US 4,595,978 A · Programmable control circuit for controlling the on-off operation of an indicator device

Abstract

Although TTL-PROMs possess many advantages over their CMOS-PROM counterparts, their use in controlling on-off operations of indicators such as flashing navigational lights has been limited when battery power is required due to the high power consumption of such TTL-PROMs. Accordingly, a programmable control circuit is provided which includes a TTL-PROM together with a plurality of lower power consumption CMOS units and which minimizes the power consumption of the TTL-PROM. The TTL-PROM has a plurality of memory cells programmed with a plurality of code words. A CMOS addressing means is coupled to this PROM to generate address words to address the memory cells. This addressing serves to activate the PROM to output the appropriate code words in a parallel format. A CMOS parallel-series converter is coupled to receive the parallel format code words from the PROM and convert these to a serial code output signal. This serial code output signal is then used to drive the indicator device. In particular, in order to reduce the power consumption of the overall system, an intermittent power-up circuit is coupled to the PROM for powering the PROM on only during periods when it is necessary to permit addressing the PROM and transferring code words from the PROM to the parallel-series converter.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A programmable control circuit for controlling the on-off states of an indicator device comprising:

a memory circuit having a plurality of memory cells programmed with a plurality of code words indicative of a desired on-off sequence to be provided by the indicator device;
an addressing means coupled to said memory circuit for generating address words to address said memory cells of said memory circuit to activate said memory circuit to output said code words in parallel format in accordance with said address words;
a parallel-to-series conversion means coupled to receive said parallel format code words from said memory circuit and to convert said parallel format code words to a serial code output signal;
output means coupled to receive said serial code output signal from said parallel-to-series conversion means and to drive said indicator device in accordance with said serial code output signal, and
an intermittent power-up circuit coupled to said memory circuit for powering-on said memory circuit only during periods necessary to permit addressing said memory circuit and transferring said parallel format code words from said memory circuit to said parallel-series conversion means.

2 more elements

A programmable control circuit for controlling on-off states of an indicator device comprising a TTL-PROM having a plurality of memory cells programmed with a plurality of code words indicative of a desired on-off sequence to be provided by the indicator device;

a CMOS counter coupled to said TTL-PROM for addressing said memory cells in accordance with a parallel format address word having a predetermined number of bits generated in accordance with said counter output in order to activate said TTL-PROM to output said code words in a parallel format in accordance with the count of said counter;
a CMOS parallel-series shift register coupled to receive said parallel format code words from said TTL-PROM and having a serial output for providing a serial code signal corresponding to one bit location of said parallel format code words and at least two parallel output terminals for providing an auxiliary parallel code word corresponding to two other bit locations of said parallel format code word, said auxiliary parallel code word comprising a reset code signal;
output means coupled to said output terminal of said parallel-series shift register to receive said serial code signal therefrom to drive said indicator means in accordance with said serial code signal;
an intermittent power-up circuit coupled between said TTL-PROM and a power-up terminal of said counter which intermittently produces a power-up signal so that said TTL-PROM will be turned on only during periods necessary to permit addressing said TTL-PROM and transferring said parallel code words from said TTl-PROM to said parallel-series shift register;
and
a reset circuit coupled between said two parallel output terminals of said shift register and a reset terminal of said counter for resetting said counter when a predetermined reset code signal is produced at said two parallel output terminals.

3 more elements

A programmable control circuit for controlling the on-off sequence of an indicator device on a navigational aid comprising:

(a) a memory device having a plurality of memory cells for storing a plurality of code words, at least a portion of one of the code words defining a reset code;
(b) a clock driven counter operatively coupled to the memory circuit for generating address words to address the memory cells and output the code words in parallel format;
(c) a parallel-series shift register having parallel date inputs operatively coupled to an output of the memory circuit and a clock input operatively coupled to the counter for converting the parallel format code words to a serial code output signal;
(d) an output circuit operatively coupled to a serial output of the shift register for driving the indicator device in a preselected on-off sequence in accordance with the serial code output signal;
(e) a reset code detection circuit operatively coupled to selected parallel output terminals of the shift register for detecting the presence of the reset code and providing a reset signal in response thereto;
(f) an intermittent power up circuit providing a switched path between a DC voltage source and a power up terminal on the memory device, the intermittent power up circuit being responsive to the output of a gate receiving as inputs (i) the reset signal and (ii) an intermittent power up signal provided by the counter to close the switched path and provide DC voltage to the power up terminal when one of the intermittent power up or reset signals occurs;
(g) a daylight control circuit for detecting the presence of daylight and inhibiting the operation of the indicator device during periods of daylight;
and
(h) a synchronizing terminal for coupling to at least one additional programmable control circuit for providing an indication to the additional programmable control circuit that a reset signal has been produced and for receiving an indication from the additional programmable control circuit that a reset signal has been produced in the additional programmable control circuit, the programmable control circuit receiving the indication that a reset signal has been produced responding as though it had produced the reset signal.

6 more elements

A control circuit for controlling the on-off sequence of an indicator device on a navigational aid comprising:

(a) first means having a plurality of addressable memory locations for storing plural data words indicative of an on-off sequence desired to be provided by the indicator device, at least a portion of one of the data words defining a reset code;
(b) second means for addressing ones of the memory locations in a predetermined sequence, the first means presenting ones of the data words at an output thereof according to the memory locations addressed by the second means;
(c) third means for energizing and deenergizing the indicator device in the desired on-off sequence according to the data words presented at the output of the first means;
(d) fourth means for detecting when the reset code has been presented, the second means being responsive to the detection of the reset code to begin addressing the first means from a predetermined starting address;
and
(e) fifth means for generating a synchronizing pulse in response to the detection of the reset code by the fourth means and for receiving a synchronizing pulse from another control circuit coupled to a synchronizing terminal associated with the fifth means, the second means responding to the receipt of the synchronizing pulse from the other control circuit to begin addressing the first means from the predetermined starting address.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Programmable control circuit for controlling the on-off operation of an indicator device

Life of this patent

Programmable control circuit for controlling the on-off operation of an indicator device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24