Patent US3731299A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3731299A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Graphical keyboard operated display device
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1970-10-02
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Granted: 1973-05-01
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Expires: 1990-10-02
Abstract
Abstract Graphical display apparatus in which an operator can display on a cathode ray tube (CRT) screen in real time graphical images by operating a graphical keyboard. The graphical keyboard has keys which are designated by differently sloped ones of a group of incremental line segments. The graphical keyboard can be employed in a display system which also includes an alphanumeric keyboard.
Inventors
- 👤 R Bouchard
- 👤 W Sanders
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:10
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/0202; G06F3/0219; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0489
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
Keyboard operated display apparatus in which an operator causes the displacement of a visible cursor marker on a cathode ray tube screen by actuating the keyboard keys in a selected sequence so as to form a pattern on the screen, said apparatus comprising: a refresh memory having addressable storage locations; means for addressing said storage locations on a refresh basis; means for writing codes at addressed storage locations which are indicated by a cursor and means for reading said addressed codes; a keyboard having a plurality of keys each of which is labeled with a single differently sloped incremental vector; encoding means responsive to the actuation of each of said keys to provide a code indicative of the corresponding vector slope to said write means for storage at said cursor indicated storage location, the vector code associated with a newly actuated vector key being written into the refresh memory before another key is actuated; cursor indicating means for providing said cursor indication and for changing the storage location indicated by the cursor in response to the actuation of each key; display means including a. means responsive to the reading of said stored vector codes for displaying the associated vectors on the screen; b. means responsive to each addressing of the cursor indicated storage location to display a visible cursor marker on the screen which becomes displaced from one screen location to another in response to each vector key actuation in a direction corresponding to the vector slope associated with the actuated key.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
252 words
Keyboard operated display apparatus in which an operator causes the displacement of a visible cursor marker on a cathode ray tube screen by actuating the keyboard keys in a selected sequence so as to form a pattern on the screen, said apparatus comprising: a refresh memory having addressable storage locations; means for addressing said storage locations on a refresh basis; means for writing codes at addressed storage locations which are indicated by a cursor and means for reading said addressed codes; a keyboard having a plurality of keys each of which is labeled with a single differently sloped incremental vector; encoding means responsive to the actuation of each of said keys to provide a code indicative of the corresponding vector slope to said write means for storage at said cursor indicated storage location, the vector code associated with a newly actuated vector key being written into the refresh memory before another key is actuated; cursor indicating means for providing said cursor indication and for changing the storage location indicated by the cursor in response to the actuation of each key; display means including a. means responsive to the reading of said stored vector codes for displaying the associated vectors on the screen; b. means responsive to each addressing of the cursor indicated storage location to display a visible cursor marker on the screen which becomes displaced from one screen location to another in response to each vector key actuation in a direction corresponding to the vector slope associated with the actuated key.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said keyboard further includes a switch having first and second states which enable and inhibit, respectively, the visible display of vectors by said vector display means in response to the actuation of said vector keys.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
The invention according to claim 2 wherein said vector and cursor display means include a buffer register for holding each code as it is read from the memory; a deflection circuit responsive to each code held in said register to produce X and Y deflection signals indicative of the corresponding vector slopes; an unblank circuit responsive to each code held in said register to produce an intensity control signal; and means for applying said intensity control signal and said X and Y deflection signals to said cathode ray tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The invention according to claim 3 and further including a timing control for establishing a vector code interval and for producing a plurality of timing signals during said interval; and means responsive to at least one of said timing signals to produce a vector draw signal which enables both said unblank circuit and said deflection circuit to produce their respective intensity and deflection signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention according to claim 4 wherein said unblank circuit includes an unblank gating net which receives said vector draw signal to produce said intensity control signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
87 words
The invention according to claim 5 wherein said cursor is a code of unique value stored in said memory; wherein said cursor display means further includes means responsive to said cursor code when held by said buffer register to inhibit said unblank gating net and to produce a save the cursor signal, which enables said gating net during the next succeeding code interval whereby the visible cursor marker has a slope determined by the code in said register during the code interval next succeeding the cursor code.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said vector and cursor display means includes a buffer register for holding each code as it is read from the memory; a deflection circuit responsive to each code held in said register to produce X and Y deflection signals indicative of the corresponding vector slopes; an unblank circuit responsive to each code held in said register to produce an intensity control signal; and means for applying said intensity control signal and said X and Y deflection signals to said cathode ray tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The invention according to claim 7 and further including a timing control for establishing a vector code interval and for producing a plurality of timing signals during said interval; and means responsive to at least one of said timing signals to produce a vector draw signal which enables both said unblank circuit and said deflection circuit to produce their respective intensity and deflection signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention according to claim 8 wherein said unblank circuit includes an unblank gating net which receives said vector draw signal to produce said intensity control signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
133 words
The invention according to claim 9 wherein empty storage locations in the memory contain a null code; wherein said keyboard means further includes keys labeled with editing characters; wherein said encoding means also responds to the actuation of said editing keys to provide editing codes to the write means for storage at said cursor indicated storage locations; wherein said vector draw signal producing means also produces a chopped vector draw signal having a narrower width than that of the vector draw signal; wherein said display means further includes means responsive to any of said null and editing codes in said buffer register for producing a control signal; wherein said unblank gating net responds to the coincidence of said control signal and said save the cursor signal to pass said chopped vector draw signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
96 words
Display apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein empty storage locations in the memory contain a null code; wherein said keyboard further includes keys labeled with editing characters; wherein said encoding means further responds to the actuation of said editing keys to provide editing codes to the write means for storage at the cursor indicated locations; wherein said cursor display means further responds to the reading of the vector, editing and null codes at the cursor indicated locations to visually display the cursor as a vector having a slope determined by the code stored thereat.
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) | 1976-04-30 | 1976-10-30 | 1977-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-30 | 1980-10-30 | 1981-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-30 | 1984-10-30 | 1985-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |