Patents Examined by Ulysses Weldon
  • Patent number: 5392058
    Abstract: A multiplexer 13 selects the input terminal B side for a display period while it selects the input terminal A side for a coordinate detection period. A lower common drive circuit 2L, based on shift data transmitted from the multiplexer 13, operates in parallel with an upper common drive circuit 2U during the display period while it operates in series with the upper common drive circuit 2U during the coordinate detection period. An upper segment drive circuit 3U and a lower segment drive circuit 3L simultaneously operate to drive upper segment electrodes XU and lower segment electrodes XL simultaneously in the same direction. Thus, during the display period there is displayed an image simultaneously onto the upper half 1wU and the lower half 1wL of a display panel 1w, thereby improving the duty ratio of display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takao Tagawa
  • Patent number: 5389950
    Abstract: A video game controller, for inputting command signals to a game port having a finite number of discrete and analog signal inputs, provides a plurality of additional discrete outputs multiplexed on one of the analog outputs. This controller has a plurality of parallel switches each coupled to the one analog output via a different value resistance. Circuitry in the game board in combination with programming in the video game or simulation software recognizes discrete voltage levels input from the controller via the one analog port as different discrete commands. This enables the range of commands that can be input from a video game controller to be substantially increased without making any change to the base computer hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Thurstmaster, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank M. Bouton
  • Patent number: 5387923
    Abstract: A VGA controller using address translation logic to drive a dual scan LCD panel is disclosed. The address translation logic converts the display data into an interleaved format in the display buffer, allowing the VGA controller to simultaneously access the display data for both LCD inputs without the need for a separate half-frame buffer memory. Elimination of this half-frame buffer memory reduces system cost with no reduction in performance of the VGA controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: VLSI Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip E. Mattison, Kenneth P. Caviasca
  • Patent number: 5387925
    Abstract: A test signal generator applies a test pattern to a device under test. The output of the device under test is displayed on a video picture monitor. The test signal generator inserts a cursor into the test pattern, the position of the cursor within the test pattern being variable. From the cursor the test signal generator also generates a trigger signal. The trigger signal may be used to trigger the horizontal sweep of a waveform display device to which the output of the device under device is input. By observing the picture monitor an operator may adjust the cursor to a position just prior to an anomaly in the displayed test pattern so that only that portion of the output waveform of the device under test in the vicinity of the cursor is displayed on the waveform display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurent A. Melling, Jr., Edward D. Wardzala, Douglas C. Stevens, John C. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 5387922
    Abstract: Apparatus for driving a liquid crystal display module provided with one driving circuit for outputting overflown LCD driving circuit. The LCD driving controller outputs two groups of scanning signals which are sequentially outputted at two timings being different from each other, synchronously with LCD driving data for each and every dot. The driving circuit receives overflown LCD driving data which has overflowed the capacity of the LCD driving controller. The LCD panel has scanning electrodes which are divided into two groups, that is, a first group of scanning electrodes corresponding to the first to eightieth dots and a second group of scanning electrodes corresponding to the eighty first to hundredth dots, and has signal electrodes which are applied with the LCD driving data outputted from the LCD driving controller and the driving circuit, respectively, in order to display the characters on the character display member thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Goldstar Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sai C. Yun
  • Patent number: 5386218
    Abstract: A display device for visually representing selected characters in dot patterns includes a circuit for determining the number of characters to be visually represented and a circuit for outputting, in response to the result of the determination, a dot pattern signal of a size rendered relatively greater in accordance with a reduction in the number of such characters. Since the displayed character size is enlarged as the number of the characters is reduced, the visual representation can be easily seen on the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruto Yano, Yoshiaki Hirasa, Toshimichi Tokunaga, Hirofumi Goto, Chisato Yoshida, Kazuhiro Yokouchi
  • Patent number: 5386398
    Abstract: Apparatus for displaying data such as time or weight samples, comprising a data generator means, a pseudorandom number generator, a function generator for generating modified data samples functionally related to the original data samples and the pseudorandom numbers, and display means for displaying the modified data. The function generator may be an adder, for example. The data may represent time, weight, or another quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Levan Hiemke, Emanuel Kwak
  • Patent number: 5384580
    Abstract: A calculator calculates projection coordinates of principal vertexes of a displayed object with respect to a projection plane from a visual point. An evaluation device evaluates whether surfaces of the object which are determined by the principal vertexes are visible or invisible from the visual point. A result of the evaluating by the evaluation device is indicated. A memory stores information of a position of a predetermined virtual operation plane. A pointing device is movable on an actual operation plane. A calculator connected to the memory and the pointing device calculates a correspondence point on the virtual operation plane which corresponds to a position of the pointing device when the pointing device moves on the actual operation plane. A calculator calculates a half line which starts from the correspondence point and which intersects with the virtual operation plane at a predetermined angle. A setting device sets the predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kadota
  • Patent number: 5381161
    Abstract: When the driving process of a floppy disk drive is operated, the back light is turned off to conserve energy according to a control process. The back light is also controlled when the disk drive is driven at intervals with short stop periods to light only after a determined interval of time elapses to prevent blinking of the back light while the disk drive is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryoichi Sasaki, Akihiro Furukawa
  • Patent number: 5381160
    Abstract: A combined display and electromagnetic digitizing input device for pen-driven computers. There is a graphics display panel having a viewing surface and a back surface. A first grid of parallel transparent conductors for connection to electromagnetic digitizing electronics to sense the location of an electromagnetic stylus is disposed over one of the surfaces. A second grid of parallel transparent conductors for connection to the electromagnetic digitizing electronics is disposed over the first grid of parallel transparent conductors electrically insulated therefrom and perpendicular thereto. The two grids are constructed of flexible transparent substrates carrying a plurality of transparent indium tin oxide conductors thereon. For improved performance, shielding is provided in the form of a sheet of a transparent conductive material connected to ground potential disposed below the grids of conductors as well as a sheet of a metal foil disposed across the extents of the grids of conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: CalComp Inc.
    Inventor: Waldo L. Landmeier
  • Patent number: 5379052
    Abstract: A video controller board for supporting AX Japanese modes and enhanced VGA modes. The board includes two EGA video controllers to support the AX standard and a VGA video controller to support the enhanced VGA standard. Video memory sufficient to support the AX standard is shared by the VGA and EGA controllers. An interface renders the diverse protocols of the VGA and EGA controllers compatible with the shared memory so that each controller sees the memory in a configuration in accordance with its own protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Walck, Christopher D. Coley, Donald W. Kugler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5379050
    Abstract: In operation of an active matrix display device comprising an array of display elements (12), for example liquid crystal elements, each connected in series with an associated two terminal non-linear switching device (30), e.g. a MIM, between row and column address conductors (22,24), and row and column driver circuits (40,43) for applying selection signals to each row conductor in turn and data signals to the column conductors, the data signals are applied for part only of the row address period and a row selection signal commences prior to the data signal and while a reference potential is applied to the column conductors whereby during a row address period a display element is initially charged to a level approaching the lower end of the display element's operational range of voltages and thereafter charged to the required level according to the data signal. Vertical cross-talk is reduced and peak current density through the non-linear devices is kept low, thereby avoiding the risk of damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander D. Annis, Alan G. Knapp, Jeremy N. Sandoe, Peter B. A. Wolfs
  • Patent number: 5376945
    Abstract: In a portable terminal device of the invention, when a menu key provided on a keyboard is depressed by an operator, a copy/move menu is displayed on a display area under the control of a CPU which detects this depression. Then, the CPU determines which is specified as data to be copied or moved, a set of data displayed on the display area or part of the set of data. The specified data is input to a transfer buffer, and a copy or move process is executed. In a case where an insert process is selected for inserting the data stored in The transfer buffer into another display position, the transfer data is transferred to an input buffer, so as to copy or move the transfer data to the other position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Takenaka, Yasuharu Tanaka, Isamu Haneda, Akitaka Morita
  • Patent number: 5373310
    Abstract: Display data is read out from a display memory in parallel, and is temporarily held in a first shift register located near to the display memory. The display data is serially read out and transferred from the first shift register in one bit unit to a second shift register located near to an display data latch, in synchronism with a shift clock signal outputted from a shift clock controlling circuit. The display data held in the second shift register is outputted in parallel to the display data latch in accordance with a display data read signal. Thus, it is possible to reduce the increase of the number of the wiring lines extending from the display memory to the display data latch, as well as the increase of the chip area, both of which would be caused by the increase of the display segments. It is also possible to reduce the limitations related to the arrangement of the interior of the microcomputer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Teruo Ichimura, Kazuhiko Suzuki, Junichi Ishimoto
  • Patent number: 5373307
    Abstract: An image display device displays an identical image based on display data output from a display control circuit on its own display panel and an external display unit connected to the device through an interface. The device can erase and freeze an image on the external display unit in an erase mode and a freeze mode, respectively, while the display panel displays different images. In order to do so, this device has a frame memory circuit for storing and outputting display data received from the display control circuit toward the external display unit and a disable circuit for stopping data received from the frame memory circuit from being output and instead outputting monochromatic or single-color data to the external display unit. The frame memory circuit inhibits data stored in its memory from being rewritten during the freeze mode. The disable circuit outputs the monochromatic data in the erase mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tai Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 5371517
    Abstract: A color palette selects a master clock from plural clock signals received at clock input terminals in response to a master clock selection control word received at control data terminals. A circuit forms a plurality of divided down clock signals from selected divide ratios of the master clock. A circuit selects a shift clock from among the divided down clock signals in response to at least some bits of an output clock selection control word received at the control data terminals. A circuit selectively enables and disables the shift clock in response to blanking data. A circuit selects a video clock from among the divided down clock signals in response to at least some bits of the output clock selection control word. A circuit synchronizes multiple bit words of color code received at color code input terminals with the master clock. A circuit outputs at least one memory recall address in response to receiving each multiple bit word of color code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Louis Izzi, William R. Krenik, Henry T. Yung, Chenwei J. Yin, Carrell R. Killebrew, Jr., Karl Guttag, Jerry R. Van Aken, Jeffrey Nye, Richard Simpson, Mike Asal
  • Patent number: 5371512
    Abstract: A background picture display apparatus includes a microprocessor and an external storage unit, and dot data, character designating data and mode data are programmed in advance in a ROM in the external storage unit. Character designating data constituting background screens designated by the mode data and dot data of the respective characters used in the background screens are loaded in a RAM, that is, a screen RAM and a character RAM by a microprocessor. The character designating data is read from the screen RAM, and the dot data of the character is read from the character RAM. The dot data is converted into serial data by a parallel-serial conversion circuit, and a dot data combination circuit generates a color code for each background screen by combining the dot data and applies the same to a color generation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd., Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Otake, Toyofumi Takahashi, Satoshi Nishiumi, Michitaka Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 5371510
    Abstract: An automotive display apparatus displays synthetically an ordinary information like a vehicle speed value and a warning information like a remaining fuel amount by using a half mirror as a close range view and a distant range view. A control means determines contents of the ordinary information and the warning information on the basis of input signals from a plurality of sensors. When the warning information is displayed, the warning information is provided at a position that the warning information overlaps with the ordinary information in the line direction of a driver's sight and the warning information is away from the ordinary information by a predetermined distance to enable the driver to notice and observe the warning information easily. At the same time, the ordinary information at the overlap portion of the ordinary and warning information in the line direction of the driver's sight is inhibited from being displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Miyauchi, Masaji Aono, Motoharu Esaki, Norio Fujimori, Tetsuya Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5369418
    Abstract: A display apparatus comprises a memory (20) and a display controller (22) adapted to read lines of an image stored in the memory in accordance with a raster-scan pattern for synchronous display. Elements are provided for periodically reconfiguring the display controller (22) so as to display an image having lines comprising pixel values interpolated between the pixel values of adjacent lines of the stored image. The display apparatus may include elements (10) for reading an image from an optical disc in accordance with the Compact Disc Interactive Standard (CD-I). A method of storing an image comprises storing picture information in combination with program information defining the required periodic reconfiguration of the display controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Norman D. Richards
  • Patent number: 5369417
    Abstract: A sample and hold circuit is arranged to have a first shift register, a second shift register, a first group of sample and hold elements, a second group of sample and hold elements, and a phase switching circuit. The first shift register has a serial-in and parallel-out function and serves to shift an input sampling pulse in synchronization to the first shift clock. The second shift register has a serial-in and parallel-out function and serves to shift the input sampling pulse in a synchronous to a second shift clock being different from the first shift clock by a predetermined angle of phase. The first group of sample and hold elements serves to sample an analog signal in synchronization to an output from the first shift register. The second group of sample and hold elements serves to sample an analog signal in synchronization an output from the second shift register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junji Tanaka