Abstract: A power distribution system includes circuits each having an electronic circuit breaker as a protection for short-circuits and/or overloads, and a clocked power supply unit. The clocked power supply unit is connected to the circuits and feeds power to the circuits. The electronic circuit breaker has a power stage and an adjustable current limiting device connected to the power stage. The adjustable current limiting device, in the event of an overload, when a first adjustable current threshold is exceeded, turns off the power stage after a first adjustable disconnection time has expired, and in the event of a short circuit, after a second adjustable current threshold has been exceeded, turns off the power stage after a second disconnection time has expired.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a pair of separable contacts forming a pole, an operating mechanism for operating the electrical contacts, an electronic trip circuit responsive to currents flowing through the pole for operating the operating mechanism in response to predetermined current conditions to open the separable contacts, and a fail-safe mechanism for operating the operating mechanism in response to a failure in the electronic trip circuit. The fail-safe mechanism includes a solenoid that is electrically connected to be energized in response to a failure in the electronic trip circuit and a linkage that operates the operating mechanism in response to operation of the solenoid. An operating arm that moves in response to the solenoid, interacts with operating mechanism to prevent resetting of the operating mechanism following actuation of the solenoid.

Abstract: A grounding mat for connection to a power source, having a sheet including an outer perimeter and a central area. The outer perimeter surrounds the central area. A single continuous conductive member is attached to the sheet, the continuous conductive member having two unitary portions. The one portion is disposed in the central area of the sheet in a grid pattern, and the other portion is disposed in the outer perimeter of the sheet in a border pattern surrounding the one portion. The continuous conductive member has a connection end portion for electrical connection to the power source.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent device, particularly for use as a display, is disclosed which is driven according to a pulsed mode of operation which allows much higher current densities to be injected into the device. This is achieved by selection of particular pulse durations and duty cycles, and by an improved geometry for the electroluminescent device in which the resistance of anode lines is reduced.

Abstract: A method for coloring pixels of a pixelated display to present a simulated image of a view of objects illuminated by light from light sources and light reflected off the objects is used in an apparatus for coloring pixels to create an image. According to the method, a space is defined, along with objects and light sources in the space. A view point is taken and a view surface is divided into unit areas corresponding to pixels in the image. As the illumination of points on surfaces of objects in the space is found, a data structure is saved for that point indicating its location, its orientation, and the rays of illumination which reach the point, each ray described by a direction, source, color, propagator object, and propagator type.

Abstract: A bending angle of each joint of a multiple-jointed object is represented with a function expressed independently of a length between joints of the object. Based on the function, contour data is produced for a motion of each joint, which is then displayed on a screen. With this provision, it is unnecessary to generate again functions each time the size of the object changes. Namely, the functions are independent of the size of the object. Since parameters of the functions can be altered to add characteristics to changes in the bending angles the respective joints, the object is actuated in an action having an emotional expression.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a retrieval space determination system for three-dimensionally shaped parts in a computer aided design (CAD) system. An input unit inputs coordinates of two points defining one side of a retrieval space displayed on a display screen and inputs the depth of the retrieval spaced based on that side. A file stores three-dimensional shape data. A circumscribing sphere creating unit reads a selected three-dimensionally shaped part from the file storing the three-dimensional shape data and creates a circumscribing sphere for the selected three-dimensional shape part in accordance with the coordinate data of the part. The coordinate conversion unit converts center coordinates of the circumscribing sphere, created by the circumscribing sphere creating unit, into coordinates of the retrieval space input from the input unit.

Abstract: A graphic technique, implemented on a graphics computer, for visualizing 3-D vector data uses a stream tube which is a tube-like structure having a cross section of an n-sided polygon. The stream tube follows the path of a streamline in the 3-D vector data. Data can be visualized by varying the shape and size of the polygon along the streamline to represent changes in normal and shear strain, rotation and velocity. Additional scalar functions are represented by coloring the sides of the stream tube.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for converting a series of serial section images of an object into a three-dimensional model. The method includes acquiring and storing the series of serial section images, converting, zooming, and interpolating serial section images. The method further includes discriminating the series of serial section images to form a binary image, which is then compressed, and filtered. Further, support data for floating or cantilevered portions of the object and base data are generated, the filtered binary image is translated to produce a plurality of vectors representing pixels of the object, and a three-dimensional model of the object is produced from the plurality of vectors representing pixels of the object, the support data, and the base data.

Abstract: A method is described for representing a treatment site (10) of a patient as data suitable for use with a computer-aided design device (46). The method includes scanning the treatment site(10) with a scanning apparatus (40), such as a CT scanner, to produce image data; determining the image data that represents the surface of the item; generating vectors from the determined data; and associating the vectors with poles of a non-uniform rational B-spline so that a polynomial equation may be generated, which is a data form suitable for use with CAD devices.

Abstract: A method for displaying information and system includes the steps of displacing map data on the screen of a display unit, displaying layout data representing one or more segments of a certain floor in each of the one or more structure elements of the map data displayed on a first designated portion, on a second designated portion of the screen in response to a layout display instruction, and displaying attribute data corresponding to each of the one or more segments of the floor.

Abstract: A multimedia display and editing system for editing multimedia projects on a display screen. A computer display screen is presented to the user which provides three different views of multimedia information. The first view is the Player which resembles a virtual video recorder with a display monitor. The second view is a story board which is very similar to a traditional story board. The third view is the Strip Viewer which presents the user with a time-line based view of the multimedia information. On the Strip Viewer display is an innovative screen tool referred to as a "Splinder", which is used for editing the beginning and ending points of displayed multimedia tracks. The Splinder splits two segments of multimedia information. The Splinder can be used to edit the ends of the two multimedia information segments.

Abstract: An image processing unit generates a virtual environment or an artificial reality by displaying a necessary image in accordance with movement of a view direction of a person on a head mounted display and comprises a sensor, an image processing portion, and a display. The sensor detects a view direction and generates a view vector, and the image processing portion comprises a view direction movement discriminator, a priority degree allocator, and a partial update portion. The view direction movement discriminator calculates a view direction movement vector from the difference from the two fetched view vectors.

Abstract: A multi-media footnote control links a reference and a video. During the viewing of a video by an author/editor thereof, a footnote may be added to properly credit another source and to aid in study of the subject presented on the video. At the appropriate place in the video, the author/editor stops the video and displays a create footnote window. The author will then enter the appropriate data into the window. The footnote data will then be automatically passed to the video in the predetermined position. The footnote will be displayed in a footnote area during the running of the video. If a user/author of the video wishes to review the footnoted reference, the video may be stopped and by indicating the footnote such as with a mouse, the reference will be displayed in a separate window.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for generating displayable information expressive of a three dimensional solid object. The apparatus includes a processor (12,16) for expressing the object in a Constructive Solid Geometry representation thereof so as to be comprised of one or more primitive objects. The apparatus further includes a processor (18, 20) for repetitively evaluating the one or more primitive objects to determine displayable faces thereof. A depth interval buffer (20) is responsive to the operation of a scan conversion processor (18) for detecting when a predetermined number of repetitive evaluations occur without causing a change in the determination of a displayable face and for causing the operation of the evaluation processor to terminate. Toleranced depth tests are used to remove dangling faces or edges and to properly handle coincident faces. Pixel-centering is employed to improve the accuracy of depth tests and to identify pixels upon which a product projects.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for outline font character generation in dot matrix devices including a point transform engine, a parametric equation generator, an adaptive forward differencing engine, a transition detection engine, a transition processor, an intermediate storage, and a bitmap converter. The point transform engine performs a linear transformation on the input control points to produce a set of control points corresponding to the description of the scaled image. The parametric equation generator computes a set of coefficients used in generating polysegments. The adaptive forward differencing engine generates a set of controlled length vectors representing the image, while the transition detection engine determines the transition pixels by scanning the vectors both horizontally and vertically to determine whether a scanline is crossed by the vector. The transition processor enhances the image quality and alters the number and location of the previously determined transition pixel.

Abstract: A high speed data display routine used in imaging of displays of geographic or other detail depicting, for example, the depth of an ocean, acoustic prediction plots, photographs and logos. The speed is achieved by a process for efficiently mapping the data values to the display matrix. The information processing uses proportional mapping, but only on the two edges of the data matrix. The processing performs substantially fewer calculations during the mapping process, by rely in accordance with certain conventions on straight raw data copying operations using pre-determined counts.

Abstract: A computer system comprises a computer, a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, and an instrumentation system. The instrumentation system is coupled to a patient to gather data about a patient over time. The data is arranged in a flowsheet, only a portion of which can be displayed at one time. Indicators are used to indicate the presence of data off-display meeting a preselected criterion. This criterion can be the existence of a value entry or the existence of a value entry exceeding a threshold, for example. Upon activation of an indicator, the display scrolls to the next flowsheet neighborhood containing an entry meeting the criterion. In this way, a physician or other operator can navigate efficiently and rapidly through a large flowsheet. The invention allows an operator to skip large quantities of empty cells and uninteresting data when the flowsheet is sparsely filled.

Abstract: Electronic image generation apparatus includes a monitor, a colour data array for storing digital data defining the colour component content of pixels of an image, a control data array for storing control data for each display pixel, and a mixer connected to the control data array and the colour data array for generating display pixel data comprised of a combination of proportions of the data in the colour data stores and other colour data the proportions being in accordance with the control data. The monitor is responsive to the display pixel data. A camera views a region within which an indicator may be moved, and is connected to the control data array such that data relating to the appearance of the region is recorded in the control data array.

Abstract: A coordinate transformation method and apparatus that uses a lookup table to store a sample of transformed output values and an interpolator for interpolating between samples of the output values to provide an output data value. The samples are stored at varying sample spacings to accommodate varying curvatures of the transformation function so as to minimize interpolation errors.