DECODING AND DISPLAY APPARATUS FOR GROUPS OF PULSE TRAINS

• US 3,727,003 A
• Filed: 03/18/1971
• Issued: 04/10/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Metretek, Inc. (Southern Company)
• Original Assignee: Theodoros G. Paraskevakos
• Inventors: Paraskevakos, Theodoros G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Curtis, Marshall M.
• Application Number:
  US05/125,705
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 340/379,324,325,336 178/17,28,32,34,35,38,4.1
• US Class Current: 178/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/573 Line monitoring circuits for detecting caller identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/32 using trains of dc pulses H04Q1/39 takes precedence

Abstract

Receiving apparatus for decoding a plurality of signal pulse trains, each pulse train representing one digit of a calling telephone number or other data values and for displaying the complete telephone number and data in decimal notation after decoding. Special means are employed for detecting the end of each pulse train and the occurrence of a uniquely identifiable pulse train representing the beginning of a complete series of pulse trains corresponding to the series of digits in a calling telephone number or other data group and for routing each pulse train to a corresponding decoding and display stage. Other embodiments utilize electromechanical printing devices which are not limited to any particular number of digits.

Claims

1. Receiving apparatus for decoding a group of signal pulse trains, each pluse train representing one digit or character of information data and for displaying said data, said apparatus comprising:

input means for accepting said signal pulse trains, digit separation detector means connected to said input means for discriminating between individual pulse trains and for generating a digit separation signal in response thereto, starting detector means connected to said input means for detecting a uniquely identifiable pulse train and for providing a start signal in response thereto, decoding and display means connected to said digit separation detector means and to said starting detector means for decoding and displaying each signal pulse train received only after said apparatus has been enabled by said start signal signifying that said uniquely identifiable pulse train has been detected.

2. Receiving apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said decoding and display means comprises:

a rotatable print wheel, incremental drive means connected to said print wheel, to said starting detector means and to said input means for incrementally rotating said print wheel in response to each pulse of incoming signal pulse trains occurring after detection of said uniquely identifiable pulse train, and means connected to said digit separation detector for recording characters on a recording medium from said print wheel in response to said digit separation signal.

3. Receiving apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said incremental drive means comprises an electromagnetically actuated prawl and ratchet assembly.

4. Receiving apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said incremental drive means comprises a digital stepper motor.

5. Receiving apparatus as in claim 2 further comprising recording medium advancement means for automatically advancing a recording medium in cooperation with said means for recording characters.

6. Receiving apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising recoRding means for automatically recording current time data together with said information data on a recording medium.

7. Receiving apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said display means includes recording means for effecting a potentially permanent display of said information data.

8. Receiving apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said decoding and display means comprises:

a plurality of separate channels for individually decoding and displaying each pulse train representing one character of said information data, and separation means for effectively separating and directing each successive pulse train to a particular corresponding channel for individual decoding and display.

9. A receiving apparatus for decoding a group of signal pulse trains, each pulse train representing one digit of a number and for displaying said number, said apparatus comprising:

digit detector means for discriminating between individual pulse trains and for generating a digit separation signal in response thereto, starting detector means for detecting a uniquely identifiable pulse train and for providing a start signal in response thereto, shift register means comprising a plurality of interconnected bistable stages, said shift register means being connected to said digit detector means and to said starting detector means to cause successive ones of said bistable stages to change state in response to successive digit separation signals occurring only after said apparatus has been enabled by said start signal signifying the detection of said uniquely identifiable pulse trains, a plurality of gate means each having one input connected to one of said bistable stabes and another input connected for receiving said signal pulse trains whereby any given gate means is enabled to pass the next occurring pulse train in response to its associated bistable stage changing state, and decoding and display means connected to each gate means for decoding and displaying the particular pulse train passed by its associated gate means whereby each successive digit of said number is successively decoded and displayed.

10. A receiving apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said digit detector means comprises a monostable multivibrator having a period at least equal to the time period between successive pulses of a single pulse train.

11. A receiving apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said starting detector means comprises:

clock means for generating clock pulses, first counter means, second counter means, gating means for simultaneously gating clock pulses to said first counter means and said signal pulses to said second counter means, first means connected to said first counter means for detecting a predetermined contents of said first counter means and for generating a first signal in response to such detection, second means connected to said second counter means for detecting a predetermined contents of said second counter means and for generating a second signal in response to such detection, and further means connected to said first and second means for generating said start signal in response to the simultaneous existence of said first and second signals whereby said start signal signifies receipt of a signal pulse train having a predetermined number of pulses.

12. A receiving apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said shift register means comprises a plurality of cascaded bistable flip-flop stages with a first stage connected to said starting detector means and with all other stages connected to said digit detector means.

13. A receiving apparatus as in claim 9 wherein each of said gate means comprises a logical NOR gate.

14. A receiving apparatus as in claim 9 wherein each of said counting and display means comprises:

digital decimal counting means for counting the number of pulses in a given pulse train and for providing electrical outputs representing the number of counted pulses, and visible display means for recording said electrical outpuTs as a decimal representation thereof whereby each digit of said number is recorded in a decimal notation.

15. A receiving apparatus as in claim 9 further comprising:

delay means connected to the last one of said bistable stages for detecting the last of the series of pulse trains representing said number and for automatically disabling said shift register means from beginning another cycle of operation for a predetermined time period whereby continuous display of the entire number is insured for at least said predetermined time period.

16. A receiving apparatus as in claim 9 further comprising:

input means connected for receiving said signal pulse train and for amplifying and shaping the individual pulses thereof before subsequent use in said apparatus.

17. A receiving apparatus as in claim 16 wherein said input means comprises:

solid state amplifier means for amplifying said pulses, and trigger means connected to said amplifying means for making the pulses of more uniform dimensions.

18. A receiving apparatus as in claim 17 wherein said trigger means comprises a Schmitt trigger.