Display utilizing dimmed or flickering lamps to indicate different data sets

Claim 1

A system for displaying the contents of a register wherein the contents represent first and second data sets comprising: a plurality of lamps each of which is associated with a respective stage of the register; a first signal generator for producing a first signal to illuminate the lamps; a second signal generator for producing a second signal to illuminate the lamps wherein lamps illuminated by the second signal are distinguishable from lamps illuminated by the first signal; and means responsive to the contents of the register for applying the first and second signals to respective first and second groups of said plurality of lamps to display the respective first and second data sets.

Claim 2

A system for displaying the contents of a register wherein the contents represent first and second data sets comprising: a plurality of lamps each of which is associated with a respective stage of the register; a first signal generator for producing a first signal to illuminate the lamps; a second signal generator for producing a second signal to illuminate the lamps wherein lamps illuminated by the second signal are distinguishable from lamps illuminated by the first signal; and means responsive to the contents of the register for applying the first and second signals to respective first and second groups of said plurality of lamps to display the respective first and second data sets.

Claim 3

A system for displaying the contents of a register containing first and second data sets, comprising: a plurality of lamps, each of which is associated with a respective stage of the register; a first signal generator for producing a first signal to illuminatE the lamps in a steady condition; a second signal generator for generating a second signal to illuminate the lamps with a noticeable flickering condition; and means responsive to the contents of the register for applying the respective first and second signals to respective first and second groups of said plurality of lamps to display the first and second data sets.

Claim 4

A system for displaying the contents of a register containing first and second data sets, comprising: a plurality of lamps, each of which is associated with a respective stage of the register; a first signal generator for producing a first signal to illuminatE the lamps in a steady condition; a second signal generator for generating a second signal to illuminate the lamps with a noticeable flickering condition; and means responsive to the contents of the register for applying the respective first and second signals to respective first and second groups of said plurality of lamps to display the first and second data sets.

Claim 5

A system for displaying the contents of a register containing first and second data sets, comprising: a plurality of lamps each of which is associated with a respective stage of the register; a first signal generator for producing a first signal to illuminate the lamps in a steady condition; means responsive to the contents of the register for selectively applying the first signal to first and second groups of the lamps to display the respective first and second data sets; a second signal generator for producing a second signal to illuminate the lamps with a noticeable flickering condition; and means for superimposing the second signal onto the signals applied to the second group of lamps to produce a noticeable flickering of the second groups of lamps.

Claim 6

A system for displaying the contents of a register containing first and second data sets, comprising: a plurality of lamps each of which is associated with a respective stage of the register; a first signal generator for producing a first signal to illuminate the lamps in a steady condition; means responsive to the contents of the register for selectively applying the first signal to first and second groups of the lamps to display the respective first and second data sets; a second signal generator for producing a second signal to illuminate the lamps with a noticeable flickering condition; and means for superimposing the second signal onto the signals applied to the second group of lamps to produce a noticeable flickering of the second groups of lamps.

Claim 7

A system for displaying the contents of a binary register containing first and second data sets, comprising: a plurality of lamps each of which is associated with a respective stage of the binary register; a first pulse generator for producing a pulse signal having a duty cycle of from 45 to 90 percent to illuminate the lamps and having a frequency sufficiently high to produce no noticeable flickering of the lamps; a plurality of AND gates, one connected to each stage of the register and to the first generator for passing the first signal when the respective stage of the register is in a first state and for blocking the first signal when the respective register stage is in a second state; a second pulse generator producing a pulse signal having a duty cycle from 5 to 40 percent to illuminate the lamps and having a frequency sufficiently low to produce a noticeable flickering of the lamps; a plurality of OR gates, one associated with each AND gate for applying the output of each AND gate to the respective lamp; and selective connecting means for connecting the output of the second pulse generator to the OR gates associated with the register stages containing the second data set for imposing the flickering signal on the first signal whereby the second data set displayed on the lamps is easily distinguished from the first data set.

Claim 8

A system for displaying the contents of a binary register containing first and second data sets, comprising: a plurality of lamps each of which is associated with a respective stage of the binary register; a first pulse generator for producing a pulse signal having a duty cycle of from 45 to 90 percent to illuminate the lamps and having a frequency sufficiently high to produce no noticeable flickering of the lamps; a plurality of AND gates, one connected to each stage of the register and to the first generator for passing the first signal when the respective stage of the register is in a first state and for blocking the first signal when the respective register stage is in a second state; a second pulse generator producing a pulse signal having a duty cycle from 5 to 40 percent to illuminate the lamps and having a frequency sufficiently low to produce a noticeable flickering of the lamps; a plurality of OR gates, one associated with each AND gate for applying the output of each AND gate to the respective lamp; and selective connecting means for connecting the output of the second pulse generator to the OR gates associated with the register stages containing the second data set for imposing the flickering signal on the first signal whereby the second data set displayed on the lamps is easily distinguished from the first data set.

Claim 9

A system for displaying the contents of a register containing first and second data sets, comprising: a plurality of lamps each of which is associated with a respective stage of the register; a first pulse generator for producing an output pulse having a duty cycle of from 5 to 40 percent for illuminating the lamps with a first intensity; second pulse generator for producing pulses having a duty cycle of from 45 to 90 percent for illuminating the lamps with a second intensity which is distinguishable from the first intensity; and means responsive to the contents of the register for applying the respective first and second signals to the respective lamps associated with the first and second data sets whereby the first and second data sets may be distinguished from each other.

Claim 10

A system for displaying the contents of a register containing first and second data sets, comprising: a plurality of lamps each of which is associated with a respective stage of the register; a first pulse generator for producing an output pulse having a duty cycle of from 5 to 40 percent for illuminating the lamps with a first intensity; second pulse generator for producing pulses having a duty cycle of from 45 to 90 percent for illuminating the lamps with a second intensity which is distinguishable from the first intensity; and means responsive to the contents of the register for applying the respective first and second signals to the respective lamps associated with the first and second data sets whereby the first and second data sets may be distinguished from each other.