Abstract: A plasma display panel has a plurality of first and second sustain electrodes, a plurality of address electrodes which intersect with the sustain electrodes to form a pixel at every intersection. In the method, an address period is provided, in which data pulses are applied to the address electrodes, and scanning pulses are applied to the second sustain electrodes, thereby selecting lighted pixels and unlighted pixels. A discharge sustaining period is provided, in which discharge sustaining pulses are alternately applied to the first and second sustain electrodes so as to sustain the lighted and unlighted pixels. An offset voltage having the same polarity as the data pulse is applied to the address electrodes in the discharge sustaining period.

Abstract: A system is described for testing the video output of a computer of the type in which a video output connector is provided with a data channel, such as a DDC channel, permitting data to be transmitted from a monitor connected to the video output connector to the computer. The system comprises test apparatus having a connector for connection to the video output connector of a computer under test, the test apparatus comprising means to measure parameters of test video signals received through the connector and means to generate a result signal from the measured parameters for transmission to the computer under test over the data channel. Software executing on the computer under test to generate the test video signals and to receive and process the result signal received over the data channel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a driving circuit for providing display signals to a liquid crystal display panel through a plurality of data lines.

Abstract: A field emission device (10) for reducing the power dissipation of an array (14) includes video controller (12) coupled to array (14) by memory (13), column drivers (16), row drivers (20), and anode power supply (22). Column drivers (16) includes PWM circuit (17) coupled to signal conditioner (18). Signal conditioner (18) receives input digital signal (24) from PWM circuit (17) and generates output digital signal (26) that reduces the frequency of state transitions of signal (24) while maintaining the same duty cycle as that of signal (24). This reduces the power dissipation of parasitic capacitances (36) associated with array (14) pursuant to the equation P=½CV2f.

Abstract: A computer dictation device provides a slender microphone sheath into which a hand-held microphone is inserted. The sheath incorporates a miniature pointing device and control buttons, and provides a single electrical cable connection between the hand-held device and a computer system. The comfortable, light weight device can easily be operated with one hand because it makes the microphone and pointer controls accessible to the fingers and thumb of the microphone-holding hand.

Abstract: A hand held data entry system (100, 100′) has an ergonomic housing (102) including upper surface controls (104) which generate a first set of electrical signals, and lower surface controls (106) which generate a second set of electrical signals when operated independently. The first set of electrical signals and second set of electrical signals define all of the lower case alphabetic characters of an alphabet, such being generated without the user having to remove a finger or thumb from a HOME switch operator or grouping. Each side of the housing (102) is provided with a recess (120) for contiguous contact with a first dorsal interosseous portion of the user's hands, providing support for housing (102) while the user's fingers and thumbs operate the switch operators which make up the upper surface controls (104) and the lower surface controls (106).

Abstract: An optical mouse images as an array of pixels the spatial features of generally any micro textured or micro detailed work surface below the mouse. The photo detector responses are digitized and stored as a frame into memory. Motion produces successive frames of translated patterns of pixel information, which are compared by autocorrelation to ascertain the direction and amount of movement. A hold feature suspends the production of movement signals to the computer, allowing the mouse to be physically relocated on the work surface without disturbing the position on the screen of the pointer. This may be needed if the operator runs out of room to physically move the mouse further, but the screen pointer still needs to go further. The hold feature may be implemented with an actual button, a separate proximity detector or by detecting the presence of a characteristic condition in the digitized data, such as loss of correlation or velocity in excess of a selected limit.

Abstract: A system includes an array of pixel cells, column lines, storage elements and decoding circuitry. The pixel cells are arranged in rows and columns and the column lines are associated with the column pixel cells. The storage elements are associated with a row of the pixel cells. The decoding circuitry is adapted to storage charges on the column lines and after the storage, transfer the charges from the column lines to the storage elements.

Abstract: Focusing attention on a new fact that a difference in the operating margin between sub-fields becomes remarkable when preliminary discharge is not provided for all sub-fields, but is thinned out, the operating margin for a plasma display panel will be improved by restricting the difference in the operating margin. In the case of the thinned preliminary discharge system, particularly the dependence of maintenance blanking characteristics on the maintenance pulse number becomes remarkable and as a result, the operating margin difference among the sub-fields becomes remarkable, and therefore, parameters for blanking pulse of the sub-field during the maintenance blanking period are set in conformity with the maintenance pulse number (number of times of emission) for each sub-field in order to restrain this operating margin difference.

