Abstract: A digital display unit including an analog to digital converter (ADC). When the optimal sampling frequency for sampling an analog display signal is greater than the maximum sampling frequency of the ADC, the analog display signal is sampled using 2:1' interleaved sampling. A smaller image represented by the sampled values is then upscaled prior to being displayed. Such upscaling compensates for the decreased number of samples that would be generated by sampling at lower sampling frequency during 2:1 interleaved sampling.

Abstract: In a computer graphics windowing system including a color map, a method for managing palette color value contents of the color map. Input color values are received. Error values between each input color value and each palette color value are used to determine a closest palette color value to each input color value. A list of input color values having largest error value distances to their respective closest palette color values is determined. A subset of this list is added to the color map to derive a modified color map. A color value metric process for determining an error value between each input color value and each palette color value comprises converting each input color value and each palette color value to a uniform color space. A lightness weighting constant is used to skew the error value in to be more strongly influenced by differences in lightness than by differences in chromaticity. A look up table having address spaces indexed by RGB index color values is generated.

Abstract: A mapping apparatus is disclosed for showing special effects on screen images.

Abstract: To obtain a semiconductor device with reduced substrate cost and facilitated substrate design, there are provided, in a semiconductor chip, a segment driver for outputting segment signals for a display device and a common driver for outputting scanning signals for the display device, and a group of segment terminals continuously arranged on opposite sides of the semiconductor chip at predetermined intervals. Further, common terminals are arranged adjacent to the segment terminals in two groups, one group including common terminals electrically connected to the common driver and another group including the other common terminals.

Abstract: A window generating circuit of an image processing apparatus which processes an image is provided. The circuit includes a main controller, a memory device, first, second and third registers, and a window generator. The main controller inputs an original clock signal and generates first and second line memory read control signals, first and second line memory write control signals, a pixel clock, and address signals for first and second line memories based on the original clock signal. The memory device contains the first and second line memories. The first register stores current pixel data in accordance with the pixel clock, and the current pixel data relates to a current line of pixels of the image. The second register stores first line memory data output from the first line memory in accordance with the first line memory read control signal, and the first line memory data relates to a first line of pixels which precedes the current line of pixels.

Abstract: A position detecting apparatus capable of detecting position pointing devices of any combination simultaneously out of plural position pointing devices, thereby providing a user a friendly apparatus. A frequency of a resonance circuit provided inside a position pointing device is set by a command signal transmitted from a tablet, causing plural position pointing devices placed on the tablet to have a different frequencies, thereby suppressing electromagnetic interference among position pointing devices on the tablet, so that a simultaneous detection becomes available.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a power supply to be stopped in a low-power consumption mode, a unit for displaying an image based on image data input from a computer or television, and a unit for outputting a first transfer signal for stopping the power supply based on a first control signal for controlling transfer to the low-power consumption mode, which is input from the computer or television. The display apparatus also includes a unit for outputting a second transfer signal for stopping the power supply based on the input image data, and a power supply controller for stopping the power supply based on the first and second transfer signals.

Abstract: A portable apparatus including a transparent and flexible protective lid which openably and closably covers a touch pad which also serves as a display screen. The lid has a U-shaped slit portion formed therein and has a protrusion on a surface of the U-shaped slit portion facing the touch panel. When the protective lid is closed, the slit portion may be pushed down to actuate the touch panel. When the protective lid is open, the touch panel may be directly actuated.

Abstract: A pointing device that is ergonomically designed is shown and described. In a preferred embodiment designed for children aged 2-6, a relatively large ball is provided in a housing which has a gripping area or handle for each hand of a user, a portion of the ball extending from an upper surface of the housing. A button is provided in a front region of the housing, the placement, shape and size of the button being configured to optimize the target area and activation of the button by the user. The size of the ball and the configuration of the housing provide a pointing device that is easy and comfortable for a child aged 2-6 to use, the pointing device being designed to accommodate the hand size, motor control, and postural needs of young children.

Abstract: An application specific field emission display includes one or more extended emitters. The emitters are patterned according to a selected image where the selected image depends upon the application. In one embodiment, an emitter is patterned in a serpentine pattern to provide a single block of illumination. In another application, emitters are grouped in threes and the emitters are driven respectively by the red, green, and blue components of an image signal to produce a multicolor display. In a display assembly according to the invention, application specific emitters are incorporated in subdisplays on a common substrate with a conventional matrix addressable array. The array provides video, graphical or textual information and the subdisplays provide textual, fixed-shaped graphical, numerical or colorized information.

Abstract: A drive circuit for a color display device comprising a plurality of pixels which are wired in matrix through a plurality of data signal lines and a plurality of scanning signal lines; the drive circuit comprising an input means for sampling three-primary color image signals for one line which are inputted through three input lines during a given period t, to write the signals in a memory, and an output means for reading the three-primary color image signals during a certain t/2 period to output the signals to three output lines, and reading the three-primary color image signals during an additional t/2 period different from the certain t/2 period to output the signals to the three output lines. When the drive circuit is used in, e.g., an active matrix liquid-crystal display device, display can be free of flicker and can be in a high resolution.

