Abstract: A wireless pointing device which sits in the palm of a user's hand. The palm mouse includes a first portion which includes a ball for generating pointing signals, a control circuit for processing the pointing signals, a top section having a top surface which is generally ovoid in shape, and a bottom section having a bottom surface which is generally flat in shape and which contains an aperture through which the ball protrudes. A second portion includes a J-shaped flexible member attached to the first portion for cupping the hand. A communication circuit includes a transmitter within the first portion, a first antenna within the J-shaped member, a power supply within the first portion, a receiver coupled to the computer, and a second antenna coupled to the receiver. A preferred embodiment of the palm mouse has at least one switch on the J-shaped member, which is activated by the user's thumb.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display which has integrated electronics. The liquid crystal display includes a first liquid crystal plate member having a bottom surface and a plurality of substantially parallel conductors on the bottom surface, and a second liquid crystal plate member mounted below the first plate member and having a top surface and a plurality of substantially parallel conductors on the top surface. The conductors of the first plate member are substantially perpendicular to the conductors of the second plate member. A flexible member coupled to the liquid crystal display includes a circuit having a driver circuit which drives the first and second plate members to form the liquid crystal display. The circuit may also include at least one integrated circuit, as well as electrical traces which are coupled to conductors on the first and second plate members.

Abstract: A cooling package for a semiconductor chip includes, in addition to the chip, leads for the chip provided by a tape automated bonding frame, a cold header attached to the chip, a header frame, a pitch translator printed circuit board having conductive pads for receiving the chip leads and a plurality of holes connected to the pads, a plurality of attachment devices such as hollow thin wall stainless steel pins positioned in the holes, and a cavity insulator. The method of chip package assembly requires the assembly of two sub-assemblies and the subsequent assembly of the two sub-assemblies into a chip package.

Abstract: An arrangement for cooling electronic components in a system. Several circuit boards are connected to a backplane electrically and through heat pipes, which are mounted on the boards and provide connections between the electronic components on the board and the cooling system. The circuit boards, including the attached heat pipes, can be removed from the backplane by detaching electrical connections on the boards from corresponding connectors on the backplane, while at the same time detaching the ends of the heat pipes from sockets in an expander which forms part of the cooling system. If desired, backplanes can be positioned on both sides of the expander, with sockets provided on both sides of the expander to receive end portions of heat pipes.

Abstract: The invention concerns a carrier for Integrated Circuits (ICs). The ICs are carried by a multi-layer board, constructed of individual layers. Some layers carry conductive traces, and the traces are connected together to form a 3-dimensional network connecting the ICs. The individual layers are constructed of a flexible material, which is commercially available in large sheets, thus allowing multiple copies of the trace patterns to be printed simultaneously. The multi-layer board is attached to a standard printed circuit board, by pins which are driven through them both, and soldered into place.

Abstract: A data processing system comprising a central processing unit, a read-only memory, a changeable read-only memory and a read-write memory. A resident computer program is stored in the read-only memory, and instructions corresponding to program changes are stored in the changeable read-only memory. The program is assembled, revised and stored in the read-write memory from which the revised program can then be executed by the central processing unit. Other or further program revisions may be made by changing or reprogramming the changeable read-only memory.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display system is comprised of a control system and a display circuit. The control system selectively generates first address signals and first mode control signals during a first mode of operation and second address signals and second mode control signals during a second mode of operation. The display circuit includes a matrix of display means and diode decoding means. Each of the display means comprises a field effect liquid crystal cell having first and second inputs and a diode switching array selectively coupled to the first and second inputs, with the diode decoding means selectively coupled to each diode switching array. During the first mode of operation, the first address signals and first mode control signals are selectively applied to the diode decoding means to selectively cause preselected cells to charge in a first direction through the associated diode switching arrays.

Abstract: A field effect display system is comprised of a control system and display circuitry. The display circuitry includes an m by n array of field effect picture elements, a plurality of associated diode arrays respectively coupled to the array of field effect picture elements and diode decoder circuitry selectively coupled to the plurality of diode arrays. The control system is controlled by a microcomputer to selectively develop P-column address, N-column address and row address signals in P and N modes of operation. Drive decoder circuitry in the control system is responsive to each row address selectively generated during either a P- or an N-mode of operation for selectively causing an associated one of m drive circuits to enable all of the field effect picture elements in an associated one of m rows of field effect picture elements.

Abstract: An optical data entry and display system for decoding handwritten symbols into a data processing code is disclosed. The system comprises a television monitor for displaying decoded and otherwise derived symbols as well as for displaying a sequence of light spots on which a symbol may be traced by means of a light pen. The positions of the light spots comprising the trace are used in a comparison with a set of stored values defining the predetermined symbols to decode the trace.