US3760413A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Activity display
Assignee: TDK Micronas GmbH
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Filing: 1971-03-24
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Granted: 1973-09-18
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Expires: 1991-03-24
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a method and apparatus for displaying the presence or absence of signal activity. Signal activity is stored at a slow rate optimum for the receiver and then read out at a fast rate (above that of the flicker rate), so that the operator has a visually constant display output and fast phosphors can be used with high light outputs. The display is in the form of a ''''falling raster'''' in which successive stored sweeps are vertically ordered; the newest at the top, the oldest at the bottom. In sequence, the oldest sweep is purged from storage and the newest activity added in a spatially ordered manner to the raster.
Inventors
- 👤 I Fletcher
- 👤 F Fielding
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:39
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03J; H03J7/00; H03J7/18; H03J7/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for displaying signal activity, comprising: scanning the signal frequency spectrum of interest with a scanning device; detecting the presence of signal activity during each sweep of said scanning device; storing digitally said signal activity associated with a predetermined number of sweeps of said scanning device in a memory; reading out from said memory said signal activity associated with said predetermined number of sweeps; displaying said stored signal activity on a display unit as a falling raster, each of said predetermined number of sweeps forming one line of said falling raster, the latest sweep forming the first line and the oldest sweep forming the last line; replacing the top line of said falling raster display with the latest stored sweep of said scanning device; dropping all previous stored sweeps by one line so that the past history of said signal activity is always ordered; and purging the oldest stored sweep out of said memory.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for displaying signal activity, comprising: scanning the signal frequency spectrum of interest with a scanning device; detecting the presence of signal activity during each sweep of said scanning device; storing digitally said signal activity associated with a predetermined number of sweeps of said scanning device in a memory; reading out from said memory said signal activity associated with said predetermined number of sweeps; displaying said stored signal activity on a display unit as a falling raster, each of said predetermined number of sweeps forming one line of said falling raster, the latest sweep forming the first line and the oldest sweep forming the last line; replacing the top line of said falling raster display with the latest stored sweep of said scanning device; dropping all previous stored sweeps by one line so that the past history of said signal activity is always ordered; and purging the oldest stored sweep out of said memory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said scanning is performed in discrete steps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said detecting step includes converting the presence of said signal activity into a voltage corresponding to a logic ''''1.''''
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said storing step includes storing said signal activity associated with each sweep of said predetermined number of sweeps in a separate digital shift register.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said reading out is performed at a rate higher than the flicker rate of said display unit to provide a bright constant light level display.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said storing is performed at a rate which is independent of the rate of said reading out so that said scanning device and said display unit can be operated at their optimum rates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said scanning device is an RF receiver sequentially tuned to discrete frequency steps.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 further including: increasing the number of raster lines to increase the probability of detecting the presence of said signal activity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 4 further including re-circulating the contents of each of said separate digital register to increase the probability of detecting the presence of said signal activity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
168 words
An automatic activity display in which a history of signal activity is stored and displayed, comprising: means for scanning the signal frequency spectRum of interest; means for detecting the presence of signal activity during each scanning sweep; a digital memory for storing said signal activity associated with a predetermined number of scanning sweeps; means for reading out from said memory said stored activity associated with said predetermined number of scanning sweeps; a display unit for displaying said stored signal activity as a falling raster, each of said predetermined number of scanning sweeps forming one line of said falling raster, the latest sweep forming the first line and the oldest sweep forming the last line; means for replacing the top line of said falling raster display with the latest stored scanning sweep; means for dropping all previous stored sweeps by one line on said raster so that the past history of said signal activity is always ordered; and means for purging the oldest stOred sweep out of said memory.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
168 words
An automatic activity display in which a history of signal activity is stored and displayed, comprising: means for scanning the signal frequency spectRum of interest; means for detecting the presence of signal activity during each scanning sweep; a digital memory for storing said signal activity associated with a predetermined number of scanning sweeps; means for reading out from said memory said stored activity associated with said predetermined number of scanning sweeps; a display unit for displaying said stored signal activity as a falling raster, each of said predetermined number of scanning sweeps forming one line of said falling raster, the latest sweep forming the first line and the oldest sweep forming the last line; means for replacing the top line of said falling raster display with the latest stored scanning sweep; means for dropping all previous stored sweeps by one line on said raster so that the past history of said signal activity is always ordered; and means for purging the oldest stOred sweep out of said memory.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
An automatic activity display according to claim 10 wherein said memory includes a plurality of digital shift registers, each for storing said signal activity associated with one scanning sweep of said predetermined number of scanning sweeps.
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) | 1976-09-17 | 1977-03-19 | 1977-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-17 | 1981-03-19 | 1981-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-17 | 1985-03-19 | 1985-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |