US3755806A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Calculator display circuit
Assignee: Bowmar ALI Inc
•
Filing: 1972-05-24
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Granted: 1973-08-28
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Expires: 1992-05-24
Abstract
Abstract A display circuit for use in an electronic calculator which includes a computing circuit for receiving and manipulating digital datum, the computing circuit including first means for repetitively generating a plurality of input signals individually in sequence and second means for repetitively generating a plurality of sequentially occurring groups of output signals with individual ones of the input and output signals occurring simultaneously, a plurality of input terminals, keyboard means for coupling the input terminals to receive selected ones of the input signals, means for generating a repeating clock pulse signal, and a power supply. The display circuit comprises a plurality of luminescing display devices each of which includes a common element and a plurality of segment elements individually coupled to the common element and disposed in a geometric array corresponding to selected alpha-numeric characters. A plurality of digit driver amplifiers are coupled to the computing circuit to receive predetermined ones of the input signals and electricaly in series with the predetermined ones of the common elements, and a plurality of segment driver amplifiers are coupled to the computing circuit to receive predetermined ones of the signals of said groups of output signals and connected electrically in series with all of the paralleled similar segment elements of all of said display devices. The digit driver amplifiers and segment driver amplifiers are rendered simultaneously and momentarily operative in response to the simultaneous reception of the input signals and groups of output signals with essentially all of the electrical energy passing through the segment and digit driver amplifiers, respectively, also passing through the display devices. The display devices are rendered individually, momentarily, and sequentially luminescent thereby.
Inventors
- 👤 J Bunting
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 08:38
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/04; G09G3/06; G09G3/12; G09G3/14; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
For use in a calculator circuit computing circuit means for receiving and manipulating digital data and generating a first plurality of repeating input signals individually in sequence and a second plurality of repetitive sequentially occurring groups of output signals, individual ones of said input signals and said groups of output signals occurring simultaneously, display means comprising a plurality of luminescing display devices, each said device including a common member and a plurality of segments individually series coupled to said common member and disposed in a geometric array corresponding to selected alpha-numeric characters, similar segments of said display devices being connected in parallel, control circuit means coupled between said computing circuit means and said segments and common members, respectively, for rendering predetermined ones of said display devices operative in response to the simultaneous occurrence of predetermined ones of said input signals and groups of signals, power supply means, circuitry connecting said power supply means to said display devices for supplying operating power thereto, said power supply means including a battery having terminals, low-battery indicator means coupled to said battery terminals and including predetermined ones of said segments and means for automatically exciting said predetermined ones of said segments during the period when the charge on said battery is below a predetermined level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
For use in a calculator circuit computing circuit means for receiving and manipulating digital data and generating a first plurality of repeating input signals individually in sequence and a second plurality of repetitive sequentially occurring groups of output signals, individual ones of said input signals and said groups of output signals occurring simultaneously, display means comprising a plurality of luminescing display devices, each said device including a common member and a plurality of segments individually series coupled to said common member and disposed in a geometric array corresponding to selected alpha-numeric characters, similar segments of said display devices being connected in parallel, control circuit means coupled between said computing circuit means and said segments and common members, respectively, for rendering predetermined ones of said display devices operative in response to the simultaneous occurrence of predetermined ones of said input signals and groups of signals, power supply means, circuitry connecting said power supply means to said display devices for supplying operating power thereto, said power supply means including a battery having terminals, low-battery indicator means coupled to said battery terminals and including predetermined ones of said segments and means for automatically exciting said predetermined ones of said segments during the period when the charge on said battery is below a predetermined level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
The circuit of claim 1 wherein said low battery indicator means includes a transistor switch circuit and means for detecting that the voltage appearing at the terminals of said battery is greater than and less than a predetermined voltage level and for rendering said transistor switch circuit conductive when said battery voltage is less than said predetermined level and non-conductive when said battery voltage is greater than said predetermined level, battery potential being applied to said predetermined ones of said segments when said transistor switch is conductive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
151 words
The circuit of claim 2 wherein said transistor switch circuit includes a first detector transistoR coupled to one of the terminals of said battery and to said computing circuit means to receive a predetermined one of said input signals and further includes a segment output circuit coupled to predetermined ones of said segments, said transistor switch circuit being coupled between one of said battery terminals and said predetermined segments, said detecting means including means for rendering said first detector transistor non-conductive in response to said predetermined one of said input signal and said battery voltage when said battery voltage is above said predetermined level and conductive in response to said predetermined one of said input signals and said battery voltage when said battery voltage is below said predetermined voltage level, battery potential being applied to said segment output circuit and said predetermined segment elements when said first detector transistor is conductive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
The circuit of claim 3 wherein said detecting means includes means resistive coupling the base of said first detector transistor to said battery terminals for generating a stable reference voltage on said last-mentioned base, a resistor series connected between the last-mentioned transistor base and said computing circuit means whereby the potential of said one input signal is combined with the potential of one battery terminal in the form of said reference voltage as they are applied to said last-mentioned base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
The circuit of claim 4 wherein said resistive coupling means includes first and second resistor in series and a zener diode, said first and second resistors and said zener diode being connected electrically in series between said battery terminals, a diode having its anode connected to said last-mentioned base and its cathode connected to the commonly connected terminals of said first and second resistors, the voltage on the last-mentioned terminal biasing said first detector transistor non-conductive when said battery voltage is above said predetermined level and conductive when said battery voltage is below said predetermined level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
210 words
For use in a calculator circuit, computing circuit means for receiving and manipulating digital data and generating a first plurality of repeating input signals individually in sequence and a second plurality of repetitive sequentially occurring groups of output signals, individual ones of said input signals and said groups of output signals occurring simultaneously, display means comprising a plurality of luminescing display devices, each said device including a common member and a plurality of segments individually series coupled to said common member and disposed in a geometric array corresponding to selected alpha-numeric characters, similar segments of said display devices being connected in parallel, control circuit means coupled between said computing circuit means and said segments and said common members, respectively, for rendering predetermined ones of said display devices operative in response to simultaneous occurrence of predetermined ones of said input signals and groups of signals, means for automatically blanking said display means after a predetermined period of time following energization of said display means, said control means includes a plurality of segment and digit driver amplifiers connected between said computing circuit means and said segments and common members, respectively, said blanking means includes means for disabling said digit driver amplifiers, and means for supplying power to all of the aforesaid means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
210 words
For use in a calculator circuit, computing circuit means for receiving and manipulating digital data and generating a first plurality of repeating input signals individually in sequence and a second plurality of repetitive sequentially occurring groups of output signals, individual ones of said input signals and said groups of output signals occurring simultaneously, display means comprising a plurality of luminescing display devices, each said device including a common member and a plurality of segments individually series coupled to said common member and disposed in a geometric array corresponding to selected alpha-numeric characters, similar segments of said display devices being connected in parallel, control circuit means coupled between said computing circuit means and said segments and said common members, respectively, for rendering predetermined ones of said display devices operative in response to simultaneous occurrence of predetermined ones of said input signals and groups of signals, means for automatically blanking said display means after a predetermined period of time following energization of said display means, said control means includes a plurality of segment and digit driver amplifiers connected between said computing circuit means and said segments and common members, respectively, said blanking means includes means for disabling said digit driver amplifiers, and means for supplying power to all of the aforesaid means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
125 words
The circuit of claim 6 including keyboard means for entering data and manipulation instructions into said computing circuit means, said keyboard means including a plurality of manually operable, single pole switches, each of said last mentioned switches having one terminal thereof coupled to said computing circuit means to receive therefrom predetermined ones of said input signals, said blanking means including a blanking transistor and means coupling the base of said blanking trAnsistor to the other terminals of each of said switches to receive selected ones of said input signals in response to operation of individual ones of said switches, said blanking transistor being rendered conductive thereby, said display means being operative when said blanking transistor is conductive and disabled when said blanking transistor is non-conductive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
189 words
For use in a calculator circuit, computing circuit means for receiving and manipulating digital data and generating a first plurality of repeating input signals individually in sequence and a second plurality of repetitive sequentially occurring groups of output signals, individual ones of said input signals and said groups of output signals occurring simultaneously, display means comprising a plurality of luminescing display devices, each said device including a common member and a plurality of segments individually series coupled to said common member and disposed in a geometric array corresponding to selected alpha-numeric characters, similar segments of said display devices being connected in parallel, control circuit means coupled between said computing circuit means and said segments and said common members, respectively, for rendering predetermined ones of said display devices operative in response to simultaneous occurrence of predetermined ones of said input signals and groups of signals, means for automatically blanking said display means after a predetermined period of time following energization of said display means, and means for supplying power to all of the aforesaid means, said display means further includes means for indicating that said calculator circuit is turned ''''on''''.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
189 words
For use in a calculator circuit, computing circuit means for receiving and manipulating digital data and generating a first plurality of repeating input signals individually in sequence and a second plurality of repetitive sequentially occurring groups of output signals, individual ones of said input signals and said groups of output signals occurring simultaneously, display means comprising a plurality of luminescing display devices, each said device including a common member and a plurality of segments individually series coupled to said common member and disposed in a geometric array corresponding to selected alpha-numeric characters, similar segments of said display devices being connected in parallel, control circuit means coupled between said computing circuit means and said segments and said common members, respectively, for rendering predetermined ones of said display devices operative in response to simultaneous occurrence of predetermined ones of said input signals and groups of signals, means for automatically blanking said display means after a predetermined period of time following energization of said display means, and means for supplying power to all of the aforesaid means, said display means further includes means for indicating that said calculator circuit is turned ''''on''''.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
170 words
The circuit of claim 8 wherein said control means includes a plurality of segment and digit driver amplifiers connected between said computing circuit means and said segments and common members, respectively, said blanking means includes means for disabling said segment driver amplifiers, said disabling means including a first transistor switch operable between a conductive and a non-conductive state, said transistor switch being connected electrically in series between said segment driver amplifiers and said power supply, said segment driver amplifiers being rendered inoperative when said transistor switch is in said non-conductive state and operative when said switch is in said conductive state, said indicating means including a second transistor switch coupled electrically in series between one of said display devices and said power supply means, said one display device being operative when said second transistor switch is in said conductive state, circuit means coupling said second transistor switch to said first-mentioned transistor switch for rendering said second switch conductive and non-conductive when said first-mentioned transistor switch is non-conductive and conductive, respectively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
The circuit of claim 9 wherein said disabling means further includes a charging circuit, said charging circuit including a resistor and a capacitor connected electrically in series, circuit means coupling said first-mentioned transistor switch to said charging capacitor for rendering first-mentioned transistor non-conductive in response to a charge thereon, said charging circuit further including a first blanking transistor connected electrically in shunt across the capacitor, said capacitor being discharged when said blanking transistor is conductive and being charged at a predetermined charging rate when said blanking transistor is non-conductive.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The circuit of claim 10 wherein said blanking means further includes manual switch means for selectively rendering said first blanking transistor conductive whereby said first-mentioned transistor switch will be rendered conductive and said segment driver amplifiers will be rendered operative upon actuation of said manual switch means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The circuit of claim 11 including keyboard means, said keyboard means including a switch matrix having a pluralitY of switches operable between opened and closed conditions, said manual switch means being any one of the switches of said switch matrix.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The circuit of claim 12 wherein said first blanking transistor includes a base, said base being coupled to the switches of said keyboard means, circuit means rendering said blanking transistor conductive in response to closure of any one of said switches.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The circuit of claim 8 wherein said power supply means includes a battery and further including low battery indicator means for indicating that said battery is inadequately charged.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
91 words
The circuit of claim 14 wherein said low battery indicator means includes a indicator transistor switch circuit and means for detecting that the voltage appearing at the terminals of said battery is greater than and less than a predetermined voltage level, respectively and for rendering a indicator transistor switch circuit conductive when said voltage is less than said predetermined level and non-conductive when said voltage level is greater than said predetermined level, predetermined ones of said display devices being coupled to said power supply means through said indicator transistor switch circuit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
236 words
For use in a calculator circuit which includes computing circuit means for receiving and manipulating digital data, said computing circuit means including first means for repetitively generating a plurality of repeating input signals individually in sequence, second means for generating repetitively a plurality of sequentially occurring groups of output signals, individual ones of said input signals and said groups of output signals occurring simultaneously, keyboard means including circuitry coupled to said first means for receiving selected ones of said input signals, a power supply; a display circuit comprising a plurality of luminescing display devices, each said device including a common member and a plurality of segments individually series coupled to said common member and disposed in a geometric array corresponding to selected alpha-numeric characters, similar segments of said display devices being connected in parallel, control circuit means coupled between said computing circuit means and said display devices for rendering predetermined ones of said display devices operative in response to the simultaneous occurrence of predetermined ones of said input signals and groups of signals, means coupled to said keyboard means and to said display devices for automatically blanking said display devices after a predetermined period of time following the last selective operation of said keyboard means, and means coupled to said display devices and to said blanking means for indicating that said calculator circuit is turned ''''on'''' when said blanking means operates to blank said display devices.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
236 words
For use in a calculator circuit which includes computing circuit means for receiving and manipulating digital data, said computing circuit means including first means for repetitively generating a plurality of repeating input signals individually in sequence, second means for generating repetitively a plurality of sequentially occurring groups of output signals, individual ones of said input signals and said groups of output signals occurring simultaneously, keyboard means including circuitry coupled to said first means for receiving selected ones of said input signals, a power supply; a display circuit comprising a plurality of luminescing display devices, each said device including a common member and a plurality of segments individually series coupled to said common member and disposed in a geometric array corresponding to selected alpha-numeric characters, similar segments of said display devices being connected in parallel, control circuit means coupled between said computing circuit means and said display devices for rendering predetermined ones of said display devices operative in response to the simultaneous occurrence of predetermined ones of said input signals and groups of signals, means coupled to said keyboard means and to said display devices for automatically blanking said display devices after a predetermined period of time following the last selective operation of said keyboard means, and means coupled to said display devices and to said blanking means for indicating that said calculator circuit is turned ''''on'''' when said blanking means operates to blank said display devices.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
113 words
The circuit of claim 16 wherein said blanking means includes a first transistor switch coupled electrically in series between said power supply and said display means, and circuit means for rendering said first transistor switch non-conductive after said predetermined period of time, said indicating means including a second transistor switch connected electrically in series between a predetermined portion of said display means and said power supply means, said second transistor switch being coupled to said first transistor switch, and second circuit means for rendering said second transistor switch conductive when said first transistor switch is rendered non-conductive, predetermined portions of said display devices being rendered luminescent when said second transistor switch is conductive.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
247 words
For use in a calculator circuit computing circuit means for receiving and manipulating digital data and generating a first plurality of repeating input signals individually in sequence and a second plurality of repetitive sequentially occurring groups of output signals, individual ones of said input signals and said groups of output signals occurring simultaneously, display means compriSing a plurality of luminescing display devices, each said device including a common member and a plurality of segments individually series coupled to said common member and disposed in a geometric array corresponding to selected alpha-numeric characters, similar segments of said display devices being connected in parallel, control circuit means coupled between said computing means and said segments and said common members, respectively, for rendering predetermined ones of said display devices operative in response to simultaneous occurrence of predetermined ones of said input signals and groups of signals, means for automatically blanking said display means after a predetermined period of time following energization of said display means, and means for supplying power to all of the aforesaid means, said power supply means including a battery, low-battery indicating means for indicating that said battery is inadequately charged, said indicating means including predetermined ones of said segments and low-voltage detecting circuitry, said detecting circuitry including a normally open switch circuit connected between said battery and said predetermined segments, said switch circuit including control means connected to said battery responsive to a predetermined low voltage thereof for closing said switch and energizing said predetermined segments.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
247 words
For use in a calculator circuit computing circuit means for receiving and manipulating digital data and generating a first plurality of repeating input signals individually in sequence and a second plurality of repetitive sequentially occurring groups of output signals, individual ones of said input signals and said groups of output signals occurring simultaneously, display means compriSing a plurality of luminescing display devices, each said device including a common member and a plurality of segments individually series coupled to said common member and disposed in a geometric array corresponding to selected alpha-numeric characters, similar segments of said display devices being connected in parallel, control circuit means coupled between said computing means and said segments and said common members, respectively, for rendering predetermined ones of said display devices operative in response to simultaneous occurrence of predetermined ones of said input signals and groups of signals, means for automatically blanking said display means after a predetermined period of time following energization of said display means, and means for supplying power to all of the aforesaid means, said power supply means including a battery, low-battery indicating means for indicating that said battery is inadequately charged, said indicating means including predetermined ones of said segments and low-voltage detecting circuitry, said detecting circuitry including a normally open switch circuit connected between said battery and said predetermined segments, said switch circuit including control means connected to said battery responsive to a predetermined low voltage thereof for closing said switch and energizing said predetermined segments.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
72 words
The circuit of claim 18 in which said predetermined segments are associated with a single one of said common members, said switch circuit, said battery, said predetermined segments and said one of said common members being series connected, said switch circuit including a transistor, said control means including the base of said transistor, said base being coupled to said battery and said predetermined segments being coupled to the collector of said transistor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
210 words
For use in a calculator circuit, computing circuit means for receiving and manipulating digital data and generating a first plurality of repeating input signals individually in sequence and a second plurality of repetitive sequentially occurring groups of output signals, individual ones of said input signals and said groups of output signals occurring simultaneously, display means comprising a plurality of luminescing display devices, each said device including a common member and a plurality of segments individually series coupled to said common member an disposed in a geometric array corresponding to selected alpha-numeric characters, similar segments of said display devices being connected in parallel, control circuit means coupled between said computing circuit means and said segments and said common members, respectively, for rendering predetermined ones of said display devices operative in response to simultaneous occurrence of predetermined ones of said input signals and groups of signals, means for automatically blanking said display means after a predetermined period of time following energization of said display means, said control means includes a plurality of segment and digit driver amplifiers connected between said computing circuit means and said segments and common members, respectively, said blanking means includes means for disabling said segment driver amplifiers, and means for supplying power to all of the aforesaid means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
210 words
For use in a calculator circuit, computing circuit means for receiving and manipulating digital data and generating a first plurality of repeating input signals individually in sequence and a second plurality of repetitive sequentially occurring groups of output signals, individual ones of said input signals and said groups of output signals occurring simultaneously, display means comprising a plurality of luminescing display devices, each said device including a common member and a plurality of segments individually series coupled to said common member an disposed in a geometric array corresponding to selected alpha-numeric characters, similar segments of said display devices being connected in parallel, control circuit means coupled between said computing circuit means and said segments and said common members, respectively, for rendering predetermined ones of said display devices operative in response to simultaneous occurrence of predetermined ones of said input signals and groups of signals, means for automatically blanking said display means after a predetermined period of time following energization of said display means, said control means includes a plurality of segment and digit driver amplifiers connected between said computing circuit means and said segments and common members, respectively, said blanking means includes means for disabling said segment driver amplifiers, and means for supplying power to all of the aforesaid means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-27 | 1977-02-26 | 1977-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-27 | 1981-02-26 | 1981-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-27 | 1985-02-26 | 1985-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |