Abstract: Power consumption in driving ICs for electro-optical devices is reduced by driving all pixels in a frame to one extreme state and then introducing intermediate levels (grey-levels, colours) by multiplexing, using a reduced selection pulse width. In this way the number of level transitions for the extreme states and hence power dissipation is reduced.

Abstract: Two-dimensional pen tables with texture for a low pressure, a medium pressure and a high pressure are provided for each pen. According to the pen pressure, pen tables are interpolated to generate drawing data for one patch. The image data in the stroke and the drawing data of an unprocessed patch are mixed together to generate new image data. This processing is repeated till the completion of the processing of the stroke. Next, the data of the image memory and the data of the stroke are made to modify the data in the image memory.

Abstract: A computer mouse having cord management and cord connector storage and protection features. The feature for storing, deploying and retracting the device's cord in, from and into its case is an internal capstan, principally a reel, that is spring-biased to return to its retracted position. A pawl and ratchet assembly is used to fix or stabilize the cord at points of its extension; alternatively, a snubbing feature is shown that obviates the pawl and ratchet assembly. For securing the connector, thereby protecting it during transport, there is included in the case design a pocket or port into which the connector is retracted.

Abstract: A keyboard for use with a computer which includes a housing and having an upper surface. Pivotally attached to the housing is a pointer pad which is positionable between a position which covers at least a section of the keys displayed on the upper surface of the housing and a second position in which all keys on the upper surface are all uncovered while the pointer pad is positioned adjacent to the housing. Each position provides a working surface for the pointer which is in the proximity of the keyboard.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed is a decorative computer pointer device for use in association with a computer. The computer pointer device includes a sealed decorative vessel containing a first liquid, a second liquid and at least one structure, wherein the structure is insoluble in both the first and the second liquids and floats on the first liquid. The first and the second liquids are advantageously immiscible. The first and the second liquids advantageously have densities such that the first liquid is beneath the second liquid, the first liquid, or the second liquid, or both of the first and the second liquids, are optionally colored or colorless. The structure suspended in the sealed vessel is advantageously weighted so it can maintain its upright configuration irrelevant to the position of the sealed vessel, and capable of remaining in suspension when the computer pointer device is in motion. The structure can also optionally be affixed in the decorative sealed vessel so as to remain substantially stationary.

Abstract: The ultra ergonomic computer mouse includes an angled grip-rod which, when held and placed in the correct manner, supports and influences all the fingers and the hand to be in a naturally curved position. It also includes a contoured and grooved rubber foundation, which is shaped in such a way that the hand holding this mouse is put in a natural position and is greatly supported In this way, the user of this mouse would not be required to twist or in some way contort the hand, wrist, or forearm Therefore, the ultra ergonomic mouse especially prevents and/or reduces fatigue, discomfort, and pain despite continuous use over long periods of time.

Abstract: The arrangement detects an object that is irradiated by waves in the invisible spectral range. Infrared illumination is preferably employed in order to recognize an object on a display projected onto an arbitrary surface that is displayed for the user in the visible spectral range and to be able to track the movement of this object. User interfaces produced by a computer can thus be projected onto an arbitrary background. Touch-free inputs can ensue on these user interfaces by moving the hand or with some other input unit, whereby the triggering of an action is coupled to a dwell for a prescribable time over a field linked to a control characteristic.

Abstract: A display device, for connection to a host computer generating a primary video signal, has a pass-through function which provides primary and secondary video outputs. The secondary video output, consisting of an RGB image signal and synchronization signals, corresponds to the primary video signal, so that identical picture signals generated from a single source, i.e., the host computer, can be simultaneously applied directly to multiple display devices with minimum cable connections and a high signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A bistable display device that is powered only by ambient energy. Ambient energy is collected by an ambient energy receiver which converts the ambient energy into an operating signal and provides the operating signal to a controller. The controller drives the display device based on the operating signal. A user can create a custom display by fixing customizable patterned electrodes to the display. A display controller uses a self-starting oscillator. The oscillator outputs a clock input signal wave to a ripple counter and a voltage signal to a voltage doubler. The voltage doubler outputs a stored charge signal to a transformer concurrently with a clock pulse that is output by the ripple counter to change a state of the voltage output from the transformer to conductive electrodes within or on the display. The voltage output from the transformers applies an electric field across the display in the portions of the display covered by the conductors to switch the image on the display.

Abstract: A force feedback interface device including safety features. The interface device includes a sensor that senses the position of a user manipulatable object in a degree of freedom and provides a sensor signal indicating the position of the user manipulatable object to a host computer. An actuator of the device applies a force to the user manipulatable object in the degree of freedom. A safety switch of the interface device disables the actuator when the user is not using the interface device and enables the actuator when the user is using the device. A device is included in the interface device to execute a force ramping process when the safety switch enables the actuator, the force ramping process causing the force to be produced at a reduced magnitude and slowly increased to a desired magnitude over a period of time to avoid an abrupt application of initial force.

