Abstract: A system for determining the arrangement of graphic segments or elements in a computer graphics and includes an input unit for entering the desired position and orientation of each individual graphic segment representative of a component or part of a product to be designed. The system also has an interference checking unit for checking interference of newly entered graphic segments relative to other segments already fixed in arrangement. The interference checking unit generates an alarm indicating the occurrence of interference through an interference alarming unit.

Abstract: An arrangement for addressing a frame buffer memory including apparatus for selecting from the address bits designating a position in the frame buffer of a pixel to be displayed on an output display the bits indicating the word address of the pixel in a particular row of the frame buffer, apparatus for multiplying the word address by a fraction to provide a new word address, apparatus for recombining the new word address with the row address to provide a new address in the frame buffer for the information regarding the pixel to be displayed, and apparatus for controlling the storage of a data word describing the pixel beginning at a selected byte of the data word whereby the storage in the frame buffer of an unused portion of a data word describing the pixel may be eliminated.

Abstract: A master-slave processor human interface system. An electronic device, a slave processor for controlling the electronic device and performing certain computational functions, a master processor for controlling the slave processor, an input device and an output device associated with the master processor, and an information storage device are provided. Individual slave processor programs are selected, retrieved from the information storage device, and loaded into the slave processor for implementing corresponding functions of the slave processor and electronic device, while a single master processor program which adapts itself to the selected slave processor program accepts input data and operational selections and displays output information according to a predetermined spatial arrangement for each such function, thereby providing the human interface.

Abstract: This method and apparatus are suitable for inclusion in the "graphics circuit board" of a personal computer. The digital output of the computer is used to plot a series of "pixel pairs" which, taken together, closely approximate the desired path of a line to be drawn on a display device such as a color cathode-ray tube. The addresses and relative intensities of the pixels of each pair and of the series are computed so as to produce a line that is substantially free from the "jaggies" resulting from "aliasing" in prior-art apparatus. Computation of addresses relies upon both integer and floating-point numbers.

Abstract: The data processing apparatus comprises a line counter for counting total number of output lines while outputting ruled lines, characters, and symbols and a input data memory for storing the data of characters, symbols, and ruled lines input corresponding to the output position of each page. The vertical ruled line data output to the final line of the page under outputting, the horizontal ruled line data which touches this vertical ruled line, and the vertical ruled line data output to the first line of the next page are searched based on the data of the line counter and the input data memory. And, when the horizontal ruled line data is searched in the final line of the page and the vertical ruled line data is searched in the final line of the page and the vertical ruled line data is searched in the first line of the next page, the horizontal ruled line which corresponds to the horizontal ruled line data of the final line of the page is output to the first line of the next page.

Abstract: The center line (CL) of a line graphic (A) is represented by a set of linear segments. A bent part (P.sub.2 -P.sub.9) is specified and a train of linear segments representing the bent part remains in a process of correcting defect the line graphic. After the defect is corrected, the train of linear segments is converted into a curve to thereby obtain a graphic having a curve.

Abstract: A visual simulation system (10') and method for digital computer graphics processing is described whereby the system (10') reduces the undesirable effects of aliasing on the digital computer images (59) rendered in the simulation. Real-Time Pixel Mixing (RTPM) is accomplished by processing each pixel (P.sub.f) of a digital computer foreground image (60, 62) generated in real-time with the corresponding pixel (P.sub.b) of a previously generated background image (64). The effect of the processing is to overlay the foreground image (60, 62) on the background image (64) and cause the pixels on the periphery of each object rendered in the foreground image (60, 62) to be color blended with the corresponding pixels of the background image (64) in such a manner as to "soften" the transition between the foreground (60, 62) and background (64) images.

Abstract: In an enlarged trend graph displaying method, a portion of an overall trend graph is enlarged so as to be displayed on a display screen subdivided into upper and lower reduced display sections and a middle enlarged display section.

Abstract: A small size graphic microcomputer provided with a direction control circuit and a coordinate computing circuit, which allow for finer control over the direction in which a dot of interest is moving. The sequence of operations from the calculation of coordinates through address generation is carried out sequentially so that addresses in the drawing memory can be obtained at high speed in response to each output clock.

Abstract: A circuit for discriminating whether or not a given point exists within a predetermined linear area, comprises first and second registers for storing first and second boundary values defining the predetermined linear area. A first detection circuit receives the first boundary value and a value of the given point, and a second detection circuit receives the second boundary value and the value of the given point. Each of the first and second detection circuits generating a first signal indicating that the boundary value is not greater than the value of the given point, a second signal indicating that the boundary value is equal to the value of the given point, and a third signal indicating that the boundary value is greater than the value of the given point.

Abstract: A computer having a video circuit which is configured by a monitor identification signal is described. The self-configuring circuit permits connection to a variety of monitor types without the need for a separate video card or other dedicated circuitry compatible with the specific monitor type. The computer automatically senses the type of the monitor to which it is coupled, then configures its internal circuitry to provide compatible video signals to the monitor. The invented computer includes a central processing unit (CPU) for executing a program to provide video data for display on the monitor. The data is stored in the computer in a random-access memory (RAM). The monitor provides an identification signal to the video circuit which then provides both the appropriate video timing signals and the video data to the monitor for display thereon. The identification signal is used to configure the video circuitry in accordance with the requirements of the monitor.

Abstract: Shapes are compared by obtaining a measure of dissimilarity based on near neighbor data. First, an image of one shape is analyzed to obtain, for each pixel position, a distance to the nearest pixel that meets a criterion, such as a black pixel. Then, a sum of distances is obtained by totalling the distances of the pixel positions at which an image of another shape meets the criterion. The sum indicates dissimilarity. The near neighbor distances and sum can be obtained by hierarchical operations.

Abstract: A photo stimulated and controlled imaging neural network for providing self generating learning sets and associative memory and programmability. An image to be recognized or detected is transferred to an imaging plane, which can be as simple as a lens or as complicated as a cathode ray tube. The imaging plane whose contents forms the input for a photo receptor array transfers the stimulus from the object to the photoreceptor array. The photoreceptor array responds to the stimulus provided by the imaging plane with various couplings between an array of neuron amplifiers. The photo receptor array comprises a plurality of synaptic photo controlled resistors which respond to the stimulus provided by the imaging plane. The individual neuron amplifiers settle into a set of on or off binary states based on the couplings of the photo controlled resistors which comprise the receptor array.

Abstract: A method and apparatus carried out on a digital computer for creating and editing mathematical equations in a printed document is disclosed. This invention allows the user of a wordprocessing program to create and edit mathematical equations in an efficient and flexible manner through use of a user interface which includes an editing window, a display window, and a palette window. The editing window allows the user to input a textual description of the equation, the palette window provides an alternative method of entering the textual description of the equation by displaying the characters and commands that may be used, and the display window displays the equation as it appears in its final printed form.

Abstract: The system and method of forming a display from a sequence of blocks of pixel data includes intermediate storage of selected blocks of pixel data in sequence for subsequent selective access in the stored sequence. One or more accesses to a given block of pixel data from intermediate storage provides zoom expansion or compression of displayable images represented by the blocks of pixel data.

Abstract: A system and method in a graphics environment ensures that a line drawn upon the surface of a polygon is always visible to a user of the graphics system. In a Z-buffered environment the range of depth values contained therein are set to the 75% of the total capacity which is considered closest to the surface of a display screen. The line is then drawn into this 75% set of Z-buffer depth values. A shift is then computed, based upon the normal to the polygon in device coordinates. This shift is then added to the previously set 75% range of Z-buffer depth values. The polygon is then drawn at a depth equal to the previously set range plus the shift. Thus, the line will always be visible since, the polygon surface will always be considered by a graphics adapter to be deeper than the line contained on the surface thereof.

Abstract: A text processing device is provided having a raster type CRT display and a printing unit. Codes corresponding to data to be displayed on the CRT display are stored in a memory which is updated during each vertical retrace period unless the device detects that a motor for the printing unit is activated in which case a fewer number of codes are rewritten into the memory.

Abstract: Aliasing on a video display resulting from digital sampling and appearing as jagged lines and crawling movement is eliminated by controlling the intensity of video display pixels as a function of distance from the ideal line location. Intensity values are stored in an intensity lookup table as a function of two values. For the middle portion of a line, the two values are the shorter of the distance from a pixel in either the x-direction or y-direction and the smaller of the slope with respect to the x-axis or the y-axis. For line end points, the two values are the distances of the pixel from the end point in the x-direction and the y-direction.

Abstract: A multipoint, multiple function recorder which can record, display, and process up to 135 input/output data points, either analog or discrete, in various combinations. A strip chart recorder is provided for permanently recording input and output data points and, in conjunction with the chart recorder, a separate programmable dot matrix display is provided, such display being responsive to the same input/output data points and operable for displaying data in both alphanumeric and graphic form, the display being independently operable from said chart recorder, such that said input/output points are displayable at different times from the times when they are being printed on the chart recorder.

Abstract: An information display system and method for displaying information on multiple information display means. The information display system is generally comprised of a system controller, one or more direct controller, multiple information display units and one or more display lines, which facilitate the transmission of operating power and information to the information display units. The system controller combines each unit of source information with its own address code, thereby forming an addressed information unit. The system controller transmits the addressed information unit to a direct controller designated by said information unit's address code.