US Patent: 1,657,411
|
| Ciphering Machine
|
|
Patentee:
|
|
| Arthur Scherbius (exact or similar names) - Berlin-Wilmersdorf, Germany |
|
|
Patent Dates:
|
| Applied: |
Feb. 06, 1923 |
| Granted: |
Jan. 24, 1928 |
|
Patent Pictures:
[
1 | 2
]
|
|
|
USPTO (New site tip)
Google Patents
Report data errors or omissions to steward
Joel Havens
|
|
Description: |
| This machine was the basis for the cipher machines used by the German Military during WWII.
Abstract:
It has already been proposed to use for ciphering of a clear text and for deciphering machines which either type the ciphered letters. in a similar manner to that of a typewriting machine or which produce ciphered perforated cable tape or operate an indicating device. The operation of, machines of this type is based for instance on the interchanging of the closed circuits between the keys marked with the letters of the alphabet and the type levers or the levers of a perforator for cable tapes each time after the sending of one or more of a determined number of letters. As soon as with two machines of this type this interchange, which is per se irregular, is effected in exactly the same manner, a telegram which has been ciphered with the aid of one machine can be deciphered with the aid of a corresponding machine. A condition is however that -the number of letters counted from the same, starting position has remained the same. At the sending of telegrams, especially with wireless telegraphy, one must however count upon the accidental omission of certain letters or groups of letters. The machine which is used in such a case for deciphering is thus unsynchronized, so that not only the letters which have been omitted but also all the succeeding text cannot be deciphered any more.
Claim:
A ciphering and deciphering apparatus adapted to change letter, number and punctuation characters into other characters and render them visible at indicating points, comprising in combination a mechanism for interchanging" the characters, sending elements constituted by keys, indicating points for the ciphered or deciphered characters, conductors connecting said elements, and a device adapted to indicate at the indicating points the end of a group comprising a determined number of ciphered characters. |
|
){kind=link}
){kind=link}