Abstract: A sensing device for generating orientation data when positioned or moved relative to a surface, the orientation data being indicative of an orientation of the sensing device relative to the surface, the surface having coded data disposed upon it, the coded data being indicative, when sensed by the sensing device, of the orientation, the sensing device including: a housing; orientation sensing means configured to generate the orientation data using at least some of the coded data; and communications means configured to communicate the orientation data to a computer system.

Abstract: A sensing device for generating orientation data when positioned or moved relative to a surface, the orientation data being indicative of an orientation of the sensing device relative to the surface, the surface having coded data disposed upon it, the coded data being indicative, when sensed by the sensing device, of the orientation, the sensing device including: a housing; orientation sensing means configured to generate the orientation data using at least some of the coded data; and communications means configured to communicate the orientation data to a computer system.

Abstract: A sensing device for generating orientation data when positioned or moved relative to a surface, the orientation data being indicative of an orientation of the sensing device relative to the surface, the surface having coded data disposed upon it, the coded data being indicative, when sensed by the sensing device, of the orientation, the sensing device including: a housing; orientation sensing means configured to generate the orientation data using at least some of the coded data; and communications means configured to communicate the orientation data to a computer system.

Abstract: An optical trackball is disclosed that is easy to operate without been worried about the contamination on the contacting shifts of encoders inside the trackball. When a distal motion from a user to rotate an operating ball having an uneven surface on the trackball, an image-detecting module will detect the varying of the reflected image from an illuminated portion of the uneven surface, causing the correspondingly moving of the cursor on the computer display.

Abstract: A method for aging process in a PDP which is able to determine an ending time of the aging process comprises the steps of: starting the aging process by supplying source voltage to the PDP; and defining the aging ending time through change of current waveform by monitoring the change of current waveform applied to the panel, and thereby problems such that discharge characteristics of the panel become unstable due to the lack of aging time and phosphor is deteriorated and processing tack-time is reduced due to over-aging can be solved.

Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal panel employing a circuit layout that makes it possible to obtain a small size liquid crystal panel when the area a source driver occupies is large. A liquid crystal display device of the present invention comprises: a pixel portion including m×n pixels (m and n are both natural numbers and satisfy the relation m<n), the pixels each having a TFT; a gate driver for feeding n gate signal lines with selection signals; a source driver for feeding m source signal lines with video data; and a video data converter circuit, and is characterized in that the video data converter circuit converts first video data (h, k) (h=1˜m, k=1˜n) into second video data, and in that the video data (h, k) constituting the first video data is converted into {m(k?1)+h}-th video data that constitutes the second video data.

Abstract: A portable communications terminal has display part having a display surface for displaying an image; main body having at least an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio waves for wireless communications, a speaker for outputting voice, and a pointing device for controlling at least a cursor displayed on said display surface; and joining part for joining said display part to said main body in an angularly movable fashion, and wherein: said speaker is disposed on one main surface of said main body, and said pointing device is disposed on the other main surface of said main body opposite from said one main surface.

Abstract: A picture display apparatus for displaying a picture in response to inputted picture signals of an arbitrary format. The apparatus includes a picture display unit having an arranged matrix of dots for picture display, a picture display unit drive for converting inputted picture signals into display picture signals adapted for display on the picture display unit and generating drive timing signals for driving the picture display unit, the picture display unit driver including a picture memory for storing picture signals inputted into the picture memory, a display position detector for detecting a picture display position on the picture display unit based on the display picture signals and the drive timing signals, and a display position controller for controlling a timing of admission of the inputted picture signals to the picture memory of the picture display unit driver, based on the detected display position data from the display position detector.

Abstract: Power consumption is reduced in a driving circuit of a display device capable of handling a low voltage amplitude input signal by employing level shifters that utilize a differential amplifier. The driving circuit is divided into a plurality of units and each unit is provided with a constant current source. In addition to a usual scanning circuit, there is provided a sub-scanning circuit for controlling ON/OFF of the constant current source arranged in each unit. The sub-scanning circuit turns ON only the constant current sources in the unit that is being scanned. A current thus can be supplied efficiently.

Abstract: A plasma display apparatus which can surely prevent an overcurrent flowing in a driver for driving electrodes of a plasma display panel. A power source is shut off when an internal short-circuit state of a column electrode driver is detected based on a current or an electric potential on a power line in a column electrode driver detected during a light emission sustaining period.

Abstract: A keypad system (FIG. 2) and corresponding method (FIGS. 3-4) suitable for use in a subscriber device (1) includes a capacitive touchpad 22 for detecting movement within a region, a driver device 12 coupled to the capacitive touchpad, wherein the driver device is for generating a touchpad data signal corresponding to the movement detected by the touchpad; and a controller 14 coupled to the driver device for receiving the touchpad data signal and for resolving the signal to one of a plurality of characters corresponding to the region. A keypad device 16 may be used for generating a key selection signal indicative of the region.

Abstract: A touch panel device is provided that can detect a touched position with sufficient resolution and accuracy without requiring high accuracy in process for forming a piezoelectric thin film. In the middle portion of the glass substrate, a substantially rectangular touch area is provided. In the periphery of the touch area, plural transmission comb electrodes arranged along one of the neighboring sides of the touch area and plural reception comb electrodes arranged along the other of the neighboring sides make pairs. Surface acoustic wave signals propagate from the transmission comb electrodes to the reception comb electrodes in a slanting direction with respect to four sides of the touch area. The inside edge of the piezoelectric thin film is formed linearly along the sides of the touch area.

Abstract: A keypad and key device featuring a plurality of contacts on the rear face of a keypad key that each mate with an individual contact pad from a plurality of contact pads placed below the upwardly biased and tiltable keys. Pushing a key on a right side or left side mates different pairs of contacts and contact pads generating different characters for input to a cellular phone or small computer. Pushing the key in the center will generate a third character by mating both contacts with both contact pads. The keys may also have more than two contacts mating with more than two contact pads and tilt to a variety of positions to mate the respective contacts with contact pads. Consequently, one depression of a key enables any one of a plurality of characters assigned thereto to be inputted which is effective in accelerating a data inputting process.

Abstract: A touch screen mounting assembly for a liquid crystal display panel (LCD) and a method for fabricating a touch screen mounting assembly for use on a LCD panel are disclosed. The mounting assembly includes a bottom frame that has a plurality of attachment means mounted thereon, a backlight panel that has a plurality of pressure-sensitive transducers mounted thereon, a liquid crystal display panel, and a top frame for exerting pressure when mounted to the bottom frame such that a plurality of compressible springs biases the LCD panel towards the bottom frame when touched or contacted by a user. The pressure-sensitive transducers may be suitably piezoelectric transducers that produce a flow of electricity upon sensing a pressure.

Abstract: A sensing device for generating orientation data when positioned or moved relative to a surface, the orientation data being indicative of an orientation of the sensing device relative to the surface, the surface having coded data disposed upon it, the coded data being indicative, when sensed by the sensing device, of the orientation, the sensing device including: a housing; orientation sensing means configured to generate the orientation data using at least some of the coded data; and communications means configured to communicate the orientation data to a computer system.

Abstract: A passive optical mouse is provided. The mouse does not require an interrogating light source. Instead, the mouse includes a sensor array and lens assembly that captures ambient images from arbitrary sources. A comparison is made between successive images to determine movement of the mouse. The movement of the mouse causes a movement vector to be output, which is used to control movement of a cursor of a computer. In addition, the mouse is configured to provide dual mode operation wherein the mouse can also operate as a video camera.

Abstract: A sensing device for generating orientation data when positioned or moved relative to a surface, the orientation data being indicative of an orientation of the sensing device relative to the surface, the surface having coded data disposed upon it, the coded data being indicative, when sensed by the sensing device, of the orientation, the sensing device including: a housing; orientation sensing means configured to generate the orientation data using at least some of the coded data; and communications means configured to communicate the orientation data to a computer system.

Abstract: Various x-y input devices are disclosed that are adapted to allow a user to hold and operate the input device with a stress-reducing, open grip posture with the thumb pointing forward and on top of the device. One preferred embodiment discloses an input device for a computer comprising an x-y input sensor (such as a touchpad) positioned perpendicular to the thumb such that the user provides input with the thumb tip by using pivotal movement of the thumb. Various stress-reducing zero force touch switches are disclosed including zero force touch switches that can be adjusted to accommodate variations in user finger length. The mode of x-y cursor control can be altered through the use of x-y input sensor perimeter inputs. One preferred embodiment discloses a thumb actuated scroll select touch switch that alters the response to actuation of the finger actuated zero force touch switches from mouse button input to scroll wheel input.

Abstract: A display illumination and viewing system has an illumination optical path and a viewing optical path coinciding along a portion of their lengths. A display is located at one end of the coinciding path portion. A first lens system is located on the coinciding path portion and a second lens system is located on the viewing optical path. An illumination assembly is located on the illumination optical path and off the coinciding path portion. The illumination assembly is spaced from the first lens system by a distance corresponding to a focal length of the first lens system. A reflective and transmissive element is located at an opposite end of the coinciding path portion to reflect light from the illumination assembly onto the coinciding path portion toward the display and to transmit light from the display along the viewing optical path. In another aspect of the invention, the image display system is operable in a color mode and a monochrome mode.

Abstract: A screen display apparatus is capable of visually presenting to a viewer E a secondary image 30 (virtual image and/or a real image) as an “inclined” a primary image (subject) 10, and is vertically inclined with respect to said viewer at a position, which is different from a position of said primary image 10. This is realized through an action of a lens 20. With the “inclination, the viewer E views the secondary image 30 with a three-dimensional feeling. The “inclination” is effective when the upper part of the secondary image 30 is located farther from the viewer E than the lower part thereof, and when its angle &thgr; is within a range of 3° to 40°. Further, a screen display apparatus, a plurality of secondary images 30 (in the figures, virtual images 31 and 32) on a primary image 10 as a subject are formed by a microlens array 20 including convex microlenses 221 and concave microlenses 223.