Graphical data processor

Claim 1

A system for displaying symbol composed of parallel, closely spaced, constant length linear traces including: a. cathode-ray tube means responsive to deflection signals and black space signals and including an electron beam and display screen for generating visible traces; b. storage means for storing a binary data word, said data word including a plurality of code sections including at least one binary bit, a first section of said data word representing the length of one of said traces, a second section of said data word representing the number of traces necessary to constitute said symbol; c. first control circuit means responsive to said first code section for generating a black space signal representative of the length of said traces and a deflection signal of a magnitude to deflect said electron beam across said screen a distance proportional to said length of said traces; d. second control circuit means coupled to said first control circuit and responsive to said second code section for initiating said first control circuit operation once for each desired trace indicated by said second code section; and, e. means for coupling said black space and deflection signals to said display means.

Claim 2

A system for displaying symbol composed of parallel, closely spaced, constant length linear traces including: a. cathode-ray tube means responsive to deflection signals and black space signals and including an electron beam and display screen for generating visible traces; b. storage means for storing a binary data word, said data word including a plurality of code sections including at least one binary bit, a first section of said data word representing the length of one of said traces, a second section of said data word representing the number of traces necessary to constitute said symbol; c. first control circuit means responsive to said first code section for generating a black space signal representative of the length of said traces and a deflection signal of a magnitude to deflect said electron beam across said screen a distance proportional to said length of said traces; d. second control circuit means coupled to said first control circuit and responsive to said second code section for initiating said first control circuit operation once for each desired trace indicated by said second code section; and, e. means for coupling said black space and deflection signals to said display means.

Claim 8

A system for generating vectors in the form of visible traces comprising: a. cathode-ray tube display means including a deflection system, a beam control system, and a display screen; b. a horizontal velocity register adapted to receive binary data representing a predetermined horizontal velocity value and to provide an analog horizontal velocity output signal corresponding to said horizontal velocity value; c. a vertical velocity register adapted to receive binary data representing a predetermined vertical velocity value and to provide an analog vertical velocity output signal corresponding to said velocity value; d. horizontal end point register adapted to receive binary data representing a predetermined horizontal point on said screen and to provide an analog horizontal end point signal at its output; e. vertical end point register adapted to receive binary data representing a predetermined vertical point on said screen and to provide an analog vertical end point signal at its output; f. horizontal switch means for generating a first start signal in response to an initiate signal; g. vertical switch means for generating a second start signal in response to an initiate signal; h. integrator means responsive to said first and second start signals for integrating said analog horizontal and analog vertical output signals, respectively, resulting in horizontal deflection and vertical deflection signals, respectively; i. horizontal comparator means responsive to said analog horizontal end point signal and said horizontal deflection signal for generating a horizontal compare signal when said horizontal end point and said horizOntal deflection signals are substantially equal in magnitude; j. vertical comparator means responsive to said analog vertical end point signal and said vertical deflection signal for generating a vertical compare signal when said vertical end point and said vertical deflection signals are substantially equal in magnitude; k. means for terminating said first and second start signals in response to said horizontal and vertical compare signals, respectively; l. unblank control means responsive to the duration of either said first or second start signals for generating an unblanking signal; and, m. means for coupling said deflection signals to said deflection system and said unblanking signal to said beam control system.

Claim 9

A system for generating vectors in the form of visible traces comprising: a. cathode-ray tube display means including a deflection system, a beam control system, and a display screen; b. a horizontal velocity register adapted to receive binary data representing a predetermined horizontal velocity value and to provide an analog horizontal velocity output signal corresponding to said horizontal velocity value; c. a vertical velocity register adapted to receive binary data representing a predetermined vertical velocity value and to provide an analog vertical velocity output signal corresponding to said velocity value; d. horizontal end point register adapted to receive binary data representing a predetermined horizontal point on said screen and to provide an analog horizontal end point signal at its output; e. vertical end point register adapted to receive binary data representing a predetermined vertical point on said screen and to provide an analog vertical end point signal at its output; f. horizontal switch means for generating a first start signal in response to an initiate signal; g. vertical switch means for generating a second start signal in response to an initiate signal; h. integrator means responsive to said first and second start signals for integrating said analog horizontal and analog vertical output signals, respectively, resulting in horizontal deflection and vertical deflection signals, respectively; i. horizontal comparator means responsive to said analog horizontal end point signal and said horizontal deflection signal for generating a horizontal compare signal when said horizontal end point and said horizOntal deflection signals are substantially equal in magnitude; j. vertical comparator means responsive to said analog vertical end point signal and said vertical deflection signal for generating a vertical compare signal when said vertical end point and said vertical deflection signals are substantially equal in magnitude; k. means for terminating said first and second start signals in response to said horizontal and vertical compare signals, respectively; l. unblank control means responsive to the duration of either said first or second start signals for generating an unblanking signal; and, m. means for coupling said deflection signals to said deflection system and said unblanking signal to said beam control system.

