Variable color digital measuring instrument for sequentially exhibiting measured values

• US 6,119,073 A
• Filed: 06/17/1999
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Texas Digital Systems, Inc. (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Texas Digital Systems, Inc. (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Havel, Karel
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, HIEN XUAN
• Application Number:
  US09/335,282
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 702/148, 702/125, 702/124, 702/176, 702/89, 702/3, 702/138, 324/115, 324/99 D, 345/83, 345/150, 73/384
• US Class Current: 702/148
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/02 for displaying measured electric variables in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/26 Circuits for controlling the intensity of the electron beam or the colour of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/405 using a plurality of active, i.e. light emitting, e.g. electro-luminescent elements, i.e. bar graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/125 for digital multimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0452 Details of colour pixel setup, e.g. pixel composed of a red, a blue and two green components
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0275 Details of drivers for data electrodes, other than drivers for liquid crystal, plasma or OLED displays, not related to handling digital grey scale data or to communication of data to the pixels by means of a current
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0666 for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/14 Semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes

Abstract

A variable color digital measuring instrument sequentially exhibits measured values in a color in accordance with the relation of the present measured value to a past measured value. A memory, controlled by a timer, is provided for storing data representing the past measured value. A comparator compares the present measured value with the data stored in the memory and develops a comparison signal accordingly, which is then used to control the color of the presently exhibited measured value.

Claims

1. A measuring device comprising:

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

means for measuring a first value of a signal, in accordance with said first timing signal, and a second value of a signal, in accordance with said second timing signal, and for developing first data indicative of the measured first value of the signal and second data indicative of the measured second value of the signal;

a plurality of adjacent variable color light emitting diode digital display elements for exhibiting a digital value;

a memory for storing said first data, in accordance with said first timing signal;

means for exhibiting on said display elements a digital indication of said second data, in accordance with said second timing signal;

means for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second data with the first data stored in said memory and for developing a first comparison signal when said second data are larger than the first data stored in said memory and a second comparison signal when said second data are less than the first data stored in said memory;

a color control for controlling the color of said digital indication, in accordance with said second timing signal, for illuminating said digital indication in a first color in response to said first comparison signal and in a second color in response to said second comparison signal.

2. A measuring device comprising:

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

means for measuring a first value of a signal, in accordance with said first timing signal, and a second value of a signal, in accordance with said second timing signal, and for developing first data indicative of the measured first value of the signal and second data indicative of the measured second value of the signal;

a plurality of adjacent variable color light emitting diode digital display elements for exhibiting a digital value;

a memory for storing said first data, in accordance with said first timing signal;

means for exhibiting on said display elements a digital indication of said second data, in accordance with said second timing signal;

means for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second data with the first data stored in said memory and for developing a first comparison signal when said second data are larger than the first data stored in said memory, a second comparison signal when said second data are less than the first data stored in said memory, and a third comparison signal when said second data are equal to the first data stored in said memory;

a color control for controlling the color of said digital indication, in accordance with said second timing signal, for illuminating said digital indication in a first color in response to said first comparison signal, in a second color in response to said second comparison signal, and in a third color in response to said third comparison signal.

3. A measuring device comprising:

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

means for measuring a first value of a signal, in accordance with said first timing signal, and a second value of a signal, in accordance with said second timing signal, and for developing first data indicative of the measured first value of the signal and second data indicative of the measured second value of the signal;

a variable color light emitting diode digital display device for exhibiting a digital value, said display device including a color control input for controlling the color of the exhibited digital value;

a memory for storing said first data, in accordance with said first timing signal;

means for exhibiting on said display device a digital indication of said second data, in accordance with said second timing signal;

means for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second data with the first data stored in said memory and for developing a first comparison signal when said second data are larger than the first data stored in said memory and a second comparison signal when said second data are less than the first data stored in said memory;

a color control for applying said first comparison signal and said second comparison signal to said color control input, in accordance with said second timing signal, for illuminating said digital indication in a first color in response to said first comparison signal and in a second color in response to said second comparison signal.

4. A measuring device comprising:

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

means for measuring a first value of a signal, in accordance with said first timing signal, and a second value of a signal, in accordance with said second timing signal, and for developing first data indicative of the measured first value of the signal and second data indicative of the measured second value of the signal;

a variable color light emitting diode digital display device for exhibiting a digital value, said display device including a first color control input, for illuminating, upon its activation, the exhibited digital value in a first color, a second color control input, for illuminating, upon its activation, the exhibited digital value in a second color, and a third color control input, for illuminating, upon its activation, the exhibited digital value in a third color;

a memory for storing said first data, in accordance with said first timing signal;

means for exhibiting on said display device a digital indication of said second data, in accordance with said second timing signal;

means for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second data with the first data stored in said memory and for developing a first comparison signal when said second data are larger than the first data stored in said memory, a second comparison signal when said second data are less than the first data stored in said memory, and a third comparison signal when said second data are equal to the first data stored in said memory;

a color control for applying said first comparison signal, said second comparison signal, and said third comparison signal to said first color control input, said second color control input, and said third color control input, respectively, in accordance with said second timing signal, for illuminating said digital indication in a first color in response to said first comparison signal, in a second color in response to said second comparison signal, and in a third color in response to said third comparison signal.

