Patents Examined by Ulysses Weldon
  • Patent number: 5486841
    Abstract: A glasses type head mounted display apparatus for seeing a virtual image through left and right lens systems provided with corresponding left and right display portions displaying left and right pictures, respectively. The display apparatus includes left and right slide mechanisms for moving the respectively left and right display portions on the main point axes of the lens systems and on segment lines through the central points of the left and right lens systems and focuses of the left and right lens systems so that the user sees through the left and right lens systems a virtual image synthesized with pictures of the left and right display portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Hara, Akira Kawamura, Takeshi Matsui
  • Patent number: 5486840
    Abstract: Glare and spurious reflections of external light on the image source of a head up display are eliminated by a circular polarizer in the optical path of the display. The head up display includes a mirror system for projecting a pattern from the image source onto a vehicle windshield where it is reflected to the operator, wherein polarization is effected at the windshield reflection. The circular polarizer includes a linear polarizer and a quarter wave plate arranged to extinguish the external incident light after reflection from the image source. The linear polarizer axis is aligned with the polarization axis at the windshield to optimize the brightness of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Delco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Diego A. Borrego, Alan R. Greenland, Charles R. Allison, Robert A. Bordo, Steven A. Stringfellow
  • Patent number: 5485174
    Abstract: Scrolling of work objects displayed on a computer display screen is controlled by a control element window displayed simultaneously on the display screen with the work area which is to be scrolled. A reduced size representation of the overall dimensions of the work object with the work area viewing portion of reduced size superimposed over it are displayed in a second window or display area on the screen. Cursor selection or movement of the reduced size representation of the work area within the representation of the overall work object by cursor selection and dragging or by activation of incremental scrolling or directional scrolling buttons displayed within the second display area, controls the portion of the overall work object displayed within the first display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Susan F. Henshaw, Sarah D. Redpath
  • Patent number: 5483258
    Abstract: A method of pick correlation comprises the steps of displaying a pick marker on a display screen; directing the pick marker at an image on the display screen, the image comprising at least one line primitive, and the pick marker having a diamond shaped pick window corresponding thereto; subjecting the line primitive to a trivial test, the trivial test comprising enclosing the diamond shaped pick window in a least enclosing rectangle, wherein the diamond shaped pick window and the rectangle have a common center point, and rejecting the line primitive if the line primitive has both of its end-points outside of the same extended edge of the rectangle; if the line primitive cannot be trivially tested, subjecting the line primitive to a non-trivial test which does not require performing floating point operations, and accepting or rejecting the line primitive in accordance with the results of the non-trivial test; and considering accepted line primitives as being selected for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin B. Cornett, Edward F. Mark
  • Patent number: 5483261
    Abstract: An interactive graphics system includes a touch-sensitive controller having a number of semi-transparent light-diffusing panels imaged by a rear mounted imaging device such as a video camera. The imaging device is arranged to detect the shadows of objects, such as fingers, touching any of the panels. The camera can simultaneously to detect multiple touch points on the panels resulting from the touch of multiple fingers, which facilitates the detection of input gestures. The panel and the position on the panel touched can be determined by the position of the shadow on the video image. As the imaging device is only required to detect the existence of shadows on the panels, only a two-dimensional image must be processed. However, since the imaging device can image multiple panels simultaneously, a multi-dimensional input signal can be provided. Further, as this image is of high contrast, only light/dark areas must be differentiated for greatly simplified image processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: ITU Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Taizo Yasutake
  • Patent number: 5483256
    Abstract: So as to make a composing unit (R7, 33) produce a composite signal of a drive voltage for use in producing a driving signal for an LCD having a liminance versus drive voltage characteristic curve approximated by a nonlinear curve generated by a concatenation of at least first through third linear function curves, an analog nonlinear operation circuit (15) comprises first through third amplifier Circuits (31)(1)-31(3)) for generating first through third function voltages in correspondence to the first through the third linear function curves. The amplifier circuits are typically differential amplifiers particularly when the operation circuit is applied to gamma compensation of television video signal for a CRT into a gamma compensated signal which is for the LCD and is produced as the composite signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Susumu Ohi
  • Patent number: 5483262
    Abstract: A pen-input type information processor includes a pen holder for holding the pen, and a push type power switch provided on the pen holder. When the user takes out the pen after once pushing the pen downward, the power switch is turned on, starting power supply to the information processor. When the user puts the pen in the pen holder while pushing the pen downward, the power switch is turned off, and power supply to the information processor stops. In a preferred embodiment the pen can be replaced temporarily without turning on/off the power and switches are provided at each end of the pen holder to permit the holder to be used identically by either a left-handed or a right-handed user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuaki Izutani
  • Patent number: 5481276
    Abstract: A device independent system and method of displaying text on a graphics display device. The system provides programmed routines in a storage device located on a controller card for the graphics device. These routines are loaded into memory by an operating system during initialization of the operating system. Once loaded, the routines become an extension of the operating system to provide the means for displaying information on the graphics device. Each type of graphics device contains a storage device that provides a set of access routines specifically programmed for the device. These routines have a standard interface across all devices, allowing displaying of textual information to be device independent. The storage device contains multiple sets of routines, one for each processor type capable of utilizing the graphics device, thus processor independence is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Conwell J. Dickey, James M. King
  • Patent number: 5475401
    Abstract: An architecture is disclosed for communication of remote devices to a digitizing display. The architecture includes a contact sensing erasure mechanism and a position sensing erasure mechanism whose outputs are multiplexed for transmission from the stylus to an antenna located proximate to the digitizing display. The digitizing display will erase text or graphics data in a pen-based computer system in response to the stylus. A calibration method provides improved accuracy for the erasure function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: International Business Machines, Inc.
    Inventors: Guy F. Verrier, John M. Zetts
  • Patent number: 5473339
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal projector having a light source and liquid crystal panel units disposed in the optical paths, reflecting means is disposed on the emanating side of the projector for reflecting the light in a direction approximately perpendicular to the optical axis, and change-over means is coupled to the liquid crystal panel units for reversing the lateral directions of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Kanatani, Shunichi Kishimoto, Yasuo Funazo, Takashi Miwa, Kazuhiro Kono, Goro Hamagishi, Kiyoshi Hosoi, Shinji Shiogai, Koichi Fujiwara, Takao Matsumura, Shigeru Kobayashi, Shinichi Otsuki, Kenji Kaneko
  • Patent number: 5471228
    Abstract: Crosstalk is reduced in any type of active matrix electro-optical display system (10) by applying a compensating signal, the value of which is dependent upon multiple data drive signals. In a preferred embodiment, a single compensating signal, equal to the inverse weighted average of all of the data drive signals applied during a row address period, can be applied to all data electrodes (20) after the data drive signals are stored in display elements (16). Such a compensating signal simultaneously reduces side-to-side crosstalk and front-to-back crosstalk to levels previously achievable for only one type of crosstalk at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ilcisin, Dennis W. Prince
  • Patent number: 5471225
    Abstract: An improved liquid crystal display (LCD) is provided having a static random access memory located within each liquid crystal control cell and between each display electrode and corresponding bit and word lines. The memory cell, or storage cell, includes a pass-gate transistor which, upon activation via word line, forwards bit line video data to a memory circuit, such as a latching circuit, placed between the pass-gate transistor and the display electrode. The latching circuit may consist of two thin-film transistors connected as cross-coupled inverters for latching video data upon the display electrode for virtually an indefinite period of time or until the pass-gate transistor is again activated. By utilizing a storage cell with buffer capability adjacent each display electrode, problems associated with large data line current can be minimized. Moreover, the static memory can rid the host processor of having to continuously refresh the LCD active matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Dell USA, L.P.
    Inventor: Terry J. Parks
  • Patent number: 5471226
    Abstract: A coordinate input apparatus includes a coordinate input member for inputting the coordinate value of an indicated position by pointing to a desired position with an indicating pen, a display device for displaying in dot form the indicated position of the indicating pen on the coordinate input member, an instruction device for instructing a calibration process for matching the coordinate systems of the coordinate input member and the display device, a correction parameter derivation device for deriving a correction parameter for matching coordinate systems on the basis of the indication by the indicating pen to a specific region of the coordinate input member when the instruction device has instructed, a coordinate value derivation device for deriving the coordinate value of the indicated position of the indicating pen to the specific region by using the correction parameter derived by the correction parameter derivation device, and a judgment device for judging the validity of the correction parameter accord
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyuki Suzuki, Shinsuke Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 5469187
    Abstract: A large area liquid crystal display system in which all of the liquid crystal picture elements are relatively large sized and are disposed the correspondingly sized and shaped openings created between the adjacent rows and columns of a support structure. The support structure is formed of a plurality of vertical and horizontal, elongated triangular-shaped members. The triangular members are coated with a reflective material to enlarge the field of light emanating from each liquid crystal picture element. Control of light from the display is accomplished by a control lens such as a lenticular lens or a holographic lens, while control of incident light is achieved by venetian blind type materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Incubator, Inc.
    Inventor: Zvi Yaniv
  • Patent number: 5469190
    Abstract: Apparatus for converting representations of color pixels in a twenty-four bit color format to representations in a fifteen bit color format including an individual circuit for data representing each component of a color, each of the individual circuits including apparatus for selectively incrementing the value the five highest order bits of a value representing a component of a color, apparatus responsive to a value of the lowest order bits of a value representing a component for providing a signal to cause the apparatus for selectively incrementing the five highest order bits, and apparatus for selectively enabling the apparatus responsive to a value of the lowest order bits depending on a desired pattern of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Masterson
  • Patent number: 5467103
    Abstract: A display apparatus has a first image emitting unit reflecting external light and a second image emitting unit emitting a second image towards the first image emitting unit. The second image is reflected by the first image emitting unit substantially in the same direction as the first image is emitted from the first image emitting unit. A reflection member reflects the first and second images in a predetermined direction, for example, towards a viewpoint of driver in case of application for automobiles. The reflected images may be observed as a superimposed virtual image. The superimposed virtual image is easy for an observer to focus thereon, resulting in high visibility of displayed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Iino, Yoshiyuki Furuya, Kunimitsu Aoki
  • Patent number: 5467109
    Abstract: A display having a letter portion and a background portion is displayed on a screen. One of the letters and backgrounds portion is displayed with a first color designated by color data stored in a memory, and the remaining one thereof is displayed with a second color which is determined by data obtained by inverting data of the first color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hideo Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 5467110
    Abstract: An image population having a large number of attributes is processed to form a display population with a predetermined smaller number of attributes that represent the larger number of attributes. In a particular application, the color values in an image are compressed for storage in a discrete look-up table (LUT). Color space containing the LUT color values is successively subdivided into smaller volumes until a plurality of volumes are formed, each having no more than a preselected maximum number of color values. Image pixel color values can then be rapidly placed in a volume with only a relatively few LUT values from which a nearest neighbor is selected. Image color values are assigned 8 bit pointers to their closest LUT value whereby data processing requires only the 8 bit pointer value to provide 24 bit color values from the LUT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California, Office of Technology Transfer
    Inventors: James M. White, Vance Faber, Jeffrey S. Saltzman
  • Patent number: 5463274
    Abstract: A planar fluorescent lamp having a sealed chamber and divider walls to create a serpentine discharge path is provided with sidewall electrodes. A plurality of sidewall electrodes are spaced from each other and positioned adjacent each sidewall of the sealed chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the sidewall electrodes are planar, cold electrode plates. The electrodes extend generally from one divider wall to the other divider wall along a single sidewall. In alternative embodiments, the sidewall electrodes are positioned within the chamber directly exposed to the mercury vapor, or, alternatively, are separated from the chamber by a dielectric layer. The sidewall electrodes are powered in pairs, each pair being driven at a different frequency than any other pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Winsor Corporation
    Inventor: Mark D Winsor
  • Patent number: 5461373
    Abstract: A radio control transmitter capable of carrying out transmitting and receiving of data on control characteristics of a stick, thereby to facilitate setting of the control characteristics. The transmitter includes a storage section for storing the control characteristics and a control section for controlling transmitting and receiving of data between the storage section and an external device connected to the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Futaba Denshi Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Michio Yamamoto, Satoshi Inokoshi