Abstract: An electronic trip meter for a motor vehicle comprises an up-down counter, a memory circuit, display circuit, and other auxiliary circuits. The up-down counter produces an output signal indicative of a distance travelled by the vehicle by counting a number of pulses generated each time the vehicle travels a predetermined distance or a distance remaining to an objective point of a predetermined course by subtracting the travelled distance from a preset distance. The counting up and down functions of the up-down counter is manually controlled for compensating for a travelled distance along a wrong course. The output of the up-down counter is fed to the display circuit for displaying a distance indicated by the output signal thereof. A plurality of distances of legs of a predetermined course may be stored in the memory circuit so that each distance is fed to the up-down counter as the predetermined distance.

Abstract: An electronic trip meter with a correction circuit for an automotive vehicle comprises a counter for producing an ouput signal indicative of a measured distance, an error detector for deriving an error factor of the measured distance with respect to a reference distance, a correction circuit for correcting the measured distance by the error factor, and a display circuit for displaying the corrected distance.

Abstract: The counter is provided with a plurality of digit wheels, the first order digit wheel thereof having a star wheel on one side, a plurality of pinions for effecting carries of the digit wheels, a pair of pawls driven by a driving member for alternately engaging the pawls with the star wheel, an electromagnetic driving device for driving the star wheel through the driving member, and a control member including cam members for preventing the tilting of the driving member when an external shock or vibration is applied to the counter tending to swing the driving member thus causing the misoperation of the star wheel.

Abstract: A data input device for effecting the entry of numerical values into a data processing device includes a data key which is tapped for a number of times corresponding to the number appearing in each digit of the numerical value, a counter for counting the number of taps applied on the data key and for generating a signal indicative of the counted number, a shift key and a shift register for successively memorizing the generated signal from the counter means upon manipulation of the shift key.

Abstract: In a timer or counter for timing to a selected time or counting to a selected count, there is included digital counting means and means for creating an output signal when the counting means counts to a selected number. In this type of device, there is further provided a plurality of two state indicator elements and means responsive to the counting means for changing the state of one of the elements after the timer or counter has progressed through each of several, preselected portions of the selected number being counted.

Abstract: An animal such as a dairy cow carries a transponder unit which includes a motion sensor. When the animal comes within range of a transceiver unit, it is interrogated and the transponder unit transmits data which identifies the animal and indicates the number of movements of the animal. The number of animal movements increase dramatically during estrus and a record is kept on each animal to determine when this occurs. Data received at the transceiver is processed by a microprocessor based system which operates to insure the received data is correct. It also assembles the data and outputs it to a printer.

Abstract: A drive shaft is interposed between the speedometer and odometer and the speedometer cable of an automotive vehicle and coupled to and rotatable therewith in a manner whereby the drive shaft rotates at the same speed as the cable. A cam shaft is rotatably mounted in operative proximity with the drive shaft and is coupled thereto by gears. A cam wheel is affixed to and rotatable with the cam shaft. The cam wheel has a cylindrical rim and a cam mounted on the rim and extending therefrom. The cam shaft is coupled to the drive shaft for rotating the cam wheel one revolution per unit distance. Electrical contacts in operative proximity with the cam are in spaced open relation out of electrical contact when spaced from the cam. The cam causes the electrical contacts to move into electrical contact once per revolution of the cam wheel thereby closing the electrical contacts once per unit distance represented by a revolution of the cam wheel.

Abstract: A digital device for determining a steady-state value of the analogue signal, comprising an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analogue signal into a numerical pulse code, electrically connected, through a synchronization unit, to inputs of threshold counters, a clock pulse generator electrically connected, through the synchronization unit, to the inputs of the threshold counters and to those of the time interval discriminator, and, through the frequency halver, electrically connected to the inputs of a reversible counter, a digital display unit electrically connected to the digit outputs of the reversible counter. The device also comprises decoders of zero state of the threshold counters, having their inputs respectively connected thereto and their outputs electrically connected to subtract count blocking inputs of the respective threshold counters, to the inputs of the reversible counter and to a control input of the digital display unit.

Abstract: A microwave seed sensor produces an output signal in response to the passage of each seed through a seed planting tube or conduit forming a path of travel for seeds, as in a seed planting machine. The microwave seed sensor comprises a housing of predetermined dimensions defining a waveguide for supporting propagation of a standing wave pattern of predetermined order at a predetermined microwave frequency. The housing includes a tubular portion for receiving the seed conduit, so that the seed conduit and waveguide intersect to define a seed viewing area where the path of travel in the conduit is in registry with the waveguide. This seed viewing area is of predetermined dimension in the direction of the path of travel of seeds through the conduit for resolution of individual seeds by the microwave seed sensor so that seeds may be counted.

Abstract: An electronic trip meter with an alarm for an automotive vehicle comprises a travelled distance sensing circuit, a memory circuit, a modification circuit, comparators, an alarm, first and second counters, a subtractor, a display circuit, and other auxiliary circuits. A plurality of sub distances defined by guide points along a course and a total distance of the course are respectively preset in the memory circuit and the second counter. The second counter output signal indicates a distance remaining to the goal of the course for displaying the remaining distance. The modification circuit output signal indicates a distance shorter than a sub distance while the first counter output signal indicates a distance actually travelled. When the vehicle travells over the distance shorter than the sub distance, the alarm is energized, by means of a comparison of the distances for informing the driver that a next guide point is near.

Abstract: A power line disturbance (PLD) detector circuit includes a digital counter which is driven by pulses provided by a clock in an associated data processing system. The PLD detector circuit includes a comparator amplifier for comparing primary AC power to a DC reference voltage on a cycle-by-cycle basis. The amplifier generates a reset pulse once during each AC cycle as long as the AC voltage exceeds the DC reference voltage. When a decoder circuit detects a count outside the range of counts attained by the digital counter between normally occurring reset pulses, the decoder circuit responds by generating a PLD signal. The PLD signal is provided both to the associated data processing system and to a Power On Reset circuit. The Power On Reset circuit is initialized by the PLD signal, permitting the circuit to respond consistently upon subsequent restoration of power.

Abstract: A flexible tape is releasably wound into a coil within a housing. Optically sensed encoded markings along the length of the tape are illuminated by a light source through fiber optic bundles. The light reflected from the illuminated markings is transmitted by additional fiber optic bundles to two light detectors for sensing the markings as the tape is wound or unwound from the coil. The markings are counted as they pass the fiber optic bundles by electronic logic circuitry the output of which controls a digital display on the housing.Two sets of markings are provided along the tape so that the display may be switched between metric and feet and inch units without making substantial changes in the electronic logic circuitry. The electronic count may be reset to zero at any extension of the tape and subsequent readings would then be plus or minus from that extension.

Abstract: Price encoder for delivering pulses corresponding to the price of gasoline or other liquid petroleum products dispensed by a pump. The encoder is removably mounted on the existing mechanical price computer in the pump and includes an input gear for engaging a drive gear on the computer. A pulse generator coupled to the input gear provides pulses at a higher rate than required for the output, and this pulse rate is reduced by a counter to provide a desired number of pulses per unit price. The counter is reset in response to the application of operating power to eliminate errors which might otherwise arise when the pump is reset.

Abstract: A slat-type article counting machine includes slats provided with cavities which carry the articles, an exact count of which are designed to be discharged into bottles or containers. Each cavity defines a hole which penetrates the entire slat depth. Two pairs of scanners are mounted to the machine, one for detecting missing articles from cavities and the other for detecting articles wedged or blocked therein. A pair of scanners comprises sensors which include an array board having multiple light-emitting diodes which project light beams through the holes provided in the cavities to thereby strike photoelectric cells mounted to another array board, which photoelectric cells generate signals which cooperate with sensing and logic circuits for effecting visual and audible means for indicating miscounts due to empty or blocked cavities. A wide range of auxiliary operations and functions may additionally be initiated by the signals.

Abstract: Apparatus for conducting Ordering Trials including a set of counters each incorporating an electrical circuit element which covertly identifies that counter and a box having locations for receipt of the counters. The counters and locations are fitted with plugs and sockets which are interengageable and permit the circuit element to be connected to electrical read-out circuitry which includes circuitry for identifying which counter is in which location. An arithmetic unit operating according to a predetermined algorithm is connected to the output of the interrogation circuitry to provide a measure of the result of a trial. The invention is concerned with a form of interrogation circuitry which permits a direct digital readout to be attained.

Abstract: An electronic device for calculating, storing and indicating the scores and related information for a game of tennis is described. The circuit provides for the special requirements of tennis and similar games by recognizing the existence of an endgame condition such as "deuce" in tennis and registering each new score as a function of the previous score and the point most recently won. Both up-down counters and decoders using non-volatile memory, including "read-only memory" (ROM) are disclosed for the point-calculation function, and a display encoder is described which efficiently provides for the display of alphanumeric scores, including "deuce" and "advantage" conditions. The invention includes features for indicating court change requirements, elapsed time, time of day, and display emphasis when a game is won. All score calculations are subject to a clear-entry feature to rectify operating error.

Abstract: An apparatus for supervising the operation of a rotary machine, such as a heat engine driving an electric generator, pump, etc., includes electronic circuits responsive to the alternating output of a tachometer-type alternator for recording performance details, such as speed, running hours, running hours in excess of normal speed, running hours with improper parameters (oil pressure, water pressure, or temperature), these electronic circuits being powered by rectifying the alternator output.

Abstract: A cutting cylinder of a newspaper press assembly has a magnet member mounted thereon. A semiconductor Hall effect pickoff is mounted in proximity to the cutting cylinder such that the magnet passes by this sensor in close proximity thereto once during each rotation of the cylinder. The output of the Hall effect sensor, which is in the form of pulses, is fed both to a non-inverting and an inverting amplifier. The outputs of the amplifiers are fed to a differential detector which provides an output only in accordance with the difference between the inputs fed thereto, thus eliminating common-mode inputs such as noise signals. The output of the differential detector is fed to a digital counter which provides a count of the input pulses representing the number of newspapers or the like detected by the sensor. The output of the digital counter in turn is fed to a readout device which provides a suitable readout of this count which may be in the form of a display.

Abstract: An automatically sweeping circuit for searching for an evoked response in an output signal in time with respect to a trigger input. Digital counters are used to activate a detector at precise intervals, and monitoring is repeated for statistical accuracy. If the response is not found then a different time window is examined until the signal is found.

Abstract: An apertured disk which is mounted on a shaft in a loom causes a first photocell to transmit a first signal once during each revolution of the shaft in a preselected angular position of the shaft, and a second photocell to transmit a second signal in response to each incremental angular displacement of the shaft through one degree. A counter is reset to zero in response to reception of each first signal, and the counter thereupon counts the second signals until the shuttle of the loom causes the generation of a third signal which is generated when the shuttle reaches a predetermined portion of its path. The counter displays or otherwise indicates the number of second signals which are generated between the generation of a first signal and the generation of the next following third signal.