United States Patent [19]
`Mori asu et a1.
`
`[1 1]
`[45]
`
`4,225,940
`Se . 30 1980
`9
`
`[54] OSCILLOSCOPE SYSTEM FOR
`
`3,621,214 11/1971 Romney ............................. .. 235/151
`
`ACQUIRING, PROCESSING, AND
`DISPLAYING INFORMATION
`
`[75] Inventors: Hiro Moriyasu, Portland; Jack A.
`Gilmore, Aloha; Willem B, Velsink,
`Bavemn; Luis J. Baum,’
`Pomand an of Greg‘
`’
`[73] Assignee: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, Oreg.
`
`Hare . . . . . . . .
`3,629,841 12/1971
`Dancis .
`3,629,844 12/1971
`3,648,250
`3/1972 Luw ....... ..
`3,651,510
`3/1972
`Gilbert .............. ..
`3,652,999
`3/1972
`Hjort
`3,653,027
`3/1972
`Scheer . . . . .
`3,662,380
`5/1972 Cargile
`3,736,564
`5/1972 Watkins
`3,765,009 10/1973
`Graves
`
`. . . . .. 364/900
`340/172 5
`340/172 S
`340/324 A
`.... .. 340/172 S
`. . . .. 340/324 A
`340/324 AD
`340/172 5
`340/324 A
`
`[21] APPl- N9‘ 948,068
`[22] Filed:
`Oct. 2’ 1978
`
`3,792,463
`
`3,859,556
`3,372,461
`
`2/1974 Eriksson . . . . . .
`
`. . . . .. 340/ 723
`
`315/367
`1/1975 Schumann
`3/1975
`Jarosik ............................... .. 315/365
`
`63
`[
`]
`
`D
`R ] ted U S A l
`e a
`.
`.
`‘cation ata
`‘
`pp‘
`_
`Continuation 01' Ser. No: 736,677, Oct. 28, 1976, aban-
`doned, which 15 a continuatlon of Ser. No. 631,345,
`Nov. 12, 1975, abandoned, which is a continuation of
`Ser. No. 321,876, Jan. 8, 1973, abandoned.
`
`OTHER PUBLXCATIONS
`_
`,
`“Tektronix Osc1lloscopes & Associated Instruments",
`1970 Catalog, Pp_ 100401, 127_
`Primary Examiner-James D. Thomas
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-George T. Noe
`
`[51] Int. Cl.2 ...................... .. G06F 3/05; GOlR 13/20;
`G06F 5/00; G06F 13/00
`[52] us. c1. .............................. .. 364/900- 324/121 R-
`340/745, 315/367, 315/379 1240/3 47 SH:
`’
`’
`’
`340/347 R’
`364/200 MS File’ 900 MS File,
`[58] Field of Search
`364/521, 437. 315/365’ 366, 367, 379. 346/110
`R, 33 C, 33 \,VL; 324/77 R, 77 B, 78 12, 121 R,
`77 A; 367/68, 69, 71; 340/347, 721’ 722’ 723’
`736, 745, 747; 328/ 104, 154; 307/243
`_
`References cm“!
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3,153,763 10/1964 Uphoff ............................... .. 328/104
`3,344.407 9/967 xoeijmans
`340N715
`
`[56]
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT‘
`.
`.
`.H
`A gelleral'purpm “619ml” system. ‘S dlsclmfi
`wherein waveforms acquired by the vertical and hori
`zontal preampli?er channels can be displayed immedi
`ately, or they can be digitized and stored in a memory
`from where they can be recalled, reconstituted in their
`analog form and displayed at a later time. The process
`ing system permits simultaneous display of instanta
`neous and processed waveforms, and includes facilities
`for processing associated z-axis signals and readout data
`as well. Access to peripheral equipment, such as a com
`puter or the like, permits the digitized waveforms to be
`mathcma?cany manipulated and rammed ‘0 the mem’
`ory in the processing system for ultimate display. The
`
`3,345,616 10/ 1967
`
`Avril . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 340/172.5
`
`oscilloscope system can be assembled in a modular man
`
`3,380,028
`4/ 1968
`Gustafson . . . . .
