US4734769A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for display of variable intensity pictures on a video display terminal
Assignee: Vista DMS Inc
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Filing: 1985-06-17
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Granted: 1988-03-29
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Expires: 2005-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for adapting a video display terminal (VDT) to display variable-intensity pictorial information. The pictorial information is received as serial digital data which is stored in a digital memory. Following this load operation, the stored data are read from the memory under control of VDT synchronization signals, converted to analog signals, and displayed. A variety of formats are possible, including pictorial information only and a concurrent display of pictorial and alphanumeric information. An apparatus permitting concurrent display of variable-intensity and alphanumeric information is disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark A. Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 00:39
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/387; H04N1/3871; G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/36; G09G5/39; G09G2340/00; G09G2340/12; G09G2340/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of displaying photographic information comprising a plurality of digitally-encoded pixels and alphanumeric information on a video display terminal, comprising the steps of: receiving the plurality of digitally-encoded pixels; storing each of the digitally-encoded pixels in a digital memory means; receiving a video signal representing the alphanumeric information; reading at least some of the digitally-encoded pixels from the digital memory means; and producing a composite video signal by combining the received video signal and the stored, digitally-encoded pixels that are read from the digital memory means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of displaying photographic information comprising a plurality of digitally-encoded pixels and alphanumeric information on a video display terminal, comprising the steps of: receiving the plurality of digitally-encoded pixels; storing each of the digitally-encoded pixels in a digital memory means; receiving a video signal representing the alphanumeric information; reading at least some of the digitally-encoded pixels from the digital memory means; and producing a composite video signal by combining the received video signal and the stored, digitally-encoded pixels that are read from the digital memory means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each of the digitally-encoded pixels contains variable-intensity photographic information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, further including the step of choosing the composite video signal to represent one of a variety of display formats.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
115 words
Apparatus adapted to produce video signals for displaying photographic information comprising a plurality of digitally-encoded pixels and alphanumeric information on a video display terminal, comprising: means for receiving synchronization signals; means for receiving the plurality of digitally-encoded pixels; means for receiving a video signal representing the alphanumeric information; digital memory means; means adapted to store each of the digitally-encoded pixels in the digital memory means; means adapted to read at least some of the digitally-encoded pixels from the digital memory means; and means adapted to produce a composite video signal by combining the received video signal and the stored, digitally-encoded pixels that are read from the digital memory means in response to the synchronization signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
115 words
Apparatus adapted to produce video signals for displaying photographic information comprising a plurality of digitally-encoded pixels and alphanumeric information on a video display terminal, comprising: means for receiving synchronization signals; means for receiving the plurality of digitally-encoded pixels; means for receiving a video signal representing the alphanumeric information; digital memory means; means adapted to store each of the digitally-encoded pixels in the digital memory means; means adapted to read at least some of the digitally-encoded pixels from the digital memory means; and means adapted to produce a composite video signal by combining the received video signal and the stored, digitally-encoded pixels that are read from the digital memory means in response to the synchronization signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of the digitally-encoded pixels contains variable-intensity photographic information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means adapted to produce the video signal produces is raster-scan signal.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of displaying photographic information comprising a plurality of digitally-encoded pixels and alphanumeric information on a video display terminal, comprising the steps of: receiving the plurality of digitally-encoded pixels; storing each of the digitally-encoded pixels in a digital memory means; receiving a video signal representing the alphanumeric information; reading at least some of the digitally-encoded pixels from the digital memory means; producing a composite video signal by combining the received video signal and the stored, digitally-encoded pixels that are read from the digital memory means; and displaying the composite video signal on a video display terminal.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of displaying photographic information comprising a plurality of digitally-encoded pixels and alphanumeric information on a video display terminal, comprising the steps of: receiving the plurality of digitally-encoded pixels; storing each of the digitally-encoded pixels in a digital memory means; receiving a video signal representing the alphanumeric information; reading at least some of the digitally-encoded pixels from the digital memory means; producing a composite video signal by combining the received video signal and the stored, digitally-encoded pixels that are read from the digital memory means; and displaying the composite video signal on a video display terminal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7 wherein each of the digitally-encoded pixels contains information variable-intensity photographic information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7, further including the step of choosing the composite video signal to represent one of a variety of display formats.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus adapted to display photographic information comprising a plurality of digitally-encoded pixels and alphanumeric information on a video display terminal, comprising: means for receiving the plurality of digitally-encoded pixels; memory means; means for storing each of the digitally-encoded pixels in the memory means; means for receiving a video signal representing the alphanumeric information; means for reading at least some of the digitally-encoded pixels from the memory means; means for producing a composite video signal by combining the received video signal and the stored, digitally-encoded pixels that are read from the memory means; and means adapted to receive and display the composite video signal on the video display terminal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus adapted to display photographic information comprising a plurality of digitally-encoded pixels and alphanumeric information on a video display terminal, comprising: means for receiving the plurality of digitally-encoded pixels; memory means; means for storing each of the digitally-encoded pixels in the memory means; means for receiving a video signal representing the alphanumeric information; means for reading at least some of the digitally-encoded pixels from the memory means; means for producing a composite video signal by combining the received video signal and the stored, digitally-encoded pixels that are read from the memory means; and means adapted to receive and display the composite video signal on the video display terminal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory means is a digital memory.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each of the digitally-encoded pixels contains variable-intensity photographic information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for producing the composite video signal produces a raster-scan video signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
115 words
Apparatus for displaying photographic information comprising a plurality of digitally-encoded pixels and alphanumeric information, comprising: means for producing synchronization signals; means for receiving the plurality of digitally-encoded pixels; means for producing a video signal representing the alphanumeric information, the alphanumeric information being digitally encoded; memory means; means adapted to store each of the digitally-encoded pixels in the memory means; means adapted to read at least some of the digitally-encoded pixels from the memory means; means adapted to produce a composite video signal by combining the alphanumeric video signal and the stored, digitally encoded pixels that are read from the memory means in response to the synchronization signals; and means for displaying the composite video signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
115 words
Apparatus for displaying photographic information comprising a plurality of digitally-encoded pixels and alphanumeric information, comprising: means for producing synchronization signals; means for receiving the plurality of digitally-encoded pixels; means for producing a video signal representing the alphanumeric information, the alphanumeric information being digitally encoded; memory means; means adapted to store each of the digitally-encoded pixels in the memory means; means adapted to read at least some of the digitally-encoded pixels from the memory means; means adapted to produce a composite video signal by combining the alphanumeric video signal and the stored, digitally encoded pixels that are read from the memory means in response to the synchronization signals; and means for displaying the composite video signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein each of the digitally-encoded pixels contains variable-intensity photographic information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the composite video signal display means is a cathode ray tube.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-03-29 | 1991-09-28 | 1992-03-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-29 | 1995-09-28 | 1996-03-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-29 | 1999-09-28 | 2000-03-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |