Controlled current vector generator for cathode ray tube displays

Claim 2

A vector generator for a cathode ray tube display having X and Y deflection means, comprising X and Y capacitor means including means for coupling said X and Y capacator means to said X and Y deflection means for storing first X and Y analog voltages, respectively, for determining the current beam position of said cathode ray tube, X and Y position means for providing second X and Y analog voltages, respectively, representative of a new beam position to which a vector is to be drawn from said current beam position, X and Y rate means for providing X and Y analog rate signals, respectively, representative of the X and Y drawing rates of said vector to provide a uniform drawing rate, controlled current source means coupled to said X and Y rate means, respectively, for providing respective currents controlled in accordance with said X and Y rate signals, and current control means coupled to said capacitor means, position means and controlled current source means for directing said controlled currents into said respective capacitor means from said controlled current source means until said first voltages are rendered equal to said second voltages respectively, whereby a vector is drawn from said current beam position to said new beam position at a uniform drawing rate for all vectors.

Claim 3

The generator of claim 1 in which said X and Y position means comprises digital-to-analog converter means responsive to X and Y digital position signals for providing said second X and Y analog voltages in accordance with said digital position signals, respectively.

Claim 4

The generator of claim 1 in which said X and Y rate means comprises digital-to-analog converter means responsive to X and Y digital rate signals for providing said X and Y analog rate signals in accordance with said digital rate signals respectively.

Claim 5

The generator of claim 3 in which said X and Y digital rate signals are proportional to the cosine and sine, respectively, of the angle between the vector to be drawn and the horizontal axis of the screen of said cathode ray tube display.

Claim 6

The generator of claim 1 in which said X and Y capacitor means comprises X and Y capacitors with means for coupling said capacitors to said X and Y deflection means respectively, and said current control means comprises X and Y diode bridges coupled to said X and Y capacitors and to said X and Y position means respectively.

Claim 7

The generator of claim 5 in which said controlled current source means comprises positive and negative X controlled current sources coupled to said X diode bridge and to said Y rate means for providing positive and negative controlled currents, respectively, to said X diode bridge for charging said X capacitor until said first X analog voltage is rendered equal to said second X analog voltage, and positive and negative Y controlled current sources coupled to said Y diode bridge and to said Y rate means for providing positive and negative controlled currents respectively to said Y diode bridge for charging said Y capacitor until said first Y analog voltage is rendered equal to said second Y analog voltage.

Claim 8

The generator of claim 6 in which each said diode bridge comprises four diodes and four junctions therebetween, a first and a second junction being between like electrodes of said diodes, and a third and a fourth junction being between unlike electrodes of said diodes, said associated positive and negative controlled current sources being coupled to said first and second junctions respectively, said associated capacitor and said associated position means being coupled to said third and fourth junctions respectively.

Claim 9

The generator of claim 1 further including end detector means coupled to said capacitor means and to said position means for providing an end signal when said first voltages are rendered equal to said second voltages respectively.

Claim 10

A vector generator for a cathode ray tube display having X and Y deflection means, comprising X and Y capacitors with means for coupling said capacitors to said X and Y deflection means for storing first X and Y analog voltages respectively for determining the current beam position of said cathode ray tube, X and Y position digital-to-analog converters responsive to X and Y digital position signals for providing second X and Y analog voltages in accordance with said digital position signals, respectively, said second analog voltages being representative of a new beam position to which a vector is to be drawn from said current beam position, X and Y rate digital-to-analog converters responsive to X and Y digital rate signals proportional to the cosine and sine, respectively, of the angle between the vector to be drawn and the horizontal axis of the screen of said cathode ray tube display for providing X and Y analog rate signals in accordance with said digital rate signals, respectively, said analog rate signals thereby being representative of the X and Y drawing rates of said vector to provide a uniform drawing rate for all vector angles, positive and negative X controlled current sources coupled to said X rate digital-to-analog converter for providing positive and negative currents respectively, in accordance with said X rate signal, positive and negative Y controlled current sources coupled to said Y rate digital-to-analog converter for providing positive and negative currents, respectively, controlled in accordance with said Y rate signal, X and Y diode bridges coupled to said X and Y capacitors, to said X and Y position digital-to-analog converters and to said X and Y controlled current sources respectively for directing said respective controlled currents into said respective capacitors from said respective controlled current sources for linearly charging said respective capacitors until said first voltages are rendered equal to said second voltages respectively, whereby a vector is drawn from said current beam position to said new beam position at a uniform drawing rate for all vector angles.

Claim 11

A vector generator for a cathode ray tube display having X and Y deflection means, comprising X and Y capacitors with means for coupling said capacitors to said X and Y deflection means for storing first X and Y analog voltages respectively for determining the current beam position of said cathode ray tube, X and Y position digital-to-analog converters responsive to X and Y digital position signals for providing second X and Y analog voltages in accordance with said digital position signals, respectively, said second analog voltages being representative of a new beam position to which a vector is to be drawn from said current beam position, X and Y rate digital-to-analog converters responsive to X and Y digital rate signals proportional to the cosine and sine, respectively, of the angle between the vector to be drawn and the horizontal axis of the screen of said cathode ray tube display for providing X and Y analog rate signals in accordance with said digital rate signals, respectively, said analog rate signals thereby being representative of the X and Y drawing rates of said vector to provide a uniform drawing rate for all vector angles, positive and negative X controlled current sources coupled to said X rate digital-to-analog converter for providing positive and negative currents respectively, in accordance with said X rate signal, positive and negative Y controlled current sources coupled to said Y rate digital-to-analog converter for providing positive and negative currents, respectively, controlled in accordance with said Y rate signal, X and Y diode bridges coupled to said X and Y capacitors, to said X and Y position digital-to-analog converters and to said X and Y controlled current sources respectively for directing said respective controlled currents into said respective capacitors from said respective controlled current sources for linearly charging said respective capacitors until said first voltages are rendered equal to said second voltages respectively, whereby a vector is drawn from said current beam position to said new beam position at a uniform drawing rate for all vector angles.

Claim 12

The generator of claim 9 in which each said diode bridge comprises four diodes and four junctions therebetween, a first and a second junction being between like electrodes of said diodes, and a third and a fourth junction being between unlike electrodes of said diodes, said associated positive and negative controlled current sources being coupled to said first and second junctions respectively, said associated capacitor and said associated position digital-to-analog converter being coupled to said third and fourth junctions respectively.