Abstract: A system of networked terminal apparatus for creating a three dimensional animated work environment wherein terminal users of various levels of immersion are depicted as avatars in the virtual work environment and wherein actions and information of the terminal users is input into the virtual work environment through their corresponding avatars in order to perform complimentary, independent and cooperative tasks in parallel to create simultaneous sets of solutions to problems relating to command, control, communications, cognition and intelligence. In a preferred embodiment, the virtual work environment emulates an actual military command post, with all of the instruments and familiar surroundings emulated in function if not in form. The terminal users of the environment (i.e., the commanders and staff) immerse in this environment via virtual reality displays (audio and video) and inputs (microphone, body encoders and pointing devices) connected to individual personal computers.

Abstract: A direct flash converter has independent parallel analog-to-digital encoders for each bit. Cross-coupled level sensors are coupled to a single comparator within each bit encoder to provide a directly encoded Gray code binary output.