Interface apparatus

Claim 2

Interface apparatus for use with a computer, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of interface stations each of which includes; a digital clock for registering the passage of time at the respective station, a stimulus register, the setting of which affects the environmental state of the respective station, a response register which is set in response to changes in the state of the respective station originating at the station environment, the state of the respective station being defined by the data held in said stimulus and response registers, and gate means operative when enabled for selectively permitting data exchange between the computer and the clock and registers of the respective station, and a multiplexer associated with said stations for cyclically scanning said stations in a predetermined sequence to determine if a change in state in any station has occurred and, upon encountering a station of changed state, enabling the gate means of that station.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said multiplexer includes means for interrupting the scanning upon encountering a station of changed state and continuing the scanning from the point of interruption after an exchange of data between the computer and the station initiating the interruption.

Claim 4

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said digital clock includes means operating in cooperation with said response register for registering a change of state when the clock reaches a predetermined setting.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said gate means are interconnected with said clock for permitting the clock to be set in response to data provided by said computer.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each station includes means responsive to the data held in said response register for providing a flag signal when a change of state has occurred and wherein said multiplexer includes a respective gate for each station for selectively generating a program interrupt signal in response to the respective flag signal which is provided to the computer and includes also means for operating the respective station gates in sequence.

Claim 7

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for operating the respective gates in sequence is a commutator which includes a timing pulse generator, a counter driven by said pulse generator and a decoder for operating each gate individually in response to the presence of a respective number in said counter.

Claim 8

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said pulse generator is an oscillator.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said cOmmutator further comprises a gate interposed between said generator and said counter and means for opening said gate to stop the incrementing of the number in said counter in response to the generation of said program interrupt signal.

Claim 10

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said multiplexer includes a station identification register and means for setting said station identification register in response to data provided by said computer and further includes means for generating a signal permitting the enabling of the gate means of a selected station in response to the presence of a respective number in said register.

Claim 11

Interface apparatus for use with a computer, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of interface stations each of which includes; a digital clock for registering the passage of time at the respective station, a stimulus register, the setting of which affects the environmental state of the respective station, a response register which is set in response to changes in the state of the respective station originating at the station environment, the state of the respective station being determined by the data held in said stimulus and response registers, gate means operative when enabled for selectively permitting data exchange between the computer and the clock and registers of the respective station, a multiplexer associated with said stations and apart from said computer for cyclically scanning said stations in a predetermined sequence to determine if a change in state in any station has occurred, said multiplexer including; means for initiating an interruption of the scanning cycle when a station of changed state is encountered, means for providing data signals to the computer identifying the interruption initiating station, and means for enabling the gate means of the initiating station during an interruption whereby the computer can exchange data with the registers and clock of the initiating station.

Claim 12

Interface apparatus for use with a computer, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of interface stations each of which includes; a digital clock for registering the passage of time at the respective station, a stimulus register, the setting of which affects the environmental state of the respective station, a response register which is set in response to changes in the state of the respective station originating at the station environment, the state of the respective station being determined by the data held in said stimulus and response registers, gate means operative when enabled for selectively permitting data exchange between the computer and the clock and registers of the respective station, a multiplexer associated with said stations and apart from said computer for cyclically scanning said stations in a predetermined sequence to determine if a change in state in any station has occurred, said multiplexer including; means for initiating an interruption of the scanning cycle when a station of changed state is encountered, means for providing data signals to the computer identifying the interruption initiating station, and means for enabling the gate means of the initiating station during an interruption whereby the computer can exchange data with the registers and clock of the initiating station.

Claim 13

Interface apparatus for use with a computer, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of interface stations each of which includes; a timing register, means for incrementing the count held by said timing register at predetermined intervals thereby to register the passage of time at the respective station, first gate means operative when enabled for selectively presetting said timing register in response to signals provided by the computer, second gate means operative when enabled for selectively applying signals representing the count held by said timing register to the data input of the computer, a stimulus register, third gate means operative when enabled for selectively setting said stimulus register in response to signals provided by the computer, a response register which is set in response to changes in the state of the respective station originating at the station environment, the state of the respective station being determined by the data held in said stimulus and response registers, fourth gate means operative when enabled for selectively applying signals representing the state of said response register to the data input of the computer, means for selectively providing a flag signal, means for initiating said flag signal when said timing register reaches a predetermined count, and means for initiating said flag signal in response to a change in the data held in said response register, and a multiplexer associated with said stations for cyclically scanning said stations in a predetermined sequence, said multiplexer including: means for initiating an interruption of the scanning cycle when a station providing a flag signal is encountered, means for providing data signals to the computer identifying the interruption initiating station, and means for enabling the gates of the initiating station whereby the computer can exchange data with registers in the initiating station.

