Abstract: A method and apparatus for high resolution character generation using a character generating apparatus having a first central processing unit with memory and input and output devices for processing and outputting character information, and a second central processing unit with different memory units and circuit arrangement electrically coupled with the first central processing unit for receiving character information and outputting processed character data information to produce resultant characters in various forms. The method includes the steps of preparing a character pattern description information for Chinese characters for being input into the character generating apparatus, and constructing a stroke table, a radical table and a specific symbol table for Chinese characters and other language letters for being stored in different memory units of the second central processing unit.

Abstract: A method is provided for representing, on a display device screen and in perspective from a given point of observation, the image of a terrain known by the nodes of a given mesh network, in which for each image pixel, the point of intersection is determined of the line which starts from the point of observation and which passes through this image pixel with a surface passing through the nodes and taking on approximately the shape of the ground, and said image pixel is illuminated with the color of the pixel associated with a digitized planimetric map or photograph of the ground.

Abstract: According to a pattern input unit of the invention, when a pattern is written by hand on an absolute coordinate data output means, a decision will be made on whether a segment or two points must be formed by a decision means according to two absolute coordinates generated one after another therefrom, point or segment is displayed in sequence on a display means according to the decision result, thus displaying a pattern same as the pattern written by hand.

Abstract: Joystick controller apparatus in which a pair of joystick controllers may send signal bursts on the same communication channel in the infrared frequency range by means of an electromagnetic transmission without recognizable loss of data. An error checking system is also provided to eliminate the effects of noise. A universal cable connector is provided for connection to various video game apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for independently and dynamically performing smooth-scrolling a display line at a time is disclosed herein. An offset value for smooth-scrolling for each display line, is provided which shifts the image information of each display line by pixel. Rewriting of the screen according to the offset value is performed in synchronization with refreshing of the display screen. Selective smooth-scrolling can be performed for a displayed image in each display line, and complicated and various image display can be shifted by controlling the existence or nonexistence and speed of smooth-scrolling for each display line.

Abstract: A multi-shade color liquid crystal display apparatus wherein a number of striped color liquid crystal elements are arranged in parallel in one direction. A color filter for each color liquid crystal element is arbitrarily selected to have one color and the ratios of the widths of the color filters to the pitches of the filters for each of a plurality of blocks of the striped color liquid crystal elements are made different from one another while maintaining one of the widths and pitches constant so that light and dark shades of the color are obtained in different blocks.

Abstract: There is provided a flat panel display control device which has the compatibility with CRT display and the function of displaying each character with plurality of dots. A flat panel display apparatus incorporating a video memory (3) for storing the character code and the attribute code data, a character generator (6) for generating a character font data correspondent to the said character code, an attribute register (11) for connecting to the said video memory and for latching the said attribute code, and an attribute control means for modifying the attribute code supplied through the said attribute register according to the necessity and for attribute-processing the character font data generated by the said character generator according to the modified data.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying information comprising a resistive element, preferably a conductive polymer resistive element, adjacent to a thermochromic layer. When electrically powered, the resistive element heats the thermochromic layer above a transistion point causing the thermochromic layer to change from opaque to transparent. The resistive element exhibits PTC behavior and, therefore, does not overheat. The apparatus may be large in size and on a flexible substrate.

Abstract: A drive method for a color CRT in which a point-sequential color video signal is produced to drive a modulation electrode of the CRT, in which an index signal is generated consisting of pulses at a frequency identical to a frequency of scanning successive screen phosphor color trios of the CRT, multi-phase index signals are derived from that index signal, and respective time differences between scanning timings of each color trio in each scan line and a specific index signal phase are successively measured, stored in memory, and subsequently read out to produce timing control signals for gating the color components of the point-sequential video signal. Requirements for timing accuracy and assembly precision of the CRT can thereby be substantially relaxed by comparison with a prior art single-phase index signal method.

Abstract: In a method for processing animated graphic in which a graphic symbol is displayed on a displaying unit on the basis of data preliminarily set in a video RAM and the displayed graphic symbol is totally shifted by a predetermined amount, the graphic symbol to be shifted is initially described in an original graphics storing area and a graphic symbol transfer area is provided so as to include the graphic symbol initially described in the original graphics storing area and includes a non-display area at the outer periphery thereof. The data corresponding to the transfer area is then transferred into the video RAM the transferred data including the sizes or dimensions and the coordinate of the reference point of the transfer area.

Abstract: In a display system of the type where one or more symbol tables 20 are stored in general purpose storage and include blocks of data forming symbol definitions for each of a set of symbols, and an all points addressable (APA) display buffer 30 is provided which includes on-screen APA storage 32 for data indicative of pels to be displayed on a screen and off-screen APA storage 34 for symbol definitions with buffer control logic 36 for associating symbol definitions in off-screen APA storage with locations in on-screen APA storage such that symbols are displayed at desired locations on the display screen, cache control logic 42 is provided for copying the definition of a symbol for display from the symbol table in general purpose storage to off-screen APA storage if the definition for the selected symbol is not already held in off-screen APA storage, whereby the off-screen APA storage is configured as a cache for holding definitions for selected symbols.

Abstract: Segment groups each comprising at most three segments are rendered free of the display mode in which two out of the three segments in each respective group are rendered unresponsive and the remaining segment responsive, and segment electrodes of these three segments being electrically interconnected and disposed in confronting relation to different common electrodes for being driven by supplied voltages. The display device of such a construction has a high operational margin, can be operated in a wide temperature range, and has a high display contrast and high response speed.

Abstract: An input device for providing X and Y coordinate analog input values and an associated function selection to a computer. There is a support plate and a multiposition function selection switch having an output indicating the position thereof. There is also selector apparatus carried by the support plate and operably connected for moving the function selection switch between its positions. There are coordinate generators for generating X and Y coordinate analog values at outputs thereof and activator apparatus carried in combination with the selector apparatus and operably connected to the coordinate generators for changing the X and Y analog values being output. The selector apparatus may comprise an annular member disposed parallel to the plane of the support plate with the activator apparatus disposed within the annular member. The function selection switch is a rotatable switch and the annular member is rotatable about a perpendicular axis to move the function selection switch between its positions.

Abstract: A computer input-output device for permitting a user to control the operation of an application program on a host computer. The device includes a display divisible into a plurality of sections for displaying the names of the options then available to the user at any point in the operation of the application program. Selection keys associated with each section allow the user to select the option displayed in the corresponding section. In response to the selection, the input device sends a series of keystroke codes to the keyboard input port of the host computer to cause the application program to execute the selected option. The host computer keyboard is connected to the input-output device which intercepts keystroke codes generated by the keyboard and transmits them to the computer only if the codes are designated as permissable ones. A set of programmable arrow keys controls the pointer functions of the application program on the host computer screen.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display has a matrix of pixels each with a continuously clocked counter used both as the data store and as the mechanism of grey scale generation. The grey level of each pixel is stored as the phase of the counter with respect to a reference count.The data bus, load clock, counter clock and master phase reference are all lines which transport signals common to a large number of pixels.The shift data line is used to propagate a bit which enables the counter load input. Each pixel circuit instructs the adjacent circuit that it is next to be loaded, by use of a clock delay. Thus pixels are loaded in sequence from data on the load bus, that data being between load clock pulses. The bistable circuit element, set from the master timing and reset from the counter, has an output which directly drives a bistable liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: A CRT controller having a drawing function includes designation means to designate a predetermined area of an external memory as a reference area for tiling, and a drawing processor which transmits a display pattern in the reference area designated by the designation means, to a drawing area of the external memory. Since the CRT controller of this construction permits the use of the external memory easy of enlarging the capacity thereof for a tiling pattern, it realizes the tiling processing with a complicated tiling pattern.

Abstract: A display unit has a transparent front panel one surface of which carries reflective markings that are illuminated by internal reflection in the panel from edge-mounted bulbs. Behind the panel are located light-emitting display devices such as provided by LED's. Illumination from the bulbs is controlled by manually adjusting a rheostat 36. The brightness of the display devices is controlled by means of two photodiodes. One photodiode responds to the level of ambient light falling on the front panel; the other photodiode is shielded from ambient light and responds to light from an additional bulb connected in parallel with the edge-mounted bulbs and having the same illumination characteristics. The brightness of the display devices is thereby automatically decreased when ambient light levels fall and increased when the markings are brightly illuminated, so that they are not masked by bright markings.

Abstract: In a display device having, at least, picture elements which are arrayed on a transparent insulating substrate, and transistor portions which are formed of a semiconductor layer formed on the transparent insulating substrate; a display device characterized in that, at least, interconnection parts of the transistor portions extend above the semiconductor layer formed on the transparent insulating substrate.The disconnection of the interconnection parts can be avoided.

Abstract: A mobile system for monitoring electrical, physical and/or environmental parameters and conditions associated with or in proximity to an energized electrical power conductor supported on a succession of towers extending along a power corridor. In a first embodiment, the system includes front and rear propulsion modules surrounding the conductor and carrying a payload module therebetween. The propulsion modules include linear induction or rotary DC motors deriving power directly from the power conductor. The payload module carries equipment such as video and infrared cameras, and apparatus for lightning flash, ambient temperature, acoustic and corona detection, and a transmitter for relaying appropriate signals to a remote ground station. In another embodiment, the payload module is mounted upon a lightning shield wire of the power line and is connected to a propeller-driven helium blimp for movement along the wire.

Abstract: A system to convert vector data to pixel data for drawing a vector on display screen that is divided into groups of pixels (matrices) having selected numbers of pixels in the x and y coordinate directions. The vector data is processed to define the slope of the vector and the number of matrices in the x and y directions the vector extends through. Counters are set to such numbers. Starting with the first matrix in which one end of the vector is located, a circuit defines which pixels must be enabled to draw the vector through that matrix. According to the location of the vector relative to decision points in the first matrix, a circuit identifies the next matrix through which the vector extends and causes the counter to count. This continues until the last matrix is identified and the pixels therein are enabled. An additional circuit masks those pixels, if any, in the first and last matrices that are beyond the end of the vector.