Abstract: A scanning system includes a scanner accessory which is operationally supported by a wider-purpose wireless handheld communications device. The communications device may be a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a combined PDA/cellular phone, or a similar device that enables wireless communications. The scanner accessory is adapted for freehand scanning and includes an image sensor, at least one navigator, and data transfer circuitry that is compatible with exchanging information with the communications device, including outgoing captured image information and incoming scan control information for controlling scanning operations by the scan accessory. Simultaneous with capturing image information by the image sensor, the navigator tracks the position of the image sensor relative to a document being scanned, so that the image information can be “position-tagged” to form an electronic image for display at the communications device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for communication between appliances. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving at an appliance communications manager that stands apart from source and destination appliances, a connection request from a source appliance, receiving at the appliance communications manager destination appliance communication information for a destination appliance, and receiving at the appliance communications manager a communication message from the source appliance. The method additionally comprises storing the communication message in a data memory of the appliance communications manager, establishing, via the appliance communications manager, a communication link with the destination appliance, and transferring the stored communication message to the destination appliance via the communication link.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for communication between appliances. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving at an appliance communications manager that stands apart from source and destination appliances, a connection request from a source appliance, receiving at the appliance communications manager destination appliance communication information for a destination appliance, and receiving at the appliance communications manager a communication message from the source appliance. The method additionally comprises storing the communication message in a data memory of the appliance communications manager, establishing, via the appliance communications manager, a communication link with the destination appliance, and transferring the stored communication message to the destination appliance via the communication link.

Abstract: A scanning system includes a scanner accessory which is operationally supported by a wider-purpose wireless handheld communications device. The communications device may be a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a combined PDA/cellular phone, or a similar device that enables wireless communications. The scanner accessory is adapted for freehand scanning and includes an image sensor, at least one navigator, and data transfer circuitry that is compatible with exchanging information with the communications device, including outgoing captured image information and incoming scan control information for controlling scanning operations by the scan accessory. Simultaneous with capturing image information by the image sensor, the navigator tracks the position of the image sensor relative to a document being scanned, so that the image information can be “position-tagged” to form an electronic image for display at the communications device.

Abstract: A method for allowing appliance-to-appliance communication transactions wherein an appliance communications manager that stands apart from source and destination appliances receives a connection request from a source appliance. A phonebook having a plurality of phonebook entries, and stored in the appliance communications manager, is then accessed. Each of the phonebook entries includes a destination appliance identifier and associated destination appliance communication information. A user of the source appliance is presented with a list having a plurality of the phonebook entries. The appliance communications manager receives the identity of a destination appliance selected from said list and, via the appliance communications manager, a communication link is established with the selected destination appliance. When a communication message is received from the source appliance, the communication message is sent to the selected destination appliance.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for managing communication transactions between electronic appliances is presented. The invention includes a source input/output (I/O) communications function which establishes a first communication link between the apparatus and a source appliance, and a destination I/O communications function which establishes a second communication link between said apparatus and a destination appliance. The apparatus stores and executes a communications program in program memory which manages communications transactions between the source I/O communications function and destination communications function.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for managing communication transactions between electronic appliances is presented. The invention includes a source input/output (I/O) communications function which establishes a first communication link between the apparatus and a source appliance, and a destination I/O communications function which establishes a second communication link between said apparatus and a destination appliance. The apparatus stores and executes a communications program in program memory which manages communications transactions between the source I/O communications function and destination communications function.

Abstract: An electronic device and method of manufacturing the electronic device are disclosed herein. The electronic device comprises a substrate with at least a first and a second linear optical component mounted thereto. Each of the linear optical components includes a photodetecting portion and an interface portion, wherein the photodetecting portions are electrically connected to the interface portions. The photodetecting portions of the linear optical components are aligned along a first axis. The interface portion of the at least one first linear optical component is offset from the first axis in a first direction. The interface portion of the at least one second linear optical component is offset from the first axis in a second direction, which is different from the first direction. This arrangement of optical components reduces the size of the electronic device, which in turn, reduces the size of any device that incorporates the electronic device.

Abstract: A computer graphics system interpolator for generating pixel values in a destination image of an object in a destination image space. The pixel values in the destination image are generated from a source image of the object in a source image space. The destination image and the source image each typically comprise a two-dimensional array of evenly-spaced pixels. A pixel in the destination image is transformed to an associated resampled point in the source image space. Intermediate pixel values are determined by interpolation between horizontally-aligned neighbor pixels in the source image space. Neighbor pixels in the same row as the resampled point in the source image space are determined. The distance between the pixels in the source image space are normalized to a value of unity and a first distance between the resampled point and an immediately adjacent neighboring pixel is determined.

Abstract: A hybrid object to image mapping system and method includes a fragment generator that can be employed in conjunction with an interpolator within an image accelerator. The fragment generator includes a forward mapping mechanism for forward mapping an object data array from object space to image space so as to generate an object address set including image space addresses for each of the object data points, a pixel traversal mechanism for receiving and traversing the object address set to determine what pixels in the image space are located within an area of the object data set, and a reverse mapping mechanism for receiving pixel address data and determining at least two distances for each of the pixels within the area and for reverse mapping each of the distances from the image space to the object space relative to said data values in the local data buffer.

Abstract: A video interface system and method produce an interlaced video signal from a noninterlaced graphics signal produced by a computer. The video interface system receives a digitized noninterlaced graphics signal directly from the graphics system of the computer and converts the graphics signal into an analog interlaced video signal. The noninterlaced graphics signal is characterized by a higher resolution and higher frequency than the analog interlaced video signal. In the preferred embodiment, the video interface is connected to a decoder within the graphics system. The decoder generates and combines timing signals with pixel values from a frame buffer to produce a noninterlaced graphics signal.

Abstract: A method for mapping a source pixel image to a destination pixel space enables all destination pixels within boundaries of the source image to be rendered in a single pass. The method first derives source image edge intersection coordinate values in the destination pixel space, for both a primary edge and a secondary edge of the source pixel image. One of the source coordinate values is selected as a starting coordinate. The method next determines a first occurring line of destination pixels in a direction along a major axis from the starting coordinate. Clip points are derived at intersections of the first occurring line of destination pixels and the primary and secondary edges of the source data. The same action is performed with respect to a next occurring line of destination pixels. A display value is then assigned to each pixel in a first minor direction along the first occurring line of destination pixels until a next destination pixel exceeds a clip point.