Patent GB-1178749-A (GB)
Title: Data Display Systems
IPC: G06F3/02
Filed: 1967-12-28
Abstract: 1,178,749. Cathode-ray tube displays. BUNKER RAMO CORP. 28 Dec., 1967 [16 Jan., 1967], No. 58936/67. Heading H4T. In an arrangement for displaying Alpha- Numeric and graphic type data having a plurality of different formats on an electroresponsive display apparatus, e.g. a cathoderay tube, by selective intensity control of points in a line raster pattern means are provided for changing the form of the raster pattern in response to signals indicative of the required format. The invention is described in connection with a display system for stock exchange quotations the system including a plurality of stockbrokers' desk units 20 (Fig. 1) each having a cathode-ray display tube 28 and a number of alphabet and function keys all units being connected over individual circuits to a central data processing unit RQT (Remote Query Transceiver) which includes a magnetostrictive delay line 58 forming a recirculating cyclical memory store separate sections of which are assigned to individual desk units. The RQT unit is supplied from a "satellite" station 36 which carries all available information on a magnetic drum store 38 and is periodically updated from a base station. In operation the key-boards are employed to request the display of information relating to particular stocks (Q/R = Query Reply Mode) which are reproduced in a first format or to request the display of information relating to the general price movement of a number of representative stocks (Trends mode) which are reproduced in a second, different, format. A graphic display, e.g. a graph curve indicating the price movement with respect to time of a particular stock which is indicated in tabular i.e. Alpha- Numeric symbols is also described. All symbols are produced by selective brightup of a line raster scan which, in the case of Alpha-Numeric displays, comprises for each line of characters, a single horizontal scan on which is superimposed a vertical scan consisting of for each character five up strokes spaced horizontally, the strokes being selectively intensified at any of seven positions so that the characters are formed in individual 5 x 7 dot matrices. The latter are produced in two different formats the first consisting of four horizontal lines each having space for six characters (Fig. 2) and the second consisting of eleven horizontal lines each having space for eighteen characters (Fig. 3) the first format being utilized for the display of Q/R information whilst the second is utilized for the display of Trends information. Fig. 4 shows one embodiment and includes, in the left-hand portion, some of the apparatus in the RQT unit of Fig. 1, whilst the right-hand portion includes apparatus in the desk units 20 of Fig. 1. In operation, the character generator 156 (Fig. 4) converts code data stored in delay line 58 (Fig. 1) to 5 x 7 dot matrix data (video) and supplies during each cycle of delay line 58, all of the Q/R data for, in the particular case considered the ten desk units in sequence and thereafter supplies the entire set of Trends data. Both sets of data are accompanied by synchronizing signals (derived in timing counters 62) suitable for synchronizing the raster scan appropriate to the particular format. The output of 156 is supplied to two AND gates 100, 102 which are fully conditioned by respective timing signals T (from counters 62) during the occurrence of the Trends data, (gate 100) and during the occurrence of the Q/R data, (gate 102). When the Q/R data mode is selected by operation of the appropriate key (the quote key switch 150) on the desk unit the output of gate 102 together with appropriate synchronizing signals from counters 62 is supplied via a multiplexer 178 to an output line, e.g. line 180-1, connected to the corresponding desk unit 20. The video signals are then utilized as bright-up pulses for the raster produced by the deflection circuitry 110 under the control of the synchronizing signals. This results in the production of the format shown in Fig. 2. When the Trends mode is selected by operation of key switch 120 the video is combined in amplifier 108 with synchronizing signals from counters 62 and supplied to the line 180-1. Key switch 120, in addition to fully conditioning gate 104 to pass the data from gate 100, also energizes a solenoid 126 which closes contacts 126A ... 126E the first three of which alter the parameters of the horizontal sweep generator 116, the vertical step generator 118 and the vertical sweep generator 112 so that in response to the synchronizing signals a raster scan appropriate to the format shown in Fig. 3 is produced. A display in the latter format is then produced when key switch 120 is released since a holding circuit for solenoid 126 is provided by closure of contact 126D. Also, to prevent interference of the Trends display by Q/R data the closure of contact 126E operates via circuitry 78 to erase all Q/R character data stored in the section of the delay line 58 corresponding to the particular desk 20 considered. In a second embodiment the scanning circuit parameters are controlled to produce a first format of the kind shown in Fig. 3 for a predetermined number of cycles after which a graphic type display together with an Alpha- Numeric display is produced (Figs. 6, 7A and 7B, not shown).