/0 to 126 "' is provided a sequential magnetic connection between the cores carrying the windings 3020 and 302 ' and the cores carrying the horizontal connected winding rows 303 O' so that by excitation one of the winding rows will ignite the coordinated discharge tube 244 and so energise a related primary winding 270 to 279. The second digit value to be added is taken from storage track c by means of one of the heads 311 and imparted via the transformer 317 to pentode 295 controlled by the gas discharge tube 294 When the gas discharge tube 294 is ignited, pentode 295 amplifies the computing signal and effects, via the transformer 246, the ignition of the discharge tube 300, which causes a current surge in the windings 304

By means of the co-ordinated row of yokes 3232 an impulse will be induced in the co-ordinated coil of the secondary coils 305 to energise one of the gas tubes 95 In the main discharge circuit of these gas discharge tubes are situated the primary coils 260 1 to 269-90. The vertically connected windings in Fig. 2 (which are shown horizontally in Fig 1), are shown in Fig 2 as long and narrow rectangles ( 270-279) The horizontally connected primary windings (which are shown vertically in Fig 1) are represented by small rectangles. In each case, for the sake of clearness only some of these windings are shown Also represented as long and narrow rectangles are the secondary coils 280-289. This arrangement is the same as that shown in Fig 1 with the exception that the remaining details of the switching means according to Figs 2 and 3 deal with the means for the processing of the multiplication and the division, the automatic rounding-off operations, the stepping arrangement for automatic tabulating of denominations, and the setting of the decimal point 70 When a key of the keyboard 54 in Fig 3 is depressed, a circuit is completed through one of the wires in the cable k (Figs 2 and 3) to the ignition electrode of the corresponding tube of the group 95 o-95 ' ir, Fig 2 At the 75 same time, through a circuit not shown, the tube 2440 is also fired The cross coil arrangement is then effective to add " O " ito the digit entered by the keyboard 54, so that the tube 234 will be fired at a time representative of the 80 digit value, in the manner already described in detail in connection with Fig 1 The firing of the tube 234 produces a pulse which is fed through the switch 245 in the intermediate position, the recording head 311 ", the contact 85 arm of the switch 320 and the switch 319 in the position shown, so that the appropriate digit value is recorded in the first denominational position of track c Each time a key of a keyboard is operated the relay 317 of Fig 3 90 is energised, and this operates the stepping switch 320 after the recording of a digit has been completed. Consequently, when the next digit is entered on the keyboard, the same addition 95 process in the cross-coil arrangement takes place, but the pulse due to the firing of the tube 234 is now applied to the head 311 ' and so on for subsequent digits so that the multiplicand digits are recorded in successive 100 denominational areas in the track c. The multiplier is recorded in the track d in exactly the same way except that the switch 245 is set to the extreme right-hand position (Fig 2) so that the pulses from the tube 234 105 are fed to the heads 313, which are again selected in turn by the stepping switch 320 During multiplication the track a is used for accumulating the partial

products and the track b is used as an auxiliary track for dealing with 110 the rearrangement of the digits in accordance with whether or not there is a carry in the same way as is described in detail in connection with addition processes in my co-pending Application No 15773/50, (Serial No 115 786,021). At the start of multiplication tracks a and b both contain zero As a first step, the first multiplier digit is sensed from track d to control the ignition of the corresponding one of 120 the tubes 3010 to 301 ' The stepping switch 320 is in the position showvn (Fig 2) so that the head 31410 is effective to sense track d and the signals from this head are fed to the primary winding of the transformer 315 The 125 signals from the secondary of this transformer are amplified by the pentode 290 (Fig 3) and produce a corresponding pulse in the secondary of the transformer 316 to fire the gas tube 296. The firing of this tube produces a current in 130 786,050 301, the first multiplicand digit is set up on tubes 95 and the first digit from the track a is set up on the tubes 244 Since this is the first cycle, the value from the track a will in fact be " 0 " 70 The switch 245 is set to the left-hand position, shown in Fig 2, so that the sum value from the cross coil arrangement is recorded in track b by one or other of the heads 179 or 181 depending on whether there is a carry or 75 not As a second part of the step, the said value is transferred from track b back to track a in exactly the same manner as is described for addition in my co-pending Application No. 15773/50, Serial No 786,021 The head for 80 sensing track b and the head for recording on track a have been omitted from Fig 2. In subsequent stages, the successive digits of the multiplicand will be set up on the tubes and the corresponding successive digits 85 from the track a will be set up on the tubes 244 Thus, at the end of one revolution the multiplicand will have been added to the value recorded on track a which is in fact " O " at this step, and the sum will have been 90 recorded back on track a. The yoke 323 ' moves at 1/10th of the speed of the other distributor yokes so that, at the end of the first revolution, it will have moved from ithe " O " position to the " 1 " position 95 On the second revolution, the multiplicand digits will again be set up successively on the tubes 95 and the digits from track a, which are now in fact the same as the multiplicand are set up on ithe tubes 244 Consequently, at 100 the end of the second revolution the track a will now contain twice the multiplicand value. The tube 294 of Fig 3 energises an erasing head 231 which operates on the track a to erase each digit recording after it has been 105 sensed, to allow a recording of the new sum value after transfer from the track b.

These cycles are repeated until the yoke 3231 comes opposite one of the coils 308 which is connected to that itube 301 which is ener 110 gised When this occurs, a pulse will be induced in the coil 309 which, via line 1 and transformer 310, will be applied to the tube 294 to extinguish it This cuts off the pentode 295 and so prevents the multiplicand value 115 being read to the cross coil arrangement The erasing head 231 is also de-energised so that the last value recorded on track a remains there This value is equal to the multiplicand multiplied by the first multiplier digit 120 There are now a number of idle cycles in which no addition takes place until a total of cycles have been performed The stepping switches 320 and 322 are then moved on one position, and ithe set of 10 cycles is repeated 125 Because the stepping switches have been shifted, the necessary column shifts will be obtained, to take account of the fact that the second multiplier digit has now been set up on the tubes 301 130 the primary coil 306 of a distributor via the line e, and the associated yokes 1260/0 to 126 'l' will complete the magnetic circuit to one of the secondary coils 307 which corresponds to the particular digit value which was sensed by ithe head 314 and will fire the corresponding one of the gas tubes 301 to register the first multiplier digit. At the start of each multiplying cycle, the gas tube 295 of Fi 3 is fired by a pulse applied to the transformer connected to the ignition electrode through circuit not shown. When the tube 294 is fired, screen voltage is applied to the pentode 295 to allow it to respond to signals from the transformer 317. Since the stepping switch 320 is in the first position (as shown in Fig 2), this transformer will receive signals from the head 311 and the line m, so that signals will be induced in the transformer 246 corresponding to the multiplicand digits recorded in the track c. These signals control firing of the gas tube 300 which is connected through the line i to the primary coil 304 of another distributor (Fig 2) The yokes 323 of this distributor (see Fig 2) couple the primary coil 304 to the individual secondary coils 305 which, with the switch 55 in the position 56, are connected to the ignition electrodes of the gas tubes 950. Consequently, when the first multiplicand digit is sensed by the head 31110 the corresponding gas tube 95 will be fired At the same time, the track a is being sensed by the head 312 which is connected for operation by the stepping switch 322 The signals sensed from the track a are fed via the line c to the transformer 296, the secondary of which is connected to the control grids of two pentodes 291 and 293 One or other of these pentodes is selected for operation dependent on whether the gas tube 292 is fired or not This tube operates in the usual carry pre-mark manner, to determine whether or not the sensed

value is increased by one. Depending on whether the pentode 291 or 293 is effective, the gas tube 297 or 298 is fired These two tubes are connected through lines f and g to primary coils 302 and 302 ' (Fig 2) These two primary coils may be coupled magnetically to the secondary coils 3030 to 303 ' by the yokes 126 The position of the yokes is such that if the coil 3020 is energised then the secondary coil 303 which is energised corresponds to the digit value sensed from the track a, but if the coil 302 ' is energised, then the secondary coil 303 which is energised will have a digit value greater by one than the digit value sensed in track a. The secondary coils 303 are connected to the ignition electrodes of the tubes 2440 to 244 ' so that one of these tubes is fired in accordance with the digit value sensed from the track a Hence, at the end of the first step the first multiplier digit is set up on the tubes 786,050 These groups of 10 cycles occur in succession so that eventually the track a contains the final product. In order to round off a value the relay 324 (Fig 2) is energised at the required denominational position under the control of the stepping switch 321 This relay operates the switch 318 in Fig 3 to energise the gas tube 299 This, through wire I energises the primary coil 302 ' which has the effect of adding to the digit value sensed from the itrack a in a similar manner to the effect of the primary coil 3021. In Fig 2, twenty teeth are provided as magnetic yokes, for instance the teeth 126/10, 126 'P, 126 I/10 and 126 f I' The increased number of the teeth would have been necessary in consequence of the intention to arrange denomination areas on the circumference of the signal carrier By means of vernier-like arrangement between stator and rotor, a finer or closer spacing of the digit value signals on the signal carrier will be the result, notwithstanding the relatively large space between the stator-coils of the crossing coil arrangement. The division process is generally similar to that for multiplication The dividend is recorded initially in track a and the divisor in track c The track b is again used as an intermediate calculation track and track d is used for recording -the quotient The switch is set to the subtraction position so that the divisor value is subtracted from the dividendvalue in track a The divisor and dividend are initially recorded in the tracks a and c in such positions that the remainder value will go negative within 9 cycles of subtraction. The occurrence of a negative remainder is determined by whether or not there is a negative carry in the last denomination position in track a The occurrence of a negative remainder is used to generate a signal to extinguish the tube 294 to prevent further subtraction taking place. Each group of 9 cycles is followed by a 10th in which the switch 55 is set to the adding position so that the divisor is now added once to

the value registered in track a so returning to a positive remainder The necessary column shifting is again effected by the stepping switches as in the case of multiplication. These switch-on or switch-off cycles can also be performed in a simple manner by providing, according to a modified example of the computing arrangement, that instead of ten discharge tubes only one discharge tube in combination with a mechanical shifting is used Another solution of this problem is by means of a sensing head continuously or stepwisely moved laterally along a signal carrier, on which is recorded a digit value signal always in the "row" which corresponds to the revolution ". For multiplication the separated input tracks c and d are provided in Figs 1 and 2 for the two factors By this a universal utilisation of the computing device is made possible Instead of the separated tracks c and d a recording for instance can be provided in 70 one track In this case the denominations of both the factors are arranged displaced relatively to each other. If a decimal point key is co-ordinated to a ten's keyboard, say in the denomination 75 which the stepping relay 320 will occupy at the actuation of the key for the decimal point, the recording of a digit value signal for this decimal point will be effected on the signal carrier without a further switching of the 80 stepping relay. If the insertion of the decimal point is necessary at products (corresponding to both its factors) a second stepping relay will suitably be co-ordinated, which by actuation of 85 the keys of the ten's keyboard 54 is switched on, only when the decimal point key is already pressed down This second stepping relay occupies the stepping position resulting from the sum of the key operations after the 90 actuation of the decimal point key, that is, which results from the number of the denominations of both factors following the decimal point From the position of the stepping mechanism the recording of the decimal 95 point signal for the result is shunted in thie storage. The recording of the position of decimal points of quotients can be effected by the same stepping relay If dividends and divisors 100 are manually or automatically adjusted to the same number of denominations after the decimal points, the switching of the stepping mechanism is released each time after ten revolutions by one denomination backwards 105 When the starting position is attained, the decimal point signal is recorded for that sector determined by the distributor 322. The lead wires of the round off switch are led over the stepping relay which fixes the 110 position of the decimal point, and therefore the switch controls the rounding off. Fig 4 is an addition table, containing the resulting sums within cross-fields of the vertical and the horizontal rows of two operands

