Panelvision MiniGraphic "active matrix" display controller
Date1984
Inventory Number1997-1-0686b
ClassificationCircuit Board
Subject
Maker
Panelvision Corporation
1980 - 1985
Maker
Intel Corporation
1968-present
User
AT&T Bell Laboratories
1925-present
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Place of Use
Dimensions4.2 × 23.3 × 16.6 cm (1 5/8 × 9 3/16 × 6 9/16 in.)
Material
Accessoriescontrol for Panelvision MiniGraphic display (1997-1-0686a)
shipping ticket/ hand carry pass dated June 11, 1997 (in instrument 1997 - 0686a file)
letter to Dr. Richard V. Kollarits from William Andrewes dated June 16, 1997 regarding donation of MiniGraphic display and letter to William Andrewes from Dr. Richard V. Kollarits that accompanied the object upon donation on June 11, 1997 (in instrument 1997 - 0686a file)
four sample color prints made with this display on micro-encapsulated photographic paper. 1. man in business suit, 2. woman crouching next to lawn ornament, 3. two clowns painting a third's face, 4. woman in winter hat and scarf (in instrument 1997 - 0686a file)
copies of two articles by AT&T Bell Laboratories staff (Richard V. Kollarits, William, H. Ninke, David C. Gibbon) on color imaging and printing (in instrument 1997 - 0686a file)
Panelvision pamphlet introducing the MiniGraphic multipurpose flat panel display, including instrument specifications, consumer prices, functioning and features (in instrument 1997 - 0686a file)
1984 article by Panelvision employees (Peter Brody Fang-Chen Luo, Paul Malmberg) on active matrix technology (in instrument 1997 - 0686a file)
Panelvision Corporation Fact Sheet, including details of company history and recent developments (in instrument 1997 - 0686a file)
article about commercial debut of active matrix technology from Design Engineering newspaper, June 18, 1984 (in instrument 1997 - 0686a file)
full circuit diagram and schematic for MiniGraphic Display Controller (in instrument file)
instruction manual and description of MiniGraphic Display Controller (two copies, in instrument 1997 - 0686a file)
circuit diagrams and instruction manuals for the MiniGraphic Display (two booklets, in instrument 1997 - 0686a file)
DescriptionThe controller is mounted on a white plastic base. The main controller component is a rectangular green circuit board mounted on the base with a screw at each corner. Various wires and microchips are fixed on the circuit board. A second white panel, the same size as the green circuit board, is attached underneath the plastic base. A blue plastic connector attached to sixty side-by-side wires (every sixth colored either red or blue, the rest light blue) is attached to the circuit board, in between the two white base panels. A small, white plastic rectangle with rounded corners and a grid of small holes is mounted with four metal screws onto the opposite side of the plastic base from the green circuit board. The two are connected by fourteen side-by-side, rainbow colored wires (rotating brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, grey, white, black). The connections at each end of the rainbow wires are encased in a grey plastic frame.
Signedengraved in gold letters near top edge of green circuit board: PANEL VISION MINIGRAPHIC DISPLAY CONTROLLER
in white letters on largest black microchip: P8031AH / L4148426 / © INTEL '82
in white letters on two black microships: JAPAN 3MI Q / HM6116LP-2
in white letters on one black microchip: MSM81 C55RS / JAPAN 35044
in white letters on brown microchip: D27128 / L42038968 / © INTEL '82
Inscribedhand-written in blue ink on a white label on brown circuit board component: CMN12C / 9-26-84
in red outlined letters on plastic base plate: P
FunctionThis controller permits the MiniGraphic "active matrix" display to interface with personal computers, terminals, control panels, and card readers.
The MiniGraphic "active matrix" display is a flat panel display for instrumentation, military, or communication terminals. This particular instrument was used by AT&T Bell Labs from 1985 to 1986 to study techniques for color printing on low sensitivity photographic materials. Technical articles in the instrument file, written by researchers at AT&T Bell Labs, describe some results and implications of this research.
According to Jim Bartimo, Panelvision was the first to offer a commercially available active matrix LCD display, an improvement on previous LCD screens and older cathode ray displays (see Bartimo, "The Incredible Shrinking Display: Makers turn to LCDs to Miniaturize Machines". The article includes a photograph of Thomas C. Maloney, employed at Panelvision, with the new active matrix screen).
Instruction manuals and technical articles in the instrument file fully detail the schematics, operations, instructions, and uses of the display panel and controller.
The MiniGraphic "active matrix" display is a flat panel display for instrumentation, military, or communication terminals. This particular instrument was used by AT&T Bell Labs from 1985 to 1986 to study techniques for color printing on low sensitivity photographic materials. Technical articles in the instrument file, written by researchers at AT&T Bell Labs, describe some results and implications of this research.
According to Jim Bartimo, Panelvision was the first to offer a commercially available active matrix LCD display, an improvement on previous LCD screens and older cathode ray displays (see Bartimo, "The Incredible Shrinking Display: Makers turn to LCDs to Miniaturize Machines". The article includes a photograph of Thomas C. Maloney, employed at Panelvision, with the new active matrix screen).
Instruction manuals and technical articles in the instrument file fully detail the schematics, operations, instructions, and uses of the display panel and controller.
ProvenanceInstrument donated to the CHSI by AT&T Bell Laboratories, June 11, 1997.
Historical AttributesThis display (and controller) was used at AT&T Bell Labs from 1985 to 1986 to study techniques for color printing on low sensitivity photographic materials.
Panelvision Corporation
Date: 1984
Accessories: single-board display controller
cable for display (1997-1-0686c)
shipping ticket/ hand carry pass dated June 11, 1997 (in instrument file)
letter to Dr. Richard V. Kollarits from William Andrewes dated June 16, 1997 regarding donation of MiniGraphic display and letter to William Andrewes from Dr. Richard V. Kollarits that accompanied the object upon donation on June 11, 1997 (in instrument file)
four sample color prints made with this display on micro-encapsulated photographic paper. 1. man in business suit, 2. woman crouching next to lawn ornament, 3. two clowns painting a third's face, 4. woman in winter hat and scarf (in instrument file)
copies of two articles by AT&T Bell Laboratories staff (Richard V. Kollarits, William, H. Ninke, David C. Gibbon) on color imaging and printing (in instrument file)
Panelvision pamphlet introducing the MiniGraphic multipurpose flat panel display, including instrument specifications, consumer prices, functioning and features (in instrument file)
1984 article by Panelvision employees (Peter Brody Fang-Chen Luo, Paul Malmberg) on active matrix technology (in instrument file)
Panelvision Corporation Fact Sheet, including details of company history and recent developments (in instrument file)
article about commercial debut of active matrix technology from Design Engineering newspaper, June 18, 1984 (in instrument file)
full circuit diagram and schematic for MiniGraphic Display Controller (in instrument file)
instruction manual and description of MiniGraphic Display Controller (two copies, in instrument file)
circuit diagrams and instruction manuals for the MiniGraphic Display (two booklets, in instrument file)
Object number: 1997-1-0686a
Intel Corporation
Date: 1984
Accessories: accompanies Panelvision MiniGraphic display (1997-1-0686a)
Object number: 1997-1-0686c
International Business Machines Corporation
Date: 1981-1985
Accessories: clear plastic case; hand-written letter from Owen Gingerich to William Andrewes about donating chip to Collection, received May 21, 1998 (in instrument file); printed email from William Andrewes to Owen Gingerich, thanking him for the chip donation, dated June 1, 1998 (in instrument file)
Object number: 1998-1-0880
Clifford Frondel
Date: ca. 1925-1940
Accessories: metal piece with screw, and piece of rock, in two archival baggies.
Reprint, A PRECISION X-RAY POWDER CAMERA by Clifford Frondel, American Mineralogist, 40:876-884 (1955), stored in instrument file, 1997-1-1721
Object number: 1997-1-1725
Crosby Steam Gage & Valve Company
Date: circa 1910
Accessories: original and photocopy of letter from Dr. Joachim Fischer in Berlin requesting information and photographs of mechanical integrating devices from William J.H. Andrewes, dated 13 October 1993
photocopy of letter from William J.H. Andrewes to Dr. Joachim Fischer, providing information on the planimeter and requesting details for his desired photographs; original and photocopy of letter from William J.H. Andrewes to Dr. Joachim Fischer, responding to a request regarding mechanical integrators acquired from the Aiken computer laboratory, dated 11 April 1997; letter from William J. H. Andrewes to Dr. Joachim Fischer that accompanied the photographs, dated 26 April 1995; film and eleven color photographs of the instrument, probably copies of those sent to Dr. Joachim Fischer
Object number: 1995-1-0003
Gebrüder Haff
Date: circa 1940
Accessories: card with instrument info and conversion table; photocopy of letter from Dr. Joachim Fischer to William J.H. Andrewes, dated 12 May 1997; photocopy of extract from Dr. Joachim Fischer's inventory of integrating instruments included with the letter
Object number: 1997-1-0444
Charles Thurber
Date: circa 1860
Accessories: wooden framed, glass paned case; original and photocopied letter from the Massachusetts Historical Society Director, Stephen T. Riley to David P. Wheatland dated June 28, 1961regarding permanent loan of the pantograph (in instrument file); original and photocopied hand-written letter from David P. Wheatland to Stephen T. Riley regarding permanent loan of the pantorgraph dated March 16, 1962 (in instrument file); original and photocopied hand written letter from David P. Wheatland to Stephen T. Riley regarding the pantograph dated June 23 1961 (in instrument file)
Object number: 1998-1-1617
Clifford Frondel
Date: 1950
Accessories: Reprint, A PRECISION X-RAY POWDER CAMERA by Clifford Frondel, American Mineralogist, 40:876-884 (1955), stored in instrument file, 1997-1-1721
Object number: 1997-1-1721
Clifford Frondel
Date: 1930-1955
Accessories: loose part (knob) on shelf
Reprint, A PRECISION X-RAY POWDER CAMERA by Clifford Frondel, American Mineralogist, 40:876-884 (1955), stored in instrument file, 1997-1-1721
Object number: 1997-1-1722
Harry Berman
Date: circa 1934
Accessories: Reprint, A PRECISION X-RAY POWDER CAMERA by Clifford Frondel, American Mineralogist, 40:876-884 (1955), stored in instrument file, 1997-1-1721
Object number: 1997-1-1737
Harry Berman
Date: circa 1934
Accessories: Reprint, A PRECISION X-RAY POWDER CAMERA by Clifford Frondel, American Mineralogist, 40:876-884 (1955), stored in instrument file, 1997-1-1721
Object number: 1997-1-1738
Clifford Frondel
Date: 1950
Accessories: electrical cord
Reprint, A PRECISION X-RAY POWDER CAMERA by Clifford Frondel, American Mineralogist, 40:876-884 (1955), stored in instrument file, 1997-1-1721
Object number: 1997-1-1726
