Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system for providing restrained, streamlined access to a computerized information source. The system--which works in association with a multipurpose computer--includes a discrete article, such as an advertising specialty like a mouse pad, having facilities to receive a user input and, in turn, generate a unique predetermined signal based on the input. The system further includes software for configuring the computer to respond to each unique predetermined signal by executing one or more commands, as selected and stored within the software. Each configuration can be dynamically locked such that the commands to be executed upon the unique input are not alterable without an authorization mechanism, such as a password. The software also responds to receipt of one of the unique predetermined signals by executing the commands associated with the received signal. A method for performing same is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing force feedback to a user operating a human/computer interface device and interacting with a computer-generated simulation. In one aspect, a computer-implemented method simulates the interaction of simulated objects displayed to a user who controls one of the simulated objects manipulating a physical object of an interface device. The position of the simulated object, as provided within the simulation and as displayed, is mapped directly to the physical position of the user object. This mapping is broken under conditions that are effective to provide force feedback to the user which imparts a physical sensation corresponding to the interaction of the simulated objects. In another aspect, a ball simulated ball object interacts with a user-controlled simulated object in a simulation to allow the user to utilize a wide range of physical skill and dexterity in interacting with the simulation.

Abstract: There is provided a coordinate input device in which when a coordinate input object is moved on a tablet while being in contact with the tablet, and this state is displayed with cursor movement, fine movement or delay movement of the cursor does not occur. The coordinate input device is constituted by a tablet operated by a coordinate input object and a coordinate data generation section for generating coordinate data representing a coordinate position on the tablet operated by the coordinate input object, and the coordinate data generation section comprises a moving speed detection section for detecting a contact moving speed of the coordinate input object on the tablet and a fine movement removing filter for removing an unnecessary frequency component included in the coordinate data, so that a cutoff frequency of the fine movement removing filter is switched in accordance with the moving speed detected by the moving speed detection section.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display system of the present invention includes: an operation processing apparatus having a digital-analog converter converting a digital video signal to an analog video signal based on predetermined time information and a synchronization combining circuit superimposing the predetermined time information on at least one of a horizontal synchronizing signal and a vertical synchronizing signal; and a liquid crystal display apparatus converting the analog video signal to a digital video signal based on the predetermined time information, thereby displaying an image based on the converted digital video signal.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention vary the rate of movement of a marker along a waveform. The rate of movement is varied by changing the distance increment the marker moves in response to a movement command. In a first embodiment of the invention the marker movement increment is proportional to the reciprocal of the derivative of the waveform amplitude with respect to time. In a second embodiment the marker moves only to specified points of interest along the waveform which are calculated in real-time. In a third embodiment the increment depends on how long the input device has been activated. In a fourth embodiment the marker movement is interrupted when the marker steps onto or over a detent. Each embodiment of the present invention moves the marker along the waveform in a manner which improves the ability of the user to examine information of interest in detail while moving rapidly over information that is not of interest.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method identifies a boundary path of an object in a displayed raster image by sampling user input to define cursor positions in the raster image and to determine tunnel width parameters corresponding to the cursor positions. The boundary path is identified by applying a cost function that evaluates pixel values of pixels the raster image within limits defined by the tunnel width parameters and determines pixels defining the boundary path.

Abstract: The vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) system of the inventive invention includes a display matrix including an array of anodes, a processor, at least two anode drivers, and a grid driver to selectively activate the anodes of the display matrix. The system of the instant invention alternatingly disables some of the output gates of the two anode drivers so that the anodes in the outer columns of anodes associated with the activated grids are, preferably, pulled to ground, while the anodes in the inner columns of anodes of the activated grids may respond to the display data output from the anode driver output gates that are not currently disabled.

Abstract: A display control system (200) for transferring video and graphical data processed in a first processing device (201) having a dedicated display screen to a second processing device (202) for display on the screen (152) of a conventional television set (150). The first processing device (201) and the second processing device (202) communicate by means of a pair of optical driver/receivers (203, 207). The second processing device (202) captures selected frames from a broadcast television picture displayed on the screen (152) of the television (150) and transmits the captured frames to the first processing device (201) for storage or display on the dedicated display screen.

Abstract: A method of driving a liquid crystal device, which comprises matrix-addressed driving a liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal, particularly a ferroelectric liquid crystal, disposed between a pair of substrates and comprising finely distributed domains differing in threshold voltage for use in switching said liquid crystal, said method being a pulse modulation method comprising modulating at least one of pulse voltage and pulse width, a pixel electrode division method, or a time integration method. Also claimed is a liquid crystal device driven by any of said methods. The liquid crystal device provides a further improved analog multiple gray-scale level display, realizes a large-area display at a low cost, and enables drive at full color video rate.

Abstract: A pair of detecting stations A.sub.i and A.sub.-i on a plane H extends along an axis X. Each of the detecting stations is provided with an iris member and a divided light receiving section. Received light outputs at each of the light receiving elements are defined as R.sub.i, L.sub.i, R.sub.-i, and L.sub.-i, and the following equation is calculated to enable a coordinate (x.sub.0, z.sub.0) of the moving light source to be attained by a simple calculation: S.sub.i =(R.sub.i -L.sub.i)/(R.sub.i +L.sub.i)+(R.sub.-i -L.sub.-i)/(R.sub.-i +L.sub.-i); T.sub.i =(R.sub.i -L.sub.i)/(R.sub.i +L.sub.i)-(R.sub.-i -L.sub.-i)/(R.sub.-i +L.sub.-i).

Abstract: A video data output device includes a memory unit which stores video data conforming with a first display mode, and a memory control unit which controls a write operation on the memory unit so that video data is written therein in the first display mode and controls a read operation thereon so that the video data is read at a timing based on the first display mode or a second display mode. Further, the video data output device includes a converter unit which converts the video data read from the memory unit at the timing based on the second display mode into video data conforming with the second display mode.

Abstract: There is disclosed an information displaying medium having a base member and a writable displaying unit disposed thereon. The writable displaying unit has a reversible displaying element including a polymer/liquid crystal composite film. A processing means including a control means and an information recording unit is buried in the base member and functions as a semiconductor device. A communication means is buried in the base member for exchanging signals with an external apparatus.

Abstract: A binding apparatus is provided with a tape reel on which a bind tape of a small tape width size is wound, and a tape reel on which a bind tape of a large tape width size is wound. When the tape reels and are set, the width size of each bind tape is read by means for detecting a width size discrimination mark (ring) formed on each tape reel and is memorized by width size memory means. The thickness of a bundle of sheets is measured by the use of a clamp member for clamping the bundle of sheets aligned on an aligning tray, and is memorized by thickness memory means. A bind tape of a tape width size corresponding to the thickness memorized by the thickness memory means is selected from among the sizes memorized by the width size memory means, and a carriage is moved to the tape reel on which a bind tape of the same size is wound.

Abstract: A copyproof document includes a paper document substrate, a disc having a primarily holographic first face facing away from the substrate and a second face with permanent pressure sensitive adhesive engaging the substrate, and mechanical intertwining between the substrate and disc so that they are substantially inseparable. The mechanical intertwining enables the materials thereof become substantially inseparably intertwined, the permanent adhesive also acting to insure inseparability. Typically the parameter of the disc will be a mechanically intertwined with the substrate while at the center there is little or no mechanical intertwining so that the holographic activity of the first face is not significantly occluded. Unique identifying indicia (e.g. consecutive numbers or bar coding) may also be provided on the disc, and application of the discs to a document may not be practiced without security authorization and access (by key, computer, or the like).

Abstract: In the information transfer method the information (I) is collected in the memory (55) of a pointing pen (51). A selected point on the display (43) is pressed with the tip of the pen (51), whereby a frequency change of the resonant circuit (42/52) indicates the contact, and a change in the resonance signal's strength in the receiving circuit determines the position of the pen. Then the oscillation of a second resonant circuit (43/53) is modulated with the information (I) in the memory. The received and demodulated (47) and possibly otherwise processed (48) signal is then presented on the display (43). With this method the user can transfer scanned information directly to the display of a pen computer or a mobile phone for further processing.

Abstract: A video monitor displaying a plurality of menu screens three-dimensionally is provided. Each of the screens corresponds to a particular mode/amenity of the vehicle. Each of the screens is displayed as a collection of switches corresponding to various functions of the corresponding amenity. An input device is provided to enable the driver to select a screen, i.e., an amenity, and then select a particular switch. In the preferred embodiment the input device is formed as two joysticks commonly structured on a single lever, so that selection of a particular screen and a particular switch within that screen can be done in a single operation.

Abstract: A video signal processing apparatus chiefly has a peripheral circuit, a low-voltage processing circuit for controlling image quality, a high-voltage processing circuits for converting into a signal for a liquid crystal display panel, and the liquid crystal display panel. Signal separation is performed in two stages, in the low-voltage processing circuit and the high-voltage processing circuits. The frequency characteristics of the low-voltage processing circuit are enhanced by decreasing the number of the separated sections thereof to two, while the frequency characteristics of the high-voltage processing circuits are suppressed by increasing the number of the separated sections thereof to twelve, and sufficient voltages therefor are provided.

Abstract: The present invention tunes, or focuses, an input device's effective targeting capability to the task at hand in a computer system. If there are only 5 choices selectable by a user on a given active screen area on the computer's display device, the present invention logically constrains the input device's cursor movement is to only those five positions, no matter what pixel-by-pixel movement is actually being generated by the movement of the input device. The currently displayed area and its selectable subcomponents (e.g., radio buttons) at any given moment are determined. A logical map of these selectable items and subcomponents is created for use as a filter for input coordinates received from the input device, with each selectable item mapped to a "region" of the input coordinate field. Upon initiation of the present invention, a start point, in the logical map is determined from for the current location of the input device on screen cursor.

Abstract: A video signal of a still image is written into a still image area SIA in a video memory 310, whereas a video signal of a moving picture is written into a moving picture area MIA in the video memory 310. A video signal is read out from the video memory 310 while scaling up or down the video image, and the scaled video signal is then supplied to a display device. This enables a scaled moving picture and a scaled still image to be displayed on the display device.

Abstract: A panel display system having at least one source device coupled to a plurality of display units interconnected to form a larger display having any desired size and shape. Each display unit is a self-contained panel display having a video random access memory (VRAM) for storing image data, a controller for processing data signals to provide the image data to the VRAM, and an image display panel for displaying the image data. The self-contained panel displays substantially reduce the need for a separate driver card for each panel display, and substantially reduce the communications bandwidth between the source devices and the panel displays of the system. Means for interconnecting the display units include the use of data/control bus connectors and power line connectors, cables, network devices, local area networks, and/or wide area networks.