115 These cross fields contain in diagonal rows identical amounts The cross-coil procedure with such schematically crosswise arranged winding-systems can make use of the ignition of the gas discharge tubes and by the exciting 120 of at least tvo winding systems for computing purposes in consequence of the intensified magnetic flux of the coil which is in the "crossing-point", the digit value signals for the recording of the result will be induced in 125 the co-ordinated secondary coil. The recording of these digit value signals can be effected either in connecting into series of the secondary coils of cross-fields according to identical results or in connecting these coils 130 786,050 The rotor 24 is fixed by its key 125 on shaft 18 in such a way that in that timing instant, in which the digit value field 0 of the storage track is below the slot of the sensing head 31 in track a, the tooth 1260 of the star 70 like rotor 24 is exactly opposite the cores 128 a' and 128 b M of the pair of coils 23 a O and 23 b W connected magnetically by the stationary yoke 1240 The magnetic resistance is very low at that instant, when the tooth 1260 connects 75 the primary coil 23 a' magnetically to the secondary coil 23 b O in the way of a transformer; and if a digit value signal " O " has been recorded on track a it will be sensed at that instant In all other pairs of coils there 80 is no inductive connection and therefore they have a high magnetic resistance A sensed signal " 0 " therefore, supplied to all the primary coils 23 a -0 therefore will generate a signal only in the magnetically-connected secondary 85 coil 23 b 0. If in the next instant the field of the digit value " 1 " in the storage track is below -the sensing head 31, the connection of the coils 23 d and 23 b? is effected by the tooth 1261 In 90 the timing instant " 2 " the coils 23 ad and 23 ? are connected via the tooth 1262 etc, until, after " 9 " the inductive distributor begins again with " 0 ". For a better understanding, in Fig 8 there 95 was chosen a vernier division with which, in one rotation of the rotor, each coil will be effective nine times, giving a total of 90 fields in the storage L It is evident that where 13 sectors are used, each sub-divided into 40 100 digit value fields, suitable modifications will be made to the rotor and stator By reason of using the vernier divisions larger coil intervals can be allowed On the same principle, there could be an arrangement with the teeth in the 105 zero-position of each sector and ten primary and secondary coils in the stator fields 0, 1, 2, 3 9 of the same or of the following sector. Fig 11 shows an arrangement and accommodation of several sets of coils of a comput 110 ing system, such as described above in connection with the Figs 1 and 2 By means of shaft 18 the motor 19 drives the rotors,

e g. the several rotors 24, within the respective sets of coils comprising the stators 23 115 Fig 12 shows in perspective the practical design of an inductive distributor switch with rotor 117, teeth 195 '-, primary and secondary coils 116 a, 116 b respectively on yokes 197, with a further rotor 118 of a con 120 tact switch, pairs of gliding brushes 119 ' and 1192 and contact 120, for another distributing switch, e g the sector switch.

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* GB786051 (A)

Description: GB786051 (A) ? 1957-11-13

Improvements in or relating to electric calculators

Description of GB786051 (A)

PATENT SPECIFICATION 786,051 " ' Date of Application and filing Complete Specification: June 23, 1950. No 37233154. Application made in Germany on Oct 1, 1948. (Divided out of No 786,021). \\ Complete Specification Published: Nov13, 1957. Index at acceptawce:-Class 106 ( 1), A( 1 U: 2 C: 5 B: 6 B: 6 C: 8 B: 9 X: 10 A: OB 1: 1 OF). International Classification:-GO 6 f. COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to Electric Calculators I, GERHARD DTRKS, of Moerfelder Landstrasse 44, Frankfurt on Main, Germany, of German Nationality, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a

patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - This invention relates to electrical calculating apparatus. The object of the invention is to provide calculating apparatus which utilises a cathode ray beam and an associated screen to generate digit representing signals. According to the invention, electrical calculating apparatus includes means for producing a cathode ray beam, a screen with a first group of result areas representing a series of digits and a second group of result areas representing the same series of digits together with a carry, means adapted to, position the cathode ray beam to select a result area in accordance with a computed result and means adapted to scan the cathode ray beam and the selected result area to generate a timed digit representing signal and, if the selected area is in the second group of result areas, a carry signal. The invention will now be described, by way 'of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs 1 and 2 show schematically a double beam cathode ray tube and the associated screen; Figs 3 and 4, 4 a and 4 b show schematically a second form of double beam cathode ray tube and the associated screen; Figs 5 and 6 show two storage tapes, and Figs 7 a and 7 b are a diagram of the control circuits The connections between these two Figs are indicated by the Roman numerals I-IX. Cathode ray tube 43 (Fig 1) comprises two complete electrode assemblies co-operating with a screen 48 (Fig 2) The upper electrode assembly consists of a cathode 100, a control grid 101, a first anode 102, a focussing electrode 103, a final anode 104 and two pairs of deflecting electrodes 44 and 45, which electrodes control deflection of the beam 99 in the horizontal and vertical directions respectively. The lower electrode assembly is similarly constructed Parts of the screen 48 are composed of a material having secondary emission properties such that an area thereof may be electrically charged by the cathode ray beam The material is semi-conducting so that it retains the charge for an appreciable time and may therefore be used to' store information The use of a material lof this kind in conjunction with a cathode ray scanning system is well known in relation to the transmission of television pictures. Cathode ray tube 56 (Fig 3) has two electrode assemblies similar to those of the tube 43 The upper and lower assemblies produce cathode ray beams 75 and 76 respectively, which scan a screen 61 The tube 56 is used as a control tube for the storage tube 43, and the screen 61 is divided intoi three sections 62, 63 and 64 (Figs 4, 4 a, and 4 b) The section 62 is scanned by the beam 75 and the sections 63 and 64

are scanned by the beam 76 Each of the markings in these sections, such as 109, 116, 1251 etc, correspond to the position of an area of secondary emitting material, /or a metallic target plate, so that an output volitage is obtained when the cathode ray beam passes that position. The beam 75 is rotated over the circular area 62 under control of deflection plate systems 57 and 58 One plate of each system is connected to a phase shifting network 159 a (Fig 7 b) which is in the anode circuit of a pentode, the control grid of which is driven by a magnetic sensing head 158 This head senses a synchronising signal recorded on tape (Fig 5) The network 159 a produces, a phase shift of 900, so that the beam 75 follows a circular path The use of a synchronising track is described in more detail in my co-pending Application No 37215/54 (Serial No 786,034). 2 786,051 The deflection of the beams in the tube 43 is synchronised in the following manner A gas tube 94 (Fig 7 a) will receive an impulse each tine the beam 75 passes over position 110 of the screen 62, via a connection (not shown) from 110 to terminal q This impulse fires the gas tube and in consequence a pentode 83 is rendered conducting by a connection from the cathode of the tube 94 to a control electrode of the pentode A capacitor 89 a is charged by the current passed by the pentode, which acts as a constant current device so that the voltage across the capacitor rises substantially linearly Terminals m, n, o and p are connected to positions 109, 115, 118 and 120 respectively of the screen 62. Hence, with switch 126 in the position shown, a pentode 82 receives an impulse each time the beam 75 passes over one of these positions This impulse is amplified by the pentode and fed, a via a capacitor 86, to the grid of a gas tube 89 The gas tube 89 fires and discharges the capacitor 89 a The gas tube is extinguished, when the voltage across the capacitor falls belowv the mairtaining voitage, and allows the capacitor to re-charge The grid of the tube 89 is connected to a bias voltage through a further contact of switch 126 and this voltage is such that the tube is fired by each synchronising pulse from the pentode 82, so that four cycles of saw,,,-tooth waveform are generated across the capacitor 89 a for each rotation of the beam 75 This voltage is applied to one; plate of the defiection system 44 of the tub'e 43, so that the beam 99 is deflected in a synchronised manner controlled by the tube 56 and therefore by the synchronising signal sensed from the tape. The position 109 of the screen 62 is also capacitatively coupled to the grid of a gas tube 130 (Fig 7 b) This tube has a high impedance anode load and a capacitor 131 is connected between the anode and the zero potential line Hence the tube is fired by the passage of the beam

over position 109 and then extinguishes itself imnediately afterwards The cathode of the tube 130 is connected to the cathode of a pentode 133, so that the current of the tube flowing through a common cathode lead 132 cuts the pentode off This reduces the voltage drop across the resistor 134, thereby extinguishing it at the beginning of each cycle of the tube 56. The D C potential of one plate of the deflection system 44 is controlled by gas tubes 94 a, b, c and d Terminals r and S are connected to positions 118 and 120 of the screen 62, so that the tubes '94 a and 94 b respectively will be fired when the beam passes over these positions With neither of the lubes 94 a and b fired, the beam 99 is scanning in the section 49 of the screen 48 When the tube 94 a is fired, the scanning area is shifted to cover the part a of portion 50 of the screen 48 When the tube 94 b is fired, the scanning area is shifted to cover the areas 53 and 54. These areas contain secondary emitting positions such as 19, 21 and 22 wvhcih are used to generate signals for controlling computing 70 in a manner described in more detail hereinafter Thus the beam 99, which operates to sense stored signals in the area 50 or the positions 19 etc may be caused to scan any one of the three areas The tubes 94 a and 94 b are 75 extinguished by a similar arrangement to that used for the tube 94 This arrangement comprises pentode 149 a and gas tube 1 '49 The gas tube 149 is fired by an impulse generated each time the beam 75 of the control tube passes 80 position 115. One plate of the deflection system 46 which controls recording beam 135 of the storage tube 43 is also capacitatively coupled to receive the saw-tooth voltage waveform de 85 veloped across the capacitor 89 a by a connection to tenninal zt The D C potential at the terminal W is controlled by the two gas tubes 94 c and 94 d The tube 94 d is fired in a similar manner to the tube 94 b by a 90 connection to the position 120 from terminal it, and is extinguished concurrently with the tube 94 b The potential is such that the beam is scanning the part b of portion 50 of the screen 48 If the tube 94 c is fired, in a 95 manner to be described, the D C potential of both deflecting systems 44 and 46 is changed and the ratio of resistors 151-154 and the anode loads of the tubes 94 b, 94 c and 94 d is such that the beam 99 scans said part b of 100 screen portion 50 and the beam 135 scans the said part a of that screen portion. Thus far the description has related to the manner in which the sensing and recording beams are caused to scan horizontally various 105 selected areas of the screen 48 in accordance with the position of the beam 75 on the screen 62 The means by which the beams are simultaneously deflected in a vertical direction will now be described 110 One plate of the deflecting system 45 receives a voltage waveform

from a generator formed by pentode 79 gas tube 87 and capacitor 84 (Fig 7 a) A further generator formed by pentode 81, gas tube 88 and cap 115 acitor 85, supplies a voltage waveform to one plate of the deflection system 47, by a connection to terminal c and to one plate of the deflection system 60, by a connection to terminal d 120 The storage area 50 is utilised to store a plurality of digits A digit is stored during each horizontal scan by the recording beam and after each scan the voltage applied to the deflecting plate system 47 is increased 125 slightly so that the next horizontal scan occurs slightly above the previous scan and so on. Recording of a value takes place whilst the beam of the control tube is between positions and 109 As already explained, the deflec 130 786,051 and 64 would conveniently be arranged perpendicularly, the width of the area 63 being such that the beam 76 falls on the positions wherever the scan may be located, but falls on a different position of the area 64 for 70 each of the vertical scanning areas. A digit is recorded in a particular line by producing a charged area on the screen area iat a position along the line which represents the value lof the digit This charged 75 area is produced by applying a voltage to the control electrode of the recording beam system to produce a substantial beam current Since the beam is being scanned over the screen by the applied deflecting voltages, in the manner 80 already described the voltage must be applied to the control electrode at a definite time in the horizontal scan over the particular line. This timing is controlled by the sensing beam 99 which moves horizontally in synchronism 85 with the recording beam. The position 116 of the screen 62 is connected via terminal f and a switch 106 to the control grid of a pentode 78 The screen voltage of the pentode is controlled by a gas 90 tube 90, which is fired on each cycle of the control tube by a signal applied to the grid from position 115 Thus the input signal is amplified by the pentode and is fed to a gas tube 91 to fire it This gas tube, when fired 95 applies screen voltage to the pentode 79 and causes it to conduct The anode current of the pentode 79 starts to charge the capacitor 84 This charging continues until the pentode is cut off by an increase in cathode voltage 100 caused by a gas tube 92 being fired in response to a sensed digit signal. The digit signals are recorded on a tape (Fig 5) and are sensed by a magnetic sensing head 69 Such a sensed digit signal 105 is amplified by a pentode 80 and fed to the grid of the gas tube 92 to fire it The value of the digit signal is represented by its position on the tape so that the higher the value the later is the signal sensed in the cycle of sens 110 ing for that denomination This form of recording is described in mnore detail in my copending Application No 37215/54

(Serial No 786,034) The significance of the sensed digit signal is secured since the scanning cir 115 cuits are synchronised by signals recorded on the tape in the manner already described, the head 158 co-operating with the tape 65 during recording on the storage tube Alternatively, each digit signal may be accompanied by a 120 zero signal on the tape, as described in the above-mentioned Application The zero signal may be sensed by head 68 (Figs 5 and 7 a) so that the tube 91 is fired in response to the sensing of such signal instead of in response to 125 the passage of the cathode ray beam over the position 116 Hence the capacitor 84 will be allowed to charge for a time proportional to the digit value Since the pentode 79 operates as a constant current device, the final 130 tion systems of the storage 'tube are controlling a horizontal scan of the positions 22 etc. by the sensing beam and a horizontal scan of the storage area 50 by the recording beam. The grid of a gas tube 93 (Fig 7 a) is connected through a switch 126 ' (in the position shown) to the position 109 of the screen 62. The tube has a large anode load and a capacitor 136 connected from anode to ground, which form a self-extinguishing circuit Thus, each time the cathode ray beam passes the position 109, the tube 93 is fired and then extinguishes itself almost immediately The cathode of the tube 93 is connected to the screen grid of the pentode 81, so that the pentode passes current only when the tube 93 is conducting The anode current charges the capacitor 85, so that the voltage across the capacitor increases by a small increment each time the tube 93 fires The voltage across the capacitor is applied to one plate of the deflection system 60 of the cathode ray tube 56 and each increment of voltage is effective to shift the beam 76 from one of the positions 1251-12510 ' to the next. A connection (not shown) is made between the position 125 "' and the control grid of the gas tube 88, via terminal e, so that when the voltage across the capacitor 85 has risen sufliciently to deflect the beam 76 on to the position 125101 the gas tube 88 is fired and discharges the capacitor 85 The resulting fall in voltage extinguishes the tube 88 and the residuala voltage is such that the beam 76 strikes position 125 Y The pnsition 1251 1 is also connected to terminal t to fire the gas tube 94 c. The recording beam 135 of the storage tube receives the voltage across the capacitor 85 via terminal c, so that this beam 'is shifted vertically in synchronism with the beam 76 of the control tube 56 Thus each of the positions 1251 etc corresponds to one line of the screen area 50 on which a digit may be recorded, that is, in the present case, one hundred lines occur for each cydle of vertical scan and one hundred digits may be recorded.

The terminal e may be connected to an intermediate position 125, say the thirtieth, so that the tube 88 is fired after only twentynine lines have been scanned and each recording cycle would record twenty-nime digits. On the other hand, the number of recorded digits may be increased by figuratively dividing the screen area 50 into sexeral vertical sections, each containing one hundred digits and providing the additional screen area 64 (Fig 4 b) similar 'to the area 63 Each time the gas tube 88 is fired, a gas tube corresponding to the tube 94 d is fired, so that the scanned area is shifted horizontally A connection is made to a further gas tube from a chosen position of the area 64 and the recording cydle is terminated when this latter tube is fired and the tube 88 is also fired It will be appreciated the longer axes of the areas 63 786,051 4 7861351 voltage across the capacitor will be propoi tional to the digit value The capacitor 84 discharged liefore sensing each digit value b the gas tube 87, which is fired by the appli cation to the grid of a signal from posito: 109. The discharged voltage of the capacitor 8 is such that the sensing beam is on the sam horizontal line as position 20 , whereas it i moved upwards to the level of position 20 if the capacitor has been charged under con trol of the digit value nine The sensing bean is scanned horizontally across the area 54 ii synchronism with the movement of the re cording beam over a line in the area 50 I 1 will be assumed that the digit value three has been sensed, so that the sensing beam wil scan on a line passing through position 203. As the beam scans from left to' right, as seen in relation to Fig 2, it first passes over position 22 This position is connected to a tap on a grid resister connected to the control grid of a pentode 139 The amplified signal is fed to a further pentode 140, which has a transformer 141 connected in the anode circuit One side of the secondary of the transformer is connected to the controi electrode 122 of the electrode assembly for the recording beam, and the other side is connected to a suitable D C supply potential The sensing of the position 22 produces a signal in the secondary of the transformer 141 which is sufficient to increase the beam current from zero to approximately half the maximum current Hence, a charged point or area is produced on the area 50 This point has approximately half the maximum charge density and acts as a zero mark. The positions 20 -209 have a common output line which is capacitatively connected via a terminal 123 to the grid of the pentode 139 Hence, when the sensing beam passes over the position 20 ', the transformer 141 produces a second output pulse, of larger ampitude, which increases the recording beam current to the maximum value and

therefore produces a second charged point on the screen area 50, this point having the maximum charge density. It will be apparent that the distance betveen the two charged points on the area 50 is proportional to the distance between the position 22 and the particular position 20 which is scanned by the sensing beam Since the position 20 which is scanned is determined by the charge on the capacitor 84, it will be seen that the stored charge pattern represents the digit sensed from the tape 65 The hext digit to be sensed will be stored in a similar manner, but on the next line of the recording beam scan, and so on for subsequent digits. If it is desired to record the stored values on the tape 70, for example, head 159 is used to record the synchronising frequency on the tape This frequency is sensed from the tape is 65 and also synchronises the control cathode y ray tube The signals from the area 50 are fed to the control grid of a pentode 156 The n anode circuit of this pentode includes a re 70 cording head 160 whichl records on the tape 4 65 It has already been explained that the e sensing beam scans the area 50 once inl each s cycle of the control cathode ray tube Each time the sensing beam 99 passes over a charged 75 area which has been produced previously by ithe recording beam 135, a relatively large isignal is fed to the pentode 156, which energises the recording head 160 Hence, for each t line scanned in which a digit has been recorded, 80 the head 160 is energised to record a zero mark followed by a digit signal at an interval representing the digit value The signal from Lthe low O er intensity zero mark on the screen area is sufficient to produce a full strength 85 recording on the tape. The transformer in the anode circuit of the pentode 156 has a further secondary winding which may be utilised to supply a beam intensifying signal to the control electrode for 90 the beam 75 The positions 117 -9 (Fig 4 are then used to control individual gas tubes (not shown) so that the control tube operates as a cathode ray tube distributing switch in a manner similar to that described in my co 95 pending Application No 37214/54 (serial No 786,033). This latter application describes the use of a magnetic drum or disc as a signal recording or storage device It will be apparent 100 that the signals and synchronising frequency may be derived from such a drum or disc, instead of from a magnetic tape as described above, so that signals may be transferred betveen such storage means and the storage 105 tube 43 Equally, the signals tg be recorded may be derived from an optically sensed tape, the magnetic sensing heads being replaced by photo-electric cells. As so far described the apparatus is set 110 forth inl my co-pending Application for Patent No 37217/54 (Serial No 786,036) as a storage means for digital data signals.

The use of the apparatus for computing will now be described The computation of a 115 single denomination takes place during a single cycle of rotation of the cathode ray beam 75, and it may be divided into four subcycles. The first sub-cycle occurs whlilst the beam 120 is moving between positions 170 and 115 of the screen 62 and is used for the entry of a carry resulting from the camputation of the previous denomination As will be explained, during each fourth sub-cycle the sensing beam 125 scans across the areas 53 or 54 The beam 99 will scan over the positions 20 or 19 in accordance with whether the computed digit, represented by the voltage across the capacitor 84, is less than ten or not If the beam has 130 786,051 age area 50 and the digit sensed from the tape. In order to subtract the digit sensed from the tape, the switch 106 is shifted,, so that the pentode 78 receives the digit signals from the 70 head 69 and the pentode 80 receives signals from a head 67 The track sensed by the head 67 contains subtractive zero marks which correspond in position to the recording of nine in the digit track Hence, the gas tube 91 75 is now fired by the sensing of a digit signal and the gas tube 92 is fired by the equivalent of a nine timed signal, so that the pentode 79 is conducting for a period proportional to the complement of the digit sensed from the tape 80 When subtracting provision is made for converting the units digit of the value to a complement to ten, either by entering a carry during the first sub-cycle of the first cycle, or by allowing an additional cycle at the end of the 85 computation during which the fugitive one is entered. During the fourth sub-cycle, when the beam 75 is moving between positions 120 and 109, the sensing beam is scanned across the 90 positions 19 or 20 to produce a timed digit representing signal for controlling recording on the area 50 or on the magnetic tape 70 and also to generate a carry signal, if necessary, in the manner already described 95 To summarise the computing operation, the first three sub-cycles iare occupied by successively charging the capacitor 84 by amounts representing a carry, a first digit sensed from the area 50 and a second digit 100 sensed from the tape 65 Thus, the final charge on the capacitor represents the computed result for one denomination, i e in decimal any value from zero to nineteen. The voltage across the capacitor positions the ios beam 99 in dine with the corresponding position 19 or 20 and, in the fourth sub-cy? the beam 99 is scanned across this selected position to generate a timed digit signal, and a carry signal if the result value exceeds nine 110

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* GB786052 (A)

Description: GB786052 (A) ? 1957-11-13

Improvements relating to means for the printing of characters

Description of GB786052 (A)

PATENT SPECIFICATION S= Date of Application and filing Complete Specification: Dec23, 1954. No 18355/56. ivide S,,Qut of No 786,024). Complete Specification Published: Nov 13, 1957. ndex at acceptance: -Class 100 ( 4), C( 20 A: 27 C). :nternational Classif ication:-B 41 j. COMPLETE SPECIFICATION EREA Th 1 VI SECIFICATI Oi N il O 786,052 Page 1, Index at acceptance, for '( 20 A: 27 C) N read h ( 20 A: 27 L) n. THE PATENT OFFICE, 13th Jafntary, 1958 and developments of the printing means set forth in my earlier Application for Patent No 37203/54 (Serial No 786,024) According to that earlier Application, a printing means was provided comprising a single printing body having a plurality of printing faces or elements in fixed relationship with each other and means whereby a relative movement between such body and the material to be printed upon caused the successive faces or elements to be brought into side-by-side printing positions serially As set forth in that Application the said printing means was a rectangular block-like member adapted for a to-and-fro rectilinear movement to bring the said printing faces into their selected printing positions. According to this invention, a rotating printing element is provided

