Abstract: A switchable color filter comprising a pair of twisted nematic liquid crystal devices (126 and 128) and a light polarizing system (108) which includes three color selective polarizing filters (102, 104, and 106) is incorporated as an optical subassembly in a field sequential color display system (100) to provide output states of white light and light of three different colors to form an image in full color and high brightness with strong color contrast.

Abstract: Display of alphanumeric characters and other symbols generated in a dot-matrix form on a CRT is enhanced by modulating the CRT beam sinusoidally at the dot matrix clock rate to produce one full cycle of modulation for each dot space with a phase to display a dot on a slope between modulation maxima of opposite polarity. The phase and amplitude of the modulation is selected to place the q dots displayed in a dot space between the modulation maximum of one polarity and a maximum of opposite polarity for each dot space of an M.times.N matrix, with a depth of modulation of .+-.1/4 raster scan spacing of the CRT.

Abstract: A method for increasing the speed at which characters may be written onto a liquid crystal display of the type in which a plurality of write cycles must be applied to each picture element that is to become visible. The character writing operation is divided into two or more stages each of which preferably includes an equal number of write cycles. During at least those times when an operator is entering characters more rapidly than they can be fully written, the different stages of the writing operations for two or more successive characters are performed simultaneously to increase the apparent writing speed of the display.

Abstract: Control circuit for memory type matrix display with k columns and r rows for k times r display elements, wherein each display element can have one of 2.sup.m brightness levels. This control circuit has a video memory for storing brightness information for the display element of each column. It comprises a column memory for each column. Each column memory including m column shift registers. Each column shift register having an input coupled to a corresponding information input for that column, and an output. A line time shift signal C.sub.s being applied to the shift pulse input of all column shift registers for shifting all column shift registers substantially at the end of each line time. The m output bits thus obtained are sequenced by means of a controlled gate circuit to produce a sequence of output bits at the information output of that column. This gate circuit is controlled such that each output bit lasts a predetermined part of the subsequent video line time.

Abstract: A technique is provided the user of an interactive computer graphics application which allows the user to attach lines to objects such that when the objects move, the lines will rubber-band to follow the object. The objects are provided with an attribute that describes their "stickiness". If an object is given the "sticky" attribute, then lines which touch or overlay the object will rubber-band to follow the object's movement. It is also possible to provide end points of lines with the "sticky" attribute so that the end points of lines can be attached to objects. Further, objects of arbitrary geometric shape can be attached to other objects of arbitrary geometric shape using the "sticky" attribute. The feature facilitates editing and revision of graphic files.

Abstract: Map frames are stored on a video storage medium such as video disc, and a graphics generator stores overlay information such as the location of telephone lines plant. To accommodate maps of different scales covering the same area, the graphics generator applies a corresponding scaling factor to generation of the overlay image, for accurate superimposition of the map. Provision may also be made for correcting inaccuracies in the original process of recording the map frames.

Abstract: A binary indicator for providing an indication of a normal or malfunction condition of equipment being monitored, the indicator having a magnetic latching and damping arrangement which ensures that the indicator functions properly under typical random high vibrational operating conditions. The latching and damping arrangement includes three auxiliary magnets which are located in close proximity to a rotating bar magnet to which a rotatable disc shaped indicator member is attached. The auxiliary magnets are positioned so that they prevent the rotating bar magnet from slipping out of the normal or "set" position into the malfunction or "fault" position or from slipping out of the "fault" position into the "set" position. Additionally, the auxiliary magnets dampen the movement of the rotating bar magnet when the bar magnet is reset to the "set" position from the "fault" position. The first auxiliary magnet is positioned in close proximity to a first end of the bar magnet when it is in the "set" position.

Abstract: A novel stroke-vector character generator is disclosed for generating characters or the like in a raster-scan video display system. An external data signal defines the type of character to be displayed, the character field dimensions, the character drawing point, and any character rotation or reflection. Using that part of the data signal that defines the character type as a memory address, the character generator retrieves from memory a character microprogram containing a plurality of encoded binary valued stroke-drawing directives. These directives are instructions to a decoder how to generate all of the shape dependent attributes for a series of chain related stroke-vectors that define the overall shape of the character to be displayed. Once defined in the system, each stroke-vector is scaled so that the character cell size matches the character field dimensions defined by the external data signal.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an improved liquid crystal video display device. An interlacing video display technique is utilized and scanning signals are provided to every other scanning electrode line in sequential order, shifting selected lines every frame. An additional selected voltage is provided during the time period which overlaps the selected scanning electrode lines to the adjacent non-selected electrodes both above and below the selected scanning electrode lines. According to the invention, a high resolution display is provided while reducing associated flicker by driving all scanning lines in the desired order.

Abstract: A novel method is disclosed for use in an electronic raster-scan display system, for generating characters using a stroke-vector technique. An incoming data signal defines the type of character to be displayed, the character field dimensions, the character drawing point, and any character rotation or reflection. Using that part of the data signal that defines the character type as a memory address, a character microprogram is retrieved containing a plurality of encoded binary valued stroke-drawing directives. These directives are instructions detailing how to generate all of the shape dependent attributes for a series of chain related stroke-vectors that define the overall shape of a character to be displayed. The encoded drawing directives are decoded and sequentially applied to a set of initial values that define an initial virtual stroke-vector, and thereby generating all of the character-shape dependent stroke attributes to for a series of chain related stroke-vectors that define a character shape.

Abstract: An image display method in which an image (IMG) to be presented is displayed on a CRT display screen (DFS), which method has steps of entering a horizontal dimension (L.sub.x) and a vertical dimension (L.sub.y) of the image to be presented; obtaining a magnification K by using lengths (B.sub.x, B.sub.y) in the horizontal and vertical directions of the display screen as well as the dimensions L.sub.x, L.sub.y ; obtaining coordinate values (X.sub.s, Y.sub.s) of the starting point (DS') of the image to be presented following multiplication thereof by K; specifying starting point coordinate values (X.sub.s ', Y.sub.s ') of the image on the display screen; obtaining shift quantities S.sub.x, S.sub.y in the horizontal and vertical directions by using the coordinate values (X.sub.s, Y.sub.s), (X.sub.s ', Y.sub.s ') of both starting points; and displaying the image (IMG) on the CRT display screen (DFS) by using the magnification K and the shift quantities S.sub.x, S.sub.y.

Abstract: A device for visually displaying alphanumeric characters by means of segments which are individually and selectively switchable between two operating states, one of which corresponds to visual perceptability of the segments themselves.

Abstract: A device for setting a numeric display (11) comprises a continuously turnable potentiometer (12) by which the setting area can be repeatedly passed through by turning in the same direction. The potentiometer and the display are connected to a computer (10), preferably a microcomputer. The computer is arranged to repeatedly sense the instantaneous resistance value of the potentiometer or a parameter representing said value. Further, the computer is arranged to store the first one (T.sub.1 high) of a series of measurement values and for each subsequent measurement value (T.sub.2 high) in the series to determine if the difference between the present and the first measurement value exceeds a reference value (T.sub.diff), in which case the display (11) is operated to increase or decrease its value by one step of a predetermined magnitude.

Abstract: A multiple window display system is provided for displaying data from different applications in a multi-tasking environment. The display system includes plural screen buffers (12.sub.1 to 12.sub.n) for storing character codes and attribute codes of data which may be displayed on the display screen. Task selection means (26) selectively couples the output of a single selected one of the plural screen buffers to the character generator (16) and attribute logic (18) at any given time. Address modification means (20.sub.1 to 20.sub.n, 22.sub.1 to 22.sub.n) permits changes to be made in the display windows. The software driver includes screen control blocks (32), window control blocks (34), presentation space control blocks (36), presentation spaces (38), and a screen matrix (40) in system memory. The presentation spaces (38) receive application data for plural windows of the displayable area. Each window defines the whole or a subset of a corresponding presentation space.

Abstract: A display device wherein display is carried out by scanning and a display screen is handled as an aggregation of a plurality of blocks. A display data memory for storing a data to be displayed and a control memory for defining a plurality of split images each comprising one or more blocks are provided in the display device. The display data memory is accessed by an address corresponding to the split image to which the block being scanned belongs, in accordance with the control memory.

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel device comprises a liquid crystal panel having a relatively large area particularly while in use with an automobile dashboard and having a plurality of display sections, a diffusion plate disposed opposing the rear face of the liquid crystal panel for diffusing receiving light rays, a printed circuit board disposed opposing the rear face of the diffusion plate, and a plurality of light emitting members disposed in equally spaced relation to each other on the printed circuit board over the whole region of the liquid crystal panel. A reflection plate is provided between the diffusion plate and the board, and a partition plate corresponding to the display section of the liquid crystal panel is provided. Within a space defined by the diffusion plate, board, reflection plate, and partition plate, the light emitting members consisting of three or four incandescent lamps are disposed.

Abstract: A method of driving a matrix type liquid crystal display device which compensates for the distortion of scanning signal and data waveforms caused by resistance and capacitance of the display device electrodes. In one embodiment of this method the timing of the scanning signal is advanced with respect to the timing of the data switching signal by a time determined by the resistor-capacitor time constant of the electrodes and display elements. In another embodiment of this method the switching timing of the scanning signal is delayed with respect to the leading edge of the data signal and the switching timing of the scanning signal is advanced with respect to the trailing edge of the data signal. The delay of the leading edge and the advance of the trailing edge are determined by the resistor-capacitor time constant of the electrode and display elements and the capacitance of the display element, respectively.

Abstract: A device for displaying or printing Arabic letters and numerals comprises a number of independently energizable segments. Several segments, 1, 2, 4, 8, 7, 9 and 5 are arranged in the conventional "7 segment" display configuration and groups of segments 13, 14 and 15, 16 provide groups of dots in the upper rectangular area A1 and below the cross-bar segment 9. A further segment 6 forms an enclosure completed by the upper major portion of the segment 1. Descenders 3 and 11 are provided while a linking segment 12 makes it possible to give the appearance of joined script where a number of display elements are disposed side-by-side.

Abstract: A data display control arrangement in which apparatus for scrolling lines of data relative to a display area of a data display apparatus (1) comprises means (2) for producing a selectively controllable scrolling action, the means (2) including a transducer device (16) comprising two groups (18A, 18B) respectively including two sets (20,21) (24,25) of elctrical contact tracks 19 and an elastomeric pad which includes a non conductive member 27 is loaded with conductive material, whereby pressure on the member (27) changes the conductivity thereof and in so doing progressively interconnects the tracks of the sets (20,21) (24,25) to produce analogue signals related to extent of pressure. A converter 9 converts the analogue signals to digital signals which are used to control said scrolling.

Abstract: An input-output coordinate transforming method for an input-integerated display apparatus of a structure in which an input coordinate designating part is integrally combined with a screen of a display device, wherein coordinates inputted through the input coordinate designating part by an operator are subjected to coordinate transformation before being supplied to the display device so as to make an input point on the input coordinate designating means coincide with an output point on the display screen when observed by the operator.