Abstract: A user inputs digital data to a companion system such as a PDA, a cell telephone, an applicance, device using a virtual input device such as an image of a keyboard. A sensor captures three-dimensional positional information as to location of the user's fingers in relation to where keys would be on an actual keyboard. This information is processed with respect to finger locations and velocities and shape to determine when virtual keys would have been struck. The processed digital information is output to the companion system. The companion system can display an image of a keyboard, including an image of a keyboard showing user fingers, and/or alphanumeric text as such data is input by the user on the virtual input device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dual axis articulated computer input device. Position sensors are configured to provide position information indicative of a position of two handle members relative to one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to a brush comprising a plurality of bristles and each bristle comprises a plurality of fibers. A palette of virtual paint is provided for the brush to contact at least one paint. The brush contacts the tablet and applies paint to the surface of the tablet or image that is created.

Abstract: A method of driving an AC plasma display panel is provided, in which plural pairs of a scanning electrode and a sustain electrode covered with a dielectric layer and a plurality of data electrodes are arranged orthogonal to and opposing each other with a discharge space being sandwiched therebetween. The method includes an initialization period for applying, to the scanning electrode, an initialization waveform of a ramp voltage and a write period for applying, to the scanning electrode, a scanning waveform with a polarity opposite to that of the initialization waveform sequentially and at the same time applying, to the selected data electrodes, a data waveform with the same polarity as that of the initialization waveform. The potential of the scanning electrode to which the scanning waveform is being applied is set to be lower than that of the scanning electrode at the end of the application of the initialization waveform.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention comprises a method for inputting information into an electronic device comprising the acts of orienting a sensing pad relative to an electronic device operator, sensing the relative location of a foot motion indicator controlled by the operator and translating the relative location of the foot motion indicator into electronic information. The method may further comprise displaying the electronic information on a screen. The act of sensing may be capacitive sensing, resistive sensing or optical sensing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gray level display AC-type PDP driving method comprising (a) dividing a single image frame into n number of subframes, each of the subframes having predetermined number of sustaining pulses; (b) selecting scan electrodes whose number is identical to the number of said subframes, assigning specific subframes to said selected scan electrodes, sequentially providing scanning pulses having different phases on said selected scan electrodes and applying addressing pulses on said data electrodes in order to designate pixels to be displayed, and alternately supplying the predetermined number of sustaining pulses onto the selected scan electrodes and said data electrodes, to thereby display said assigned subframes for said selected display lines; (c) shifting by one or more than scan electrode(s) from each of said selected scan electrodes; and (d) repeating said shifting of step (c) and displaying of said assigned subframes until each of said divided subframes is displayed for all the

Abstract: A number of capacitive pixels formed in an electroluminescent display panel are selectively charged and discharged by the driving device. The driving device is composed of a charging circuit connected between a power source and the pixels and a discharging circuit connected between the pixels and the ground. Both the charging and discharging circuits include a respective inductive coil that constitutes a series L-C circuit together with the capacitive pixel. Since the pixels are charged and discharged through the series L-C circuit, impulse current otherwise flows in and out of the pixels is suppressed, and thereby radio noises generated by the impulse current are prevented.

Abstract: A display device, in which, when a relative address of an area b is “01”, and if a relative address of an area c in a screen is changed to “01”, an image displayed on the area b shifts to the area c; when a relative address is changed to “01”, a controller for a display element constituting the area c selects a display signal having the relative address “01” among display signals passing through a signal transferring section, and picks the signal up.

Abstract: A system, device and method for recording information to be included on a substrate in both human and machine readable forms. The system includes a programmable stamp which can be affixed to the substrate, and a data recording and input device is provided for use with the system. The data recording and input device includes a pen; an accelerometer system generating signals representative of the movement of the pen; a memory; a wireless communications system; and a processor responsive to the accelerometer signals and communicating with the memory and the wireless communications system. In a first mode the processor is programmed to process the accelerometer signals to recognize data written with the pen and store the recognized data in the memory. In a second mode the processor is programmed to control the wireless communications system to transmit the stored data to the programmable stamp.

Abstract: A molded article of a pen tip of an input pen for a coordinate input apparatus for inputting oscillation to an oscillation transmitting plate, detecting oscillation propagating through the oscillation transmitting plate and detecting indicated coordinates is molded by injecting a composition containing at least liquid crystalline resin into a mold member for molding the configuration of the pen tip. In a mold for the pen tip, at least one gate is formed in a molding member such that the gate is disposed at a position symmetric with respect to the center axis of the pen tip.

Abstract: A system for immersing a user in virtual reality comprises a closed sphere-shaped capsule defining a real environment, the capsule being installed on supports so that to rotate around its center and having at least one hatch equipped with a door to let the user in and out. The system includes virtual environment generating means and means for displaying the virtual environment to the user, connected to the virtual environment generating means. The system further comprises a unit for changing the virtual environment responsive to actual physical movements made by the user inside the capsule, and means for determining an amount and direction of user's movement relative to the capsule, connected to the virtual environment changing unit. The capsule rests on at least three wheel supports having pivot shafts directed toward the sphere center and offset relative to a rotational axis of the wheel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying 3-D stereoscopic images is disclosed. A first stencil is used to filter a right eye image. A second stencil is used to filter a left eye image. Generally, the first and second stencil will have mutually exclusive active areas. The filtered left eye image and filtered right eye image are combined to form a single 3-D image having both images. The combined image is displayed on a conventional monitor, and viewed through the use of a pair or 3-D blue/red type lenses.

Abstract: The touch panel for use in a liquid crystal display device has a rigid electrode plate composed of a rigid transparent substrate provided with a transparent conductive layer on its upper surface, and a flexible electrode plate composed of a transparent and flexible substrate provided with a transparent conductive layer on its lower surface. On the upper surface of the flexible electrode plate, a polarizer plate is fixed. The flexible transparent substrate includes a transparent film of a transparent amorphous plastic material having a glass transition temperature of 100° C. or higher, and the transparent film has a relative optical elasticity coefficient Cr value of 0.2 to 0.8 defined by the formula: Cr=C/Cpc where C represents an optical elasticity coefficient of the transparent film and Cpc represents an optical elasticity coefficient of a polycarbonate film derived from bisphenol A.

Abstract: A simply constituted touch panel featuring a high transparency and a high sensitivity. A transverse source of light 112 is arranged along one transverse side wall of a polymer sheet 10 of the shape of a flat plate via a film 111 for polarizing light from the transverse light source, and a longitudinal source of light 122 is arranged along a longitudinal side surface thereof via a film 121 for polarizing light from the longitudinal light source. A transverse light sensor array 114 is arranged along the other transverse side surface via a film 113 for polarizing transversely transmitted light, and a longitudinal light sensor array 24 is arranged along the other longitudinal side surface via a film 123 for polarizing vertically transmitted light. Light emitted from the light source and is incident on the sheet via the film for polarizing light from the light source, passes through the sheet and falls on the light sensor array through the film for polarizing transmitted light.

Abstract: The invention in one embodiment provides a system and method for determining the position of an ultrasonic pen device, and for providing calculated position information to a computer system. The system of one embodiment comprises a first and second ultrasonic sensor that detect an ultrasonic signal emitted by an ultrasonic pen. The system further includes analog-to-digital converters to digitize the sensed ultrasonic signal and a processor to process the ultrasonic signal and determine the position of the ultrasonic pen. Some embodiments of the invention incorporate an algorithm that comprises calculating a first ultrasonic signal arrival time and calculating a second ultrasonic signal arrival time, and that further comprises using the first and second arrival times in calculating a final ultrasonic signal arrival time.

Abstract: A low-cost, large-area display system having a backlight in segments each positioned to illuminate a subfield of M rows of a fast supertwisted-nematic (STN) display of N rows. Fields of Q+1 subfields are addressed by the method known as Active Addressing using orthogonal waveforms of period MT/N where T is the frame time. A subfield is addressed for Q+1 periods MT/N of the row waveforms and illuminated during the last one. Fast STNs allow Q to be small leading to a small effective multiplex ratio with improved contrast and horizontal viewing-angle range. A few additional leading and trailing rows may be addressed to overcome vertical parallax. The row drivers are periodically connected by switches that simply ground un-addressed rows. With Q+1 also a divisor of N, subfield contributions to the column waveforms can be calculated once and used Q+1 times in each frame.

Abstract: In a plasma display, a matrix electrode section includes scan electrodes, sustain electrodes, and data electrodes. Driving sections are connected to the scan, sustain, and data electrodes to drive display cells.

Abstract: A recurrence reflection sheet is provided to the outside of at least three sides of a quadrilateral display screen, two light send/receive units, which includes a light scanning element for scanning a light angularly in a plane which is substantially parallel with the display screen, and a light receiving element for receiving a reflected light from the recurrence reflection sheet, are arranged on the outside of the display screen. A cut-off region due to a finger as an indicator is obtained based on an angle of a scanning light in a timing of rise and fall of the received light level of the light receiving element, and a position of the indicator is calculated according to the obtained cut-off region.

Abstract: In this flat panel display unit, a tubular light source is disposed on a thick end face of a light guide plate and a driving circuit substrate is disposed along the other end face of the light guide plate, thereby achieving thinning or downsizing of the unit.

Abstract: An improved AC plasma display panel structure and method of driving for improved efficiency. Gaseous discharges can tunnel or initiate in microchannels parallel to sustain electrodes in a front substrate lowering operating voltages and allowing the use of more efficient gas mixtures. A write step applies a pulse to selected first and second sustain electrodes corresponding to cells on a row that will be turned ON, and an erase step applies a voltage to first and third electrodes corresponding to cells that are to be turned OFF. Write discharges are tunneled through microchannels.