Abstract: An alternating-current plasma display panel (AC PDP) and a method for driving same are provided that reduce or remove flickering and increase luminance. The AC PDP can include first electrodes connected to one another, second electrodes for display lines that are in parallel with the first electrodes, and addressing electrodes provided orthogonal to the first and second electrodes. The first and second electrodes perform a wall charge accumulation function and form display lines. The method for driving the AC PDP can include writing a sub-frame to the plasma display panel device (PDP) in an addressing period for maintenance discharge to an odd(even) sub-frame and simultaneously performing the maintenance discharge on the even(odd) sub-frame. Then, carrying out the maintenance discharge on the odd(even) sub-frame, and at the same time writing the sub-frame to the plasma display panel device in the addressing period for the next succeeding maintenance discharge to the even(odd) sub-frame.

Abstract: A second display panel having a lower luminance is combined with a first display panel having a higher luminance, forming a combined display panel. The entire surface of the combined display panel is covered with a dimming filter for ornamental purpose. Transparency of the dimming filter is enhanced in a wave-length region of the light emitted from the second panel to alleviate a brightness imbalance between the first and second panels. The transparency is enhanced also in another wave-length region corresponding to light complementary to the light emitted from the second panel, so that a color shift of the display of the first panel is avoided. Preferably, an electroluminescent display panel which emits light having a sharp peak in a specific wave-length region is used as the second panel.

Abstract: A mouse 4-1 is connected to a display device 1 to produce, as position information, the information indicative of the amount and the direction of displacement of an image. The display device comprises an information analyzing unit for analyzing the output information from the mouse for the amount and the direction of displacement, and a setting unit for producing and setting information indicative of a new video display position in accordance with reference information and the amount and the direction of displacement analyzed by the information analyzing unit. The reference information is information stored in the display device as a current video display position.

Abstract: A computer mouse having a resilient soft pad with massaging function, comprises a front part and a rear part removably fitted onto said front part. The front part can be separated from the rear part if wish. When the rear and front parts are connected with each other, the power circuit will be in an open status, thus the massaging head projecting from the upper face of the rear part will not vibrate, and then can be used as a resilient soft pad for lessening the fatigue of the user's palm. When the front part is separated from the rear part, the rear part can be used as a massager to massage the body of the user who is fatigued with operating the mouse.

Abstract: A differential touch sensor apparatus for detecting the presence of an object such as a human appendage, the apparatus having a first electrode, a second electrode positioned proximate to the first electrode, a differential circuit connected to the first and second electrodes, and a pulse or other signal source connected to provide electrical signals that generate an electric field between the first and second electrodes. Introduction of an object near the first electrode affects the electric field between the first and second electrodes, thereby affecting the voltage difference between them. A differential circuit provides an output signal responsive to the difference in voltage between the first and second electrodes. In an alternative embodiment, a strobe electrode is provided proximate to both said first and second electrodes and the pulses or other signals are provided to the strobe electrode to induce an electric field between the strobe electrode and each of the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: A control system of a game apparatus, such as a racing game apparatus, has a CPU for controlling a signal processor based on a program stored in a computer-readable recording medium to process three-dimensional image data for perspective projection and horizontal image distortion correction for images to be projected onto a curved projection screen. The CPU also controls an image display processor to write the processed image data into a RAM, from which the image data is supplied to an image projector to project the images onto the curved projection screen. The curved projection screen gives a game player, e.g., a racing car driver, a horizontally long panoramic view in front of the game player so that the images displayed on the curved projection screen look wide and realistic.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal display device is provided which is capable of realizing dot inversion driving with fast response speed without using a data driver IC suitable for use with a high voltage. A voltage conversion circuit of the liquid-crystal display device includes a first voltage application circuit formed of a transistor which applies an output voltage as it is from a data driver, a second voltage application circuit, in which other four transistors form a switched capacitor circuit, which converts an output voltage from the data driver into an inverse output voltage and applies it to the data line, and a third voltage application circuit formed of another transistor and the like which applies an auxiliary voltage to the data line before the inverse output voltage is applied to the data line.

Abstract: A laptop computer is constructed having a case including a keyboard and containing traditional computer components. A display screen is hingedly secured to the computer case and may be pivoted about the hinge to an operative position wherein an operator can observe the information displayed on the display screen. A second display screen is hingedly secured to the first display screen and is also connected to the computer components within the computer case. The second display screen, when hinged to its operative position displays the same information displayed on the first display screen, but is directed in an opposite direction to permit an operator and an observer to observe the same information viewable on the first and second display screens, respectively.

Abstract: A pen input device includes an array of receiver electrodes and a transmitter juxtaposed with the array for coupling electric signals from the transmitter to a person's hand. A person can use an ordinary writing instrument to write on a paper or other substrate that rests on the array, and the signal from the transmitter is coupled through the person's hand and writing instrument back to the array. The received signal strength is sent to a microprocessor for determining the position of the tip of the writing instrument, and the position can then be sent to a handwriting recognition algorithm to correlate pen strokes across the substrate to alpha-numeric characters. The transmitter can be separate from the receiver electrode array, or the receiver electrodes can be multiplexed such that one of the electrodes is selected to function as the transmitter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of configuring a target area within a touchable item provided on a touchscreen, the target area for a touchable item being defined in accordance with an angle of approach employed by a user of the touchscreen to select the touchable item and a display location for the touchable item within the touchscreen. Configuration of the target area includes modeling a shape for the target area, determining a center point for the target area within the touchable item, and determining an orientation for the target area within the touchable item.