Patents Issued in July 1, 2004
  • Publication number: 20040125066
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a thin film transistor arranged at crossings of gate lines and data lines; a pixel electrode connected to each thin film transistor; a common electrode arranged on a second substrate; a layer of liquid crystal material provided between the first and second substrates; a protrusion arranged on the common electrode for controlling an orientation of the liquid crystal molecules within the layer of liquid crystal material; and a common voltage generator applying an AC common voltage to the common electrode, wherein a polarity of the common voltage is inverted every predetermined period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Sung Chul Park, Do Sung Kim
  • Publication number: 20040125067
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a data driving apparatus and method for a liquid crystal display device having a first multiplexer part performing a time-division on inputted digital pixel data, a digital-analog converter part converting the time-divided digital pixel data from the first multiplexer part to analog pixel signals, a demultiplexer part supplying the analog pixel signals from the digital-analog converter part to a plurality of output channels, and an output part sampling and holding first received analog pixel signals from the demultiplexer part and holding second received analog pixel signals and simultaneously outputting both the first and second received pixel signals to corresponding data lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: LG. Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok Su Kim, Chang Gone Kim, Gi Suck Kwon, Seok Woo Lee
  • Publication number: 20040125068
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel; a drive system for transmitting signals over a predetermined number of channels and for displaying a picture on the liquid crystal display panel; an interface part generating a channel mode signal in accordance with the predetermined number of channels; and a timing controller driven in correspondence with the generated channel mode signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Jae Hyung Lee
  • Publication number: 20040125069
    Abstract: A bi-directional driving circuit of a flat panel display device and method for driving the same is disclosed in the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: LG.Philips LCD Co.,Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Deok Park, Du Hwan Oh
  • Publication number: 20040125070
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate, an image display part formed on the first substrate and having a plurality of pixels arranged thereon, a plurality of gate and source drivers for supplying signals to the pixels, a controller for supplying control signals to the gate and source drivers, at least one conductive line at a corner portion of the first substrate, the conductive line connecting the controller and the gate drivers, and a plurality of transparent electrode segments overlapping the conductive line with at least one intermediate film interposed therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: LG.Philips LCD Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Sik Kim, Seong-Soo Hwang, Dae-Lim Park, Su-Hwan Moon
  • Publication number: 20040125071
    Abstract: An inverter device for a liquid crystal display includes a transformer for receiving an inverter drive voltage, converting the received drive voltage into an AC lamp drive voltage and supplying the AC lamp drive voltage to a high path of a backlight lamp, a low path switching part selectively connecting a low path of the backlight lamp with a ground voltage source in response to an external inverter ON/OFF signal, and a shutdown circuit for receiving a voltage input through the low path of the backlight lamp to monitor for a malfunction of the backlight lamp in response to an external shutdown ON/OFF signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Mau Kim, Jung Gun Lee
  • Publication number: 20040125072
    Abstract: A display pointing device (10) includes a fingerprint sensing circuit (18) that optically senses, for example, a portion of a fingerprint or other skin texture, and a fingerprint movement detection circuit (20), operatively coupled to the fingerprint sensing circuit (18), that is operative to determine a direction of movement and a rate of movement of skin texture being sensed by the fingerprint sensing circuit (18) to produce pointing output data (24) for a display (12). The pointing output data (24) may be, for example, data representing a visual indication of a position on a display screen, such as a position of a cursor or of highlighted text, or any other suitable position indication. A method for providing pointing information for display includes sensing a fingerprint, determining a direction of movement and a rate of movement of the fingerprint and producing a pointing output for display based on a determined direction of movement and rate of movement of the sensed fingerprint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Lawrence Alan Gust
  • Publication number: 20040125073
    Abstract: A portable electronic apparatus (500) employs an enclosed motion sensor (120) to detect movement of at least a portion of the portable electronic apparatus using the enclosed motion sensor (120) and controls desired functions such as movement of a pointer (116) on a display, control of menu selections or any other desired function(s), in response to detected movement of at least a portion of the portable electronic apparatus. In one example, the enclosed motion sensor (120) includes an accelerometer located inside a housing of the portable electronic apparatus that detects a rate and direction of movement of the apparatus with respect to a gravitational reference point. A pointer control circuit (200) controls movement of the pointer (116) on the display (110) as a function of the detected rate and direction of apparatus movement to navigate through a user interface on the display (110).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Scott Potter, Joseph Guy Gillette, Sivakumar Muthuswamy
