Patents Examined by Gary V. Harkcom
  • Patent number: 5157766
    Abstract: A computer graphics system includes display logic (92) comprising a destination bit map (11) containing a plurality of image bits which map to a plurality of pixels for presenting an image, an auxiliary bit map (1) containing a plurality of area boundary bits representing pixels defining an area boundary line which encloses an area of the image, area filling logic (7) for operating upon those image bits enclosed by the area boundary line in order to fill the area with a particular pattern and color, characterized in that the display logic further comprises area boundary drawing logic (5) having line segmentation means to resolve the specified boundary line into a plurality of intersecting two pixel line segments which can, from that time forward, be operated upon separately to define the area boundary bits in accordance with conventional area boundary drawing rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Butler, Adrian C. Gay
  • Patent number: 5157767
    Abstract: An apparatus outputs each item data included in a single record in correspondence with a column position of each item which is set in advance, together with a field framing rule which frames the data. When at least one item data includes a plurality of words, line feed for each word is performed at the corresponding item column position, and the field frame rule is extended in the vertical direction in accordance with the line feed count, and the extended field frame rule is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Nihei
  • Patent number: 5157768
    Abstract: A central processing unit (CPU) is coupled to a display for displaying graphic and other data. The CPU is further coupled to a cursor control device which permits a user to selectively position a cursor at a desired location on the display, and signal the CPU of selections. Images are generated in the form of "windows" by the CPU which include standard window features as well as text, icons, and buttons which correspond to functions to be executed by the CPU. The selection of certain buttons results in the generation and display of a menu which includes a plurality of functions which may be chosen by a user. Help information may be obtained by a user by positioning the cursor on the display using the cursor control device over an area of the window which the user desires the help information. After placing the cursor over a desired area, which may include by way of example an icon, window function, or other window image, the user depresses a predefined help key on a keyboard coupled to the CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Hoeber, Alan Mandler, Norman Cox, Timothy Shea, Rick Levine
  • Patent number: 5155805
    Abstract: A method for manipulating the control points of a symbol image represented by an outline font to improve the appearance of the font on raster output devices which are under control of a computer. The method includes storing control points specifying the outlines of a symbol image, specifying the desired movement direction defined by a first unit vector in which the control point should move, and specifying a desired measurement direction defined by a second unit vector by which the movement of the control point should be measured. The desired measurement direction and the desired movement direction forming an angle of predetermined size. The method further includes moving the control points in the desired movement direction and measuring the control points against the predetermined angle with the desired measurement direction, this measurement producing a resulting movement direction and storing the results of the manipulation of the control points in a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Sampo Kaasila
  • Patent number: 5155806
    Abstract: A central processing unit (CPU) is provided and is coupled to a display for displaying graphic and other data. The CPU is further coupled to a pointer control device which permits a user to selectively position a pointer at a desired location on the display, and signal the CPU of selections in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Images are generated in the form of "windows" by the CPU which include standard window features as well as text, icons, and buttons whch correspond to functions to be executed by the CPU. The selection of certain buttons results in the generation and display of a menu which includes a plurality of functions which may be chosen by a user. Help information may be obtained by a user by positioning the pointer on the display using the pointer control device over an area of the window which the user desires the help information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Hoeber, Alan Mandler, Norman Cox, Timothy Shea, Rick Levine
  • Patent number: 5155478
    Abstract: A system for converting selected M gray levels in a K-gray scale to M identifiable levels in an N-gray scale, where K>N.gtoreq.M. A first table is created in which the respective M gray levels of the K-gray scale are mapped to different levels in the N-gray scale, which levels have the relative order and magnitude of their brightnesses in the K-gray scale, and using this first table, a second table is created in which the M gray levels in the N-gray scale are mapped to their corresponding M gray levels in the K-gray scale on a one-to-one basis according to the first table. Using the second table, any M gray levels in a K-gray scale can easily be converted to ones in an N-gray scale on a one-to-one basis with the relative order and magnitude of the brightnesses of those M gray levels being maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Sekiya, Yuichi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 5153936
