Abstract: A dual function transducer housing (100), includes a narrow profile housing having top and bottom cavities (105, 103) and a ringer side port (106). The top and bottom cavities (105, 103) are adapted to receive a ringer diaphragm and a speaker diaphragm, respectively. The top cavity (105) is in communication with the ringer side port (106). A ringer output signal is providable through the ringer side port (106) and a speaker output is providable from the housing (100).

Abstract: Apparatus for relieving eyestrain and fatigue. A plurality of light sources, arranged in a selected three-dimensional pattern around a video display terminal, automatically cycling through a selected sequenced pattern at chosen time intervals for specific time periods, provides stimulation for the eyes away from the two-dimensional surface of the terminal screen. Colors and shapes of the light sources may be varied in order to maintain user interest.

Abstract: A three degree-of-freedom locator device for the control of graphical objects on a computer display mimics natural two-dimensional movement of the user's hand by providing for simultaneous translation and rotation of the graphical object. In one embodiment, a computer mouse-type locator with two trackball and position-encoder sensor systems detects movement of the locator over a stationary pad or like device. The graphical object is selected by a mouse button click. Subsequent two-dimensional translation and rotation of the locator are detected by the dual trackball system and used to control the position and orientation of the graphical object. The result is intuitive control of the placement of the selected object on the computer screen. The natural movement of the mouse in the user's hand is transformed into simultaneously translation and rotation of the object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for quickly copying a first frame region into a second frame region. A video memory array comprising a plurality of video random access memory devices is divided into at least two frame regions. A background image is rendered by a central processing unit into a background frame region within the video memory array. The central processing unit then requests the background image in the background frame region to be copied into a new frame region in the video memory array. A dedicated circuit copies the entire background image in the background frame region into the new frame region. The dedicated circuit operates by using a serial data register within each video random access memory device during the vertical retrace period of a video timing signal. The dedicated circuit performs the background frame copy without requiring any processing resources from the central processing unit.

Abstract: An input device for computers or electronic games using piezoelectric elements. Four piezoelectric devices are mounted on a base in positions ninety degrees apart. A user actuation element, such as a directional control pad and or a joystick is pivotally disposed on the base above the piezoelectric sensors. A biasing element such as a spring, foam or rubber element is positioned between the actuation element and the base to support the actuation device in a neutral position when no face is being applied by a user to also return the activation element to its neutral position after a user's force is removed. Opposing sensors are connected to a bridge circuit such that in the neutral position of the actuation element the output voltage of the bridge is one half of the input voltage.

Abstract: A modular neon sign system comprising two or more independent neon or similar luminous tube segments. One or more of the luminous segments are arranged in generally parallel configuration across the remaining tube segments and each such parallel segment includes a series capacitive ballasting element to selectively control the current through the respective segment. Receptacles may be provided to facilitate the attachment of the parallel segments thereby forming detachable neon modules. The capacitive ballasting element is preferably a ceramic button-like disc that may be connected to an end of the parallel neon module or inserted into the receptacle. In one embodiment the several parallel segments are connected to a reduced tension constant voltage power supply. In a second erabodiment, a constant current power supply is continuously interconnected to one or more neon luminous tubes that define a fixed portion of the sign with the parallel segment(s) or module(s) being connected across said fixed portion.

Abstract: A control method for moving a specific portion of a graph performed so that the moving portion of a graph is designated by a first cursor, and a second cursor is set at the point to get the moving portion of the graph to be moved, a main processor computes the position difference values of these cursor, obtains data such as the starting and terminating points of lines and arcs, moves the specific portion of the graph at the predetermined position and displays the moved graph on CRT screen.

Abstract: An electronic display element for use in an information display device has a reflective lens with a substantially smooth front surface and a non-smooth back surface. The back surface has multiple uniformly shaped polyhedron cells with hexagonal-shaped bases and square faces. The polyhedron cells are arranged in alternating first and second horizontal rows which are evenly offset from one another. The back surface of the lens presents a cube prism pattern which effectively transmits light originating from behind the lens without significant interference, and optimally reflects light originating from in front of the lens 30 to thereby improve both backlegibility and reflectivity.

Abstract: An information processor equipment in use for a terminal key locking system includes: an input key device for inputting data; a terminal key locking unit for locking the input key and generating a plurality of mode signals concurrently with the locking; a plurality of gates corresponding to the modes and connected to a plurality of controllers the output of which is connected to a display control unit; a display unit connected to the display controller, for displaying picture signals; a first memory device connected to the display control unit for saving operating display information; and a second memory device connected to the display control unit for storing in advance picture signals representing each discriminated mode signal; wherein the previously stored picture signals are displayed in correspondence to one of the modes and when the lock is released, an original operative picture signal is returned to the display unit, and wherein the gates are respectively operated according to incoming mode signals.

Abstract: An on-screen display device which comprises: a microprocessor responsive to signals from a key pad and to a synchronizing signal in received video picture signals for providing digital display signals corresponding to the synchronizing signals and digital signals corresponding to the signals from the key pad; a digital-to-analog converter for converting the digital signals into analog voltage signals, and for generating an oscillating frequency signal in response to the digital display signals to adjust the position and size of characters displayed on the screen; and an on-screen display circuit for receiving the synchronizing signals and for receiving the digital signals from the microprocessor and the oscillation frequency signal from the digital-to-analog converter and generating signals for controlling a display of the synchronizing frequencies and picture control on the screen as on-screen display characters.

Abstract: An graphics/audio controller system supports the delivery of digital audio signals in a graphics controller architecture so that much of the video circuitry can also be used to process audio information. The graphics/audio controller may be implemented to accommodate either asynchronous or synchronous audio access. A memory control unit is incorporated to receive audio and video data request signals and to correspondingly access the required data from a memory section. Digital audio and video signals are provided at an output bus of the memory section and are converted to analog signals by one or more digital to analog converters. As a result of the graphics/audio controller system, efficient audio reproduction is supported while minimizing hardware requirements. In addition, the overall size and cost of the system is minimized.

Abstract: A circuitry is provided for controlling the display of a window on a display operable to display information as at least one field of a plurality of lines of pixels. First counter circuitry is included which is operable to increment with each of a plurality of selected pixels of a given line. First storage circuitry stores position data representing a first coordinate of a reference pixel in the field, the reference pixel being associated with an area of the field in which the window is to be displayed. First adding circuitry is provided which is operable to add a count corresponding to a current pixel and output from the first counter to the position data in the first register. Second counter circuitry is also provided which is operable to increment with each line of the field. Second storage circuitry stores position data representing a second coordinate of the reference pixel.

Abstract: A computer pointing device having a rectangular operation plate and an integrated stationary base is disclosed. The operation plate is maneuverable with substantially equal ease along any pathway within a finite X-Y plane defined by the base. Movement of the operation plate involves an intermediate carriage that is uniaxially movable in unity with the operation plate along a first axis. The operation plate is uniaxially movable relative to the carriage along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. Uniaxial movement is guided by ball bearings positioned between face-to-face counterpart support and guide channels respectively composed on the base and on the carriage, parallel to the first axis. Similar channels are composed between the operation plate and the carriage, parallel to the second axis.

Abstract: The coordinate input device of the present invention can output a coordinate signal by using a change in a variation amount of an electrostatic capacity. Therefore, mechanical portions of the coordinate input device are reduced in number so that an increase in the life period and an improvement in reliability of the device are easily realized, while not wastefully consuming power, except during a period when the coordinate signal is outputted. The coordinate input device of the present invention outputs the coordinate signal on the basis of a variation amount of an electrostatic capacity which is defined by the position of a dielectric unit between electrode faces and an electrode face confronting these electrode faces. The dielectric unit moves in accordance with the movement of an operation knob. A program mode changeover switch is operated in accordance with the movement of a movable unit which can reciprocate together with the operation knob.

Abstract: A method for driving a ferroelectric liquid crystal panel in which a ferroelectric liquid crystal is disposed between a plurality of scanning and signal electrodes, and a select or a non-select voltage is applied to the scanning electrode whereas a rewriting or a holding voltage is applied to the signal electrode to change the display of each pixel, the method including: dividing all the scanning electrodes into a plurality of groups composed of a plurality of scanning electrodes; selecting a group whose display is to be changed; applying the select voltage to the scanning electrodes of the selected group at once; applying the rewriting voltage to the signal electrodes corresponding to the pixels whose displays are to be changed; applying the select voltage to each scanning electrode of the selected group successively; and applying the rewriting voltage to the signal electrodes corresponding to the pixels whose liquid crystal is to be placed in a second stable state.

Abstract: A computer input device uses a standard mouse design and includes at least one thumb wheel or roller to provide three-dimensional cursor positioning. Left and right rollers, for use by left- and right-handed users, protrude from left and right sides of a standard mouse. The left and right rollers are axially mounted on left and right drive shafts that extend axially through left and right encoder wheels, respectively. Each encoder wheel forms part of a transducer for producing signals indicating movement or rotation of the wheel. These signals can be used for calculating cursor movement or for various other purposes in computer software applications. Alternatively, the rollers are coupled to switches or a single roller protrudes from the top of the mouse.

Abstract: A social encounter catalytic initiator includes an integrated circuit counter and a display driver which drives a seven segment display. The counter and driver are carried within a housing along with the display and the housing may be in the form of a sign, badge or pin. The counter is incrementally actuated by a user to provide, at the display, a visual measure of the user's interest in establishing a social relationship with another person who is in view. The display may be driven to provide numeric, alphabetic or word format incremental values. A comparator may be employed for switching the color of the display when the user selected incremental value exceeds a variable predetermined color change incremental value.

Abstract: The present invention includes a map information storage unit which stores map information, an information read-out device which reads out the map information stored in said map information storage unit, a display which displays on a screen the map information read out by the map information read-out device from the map information storage unit, a route map preparing device which prepares on the displayed map all the routes made up of line segments connecting the starting point and the successive passing points up to the end point, and a device for detecting the present position of the vehicle.

Abstract: A computer pointing device is disclosed for controlling the positioning, movement and operation of a cursor on the display screen of a computer. A manually manipulatable member in the form of a stubby button-like joystick is permanently and ergonomically located within the area defined by the rows of computer keyboard keys and is immediately adjacent the last key in one row of keys, so that the computer operator can move or apply a force to the member to position the cursor in a manner which is very comfortable and similar to the movement from home position that is required when using a mouse as a pointing device. Operational click or "mouse" buttons are located on the front face of the computer case in position for pressing by the right thumb of the computer operator with a normal thumb contraction motion, which is natural and comfortable as opposed to pressing sideways with the side of the thumb.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal display according to this invention which incorporates timing signal generation circuit 13 which turns on switches 10 to 12 when interval control signal P from the liquid-crystal power supply circuit is in active status, and which turns switches 10 to 12 off when interval control signal P is in inactive status. By turning switches 10 to 12 off when no display is required, current flow from power supply 3 to ground (GND) is cut and power consumption is reduced.