Abstract: A display device has a driver circuit for driving data lines in a matrix display panel according to input digital signals. The driver circuit includes a number of digital-to-analog (D/A) converters, which number is less than the number of pixels contained in one horizontal scanning line. The D/A converters are repeatedly used to sequentially convert portions of the input digital image signal corresponding to one horizontal scanning line. The analog signals obtained by each D/A conversion are retained by a sample-and-hold circuit. When storage for one horizontal scanning line is completed, the signals are simultaneously delivered to the data lines. Therefore the display device can be reduced to a small circuit size. Also the offset voltage of the sample-and-hold circuitry can be reduced, since the outputs from the D/A converters can be sampled at an interval longer than the interval between pixels in the input digital signals.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, sampling means and gate circuits are provided at every signal line, whereby a load in the sampling operation is reduced to carry out the sampling operation with ease. Simultaneously, the charge supplying time to the signal lines can be extended to thereby charge the signal lines by the signals satisfactorily. Thus, the quality of a displayed image can be prevented from being deteriorated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multiple indicator display having a plurality of miniature lamps, for a rear light of an automotive vehicle. The display uses a plurality of miniature lamps for each of various functions, and comprises at least one attenuating device for the light flux of at least certain of the lamps forming part of the display itself and supplied through a separate input of the supply circuit for the lamps.

Abstract: A bus mountable Video Graphic Array (VGA), controller card for IBM personal computer family products, including the PC, PC/XT, PC/AT, and PS/2 computers and completely compatable clone computer products to provide VGA standard signals to drive conventional Cathode Ray Tube, (CRT) and flat panel displays is disclosed. The VGA controller card is hardware compatable to the IBM PC family products; functions to provide VGA standard signals capable of driving flat panel displays and converts standrad PS/2 VGA signals to simultaneously drive conventional CRT and flat panel displays.

Abstract: Apparatus for assembling images together in which each image is defined by respective pluralities of sets of data values, each set corresponding to a group of pixels of the image, the groups being arranged in a regular array across the image whereby the sets of data values can be obtained from sets of first data each defining the color content of an image pixel in the group. The apparatus comprises a control system for determining the position of a first image relative to a second image in a desired assembled image; an assembled image store; and a modified image store. The control system is operable to convert the sets of data values of the overlapping groups of pixels defining a region of the assembled images which overlaps and which is to be retouched into the corresponding sets of first data, consolidating the converted sets of first data into an assembled set of data, modifying the assembled set of data as desired, and storing the modified, assembled data set in the modified image store.

Abstract: A display apparatus consists of a display memory (VRAM), a data modifier circuit and a display unit at least. The display unit, such as a CRT display unit, has a plurality of display dots which include red, green and blue color dots. The display memory must be cleaned at a primary stage and thereafter a plurality of display codes corresponding to only display dots on the outlines of the color image must be written into the display memory. The display codes are converted into display data which indicate red, green and blue color components. The display codes are successively read out from the display memory and supplied to the data modifier circuit wherein the display data are modified so as to compensate the display data which are not written into the display memory. The display unit displays the image corresponding to the modified display data on the screen thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling an area of a computer display with a preselected color is provided. Typical computer systems software provides the capability to represent 256 different intensities of a color. However, many color displays cannot support the displaying of 256 intensity levels. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for mapping the higher number of intensity levels supported by the systems software to the lower number of intensity levels actually supported by the display. In a preferred embodiment, four picture elements (pels) of a display are logically grouped together to create a super-pel. By varying the intensity level in each pel of a super-pel, the effective number of intensity levels for a given color can be increased.

Abstract: A CRT display unit and a flat panel type display unit are switched for use in a computer system. Both the CRT display unit and the flat panel type display unit display an image stored in an image memory in accordance with display parameters set in an I/O register. A parameter memory stores a set of display parameters for each of display modes of the CRT display unit and the flat display unit. When switching between the display units is requested via a keyboard, transfer control means transfers display parameters for the newly designated display unit from the parameter memory to the I/O register. A display circuit causes the newly designated display unit to display an image in accordance with the display parameters stored in the I/O register and the image data.

Abstract: This race timing apparatus of the video finish type includes a photo sensitive CCD bar (5) which may be read at a predetermined frequency in correspondence with the run past speed (Vi) of the image of the race. The images are stored and visualized by means of a commercial recorder (22) and monitor (23) of a fixed standardized sweep frequency. Since the image acquisition frequency by the bar is not synchronous with the visualization frequency, one proceeds with the generation of image parts using buffer memories (19, 20), the image parts being next stored in an image memory (21) and then read in a discontinuous manner by jumping over image parts in synchronism with a standard TV sweep. The apparatus enables the offering of a system at a low overall cost price since it employs a recorder and a monitor currently obtainable on the market.

Abstract: A digitizer for digitizing a trace on a two-dimensional surface, in which the surface is defined by a longitudinal Y direction and a transverse X direction. The digitizer includes a frame mounted on at least three wheels such that the frame is movable only along the Y direction, a cursor mounted on the frame such that the cursor moves in relation to the frame in the X direction; a rotary optical encoder for determining the direction and amount of movement of at least one of the wheels; a pair of linear optical encoders for determining the direction and amount of movement of the cursor; and electronic circuits, including a microcomputer unit, for receiving information from the optical encoders which is indicative of the X and Y position of the cursor and for transmitting data, serially, to a host computer. The information may then be displayed and processed on a host computer in accordance with known devices.

Abstract: A three degrees of freedom interactive display controller device is disclosed, comprising a hand manipulable housing unit having an opening for the passage of a mouse ball, two motion detectors for detecting the movement of the mouse ball and converting that motion to output signals controlling the translational movement of an object on the display of a computer and a finger operated conveyor belt or roller for controlling the translational motion of the object with respect to a third translational axis. All translation controls are operable to be physically moved in a direction which corresponds to the desired simulated direction of movement of the object on the display. The physical motion of each control is unbounded and the actual physical position of the housing unit is independent of the simulated position of the object on the display.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display has a liquid crystal layer supported by a pair of substrates therebetween; a transparent common electrode formed inside at least one of the substrates; and a plurality of transparent picture element electrodes respectively formed inside the at least one of the substrates and connected to each other through at least one active device; the transparent common electrode being disposed below one of the transparent picture element electrodes through an insulator layer; and the transparent common electrode being electrically connected to the transparent picture element electrodes adjacent to the one of the transparent picture element electrodes through the at least one active device. The transparent picture element electrodes are disposed such that the transparent picture element electrodes do not overlap the transparent common electrode.

Abstract: The values of an attribute, like color, to be assigned to the right and left half of a pixel of a display device, such as may be determined by a computer image generation system, are compared for determining a difference value. If the difference value is less than a predetermined threshold, an average of the left and right half values is assigned to the pixel. If the difference value is greater than or equal to the threshold, then the right and left half values are assigned to the respective right and left halves of the pixel and during the raster scan, the attribute value of the pixel to be displayed is transitioned at the beginning of the pixel interval and in the middle of the pixel interval so that the pixel presents an image in response to the corresponding right and left half values. The data for the left and right half values may be truncated and stored as a portion of the data word or may be encoded into logarithmetic form having a mantissa and shift code.

Abstract: A drive circuit for a liquid crystal display converts a display information signal to an n bit gray scale code to control the brightness at a prescribed pixel. A counter receives the m most significant bits of the n bit gray scale code and a latch receives the n-m least significant bits of the n bit gray scale code. The counter is decremented by clock pulses occurring at predetermined intervals and a set of 2.sup.n-m sub-interval timing signals are generated in response to each clock pulse. A transfer gate is enabled by an interval initiating pulse to permit charging of the pixel. One of the sub-interval timing signals is selected in response to the n-m least significant bits of the n bit gray scale code stored in the latch. The transfer gate is disabled by the sub-interval timing signal immediately succeeding the decrementing of the counter to its zero state.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus having a specified-area confirming function comprises a keyboard for inputting information and marking the beginning and end points of a desired area in the information to specify the area; an inputted information memory for storing the information inputted from the keyboard; a display having a screen for displaying on the screen the information stored in the inputted information memory; first line information memory for storing information in the first line of the area when the area is specified by the keyboard; and a processing unit for allocating a fixed screen to a predetermined position on the screen of the display when the area is specified by the keyboard and for reading the information in the first line from the first line information memory and displaying it within the fixed screen.

Abstract: A touch sensitive user interface of the type having a display screen for displaying an image; control logic responsive to the touch sensitive user interface for determining the contact position of a probe, such as a finger, thereon; a display menu of operating features, represented by a plurality of images on the display screen, so that a user may make touch selections on the images corresponding to operating features desired; a system controller for identifying a contact zone of a predetermined size with respect to the display screen, the control logic actuating the feature within the system represented by a displayed image in response to user touch within a corresponding contact zone, the system controller enlarging the contact zone of a selected feature upon selection thereof, to a size accommodating a probe tip, without overlapping on adjacent areas and upon completion of option selection, returning the expanded contact areas to said predetermined size.

Abstract: A circuit for generating a scroll screen window signal which is capable of displaying on a display device a desired scroll screen by separating vertically, the screen being displayed in a given corresponding scroll mode. The circuit also compares scroll screen mode signals for discriminating a given mode by use of (+), (-) key input signal representing a scroll type. The improved invention comprises: an OR gate for receiving a basic clock signal 3.

Abstract: An artificial halftone processing apparatus for binarizing input image information on the basis of the densities of pixels and combining a plurality of sets of resultant binary data to produce multi-level tone information. A matrix for halftone processing is variable in size or arrangement to store a plurality of pixel data in a memory together. Halftone processing is executed in an optimal manner for a particular kind of figure to be drawn.

Abstract: Display device comprising an array of rotating display elements (4) which have at least two faces of different color and are arranged in rows and columns, means (8, 18) for actuating the said rotating elements in terms of rotation, intended to ensure the modification of the face of each rotating element appearing on the display, and means for controlling the actuating means (8, 18) so as to ensure the rotation of the said rotating elements in order to form an image to be displayed, characterized in that the rotating elements (4) of each row or column are arranged on a common shaft rotatably mounted in a frame of the device, each rotating element being connected to the shaft by a friction coupling, a device (8, 15) for driving in step-by-step rotation associated with each shaft and a retractable member (16) for blocking all the rotating elements (4) of each column or row in terms of rotation, one actuating device (18) being associated with each blocking member (16).

Abstract: A plurality of semi-conductor diodes disposed in an array may be constructed to emit light when subjected to a particular voltage. This voltage reversely biases the semi-conductor diodes to break down the semi-conductor diodes and to provide for the emission of light upon breakdown. The breakdown occurs at the junction between a pair of electrodes in each semi-conductor diode. One of the electrodes may be an n electrode and the other electrode may be a p electrode. To break down the diode, a positive voltage (e.g. 3-5 volts) may be applied to the n electrode and a ground voltage may be applied to the p electrode. The diodes are so small that an array of 1024.times.1024 diodes can be disposed in a space approximately 0.4" square to act as pixels. The diodes may be scanned, as in a raster scan, preferably on a repetitive basis.