Abstract: A position-sensing unit for determining a relative position in one or more dimensions of two units. One or more position-sensing units can be used in a multidimensional pointer, such as a control lever, for controlling a position in up to six dimensions of, e.g., and object on a display. A position-sensing unit comprises a radiation source, a detector and a screen element arranged in the beam path for partial screening off of radiation. The radiation source and the detector comprise individual or separate fields for emitting or detecting radiation, in which case it is possible to distinguish radiation associated with one field from radiation associated with other fields. The determination of a position is carried out based on a comparison between the intensities of non-screened-off radiation associated with the different fields.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a touch screen sensor 10 that reduces or eliminates echoes or reflections of ultrasonic waves generated by one or more transducers 12. The touch screen sensor 10 is comprised of a wave absorption material 16 positioned around at least a portion of the perimeter 35 of the touch screen sensor 10.

Abstract: An ambient light reflective color electrophoretic display is comprised of a plurality of color pixels; each comprised of at least two electrophoretic cells. Each cell is comprised of a suspension of charged, black or colored light-absorbing pigment particles in a light-transmissive fluid. Each cell is also comprised of a light-transmissive front window, at least one non-obstructing counter electrode, at least one non-obstructing collecting electrode, a light-reflective panel, and a color filter medium. The cells of different colors are in a laterally adjacent relationship to each other and the charged pigment particles are responsive to the electrodes. The filter medium in each cell can be a light-transmissive color filter element or a light-reflective colored surface or the pigment suspension fluid can be colored and serve as the filter medium.

Abstract: A computer mouse which eliminates the function and involvement of the forefinger, middle finger and ring finger comprises a shell whose inclined back top surface is so contoured to position the palm of the computer and mouse operator at 30 degree extension to the horizontal surface, and the inclined front surface minimizes and, better yet, eliminates the movement of muscles and tendons of the forefinger, middle finger and ring finger. The mouse, and therefore, the computers are operated by the muscles of the thenar and hypothenar eminences whereby a left click button and a right click button are operated by the muscles of the thenar and hypothenar eminences, respectively.

Abstract: A stylus for use in a coordinate input system (e.g. digitizer tablet system) includes a finger wheel. The degree of rotation of the finger wheel by the user determines the extent to which a chosen graphical parameter (e.g. line thickness, color, shading, gray scale, etc.) is varied. Thus, a user can easily vary the graphical parameter while drawing by merely rotating the finger wheel about its fixed rotational axis. Preferably, rotation of the wheel causes an intermediate gear wheel with teeth thereon to rotate which in turn causes a potentiometer to detect the degree of rotation of the finger wheel. In alternative embodiments of this invention, a touchpad for inputting finger position and/or finger pressure information may be provided on the side of the stylus instead of the finger wheel.

Abstract: The display or indicating device comprises at least one display unit (1) having a display dot (10) as well as having means for actuating the display dot. The latter has a pivotably mounted baseplate (11) which is provided with an electroluminescence apparatus (30). Spurs (14, 15) protrude from the baseplate (11) and are mounted such that they can rotate in bearing sleeves (23, 24) made of an electrically conductive material. The electrodes (31, 32) of the apparatus (30) extend right into the region of the spurs or the bearing sleeves. Fitted on the respective spur (14, 15) is a contact element (36), which is electrically connected to the electrode that is present here. The bearing sleeves (23, 24) are fitted on supports (22) made of an electrically conductive material, these supports being connected to a supply source. The display dot (10) is provided with a permanent magnet (8).

Abstract: A hand operated computer pointing device (120) such as a “mouse” includes at least one control button (130) which is selectively positionable to a plurality of desired locations on the surface (127) of the body (122) of the computer point device (120). A user may selectively position the control button(s) (130) to any desired location upon the surface (127) of the body (122) in order to (a) best fit the hand (500) and fingers of the user, and (b) to reduce biomechanical stress. The body of the computer pointing device (120) may be of conventional firm construction (122), or alternatively may be moldable (22) by the user into a plurality of desired shapes.

Abstract: In a hand-held digital data reader which functions as an electronic book, a hinged housing for two displays and display controls opens and closes in the manner of a printed book. In the open position, the two displays are presented as facing pages of a book. Each display is mounted between a rounded spine end emulating the rounded page surface of an open printed book, and a tapered thumb pad emulating the tapered page ends of an open book. Thumb operated display controls are on the thumb pads. The hinge has a traveling pivot point for maintaining contact between the surfaces of the two spine ends when the book is opened and closed.

Abstract: An ambient light reflective color electrophoretic display is comprised of a plurality of color pixels; each comprised of at least two electrophoretic cells. Each cell is comprised of a suspension of charged, white or colored light-scattering pigment particles in a light-transmissive fluid. Each cell is also comprised of a light-transmissive front window, at least one non-obstructing counter electrode, at least one non-obstructing collecting electrode, a light-absorbing panel, and a color filter medium. The cells of different colors are in a laterally adjacent relationship to each other and the charged pigment particles are responsive to the electrodes. The filter medium in each cell can be a light-transmissive color filter element. Alternatively, the pigment suspension fluid itself or the pigment particles themselves can be colored and serve as the filter medium.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display driver has a system of driving a plurality of segments with 1/n duty binary voltages. In the system, one frame period has the following three sub-periods; the first sub-period, where the line sequential driving is performed, the second sub-period, where adjustment is made on the segment voltage dispersion which occurs depending on display patterns, and the third sub-period, which is at the other time span than the first and the second sub-periods in the same frame period, where the potentials of the common signals and those of the segment signals are identical. With this driving method, constant Von/Voff ratio is obtained, and the contrast dispersion and crosstalk, which occur depending on a display pattern, are mostly eliminated. Then a good display quality is obtainable, and also the effective values of the voltages applied to the liquid crystal, are adjustable irrespective to the power source voltage.