`3,406,337 ‘0/1968 weme
`239°‘;
`5/1970 N12123:":
`5/1970 Watanabe .
`5/1970 Sloane
`6/1971
`Lee
`
`3‘ slz’l 31
`3,514,759
`3,514,762
`3,585,440
`
`. . . . . . . . . . .. 340/721
`340/324
`
`'
`"" " 3 40/172 5
`340/172 5
`. 340/172 S
`340/324
`
`ner, whereby the processing unit becomes an integral
`part of the instrument, or the system can be assembled
`as a general-purpose oscilloscope without the process
`ing unit, allowing a user to add the processing capability
`‘° h'S System a‘ a later "m9
`
`4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures
`
`DISPLAY 35
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`Apple 1059
`U.S. Pat. 9,189,437
`
`

`
`US. Patent Sep. 30, 1980
`
`Sheet 1 of3
`
`4,225,940
`
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`

`
`US. Patent Sep. 30, 1980
`
`Sheet 3 of3
`
`4,225,940
`
`I00
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`
`

`
`1
`
`OSCILLOSCOPE SYSTEM FOR ACQUIRING,
`PROCESSING, AND DISPLAYING
`INFORMATION
`
`This is a continuation of Ser. No. 736,677, filed Oct.
`28, 1976, now abandoned which is a continuation of Ser.
`No. 631,345, ?led Nov. 12, 1975, now abandoned which
`is a continuation of Ser. No. 321,876, ?led Jan. 8, 1973,
`now abandoned.
`
`10
`
`20
`
`25
`
`4,225,940
`2
`capability of categorizing associated alpha-numeric data
`related thereto. A unique sampling circuit, which em
`ploys a delayed horizontal sampling strobe to remove
`the need for the conventional vertical delay line and its
`compensation, takes samples of vertical and horizontal
`waveforms; such samples are then digitized by conven
`tional A/D converters and then stored in precise coor
`dinate relationship in a memory device. The present
`invention is capable of storing several such waveforms
`and associated alpha-numeric data. These waveforms
`and data can be recalled for display as desired, or sent to
`a compatible computer via a direct interface for further
`processing, such as storage or mathematical operations
`thereon, and then returned to the system of the present
`invention for ultimate display. For example, a signal
`generated in the time domain can be displayed in the
`frequency domain using a Fast Fourier Transform tech
`nique.
`It is therefore one object of the present invention to
`acquire, process, and display wide bandwidth informa
`tion corresponding to at least two major axes of a Carte
`sian coordinate system.
`It is another object of the present invention to display
`both instantaneous signals and processed signal infor
`mation simultaneously on the same cathode~ray tube.
`It is a further object of the present invention to match
`real-time characteristics of the signal by categorizing
`both vertical and horizontal information.
`It is yet another object of the present invention to
`provide a sampling system capable of sampling both
`vertical and horizontal signals to provide information
`corresponding to a coordinate point, without delaying
`the vertical signal or using a horizontal pretriggering
`scheme.
`It is yet a further object of the present invention to
`store and display alpha-numeric data corresponding to
`stored waveforms.
`It is still another object of the present invention to
`provide a ?exible display system in which waveforms
`and related data can be processed by a computer prior
`to display.
`Other objects and attainments of the present inven
`tion will become apparent to those skilled in the art
`upon a reading of the following detailed description
`when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which
`there are shown and described illustrative embodiments
`of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that
`these embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive
`nor limiting to the invention.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Many attempts have been made to retain and analyze
`waveform data associated with display systems, such as
`oscilloscopes and the like. The development of the stor
`age cathode ray tube permitted waveforms to be dis
`played on an oscilloscope screen for extended periods
`of time; however, this system lacked versatility. A
`“split-screen" technique increased the capability by
`permitting two waveforms to be viewed simultaneously
`in any combination of stored and non-stored operating
`modes. To analyze these waveforms, or to perform any
`mathematical functions thereon, it was necessary for the
`operator to simulate the waveforms on paper and men
`tally calculate the desired results. For example, to ob
`tain an electrical power curve from voltage and current
`waveforms, the tedious operation of point-by-point
`multiplication of the corresponding points on the volt
`age and current waveforms was performed, from which
`the points of the power waveform could be obtained. A
`major disadvantage of storage cathode-ray tubes for
`waveform analysis is that information stored thereon
`can be held for only a limited time. If a particular wave
`form was needed beyond the storage time limit, it be
`came necessary to photograph such waveform or pro
`vide a facsimile.
`One form of waveform processing was developed
`which was capable of categorizing waveform informa
`tion on one axis only, usually the vertical axis. This
`system digitized the information and stored it in a mem
`ory bank, such as a core memory or a memory register.
`This information was then available to the display sys
`tem on a recall basis to provide a refreshed display.
`However, this system also had its limitations, and one
`major disadvantage was its extremely narrow band
`45
`width capability. The system was locked to a timing
`signal or clock signal which was compatible to a com
`puter and the single-axis information was processed at
`that rate. Because of slow sweep speeds required to
`display such processed information, it was impractical
`to simultaneously view real-time signals which were
`generally occurring at higher frequencies. While two or
`more such single-axis signals could be processed in this
`manner, which could include manipulation by a com
`puter or the like, another serious disadvantage to previ
`ous systems was that due to differences in sweep timing
`and linearity, etc. the identical initial conditions could
`not be repeated, rendering the accuracy of such pro
`cessed waveforms questionable and unreliable.
`
`35
`
`55
`
`DRAWINGS
`FIG. I shows a block diagram of a waveform pro
`cessing system according to the prior art;
`FIG. 2 shows a general block diagram of the wave
`form processing and display system according to the
`present invention;
`FIG. 3 shows a detailed block diagram of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the sampling system
`according to the present invention; and
`FIG. 5 shows a waveform ladder diagram illustrating
`the strobe timing of the sampling system of FIG. 4.
`
`65
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram of the prior art
`is shown wherein a real-time signal corresponding to a
`single display axis is applied to input terminal 1. Block 2
`is a conventional sample and hold circuit which takes
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`According to the present invention, information cor
`responding to each major axis of a Cartesian-coordinate
`system display, for example, vertical, horizontal, and z
`axes, can be categorized simultaneously. Such simulta
`neous categorization permits wide bandwidth opera
`tion, overcoming a previous major disadvantage. In
`addition to waveform information, this system has the
`
`

`
`20
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`4,225,940
`4
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`of deflection factors. Vertical channel switch 63 selects
`repetitive samples of the instantaneous values of the
`between the output signals of the vertical plug-in units
`input waveform and holds such a sample until the subse
`60 and 62 to provide a vertical output signal from acqui
`quent sample is taken. Block 3 is a conventional analog
`sition unit 50. ‘A’ horizontal plug-in 64 and ‘B’ horizon
`to-digital converter which converts the instantaneous
`tal plug-in 66 generate a plurality of selectable time~base
`waveform voltage value to digital data. This digital data
`signals, or sweeps. Plug-ins 64 and 66 can also comprise
`is then sent to memory unit 4. A triggering signal de
`preampli?er channels for amplifying signals to be dis
`rived from the afore-mentioned real-time signal is ap
`played on the horizontal axis. Horizontal channel
`plied to input terminal 5. Trigger circuit 6, usually a
`switch 67 selects between the outputs of the plug-ins 64
`comparator, generates a trigger in response to the trig
`and 66 to provide a horizontal output signal from the
`gering signal. This trigger synchronizes clock circuit 7,
`acquisition unit 50. Z-axis generator 68 produces signals
`whose accurate-period clock-pulse output is sent to
`to control the conduction of beam current in the cath
`counter circuit 8 to form the address pulses for the
`ode-ray tube; the z-axis signals generally cut the cath
`memory unit 4. In the manner just described, each digit
`ode-ray tube off to blank the display during movement
`derived from the real-time signal applied to terminal 1 is
`of the electron beam not germane to the display infor
`stored in a separate memory cell. The waveform infor
`mation, such as between sweeps and unwanted portions
`mation is then sent to digital computing machine 9 for
`of the display, and turns the cathode-ray tube on to
`processing; then the results are sent to the display de
`display information. Readout circuit 69 produces alpha
`vice 10 for visual display, usually against a time base
`numeric information corresponding to the signal infor—
`signal which is generated as the processed results are
`mation on both the vertical and horizontal axes. Since
`recalled from the computing machine 9.
