Abstract: A customer for music distributed over the interne may select a composition from a menu of written identifiers (such as the song title and singer or group) and then confirm that the composition is indeed the one desired by listening to a corrupted version of the composition. If the customer has forgotten the song title or the singer or other words that provide the identifier, he or she may hum or otherwise vocalize a few bars of the desired composition, or pick the desired composition out on a simulated keyboard. A music-recognition system then locates candidates for the selected composition and displays identifiers for these candidates to the customer.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a spatial light modulator and an illumination unit for supplying light to the spatial light modulator. The power consumed by the illumination unit is reduced by adjusting both the intensity of light emitted by the illumination unit and video words that are supplied to the spatial light modulator in accordance with what is to be displayed.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a spatial light modulator, such as a digital micromirror device or an LCD panel, and a lighting unit that illuminates the spatial light modulator. The lighting unit may include red, green, and blue lamps which emit light that impinges on a DMD from at least two different directions. The lamps may be flash tubes which are fired at different binary levels in accordance with the rank of the bits that are being displayed on the DMD. The lamps may be fluorescent lamps which are driven steadily at predetermined levels while the rows of micromirrors are turned on in sequence and subsequently turned off in sequence. Resetting to dislodge micromirrors that have become stuck can be accomplished by emitting current pulses through the micromirrors while exposing them to a magnetic field. The illumination unit may include a lamp unit and a color wheel.

Abstract: A customer for music distributed over the interne may select a composition from a menu of written identifiers (such as the song title and singer or group) and then confirm that the composition is indeed the one desired by listening to a corrupted version of the composition. If the customer has forgotten the song title or the singer or other words that provide the identifier, he or she may hum or otherwise vocalize a few bars of the desired composition, or pick the desired composition out on a simulated keyboard. A music-recognition system then locates candidates for the selected composition and displays identifiers for these candidates to the customer.

Abstract: A customer for music distributed over the internet may select a composition from a menu of written identifiers (such as the song title and singer or group) and then confirm that the composition is indeed the one desired by listening to a corrupted version of the composition. If the customer has forgotten the song title or the singer or other words that provide the identifier, he or she may hum or otherwise vocalize a few bars of the desired composition, or pick the desired composition out on a simulated keyboard. A music-recognition system then locates candidates for the selected composition and displays identifiers for these candidates to the customer.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a spatial light modulator, such as a digital micromirror device or an LCD panel, and a lighting unit that illuminates the spatial light modulator. The lighting unit may include red, green, and blue lamps which emit light that impinges on a DMD from at least two different directions. The lamps may be flash tubes which are fired at different binary levels in accordance with the rank of the bits that are being displayed on the DMD. The lamps may be fluorescent lamps which are driven steadily at predetermined levels while the rows of micromirrors are turned on in sequence and subsequently turned off in sequence. Resetting to dislodge micromirrors that have become stuck can be accomplished by emitting current pulses through the micromirrors while exposing them to a magnetic field. The illumination unit may include a lamp unit and a color wheel.

Abstract: In a method for increasing the native resolution of a spatial light modulator, the light-modulating elements of the spatial light modulator are illuminated with spots of light that are smaller in size than the light-modulating elements. The spots of light are moved to different positions with respect to the light-modulating elements as different data are displayed. The light-modulating elements thus do double-duty (or triple-duty, or quadruple-duty, or more) as the spots of light are moved to different positions.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a spatial light modulator and an illumination unit for supplying light to the spatial light modulator. The power consumed by the illumination unit is reduced by adjusting both the intensity of light emitted by the illumination unit and video words that are supplied to the spatial light modulator in accordance with what is to be displayed.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a spatial light modulator, such as a digital micromirror device or an LCD panel, and a lighting unit that illuminates the spatial light modulator. The lighting unit may include red, green, and blue lamps which emit light that impinges on a DMD from at least two different directions. The lamps may be flash tubes which are fired at different binary levels in accordance with the rank of the bits that are being displayed on the DMD. The lamps may be fluorescent lamps which are driven steadily at predetermined levels while the rows of micromirrors are turned on in sequence and subsequently turned off in sequence. Resetting to dislodge micromirrors that have become stuck can be accomplished by emitting current pulses through the micromirrors while exposing them to a magnetic field. The illumination unit may include a lamp unit and a color wheel.

Abstract: In a method for increasing the native resolution of a spatial light modulator, the light-modulating elements of the spatial light modulator are illuminated with spots of light that are smaller in size than the light-modulating elements. The spots of light are moved to different positions with respect to the light-modulating elements as different data are displayed. The light-modulating elements thus do double-duty (or triple-duty, or quadruple-duty, or more) as the spots of light are moved to different positions.

Abstract: A staple puller includes a pair of pivotably connected jaw members that are made from sheet metal. The jaw members have teeth that are configured to hook under a staple and pull it from a stack of pages. But sometimes one leg of a staple remains embedded in the stack after the other leg is pulled free, thus producing a “straggler” that may be difficult to remove if the stack is relatively thick. Accordingly, one of the jaw members is provided with a bent flange that cooperates with an edge of the other jaw member in the manner of pliers so that a straggler can be gripped and pulled out.

Abstract: A customer for music distributed over the internet may select a composition from a menu of written identifiers (such as the song title and singer or group) and then confirm that the composition is indeed the one desired by listening to a corrupted version of the composition. If the customer has forgotten the song title or the singer or other words that provide the identifier, he or she may hum or otherwise vocalize a few bars of the desired composition, or pick the desired composition out on a simulated keyboard. A music-recognition system then locates candidates for the selected composition and displays identifiers for these candidates to the customer.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a spatial light modulator, such as a digital micromirror device or an LCD panel, and a lighting unit that illuminates the spatial light modulator. The lighting unit may include red, green, and blue lamps which emit light that impinges on a DMD from at least two different directions. The lamps may be flash tubes which are fired at different binary levels in accordance with the rank of the bits that are being displayed on the DMD. The lamps may be fluorescent lamps which are driven steadily at predetermined levels while the rows of micromirrors are turned on in sequence and subsequently turned off in sequence. Resetting to dislodge micromirrors that have become stuck can be accomplished by emitting current pulses through the micromirrors while exposing them to a magnetic field. The illumination unit may include a lamp unit and a color wheel.

Abstract: Light is shined on an addressable spatial light modulator, and the light is also integrated. The data displayed on the spatial light modulator is changed when the integrated light reaches a predetermined value. The light may impinge on the spatial light modulator through a color wheel, which may be rotated faster than the frame repetition rate of video information that is being displayed. Alternatively, the light may be generated by different-colored lamps. The intensity of the light may be controlled in accordance with the bit rank or significance of the bits that are being displayed by the spatial light modulator. Several techniques for achieving different intensity levels are disclosed.

Abstract: An optical signal communication system employs an optical signal conduit that is threaded through segments of a utility pipe, such as a water main. Water-tight optical signal transfer fittings are used so that the optical signal conduit does not need to run through valves in the water main.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a spatial light modulator, such as a digital micromirror device or an LCD panel, and a lighting unit that illuminates the spatial light modulator. The lighting unit may include red, green, and blue lamps which emit light that impinges on a DMD from at least two different directions. The lamps may be flash tubes which are fired at different binary levels in accordance with the rank of the bits that are being displayed on the DMD. The lamps may be fluorescent lamps which are driven steadily at predetermined levels while the rows of micromirrors are turned on in sequence and subsequently turned off in sequence. Resetting to dislodge micromirrors that have become stuck can be accomplished by emitting current pulses through the micromirrors while exposing them to a magnetic field. The illumination unit may include a lamp unit and a color wheel.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a digital micromirror device and red, green and blue lamps which illuminate it. The light from the lamps impinges on the DMD from at least two different directions. The lamps may be flash tubes which are fired at different binary levels in accordance with the rank of the bits that are being displayed on the DMD. The lamps may be fluorescent lamps which are driven steadily at predetermined levels while the rows of micromirrors are turned on in sequence and subsequently turned off in sequence. Resetting to dislodge micromirrors that have become stuck can be accomplished by emitting current pulses through the micromirrors while exposing them to a magnetic field, or by coating the actuation electrodes of the DMD with piezoelectric material which moves mechanically when pulses are applied to the micromirrors.

Abstract: A display apparatus employs a field emission display device with pixels which are turned on and off in accordance with different bits of video words that are being displayed. The field emission display device is driven so that its pixels emit light at different intensity levels, depending upon the rank of the bits that are being displayed.

Abstract: A multiplier uses squaring units to find the product of two binary numbers A and B by exploiting the algebraic expansion of (A-B).sup.2 or (A+B).sup.2. The squaring units may be look-up memories. However, to multiply extremely large numbers, each squaring unit may itself have look-up memories and additional components. A divider may be formed by using the multiplier to multiply trial quotients by a divisor and by comparing the product with a dividend. The trial quotient is formed by shifting a one through a sequence of bit positions and latching the one at bit positions such that the trial quotient times the divisor does not exceed the dividend.

Abstract: A rubber stamp which can used with different colored inks includes a hollow holder having a base. A first stamp portion is mounted on the base. A plunger extends through the holder and carries a second stamp portion. The second stamp portion can be moved between a raised position which is above the first stamp portion and a lowered position which is below the first stamp portion. A spring may be used to bias the second stamp portion in its raised position. In use, the rubber stamp is wetted with ink having a first color by pressing the first stamp portion against a first stamp pad while the second stamp portion is in its raised position. Then the plunger is depressed to move the second stamp portion to its lowered position. The second stamp portion can then pressed against a second ink pad to wet it with ink of a second color. A two-colored image can then applied to a surface such as a greeting card by pressing the rubber stamp against the greeting card and then pressing the plunger.