Automatic switching apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a mode setting means for selectively generating an automatic mode signal representative of an automatic mode, or a non-automatic mode signal representative of a non-automatic mode;
a switching means for receiving either mode signal so as to be set in a respective mode, said switching means having the capability of generating a number of different possible selection signals, only one selection signal being generated at any one time, wherein in the automatic mode, said switching means automatically switches from generating one selection signal to another selection signal in response to receival of a predetermined input which includes a control pulse, and wherein in the non-automatic mode, one selection signal does not switch to another selection signal in response to said predetermined input; and
a signal capturing means for receiving said first control pulse and for generating, in the non-automatic mode, a pseudo-control signal which changes in a predetermined manner in response to said control pulse so as to simulate said control pulse, said signal capturing means being unresponsive to said control pulse when said switching means is set in the automatic mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method wherein a switching means, which has the capability of generating one of a number of different output selection signals, is set to an automatic mode or a non-automatic mode. In the automatic mode, the switching means automatically switches from generating one selection signal to another selection signal in response to a predetermined input which includes a control pulse. In the non-automatic mode, no such switching occurs. In addition, the apparatus generates a pseudo-control signal which, in the non-automatic mode only, changes in a predetermined manner in response to the control pulse so as to simulate the control pulse. According to a preferred embodiment, the above functions are performed by a switchover circuit which is employed in a multi-tape well logging system to automatically switch from one tape to another tape upon reaching an end of tape.
9 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a mode setting means for selectively generating an automatic mode signal representative of an automatic mode, or a non-automatic mode signal representative of a non-automatic mode; a switching means for receiving either mode signal so as to be set in a respective mode, said switching means having the capability of generating a number of different possible selection signals, only one selection signal being generated at any one time, wherein in the automatic mode, said switching means automatically switches from generating one selection signal to another selection signal in response to receival of a predetermined input which includes a control pulse, and wherein in the non-automatic mode, one selection signal does not switch to another selection signal in response to said predetermined input; and a signal capturing means for receiving said first control pulse and for generating, in the non-automatic mode, a pseudo-control signal which changes in a predetermined manner in response to said control pulse so as to simulate said control pulse, said signal capturing means being unresponsive to said control pulse when said switching means is set in the automatic mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 21)
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11. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of tape drives having magnetic tapes therein, each said tape drive having the capability of generating an end of tape pulse representative of the condition wherein an end of tape has been reached; a switchover circuit which includes a mode setting means for selectively generating an automatic mode signal representative of an automatic mode, or a non-automatic mode signal representative of a non-automatic mode, said circuit also including a switching means for receiving either mode signal so as to be set in a respective mode, said switching means having the capability of generating a number of different possible selection signals, only one selection signal being generated at any one time, wherein in the automatic mode, said switching means automatically switches from generating one selection to another selection signal in response to receival of a predetermined input from said drives which includes said end of tape pulse, and wherein in the non-automatic mode, one selection signal does not switch to another selection signal in response to said predetermined input, and wherein said circuit also includes a signal capturing means for receiving said end of tape pulse and for generating, in the non-automatic mode, a pseudo-control signal which changes in a predetermined manner in response to said end of tape pulse so as to simulate said end of tape pulse, said signal capturing means being unresponsive to said end of tape pulse when said switching means is set in the automatic mode, wherein said generated selection signal is received by said tape drives, each said possible selection signal corresponding to a particular tape drive, a tape drive being selected if it receives its corresponding selection signal such that in response to switching of the selection signals, selection of one drive is switched to another drive. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method comprising:
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selectively generating automatic or non-automatic mode signals representative of respective automatic and non-automatic modes; generating a first selection signal from the switching means; generating a predetermined input to the switching means during generation of the first selection signal, wherein the input includes a control pulse; generating a second selection signal from the switching means in response to the predetermined input only if the switching means is in the automatic mode, generation of the first selection signal continuing after receival of the input if the switching means is in the non-automatic mode; and generating a pseudo-control signal which changes in a predetermined manner in response to said control pulse so as to simulate said control pulse if the switching means is in the non-automatic mode. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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22. A method comprising:
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providing a plurality of tape drives having magnetic tapes therein, each drive having the capability of generating an end of tape pulse representative of an end of tape, selectively generating automatic or non-automatic mode signals representative of respective automatic and non-automatic modes; introducing either of said mode signals to a switching means so as to set the switching means in a respective mode; generating a first selection signal from the switching means, generating a predetermined input to the switching means during generation of the first selection signal, wherein the input includes an end of tape pulse from one tape drive; generating a second selection signal from the switching means in response to the predetermined input only if the switching means is in the automatic mode, generation of the first selection signal continuing after receival of the input if the switching means is in the non-automatic mode, wherein each said generated selection signal is received by said drives, each signal corresponding to a particular drive so that a tape drive is selected if it receives its corresponding selection signal, such that in response to switching from generation of said first selection signal to said selection signal, selection of said one drive is switched to another drive; generating a pseudo-control signal which changes in a predetermined manner in response to said end of tape pulse so as to simulate said end of tape pulse if the switching means is in the non-automatic mode. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification