Electrical pulse counters – pulse dividers – or shift registers: c – Applications – Including memory
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-19
2001-11-20
Wambach, Margaret R. (Department: 2816)
Electrical pulse counters, pulse dividers, or shift registers: c
Applications
Including memory
C377S052000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06320927
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic counter which can be configured as a predetermined-type counter or timer in accordance with a request of a user each time.
Electronic counters include those having a single function and those having a multiple function. Some of electronic counters having a single function add input pulse strings and turn on an output when the added value reaches a value preset by a key switch. Moreover, there are some electronic counters allowing a value to be preset in two levels and counting methods include not only addition but also subtraction and addition-subtraction. Furthermore, an electronic counter having a multiple function has various functions such as a function for changing addition, subtraction, and addition-subtraction, a function for presetting a value in multiple levels, a function for changing pulse counting speeds, a function for changing output operations, and a timer-function for changing an input pulse to a time-string pulse. These functions are changed by each key switch.
The above electronic counters having a single function can be easily operated by users. However, because these electronic counters include various types, selection of them is troublesome for design and execution firms and therefore, management is troublesome at a job site. It is easy to select and manage electronic counters having a multiple function because they include less number of types compared to those having a single function. However, because they have various functions, function setting corresponding to a purpose is troublesome at a job side and moreover, an erroneous operation may be performed because an operation by a user is complex. Therefore, an electronic counter is desired which is suitable for a control system instead of adjusting the control system to the electronic counter or which can be easily operated though functions are complex as functions of an electronic counter are advanced.
The present invention is made to solve the above problems and its object is to provide an electronic counter whose functions can be easily set by an execution firm even if the functions are complex and moreover, which can be easily operated by a user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An electronic counter of a first aspect of the present invention comprises an input circuit to which a pulse is input, an output circuit for outputting a signal, a communication port and an interface, a RAM, a ROM, and a CPU, wherein a program for realizing a counter or timer function is written in the ROM, and the CPU writes the data corresponding to a variable of the program input through the communication port and interface in the RAM, executes the program in accordance with the data, and thereby realizes the counter or timer function corresponding to the data. In case of the present invention, it is possible to change the counter or timer function only by changing the data in the RAM without changing the program in the ROM.
In case of an electronic counter of a second aspect of the present invention, a conditional program is written in a ROM, a CPU writes first data corresponding to a variable of a conditional program input through a communication port and an interface in a RAM, executes the conditional program in accordance with the first data, and thereby realizes a counter or timer function corresponding to the first data. In case of the present invention, a CPU writes first data corresponding to a variable of a conditional program input through a communication port or an interface in a RAM. Then, the CPU executes the conditional program in accordance with the first data. As a result, it is possible to realize a counter or timer function corresponding to the first data written in the RAM.
In case of an electronic counter of a third aspect of the present invention, a CPU writes second data corresponding to various variables including a counter or timer control constant input through a communication port and an interface in a RAM, executes a program in accordance with the second data, and thereby realizes a counter or timer function corresponding to the second data. In case of the present invention, because a program is executed in accordance with second data, it is possible to realize a counter or timer function corresponding to the second data.
In case of an electronic counter of a fourth aspect of the present invention, a changeover switch is included and a CPU uses input and output circuits as communication circuits instead of a communication port and an interface when the changeover switch is pressed.
In case of an electronic counter of a fifth aspect of the present invention, an input circuit dedicated to communication is used instead of a communication port and an interface, and a CPU uses an output circuit for output of communication when performing communication. In case of the present invention, a CPU uses an output circuit for outputting a signal as output of communication when performing communication by using an input circuit dedicated to communication.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4795984 (1989-01-01), Janssen
patent: 6097781 (2000-08-01), Wright et al.
Endo Yoshihiro
Hoshino Yuichi
Koyo Electronics Industries Co., Ltd
Ladas & Parry
Wambach Margaret R.
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