US3745407A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Digital cathode ray tube intensity-modulator
Assignee: American Optical Corp
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Filing: 1970-11-09
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Granted: 1973-07-10
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Expires: 1990-11-09
Abstract
Abstract A digital cathode ray tube intensity-modulator. A digital intensity-modulator is disclosed for use in diaplay systems utilizing a cathode ray tube wherein at least one coordinate along the tube face defines a field of binarys. The modulator includes circuitry for providing binary numbers that represent instantaneous values of amplitude of input analog signals and further includes a device for intensity modulating the beam when it impinges at points on the tube face defined by the binary numbers. A trace enhancement device utilizing the above circuitry and a cathode ray tube meter with high and low limits are disclosed. The intensity modulator is applicable to many analog display systems and is particularly applicable to systems for displaying vital sign signals of a patient.
Inventors
- 👤 C Day
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 07:36
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G1/00; G09G1/06; G09G1/14; G09G1/16; G09G1/162; A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/02; A61B5/021; A61B5/024; A61B5/24; A61B5/316; A61B5/318; A61B5/339; G01; G01R; G01R13/00; G01R13/20; G01R13/22; G01R13/34; G01R13/345
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
A digital intensity-modulator for use in a display system utilizing a cathode ray tube, at least one coordinate along the face of said tube defining a field of binarys, said system including means for providing binary bits corresponding to at least one input analog signal and a precessing recirculating memory for the storage of said binary bits, said intensitymodulator comprising: digital means for providing binary numbers, each of said numbers representing an instantaneous value of amplitude of said one input analog signal, at least one of said numbers being provided with each sweep of the beam of said tube in the direction of said coordinate, said digital means further comprising serial digital means for repetitively serially reading out a predetermined number of bits from said memory and counter means for repetitively registering a distinct count corresponding to each said predetermined number of bits; and, modulating means responsive to operation of said digital means for repetitively intensity-modulating said beam when said beam impinges at a point on the face of said tube defined by one of said numbers said modulating means further comprising countdown means for repetitively counting from said distinct count to a predetermined count at a predetermined rate, detecting means for detecting the successive occurrences of each of said predetermined counts, and means responsive to each operation of said detecting means for modulating the intensity of said beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
A digital intensity-modulator for use in a display system utilizing a cathode ray tube, at least one coordinate along the face of said tube defining a field of binarys, said system including means for providing binary bits corresponding to at least one input analog signal and a precessing recirculating memory for the storage of said binary bits, said intensitymodulator comprising: digital means for providing binary numbers, each of said numbers representing an instantaneous value of amplitude of said one input analog signal, at least one of said numbers being provided with each sweep of the beam of said tube in the direction of said coordinate, said digital means further comprising serial digital means for repetitively serially reading out a predetermined number of bits from said memory and counter means for repetitively registering a distinct count corresponding to each said predetermined number of bits; and, modulating means responsive to operation of said digital means for repetitively intensity-modulating said beam when said beam impinges at a point on the face of said tube defined by one of said numbers said modulating means further comprising countdown means for repetitively counting from said distinct count to a predetermined count at a predetermined rate, detecting means for detecting the successive occurrences of each of said predetermined counts, and means responsive to each operation of said detecting means for modulating the intensity of said beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
153 words
A digital intensity-modulator as recited in claim 1 and wherein said modulating means includes means for providing both a high limit and a low limit to an input analog signal value, means for comparing said signal value with said high limit and said low limit, means responsive to the operation of said comparing means for detecting said signal value exceeding said high limit and for detecting said signal value exceeding said low limit, vertical sweep needle meter means responsive to the operation of said detecting means for providing a meter indication of limit excess on said tube and responsive to the operation of said detecting means detecting said signal between said high limit and said low limit for providing a meter indication of value of said signal on said tube, said meter means further including means for flashing an indication of limit excess on said tube and for simultaneously activating an audio alarm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A digital intensity-modulator as recited in claim 1, and wherein said countdown means further comprises a clock oscillator and at least one counter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A digital intensity-modulator as recited in claim 1, and wherein said serial digital means comprises at least one shift register.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
A digital intensity-modulator as recited in claim 1 and wherein said countdown means comprises a clock oscillator, a predetermined number of pairs of counters, and wherein said serial digital means comprises said predetermined number of pairs of shift registers connected serially, each oF said counters connected in parallel with one of said shift registers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A digital intensity-modulator as recited in claim 6 including means for parallel transferring of said distinct count from each of said shift registers to each of said counters respectively, and further including means for simultaneously clocking each of said counters from each respective distinct count to said predetermined count.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
A digital intensity-modulator as recited in claim 6 and further including means for providing intensity modulation to said beam at occurrence of each of said predetermined counts corresponding to the lower of the two distinct counts of each of said pairs of said counters, and for removing intensity modulation from said beam at occurrence of each of said predetermined counts corresponding to the higher of the two distinct counts of each of said pairs of said counters.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
A digital intensity-modulator as recited in claim 7 and further including means for providing intensity modulation to said beam at occurrence of each of said predetermined counts corresponding to the higher of the two distinct counts of each of said pairs of counters, and for removing intensity modulation from said beam at occurrence of each of said predetermined counts corresponding to the lower of the two distinct counts of each of said pairs of said counters.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
140 words
A digital intensity-modulator as recited in claim 1, and wherein said serial digital means comprises two shift registers connected serially, and wherein said countdown means comprises two counters each connected in parallel with one of said shift registers, said modulator further including means for parallel tranferring of said distinct count from each of said two shift registers to each of said two counters respectively, and a clock oscillator including means for simultaneously clocking said two counters from each of the two respective distinct counts to said predetermined count, said modulator further including means for providing intensity modulation to said beam at occurrence of said predetermined count corresponding to the one of said distinct counts, and for removing intensity modulation from the beam of said tube at the occurrence of said predetermined count corresponding to the other of said distinct counts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A digital intensity-modulator as recited in claim 8, and wherein said clock oscillator includes means for controlling the rate of said oscillator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-01-08 | 1977-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-09 | 1981-01-08 | 1981-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-09 | 1985-01-08 | 1985-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |