U.S. patent number 3,638,215 [Application Number 05/041,310] was granted by the patent office on 1972-01-25 for display system with solid matrix display board.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Stewart-Warner Corporation. Invention is credited to Robert A. Payne.
United States Patent |
3,638,215 |
Payne |
January 25, 1972 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
DISPLAY SYSTEM WITH SOLID MATRIX DISPLAY BOARD
Abstract
Display system utilizing a solid matrix display board having a
plurality of display lines each of which is made up of lamps
arranged in vertical columns and horizontal rows, the display lines
and display element columns being locatable by address code data. A
shift register is associated with each row, and each storage stage
thereof is sequentially related to a lamp in the row. The control
circuits for the system select a display line indicated by the
input data and the encoded signals for desired data characters are
shifted through the shift register to a desired column location
indicated by the input data. Cycling means are provided to enable
changing any display character on a board by addressing the line
and column of the character to be changed. Provisions are also made
for selectively forming the encoded signal and bypassing an input
data to encoded signal converter to provide random access to any
displayed element on the board.
Inventors: |
Payne; Robert A. (Des Plaines,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Stewart-Warner Corporation
(Chicago, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
21915863 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/041,310 |
Filed: |
May 28, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/156;
340/323R; 345/55 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09G
3/004 (20130101); A63B 71/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G09G
3/00 (20060101); A63B 71/06 (20060101); G09f
013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;340/334,336,324R,323 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Habecker; Thomas B.
Assistant Examiner: Slobasky; Michael
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A display system comprising a display board comprising a matrix
of display elements arranged in equispaced parallel vertical
columns locatable by sequential numerical column addresses and
parallel horizontal rows to form a solid matrix of said display
elements; a shift register associated with each row of display
elements, each of said shift registers having a storage stage
sequentially corresponding to a display element in its associated
row and an input; means providing input data corresponding to
desired display characters and the particular column address of
elements at which the first display character is to start; means
for controlling the display, said controlling means comprising
means for converting said display character data into
column-by-column display character encoded signals, means for
sequentially entering said encoded column-by-column signals into
the input of said shift registers, for shifting said encoded
signals from stage to stage, and for stopping said shifting when
the first display character encoded signals reach the shift
register stage associated with the display element at said
particular column address indicated by said input data; means for
actuating the display elements corresponding to the shift register
stages having encoded signals therein; said entering, shifting and
stopping means comprising a column location counter settable by
said input data to said particular column address, a cycle counter,
means responsive to the setting of said column location counter for
causing said shift register to shift and said cycle counter to
count simultaneously to said particular column address number,
means responsive to said cycle counter reaching said column address
number for sequentially entering said column-by-column display
character encoded signal into said shift register and
simultaneously advancing the count of said cycle counter, means
responsive to the completion of entering said encoded signals for
causing said shift register to continue to shift and said cycle
counter to advance the count, and means for stopping said shifting
and said counting when the count of said cycle counter reaches the
number of stages in each of said shift registers; and each of said
shift registers comprising a cycling loop connectable to pass data
from the last stage thereof to the input thereof; and wherein said
entering, shifting and stopping means comprises means responsive to
the setting of said column location counter for connecting said
cycling loop.
2. In the system of claim 1 wherein said entering, shifting and
stopping means comprises means for advancing the count of said
column location counter simultaneously with the entering of said
encoded signals into said shift registers, whereby said column
location counter is automatically set to the address number for the
next following display character after the operation of said
stopping means.
3. In the system of claim 1 wherein said display actuating means
comprises means responsive to special input data for operating the
encoded display elements only after the operation of said shifting
and stopping means.
4. A display system comprising a display board having a plurality
of display lines locatable by line addresses, each of said display
lines comprising a matrix of display elements arranged in
equispaced parallel vertical columns locatable by sequential
numerical column addresses and parallel horizontal rows to form a
solid matrix of said display elements; a shift register associated
with each row of display elements; each of said shift registers
having a storage stage sequentially corresponding to a display
element in its associated row and an input; means for providing
input data corresponding to desired display characters, the address
of the desired line on which said display characters are to appear
and the particular column address of elements at which the first
display character is to start; means for controlling the display,
said controlling means comprising means for selecting the shift
registers associated with the desired display line in accordance
with said desired display line address data, means for converting
said display character data into column-by-column display character
encoded signals, means for sequentially entering said encoded
column-by-column signals into the input of said selected line shift
registers, for shifting said encoded signals from stage to stage,
and for stopping said shifting when the first display character
encoded signals reach the shift register stages associated with the
display elements at said particular column address indicated by
said input data; means for actuating the display elements
corresponding to the shift register stops having encoded signals
therein; said entering, shifting and stopping means comprising a
column location counter settable by said input data to said
particular column address, a cycle counter, means responsive to the
setting of said column location counter for causing said shift
register to shift and said cycle counter to count simultaneously to
said particular column address number, means responsive to said
cycle counter reaching said column address number for sequentially
entering said column-by-column display character encoded signal
into said shift register and simultaneously advancing the count of
said cycle counter, means responsive to the completion of entering
said encoded signals for causing said shift register to continue to
shift and said cycle counter to advance the count, and means for
stopping said shifting and said counting when the count of said
cycle counter reaches the number of stages in each of said shift
registers; and each of said shift registers comprising a cycling
loop connectable to pass data from the last stage thereof to the
input thereof; and wherein said entering, shifting and stopping
means comprises means responsive to the setting of setting column
location counter for connecting said cycling loop.
5. In the system of claim 4 wherein said entering, shifting and
stopping means comprises means for advancing the count of said
column location counter simultaneously with the entering of said
encoded signals into said shift registers, whereby said column
location counter is automatically set to the address number for the
next following display character after the operation of said
stopping means.
6. In the system of claim 4 wherein said display actuating means
comprises means responsive to special input data for operating the
encoded display elements only after the operation of said shifting
and stopping means.
7. In the system of claim 1 wherein said input means comprises
means for manually preparing said encoded signals and wherein said
controlling means comprises means for recognizing said manually
prepared encoded signals and disabling said data converting means,
whereby any display element on said display board may be
individually controlled when desired.
8. In the system of claim 4 wherein said input means comprises
means for manually preparing said encoded signals, and wherein said
controlling means comprises means for recognizing said manually
prepared encoded signals and disabling said data converting means,
whereby any display element on said display board may be
individually controlled when desired.
Description
This invention relates to display systems utilizing display boards
having a solid matrix of display elements, and more particularly to
display systems in which the display elements are operated by means
of shift registers which may be controlled to function in a variety
of modes to give different visual effects. Furthermore, this
invention relates to a solid matrix display system in which all
types of displays including alphanumeric messages, pictures, or
animated cartoons may be run, utilizing digital data input means.
The system shown herein is an improvement of the systems disclosed
in the copending application Ser. No. 626,038, filed Mar. 27, 1967
by Gardberg et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 3,493,956, issued Feb. 3, 1970
to Andrews et al.
Display boards for forming messages as well as pictorial displays
may generally be categorized into two separate classes which can be
designated as the individual indicator type and the solid matrix or
individual lamp type. An example of the first type is shown in the
copending application previously mentioned and comprises a large
number of individual indicators positioned at discreet positions on
the board. Each of the indicators is made up of a matrix of lamps
which may be actuated to form desired display characters. The
indicators are separately addressed and then actuated to form the
display characters in accordance with the data from an input
source. An alphanumeric character may be displayed on each
indicator to form a message or a special character may be displayed
on each indicator to form a pictorial representation. Although such
systems were quite suitable for message displays, the fixed
indicator approach limited the character width and spacing that
could be used. Furthermore, the pictorial representations were
limited because of the number of special characters that could be
economically programmed.
The solid matrix type displays comprise a field of individual
display elements, such as lamps arranged in closely spaced rows and
columns, and therefore permit greater flexibility in the type of
presentations to be made. The ones in existence today can be used
to display message type and pictorial type displays but generally
not on the same board at the same time. In most previous systems
the pictorial representations had to be formed with the use of
optical projection systems and could not operate by programmed
digital data input. In these systems movie films were projected on
a matrix of photocells, each of which controlled a lamp in the
display board matrix. Thus, the light conditions on the photocells
as the movie plays thereon caused a replica of the picture on the
film. Since the pictorial displays were formed by optical means and
the message characters were formed of data input means, the two
types of displays could not be formed on the same board at the same
time unless the message was included in the movie film used to form
the pictorial display. In addition, two separate control systems
were required, one for message display and one for pictorial
display, making a very costly display system.
The present invention provides for a much more efficient system for
the display of alphanumeric messages as well as the display of
pictorial representations wherein the same control system is
utilized for both types of display. Messages can be displayed in
copy changer mode, or traveling message mode and in the former mode
two types of formatting can be used for maximum flexibility. The
particular control means for the display permits random access to
any location on the display board so that any one or more display
characters can be changed without reforming any unaffected portion
of the display. Furthermore, any lamp on the board can be
individually reached for changing its condition by proper data
input. These provisions permit the display of intricate animated
cartoons as well as readable messages utilizing only the ordinary
well known type of digital data input devices available on the
market. Furthermore, the system operates in a more efficient manner
than heretofore was possible, so that operating personnel and
display programmers can perform their functions more
efficiently.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly stated, and in accordance with the broader aspects of this
invention, a display system is provided which comprises a display
board having a matrix of display elements arranged in equi-spaced,
vertical columns at locatable column addresses and parallel
horizontal rows to form a solid matrix. A shift register is
associated with each row of display elements and each of the shift
registers has a storage stage sequentially corresponding to a
display element in its associated row. Means are included for
receiving input data corresponding to desired display characters
and the address of the particular column of elements in which the
first display character is to appear. The control system for the
display includes means for converting the display character data
into display character encoded signals as well as means for
sequentially entering the encoded signals into the input of the
shift registers, for shifting the encoded signals from stage to
stage, and stopping the shifting when the first display character
encoded signals reach the shift register stages associated with the
display elements at the particular column indicated by the input
data. Means are also provided for actuating the display elements
corresponding to the shift registers having encoded signals
therein. Additional display lines may be used to increase the size
of the total display and if so, means are provided for selecting a
particular line addressed by the input data.
In accordance with some of the narrower aspects of this invention,
the entering, shifting and stopping means comprises a column
location counter which is set by the input data to the address of
the particular column in which the first display character is to
appear. After the encoded signals are entered into the shift
registers, they are shifted to the stages corresponding to the
address read into the column location counter. To enable random
access to any display character for message update or cartoon
movement without disturbing the rest of the display, a cycling loop
is connectable to pass data from the last stage of each of the
shift registers to its input which is controllable by the receipt
of column address input data to circulate the data in the shift
register. A cycle counter is also provided which is caused to shift
its count simultaneously with the shifting of data within the shift
register until the particular column address number is reached.
Means responsive to the attainment of that number sequentially
enters the new display character encoded signals into the shift
register while simultaneously advancing the count of the cycle
counter. When this is done the shift register continues to shift
and the cycle counter advances until the cycle counter reaches a
number equal to the number of stages in the shift register. The
display character then is positioned at its programmed location on
the board.
These and other features of this invention will be more fully
understood upon a reading of the remaining specification,
especially when taken in view of the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a display board for use with the
system of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial view of the solid matrix of display lamps
making up the message portion of the display board;
FIGS. 3 and 4 are block diagrams of the circuits making up the
control means for the display system; and
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a portion of the message board
circuits including the input circuits for the display lamp row
shift registers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 72. decoder dependent
immediately
The display system of this invention is especially adaptive for use
in sports arenas or the like in which the Display Board 10
comprises a Game-In-Progress section 12 in conjunction with a
Message section 14. The Game-In-Progress section 12 comprises a
number of fixed indicators 16 on which numeric characters are
formed such as the display of the Home and the Guest scores and the
relevant Time information. The indicators 16 are separately
addressable and operable to form any of the decimal digits by
manipulation of buttons or switches in a Game-In-Progress Keyboard
18 through appropriate Signal Logic Circuits 20 which may be of the
type disclosed in the aforementioned Gardberg application.
The Message section 14, on the other hand, is comprised of a solid
matrix of display devices, such as incandescent lamps 17, which are
operable to form an infinite variety of messages and/or pictorial
representations at any location on the board. This section is
controlled through the Signal Logic 20 by means of any sort of
digital data input means 33 such as a Keyboard 22, magnetic tape
recorder 27 or a Punch Tape Reader 24, the tapes of which can be
prepared by a Punch Tape Typewriter 26 or an associated Lamp Code
Punch 28. The input devices feed data into the Signal Logic byte by
byte in appropriate code form such as ASCII code for alpha-numeric
characters and in a lamp code prepared by the Lamp Code Punch 28
for special effects as will be described later. In addition, a
settable timer 29 may be used to control the time period each
message programmed on a punch tape is displayed by stopping the
tape reader 24 for a set time after each message data entry. It is
this Message section 14 of the board and its control to which this
invention is particularly directed. Hence, a more detailed
description of that portion of the board and its system
follows.
As an example of a particular Message board 14 there is shown
herein a solid lamp matrix board containing 2,940 lamp bulbs
arranged in an array 49 lamps high and 60 lamps long. This board is
divided into individually reachable horizontal sections of the
board indicated as Line 1 through Line 7 on the drawings. Each Line
1-7 is seven lamp rows high and 60 lamp columns long (FIG. 2). For
ordinary messages, the Signal Logic 20 is designed to display
alphanumeric and punctuation characters which are five lamps high
so that a seven-line message can be displayed with two lamp spaces
between each line of the message. The width of these characters
varies between one lamp wide and five lamps wide, as can be seen in
the display shown in FIG. 1 which shows a display for basketball
games indicating the number of fouls made by the Home and Guest
players. This type of character is also exemplified in FIG. 2 by
the display characters shown on lines 1 and 4.
As previously mentioned, the flexibility with which such display
characters may be positioned on the board to form a message and by
which individual characters may be reached to make changes in the
message or picture is an important feature of this invention. The
system is designed so that all the information is read into the
board from the right side and either moved to a proper position
before lighting the lamps for forming a stationary copy changer
message or shifted from lamp column to lamp column across the board
as a traveling message. Thus, under certain operating conditions
the system operates similar to the one shown in the previously
mentioned Andrews Patent. As in that patent, each of the lamp rows
is associated with a shift register 31 (see FIG. 3) having a
storage stage (Col. 1-Col. 60) corresponding to each lamp in the
row. It will be seen later in the discussion that a number of the
circuits used in the traveling message system of that patent are
utilized in the handling of the data signals in this system.
A static or nonmoving display such as the one illustrated on
Message board 14 in FIG. 1 may be formed in one of two ways,
hereinafter referred to as noncycling mode and cycling mode. In the
noncycling mode the characters are set in one after the other by
the input data on a desired addressed Line 1-7 with the spacing
between letters automatically formed. As the data for each
character is received the Signal Logic 20 forms the proper
column-by-column encoded signals and reads them into the message
board circuits. Each character will thus be formed column-by-column
with the appropriate number of shifts to the left required by the
character and the column spacing before the next character begins.
When the last display character on a Line has been formed, it will
of course be located on the rightmost columns of the line and if
centering of the display is desired, an appropriate number of
column spaces must be included in the input data after the last
display character.
To form the display shown in FIG. 1 by the noncycling mode in the
described system, the input data must start with appropriate
address data to select Line 1 followed by the display character
data. Thus, the input data would begin with *100 in ASCII code, the
asterisk serving as a Special Address Character indicating that the
next three following numerals pertain to address information rather
than display information. The numeral 1 indicates Line 1 on the
board and the two zeros are required for processing the data in the
Signal Logic as will be described in more detail later. The address
data is followed by the display character data which is decoded by
the Signal Logic 20 to provide encoding signals to the display
board for forming the display character at the right side of the
board. Thus, when the letter P, starting the work PLAYER, appears
in ASCII code at the input to the Signal Logic after the address
data, encoding signals are sent to the display board 14 to form the
letter P at the right side of the display board one column at a
time. The lamps in the four columns forming the letter P are
energized and an additional nonilluminated column is provided for
the spacing before the next character. If no further data follows
the P, the display character with its subsequent space column
remains in the five columns at the right side of the board.
However, since the P is followed by data for the letter L, the
letter P moves over five more spaces at the same time that the
letter L and its subsequent spaces are formed at the right side of
the board. The formation of the remaining characters as well as the
space between the two words PLAYER and FOULS keeps the formed
characters moving to the left until the last letter S is formed at
the righthand side. If it is desired to center the characters on
the message board 14, all of the display characters may have to be
moved to the left a determined number of columns by the appropriate
insertion of data indicating single column spacing after the input
of the letter S. The number of additional columns that must be
added after the last display character to center the display can be
easily calculated at the time that the program is prepared. To form
the second line of the display in the noncycling mode, Line 2 need
not be specially addressed in the data. Rather, a Carriage Return
code may be used to automatically address Line 2 after Line 1 has
been completed.
The cycling mode is programmed differently and operates differently
than that previously described to form the desired display. In this
case the specific column at which the first character in each line
is to be located and the display character is written in to that
specific location with the subsequent characters properly
positioned therebehind. The address data, in this case, includes
not only the Line 1-7 data but also data to the particular column
of lamps Col. 1-Col. 60 at which the first column of the first
display character is to appear. Referring again to the display of
FIG. 1, the first column of the letter P appears at the first
column Col. 1 on Line 1. Therefore, the input data for the first
line display will appear as *101 followed by each of the display
characters to be displayed in the line. The first numeral after the
asterisk again addresses Line 1 and the second and third numerals 0
1 addresses Column 1, Column 1 being the leftmost column on the
line and Column 60 being the rightmost one. Once the address has
been read in the data for the display character P is immediately
entered into the Signal Logic and the encoding signals are shifted
into the message board circuit so the letter P appears immediately
at Column 1 of Line 1. The next letter L will automatically appear
at Column 6 after its data is read in and likewise for each
succeeding character. However, each Line and the location of the
first character must be addressed in this mode as the carriage
return code input will not automatically address the proper
location.
The cycling mode of operation makes it possible to change any one
or more display characters being displayed on the board without
rewriting other parts of the display. For example, during a
basketball game, it may be necessary to change the indication of
the number of fouls of any one 4. the ball players. If during a
game, Guest player 25 commits his fourth foul, the 3 appearing as
the last character on Line 4 should be changed to a 4. In the
system of this invention the operator can accomplish this by merely
addressing the particular line and the particular column followed
by the new display character to make the correction. Referring to
the display in Line 4 of FIG. 2 which shows that portion of the
display of FIG. 1 in detail, it will be seen that the address of
the number 3 is Line 4, Column 56. Thus, the address *456 will
locate Column 56 of Line 4 and the following data number 4 will
cause the Signal Logic to change the 3 to a 4.
The ease with which data display characters may be changed in this
mode over the noncycling mode will be readily appreciated. In the
noncycling mode, the whole line would have to be reprogrammed with
the appropriate line address, display characters, spacing, etc. It
will be appreciated however that corrections may be made to the
display using the cycling mode even though the original display was
formed on the board using the noncycling mode, simply by addressing
the desired line and column followed by the data for the new
display character. This ability adds to the operator's convenience
in the use of the board to convey information to the audience.
As previously mentioned, the system of this invention is also
capable of forming displays on the solid matrix board which depart
from the ordinary encoded alphanumeric characters. The large word
GO in Lines 2 and 3 of FIG. 2 is an example of such a display. Such
a display is not formable by the use of ASCII code in the input
data, those codes forming normal matrix characters such as shown in
Line 1 of FIG. 2. As may be seen, the large letters G and O each
overlap onto the two lines, line 2 and line 3, and each is wider in
the number of columns used than the same letters normally encoded
and displayed as on Line 1 of FIG. 2. The large GO is just
exemplary of the infinite variety of pictorial representations
which could be formulated. Pictures, abstract designs and other
fancy letters could be displayed in any manner desired and
applicable for formation on a solid matrix board.
To form this type of display each lamp on the board is specifically
controllable by the input means. Advantage is taken of the
byte-by-byte readout of the various input means, each byte of which
contains a specific number of parallel bits. When the ASCII code is
being used for the display of alphanumeric messages the seven bit
bytes are recognized as such and the decode characters are
displayed on the board. In the picture forming mode the seven bits
forming each byte are used to signify the condition of the seven
lamps forming a Column on a Line of the board and these codes are
hereinafter designated as Lamp Codes. The Lamp Codes are
distinguished from display character codes by the presence of a
true signal in the eighth bit channel ordinarily used for parity in
normally operating devices. Since the present system does not
require a parity check, a special input device such as the Lamp
Code Keyboard 28 may be provided for forming the eight-bit code.
The Lamp Code Keyboard consists of a key (not shown) for each of
the seven lamps in a column which will cause a hole to be punched
in a tape or a signal to appear in one of the seven bit channels
feeding to the Signal Logic representation of each lamp in an
addressed column to be lit. An additional punch or signal is
provided automatically in the eighth bit position by the device 28
to indicate a lamp code data byte rather than an ASCII coded
display character data byte.
Therefore, to form the display of the large GO in FIG. 2 the input
data first addresses Line 2 and Column 37 by the code *237, this
data being insertable preferably, but not necessarily, on a punch
tape by the punch tape typewriter 26. The next byte of the input
data would be prepared by the operator depressing the keys
associated with the lamp rows 3 through 7 for illuminating the
bottom five lamps 30-3 through 30-7 in Column 37, Line 2 as shown
in FIG. 2. This data byte would also include a true bit in the
eighth bit channel to distinguish the code from an ASCII code
character such as used in the address data. The data for the
illumination of the lamps in Column 37 need not be prefaced by the
address code as this will be arranged for automatically by the
Signal Logic 20. Thus, the next data byte need merely contain a
true in bits 2 through 8 to indicate that the lamps in rows 2
through 7 are to be lit. The next byte of information contains a
true in bits 2, 3 and 8 only and so on, to form the rest of the top
half of the letter G and the top half of the letter O appearing on
the Line 2 of the display. The input data for Line 3 immediately
follows that of Line 2, and the line and first column must again be
addressed by the code *337. The next byte of Lamp Code signals
provided to the Signal Logic after the line and column address
would show true in bits 1 through 4 and 8 to indicate that the
lamps in the rows 1 through 4 of that column are to be lit,
followed by a data byte indicating that the lamp rows 1 through 5
in column 38 are to be lit, etc., to form the rest of the bottom
half of the display.
It is to be noted that the noncycling mode could also be used to
form a display such as the large GO in FIG. 2. In this case the
Line address *200 only is used, followed by the Lamp Code data
bytes for each column forming the upper half of the letters G and
O. Since the information is being shifted from the right hand side,
an additional number of bytes indicating column spaces has to be
entered to position the display at the desired location on the
board. This is followed by the address for line 3, and the Lamp
Code data bytes to form the bottom half of the letters G and O and
the column spaced to properly position this part of the
display.
For all displays other than the traveling message type it is
possible to read in and position the encoding signals for the total
display into the message board circuits before actuating the lamps
to give the effect that the whole message is being formed at one
time in a copy changer manner. This type of operation is controlled
by blanking codes in the input data which may be inserted into the
Signal Logic prior to the display data. The blanking code in the
exampled system consists of the number sign () immediately followed
by a line address digit or digits 1 through 7 and an On or Off
command code such as or >. If all seven lines of the board are
to be blanked, the line address digit 9 is used following the
blanking symbol rather than the code for each of the lines 1
through 7. Thus, to operate the board in the copy changer manner,
the address and display character data is preceded by the blanking
command codes 9 > code data. The message data is then inserted
for the whole message followed by the lamp turn on command code 9
signal. Thus, the Off command data will maintain the lamps
deenergized while the following message data is written in. Upon
receipt of the On command data thereafter, all of the encoded lamps
will light up simultaneously.
