Abstract: A pyramid shaped ergonomic keyboard comprised of three sets of keys or three keypads. A front keypad faces the operator and contains number keys, specialty keys, function keys and a trackball/mouse. The left and right keypad are at approximately a 45.degree. angle positioned in a tripod fashion substantially meeting at a vertex and substantially forming a pyramid with the front keypad. The left keypad and right keypad each contain the key in standard QWERTY layout (albeit split and positioned at a 45.degree. angle). The front, left and right keypads may be mounted or attached to a support frame. The keypads are adjustable in a horizontal and vertical manner relative to each other allowing individual adjustment of each keypad for the convenience of the operator. Protruding from the frame between the front keypad and the left keypad and the front keypad and the right keypad are handrests to support the hands when typing.

Abstract: A handle/controlle 3 consisting of a gripping handle of suitable shape as to conform to the hand and attached to a hand held computer 1 or a base unit 2 of the same and containing on either side a ball in socket or "cursor ball" 5L and a pressure switch or "action switch" 6L; a two position left/right switch 8. and suitable circuitry such that:1 Each of the left/right switch position determines activation of a cursor ball on one side together with the action switch on the opposite side.2 Rotation of the cursor ball in a particular direction when activated results in sending a suitably compatible vectored signal to the computer as to indicate the amount and direction of the rotation.3 The position of the corresponding action switch is recorded in the computer.

Abstract: An improved mouse for concurrent cursor position and scrolling control is disclosed, in which a supplementary scrolling control device with a double reluctance characteristic is included for achieving a double operational mode using a single finger of the hand that holds and operates the mouse. The double mode operation is combined with an improved method for performing scrolling axis settings and scrolling scale settings through a number of combined mouse movements or gestures for dynamically controlling scrolling at the same time the mouse is operated.

Abstract: A variable under operator control is set to a desired value by taking a pause when the value of the variable has been modified such that it would surpass the desired value. Upon meeting the desired value, the value of the variable is set to the desired value for the duration of a pause period, during which the value of the variable remains fixed regardless of further attempts to modify the variable. Therefore, even if the operator is careless, the variable does not pass over the desired values. The variable may represent a voltage or current, or the position of a cursor.

Abstract: A sample and hold circuit is arranged to have a first shift register, a second shift register, a first group of sample and hold elements, a second group of sample and hold elements, and a phase switching circuit. The first shift register has a serial-in and parallel-out function and serves to shift an input sampling pulse in synchronization to the first shift clock. The second shift register has a serial-in and parallel-out function and serves to shift the input sampling pulse in a synchronous to a second shift clock being different from the first shift clock by a predetermined angle of phase. The first group of sample and hold elements serves to sample an analog signal in synchronization to an output from the first shift register. The second group of sample and hold elements serves to sample an analog signal in synchronization an output from the second shift register.

Abstract: A dynamic addressing display device includes a display panel and generates a number of dot data signals and data clock signals equal to the number of picture elements per row required to display one character on the display panel. It is therefore not necessary to generate extra dot data signals or data clock signals representing additional data driver bits greater than the number of picture elements per row required to display one character on the display panel. A data driver is coupled to the display panel for driving a plurality of data electrodes of the display panel. The number of data clock signals is counted by a data clock counter. When the number of clock signals counted equals the number of picture elements per row required to display one character on the display panel the data clock signals are modulated by a data clock adder to shift the clock signals an amount of bits equal to the additional number of outputs of the data driver. The resultant clock signals are sent to a shift register.

Abstract: An EPID electrode configuration includes a plurality of parallel, tined, interdigitized anode and cathode lines deposited upon a faceplate. A plurality of guard elements are provided between adjacent pairs of anode and cathode lines. In a first embodiment, grid lines oriented perpendicularly to the anode and cathode lines are applied to a rearplate of the EPID. Alternatively, the grid lines may be deposited on an intermediate coating of SiO.sub.2 and photoresist overlying the anode and cathode lines.

Abstract: In a manual input device for controlling a cursor on a computer display (e.g., a mouse), a supplementary proportional control device including a spring-loaded lever displaceable from an equilibrium position in either of two directions and protruding out of the mouse housing is provided for concurrently controlling the scrolling operation. The supplementary control signal is generated in response to operation of a lever designed to be driven by the thumb of the same hand which holds the mouse. The control signal varies according to the discplacement amount of the lever from its equilibrium position and the displacement direction and thus is used as a scrolling rate and direction control. An associated method is provided for setting the scrolling direction in correspondence to the dominant axis of the cursor's trail. Detecting an approximately circular movement of the cursor sets the scrolling axis perpendicular to the screen plane (i.e., in a third dimension).

Abstract: An assembled photomechanical mouse structure including a bottom casing, an upper cover associated with the bottom casing, a circuit board enclosed by the bottom casing and upper cover, a ball member, two slotted discs, an idle roller, and a photoelectrical set composed of an LED and a double-chip phototransistor, wherein the bottom casing is integrally formed with stepped supports for fitting the circuit board thereon, two shaft posts and a roller support, and the circuit board is located on a front section of the bottom casing, extending from front end thereof only to the position of the slotted discs , on one side of the circuit board adjacent to the slotted discs being formed with an X direction and a Y direction rectangular slots whereby the LED and phototransistor are disposed on two opposite sides of each of the slots, the shaft post being formed with a shaft hole and a slant slide channel located thereabove, whereby the slotted disc can be pushed through the slant guide channels of two opposite shaft p

Abstract: The outputting of transparent text to a video display is improved by decreasing the time it takes to output the text. The time savings are realized by eliminating the "OUT" instruction that is particularly time consuming. This invention is especially well-adapted for use with a video graphics array (VGA) type video adapter.