Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for cumulative summing and compressing data items each of which is comprised of b binary elements.

Abstract: A device for reading printed characters formed of elements separated by spaces of first and second kinds in accordance with a character code. The device includes a read head arranged for relative motion with respect to the elements of a character, and is characterized by being insensitive to the speed at which the character elements move past the read head. The read head includes three element detectors physically spaced such that the first and second detectors are separated by a first kind of space, and the first and third detectors are separated by a distance equal to the second kind of space. Suitable circuitry is connected to the detectors for identifying the two kinds of space. The first kind of space is identified when the first and second detectors simultaneously detect character elements, and the second kind of space is identified when the first and third detectors simultaneously detect character elements.

Abstract: A phase comparator circuit arrangement is provided for controlling an electrical member on the basis of a control signal formed in accordance with the difference detected between a first waveform which is periodic and has a constant cyclic ratio, after it has locked on to a reference signal, and a second waveform which, after this locking on for which it serves as a reference, becomes non-periodic with a variable cyclic ratio for the purposes of exerting the said control. The circuit comprises a combination of a first bistable flip-flop circuit which receives the first and second waveforms respectively and which receives enabling voltages whose evolution is complementary between one input and the other. Means to subtract the waveform emitted by the first flip-flop circuit from the first waveform are provided to form the said signal for controlling the member.

Abstract: A communications system in which control or access to a channel is distributed among the several transmitting-receiving station linked by the channel rather than being centralized or under a master station control.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing documents having both pre-printed information adapted to be identified by an automatic recognition device and handwritten information adapted to be identified by the human eye. Each document is subjected to an operation involving the reading of the information contained thereon in two recurrent operating phases and an operation involving the recording of fresh data thereon. In the first phase, the pre-printed information is read by an automatic recognition device. During the second phase, the handwritten information is read visually and transcribed by an encoding device. Simultaneously therewith, fresh data is recorded on another document which was subjected to a reading operation in the course of the two next preceding operating phases.

Abstract: A system for controlling chopping for a converter in a DC electrical power supply.A transistor is arranged for chopping the DC input voltage which is connected to a chopping transformer. A control transistor controls the chopping transistor by means of pulses which it receives from a clock, via a pulse transformer.

Abstract: A method for storing a binary signal in a high speed flip-flop memory. The apparatus includes a clock signal selecting device connected to control a pair of memory elements in cascade. Data is introduced into the first memory element under the control of a first control signal from the clock signal selecting device and is transferred to the second memory element under the control of a second control signal from the clock signal selecting device. A single output of a clock pulse generator is applied via parallel lines, one of which includes a delay element, to a logic gate to provide spaced time pulses which are applied to the clock signal selecting device. The clock signal selecting device includes a pair of two input AND gates, each of which are connected to receive at one input the spaced time pulses and at the second input a clock signal selecting signal derived from the output of a JK flip-flop having its sync input connected to receive the spaced time pulses.

Abstract: A high capacity associative read/write memory is provided which includes storage means which can be read from or written into and having memory units of equal capacity each containing an equal and predetermined number of levels. Addressing means are coupled to the memory for addressing the data locations in the memory. A first comparator compares the content of the memory addressed (the data descriptor word) with the words read from the associative memory and a second comparator compares the content of the words read from the associative memory with the content of a descriptor containing the memory word to be invalidated. The number of comparators is equal to twice the number of memory levels multiplied by the number of memory units and is independent of the capacity of the memory. The outputs of the comparators are multiplexed to enable it to be used in the normal mode or in an associative mode.

Abstract: An arrangement for checking contact betweena transmitter circuit situated upstream and a receiver circuit situated downstream, the contact being made to enable electrical signals corresponding to 1 and 0 logic states produced by the transmitter circuit to be transmitted in series to an input of the receiver circuit, is characterized in that it is formed by a first circuit situated upstream of the contact at the output of the transmitter circuit and a second circuit which is situated downstream of the contact at the input to the receiver circuit, the first circuit being designed to produce, at a first output connected to the second circuit, and if the contact is satisfactory, a current in a predetermined direction or the opposite direction in the presence of a signal representing a 1 or 0 logic state emitted by the transmitter circuit, the second circuit being designed to generate, at an output connected to the input of the receiver circuit, a signal corresponding to the logic state generated by the transmitte

