Programming system

Claim 3

A system for selecting and entering a program into the memory of a digital computer as defined in claim 1 wherein said cyclical reading means is a card reader for reading from a card binary information representing a predetermined plurality of program routines.

Claim 4

A system for selecting and entering a program into the memory of a digital computer as defined in claim 2 wherein said card reader comprises a rotatable retaining assembly for supporting a card in a semicylindrical configuration, a light source disposed adjacent to one side of said card, and a plurality of photoelectric elements for electrically responding to light passing through said card, said elements disposed coradially with said light source and on the opposite side of said card therefrom.

Claim 5

A system for selecting and entering a program into the memory of a digital computer as defined in claim 1 wherein said code-selecting means is a binary encoding keyboard having a plurality of depressable program keys each representing a distinct program routine.

Claim 6

In a digital computer a system for selecting and entering a program into computer memory comprising: means for selecting one of a plurality of codes, each code representing a unique computer program. electronic means for cyclically reading binary information from a medium, said information being arranged in sectors with each sector containing binary information representing a unique program, means electrically coupled with said electronic reading means for assigning a unique code to each of said sectors of said medium, the assigned codes bearing a predetermined relationship to those selectable by said selecting means, comparing means electrically coupling said selecting means and said assigning means for generating an electrical signal when the code selected by said selecting means and the code assigned by said assigning means attain a predetermined corresponding relationship, and switching means electrically coupled with said electronic reading means and responsive to the electrical signal from said comparing means to discriminately enter into computer memory the sector of binary information from said medium represented by the code selected from said selecting means.

Claim 7

In a digital computer a system for selecting and entering a program into computer memory comprising: means for selecting one of a plurality of codes, each code representing a unique computer program. electronic means for cyclically reading binary information from a medium, said information being arranged in sectors with each sector containing binary information representing a unique program, means electrically coupled with said electronic reading means for assigning a unique code to each of said sectors of said medium, the assigned codes bearing a predetermined relationship to those selectable by said selecting means, comparing means electrically coupling said selecting means and said assigning means for generating an electrical signal when the code selected by said selecting means and the code assigned by said assigning means attain a predetermined corresponding relationship, and switching means electrically coupled with said electronic reading means and responsive to the electrical signal from said comparing means to discriminately enter into computer memory the sector of binary information from said medium represented by the code selected from said selecting means.

Claim 8

In a digital computer a system for entering a program into computer memory comprising: means for selecting one of a plurality of codes, each code representing a unique one of a plurality of programs, storage means electrically coupled with said selecting means for storing the code selected by said selecting means, electronic means for cyclically reading a medium containing sectors of binary information each representing a predetermined program, means electrically coupled with said electronic reading means for assigning a unique code to each of said reading means, the assigned codes bearing a predetermined relationship to those selectable by said selecting means, compariNg means electrically coupling said storage means and said assigning means for generating an electrical signal when the code stored in said storage means and the code assigned by said assigning means attain a predetermined corresponding relationship, and switching means electrically coupled with said electronic reading means and responsive to the electrical signal from said comparing means to discriminately enter into computer memory the sector of binary information from said medium represented by the code stored in said storage means.

Claim 9

In a digital computer a system for entering a program into computer memory comprising: means for selecting one of a plurality of codes, each code representing a unique one of a plurality of programs, storage means electrically coupled with said selecting means for storing the code selected by said selecting means, electronic means for cyclically reading a medium containing sectors of binary information each representing a predetermined program, means electrically coupled with said electronic reading means for assigning a unique code to each of said reading means, the assigned codes bearing a predetermined relationship to those selectable by said selecting means, compariNg means electrically coupling said storage means and said assigning means for generating an electrical signal when the code stored in said storage means and the code assigned by said assigning means attain a predetermined corresponding relationship, and switching means electrically coupled with said electronic reading means and responsive to the electrical signal from said comparing means to discriminately enter into computer memory the sector of binary information from said medium represented by the code stored in said storage means.

Claim 10

A system for entering a program into computer memory as defined in claim 6 wherein said storage means is a register having storage elements comprised of a predetermined plurality of complementing bistable circuits.

Claim 13

A system for selecting and entering a program into the memory of a digital computer as defined in claim 8 further including, electronic gating means switchably connecting said card reader and said comparator and responsive to the electric signal from said comparator for discriminately entering into computer means the program denoted by said keyboard.

