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US4651064A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Video amplifier with foreground and background controls

Assignee: Unisys Corp
•
Filing: 1984-09-13
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Granted: 1987-03-17
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Expires: 2004-09-13
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Abstract

Abstract A video display terminal is provided with controls which permit independent adjustment of the background information and the foreground information. Each control comprises an adjustable constant current source connected to one of two branches of a differential amplifier. One branch of the differential amplifier is employed to control the background intensity and the other branch of the differential amplifier is employed to control the foreground intensity.

Inventors

  • 👤 Stephen J. Parker
  • 👤 Clayton C. Wahlquist

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 16:15
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G1/00; G09G1/002; H; H03; H03K; H03K5/00; H03K5/01; H03K5/02; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/57

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 122 words
A video amplifier for independently controlling the background and foreground intensity of a CRT comprising: a CRT of the type having a cathode and a first grid; a differential amplifier of the type having a pair of differential input terminals and a pair of differential output terminals; said input terminals being coupled to a data source; said output terminals being coupled to said grid and said cathode; a foreground control connected to said differential amplifier for controlling the voltage of said cathode and said grid; and a backgrund control connected to said differential amplifier for controlling the voltage of said cathode alone, whereby the intensity of the background and the intensity of the foreground are independently controllable on said CRT without interaction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 122 words
A video amplifier for independently controlling the background and foreground intensity of a CRT comprising: a CRT of the type having a cathode and a first grid; a differential amplifier of the type having a pair of differential input terminals and a pair of differential output terminals; said input terminals being coupled to a data source; said output terminals being coupled to said grid and said cathode; a foreground control connected to said differential amplifier for controlling the voltage of said cathode and said grid; and a backgrund control connected to said differential amplifier for controlling the voltage of said cathode alone, whereby the intensity of the background and the intensity of the foreground are independently controllable on said CRT without interaction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 94 words
A video amplifier circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said differential amplifier comprises: a cathode branch in parallel with a first grid branch; each said branch comprising a transistor load impedance in series with a transistor; each said branch being in series between a circuit source voltage and a reference voltage; and one of said differential input terminals being connected to the control electrode of one of said transistors in one of said branches and the other differential input being connected to the control electrode of the transistor in the other branch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 34 words
A video amplifier circuit as set forth in claim 2 wherein the signal on one of said differential input terminals is the inverse of the signal on the other of said differential input terminals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 32 words
A video amplifier circuit as set forth in claim 2 wherein the first grid of said CRT is connected between the transistor load impedance and the transistor of one of said branches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 34 words
A video amplifier circuit as set forth in claim 4 wherein the cathode of said CRT is connected between the transistor load impedance and the transistor in the other branch of said differential amplifier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 26 words
A video amplifier circuit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said foreground control is connected in series between said circuit reference voltage and parallel branches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
A video amplifier circuit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said background control is connected in series between said circuit reference voltage and said cathode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 23 words
A video amplifier circuit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said background control and said foreground control comprise adjustable constant current sources.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
A video amplifier circuit as set forth in claim 6 wherein said foreground control comprises a constant current source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 19 words
A video amplifier circuit as set forth in claim 7 wherein said background control comprises a constant current source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 21 words
A video amplifier circuit as set forth in claim 2 which further comprises a voltage clamp connected to said first grid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 26 words
A video amplifier circuit as set forth in claim 2 which further includes a bias reference voltage means connected to the first grid of said CRT.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 33 words
A video amplifier circuit as set forth in claim 12 wherein said bias reference voltage means comprises a resistor and a diode in parallel to provide a clamp reference voltage on said grid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 25 words
A video amplifier circuit as set forth in claim 13 wherein said bias reference voltage means is adjustable to the cutoff voltage of individual CRT's.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 41 words
A video amplifier circuit as set forth in claim 4 which further includes a capacitor in series between said grid and said grid branch of said differential amplifier for a.c. coupling said grid to said grid branch of said differential amplifier.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3946275A Cited
US4086579A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-03-16 1990-09-15 1991-03-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-03-16 1994-09-15 1995-03-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-03-16 1998-09-15 1999-03-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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