Abstract: An electronic display and electronic display controller is provided for quickly and precisely adjusting visibility parameters of an object being displayed. The electronic display controller includes a clocking circuit capable of producing varying frequency clocking pulses which can be received by a potentiometer to incrementally adjust the visibility of a displayed object. Activation of one or more buttons on the external housing of the display will cause low frequency clocking signals to be sent to the potentiometer and, after a set period of time, higher frequency clocking signals can be sent provided the button remains active. Initial low frequency and subsequent high frequency clocking signals ensure higher precision initial tuning and, if needed, rapid course tuning of the object visibility.

Abstract: A hybrid mouse combining the usual x and y motion signals usually found in mice together with additional degrees of freedom, particularly a z-axis signal. The z-axis signal is generated by a roller whose turning motion is sensed by a shaft angle encoder, including a light chopper. Additional degrees of freedom may be provided by tilting the roller left and right to actuate switches. Actuation of each switch, together with pulse counts from the roller may be used to indicate pitch and roll. A yaw motion signal may be provided by use of dual position detectors. In another embodiment, pitch and roll may be indicated by a trackball mounted on the mouse housing with or without the z-axis roller.

Abstract: A circuit 83, 97 is provided for selectively interpreting data received in a format selected from the big-endian and little-endian formats to an other one of the big-endian and little-endian formats and includes an array of j sequentially ordered data input terminals for receiving a j-bit word of data formatted in a preselected one of the big-endian and little-endian formats. An array of j sequentially ordered first AND gates 126 is provided, each first AND gate 126 having first and second input ports and an output port, the first input port of the n.sup.th first AND gate 126 coupled to the n.sup.th one of the input terminals, the second input ports of the first AND gates 126 coupled to a control signal. An array of j sequentially ordered second AND gates 128 are provided, and each second AND gate 128 having first and second input ports and an output port, of the first input port of an n.sup.th one of the second AND gates 128 coupled to a (j-n+1).sup.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a signal for indicating consent between two parties, comprises a generally box-like housing having a cavity, an indicator light on an exterior portion of the housing, a source of electrical power including a battery in the housing, a circuit including a switch for selectively connecting the source of electrical power to the indicator light, the switch being disposed in the cavity and responsive to multiple actuators for activating the switch, and multiple actuator members positionable into the cavity for closing for closing the circuit and activating the indicator light.

Abstract: A circuit for reducing the number of times a character read-only memory (ROM) in a video display must be accessed in order to display outlined characters. For each pixel on a scan line in a character to be displayed the circuit outputs information on the current scan line and the scan lines above and below the current scan line. The pixels above and below the current pixel on the current scan line are summed and output as a single value. Thus, the number of accesses to the character ROM is reduced from three to two.

Abstract: A video interface apparatus for converting an incoming interlaced video signal to an outgoing non-interlaced video signal for an LCD flat panel with an arbitrary number of rows and columns. The incoming video signal is digitized and stored in a memory. An address generator creates addresses for reading and writing data from and into the memory, and the resulting read data is used to reconstruct the digital signal into an image for display on the LCD flat panel.

Abstract: A method and system to recognize input events from a plurality of input devices. Each input device is coupled to a device driver or similar device specific code and a recognition provider. Upon attachment to the system, the recognition provider registers the known input events which the input device is capable of transmitting at the recognition subsystem. The recognition subsystem sends an identifier back to the recognition provider for each registered input event. When the recognition provider receives one or more input signals from the input device which are recognized as an input event, the provider sends the identifier to the recognition subsystem. The input event is transmitted to a process running on the system which may interpret the input event or request translation by the recognition subsystem. The invention is useful to introduce new input devices to a system without requiring modification of the existing processes.

Abstract: In an apparatus for driving a liquid crystal display panel having N scan lines, shift registers are provided to drive the scan lines, and switching circuits are interposed among the shift registers. One of the switching circuits is selected to write a start pulse signal thereinto. Thus, an image having a smaller number of scan lines than N can be displayed at a center portion of the liquid crystal display panel.

Abstract: An animation image construction apparatus for producing animated pictures on a CRT screen of a display unit in a television receiver, wherein a desired scroll direction can be designated with respect to each of individual characters displayed on the screen, so that an expressive motion can be given to any picture drawn on the screen to consequently ensure remarkable visual effects and pleasure for the user. Furthermore, the front and rear positional relation between the displayed characters to be mutually superimposed can be designated in the scroll mode, whereby the pictures produced on the screen are so processed as to have a visual depth in addition to the expressive motion with the visual effects and pleasure offered to the user.

Abstract: An interface system and a method therefor are disclosed for cooperating with a microprocessor based control system that presents at least one of a plurality of options for selection on a display. The system provides a first and a second rotatable dial each of which provide at least one of a plurality of inputs to the microprocessor controlled display. The combination of inputs from the first dial and the second dial define one or more menu-like options that a user can select from the display via a selection push button. A second push button is provided to enable the user to reject or step out of a menu option. This interface system, unlike keyboards and mouses, is particularly compact and rugged. Consequently, this interface system is exceptionally well suited for interacting with a microprocessor based control system in an industrial environment or any other type of harsh operating environment.

