STANDARD ADAPTER METHOD AND APPARATUS

• US 3,714,635 A
• Filed: 01/31/1972
• Issued: 01/30/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David Robert Hughes, John Arthur Hamilton, O'Connor, Leo Thomas Jr.
• Original Assignee: David Robert Hughes, John Arthur Hamilton, O'Connor, Leo Thomas Jr.
• Inventors: Hamilton, John Arthur, Hughes, David Robert, O'Connor, Leo Thomas Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Gareth D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chirlin, Sydney R.
• Application Number:
  US05/222,189
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 340/172.5
• US Class Current: 703/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices

Abstract

An adapter unit for facilitating communication between a computer and any one of a number of different input/output devices to which the computer may be connected is disclosed. Each adapter unit may be programmed to handle the various control parameters required for any particular input/output device, thus eliminating the necessity of a specifically designed, hard wired adapter unit for each different input and output device.

Claims

1. An improved method of adapting controllable data input or output devices for control by a computer controller unit, comprising:

loading starting parameters and action control signals for a particular device to be controlled into a storage means for temporarily storing data;

loading a timing parameter for said device into a variable timing means for delaying action in accordance with said timing parameter;

comparing said starting parameter with sensed condition signals from said device to be controlled until a match is found between said parameter and said condition signals;

starting said timing means upon the finding of a match in said comparing step;

operating said timing means until said timing parameter is met; and

then outputting said action control Signal to said device to be controlled.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein:

said operating of said timing means comprises driving a counting means until a count equal to said timing parameter is reached.

3. The method as described in claim 1, wherein:

said operating of said timing means comprises decrementing a counting means loaded with said timing parameter until it is decremented to 0.

4. Software personalized apparatus using an adapter control word for adapting a data input or output device for operation by a controller, said adapter control word comprising a plurality of data bits representing start-up, timing and action parameters for said device;

wherein said apparatus comprises;

means for receiving said adapter control word from said controller and for storing said word;

means for sensing and comparing the condition of said input or output device against a start-up parameter portion of said control word;

means for signalling the comparison of the start-up parameter portion of said control word with said condition of said device; and

timing delay means, responsive to said comparison signal, for timing the transmission of the action parameter portion of said control word to said device in accordance with said timing portion of said control word.

5. Apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein:

said means for receiving and storing said adapter control word comprises a plurality of separately addressable registers with gating means for admitting the portions of said control word in to and out of said registers; and

said timing delay means comprises a counter means for counting until said timing portion of said control word, as represented by a given count on said counter, is reached together with means in association with said counter for detecting the reaching of said count and for activating said gating means to transmit said action portion of said control word out of its said register to said device to be controlled.

6. Apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein:

said means for receiving and storing said adapter control word comprises a storage register having a plurality of separately addressable fields therein with gating means for admitting portions of said control word in to and out of said fields; and

said timing delay means comprises a counter means for counting until said timing portion of said control word, as represented by a given count on said counter, is reached together with means in association with said counter for detecting the reaching of said count and for activating said gating means to transmit said action portion of said control word out of its said register to said device to be controlled.

7. Improved apparatus for adapting a computer to a data input or output device for communication therebetween, wherein said improvement comprises, in combination:

means for storing separately a plurality of groups of data bits representative of control parameters for start-up, action and timing of said device;

sensing and comparison means for sensing the condition of the device to be controlled and for comparing the condition sensed against said start-up parameter and further including comparison signalling means for signalling that a comparison exists;

counter means connected to said comparison signalling means and responsive to said comparison signal for counting at a given rate until said timing parameter, expressed a count on said counter, has been reached;

count complete signalling means connected to said counter for signalling the completion of said count; and

gate means responsive to said complete count signal for transmitting for execution the content of said action data portion of said storing means.