Dual variable color measuring system

• US 6,181,126 B1
• Filed: 06/17/1999
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• 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): KARLSEN, ERNEST F
• Application Number:
  US09/335,281
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 324/115, 324/99.D, 324/96, 345/83, 345/150
• US Class Current: 324/115
• 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 measuring system performs measurement of two measured values and simultaneously exhibits the two measurement results in a digital format on a single variable color display device in respectively different colors, in order to distinguish them comfortably.

Claims

1. A dual variable color measuring system comprising:

first means for measuring a first signal and including a first data output for developing first data indicative of a measured value of said first signal;

second means for measuring a second signal and including a second data output for developing second data indicative of a measured value of said second signal;

a single display device including a plurality of light emitting diode display elements arranged in a side by side relation within said display device, each for providing a character indication in a selective color, and each including a color control input for illuminating said character indication in a first color in response to a first color control signal and in a second color in response to a second color control signal;

means, responsive to said first data output, for providing a character indication of said first data on certain ones of said light emitting diode display elements;

means, responsive to said second data output, for providing a character indication of said second data on the remaining ones of said light emitting diode display elements;

first color control means, associated with said first means for measuring, for applying said first color control signal to those of said color control inputs, corresponding to said light emitting diode display elements on which said first data are exhibited, for illuminating said character indication of said first data in a first color; and

second color control means, associated with said second means for measuring, for applying said second color control signal to the remaining ones of said color control inputs, corresponding to said light emitting diode display elements on which said second data are exhibited, for illuminating said character indication of said second data in a second color;

whereby said character indication of said first data and said character indication of said second data are exhibited on said display device in a side by side relation and distinguished by different colors.

2. A dual variable color measuring system comprising:

first means for measuring a first signal and including a first data output for developing first data indicative of a measured value of said first signal;

second means for measuring a second signal and including a second data output for developing second data indicative of a measured value of said second signal;

a single display device including a first set of a plurality of light emitting diode display elements, associated with said first means for measuring, for providing a character indication in a selective color, a first color control input coupled for illuminating said character indication on said first set in a first color in response to a first color control signal, a second set of a plurality of light emitting diode display elements, associated with said second means for measuring, for providing a character indication in a selective color, and a second color control input coupled for illuminating said character indication on said second set in a second color in response to a second color control signal, said first set of light emitting diode display elements and said second set of light emitting diode display elements being arranged in a side by side relation within said display device;

means, responsive to said first data output, for providing a character indication of said first data on said first set of light emitting diode display elements;

means, responsive to said second data output, for providing a character indication of said second data on said second set of light emitting diode display elements;

first color control means, associated with said first means for measuring, for applying said first color control signal to said first color control input, for illuminating said character indication of said first data on said first set of light emitting diode display elements in a first color; and

second color control means, associated with said second means for measuring, for applying said second color control signal to said second color control input, for illuminating said character indication of said second data on said second set of light emitting diode display elements in a second color;

whereby said character indication of said first data and said character indication of said second data are exhibited on said display device in a side by side relation and distinguished by different colors.

3. A dual variable color measuring system comprising:

first means for measuring a first signal and including a first data output for developing first data indicative of a measured value of said first signal;

second means for measuring a second signal and including a second data output for developing second data indicative of a measured value of said second signal;

a single display device including a plurality of light emitting diode display elements, each for providing a character indication in a selective color, each including a color control input for illuminating said character indication in a first color in response to a first color control signal and in a second color in response to a second color control signal, and all being arranged within said display device in a side by side relation to define the most significant light emitting diode display elements and the least significant light emitting diode display elements;

means, responsive to said first data output, for providing a character indication of said first data on said most significant light emitting diode display elements;

means, responsive to said second data output, for providing a character indication of said second data on said least significant light emitting diode display elements;

first color control means, associated with said first means for measuring, for applying said first color control signal to the color control inputs of said most significant light emitting diode display elements, for illuminating said character indication of said first data in a first color; and

second color control means, associated with said second means for measuring, for applying said second color control signal to the color control inputs of said least significant light emitting diode display elements, for illuminating said character indication of said second data in a second color;

whereby said character indication of said first data and said character indication of said second data are exhibited on said display device in a side by side relation and distinguished by different colors.

