Light pen system and method
OwnerBruce Beasleyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
System and method for forming an operator controlled image on a video display screen with a light sensing pen. The pen is moved relative to the screen to provide a signal corresponding to the position of the pen during each successive frame of the display. A memory having a plurality of data storage locations corresponding to different points on the screen is scanned in synchronization with the position of the beam, and data is written into the memory in response to the signal from the light pen at locations corresponding to the points at which the light pen senses the bean during successive frames. This data is read out of the memory as it is scanned and is utilized to produce an image corresponding to the position of the light pen in successive frame.
Claims4
A system for forming an image on a display screen scanned in frames by a beam, comprising:
- a light pen which can be pointed at different points on the screen and has a light sensing element for providing a signal when the position of the light pen coincides with the position of the beam,
- a display memory having a plurality of addressable storage locations,
- an object memory containing data for an object to be controlled by the light pen,
- means responsive to the signal from the light pen for reading data out of the object memory in synchronism with the scanning of the beam,
- means for writing the data read out of the object memory into the display memory at locations corresponding to the position of the light pen on the screen during successive frames,
- means for addressing the display memory locations,
- means for reading the data out of the display memory locations as they are addressed, and
- means responsive to the data read out of the display memory for producing an image of the object on the screen at points where the light pen is pointed during successive frames.
A method of forming an image on a display screen scanned in frames by a beam, comprising the steps of:
- pointing a light sensing pen at different points on the screen,
- providing a signal from the light pen when the light pen senses the beam during each successive frame,
- storing data for an object to be displayed on the screen in an object memory,
- reading data out of the object memory in response to the signals from the light pen and in synchronism with the scanning of the beam,
- writing the data read out of the object memory into a display memory at locations corresponding to the points at which the light pen senses the beam during successive frames,
- addressing the display memory locations,
- reading the data out of the display memory locations as they are addressed, and
- producing an image of the object on the screen in response to the data read out of the display memory at the points where the light pen senses the beam during successive frames.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.