Visual display system

Claim 2

A visual display system comprising: a visual display area; an interrogating element movable from an aperture in the display system; character generation means for generating characters on the visual display area in response to input signals; storage means responsive to the interrogating element for supplying input signals to the character generation means; and wherein the interrogating element comprises a coded card insertable into said aperture in the display system.

Claim 3

A visual display system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the interrogating element contains a predetermined information pattern thereby causing information to be released from storage in accordance with the predetermined information pattern.

Claim 4

A visual display system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the interrogating element contains a predetermined information pattern which identifies the user and causes the storage means to supply input signals to the character generator whereby a visual display is generated corresponding to the information in the storage means to which the interrogator is allowed access.

Claim 5

A visual display system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a chassis housing the display system and wherein the interrogating element comprises a coded card insertable into said aperture.

Claim 6

A visual display system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the interrogating element contains both column and row data.

Claim 7

A visual display system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a low-voltage power supply and a high-voltage power supply wherein interrogation by tHe interrogating element causes the high-voltage supply to drive the character generation means.

Claim 8

A card-actuated display system comprising: a visual display area; an interrogating element insertable into the display system; first storage means responsive to the interrogating element for allowing access to selected data stored in said first storage means in accordance with informational data on the interrogating element; second storage means for recirculation of said informational data to said first storage means while the interrogating element is inserted in the display system; and character generation means responsive to said selected data for generating characters on the display area.

Claim 9

A card-actuated display system comprising: a visual display area; an interrogating element insertable into the display system; first storage means responsive to the interrogating element for allowing access to selected data stored in said first storage means in accordance with informational data on the interrogating element; second storage means for recirculation of said informational data to said first storage means while the interrogating element is inserted in the display system; and character generation means responsive to said selected data for generating characters on the display area.

Claim 10

A card-actuated display system in accordance with claim 7, further comprising: a cathode-ray tube; and third storage means for storing additional informational data and transferring said additional informational data to said first storage means whereby the data selected in accordance with the informational data on said interrogating element is either displayed on said cathode-ray tube or inhibited according to said additional data.

Claim 11

A card-actuated display system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the informational data on the interrogating element is in the form of a digital code which identifies the user and causes said first storage means to supply stored data in the form of character address codes to the character generation means whereby a visual display is generated corresponding to the information in the first storage means to which coding on the interrogating element allows access.

Claim 12

A card-actuated display system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said second storage means includes: a shift register including data entry and exit gates; and delay means in series with said shift register whereby an entire frame of displayed character information is recirculated through said shift register and said delay means while simultaneously nondestructively parallel transferred to said character generation means.

Claim 13

A card-actuated display system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said recirculating data includes digital character address codes and retrace intervals during which intervals horizontal retrace and vertical retrace occurs on the cathode-ray tube.

Claim 14

A card-actuated display system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the digital code on said interrogating element is recirculated in said second storage means and nondestructively series transferred to said first storage means during retrace intervals.

Claim 15

A card-actuated display system in accordance with claim 12, further comprising a chassis housing the display system and wherein the interrogating element comprises a coded plastic card insertable into an aperture in the chassis.

Claim 16

A card-actuated display system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the interrogating element contains both column and row data.

Claim 17

A card-actuated display system in accordance with claim 14, further comprising a low-voltage power supply and a high-voltage power supply wherein interrogation by the interrogating element causes the high-voltage supply to drive the character generation means.

Claim 18

A card-actuating display system comprising: a visual display area; an interrogating element insertable into the display system; first storage means responsive to said interrogating element for allowing access to selected character display data stored in said first storage means in accordance with a first digital code on said interrogating element; means for reading said first digital code and for developing a second digital code; second storage means for recirculation of said second digital code and for nondestructive transfer of said second digital code to said first storage means while the interrogating element is present in the display system; and character generation means responsive to said selected data for generating characters on the display area.

Claim 19

A card-actuating display system comprising: a visual display area; an interrogating element insertable into the display system; first storage means responsive to said interrogating element for allowing access to selected character display data stored in said first storage means in accordance with a first digital code on said interrogating element; means for reading said first digital code and for developing a second digital code; second storage means for recirculation of said second digital code and for nondestructive transfer of said second digital code to said first storage means while the interrogating element is present in the display system; and character generation means responsive to said selected data for generating characters on the display area.

Claim 20

A card-actuated display system in accordance with claim 16, further comprising: a cathode-ray tube; and third storage means for storing additional informational data and transferring said additional informational data to said first storage means whereby the data selected in accordance with the informational data on said interrogating element is either displayed on said cathode-ray tube or inhibited according to said additional data.

Claim 21

A card-actuated display system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said additional informational data includes a third digital code which is indicative of the presence or nonpresence of said interrogating element.

Claim 22

A card-actuated display system in accordance with claim 18, further including: a plurality of switches aligned with selected areas of the cathode-ray tube screen which when actuated develop a fourth digital code indicative of the informational content of the cathode-ray tube area selected; and means for transferring said fourth digital code to said first storage means through said third storage means whereby other data stored in said first storage means is selected in accordance with said fourth digital code.

Claim 23

A card-actuated display system in accordance with claim 19, wherein said third storage means includes a data recirculating shift register wherein recirculation and transfer of said third and fourth digital codes to said first storage means occurs.

Claim 24

A visual display system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said interrogating element comprises a coded plastic card.

Claim 25

In combination: means for receiving a coded interrogating element; first storage means responsive to said interrogating element for allowing access to selected data stored in said first storage means in accordance with informational data on the interrogating element; means for recirculating said informational data on said interrogating element to said first storage means while the interrogating element is interrogating said first storage means; and means for deriving a readout of selected data stored in said first storage means.

Claim 26

In combination: means for receiving a coded interrogating element; first storage means responsive to said interrogating element for allowing access to selected data stored in said first storage means in accordance with informational data on the interrogating element; means for recirculating said informational data on said interrogating element to said first storage means while the interrogating element is interrogating said first storage means; and means for deriving a readout of selected data stored in said first storage means.

Claim 27

A combination in accordance with claim 22 wherein said recirculating means comprises a second storage means for storing and recirculating coded data on said interrogating element.

Claim 28

A combination in accordance with claim 22 wherein said means for receiving said interrogating element comprises a card reader and wherein said interrogating element comprises a coded card readable by said card reader.

Claim 29

A combination in accordance with claim 24 wherein said readout means comprises a visual display.