US2907018A - Selective indical production - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 29, 1959 L. E. HAlNlNG SELECTIVE INDICIA PRODUCTION Filed May 3, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l INI/ENTOR.

LESTER E. HAINING TTORNE Y Sept 29, 1959 L. HAINING 2,907,018

' SELECTIVE INDIcIA PRODUCTION Filed May 3, 1954 2 sheets-sheet INVENTOR.

LESTER. E. Hmm

`contrast indicia on a kinescope face.

United States Patent O SELECTIVE INDICIA PRODUCTION Lester E. Haining, Audubon, NJ., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application May 3, '1954,'Seral No. 427,238

9 claims. (01340-324) 'I'his invention relates to novel methods of and apparatus for selectively producing characters or indicia by electronic means, and more particularly to novel methods vof and apparatus for producing indicia or characters on the face of a kinescope.

In an electronic printing process letters, numbers and other. symbols may be produced on the face of a kinescope. These letters, numbers or other symbols, which may be termed indicia or characters, may be permanently recorded from the kinescope face by any light sensitive process such as photography. These electronic printing processes may be operated at extremely high speeds. They are particularly well adapted to recording coded information produced by electronic computers.

Some of the problems encountered in processes of this type are-the need for improvement of reproduction contrast, and the need for developing eicient systems which may use relatively lower precision components. This invention teaches how such indicia may be reproduced utilizing, in rnost respects, inexpensive standard components, and which develops high contrast recorded information at a high light eiiiciency.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel method of and apparatus for producing indicia on a-kinescope face in response to a coded input signal.

Another object is to provide a novel method of and apparatus for producing indicia or gures on a kinescope which utilizes standard or relatively low precision components.

A further object is to provide a novel method and apparatus of the aforementioned type ufor producing high One application of the invention is in high speed printing where the symbols are formed on the face of a kinescope and from which they can be printed off by a photographic process. The apparatus to be described is for the purpose of forming such symbols and makes 1 available a full alphabet and set of numerals with a reasonably small amount of equipment. Other symbols or pictorial gures may be formed. Code controlled selection of a desired symbol is disclosed.

The present invention utilizes patterns having predetermined outlines or shapes to provide a series of successive line elements. Each of the line elements represents .or is related to a planev coordinate of a point onV a preselected planefigure. Means are provided to derive a successive series of signals corresponding to, coordinates of successive points on the ligure. The shape of the pattern, "therefore, characteristically modulates vthese successive signals. These signals may be applied to deflect the beam of a recording kinescope in a series of successive points which trace indicia.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the following specication in conjunction'with the out thefpreselected figure, letter orf'' accompanying drawings of an illustrative example contrace.

structed according to the teachings of the present invention in which:

Fig. l is a schematic this invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate more in detail the mask or charts shown in Fig. 1 and a method by which they may be scanned; l

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating coordinates of deflection derived in scanning successive line elements of patterns representingr the letter B, for example; and

Fig. 5 is a diagram of a modification of the embodiment shown in Fig. l. Y

In Fig. l a schematic diagram is shown of the various components in their respective positions connected to produce indicia on the reproducing or recording kinescope face according to the teachings of this invention.

A code input device 10 is connected to provide a signal to vertical beam position selecting devices 12 and 13 and horizontal beam position selecting devices 14 and 15. The code input device may, for example, be a perforated tape reading apparatus of the type shown in McNaney Patent 2,283,383 granted May 19, 1942.V The vertical position selectors 12 and 13 and the horizontal position selectors 14 and 15 may also, for example, be similar to the beam positioning apparatus shown in McNaney Patent 2,283,383. These position selectors provide signals for selectively positioning the beams of the generating and reproducing cathode ray tubes respectively (to be later described) at preselected positions determined by the horizontal and vertical deflection signals applied. Only so much ofthe McNaney system may be used as is necessary to position the kinescope beams at preselected points.

The vertical and horizontal positioning selectors 12 and 14 may be connected, respectively, jointly to the vertical and jointly to the horizontal deection plates of generating cathode ray tubes 16 and 18. The selectors 13 and 1S are connected, respectively, to the deflection plates of reproducing kinescope 20. Electrostatic deflection plates, which are by now well known, are shown conventionally on the drawing, but it will be understood that electromagnetic deection means may be employed. The connections to the Vrespective cathoderay tubes may be made through vertical and horizontal mixers 22 and 24 to the generating kinescopes. The selectors 13 and -15 diagram of an embodiment of may be respectively connected to the reproducing or recording kinescope through vertical mixer `'26 and horizontal mixer 28.

A radio frequency source 30 of any well known type, such as an oscillator or a multivibrator, may be connected to the vertical positioning mixer 272 supplying the vertical deflection plates'of-generating cathode ray tubes 16 and 18.V A sawtooth wave generator 32 of yany type well known in the art may be connected to the horizontalY positioning mixer 24 ofthe generating cathode ray tubes 16 and 18. A .blanking device 34 may be connected inthe line from code input device-10 tothe electron guns of cathode ray tubes 16, 18 and V20 to keep the beams cut olf until a code signal to reproduce a character arrives. Thesawtooth wave generator `32 is connected tothe blanking device T94V to blank the beams ,on the return Photosensitive.pickups.36 an'd 38 may' bedisposedgin Vthe path' of light produced on the iluores'c'ent-faceofrv the generatingcathode ray tubes 16 and'lS respectively. fA mask 40 is positioned betweenfthe face of cathode ray tube 16 and its associated photosensitive pickup'. 1;'l`he mask v40 includes an array ofpatternswhichprovide line velements which `are related` to or` represent horizontal coordinates of Asuccessive pointsbn anumber of figures or indicia. Mask 42 is disposed between the face of' cath- `ode ray' 18 and'itsassociatedY photosensitive pickup Y3:8.Y

The mask 42 includes an array of patterns which provide line elements which are related to or represent vertical coordinates of successive points on the same iigures or indicia.' The masks `may betcutout in thershape of these patterns to allow predetermined amounts of klight to pass to these photosensitive pickups according to the magnitude of these line elements. The structure of these masks will be described in detail in the discussion relating to Light concentrating lenses 44 and 48 are interposed between the respective masks and photosensitive pickups to concentrate the light passing throughthe mask on the photosensitive pickup. The signals derived from photosensitive devices 36 and 38 are-respectively passed through amplifiers 50 and 52 to the respective horizontal and vertical mixers 28 and 26 of reproducing kinescope Ztl.

In Figs. vZ and 3 are shown a detailed representation of masks 40 and 42 which are shown in their operating positions in Fig. l. The masks may be subdivided into a predetermined number of areas or blocks. Each mask may include a cutout of a predetermined shape to provide successive line elements for respectively generating a vertical and horizontal sweep deflection signal for the reproducing kinescope. Each cutout, therefore, has a characteristic shape corresponding to a preselected character or indicia. y

The charts ormasks 40 and42 are divided into thirtysix regions or blocks arranged in three vertical columns of twelve blocks each. Patterns, which may be in the form of cutouts, areA provided within each block. The cutouts 41, 43 and 4S, for example, may be arranged in blocks in mask 40 to provide line elements for representing horizontal coordinates of points on the letters A, B, and C respectively. Cutouts 51, 53, and 55 may be arranged in blocks on mask 42 to provide line elements for representing vertical coordinates on the letters A, B and C respectively. A complete alphabet and set of nurnbers or any set of plane figures may be provided by properly shaping the patterns.

To represent the letter B, lfor example, the Cutouts may be shaped as shown in 43 and S3 in Fig. 4. The illustrative line elements indicated by reference characters 1 to 7 represent the respective vertical and `horizontal coordinates of illustrative points 1d to 7a 'shown on the trace 57 of letter B. y Y

When the beams of the horizontal and vertical sweep generating cathode ray tubes 16, 18 are positioned to traverse the cutouts corresponding to the preselected character simultaneously in the horizontal i'nask 40 and the vertical mask 42, sweep deflection Vsignals will be developed through the photosensitive devices to cause the electron beam of reproducing kinescope 20 to trace out the preselected indicia on its face.

The device operates in the following manner to produce preselected characters or indicia on the face of the reproducing kinescope. The code input device may read a coded input, vfor example, a perforated tape (not shown) to provideipositioning signals to the position selecting devices 12 and 14 of the generating lcathode ray tubes and 13 and 15 of the reproducing kinescope. Each row of p'erforations on the tape (not shown) may provide Aa signal corresponding to a vertical and horizontal coordinate ofselective beam deflection. These coordinate signalsposition-the` cathode ray beams at predetermined blocks on the masks to generate vertical and horizontal sweep deections, and 'separate signals may also position the beam of the recording kinescope 20 at-apredetermined starting point. These sweep deection signals are kapplied to the deflection plates of the reproducing kinescope to cause its electron lbeam to trace out the preselected character.

The beams of the'generatin'gand recording cathode ray tubes are maintained turned off by the blanking device.34 until a signal 'is receivedtfrom the code input A'device '10 to turn the beam on. Theblankingldevice may be arranged by means well known in the art to turn the beams on only when the code input device is reading the perforations corresponding to a preselected character on the tape. The blanking device simultane ously turns on the beams of all the cathode ray tubes at the same time to generate the vertical and horizontal sweep deflection signals-corresponding to the preselected character and to simultaneously apply the sweep deflection signals to the reproducing kinescopes through photosensitive pickup devices 36-and 38 and ampliers 50 and 52.

When the beams are turned on, the'generating beams scan the preselected cutouts to generate vertical and horizontal sweep deflection signals to be applied to the deflection plates of the recording kinescope to cause its beam to trace out the preselected character on its face. The character may be started at a preselected position on the kinescope 29 face determined by the signals derived from the code linput source 10 through the vertical and horizontal position selectors 13 and 1S and vertical and horizontal mixers 26 and 28.

AThe electron beams of the generating kinescopes are moved by the predetermined horizontal and vertical deilection positioning signals to pick out or select the respective mask cutouts corresponding to the preselected character. The radio frequency source 3h provides a signal to the vertical mixer'22 for causing the electron beam to move rapidly vertically up and down. This provides a vertical line passing up and down across the preselected cutout. The sawtooth wave generator 32, connected'to horizontal mixer 24, provides a means for traversing the vertically scanned lines across the preselected cutout. The beams in the character generating cathode ray tubes are therefore progressively moved simultaneously across their respective 'cutouts in an approximately linear fashion. The successive elements of light which pass through the mask, therefore, may be regulated or modulated by varying the shape of the cutout inthe direction of the beam movement. The vertical and horizontal deilection signals to trace out the preselected character on the recording kinescope face are, therefore, controlled or modulated by the shape of the cutout. The preselected character is traced out during the time that it takes the generating beams to traverse the preselected cutout. The light which passes through the mask to energize the photocells is, therefore, instantaneously proportional to the vertical and horizontal signals required to deect the recording kinescope'beam in a trace which corresponds to the shape of the preselected character.

The equipment described as being assembled in novel combinations Vis standard in nature and need not be of prohibitively high quality. The generating cathode ray tubes need not be high precision tubes. They may be the electrostatically deflected type. They may be, for example, the type which is ordinarily used in Oscilloscopes. The recording kinescope may be any well known kinescope type.

The masks, for example, may be provided with cutouts for producing Va complete alphabet and a complete set of numbers. The use of these masks does not impose excessive linearity requirements upon the other components of the system. Various masks may be provided for upper or lower case letters, script or other types of symbols. If the tubes are of relatively higher quality and operate more precisely, a great many more symbols can `be produced.

In Figs. 2 and 3 are shown, the masks required to generate or modulate, respectively, the horizontal and vertical sweep de'ection signals to be applied to deflect the beam of the recording kinescope to trace out-the letter B (shown ink Fig. 4). The vertically moving beam Vtraces :out asuccession of line elements 1 to 7 across the cutout as shown. The illustrative line elements 1.to 7va1e shown linked to the correspondingpoints la to 7a of the letter B which is traced out by the successive signals generated while the beam is traversing these line elements. The cutouts may be used to generate the character B, as shown, provided that the circuit constants are linear. This would be accomplished if the sweep across the cutouts is linear, and if the deflection applied to the recording kinescope beam is precisely proportional to the light passed through the cutout. If a magnetically deected recording kinescope with'inductive effects in its yoke were used, departures from linearity in these conditions could possibly cause distortion unless known compensating circuits are employed or unless yoke design compensates for non-linearity in a known manner. The inductive eifect can be compensatedfor in accordance with this invention simply by trimming the cutouts to make the resultant beam deflection trace out the precise form of the preselected character regardless of any individual distorting effects present in the components of the system. In this way, errorsinherent in individual components can be balanced out against one another without complication of apparatus. g

The accuracy of positioning the beam at the proper point to start traversing each cutout need not be particularly high. The precision of the scanning or beam traversing signals provided by the radio frequency source 30 and the sawtooth generator 32 also need not be high. This invention requires only that the beam travel completely across each pattern. The beam travel may, therefore, overlap the individual patterns an appreciable amount. This amount is limited only by the size of the mask and the quantity and size of the patterns which determines the spacing between individual cutouts. Since this spacing may be relatively great, the position of the scanning beam may be, therefore, displaced considerable amounts without distorting the deection signals applied to the recording kinescope.

Another favorable aspect inherent in this invention is that the beam in the reproducing or final display tube is maintained turned onduring all the time that the character symbol or indicia is being traced out on its face. In scanning systems of the television type, the beam is turned on only when it arrives at the position on a horizontal line where a segment or element of an object is to be reproduced. This invention, therefore, provides a relatively high light eiciency or contrast between the symbol and background in the iinal display.

Since the information passed in a system constructed according to this invention is less complex than in the normal type of television scanning and reproducing system, the frequency range used by this equipment may be less, and the band pass of the components such as the ampliers may be lower. This permits the use of less precise and less expensive amplifiers.

In Fig. 5, is shown a modication of this invention in which a more elaborate optical system is used to allow only one generating kinescope to be used for generating both the horizontal and vertical sweep deflection signals. The light passing from the face of a generating cathode ray tube 60 may be passed through a lens 62 to strike a beam splitting mirror 64. The beam splitting mirror, for example, may be of the half-silvered type. A portion of the light passes through the mask 40a and strikes the light converging lens 66. The mask 40a may be arranged in a similar manner to mask 40 as shown. This light may be concentrated on a photosensitive device 68 which may be connected to the horizontal dellection circuit of the recording kinescope 20 in a similar manner to the connection of photosensitive device 38 in Fig. 1.

The beam splitting mirror from its surface reects the other portion of the light through another mask 42a. The mask 42a may be arranged in a similar manner to mask 42 as shown. The light is converged by condensing lens 72 to strike the photosensitive pickup 74 which may be connected in the vertical sweep deflection circuit of the recording kinescope 20. In this way, the light from a single cathode ray tube may be divided by a beam splitting mirror and focussed on the two masks which have patterns which provide successive line elements to modulate the light passing through to generate the vertical and horizontal sweep dellection signals to provide coordinate deflection for the beam in a reproducing kinescope. The preselected character is traced out on the kinescope face by these coordinate deection signals in the manner previously described.-

The optical linkszmay =be eliminated by using monoscopes having signal plates instead ofusing cathode ray tubes and masks to generate or modulate the sweep detlection signal. The signal plates of the monoscope may be constructed to have contrasting Ysecondary emissive patterns similar in shape to the mask cutouts. Two monoscopes may be required, one for the horizontal sweep deflection signal and the other for the vertical sweep de-I flection signal.

What is claimed is:

l. A system for producing preselected indicia on the face of a kinescope in response to a coded Signal from an input source comprising storage means providing an array of patterns of predetermined shapes respectively related to coordinates of points on said indicia for modulating sweep deflection signals characteristic of said preselected indicia, means for providing a scanning electron beam for selectively scanning said patterns, selector means connected to said input source for selectively positioning said scanning electron beam to scan a preselected pattern, means for deriving a kinescope sweep--dellection signal characteristic of points on said preselected indicia in response to said modulation of said scanning beam, and means for applying said sweep deilection signal to said kinescope to cause said kinescope to trace out said preselected indicia on its face.

2. A system for producing preselected indicia on the face of a kinescope in response to a coded signal from an input source comprising storage means providing an array of cutouts of predetermined shape for modulating the passage of light, meansrprovidingla.scanning electron beam for progressively passing light through said cutouts., selector means connected to said input source for Sele-ctively positioning said scanning electron beam to progressively scan a preselected cutout, means for deriving a kinescope sweep deflection signal characteristic of said preselected indicia in response to the amount of light passed through said cutout, and means for applying said sweep deflection signal to said kinescope to cause said kinescope to trace out said preselected indicia on its face.

3. An arrangement for producing preselected indicia on the face of a kinescope in response to a coded signal from an input source comprising storage means providing a preselected array of cutouts of predetermined shapes related to coordinates of points on said indicia for modulating the passage of light, means for providing. a scanning electron beam for progressively scanning an area including one of said preselected cutouts to generate a light output, a beam position selecting means connected to said input source for selectively positioning said scanning electronl beam to progressively scan across a preselected cutout, and a photosensitive signal generating means disposed to receive light passed through said preselected cutout and connected to said kinescope for generating a deecting signal in response to the modulation of light by said cutout to cause kinescope to trace out said preselected indicia on its face.

4. An arrangement for producing preselected indicia at `a preselected position on the face of a kinescope in response to a coded signal from an input source comprising storage means providing an array of cutouts for modulating the passage of light, cathode ray tube means providing a scanning electron beam for progressively scanning an area covering one of said cutouts, said cathode ray tube means including a beam position selecting means connected to said input source for selectively positioning said scanning electron beam to progressively scan across one of said preselected cutouts, a photosensitiv'e signal generating means disposed to receive light passing through said: preselected cutout and connected to said kine'scope" for generating a deectirig signal in response to the modulationy of light by said cutout to cause said kinescop'e to'trace out said preselected indicia on its face, and a kinescope beam position selecting means connected to said input source to selectively position said indicia at ai preselected `starting position on the face of said kinescope in response to said input signal.

5. Ari' larrangement for producing preselected indicia on' the face of a kinescope in response to a coded signal from an input source comprising storage means providing an array of cutouts' having'predetermined shapes rel-ated to' coordinates of points on said indicia for modulating aV scanning light' beam, a cathode ray tube providing a light beam producing scanning electron beam for prop gressively scanning an area covering one of said cutouts,

a cathode ray tribe beam position selecting means connected to saidV inputsour for selectively positioning said scanning electron beam to progressively scan a light beam'ac'ross one'of said cutouts in response to said input signal, a photosen'sitive signal generating means disposed to receiveV light passing through said cutout and connected to said kinescopefor generating a deflecting signal in response to the light passed by said cutout to cause said kinescope to trace out said preselectedv indicia on its face, and a means for turning on beam of said cathode ray tube means and said kinescope beam when said input signal is received.

6. An arrangement for producing preselected indicia on the face of a kinescop'e in response to a coded signal from an input source comprising an array of cutouts of predetermined shapes respectively related to coordinates of points on said indicia for modulating the passage of a scanning beam, a scanning cathode ray tube disposed for selectively scanning across one of said cutouts, beam position selector means connected to said input source for providing beam positioning deiiections to said scanning cathode ray tube and said recording kinescope'for positioning the scanning beam to traverse a preselected cutout and for positioning the kinescope beam to start its trace at a preselected location, means for generating a scanning pattern connected to said vcathode ray tube, and a photosen'sitive signaly generator disposed to receive the beam passed .through said preselected cutout and connected to said recording kinescope to provide a signal to deilectl said kinescope beam in a pattern which traces out said preselected indicia on its face.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 6 in combination with a blanking means connecting said cathode ray tube and said kinescope to said coded input device for maintaining said cathode ray tube beam and said kine'- scope beam cutoi until said coded input signal is received.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 6 wherein said scanning pattern generating means is comprised of a radio frequency source in combination With a sawtooth Wave generating source.

9. The invention setforth in claim 6 wherein said scanned cutout is comprised of a pair of cutouts each having an associated photosensitive generator, said cutouts being in combination with a means for passing light from said scanning beam through each of said cutouts to generate a horizontal and vertical component of deflection for said kinescope beam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,406,880 Young Sept. 3, 1946 2,594,731 Connolly Apr.29, 1952 2,596,741 Tyler May 13, 1952 2,624,798 Dinga Jan. 6, 1953 2,667,535 Slayton Ian. 26, 1954 2,762,862 Bliss Sept. 11, 1956 2,766,444 Sheftelman Oct. 9, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 708,016 Great Britain Apr. 1, 1954

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