Method of and apparatus for controlling the performance of timed functions

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of generating time and function data comprises the steps of selectively advancing a clock mechanism to indicate a preselected time; producing time data corresponding to said time indicated by said clock mechanism; and manually actuating at least one of a plurality of function switches to produce function data identifying the particular function to be performed at said time indicated by said clock mechanism.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3 wherein said step of detecting the availability of a storage location comprises the steps of examining at least a predetermined portion of each storage location in said storage means; sensing whether said examined portion includes a given code representing the availablility of said location to storE a data word; and providing an indication of the availability of said location.

Claim 7

The method of claim 4 wherein said step of detecting the availability of a storage location further includes the steps of continually recirculating all of the data words stored in said storage means, sensing which of said recirculating data words includes said given code; and identifying the first of said recirculating data words which includes said given code.

Claim 8

The method of claim 5 wherein said step of storing said data word comprises the step of replacing said identified recirculating data word with said generated data word.

Claim 11

The method of claim 7 wherein said step of replacing said recirculating data word with a predetermined code comprises the steps of identifying the recirculating data word which compares to said generated data word; tracking said identified data word as it recirculates; and replacing said identified data word with said predetermined code when it advances to a pre-established location.

Claim 12

Programmable apparatus for controlling the selective performance of a plurality of predetermined functions at preselected times, comprising: input means for producing function data representing a function to be performed and time data representing a time at which said function is to be performed; memory means for storing said function data and said time data; clock means for generating indicia representing the time of day then obtaining; comparator means coupled to said memory means and responsive to said generated indicia for determining when the time of day corresponding to stored time data is attained; and function actuation means responsive to said comparator means for initiating the performance of that function associated with said stored time data when said time of day corresponding to said stored time data is attained.

Claim 13

Programmable apparatus for controlling the selective performance of a plurality of predetermined functions at preselected times, comprising: input means for producing function data representing a function to be performed and time data representing a time at which said function is to be performed; memory means for storing said function data and said time data; clock means for generating indicia representing the time of day then obtaining; comparator means coupled to said memory means and responsive to said generated indicia for determining when the time of day corresponding to stored time data is attained; and function actuation means responsive to said comparator means for initiating the performance of that function associated with said stored time data when said time of day corresponding to said stored time data is attained.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said input means comprises: manually operable switch means for producing said function data when operated; and a settable clock operable in a first mode to be set to display any predetermined time, and operable in a second mode to be controlled so as to display the actual time of day; said settable clock producing time signals corresponding to the time displayed thereby.

Claim 15

Programmable apparatus for controlling the selective performance of a plurality of predetermined functions at preselected times, comprising: memory means for storing data words each including function data representing a predetermined function to be performed, and time data representing the preselected time at which said predetermined function is to be performed; clock means for generating time data representing the time of day then obtaining; comparator means coupled to said memory means for receiving each of said stored data words, and for additionally receiving said time data generated by said clock means; for comparing said time data of said stored data words with said generated time data; and function actuation means responsive to a favorable comParison for receiving said function data of the favorably compared stored data word and for initiating the performance of the function represented by said received function data.

Claim 16

Programmable apparatus for controlling the selective performance of a plurality of predetermined functions at preselected times, comprising: memory means for storing data words each including function data representing a predetermined function to be performed, and time data representing the preselected time at which said predetermined function is to be performed; clock means for generating time data representing the time of day then obtaining; comparator means coupled to said memory means for receiving each of said stored data words, and for additionally receiving said time data generated by said clock means; for comparing said time data of said stored data words with said generated time data; and function actuation means responsive to a favorable comParison for receiving said function data of the favorably compared stored data word and for initiating the performance of the function represented by said received function data.

Claim 17

The apparatus for claim 11 wherein said function actuation means comprises: a plurality of energizable means, each being responsive to function data associated therewith, for performing predetermined functions determined by said function data; and a plurality of switch means, each being associated with a corresponding one of said energizable means for rendering an associated energizable means nonresponsive to said function data when said switch means is operated.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said plurality of energizable means comprises a plurality of relays, each relay being provided for a predetermined function; and wherein each of said switch means is coupled to a relay for preventing the energization of said relay when said switch means is operated.

Claim 19

In a programmer for controlling the selective performance of a plurality of predetermined functions at preselected times, apparatus for selecting a time and function to be performed, comprising: switch means for producing function data representing the function to be performed; settable clock means for producing time data representing the time at which said function is to be performed; memory means for storing produced function and time data; means coupled to said memory means for determining the availability of a storage location in said memory means to store said produced function and time data; and write-in means coupled to said memory means and responsive to the availability of a storage location for writing into said available storage location said produced function and time data.

Claim 20

In a programmer for controlling the selective performance of a plurality of predetermined functions at preselected times, apparatus for selecting a time and function to be performed, comprising: switch means for producing function data representing the function to be performed; settable clock means for producing time data representing the time at which said function is to be performed; memory means for storing produced function and time data; means coupled to said memory means for determining the availability of a storage location in said memory means to store said produced function and time data; and write-in means coupled to said memory means and responsive to the availability of a storage location for writing into said available storage location said produced function and time data.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for determining the availability of a storage location comprises means for sensing a predetermined code stored in said memory means representing that the particular location at which said predetermined code is stored is available for storing said produced function and time data.

Claim 22

In a programmer for controlling the selective performance of a plurality of predetermined functions at preselected times, apparatus for selecting a time and function to be performed, comprising: switch means for producing function data representing the function to be performed; settable clock means for producing time data representing the time at which said function is to be performed; recirculating memory means for storing produced function and time data and for continually recirculating data words comprised of said function and time data to thereby form a recirculating data stream; means coupled to said recirculating memory means for sensing a predetermined coded data word representing that the particular location in said recirculating data stream at which said coded data word is stored is available for storing said produced function and time data; means for tracking said sensed particular location; and write-in means coupled to said tracking means for writing said produced function and time data into said particular location when said particular location is advanced to a preestablished position.

Claim 23

In a programmer for controlling the selective performance of a plurality of predetermined functions at preselected times, apparatus for selecting a time and function to be performed, comprising: switch means for producing function data representing the function to be performed; settable clock means for producing time data representing the time at which said function is to be performed; recirculating memory means for storing produced function and time data and for continually recirculating data words comprised of said function and time data to thereby form a recirculating data stream; means coupled to said recirculating memory means for sensing a predetermined coded data word representing that the particular location in said recirculating data stream at which said coded data word is stored is available for storing said produced function and time data; means for tracking said sensed particular location; and write-in means coupled to said tracking means for writing said produced function and time data into said particular location when said particular location is advanced to a preestablished position.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said tracking means comprises counter means coupled to said sensing means and actuated when said coded data word is sensed for exhibiting an incrementable count corresponding to the particular position of said coded data word in said recirculating data stream and for attaining a pre-established count when said coded data word is advanced to said pre-established position.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said write-in means comprises gating means coupled to said counter means and responsive to said pre-established count for generating a write-in pulse having a duration equal to the duration of a data word for enabling said produced function and time data to be written into said particular location at saId preestablished position.

Claim 26

In a programmer for controlling the selective performance of a plurality of predetermined functions at preselected times, apparatus for changing such performance, comprising: switch means for producing function data representing the function that no longer is to be performed; settable clock means for producing time data representing the time at which said function was to be performed; memory means for storing function and time data representing all of the functions to be performed and the times of performance thereof; comparator means coupled to said memory means for comparing said stored function and time data with said produced function and time data; and means coupled to said memory means and responsive to said comparator means for effectively erasing from said memory means that function and time data which corresponds to said produced function and time data.

Claim 27

In a programmer for controlling the selective performance of a plurality of predetermined functions at preselected times, apparatus for changing such performance, comprising: switch means for producing function data representing the function that no longer is to be performed; settable clock means for producing time data representing the time at which said function was to be performed; memory means for storing function and time data representing all of the functions to be performed and the times of performance thereof; comparator means coupled to said memory means for comparing said stored function and time data with said produced function and time data; and means coupled to said memory means and responsive to said comparator means for effectively erasing from said memory means that function and time data which corresponds to said produced function and time data.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for effectively erasing comprises: means for generating predetermined coded data when the performance of a predetermined function at a preselected time is to be changed; and write-in means coupled to said memory means for replacing said stored corresponding function and time data with said predetermined coded data in response to a comparison.

Claim 29

In a programmer for controlling the selective performance of a plurality of predetermined functions at preselected times, apparatus for changing such performance, comprising: switch means for producing function data representing the function that no longer is to be performed; settable clock means for producing time data representing the time at which said function was to be performed; means for combining said produced function and time data for producing a data word; recirculating memory means for storing data words representing all of the functions to be performed and the times of performance thereof, and for continually recirculating said stored data words to thereby form a recirculating data stream; comparator means coupled to said recirculating memory means for comparing each stored data word with said produced data word; means responsive to said comparator means for identifying the particular storage location in said recirculating data stream in which said stored data word corresponds to said produced data word; means for tracking said identified particular location; and write-in means coupled to said tracking means for writing a predetermined coded word into said particular location when said particular location is advanced to a pre-established position.

Claim 30

In a programmer for controlling the selective performance of a plurality of predetermined functions at preselected times, apparatus for changing such performance, comprising: switch means for producing function data representing the function that no longer is to be performed; settable clock means for producing time data representing the time at which said function was to be performed; means for combining said produced function and time data for producing a data word; recirculating memory means for storing data words representing all of the functions to be performed and the times of performance thereof, and for continually recirculating said stored data words to thereby form a recirculating data stream; comparator means coupled to said recirculating memory means for comparing each stored data word with said produced data word; means responsive to said comparator means for identifying the particular storage location in said recirculating data stream in which said stored data word corresponds to said produced data word; means for tracking said identified particular location; and write-in means coupled to said tracking means for writing a predetermined coded word into said particular location when said particular location is advanced to a pre-established position.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said tracking means comprises counter means coupled to said identifying means and actuated when said particular storage location is identified to increment the count thereof as said identified storage location is advanced in said data stream and for attaining a pre-established count when said identified storage location is advanced to said pre-established position.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said write-in means comprises: control switch means operable to an active condition when the performance of a predetermined function at a preselected time is to be changed; means responsive to the active condition of said control switch means for supplying said predetermined coded word to said recirculating memory means; and word to said recirculating memory means; and gating means coupled to said counter means and responsive to said pre-established count for generating a write-in pulse having a duration equal to the duration of a data word for enabling said coded word to be written into said identified location at said pre-established position.

Claim 33

Programmable apparatus for controlling the selective performance of a plurality of predetermined functions at preselected times, comprising: a plurality of function control switch means, each associated with a predetermined function, and operablE to a first condition for producing function data representative of said associated predetermined function, a second condition for enabling an output device to perform said predetermined function and a third condition for disabling said output device; clock means operable in a first mode to be set to display any preselected time, and operable in a second mode to be controlled so as to display the actual time of day, said clock means producing time data corresponding to the time displayed thereby; memory means for storing function and time data in the form of data words, said data words representing all of the functions to be performed and the times of performance thereof; comparator means coupled to said memory means for receiving each of said stored data words and for receiving said function data from said function control switch means and said time data from said clock means, said comparator means comparing each of said stored data words with said received function data and said received time data; mode selecting switch means for establishing a control mode whereby said predetermined functions are performed at said preselected times, a data enter mode whereby a function selected by said function control switch means and a time selected by said clock means are entered into said memory means, and a data change mode whereby a stored data word is erased from said memory means; function actuation means coupled to said comparator means and responsive to a favorable comparison between a stored data word and time data for receiving the function data of the favorably compared data word, said function actuation means being enabled to respond when said mode selecting switch means establishes said control mode, said function actuation means including energizable means to actuate an output device as determined by said received function data if said associated function control switch means admit of said second condition; means coupled to said memory means for determining the availability of a storage location in said memory means to store said function data produced by a function control means and said time data produced by said clock means, said means for determining being enabled when said mode selecting switch means establishes said data enter mode; identifying means responsive to said comparator means for identifying the particular storage location in said memory means in which said stored data word corresponds to said function and time data produced by said function control means and said clock means, said identifying means being enabled when said mode selecting switch means establishes said data change mode; and write-in means coupled to said memory means and being responsive to the determining means for writing into said available storage location said produced function and time data, and being responsive to said identifying means for writing into said identified storage location a predetermined coded word.

Claim 34

Programmable apparatus for controlling the selective performance of a plurality of predetermined functions at preselected times, comprising: a plurality of function control switch means, each associated with a predetermined function, and operablE to a first condition for producing function data representative of said associated predetermined function, a second condition for enabling an output device to perform said predetermined function and a third condition for disabling said output device; clock means operable in a first mode to be set to display any preselected time, and operable in a second mode to be controlled so as to display the actual time of day, said clock means producing time data corresponding to the time displayed thereby; memory means for storing function and time data in the form of data words, said data words representing all of the functions to be performed and the times of performance thereof; comparator means coupled to said memory means for receiving each of said stored data words and for receiving said function data from said function control switch means and said time data from said clock means, said comparator means comparing each of said stored data words with said received function data and said received time data; mode selecting switch means for establishing a control mode whereby said predetermined functions are performed at said preselected times, a data enter mode whereby a function selected by said function control switch means and a time selected by said clock means are entered into said memory means, and a data change mode whereby a stored data word is erased from said memory means; function actuation means coupled to said comparator means and responsive to a favorable comparison between a stored data word and time data for receiving the function data of the favorably compared data word, said function actuation means being enabled to respond when said mode selecting switch means establishes said control mode, said function actuation means including energizable means to actuate an output device as determined by said received function data if said associated function control switch means admit of said second condition; means coupled to said memory means for determining the availability of a storage location in said memory means to store said function data produced by a function control means and said time data produced by said clock means, said means for determining being enabled when said mode selecting switch means establishes said data enter mode; identifying means responsive to said comparator means for identifying the particular storage location in said memory means in which said stored data word corresponds to said function and time data produced by said function control means and said clock means, said identifying means being enabled when said mode selecting switch means establishes said data change mode; and write-in means coupled to said memory means and being responsive to the determining means for writing into said available storage location said produced function and time data, and being responsive to said identifying means for writing into said identified storage location a predetermined coded word.