  • Publication number: 20040125074
    Abstract: A multi-function remote controller comprises a touch panel; a liquid crystal display; a power unit; a microprocessor; a memory unit; an infrared transceiver unit; a carrier emitting and receiving unit; a buzzer; a back light module and control unit; and a transmitting interface. The keys on the touch panel includes device selecting keys, frame switching keys, function setting keys, a delete key, micro instruction set keys, channel keys, operation keys, a power keys, a search keys for performing the functions of general operation, channel classification, micro instruction set, guiding learning; the remote control object is determinable, which includes televisions, video compact disks, DVDs, VCRs. CDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Chin-Shu Lin
  • Publication number: 20040125075
    Abstract: A system for playing programs includes a monitor, a player and a remote control. The remote control has a base and set of interchangeable faceplates. Each faceplate is matched to a program so that the switches of the faceplate correspond to icons that represent menu selections of the program to provide a simple user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Richard A. Diercks
  • Publication number: 20040125076
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for human interface with a computer is disclosed. The system comprises a member adapted to reside on a finger of a computer user; light emitting means disposed on the member; a camera operatively connected to the computer and adapted to view the member and the light emitting means; and means for converting a color viewed by the camera into a control signal for the computer. The light emitting means may be adapted to emit a first color when the member is in a first position, and a second color when the member is in a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: David Green
  • Publication number: 20040125077
    Abstract: A pointing device, such as a remote control, including a multi-bit data sensor configured to receive multi-bit data from a portable data repository. The multi-bit data sensor may include a transducer configured to read a bar code, characters, a magnetic strip or the like, and generate resulting electronic data. In various embodiments the portable data repository is a credit card, smart card or other data card. The pointing device may further include memory for data storage and a logic circuit for processing of stored data. In typical embodiments the remote control is configured to control a video display system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Jason A. Ashton
  • Publication number: 20040125078
    Abstract: An input device has buttons on each of which an image appears. The input device detects pressing of a button, and changes images appearing on buttons according to functions allocated to the buttons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Takashi Nishimori, Gantetsu Matsui
  • Publication number: 20040125079
    Abstract: A system for detecting tactile information includes strain-gauge touch sensors and a controller. Based on the sum output from each of touch-sensor sensor units, an analyzer in the controller calculates touch force Fi(t) at each measurement point. An automatic gain control adjusts the voltage amplitude Ai(t) of a sine wave of frequency fi applied to the sensor units at each measurement point to bring the voltage amplitude measured at each measurement point into line with a target voltage, and, via a bandpass filter, applies to each sensor unit a composite sine wave y(t) that includes sine waves of each frequency provided with the thus-adjusted voltage amplitude Ai(t). This makes it possible to reduce the number of lines between the controller and touch sensors that include numerous measurement points, and enables the gain of the touch sensors constituted by strain gauges to be controlled within an appropriate range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Harmonic Drive Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto Kaneko, Ryuta Horie
  • Publication number: 20040125080
    Abstract: An extensible type universal remote control and a method of operating the same is provided, a basic unit of the universal remote control is provided with buttons commonly used for controlling multiple pieces of electronic equipment, and an additional unit detachably connected to the basic unit is provided with additional buttons used only for controlling specific pieces of electronic equipment, so that the number of buttons of the universal remote control can be reduced and the universal remote control can be upgraded to ensure efficient control for new functions added to pieces of electronic equipment. The basic unit also has a remote-control signal transmitting section for transmitting a relevant equipment key code to relevant pieces of electronic equipment; and an extension connection terminal portion formed with data lines for receiving a relevant key code that is generated according to the additional unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hoeseong Ha, Taehyun Ku, Jihyun Sun
  • Publication number: 20040125081
    Abstract: To provide a user interface for gaining access to information which is user friendly, without regard to an experience of using a computer. There are included a page turning operation detecting step A1 of outputting a page turning operation detecting signal when a dragging is made on an operation unit in parallel or anti-parallel to a predefined page turning direction at a current page read from a storage unit 4 that is to be displayed at present, a next display page setting step A2 of setting a preceding page or a succeeding page immediately before or after a current page depending on a direction of a dragging operation to a next display page to be displayed at the next time, when a page turning operation detecting signal is detected in the page turning operation detecting step A1, and a page turning process step A3 of displaying the next display page set in the next display page setting step in place of the current page on a display unit 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Keisuke Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20040125082