Claim 14

Interface apparatus for use with a computer, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of interface stations each of which includes; a timing register, means for incrementing the count held by said timing register at predetermined intervals thereby to register the passage of time at the respective station, first gate means operative when enabled for selectively presetting said timing register in response to signals provided by the computer, second gate means operative when enabled for selectively applying signals representing the count held by said timing register to the data input of the computer, a stimulus register, third gate means operative when enabled for selectively setting said stimulus register in response to signals provided by the computer, a response register which is set in response to changes in the state of the respective station originating at the station environment, the state of the respective station being determined by the data held in said stimulus and response registers, fourth gate means operative when enabled for selectively applying signals representing the state of said response register to the data input of the computer, means for selectively providing a flag signal, means for initiating said flag signal when said timing register reaches a predetermined count, and means for initiating said flag signal in response to a change in the data held in said response register, and a multiplexer associated with said stations for cyclically scanning said stations in a predetermined sequence, said multiplexer including: means for initiating an interruption of the scanning cycle when a station providing a flag signal is encountered, means for providing data signals to the computer identifying the interruption initiating station, and means for enabling the gates of the initiating station whereby the computer can exchange data with registers in the initiating station.

Claim 15

An experiment inTerface station for use with a computer, said station comprising: a timing register; means for incrementing the count held by said timing register at predetermined intervals thereby to register the passage of time at the respective station; first gate means for selectively presetting said timing register in response to signals provided by the computer; second gate means for selectively applying signals representing the count held by said timing register to the data input of the computer; a stimulus register; third gate means for selectively setting said stimulus register in response to signals provided by the computer; a response register which is set in response to changes in the state of the respective station originating in the station environment, the state of the respective station being determined by the data held in said stimulus and response registers; fourth gate means for selectively applying signals representing the state of said response register to the data input of the computer; means for selectively providing a flag signal; means for initiating said flag signal when said timing register reaches a predetermined count; and means for initiating said flag signal in response to a change in the state of said response register.

Claim 16

An experiment inTerface station for use with a computer, said station comprising: a timing register; means for incrementing the count held by said timing register at predetermined intervals thereby to register the passage of time at the respective station; first gate means for selectively presetting said timing register in response to signals provided by the computer; second gate means for selectively applying signals representing the count held by said timing register to the data input of the computer; a stimulus register; third gate means for selectively setting said stimulus register in response to signals provided by the computer; a response register which is set in response to changes in the state of the respective station originating in the station environment, the state of the respective station being determined by the data held in said stimulus and response registers; fourth gate means for selectively applying signals representing the state of said response register to the data input of the computer; means for selectively providing a flag signal; means for initiating said flag signal when said timing register reaches a predetermined count; and means for initiating said flag signal in response to a change in the state of said response register.

Claim 17

Interface apparatus for use with a computer, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of interface stations each of which includes; a timing register, means for incrementing the count held by said timing register at predetermined intervals thereby to register the passage of time at the respective station, first gate means operative when enabled for selectively presetting said timing register in response to signals provided by the computer, second gate means operative when enabled for selectively applying signals representing the count held by said timing register to the data input of the computer, a stimulus register, third gate means operative when enabled for selectively setting said stimulus register in response to signals provided by the computer, a response register which is set in response to changes in the state of the respective station, the state of the station being determined by the data held in said stimulus and response registers, fourth gate means operative when enabled for selectively applying signals representing the state of said response register to the data input of the computer, means for selectively providing a flag signal, means for initiating said flag signal when said timing register reaches a predetermined count, and means for initiating said flag signal in response to a change in the state of said response register, and a multiplexer associated with said plurality of stations for cyclically scanning said stations in a predetermined sequence, said multiplexer including; a digital counter, means for periodically incrementing said counter, a respective gate for each station for selectively causing the respective flag signal to generate a program interrupt signal which is provided to the computer, a decoder for operating each of the respective gates when a respective number is present in said counter, means for interrupting the incrementing of said counter in response to a program interrupt signal, the number held in the counter being thereby representative of the station initiating the interruption, fifth gate means for selectively applying the number held in said counter to the data input of the computer, a station identification register, sixth gate means for selectively setting said station identification register in response to data provided by the computer, and means for enabling the first, second, third and fourth gate means associated with the station corresponding to the number held in said station identification register whereby a station experiencing a change of state is identified to the computer and the computer can exchange data With registers in that station.

Claim 18

Interface apparatus for use with a computer, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of interface stations each of which includes; a timing register, means for incrementing the count held by said timing register at predetermined intervals thereby to register the passage of time at the respective station, first gate means operative when enabled for selectively presetting said timing register in response to signals provided by the computer, second gate means operative when enabled for selectively applying signals representing the count held by said timing register to the data input of the computer, a stimulus register, third gate means operative when enabled for selectively setting said stimulus register in response to signals provided by the computer, a response register which is set in response to changes in the state of the respective station, the state of the station being determined by the data held in said stimulus and response registers, fourth gate means operative when enabled for selectively applying signals representing the state of said response register to the data input of the computer, means for selectively providing a flag signal, means for initiating said flag signal when said timing register reaches a predetermined count, and means for initiating said flag signal in response to a change in the state of said response register, and a multiplexer associated with said plurality of stations for cyclically scanning said stations in a predetermined sequence, said multiplexer including; a digital counter, means for periodically incrementing said counter, a respective gate for each station for selectively causing the respective flag signal to generate a program interrupt signal which is provided to the computer, a decoder for operating each of the respective gates when a respective number is present in said counter, means for interrupting the incrementing of said counter in response to a program interrupt signal, the number held in the counter being thereby representative of the station initiating the interruption, fifth gate means for selectively applying the number held in said counter to the data input of the computer, a station identification register, sixth gate means for selectively setting said station identification register in response to data provided by the computer, and means for enabling the first, second, third and fourth gate means associated with the station corresponding to the number held in said station identification register whereby a station experiencing a change of state is identified to the computer and the computer can exchange data With registers in that station.

Claim 19

Multiplexer apparatus for facilitating exchanges of data between a computer and each of several different types of registers in each of a plurality of interface stations, each station being operative to provide a flag signal when a change of state occurs at the station, said multiplexing apparatus comprising: a counter; a timing pulse generator for cyclically incrementing said counter; switching means for selectively interrupting the incrementing of said counter and for providing a program interrupt signal to the computer; a respective gate for each station for selectively causing the respective flag signal to operate said switching means thereby to provide a program interrupt signal to the computer; a decoder for operating each gate in response to the presence of a respective number in said counter; first gate means responsive to an interrogating pulse from said computer for applying the number held in said counter to the data input of the computer thereby to identify the initiating station to the computer; a group of device selectors associated with each station, there being one selector for each station register, each selector being operative when enabled for selectively coupling the station register of the respective type with the data input of the computer in response to a device selection signal from the computer representing the respective register type; a station identification register; second gate means for selectively setting said station identification register in response to data provided by the computer; and means for enabling the device selectors associated with the station corresponding to the number held in said station identification register whereby a station experiencing a change of state is identified to the computer and the computer can exchange data with registers in that station.

Claim 20

Multiplexer apparatus for facilitating exchanges of data between a computer and each of several different types of registers in each of a plurality of interface stations, each station being operative to provide a flag signal when a change of state occurs at the station, said multiplexing apparatus comprising: a counter; a timing pulse generator for cyclically incrementing said counter; switching means for selectively interrupting the incrementing of said counter and for providing a program interrupt signal to the computer; a respective gate for each station for selectively causing the respective flag signal to operate said switching means thereby to provide a program interrupt signal to the computer; a decoder for operating each gate in response to the presence of a respective number in said counter; first gate means responsive to an interrogating pulse from said computer for applying the number held in said counter to the data input of the computer thereby to identify the initiating station to the computer; a group of device selectors associated with each station, there being one selector for each station register, each selector being operative when enabled for selectively coupling the station register of the respective type with the data input of the computer in response to a device selection signal from the computer representing the respective register type; a station identification register; second gate means for selectively setting said station identification register in response to data provided by the computer; and means for enabling the device selectors associated with the station corresponding to the number held in said station identification register whereby a station experiencing a change of state is identified to the computer and the computer can exchange data with registers in that station.