The blanking codes may also be used to flash the message On and Off
by the input of proper blanking command signals entered onto the
punched tape. A series of blanking command Off codes 9> command
and blanking command On codes 9 codes in alternate order will cause
the message to flash on and off in a sequence which is time
controlled by the settable timer 29. If only one line is to be
flashed on and off the appropriate line number may be addressed
after the symbol in each code sequence and only that line will turn
on and off.
The techniques used for forming the large GO may also be used to
form repetitive frames of pictorial displays in the programming of
an animated cartoon. An automatic input device such as a programmed
punched tape and tape reader, or perhaps a magnetic tape storage,
is necessary for such a display because of the repeated fast input
of data required. A program is prepared on a punch tape using the
blanking codes and address and display character data in the manner
described to form each frame. The data frames are read out by the
tape reader at a rapid readout rate controlled by the settable
timer 29. For example, the settable timer might be set to cause the
reader to stop for perhaps a quarter or a half a second after each
frame to display each frame for that period of time before going on
to the next. The rapidly changing frames then give the illusion of
motion in the display to give the animated cartoon effect.
Reference is now made to FIGS. 3 and 4 for a description of the
circuits forming the system of this invention which enable the
operation as previously described. FIG. 3 shows the circuits making
up the Signal Logic for converting the input signals into the lamp
encoding signals and for synchronizing the total system. FIG. 4
shows the display board circuits for handling the encoding signals
and actuating the lamps in accordance therewith.
The input data signals derived from any one of the input devices
22, 24, 26, 27, 28 (for this description grouped as input means 33)
are fed through a Lamp Code Control 32 to a Character Decoder 34.
The Lamp Code Control tests to determine whether the signal is
ASCII coded data representing a particular alphanumeric character
or a Lamp Code to indicate the particular lamps for actuation in an
addressed column as required in the universal mode of operation for
forming pictorial displays in a manner to be described shortly.
The Character Decoder 36 recognizes whether each data byte
represents a special function character such as the Special Address
indicator *, the Blanking indicator , command On , command Off
>, or any alphanumeric character. The Decoder operates to
provide single conductor signals in a well known manner such as
disclosed in the aforementioned Gardberg application and the single
conductor signals are then routed to appropriate circuits for
further handling as required.
The Character Decoder 36 must initially recognize that the data
coming from the input means is a properly formatted program for the
display system. This is indicated by the presence of the Special
Address character * which is then used to prepare the Signal Logic
for acceptance of subsequent data. When the Special Address
character * is recognized, the Character Decoder 32 sends a signal
to an Address Sequencer 38 which first acts to send out a Clear
signal to all appropriate circuits to prepare them for operation.
The Address Sequencer 38 includes a four count counter which
operates responsive to the receipt of each address character in the
manner disclosed in the aforementioned Gardberg application. Thus,
the * character causes the Address Sequencer to signal the Line
Address Storage circuit 40 on the Stor Line conductor that the next
received data byte from the input means represents the number of
the particular line 1-7 on which the display is to begin. The
Character Decoder 36 then decodes that next data byte and transmits
a single conductor signal via the appropriate 1-7 and Carriage
Return conductor to the Line Address Storage 40, representing the
addressed line. The signal prepares the Line Address Storage 40 in
an appropriate manner to address the particularly addressed line on
the message board by preparing a circuit for transmission of Line
Shift signals to the addressed line on the board on the selected
one of the Line SFT 1-7 conductors. After the line address is
stored the Address Sequencer 38 steps to its next count and sends a
store column address enabling signal to a Column Address Counter
42. The next data byte, of course, represents the tens digit of the
Column Address and when it appears the number is stored in the
Column Address Counter as is the third received number representing
the units digit of the Column Address.
The numbers stored in the Column Address counter 42 can now be
tested to determine if the display data is to be entered in the
non-cycling mode or the cycling mode. If one or the other of the
received column tens or unit digit data bytes is an ASCII coded
digit other than 0, the Column Address Counter will signal the
Cycle Detector 44 that the Signal Logic is to work in the cycling
mode. However, if both of these two digits are 0, the Column
Address Counter 42 remains at zero and the Cycle Detector indicates
noncycling mode.
The Address Sequencer 38 having counted the four data bytes
representing the address data then sends a Sequence Address Stored
signal on the SQ AS conductor to the Address Stored Control 46.
Since the Signal Logic is operating in noncycling mode, The Address
Stored control immediately passes an Address Stored signal on its
output conductor 48 to partially enable a Strober Start gate 50 in
preparation for the handling of the next received data byte from
the input means 30 which should be representative of a display
character.
The next data input byte from the input means is decoded by the
Character Decoder 36 which sends a single conductor signal over the
multi-line CHAR. conductor to an Encoder Gate Selector 52. Each one
of the lines making up the CHAR. conductor is representative of a
display character that the system is capable of displaying. The
Encoder Gate Selector 52 may comprise a diode matrix or a series of
gates to provide enabling signals to the Encoder Data Gates 34. The
Encoder Data Gates are arranged in a display character matrix
configuration in accordance with the disclosure of encoder means in
the aforementioned Gardberg application and the Andrews patent.
Briefly, the gates of this circuit are arranged in a 5.times.7
matrix so that individual ones may be properly enabled by the
signals from the Encoder Gate Selector 52 to pass lamp encoding
signals as the enabled gates are opened by the sequentially
received strobe signals received from the Strober 54 on the five
conductors LC 1-5. The opened gates thus pass signals in parallel
form on the parallel Lamp Row 1-7 conductors in a column-by-column
manner to the message board circuits.
As indicated, the signals for strobing the encoding signals out of
the Encoder Data Gates 34 are provided by a Lamp Strober 54 which
is similar to that disclosed in the aforementioned Andrews et al.
patent. The Lamp Strober 54 operates to provide the required number
of strobe pulses LC 1-5 to read the encoded signals out of the
Encoder Data Gates 34 in accordance with the width of the
particular character being sent. It also provides the required
number of shift pulses to the message board shift registers 31 to
shift the character formed at the right side of the board toward
the left as each column is formed.
The Lamp Strober 54 includes a Strobe Counter 56 which is enabled
by the Count Enable gate 57 to receive count shift pulses from a
continuously counting 3-Count counter 58 actuated by a free-running
clock 60. The Strobe Counter 56 is actuated to provide the strobe
pulses LC 1-5 to the Encoder Data gates after the address has been
stored as indicated by the previously described AS signal input to
the Strober Start gate 50 and a Legit signal. The Legit signal is
derived from the Encoder Data Gates 34 and indicates that a proper
display character has been received from the input for display on
the board. When the Strober Start gate 50 is satisfied it partially
enables the Strobe Enabling gate 57. At this time the signal on the
EOS conductor is also in condition to satisfy the gate 57 so that
the gate is prepared to pass therethrough each count 1 pulse from
the 3-Count counter 58 to the trigger input of the Strobe Counter
56. The Strobe Counter causes each of the Count 1 through Count 6
gates to produce a time sequenced pulse at its respective output to
the Encoder Data Gates to strobe the lamp encoding signals
therefrom.
In addition, shift pulses for shifting the encoding signals through
the message board shift registers are also produced by the Strobe
circuit 54. The shift pulses are derived from the free-running
counter 58 and are controlled by a Shift gate 62 which passes the
count 2 pulses as long as the Strobe Counter 56 is in a not zero
condition. The pulses from the Shift gate 62 are sent via the STR
SFT conductor to the Line Address Storage circuit 40 which applies
them to the particular Line Shift conductor 1 through 7 previously
selected by the line address data provided. The number of strobe
pulses and shift pulses provided by the Strobe Counter 56 is
dependent upon the number of columns required to form the
particular display character to be displayed. This is determined by
a character width circuit 64 which receives column width
information from the Encoder Gate Selector 52 and gates it with the
appropriate count signals CT 1 through CT 6 from the Count 1
through Count 6 gates. When the proper number of strobe and shift
pulses have been transmitted the Character Width circuit 64 sends
out an End of Strobe signal on the EOS conductor. The EOS signal
closes the Strobe Counter Enabling gate 57 to stop the Strobe
Counter 56 from producing strobe pulses, and it also closes the
Shift gate 52 to stop the transmission of shift pulses to the
message board. As an example, if the character to be formed is a
four column character such as the letter P (FIG. 1) the EOS signal
is sent after five strobe pulses and shift pulses are produced to
encode the four columns forming the character and the one column
space thereafter. If a one-column character such as the letter "I"
is to be encoded, two strobe pulses and shift pulses are sent-- one
for the formation of the character and the other from the
subsequent column space.
The End of Strobe signal on the EOS conductor remains until the
displayed character data is shifted out from the input means in
preparation for the next character data. As the character data is
shifted, the Legit signal from the Encoder Data Gate 34 is at least
momentarily lost which disables the Start gate 50. The false output
from the Start gate causes the Strobe Counter 56 to reset to zero.
When the Counter 56 is reset to zero the character circuit
discontinues the EOS signal. When the next display character data
byte is received and causes a Legit signal to be sent to the
Enabling Gate 57, the Strober 54 is again actuated for the readout
of the new character.
The Signal Logic operates in much the same manner when the data
input bytes represent Lamp Code data for forming pictorial
displays. After the address data has been read in and stored the
succeeding Lamp Code data bytes are detected by Lamp Control
circuit 32 by the presence of a true signal in the bit 8 channel.
The signals in the bit 1 through 7 channels are then sent directly
to the Encoder Data Gates 34 over the L.Code 1-7 conductors. The
Character Decoder 36 and the Encoder Gate Selector 52 are bypassed
by the Lamp Code Signals since the true bits thereof already
represent the encoding signals for the lamps to be lit.
The Lamp Code Signals are applied to the Encoder Data Gates which
produces a legit signal for starting the Strobe Counter 56. Since
each Lamp Code data byte is applicable to one column of lamps on
the board with no spacing therebetween, only one strobe pulse and
one shift pulse is required. The Character Width circuit 64 is
therefore signalled by each Lamp Code Data byte recognized by the
Lamp Code Control over the L.CD Col WD conductor that the End of
Strobe signal should be sent after one strobe pulse and shift pulse
are generated. Each following Lamp Code data byte actuates the
strober in the same manner to cause the column-by-column formation
of each Line of the board.
The Lamp Row 1-7 signals and the Line Shift 1-7 signals from the
Signal Logic of FIG. 3 are sent to the message board control
circuit as shown in FIG. 4 over the appropriate multi-line
conductors. There they are received by board receive circuits 66
and distributed for operating the shift registers 31 associated
with the rows of lamps forming the Lines 1-7 on the message board.
The encoding signals on the Lamp Row 1-7 conductors are distributed
through input gates 68 to the input stages of each of the shift
registers 31 in the message board circuit as long as the system is
operating in the noncycling manner as indicated by the absence of a
signal from the Signal Logic on the CYCL conductor feeding each of
the input gates 68. However, the encoding signals will be entered
only into those shift registers 31 associated with the particular
Line 1-7 addressed by the input data. This is because the Line
Address Storage 40 in the Signal Logic controls the routing of
shift pulses onto the Line SFT 1-7 conductor designated by the Line
Address data. The Line Shift signals are sent to a Shift Pulse
circuit 70 which distributes them to the shift registers of the
addressed line on the appropriate L.SFT 1-7 conductor.
When the system is operating in the noncycling mode, it will be
recalled that a shift pulse is generated for each column of the
display character being formed plus one for the column space
between characters. Thus, the encoded signals are shifted from
stage to stage responsive to the shift pulses as they appear in
column-by-column sequence at the input to the shift registers. It
will be noted in FIG. 4 that the encoding signals are read in to
the shift register stages designated column 60 and are shifted
therethrough to the shift register stages designated column 1. The
reason for this seemingly backward designation will become more
apparent when the cycling mode of operation and the circuits
therefor are discussed.
The presence of encoding signals in the shift register stages
prepare circuits for actuating the light bulbs 17 associated with
the stages. The actuation of the associated lamps is controlled
however by the receipt of a Lamp signal applied through an
appropriate LMP 1-7 conductor from a Lamp Control circuit 72. The
Lamp Control circuit operates responsive to the Shift signals on
the addressed Line shift 1-7 conductor.
The operation of the message board circuits will be better
understood from the following description with respect to the
diagram of FIG. 5 which shows one lamp drive circuit 74 for a
single lamp 17. The lamp is located at column 60 in row 1 of line 1
on the message board and is therefore connected to the appropriate
shift register stage in that column and row of Line 1. As may be
seen the Lamp Drive circuit 74 comprises a first NPN transistor 76
having its base connected to the LMP 1 conductor from the Lamp
Control circuit 72, its emitter connected to ground and its
collector connected through resistors 78 and 80 to positive
voltage. The base input for a second PNP transistor 82 is taken
from the junction between resistors 78 and 80, transistor 82 having
its emitter connected through resistor 84 to positive voltage and
its collector connected through lamp bulb 17 to ground. The Lamp
Drive circuit 74 therefore operates to illuminate lamp 17 wherever
positive voltage appears at the base of transistor 76 causing it to
conduct. THe positive voltage at the base of transistor 76, it may
be seen, is dependent not only on the LMP 1 output of the Lamp
Control circuit 72, but also the condition of the true output of
the column 60 flip-flop of the Line 1-Row 1 shift register. Thus,
the lamp 17 for that stage will be illuminated by the following
action.
It is assumed a true Lamp Encoding signal appears on the LR-1
conductor to the input of a NOR-gate 86 forming a part of the shift
register input gate 68. The output therefrom is applied directly to
the set input of the column 60 flip-flop and in inverted form to
the reset input. A Shift pulse on the L.SFT 1 conductor connected
to the trigger input of each of the shift register flip-flops then
sets the column 60 flip-flop in accordance with the true set input
signal. The true output of the flip-flop goes high thus preparing
the base circuit of the drive circuit transistor 76. However, the
LMP 1 line is kept low during the Shift pulse by means of the L.SFT
1 conductor input to Norgate 38 forming a part of the Lamp Control
circuit 72. When the Shift pulse is completed the LMP 1 output goes
high causing transistors 76 and 82 to conduct to energize the lamp
17. A Lamp Drive circuit 74 is associated with each lamp and each
stage of each shift register in the message board circuit so that
as the encoding signals are shifted from stage to stage the
respective lamps are lit after the passage of the Shift pulse. When
this occurs the message is being displayed in a traveling message
form.
As may be seen in FIG. 5, there is a second input to the Lamp
Control Norgate 88 designated Blank 1. This input is used to
control the simultaneous actuation and deactuation of all encoded
lamps responsive to input data from the input means such as when
the display is operating in a copy changer mode. Thus, Blanking
commands for one or more lines may be programmed into the input
data and the illumination of the encoded lamps is controlled by the
Blanking signals provided to the respective Lamp Control circuits
72. As previously indicated the Line Blanking function is
recognized by the presence of a number sign in the input data. The
Line Blanking circuit 90 (FIG. 3) receives a signal when the
character is decoded by the character decoder 36 and, dependent
upon the immediately following data, sets up Blanking signals for
the lines indicated on the appropriate Blank 1-7 conductors.
Thus, if all encoded lamps on a particular line are to be turned
off the program data including the address data and the Command Off
signal > will cause the line blanking circuit 90 to provide a
high signal on the appropriate Blank 1-7 conductor to the Lamp
Control Norgate 88 for that selected line. A high input thereto
will provide a low on the LMP 1 conductor to all of the Lamp Drive
circuits 74 for that Line and prevent the illumination of the
encoded lamps as long as the blanking signal is present. Thus, data
may be read into the shift registers or shifted around and it will
have no effect on the lamps. Not until the Blanking signal is
removed by the later receipt of Command On data will the inputs to
the encoded Lamp Drive circuits go high to illuminate the
associated lamps.
The circuits as so far described cover the noncycling mode of
operation in which the information is read in from the right-hand
side of the message board and moved along to the left in response
to, and as demanded by, the insertion of each display character and
space data to position the display characters as desired. As
previously indicated, this mode can be used for a copy changer type
display of information or traveling message type of operation.
Pictorial representations and animated cartoons can also be
displayed in the non-cycling mode but in view of difficulties in
the preparation of the input data, it is preferable to use the
cycling mode by which one or more of the display characters may be
read into any desired Line and Column locator on the board. The
cycling mode can be used to display messages in the copy changer
manner of operation (but not traveling message type) and also may
be used to change one or more display characters located anywhere
on the message board without having to reprogram other display
characters.
The recycling mode of operation is recognizable in the input data
by the presence of a specific column address in the address data.
That is, if the second and/or third digit following the special
address code * represents a digit other than zero, which digits are
stored in the Column Address Counter in binary coded decimal form,
the Cycle Detector 34 establishes that the cycling mode is being
used, and since it comprises a flip-flop it changes to its set
state. The set signal from the Cycle Detector flip-flop 44 is sent
to the Cycle Control flip-flop 90 which sets and provides a Cycle
Address Stored signal on the CYAS line to the Address Stored
Control circuit 46. The CYAS signal prevents the passage of an
Address Stored signal to Start gate 50 responsive to the SQAS
signal until the Control flip-flop 90 is later reset. The Control
flip-flop 90 also establishes a cycling signal over the CYCL
conductor to partially enable a Cycle Shift gate 92 for the passage
of Cycle Shift pulses derived from the free-running clock 60 as
well as signal the clock to operate at a faster rate. A cycling
signal is also sent through the CYCL conductor to the message board
control circuit (FIGS. 4 and 5) where it is used to partially
enable AND-gates 93 (FIG. 5) associated with each shift register
31. The AND-gate 93 closes a cycle loop 91 enabling encoding
signals to be shifted out of the last stage of each shift register
and back into the first stage thereof without being lost upon
receipt of Line Shift pulses. The Line Shift pulses are derived
from the output of the cycle shift gate 92 and are passed through
the Line Address Storage 40 to the board on the Line Shift 1-7
conductor previously addressed. The line Shift pulses thus cause
the encoding signals to cycle through the shift registers whenever
the Control flip-flop 90 is in its set condition. At the same time
as the cycle shift pulses are causing the data to circulate through
the shift registers they are also sent to a 60-Count Cycle Counter
94 causing it to start counting. It counts until it reaches the
number stored in the Column Address Counter 42 fed by the input
address data, at which point a compare circuit 96 causes a Compare
flip-flop 98 to switch to its set condition to provide a signal on
the Compare conductor.
