US3622990A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic programmer for machine-control systems
Assignee: Mannesmann Demag Krauss Maffei GmbH
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Filing: 1969-08-12
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Granted: 1971-11-23
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Expires: 1989-08-12
Abstract
Abstract An electronic programming arrangement for machine operation in a system in which a switch arrangement represents a predetermined operating condition and is adapted to control an element, e.g. relay, electromagnetic valve or motor. The system has an amplifying transistor and circuitry for maintaining the transistor normally at a predetermined bias; the transistor is effectively connected with the machine-control element for operation thereof only upon the attainment of a predetermined operating bias. The switch arrangement includes a plurality of resistors in circuit with the transistor and the respective switch, each of which must be rendered effective before the transistor initiates the control operation. The switch arrangement may include a set of switch contacts in circuit with a DC source and the resistors in a crossbar array while the transistor operable by each set of switches becomes effective only when all of them have been set in a predetermined condition. The transistor serves as the input to a bistable switch device (e.g. a multivibrator flip-flop), also via a crossbar array, which can operate an output transistor arrangement as part of a switch system with similar crossbar arrays of resistors. A time delay network is provided between each of the transistors and the respective bistable multivibrators. The crossbar arrays are formed on a common printed-circuit plate.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerhard Lerch
- 👤 Egon Penzkofer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:35
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
415 words
A system for programming a machine to activate a number of machine-control elements in response to switch conditions of a switch arrangement, thereby initiating a sequence of machine operations, said system comprising: a plurality of switches operable to establish said condition: a plurality of input-transistor amplifiers; an input crossbar network between said input-transistor amplifiers and said switches with mutually intersecting arrays of parallel conductors interconnectable at conjunction points by respective passive elements to energize said inputtransistor amplifiers selectively in accordance with the conditions of said switch arrangement, the conductors of one array being connected to said switches and the conductors of the other array being connected to inputs of said transistor amplifiers; respective resistors in series with said switches and the conductors of said one array and forming AND gates with said transistor amplifiers; a printed-circuit plate composed of at least one printed-circuit board and formed with an output crossbar network of a first array of mutually parallel conductors on one side of said plate connected to the outputs of said input-transistor amplifiers, and of a second array of mutually parallel conductors on the other side of said plate orthogonal to the first array and defining conjunction points therewith; a plurality of bistable-multivibrator memories connected to selected groups of conductors of said second array for receiving inputs therein; a plurality of passive elements on said printed-circuit plate electrically tying selected conductors of said first array to selected conductors of said second array at respective conjunction points to establish the response of said machinecontrol elements to said switch conditions, said passive elements on said printed-circuit plate selectively connecting said bistable-multivibrator memories in circuit with at least some of said input transistors for energization thereby to produce outputs at said bistable-multivibrator memories; a further crossbar network on said printed-circuit plate having mutually intersecting arrays of parallel conductors with at least some of the conductors of one array of said further crossbar network being connected with the outputs of said bistable multivibrator memories; and output transistors having their inputs connected to conductors of the other array of said further crossbar network and outputs connected to the machine-control elements for operating same, the conductors of said one array of said further crossbar network and said second array of said output crossbar network being formed on a common side of said printed-circuit plate and the conductors of said other array of said further crossbar network and of said first array being disposed on a common side of said printed-circuit plate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
415 words
A system for programming a machine to activate a number of machine-control elements in response to switch conditions of a switch arrangement, thereby initiating a sequence of machine operations, said system comprising: a plurality of switches operable to establish said condition: a plurality of input-transistor amplifiers; an input crossbar network between said input-transistor amplifiers and said switches with mutually intersecting arrays of parallel conductors interconnectable at conjunction points by respective passive elements to energize said inputtransistor amplifiers selectively in accordance with the conditions of said switch arrangement, the conductors of one array being connected to said switches and the conductors of the other array being connected to inputs of said transistor amplifiers; respective resistors in series with said switches and the conductors of said one array and forming AND gates with said transistor amplifiers; a printed-circuit plate composed of at least one printed-circuit board and formed with an output crossbar network of a first array of mutually parallel conductors on one side of said plate connected to the outputs of said input-transistor amplifiers, and of a second array of mutually parallel conductors on the other side of said plate orthogonal to the first array and defining conjunction points therewith; a plurality of bistable-multivibrator memories connected to selected groups of conductors of said second array for receiving inputs therein; a plurality of passive elements on said printed-circuit plate electrically tying selected conductors of said first array to selected conductors of said second array at respective conjunction points to establish the response of said machinecontrol elements to said switch conditions, said passive elements on said printed-circuit plate selectively connecting said bistable-multivibrator memories in circuit with at least some of said input transistors for energization thereby to produce outputs at said bistable-multivibrator memories; a further crossbar network on said printed-circuit plate having mutually intersecting arrays of parallel conductors with at least some of the conductors of one array of said further crossbar network being connected with the outputs of said bistable multivibrator memories; and output transistors having their inputs connected to conductors of the other array of said further crossbar network and outputs connected to the machine-control elements for operating same, the conductors of said one array of said further crossbar network and said second array of said output crossbar network being formed on a common side of said printed-circuit plate and the conductors of said other array of said further crossbar network and of said first array being disposed on a common side of said printed-circuit plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
104 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein an intermediate crossbar network is provided between said input transistors and said bistable multivibrators, said intermediate crossbar network including intersecting arrays of conductors on opposite sides of a printed-circuit plate, said multivibrators being supplied with conductors of said intermediate network parallel to and upon the same side of the printed-circuit plate as the conductors of the output crossbar network supplying said output transistors, said bistable multivibrators having their outputs connectable to tHe conductors on the other side of said printed circuit plate whereby said circuit elements serve to connect said bistable multivibrators with said output transistors selectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said output crossbar network is provided with free conductors on said plate transverse to and on the opposite side of said plate from the conductors supplying said output transistors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The important defined in claim 3, further comprising transistor amplifier means connectable in circuit with said output transistors for controlling the current flow to said machine-control elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said intermediate crossbar network and said output crossbar network are formed on a single printed circuit plate with conductors of said networks running through from one network to the other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement defined in claim 5 wherein said input crossbar network is formed on the common printed-circuit plate of said intermediate and output crossbar networks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement defined in claim 6 wherein a plurality of said input transistors is grouped in a single integrated-circuit unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement defined in claim 6 wherein a plurality of said output transistor is grouped in a single integrated-circuit unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement defined in claim 6 wherein a plurality of such printed-circuit plates are stacked together.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improvement defined in claim 1, further comprising a short circuit protection circuit connected to all of said output transistors and adapted to deenergize all of said elements controlled by said output transistors upon a short circuit indication at any of said elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement defined in claim 10 wherein said circuit includes a bistable multivibrator and respective inputs to said bistable multivibrator from some of said output transistors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement defined in claim 11 wherein said inputs to said bistable multivibrator of said circuit each include a diode connected in circuit with the respective output transistor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improvement defined in claim 12, further comprising a blocking transistor in circuit with each of said output transistors and energizable to apply a blocking signal terminating conduction of the respective output transistors, said multivibrator of said circuit being connected to said blocking transistors for energizing same upon short circuit of any of said machine-control elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement defined in claim 6 wherein said circuit elements are resistors and rectifier diodes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improvement defined in claim 6 wherein each of said output transistors includes a NPN/PNP conjuguate pair of transistors so connected and arranged as to draw electric current only in a conductive condition of the output transistor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-22 | 1975-05-24 | 1975-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-22 | 1979-05-24 | 1979-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-22 | 1983-05-24 | 1983-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |