Method of, and apparatus for, increased resolution slewing of a bar-graph-display data input/output system
First Claim
1. Data input/output apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality M, where M is an integer greater than 1, of individually and singly actuateable data input means for providing only one of a like plurality M of data input signals at any time;
a bar graph display having a plurality N=(Z*(M-1)+1), where Z is an integer greater than 2, of individually-actuateable display bar segments, each segment corresponding to a different one of a like plurality N of apparatus data output levels;
data output means at which is provided one of a plurality N of different data output signals, each associated with the highest presently-actuated bar segment of said display; and
means for selecting a chosen one of the plurality N of data output signals and immediately enabling, upon actuation of a chosen input means directly associated with a bar segment greater than a presently-actuated bar segment, a data output signal and an associated bar display of up to and including that bar segment at a level immediately above the bar segment directly associated with that input means next lower than the chosen actuated input means, and then, if said chosen input means remains actuated, sequentially enabling successively higher levels and associated additional bar segments, up to and including the bar segment and level associated with the chosen actuated input means, after each of a like number of time intervals;
said enabling means also for immediately enabling, upon actuation of a chosen input means associated with a bar segment less than a presently-actuated bar segment, a data output and an associated bar display of up to and including that bar segment at a level immediately below the bar segment directly associated with that input means next higher than the chosen actuated input means, and then, if said chosen input means remains actuated, sequentially disabling successively lower levels and associated additional bar segments, down to but not including the bar segment and associated level associated with the chosen actuated input means, after each of a like number of time intervals.
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Abstract
A bar-graph-display data input/output system, having increased resolution, utilizes a bar graph display having a number of bar segments greater than the number of associated actuating switch devices. Selection of a given level in the increasing direction is obtained by actuating the next-higher switch; the bar graph starts at a level immediately above that bar segment adjacent to the switch next-lower than the actuated switch and slews, or moves, to each progressively higher position after a fixed time interval at each position, until either the switch is inactivated or the bar reaches the position of the switch activated. In the decreasing direction, the display bar starts at a level immediately below a bar segment directly adjacent to that switch next-higher than the switch actuated, and slews to progressively lower levels, after a similar fixed interval at each position until the activated switch is either inactivated or the bar reaches that segment directly associated with the activated switch. The bar graph, and the associated digital level output data, may be increased or decreased from a present position by actuating higher, or lower, switches.
17 Citations
14 Claims
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1. Data input/output apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality M, where M is an integer greater than 1, of individually and singly actuateable data input means for providing only one of a like plurality M of data input signals at any time; a bar graph display having a plurality N=(Z*(M-1)+1), where Z is an integer greater than 2, of individually-actuateable display bar segments, each segment corresponding to a different one of a like plurality N of apparatus data output levels; data output means at which is provided one of a plurality N of different data output signals, each associated with the highest presently-actuated bar segment of said display; and means for selecting a chosen one of the plurality N of data output signals and immediately enabling, upon actuation of a chosen input means directly associated with a bar segment greater than a presently-actuated bar segment, a data output signal and an associated bar display of up to and including that bar segment at a level immediately above the bar segment directly associated with that input means next lower than the chosen actuated input means, and then, if said chosen input means remains actuated, sequentially enabling successively higher levels and associated additional bar segments, up to and including the bar segment and level associated with the chosen actuated input means, after each of a like number of time intervals;
said enabling means also for immediately enabling, upon actuation of a chosen input means associated with a bar segment less than a presently-actuated bar segment, a data output and an associated bar display of up to and including that bar segment at a level immediately below the bar segment directly associated with that input means next higher than the chosen actuated input means, and then, if said chosen input means remains actuated, sequentially disabling successively lower levels and associated additional bar segments, down to but not including the bar segment and associated level associated with the chosen actuated input means, after each of a like number of time intervals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10)
