Patents Examined by Ulysses Weldon
  • Patent number: 5781184
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for real time decompression and post-decompress manipulation of compressed full motion video. A decompressed play-back signal is supplied to a real-time video processing system by way of an adaptor for post-decompress manipulation. The post-decompress manipulations include real-time, interactive geometry transformations and color re-mappings. The adaptor includes a range expansion module for eliminating dead space such as found in CCIR-601 outputs. The adaptor further includes a resampling module for programmably converting the pixels-per-line format of the decompressed play-back signal. The adaptor additionally includes a clip-and-dither module for altering the bits-per-pixel format of the adaptor output signal and for applying a programmably-defined dither to the adaptor output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventors: Steve C. Wasserman, Gregory G. Williams, Timothy P. Bucher, Curtis Pansegrau, Philippe M. Cassareau, Gregory K. Wallace
  • Patent number: 5771032
    Abstract: A method, system, and memory for reshaping a window using a drop-down scroll bar are provided. The method includes the step of dynamically reshaping the frame of a window around information within the window in accordance with a preference setting and in response to scrolling the information using a drop-down scroll bar. The system includes a display for displaying the window, a processor, and, in response to a command from user controls means for controlling the processor to reshape the frame of the window around information within the window as the information is being scrolled. The memory includes computer readable program code that is stored in the memory. The computer readable program code provides instructions for reshaping the frame of a window around information that is being scrolled in that window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Troy Lee Cline, Scott Harlan Isensee, Ricky Lee Poston, Jon Harald Werner
  • Patent number: 5745101
    Abstract: Method and apparatus of controlling an image display process in which image data is input to display an image of the image data on a display. The input image data is stored in a first memory with respect to pixels, and a second memory, having at least an address space corresponding to a display region on the display in which the image of the image data is displayed, stores, in each display address, address information on an address of the first memory in which pixel data in the image data on a pixel to be displayed in the display region in accordance with the display address. The address information on the address in which the pixel data is stored is read out and the pixel data is read out from the first memory based on the address information to display the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuru Yamamoto, Takayuki Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5742269
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing the effect of data voltages for the last display line of a liquid crystal display (LCD) on the first line of the display. Prior to a horizontal line period, immediately before a data signal for the last display line is transferred to a driver, and a scanning electrode for the first display line of the following frame is turned on, signal electrodes are precharged with a voltage corresponding to data for the first display line of the following frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Fumiei Hayashiguchi, Takayuki Tokuda
  • Patent number: 5631670
    Abstract: There is provided an information display device in which speed of detecting input coordinates on a display screen is increased. A coordinate detection circuit 7 detects indication coordinates at a tip end of an electronic pen 6 based on an induction voltage induced at a detection electrode of the electronic pen 6 in scanning a row electrode G and a column electrode S. A coordinate output circuit 17 obtains indication coordinates at the tip end of the electronic pen 6 based on a movement amount detection signal from a movement amount detecting section 20 of the electronic pen 6. A coordinate signal generating circuit 18 outputs an x-coordinate signal and a y-coordinate signal by combining the indication coordinates detected by the coordinate detection circuit 7 and the indication coordinates obtained by the coordinate output circuit 17.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Tomiyoshi, Takafumi Kawaguchi, Makoto Takeda
  • Patent number: 5629717
    Abstract: A display system includes a display panel having matrix electrodes with scanning lines and information lines, a display information storage memory for storing display information, and a controller for comparing the information read out from the display information storage memory with write display information to be written in the display information storage memory. The controller stores address information for designating a scanning line corresponding to write display information different from the readout information, scans the scanning line corresponding to the stored address information for a predetermined period of time and controls the matrix electrodes such that only a scanning line corresponding to the stored address information is interrupted after a lapse of the predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Netsu
  • Patent number: 5627562
    Abstract: Apparatus for magnetically erasing and writing data stored in human readable displays of product label. The product label includes a display area with magnetic particles which can be oriented by external magnetic field in shapes including human readable figures and symbols. The so oriented magnetic particles retain their position when the external field ie removed, thereby storing the recorded information in the form of the figures and symbols. A portable apparatus includes electrically controllable write magnets for writing the figures and symbols, and an electrically controllable erase magnet for erasing previously recorded figures and symbols. The controllable magnets are mounted in a write/erase head which is self-adapting to the surface of the label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Inventor: Rafael Skodlar
  • Patent number: 5627554
    Abstract: A segmented direct volume display device includes a volume containing a medium, two mutually orthogonal matrices of light guns capable of providing light beams, each matrix outputting light at different wavelengths, a unit for generating images in the volume by selectively activating the light guns, an image being formed at the intersection of two beams, one from each of the two matrices, and a unit for displaying images in different colors in different segments of the volume. The segmented direct volume display device may further include, on display planes of the volume, a filter for blocking out light output from the light guns while allowing viewing of the image. The segmented direct volume display device may also include individual filters, external to the volume, for each segment. The individual filters block out light from images in other segments while allowing viewing of a generated image within a corresponding segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Inventor: Gordon V. Jefferson
  • Patent number: 5627568
    Abstract: A display buffer includes a plurality of memory banks, each said bank having a plurality of ordered rows of data storage locations. Circuitry controls the storage of a plurality of sequenced lines of display data in said display buffer. A first set of lines of display data is stored at contiguous locations in a first memory bank with the first word of a first line being stored in a location offset from the first location of the first row so a last word of a last line is stored in the last location of the last row. A second set of lines is stored at contiguous locations starting at the first row of the second memory bank. A last line of the second set of lines is stored so that the last word of this last line is stored in the last location of a selected row of the second bank. A third set of lines is stored in a third memory bank starting at a memory line other than the first memory line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Ian J. Sherlock, Richard D. Simpson, Michael D. Asal
  • Patent number: 5625381
    Abstract: A control element constituting a mouse designed to be connected to a cursor visualization assembly comprises:a housing;a mobile ball protruding outside the housing, to be actuated by a user;a support device adapted to receive said mobile ball, this support device having at least three bearings which are angularly offset and which comprise contact members of a material having a low coefficient of friction on which said mobile ball rests, wherein this control element has contact members cooperating with said ball by rolling friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Comadur S.A.
    Inventor: Peter Wyss
  • Patent number: 5625253
    Abstract: A flat-panel type picture display device having a face plate with a luminescent screen at the inner side and, arranged at a short distance therefrom, a rear wall adjoined by a large number of electron transport ducts operating by means of wall interaction of electrons. A selection structure for withdrawing electrons from transport ducts and for directing them towards pixels on the luminescent screen comprises a preselection structure provided with preselection locations and a fine-selection plate provided with fine-selection apertures, each preselection location being associated with at least two fine-selection apertures. To improve contrast and/or color purity, an apertured obstruction plate forming chicanes in the electron paths is arranged between the preselection plate and the fine-selection plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Gerardus G. P. Van Gorkom, Siebe T. De Zwart, Petrus H. F. Trompenaars, Nicolaas Lambert
  • Patent number: 5623275
    Abstract: Articulated display matrix apparatus for providing moving or flashing variable messages is disclosed. The apparatus is highly adaptable and portable. Because the linear arrays of display cells are durably enclosed, as well as articulated, they can shipped and stored compactly. Because of their light weight and their highly-flexible structure they can be mounted in a variety of configurations and on a variety display panel shapes, without tools. The display matrix arrays can provide a continuous combined display matrix that is extensible in two dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Inventor: Paul A. Miller
  • Patent number: 5619220
    Abstract: A sound image display apparatus displays a sound image waveform representing a sound image produced by a multi-channel surround audio signal in a readily visible form. The sound image display apparatus includes a scaling section which has a variable gain calculator. The calculator determines the variable gain commonly applied to the X-axis and Y-axis components for displaying a sound image on a limited space of the screen of a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Leader Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tomita, Toru Furuse, Masakatu Mizukami, Akihiro Masukawa
  • Patent number: 5614926
    Abstract: A word processor is provided with a handwriting text processing function. A display displays document and text processing information. A pointing device enters handwritten text processing figures on a display. A memory stores text processing instructions associated with an text processing figure drawn on the screen. A direction in which the pointing device is moved on the screen to draw a figure, a length of the drawn figure on the screen, and/or which of several regions of the display the pointing device is presently pointing to are determined and used to distinguish different text processing functions associated with the same basic handwritten text processing figure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shigematsu, Hirofumi Nishikawa, Yukihiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 5614925
    Abstract: Faithful color images are created in an efficient manner for display on a specific computer display. A standard computer system generates a palette calibration table, based on information about a standard display. The standard computer system then creates a device independent image from the palette calibration table and from an original image. The palette calibration table and device independent image are then transmitted to a specific computer system. The specific computer system receives the palette calibration table and device independent image from the standard computer system. It calculates a display specific palette from the palette calibration table and from information about the specific display. The specific computer system then generates the faithful color image for display by sending the device independent image and the display specific palette to the display adapter in the specific computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gordon W. Braudaway, Helen R. Delp
  • Patent number: 5612711
    Abstract: A display comprising a matrix of display pixels each receptive of a drive signal for energizing same to emit light of one of a plurality of colors and circuitry receptive of serial data corresponding to a message and at least one color for the message for converting same into drive signals. The display is used alone or in a router tally display system or a sports scoreboard system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Tally Display Corporation
    Inventor: Steven B. Rose
  • Patent number: 5612587
    Abstract: A field emission cathode capable of reducing an operation voltage and substantially preventing damage of an emitter. An emitter is provided on a substrate. The emitter includes a base and a plurality of rectangular tips projecting from the base. A gate is arranged in a recess formed on the substrate so as to be in proximity to the emitter. A width a of the tips of the emitter and an interval b between the tips are defined to satisfy a relationship of b/a=2. This permits an electric field strength applied to the tips of the emitter to be substantially increased as compared in a conventional field emission cathode of b/a.ltoreq.1, resulting in an operation voltage being reduced and a sufficient amount of emitter current being produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignees: Futaba Denshi Kogyo K.K., Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Shigeo Itoh, Teruo Watanabe, Kazuhiko Tsuburaya, Junji Itoh, Seigo Kanemaru
  • Patent number: 5610624
    Abstract: A Spatial Light Modulator (10) having control circuitry (40,42,44,46) which insures that shorts (70,72) between some of the circuitry will result in "off" state defects. Sets of pixel elements (11) share a memory cell (12), each pixel element (11) in a set being switched to an on or off state by a reset line (13) that is separate from that of the other pixel elements (11) in that set. A pair of address electrode etches (44,46) are separated from each other and straddle a pair of data carrying etches (40,42). A zero is loaded to the data etches (40,42) when not loading memory cell (12) such that a short between the address electrode etches and the data etches will result in an "off" state pixel defect upon a reset pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Rohit L. Bhuva
  • Patent number: 5608425
    Abstract: A new technique for generating OSD characters is disclosed having a system architecture which utilizes a minimum of hardware and which is primarily implemented through software. The technique of the present invention incorporates the use of a microprocessor which is utilized to store and transfer video data to and from a plurality of logic circuits which make up the OSD system. One aspect of the present invention is directed to a clock switching device which drives both the CPU and other logic circuits of OSD system. The switching device is responsive to at least one control signal for providing an output clock signal which is switchable between two clock signals. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a technique for altering the font size of the characters displayed on a kinescope. Specifically, the present invention is able to expand the width of the various characters displayed on the screen without altering the frequency of a DOT clock signal, as is done in conventional OSD systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Zilog, Inc.
    Inventor: Aleksandr Movshovich
  • Patent number: 5606346
    Abstract: A coordinate input device including a matrix-type display panel having a plurality of row electrodes arranged in parallel, a plurality of column electrodes arranged in parallel, the row electrodes and the column electrodes being disposed to face each other, and liquid crystal disposed between the row electrodes and the column electrodes. The device also includes a row electrode driving circuit, a column electrode driving circuit, a controller for controlling these driving circuits, an input pad disposed to allow direct contact with the operator, and a coordinate detection circuit for calculating a coordinate value based on a signal input thereto through the input pad. When a position on the display panel is pressed with a finger, a driving signal supplied to the row electrode or the column electrode corresponding to the position is transmitted through the operator to the input pad. The coordinate of the position is detected based on the transmitted signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kai, Masahito Matsunami