Abstract: Binary coded address information is written by a magnetic head on a magnetic recording medium, such as a disc, as a plurality of tracks, each having an address associated with it. Each track includes a reference zone containing a plurality of individual cells equal to the number of bits in the address. Each cell represents a binary value and includes two binary state transitions, each of which can occur at one of only two positions. One transition of each cell in each zone occurs at the same position within the cell, with adjacent zones having alternating positions of this transition. The other transition in the cells in each zone occurs at either position to represent the binary values.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to enable integrated circuit chips to be accurately mounted on substrates. Each chip is precisely positioned with respect to connecting areas on the substrates to which it is soldered. To this end, a support block is movable horizontally along a predetermined path and adapted to receive a substrate provided with at least one set of connecting areas arranged in a predetermined configuration about a center. A cutting tool having on the one hand a cutting head movable along a working axis perpendicular to the path followed by the support block is arranged to pass through a first fixed point on the said path, and on the other hand a cutting die arranged in the path of the head is arranged to receive an integrated circuit chip mounted on a support.

Abstract: A peripheral controller capable of simultaneously handling data transfer microprocesses for several different peripheral devices. The controller includes a set of memories, logic circuits and a physical interface channel for transmitting data between a control processing unit and the peripheral controller and for transmitting data between the peripheral controller and the peripheral devices, an interface control unit for enabling a predetermined one of the peripheral devices to communicate with the peripheral controller, a memory for storing microprograms for controlling the data flow between the control processing unit and the peripheral devices, and a processing circuit for administering the sharing of the processing time of the peripheral controller between the plurality of peripheral devices and the control processing unit.

Abstract: Temperatures are automatically measured with a Wheatstone bridge including first and second branches and a diagonal connected between taps of the branches. The first branch includes first and second series connected resistors respectively having values of P and Q; the second branch includes third and fourth series connected resistors respectively having values of R and A. A voltage source, having a value E, is connected to energize the branches in parallel. The third resistor is temperature responsive and has a positive temperature coefficient so that the value of R is given by:R = R.sub.0 (1 + .alpha..sub.0 T)whereinR.sub.0 = the resistance value of the third resistor at 0.degree. C,.alpha..sub.0 = the temperature coefficient of the third resistor, andT = temperature in degrees Centigrade.

Abstract: A system for recognizing printed characters each composed of a predetermined number of vertical lines arranged in accordance with a given code wherein the characters are read serially as a result of the document being moved between an input station and an output station of a transport mechanism associated with a reading device. The reading device includes at least one amplitude discriminating circuit having various threshold levels applied to it. Means are provided for locating the point at which the reading of the document commences and for reading the document and generating a read signal during the whole period when the document is being read. A buffer store is connected to the reading means for temporarily storing read characters which are satisfactory for use. Repeat reading means are connected to means for reading the document and to the buffer store.

Abstract: A ribbon driving and tensioning apparatus includes a pair of identical mechanical assemblies connected to reversibly drive associated rollers which support a printing ribbon. Each assembly includes a bi-directional DC reduction motor the output shaft of which is connected through a friction clutch assembly to the supporting shaft of a roller. The roller shaft includes a brake for applying a resisting torque in a direction opposite to that of the shaft rotation. A switching assembly for reversing the current to the motors and thereby reverse the direction of drive of the motors includes a pair of reversing switches mechanically coupled to a lever adapted to be pivoted between a first and a second position by a strip actuator positioned on the ribbon. A strip actuator is positioned adjacent opposite ends of the ribbon such that the direction of travel of the ribbon is reversed when the ribbon is almost completely unwound from one of the rollers.

Abstract: A container for a magnetic data recording disc includes a flat cassette shaped for insertion into a receptacle of disc memory of a data processing apparatus. A normally closed opening in a sidewall of the cassette provides access to the disc for recording and/or reading heads of the data processing apparatus. The cassette includes a pair of generally parallel walls that extend in a direction generally parallel to faces of the disc. One of the opposing walls includes an opening for enabling rotary drive means of the apparatus to be coupled to an annular hub of the disc. The opposed walls are rigid, but elastically deformable. In a free state, the opposed walls are outwardly convex. An internal projection extends from the center of the other opposed wall. The projection has an annular bearing surface facing the inside face of the other wall. The one opposing wall has an opening coaxial with the projection. The opening is surrounded by an annular bearing surface on the outside face of the one wall.