Abstract: A shift register comprises a plurality of amorphous silicon thin-film transistors configured in a plurality of register cells through which data is shifted through a plurality of amorphous silicon thin-film floating-gate transistors. In the event power is cutoff or lost, the floating gate transistors non-volatilely store the data which can be recovered or restored when power is subsequently turned on. Each cell comprises two stages in which data signals are written before being input into the next stage and next cell. A clock generator receives clocking signals for controlling the shifting of data through the register.

Abstract: A key actuated secure docking apparatus for a portable computer locks the apparatus so that internal electronic devices are prevented from being detached from a base body of a docking apparatus, even if the desktop base is left without a docked portable computer. Further, the key mechanism allows the docking apparatus to be placed in a condition in which power supply for the docking apparatus cannot be turned on even if the power switch for the power supply is turned on. Data in a storage device internal to the docking apparatus cannot be stolen or destroyed by attempting docking with a portable computer since power is not supplied to the storage device.

Abstract: A torsional tester includes test stations for one or more circuit cards. In each test station, one end of the circuit card under test is held stationary while the opposite end is twisted in a card holder mounted to pivot about an axis, being alternately driven by each of a pair of weights extending downward on a flexible member from opposite sides of a pulley. A rocker providing a platform extending under each of these weights is driven in a reciprocating pivoting motion in which the weights are alternately lifted and allowed to fall. The weight which is allowed to fall provides a torque to the pulley, while the weight being lifted does not provide such a torque. A pair of setscrews limits the angular motion of the card holder to a predetermined level in each direction.

Abstract: A computer with a removable cartridge type hard disk drive (14) or other removable device includes a three position slider 26. At one end of the slider is a tab (20A) having a hole (20B) for receiving a lock. When the slider is in a first position, the tab is retracted within the computer housing (2) and the disk drive can be easily removed from the computer. When the slider is in a second position, the tab protrudes from the housing and the disk drive cannot be removed from the computer. In the second position and with the tab protruding from the housing, a padlock can be inserted into the hole in the tab to secure the slider in the second position, thereby locking the disk drive in the computer. When the slider is in the third position, the tab does not protrude from the housing, but the disk drive cannot be removed from the computer.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for enabling configuration of a PCI daughter card residing on an MCA adapter card using MCA setup cycles and signals and for ensuring the allocation of memory space to the daughter card. In a preferred embodiment, the invention comprises an MCA adapter card connected to an MCA system bus of a conventional PC. A PCI-compliant daughter card, the purpose of which is to provide additional functionality to circuitry of the adapter card, resides on a PCI bus of the adapter card. A PCI/MCA bridge is provided for interfacing the MCA system bus with the PCI bus of the adapter card for enabling configuration of the daughter card during the setup sequence of the MCA bus and to respond with an appropriate ROM signature during DOS boot-up to ensure that memory space will be allocated to the daughter card, if needed.

Abstract: A data processing system with a printing function having a system body, input means being disposed adjacently to said system body for inputting data, and printing means being disposed in the rear of said system body, in which a printing medium is supplied from between said system body and said input means to said printing means.

Abstract: A computer system (10) comprises a processor unit (14), a keyboard (16), a screen (12) and a mouse (18). A user uses the mouse to control the position of a cursor (20) on the screen, and also to indicate a selected cursor position. To correlate this position with shapes (40, 42) on the display, to determine which if any shapes have been selected, the computer first determines whether a pick rectangle around the selected cursor position overlaps a bounding rectangle (40, 42) around a shape. Those shapes for which an overlap is found are re-drawn into a bit map in memory, which is then examined to see if this drawing process has resulted in a change to the bit map. Any shapes which produce a change in the bit map must overlap the pick rectangle, and so are correlated with the cursor position.

Abstract: A computer display device with digital RGB color signal lines, and horizontal and vertical synchronous signal lines. The controller comprising a means for taking out, from one of the digital RGB color signal lines which consists of an N bit digital signal, a black level signal defined as "0" or "1" in all N bits, and a means for adding the black level signal being taken out to either one of said horizontal and vertical synchronous signal lines. In addition to the controller, the present invention provides a display device including a means, provided within the display device, for extracting said black level signal from the synchronous signal with the black level signal being added, and a means for maintaining a black level potential of the display device at a predetermined value in response to the black level signal being extracted.

Abstract: A stylus assembly in which a stylus is mounted in a housing for movement relative thereto. An electrical circuit is provided for sensing contact of the stylus with a writing surface and measuring the pressure exerted on the surface by the stylus.

Abstract: A pointing device such as a mouse is provided with cleaning time determination circuitry 46, 48, 50 for determining whether the cleaning of its movable portions becomes necessary and the user is notified of the necessity of cleaning by visual indication at indicator 52 when an alarm signal is outputted from the determination circuitry.

Abstract: A coordinate processor for a computer system having an absolute position pointing device (10) such as a touch sensitive display screen comprises stimulus detection means (200) for detecting a tactile stimulus of an absolute position pointing device (10) and directed to a point within a data display area (610) of a computer system. The processor further comprises coordinate locking means (210-320) for locking a current cursor position to the point within the display area corresponding to the tactile stimulus in response to said stimulus exceeding a predetermined threshold value. The processor permits the computer system to distinguish a stimulus of the pointing device (10) for repositioning the cursor within the data display area (610) from a stimulus of the pointing device (10) for issuing a button click command to the computer system. The processor may be embodied in an electronic logic circuit within a pointing device adapter portion of the computer system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analysing the motion of an object in an motion video in which the frame of a video image (suitably converted to graphics format) is displayed on a video display unit and overlaid by a graphics image including a mouse pointer. The mouse is manipulated by the user to capture the pixel coordinates of the desired object in successive frames of the video thereby providing data which represents the variation in position of the object with time.

Abstract: A digitized speech data channel is analyzes for the presence of words or phrases from a desired list. If the word is not present the speech time series from the channel, there is a high probability of matching the input data to phonemic noise markers rather than to word models. This is accomplished through the use of a competitive algorithm wherein Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) of the desired words or phrases compete with an alternative HMM of a set of phonemes. The set of phonemes can be chosen in order to reduce the computer resources required for the channel analysis.