Abstract: A vertical gyroscope is adapted for use as a pointing device for controlling the position of a cursor on the display of a computer. A motor at the core of the gyroscope is suspended by two pairs of orthogonal gimbals from a hand-held controller device and nominally oriented with its spin axis vertical by a pendulous device. Electro-optical shaft angle encoders sense the orientation of a hand-held controller device as it is manipulated by a user and the resulting electrical output is converted into a format usable by a computer to control the movement of a cursor on the screen of the computer display. For additional ease of use, the bottom of the controller is rounded so that the controller can be pointing while sitting on a surface. A third input is provided by providing a horizontal gyroscope within the pointing device. The third rotational signal can be used to either rotate a displayed object or to display or simulate a third dimension.

Abstract: A portable video disc displays information on a screen, the source is a CD ROM disc contained within the unit in a removable cartridge. The device can accept several size discs, display text as well as graphics, and display information is several sizes. A memory circuit is continuously connected to a power source so as to retain information even when the unit is turned off. A rocker switch on the front of the unit allows the reader to go forward or back a page.

Abstract: An image display method and system in which exertion of a user's viewpoint orienting muscle groups is yoked to sensors measuring displacement and/or force to provide feedback information for control of a virtual-world without requiring full physical-motion by the user. The yoked muscle exertion is mapped to the rate and direction of movement in the virtual-world. Preferably, force exerted by, and/or rotation or translation of, the yoking device in one direction in response to exertion of the muscle groups is mapped to virtual-motion in a corresponding direction in the virtual-world. Due to the fluidity of the human vertebral column, the invention effectively yokes rotational movement of a human's viewpoint orienting muscles to virtual movement in a virtual-world without the disadvantages of a head-mounted display. To orient toward an area-of-interest in a leftward portion of a virtual-world, the user simply and naturally activates muscles that would be used to orient left in the physical world.

Abstract: A joystick controller for a video simulation system having a geared potentiometer actuation mechanism. The joystick controller comprises a base, a handle mounted on an actuation shaft, and first and second gimbals pivotally mounted on the base by pivot members for rotational movement about respective axes. The joystick shaft is coupled to the first and second gimbals so that the gimbals rotate about their corresponding axes responsive to movement of the joystick handle. Each gimbal has a corresponding potentiometer for sensing the rotational movement thereof. The first gimbal has a first gear connected thereto for rotational movement therewith. The corresponding potentiometer is mounted on the base opposite the first gear and a second gear is connected to the stem of the potentiometer such that the second gear is in tooth engagement with the first gear. A similar gearing configuration is used to couple the second gimbal to the corresponding potentiometer.

Abstract: A graphics interface circuit for connecting a serial output port of a video RAM to a RAMDAC to allow a user selectable color mode to be displayed wherein the selectable color modes allows one of 256, 32K, 64K or 16.7M colors to be displayed at one time. A host microprocessor addresses the video RAM as a linear, unfragmented address space in the selected one of these modes. The invention provides an improved utilization of the video RAM memory space, as well as improved memory bandwidth as compared with prior art techniques. A graphics interface module allows for 8, 16, 24 or 32 bit wide output on the data bus from the interface to a RAMDAC. A display system of the type in which the present invention may be utilized places data generated by a host processor, after processing by a graphic displays processor into a video memory. The display processor constantly updates the video memory based upon the data generated by the host processor.

Abstract: A display resolution enhancement technique which provides a means for prioritizing and displaying overlapping images on a display based on the intensity levels of each respective image for each display element.

Abstract: In a scrolling of a display of graphic data in response to an operator command, a characteristic of the data is altered, according to the speed of the scrolling, to facilitate the viewing of the data as the data is scrolled. In one case, a selected part of the data is omitted from the display during scrolling so that a reduced amount of data is displayed, the amount of reduction in displayed data being proportional to the scrolling period. As another possibility, or in addition thereto, the magnification of the data being displayed is varied with variation in the scrolling speed. The magnification can be controlled so that the apparent speed of the movement of the displayed data at a given scrolling speed is maintained substantially constant as the scrolling period is varied from the given scrolling speed. A further possibility is to alter the data by emphasizing a portion of the data in the display in a selected manner.

Abstract: A multimedia solution is presented which allows a multimedia architecture to be implemented on an existing computer system. According to the invention, an expansion unit which incorporates a multimedia architecture is provided. The expansion unit is connected to an existing computer system via an expansion slot of an I/O bus of the existing computer as well as via a display device output terminal of the computer. The expansion unit is also connected to a display device. Accordingly, the expansion unit controls the presentation which is provided on the display device.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus having a TFT LCD includes a detector for detecting whether or not display data in a video RAM is rewritten. When the rewrite operation of display data is detected, a display controller reads out display data from the video RAM, and supplies the readout display data to the TFT LCD. When data on a memory plane for storing display data, which is being displayed on the TFT LCD, is rewritten, the display controller reads out display data from the video RAM, and supplies the readout display data to the TFT LCD. When display data to be written in the Video RAM is the same as the already stored display data, the display controller does not supply the display data from the video RAM to the TFT LCD.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bidding method for regenerating a lost write token in a token controlled loop communications network. In response to a station on the loop detecting the loss of the write token, the station will generate a unique recovery token specifying as the destination address that station's individual address and transmit the generated recovery token onto the loop. Stations receiving the recovery token will examine the recovery token's destination address and based on a bidding method, will either pass the recovery token on unaltered or substitute the receiving station's individual address if the recovery token's destination address is not equal to the receiving station's individual address. When a receiving station's individual address matches that specified in the recovery token, that station wins the bid and generates a new write token.The method disclosed can also be used to generate a write token when the network is initialized.