Claim 14

In a digital computer a system for selecting and entering a program into computer memory comprising: a keyboard having a plurality of depressible program keys, upon the depression of any one thereof, for generating a unique electrical code denoting a program, a register electrically connected with said keyboard for storing the electrical code generated by said keyboard, a program card containing a plurality of sectors each compressed of an equal predetermined number of consecutive columns of binary data, representing a computer program, an electronic card reader coupled with said program card for cyclically generating chains of electrical pulses representative of the binary data contained on said program card, a column binary counter electrically coupled with said card reader for generating a first electrical signal at the end of each of said sectors of consecutive columns of binary data being read by said card reader, a sector binary counter electrically coupled with said column binary counter for generating a unique electrical code when signaled by said column binary counter, each of said unique electrical codes being equivalent to a corresponding electrical code selectable from said keyboard, an electronic comparator electrically coupled with said register and said sector binary counter for generating a second electric signal when the selected code stored in said register is identical to the code generated by said sector binary counter, and electronic gating means switchably connecting said card reader and said comparator and responsive to said second electric signal from said comparator for discriminately entering into computer Memory the program denoted by said selected key.

Claim 15

In a digital computer a system for selecting and entering a program into computer memory comprising: a keyboard having a plurality of depressible program keys, upon the depression of any one thereof, for generating a unique electrical code denoting a program, a register electrically connected with said keyboard for storing the electrical code generated by said keyboard, a program card containing a plurality of sectors each compressed of an equal predetermined number of consecutive columns of binary data, representing a computer program, an electronic card reader coupled with said program card for cyclically generating chains of electrical pulses representative of the binary data contained on said program card, a column binary counter electrically coupled with said card reader for generating a first electrical signal at the end of each of said sectors of consecutive columns of binary data being read by said card reader, a sector binary counter electrically coupled with said column binary counter for generating a unique electrical code when signaled by said column binary counter, each of said unique electrical codes being equivalent to a corresponding electrical code selectable from said keyboard, an electronic comparator electrically coupled with said register and said sector binary counter for generating a second electric signal when the selected code stored in said register is identical to the code generated by said sector binary counter, and electronic gating means switchably connecting said card reader and said comparator and responsive to said second electric signal from said comparator for discriminately entering into computer Memory the program denoted by said selected key.

Claim 16

In a digital computer having a program memory including a plurality of bistable storage elements each representing a machine instruction of the computer''s repertoire, a programming system comprising: means for selecting and generating one of a predetermined plurality of electrical binary codes, a storage means electrically coupled with said selecting means for storing the binary code generated by said selecting means, a program medium containing a plurality of sectors each similarly comprised of a predetermined array of data positions, each position being representative of a machine instruction of the computer''s repertoire, cyclical reading means coupled with said program medium for electrically responding to the data contained on said medium, assigning means electrically coupled with said cyclical reading means for generating a unique electrical binary code each time said reading means responds to a different sector of said program medium, each of said binary codes generated by said assigning means being equivalent to a corresponding one of said plurality of binary codes generated by said selecting means, comparing means electrically coupled with said assigning means and said storage means for generating an electrical signal when the code stored in said storage means and the code generated by said assigning means are identical, and switching means electrically coupling said comparing means, said cyclical reading means and the program memory of said digital computer for discriminately activating those bistable storage elements of said computer memory represented by the data contained in the sector of said program medium corresponding to the code generated by said selecting means.

Claim 17

In a digital computer having a program memory including a plurality of bistable storage elements each representing a machine instruction of the computer''s repertoire, a programming system comprising: means for selecting and generating one of a predetermined plurality of electrical binary codes, a storage means electrically coupled with said selecting means for storing the binary code generated by said selecting means, a program medium containing a plurality of sectors each similarly comprised of a predetermined array of data positions, each position being representative of a machine instruction of the computer''s repertoire, cyclical reading means coupled with said program medium for electrically responding to the data contained on said medium, assigning means electrically coupled with said cyclical reading means for generating a unique electrical binary code each time said reading means responds to a different sector of said program medium, each of said binary codes generated by said assigning means being equivalent to a corresponding one of said plurality of binary codes generated by said selecting means, comparing means electrically coupled with said assigning means and said storage means for generating an electrical signal when the code stored in said storage means and the code generated by said assigning means are identical, and switching means electrically coupling said comparing means, said cyclical reading means and the program memory of said digital computer for discriminately activating those bistable storage elements of said computer memory represented by the data contained in the sector of said program medium corresponding to the code generated by said selecting means.

Claim 18

A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said program medium is a card composed of transparent material.

Claim 19

A system as defined in claim 12 wherein the data positions of the sectors of said program card are arranged in consecutive columns.

Claim 20

A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said assigning means is comprised of a column binary counter having a number of stable states equal to the number of consecutive columns of data positions in a sector of said program medium, the occurrence of each state of said column binary counter being coincident with the reading of a different column of said sector, and a sector binary counter responsive to the stable state of said column binary counter coincident with the last column of each sector of data read by said reading means for generating unique electrical binary code representative of the sector of said medium being read by said reading means, said unique electrical binary code being identical to one of the codes selectable from said selecting means.