GD80 graphic display

SZTAKI Museum

Structure

The white-backed picture tube that formed the core of the device included:

• analog (KV) and digital (NV) line generators operating in vector mode:
  • addressable area 64 K× 64 K,
  • visible area 1 K × 1 K or 4 K × 4 K,
  • longest vector 1023 or 4095,
  • the generation time of the latter is 60 μs and 30 μs, respectively,
  • 4 types of lines,
  • 4 or 16 intensity levels;
• character generator:
  • 7×9 pixels, or line-segmented,
  • generation time 17 μs and 4 μs, respectively,
  • 128 ASCII characters, in 2- or 4-byte sizes,
  • 80 and 128 chpl, respectively;
• as well as the interface circuits that control its operation and are required for computer connection

External devices that make up its periphery:

• alphanumeric keyboard (ASCII character set, 16 function keys, scroll keys, 4 switches, 16-character local LED display)
• trackball
• joystick
• light pen

Operation

On a monochrome screen, the background was gray and the line color was green; on a color screen, the background was white and the line color could be chosen from 4 colors.

There is no data on the use of the device in autonomous (manual-guided) mode.

In terminal mode, in graphics computer systems, it was operated by the display control processor (DCU), using the graphics peripheral controller (GPC). (For more details, see GD80 graphics computer system )

Program set

Historical curiosities

Resources

GD80 review (English)

Oral statements by József Kovács (development team member at MTA SZTAKI)