Robert L Thomason

US Patent:

45860360, Apr 29, 1986

Filed:

Feb 28, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/470455

Inventors:

Robert L. Thomason - Corona del Mar CA
Joseph C. Tipton - Fountain Valley CA

Assignee:

Advanced Computer Concepts, Inc. - Costa Mesa CA

International Classification:

G09G 100

US Classification:

340720

Abstract:

Graphics display systems ideally suited for the display of certain types of graphics information are disclosed. The display systems utilize a black and white or color raster scan display having a vertical rather than a conventional horizontal raster scan. Data stored in the refresh memory of the display system is run length encoded so that a display pixel may be defined at any position along each vertical sweep of the raster scan or trace. Multiple channels allow the definition of multiple pixels on each scan, which allows the display of graph type data in a manner simulating the output of a multiple channel strip chart recorder. The system includes alphanumeric character generation and graphics character capabilities which allow the definition of grid lines and the labeling of information displayed. Methods and apparatus for providing windowing, panning, scrolling, horizontal compression, curve overlaying, panning of one curve with respect to other parts of the same curve or another curve, bar chart generation and other features and capabilities of the system are disclosed.

US Patent:

44620446, Jul 24, 1984

Filed:

Jul 23, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/401407

Inventors:

Robert L. Thomason - Corona del Mar CA
Henry S. Stover - Montclair CA

Assignee:

Spacegraph, Ltd. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

H04N 954

US Classification:

358 89

Abstract:

A timing system for a three dimensional vibrating mirror display which controls the display of information throughout the varying rate of sweep through the display volume characteristic of such systems and assures proper interlacing of the forestroke and backstroke images in a simple efficient manner is disclosed. The system includes an anisochronous clock which varies its clocking rate in proportion to the momentary velocity of movement through the display volume so that the displayed image planes are equally spaced throughout the depth of the display volume. The anisochronous clock of the invention utilizes a relatively simple circuit to sequentially address a read-only memory in effect containing predetermined information regarding the velocity of sweep through the display volume for each position of the vibrating mirror, which information is used to generate a clock signal for controlling the display. A unique sensing circuit is operative on an optical sensor output signal detecting the mirror motion to synchronize the anisochronous clock with mirror position so that the anisochronous clock can synchronize display information with image motion, and so that the backstroke and forestroke displays will be properly interlaced. Other aspects and features are disclosed.