Abstract: In order to display the surfaces of internal structures within a solid body from non-intrusively acquired data sets, it is useful to segment the data sets into the internal structures of interest before searching for the surfaces of such structures. To accomplish this, a data segmentation system uses a plurality of sample data points to construct a statistical probability distribution for a plurality of internal structures. Using these probability distributions, each data point is labeled with the most likely structure identification. Searching the thus-segmented data points for surfaces is considerably faster than is possible with the entire data set and produces surface renditions with fewer anomalies and errors. If the solid body is a human head, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is used to obtain two data sets corresponding to the two NMR echoes, then the probability distribution is bivariate and the two echoes can be plotted against each other to assist in identifying tissue clusters.

Abstract: A pre-processor (10) for target trackers is disclosed which allows several image analysis algorithms to be computed simultaneously so as to provide improved real-time target recognition. The pre-processor (10) is also equipped to compensate for the rapid rotation of the target image when the tracking aircraft performs abrupt turning maneuvers.

Abstract: A reference area usable with a rectangular form when the form is used with a computer controlled printer. The reference area having a pattern and a reference point. The pattern allowing the location of a mark printed by the printer on the pattern to be readily identified on an equivalent reference area displayed on a display monitor for the computer. The reference point is positioned so it will receive a reference mark when printed on the reference area by the printer provided the form is not misaligned in the printer. A reference mark received at the reference area provides information relative to the reference point that is a measure of the amount of vertical and horizontal misalignment of the form in the printer. This information, when placed in the computer, makes it possible for the computer to correct for any misalignment before any printing is done on the form.

Abstract: A curved surface designing method comprises the steps of a first step of inputting edge shape data of n-sides of a curved surface, a second step of obtaining a regular n-sided polygon in a parameter space on the basis of the given data of n sides, a third step of calculating distance parameters on the basis of the regular n-sided polygon obtained by the second step, a fourth step of calculating blending values on the basis of the distance parameters, a fifth step of mapping an inner point D of the regular n-sided polygon onto the respective sides so as to calculate boundary parameters, a sixth step of calculating at least one of three-dimensional coordinate points, and, if necessary, tangent vectors, on sides which are boundaries of the curved surface on the basis of the boundary parameters, and a seventh step of calculating arbitrary points on the curved surface on the basis of the distance parameters, the blending values, the three-dimensional coordinate points of the respective sides, and, if necessary, th

Abstract: A video switch having at least two inputs from separate frame buffers and being controlled by a select control signal as to which buffer signal will control the electron guns in the cathode ray tube. The determination of which frame buffer signal is applied on a pixel-by-pixel basis is determined by priority bits from priority buffers. In case of a tie in priority, a tie bit is provided.

Abstract: Pixel arithmetic and logical units for rendering pixels in graphics systems. Circuits for performing arithmetic operations on raster scan data are provided. The circuits comprise opcode registers for selecting an arithmetic function which transforms pixel value data corresponding to graphics primitives, multiplication circuits interfaced with the opcode registers for multiplying graphics operators with graphics data to obtain transform pixel value data, combining circuits interfaced with the multiplication circuits for adding transform pixel value data to existing pixel value data and processing circuitry interfaced with the combining circuitry for storing overflow data from the combining circuitry when adding transform pixel data overflows the combining circuitry.

Abstract: A display control system for controlling a display unit used as a user interface in a recording apparatus for the purposes of selecting recording functions and setting execution conditions where each of the functions includes a corresponding plurality of function groups comprising, an arrangement for controlling the display unit to display selection-mode screens for each function group and to instruct the operator of the recording apparatus to enter values to set the execution conditions, and a screen control for controlling the display unit to display an area that indicates the set state of each of the function groups for each of the functions whereby the operator can see at one time all of the function group settings.

Abstract: Method and system for extracting a characteristic from information handled by a computer and displaying the information in a manner to clarify the characteristic. A relationship among information items is analyzed from similarity and cluster analysis, and a characteristic related to the relationship is analyzed and displayed. The present invention is particularly useful in the analysis of merchandise information.

Abstract: An Icon window display area taking precedence over all other display areas is disposed in the display screen. A window which becomes invisible at generation of a new window, a window size change of an existing window, or a position change of an existing window is reduced to a predetermined size so as to be displayed in a new Icon window display area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a texture mapped perspective view for digital map systems. The system includes apparatus for storing elevation data, apparatus for storing texture data, apparatus for scanning a projected view volume from the elevation data storing apparatus, apparatus for processing, apparatus for generating a plurality of planar polygons and apparatus for rendering images. The processing apparatus further includes apparatus for receiving the scanned projected view volume from the scanning apparatus, transforming the scanned projected view volume from object space to screen space, and computing surface normals at each vertex of each polygon so as to modulate texture space pixel intensity. The generating apparatus generates the plurality of planar polygons from the transformed vertices and supplies them to the rendering apparatus which then shades each of the planar polygons.

Abstract: Each panel or display screen of data, is defined by a title and the tagged description of the objects, such as instruction lines, data entry lines, menu areas and command lines. Each of these objects may include other objects, described in the same syntax. Panel definitions are joined in a source file to form a panel group. Objects can be shared by all panels.

Abstract: A recording apparatus having a feeder for feeding recording sheets, a recording device to record onto a recording sheet fed by the feeder in an orientation of a portrait or a landscape and a controller to control the orientation of the recording device based on a manually-set or predetermined orientation.

Abstract: A computer auxiliary viewing system that enables a rapid review of previously entered information, in a similar manner to the retrieval of information using a microfiche reader so that by the simple manual turning of a control knob, all previously entered data can be scrolled for review on a screen. The system includes videographics generating devices responsive to stored information signals in buffer devices for causing the reproduction of the desired scrolling image, and control devices for retrieving selectively the stored information signals in the buffer devices to cause the generation of the image signals by an auxiliary monitor device, independently of information signals being transferred from the input device to the computer processor unit.

Abstract: An adaptive forward differencing apparatus, wherein, when rendering curves, calculated x, y values are increased or decreased in order to create values which correspond to the next pixel of the display CRT, such that curves of substantially one pixel increments are continuously and uniformly generated. The apparatus also provides circuitry for generating coordinates of display elements which approximate an ideal vector and to define curves, vectors or objects within maximum and minimum coordinates of the CRT display. The apparatus also provides efficient circuitry for computing the value of 1/w of the homogenous coordinate w.

Abstract: A solid modeling method for modeling solids which include free-form surfaces calculates intersecting portions of two solids and storing calculated results as first data, stores free-form shapes of the two solids as second data, approximates free-form surface portions of the two solids by polyhedrons so as to describe the two solids in a form of polyhedrons, obtains a union, a difference or an intersection of the two solids by carrying out set operations on the polyhedrons, and returns the polyhedrons obtained by the set operations into solids including free-form surfaces based on the stored first and second data.

Abstract: A set of pattern headers is used to replicate repeating patterns used in digitally-simulated halftone screens. The use of pattern headers is suited to digital processing systems which are most efficient when processing data having dimensions which are an integer power of two, yet permits generation of repeating patterns having dimensions which are other than an integer power of two. A complete repeating pattern is stored as a one-dimensional-array pattern header. The repeating pattern is generated from that pattern header by suitable shifting of the pattern header. The repeating pattern may be arbitrarily smaller than the pattern header and may, for example, comprise a binary bit pattern useful in driving a binary rendering device or a pattern of integer values representing tonal intensities of the digitally-simulated halftone screen useful in driving a variable-dot-size rendering device.

Abstract: An image synthesizing apparatus for synthesizing first and second images with each other which includes a first display memory for storing a first image data constituting a first image, and a display memory control device for comparing a second image data for constituting a second image with a predetermined image data to thereby judge whether the second image data is to be written into the first display memory or not.

Abstract: Segments forming respective graphics and relations of connection therebetween are recognized by vector type list structure. Sweep lines are provided at the apices and crosspoints of the graphics in order, and the segments are divided at the crosspoints. The divided segments are reconnected with each other while switching the connecting relation therebetween, whereby the graphics are reconstructed into those classified according to the degrees of overlapping thereof. A reconstructed graphic having a designated degree of overlapping is extracted and outputted.

Abstract: An image memory controller having a first address signal generation means for generating a first address signal in response to a state signal representing the operational state of a printer. The first address signal corresponds to a location in an image memory. A second address signal generation means generates a second address signal for refreshing the image memory and a third address signal generation means generates a third address signal used for rewriting at least part of data stored in the image memory. An address signal selection means selectively delivers any of the first, second, and third address signals to the image memory.

Abstract: A multiple memory display controller provides simultaneous display of overlaid image and graphic data in a computer display system. A video random access memory (RAM) in the display controller stores display data corresponding to graphics to be displayed on the computer display monitor. And a series of dynamic RAMS in the display controller stores display data corresponding to images to be displayed on the computer display monitor. A data mixer receives and mixes signals from the video RAM and one of the dynamic RAMs to form signals which are used to drive the display monitor. The signals provide graphics displayed at one resolution overlaid on images displayed at a different resolution on the monitor. A first-in first-out (FIFO) buffer and rectangle loader provide efficient loading of blocks of display data in the display controller memories.