Abstract: A displaying apparatus includes a front cover, a rear cover coupled to the first cover, and an LCD panel disposed between the front cover and the rear cover. The displaying apparatus includes a slot formed on the front cover, at least one press knob disposed within the slot, a panel bracket coupled to the front cover at the rear of the LCD panel to support the LCD panel, and a main printed circuit board electrically connected to the LCD panel and supported by the panel bracket. The displaying apparatus includes a support bracket having a coupling member disposed between the front cover and the LCD panel and facing the front cover so as to be coupled to any one of the front cover, the LCD panel, and the panel bracket. A knob support is formed on one end of the coupling portion, and an on screen display PCB support is formed on another end of the coupling portion. An on screen display (OSD) printed circuit board (PCB) is supported by the OSD PCB support in a direction perpendicular to the knob support.

Abstract: An input device for controlling and/or selecting objects on a display unit has at least one bending sensor, and the bending sensor is connected to the longitudinal edge of a flexible wire.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrooptical apparatus, such as a liquid crystal apparatus, including a built-in peripheral circuit in which the resistance of input/output interconnections in the peripheral circuit is reduced by effectively using thin films forming pixels, thereby making it possible to display a high-quality image. The liquid crystal apparatus includes a liquid crystal layer disposed between a pair of substrates and pixel electrodes formed in a matrix fashion on a TFT array substrate. A light blocking film made of refractory metal is provided under TFTs of respective pixels, scanning lines, and capacitance lines. There are also provided peripheral interconnections, such as image signal lines including single-layer interconnections made of the same metal film as that of the data lines and also including two-layer interconnections whose layers are made of the light blocking film and the same polysilicon film as that of the scanning lines, respectively.

Abstract: An input device includes a replaceable support for the user's hand which can be selected to provide improved comfort and support for the hand for operating the input device. The replaceable support allows the user to select a shell to fit his or her hand and to provide the desired functionality. In specific embodiments, the adaptable computer input device comprises a core module including an input element for a user to provide input to a computer. An outer shell is selected from a group of different outer shells which are detachably connectable to the core module to support a user's hand for manipulating the input element of the core module to provide input to the computer. The core module automatically detects operational information of the outer shell upon coupling of the outer shell with the core module and adapts operation of the core module to the outer shell connected thereto in response to detected operational information of the outer shell.

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: An integrated keymat or keyboard to be used on an electronic device. The integrated keymat includes a plurality of individual emissive keypads each having a legend or symbol provided thereon. The emissive keypad has a light-emitting source and a plurality of electrodes, operatively connected to a power source, to activate the light-emitting source in order to illuminate the keypads, wherein the connection of the electrodes is controllable so that one or more keypads can be illuminated causing the key indicating marks on said one or more keypads to become more visible. Furthermore, the light-emitting source may include a plurality of segments of pixels which are individually addressable so that they can be selectively activated to form an alphanumeric symbol or pattern. Moreover, the integrated keymat further comprises one or more lens-like pads provided on the keypads to make the legend or symbol on the keypads more visible.

Abstract: A communication terminal apparatus includes a communication section that controls communication to a destination and a browser that analyzes hypertexts, and displays an image in accordance with the analyzed hypertexts on a display, the image having at least an input field. Hardware keys are configured to input numbers and characters, and are selectively operable in a first mode to input a destination number to the communication section in order to communicate with the destination, and in a second mode to input data to the input field. A controller controls a status of the hardware keys in one of the first and second modes. The controller controls the hardware keys to input data to the browser when an input position is in the input field, and controls the hardware keys to input a destination number to the communication section when the input position is out of the input field.

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 3D encoder includes a body having several pin cavities. Several pins are also provided, wherein each pin is located within one of the pin cavities and wherein each pin is capable of sliding movement within its pin cavity. Each of the pins is capable of being displaced by contact with a surface of a 3D object to be encoded. A sensing mechanism is provided to determine an amount by which each of the pins is displaced due to contact between that pin and the surface of the 3D object. A computer can be used to translate displacement data into a 3D mapping representative of the 3D object being encoded. A method of creating a computerized representation of a 3D object is also provided and includes placing a 3D object in communication with a plurality of pins to deflect a position of each of the pins contacting the 3D object in an amount corresponding to a shape of a surface of the 3D object.

Abstract: A switching electrode connected to a switching element is provided on a first substrate. An opposing electrode, an insulation film, and a plurality of sub electrodes are provided on a second substrate. Moreover, a resistant film is provided on a first substrate. A switching electrode which is connected to the switching element and an electrode which is not connected to the switching element are provided on the resistant film. An opposing electrode which is not connected to the switching element is provided on the second substrate. Furthermore, a first electrode which is connected to a first switching element and a third electrode which is not connected to the switching element are provided on the first substrate. The first and third electrodes are opposed to the second electrode, which is connected to a second switching element, via an insulator. The opposing electrode which is not connected to the switching element is provided on the second substrate.

Abstract: A system and method for using gamma correction in a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) display uses a reduced number of different increment values for generating a Vramp signal for the FLC display without noticeably increasing error. The increment values are based upon an inverse gamma curve having a selected gamma value. Using linear interpolation, the increment values are calculated with more increment values being calculated for the beginning of the curve than the flatter end portion of the curve. In addition, an illumination period and a balance period are used so that each pixel of the FLC display is on and off for the same amount of time. As a result, the average voltage across the FLC material is 0V.

Abstract: The disclosed herein is an information display apparatus having first and second liquid crystal displays on a common support plate. Each of the liquid crystal displays includes a plurality of pixels defined by a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signals electrodes. The scanning electrodes of the first liquid crystal display are respectively connected to the scanning electrodes of the second liquid crystal display so that both of the liquid crystal displays are commonly and simultaneously scanned by a scanning driver commonly provided to the liquid crystal display. The support plate is provided with a folding area between the first and second liquid crystal displays whereby the information display apparatus is capable of carrying with folding and of using with opening just like a conventional book.

Abstract: In a moving-film display device, each pixel includes a moving film electrode capable of bending and a counter electrode. The display color of each pixel is determined when the moving film electrode bends by a potential difference between the moving film electrode and the counter electrode. The moving film electrode is connected to a signal line via a TFT. The TFT is turned on/off by an address line. A controller keeps the TFT ON until the potential of the moving film electrode becomes substantially equal to a signal potential, and turns off the TFT before the moving film electrode comes closest to the counter electrode.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling magnitude and frequency of vibrotactile sensations for haptic feedback devices. A haptic feedback device, such as a gamepad controller, mouse, remote control, etc., includes a housing grasped by the user, an actuator coupled to the housing, and a mass. In some embodiments, the mass can be oscillated by the actuator and a coupling between the actuator and the mass or between the mass and the housing has a compliance that can be varied. Varying the compliance allows vibrotactile sensations having different magnitudes for a given drive signal to be output to the user grasping the housing. In other embodiments, the actuator is a rotary actuator and the mass is an eccentric mass rotatable by the actuator about an axis of rotation. The eccentric mass has an eccentricity that can be varied relative to the axis of rotation while the mass is rotating.

Abstract: Emitters and detectors are positioned in proximity to a display screen. Emitters emit energy beams that are diverged across the surface of the display screen. Emitters may be activated/deactivated in sequence, rapid enough to substantially ensure that several energy beams are interrupted by a touch of the display screen. Detectors receive energy beams over a range of angles and generate detection signals upon detecting energy beams. Detection maps are generated based on detection signals. Detection maps indicate which detector should receive an energy beam from which emitter at any point in time. Detections maps are compared to determine that energy beams have been interrupted by a touch. Based on the interrupted energy beams, the location of the touch on the display screen may be determined. The invention serves to reduce the number of emitters and detectors required in a touch panel display system and/or increase the sensitivity and accuracy thereof.

Abstract: An electronic display device that allows the hierarchy or system to which the display screen belongs to be easily identified, without narrowing the display area of a plurality of screens constituting a director structure. In the display device, a plurality of key input screens form a director structure in association with each other. The directory structure includes first to fourth hierarchy levels. Respective key input screens are located at any of the hierarchy. Upon depression of a transition key in a basic screen belonging to the first hierarchy, the display screen is switched to one of key input screens belonging to the second hierarchy. The display device changes the display color according to the hierarchy to which the key input screen belongs in providing a display of a key input screen.

Abstract: An input device and an electronic apparatus using such an input device capable of providing visual amusement at the time of operating thereof and allowing the down sizing and thinning are provided. The input device has a reversible chromatic layer exhibiting color change in response to temperature change, and a sheet-type input portion laminated on the reversible chromatic layer and activates ON operation upon being pressed.

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: Rotating element sheet material comprising a plurality of rotatable elements disposed in a substrate and in contact with an enabling fluid; where one of the plurality of rotatable elements comprises a core configured to present a first aspect in a first orientation and a second aspect in a second orientation, and where the first orientation and the second orientation are related by a rotational transformation about an axis of the rotatable element, and where the rotatable element in contact with the enabling fluid is further configured to exhibit a first addressing dipole configured to couple with a first vector field and a second addressing dipole configured to couple with a second vector field, and where the rotatable element exhibits the first aspect in the first vector field in a first direction and the second aspect in the second vector field in the first direction.

Abstract: A multi-mode input control device for use with a computer via a graphic user interface (GUI) is disclosed. The input control device may optionally perform functions of a mouse device and a trackball device. The mouse and trackball devices share the same key switch, control unit, interface circuit, and signal channel to the computer, which are included in the mouse device. In the mouse mode, the mouse device is individually moved to perform the input control operation in a conventional manner. For the trackball mode, a first signal connector of the trackball device and a second signal connector of the mouse device are connected to each other so that the trackball device can perform the input control operation via the mouse device.