Abstract: A primary flight display (PFD) for an aircraft generating a 3-dimensional (3D) symbology indicative of the aircraft situational information. The 3D symbology includes a 3D vertical path error symbol and a 3D lateral flight path error symbol. Several 3D altitude symbols are also displayed which collectively render a 3D representation of the aircraft situation. The 3D symbology enhances the pilot's awareness of the aircraft situation to accurately control the aircraft, and to easily to monitor the performance during manual and automatic flight.

Abstract: In a shadow elimination method and apparatus and a recording medium, a three-dimensional model is superimposed on a picture of a three-dimensional object contained in an image so as to fit the model to the picture. When the plane on which a shadow is created in the picture is designated, a position of a light source is estimated based on the plane of the three-dimensional model which is superimposed on the designated plane. Then, an area on which a shadow is to be created by a rendering for the three-dimensional model is searched from the estimated position of the light source. The area on which the searched plane is superimposed is decided to be the shadow area of the image and the shadow is eliminated from the shadow area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a graphics memory system of a computer graphics display system which utilizes a batching architecture in conjunction with detached Z buffering for minimizing paging overhead. The graphics memory system comprises a memory controller which receives a batch of pixels from a host CPU of the computer graphics display system when a 3D rendering mode is in effect. Each pixel has a pixel color and corresponding Z coordinate associated with it. The memory controller then performs a Z comparison test wherein Z coordinates of the batch are compared with existing Z coordinates read out of a frame buffer memory to determine whether or not each new color of the batch associated with the Z coordinate being compared should be written into the frame buffer memory. If the results of a Z comparison test pass, the new pixel color and Z coordinate are queued for writing into the frame buffer memory.

Abstract: In a display device, a language switching key is operated so that a language in which a character string is displayed on an LCD is set. Upon operation of an information key, information in the set language is displayed on the LCD. When a character size is “16×16,” the character string is displayed in one line on the screen of the LCD and the screen is scrolled horizontally. When the character size is “8×8,” the character string is displayed in two lines on the screen of the LCD and the screen is scrolled vertically.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing a MOVHPS-MOVLPS operation on packed data using computer-implemented steps is described. In one embodiment, a first packed data operand having a pair of data elements is accessed. A second packed data operand having two pairs of data elements is then accessed. One of the two pairs of data elements in the second packed data operand is replaced with the pair of data elements in the first packed data operand.

Abstract: A computer system and method of controlling the same in which an abstraction stack is sequenced through a number of predetermined display formats to facilitate user comprehension of a body of knowledge. An abstraction stack is utilized to present information from a body of knowledge in a three-dimensional workspace to facilitate user comprehension and management of both the specific information in the body of knowledge, as well as the contextual relationships of the information within the body of knowledge as a whole. Moreover, a number of predetermined display formats are defined for the abstraction stack to permit the presentation of information to a user to be optimized throughout a sequence of predefined steps.

Abstract: A node-link structure laid out in a space with negative curvature, such as the hyperbolic plane, is mapped to a rendering space, such as the unit disk, beginning from a starting element that has both a parent and a child. Data identifying the starting element are obtained, such as based on user signals. The starting element can be located at a starting position in the unit disk. Then a set of other elements can be mapped, each reachable from the starting element by a path that leads only through elements in the set. Each element's position in the negatively curved space relative to a preceding element on its path and the position of the preceding element in the rendering space can be used to obtain the element's position in the rendering space. The positions in the unit disk can then be used to present a representation of the node-link structure.

Abstract: A hierarchical movie is provided. A hierarchical movie is a movie that contains one or more embedded movies. Embedded movies may themselves contain embedded movies. Each movie contains zero or more media sequences. Within a hierarchical movie, media sequences that should be edited together may be grouped together using embedded movies. The media sequences of a hierarchical movie may be sequenced during playback based on a different time coordinate system than the time coordinate system that governs any embedded movies. This allows a movie to contain both time-based and time-independent media sequences. Also, the relative timing of events in the movie may vary from performance to performance. The hierarchical movie structure allows movies to be used as user interface controls, and even as field-sensitive databases.

Abstract: A method and apparatus used to render cubic curves is disclosed. A cubic Bezier curve is rapidly decomposed into small segments piecewise by using two independent operation units in parallel for processing four control points of the cubic Beizer curve with the assistance of an arbitrator to display the cubic curve on a monitor or output to a printer. A set of control data of the cubic Beizer curve is obtained from an input device and serves as the original input data for a vertical division operation unit and a horizontal extension operation unit that generate four sets of control points in parallel. The arbitrator makes two decisions from the four sets of control points. First, if there are sets of control points meeting the condition of rendering the curve, those sets are transferred to a segment generator to generate points for rendering the curve. Second, it determines which set of control points is the next feedback input data for the parallel horizontal extension operation.

Abstract: A contact printer including a liquid crystal display (LCD) for presenting an image for printing; a supply adapted to contain at least one sheet of photosensitive media; and a structure for pressing the photosensitive media sheet from the supply against the LCD. The printer further includes electronics for driving the LCD for causing an image to be presented against a pressed photosensitive sheet for contact printing of such image.

Abstract: An irregular connectivity mesh representative of a surface having an arbitrary topology is processed to generate a parameterization which maps points in a coarse base domain to points in the mesh. An illustrative embodiment uses a multi-level mesh simplification process in conjunction with conformal mapping to efficiently construct a parameterization of a mesh comprising a large number of triangles over a base domain comprising a smaller number of triangles. The parameterization in this embodiment corresponds to the inverse of function mapping each point in the original mesh to one of the triangles of the base domain, such that the original mesh can be reconstructed from the base domain and the parameterization. The mapping function is generated as a combination of a number of sub-functions, each of which relates data points in a mesh of one level in a simplification hierarchy to data points in a mesh of the next coarser level of the simplification hierarchy.

Abstract: The present invention conducts rendering processing according to a prescribed priority relating to each polygon attribute. For example, rendering for semi-transparent polygons is conducted after rendering for opaque polygons. By this means, it is possible to carry out rendering for semi-transparent polygons reliably. Furthermore, rendering for polygons containing transparent portions is conducted after rendering for polygons not containing transparent portions. By this means, it is possible to reduce rendering processing for polygons containing transparent portions, as far as possible. Moreover, rendering processing is carried out for all background polygons together. Thereby, it is possible to carry out suitable depth cue processing for polygons positioned in the far distance of the screen.

Abstract: A system and method for creating weight maps capable of indicating how much each pixel in an image should contribute to a blended image. One such map is a view-dependent weight map created by inputting an image that has been characterized as a collection of regions. A 2D perspective transform is computed for each region that is to be part of the weight map. The transforms are used to warp the associated regions to prescribed coordinates to create a warped image. Once the warped image is created, a Jacobian matrix is computed for each pixel. The determinant of each Jacobian matrix is then computed to establish a weight factor for that pixel. The weight map for the inputted image is created using these computed determinants. Another advantageous weight map is a combination weight map. The process for creating type of weight map is identical to the view-dependant map up to the point the warped image has been created.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method generates a new view of a three-dimensional scene by receiving three or more pictures representing three or more different view points on a plane, each picture taken from a viewing direction perpendicular to the plane; selecting a new point on the plane; and generating the new view of the three dimensional scene from the new point by morphing among the three or more pictures. In another aspect, the method may also generate the new view by receiving two or more pictures from two or more view points located on a line along the direction of view; projecting the two or more pictures onto a cylinder; performing a multi-image morph on the images projected on the cylinder; and projecting the result of the multi-image morph to generate the new view of the three dimensional scene.

Abstract: An active public user interface in a computerized kiosk senses humans visually using movement and color to detect changes in the environment indicating the presence of people. Interaction spaces are defined and the system records an initial model of its environment which is updated over time to reflect the addition or subtraction of inanimate objects and to compensate for lighting changes. The system develops models of the moving objects and is thereby able to track people as they move about the interaction spaces. A stereo camera system further enhances the system's ability to sense location and movement. The kiosk presents audio and visual feedback in response to what it “sees.

Abstract: A method for generating a seamless spherical image combines at least two images separately captured from a single focal point and different directions of view. A spherical image data set produced by using a programmed computer to digitally stitch together at least two digital images that represent the visible world as seen from a fixed focal point and at least two respective directions of view is also described.

Abstract: A low cost high performance three dimensional (3D) graphics system can model a world in three dimensions and project the model onto a two dimensional viewing plane selected based on a changeable viewpoint. The viewpoint can be changed on an interactive, real time basis by operating user input controls such as game controllers. The system rapidly produces a corresponding changing image (which can include animated cartoon characters or other animation) on the screen of a color television set. The richly featured high performance low cost system gives consumers the chance to interact in real time right inside magnificent virtual 3D worlds to provide a high degree of image realism, excitement and flexibility. An optimum feature set/architecture (including a custom designed graphics/audio coprocessor) provides high quality fast moving 3D images and digital stereo sound for video game play and other graphics applications.

Abstract: A three-dimensional texture is mapped onto a graphically-displayed surface by interpolating locations for elements of the texture using an associated distance relationship which locates the element with respect to the surface and a reference location spaced a distance apart from the surface. A first array of points representing the surface are stored, each of the points having an element of the three-dimensional texture and a distance to the element associated therewith. Upon a command to move the displayed surface, a new location for each point of the first array is computed, to obtain a second array representing the moved surface. A location for each element of the three-dimensional texture associated with each point of the first array is interpoled from the corresponding point in the second array and a reference location spaced apart from the moved surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modeling the specular reflection of light from an object is disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment of the method, a portion of the object is modeled by one or more surfaces each having at least one vertex and an edge point corresponding to an edge. A sine value associated with a highlight angle is determined at each vertex and edge point, and a control value is determined at each vertex and edge point using the sine values. A specular input component at each point on the surface is determined using the control values. The specular input component is utilized to determine the specular light component at that particular point. Embodiments of apparatus implementing the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying color for selection is disclosed. The method includes the steps of displaying a currently selected color in a first predefined area and displaying a series of blend areas each containing a blend from a first blend color to a second blend color, and at least one of the blend colors being substantially the same as the currently selected color. Preferably, each of the second colors is a predetermined distance in a color space from the currently selected color. The first predefined area may be located in a central area and each of the blend areas may be located around the central area and the at least one of the blend color in the blend area being located substantially closest to the central area. The blend areas are located radially around the central area. The color space is preferably the CIE L*a*b* color space and the blends are substantially continuous in the CIE L*a*b* color space.