A BINARY CODED DECIMAL CONVERTER

by
llartin Ziserman
The Norden Laboratories
A Division of Norden-Ketay Corporation
White Plains, New York

Su mmrv This disadvantage has been eliminated in

the design of this analog-to-digital converter.
Of the many different coding schemes The output of this device is a totally
possible, the 8-4-2-1 binary decimal code was unambiguous 8-4-2-1 binary decimal code.
felt to be the most useful for data handling
systems. A transducer wes developed for Physical Design
converting shaft positions to digital numbers
in this code. The converter is small, light The physical configuration of this
weight, and produces 10,000 binary coded converter is based on the commutator discs
decimal numbers in 100 revolutions of the input within the device. In order to get the greatest
shaft. No ambiguity of number presentations is resolution within the smallest space, a
possible due to the unique configuration of the compromise mas arrived at which gives this unit
commutating discs and the brush contacts. an O.D. of appraximately 2 inches. Similarly,
the length of the unit is a function of the total
Introduction count of the converter. Again, a compromise
arrangement has produced a unit approximately
In the fields of data handling and data 4 inches long, exclusive of input shaft
processing, there often arises a need for an extension and electrical connector. Figure 1,
electrical signal indicative of a shaft a photograph of a similar type unit, illustrates
position. In analog systems, this is that its shape is very much like that of a
accomplished adequately by a synchro or synchro, even to a synchro-type mounting
potentiometer. For digital systems, this arrangement.
analog information must be transformed. There
are two mays in which this can be done. The
electrical analog output of the transducer may i
be digitized or the transducer, itself, may
produce an electrical output in digital form.
Since the latter is the more efficient method,
there have been marketed a number of these
devices.
The outputs of these analog-to-digital
converters have one common characteristic;
viz., they produce voltages which represent
numbers. Usually these voltages are of the
binary type; that is, they consist of two
states: one state representing "o", the other
representing 1". The voltages representing
the digits may be produced simultaneously or
sequentially. The number system in use may be Fig. 1
binary, coded binary, decimal or coded decimal.
Many data handling systems operate with Since most of the metallic members are of
coded decimal numbers. In particular, the aluminum, it is anticipated that the weight of
8-4-2-1 code is advantageous since it permits the unit will be approximately 10 ounces. The
the relatively simple arithmetic operations of internal construction of the unit will be
the binary system, yet requires only very similar to that shown in Figure 2, a line
simple translation to the decimal system or drawing of a similar type converter. The three
other decimal codes such as teletypewriter, discs shown, each having a unique pattern on it,
etc. Ordinarily, the major disadvantage in the are joined through gear trains each having a
use of any weighted code for use in 10:1 ratio.
transducers, lies in the fact that ambiguous
numbers may be generated in changing from one Adjacent to each disc is a stationary
number to an adjacent number. There have been brush holder which holds and accurately
codes devised that eliminate this ambiguity positions the small bifurcated brushes that are
problem. However, they are not weighted used to conduct the currents to and from the
codes and therefore require extensive patterns on the discs. At the rear of the unit
equipment to translate them to a code that is a terminal board on which are mounted 30
can be manipulated arithmetically. isolation crystal diodes. An electrical

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 connector is provided at tlle rear of the unit The representation of a "O" in the coded
with a sufficient number of pins to carry all output is by means of a voltage at or very near
of the binary coded decinal bits and their ground potential. The "12) is represented by a
co iplements. voltage that is negative with respect to ground.
Converters can also be supplied for positive
voltages. This voltage is arbitrary but it is
desirable to keep the maximum voltage in the
order of 35 to 50 volts.
The slip ring brushes are used for bringing
out the information from the digit rings. The
commutating brushes are used to bring the
information into them. The commutating brushes
receive their information from some less
signif icant bit. One of them will be carrying
current while the other is not. When information
changes, both of them change simultaneously.
When a brush is carrying current, it will always
be in contact with a tooth of one of the
commutating rings. In fact, a brush will be
Fig. 2 carrying current only when it is at least
one-half of a count of the least significant
bit from the edge of a tooth. There will be no
current switching at the edges of a tooth due to
Rotating the input shaft of this converter any of the brushes except at the input ring.
through 100 revolutions will produce a complete This improves the wearing qualities of the discs
cycle of 10,000 binary coded decimal numbers and brushes and also permits larger tolerances
from 0 to 9999. The number is brought out on on the location of the brushes,
16 wires simultaneously. At the same time, the
complement of each bit is available on another The two co-mmutating brushes are spaced so
group of 16 wires. Ambiguity of number that the angular distance between them is equal
representation is prevented from occurring by to the shortest tooth width of the digit they
having two commutating rings per bit of code on are carrying. iue to this spacing, there are
the discs and four contacting brushes per bit instances when both comimutating brushes will be
of code. in contact with the same tooth segment of a ring.
Since one of these brushes will be carrying a "1"
Each digit ring on a disc except the first, and the other a "Off, it is necessary to have
is composed of two toothed rings having their isolation diodes in the lines to these brushes.
teeth interleaved and sepa:rated by a small The information output is then taken off these
insulation region. The two commutating brushes lines ahead of the diodes,. The two brushes of
associated with. each digit are positioned so the input ring, in conjunction with the input
that they alternately contact both of the circuit, provide the pair of voltages to be
commutating rings. The other two brushes are ai)plied to the second-order digit. The circuitry
always in contact with the slip ring portions of the converter then consists of a pair of
of the digit rings. The input ring is single push-pull voltages applied through isolation
toothed and has only two brushes associated diodes to a pair of commutating brushes. These
with it. Only one of these brushes is brushes are in contact with a digit ring
positioned to contact the toothed portion of consisting of two interleaved toothed rings.
the ring. The other brush is in contact with The information is transferred to the slip rings
the slip ring portion. and then to a pair of brushes in contact with
the slip rings. These are then the outputs of
the digit rings. They also supply the inputs
for a more significant digit, again, through a
The input to this unit may be either pair of isolation diodes.
pulses or 1)C which is applied as a pair of
bistable voltages. However, the states of the Opeton
pair are controlled by the converter. This is
done by the input commutating ring which The operation of this device can be seen by
presents either an open circuit or a short following the circuit diagram, Figure 3. The
circuit to control the input voltages. These input circtLit is madeup of the black box shoun
two voltages constitute the bit and complement between the first two switching rings. This
of the least significant bit of the least box and the switching ring of the least
significant decimal digit. Each bit coming significant digit, provide the push-pull
from the converter is controlled in turn by a voltages for the converter. The crosshatched
less significant bit, and the orientation of the sections of the rings are the conductive
pattern of the disc with respect to the brushes. portions, and the spaces between them indicate

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 insulating areas. The small arrowheads reference position, the brushes for the bits of
represent the brushes that are in contact with the second order decimal digit are in the same
the conductive areas. The rings are arranged position with respect to the pattern as the first
from top to bottom with the least significant order digit and similarly for any higher order
digit at the top. The successively lower rings decimal digits. Therefore, all of the bit
are the 2's bit, 4's bit and 8's bit of the outputs will be "I0" and all of the complement
least significant decimal digit. The switching outputs will be "'1".
action may be seen by assuming a movrement of all
the brushes with respect to the pattern. For a positive increase in the digital
number output of the converter, all the brushes
will move to the right with respect to the
pattern. As the brushes move to the right and
before the input commutating brush has reached
the next switching point, there will be other
commutating brushes that make or break contact
with the teeth of a digit ring. However, no
change in number will occur since the brush that
is switching will always be carrying a "0". As
the commutating brush of the first ring just
makes contact with the edge of the tooth, the
short circuit existing between the commutating
brush and the slip ring brush will cause the
"black box" toggle to flip. The left output
will now have the "l"-voltage and the right
o.1o
"~~"output will have the "O"-voltage.
Fig. 3 The Bl-gutputnowisanow
complement B1 is
a
'IO".
"1"t and its
Even though brushes
E3 and Et are still engaging the same tooth, the
back resistanci of CR2 prevents the "10"
The brushes are illustrated in the zero appearing at B1 from being disturbed The B2
position. The commutating brush of the first continues to have a "11"-output since it is now
ring is just out of contact with the slip ring drawing current through the E3 commutating
brush. This causes the "black box" toggle to brush. B2 remains at "0l" since the slip ring
produce a "O"-voltage at its left output and a brush, E5, is still not in contact with any
"l"-voltage at its right output. The left blush carrying informtion, Similarly, B4 and
output is also the B1-output, and the right
oiqtput of the box is its complement, the B4.remain as they were since their commutating
brushes are still engaging the same tooth. Even
B1-output. This large negativre "l"-voltage though commutating brush Ell has crossed over an
appearing at the cathode of the isolation insulat4ng region and now engages a different
crystal CR2 permits current to flow through to ring, B8 still remains with a "tl"-output
the input brush of t4e second ring, to the slip because now Ell is carrying the "l"-information
ring brush and the B2-output. It can easily be from B1. The output from the converter, as
seen then that a "1" will appear at all the shown, has thus changed from 0 0000 to 0 0001,
complement outputs, Even though the commutating If the brush assembly is moved another division
brushes, E3 and E4, are in contact with the same to the right, it will produce an output of
tooth, the back resistance of CR1 prevents the 0 0010. As the brush assembly moves, the
disturbance of the "O" at the Bl-output. Since converter output will progress through all the
the slip ring brush, E5, is not carrying any binary coded decimal numbers up to
current, the output at B2 is a "on. The 1001 1001 1001 1001 or the equivalent of the
B4output from slip ring brush E9 is also a "Ot" decimal 9999. One more change in the same
sice there is no commutating brush carrying a direction will produce all zeroes again.
voltage in contact with that ring. Similarly,
the B8-output at slip ring brush E13 is also a Characteristics
"0" even though there is a commutating brush,
Eill, in contact with the ring. It is a "0" Figure 4 shows the commutator disc with its
however, because the voltage it is carrying is patterns for the various digits. This
the B1-output which is a "10". particular disc will produce an output of two
decimal digits in one revolution. For each
The next most significant bit is the l's additional decimal digit required, another disc
bit of the second order decimal digit. The geared to the first by a factor of 10:1 would
patterns for the bits of this digit have the be necessary. The patterns for the successive
same configuration as those shown, except that discs will look exactly like the innermost
they are increased in scale by a factor of 10.
The B8- and B outputs are also the inputs for
four rings showm
in Figure 4.
the second order decimal digit through their
respective isolation diodes. In the zero or

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 in the 8-4-2-1 code. This representation may be
easily converted to decimal output by means of
simple matrices. AlU of the bits are available
simultaneously, allowing a very high reading
rate. In addition, the complement of each bit
is also available at the same time. The torque
required to rotate the input shaft is uniform
and low, approximately 0.3 inch-ounce. The
input shaft can be turned at a rate of 150 rpm.
Higher rates may be used with a correspcnding
decrease in life.
Larger decimal counts may be had by adding
additional discs and 10:1 gear trains. Other
counts, such as 3600 or 6200 may be constructed
in the same code, by using a slightly different
Fig. 4 pattern.
In systems where a self-balancing
potentiometer is used to record a process
The "black box" toggle indicated previously variable, this converter can be used in
may be any sort of bistable device whose states conjunction with the recorder to produce a
can be controlled by an open and short circuit. digital readout of the variable. Where the
It may take the form of a biased Eccles-Jordan transducer output has a shaft position as the
circuit or it may be as simple as a network of analog of the variable, the converter can be
four resistors. For pulse operation of the used directly to effect a digital readout.
converter, a pulse source can be gated into the Since the unit furnishes a parallel output and
converter by means of the bistable circuit. can be read "on the fly", it provides a means
for supplying data to high speed systems, such
The converter produces an unambiguous as computers. It can also be used as the
16-bit number representing four decimal digits sensing element in a digital servo system.

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