having the said printing faces of elements upon it, and means is provided for selective rotation of that element to bring selected printing faces or elements into the respective side-by-side positions, means also being provided for bringing the selected face or element into printing contact with the paper or other material being printed upon at time instants and for time periods dependent upon the form of the character being printed Such movements may for example be dependent on pulse trains representing dot-and-line characters, such as those provided 'by a signal converter as set forth in my co-pending Application for Patent No. DB 01864/1 ( 11)/3628 150 1/58 R cording to the present invention are set forth 60 in Figs 7 a and 7 b of my said co-pending Application for Patent No 3,7222/54. The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: 65 Fig 1 is a perspective view of one example of the improved printing element; Fig 2 is a development of the circumferential surface of the same element; Fig 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the 70 operation of the invention; whilst Fig 4 is an example of a character of dotand-line form as produced by, this invention. As shown, the printing is effected by a rotatable body 1 on the circumference of which 75 are seven spaced printing faces or elements 2. These faces may be round or domed as shown in Fig 1, or they may be of a rectangular form to produce the style of character shown in Fig4 80 In Fig 3 the printing body 1 is shown mounted on a shaft 3 There is also a support 4 for a paper sheet 5, and a printing ribbon 6 Means (not shown) will be provided for bringing the printing element 1 and the support 85 4 towards each other to create an impression on the paper from the ribbon 6, this means being controlled, say by solenoids under the influence of in-coming signals e g from a computer 90 Instead of the printing faces being distributed over the whole circumference of a cylin56.052 PATENT SPECIFICATION 7869052 Date of Application and filing Complete Specification: Dec 23, 1954. No 18355/56. (Divided out of No 786,024). Complete Specification Published: Nov 13, 1957. Index at acceptance: -Class 100 ( 4), C( 20 A: 27 C). International Classif ication:-B 41 j. COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to means for the Printing of Characters I, GERHARD DIR Ks, a 'German citizen, of Moerfelder Landstrasse 44, Frankfurt on Main, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray

that a patent may be granted to me, and the methods by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - This invention relates to a means for the printing of characters on paper and the like. Such characters may be numerals or letters of an alphabet, or mathematical signs, command signals for a computer or other characters. The invention comprises improvements in and developments of the printing means set forth in my earlier Application for Patent No 3,7203/54 (Serial No 786,024) According to that earlier Application, a printing means was provided comprising a single printing body having a plurality of printing faces or elements in fixed relationship with each other and means whereby a relative movement between such body and ithe material to be printed upon caused the successive faces or elements to be brought into side-by-side printing positions serially As set forth in that Application the said printing means was a rectangular block-like member adapted for a to-and-fro rectilinear movement to bring the said printing faces into their selected printing positions. According to this invention, a rotating printing element is provided having the said printing faces of elements upon it, and means is provided for selective rotation of that element to bring selected printing faces or elements into the respective side-by-side positions, means also being provided for bringing the selected face or element into printing contact with the paper or other material being printed upon at time instants and for time periods dependent upon the form of the character being printed Such movements may for example be dependent on pulse trains representing dot-and-line characters, such as those provided by a signal converter as set forth in my co-pending Application for Patent No. 37222/54 (Serial No 786,041). As in my said Application No 37203/54 (Serial No 786,024), the printing faces or elements are spaced from each other in one 50 direction (in this case the circumferential direction) at intervals substantially equal to the height of the characters to be formed, and are spaced from each other in the other direction (in this case the axial direction) so that their 55 collective width is equal to the width of the character, preferably without overlapping. Examples of various characters of a dot-andline form or style such as can be printed according to the present invention are set forth 60 in Figs 7 a and 7 'b of my said co-pending Application for Patent No 3,7222/54. The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the

accompanying drawing, wherein: 65 Fig 1 is a perspective view of one example of the improved printing element; Fig 2 is a development of the circumferential surface of the same element; Fig 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the 70 operation of the invention; whilst Fig 4 is an example of a character of dotand-line form as produced 'by this invention. As shown, the printing is effected 'by a rotatable body 1 on the circumference of which 75 are seven spaced printing faces or elements 2. These faces may be round or domed as shown in Fig 1, or they may be of a rectangular form to produce the style of character shown in Fig4 80 In 'Fig 3 ^ the printing body 1 is shown mounted on a shaft 3 There is also a support 4 for a paper sheet 5, and a printing ribbon 6 Means (not shown) will be provided for bringing the printing element 1 and the support 85 4 towards each other to create an impression on the paper from the ribbon 6, this means being controlled say by solenoids under the influence of in-coming signals e g from a computer 90 Instead of the printing faces 'being distributed over the whole circumference of a cylindrical body as shown, they could be on a part-cylindrical body e g a quadrant or semicylinder or the like. The printing faces 2 will be brought into position serially, each for one vertical row or line in the character (see Fig 4) They will be so arranged and the respective arcs of the cemponents 1 and 4 will be such that, if those components remain close together each rotating face 2 will print a line the full height of the character By intermittently separating the components 1 and 4, under the influence of the command signals, interrupted lines are printed, whereby any shape of character may be represented. As in my said earlier Application, the means for bringing the printing-element into printing effect may be operated e g from a magnetic record means having signals thereon representing the characters to be printed, the signals for each character being converted into a pulse sequence giving successive operations on the printing mechanism. The said signals in the magnetic record would be sensed by signal heads, amplified and fed to a magnetic means for bringing the printing body and the paper or the like into contact (the printing ribbon 6 being interposed) and such contact will be maintained during each stage of the forward or reverse rotation of the printing body and for a length of time determined by the form of the character to be printed One vertical line of the character will be printed during a first stage of a forward rotation of the body 1, and the next line during the second stage of forward rotation, and so on. In the printing of the character 6 shown in Fig 4, one of the printing

faces will remain in printing position for a much longer period to print the line 8, whilst the other faces, which print the portions 9, 10 and 11 will have an intermittent printing effect. For a multi-denomination printer there will be a rotary member 1 for each denomination, if parallel printing is desired, and these may be arranged so that the first face 2 of all of them prints during a first stage of a common rotation in one direction, the second face 2 of all of them prints during a second stage of such common rotation, and so on If serial printing is desired for the various denominatlons, there will be means for effecting a lateral displacement between the printing body and the paper or the like, from denomination to denomination In such event also, a character in one denomination could be printed during a forward rotation of the body 1 and the character in the next denomination printed during the reverse rotation, the successive signal sequences for the characters being arranged accordingly.

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* GB786053 (A)

Description: GB786053 (A) ? 1957-11-13

Improvements relating to means for the printing of characters

Description of GB786053 (A)

PATENT SPECIFICATION a Date of Application and filing Complete Specification: Dec23, 1954, | s No 19697/56. (Divided out of No 786,024). Complete Specification Published: Nov 13, 1957. Index at acceptance:-Class 100 ( 4), C( 20 D 13: 27 L).

International Classification:-B 41 j. COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to means for the Printing of Characters I, GERHARD DIRKS, a 'German citizen, of 44 Mdrfelder Landstrasse, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a means for the printing of characters on paper or the like. Such characters may be numerals, or the letters of an alphabet or mathematical signs, command signals for a computer or other characters The invention may be usedl amongst other purposes in connection with calculating machines, book-keeping machines and the like, for the printing or other indication of a result In particular the invention may be utilised in or with an electronic digital computer of the kind set forth in, my earlier 'Patent Application No 15 '7; 73/50 filed 23rd Tune 1950. The invention comprises improvements in or developments of the printing means forming the subject of my earlier Application for Patent No 3,7203/54, (Serial No 786,024), and is applicable also to the invention set forth in my co-pending Application for Patent No. 18355/56 (Serial No 78,6,052). According to said earlier Application No. 37203/54 (Serial No 786,024), characters of a dot-and-line form, examples of which are shown in Figs 7 a and 7 b of the drawings filed in my co-pending Application for Patent No 37222/54 (Serial No, 786,041) were printed by a printing body having a plurality of printing faces or elements in fixed relationship with each other and means whereby a relative movement between such body and the material to be printed upon causes the successive faces or elements to 'be brought into side-by-side printing positions serially In, the preferred arrangement illustrated in that Application, the printing faces are spaced longitudinally and transversely on said body and are brought into said side-by-side printing positions successively by a longitudinal movement of the printing element with respect to the material being printed upon. The said earlier invention was modified according to my said co-pending Application No 18355/56 (Serial No 1786,052) in that, instead of the printing body being of elongated form and having a to-and-fro rectilinear movement to bring the respective printing faces into printing position, it was made of rotatable form and had the printing faces on, its circumferential surfaces. In both said Applications, it was stated that for printing in a number

of side-by-side columns or denominations either a side-ibyside assembly of the printing bodies must be used for printing in, parallel or, if serial printing is desired, means must be provided for effecting a lateral movement from column to column between a single printing body and the paper or other material being printed upon. The present invention is concerned with printing in a plurality of side-by-side columns, and more especially with parallel printing, and comprises the use of a single body having a plurality of the rows of the spaced printing faces or elements, one row for each of a number of denominations, and means for effecting a selective movement of the paper or the like towards and away from said body in the respective denominations in dependence on the form of the character to be printed By this means the digits of a number and/or the letters of a word can be printed simultaneously whatever the shapes of the characters, with only a single reciprocating or rotating printing body. As in the said other Applications, the means for effecting the to-and-fro movements of the printing body and the relative movements between the printing body and the paper or the like may be operated for example from a magnetic record means having signals thereon representing the characters to be printed This allows of a very high speed operation of the printing elements A magnetic record means of this type is shown in my said co-pending Application No 15773/50, ( 786,021). 36,053 W, A 786,053 The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, wherein: Fig 1 is a side view of one form of the improved printing means; Fig 2 is a face view of the printing surface on the printing body; Fig 3 is a front view, partly in section, of a modified form of the invention; and Fig 4 is a representative dot-and-line character such as can be produced by this printing means. In the drawing, Figs 1 and 2 show the invention as applied to a reciprocating printing body having a rectilinear to-and-fro movement, and Fig 3 shows the application of the invention to a rotatable printing body. As shown there is a plate-like printing body 1 having four sets of spaced printing faces or elements 2 for printing in four side-by-side columns or denominations This plate has stems 3 by which it may be reciprocated toand-fro (by means not shown) in the direction of the arrow 4 but, unlike the single-column printing body of my said earlier Application No 37203/54, (Serial No 786,024), this multi-column printing body does not have an up-and-down movement The printing faces may be round or domed as in Fig 1, or may be rectangular as in Fig 2. A paper strip or sheet 5 passes from a guide roller 6, over a series of side-by-side impression members 7, one for each denomination and

then over a further guide roller 8, a printing ribbon 9 being interposed between the body 1 and the impression members. As is described in the said previous Applications, the printing faces 2 are spaced from each other longitudinally a distance equal to the height of the character, and are spaced transversely so as collectively to make up the width of a character Therefore in one stroke of movement of the plate 1, the seven faces 2 can print the seven vertical "slices" or lines of a character, the continuity or otherwise of each line being determined by a rising and falling movement of the respective impression meber 7 These impression members rise and and fall selectively, in the direction of the arrows 10, say under the control of solenoids, these being energised selectively by pulse trains say from a signal converter according to my co-pending Application for Patent No 37222/ 54, (Serial No 786,041), by which discrete signals in a magnetic record each representing 55 a character can be converted to trains of pulses representing the dot-and-line components of that character in a sequence in which such components require to be printed. In Fig 3 instead of the reciprocating plate 60 like body 1, there is a rotatable body 11 carried by trunnions 12 and adapted either for continuous rotation or for to-and-fro rotation. Whilst a four denomination printer has been illustrated it is obvious that a smaller or larger 65 plurality of denominations may be catered for in a single printing body.

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