Abstract: A method and system for approximating a Phong shading calculation for 3D renderings of realistic graphic images. The new method uses only a modest number of multiplies and adds to approximate a calculation that required divides, square roots and powers. The approximation uses approximate normalization, vector differences, and a shape function to simplify the processing and to improve performance significantly while still generating a graphic rendering that is very realistic.

Abstract: A computer based system utilizing cues extracted from audio speech to select from among a database of stored image cells to produce synthesized animated characters. A database of image cells is created by storing the face of an actor or other character articulating some 40 phoneme sounds, in 8 different emotions from 25 different camera angles. Audio speech is then analyzed and the faces are extracted based on phoneme sounds and emotion cues within the spectral information of the speech. The position of a user operated camera controller is polled to determine a desired camera angle and the three image parameters (articulation, emotion and camera angle) are used to select an image from the database associated with the phoneme. The selected images are interpolated to produce a smooth, life-like character or cartoon animation sequence, and then stored to a video recorder.

Abstract: A system for correcting an output device for the effects of reflected ambient illumination comprises a reflection device of known reflectivity. The color display memory stores a first graphical interface and a second graphical interface. The first graphical interface displays a range of intensities of outputs that the display device can generate. The second graphical interface displays a range of hues that the display device can generate. The reflection device has a target surface which defines an aperture. The ambient light reflecting from the target surface is compared to the first graphical interface and to the second graphical interface by viewing the interfaces through the aperture.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for broadcast burst transmission of compressed audio/video programs from a stored library to a multiplicity of subscribers. The stored programs are burst transmitted repeatedly in a predetermined sequence of entire programs or segments thereof to a receiver at each subscriber's location. Each receiver is operative for accessing the predetermined broadcast schedule, Inputting a subscriber's order for one or more programs, monitoring the broadcast burst transmissions for the one or more ordered programs, receiving the one or more ordered programs in a burst time period corresponding to the time period of the burst transmission, and storing the one or more ordered programs. The subscriber then enjoys full VCR-like control over playback at his convenience of the ordered, stored programs, that are then decompressed by the receiver for viewing in real time.

Abstract: Utilization of one or more voice sources in a speech synthesizer to provide improved synthetic speech. Having a speech synthesizer with the capability to select among and between a multiplicity of voice sources provides a higher quality and greater variety of possible synthetic speech sounds. This is particularly true when the multiplicity of voice sources are predetermined to have particular speech qualities and spectral content such as may be desired to convey emotional vocal content in synthetic speech.

Abstract: A color calibration system comprises a processor for receiving and transmitting data. A first sensor coupled to the processor detects emissive color images for providing first color sampling data to the processor. A second sensor coupled to the processor detects reflective color images for providing second color sampling data to the processor. A color output device coupled to the processor is calibrated in response to data generated by at least one of the first and second sensors.

Abstract: A toy is disclosed for producing a simulated eruption. The toy comprises a container having a first chamber for holding a predetermined quantity of a first reagent and a second chamber for holding a predetermined quantity of a second reagent. The second chamber communicates with an upstanding convergent nozzle terminating at its upper end in an orifice opening to the exterior of the container. When the sidewalls defining the first chamber are squeezed, a portion of the first reagent held therein is forced through a connecting tube into the second chamber, where the first regent reacts with the second reagent to produce gaseous products. The elevated pressure thereby created within the second chamber causes the reagent mixture to be ejected from the nozzle orifice at high velocity. The toy may additionally comprise a simulated volcano landscape having a eruption tube depending from the volcano crater which receives at its lower end the tip of the nozzle.

Abstract: A bounds evaluation unit generates a bounds measurement pair corresponding to a character pattern pair determined from a handwritten word. Within the bounds measurement pair, a first bounds measurement corresponds to a first character pattern, and a second bounds measurement corresponds to a second character pattern. The first and second bounds measurements are each a bounding box that defines a left-most, a right-most, a top-most, and a bottom-most extent of the corresponding character pattern. The bounds measurement pair is compared against one or more bounds model pairs, where each bounds model pair corresponds to a hypothesized character identifier pair in which each individual hypothesized character identifier has been determined by a character recognition unit. Each bounds model pair indicates the expected size and position of a character pattern pair corresponding to the hypothesized character identifier pair.

Abstract: A fixed lens camera comprises a fixed focus lens, an infrared filter, and an optical low pass filter, all disposed in succession within a housing, coaxial with an optical axis. Light from a target passes through an aperture in the housing, and then through the lenses and filters. An image sensor receives the filtered light, and outputs a two-dimensional array signal of corresponding voltages proportional to the incident light striking each sensing element. The voltage signal from the image sensor is filtered using a high pass filter, and the high frequency components of the signal are measured to determine the relative focus of the light from the target. The signal measurement is displayed on a bar LCD to enable focusing of the lens by moving the camera along the optical axis while observing the LCD output.

Abstract: In a computer system, a method and an apparatus for varying contour widths of a vector graphic. The method including the steps of reading vector shape data having a contour, control points, a bulge position, a bulge width, and a base position, determining new border control points along the contour, and drawing a new variable width contour using the new border control points from the base control point to a bulge position control point. The apparatus of the present invention includes a processor, an operating system memory coupled to the processor, a vector shape database memory coupled to the processor for storing data that defines the vector shape, a routines memory coupled to the processor for controlling the operating system memory and the processor, and a control variables memory coupled to the processor for storing control variables that direct the routines memory.

Abstract: A fixed-focus camera having a retractable close-up lens, fixed-focus lens, infrared filter, and optical low-pass filter disposed along an optical axis within a housing. The close-up lens is switchable between a close-up position coaxial with the optical axis and a far position not coaxial with the optical axis. Light received from a target passes through an aperture in the housing and then through the lenses and filters. An image sensor receives the filtered light and outputs a two-dimensional array signal of corresponding voltages proportional to the energy of light striking each sensing element. The voltage signal from the image sensor is filtered using a high-pass filter and the high-frequency components of the signal are measured to determine a relative focal value for the light received from the target.

Abstract: A configurable cellular array is provided having a 2-dimensional array of cells in which each cell in the array has at least one input and output connection at least one bit wide to its neighbours. Each cell also has a programmable routing circuit to permit intercellular connections to be made. In one arrangement each cell contains a programmable function unit which includes a plurality of multiplexers. In a preferred arrangement the function unit and routing unit are programmable using associated Random Access Memory (RAM) areas within the cell. Each cell may be coupled to at least one global or array-crossing-signals so that all cells can be signalled simultaneously. The 2-dimensional array is rectangular and the intercell connections are orthogonal and are one bit wide.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for efficiently translating data from one known data sequencing arrangement to an alternative sequencing arrangement. The method consists of the steps of generating a source sequence signal which identifies the ordering of units within the source sequence, generating a destination sequence signal which identifies the ordering of units within the destination sequence, and combining the source signal and destination signal to produce a permutation signal which defines the relationship between the source sequence and the destination sequence. Once the permutation signal has been defined, this permutation signal is applied to the source sequence to allow the reordering of the source sequence into the desired destination sequence. A reordering circuit is used to rearrange the source sequence units into the desired destination sequence units utilizing the permutation signal generated in the present invention.

Abstract: An object oriented message passing system for transferring messages between a client task and a server task comprises an object database, an object management unit, a message transaction unit, and a locking unit. The object management unit creates a port object and one or more associated message objects. The message transaction unit matches a send message request issued by a client task with an acceptance function or with a receive message request issued by a server task. In response to a send message request, the message transaction unit creates a send message control block. In response to a receive message request, the message transaction unit creates a delivery message control block if the receive message request matches the send message control block, or creates a receive message control block if the receive message request does not match the send message control block.

Abstract: A signal distribution system having a converter with input terminals for receiving signals of varying configurations and an output terminal for transmitting converted signals. The input signals received by the converter are each converted into a converted signal frequency component of a common bus signal, which is then transmitted by the converter. The converter output terminal transmits the common bus signal on a communication bus. The communication bus is coupled to at least one interface pod for receiving the common bus signal and re-transmitting a desired converted signal.

Abstract: The projector of the present invention provides a means for interactively displaying and annotating a document image at two separate locations. The projector consists of an image plate having an array of picture elements for displaying the image; a projection mechanism for projecting the image displayed by the image plate onto a projection screen; and a digitizer having a coordinate input array which corresponds to the array of picture elements of the image plate, wherein the image displayed by the image plate changes in response to coordinate inputs to the digitizer. A method for interactively annotating an image communicated between a remote and local image includes the procedure of simultaneously transmitting to the remote projector, annotations made to an image in the local projector.

Abstract: An integrated circuit layout technique is described which employs an optimization-driven clustering technique to provide improved cell placement. The technique utilizes clustering of cells based upon Rent's rule, with global-optimization-derived inter-cell distances being used to break ties when identical Rent exponents are encountered. A constraint on the number of cells permitted to be in a cluster and a constraint on the maximum Rent exponent which to be considered for merging clusters minimize the "overgrowth" of clusters and serve to even out cluster size, ideally suiting the technique to conventional partitioning and placement schemes.

Abstract: A multicast network system comprises a data network which provides a medium for data transfer. A media source having a control packet and media packets coupled to the data network broadcasts the control packet and the media packets to the data network and rebroadcasts the control packet in conjunction with the media packets to the data network. A media receiver is coupled to the network and receives the control packet and the media packets from the data network to process the control packet and the media packets to produce a media output.