Abstract: A single-line 16 character display is driven using a display driver designed to drive two independent 8 character single-line displays. Conceptually, the 16 character display is treated as the two independent 8 character displays placed side by side. The message for display is placed in a first area of driver memory corresponding to the first 8 character display. A truncated version of the same message for display, with an offset at the beginning equal to the number of characters in the first display line, is stored in a second area of driver memory corresponding to the second 8 character display line. When the message and the truncated version thereof are simultaneously displayed, an observer views a single, coherent 16 character single line display. If the message is greater than 16 characters, the driver scrolls both the message for display and the truncated version thereof, creating a single scrolled message from the point of view of the observer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a computer graphics system identifies the format of video pixel data in a data stream having a plurality of data formats including a first pixel data format and a second pixel data format, the second pixel data format being a YUV format. The method comprises the steps of (a) receiving pixel data; (b) selecting an output channel in response to at least one particular value of at least one bit of each received pixel datum wherein the particular value identifies the data format as either the first pixel data format or the YUV format; and (c) providing the pixel data to the selected output channel. Also provided is a circuit in a video graphics controller and a computer system having such circuit according to the method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a display driving apparatus which can improve a picture quality by smoothly switching a partial writing mode and a refresh driving mode and also provides an information processing system having such a display driving apparatus. When a controller 7 discriminates the partial writing mode by a discrimination signal PH/RL, the controller generates a picture data request signal BUSY to a graphic controller 6, reads out data on a data line PIX DATA, and sets a scan address into a driver controller 12 in accordance with the value of the read data. When the discrimination signal PH/RL is switched from the partial writing mode to the refresh driving mode, in order to restart the refresh driving mode, the controller 7 directly rears a count value of an HSYNC counter 17 and calculates a scan address of the next refresh data in accordance with such a value and sets into the driver controller 12.

Abstract: A mouse pad having a transparent top layer with a scratch resistent upper surface thereon, is secured to a resilient backing in such a manner that a pocket is formed between the resilient backing and the top layer to allow material having visual information thereon to be inserted and removed from the pocket via an opening formed through the resilient backing. The present invention also provides a method for forming mouse pads having pockets therein, by first printing on at least one side of a top surface layer, laminating a series of layers of different material together and die cutting the mouse pad and an opening through all the layers except the upper surface layer to allow access to the pocket.

Abstract: An item buffer is used to determine which graphic object has been picked by a user. A graphics object list is traversed to display each graphic object and assign a unique item identifier to each. For each pixel location in each of the graphic objects, the unique item identifier is stored at a corresponding location in the item buffer. A graphics object is selected using a pointer device, and the pointer device location is used to access the item buffer and retrieve the item identifier that defines the graphic object picked. If a pixel location in the item buffer is not large enough to hold the complete item identifier, the item identifier is partially constructed in each of several passes, and the pass data combined in main memory.

Abstract: A graphical user interface system is provided having an event-driven control program with a unified user input pointing event stream without distinction of source and a graphical user interface having a virtual display space containing objects. The control program processing events related to a plurality of user inputs representing different locations within the virtual display space, and operates optionally in two modes. A first mode permits the plurality of user inputs to interact, allowing an object in the virtual display space at a first location specified by an initial user input to be associated with a second location specified by a concurrent and subsequently terminating user input. In this case, the control program has a counter which increments on activity of any user input and decrements on cessation of activity of any user input, for determining an initial user input condition, temporal concurrence of a plurality of user inputs, and a terminal user input condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus providing visual feedback to a computer user while dragging selected text is described. As its first step, the processing logic creates a text object from the selected text once the computer user has initiated a drag. Simultaneously, the selected text is visually de-emphasized. Secondly, the processing logic snaps the text object to the cursor so that the text object follows the cursor without obscuring text at the insertion point. Finally, when the computer user selects the final insertion point, the selected text is visually zoomed from the source location to the final insertion point.

Abstract: Electrochromic systems having a material, whose coloration state and/or the transmission in certain electromagnetic radiation wavelengths varies by performing an electrochemical reaction involving the passage of an electric current. The electric current is generated by an intensity generator able to supply a current, whose intensity obeys a reference value determined as a function of the number of charges to be transferred for switching from the initial coloration state to the desired coloration state and as a function of the time chosen for the switching. The system also relates to using a power supply in an electrochromic glazing process.

Abstract: A preserving performance of a display state of a display having a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) as a display device is effectively used, thereby realizing a long life of the display. For this purpose, access monitor device is provided. The access of a video memory by display data supply device is monitored. When there is no access for a predetermined time or more, that is, when there is no change in the present display content, display drive control device controls display driving device so as to stop the driving of an FLC panel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for navigating multiple independent windowed images on a computer display screen of a computer system is presented. The images may be of arbitrary size and shape, although a rectangular shape is typically used. A relationship is defined between the coordinates of points in one image and the coordinates of points in each of the other images. All or a portion of an image is shown in a window for each image. An indicator in one window determines the portion of an image shown in another window. Each image is an independent entity, although its content may be thematically related to the content of other windows. Each image is typically a bitmap. A cursor may be used to control the position of the indicator. Graphic objects and items may optionally be "drag-and-dropped" into any window.

Abstract: A micromanipulator system has a microscope, a micromanipulator for three-dimensionally manipulating a fine instrument in the field of the microscope, an image pick-up device for picking up an image within the microscope field, reference position setting device for setting a reference position of the micromanipulator along a height direction, a detecting device for detecting a height position of a tip portion of the manipulator as positional information measured from the reference position along the height direction, and a display device for combining the image of the image pick-up device with the positional information detected by the detecting device to display the combined image thereon. A joystick effects movement in each axial direction of the micromanipulators allows for precise positioning of a fine instrument positioned on the micromanipulator.

Abstract: A semiconductor device (CPLT) of the invention comprises a first terminal (R) to which analog data is to be supplied, a digital/analog converter (DAC1) with its output coupled to the first terminal, a second terminal (R'0) to which digital data is to be supplied, a digital output circuit (DOB) with its output coupled to the second terminal, and a preparation circuit (PLM, SEL) which is coupled to respective inputs of the digital/analog converter and the digital output circuit. The preparation circuit prepares digital data to be processed (RR) for any one of input of the digital/analog converter and input of the digital output circuit.

Abstract: An information processor includes a coordinate analyzer which analyzes input coordinate information, and a marking device which marks a desired coordinate. A memory stores marking coordinate information analyzed by the coordinate analyzer, and includes a mark name marked by the marking device. A display device displays the marking position in a display area based on marking information stored in the memory by designating the mark name when the marked coordinate is not present in the display area, when changing the display area.

Abstract: A driving circuit of the invention is used for driving a display apparatus which includes pixels and data lines for applying voltages to the pixels and which displays an image with multiple gray scales in accordance with video data consisting of a plurality of bits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a keyboard with a universally adjusting apparatus, the keyboard unit is engaged with a universally adjusting apparatus. The universally adjusting apparatus comprises a tray having a plurality of pins to insert into a plurality of slots formed on lower side of the keyboard unit for engagement, and a axle hole formed on lower side of the tray; a bearing block having a axle hole and a plurality of tap holes formed on lower side thereof; a jack post with a nut thereon and a bearing, upper end of the jack post inserting into the axle hole of the tray and lower end of the jack post inserting into the axle hole of the bearing block; a lower base having a plurality of tap holes on upper side thereof; and a plurality of screw studs having threads on both ends, each stud installed between bearing block and lower base and engaged with bearing block and lower base.

Abstract: A manipulation target such as a lever or button is displayed in a three-dimensional virtual space using three-dimensional computer graphics. The positions of a thumb and an index finger are detected. A manipulation instruction is interpreted, using interpretation rules described on the basis of a relationship between the detected positions and the thumb and the index finger and the three-dimensional coordinates of a display device.

Abstract: A method of operating a liquid crystal display, and a liquid crystal display constructed to operate in accordance with the method. The liquid crystal display has a plurality of display pixels, and the method comprises the steps of (a) operating a first switch (S1) for storing a charge on a storage capacitance (C1), the charge having a magnitude selected so as to cause a desired degree of polarization of a region (pixel) of liquid crystal material; (b) operating a second switch (S2) so as to conductively couple the stored charge to the region of liquid crystal material, thereby storing a charge on a capacitance (C2) that is associated with the region of liquid crystal material; and (c) operating a third switch (S3) so as to discharge the storage capacitance and the capacitance that is associated with the region of liquid crystal material.

Abstract: An information recording system includes a writing paper having a writing surface and a prerecorded invisible pattern of pixels associated with the writing surface. Each of the pixels contains encoded, optically readable position information which identifies a coordinate position on the writing surface. The system includes a pen, having an instrument for writing on the writing surface, and an imaging system for providing image signals representative of images of the pixels near the pen tip when the tip is in contact with the surface. The system further includes a recording/processing unit coupled to the pen. The recording/processing unit includes a processor responsive to the image signals for determining and electronically recording the positions of the pen tip on the writing surface as the markings are made on the writing surface, so that the recording/processing unit contains an electronic representation of the markings on the writing surface.

Abstract: In response to a command to draw text on a screen, a computer's operating system creates a superglyph bitmap that combines text and a background color into a single bitmap. The bitmap is then transferred to screen memory by either a graphics driver or the operating system itself, depending upon whether the graphics driver has special characteristics for displaying the bitmap such as monochrome-to-color conversion. With this division of tasks, graphics drivers may be simplified to handle tasks for which they are uniquely qualified and the operating system handles more general tasks such a creating the bitmap. The concept may also be applied to other types of bitmaps, wherever it is advantageous to create bitmaps with the operating system and transfer bitmaps with either a graphics driver or the operating system.

Abstract: A display oriented software user interface for the generation and display of a secondary display region within a primary display region of a computer controlled information management system having windows or localized sections of displayable information and icons. The secondary display region, Desk Drawer, providing advanced capabilities to the management system by generating a readily accessible region wherein icons may be placed and always accessed thereafter when the secondary display region is present. The presence of the secondary display region may be governed by a separate screen region responsive to the cursor display position.