Computer terminal device for producing different types of buzzer sounds

• US 4,821,221 A
• Filed: 05/31/1985
• Issued: 04/11/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Citizen Watch Co Limited (Citizen Electronics Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Citizen Watch Co Limited (Citizen Electronics Company Limited)
• Inventors: Kaneko, Masahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Harkcom, Gary V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai, Tan V.
• Application Number:
  US06/740,207
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 364/710, 364/513.5, 364/405, 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 381/51, 340/384 E
• US Class Current: 708/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0082 Architecture adapted for a particular function

Abstract

A plurality of buzzer sound data obtained by converting different types of intermittent buzzer sounds to numerical values is stored in a buzzer source data memory. Coded data received from a host apparatus by a receiver is decoded by a receiver. A decoding result is stored in an index register. The buzzer sound data is read out from the buzzer sound data memory in response to the decoding result data in accordance with the instruction supplied from the host apparatus through a readout. The intermittent buzzer sounds corresponding to the readout buzzer sound data are produced by a buzzer unit.

Claims

1. A computer terminal printer device for generating different types of buzzer sounds indicating printer status information such as end of printing, interruption of printing, generation of errors, etc., in response to control signals from a remote host computer, said computer terminal printer device comprising:

buzzer sound data memory means for storing a plurality of buzzer sound data which are obtained by converting a plurality of intermittent buzzer sounds to numeric values;

interfacing means for interfacing control signals between said terminal printer device and said host computer, said interfacing means including;

(a) receiving means for receiving coded data from said host computer;

(b) data discriminating means for decoding the coded data received by said receiving means; and

(c) an index register for storing a decoding result of said data discriminating means;

buzzer sound readout means for reading out the buzzer sound data from said buzzer sound data memory means so as to correspond to the control signals transmitted by said host computer;

a buzzer unit for producing intermittent buzzer sounds corresponding to the readout buzzer sound data; and

processor means at said terminal printer device for controlling said interfacing means.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the coded data received by said receiving means includes at least one character code representing a character, the intermittent buzzer sounds being produced by said buzzer unit so as to correspond to the character upon reception of the character code.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the buzzer sounds of the buzzer sound data corresponding to the character code constitute Morse code sounds.

4. A computer terminal printer device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said buzzer sound data memory means comprises:

first buzzer sound data storage means for storing first buzzer sound data indicative of a time period during which said buzzer sounds are produced;

second buzzer sound data storage means for storing second buzzer sound data indicative of a time period during which said buzzer sounds are not produced; and

means for reading out said first and second buzzer sound data, alternately, from said buzzer sound memory means in response to said control signals from said remote host computer.