Abstract: In construction of a digital phase locked loop for detection of the angular displacement of a mobile object depending on input signals from an encoder, is provided a bit number control circuit so that working bit numbers of A/D converters and a counter in the loop are automatically reduced as the frequency of the input signals rise and, in accordance with such reduction in working bit number, a function generating ROM of a smaller bit number is selected from a group of function generating ROMs of different bit numbers for supply of address data to multipliers connected to the A/D converters, thereby the signal processing speed of the loop is significantly raised to face up to current speed-up in the mobile object displacement.

Abstract: A digital integrator for sensors which takes a time varying current or charge flow signal and converts it into a proportional voltage varying signal. The voltage varying signal is then preferably passed through an active full wave rectification subcircuit to provide an absolute value of the time varying voltage signal. The voltage signal also is analyzed by a zero crossing detector. The absolute value signal is converted into a proportional frequency varying signal which is counted either positively or negatively to produce an integral of the current flow with time. The integrator can be used with sensors such as piezoelectric crystals to indicate force on a real-time basis. The integrator is described as part of an animal hoof force detection system.

Abstract: A variable force push button is used as an input device for a control system. Specifically, a bi-directional storage device produces a command that is applied to an element to be controlled. A signal is generated having a characteristic representative of the force applied to the push button. A representation of the characteristic is integrated by the storage device. In addition to changing the characteristic by varying the force applied to the push button, the user can change the direction of the integration, thereby increasing and decreasing the value of the command. The push button comprises a pressure sensitive element sandwiched between electrically conductive contacts one of which is actuated by the user. The pressure sensitive element is constructed of conductive particles in an elastomeric matrix. Preferably, electrically conductive micro-agglomerates of unbound finely divided electro-conductive carbon particles having a maximum dimension of between about 0.

Abstract: An up/down tracking counter stores a digital count signal equal to the time interval to be converted and provides this signal as the parallel digital output of the converter. Prior to the interval to be converted the count from the up/down counter is loaded into a down counter. At the leading edge of the interval to be converted the down counter is counted down, from the count loaded therein, by a clock signal until the occurrence of the trailing edge of the interval. A decision PROM responsive to the output of the down counter provides a message signal in accordance with the residual error count remaining in the down counter. The message signal commands a bit pattern generator that applies pulse burst controllably to the count up input or count down input of the up/down counter in accordance with the error count in the down counter so as to tend to reduce the error count in the down counter to zero.

Abstract: A device for measuring the rate of change of speed of a machine such as a turbine engine which includes a digital counter for counting a speed signal having a frequency proportional to engine speed for a predetermined period of time and decrementing said count for a second period of time with the counting periods being proportional to engine speed. The up and down counts are derived by dividing a fixed frequency clock signal by a number proportional to engine speed to generate a variable frequency signal which frequency is proportional to engine speed. The difference between the up and down counts generates a remainder signal which is compared to predetermined limits.

Abstract: An adjuster can provide a potentiometric type of adjustment with a control generator, a driver and a transducer. The control generator can provide an adjusting signal to the driver. The driver is coupled to the control generator for providing a drive signal in response to the adjusting signal. The transducer has its input coupled to the driver and this input is electrically isolated from its output. This output of the transducer can conduct by a variable amount in response to the adjusting signal, to simulate potentiometric action.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein an up/down counter with a programmable terminal count. The up/down counter has a two level input structure such that new terminal counts may be written into the up/down counter asynchronously without disturbing operations of the up/down counter. Although the invention is described in the bidirectional sense, certain of the features are also applicable to unidirectional counters.

Abstract: A pulse width control circuit for providing a control signal to adjust variations of electrical characteristics among a plurality of printing elements has an up/down counter and a plurality of control signal generating circuits. The up/down counter counts the number of pulses of a clock signal and delivers the counted value. The control signal generating circuit compares the counted values from the up/down counter with set values corresponding to conduction time periods of the currents used for driving light emitting diodes, and generates a plurality of control pulse signals having pulse widths whose central positions thereof are in accord with each other.

Abstract: A system for sensing the position of an object such as a rotating member has a plurality of photocouplers coupled with the interposition of a rotary disc having slits and rotating with the object. The system further has a position signal generating circuit for receiving signals produced by the photocouplers and producing a series of component position signals differing in phase successively by a predetermined phase difference, a counting circuit having an up/down count for determining the position of the object by counting occurrences of a predetermined change recurring periodically in the component position signals, and a direction determining circuit for producing an up/down signal for controlling the counting mode of the up/down counter. Each time the predetermined change occurs in any one of the component position signal, the direction determining circuit determines the order in which the change occurs in two successive component position signals.

Abstract: A noise elimination circuit for eliminating noise signals from data given by a binary form includes a modulo in up/down counter having a first input for receiving binary data, a second input for receiving clock pulses and output for producing a counted signal. The counter is effected to count up in response to the clock pulses when the binary data is a HIGH, and to count down in response to said clock pulses when the binary data is a LOW. A decoder is provided which has inputs for receiving the counted signal, a first output for producing an indication signal when the counted signal corresponds to a first predetermined number i, and a second output for producing an indication signal when the counted signal corresponds to a second predetermined number j, in which i is equal to or greater than zero, j is greater than i and n is equal to or greater than j.

Abstract: An indicating device in a measuring machine in which the flickering of an indicated value due to vibrations of the machine and the like is avoided. The indicating device includes a flickering sensing circuit for receiving up signals or down signals outputted from an encoder as input signals thereto and sensing the change in the signals from the up signals to the down signals and vice versa. When the change in the signals is sensed by this flickering sensing circuit, a hold signal having a predetermined period of time is outputted from a hold circuit, whereby renewing storage of counted values from the counter by a latch circuit is interrupted for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: When the frequency dividing ratio of a programmable divider in a phase locked loop is controlled by an up/down counter, the designing of a system can be simplified by reducing the number of control lines connected to a microprocessor as much as possible. An up/down counter control circuit of the present invention comprises a timing control means to which a latch signal, a data and a clock signal are supplied, a data memory means and an up/down counter and is characterized in that under the control of the timing control means, in the data latch mode, a first level (0 or 1) of the latch signal is detected and in synchronism with the clock signal that data is latched in the data memory means, while in the up/down mode, a second level (1 or 0) of the latch signal is detected and the content of the up/down counter is changed in response to the level of the data synchronized with the clock signal.

Abstract: A variable rate, bi-directional slew control employing a dual-concentric potentiometer having a first shaft attached to a first spring for urging it to remain in an extreme clockwise position and a second shaft urged by a second spring to remain in an extreme counterclockwise position wherein an extension of a sleeve provides the means for manual manipulation of the first shaft in a counterclockwise direction and the second shaft in a clockwise direction. A first tap associated with the first shaft is electrically connected to a first off-zero detector which is itself connected to a pulse generator which is in turn connected to an up input of an up/down counter. A second tap associated with the second shaft is electrically connected to a second off-zero detector which is connected with a second pulse generator which is in turn connected to a down input of the up/down counter.

Abstract: A device for generating a variable and adjustable control signal is provided. The device is of the type in which the control signal is generated in response to the manipulation of the device by an operator and is applied to suitable controlled amplifiers such as voltage controlled amplifiers or filters. The device comprises variable voltage generating member and a holding circuit coupled thereto. The voltage generating member is capable of delivering a voltage corresponding to the location where the operator touches or presses and when the voltage generating member is not touched the voltage generating member is inhibited from delivering a voltage. The holding circuit delivers a first signal corresponding to the voltage delivered under the manipulation of the voltage generating member, and holds a voltage corresponding to the previously manipulated location and delivers a second signal corresponding to the held voltage during the time the voltage generating member is not manipulated.

Abstract: A bidirectional counting circuit for use with a transducer producing two pulses per engineering unit includes an UP/DOWN counter which receives separate UP and DOWN input pulses from the transducer through respective AND gates. A synchronizing flip-flop, which switches states in response to either an UP or DOWN pulse, alternately enables the AND gates and effectively divides the input pulses by two. The state of the flip-flop is used to control a display digit to add the suffix "5" or "0" to the displayed counter content in order to display one-half engineering unit resolution. The circuit includes automatic and manual zeroing capability and a direction indicator.

Abstract: In the disclosed device, a counter digitally counts the used or unused length of a tape, a display using a liquid crystal or the like displays the count, and a switch optionally shifts the count up or down.

Abstract: In an instrument for converting the rotary motion of the feed shaft of a machine to a pulse train having a direction component and for counting and displaying the pulse train as counted by a reversible counter, a digital measuring device arranged such that its reversible counter does not count pulses generated by the idling rotation of the feed shaft due to play in the feed system of the machine, thereby digitally counting and displaying the correct transfer distance or feed ratio of the transfer unit of the machine.

Abstract: Sampling data output in the form of digital signals corresponding to changes in a quantity to be measured within a predetermined period or an average value of the sampling data is compared with display data corresponding to the current display. When the accumulation signal obtained by accumulation of the difference between the sampling data and display data exceeds a predetermined value, or an average value having a predetermined difference from the current display data has been counted a predetermined times, the display data is updated.

Abstract: Digital apparatus receives digital data and outputs a ramp-like analog waveform. The digital apparatus comprises a reference digital word source, a variable digital word source, a testing circuit, and a D/A converter. The reference word and the variable word are tested for a predetermined relationship and the variable word changes until the predetermined relationship or condition is satisfied. The D/A converter receives the variable word and converts changes in same into either positive or negative slope ramps. The D/A converter output is constant during intervals where the variable word is not changing.

Abstract: Hot-box signalling devices are disclosed for indicating the presence of overheated bearings in vehicles such as rail cars. The device includes means defining a closed compartment containing a fluid and pressure-sensitive means communicating with the compartment. The compartment is arranged in thermal communication with a bearing of the vehicle so that increases in the temperature of the bearing cause increases in the pressure exerted by the fluid. The pressure-sensitive means is adapted to produce a signal when the pressure exerted by the fluid exceeds a predetermined threshold representing an over-temperature condition in the bearing. Preferably, the pressure-sensitive means takes the form of a plug normally closing an opening in the compartment, and a marker material, the plug and marker material being expelled when the pressure in the compartment reaches said predetermined threshold. In one aspect of the invention, provision is made to compensate for ambient temperature.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for determining whether the duty cycle of a periodic signal produced by an incremental encoder is within a predetermined acceptable range. The apparatus includes an oscillator which produces clock pulses at a substantially higher frequency than the periodic signal and a counter which is effective during a selected period of the periodic signal to add the number of clock pulses produced during that portion of the period when the square wave signal is high and subtract from the accumulated number, the number of clock pulses produced when the signal is low. A detector, in response to the final number held by the counter, determines whether the duty cycle is within the predetermined acceptable range.

Abstract: A digital depth indicator for rotary earth drills, and particularly auger type drills, operates from the means used to lower and raise the drill. The indicator operates from either the wire or cable of a wire line hoist auger or the hydraulic fluid flow in a hydraulic Kelly hoist type machine. A rotary measuring device is provided with an incremental shaft encoder which rotates to produce a dual signal which is supplied to (1) an up/down digital counter and (2) a programmable .div.N counter, which counter supplies a .div.N pulse to the up/down digital counter. The programmable .div.N counter is provided with switches for (1) setting the apparatus to read in feet or in meters and (2) setting the program for the drilling machine type or model. The output from the up/down digital counter is fed through a display driver to a digital display showing the indicated depth in feet or meters.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a reception control system for use with a paper counting machine, which is intended to prevent the excessive reception of the sheets of paper due to the delay in the reception control timing.

Abstract: An electronic up-down counter system including a directional discriminator for accepting input pulses and for generating sequences of pulses which represent up-count and down-count signals. The count signals are applied to a reversible up-down counter having separate inputs for up-count pulses and down-count pulses. The directional discriminator is embodied in a read-only memory (ROM), which accepts the source input pulses to be counted and several inputs having predetermined phase relationships with the source pulse train. The ROM determines from the phase relation whether the count is up or down and generates the appropriate output pulse sequence for application to the reversible up-down counter. The ROM may be logically adapted to be sensitive to a change in sign when the up-down counter passes through a "zero" count.

Abstract: A digital control type volume control circuit is disclosed herein which includes a multivibrator, an UP key, a DOWN key, a pair of binary UP/DOWN counters, a 4-to-16 line decoder, an encoder and an attenuator. The multivibrator is connected to the UP and DOWN keys to furnish pulses to the counter via an actuated one of the UP and DOWN keys. The counter counts the number of the pulses via the UP and DOWN key, with the counter being indicative of the length of actuation of the UP or DOWN key. The encoder responsive to the count of the counter output count provides an output for the attenuator having a plurality of resistors of different resistances for determination as to the amount of attenuation.

Abstract: A circuit consisting of five cascaded binary coded decimal, UP-DOWN circuits with associated gates, a first input causes the counters to count up, at a 10 Mhz rate until any second input, which latches into memory the accumulated time in the counters, and causes the counters to count down at 5 Mhz rate, when the counters reach zero an output pulse, suitable for triggering photo flash strobes is generated.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement is provided for controlling the drive of dental treatment instruments by means of driving devices associated therewith and the operating data of which are adapted to be fed to a separate forward/backward counter when the particular treatment instrument is selected for use. A starter switch is connected to the forward/backward counter and is operable, when actuated, to vary the particular stored count of the counter step-wise for the purpose of varying the operating data and for transmission to a control element, for the control thereof, which is associated with the particular treatment instrument. Upon actuation of the starter switch in order to vary the stored count of the forward/backward counter, the counting speed of the counter is increased with increasing actuation time of the starter switch by reason of the fact that the counter receives a number of counter pulses which increase per unit time.

Abstract: A proportional digital control system for radio frequency synthesizers using binary coded decimal control to a frequency synthesizer tunable in contiguous small interval increasing or decreasing steps throughout the frequency bandwidth range of operation. A fine tune dial switch circuit generates a two signal output with one a step count signal and the other an up-down control signal generated only upon rotation of the fine tuning dial and with the signal pulse rates thereof a direct function of the rate of fine tune dial turning. The up-down control signal is an up or down signal input to up-down pulse counting to BCD output circuits as determined by phase relation thereof to the step count signal and with the phase determined by direction of fine tune dial turning clockwise for up count and counterclockwise for down count.