Analog and digital video display system

• US 4,891,706 A
• Filed: 03/15/1989
• Issued: 01/02/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Inventors: Morud, Gregory L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Application Number:
  US07/324,288
• Time in Patent Office: 293 Days
• Field of Search: 358/113, 358/184, 330/59, 330/147, 330/308, 375/5, 370/119
• US Class Current: 348/707
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/148 Video amplifiers amplifiers in general H03F

Abstract

A video display system having a forward locking infrared sensor which emits a linear video signal together with a digital graphics generator which generates digital video signals in a plurality of colors; together with a signal video amplifier for amplifying both the linear signal and the high data rate digital signal; the video amplifier having a plurality of curent regulators for regulating the current through a particular resistor where the current regulation is a function of the received linear and digital video signals; the video amplifier also having the capability of current regulation through the resistor in response to variations in the voltage source voltage and thereby eliminating the need for an additional power source voltage regulator.

Claims

1. A video display system comprising:

a linear video signal source for generating a linear video signal in response to some external stimuli;

a digital video signal source, for outputting a digital video signal in response to some external stimuli;

a video amplifier coupled with said linear video source and said digital video source for amplifying the linear video signal and the digital video signal and thereby generating an amplified linear video signal and an amplified digital video signal;

said video amplifier having a resistor, a first means for controlling current through said resistor in response to a linear video signal, and a second means for controlling current through said resistor in response to a digital video signal;

a cathode ray tube coupled with said video amplifier for displaying information in response to the amplified linear video signal and the amplified digital video signal.

2. A video display system of claim 1 wherein said linear video signal source comprises a forward looking infrared detector, for detecting infrared radiation incident thereon and outputting a linear video signal in response thereto.

3. A video display system of claim 2 wherein said digital video source comprises a color graphics generator which outputs a plurality of high data rate digital signals in response to some external stimuli.

4. A dual mode video amplifier for amplifying both linear signals and digital signals, the amplifier comprising:

a voltage source;

an amplifier signal output;

a resistor coupled with said voltage source and said amplifier signal output for reducing the voltage between the voltage source and the amplifier signal output;

first means for controlling the current through said resistor in response to an input linear signal;

second means for controlling the current through said resistor in response to an input digital signal; and

means for controlling the current through the resistor in response to variations in the voltage source voltage.

5. A video display system comprising:

a forward looking infrared detector, which senses the reception of infrared radiation and outputs a linear video signal in response to the received infrared radiation;

a color graphics generator, which generates a high data rate digital signal in a plurality of colors, for displaying graphic and textual information on a video screen;

a cathode ray tube for displaying information in response to a received amplified video signal;

a video amplifier coupled with said forward looking infrared detector, said color graphic generator and said cathode ray tube for amplifying the linear video signal and the digital video signals and outputting an amplified video signal to the cathode ray tube;

a controller for switching the input to the video amplifier between the forward looking infrared detector and the color graphics generator;

said video amplifier having a voltage source, and amplifier signal output, a resistor coupled with said voltage source and said amplifier signal output for reducing the voltage between the voltage source and the amplifier signal outputs, a first means for controlling the current through said resistor in response to an input linear signal from said forward looking infrared detector, a second means for controlling the current through said resistor in response to an input digital signal from said color graphics generator, and means for controlling the current through the resistor in response to variations in the voltage source voltage.