Character generator apparatus

Claim 2

Character generator apparatus cooperable with display means for causing said display means to provide a representation of one or more characters, wherein said display means is provided with writing means, said apparatus comprising: means for causing said writing means to move in a regular pattern corresponding to elemental parts from which a plurality of selectable characters may be composed, the movement of the writing means normally being at a first speed for rapidly sequencing through said pattern, means for receiving information indicative of a particular character to be written, means for detecting when said writing means would be caused to coincide in position with the elementaL portions of a character as indicated at said receiving means, and means for causing said writing means to decrease its normal rate of movement and write the specified elemental portion said character in response to said detection.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said display means comprises a cathode-ray tube, said writing means comprising an electron beam emitted by an electron gun toward the face of said tube in order to visibly portray characters thereupon in accordance with the elemental portions thereof as said coincidence is detected by said detection means.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said cathode-ray tube includes flood gun means, as well as electron gun, for causing said tube to exhibit bistable storage properties.

Claim 5

The character generator apparatus according to claim 1 further including means for translating information, received by said receiving means, into the identification of elemental portions of said pattern for portraying a particular character, said identification of elemental portions being supplied to said detecting means.

Claim 6

Character generator apparatus cooperable with a cathode-ray tube for causing said cathode-ray tube to provide a representation of a plurality of characters, said apparatus comprising: a pair of digital-to-analog converters coupled respectively to orthogonal deflection means of said cathode-ray tube, X and Y counters for controlling said digital-to-analog converters to execute a dot matrix, the intensity of the electron beam in said cathode-ray tube normally being insufficient for providing a display on said cathode-ray tube, said X and Y counters normally operating at a rate for rapidly moving said electron beam position through said dot matrix, translating means for receiving a digital input and decoding the same for the purpose of intensifying the beam in said cathode-ray tube when said dot matrix coincides with an element of a character represented by digital information provided to said translating means, and means responsive to said coincidence for halting said X and Y counters for a predetermined time for allowing stabilization of the orthogonal deflection means of said cathode-ray tube for deflecting the electron beam thereof to a particular location, and for then intensifying the electron beam for a predetermined period for writing a dot corresponding to an element of the character represented by said digital information.

Claim 7

Character generator apparatus cooperable with a cathode-ray tube for causing said cathode-ray tube to provide a representation of a plurality of characters, said apparatus comprising: a pair of digital-to-analog converters coupled respectively to orthogonal deflection means of said cathode-ray tube, X and Y counters for controlling said digital-to-analog converters to execute a dot matrix, the intensity of the electron beam in said cathode-ray tube normally being insufficient for providing a display on said cathode-ray tube, said X and Y counters normally operating at a rate for rapidly moving said electron beam position through said dot matrix, translating means for receiving a digital input and decoding the same for the purpose of intensifying the beam in said cathode-ray tube when said dot matrix coincides with an element of a character represented by digital information provided to said translating means, and means responsive to said coincidence for halting said X and Y counters for a predetermined time for allowing stabilization of the orthogonal deflection means of said cathode-ray tube for deflecting the electron beam thereof to a particular location, and for then intensifying the electron beam for a predetermined period for writing a dot corresponding to an element of the character represented by said digital information.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said responsive means comprises a first monostable circuit for interrupting the counting of said counters while said deflection means stabilize, and a second monostable circuit operated at the conclusion of the operation of the first monostable circuit for causing the energization of the electron beam in said cathode-ray tube.

Claim 9

The circuit according to claim 6 further including a clock generator for normally stepping said counters, said clock generator being inhibited by the operation of either of said monostable circuits.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said responsive means includes a third counter which starts counting at said coincidence, a clock for operating said X and Y counters, means for inhibiting said clock at the time of said coincidence, means for energizing the electron beam of said cathode-ray tube when said third counter reaches a first count and for deenergizing said electron beam of said cathode-ray tube when said third counter reaches a second count, and means for thereupon causing said clock to be enabled.

Claim 11

Character generator apparatus cooperable with a cathode-ray tube for causing the cathode-ray tube to provide a representation of a desired character, said apparatus comprising: a pair of digital-to-analog converters for controlling the orthogonal deflection means of said cathode-ray tube, a clock generator, X and Y counters counting the output of said clock generator for controLling said digital-to-analog converters to execute a dot matrix at a first speed regulated by the frequency of said clock generator, the intensity of the beam in said cathode-ray tube normally being insufficient for writing information on said cathode-ray tube, translating means for receiving a digital input and decoding the same to designate elemental dot portions of a character identified by the digital input, means for detecting the coincidence of the designation of a dot in said dot matrix by said X and Y counters with the designation of a dot portion of a particular character by said translating means, and means for halting said counters and enabling the electron beam of the cathode-ray tube for writing an element of the identified character in response to said detection.

Claim 12

Character generator apparatus cooperable with a cathode-ray tube for causing the cathode-ray tube to provide a representation of a desired character, said apparatus comprising: a pair of digital-to-analog converters for controlling the orthogonal deflection means of said cathode-ray tube, a clock generator, X and Y counters counting the output of said clock generator for controLling said digital-to-analog converters to execute a dot matrix at a first speed regulated by the frequency of said clock generator, the intensity of the beam in said cathode-ray tube normally being insufficient for writing information on said cathode-ray tube, translating means for receiving a digital input and decoding the same to designate elemental dot portions of a character identified by the digital input, means for detecting the coincidence of the designation of a dot in said dot matrix by said X and Y counters with the designation of a dot portion of a particular character by said translating means, and means for halting said counters and enabling the electron beam of the cathode-ray tube for writing an element of the identified character in response to said detection.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said means for halting and enabling comprises means for providing a first delay during which said electron beam is not energized so that the prospective position thereof may become stabilized, and second means for causing said electron beam to write a portion of the desired character for a predetermined period.

Claim 14

The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein each of said first and second means operates to inhibit said clock generator.