Abstract: A display system comprising a steerable display having a monocular field of view of at least 1 degree, positioned within a scannable field of view of at least 20 degrees, the steerable display positioned for a user. In one embodiment, the steerable display is positioned for the user's fovea.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for idle detection in a computer system. The operating system of the computer includes an idle kernel which performs idle detection to detect idle states when application program processes are idle. To check for idle states, the idle kernel monitors operating system functions which are typically used by application programs when they are otherwise idle. The operating system includes an idle driver which controls idle operations in response to idle states detected by the idle monitor. The idle driver causes the system to enter the power saving mode with frequent, sometimes short idle intervals.

Abstract: A compact thermal developer is mounted in a microfiche reader printer. The developer is a two-stage unit having a pair of roller-heater units located to pass on exposed copy sheet in one direction through succeeding stages in an over-and-under movement to develop the copy and produce a flat hard copy. Each roller-heater unit includes a roller having an outer thin friction coating rotatably supported within an arcuate recess portion of a heater bar. The heater bar and roller are arranged with roller biased toward the heater to grasp the copy sheet. The roller includes a thin aluminum tube supported by heat insulating end members mounted on a shaft with a floating connection to support the tube with a permission relative axial movement to compensate for different coefficients of thermal expansion. A thin silicone rubber coating on the tube establishes positive sheet movement while providing sufficient thermal transmission to present a thermally light background member.

Abstract: A microfiche reader in which the subject to be viewed and by which any selected area thereof can be quickly and easily brought into intersecting alignment with the light beam of the optical system of the machine, is carried by the upper one of two superimposed rigid frames that are mounted on the base of the machine by elongated ball bearing retainers interposed between stationary tracks fixed to the machine base and endwise movable tracks fixed to the lower one of the superimposed rigid frames, for movement in unison across the machine base along one of a pair of coordinate horizontal axes, and connected with one another for relative movement along the other one of said axes by similar elongated ball bearing retainers having rolling engagement with upper and lower tracks respectively fixed to the upper and lower rigid frames.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a microform reader apparatus of the type which projects a magnified image of an image film frame onto the rear side of a viewing screen to facilitate forward viewing of the magnified image. The microform reader of the present invention includes an adjustable mirror assembly positioned between a light source and condensing lens for optimizing the brightness of the displayed image. In a preferred form the mirror assembly is adjustable from the front of the microform reader to allow simultaneous monitoring of the brightness of the display while the adjustment is being made. The microform reader of the present invention also includes an adjustable lens assembly which allows the optical axis of the lens assembly to be adjusted for perpendicularity to the image frame surface.