US3858196A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Display system employing digitally-addressable crt
Assignee: Department Of Transportion
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Filing: 1973-09-27
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Granted: 1974-12-31
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Expires: 1993-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A message display system employing a digitally-addressable shaped-beam cathode ray tube is disclosed. The tube includes a message portion defining mask associated with each of a plurality of cathodes. A composite message commensurate with a plurality of masks is displayed by means of addressing the individual cathodes rapidly in a time-shared manner.
Inventors
- 👤 J Vrabel
- 👤 E Hilborn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:03
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G1/00; G09G1/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A display system comprising: a cathode ray display tube, said tube having a plurality of cathodes each preaimed at a shadow mask associated with each cathode, each mask defining indicia which is enlarged by the tube electron optics to cover the entire display screen when its associated cathode is energized; means for sequentially receiving and storing information commensurate with portions of a desired display; and means for sequentially addressing the individual cathodes of the display tube in accordance with said stored information whereby indicia commensurate with the portions of the display are sequentially projected on the cathode ray tube display screen and the entire display will be visible due to the retention characteristics of the cathode ray tube screen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A display system comprising: a cathode ray display tube, said tube having a plurality of cathodes each preaimed at a shadow mask associated with each cathode, each mask defining indicia which is enlarged by the tube electron optics to cover the entire display screen when its associated cathode is energized; means for sequentially receiving and storing information commensurate with portions of a desired display; and means for sequentially addressing the individual cathodes of the display tube in accordance with said stored information whereby indicia commensurate with the portions of the display are sequentially projected on the cathode ray tube display screen and the entire display will be visible due to the retention characteristics of the cathode ray tube screen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received information is in the form of electrical signals and wherein said receiving and storing means comprises: recirculating memory means having a plurality of output terminals; means controlling the entry of sequentially received information bearing signals in said memory means; and clock means for causing information stored in said memory means to be circulated therein and sequentially applied to the output terminals thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the means controlling the entry of signals into said memory means comprises: coding means for modifying the received information bearing signals in accordance with a display tube cathode location corresponding to a particular display portion received in that sequential position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said coding means comprises: a read only memory, said memory being programmed to convert the received signal into a dual binary code in accordance with the order in which the display portion information is received; and counter means responsive to the entry of display portion information in said recirculating memory for generating a coding input for said read only memory.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for sequentially addressing the display tube cathodes comprises: decoder means connected to said recirculating memory means output terminals, said decoder means being responsive to sequentially presented stored display portion information for generating signals commensurate with the X and Y display tube cathode addresses; and means coupling the output signals generated by said decoder means to said display tube cathodes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said coupling means each include: voltage level shifting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said decoder means comprises: a pair of binary-to-octal decoders.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for sequentially addressing the display tube cathodes comprises: decoder means connected to said recirculating memory means output terminals, said decoder means being responsive to sequentially presented stored display portion information for generating signals commensurate with the X and Y display tube cathode addresses; and means coupling the output signals generated by said decoder means to said display tube cathodes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said decoder means comprises: a pair of binary-to-octal decoders.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
98 words
A message display method comprising the steps of: storing serially received message portions; time-sharing the stored message portions at the output of the storage medium; and applying the time-shared message portions to individual cathodes of a multiple cathode shaped beam cathode ray display tube with each cathode preaimed at a predetermined section of a shadow mask associated with each cathode, the shaped beam formed by the shadow mask acting on the electron beam then continues, to fill the entire face of the tube at a complete message repetition rate in excess of the retention time of tHe tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
98 words
A message display method comprising the steps of: storing serially received message portions; time-sharing the stored message portions at the output of the storage medium; and applying the time-shared message portions to individual cathodes of a multiple cathode shaped beam cathode ray display tube with each cathode preaimed at a predetermined section of a shadow mask associated with each cathode, the shaped beam formed by the shadow mask acting on the electron beam then continues, to fill the entire face of the tube at a complete message repetition rate in excess of the retention time of tHe tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the step of storing includes: encoding the message portions in accordance with the sequential time received in a message and with the grid location of cathodes associated with a mask commensurate with the message portion data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the step of storing further includes: reading the encoded message portions into a memory device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the step of time-sharing includes: recirculating data in the memory device.
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) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |