Multiple display system

• US 4,884,068 A
• Filed: 09/12/1986
• Issued: 11/28/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary W. Orwig, Stephen E. Matheny
• Original Assignee: Gary W. Orwig, Stephen E. Matheny
• Inventors: Matheny, Stephen E., Orwig, Gary W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, David K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fatahiyar, M.
• Application Number:
  US07/906,801
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/525, 340/709, 340/707, 340/712, 340/708, 340/717, 340/716, 340/710, 178/18
• US Class Current: 345/1.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0386 for light pen

Abstract

A multiple display system having a single light pen made to operate with a plurality of synchronized monitors in an array. A determination of which monitor in the array the light pen is being used with, is made to allow simultaneous usage of the light pen on any of the monitors in the array. Other positioning or pointing input devices can be arranged to work with the array of monitors.

Claims

1. A multiple display system comprising:

a microcomputer having a mother board having a plurality of expansion slots therein and connected to a keyboard;

a plurality of display cards attached to said mother board and being operatively attached to each other;

a plurality of displays, one display being attached to each display card for operation thereby;

a synchronization generator card attached to one slot of said mother board for synchronizing said plurality of display cards;

a pointer device attached to said microcomputer for actuating each of said plurality of displays;

means for recognizing which display said pointer device is being used upon and to operate a plurality of displays with the pointer on any one of said displays; and

memory means for storing and retrieving analogue and digitized picture files and information and coordinate text on said stored analogue and digitized picture files, said memory means being coupled to said microcomputer having a plurality of display cards for displaying the stored analogue and coordinate digitized picture files and text.

2. A multiple display system in accordance with claim 1 in which each of said plurality of displays is a CRT monitor.

3. A multiple display system in accordance with claim 2 in which said pointer device attached to said multiple display system is a light pen.

4. A multiple display system in accordance with claim 1 in which said memory means includes a videodisc player connected to said synchronization generator card.

5. A multiple display system in accordance with claim 4 in which a disk controller is attached to said mother board and has an optical storage device attached thereto.

6. A multiple display system in accordance with claim 4 in which a disk controller is attached to said mother board and has an optical disk device attached thereto.

7. A multiple display system in accordance with claim 4 in which a disk controller is attached to said mother board and has a magnetic storage device attached thereto.

8. A multiple display system in accordance with claim 4 in which a disk controller is attached to said mother board and has a magnetic disk device attached thereto.

9. A multiple display system in accordance with claim 1 in which said pointer device includes a mouse interface card attached to said microcomputer mother board and having a mouse attached thereto.

10. A multiple display system in accordance with claim 6 in which a light pen is attached to said mother board.

11. A multiple display system in accordance with claim 7 in which a frame buffer and digitizer board is attached to said microcomputer mother board.

12. A multiple display system in accordance with claim 1 in which said plurality of display cards includes two display cards having one monitor connected to each display card.