Abstract: An image display device includes a main body having a display unit with a first display screen A and a display unit with a second display screen B and a link 56 for merging the two display screens to one. The two play units are opened and closed at the link so that display screens are folded over each other for carrying like a book, and they are opened in a use mode to permit the recognition of the display image.

Abstract: A storyboard of interior design surface treatments for a commercial and/or residential interior space is generated by obtaining arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments. The arrays of patterns are displayed on a computer display. Each array of patterns corresponds to a surface treatment product type. Subarrays of patterns then are generated, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type. The subarrays of patterns are generated in response to selection by a user from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type. Finally, at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns are combined to produce a storyboard of interior design surface treatments for an interior space.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for updating a new node in a multidimensional scaling (MDS) database having an existing node. The new node is compared to the existing node to obtain a disparity value. A distance value is calculated between the new node and the existing node, a sum of differences value is calculated for the disparity value and the distance value, and a sum of squares value is calculated for the disparity value and the distance value. The position of the new node is modified according to the sum of differences value and the sum of squares value.

Abstract: An interactive broadcast may include television programming and associated services such as closed caption scripts. The audio portion of the broadcast television programming, in closed caption script format, is parsed and compared to a key word database which may be preprogrammed by the user. The closed caption text may be displayed in real time. When a match is identified, an event is fired. The particular event which occurs and the key word may be programmed by the user.

Abstract: A TV signal receiver has a tuner for deriving a first TV signal from the input signal, and a device for storing in a memory and reading therefrom a plurality of blocks of a second TV signal derived from the input signal. The first TV signal has interruptions during which a block of the second TV signal is insertable so as to obtain a composite TV signal which is supplied at an output terminal of the receiver.

Abstract: A design interface tool for designing force sensations for use with a host computer and force feedback interface device. A force feedback device is connected to a host computer that displays the interface tool. Input from a user is received in the interface to select a type of force sensation to be commanded by a host computer and output by a force feedback interface device. Input, such as parameters, is then received from the user which designs and defines physical characteristics of the selected force sensation. A graphical representation of the characterized force sensation is displayed on the host computer which provides a visual demonstration of a feel of the characterized force sensation so that the user can view an effect of parameters on said force sensation.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system for providing restrained, streamlined access to a computerized information source. The system--which works in association with a multipurpose computer--includes a discrete article, such as an advertising specialty like a mouse pad, having facilities to receive a user input and, in turn, generate a unique predetermined signal based on the input. The system further includes software for configuring the computer to respond to each unique predetermined signal by executing one or more commands, as selected and stored within the software. Each configuration can be dynamically locked such that the commands to be executed upon the unique input are not alterable without an authorization mechanism, such as a password. The software also responds to receipt of one of the unique predetermined signals by executing the commands associated with the received signal. A method for performing same is also disclosed.

Abstract: The management device embodying the invention uses a control source consisting in a touch-sensitive work board comprising a touch-sensitive surface and a means enabling detection of a force on said surface. It further comprises a selection means enabling switching from the relative pointing mode to the absolute pointing mode depending on whether the force exerted exceeds or is less than a predetermined threshold value. The invention enables the advantages of the two pointing modes to be accumulated.

Abstract: In a method for driving a display device, by which energy stored in a plurality of electrodes serving as a capacitive load is recovered through switches, current paths for charging said electrodes from a charge supplying source differ from current paths for discharging the electrodes for the energy recovery.

Abstract: A video signal of a still image is written into a still image area SIA in a video memory 310, whereas a video signal of a moving picture is written into a moving picture area MIA in the video memory 310. A video signal is read out from the video memory 310 while scaling up or down the video image, and the scaled video signal is then supplied to a display device. This enables a scaled moving picture and a scaled still image to be displayed on the display device.

Abstract: A connector mounted on a system board has terminals the number of which corresponds to the total sum of key matrix control signal lines and pointing stick control signal lines. The key matrix control signal lines and pointing stick control signal lines are connected together to the connector. Both a keyboard interface and a pointing stick interface can thus be achieved by the single connector, resulting in improvement in mounting efficiency, decrease in cost and simplification in assembly process.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ambient light electrophoretic display comprising a plurality of cells containing a suspension of charged pigment particles in a light-transmissive fluid. Each cell comprises a light-transmissive front window, a nonobstructing collecting electrode and counter electrode disposed in the cell, and a panel having a reflective or absorbing surface.

Abstract: A system for lowering the power output of a computer peripheral device connected to a host computer during periods of inactivity of the host or the peripheral device senses a power management command at the peripheral device generated at the host computer. Time sensing means at the host senses inactivity, and gerating circuitry generates a power-management command. Detection circuitry in the peripheral device senses the power-management command, and controls power-using circuitry in the peripheral device in response. In an embodiment applicable to peripherals having a microprocessor, the system may be incorporated entirely in software at the host and the peripheral device. In dumb devices, the system requires add-in and/or add-on apparatus cooperating with software.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for interfacing the motion of a user-manipulable object with an electrical or computer system includes a user object physically contacted by a user. A gimbal mechanism is coupled to the user object, such as a joystick or a medical tool, and provides at least two degrees of freedom to the user object. The gimbal mechanism preferably includes multiple members, at least two of which are formed as a unitary member which provides flex between the selected members. An actuator applies a force along a degree of freedom to the user object in response to electrical signals produced by the computer system. A sensor detects a position of the user object along the degree of freedom and outputs sensor signals to the computer system.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining small variations in capacitance, typically in a capacitive touch sensing device, includes a reference signal of a first frequency and a sample signal of a second frequency. The reference and sample signals are mixed and filtered to isolate the beat frequency therebetween, which is then measured to provide an indication of the variation in the sample frequency. The measurement can then be manipulated by a microprocessor or microcontroller to provide desired control signals. The apparatus is susceptible of digital implementation and single chip implementation.

Abstract: A computer-aided design and drawing system having a dynamically oriented compass cursor is disclosed. In the interactive computer-controlled drawing system, a method and apparatus is disclosed for automatically generating and manipulating a dynamic compass cursor. The method comprises the steps of: 1) generating a compass cursor in a first orientation, the compass cursor being responsive to movement of a cursor control device; 2) selecting a geometrical element having a second orientation; and 3) selectively re-orienting the compass to the second orientation and maintaining the second orientation until a new orientation for the dynamic compass cursor is selected.

Abstract: A method and system for providing external bit map support to device drivers coupled to a data processing system are disclosed. The data processing system includes a central processing unit, memory, user output device, and a user input device. The method and system also provide outputting of an image under a graphical user interface on the display device. In implementing the improved external bit map support, the system and method generate an image through the graphical user interface in device independent bits format and then determine whether the image is to be supported in an external bit map format. If the image is to be supported in an external bit map form, the system determines the level of required resolution for supporting that image and then converts that image to the external bit map format at that desired level of resolution. The desired level of resolution is selectable from either 24 bits per PEL (bpp), 8 bpp or 4 bpp.

Abstract: A method for converting from one display element density to a different display element density. In order to convert from one pixel density to a different density, each pixel in a particular position in a first pixel density must be associated with a pixel or pixels in a corresponding position in a different pixel density. The present invention tracks the cumulative pixel position error introduced for the conversion of each pixel from one input density to a different output density. By tracking a cumulative pixel conversion error, each subsequent pixel conversion is optimized based on the conversion of all prior pixels. In this manner, a more accurate pixel density conversion may be achieved regardless of mid-row density variations. Specifically, the present invention achieves an accuracy of a pixel position error of no more than one-half the distance between the centers of two adjacent output density pixels.

Abstract: A digitized video system having a processor and a video memory. The processor converts a stream of digital information to extract planes of a three dimensional image to store into the video memory to display a three dimensional image. A spatial light modulator is connected to the video memory to receive and display a plane of said image to display a three dimensional image.

Abstract: In an active back-plane co-ordinate addressed liquid crystal cell exhibiting an analogue optical response to the application of an analogue electric potential, refreshing is carried out in two sequential stages in order to avoid cumulative charge imbalance effects. In one stage the pixels are set to their required optical states using the appropriate applied potential differences, and in the other stage the pixels are set with the same potential differences, but applied the other way round.