4. A dual variable color measuring system comprising:

first means for measuring a first signal and including a first data output for developing first data indicative of a measured value of said first signal;

second means for measuring a second signal and including a second data output for developing second data indicative of a measured value of said second signal;

a single display device including a plurality of light emitting diode display elements, each for providing a character indication in a selective color, each including a color control input for illuminating said character indication in a first color in response to a color control signal of a predetermined logic level and in a second color in response to a color control signal of an opposite logic level, and all being arranged within said display device in a side by side relation to define the most significant light emitting diode display elements and the least significant light emitting diode display elements;

means, responsive to said first data output, for providing a character indication of said first data on said most significant light emitting diode display elements;

means, responsive to said second data output, for providing a character indication of said second data on said least significant light emitting diode display elements;

first color control means, associated with said first means for measuring, for applying a color control signal of said predetermined logic level to the color control inputs of said most significant light emitting diode display elements, for illuminating said character indication of said first data in a first color; and

second color control means, associated with said second means for measuring, for applying a color control signal of said opposite logic level to the color control inputs of said least significant light emitting diode display elements, for illuminating said character indication of said second data in a second color;

whereby said character indication of said first data and said character indication of said second data are exhibited on said display device in a side by side relation and distinguished by different colors.

5. A dual variable color measuring system comprising:

first means for measuring a first signal and including a first data output for developing first data indicative of a measured value of said first signal;

second means for measuring a second signal and including a second data output for developing second data indicative of a measured value of said second signal;

a single display device including a plurality of light emitting diode display elements arranged in a side by side relation within said display device, each for providing a character indication in a selective color, and each including a color control input for illuminating said character indication in a first color in response to a first color control signal and in a second color in response to a second color control signal;

means for decoding including a decoder input, for receiving input data defining selected characters, and a plurality of decoder outputs, said decoder outputs being coupled to said light emitting diode display elements in accordance with their positions in said display device, said decoder outputs producing selective decoder output signals for exhibiting the selected characters on said light emitting diode display elements, in response to specific input data;

means, responsive to said first data output, for applying said first data to said decoder input, for providing a character indication of said first data on certain ones of said light emitting diode display elements;

means, responsive to said second data output, for applying said second data to said decoder input, for providing a character indication of said second data on the remaining ones of said light emitting diode display elements;

first color control means, associated with said first means for measuring, for applying said first color control signal to those of said color control inputs, corresponding to said light emitting diode display elements on which said first data are exhibited, for illuminating said character indication of said first data in a first color; and

second color control means, associated with said second means for measuring, for applying said second color control signal to the remaining ones of said color control inputs, corresponding to said light emitting diode display elements on which said second data are exhibited, for illuminating said character indication of said second data in a second color;

whereby said character indication of said first data and said character indication of said second data are exhibited on said display device in a side by side relation and distinguished by different colors.

6. A dual variable color measuring system comprising:

first means for measuring a first signal and including a first data output for developing first data indicative of a measured value of said first signal;

second means for measuring a second signal and including a second data output for developing second data indicative of a measured value of said second signal;

a single display device including a first set of a plurality of light emitting diode display elements arranged in a side by side relation within said display device and associated with said first means for measuring, for providing a character indication in a selective color, a first color control input coupled for illuminating said character indication on said first set in a first color in response to a first color control signal, a second set of a plurality of light emitting diode display elements arranged in a side by side relation within said display device and associated with said second means for measuring, for providing a character indication in a selective color, and a second color control input coupled for illuminating said character indication in a second color in response to a second color control signal;

means for decoding including a decoder input, for receiving input data defining selected characters, and a plurality of decoder outputs, said decoder outputs being coupled to said light emitting diode display elements in accordance with their positions in said display device, said decoder outputs producing selective decoder output signals for exhibiting the selected characters on said light emitting diode display elements, in response to specific input data;

means, responsive to said first data output, for applying said first data to said decoder input, for providing a character indication of said first data on said first set of light emitting diode display elements;

means, responsive to said second data output, for applying said second data to said decoder input, for providing a character indication of said second data on said second set of light emitting diode display elements;

first color control means, associated with said first means for measuring, for applying said first color control signal to said first color control input, for illuminating said character indication of said first data on said first set of light emitting diode display elements in a first color; and

second color control means, associated with said second means for measuring, for applying said second color control signal to said second color control input, for illuminating said character indication of said second data on said second set of light emitting diode display elements in a second color;

whereby said character indication of said first data and said character indication of said second data are exhibited on said display device in a side by side relation and distinguished by different colors.

7. A dual variable color measuring system comprising:

first means for measuring a first signal and including a first data output for developing first data indicative of a measured value of said first signal;

second means for measuring a second signal and including a second data output for developing second data indicative of a measured value of said second signal;

a single display device including a plurality of light emitting diode display elements, each for providing a character indication in a selective color, each including a color control input for illuminating said character indication in a first color in response to a first color control signal and in a second color in response to a second color control signal, and all being arranged within said display device in a side by side relation to define the most significant light emitting diode display elements and the least significant light emitting diode display elements;

means for decoding including a decoder input, for receiving input data defining selected characters, and a plurality of decoder outputs, said decoder outputs being coupled to said light emitting diode display elements in accordance with their positions in said display device, said decoder outputs producing selective decoder output signals for exhibiting the selected characters on said light emitting diode display elements, in response to specific input data;

means, responsive to said first data output, for applying said first data to said decoder input, for providing a character indication of said first data on said most significant light emitting diode display elements;

means, responsive to said second data output, for applying said second data to said decoder input, for providing a character indication of said second data on said least significant light emitting diode display elements;

first color control means, associated with said first means for measuring, for applying said first color control signal to the color control inputs of said most significant light emitting diode display elements, for illuminating said character indication of said first data in a first color; and

second color control means, associated with said second means for measuring, for applying said second color control signal to the color control inputs of said least significant light emitting diode display elements, for illuminating said character indication of said second data in a second color;

whereby said character indication of said first data and said character indication of said second data are exhibited on said display device in a side by side relation and distinguished by different colors.

8. A dual variable color measuring system comprising:

first means for measuring a first signal and including a first data output for developing first data indicative of a measured value of said first signal;

second means for measuring a second signal and including a second data output for developing second data indicative of a measured value of said second signal;

a single display device including a plurality of light emitting diode display elements, each for providing a character indication in a selective color, each including a color control input for illuminating said character indication in a first color in response to a color control signal of a predetermined logic level and in a second color in response to a color control signal of an opposite logic level, and all being arranged within said display device in a side by side relation to define the most significant light emitting diode display elements and the least significant light emitting diode display elements;

means for decoding including a decoder input, for receiving input data defining selected characters, and a plurality of decoder outputs, said decoder outputs being coupled to said light emitting diode display elements in accordance with their positions in said display device, said decoder outputs producing selective decoder output signals for exhibiting the selected characters on said light emitting diode display elements, in response to specific input data;

means, responsive to said first data output, for applying said first data to said decoder input, for providing a character indication of said first data on said most significant light emitting diode display elements;

means, responsive to said second data output, for applying said second data to said decoder input, for providing a character indication of said second data on said least significant light emitting diode display elements;

first color control means, associated with said first means for measuring, for applying a color control signal of said predetermined logic level to the color control inputs of said most significant light emitting diode display elements, for illuminating said character indication of said first data in a first color; and

second color control means, associated with said second means for measuring, for applying a color control signal of said opposite logic level to the color control inputs of said least significant light emitting diode display elements, for illuminating said character indication of said second data in a second color;

whereby said character indication of said first data and said character indication of said second data are exhibited on said display device in a side by side relation and distinguished by different colors.