Claim 10

A system for processing and displaying graphical data comprising: a. cathode-ray tube display means including an electron beam, a deflection system, and a beam control system for generating visible traces on the display screen thereof; b. unblanking control means responsive to either a black space signal or a start signal for generating an unblanking signal coextensive in time with the black space or start signals; c. storage means for storing at least one sequence of binary data words corresponding to a particular symbol to be displayed, said symbol being composed of a plurality of visible, substantially parallel linear traces in its displayed form on said screen; d. photocompose means responsive to said data words for generating deflection signals and black space signals, said black space signals being generated substantially mutually inclusive with said deflection signals; e. vector control means for generating a visible linear trace on said display screen corresponding to a vector, said vector being defined by an initial point and a terminal point on said display screen, including

Claim 11

A system for processing and displaying graphical data comprising: a. cathode-ray tube display means including an electron beam, a deflection system, and a beam control system for generating visible traces on the display screen thereof; b. unblanking control means responsive to either a black space signal or a start signal for generating an unblanking signal coextensive in time with the black space or start signals; c. storage means for storing at least one sequence of binary data words corresponding to a particular symbol to be displayed, said symbol being composed of a plurality of visible, substantially parallel linear traces in its displayed form on said screen; d. photocompose means responsive to said data words for generating deflection signals and black space signals, said black space signals being generated substantially mutually inclusive with said deflection signals; e. vector control means for generating a visible linear trace on said display screen corresponding to a vector, said vector being defined by an initial point and a terminal point on said display screen, including

Claim 14

A system for displaying a symbol composed of parallel, closely spaced parallel traces of constant length, some of which are preceded by a predetermined amount of white space, comprising: a. cathode-ray tube display means including an electron beam, a deflection system, a beam control system for generating visible traces in response to black space and deflection signals; b. storage means for storing at least one binary data word, said word including a first section representing a predetermined amount of said white space, a second section representing said constant length, a third section representing the number of traces necessary to constitute said symbol; c. offset register means adapted to receive said first section for generating a deflection signal corresponding to said white space; d. control means for generating a black space signal and deflection signal corresponding to said second section; e. end scan means for generating an end scan signal at the termination of said black Space signal; f. repeat down counter means adapted to receive said third section for generating a repeat pulse each time said repeat down counter means is decremented, g. means coupling said end scan signal to said repeat down counter means for decrementing the contents thereof by one; h. means coupling said repeat pulse to said offset register means for accumulating said white space in said offset register means each time a trace is generated; i. means for coupling said deflection signals as they occur to said deflection system; and, j. means for coupling said black space signals to said beam control system.

Claim 15

A system for displaying a symbol composed of parallel, closely spaced parallel traces of constant length, some of which are preceded by a predetermined amount of white space, comprising: a. cathode-ray tube display means including an electron beam, a deflection system, a beam control system for generating visible traces in response to black space and deflection signals; b. storage means for storing at least one binary data word, said word including a first section representing a predetermined amount of said white space, a second section representing said constant length, a third section representing the number of traces necessary to constitute said symbol; c. offset register means adapted to receive said first section for generating a deflection signal corresponding to said white space; d. control means for generating a black space signal and deflection signal corresponding to said second section; e. end scan means for generating an end scan signal at the termination of said black Space signal; f. repeat down counter means adapted to receive said third section for generating a repeat pulse each time said repeat down counter means is decremented, g. means coupling said end scan signal to said repeat down counter means for decrementing the contents thereof by one; h. means coupling said repeat pulse to said offset register means for accumulating said white space in said offset register means each time a trace is generated; i. means for coupling said deflection signals as they occur to said deflection system; and, j. means for coupling said black space signals to said beam control system.