US 4,068,089 AGranted

Data indicator unit

AssigneeGretag Aktiengesellschaft

InventorsWerner Kuhnlein, Heinrich Eggenberger, Heinz Walter Minet

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Abstract

A data indicator unit having setting keys which control a setting stage connected in series with a switching unit that controls the energization of a series of optical character indicator devices, the number of switching states of the switching unit corresponding to the number of character indicating devices. Only one key need be provided which, to enter a selected character, can be actuated a number of times to set the setting stage accordingly to energize one of the character indicating devices corresponding to the selected character. Alternatively the key can be depressed for a selected period to effect entry of a selected character or a ten key keyboard may be provided to enter selected characters by depression of one, or a pair of keys, so that, for example, thirty two characters may be indicated by operation of only ten keys. The indicator unit may incorporate a ciphering/deciphering unit to encipher the selected characters and indicate its enciphered form.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A combined data input/output unit for generating outgoing output data representing electrically encoded teletype characters and displaying incoming input data representing teletype characters, comprising

a data input for input data to be displayed,
a data output for generated output data,
a display means includes indicator means and a support with a number of character fields, each character field having an individual indicator means associated therewith and having at least one teletype character thereon, the totality of the characters forming a substantially complete set of teletype characters,
an input keyboard having not more than ten setting keys,
a switching unit provided with a number of different possible switching states corresponding to the number of character fields of the support and having an output connected to said data output, said output data being constituted by said switching states,
a decoding means responsive to the switching unit and selectively activating the individual indicator means in response to the switching states of the switching unit,
a setting stage controlled via the setting keys of the input keyboard and connected in series with the switching unit and selectively setting the various switching states of the switching unit, and
a means connected to said data input and to said indicator means and being responsive to incoming encoded teletype input data and selectively activating said indicator means in response to said input data.

5 more elements

A combined enciphering/deciphering unit comprising

a display means including indicator means and a support with number of character fields, each character field having an individual indicator means associated therewith and bearing at least one teletype character thereon, the totality of the characters forming a substantially complete set of teletype characters,
an input keyboard,
a switching unit provided with a number of different possible switching states corresponding to the number of character fields of the support and generating different output signals in each switching state,
a decoding means responsive to the switching unit and selectively activating the individual indicator means in response to the switching states of the switching unit,
a setting stage controlled via the input keyboard and connected in series with the switching unit and selectively setting the various switching states of the switching unit,
an electronic enciphering/deciphering stage generating from signals introduced into it enciphered or deciphered signals at its output,
mode selecting means for selecting the enciphering or the deciphering mode of the said enciphering/deciphering stage,
a gate circuit controlled by said key board for introducing into the enciphering/deciphering stage the output signals of the switching unit,
a means connected to the output of said enciphering/deciphering stage selectively activating said indicator means in response to the enciphered or deciphered output signals of the enciphering/deciphering stage, and
control means controlling data transfer and processing between and within the several stages of the unit.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.