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6. Data input/output apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality M, where M is an integer greater than 1, of individually and singly actuateable data input means for providing only one of a like plurality M of data input signals at any time; a bar graph display having a plurality N=(Z*(M-1)+1), wherein Z=2, of individually-actuateable display bar segments, each segment corresponding to a different one of a like plurality N of apparatus data output levels; each of said data input means being numbered consecutively from 1 to M and directly associated respectively with the first, (1+Z)-th, (1+2Z)-th, . . . , (N-2Z)-th, (N-Z)-th and the N-th bar segment and output level; data output means at which is provided one of a plurality N of different data output signals, each associated with the highest presently-actuated bar segment of said display; and means for selecting a chosen one of the plurality N of data output signals and enabling, upon actuation of a chosen input means directly associated with a bar segment greater than a presently-actuated bar segment, a data output signal and an associated bar display of up to and including that bar segment at a level immediately above the bar segment directly associated with that input means next lower than the chosen actuated input means, and then, if said chosen input means remains actuated, sequentially enabling successively higher levels and associated additional bar segments, up to and including the bar segment and level associated with the chosen actuated input means, after each of a like number of time intervals;
said enabling means also for enabling, upon actuation of a chosen input means associated with a bar segment less than a presently-actuated bar segment, a data output and an associated bar display of up to and including that bar segment at a level immediately below the bar segment directly associated with that input means next higher than the chosen actuated input means, and then, if said chosen input means remains actuated, sequentially disabling successively lower levels and associated additional bar segments, down to but not including the bar segment and associated level associated with the chosen actuated input means, after each of a like number of time intervals;said selecting means including a plurality N of logic subcircuits each having a latched true Q output and a latched complementary Q output, and set and reset inputs for, respectively, setting and resetting the Q output and resetting and setting the Q output, responsive to set and reset signals at the respective set and reset inputs; and
means receiving all of said data input signals for providing a sequence of Z pulses, the first one of which pulses occurs at a preselected time interval after actuation of one of said data input means and the remaining ones of said pulses occurring sequentially after said predetermined time interval has elapsed after the immediate previous pulse;
the N logic subcircuits being interconnected to cause the Q output of the k-th subcircuit, where 1≦
k≦
N, to be set immediately if the (k+1)-st subcircuit Q output is set or if the j-th data input means, where j=(k+2)/2 for all even k, is actuated and to be set after a time interval T if the j'"'"'-th data input means, where j'"'"'=( k+1)/2 for all odd k greater than 1, is actuated and remains activated for at least the entire time interval T;
the first (k=1) logic subcircuit having the Q output thereof also set immediately if the first input means is activated;
the logic subcircuits also being coupled each to the other to cause the Q output of the k-th subcircuit to be set immediately if the (k-1)-st Q output is set or if the i-th input means, where i=(k-1)/2 for all odd k, is activated and to be set after said time interval T if the i'"'"'-th input means, where i'"'"'=K/2 for all even k, is activated and remains activated for the entire T time interval;
each of said bar segments and output signals being enabled by the Q output of the associated subcircuit. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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11. A method for increased resolution slewing of a data input/output system, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a first plurality M, where M is an integer greater than 1, of singly and independently-actuateable data input means each for enabling only one of a like plurality M of data input signals at any time; (b) providing a bar graph display with a second plurality N=(Z*(M-1)+1), where Z is an integer greater than 2, of individually-actuateable display bar segments, each segment corresponding to a different one of a like plurality N of data output levels; (c) providing data output means at which a chosen one of said N data output levels is to be provided; (d) selecting a single data input means which if a desired data output level is greater than a presently-enabled output level, is the next-highest data input means directly associated with a bar segment above that bar segment corresponding to the desired output level, and, if a desired data output level is less than a presently-enabled data output level, is the next-lowest data input means directly associated with a bar segment below that bar segment corresponding to the desired output level; (e) actuating the single selected data input means to immediately enable that bar segment immediately above the bar segment associated with the next-lowest data input means, if the desired data output level is greater than the presently-enabled output level, or, if the desired data output level is less than the presently-enabled data output level, to immediately enable that bar segment immediately below the bar segment associated with the next-highest input means; and (f) maintaining said single selected data input means in the actuated condition while the bar segments are sequentially enabled or disabled until the highest bar segment of the bar graph display moves to the bar segment corresponding to the desired output level, to provide the desired output level at said the data output means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification