Abstract: The invention is a continuation of earlier applications aimed at providing affordable methods and apparatus for inputting position, attitude(orientation) or other object characteristic data to computers for the purpose of controlling the display thereof. Preferred embodiments utilize electro-optical sensors such as TV cameras, to input data from objects and fingers, and/or other body parts of the user, to laptop, hand held and other computers used for Computer Aided learning, Gaming, 3D graphics, internet commerce and other applications.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling haptic feedback to enhance navigation of a cursor or other controlled displayed object in a graphical environment. An interface device is capable of communicating with a computer running an application program and generating a graphical environment includes an actuator for outputting a haptic effect to a user of the interface device. A modulator modulates the magnitude of the haptic effect in relation to, in various embodiments, a velocity of the cursor or user manipulatable object; a rate of interaction of the cursor with graphical objects; or an amount of time that the cursor engages the graphical object.

Abstract: In a shift register circuit included in a driver circuit for driving an active matrix circuit in an active matrix type display device, a plurality of serial-connected registers constructing register lines are arranged to construct a redundancy shift register circuit. Whether or not each register line has defect is examined by detecting an output of a last register of each register line, then the register line having defect is detected by the examination, a normal register line is selected by a shift register selecting switch, and the serial-connected registers of the selected register line are used in the shift register circuit.

Abstract: An interactive display system comprising a touch sensitive display surface for sensing pressure applied thereto and in response generating control signals indicating locations of the applied pressure, a personal computer for receiving the control signals and in response generating graph images, and an LCD panel in combination with an overhead projector for receiving and projecting the graphic images onto the touch sensitive display surface at the indicated locations. The LCD panel and overhead projector may be provided an an integral unit.

Abstract: A portable data entry apparatus adapted to be carried by a user including a planar member having top and bottom surfaces. A data entry device is secured to the top surface of the planar member leaving a gap therebetween. A first member is detachably attached to the bottom surface and towards a first edge of the planar member, and a second member is secured to the bottom surface and away from the first edge, the second member enabling a user's forearm to support the data entry apparatus.

Abstract: An LED is an element in which when a voltage pulse applied to the intrinsic diode of an electrical equivalent model reaches a peak value, a current suddenly flows to obtain an optical output proportional to the forward current. By utilizing this property, the LED receives a rectangular voltage pulse having a large-current driving ability at a low output impedance, or a voltage pulse having two high levels. The low level of the voltage pulse is set within a voltage range where the extinction ratio of an output signal from the LED can be maintained. Even in an LED having a large internal capacitance, an increase in power consumption can be minimized, the transient response time can be shortened, high-speed modulation can be performed, and output light almost free from pulse waveform distortion can be obtained.

Abstract: A modular rolling axis apparatus for installing in a computer peripheral device such as a keyboard, a mouse device, a joystick, a remote controller, a mobile phone, a notebook computer, or a handheld computer or the like consists of a circuit board, two support elements mounting to the circuit board and a rotary rolling axis located between the two support elements. When the rolling axis is driven and depressed, a signal for processing execution or opening of a selected function is output, and processes for execution or opening of the selected function are performed for switching or scrolling viewing pages on the window.

Abstract: With the new plasma display panel technology new kinds of artifacts can occur in video pictures due to the principle that brightness control is done with a modulation of small lighting pulses in a number of periods called sub-fields. These artifacts are commonly described as ‘dynamic false contour effect’. A technique called bit line repeat coding has been developed for reducing the false contour effect. According to this technique sub-field coding is done with common (CSF) and normal sub-fields (SF) where for the common sub-fields (CSF) identical entries in the sub-field code words of two or more corresponding pixels on two or more pixel lines are used. In this specific sub-field coding method some cases will occur in which an error has to be made due to the reduced flexibility in encoding produced by the need to have the same code on common sub-fields (CSF).

Abstract: One embodiment of a back lighting apparatus of a liquid crystal display apparatus includes a light source for generating light, a plurality of optical fibers having both ends optically connected with the light source and a part of the optical fibers attached to the back surface of the liquid crystal display panel. Each optical fiber has one or more diffusion lines for scattering light from the light source to a pixel line of the liquid crystal display panel, thereby lighting the entire portion of the back surface of the liquid crystal display panel. The apparatus has a support plate for fixing the optical fibers to the back surface of the liquid crystal display panel, and an optical diffusing unit for optically connecting the light source to the optical fibers. The present invention can improve the resolution of a liquid crystal display apparatus and allow implementation of a 3D image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus obtains, on the basis of information of input resolution of input image data and information of output resolution to be obtained after transformation of resolution, a ratio of the input resolution to the output resolution as an integral ratio M:N having no common divisor, decides, in units of the N number of pixels of output image data, which of a first resolution transforming process and a second resolution transforming process is to be used for each of the N number of pixels of output image data, and performs the first resolution transforming process and the second resolution transforming process on the input image data on the basis of a result of this decision, to obtain the output image data.

Abstract: A force feedback interface device is coupled to a host computer that displays a graphical environment, the device including a user manipulatable object physically contacted and moveable by a user. A sensor detects a position of the user object and provides a sensor signal to the host computer, where the sensor signal includes information representative of the position of the user object. An actuator is coupled to the device or user object and outputs a force on the user manipulatable object or a housing of the device. The actuator includes a magnet and a grounded coil, where the magnet moves approximately within a plane with respect to the coil, and wherein a current is provided in the coil to generate the force. Other embodiments provide a magnet that moves in a linear degree of freedom within a coil housing, or provide an at least partially spherical magnet providing rotary degrees of freedom to a user manipulatable object coupled to the magnet. One embodiment includes a planar frame support mechanism.

Abstract: When charging at a voltage with a polarity different from that of a voltage charged in the capacitive display element, by turning the switch ON, after carrying out a charging/discharging to modulate the both electrodes of the capacitive display element to the ground potential, the same is charged at a voltage with another polarity. As compared with the case where the charging/discharging between the positive power supply voltage +VM and the negative power supply voltage −VM is made directly, the electric power consumption can be reduced to ½ when the same is once modulated to the ground potential 0V. The electric power consumption can be further reduced by modulating the intermediate potential in a plurality of steps.

Abstract: A driving method for a plasma display panel. The plasma display panel has a plurality of plasma display units. Each unit includes a first and second electrode forming a capacitor-like load, and a passivation layer formed above the first and second electrodes. The plasma display unit is filled with a dischargeable gas that generates wall charges above the passivation layer after application of a potential difference by a driving circuit. The driving circuit includes a resonant unit electrically connected to the first electrode of the plasma display unit. Firstly, the driving circuit charges the resonant unit. Next, the driving circuit resonates the capacitor-like load of the plasma display unit together with the resonant unit. By using the smooth slope of a sinusoidal waveform, abrupt discharge between the first and second electrodes can be avoided.

Abstract: Switch arrays such as keyboards are described. The switch arrays may include an array of dome spring elements. Each dome spring element may define a chamber, and a plurality of channels may interconnect the chambers of the dome spring elements such that each chamber of each dome spring element is in fluid communication with the chamber of at least one of the other dome spring elements. The array of dome spring elements may provide a hermetic seal to the bottom side of individual dome spring elements to avoid the sticky key phenomenon. The switch arrays may also include alignments elements. For example, the alignment elements may include hook-like elements that engage one another to define a distance of travel for switches in the switch arrays.

Abstract: A device and method is disclosed for the contemporaneous creation of a digital copy of a written document using a self-contained, hand-held communications device. The self-contained device functions as a writing device and as a digital documenter. It allows for maintenance of position sense within a document thus enabling the user to write cursive, print, draw, write mathematical formulas, draw symbols, punctuate, edit and the like. The invention discloses a self-contained apparatus and method for determining position sense without reliance on special paper, pads, or attachments to the document. The system provides position sense during writing by quantitative comparative analysis of serial images of the surface imperfections of the document. Character generation is discriminated from noncharacter-generating positional changes such as spacing between words. Encryption of data output from the device provides privacy.

Abstract: A light emitting display device having a plurality of light emitting elements connected to intersecting points of a plurality of anode lines and cathode lines arranged in a matrix. Either one of the anode lines and the cathode lines are used as scanning lines, and the others are used as driving lines. While one of the scanning lines is scanned during a scanning period, a driving source is synchronously connected to one of the driving lines so that a light emitting element connected to an intersecting point of the one scanning line and the one driving line is caused to emit light. Immediately after the scanning period of the one scanning line is started, a first driving source is connected to the one driving line, and subsequently, in exchange for the first driving source, a second driving source is connected to the one driving line.

Abstract: A system and method for use in retail stores for selecting, previewing, and purchasing music or other products is provided. The graphical information system provides a user with the ability to locate products through an interface that combines the use of mechanical wheels with a touch screen whereby rotation of the mechanical wheels, or thumbwheels, appears on screen to rotate a series of mechanical type drums. The system provides a user with the functionality and entertainment value of a kiosk coupled with a powerful method of selecting products from a large catalog using thumbwheels in conjunction with a hierarchical graphical user interface tailored for the specific retail environment.

Abstract: A cap covering a light-emitting element attached to the distal end of an indicator is held by a sliding member, and is slidably attached axially along the indicator. By pressing/separating the cap against/from a coordinate input surface, a tact switch operates interlockingly with the cap to switch driving control of the light-emitting element. For example, the light-emitting element is driven by pressing the cap, and driving of the light-emitting element is stopped by separating the cap. Since the cap covers the light-emitting element, the light-emitting element can be prevented from being worn and scratched. Driving control of the light-emitting element need not be additionally switched, resulting in high operability.

Abstract: In a display device, first and second driving parts are connected with light-emitting diodes disposed in a matrix configuration in series, and the light-emitting diodes are lit when the first and second driving parts are driven simultaneously. Driving of at least one of the first and second driving parts is curtailed in a case of a predetermined operation mode.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal display device includes a liquid-crystal display panel having plural scanning electrodes in the form of lines and plural signal electrodes in the form of lines, a scanning signal generation section for supplying a scanning signal to each of the scanning electrodes, a data signal supply section for supplying a data signal to each of the signal electrodes, and a signal selection section. The signal selection circuit selectively controls each of the scanning electrodes so as to be capable of producing a display or so as to be incapable of producing a display. The scanning signal generation section, which is capable of generating h (h is an integer of 2 or more) types of scanning signals, supplies a scanning signal to each of the h scanning electrodes capable of producing a display at the same time in one period, and supplies the scanning signal to each of the other h scanning electrodes capable of producing a display at the same time in another period.