    Abstract: A data processing system stores and displays digital images, and includes a workstation having a document input scanner for digitizing document images at a first resolution, an image display unit for displaying digitized document images at a second resolution which is less than the first resolution and a printer for printing digitized document images at a third resolution greater than the second resolution. The system reduces communications traffic and assures fast access time on the network since the bulk of the traffic will utilize the smaller compressed data records required for the second resolution. However, these improvements in communication traffic and access time do not sacrifice the availability of high resolution compressed data records occasionally needed for printing and other high resolution operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hugh M. Morris, Carol A. Parks, Robert E. Probst, Yakov Tsalalikhin, Gary L. Youngs, Doraiswamy Rajagopal
  • Patent number: 5153575
    Abstract: An electronic terminal employs a liquid crystal display for displaying desired characters. The terminal has circuitry for providing attributes to the characters, on a character-by-character basis or on a plurality of characters basis. These attributes include double width, double height, underline, inversion and intensity control. These attributes are formed using minimal additional memory and circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: LaVaughn F. Watts, Jr., Mark A. Rendon
  • Patent number: 5151976
    Abstract: A device for converting a horizontal scanning of successive lines of N data into a saw tooth scanning of stripes having a height of M lines. This device comprises a MN word memory wherein are sequentially written the first MN data, then wherein the following data are sequentially written while the existing data are read out at same successive addresses A.sub.i,j. The value of i determines the sequence number of the data of the memory (0<i<MN-1), and the value of j determines a stripe number (1<j<n). An address generator supplies addresses A.sub.i,j so that A.sub.i+1,j =(A.sub.i,j +x.sub.j) Modulo(MN-1), x.sub.j being a number such that x.sub.j+1 =N.x.sub.j Modulo(MN-1) and x.sub.j =1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Alain Artieri
  • Patent number: 5151974
    Abstract: In a graphic data processing system of a CAD system for the design of an LSI, there is provided a display screen, a storage in which graphic data structured in the hierarchy of three levels, i.e. a functional block diagram level, a logical symbol level and a circuit component level, and a pointing device for designating a window within the display screen. The display method of the present invention is characterized in that the size of a designated window is judged and the graphic data of the concept level corresponding to the judged size of the window is read out and displayed within the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Tani, Kunio Nakanishi, Atsushi Kawabata, Norito Watanabe, Takanori Yokoyama, Shinya Tanifuji
  • Patent number: 5151975
    Abstract: A word processor with a text layout display function, arranged so as to confirm various input conditions from the information in a text frame which is displayed concurrently on the same screen. The word processor has a storage unit for storing various kinds of text frames, a readout unit for reading out one text frame from the storage unit, a display unit capable of forming an input region and/or text frame display region, a display control unit for concurrently displaying the words in the input region and the text frame in the text frame display region respectively, a converting unit for converting words into symbols which have been inputted on a character by character basis, and a symbol output unit for displaying the converted symbols in the text frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Shiraki, Makoto Kado
  • Patent number: 5150462
    Abstract: An image data display system includes a file unit for storing image data is compressed form, a display unit for displaying image data, a table for storing address information of a plurality of image data to be read from the file unit, a buffer memory having a memory area corresponding to at least two image frames for temporarily storing image data read from the file unit, an expansion processor for expanding image data in the buffer memory, a bit map memory for storing expanded image data, an output unit for outputting image data in the bit map memory to the display unit, an input unit for inputting a first command instructing a successive display of image data and a second command instructing a halt of the successive display, and a control unit responsive to the first command for switching in a predetermined order the buffer memory area used for storing image data read from the file unit and the buffer memory area used by the expansion processor and successively reading image data from the file unit while re
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruo Takeda, Kuniaki Tabata
  • Patent number: 5150457
    Abstract: Numerical data values are analyzed, organized, and stored for retrieval and rendering on a graphics display system. Numerical data arrays are organized for rapid access and display using graphical transforms. Scientific data is transformed into concurrently displayed translucent three dimensional contour surfaces allowing analysis of multi-dimensional data. Display management functions are provided for viewing transformed data in three dimensional form, as cut by specified plane or as viewed over time by using short time delays between related displays to provide a movie-like presentation. Input data may be accepted from an operator by the visualization manager for redirecting or steering an underlying numerical simulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jason L. Behm, Wei-Hwan Chiang
  • Patent number: 5150312
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for generating relative movement between a first image and a second image while avoiding display screen flicker. The method includes a step of copying to a first buffer a portion of a display memory corresponding to a present portion of the second image wherein a first image will first appear. The method further includes the steps of superimposing within the display memory the first image upon the present portion of the second image and copying to a second buffer the portion of the display memory corresponding to the present portion of the second image, including the first image superimposed thereon, and a portion of the display memory corresponding to a next portion of the second image wherein the first image will next appear. The method further includes the steps of erasing the first image from the second buffer by copying the present portion from the first buffer to the second buffer and superimposing, within the second buffer, the first image upon the next portion of the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley J. Beitel, Robert D. Gordon
  • Patent number: 5150458
    Abstract: Original image information is stored electronically in a storage memory device. The original image information is transferred to a first buffer memory when the image information is to be edited. The editing image information is input through a keyboard and character generator, for example, and stored in a second buffer memory. Thus, the original and editing information are stored separately from each other. An image display control device reads out and combines the original and editing image information from the first and second buffer memories, respectively, to provide combined or resultant image information. A display device receives the resultant image information and displays the original and editing information differently so that the editing image information can be distinguished from the original image information on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidefumi Masuzaki, Satoshi Ito
  • Patent number: 5148519
    Abstract: A method for generating display patterns using a display memory which stores one bit of data for each pixel of a display apparatus. The stored data represents an outline of a display pattern. The stored data is consecutively read to generate dot data corresponding to the pattern being displayed. Character data corresponding to a current display pixel is also read from a display memory. Then buffer data which relates to a current scan line and the scan line directly above are read from a line buffer. Dot data is generated by performing logical computations on the current pixel data and line buffer data relating to the scan line. The dot data is then written into the line buffer for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: ASCII Corporation
    Inventor: Takatoshi Ishii
  • Patent number: 5146555
    Abstract: A high speed page turning control system and method which is capable of representing the page turning process by actively displaying the image of a compressed window on a display, for example a CRT. A first page is displayed on a display, a second page is overlapped with the first page. The first page, is compressed and the image on the second page comes into further view until only the second page is displayed on the display. To do a previous page the display is effected in reverse order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshimi Kiyohara
  • Patent number: 5146552
    Abstract: The operating principle permits a reader of an electronically published document to create notes, bookmarks, or annotations and relate them to a particular location in the document. The record of such annotations or "place marks" can be stored within or separately from the published material. Annotations stored separately from the originally published document are associated by name with the document and can either be accessed by a particular individual reader and/or shared and exchanged between individuals with access to the same (or copies of the) published electronic document for a variety of purposes. The attachment of annotations is a capability provided to the reader of an electronic document and does not require any specific preparation on the part of the writer or editor of an electronic document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Elie Cassorla, Jacqueline P. de Vries, Michael E. Moran, James J. Slater, Jay Unger
  • Patent number: 5146556
    Abstract: A graphic user interface for a computer is provided in which representations of application programs can be placed on the display in a specified area reserved for such a purpose in which area they could not be so readily obscured and forgotten, and which includes a facility for controlling the placement of such representations within the reserved area. The graphic images are guided into specific locations, or "docks" in the reserved area, and their removal from the docks is restricted to prevent accidental withdrawal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: NeXT Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Hullot, Steven P. Jobs, Christopher M. Franklin
  • Patent number: 5146553
    Abstract: An operator activates a document editing program or editing document data including character strings, graphics and image data with the aid of an input device and a display. In the course of edition of the document data by the operator, application programs are activated. The operator can write the characters, graphics and others into the document data being edited by making use of the application programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Noguchi, Kazuo Takei, Yukio Funyu, Yosuke Mori, Isao Yasuda