CRT key station which is responsive to centralized control
US4041469A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 13, 1974 |
| Grant date | Aug 9, 1977 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 13, 1994 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG09G5/08
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Hardware duplication at each of a plurality of CRT key stations is minimized and centralized control is maintained by performing many traditional CRT key station operations under software control by a central processing unit. Simplified CRT key stations include circuitry providing automatic key stroke repeat for continuously actuated keys only after receipt of a repeat enable signal from the central processing unit for each separate repeat and a tone generator responsive to commands from the central processing unit. The tone generator includes a key click circuit to audibly indicate each completion of key activation. CRT key station circuitry inserts a configuration code with each key stroke data word which indicates one of a plurality of available key switch arrangements for the CRT key station. The configuration code permits a single key station hardware design to be included in a data entry system with different keyboard configurations such as typewriter, calculator, keypunch or even foreign language to be selected without need for a conversion system at each CRT key station to convert key stroke information to a common code. Instead, a central processing unit may utilize the co…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.