Claim 35

The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said memory means comprises recirculating memory means for forming a recirculating data stream comprised of said data words.

Claim 36

The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising counter means coupled to said determining means and to said identifying means and selectively actuated when said available storage location is determined or said particular storage location is identified, to increment the count thereof as said storage location is advanced in said data stream.

Claim 37

The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said write-in means comprises gating means coupled to said counter means and responsive to a pre-established count attained by said counter means for generating a write-in pulse having a duration equal to the duration of a data word and for enabling one of said produced function and time data and said predetermined code word, depending upon the mode established by said mode selecting switch means, to be written into said recirculating memory means at the location associated with said pre-establisheD count.

Claim 38

The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said recirculating memory means includes a synchronization word at a predetermined location in said data stream.

Claim 39

The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising: timing control means for cyclically generating timing pulses to synchronize the operations of said recirculating memory means, said comparator means, said function actuation means, said means for determining, said identifying means and said write-in means; and synchronization word detecting means coupled to said recirculating memory means for detecting said synchronization word and for resetting said time control means to an initial point in its cycle.

Claim 40

In a programmer for controlling the selective performance of a plurality of predetermined functions at preselected times and including a memory for storing data words representing such functions and times, apparatus for erasing said memory, comprising: erase switch means for producing a predetermined code when actuated; write-in means for gating said predetermined code into each storage location of said memory; and circuit means for writing a synchronization code into a predetermined storage location of said memory.

Claim 41

In a programmer for controlling the selective performance of a plurality of predetermined functions at preselected times and including a memory for storing data words representing such functions and times, apparatus for erasing said memory, comprising: erase switch means for producing a predetermined code when actuated; write-in means for gating said predetermined code into each storage location of said memory; and circuit means for writing a synchronization code into a predetermined storage location of said memory.

Claim 42

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said memory comprises recirculating memory means for continually recirculating said stored data words to thereby form a recirculating data stream.

Claim 43

The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said write-in means comprises gating means for sequentially replacing each recirculating data word with said predetermined code.

Claim 44

The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said circuit means comprises: counter means activated in response to the actuation of said erase switch means for incrementing the count thereof as each data word is advanced in said data stream; and means for controlling said gating means to replace a data word with said synchronization code when said counter means attains a pre-established count.

Claim 45

In a programmer for controlling the selective performance of a plurality of predetermined functions at preselected times and including a memory for storing data words representing such functions and times, a power supply, comprising: an A.C. power source; means coupled to said A.C. power source for converting A.C. power to D.C. power; voltage regulator means coupled to the converting means for supplying regulated D.C. power to output terminals; and rechargeable D.C. battery means coupled to said output terminals for supplying D.C. power in the event of an A.C. power failure, said battery means being connected to said memory for normally supplying power thereto.

Claim 46

In a programmer for controlling the selective performance of a plurality of predetermined functions at preselected times and including a memory for storing data words representing such functions and times, a power supply, comprising: an A.C. power source; means coupled to said A.C. power source for converting A.C. power to D.C. power; voltage regulator means coupled to the converting means for supplying regulated D.C. power to output terminals; and rechargeable D.C. battery means coupled to said output terminals for supplying D.C. power in the event of an A.C. power failure, said battery means being connected to said memory for normally supplying power thereto.

Claim 47

In a programmer for controlling the selective performance of predetermined functions at preselected times and including a memory for storing data words representing such functions and times, said memory additionally storing a synchronization word, apparatus comprising: means for determining when the actual time of day corresponds to a data word for initiating the performance of the function associated with said data word; timing control means for cyclically generating timing pulses to control the operation of said last-mentioned means in a synchronized timed relation; main power source means for supplying operating power to said programmer; auxiliary power source means for supplying operating power to said programmer in the event of a power failure of said main power source means; and resynchronization means coupled to said memory for detecting said synchronization word and for resetting said timing control means to a predetermined point in its cycle in response thereto; whereby the operation of said means for determining and initiating is resynchronized to said timed relation after the occurrence of said power failure.

Claim 48

In a programmer for controlling the selective performance of predetermined functions at preselected times and including a memory for storing data words representing such functions and times, said memory additionally storing a synchronization word, apparatus comprising: means for determining when the actual time of day corresponds to a data word for initiating the performance of the function associated with said data word; timing control means for cyclically generating timing pulses to control the operation of said last-mentioned means in a synchronized timed relation; main power source means for supplying operating power to said programmer; auxiliary power source means for supplying operating power to said programmer in the event of a power failure of said main power source means; and resynchronization means coupled to said memory for detecting said synchronization word and for resetting said timing control means to a predetermined point in its cycle in response thereto; whereby the operation of said means for determining and initiating is resynchronized to said timed relation after the occurrence of said power failure.