Magnetic tape pulse width to digital convertor

Claim 1

A translator device for translation of digital information contained in a first format of short pulses and long pulses into a second format signal of pulses and no pulses including: a. generator means for generating said first format wherein each of said short pulses has a leading edge and a trailing edge and each of said long pulses has a leading edge and a trailing edge; b. a first leading edge responsive one shot multivibrator the output of which is connected to the input of a first trailing edge one shot multivibrator the output of which is connected to the input of a first AND gate; c. the output of said generator means being connected to the input of said first leading edge responsive one shot multivibrator and to said first AND gate; d. a second leading edge responsive one shot multivibrator the output of which is connected to the input of a second trailing edge one shot multivibrator the output of which is connected to the input of a second AND gate; e. the output of said generator means being connected to the input of said second leading edge responsive one shot multivibrator and to said second AND gate; f. a set-reset flip-flop device, a one shot multivibrator, and a serial input shift register; g. the output of said first AND gate being connected to the set input of said set-reset flip-flop device and to the input of said one shot multivibrator; h. the output of said second AND gate being connected to the reset input of said set-reset flip-flop device; i. the output of said set-reset flip-flop device and the output of said one shot multivibrator being connected to the inputs of said shift register; j. said first AND gate provides first clock signals in response to both short and long pulses and said second AND gate provides second clock signals in response to only long pulses; whereby k. said flip-flop device providing an output in response to said first clock signals and no output only during the time duration between the occurrence of said second clock signal and the immediately following first clock signal and said multivibrator interrogating the output of said flip-flop at a predetermined time interval after the occurrence of each of said first clock pulses to determine whether said flip-flop is providing an output or no output.