Abstract: A head-coupled display device for use in presenting electronically generated visual images to a viewer. The device includes a headpiece worn by a viewer, and an image display screen mounted in the headpiece for presenting electronically generated images. A fresnel lens is positioned adjacent the screen for focusing images from the screen at a selected position for viewing as a virtual image. The lens has a set of concentric converging rings whose surface curvatures act to minimize rectilinear distortion of the virtual images perceived by the viewer over the entire field of view of the image.

Abstract: A CRT touch screen having raster-generated light patterns at the viewing screen borders of a conventional CRT. Reflective surfaces proximal to the screen borders reflect the light patterns across the CRT surface to external photodetectors. Modulating the horizontal blanking signal or employing periodic non-reflective patterns on the reflective surfaces effects raster-generated light patterns having a unique time frequency higher than the vertical synch frequency, but lower than the horizontal synch frequency. A screen pointer blocks the lights patterns reflecting across the screen to two or more of the photodetectors. The blocking is time-relative to the CRT's horizontal and vertical synch signals. The photodetector outputs are bandpass filtered at the unique pattern frequency to suppress electromagnetic interference from the CRT's horizontal raster synch, the CRT's vertical synch and other electromagnetic and optical sources.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus for a matrix display is constituted by a plurality of data electrodes, a plurality of scanning electrodes disposed opposite to and intersecting the data electrodes so as to form a pixel at each overlapping of the data electrodes and scanning electrodes, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the data electrodes and scanning electrodes, and plural gradation electrodes disposed at each pixel. The gradation electrodes are capacitively coupled to each other and capacitively or electrically coupled to an associated one of the scanning electrodes and data electrodes so as to apply stepwise different voltages across the liquid crystal layer between the gradation electrodes and an opposite one of the data electrodes and scanning electrodes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a computer graphics system identifies the format of video pixel data in a data stream having a plurality of data formats including a first pixel data format and a second pixel data format, the second pixel data format being a YUV format. The method comprises the steps of (a) receiving pixel data; (b) selecting an output channel in response to at least one particular value of at least one bit of each received pixel datum wherein the particular value identifies the data format as either the first pixel data format or the YUV format; and (c) providing the pixel data to the selected output channel. Also provided is a circuit in a video graphics controller and a computer system having such circuit according to the method.

Abstract: A method is provided for accessing data stored in memory (76). First data appearing at outputs (102) of memory (76) are read during a first reading cycle in a sequence of reading cycles, the first data retrieved from a first location in memory (76) corresponding to a first address. At the end of the first reading cycle, the first address is stepped to produce a second address corresponding to a second location in memory (76). During an idle period following the first reading cycle and prior to a second reading cycle occurring next in the sequence of reading cycles, second data is prefetched from the second location in memory (76) such that the second data appears at the bitlines (102) of memory (76) at the start of the second reading cycle.

Abstract: An inexpensive, low power visual display device has m n-bit/pixel frame buffers that hold m sets of pixel data, where m>1, and an n-bit controller for switching among the m n-bit/pixel frame buffers at a selected rate during a display cycle. The controller outputs a composite stream of the m sets of pixel data. A display having a matrix of pixels is coupled to the controller to receive the composite stream. The pixels are turned on and off in response to the composite stream of pixel data. Individual pixels have a grayscale shade reflecting an average duration that the individual pixel is on. The visual display device produces m.times.(2.sup.n -1)+1 grayscale shades, including white. The multi-buffer display device can be optimized in a manner which reduces power consumption or increases the number of gray scale colors in comparison to prior art single frame buffer visual display devices. A method for operating visual display devices is also disclosed.

Abstract: To restrict a potential oscillation in a video line caused by a high speed sampling rate, the active matrix display device is comprised of gate lines X in row, signal lines Y in column and liquid crystal pixels LC of matrix arranged at each of the crossing points of both lines. The V driver 1 scans in line sequence each of the gate lines X and selects the liquid crystal pixels LC in one line for every one horizontal period. The H driver 2 performs in sequence samplings of the video signal VSIG within one horizontal scanning period to each of the signal lines Y and performs a writing of the video signal VSIG by dot sequential scanning to the liquid crystal pixels LC in one selected line. The precharging means 4 supplies in sequence the predetermined precharging signal VPS prior to the sequential sampling of the video signal VSIG for each of the signal lines Y.

Abstract: Color display device for projection of the type comprising a light-switching device, for example a device illuminated by successive light strips of different colors (sequential color single panel projector) in which a display device with a matrix of pixels driven by active switching elements is advantageously used for the light-switching device (based on, for example ferro-electric liquid crystal material), the drive being chosen to be such that there is no memory action to a subsequent sub-frame. Due to the voltage-independent capacitance, notably of ferro-electric pixels, a simple drive mode can be used in which a simple correction for possible capacitive effects is sufficient. Notably in a two-pole drive mode, use can be made of the relatively longer time available for (optical) reset. A combination of the two types of drive mode is possible. Compensation of DC effects within a small part of the frame period is also possible without affecting the contrast.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed which permit the presentation of single and double digit selection field in a non-programmable terminal. Multiple numeric characters associated with particular textual choices are coupled to a workstation controller interface along with an identified offset within each textual choice to a selected mnemonic character. If an associated terminal display device does not support more advanced graphic elements, such as so-called "radio buttons" and underscored mnemonics, the numeric characters and textual choices are entered into a format table entry and utilized to specify a selection field within the terminal display. A single or double digit numeric indicator area is then defined within the terminal display and numeric entries within the selection field are displayed within the numeric indicator area, permitting the user to visually affirm what textual choice will be selected upon entry.

Abstract: An electronic mouse with an integral ball cage. The ball cage in one embodiment has integrally formed extensions having openings for enclosed shaft encoders and a pressure roller. The shaft encoders are preferably made of a single piece of plastic. The ball cage is preferably formed as part of the lower housing of the mouse.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of generating characters in various fonts has a replaceable first character generator and a second character generator. Frequently used characters are transferred from the former and registered in the latter, so that various fonts can be used without changing the character generator.

Abstract: A driving apparatus for driving a passive matrix liquid crystal display utilizing an active driving method includes an image buffer storage for storing one frame of image data in the form of a matrix to output image data on a column by column basis to produce a rearranged image data. A matrix generator generates row data. A data converter multiplies the rearranged image data with row vectors to produce converted data. A converted data buffer storage stores the converted data and outputs the data on a row by row basis to produce a column data. A LCD driver is provided for producing a column signal based on the column data and a row signal based on the row data, and further for applying these row and column signals to row and column electrodes, respectively, to drive the LCD.

Abstract: In an image display apparatus of a head-mounted type including right-eye image display LCD for displaying a right-eye image, left-eye image display LCD for displaying a left-eye image, right-eye optical system for projecting the right-eye image onto a right-eye of a user, left-eye optical system for projecting the left-eye image onto a left-eye of the user, a polarity of each of the image signals supplied to the right-eye and left-eye image display LCDs is reversed such that each of pixels of these LCDs is driven in an alternating current mode so that the fluctuation in the intensity of the displayed images and the deterioration of the LCDs can be mitigated.

Abstract: The invention concerns the simultaneous display of video data and text data on a computer display. The invention stores both types of data in display memory. Transition codes mark the separation between the two types. The invention converts each type of data into signals which a CRT display can understand. The invention changes the type of conversion, as appropriate, when transition codes are reached.

Abstract: A full color electronic display device using two liquid crystal light valve image forming sources and having two optical paths is suitable for use in projection or direct view display applications. The two-path LCLV device generates two separate, spatially coherent color images which are combined by additive spatial superposition to produce a single, full-spectrum, composite color image. One image is composed from a spectral band of light from the long (red) and medium (green) wavelength regions of the visible light spectrum, and is formed by a liquid crystal image forming source having a high resolution which determines the effective spatial resolution of the final image. The second image is composed from a spectral band of light from the short (blue) wavelength region of the visible light spectrum, and is formed by a liquid crystal image forming source having a resolution less than that of the red and green image, thereby producing a brighter blue light image.

Abstract: A user interface of simplifying selection of speaker volume level and power conservation level in a computer system. An icon is presented for setting the speaker volume which includes a bar graph of relative speaker volume. By depressing left or right arrow keys the graph moves and the volume level of the speaker is changed. By depressing the down arrow key when setting the volume level, the speaker is beeped to allow for a level check during the setting process. A series of icons are used to indicate and select power conservation level. Each icon includes a battery with a faucet attached to the side of the battery. Different water flow rates indicate the various conservation levels. A human figure is located adjacent the faucet to indicate the user-customerized conservation level.

Abstract: An optical analog rocker in which mechanical movements of a manipulated control rod of the rocker are converted into electronic signals by means of an infrared emitter and an infrared receiver. The infrared receiver shifts relative to the infrared emitter when the control rod is swayed in different directions and thereby, changes the distance between it and the infrared emitter. The changing distance causes the infrared receiver to generate light-sensitive signals of different high or low linear voltage and current. The signals are received by a game interface card and are correctly sent to a computer. With these arrangements, the disadvantages associated with a worn variable resistance contact included in a rocker, such as poor contact condition and unstable signal output can be avoided.

Abstract: An on-screen display circuit comprising a moving clock generator for generating a moving clock signal and a character moving clock signal in response to a vertical synchronous signal, the moving clock signal varying a horizontal display position value, the character moving clock signal indicating that information to be displayed on a screen has been moved by a horizontal width of one character, a horizontal position detector for generating a horizontal position signal in response to the moving clock signal and the character moving clock signal from the moving clock generator, a vertical position signal and vertical and horizontal clock signals and outputting the generated horizontal position signal to a horizontal dot clock generator, the horizontal position signal designating a horizontal position of a character to be displayed on the screen, a display off signal generator for generating a display off signal in response to the vertical and horizontal clock signals, and a RAM address generator for generating

Abstract: A map displaying apparatus for displaying a map and a destination on a display screen. A map memory stores a map data to be displayed on a displayer. A telephone number, an area code, or postal code is inputted through an inputting panel. A second memory stores information on telephone numbers and the coordinates of positions on a map corresponding to the respective telephone numbers, information on area codes and the coordinates of positions on a map corresponding to the respective area codes, and information on postal codes and the coordinates of positions on a map corresponding to the respective postal codes. A position retrieval section reads from the second memory the coordinate of a position on a map corresponding to the telephone number inputted through the inputting panel, the coordinate of positions on a map corresponding to the area code inputted through the inputting panel, the coordinate of positions on a map corresponding to the postal code inputted through the inputting panel.

Abstract: A television image processing system is selectively connectable with a plurality of displays which are different in display format. The television image processing system includes a command outputting section for outputting a command representative of the display format of a display connected with the television image processing system. It further includes a sampling section for receiving an analog color TV signal and for outputting a digital image data for each of color components. Finally it includes and at least one data array changing section for receiving the image data and for forming an array of image data compatible with the display format specified by the command, the array of image data being supplied to the display connected with the television image processing system.