    Abstract: An input device includes: magnets that are arranged in a flat state; coils that are arranged so as to face the magnets, and are moved in relation to the magnets; a mobile member that is connected to the coils; a first guide member that slidably guides the mobile member; a second guide member that slidably guides the first guide member in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the mobile member; and a switch that is operated by an operator to carry out an input operation. In this input device, the switch is formed on the mobile member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Shinichiro Akieda, Takashi Arita, Shigemi Kurashima, Hiroto Inoue
  • Publication number: 20040125083
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling movement of a cursor on a screen and a computer readable medium containing such a method as a program code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Gerhard Lengeling, Chris Adam
  • Publication number: 20040125084
    Abstract: A system and method for transferring control of an input device from one processor to another processor in a distributed computing system when a pointer is located within a transition area of a display. Movement of the input device triggers the transfer of input signals generated by the input device to the other processor. In one embodiment, the input device includes a keyboard and mouse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Mike B. MacPherson
  • Publication number: 20040125085
    Abstract: A display circuit for use in a hand held device is provided, which virtually expands the image displayed. The display circuit includes a display, a memory, a motion sensor, and a controller. The display has a predetermined size, and the memory has stored therein an image, which has an image size, that is larger than the size of the display. The motion sensor detects the movement of the hand held device and the corresponding movement of the display. The controller, which is coupled to the motion sensor, via prestored instructions, determines the current position of the hand held device and displays a portion of the image on the display, corresponding to the present position of the device. As the hand held device moves, the image being displayed on the display is panned an amount, which matches the movement of the hand held device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Michael Kotzin
  • Publication number: 20040125086
    Abstract: Disclosed is a touch input device that includes a removable overlay defining the touch surface coupled to a plurality of sensors configured to sense the location of a touch based on forces due to the touch passing through the overlay. The overlay can be removed and replaced, for example to repair a damaged overlay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Edward S. Hagermoser, Anthony L. Hill
  • Publication number: 20040125087
    Abstract: A single-layer touchpad comprised of a relatively clear substrate, a first active electrode disposed thereon, and a sense electrode disposed thereon, wherein the first active electrode and the sense electrode are comprised of a conductive material, wherein the first active electrode in combination with the sense electrode are used to detect the presence of a pointing object in a zone, determining in which zone the pointing object has been detected, or the simultaneous presence of multiple pointing objects in multiple zones, and wherein the first active electrode and/or the sense electrode are made sufficiently visible so that a pattern is visually detectable to the user when looking at the display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Brian Taylor, David Taylor, Michael D. Layton
  • Publication number: 20040125088
    Abstract: Electronic image displays, of lists that extend beyond the vertical display dimension of the display screen, are displaced in the vertical direction by touching the screen with a finger and then moving the finger in the desired direction on the screen. In a natural manner, the initial speed of displacement of the displayed image corresponds to the speed of motion of the finger along the screen. When the user's finger is disengaged from the screen, the system senses the disengagement and thereafter allows the vertical displacement speed of the image to decrease at a controlled rate. When it is desired to stop the motion of the image at a given point, or to make a selection from the displayed image, the system measures the length of time that the finger is in contact with the screen and the distance that the finger is moved during that time, to determine if a selection is desired or if it is desired only to stop displacement of the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: John Zimmerman, Jacquelyn Annette Martino
  • Publication number: 20040125089
    Abstract: An electromagnetic induction device with a writing function is disclosed in this present invention. The design of this invention combines an electromagnetic induction device and a writing device in a pen-like device. The electromagnetic induction device can be employed as a pointer device of a tablet. The writing device can be used as an ink pen. Moreover, while writing on paper, the tablet can detect and calculate the coordinates of the writing device and save the coordinates in memory device, such as a RAM. After communicating with the host machine, the monitor can response and display the handwriting trace. Hence, it is very convenient for a user to bring and carry a pen-like device with multiple functions according to this invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Aiptek International Inc.
