Abstract: An on-screen edit/display controller has an input unit which is adapted to receive overlaying input data that includes a region header and overlaying image data. The region header defines the location and size of a user-defined region of a display, while the overlaying image data includes mixing weight data and pixel data of a user-defined overlaying image. A mixing unit is adapted to receive pixel data of an original image from an external data source and the overlaying image data from the input unit. The mixing unit is operable in a normal mode, wherein the mixing unit outputs the pixel data of the original image, and a mixing mode, wherein the mixing unit outputs the sum of the product of the pixel data of the overlaying image and a first mixing ratio, and the product of the pixel data of the original image and a second mixing ratio. The sum of the first mixing ratio, which corresponds to the mixing weight data and which ranges from 0 to 1, and the second mixing ratio is equal to 1.

Abstract: A multimedia console keyboard provides a convenient user interface to provide multimedia functions easily accessible to the user. In general, the multimedia console keyboard provides speakers, microphones, volume control, brightness control, contrast control, a pointing device, an electronic keyboard template with contact sensitive ICON and a real time clock/calendar alarm and computer power control switch at the keyboard. The multimedia console keyboard provides an integrated analog-digital preprocessor with audio compression and expansion capabilities and other analog capabilities. Integrated audio allows for a closed-loop voice activation and control for the computer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display with a back-light control function is provided with a PWM dimmer driving circuit section for applying a PWM dimming to a fluorescent tube provided on the back surface of a liquid crystal panel by controlling an inverter section. The PWM dimming frequency by the PWM dimmer driving circuit section is set such that m flashes occur (m is an integer of not less than n, and is not a multiple of n) in n screen display periods of the liquid crystal panel (n is an integer of not less than 2), for example, 5 frequency occurs in 2 display periods. Based on a display panel vertical synchronizing signal corresponding to the vertical driving frequency of the liquid crystal panel, the PWM dimmer driving circuit section controls the inverter section while synchronizing a lighting timing of the fluorescent tube with a driving timing of the liquid crystal panel. As a result, an occurrence of flicker and flutter can be prevented effectively.

Abstract: A video controller for controlling at least two video displays having independent refresh rates and pixel resolutions. In a first embodiment, two separate data paths are provided within a video controller for each video display (e.g., CRT and LCD). Taking advantage of the increased bandwidth of 64 bit wide DRAMS, data for each data path may be retrieved in separate read cycles. Each datapath may operate at its own clock frequency characteristic of refresh rate and pixel resolution. The dual data path embodiment also reduces the complexity of the software model needed to drive such dual displays. IN an alternative embodiment, a single data path may be provided within a video controller to drive data for two video displays having independent refresh rates and pixel resolutions. A data "tag" (extra bit) is attached to each word or dword passing through the data path indicating the destination (e.g., CRT or LCD) of the video data. At the output of the data path, separate FIFOs (e.g.

Abstract: A liquid crystal electro-optical device has a first substrate on which a plurality of pixel electrodes to which thin-film transistors are connected are arranged in matrix form, a second substrate opposed to the first substrate and provided with an opposed electrode, and a ferroelectric or antiferroelectric liquid crystal material provided between the first and second substrates. A voltage value between a selected one of the pixel electrodes and the opposed electrode is detected, and a voltage value corresponding to the detected voltage value is applied to the selected pixel electrode.

Abstract: Determining by a computer mouse the pressure that an operator uses to grip the mouse and to actuate switches on the mouse and alerting the operator by the mouse if the pressure is excessive. This monitoring and alerting gives the operator immediate and consistent feedback on misuse of the mouse. In a first embodiment, the computer mouse alerts the operator to excessive pressure by means of an audio alarm. In the second embodiment, the computer mouse transmits the pressure information to a connected computer. The computer can alert the operator with an audio message or alert the operator by displaying the alerting information on a display screen of the computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for interfacing the motion of an object with a digital processing system includes a sensor which has a sensing resolution and detects movement of the object along a degree of freedom. An amount of play less than the sensing resolution exists between the sensor and the object. A passive actuator is coupled to the mechanism to transmit a resistive force to the object along the degree of freedom. A play mechanism is coupled to the actuator to provide a desired amount of play between the actuator and the object along the degree of feedom. The desired amount of play is greater than the sensing resolution of the sensor so that the sensor can detect the desired play when the user moves the object, even when the actuator has locked the object into place. Such desired play can be torsion flex (compliance) or rotary backlash. The actuator and the sensor provide an electromechanical interface between the object and the digital processing system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving image quality and in particular to an apparatus and method for converting binary images to grey-scale or color images and displaying those images. The apparatus and method utilize the natural process of integration which occurs when a person views images at sufficiently high rates and involves identifying least significant subframes within a group of subframes and reducing the intensity of those subframes or extending the duration of subframes other than the least significant subframes.

Abstract: A deformable mirror device having a two-dimensional array of mirror elements is driven in such a way to reduce the data rate and remove the need for buffer stores. The mirror elements are loaded row-by-row in response to an n bit video signal in 2.sup.n loading operations. Only n rows are loaded in each loading operation, the other rows remaining in their previous conditions, and the loading continues sequentially down the array. The timing of the loading is such that the duration from loading a given row with a first data bit to loading the same row with the next data bit is proportional to the significance of the first data bit.