Abstract: A method of driving a plasma display panel reduces an address write cycle and also realizing a stable high definition, high-quality display without erroneous discharge. In the light emission by driving the plasma display panel having plural pairs of row electrodes and plural column electrodes arranged so as to cross these pairs of row electrodes and forming discharge cells at intersections of the pairs of row electrodes and the column electrodes, ones of the pairs of row electrodes are divided into first and second row electrode groups, and a scan pulse is applied to one row electrode of the second row electrode group just after applying the scan pulse to one row electrode of the first row electrode group.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that can adjust the scrolling speed for data displayed in an application window on a display and display a visual scrolling speed indicator. When the user manipulates a mouse to request scrolling of data in a window, the display form of the mouse cursor is changed. That is, in addition to the mouse cursor, one or more speed indicators appears in the scrolling direction. The number of speed indicators which are displayed corresponds to the scrolling speed. The speed indicators are arranged from the center of the mouse cursor in the scrolling direction. A speed indicator is shaped like a small isosceles triangle, and as its vertex is facing in the scrolling direction, it is a very effective visual aid for a user. Preferably, one speed indicator is displayed for a low scrolling speed, two for a moderate scrolling speed and three for a high speed scrolling.

Abstract: A coordinate input device includes a writing panel which includes a writing surface having two vertical sides and two horizontal sides. A plurality of transmitting units transmit surface acoustic waves SAW to propagate the SAW within the writing panel in one of a vertical direction and a horizontal direction through reflection. A plurality of receiving units receive the SAW from the plurality of transmitting units through reflection, and output detection signals in response to the received SAW, so that coordinates of a specified point on the writing panel are detected based on the detection signals. A plurality of reflectors, provided on the four sides of the writing surface, reflect the SAW from the transmitting units inwardly to the writing panel and reflect the reflected SAW to the receiving units.

Abstract: A digital pressure sensitive electromagnetic pen for writing and drawing on a touchpad is disclosed. The digital pressure sensitive pen comprising a pen core extending through a coil, a clamp casing, into a pen core support where the pen core is secured within a polygonal notch. The pressure sensitive pen further comprises a fixing casing inside which a conductible rubber, a coil circuit board, and an elastic element are placed. On the coil circuit board, spiral circuit arrangement is printed on the side facing toward the conductible rubber. The other side of the coil circuit board is connected to a processing board. When the pen is not used, there is no contact between the conductible rubber and the coil circuit board. When the pen of the present invention is used, there is writing force exerted on the pen core which moves the pen core support upwards and consequently pushes the conductible rubber against the coil circuit board and deforms the rubber.

Abstract: A display is provided with an insulative layer whose electrical properties have been selected so that the display can be addressed by the effects of triboelectrically generated charges and thus requires no stylus or special writing utensil. Thus, the display can be addressed by dragging a finger across the display. Alternately, the display is provided with an insulafive layer whoes electrical properties have been selected so that the display is addressed with a stylus and is immune from the effects of stray riboelectrically generated charges.

Abstract: A computer pointing device on a single, small printed wiring board includes all electronics necessary for providing a standard mouse-type output signal. The pointing device uses a balanced bridge strain gauge isometric sensor having a manipulation lever for user input. The computer pointing device includes a receiving space for accepting one of a large-size strain gauge sensor and a small-size strain gauge sensor, depending upon the specific application. The computer pointing device includes internal power regulation and has input for up to two momentary switches and two of the pointing devices can be daisy chained with a single, composite output signal. The small-size strain gauge sensor permits use of the pointing device in ultra thin keyboard applications.

Abstract: A compact key structure comprises a base plate, a conductive membrane, an elastic member, a frame and a cap wherein said key structure is characterized in that the conductive membrane is single-film structure and has a contact corresponding to each key and with meshed-hook shape . An aperture is provided at the center of the contact for venting air. The elastic member and the cap are attached by a non-reactive type paste such that the elastic member and the cap can be attached and separated repeatedly. The surface of said elastic member attached to said cap is of staircase shape and has venting holes formed on the lateral side to facilitating the restoring of the elastic member after being pressed. Moreover, a conductive bump is provided within the elastic member and corresponding to the conductive membrane. A conductive layer is formed on the conductive layer and corresponding to the contact of the conductive membrane.

Abstract: A video gesture-based three-dimensional computer interface system that uses images of hand gestures to control a computer and that tracks motion of the user's hand or a portion thereof in a three-dimensional coordinate system with ten degrees of freedom. The system includes a computer with image processing capabilities and at least two cameras connected to the computer. During operation of the system, hand images from the cameras are continually converted to a digital format and input to the computer for processing. The results of the processing and attempted recognition of each image are then sent to an application or the like executed by the computer for performing various functions or operations. When the computer recognizes a hand gesture as a "point" gesture with one or two extended fingers, the computer uses information derived from the images to track three-dimensional coordinates of each extended finger of the user's hand with five degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A circuit for transferring high voltage analog video signals while enabling the use of conventional low voltage logic levels includes a first transistor powered by a high voltage power source to bias a pass transistor at a high voltage level. The pass transistor receives a high voltage video signal and because of the high voltage bias is able to pass the video signal without attenuation of the signal due to feedthrough effects, thus preserving the fidelity of the video signal. A second transistor provides a ground potential which operates to turn OFF the pass transistor, thus disabling the transfer of the video signal therethrough. A third transistor operatively coupled to the first transistor operates to turn OFF the first transistor when the second transistor is in operation.