    Inventors: Ching-Chuan Chao, Ping-Hung Chen, Chung-Wen Hsu
  • Publication number: 20040125090
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a pixel display configuration by providing a voltage controller in each pixel control circuit for controlling the voltage inputted to the pixel electrodes. The controller includes a function of multiplexing the voltage input to the pixel electrodes and also a bit buffering and decoupling function to decouple and flexible change the input voltage level to the pixel electrodes. The rate of DC balancing can be increased to one KHz and higher to mitigate the possibility of DC offset effects and the image sticking problems caused by slow DC balancing rates. This invention further discloses an enabling technology for switching from one DC balance state to another without rewriting the data onto the panels. Therefore, it is not required to implement a high voltage CMOS designs and standard CMOS technologies can be applied to manufacture the storage cells and control panel for the LCOS displays with lower production cost and higher yields.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: eLCOS Microdisplay Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Edwin Lyle Hudson
  • Publication number: 20040125091
    Abstract: A method and system for tessellating a polygon is provided, in which a polygon is divided into bands, each band being bounded by a pair of chains. Each chain is made up of one or more line segments of the polygon. The bands are merged with one another and/or split as needed. Each band is then subdivided into constituent triangles, which may then be sent to a graphics card of a computer. The graphics card then renders the polygon on a monitor by reassembling the constituent triangles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Kallay
  • Publication number: 20040125092
    Abstract: A wireless communication handset (100) having a movable housing portion (204) coupled to a housing portion (202) that rotates relative to the housing portion. The movable housing portion may be a ring that rotates from one position 200 to another position 300 relative to the housing. Rotation of the ring to a first position activates a first function. Indicia 210 disposed on the ring indicates the desired mode. Rotation of the ring to a second position activates a second mode corresponding to a second indicia on the ring. The ring is interchangeable with other rings (FIG. 5 through FIG. 7) having different indicia corresponding to different modes or functions. The software that corresponds to the different modes may be stored in a memory 104 of the device or downloaded to the device upon coupling the ring thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Keith Kinerk, Daniel Wong
  • Publication number: 20040125093
    Abstract: A single chip light processing system includes an on-chip light modulator on the chip and an on-chip processor on the chip. In some examples, at least a portion of the on-chip processor is formed on a different physical layer of the chip with respect to the on-chip light modulator. In some examples, an area of the on-chip processor overlaps with an area of the on-chip light modulation structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Serge Rutman, Oleg Rashkovskiy
  • Publication number: 20040125094
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a pixel display configuration by providing a voltage controller in each pixel control circuit for controlling the voltage inputted to the pixel electrodes. The controller includes a function of multiplexing the voltage input to the pixel electrodes and also a bit buffering and decoupling function to decouple and flexible change the input voltage level to the pixel electrodes. The controller further includes a first switching stage and a second switching stage and each stage has a P-type transistor and a N-type transistor to expand the range of the switching voltages such that the improvement of the pixel control is further enhanced. The rate of DC balancing can be increased to one KHz and higher to mitigate the possibility of DC offset effects and the image sticking problems caused by slow DC balancing rates. This invention further discloses an enabling technology for switching from one DC balance state to another without rewriting the data onto the panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: eLCOS Microdisplay Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Edwin Lyle Hudson
  • Publication number: 20040125095
    Abstract: In a circuit driving a capacitive load Cp, current passed through a transistor Q3, a diode D1 and a recovering coil L is passed through lines L1, L2, and the inductance components of the lines L1 and L2, and the drain-source capacitances of the transistors Q1 and Q2 generate LC resonance. Capacitors C1 and C2 are connected in parallel to the drain-source regions of the transistors Q1 and Q2 to increase the total drain-source capacitance and reduce the resonance frequency, so that unwanted electromagnetic wave radiation in a frequency band affecting other electronic devices is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Kigo, Hidehiko Shoji, Jumpei Hashiguchi
  • Publication number: 20040125096
