Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and apparatus for hardware acceleration of clipping and graphical fill in display systems. In one embodiment, all display data is presented to the display system. The display system uses its hardware to clip the undesired data, if necessary, and display the desired data. If a sufficient amount of display data has the same value, the display system uses its hardware to fill the appropriate areas using the shared value. In one embodiment, the display system has one or more accelerating registers. In one embodiment, one or more accelerating registers are fill registers. As display data is read from memory, some of the information's color data is classified by the fill registers. In another embodiment, one or more accelerating registers are clipping registers. As display data arrives from each source, the information's display location is classified by the clipping registers.

Abstract: An apparatus for recycling energy in a liquid crystal display (LCD) so as to reduce energy loss when the LCD is driven by a driving circuit. The LCD includes two pixels, each of which has a corresponding capacitor and has a corresponding voltage applied to. The polarities of the voltages of the two corresponding capacitors are variable with time and are opposite to each other. The apparatus includes two switches and an energy converter. The two switches are used for selectively coupling the respective capacitors to the apparatus. The energy converter is used for outputting converted energy according to the voltages of the two capacitors. By enabling the first switch and the second switch selectively, the apparatus recycles energy dissipated during polarity inversion for the two pixels as energy for driving a load device.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for dynamically altering the size of scanned image files based on the export file size, network demand and/or transmission requirements specified by a system administrator or end user. An embodiment as described here discusses about pushing the color text/edges into the black mask as the first approach in order to reduce file size at the expense of color fidelity.

Abstract: A sample-to-pixel calculation unit in a graphics system may comprise an adder tree. The adder tree includes a plurality of adder cells coupled in a tree configuration. Input values are presented to a first layer of adder cells. Each input value may have two associated control signals: a data valid signal and a winner-take-all signal. The final output of the adder tree equals (a) a sum of those input values whose data valid signals are asserted provided that none of the winner-take-all signals are asserted, or (b) a selected one of the input values if one of the winner-take-all bits is asserted. The selected input value is the one whose winner-take-all bit is set. The adder tree may be used to perform sums of weighted sample attributes and/or sums of coefficients values as part of pixel value computations.

Abstract: A multi-media photograph album comprises a network of electrical conductors which connect with plural data storage devices storing audio data and/or image data. A user, via a user interface, selectively addresses the data storage devices. The user selects individual sound bites for immediate playback via a speaker in the photo album, or via transmission over a wireless link, for playback through an external audio device, for example a hi-fi system. Image data are retrieved from the data storage devices and sent via a wireless link to an image data storage device, e.g., a personal computer. The data storage device can be embedded within a photograph, or can be a separate data storage device attached to the album.

Abstract: Data from a first data set utilized in generating a first tree map visualization is displayed by filtering the first data set so as to provide a second data set having a reduced amount of data relative to the first data set. A second tree map visualization is generated based on the second data set.

Abstract: A method is for inverting a distorted surface presentation into an undistorted surface presentation in a detail-in-context presentation system including the steps of: selecting an input point on the undistorted surface; calculating a vector from the input point to a reference viewpoint; locating a starting point lying above the distorted surface and on the vector; locating a first bracketing point for a first intersection point of the vector and the distorted surface lying above the distorted surface and on the vector; locating a second bracketing point for the first intersection point lying below the distorted surface, and below the first intersection point, but above any subsequent intersection points of the vector and the distorted surface; locating a midpoint between the first and second bracketing points; and, determining if the midpoint is an acceptable approximation for the first intersection point thus being an inversion point corresponding to the input point.

Abstract: An image apparatus and method of the same use a circular marker having two semicircular portions of first and second color areas separated by a center line. An image of a real space including the marker is acquired and an area of the marker is detected from the image. Center coordinates of the marker, for arranging a virtual object in the real space, are calculated based on coordinates of tangents with the area of the marker in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of the image. Angles of the marker, for arranging the virtual object in the real space, are calculated based on the area of the marker. Then, an image, which has the virtual object arranged in the real space by the position and angles indicated by the marker, is constructed based on the calculation results and shape data of the virtual object.

Abstract: A client-server arrangement for camera viewing using digital cameras across a computer network. A camera server controls a motorized gimbal which determines the viewing angle of a camera, according to signals from a client computer which is equipped with an eye movement tracking system. Movements of the viewer's eyes result in changes in viewing angle of the remote cameras. The original full-resolution image is divided into a foveal area and a peripheral area. Subsequently, if a change in the peripheral area of a field of view is detected relative to the most recently displayed image, the viewing angle of the cameras is changed to center on the detected change, and an image is captured of this anticipated future field of view. When the viewer eventually changes his or her point of interest to the area of detected change, the pre-captured image is transmitted immediately for viewing.

Abstract: A keyboard assembly for a mobile device is provided that reduces the separation between keys by reducing the number of required dome switches. A reduction in the number of dome switches can alternatively reduce the amount of real estate taken up by dome switches on a printed circuit board (PCB). Fewer dome switches than keys are provided on a PCB to activate a desired functionality when a key is depressed. The dome switches are each actuatable by and disposed between more than one key, such keys preferably being adjacent keys. Each key has an actuator with at least one arm for actuating a dome switch in an actuated dome switch pattern when the key is depressed. Such a keyboard assembly can be used for any electronic device having a standard QWERTY or Dvorak keyboard layout, a standard telephone or numeric keypad layout, or any other layout of keys.