Abstract: A device for controlling a cursor on a data terminal display screen. The device is in the form of a headset and includes an orientation sensor which provides an electrical signal related to the orientation of the device without it being adjacent to any fixed surface. The orientation sensor includes a hollow spherical housing having at least one light source/detector pair mounted opposingly in the inner wall, along an axis extending through the center point of the housing. The housing is half-filled with a transparent liquid having a specified viscosity and index of refraction and half-filled with air. Light beams emitted from the sources are refracted upon passing through the boundary between the air and the liquid. As the orientation sensor rotates with respect to the vertical axis, the changing refraction angle of the light beam causes the detector to sense changing intensities of light, which are representative of the angle of rotation.

Abstract: A squeezable cursor control device provides movement of moveable entities displayed on a computerized display. In one application the squeezable cursor control device provides scrolling of window contents as a function of cursor position relative to the window. The cursor positioned within the window provides short range scrolling upon squeezing of two opposed portions of the control device. The cursor positioned outside the window provides medium and long range scrolling upon squeezing of the control device. Graphical indicators such as directional indications and elevator bars aid selection and specification of medium and long range scrolling. A graphical indicator of a user generated path provides direction and amount of scrolling in short range scrolling.

Abstract: An electrographic system comprises a graphics surface assembly having a graphics surface integrally coupled to a memory device which contains calibration data designated for the graphics surface. During manufacturing, the memory device is mounted onto an interface board which is attached to the graphics surface through a flex cable. A calibration procedure is performed on the graphics surface whereby calibration data is generated and stored in the memory device. The memory device, loaded with the calibration data, is thereafter linked to its associated graphics surface.

Abstract: In a data processing system having a relational database, novel relational operator means is provided that accepts a cursor defined against a database target. The system retrieves record occurrences from the target as defined by the cursor; the means accepts predefined display format signals and defines a stored screen image responsive to the format signals and the retrieved record occurrences. The screen image is displayed to a user on the system display, and is modified in response to enumerating signals input by the user through the system keyboard during such display. The operator means derives from the modified screen image and the cursor, output signals defining a result relation, membership in which is defined enumeratively and interactively through the keyboard. Alternatively, using other format signals for the display, characterizing signals are input by the user, and a result relation, membership in which is defined in terms of attributes in the target, is defined interactively.

Abstract: A mounting arm is disclosed on one end of which a piece of electronic or other equipment is mounted and the other end of which is detachably fastened to the edge of a supporting surface. The arm has three moving joints that permit the equipment fastened thereto to be moved with multiple degrees of freedom for desired positioning of the equipment. One joint utilizes a friction washer assembly and a preloaded torsion spring counterbalancing the weight of the equipment. The torsion spring tension is adjustable to compensate for differing weights of equipment on the one end of the arm. Another joint utilizes a friction ball joint arrangement having double concentric friction ball surfaces in an assembly that permits multiple degrees of freedom of motion and is easily removed from the remainder of the arm without disassembling the ball joint.

Abstract: A connector provides alignment between an electro-optic device and an optical fiber of a optical fiber cable. The connector employs a holding member for removably retaining the working end of the optical fiber and an electro-optic device aligned with each other for communication therebetween. The holding member has a cavity in one side wall in which the device is removably retained, and a channel, from an opposite side wall to the base of the cavity, in which the optical fiber is positioned. The channel is of varying diameter, and includes a cavity facing end having a diameter which is sufficient to accomodate the optical fiber but which is smaller than the outer diameter optical fiber cable. The cavity facing end of the channel ensures alignment of the optical fiber with the device retained in the cavity. A clamp member comprising spreadable prongs secures the optical fiber cable in position in the larger diameter region of the channel of the holding member.

Abstract: A device for controlling a cursor on a data terminal display screen. The device is in the form of a headset and includes an orientation sensor which provides an electrical signal related to the orientation of the device without it being adjacent to any fixed surface. The orientation sensor includes a hollow spherical housing having at least one light source/detector pair mounted opposingly in the inner wall, along an axis extending through the center point of the housing. The housing is half-filled with a transparent liquid having a specified viscosity and index of refraction and half-filled with air. Light beams emitted from the sources are refracted upon passsing through the boundary between the air and the liquid. As the orientation sensor rotates with respect to the vertical axis, the changing refraction angle of the light beam causes the detector to sense changing intensities of light, which are representative of the angle of rotation.

Abstract: A control mouse has two opposed outward facing digit-engaging portions on a flexible vertical wall and is sized and shaped to be grasped and moved by squeezing force applied by one hand of an operator with a digit engaging each of the digit-engaging portions. The mouse has a pressure operated switch installed so as to be switched to a first state by squeezing force below a threshold force applied between two digits positioned respectively at the digit-engaging portions and switched to a second state by squeezing force above the threshold force. The switch thus controlled by the operator is used to provide signals to the associated computer.

Abstract: An adapter support holds a desktop computer enclosure securely in a vertical position on a floor installation. The adapter engages the enclosures footpads and may be alternatively assembled to stabilize the enclosure in the center of a floor, or may be configured to permit installing close to a wall.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for communicating between two or more cable interface units on a local area network such that each cable interface unit supports the International Standard Organization's 802.3 standard with the exception that two communication channels or paths are connected between the cable interface units. Only data is transferred on the first communication channel while a signal indicating usage of the first communication medium is broadcast on the second communication channel. Each cable interface unit on the network monitors the second communication channel while transmitting on the first. If it is determined that two cable interface units are transmitting simultaneously both cable interface units notify their respective communicating devices to cease transmission. Retransmission will be attempted at a later time.

Abstract: A pattern recognition system has both coarse and fine levels of analysis in which a coarse array representation of a workpiece pattern is formed and used to identify the workpiece pattern as either a reference character or as a member of an ambiguous set of reference characters which are represented by identical coarse array representations. At least portions of a fine array representation of a workpiece pattern which has been classified as a member of a set of reference characters are compared to corresponding portions of fine array representations of reference characters in the set identified by the classification. The pattern recognition system has a learning system through which reference characters may be introduced into the recognition system and through which a representation of a workpiece pattern which was not identified may be incorporated into an existing set of reference characters of the recognition system.