Tape preparation system

A tape preparation system for preparing tapes of the type used for controlling the operation of numerically controlled devices comprising:

• illuminating visual display means for storing and selectively illuminating a multiplicity of messages descriptive of machine operations and conditions;
• computer means for generating coded signals corresponding to the location of messages stored within said illuminating visual display means;
• input means having a manually operable keyboard and an encoder, said keyboard for operator entry of data and information responsive to messages illustrated by said illuminating visual display means into said computer means, said encoder for encoding operator entered data and information;
• interface means connected to said computer means between said illuminating visual display means and said input means, said interface means decoding certain of said coded signals generated by said computer means to thereby selectively identify for illumination, in accordance with said decoded signals, messages stored within said illuminating visual display means;
• said interface means decoding others of said coded signals generated by said computer means to thereby selectively cause the transfer of coded signals between said input means and said computer means;
• recording means for recording signals definitive of machine operations and conditions.

A tape preparation system for use in combination with a conventionally programmed computer of the type used to control numerically controlled devices, said tape preparation system comprising:

• illuminating visual display means for storing and illuminating messages for operator visual inspection in response to selected code signals;
• computer coupling means;
• input means for receiving and coding operator entered data and information and for presenting said coded operator entered information at said computer coupling means;
• interface means connected between said visual display means and said input means to said computer through said computer coupling means, said interface means for receiving data words and address codes and generating therefrom selected code signals to control the operation of said input means and said visual display means;
• recording means for selectively recording coded machine signals generated internally by said computer in response to certain of said selected code signals thereby forming a record of said coded machine signals.

An interface means for a tape preparation system having computer coupling means, input means and illuminating visual display means, said interface means comprising:

• input lines for receiving from said computer coupling means data words, address codes and strobe signals;
• main decoder means having address input lines and address output lines, said address input lines for receiving said address codes from said input lines, said main decoder means for decoding said address codes and enabling a selected one of said address output lines;
• data word latch-driver means having data input lines and data output lines, said data input lines for receiving said data words and said strobe signals from said input lines and for receiving a signal from a selected one of said address output lines of said main decoder means, said data word-latch drive means for decoding said data words and presenting for each of said decoded data words a data word definitive of a storage location within said illuminating visual display means at said data output lines;
• transfer means connected between said computer coupling means and said input means for transferring coded information between said computer coupling means and said input means in response to a signal from a selected one of said address output lines of said main decoder means;
• first and second secondary decoder means for decoding said data words in response to one of said strobe signals and a signal from a selected one of said address output lines of said main decoder means;
• secondary latch-driver means for latching a coded signal determined by said data output lines of said data word latch-driver means and driving the illumination of a selected message stored within said illuminating visual display means in accordance with the output of said first secondary decoder means;
• latch-decoder-driver means for decoding and latching a coded signal determined by said data output lines of said data word latch-driver means and driving the illumination of a selected message stored within said illuminating visual display means in accordance with the output of said second secondary decoder means.

A tape preparation system for use in combination with a conventionally programmed computer of the type used to control numerically controlled devices, said tape preparation system comprising;

• illuminating visual display means for storing and illuminating a multiplicity of messages descriptive of machine operations and conditions in response to coded signals;
• computer coupling means for receiving coded signals corresponding to the location of selected messages stored within said illuminating visual display means;
• input means having a manually operable keyboard, and an encoder, said keyboard for receiving operator entered data and information, said encoder for encoding operator entered data and information;
• interface means connected between said illuminating visual display means and said input means to said computer coupling means, said interface means decoding certain of said coded signals received by said computer coupling means thereby identifying and controlling the illumination of selected messages stored within said illuminating visual display means in accordance with said decoded signals;
• said interface means decoding others of said coded signals received by said computer coupling means, thereby identifying for operation certain of said computer coupling means for causing the transfer of information between said input means and said computer;
• recording means for recording signals definitive of machine operations and conditions.

An interface means for a tape preparation system having computer coupling means, input means and illuminating visual display means, said interface means comprising:

• input lines for receiving from said computer coupling means four-bit data words, four-bit address codes and strobe signals;
• main decoder means having four address input lines and a plurality of address output lines, said four address input lines for receiving said four-bit address codes and said strobe signals from said input lines, said main decoder means for decoding said four-bit address codes and enabling a selected one of said plurality of address output lines;
• data word latch-driver means having four data input lines, two enable lines and a plurality of data output lines, said four data input lines for receiving said four-bit data words and said two enable lines for receiving said strobe signals from said input lines and for receiving a signal from a selected one of said plurality of address output lines of said main decoder means, said data data word latch-driver means for decoding said four-bit data words and presenting a data word definitive of a storage location within said illuminating visual display means at said plurality of data output lines;
• transfer means connected between said computer coupling means and said input means for transferring coded information between said computer coupling means and said input means in response to a signal from a selected one of said plurality of address output lines of said main decoder means;
• first and second secondary decoder means for decoding said four-bit data words in response to one of said strobe signals and a signal from a selected one of said plurality of address output lines of said main decoder means;
• secondary latch-driver means for latching a coded signal determined by said plurality of data output lines of said data word latch-driver means and driving the illumination of a selected message stored within said illuminating visual display means in accordance with the output of said first secondary decoder means;
• latch-decoder-driver means for decoding and latching a coded signal determined by said plurality of data output lines of said data word latch-driver means and driving the illumination of a selected message stored within said illuminating visual display means in accordance with the output of said second secondary decoder means.

An interface means for interfacing a computer means, an input means and an illuminating visual display means having a plurality of message storage location, and a recorder means to form a tape preparation system, said interface means comprises:

• input lines for receiving from said computer means data words, address codes and strobe signals;
• main decoder means having address input lines and address output lines, said address input lines for receiving said address codes and said strobe signals from said input lines, said main decoder means for decoding said address codes and enabling a selected one of said address output lines;
• data word latch-driver means having data input lines and data output lines, said data input lines for receiving said data words and said strobe signals from said input lines and for receiving a signal from a selected one of said address output lines of said main decoder means, said data word-latch driver means for decoding said data word and presenting a data word definitive of a storage location within said illuminating visual display means at said data output lines;
• transfer means connected between said computer means and said input means for transferring coded information between said computer means and said input means in response to a signal from a selected one of said address output lines of said main decoder;
• first and second secondary decoder means for decoding said data words in response to one of said strobe signals and a signal from a selected one of said address output lines of said main decoder;
• secondary latch-driver means for latching a coded signal determined by said data output lines of said data word latch-driver means and driving the illumination of a selected message stored within said illuminating visual display means in accordance with the output of said first secondary decoder means;
• latch-decoder-driver means for decoding and latching a coded signal determined by said data output lines of said second secondary decoder means and driving the illumination of a selected message stored within said illuminating visual display means in accordance with the output of said second secondary decoder means.

An interface means for interfacing a computer means, an input means and an illuminating visual display means having a plurality of message storage locations, and a recorder means to form a tape preparation system, said interface means comprising;

• input lines for receiving from said computer means four-bit data words, four-bit address codes and strobe signals;
• main decoder means having four address input lines and a plurality of address output lines, and four address input lines receiving said four-bit address codes and said strobe signals from said input lines, said main decoder means decoding said four-bit address codes and enabling a selected one of said plurality of address output lines;
• data word latch-driver means having four data input lines, two enable lines and a plurality of data output lines, said four data input lines receiving said four-bit data words and said two enable lines receiving said strobe signals from said input lines and receiving a signal from a selected one of said plurality of address output lines of said main decoder means, said data word latch-driver means for decoding said four-bit data words and presenting a data word definitive of a storage location within said illuminating visual display means at said plurality of data output lines;
• transfer means connected between said computer means and said input means for transferring coded information between said computer means and said input means in response to a signal from a selected one of said plurality of address output lines of said main decoder means;
• first and second secondary decoder means for decoding said four-bit data words in response to one of said strobe signals and a signal from a selected one of said plurality of address output lines of said main decoder means;
• secondary latch-driver means for latching a coded signal determined by said plurality of data output lines of said data word latch-driver means and driving the illumination of a selected message stored within said illuminating visual display means in accordance with the output of said first secondary decoder means;
• latch-decoder-driver means for decoding and latching a coded signal determined by said plurality of data output lines of said data word latch-driver means and driving the illumination of a selected message stored within said illuminating visual display means in accordance with the output of said second secondary decoder means.