Abstract: A plasma display device having three-electrode pixels. Each pixel may be set either in a write state or in a sustain state by a pair of select electrodes. In the write state the pixel may be set either ON or OFF. A pixel is put in a write state when the AC signals applied to the select electrodes are in phase. Once the signals applied to the select electrodes are in phase, the pixel may be set ON or OFF depending on the phase of the signal applied to a data electrode. In the sustain state the pixel remains either ON or OFF regardless of the signal applied to the data electrode. A pixel is put in a sustain state when out-of-phase signals are applied to the pair of select electrodes. The pixels in the display are arranged in rows and columns. Each pixel column has a single data electrode, and each pixel row has a pair of select electrodes associated with it. Pixels in unselected rows may be illuminated concurrently with the writing into pixels in selected rows.

Abstract: A digital input device for entering data into a digital system, comprises at least two remote sensors and a control unit. A working area is set up in proximity to the sensors and the position of an object within the working area is detected by the input device based on data provided by each sensor and transmitted, by said control unit, to said digital system. The position of an object outside said working area, if detected by said input device, is rejected by said control unit and is not transmitted to said digital system. The sensors can be ultrasonic sensors and the object can be a part of the body of a user. Use of a third sensor allows three-dimensional detection of the object.

Abstract: This invention relates to a scroll bar input device for a mouse, the scroll bar input device being installed inside mouse body for executing a scroll up or scroll down action for the computer screen. The scroll bar input device has a base, a locating seat, a first shaft bracket, a roller, a rotating wheel, an encoder, a second shaft bracket and a microswitch. The first shaft bracket has a wheel hub with contacts, the wheel hub inserted into the rotating wheel. The encoder is in contact with first teeth of the rotating wheel to transmit or receive signals for moving up and down the computer screen.

Abstract: A transmissive electrophoretic display is generally comprised of a regular lateral array of transmissive electrophoretic cells; each uniformly illuminated from the rear by a backlight. Each cell is comprised of a suspension of charged, black or colored light-absorbing pigment particles in a light-transmissive fluid. Each cell is also comprised of a light-transmissive front and rear window, at least one non-obstructing counter electrode, and at least one non-obstructing, vertically-disposed collecting electrode. With the application of appropriate voltages to the collecting and counter electrodes, each cell can be switched between a light and dark state. In the dark state, the light-absorbing pigment particles are distributed to cover the horizontal area of the cell, thus absorbing light from the backlight and preventing it from reaching the viewer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is provided which includes a substrate, a plurality of scan lines on the substrate and a scan driver IC on the substrate. The scan driver IC includes a plurality of scan line selectors, each scan line selector including a first input terminal for receiving a set signal, a second input terminal for receiving a scan reset signal, a shift input terminal for receiving a shift signal, a shift reset terminal for receiving a shift reset signal, a first output terminal connected respectively to one of the plurality of scan lines for outputting a scan line selection signal in accordance with the set signal and the scan reset signal, and a shift output terminal for outputting a shift signal in accordance with the set signal and the shift reset signal.

Abstract: An acoustic touch sensing device, comprising a substrate, having a surface; and an acoustic wave transducer, transducing a bulk wave in said substrate propagating through said substrate along an axis intersecting said surface, wherein energy of said bulk wave is coupled to a wave having a converted wave mode with appreciable energy at said surface and propagating along said surface. The device may include a set of scattering centers to couple the bulk wave to a Rayleigh wave or plate wave. The Rayleigh wave or plate wave may be dispersed over a region of the substrate, and analyzed to detect a perturbation indicative of a position of touch.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to remote control a position of a cursor displayed on a display screen of a reception unit by means of two-dimensional/three-dimensional positioning of a transmission unit. Another object of the present invention is to select a function by operating an ON/OFF switch of the transmission unit.A light emitted from a light source block of a transmission unit 10 is injected via a first optical block 13. A reception unit 20 receives the light from the transmission unit 10 via a second optical block 21 of a sensor block 22. A detection block 28 detects a light intensity according to an output from this sensor block. A control block 26 calculates a two-dimensional/three-dimensional position of the transmission unit 10 and displays the position as the cursor position on the display screen.

Abstract: An active matrix liquid display system where two scanning lines are successively selected within one horizontal scanning period, by which display voltages are written on pixels lined up in a horizontal direction, and the voltage supplied to a signal line when an even number display pixel is selected and the voltage supplied to a signal line when an odd number display pixel is selected are switched according to a gradation voltage generated from a gradation power source. Accordingly, when there is implemented a dot inversion drive in the active matrix liquid display system where there are less number of signal line drive circuits, and when a former stage pixel is subjected to modulation due to interpixel parasitic capacitance, it is possible to equalize an electric voltage of the former stage pixel being modulated as a latter stage pixel is being written with an electric voltage of the latter stage pixel, owing to revision of a gradation voltage of the former stage pixel.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display is provided which includes a substrate, a plurality of scan lines on the substrate and a scan driver IC on the substrate. The scan driver IC includes a plurality of row selectors and each row selector includes a first input terminal for receiving a set signal, a second input terminal for receiving a reset signal, a third input terminal for receiving a shift signal, and an output terminal connected respectively to one of the plurality of scan lines to apply a driving signal according to the set signal and the reset signal.

Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display includes a rectangular array of picture elements driven by data and scan drivers. Each picture element includes a liquid crystal display element connected to the output of a unity gain buffer amplifier. The input of the amplifier is connected to a hold capacitor and to series connected gate transistors. The gates of the transistors are connected to a scan electrode and the transistors are connected in series between a data electrode and the input of the amplifier. The output of the amplifier is connected to the connection between the transistors.