The Compare signal resets the Control flip-flop 90 to ready the
circuits for read in of the display character encoding signals. The
reset of Control flip-flop 90 closes the Cycle Shift Gate 92 to
stop the Cycle Counter 94 and stop the circulating of the encoding
signals in the shift registers. The Cycle Address Stored signal
CYAS goes true to cause the Address Stored Control 46 to send the
Address Stored signal over the AS conductor to the Strober Start
gate 50 to partially enable same. The next following display
character in the input data and presented to the Signal Logic is
decoded by the decoder circuit 36 and encoded into encoding
signals. A Legit signal is sent from the Encoder Data Gates 34 to
the Start gate 50 to signal the Enabling gate 57 to open and start
the operation of the Strober circuit 54. The Strober then reads out
the encoding signals for the display character to the message board
replacing in a column-by-column manner whatever encoding signals
are present in the shift register at the addressed column stages.
The cycle loop for the shift registers is, of course, opened up
when the new data is being strobed in because of the absence of the
Cycling signal on the CYCL conductor to the AND-gate 93 (FIG. 5).
During the time that the display character encoding signals are
being strobed out to the message board the Cycle Counter 94 and the
Column Address Counter 42 are advanced the number of counts
required to strobe out the particular display character encoding
signals by means of strobe shift pulses on the STR SFT conductor to
an Advance Count gate 100. The Cycle counter 94 is advanced this
number of counts to facilitate the return of the encoding signals
back to the proper stages of the message board shift. The Column
Address Counter 42 is advanced this number of counts so that the
position for the next following character will be automatically
addressed for inserting a new character thereat without providing
further address information as will be seen shortly.
When the Strober circuit 54 completes its encoding signal read in
function, the encoding signals in the shift registers must again be
shifted to bring them back to their proper column location since
the new encoding signals have been read into the rightmost stages
of the shift register. They must therefore be shifted a number of
stages to return the signal for the first column of the character
to the column originally addressed. Thus, the End Of Strobe signal
provided by the character Width circuit 64 at the completion of the
encoding signal strobing causes the Compare flip-flop 98 to reset
which in turn causes the Control flip-flop 90 to again assume its
set condition by means of the not true signal on the Compare
conductor. The Strober 54 is again disabled by the CYAS signal
which causes the Address Storage Control to remove the Address
Stored signal. The Cycle Shift gate is again opened to permit the
Shift pulses to pass therethrough to the Cycle Counter and out to
the message board shift registers. The Cycling signal on the CYCL
line again closes the recirculation loop 91 of the shift registers
so that the signals therein can continue to be circulated without
signal loss as the Cycle Counter 94 continues its count.
When the Cycle Counter count reaches 60, which is equal to the
number of stages in the shift register, a reset pulse is sent
therefrom to the Control flip-flop 90, which when it resets, again
closes the Cycle Shift gate and stops the cycling operation with
all of the encoding signals in the shift registers returned to
their previous shift register stages. The Cycle Counter 94 restores
to its count zero condition automatically and the Signal Logic is
ready for the next received display character data for cycling
input to the board.
If another character is to be inserted immediately after the one
just entered, a Display Character code may be fed in from the input
means as the Column Address Counter 42 had been stepped to the new
address when the previous character was inserted. The Cycle
Detector flip-flop 44 is still in its set stage and it is not reset
until a Clear signal is received responsive to new address data
from the input means. Thus, a complete line of display characters
may be inserted by the cycling mode of operation at the properly
centered board location without adding additional spacing at the
end. Also, a single character, or even a single column, can be
changed by the cycling made without disturbing previously
programmed displays on the board.
The display system of this invention is capable of showing a series
of programmed displays which automatically change one after the
other, at a controlled rate of change. The display changes and the
change rate are controlled by Timer 29 which is settable by the
operator to determine the time each display is shown. It operates
to disable the input means 33 such as the Punch Tape reader 24, for
the set length of time whenever an Input Stop Code + appears in the
input data. After the set time the input means steps to the next
data character in the program and the system continues on in the
normal manner until another Stop code is detected or the programmed
data is completed.
It may thus be seen that this system may be operated to show a
series of messages such as advertising displays changed every
thirty seconds or so, or show an animated cartoon with the
pictorial display frames changed every half of a second or so. This
is all controlled automatically by the programmed input which
includes the proper sequence of Blanking Codes, Address data,
Display Character or Lamp Code data, and Timer control data.
For example, the input data for a display frame such as the large
GO in FIG. 2 would appear in the program as follows:
9> *236 Lamp Code Data *336 Lamp Code Data 9 +. The 9> codes
would indicate to the Blanking circuits that the succeeding data
for all Lines of the board is to read through the Signal Logic and
into the shift registers without turning on the board lamps. The
Address data *236 causes the following Lamp Code display data to be
read in in cycling mode to the shift registers starting at Column
36 of Line 2. The data *336 causes the read in of the Line 3 data.
The board lamps do not light until the Blanking Command ON data 9
is received which simultaneously turns on the lamps for all encoded
stages of the shift registers. The + symbol then indicates to the
Timer that the input means is to be disabled for the preset time
before reading in further display data. The next frame would thus
contain the appropriate Blanking. Address and Display data for
changing the display as required by the animated effect. The +
symbol would again be used for time delaying the next data
input.
It is to be recognized that the symbols used in the description are
merely exemplary and others could well be used. The particular
symbols shown herein are all included on a standard punch tape
typewriter such as is marketed by Teletype Corporation, Niles,
Illinois
While there has been shown herein a preferred embodiment of the
system embodying the teachings of this invention, it is to be
understood that many additions and modifications may be made
thereto without materially deviating from this invention. It is
therefore intended to be bound only by the scope of the appended
claims;
* * * * *