Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K1/00—Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion
  • G06K1/12—Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion otherwise than by punching
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
  • G06K19/04—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the shape

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for easy manual programming of microprocessor controlled or computer controlled equipment.
• computers become more commonly used for a variety of functions, a need has arisen for simplified devices and techniques for entry of data into the computer. This is particularly true with respect to microprocessors and small or special purpose computers which are used to control various electro mechanical devices.
• Known apparatus and methods used in larger commercial applications are less than satisfactory for use with the special purpose computers designed for consumer use.
• Punched paper cards and tapes are often used for entering data into large general purpose computers. Howeve such cards or tapes generally require a large and expensive automatic tape or card punching machine operated from a keyboard, known as a key punch machine. These key punch machines punch in the card or tape a coded pattern of holes for each letter or function of the keyboard in the paper. While such codes can be visually read, the codes are sophisticated and only persons trained in the reading of such codes can do so. In fact, the codes are so difficult to read, card punch machines are often provided with a separate printer to print the letter with its associated punched code.
• test data has been entered into a computer for scoring standardized tests by machine reading pencil markings made at selected data answer locations on the answer sheets.
• the principal object of my invention is to pro- vide a user of microprocessor, or computer controlled equipment, or controllers, a apparatus and method to easily manually program the controller to obtain the desired results from the equipment.
• the invention provides the combination of a controller having a computer with a memory and an actuator controlled by the computer in accordance with user selected data entered into the memory, and a manual data entry and storage apparatus for entering user selected data into the computer.
• the manual entry and storage apparatus includes a data entry and storage device having a plurality of locations for selective manual receipt of machine readable, user selected data manually enterable thereat, and means for machine reading the data of the data entry and storage device into the computer.
• the data entry and storage device comprises an elongate member with a surface having a plurality of selected data entry locations for receipt of pencil marks or the like to designate selection of the data locations.
• the member is in the form of an elongate strip containing instructional information and identifying the association of the different data locations with particular data. After the data marks are entered on the strip with a pencil-like instrument, the user manually passes it through the reader which reads the selected data into the computer memory.
• the device with the markings at the selected data entry locations is then preserved. Preferably it is kept with the controller, so that the user can visually read it at a later time to determine what was previously entered into the computer. If it is desired to enter a new set of data, the markings associated with the old data to be change are erased, and new markings are made at the newly selected data locations. After reprogramming of the data entry and storage device is completed, • it is again manually passed through the reader to enter the new set of data. Alternatel data is entered on another blank data entry and storage devi which is then used to reprogram the computer.
• a data entry base is provided with a plurality of locations for the entry of machine readable data and endurable means at the locations manually alterable for repeated receipt of machine readable data manually entered at the locations.
• the endurable means comprises an erasable surface which is markable with pencil marks and which is endurable to withstand repeated erasures and repeated marks.
• Other embodiments of the data entry and storage device include reusable simple hand operated mechanisms for repeatedly mechanically, magnetically or otherwise marking selected data locations.
• the device Since the device provides durable means at the locations manually alterable for repeated receipt of machin readable data, the device is easily altered to correct inappropriate data or instructions. Furthermore, the devic is easily manually reprogrammed to provide convenience to the user for updating his instructions to the controller, microprocessor or computer. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a data entry and storage device for programming a controlle in which the device contains visually readable instructions or designations to inform the user the manner of entering data onto it so that complicated codes do not have to be learned by the user in order to program the controller. Still further object is to provide the above described method of using the data entry and storage device to program a microprocessor, a controller or other device.
• Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram of a controller and manual data entry and storage apparatus of present invention
• Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the data entry and storage device with data entered thereon;
• Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a manually progra mable thermostatic controller with a data entry and storag device being hand fed into its reader;
• Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of the data entry and storage device
• Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of yet another embodiment of the data entry and storage device
• Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, partially sectioned, perspective view of a further embodiment of the data entry and storage device
• Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of still another embodiment of the data entry and storage device.
• Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of yet a further embodiment of the data entry and storage device;
• Fig. 9 is still a further embodiemnt of the data entry and storage device;
• Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another embodime of a controller constructed in accordance with the present invention.
• Fig. 11 is a perspective view of still a further embodiment of a controller constructed in accordance with the present invention.
• a functional block diagram of the present invention is seen to comprise a controller 10 in combination with the manual data entry and storage apparatus 12.
• the controller 10 has a microprocessor or other computer 12 with a memory (not shown) and an actuator 14.
• the term computer used herein and in the claims shall mean not only a microprocessor or other computer of general
• O PI * W1PO construction having a central processing unit, read only memory and a random access memory , but shall also include any programmable electronic device which may be specially designed to perform only certain special functions.
• Numer data readers and microprocessors are well known, and neith the details of the reader nor the details of the computer and actuator form any part of the present invention and are therefore not described in detail.
• the computer 12 will comprise a microprocessor with a central processing unit, or CPU.
• the memory includes a read only memory, or ROM, in which the basic computer programs are stored, and a random access memory, or RAM, whithin which user data is temporarily stored.
• the actuator includes suitable interf circuitry for producing output signals of sufficient magni tude and appropriate form to control selected devices con ⁇ nected therewith.
• the computer controls the actuator 14 in accordan with its programs stored in the ROM, such as general instr tions to turn on a furnace at a selected time of the day, and as specified by the user programmable data stored in the RAM which specifies the selected turn-on time.
• programs stored in the ROM such as general instr tions to turn on a furnace at a selected time of the day, and as specified by the user programmable data stored in the RAM which specifies the selected turn-on time.
• the manual data entry and storage apparatus 12 comprises a manual data entry and storage device 16 and a reader 18.
• the manual data entry and storage device 16 manually receives data from a user, such as the time- of day to change the temperature to a temperature selec ⁇ ted by the user. This data is entered in a form readable by both the user and by photo-optical detectors, magnetic detectors, or any other suitable well known automatic data readers.
• the user passes the manual data entry and storage device 16 through the reader 18 which automatically reads the data stored thereon into the users portion-of the computer emmory.
• the reade e.g., for purposes of simplicity, the reade
• the 18 is of the type which permits manual movement by the use of the device 16 through the reader. Alternately, it has an apparatus for automatically feeding the device 16 past a read head within the reader 18.
• a preferred embodiment of the manual data entry and storage device 16 comprises an elongate strip having a base, or body, 18 along which are serially provided a plurality of data entry locations 20 at which data is manually enterable by means of a graphite pencil or other suitable marker.
• the base 18 carries instructional and identifying information which designates the different data locations 20 as to the type of data and the value of the data associated with each of the locations. Instructional information, such as an arrow 17 showing the direction of movement for reading, is also provided.
• the different types of data include time point, day of the week, temperature and time.
• the device 16 For each of ten different time points, such as time point four indicated by a mark 22, the device 16 is programmed with the day, such as Saturday and Sunday indicated by a mark 24, temperature, as indicated by mark 26 and time, as indicated by mark 28 or mark 30.
• the device specifies that for time point four on Saturday and Sunday, the controller should cause the tempera ⁇ ture to go to 60° F., mark 26, at 12 A.M., mark 28.
• the time of 2 P.M. could be indicated by mark 30.
• a different device 16 is provided for each of the ten different time points.
• a program for a thermostatic control for a week which utilizes only five of the time points, might appear as follows:
• the various data locations preferably have endurable, markable surfaces to which pencil or other markings are repeatedly adherable and erasable. In this way, a change or correction to the program can be made simply by erasing the appropriate marks on the device 16 and entering new marks at different data locations 20, as desired.
• the device 16 comprises a Mylar or other markable and endurable, hand held plastic strip, and the various data locations are integrally formed with base 18.
• alter ⁇ nate forms of the manual data entry and storage device are contemplated. Referring to Fig.
• a thermostat controller is shown about to be programmed by means of strip 16 being manually passed through the slot 32 within which is located a photo-optical read head 34 of a reader 18.
• the controller also has other manual controls such as a fan control switch 36 and a mode selection switch 38.
• the mode selection switch 38 has different settings for heating, cooling, turning power off, time indication and for programming.
• a digital display 40 provides an indication of temperature and can be used to display other functions generated by the computer, such as time of day.
• a clock associated with display 40 indicates to the computer the time of day and the day of the week.
• the thermostat also has a thermocouple or other device for receiving current temperature data from the environ- ment. This data is used to automatically inform the com ⁇ puter when a selected temperature or time has been reached.
• the computer actuator and reader are all mounted within a housing 40, and the housing 40 is provided with a storage compartment 42 for purposes of storing the data entry and storage devices 16 for each of the ten different time points.