5. A variable color digital barometer comprising:

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

means for measuring a first value of a barometric pressure, in accordance with said first timing signal, and a second value of a barometric pressure, in accordance with said second timing signal, and for developing first data indicative of the measured first value of the barometric pressure and second data indicative of the measured second value of the barometric pressure;

a variable color light emitting diode digital display device for exhibiting a digital value;

a memory for storing said first data, in accordance with said first timing signal;

means for exhibiting on said display device a digital indication of said second data, in accordance with said second timing signal;

means for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second data with the first data stored in said memory and for developing a first comparison signal when said second data are larger than the first data stored in said memory and a second comparison signal when said second data are less than the first data stored in said memory;

a color control for controlling the color of said digital indication, in accordance with said second timing signal, for illuminating said digital indication in a first color in response to said first comparison signal and in a second color in response to said second comparison signal;

whereby the measured barometric pressure is digitally indicated in a first color when the barometric pressure is rising, and in a second color when the barometric pressure is falling.

6. A variable color digital barometer comprising:

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

means for measuring a first value of a barometric pressure, in accordance with said first timing signal, and a second value of a barometric pressure, in accordance with said second timing signal, and for developing first data indicative of the measured first value of the barometric pressure and second data indicative of the measured second value of the barometric pressure;

a variable color light emitting diode digital display device for exhibiting a digital value;

a memory for storing said first data, in accordance with said first timing signal;

means for exhibiting on said display device a digital indication of said second data, in accordance with said second timing signal;

means for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second data with the first data stored in said memory and for developing a first comparison signal when said second data are larger than the first data stored in said memory, a second comparison signal when said second data are less than the first data stored in said memory, and a third comparison signal when said second data are equal to the first data stored in said memory;

a color control for controlling the color of said digital indication, in accordance with said second timing signal, for illuminating said digital indication in a first color in response to said first comparison signal, in a second color in response to said second comparison signal, and in a third color in response to said third comparison signal;

whereby the measured barometric pressure is digitally indicated in a first color when the barometric pressure is rising, in a second color when the barometric pressure is falling, and in a third color when the barometric pressure is unchanged.

7. A variable color digital barometer comprising:

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

means for measuring a first value of a barometric pressure, in accordance with said first timing signal, and a second value of a barometric pressure, in accordance with said second timing signal, and for developing first data indicative of the measured first value of the barometric pressure and second data indicative of the measured second value of the barometric pressure;

a variable color light emitting diode digital display device for exhibiting a digital value, said display device including a color control input for controlling the color of the exhibited digital value;

a memory for storing said first data, in accordance with said first timing signal;

means for exhibiting on said display device a digital indication of said second data, in accordance with said second timing signal;

a comparator for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second data with the first data stored in said memory and for developing a first comparison signal when said second data are larger than the first data stored in said memory and a second comparison signal when said second data are less than the first data stored in said memory;

a color control for applying said first comparison signal and said second comparison signal to said color control input, in accordance with said second timing signal, for illuminating said digital indication in a first color in response to said first comparison signal and in a second color in response to said second comparison signal;

whereby the measured barometric pressure is digitally indicated in a first color when the barometric pressure is rising, and in a second color when the barometric pressure is falling.

8. A variable color digital barometer comprising:

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

means for measuring a first value of a barometric pressure, in accordance with said first timing signal, and a second value of a barometric pressure, in accordance with said second timing signal, and for developing first data indicative of the measured first value of the barometric pressure and second data indicative of the measured second value of the barometric pressure;

a variable color light emitting diode digital display device for exhibiting a digital value, said display device including a first color control input, for illuminating, upon its activation, the exhibited digital value in a first color, a second color control input, for illuminating, upon its activation, the exhibited digital value in a second color, and a third color control input, for illuminating, upon its activation, the exhibited digital value in a third color;

a memory for storing said first data, in accordance with said first timing signal;

means for exhibiting on said display device a digital indication of said second data, in accordance with said second timing signal;

a comparator for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second data with the first data stored in said memory and for developing a first comparison signal when said second data are larger than the first data stored in said memory, a second comparison signal when said second data are less than the first data stored in said memory, and a third comparison signal when said second data are equal to the first data stored in said memory;

a color control for applying said first comparison signal, said second comparison signal, and said third comparison signal to said first color control input, said second color control input, and said third color control input, respectively, in accordance with said second timing signal, for illuminating said digital indication in a first color in response to said first comparison signal, in a second color in response to said second comparison signal, and in a third color in response to said third comparison signal;

whereby the measured barometric pressure is digitally indicated in a first color when the barometric pressure is rising, in a second color when the barometric pressure is falling, and in a third color when the barometric pressure is unchanged.