Abstract: A method for displaying multi-bit data words on a display including a plurality of pixel electrodes, a plurality of storage elements, a first voltage supply terminal, a second voltage supply terminal, a common electrode, and a plurality of multiplexers each selectively coupling an associated one of the pixel electrodes with one of the first voltage supply terminal and the second voltage supply terminal responsive to a value of a data bit stored in an associated one of said storage elements, includes the steps of sequentially writing each bit of the multi-bit data words to the storage elements, and asserting, while each bit is stored in the storage elements, a first predetermined voltage on the first voltage supply terminal, a second predetermined voltage on the second voltage supply terminal, and a third predetermined voltage on the common electrode, for a time dependent on the significance of the stored bit.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a matrix array of liquid crystal pixels, data lines formed along columns of the pixels, TFTs assigned to the pixels for causing the data lines to be electrically connected to the pixels of a selected row, and a data line driver which drives the data lines and has a first video bus for transmitting analog pixel signals of the positive polarity for the pixels of one of odd and even columns in a selected row, a second video bus for transmitting analog pixel signals of the negative polarity for the pixels of the other one of the odd and even columns in the selected row, sample-hold units each assigned to adjacent two of the data lines to simultaneously sample-hold the pixel signals on the first and second video buses, and a shift register circuit for enabling the operations of the sample-hold units sequentially.

Abstract: A column driver for a matrix addressed display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) is disclosed. The column driver accepts 10-bit inputs, provides 1024 distinct output levels, and is compatible with digital gamma correction by way of, for example, an EPROM lookup table. A complete column driver includes a group of chips which are serially interconnected and receive all the external signals applied in parallel. Only one chip is made active at any instant of time, in order to save power. In each IC, selective polarity inversion of the 10-bit data is carried out before feeding it to a switched capacitor digital to analog converter (CAPDAC) which operates in either a high or low voltage range. All CAPDACs are loaded simultaneously and present a precise output for approximately 95% of each linetime. Each CAPDAC output is connected to a buffer opamp via two CMOS switches which cause the CAPDAC to simultaneously yet transparently change range and allow the opamp buffer to continue driving.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display apparatus connected to a computer, a screen size detecting section detects screen size data indicating a size for one screen from a horizontal sync signal, a vertical sync signal, an image data signal and a dot clock signal. The horizontal sync signal, the vertical sync signal and the image data signal are supplied from a computer. A dot clock signal generating circuit generates the dot clock signal from the horizontal sync signal. A control section controls the dot clock signal generating circuit to generate the dot clock signal having a target frequency based on the detected screen size data, the horizontal sync signal and the vertical sync signal, such that the dot clock is adaptive for the computer. A display section including a liquid crystal display unit, displays the image data signal on the liquid crystal display unit in response to the dot clock signal having the target frequency.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling the updating of a random access memory (RAM) that stores data for coding the activation of segments of one or more alphanmeric characters of a liquid crystal display (LCD), to maintain substantially a direct current (DC) voltage value of zero across transparent conductive plates of the LCD, is performed or provided in a microcontroller having internal LCD control capabilities. A type B waveform is employed for activating the LCD, the waveform being of a type in which data is transmitted over two frames, the data in the second frame of which is the inverse of data in the first frame thereof to maintain an average DC voltage value over each two-frame portion of the waveform at substantially zero volt. The RAM is allowed to be written to for updating the data therein only after completion of an entire two-frame portion of the waveform and before commencement of a new two-frame portion, to avoid a non-zero average DC voltage across the LCD glass during a two-frame portion.

Abstract: A discharge circuit is connected to a bias voltage generating circuit and a liquid crystal driver. The discharge circuit includes a plurality of discharge transistors, wherein each bias voltage is connected to ground via a transistor. When a power of the apparatus is set in the ON state, the transistor is set OFF so that the bias voltage can be supplied only to the liquid crystal display panel without being supplied to the discharge circuit. On the other hand, when the power is set in the OFF state, the transistor is set ON so that a discharge occurs by moving charges stored on the liquid crystal display panel to the transistor. As a result, when the power is set in the ON state, a waste power consumption by members other than the liquid crystal display panel can be prevented, thereby achieving an apparatus of a low power consumption.

Abstract: A display controller assists a host processor in decoding MPEG data. The display controller receives YUV data in non-pixel video format from a host CPU and perform the otherwise CPU intensive task of rasterization within the display controller. In addition, the display controller may use its internal BITBLIT engine to copy U and V data from one line in a BITBLIT operation to adjacent lines, so as to replicate U and V data. A byte mask preserves Y data on the adjacent lines from being overwritten. At the end of the BITBLIT operation, the display controller generates a signal indicating that the frame buffer has been filled with new data, and thus display controller automatically switches to reading from the newly written frame buffer.

Abstract: A remote controller having a spherical sensor for detecting trackball movement including a spherical sensor for detecting trackball movement amount in accordance with a position detecting signal and outputting a movement amount detecting signal, a controller for receiving the movement amount detecting signal outputted from the spherical sensor and outputting a cursor movement signal, and an infrared ray transmitter for transmitting an infrared ray signal serving as a cursor movement signal outputted from a microcomputer.

Abstract: A display includes a pair of global voltage supply terminals, for providing predetermined voltages, and a plurality of pixel cells. Each pixel cell includes a pixel electrode, a storage element for storing a data bit, and a multiplexer for selectively coupling the pixel electrode with one or the other of the global voltage supply terminals, depending on the value of the stored data bit. A voltage controller asserts predetermined voltages on the global voltage supply terminals, which are then transferred to the coupled pixel electrodes.

Abstract: A plasma addressed display is intended to improve structures of electrodes and barrier ribs for stabilizing the discharge characteristics and enhancing the yield and the image quality. The plasma addressed display has a flat panel structure in which a display cell is laminated on a plasma cell. The plasma cell has discharge channels sequentially arranged along the scanning direction. The display cell is joined to the plasma cell, and it has signal electrodes sequentially arranged in the direction perpendicular to the scanning direction, and liquid crystal in contact with the signal electrodes. The plasma cell has a lower substrate joined to the display cell side, pairs of anode electrodes and cathode electrodes disposed in discharge channels, and barrier ribs formed on the substrate so as to partition the discharge channels from each other.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for extracting a desired portion of an image represented by compressed data. The compressed data is expanded in an expanding circuit and outputted therefrom in accordance with clock pulses. Such clock pulses, or data transfers or addresses associated therewith, are counted so as to determine the position of the data. The determined position of the data is compared to the desired portion so as to determine whether the data is within the desired portion. If the data is determined to be within the desired portion, such data is stored in an image memory. As a result, such extraction may be performed without utilizing an additional memory for temporarily storing the expanded data.

Abstract: A matrix electrode structural display element driving unit is provided with a display panel in which electrodes are arranged in a matrix pattern, and a signal electrode driving circuit and a scanning electrode driving circuit for driving the display panel. A latch pulse signal LPX to be inputted to the signal electrode driving circuit and a latch pulse signal LPY to be inputted to the scanning electrode driving circuit are used as signals with different waveforms. Since a conventional general driving IC is used, a unit, where a level of an applied voltage to a display element is changed twice during one selecting period, can be obtained at a low price.

Abstract: A remote control input device for use with a computer system is disclosed. The remote control input device typically includes means for wirelessly connecting the remote control input device to the computer system, a trackball, coupled to the connecting means for manipulating a pointing icon displayed on the video monitor, and a power source that powers the remote control input device. The remote control input device further includes a power management means for managing the power of the power source by monitoring the status and activity of the trackball used on the remote control input device. The remote control input device typically includes a first set of keys that provide input to the computer system and a second set of keys that are assigned to the trackball that control the pointing icon manipulated by the trackball.

Abstract: A display with orientation dependent rotatably image presents a properly oriented image in a first mounted fold-down position and a second up-right table-top position. The display folds up into a base unit when not being used for compact storage of the system. An orientation determining device is included for determining the current orientation of the display and properly orienting the image based on that current orientation. The orientation determining device is either a mechanically flipped switch, an automatic switch or an acceleration sensor. The display screen is preferably an LCD screen. Alternatively, the display screen is a light valve type display including a grating light valve system. The display is for use in a television system, computer system, video phone or browser. Infrared input devices are used to control the display and provide data to the computer system. In an alternate embodiment, a touch sensitive screen is also used as an input device.

Abstract: A multiple voltage generator for driving a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel by a video data is provided. The video data has a first part and a second part.

Abstract: Each pixel of a liquid crystal display device comprises a switching device for selecting a data signal, a memory portion for storing the data signal selected by the switching device and outputting an analog signal corresponding to the data signal, and a circuit for supplying an AC voltage corresponding to the analog signal to the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer is driven with a data signal stored in the memory portion or with an AC voltage corresponding to an analog signal corresponding to the data signal. With the signal stored in the memory portion, an AC voltage whose effective value or average value is controlled is supplied to the liquid crystal layer. Thus, unless a picture on the display is changed, since it is not necessary to supply the data signal, the peripheral driving circuit can be stopped. Consequently, although a picture is displayed in gradation mode, the power consumption can be remarkably reduced.

Abstract: A method and system for manipulating a three-dimensional object in a computer-aided design (CAD) environment utilizes a force feedback interface. A gravitational sphere is defined around each of the plurality of input parameters of a mathematical model defining a shape, location and orientation of the object. A force is applied to the force feedback interface based on the gravitational spheres and the position of the force feedback interface. An input signal is received from the force feedback interface based on the applied force indicating selection of one of the plurality of input parameters. The selected input parameter can then be edited according to an edit signal generated by the user via the force feedback interface. In addition, the edit signal can be limited according to predetermined constraints via the force feedback interface.

Abstract: An information retrieval apparatus includes a display section for displaying a first image; an enlargement section for continuously enlarging the first image displayed by the display section in response to an instruction of the user; and a determination section for determining that a magnification ratio of the first image enlarged by the enlargement section has reached a prescribed value. When the magnification ratio is determined to have reached the prescribed value, the display section displays at least one second image at a position related to the first image. When the first image is still enlarged by the enlargement section, the enlargement section enlarges the at least one second image at a magnification ratio equal to the magnification ratio used for enlarging the first image.

Abstract: A driving method of a plasma display panel which has a plurality of row electrode pairs and a plurality of column electrode pairs arranged so as to intersect the row electrode pairs and form pixels at the respective intersecting sections, and which performs a display by using an address period in which a scanning pulse is applied to one of the pair of row electrodes and a pixel data pulse is applied to the column electrodes and a light-on/light-off pixel is selected in accordance with pixel data and a maintaining discharge period in which discharge maintaining pulses are alternately applied to the row electrode pair and the light-on/light-off pixel is maintained, wherein an electric potential of the column electrode is changed every pixel or every pixel group consisting of a plurality of pixels in the maintaining discharge period.

Abstract: A display system comprises a digital video source coupled to a digital display device via an digital interface having a timing channel for carrying a pixel clock signal from the video source to the display device and a digital video channel for carrying a digital video bit stream from the video source to the display device. The video source comprises a pixel clock generator for generating the pixel clock signal, palette logic for outputting a pixel word on each pulse of the pixel clock signal, shift clock logic for multiplying the pixel clock signal by the number of bits in the pixel word to produce a shift clock signal, and serialiser logic for serially outputting the pixel word in the serial bit stream at the shift clock signal rate.