`the readout information is displayed on-screen along
`Turning now to FIG. 2, a general block diagram
`with the displayed waveform, a z-axis signal is pro
`according to the present invention is shown. All blocks
`duced by readout circuit 69 in accordance with the
`contain conventional circuits, well known to those
`alpha-numeric characters so that the cathode-ray tube
`skilled in the art. As can be discerned, information cor
`can be turned off while the electron beam is being de
`responding to two axes of a graphic display system is
`flected to and from character positions. A typical such
`applied simultaneously to input terminals 14 and 16.
`readout circuit is shown in US. Pat. No. 3,651,510.
`This information is available for immediate display and
`In the processing unit 51, the vertical signal and hori
`for processing. Sample/Hold circuits 18 and 20 take
`zontal signal are presented respectively to channel swit
`samples of the instantaneous voltage values of the input
`ches 71 and 72 to be routed to the display unit 52, and
`signals in the manner of conventional sampling circuits;
`these signals are also presented respectively to vertical
`however, as will be described later, a delayed strobe is
`sample and hold circuit 73 and horizontal sample and
`employed to enable capturing data prior to the trigger
`hold circuit 74. The sample and hold circuits 73 and 74
`ing event and to permit simultaneous categorization of
`take instantaneous samples of the waveform informa
`both vertical and horizontal information so that they
`tion and hold the samples until the next sample is taken.
`may be stored together as a coordinate point. Analog
`Channel switch 76 selects between the outputs of sam
`to-digital converters 22 and 24 then convert the sam
`ple and hold circuits 73 and 74 and passes the selected
`pled voltage values to digital representations thereof,
`voltage sample to analog-to-digital converter 77. Here
`the vertical information becoming the “data” to be
`the sample is converted to a digital representation
`stored in memory unit 25 and the horizontal information
`thereof. The analog-to-digital converter 77 also con
`becoming the “address" for locating the place in the
`tains a clock generator for generating sampling strobes
`memory unit 25 wherein the data will be stored.
`for the sample and hold circuits 73 and 74 and for gener
`The vertical and horizontal information stored in
`ating switching signals for the channel switch 76 to
`memory unit 25 can be recalled for processing by digital
`select between vertical and horizontal samples at the
`computing machine 27, or for display. Also, the pro
`appropriate times. Since the horizontal time-base signal
`cessed information can be returned from the digital
`45
`is slightly delayed in relation to the vertical information
`computing machine 27 to the memory unit 25. When
`due to ?nite triggering and time-base start-up delays,
`the information is to be displayed, digital-to-analog
`the strobe to the horizontal sample and hold circuit 74 is
`converters 28 and 30 change the digital information into
`delayed an appropriate length of time by delay line 78.
`an analog form. Switching circuits 32 and 34 can select
`This allows a close time match of vertical and horizon
`between real signals at terminals 14 and 16 or processed
`tal information to prevent loss of the leading portion the
`signals from digital-to-analog converters 28 and 30. The
`vertical information.
`selected signal is then displayed by display device 35.
`The digital representations of the sampled waveform
`FIG. 3 shows a detailed block diagram of an oscillo
`are routed from analog-to-digital converter 77 bia bus
`scope system according to the present invention. The
`80 to core memory 82. As previously described, the
`system comprises four units, acquisition unit 50, pro
`55
`vertical information corresponds to “data” and horizon
`cessing unit 51, display unit 52, and external computer
`tal information corresponds to "address". Core memory
`53. Acquisition unit 50 and display unit 52 can be con
`82 is capable of storing several waveforms together
`nected together to form a conventional oscilloscope.
`with their respective alpha-numeric data, such as scale
`The external computer 53 may be a minicomputer such
`factors. The alpha-numeric data is routed to and from
`as a PDP-ll, manufactured by Digital Equipment Oor
`the readout circuit 69 via readout interface 83 and bus
`poration of Maynard, Massachusetts. Unless otherwise
`80. Readout interface 83 provides compatibility be
`mentioned, all blocks contain conventional circuits,
`tween the analog system of the acquisition unit 50 and
`well known to those skilled in the art.
