Abstract: Liquid crystal displays having improved apparent viewing cones are disclosed. The displays are activated by an electrical energizing signal which comprises an activation signal portion and a superimposed A.C. voltage signal by which the apparent viewing cone angles of the displays are increased.

Abstract: A symbol processing system incorporated in an NMOS/LSI chip separates valid data from invalid data all generated by scanning a bar-coded symbol. The signals representing the bars and spaces of the symbol are decoded by a pattern recognition array, and the decoded data is clocked into a storage unit. When valid data is discovered, such data is captured within the storage unit. The valid data is then clocked out of the storage unit to a utilization device for further processing.

Abstract: A symbol decoding system incorporated in a NMOS/LSI chip generates asynchronously binary data in response to the scanning of bars and spaces of the symbol. The binary data may represent each bar or space as a numerical character, a margin or a center band of the symbol. The binary data also includes data identifying the bar or space and if the character generated is valid or invalid. Logic circuits generate a time delay period allowing the binary data to be generated asynchronously during the delay period. At the end of the delay period the binary data is outputted to a utilizing device for selecting the valid data from the data outputted by the decoding system.