Multicolor logic device

• US 5,194,854 A
• Filed: 09/10/1990
• Issued: 03/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Karel Havel
• Original Assignee: Karel Havel
• Inventors: Havel, Karel
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US07/579,858
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.1, 340/815.03, 340/815.31, 340/701, 340/703, 340/704, 340/762, 340/782, 340/803, 307/440, 307/445, 307/460, 307/311, 313/498, 313/501, 313/502, 358/13, 379/3, 379/900
• US Class Current: 340/815.65
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/02 for displaying measured electric variables in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/405 using a plurality of active, i.e. light emitting, e.g. electro-luminescent elements, i.e. bar graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/125 for digital multimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/14 Semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes

Abstract

A logic device simultaneously indicates on a single multicolor optical output a first logical function and a second diverse logical function of its inputs. The multicolor optical output of the logic device is illuminated in accordance with the first logical function of the inputs. The color of the multicolor optical output is controlled in accordance with the second logical function of the inputs.

Claims

1. A method of simultaneously indicating, on a single multicolor optical output, a majority logical function and a Boolean logical function, the method comprising:

developing a majority logical signal in accordance with said majority logical function;

developing a Boolean logical signal in accordance with said Boolean logical function;

illuminating said optical output in accordance with said majority logical signal;

controlling color of said optical output, when said optical output is illuminated, in accordance with said Boolean logical signal.

2. The method of indicating as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said optical output is illuminated in red color when simultaneously said majority logical signal has a high level value and said Boolean logical signal has a low level value;

said optical output is illuminated in yellow color when said Boolean logical signal has a high level value.

3. A logic device comprising:

three logic inputs for receiving logical signals;

a multicolor light source;

means for developing a majority logical signal in accordance with a majority logical function of said inputs;

means for developing a Boolean logical signal in accordance with a Boolean logical function of said inputs;

means for illuminating said light source in accordance with said majority logical signal;

means for controlling color of said light source, when said light source is illuminated, in accordance with said Boolean logical signal.

4. The logic device as defined in claim 3 wherein:

said light source is illuminated in red color when simultaneously said majority logical signal has a high level value and said Boolean logical signal has a low level value;

said light source is illuminated in yellow color when said Boolean logical signal has a high level value.

5. The logic device as defined in claim 3 wherein:

said Boolean logical function is an AND logical function;

said Boolean logical signal is an AND logical signal;

said light source is illuminated in red color when simultaneously said majority logical signal has a high level value and said AND logical signal has a low level value;

said light source is illuminated in yellow color when said AND logical signal has a high level value.

6. The logic device as defined in claim 3 wherein:

said Boolean logical function is an OR logical function;

said Boolean logical signal is an OR logical signal;

said light source is illuminated in red color when simultaneously said majority logical signal has a low level value and said OR logical signal has a high level value;

said light source is illuminated in yellow color when said OR logical signal has a low level value.

7. A logic device comprising:

three logic inputs for receiving logical signals;

a multicolor light source;

a majority gate having three inputs respectively coupled to said three logic inputs and a majority output for developing an output majority logical signal;

a Boolean gate having three inputs respectively coupled to said three logic inputs and a Boolean output for developing an output Boolean logical signal;

means for coupling said light source to said majority output for illuminating said light source in accordance with said output majority logical signal;

means for coupling said light source to said Boolean output for controlling color of said light source, when said light source is illuminated, in accordance with said output Boolean logical signal.

8. The logic device as defined in claim 7 wherein:

said Boolean gate is an AND gate;

said output Boolean logical signal is an output AND logical signal;

said light source is illuminated in red color when simultaneously said output majority logical signal is a high level signal and said output AND logical signal is a low level signal;

said light source is illuminated in yellow color when said output AND logical signal is a high level signal.

10. The logic device as defined in claim 7 wherein:

said light source is illuminated in red color when simultaneously said majority logical signal has a high level value and said AND logical signal has a low level value;

said light source is illuminated in yellow color when said AND logical signal has a high level value.

9. A logic device comprising:

three logic inputs for receiving logical signals;

a multicolor light source;

means for developing a majority logical signal in accordance with a majority logical function of said logic inputs;

means for developing an AND logical signal in accordance with an AND logical function of said logic inputs;

means for illuminating said light source in a first color when simultaneously said majority logical signal has a high level value and said AND logical signal has a low level value;

means for illuminating said light source in a second color when said AND logical signal has a high level value.

11. A logic device comprising:

three logic inputs for receiving logical signals;

a multicolor light source;

means for developing a majority logical signal in accordance with a majority logical function of said logic inputs;

means for developing an OR logical signal in accordance with an OR logical function of said logic inputs;

means for illuminating said light source in a first color when simultaneously said majority logical signal has a low level value and said OR logical signal has a high level value;

means for illuminating said light source in a second color when said OR logical signal has a high level value.

12. The logic device as defined in claim 11 wherein:

said light source is illuminated in red color when simultaneously said majority logical signal has a low level value and said OR logical signal has a high level value;

said light source is illuminated in yellow color when said OR logical signal has a low level value.

13. A logic device comprising:

three logic inputs for receiving logical signals;

a multicolor light source;

an OR gate having three inputs respectively coupled to said three logic inputs and an output for developing an output OR logical signal;

a majority gate having three inputs respectively coupled to said three logic inputs and an output for developing an output majority logical signal;

an AND gate having three inputs respectively coupled to said three logic inputs and an output for developing an output AND logical signal;

means for extinguishing said light source when said output OR logical signal has a low level value;

means for illuminating said light source in a first color when simultaneously said output OR logical signal has a high level value and said output majority logical signal has a low level value;

means for illuminating said light source in a second color when simultaneously said output majority logical signal ha a high level value and said output AND logical signal has a low level value;

means for illuminating said light source in a third color when said output AND logical signal has a high level value.

14. The logic device as defined in claim 13 wherein:

said light source is illuminated in blue color when simultaneously said output OR logical signal has a high level value and said output majority logical signal has a low level value;

said light source is illuminated in green color when simultaneously said output majority logical signal has a high level value and said output AND logical signal has a low level value;

said light source is illuminated in red color when said output AND logical signal has a high level value.