Abstract: In a document information system and a method for realizing such a system, document data are transferred and displayed at a high speed. In response to an operation made from a terminal apparatus, the document data which have been stored via communication apparatus into a data storage apparatus are read out, and the read document data are temporarily stored before being transmitted by employing the communication apparatus. In the terminal apparatus, the received document data are temporarily stored as display data, and additionally the display data are swapped to a secondary storage device in such a case that a total amount of the temporarily stored data exceeds a predetermined capacity. Then, the display data may be transferred from either the terminal apparatus, or the secondary storage device to a display buffer and then may be displayed in a unit of representation.

Abstract: For the representation of information mon a data display device with picture elements with different side ratios, the speed of readout from the picture information store is changed such that the different kinds of picture elements (A) and (A') are geometrically similar to each other.

Abstract: In a driver circuit of direct drive matrix type LCD panel, a quantity of ON-STATE cells (or OFF-STATE cells) displayed on the just previous scan electrode is counted and a quantity of ON-STATE cells (or OFF-STATE cells) to be displayed on a present scan electrode is also counted. A compensation voltage is generated according to a predetermined relation based on a difference of the two above-counted quantities, and is superposed onto drive voltages of unselected scan electrodes or of each of data electrodes, in a polarity that an undesirable spike voltage induced on unselected cell voltage is cancelled, in synchronization with selection of the present scan electrode. The compensation voltage may be generated according to a digital difference of the two quantities or to a change in an analog voltage representing the counted quantity.

Abstract: A fiber optic display sign is provided comprising a plurality of magnetically actuatable indicator elements, each having associated therewith at least two fiber optic cables for transmitting light. Each of the fiber optic cables has an end face for emitting light which terminates in an indicator element, and an end face for receiving light which is positioned in close proximity with the other light receiving end faces to form a light receiving surface. A light source assembly moveable with respect to the light receiving surface includes a primary light source and a secondary light source each adapted to illuminate the light receiving surface when aligned therewith. The light source assembly is alternatively moveable to a first position at which the primary light source is aligned with the light receiving surface or a second position at which the secondary light source is aligned with the light receiving surface.

Abstract: A graphical display icon on the front of a data storage unit provides status information on disk drives within the unit. The icon has a shape identical to that of the unit and includes a number of bicolor LED's which each correspond to a similarly situated disk drive located in the unit. The color emitted by the LED's communicate information on the status of the corresponding disk drive within the unit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for data input. Devices are provided in accordance with this invention which utilize capacitive coupling of an object to the device to sense the object's position. The devices are comprised of a plurality of electrode strips which form virtual electrodes. The virtual electrodes are selectively connected to form virtual dipole electrodes which are responsive to the object's position.

Abstract: A data line defect avoidance structure for a display device having an array of display elements arranged in rows and columns includes a plurality of repair lines overlapping the ends of data lines which extend between the columns. Each repair line spans a set of data lines, and there is a sufficient number of repair lines to span all the data lines in the array. One end of each repair line can be welded to a data line during fabrication to decrease the number of steps required for avoiding an open in a data line.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for forming an outline character by making a character, numeral, mark, or the like black at the periphery thereof and white at the inner portions thereof. When the original character data exists at at least one upper or lower end in a dot display space, the character data at the end is removed and shortened. The shortened character dot pattern is periphally expanded by at least one dot, and the expanded character is removed to form white space within the shortened character. In another aspect, the character dot pattern is periphally expanded by at least one dot. When the original character exists at at least one upper or lower end in the dot display space, the expanded character is removed to form white spaces within the original character dot pattern except for an upper or lower end in the dot display space. Thus, if the original character dot pattern exists at at least one upper or lower end, a character completely enclosed within a black periphery can be obtained.

Abstract: An audio sound modification system for modifying the output sound signals of a sound synthesizer comprises a microcomputer connected to receive signals from the synthesizer and to output modified sound signals. The microcomputer comprises a display device, and displays an image on the display device that has motion, color and shade characteristics. An operator input is also provided. The microcomputer is responsive to first, second and third different input signals from the operator input for modifying first, second and third different characteristics of the received signals and for modifying the motion, color and shade characteristics of the image, respectively.

Abstract: A circuit for interfacing between a digital-television circuit for producing pixel data for television images and a computer graphics display permits rapid scaling and positioning of live television images on the graphics display. In a preferred embodiment, the digital-television/computer-graphics interface circuit of the invention includes memory for storing a horizontal-scaling bit pattern and a vertical-scaling bit pattern. Such a preferred interface circuit is adapted to receive digital-television pixel data from the digital television circuit and, on a pixel-by-pixel basis depending on the state of corresponding bits in the horizontal-scaling bit pattern, to skip the pixel in the case of image contraction and to replicate the pixel in the case of image expansion.

Abstract: An interactive video display system with tight coupling between user-input and the images displayed to provide a feeling of real control by the user. A library of frames of video data is stored in randomly accessible data locations, such as an optical video disc. The video data in each frame in the library is assigned a virtual position in a pre-defined data space, such that the visual image in each frame is related to visual images in other frames by virtual position in the data space. User input is provided through track ball or mouse generating displacement signals. The input signal is translated to an updated virtual position in the data space relative to a previous virtual position and the next frame having the updated virtual position is displayed next.

Abstract: A switching device for flashing an installed light fixture, as for helping emergency response personnel locate a dwelling. A switch housing which is mountable within a conventional junction box encloses a switch having "off", "on", and "flash" positions. In the "flash" position, the switch cyclically completes and interrupts the installed 120 volt AC circuit so that the light fixture flashes on and off. A triac is employed as a relay for completing the circuit, and a timer-controlled driver portion is provided for actuating the triac. The triac driver actuates the triac at the beginning of each half-cycle of the AC current, in response to a low-voltage pulse which passes through a capacitor connected to the high-voltage lead. The timer may be a 555 IC timer, and a conversion network may be provided for supplying DC current for this. A piezoelectric element is also provided for generating an audible signal indicating that the "flash" mode has been actuated.

Abstract: A matrix-type display device includes a display electrode board that has a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged into a matrix. A set of scan lines extend in parallel in one direction and a set signal lines extend in an orthogonal direction so that these lines are arranged between adjacent pixel electrodes. A spare line intersects at least some of the scan lines and/or said signal lines at each end of said set of lines so as to sandwich an insulating film therebetween, and a lead-out line is connected to one end of the spare line. The lead-out lines are connected to external connecting lines, which are outside of the display electrode board, so that the lead-out lines can be connected to each other through said connecting lines. Line breakdowns can be corrected and the correction of the breakdowns entails little or no increase in load capacity, electrical resistance, and noise with respect to the corrected line.

Abstract: A ROM part (24) of a charactor ROM (21) stores a plurality of font data. A display data RAM (9) simultaneously supplies a plurality of address signals to the charactor ROM (21) which is provided with a plurality of address decoders (25, 26). Respective address signals are decoded by the corresponding address decoders (25, 26), so that the font data corresponding to the address signals are read on the common bit lines (BL.sub.1 -BL.sub.l). Thus, the font data as read are synthesized on the common bit lines (BL.sub.1 -BL.sub.l) as a logical sum.

Abstract: An apparatus wherein an anchor housing includes pivotally mounted side and end walls that are released upon manipulation of a cover lid clasp and upon projection of an upper end wall projection into a lower end wall cavity to effect dispensing of a pressurized gas into an associated balloon to project above the anchor housing, with a flasher unit mounted to the balloon medially thereof in operative association with a rechargeable battery and solar panels to effect continuous recharging of the battery. A windlass housing is secured to the individual, with an associated windlass crank arm to effect selective release of a container tether line mounting the anchor housing to the windlass housing.

Abstract: A computer system having a digitizing tablet overlaying the display screen. The tablet serves as a user's primary input device. Various features of the system make it possible for the user to run and interact with standard programs designed for keystroke and mouse input and not designed for use with a tablet. In addition to the main processor, on which the user's programs are executed, there is an interface processor. In addition to a standard display buffer, there is an ink plane buffer for interface display data that is combined with the data from the standard display buffer on a pixel-by-pixel basis according to data from a mask plane buffer. The interface processor manages input from the tablet, presents feedback to the user by means of the ink and mask planes, and provides keystroke and mouse data to the main processor as if from a standard keyboard controller. The interface processor presents the user with a collection of simulated devices, including standard devices such as a keyboard and a mouse.

Abstract: A method and circuitry for using two buffers containing video display information is shown. One buffer contains character mask or dot image information, while the other buffer has two portions, foreground and background, which store attribute information. In non-compatible write operations attribute information stored in registers is written to the attribute buffers when mask information is written to the first buffer. In compatible write operations the attribute value is written to the foreground attribute buffer and zero is written to the background buffer, while an OR'ed value of the attribute value is written to the first buffer. In non-compatible read operations the value in the first buffer may be obtained or a CRC value may be generated on the entire character cell. The CRC value can be compared with similar CRC values developed on the character mask of interest to determine if a character is present in the cell.

Abstract: In a raster output scanner, a method of switching video from one raster to the next during a scan without the creation of a visible artifact. A position encoder is used to determine the position of each raster on the photoreceptor, a first distance above the transition point and a second distance below the transition point, in the process direction. Above the first point the video will be supplied by the first raster, and below the second point the video will be supplied by the second raster. From the first point to the transition point the duty cycle will vary from 100% of data from the first raster to 50% from each raster. From the transition point to the second point the duty cycle will vary from 50% to 100% supplied by the second raster. In this way, there is a gradual, and invisible, transition from one raster to the next.

Abstract: Various indication display units, for vehicles provided with a head-up display including an indication projector with a display device at the ceiling of a vehicle and a reflecting device forwardly of a driver seat, have been introduced so far due to the fact that there are increasing requirements for space for the installation of many kinds of indicators in vehicles. The problem remains that the displayed image on the reflecting device can hardly be seen on the indication display unit of the conventional type when external strong rays of light are radiated to the above reflecting surface from outside the vehicle through the windshield, and a part of the ceiling reflected on the reflecting device together with the indicating image projected from the projector also causes a bad effect to the displayed image when the vehicle is illuminated by another vehicle following there behind.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing displays including a method for determining color tolerances for the displays is set forth. The method comprises the the steps of (i) comparing the display color space data to reference data generally adapted to the size and spatial characteristics of the display, (ii) developing a recommended color value tolerance for the color space data in response to the comparison, and (iii) developing, independent of the recommended color value tolerance, a recommended luminance value tolerance in response to the color space data.