A fluorescent display device includes a first substrate, an insulating layer formed on the first substrate, n columns of m anodes, each anode having a fluorescent layer thereon, Q anode lead wires provided for each column of the m anodes, every Qth anodes being connected to a same anode lead wire, and m/Q grids, formed on the insulating layer, each grid being arranged across the n columns of m anodes, each grid being provided with openings for each column of m anodes, each opening exposing a por...

A computer algorithm that is able to convert a parent CGM file, which may include a plurality of disparate methods of defining objects or high-level primitives, with low-level primitives to produce a child or normalized CGM file that includes a normalized or standard way of defining these same objects. The computer algorithm iterates over the information stored in the parent CGM file to find associations in stored vectors to determine whether disparate elements, such as segments or arcs, are use...

An apparatus for texture mapping in a computer graphics system, using a predetermined set of standardized textures. Each texture of the standardized set is a procedural texture, and is supplied to the apparatus as one or a sequence of program commands the execution of which will result in the generation of the respective procedural texture. In a preferred embodiment, the means for processing the program commands comprises a processor operable to implement only those input program commands or seq...

An improved high speed photographic data plotting system is disclosed. This system uses a modulated laser light which is moved or scans a photographic film on a concave cylindrical surface from source location on a central axis. The scan is in a direction transverse to the length of the film. The laser light source location on the central axis can be incrementally stepped between each scan so that exposure of the film is in lines along the length of the film. The system includes means for feedin...

A method, device and computer system for creating a smooth, continuous height (scalar or vector) field are described. The described techniques permit arbitrary closed regions to be smoothly shaded without producing unnatural smoothness at the region's edges or boundaries.

Image-bearing elements made of support material that transmits light longitudinally through its cross-section, in a plane parallel to its image-bearing surface, are disclosed for use in an information retrieval system. The retrieval code used in identifying each element is generated by modulating a directed beam of light transmitted longitudinally through the element's cross-section. Modulation of the directed beam is accomplished by, for example, placing opaque spots on a cross-sectional area o...

Apparatus for generating graphic symbols on a cathode-ray tube employs a beam control system which starts each of a plurality of parallel strokes required for each symbol at the bottom, using a programmed offset for symbols which extend below a baseline, and to otherwise move a symbol in the X and Y axes from a position routinely specified as spaced symbols are displayed in a line. The slope of the strokes for a symbol is controlled for italicizing the symbols by programming the relative magnitu...

A tablet or transducer, for use in a graphical communications system, which comprises a rectangular array of electret transducer elements responsive to the writing pressure of a stylus, such as an ordinary ballpoint pen. The array is formed by a selectively metallized elastic electret film mounted in spaced juxtaposition with a selectively metallized backplate. Performance characteristics are enhanced by ridges or separators between metallized areas and by field effect transistor signal detector...

An event marker which is supported on a carriage which includes bearing structure slideable along a longitudinally fixed guide shaft and wherein a solenoid is supported by the carriage in concentric relation with the bearing structure and the guide shaft. The guide shaft is made of ferromagnetic material so that when the solenoid is energized it will produce a magnetic flux which in turn produces magnetic poles on the guide shaft which causes the solenoid and therefore the marker carriage to be ...

Identified transducers mounted to a machine, such as a truck, produce audio signals. A transducer selection circuit connected to a selector switch couples, in each switch position, an audio signal from a transducer to an amplifier circuit. One channel of a multiple channel graphic recorder, receives the amplified signal and produces a graph. In each switch position, an encoder circuit transmits a unique pattern of signals to the other channels. Their respective pens record an identification of t...