Abstract: In an active matrix display device integrated with a peripheral drive circuit using thin film transistors, when Vgr is a voltage required for one gradation, Ct is capacitance of all pixels, Cgd is capacitance between a gate and a drain, .DELTA.Vg is a difference between ON/OFF gate voltages, and .DELTA.Vs is a feedthrough voltage, the respective parameters satisfy an expression: .vertline.vgr.vertline.>.vertline.(1/Ct)[Cgd.multidot..DELTA.Vg-Ct.multido t..DELTA.Vs].vertline.. According to this, even if dispersion occurs in the characteristics of the thin film transistors arranged for a buffer circuit or an active matrix circuit, it is possible to prevent the dispersion from influencing the gradation display.

Abstract: An image display system having a plurality of light emitting cells (EL.sub.11 -EL.sub.44) each having a pair of Electro-Luminescence elements (e.sub.1, e.sub.2) coupled in parallel with each other with opposite polarities. The light emitting cells are arranged on a cross point of a matrix, which is addressed through an active addressing method in which a plurality of rows of the matrix are selected simultaneously, and alternate voltage is applied to the matrix.

Abstract: A pen shaped position pointing device used in a position detecting apparatus. A pen-tip segment has side pressure detectors to detect pressure from side directions. The side pressure detectors detect the pen pressure even when the pen is tilted with a large angle. If multiple side pressure detectors are provided, each detector can have a different function, for example, color.

Abstract: A LED matrix display having a variety of enhanced functionalities including: a scheduler which schedules tasks based upon commands correlated with real time; a tracking and accounting procedure which provides a database file which accounts for tasks as a function of the time a task is performed; sports display presentations of various sports information associated with different sports based upon corresponding sports IDs; the use of virtual display images or windows which may vary over time and which overlay template or faceplate images; and an improved error reporting capability in which detected errors are displayed using clear descriptive text information.

Abstract: In a three-slot addressing scheme for a liquid crystal optical modulator, where the data waveforms comprise a data section, a charge-balancing section and a further section, the form of the further section depends upon the sequence of data waveforms. The further section or pair of adjacent further sections comprises a pair of pulses of opposite polarities which charge-balance each other. The order in which these pulses occur in the pair enhances the effect of the adjacent data section to aid or inhibit switching as appropriate. This facilitates a shorter line address time.

Abstract: A novel method of driving an LCD simultaneously provides improved viewing angle and improved contrast. Multiple driving voltages are applied to the LC cell to optimize both the viewing angle and the contrast. A first voltage that is optimized for wide viewing angle is applied to the LCD. A second voltage that is greater than the first voltage is selected to provide maximum contrast in the LCD. The first and second voltages are alternately applied to In the LCD, resulting in a display that has high contrast and a wide viewing angle.

Abstract: An active matrix display device comprising row gate lines, column signal lines and matrix pixels disposed at intersections of the gate and signal lines. The display device also includes a V shift register for line-sequentially scanning the gate lines and selecting pixels of one row during each horizontal scanning period, and a horizontal scanning circuit for sequentially sampling an actual video signal to the signal lines within one horizontal scanning period and writing the sampled actual video signal dot-sequentially in the pixels of one row. A precharge means is included as a characteristic requisite, wherein a first precharge signal is supplied simultaneously to the entire signal lines during a blanking period which precedes the horizontal scanning period, and further a second precharge signal is supplied sequentially to the signal lines prior to the step of sequentially sampling the actual video signal to the signal lines during each horizontal scanning period.

Abstract: A video muting control device using a microcomputer, comprising a video mute key for generating a video mute command upon activation by a user; a microcomputer connected to the video mute key, the microcomputer generating a blanking control signal in response to an input of the video muting command, a preamplifier for receiving RGB video signals, the preamplifier generating an amplified video signal in response to a clamping signal and a contrast control signal, and a video mute circuit for muting a video display in response to the blanking control signal by grounding any one of the RGB video signals, the clamping signal and the contrast control signal.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatically adjusting the brightness level of an LCD based on the ambient lighting conditions of the environment in which the LCD is being operated are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a photodetector located proximate the front of the LCD generates to brightness control circuitry signals indicative of ambient lighting conditions. These signals are correlated to predetermined automatic brightness control values for use in controlling the brightness level of the LCD. Once the ambient light signals have been used automatically to set the brightness level of the LCD, user-selection of a different brightness level, either higher or lower, will override the automatic brightness control setting. In an alternative embodiment, a first photodetector is located proximate the front of the LCD and a second photodetector is located proximate the back of the LCD. In this embodiment, the brighter ambient condition is used to control the brightness level of the LCD.