`the digital system of the processing unit 51, and thus
`Signals are acquired by left vertical plug-in unit 60
`contains the required converters.
`and right vertical plug-in unit 62 in the conventional
`Data from the core memory 82 is routed to the exter
`manner, usually via a probe or a coaxial cable. Vertical
`nal computer 53 via bus 80 and the input-output inter
`plug-in units 60 and 62 typically comprise attenuators
`face 85. The input output interface 85 provides compat
`and switched-gain preamplifiers to provide a plurality
`
`40
`
`30
`
`35
`
`60
`
`65
`
`

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`IO
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`4,225,940
`6
`5
`the cathode-ray tube of display 99 to control its conduc
`ability between the processing unit 51 and the external
`computer 53, and the exact circuitry thereof is depen
`tion. While display 99 is a cathode-ray tube in this em
`bodiment, it is understood that any type of display could
`dent upon the computer use. For example, for the DEC
`be used, for example, recording pens.
`PDP-ll mentioned earlier, the PDP-ll Handbook pulr
`lished in 1969 by Digital Equipment Corporation pro
`Turning now to FIG. 4, a block diagram of the sam
`pling system according to the present invention is
`vides the necessary information for constructing inter
`face 85, particularly chapters 8 and 9 thereof, which
`shown. Corresponding waveforms are shown in the
`describe the PDP-ll Unibus, de?ne all signals, provide
`ladder diagram of FIG. 5. An input signal correspond
`example circuitry, and set forth general interfacing rules
`ing to FIG. 5a is applied to input terminal 100 of FIG.
`and appendices C and D which provide the necessary
`4. Ampli?er 101, which may be a conventional vertical
`address map and timing charts. After manipulation by
`amplifier in an oscilloscope, amplifies the signal to the
`appropriate scale. A triggering signal is picked off from
`the computer, the data can be returned to the core mem
`ory 82 via the same path. The core memory 82 has the
`ampli?er 101 and fed to a standard trigger generator
`added capability of storing additional information from
`102, where a trigger corresponding to that shown in
`the computer, such as messages to be read out on the
`FIG. 5b is produced. Time-base generator 103, which is
`display screen.
`a conventional sweep circuit, receives the trigger, and
`Routing control of all signals in the system, as well as
`after a ?nite time interval, the time-base sweep saw
`instructions to the external computer, is provided by the
`tooth begins to linearly run up. The time-base signal
`front-panel logic circuit 86, which provides a direct
`corresponds to FIG. 5c. Sample and hold circuits 105
`interface with the user and the system. Working in
`and 106 consist of standard sampling diodes and storage
`conjunction with front-panel controls, the front-panel
`capacitors. Strobe circuit 108 generates sampling
`logic circuit 86 develops control signals to select the
`strobes at a clocked rate which is random with respect
`source of display from the acquisition unit 50 or from
`to the vertical and time-base signals. The sampling
`the memory 82, or both, to select the data handling
`strobe corresponding to FIG. 5d is applied simulta
`within the processing unit 51, e.g., store, hold, send to
`neously to the vertical sample and hold circuit 105 and
`or receive from computer, etc., to select memory loca
`to delay circuit 109. After a delay period, the strobe,
`tion of a waveform and its associated data, and to select
`corresponding to FIG. Se. is applied to the horizontal
`computer programs to perform required functions. De
`sample and hold circuit 106. The delayed sampling
`pending upon the function selected, these control sig
`strobe thus eliminates the need for a vertical delay line
`nals are routed to the appropriate circuits. Priority logic
`or a pretriggering time-base signal. The output samples
`circuit 88 monitors the traffic activity over bus 80, se
`are then available at output terminals 111 and 112.
`lecting in turn each circuit requiring access to the bus 00
`While we have shown and described the preferred
`and thereby allowing one set of information over the
`embodiments of our invention, it will be apparent to
`bus 80 at one time.
`those skilled in the art that many changes and modi?ca
`Signals recalled for display are routed from core
`35
`tions may be made without departing from our inven
`memory 82 over bus 80 to the display generator 90. The
`tion in its broader aspects.
