Abstract: In a display sign including a plurality of rotatable display elements to be flipped between opposite extreme display positions, a bidirectional limit stop for stopping the motion of said display elements at said extreme positions is configured in the form of a bidirectional pendulum. The limit stop is preferably formed by an oversize sleeve coaxially disposed with respect to and depending from a smooth-surface horizontally disposed support member. The rotatable display element is preferably generally planar and configured to strike the opposite sides of the outer surface of the pendulum-forming sleeve along a line passing below the point of support thereof. The resulting pivoting and rotating movement of the pendulum serves to absorb a substantial portion of the angular kinetic energy of the rotating display element, thereby suppressing rebound.

Abstract: The present invention is employed in a system which has a bit map memory connected to a CRT display device and the CRT display device can display a fixed region of information and a scrollable region of information. In a preferred embodiment, the system uses a graphic display control circuit to change starting addresses and length ending values of the fixed and scrollable regions in the bit map memory. By changing the starting address one scan line per frame, without any actual transfer of data in memory, from one location to another location, the present system effects a "smooth" scroll. The system is able to scroll upward and downward. The system uses logic circuitry to load an off screen segment of the bit map memory with additional scrollable information, so that (in an upward scroll load) as a top line of the scrollable information region is no longer displayed, new information will be displayed at the bottom line of said scrollable region.

Abstract: An addressing method for a multiplexable, bistable liquid crystal display wherein a first driving voltage which is larger than a first limiting voltage is applied to the selected display elements and a second driving voltage which is smaller than a second limiting voltage is applied to the non-selected display elements. For the first driving voltage only a first optical state is stable, and for the second driving voltage only a second optical state is stable. All the display elements are simultaneously switched on the display by means of a single writing voltage pulse. By this means a high-contrast, constant and immediate display is achieved over the entire active area. Row-at-a-time writing is also possible. Moreover, a liquid crystal display is introduced which is based upon the bistability effect and which employs a guest-host liquid crystal containing a chiral additive. The layer thickness of the liquid crystal is less than 10 .mu.

Abstract: A driving circuit for a matrix display panel synchronizes composite video signals to drive a plurality of data lines and a plurality of scanning lines arranged in a matrix. The driving circuit blocks the data of the composite video signal approximately during the vertical blanking interval of the video signal. Further, during periods when signals are not applied to the data lines, the voltage level is maintained substantially equal on both the scanning and data lines. The RMS potential on the display is thereby reduced and higher contrast is provided. In an alternative embodiment, lines of data are also omitted at regular intervals during the effective display period.

Abstract: In a system wherein a first text in a first natural language is translated into a second text in a second natural language; a text displaying and correcting system comprising a first memory area for storing parts of the first text divided in predetermined units, with identifications assigned to the respective parts, and a second memory area for storing predetermined units of the second text corresponding to the aforementioned units of the first text, with the same identifications assigned thereto, so that the first and second texts are simultaneously displayed on a screen of a display unit, and that the text is revised in each unit with identification assigned.

Abstract: A normal video signal and an overlay video signal are combined by supplying the normal video signal to the base of a first emitter follower transistor while the overlay video signal is supplied to the base of a second emitter follower transistor. The two transistors are biased such that the first transistor is at a slightly lower voltage than the second (overlay) transistor and is reversed biased (off) any time data is available from the overlay video signal.

Abstract: A system for changing common card mode data a plurality of card images including: a memory area for old card mode data; a memory area for old card data; a memory area for card mode data; a memory area for card data; and a memory area for the field correspondence between the old and card mode data. In accordance with the content of the corresponding memory area, all or part of the old card data is transmitted from the old card data memory area to the card data memory area.

Abstract: In large size high resolution plasma panels, a smaller discharge gap between the electrodes reduces the operating margin of the panel, i.e., the difference between the maximum and minimum sustain voltage (V.sub.s max and V.sub.s min). Rather than preset these values which vary with each panel at the time of fabrication, the invention provides a control system for determining the V.sub.s max and V.sub.s min and the optimum operating point between these values for each panel. An associated microprocessor determines the V.sub.s min for each panel through a testing algorithm, and the V.sub.s max is provided by either adding a predetermined increment to the V.sub.s min or by a testing sequence. The operating point is designated as a predetermined increment below V.sub.s max. The invention operates each time the panel is turned on, thereby compensating for voltage drift or other panel parameter variations.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for displaying a symbol on a display surface consisting of a matrix of discrete points (e.g. raster), where the symbol is divided into sections and the brightness of each pixel is controlled. This technique smooths out "stair-step" effects inherent in displays consisting of discrete points.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image display apparatus including an image bearing web in the form of an endless belt on which an erasable image is formed. The erasable image is then carried to a display portion by the image bearing web. The length of the image bearing web is selected to be equal to or more than twice the length of the displayable region in the display portion. The image bearing web being movable independently of image forming process, whereby the image on the web which has already passed by the display portion can be returned to the display portion, permitting repetitive display function and improving the display apparatus in operation.

Abstract: A high speed arrangement for generating smooth lines of consistent thickness regardless of slope in a raster type display system such as a computer graphics system. A digital differential analyzer is employed for determining Y-position information to n bits of fraction for each integral step in X within a single operative clock cycle. All pixel positions are identified that are relevantly proximate to the starting end point of the line, to the concluding end point, and each one-dimensional array of at least three contiguous pixel positions encompassing a cross-section of the interior portion of the line. Intensity values are determined for each such identified pixel position based upon its distance from the true line, with the intensities of the pixel positions identified in each array being additionally determined based upon the slope of the line.

Abstract: A low cost, true-perspective texture/shading processor (16) for a raster graphics display is based on a mathematical model which defines modulations globally over the entire simulated, visual environment. The model uses planes defined in three-dimensional space to define the modulation. These texture planes are all orthogonal to a single gradient in a flat reference plane and cut across any number of faces. The texture/shading processor is used in a computer image generator of the type wherein a first group (11) manages a visual data base (10) and transfers data to the active environment storage of a second group (12). The second group reduces the three-dimensional description of the environment supplied by the first group to a two-dimensional description, makes perspective transformation of data into coordinates of a view window and assigns a priority to each surface of the computed scene.

Abstract: A print control system for a word processing apparatus includes a character pattern data generation circuit and a background pattern data generation circuit. The character pattern data developed from the character pattern data generation circuit and the background pattern data developed from the background pattern data generation circuit are combined at an OR gate. A composite data signal developed from the OR gate is applied to a dot matrix printer, whereby the character pattern is superimposed on the background pattern in order to ornamentally emphasize the character pattern.

Abstract: In order to provide a passive electro-optical display medium in a matrix display device with a sufficiently steep threshold with respect to the applied voltage and having a memory, a switching element (9) is placed in series having each picture element. The switching element (9) is provided between a picture electrode (6) of each picture element and a driving electrode (8). The switching element (9) is formed by a polysilicon island (20) in which n.sup.+ -doped regions (22,23) are provided which are separated by a p-doped region (21). As a result of this, two series-arranged, oppositely directed p-n junctions are formed of which one is always reverse biased. The width of the p-doped regions is so small that punch-through occurs between the two p-n junctions before one of the p-n junctions breaks down. Due to the occurrence of punch-through, the series resistance of the switching element is negligibly small so that a favorable R.sub.ON /R.sub.

Abstract: A raster scan display system includes a plurality of storage maps. These maps are addressable in either of two modes. In the first mode each map contains bit mapped data and the maps are addressed together to provide color signals from which color video signals are derived. In the second mode, one map contains character representing data and a further map, character display dot patterns. In this mode the first map is addressed to provide partial addresses for the further map. These partial addresses are combined with row scan data signals to access the further map from which the character display dot data is used to generate the video signals.

Abstract: A display workstation comprising a display monitor including an image display device mounted on a base by a mechanism permitting adjustment of the angle of tilt of the image display device, the tilt mechanism including a pair of support members upstanding from the base and providing a gap between the display device and the base between the support members. A cable connector housing is releasably retained in the gap between the support members. Individual cables from peripheral input devices extend to the front of and are releasably coupled to the housing, and a further cable is also coupled to the housing and extends from the rear thereof to a separate display control unit. The housing contains circuits providing electrical connection between the peripheral device cables and the control unit cable.

Abstract: An AC gas discharge logic device with two input electrodes and an output electrode isolated by dielectric material from a dischargeable gas. Upon coupling suitable signals to the input electrodes, the gas is discharged and a voltage level at the dielectric material associated with the input electrodes is established which is different than the initial voltage level at the dielectric material associated with the output electrode. The subsequent voltage level of the output electrode after the gas discharge thus approaches the established voltage level at the input electrodes. An AC gas discharge panel with a plurality of the aforementioned logic devices included within the panel structure.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display produces a still image derived from a video signal by use of a comparator and selected reference levels to derive the driving signal for the liquid crystal display array. The vertical and horizontal samples and timing pulses derived from the original video signal of the image to be displayed are stored in shift registers, respectively, and then read out into multiplexers for feeding to the liquid crystal display array. The multiplexers are analog gates that have connected thereto in addition to the shift register output signal a plurality of voltages derived from a voltage divider network that sets the level of the voltage applied across each liquid crystal device in the array. No analog-to-digital converter or multiple shift register and specialized switch combination are required and thus the operational margin or sensitivity of the liquid crystal display is not adversely affected and the driving circuit is relatively uncomplicated.

Abstract: In a raster scan digital display system, a display image is stored, as coded characters or a bit map, which is larger than the display image. In order to define an image, within the stored image, for display, the addressing system for the memory (or memories) storing the image include a display image defining circuit. This circuit includes an address counter which is incremented to define successive addresses of data in a line of the displayed image, or row of characters therein. The circuit includes a first register to receive the initial address of a display image and a second register to receive a value indicating the width of the stored image. For the initial line (or character row) of a displayed image, the address counter is loaded from the first register and incremented from the initial address. For each subsequent line (or character row) the address from which the counter is incremented is the sum of the initial address of the previous line (or character row) and the value in the second register.

Abstract: A technique is described for producing an image log of an investigation of the wall of a borehole with a high resolution tool. The tool employs sensors for measuring a characteristic such as the conductivity of the wall at locations which circumferentially overlap. An accurate tool depth measuring device is employed to modify the measured characteristic so that the measurement can be displayed as a linear function of depth without visually detectable artifacts. Various signal processing and image enhancing techniques are described to produce an image log on which the characteristic can be seen as a variable intensity image in which small scale variations of the measured characteristic remain discernable and significant features visually stand out from the log.