• the program which has been entered into the computer can thus simply be determined by removing the devices 16 from their storage compartment and visually examining them. If a change is desired in any aspect of the program, the manual data entry and storage device 16 associated with the particular time point which is desired to be altered is simply removed and alterations are made to the data stored by the device 16, as desired. Then the altered manual data entry and storage device 16 is again passed through the read slot 32 and past read head 34 to read the new data into the computer.
• a single read head reading a single channel of data will often be adequate.
• multiple read heads are provided for a plurality of parallel channels. In this way, the length of the manual data entry and storage device 16 can be shortened and the density of the information contained thereon in- creased. If ten parallel channels were readable by ten read heads, then the entire program for all ten time points could be entered into the computer with a single pass of device 16 past all the read heads.
• the coding is preferably binary digital, or bar code although other coding schemes including analog coding may be employed.
• the coding scheme is preferably asynchronous or, if a mechanical feeding device is provided for feeding the device 16 past the read head 34 at a con ⁇ trolled speed, the coding can be synchronous. Confirmation that the correct data were entered into the memory may be provided by a suitable comparator program which will compare the inputs from repeated passes past the read head 34 of the same device 16. While the embodiment of the manual data entry and storage device 16 shown in Fig. 2 in which the data is entered with pencil marks and removed by erasure is preferred because of its simplicity and low cost, other embodiments are contemplated. In Fig.
• the base 18 is provided with a reading surface 23 having a plurality of depressions or holes with each hole being associated with a different data location 20.
• the locations are marked with a plug or other marker 25 which is inserted into and releasably held in the opening.
• the marker 25 is flush with the top surface of the base.
• the location 20 is marked with a plug 27 which is raised above the surface 23 of base 18. The absence or presence of a plug 25 and 27 in a particular hole may be mechanically detected by the reader.
• the marker 25 and 27 may comprise a different tone than surface 23 so as to be photo-optically detected, a magnetic element to be magnetically detected, or they may contain a plurality of data elements detectable by an ultraviolet scanner or the like.
• Raised plug marker 27, on the other hand, is intended to be mechanically detected by a mech ⁇ anical reader.
• the base 18 is provided with a plurality of data locations 20 and means for moun ⁇ ting marker members 26 for slidable movement into or out of reading, or marking relationship with the data locations 20.
• These markers 29, are photo-optically detec- table, mechanically detectable, magnetically detectable or otherwise detectable by the associated reader.
• the markers comprise push buttons 31 movably mounted within the data locations for movement into and out of marking relationship therewith.
• the push button markers 31 are mounted to le'af springs 33 which are flexibly movable between a lowered
• the push button markers 28 may be machine detectable through any available technique, such a magnetically, photo-optically, capacitively, mechanically, inductively, etc.
• the markers comprise bits of tape 35 provided from a tape supply 37 which are adhered to the base 18 by adhesive or the like.
• the markers comprise elements 39 containing a plurality of hook-like members 41 which are releasably attached to thread-like members located on the base 18 of device 16.
• they comprise elements 43 having thread-like members 45 releasably attachable to hook-like members 47 carried by base 16.
• the markers are in the form of ferromagnetic elements 48 adhered to a magnetic base 18 or in the form of magnetic elements 50 adhered to a ferromagnetic base 18.
• the manual data entry and storage devices 16 are mounted for slidable movement past a reader 18 within a housing 52 which also contains the controller 10.
• the manual data entry and storage devices 16 are permanently mounted for slidable movement past the reader 18 from an extended position without the housing whereat manual access to them can be gained to change the data entered thereon.
• a separate read head associated with each device 16 is mounte within housing 52 in reading relationship therewith.
• the manual data entry and storage devices 16 are mounted to a housing 54 to which is also mounted the controller
• the devices 16 are held stationery for display and
• thermostatic controller and other types of residen ⁇ tial or building functions are shown, it is clear that the data entry and storage device is useful with many types of commercial microprocessor controllers, various locking and security mechanisms, computer toys, home entertainment controllers and a variety of other applications.
• the device 16 could be used as a manually reprogrammable key or security pass for an electronic lock.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Time Recorders, Dirve Recorders, Access Control (AREA)
• Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)

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• 1982
  • 1982-06-11 WO PCT/US1982/000796 patent/WO1983004446A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1982-06-11 EP EP19820902292 patent/EP0111481A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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