US 4,328,491 A · Dynamic data display system, as for use with EEG

Abstract

A dynamic display system for discrete events of complex data carried by discrete electrical signals which indicate values in three coordinates as triads. One of the values may be an independent variable, e.g., time. A cathode ray tube display apparatus is actuated by format signals to exhibit a pictorial three-dimensional perspective field of reference somewhat in the figure of an elongate box. The discrete electrical signals representative of data are processed to develop display signals to provide representative images in the field of reference. Specifically, the data events or elements are manifest in the form of lines or linear symbols that indicate coordinate values by symbol height and position. The independent variable, time, is scaled from an origin line in the field of reference to extend along the depth of perspective so that the linear symbols advance along the path of perspective to accomplish a dynamic display with the illusion of motion. The specific system herein displays EEG waves, indicating the magnitude and frequency of individual brain waves with respect to time of occurrence to provide a marching display of both present and recent past information in chronological order. Data may be recorded and later played back. Furthermore, color is utilized in the display to the ranges of frequency. A conventional television format is employed in which the linear symbols are formed along scanning lines of the television raster pattern.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A display system for data events characterized in at least three dimensions, and represented by electrical signals, one of said dimensions being of an independent variable, other dimensions being dependent variables, comprising:

a plane display device for selectively displaying images as traced thereon;
means defining a dimensioned field of reference for said display device, said field referencing said three dimensions characterizing said data events in accordance with the display thereof and defining an origin location with respect to said independent variable;
first means for processing said electrical signals to provide display signals for actuating said display device to display symbols indicating the other dimensions of said data events and referenced to the origin location of said field of reference with respect to said independent variable;
and
second means for processing said display signals to shift the display thereof by said display device along the independent variable dimension of said field of reference to provide a dynamic display changing with reference to said origin location with said independent variable.

2 more elements

A display system to represent discrete data events each characterized by a triad of magnitudes in the form of linear symbols originating on a two-dimensional virtual surface and scaled in a third dimension of a reference system, comprising:

display means to produce a visible image in accordance with electrical image signals;
storage means to temporarily store triads of values;
means to receive, modify and delete the values of said triads of magnitudes from said storage means;
and
processor means including a processing unit and memory to repeatedly generate said electrical image signals from said triads of values stored in said storage means (i) by positioning the origin of said linear symbols on said two-dimensional virtual surface according to the first two values of each said triad and by scaling the length of said symbol into the third dimension according to the third value (ii) by altering according to perspective the length in one dimension and the position in at least one of the other two dimensions of each symbol, and (iii) by limiting the number of displayed symbols to include only those events characterized by triads defining the originating point on said virtual surface within a predetermined twodimensional display range.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dynamic data display system, as for use with EEG

Life of this patent

Dynamic data display system, as for use with EEG

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21