`circuitry of display generator 90 is disclosed in US. Pat.
`We claim:
`No. 3,824,382, in which digital representation of signals
`1. A display system which comprises in combination,
`are converted to an analog form using a vector tech
`(a) analog display means,
`nique. The vertical and horizontal signals are recovered
`(b) analog input means,
`from the waveform and routed via channel switches 71
`(c) digital input means, and
`and 72 respectively to the display unit 52.
`(d) switch means selectively coupled to one of said
`The z-axis logic circuit 92 receives inputs from z-axis
`analog and digital input means and to said display
`generator 68, front-panel logic 86, and display genera
`means, said switch means including ?rst converter
`tor 90, and produces a z-axis signal which corresponds
`means responsive to said selection of a digital input
`to the waveform being displayed. The z-axis signal is
`to convert said digital input to an analog input,
`sent the display unit 52 to produce the appropriate dis
`further including second converter means coupled
`play intensity. The display or portions thereof can be at
`to said analog input means for converting said
`different intensities, depending upon the z-axis signal,
`input signal to digital form and storage means con
`for example, dark, dim, normal, or bright. The z-axis
`nected to said second converter means for storing
`logic circuit 92 also produces switching signals for the
`ordered pairs of signals in digital form indicative of
`channel switches 71 and 72, ascertaining proper signal
`individual points of analog signals at said analog
`routing to the display unit 52. In addition, a sensing
`input means, wherein said second converter means
`signal is sent to analog-to-digital converter 77 to ensure
`and said storage means comprise:
`non-storage of any information sampled between
`a memory and means coupled to said memory and
`sweeps.
`said analog input means which includes an ampli
`The display unit 52 consists of vertical amplifier 95,
`?er coupled to said analog input means, a ?rst
`horizontal ampli?er 96, z-axis ampli?er 97 and display
`sample and hold circuit coupled to said ampli
`99. Ampli?er 95 and 96 are conventional push-pull
`?er, a trigger generator coupled to said ampli
`ampli?ers which amplify the vertical and horizontal
`?er, a time base generator driven by said trigger
`signals from switching circuits 71 and 72 in a manner
`generator, a second sample and hold circuit
`suitable to drive the deflection plates of the cathode-ray
`driven by said generator, a strobe circuit driving
`tube of display 99. These ampli?ers receive readout
`said ?rst sample and hold circuit, a delay circuit
`information from readout circuit 69 to provide proper
`ampli?cation of the display-associated alpha-numeric
`coupled to said strobe circuit and said second
`sample and hold circuit, said ?rst sample and
`characters. Z-axis ampli?er 97 receives z-axis signals
`hold circuit providing data for storage in said
`from z-axis logic circuit 92 and readout circuit 69, and
`produces a voltage level which is applied to the grid of
`memory, said second sample and hold circuit
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`8
`7
`said digital input means is connected to the output of
`Providing the address in said memory for storage
`said memory.
`of said data.
`4. A display system as set forth in claim 1 wherein
`h .
`I .
`.
`said digital input means is connected to the output of
`2' A display system as set forth in c an“ w cram
`said analog display means is a cathode ray oscilloscope. 5 said memory
`3. A display system as set forth in claim 2 wherein
`
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`4,225,940
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`UNITED sTATEs PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
`4,225,940
`
`PATENT NO. :
`
`DATED
`
`:
`
`Sep. 30 , 1980
`
`,NVENTOR(S) ;
`
`HIRO MORIYASU, JACK A. GILMORE, WILLEM B. VELSINK,
`LUIS J. NAVARRO
`It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent
`are hereby corrected as shown betow:
`
`Inventor‘: Change "gavar‘ro" to ——I\I_avar‘ro——
`
`Column 2, Line 49, Change "39" to —-9_1:—-.
`
`Column 3 , Line 7, Change "aforelmentioned" to
`——afor~ementioned-—.
`
`Column 5, Line 47, Change "the display" to ——_t_o_ disp1ay——.
`Signed and Scaled this
`Third Day Of February I981
`
`ISEAL]
`
`.4 mu.
`
`A nesting Oj?cer
`
`Acting Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks
`
`RENE D. TEGTMEYER