    Abstract: In a circuit driving a capacitive load Cp, current passed through a transistor Q3, a diode D1 and a recovering coil L is passed through lines L1, L2, and the inductance components of the lines L1 and L2, and the drain-source capacitances of the transistors Q1 and Q2 generate LC resonance. Capacitors C1 and C2 are connected in parallel to the drain-source regions of the transistors Q1 and Q2 to increase the total drain-source capacitance and reduce the resonance frequency, so that unwanted electromagnetic wave radiation in a frequency band affecting other electronic devices is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Shigeo Kigo, Hidehiko Shoji, Jumpei Hashiguchi
  • Publication number: 20040125097
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for mitigating or substantially eliminating pixel burn-in on phosphor-based display panels. A visual display includes a display installation and a computer. The display installation may include a display panel having including a plurality of pixels each with a bit depth and an interface for receiving a video input and for driving the display panel. The computer is configured to determine a primary burn value for each of the pixels for a primary period of time, and to determine a secondary burn value for each of the pixels for a secondary period of time. The computer determines the secondary burn values such that when a pixel is driven at the secondary burn value thereof for the secondary period of time, an average value of the pixel for the primary and secondary periods of time is approximately equal to one-half of the bit depth of the pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Brent McKay
  • Publication number: 20040125098
    Abstract: An image display system includes at least one display panel, a memory circuit, and a position sensing subsystem. The memory circuit stores image information, associated with positions within a space in which the at least one display panel is provided, at least temporarily. The position sensing subsystem detects the position of the at least one display panel within the space. The at least one display panel presents at least a portion of the image information thereon according to its position that has been detected by the position sensing subsystem in the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Nobukazu Nagae
  • Publication number: 20040125099
    Abstract: A method to manage the power consumption of a display unit is provided. The method determines if a graphics-intensive event is occurring, uses a first refresh rate if the graphics-intensive event is occurring, and uses a second refresh rate different than the first refresh rate if the graphics-intensive event is not occurring. An apparatus for performing the method, and an article including a machine-accessible medium that provides instructions that, if executed by a processor, will cause the processor to perform the method are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Randy P. Stanley, Siripong Sritanyaratana
  • Publication number: 20040125100
    Abstract: In a period from temporal storage of a video signal to reading and displaying of the video signal, an average value 121 of the brightness levels obtained from a video signal before the video signal is stored in a storage means 3 and a predetermined target value 122 are used to perform a calculation by using a proportionality term and an integration term so that a quantity of limited electric currents is obtained. Moreover, the quantity of limited electric currents is provided with a non-response region or a hysteresis characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiki Ono, Jun Someya, Yoshiaki Okuno
  • Publication number: 20040125101
    Abstract: There are provided an organic El device and a method of fabricating the same. Each of anode electrodes includes an organic luminescence layer disposed thereon, and a cathode electrode separately disposed on each of the organic luminescence layers. Each cathode electrode receives a power source suitable for operation properties of each of the organic luminescence layers. Accordingly, an improved image may be displayed in a full-color display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Joon-Hoo Choi, Beom-Rak Choi, Chong-Chul Chai, Jin-Koo Chung
  • Publication number: 20040125102
    Abstract: The present invention provides a display device which is capable of fetching input signals of a small amplitude into the inside thereof. A level converting circuit includes a first-conductive-type first transistor having a gate electrode to which input signals are applied through a first capacitive element, a second-conductive-type second transistor having a gate electrode to which input signals are applied through a second capacitive element, a first bias circuit which applies a first bias voltage to the gate electrode of the first transistor and a second bias circuit which applies a second bias voltage to the gate electrode of the second transistor. Here, the first bias voltage is a voltage which turns off the first transistor when a voltage applied to the gate electrode of the first transistor assumes a maximum value and the second bias voltage is a voltage which turns off the second transistor when a voltage applied to the gate electrode of the second transistor assumes a minimum value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Sato, Shigeyuki Nishitani, Toshio Miyazawa
  • Publication number: 20040125103
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for real-time volume processing and universal three-dimensional rendering. The apparatus includes a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) memory units; at least one pixel bus for providing global horizontal communication; a plurality of rendering pipelines; at least one geometry bus; and a control unit. The apparatus includes a block processor having a circular ray integration pipeline for processing voxel data and ray data. Rays are generally processed in image order thus permitting great flexibility (e.g., perspective projection, global illumination). The block processor includes a splatting unit and a scattering unit. A method for casting shadows and performing global illumination in relation to light sources includes sweeping a two dimensional array of rays through the volume can also be implemented with the apparatus. A method for approximating a perspective projection includes using parallel projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Arie E. Kaufman, Ingmar Bitter, Frank Dachille, Kevin Kreeger, Baoquan Chen
  • Publication number: 20040125104
    Abstract: A clock control unit (7) detects completion of data processing based on a busy signal BSY1 output by a geometry processing unit (4) and a busy signal BSY2 output by a rendering processing unit (5). The clock control unit (7) controls supply of a clock signal CLK1 to the geometry processing unit (4) and supply of a clock signal CLK2 to the rendering processing unit (5) so as to cause the geometry processing unit (4) and the rendering processing unit (5) to alternately operate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Akira Torii, Yoshiyuki Kato, Masatoshi Kameyama, Yoshitsugu Inoue
  • Publication number: 20040125105
    Abstract: A method of reconstructing a regular 3D model by feature-line segmentation. The inventive method first inputs original 3D model data, builds 3D feature-lines, and converts the 3D feature-lines into 3D threads. The 3D threads have connection joints, connection lines, and loops. Next, the method determines sample numbers of the connection lines, adds or deletes the loops, and outputs the 3D threads. Finally, a regular triangular grid sample model is then produced according to the 3D threads and projected into the original 3D model to produce a reconstructed 3D model. The reconstructed 3D model can be adjusted if resolution requirements are still unsatisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Chia-Chen Chen, Wen-Shiou Lou
  • Publication number: 20040125106
    Abstract: A method of seamless processing for merging 3D color images is disclosed. By transferring the images to a different color space, it separates the brightness from the color information. The seams are smoothed according to the brightness, and the result is transferred back to the RGB color space. It keeps the colors of the images and does not destroy the original textures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Chia-Lun Chen
  • Publication number: 20040125107
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for coordinating grid tracking and character composition. A grid defining a layout of one or more lines of grid boxes is received. Each grid box can accommodate one full-width character and has a global track amount specified in an absolute unit. One or more of the grid boxes is populated with characters and associated spaces. The characters and their associated spaces in the one or more lines of grid boxes are tracked by an amount determined as a function of the global track amount and a proportion of an em for the characters and their associated spaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Nathaniel M. McCully
  • Publication number: 20040125108
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for coordinating grid tracking and character composition. A grid defining a layout of one or more lines of grid boxes is received. Each grid box can accommodate one full-width character and has a global track amount specified in an absolute unit. One or more of the grid boxes is populated with characters and associated spaces. The characters and their associated spaces in the one or more lines of grid boxes are tracked by an amount determined as a function of the global track amount and a proportion of an em for the characters and their associated spaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Nathaniel M. McCully
  • Publication number: 20040125109
    Abstract: 3-D views of a 2-D image containing objects are provided by simulation of inter-object volume and intra-object volume. Intra-object volume is simulated by defining a plurality of volumetric slices from the object and assigning relative volume values to each. Multiple views of the object are simulated by displacing each slice in accordance with the defined volumetric effect as part of an animation sequence simulating progressive movement about a focus point of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Guy Andre Fery
  • Publication number: 20040125110
    Abstract: An image display system comprises: a transmission device (PC) 10, for transmitting image data upon receiving a drawing command from an OS or an application; and a receiving monitor 40, for displaying, on a high-resolution panel 41, image data received via a monitor cable 39, wherein the transmission device 10 includes a drawing command analysis device 20, for detecting an area on a screen wherein the content is changed by the drawing command, and for employing the detected area to calculate an area to be transmitted, and a graphics card 12, for transmitting a packet that includes the calculated area to be transmitted, and control data provided as header data for the area to be transmitted, and wherein the receiving monitor 40 includes a packet reception device 50, for analyzing the header data in the received packet and for, based on the header data, rendering image data in an internally provided frame memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Takenori Kohda, Sanehiro Furuichi, Moriyoshi Ohara, Kei Kawase
  • Publication number: 20040125111
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for creating a sequence of computer graphics frames, using a plurality of rendering pipelines. For each frame, each rendering pipeline receives a subset of the total amount of graphics data for the particular frame. At the completion of a frame, each rendering pipeline sends a performance report to a performance monitor. The performance monitor determines whether or not there was a significant disparity in the time required by the respective rendering pipelines to render their tiles. If a disparity is detected, and if the disparity is determined to be greater than some threshold, an allocation module resizes the tiles for the next frame. This serves to balance the load across rendering pipelines for each frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Svend Tang-Petersen, Yair Kurzion
  • Publication number: 20040125112
    Abstract: A method is provided for automatically adjusting the color of a digital image. In one aspect, an strength offset is determined to automatically remove gray from a distorted image. In an other aspect applied independently or after gray removal, scaling factors are automatically determined to adjust the image to conform to empirically determined optimal brightening of the image. Using a determination of color dot maximums and a function which ensures constraint within the dynamic range, scaling factors are established which correspond to the strength values of each dot maximum and which are applied to each of the dot's R,G and B to maintain ratios therebetween and thus maintain the true color. The function for establishing the scaling factors is interpolated from a nominal function and a target average strength for the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Brian G. James
  • Publication number: 20040125113
    Abstract: A method of reducing ringing artifacts in image data that has been filtered with a high frequency emphasis filter. For each filtered data value, a local variance is calculated from data values at neighboring filter taps. This variance is compared to a threshold, and if the threshold is exceeded, the filtered data value is limited between local minimum and maximum values. A method of reducing noise, also using the local variance, is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey Kempf, Arnold P. Skoog, Roger M. Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20040125114
    Abstract: A system providing three-dimensional visual navigation for a mobile unit includes a location calculation unit for calculating an instantaneous position of the mobile unit, a viewpoint control unit for determining a viewing frustum from the instantaneous position, a scenegraph manager in communication with at least one geo-database to obtain geographic object data associated with the viewing frustum and generating a scenegraph organizing the geographic object data, and a scenegraph renderer which graphically renders the scenegraph in real time. To enhance depiction, a method for blending images of different resolutions in the scenegraph reduces abrupt changes as the mobile unit moves relative to the depicted geographic objects. Data structures for storage and run-time access of information regarding the geographic object data permit on-demand loading of the data based on the viewing frustum and allow the navigational system to dynamically load, on-demand, only those objects that are visible to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Hauke Schmidt, Toulin Chen, Aaron Lee
  • Publication number: 20040125115
    Abstract: There are disclosed a method, apparatus, computer, and program product for generating a strobe composite image from a plurality of frames of a moving image. A first frame is selected from the plurality of frames of the moving image. A plurality of second frames relating to the first frame are determined. Then, a strobe composite image is generated by superposing the plurality of second frames in accordance with a superposing manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Hidenori Takeshima, Osamu Hori, Takashi Ida, Nobuyuki Matsumoto, Yasunori Taguchi