US3581302A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for providing graphical configurations by sequentially directing a radiant energy beam to present image positions
Assignee: Harris Corp
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Filing: 1968-03-04
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Granted: 1971-05-25
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Expires: 1988-03-04
Abstract
Abstract A phototypesetting system employs a cathode-ray tube to present characters of typesetting quality wherein each of the characters displayed is generated by directing the cathode-ray tube beam to a series of locations, each immediately adjacent its previous location, where the beam is energized for a predetermined period of time. A character memory, such as an optically encoded disc, supplies digital information to electronic circuitry which initially locates the beam within a character field and then directs the beam sequentially to additional locations, each of the locations immediately adjacent the previous location, thus forming characters from a series of illuminated spots. Additional deflection signals are supplied to control the cathode-ray tube to move the beam automatically to the next character position after each character has been formed in preparation for the writing of subsequent characters.
Inventors
- 👤 Edwin R Kolb
- 👤 Robert M Horvath
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:30
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41B; B41B19/00; B41B19/01; B41B27/00; B41B27/28; G; G09; G09G; G09G1/00; G09G1/06; G09G1/08; G09G1/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
Apparatus for providing a graphical configuration by sequentially directing a radiant energy beam to preset image positions to form a desired pattern of images on a radiant energy responsive surface to define a said configuration, and comprising: means for sequentially supplying a plurality of sets of beam direction command signals with each said set providing only the direction for the beam to proceed from one image position the next of said preset image positions along either a path parallel to one of first and second mutually perpendicular coordinate axes or askew therefrom; deflection control means for sequentially deflecting said beam in accordance with said command signals from one said image position to the next said image position so that for each directional command said beam is positioned so that adjacent image positions are spaced by predetermined increments along paths respectively parallel to said axes, and beam control means for unblanking said beam only at each of said preset image positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
Apparatus for providing a graphical configuration by sequentially directing a radiant energy beam to preset image positions to form a desired pattern of images on a radiant energy responsive surface to define a said configuration, and comprising: means for sequentially supplying a plurality of sets of beam direction command signals with each said set providing only the direction for the beam to proceed from one image position the next of said preset image positions along either a path parallel to one of first and second mutually perpendicular coordinate axes or askew therefrom; deflection control means for sequentially deflecting said beam in accordance with said command signals from one said image position to the next said image position so that for each directional command said beam is positioned so that adjacent image positions are spaced by predetermined increments along paths respectively parallel to said axes, and beam control means for unblanking said beam only at each of said preset image positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said deflection control means includes circuit means for varying the incremental spacing between adjacent image positions along paths parallel to at least one of said axes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sets of beam direction command signals are coded signals, each set being representative of a specific beam direction and said defection control means includes direction command signal decoding means for decoding each set of coded command signals and providing therefor either a first coordinate signal representative of commanded directional movement along a path parallel to said first coordinate axis or a second coordinate signal representative of commanded directional movement along a path paralleL to said second coordinate axis or both said first and second coordinate signals representative of commanded directional movement along a path askew from said axes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first and second coordinate signals are each either positive or negative signals representative of the relative direction along said axes, and first and second reversible counter means for respectively receiving said first and second coordinate signals and providing first and second count signals respectively indicating the commanded first and second coordinate axis position of the image position corresponding to the commanded directional movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first and second count signals are digital signals, first and second digital to analog means for respectively receiving said first and second count signals and providing firs and second analog deflection signals for incrementally deflecting said beam for each said set of directional command signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, including means for varying the magnitude of said first and second analog deflection signals dependent upon the location of said beam on said beam on said beam responsive surface to compensate for nonlinear beam responsive characteristics so that said incremental spacing along each of said axes is maintained relatively constant as configurations are formed at different locations on said surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein a said configuration is formed in sections with each section defined by a plurality of said images and wherein said sequentially supplying means provides said plurality of sets of beam direction command signals for one section at a time and provides for the commencement of each section a coded pattern of section starting signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said sequentially supplying means also provides a distinctive signal representative of the number of said sections required for each configuration, and counting means for counting the number of sections formed on said surface to insure that the correct number of sections are formed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including means for positioning said beam along one of said axes prior to providing the next configuration on said surface, accumulator means effective to control the output from said configuration position controlling means to establish the location at which the entire configuration will be formed; and means to update said accumulator means after each said configuration is formed so that said positioning means repositions said beam dependent at least in part on the width width along said one axis of the last said configuration formed on said surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said surface is the display surface of a cathode-ray tube and said beam is said tube''s beam and said deflection control means includes: first circuit means for respectively effecting positioning of said beam to major positions along one of said coordinate axes at which desired configurations are to be formed and in accordance with beam position command signals; and second circuit means for effecting additional positioning of said beam along said axis in dependence upon the selected major position of said beam to compensate for nonlinear beam response characteristics of said cathode-ray tube.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
209 words
The method of forming a graphical configuration on a radiant energy beam responsive surface by directing the beam in a predetermined sequence to preset image positions, and comprising the steps of: sequentially providing a plurality of coded beam direction command signals each providing only directional information for displacing said beam to proceed from one image position to the next image position along either a path parallel to one of first and second mutually perpendicular coordinate axes or askew therefrom; decoding each of said command signals to obtain either a first coordinatE signal representative of commanded directional movement along a path parallel to said first coordinate axis of a second coordinate signal representative of commanded directional movement along a path parallel to said second coordinate axis or both said first and second coordinate signals representative of commanded directional movement along a path askew from said axes; displacing said beam for each said coded directional signal in accordance with the decoded first and/or second coordinate signals so that said beam is positioned to the next preset image position with the distances between adjacent image positions being constant along paths parallel to said respective axes; and unblanking said beam only at each said image position to thereby form the desired graphical image.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
209 words
The method of forming a graphical configuration on a radiant energy beam responsive surface by directing the beam in a predetermined sequence to preset image positions, and comprising the steps of: sequentially providing a plurality of coded beam direction command signals each providing only directional information for displacing said beam to proceed from one image position to the next image position along either a path parallel to one of first and second mutually perpendicular coordinate axes or askew therefrom; decoding each of said command signals to obtain either a first coordinatE signal representative of commanded directional movement along a path parallel to said first coordinate axis of a second coordinate signal representative of commanded directional movement along a path parallel to said second coordinate axis or both said first and second coordinate signals representative of commanded directional movement along a path askew from said axes; displacing said beam for each said coded directional signal in accordance with the decoded first and/or second coordinate signals so that said beam is positioned to the next preset image position with the distances between adjacent image positions being constant along paths parallel to said respective axes; and unblanking said beam only at each said image position to thereby form the desired graphical image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |