Abstract: An active matrix circuit for liquid crystal displays includes a plurality of liquid crystal pixels arranged in a matrix, a plurality of scanning lines supplied with selection pulses to select rows of the pixel matrix, a plurality of signal lines supplied with signal voltages which are supplied to the pixels in a selected row, and a plurality of switching elements responsive to the respective selection pulses for supplying the signal voltages to the respective pixels. Each pixel is controlled by two switching elements responsive to selection pulses supplied adjaent to two scanning lines. If one of the two switching elements is defective due to a manufacturing process, it is later electrically isolated from the circuit. The other one can control the respective pixel to operate normally. The switching element may be a transistor or a non-linear device.

Abstract: An input processing section outputs a digital signal corresponding to a frequency sweep range of an input signal. A memory stores the digital signal. A display displays the digital signal stored in the memory as an image which is developed along a frequency axis. A scroll command section provides a command for shifting the image. A controller supplies, prior to the command, control signals to the input processing section, for causing the input processing section to process the input signal in a first frequency sweep range and supplies, and to the memory, for causing the memory to store the digital signal. When the command is received, the controller supplies control signals to the input processing section for causing the input signal to be processed in a second frequency sweep range in accordance with a content of the command, and to the memory for causing an address range of the memory to shift and the memory to store the obtained digital signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing multi-bit pixel data comprises a random access memory, for storing a plurality of pixels at each addressable memory location, the memory having one write enable and one data input for each bit of each pixel at a currently addressed memory location. Means are provided to couple each line of a data bus to the write enable inputs associated with corresponding bits of each addressed pixel and to place a common bit, in a selected state, on every data input assosciated with a corresponding bit of each currently addressed pixel, thereby permitting a processor to rewrite the addressed pixels with a selected pixel value, provided the write enables of each pixel are activated by an appropriate bit on the associated data bus line, and thereby permitting a processor to write pixel data to the memory using only one bit per pixel on the data bus.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for manipulating the gray scale voltage levels in liquid crystal displays, in order to provide for enhanced image quality, over temperature extremes by monitoring the actual transmittance through the liquid crystal over time and comparing the information with earlier information.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus render on a display screen (14) an image of a three-dimensional object. The object is represented by image data arranged in a constructive solid geometry format including at least one halfspace that divides an object space (28) into an interior region that lies inside the halfspace and an exterior region that lies outside the halfspace. The boundary of the halfspace is defined by an implicit mathematical function. The method includes subdividing the object space into volume elements of either a cubical or rectangular parallelepiped shape. For each volume element, an upper bound and a lower bound are calculated to the values of each function defining the boundary of a halfspace. In a first preferred embodiment, the calculation of the upper and lower bounds of the function defining a halfspace within a volume element identifies all of the extrema of the function that lie in or on the boundary of the volume element.

Abstract: A computer-controlled LED display system including an N.times.M rectangular array of light units. Each light unit includes one or more LED's that are driven so as to emit a train of light pulses separated by intervals of substantially zero light intensity. The temperature of the LED cathodes will decrease during each interval of zero emitted light intensity, so that the average temperature of each LED over its operating period will be less thaN it would be with zero intensity intervals of shorter duration. In a preferred embodiment, the drive circuit has a nonzero, finite RC constant and a capacitor connected in series with the LED's, so as to produce sufficiently long duration, substantially zero intensity intervals between the emitted light pulses. Each LED driving circuit includes a switch (preferably of the opto-coupler or triac type) for switching the circuit between "on" and "off" modes. Each switch is controlled by serial digital signals supplied via an interface unit.

Abstract: Digital data defining images are stored in a multiplane buffer. The buffer may store plural images by restricting data corresponding to an image or image portion to storage in less than half the bit planes of the buffer. An image is displayed by reading data from the buffer and selectively passing only a portion of the data read to a display. The data defining the images may be converted from facsimile (single bit per pixel) to gray scale format (multiple bits per pel) before being written to the buffer. The conversion relies on a table storing data definitive of the effect, on the image, of a facsimile transition (1/0 ot 0/1) as a function of the location of the transition. Conversion from facsimile to gray scale is effected by examining the facsimile data for data transmission and summing the effect of each of the transitions to convert a segment of facsimile data to gray scale data.A system is also disclosed for rapidly converting an image in run-end form to a reduced-resolution gray-tone image.

Abstract: A transducer having opposed first and second conductive plates for application of an electrical potential difference therebetween. An elastomeric dielectric material such as neoprene rubber is disposed between the plates and in contact therewith. The dielectric material has a plurality of pockets of approximate average depth "d" such that, for a given gas maintained within the pockets at a pressure "P", the product Pd is significantly less than the value required to achieve the minimum breakdown voltage for the gas in the pockets. Alternatively, the elastomeric dielectric material disposed between the plates may take the form of a plurality of strips or nodules which separate the plates by a distance "d" as above.

Abstract: A main apparatus transmits auxiliary information, which is concerned with telephone communications and includes at least an information attribute and an information entity. A telephone terminal apparatus is coupled to the main apparatus by a local telephone line, and has components for controlling the auxiliary information supplied from the main apparatus on the basis of the operation auxiliary information. The components are able to register a predetermined mode corresponding to the auxiliary information in the telephone terminal apparatus.

Abstract: In some applications of power amplifiers, a prescribed or given amount of distortion is permissible under many operational conditions, as long as lesser amounts of distortion are available upon command. It has been ascertained as a part of the present invention that, by reducing the bias current in one or more of the output stages of a power amplifier, acceptable distortion specifications can be maintained under conditions of low power consumption and low output power requirements while retaining the ability to have more demanding linearity requirement specifications by increasing the bias current to a more linear portion of the I-V (current-voltage) curve and optionally providing increased output signal power. The bias condition of reduced power results in a conservation of electrical power requirements, a reduction of heat and temperature problems within the amplifier enclosure and accordingly an increase in component life and circuit reliability.

Abstract: An acknowledge back (ack-back) paging system is provided which includes a central station which transmits a group of message signals to an group of ack-back pagers which are addressed as a group. The users of the group of addressed ack-back pagers indicate a response to their respective pagers thus providing ack-back data. The pagers in the group of addressed ack-back pagers then simultaneously transmit back to the central station their ack-back signals using different respective pseudorandom codes, a different pseudorandom code being dynamically allocated to each of the pagers in the group.

Abstract: An X-Y input apparatus is suitable for a graphic display apparatus and a pattern input apparatus. The X-Y input apparatus includes a rotatable ball, first and second rotating shafts provided in contact with the rotatable ball and orthogonally arranged in an X-Y direction, and a rotatable-angle detector. A stepped-portion is formed on each portion of the first and second rotating members, adjacent to the contacting portion for the rotatable ball. Then, the contamination such as dust is transferred from the rotatable roller to the grooves formed on the first and second rotating members, but is not deposited on the stepped-portion.

Abstract: A character input/display apparatus comprises means for inputting information, means for designating a cursor position, a memory for storing the input information, a display having a first display unit for displaying a layout of the information stored in the memory and a second display unit for displaying a portion of the information stored in the memory, and control means for displaying a cursor on the first display unit and the second display unit in different manners.

Abstract: A 3-D visual display apparatus. A sealed chamber having one or more walls transparent to visible light contains a gas having a first excited state and a second excited state which second excited state relaxes with the emission of visible light. A first laser source excites a small first volume of the gas to the first excited state and a second laser source excites a second volume, which is a small portion of the small first volume, to the second excited state which relaxes to emit visible light in all directions from the small second volume. This small light emitting volume appears as a small spot of light. Rapid movement of the two lasers permits the creation of other light emitting spots quickly enough to produce what appears to the human eye as a 3-D display. By proper choice of gases and lasers, visible light in all colors can be emitted from the spots to produce a 3-D color display.

Abstract: A flat keyboard arrangement includes a color of blocks. Each block corresponds to a key unit and is liquid crystal display having a screen divided into a number capable of producing any natural color. A table is provided for storing color data of the blocks, and for storing function data representing the function assigned to blocks. A driver circuit is provided for driving the color liquid crystal display to illuminate one or more colors in accordance with the data stored in the table. A transparent touch switch arrangement is placed on the color liquid crystal display. The transparent touch switch arrangement has transparent sheet in which a plurality of transparent touch switches are located correspondingly to the blocks of the screen to define touch keys.

Abstract: A device used as a switching device between a telephone and a fax machine, especially for providing a general fax machine with a function of telephone connection including a calling circuit, a calling-detector circuit, a tone-detector circuit, a telephone-hold circuit and a telephone sounding circuit. Once a caller dials a fax number, the calling circuit and the tone-detector circuit start to detect the input signal. If the input signal is telephone-input, then the telephone-hold circuit holds the circut and a switch is triggered to make a telephone connection. Further, the telephone sounding circuit drives the buzzer of the telephone. Then the telephone switching is completed.

Abstract: For simplifying a pager housing (14) containing a light sensing and a light emitting element (36 and 38), the housing has a common translucent portion (30). The light sensing and the light emitting elements are disposed adjacent to the translucent portion. The light emitting element is for indicating reception of a call. The light sensing element is useful to control operation of a display element (42) which is displaying a message and other. Preferably, the housing comprises holding arrangements for holding a protecting plate (24) for the display element. The holding arrangements are engaged with both ends of the protecting plate.

Abstract: A stereoscopic graphics display system (10) has a stereoscopic window controller (18) that generates multiple windows (72 and 74) within which multiple images (76 and 78) are formed. The stereoscopic window controller directs the graphics display system to render around each window a border (80 and 82) representing an outline of the window. Each of the borders is rendered with zero binocular disparity to assist an observer to perceive the three-dimensional qualities of steroscopic images. Depth cue contradictions between stacked windows are reduced by rendering with zero binocular disparity the images in occluded windows.

Abstract: The colorimetric parameters of a color sample (42) that is illuminated by a reference light are processed for reproduction by a video monitor (20) or the like. A color filter assembly (40) and associated sensor (28) are used to generate signals indicative of the colorimetric parameters of the illuminated color sample (42). A computer (24) transforms the signals into a form suitable for driving a video monitor (20) to reproduce the color sample (42) on the monitor screen.

Abstract: An acknowledge back (ack-back) paging system is provided which includes a central station which transmits a group of message signals to a group of ack-back pagers which are addressed as a group. The users of the group of addressed ack-back pagers indicate a response to their respective pagers thus providing ack-back data. The pagers in the group of addressed ack-back pagers then simultaneously transmit back to the central station their ack-back data on different frequency sub-bands, a different frequency sub-band being allocated to each of the pagers in the group.