Computerized system for operator interaction

• US 4,121,284 A
• Filed: 09/11/1972
• Issued: 10/17/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilbert P. Hyatt
• Original Assignee: Gilbert P. Hyatt
• Inventors: Hyatt, Gilbert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, James D.
• Application Number:
  US05/288,247
• Time in Patent Office: 2,227 Days
• Field of Search: 340/172.5, 340/324 M, 340/324 R, 340/334, 340/336, 340/365 E, 340/146.1 AB, 235/156, 235/145 R, 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 364/709, 364/737, 178/17 C
• US Class Current: 341/24
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0373 Voice control in general G10L
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/00 Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/508
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/897 using application of holographic techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8977 using special techniques for image reconstruction, e.g. FFT, geometrical transformations, spatial deconvolution, time deconvolution
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52026 Extracting wanted echo signals Doppler systems G01S15/50; Doppler short range imaging systems G01S15/8979
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13318 Circuits comprising a photodetector
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 9/7049 Technique, e.g. interferometric
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 9/7088 Alignment mark detection, e.g. TTR, TTL, off-axis detection, array detector, video detection
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 99/006 Electronic time-pieces using a microcomputer, e.g. for multi-function clocks
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/351 the positional error is used to control continuously the servomotor according to its magnitude
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/408 characterised by data handling or data format, e.g. reading, buffering or conversion of data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4083 Adapting programme, configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4086 Coordinate conversions; Other special calculations
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4093 characterised by part programming, e.g. entry of geometrical information as taken from a technical drawing, combining this with machining and material information to obtain control information, named part programme, for the NC machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/414 Structure of the control system, e.g. common controller or multiprocessor systems, interface to servo, programmable interface controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4142 characterised by the use of a microprocessor G05B19/4141 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23094 Debounce key
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33182 Uart, serial datatransmission, modem
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35262 Macro instruction, canned cycles, subroutines, subprogram
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35263 : Using variables, parameters in program, macro, parametrized instruction
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35381 : Convert in real time input peripheral data to processor data, ouput data format
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35453 : Voice announcement, oral, speech input
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35588 : Pack, compress data efficiently in memory
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36227 : Assist operator to calculate unknown points, contours
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36333 : Selection from standard forms, shapes, partprograms, enter value for variable
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36395 : Load local computer program from host, data transfer ram to rom, BTR
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36502 : Ram for variable servo data, rom for fixed servo routine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36506 : Store in Rom and Ram
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49221 : Control of scale
• CPC Class Codes: G06J 1/00 : Hybrid computing arrangements digitally-programmed analogue computers G06G7/06
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 : electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/00 : Speech or audio signals analysis-synthesis techniques for redundancy reduction, e.g. in vocoders; Coding or decoding of speech or audio signals, using source filter models or psychoacoustic analysis in musical instruments G10H
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/565 : using capacitive charge storage elements
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 19/287 : Organisation of a multiplicity of shift registers
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 19/36 : using multistable semiconductor elements
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 27/00 : Electric analogue stores, e.g. for storing instantaneous values
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 27/04 : Shift registers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 : Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A system is provided for operator interaction having a computer for enhanced operation. The computer performs switch debounce operations under program control and performs display refresh operations under program control. The computer is a fully integrated circuit computer in a preferred embodiment having an integrated circuit read only memory for storing a program and an integrated circuit scratchpad memory for storing operands.

Claims

1. An operator control system comprising:

a switch for generating a switch signal having a switch bounce signal portion and a switch information signal portion;

a command memory for storing commands related to processing of the switch signal;

an information memory for storing processed information related to the switch information signal portion; and

processing means for processing information in respone to said stored commands;

said processing means including means for receiving the switch signal, means for processing the received switch signal under control of said stored commands to separate the switch information signal portion from the switch bounce signal portion, and storing means for storing information related to said separated switch information signal portion in said information memory in response to the processing of said received switch signal by said received switch signal processing means.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 above further comprising a stored program data processor for processing information in response to stored instructions;

wherein said command memory is a data processor main memory and wherein said stored commands are data processor instructions.

3. The system as set forth in claim 2 above, wherein said switch is uncommitted to system operations, and wherein said data processor is programmable for interpreting the switch signal.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 above, further comprising display means for displaying information, said display means including a plurality of refreshable dislay elements, means for selecting a display element, and means for displaying a desired character with the selected display element;

wherein said commands stored in said command memory are further related to refreshing said display elements and wherein processed information stored in said information memory is further related to information to be displayed;

said processing means further including means responsive to the commands stored in said command memory and the display information stored in said information memory for sequentially selecting each of said display elements to display a desired character with each selected display element.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein said command memory includes an integrated circuit read only memory for storing the commands in read only form and wherein said information memory includes an integrated circuit alterable memory for storing the processed information in alterable signal form.

6. A data processing system comprising:

switch means for generating at least one input signal having an input information signal portion and having a switch bounce signal portion degrading the input information signal portion and

data processor means for processing information in respone to stored instructions, said data processor means including

(1) an integrated circuit memory for storing a plurality of instructions, and

(2) processing means connected to said integrated circuit memory and operating in response to said stored instructions for processing the input signal from said switch means to derive input information from the input information signal portion in the presence of degradation of the input information signal portion by the switch bounce signal portion.

7. A switch control system having a switch for generating a switch input signal, wherein said switch has a switch bounce characteristic and wherein said switch input signal has switch information content and switch bounce content;

the improvement comprising a stored program computer for generating a switch information signal related to the switch information content of the switch input signal under program control, said stored program computer including;

memory means for storing a program;

processing means connected to said switch and memory means for removing the switch bounce content of the switch input signal to generate the switch information signal related to the switch information content of the switch input signal under control of the stored program; and

storing means for storing the switch information signal.

8. The system as set forth in claim 7 above, wherein said storing means includes means for storing the switch information signal in discrete signal form.

9. The system as set forth in claim 7 above, wherein said switch is a mechanical switch.

10. The system as set forth in claim 7 above, further comprising means for operator actuation of said switch.

11. The system as set forth in claim 7 above, wherein said memory means includes an integrated circuit read only memory for storing the program in read only form.

12. The system as set forth in claim 11 above, wherein said storing means includes an integrated circuit alterable memory for storing the switch information signal in alterable form.

13. The system as set forth in claim 12 above, wherein said stored program computer is a monolithic computer implemented with integrated circuits.

14. A switch control system including a switch for generating a switch signal having an information signal portion and having a switch bounce signal portion and including a signal processor for removing the switch bounce signal portion to obtain the information contained in the information signal portion, the improvement being a computerized signal processor comprising:

memory means for storing a plurality of computer instructions;

switch processing means connected to said switch and said memory means for processing the switch signal to obtain switch information contained in the information signal portion by removing the switch bounce signal portion under control of the computer instructions stored in said memory means; and

storing means for storing the obtained switch information in response to the processing of said switch signal by said switch processing means

15. The system as set forth in claim 14 above, wherein said memory means includes an integrated circuit read only memory for storing the instructions in read only form.

16. The system as set forth in claim 15 above, wherein said switch information signal storing means includes an integrated circuit alterable memory for storing the switch information signal.

17. The system as set forth in claim 14 above, further comprising an operator panel for mounting said switch, wherein the switch signal is generated in response to operator actuation of said switch mounted on said operator panel.

18. The system as set forth in claim 14 above, further comprising a tape reader for reading a tape with said switch, wherein the switch signal is generated in response to tape actuation of said switch.

19. The system as set forth in claim 14 above, wherein said system is a calculator system, said system further comprising:

calculating means for calculating a solution in response to the switch information signal stored in said storing means and

means for providing the solution to an operator in response to said calculating of a solution by said calculating means.

20. The system as set forth in claim 14 above, wherein said switch is a mechanical switch and wherein said switch bounce signal portion is generated by sequential making and breaking of switch contacts in response to actuation.

21. The system as set forth in claim 14 above, wherein said computerized signal processor is arranged as a stored program computer.

22. The system as set forth in claim 14 above, wherein said switch processing means includes means for repetitively monitoring said switch signal to identify a stable switch signal condition as the information signal portion.

23. The system as set forth in claim 14 above, further comprising:

display processing means for generating display information under control of the computer instructions stored in said memory means in response to the switch information signal stored in said storing means and

a display for displaying information to an operator in response to the display information generated with said display processing means.

24. The system as set forth in claim 23 above, wherein the display information includes refresh information and wherein said display includes a refreshable display for displaying refreshed information in response to the refresh information.

25. The system as set forth in claim 23 above, wherein said display includes a discrete display for displaying discrete conditions to an operator in response to the display information.

26. The system as set forth in claim 23 above, wherein said display includes a numerical display for displaying numerical information to an operator in response to the display information.

27. The system as set forth in claim 14 above, wherein said storing means includes a register for storing the switch information signal in digital word form.

28. The system as set forth in claim 14 above, wherein said storing means includes a single bit circuit for storing the switch information signal in single bit form.

29. A switch control system having a switch for generating a switch input signal, wherein said switch provides switch bounce upon actuation for an actuation period of time, wherein the switch input signal includes an unstable switch bounce signal content for the actuation period of time and a stable switch information signal content following the actuation period of time;

the improvement comprising a stored program data processor for generating a switch information signal under program control, said stored program data processor including;

memory means for storing the program;

processing means connected to said switch and said memory means for determining occurrence of the stable switch information after said switch actuation under control of the stored program by separating said unstable switch bounce signal content from said stable switch information signal content; and

storing means for storing said determined stable switch information in response to the occurrence determined by said processing means.

30. The system as set forth in claim 29 above, wherein said switch is a mechanical switch having mechanical contacts and wherein said switch bounce is related to alternate making of contact and breaking of contact of said mechanical contacts.

31. The system as set forth in claim 29 above, further comprising operator actuation means for actuation of said switch by an operator.

32. The system as set forth in claim 29 above, further comprising tape actuation means for actuation of said switch by a punched tape.

33. The system as set forth in claim 29 above, further comprising machine actuation means for actuation of said switch by a machine.

34. The system as set forth in claim 29 above, wherein said processing means includes means for providing a predetermined time delay to determine said occurrence of the stable switch information.

35. The system as set forth in claim 29 above, wherein said memory means includes an integrated circuit read only memory for storing the program in read only form.

36. The system as set forth in claim 35 above, wherein said storing means includes an integrated circuit alterable memory for storing the switch information signal.

37. The system as set forth in claim 36 above, wherein said stored program data processor is a monolithic data processor being implemented with at least one integrated circuit.

38. The system as set forth in claim 29 above, wherein said storing means includes a flip-flop for storing the switch input signal in single bit form.