A novel decoder for digital communication

Abstract

Where digital systems are used, it is frequently desired to store bits of information, temporarily. This is often necessary when other operations such as checking, are occurring. Following temporary storage, it is then often desired to place the information in long-time storage in the form of open and closed switch contacts. The methods and equipment now used Bre expensive, bulky and complex. The apparatus which the author describes is designed to overcome all of these disadvantages. It is the object of this paper to demonstrate a method and apparatus which will do the same job as a circuit made of vacuum tubes and relays, but do the job more simply, more economically, and more compactly. He provides a functional block diagram that demonstrates the general problem of handling digital information in the manner just mentioned. The digital input signal is in binary coded form presented in serial time sequence. Each bit in the message is read into its proper position in temporary storage. At the appropriate time, a read-out signal is introduced which dumps the message into long-time storage. Here, it appears in the form of open and closed contacts. In this case a binary "1" is represented by the transfer spring picked up and a binary "0" by the transfer spring remaining down. An eight bit demonstration device is described and discussed.