Abstract: A triodic rectifier switch includes at least one first diode connected to a data line, at least two second diodes connected to a load capacitor, a resistor having one terminal connected to a scan line and the other terminal connected to a node between the first diodes and the second diodes. The triode rectifier switch further includes at least one reset diode having one terminal connected to a node between the first and second diodes and the other terminal connected to a reset line. The second diodes are serially-connected to each other.

Abstract: To maintain image quality when a field frequency is dynamically changed. In an image display area AA, control lines 4a are arranged respectively corresponding to scanning lines 3a, and TFTs 50 and 51, a pixel electrode 9a, and a storage capacitor 52 are arranged at each intersection of one of data lines 6a and scanning lines 3a. A control signal SC supplied through the control line 4a controls the TFT 51 for an on and off operation. A timing signal generator circuit 300 activates the control signal SC when a field frequency is not higher than 60 Hz, and deactivates the control signal SC when a field frequency is above 60 Hz. In this way, whether or not to connect the storage capacitor 52 to the pixel electrode 9a is determined.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a display apparatus including a correcting means for producing a current corrected data signal by using a current image data signal and a previous corrected data signal; a storage means for storing said current corrected data signal within a predetermined frame period, outputting said current corrected data signal as the previous corrected data signal in such a manner as to be delayed at most said predetermined frame period; and a display means driven by a driving signal corresponding to said current corrected data signal.

Abstract: A drive circuit, for example a gate line drive circuit for a TFT liquid-crystal display, having a circuit size smaller than in the past. A TFT drive circuit has the shifting direction of drive data sequentially shifted through shift registers (SR116-R60) and is further inverted by a control signal (SEL_SFT), and the data are shifted in the opposite direction, from the first shift register (SR61) to the second shift register (SR116). At this time, the upper group of switching circuits (SW1-SW56) or the lower group of switching circuits (SW116-SW61) is enabled and the other group is disabled by control signals (SEL_UP, SEL_LO). Once the drive data are shifted to the bits of the shift registers, a voltage selection signal generated by a decoder (DEn) is inputted to an output circuit via an effective switching circuit, and a drive signal for a TFT gate is outputted. The number of circuits is reduced because the shift registers (SR61-SR116) and decoders (DE61-DE116) are shared by two outputs.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus principally includes a liquid crystal display device which comprises a pair of electrodes and a liquid crystal and is driven in a succession of frame periods by applying a voltage to the pair of electrodes, a light source capable of emitting light while changing a lighting duty in a frame period, and control means for controlling the light source so as to provide a constant time-integrated luminance in each frame period over the succession of frame periods regardless of the change in lighting duty.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mobile display system with an improved backlight system. In one embodiment of the invention, the mobile display system comprises a mobile unit including a flat panel display, and a first backlight circuit for providing light to the display. The first backlight circuit includes a plurality of lights sources disposed near edges of the mobile unit and a single power supply for powering a pre-selected one of the light sources. The system also comprises a base station capable of being powered by an external power source. The base station includes a second backlight circuit that comprises at least one power supply for powering the plurality of light sources in the mobile unit when the mobile unit is attached to the base station. This invention keeps the weight and power consumption of the mobile unit low, but allows long battery life at the compromise of display surface light intensity while mobile and provides high brightness characteristics when docked.

Abstract: An electronic device has a UI that provides first user-selectable options. Second user selectable options are made available upon selection of a specific one of the first options. An information resolution of the first options, when rendered, differs from the information resolution of the second options when rendered. Also, a first modality of user interaction with the UI for selecting from the first options differs from a second modality of user interaction with the UI for selecting from the second options.

Abstract: A system and method provides visualization and layout schemes for a circular graphical user interface using global and local polar coordinate systems to display images. The system gives a user of the interface the full capability to relocate, re-orient, scale and layout images in the circular interface. Further, methods are provided to layout images in the Cartesian coordinate system, minimizing overlapping and crowding of images, and supporting users' focus in a group setting for group collaboration around the interface.

Abstract: A device and method for cursor motion control, calibration of the motion control, and object selection and computer command input.

Abstract: To provide an input device including a deformable electrical insulating sensor base, an operation end connected to the center portion of the sensor base, a first resistive layer provided on one surface of the sensor base, a second resistive layer provided on a surface opposite to the one surface of the sensor base, and a detecting circuit in which a force is exerted on the operation end in a horizontal direction or a vertical direction to deform the sensor base, and changes of resistance values of the first resistive layer and the second resistive layer by the deformation of the sensor base are electrically detected, wherein the force exerted on the operation end in the horizontal direction is detected by the first resistive layer, and the force exerted on the operation end in the vertical direction is detected by the first resistive layer and the second resistive layer.

Abstract: A seamless mouse comprising a base, with an embedding unit at the rear of the base, a coupling unit in it, a pair of activating troughs near its front, a touch switch in the activating trough, to receive command from the touch operation; and a top cover, at the rear of the top cover and opposite the embedding unit being a joining pin to insert into the embedding unit for fastening purpose, inside it and opposite the coupling unit being a coupling post to couple with the coupling unit, at its front and opposite the activating trough being a driving lever, and extending from the top cover itself being the formation of at least one push key. When the top cover is assembled to the base, the joining pin is fastened to the embedding unit, the coupling post is fastened to the coupling unit. When the push key is pressed, the driving lever activates the touch switch in the activating trough, to serve the function of the mouse.

Abstract: The invention provides a trackball unit featuring good water resistance and user maintenance capabilities. A case (3) of the trackball unit has a drain pipe (32) connecting a cavity (33) formed inside the case (3) for accommodating a ball (2) to the exterior of the case (3). A case cover (6) has a ring-shaped projecting part (62) while a ball cover (7) has a pair of locking tabs (72, 73) which engage with the projecting part (62) of the case cover (6), so that the ball cover (7) can be detachably fitted to the case cover (6).

Abstract: A resistance film type touch panel includes first and second substrates opposing to each other, and respectively having panel planes. A first electrode film is formed in a central portion of the panel plane of the first substrate on a lower surface of the first substrate, and a second electrode film is formed in a central portion of the panel plane of the second substrate on an upper surface of the second substrate. First and second electrodes are connected to the first electrode film and are formed to oppose to each other around the first electrode film on the lower surface of the first substrate. Third and fourth electrodes are connected to the second electrode film and are formed to oppose to each other around the second electrode film on the upper surface of the second substrate orthogonally to the first and second electrodes. First to fourth wiring lines connect the first to fourth electrodes to connection terminals, respectively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simulating at least one gesture of a pointing device such as a mouse. A left click, right click, left drag, right drag, and/or mouse movement may be simulated using a stylus in conjunction with a touch-sensitive display surface. For example, a computer having the display surface may detect whether a stylus is being held down on a touch-sensitive display surface for at least a threshold amount of time. The computer may further detect whether the stylus is then removed from the touch-sensitive display surface after at least the threshold amount of time. Responsive to the stylus being removed, the computer may generate at least one event representing a right mouse button being pressed.

Abstract: Method and system for simultaneous display of standard text characters and hand entered characters in a designated soft write pad portion of a hand held device display screen. When a hand entered character is entered on the soft write pad, standard text on the soft write pad is displayed in a display pattern (color and/or shading and/or thickness and/or font) that is visually distinguishable from a display pattern used for (temporary) display of the hand entered character. The hand entered character is analyzed and, if recognized, is converted to a standard text character and displayed at a location indicated by a cursor. The display pattern of standard text character and/or hand entered characters can be changed by the user. Display of a hand entered character on the soft write pad terminates after a designated time interval.

Abstract: A display-based system is disclosed with a processing unit, a memory control facility, and a graphics display controller interfacing to a display facility. Collectively these modules are interconnected by a bus facility to an external memory facility. The graphics display controller has a first mode providing a video image signal to the display facility. In particular, a detector is provided for detecting display stabilization. An output of the graphics display controller is being coupled to a frame grabber. The frame grabber is arranged to execute a writeback-to-memory storage of the video image signal into a writeback image memory during a subsequent videoframe, and subsequently signaling the graphics display controller to switch over to a second mode, in which the stored writeback video image signal is supplied to the display facility. The average data traffic on the bus facility is thus reduced.

Abstract: This invention provides a liquid crystal display device having a partial screen display mode, in which a latch control circuit (17) first stores white data or black data as color data of one line to latch circuits (121), (131) at the beginning of an image non-display period and then repeatedly reads out and outputs the color data to respective column lines in a display area (11) until the display period ends, thereby stopping the operation to write data to the latch circuits (121), (131) substantially during the entire image non-display period.

Abstract: An image-based rendering method for processing depth map images of a scene recorded from different viewpoints, and generating a virtual image of the scene from an arbitrary viewpoint. To calculate the color value of a pixel in the virtual image, a pixel-viewing ray is defined from the focal point of the virtual camera through the pixel. The ray is projected into each depth map image, giving a projected ray. Pixels in a depth map image which are intersected by the projected ray are tested by defining a point (W1, W2, W3) along a line from the focal point of the depth map camera through the pixel at a distance corresponding to the depth of the pixel. A color value for the pixel in the virtual image is calculated by interpolating between the values of the pixels in the depth map image which produced the points (W2, W3) lying on opposite sides of the pixel viewing ray.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing three-dimensional images of one or more objects. The apparatus includes a base substrate, an image layer on said substrate, and a lenticular material superposed on the image layer. The image layer is provided by an imaging tool configured for depositing pixels on the substrate from contour corrected pixel data such that the deposited pixels have a structural contour relationship to the one or more objects. The imaging tool manipulates the pixel data to be compatible with the substrate and lenticular material. The method provides substantially improved three-dimensional images and devices containing improved three-dimensional images.

Abstract: A method models a three-dimensional object by first acquiring alpha mattes of the object for multiple viewpoints. The alpha mattes are then projected onto a surface hull completely enclosing the object to construct an opacity hull storing opacity values of the surface of the object. The object is illuminated for various lighting conditions while images are acquired. The images are projected onto the opacity hull to render the object under arbitrary lighting conditions for arbitrary viewpoints.

Abstract: A structured polygonal mesh data forming method approximates a 3D surface shape with a polygonal mesh constituted by a plurality of polygons and forms 2D structured data applicable of efficient compression/decompression from predetermined information concerning the polygonal. Polygon vertices as the vertices of the polygonal mesh are assigned to nodes as lattice points (triangular lattice including extension nodes) on a 2D coordinate system. 2D structured data is formed by geometric data consisting of the position coordinate data of the respective assigned polygon vertices, texture data including color information, and a connectivity map as information about connection between the respective polygons. When a polygon vertex is assigned to a plurality of nodes, and connected nodes are to be formed on the 2D coordinate system, one representative node is selected from the nodes. Nodes other than the representative node are represented by positions relative to the representative node.

Abstract: A system and method for providing shadow information for 3D computer graphics objects on a display for a graphic computer system are disclosed. The 3D objects are processed only once and the rendering and shadow generation information is stored in memory. In a subsequent two-dimensional pass, the shadow information is used to provide the color value at each rendered pixel. Thus, the latency and the need for storage capacity due to the multiple 3D pass processing are eliminated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying measurements of a waveform as icons on an oscilloscope. The apparatus acquires and processes a waveform thereby obtaining a number of measurements. Typically, the measurements are histograms, tracking measurements, and/or trending measurements. The oscilloscope displays both the waveform and a number of icons that respectively show the measurements. Each icon is a miniature rendering of the corresponding measurement and may be static, periodically updated, or a real-time preview of the actual measurement data which is calculated in the background by the oscilloscope processor. A user can select one of the icons to display the corresponding measurement at full size on the display.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is comprised of a data input device for inputting informations, a memory for storing the informations input by the data input device, a processor for processing the informations in a form of a plurality of pages, a displaying device for displaying the informations formed in a unit of the pages, a device for registering image data in respect of owner name input by the data input device, a device for judging whether or not a predetermined process is done at one of the pages, and a device for storing the image data at a predetermined position of the one of the pages by a judged result of the judging device, wherein when the one of the pages is displayed, the stored image data is displayed with the informations.

Abstract: In one embodiment, selecting auxiliary screen regions to activate in rendering a straight line segment on a screen of a computer monitor, wherein the straight line segment comprises points defined by an algebraic expression equal to zero, wherein the expression is expressed as a first constant multiplied by a x-axis value plus a second constant multiplied by a y-axis value plus a third constant, wherein the straight line segment has a width.

Abstract: A method for automatically displaying dynamic images as a sequence of still frames is disclosed. The method includes receiving dynamic image data, transforming the dynamic image data into static image data, and displaying, frame by frame, the static image data on a display device. The method may be employed in a computer, a computer network or a system which has a display information card having at least a port for receiving the dynamic image data, a processor for transforming the dynamic image data into static image data, an internal memory for storing the static image data, and a display device. In the preferred embodiment, the method is employed in a web browser.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing interactive displays of complex virtual environments. Systems and methods consistent with embodiments of the invention may be implemented to generate virtual reality (VR) file(s) from a 3D model of the complex environment. The VR file(s) may include octree and collision detection information that is used to simulate and render frames of the complex environment. During simulation, moving objects may be evaluated to detect for collisions with other objects. Further, during rendering, objects or elements may be dynamically tessellated during run-time operations to actively control their appearance when displayed to a user. Memory management operations for facilitating the display of complex virtual environments are also disclosed, consistent with embodiments of the invention.

Abstract: Method for managing Presentation Time in a digital rendering system for presentation of temporally-ordered data when the digital rendering system includes a Variable Rate Presentation capability. In a particular, one embodiment of the present invention is a method for converting Presentation Time to Data Time, and for reporting Presentation Time when only one time can be returned.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing image display and buffer swapping in a multiple processor-multiple display environment. In a master-slave dichotomy, one processor or system is deemed the master and the others act as slaves. The master generates signals used to control vertical retrace and buffer swapping for itself and the slaves. In addition, a synchronization signal generator is provided to synchronize a timing signal between the master and slave systems.

Abstract: Digital video processing apparatus comprising: a plurality of render processors arranged in an operational sequence, each operable to render an output result relating to an image of a video signal from input data relating to that and/or other images received from a preceding render processor in the operational sequence; and a render controller for controlling rendering operation of the render processors; each render processor being operable to communicate dependency data to the render controller, indicating which images must be rendered by a preceding render processor in order for that render processor to render output data relating to a required image; and the render controller being operable to control operation of the render processors so that images required by each render processor are rendered by preceding render processors in the operational sequence.

Abstract: A graphical display system utilizes a plurality of graphics pipelines to efficiently display a jitter enhanced image. More specifically, the graphical display system utilizes a plurality of graphical pipelines, a compositor, and a display device. Each of the graphical pipelines receives and renders graphical data. In rendering the graphical data, each of the graphical pipelines mathematically combines a different offset to coordinate values included within the graphical data. The compositor receives the graphical data rendered by the plurality of pipelines and blends color values associated with corresponding coordinate values within the graphical data. The compositor also interfaces the blended color values with the display device, which displays an image based on at least the blended color values. As a result, graphical data defining a jitter enhanced image is efficiently rendered to the display device.

Abstract: An I/O node for a computer system including an integrated graphics engine. An input/output node is implemented upon an integrated circuit chip. The I/O node includes a first transceiver unit, a second transceiver unit, a packet tunnel, a graphics engine and a graphics interface. The first transceiver unit may receive and transmit packet transactions on a first link of a packet bus and the second transceiver unit may receive and transmit packet transactions on a second link. The packet tunnel may convey selected packet transactions between the first and the second transceiver unit. The graphics engine may receive graphics packet transactions from the first transceiver unit and may render digital image information in response to receiving the graphics transactions. The graphics interface may receive additional graphics packet transactions from the first transceiver unit and may translate the additional graphics packet transactions into transactions suitable for transmission upon a graphics bus.

Abstract: A distributed memory controller memory system for a graphics processing system having addressable memory areas each coupled to a respective memory controller. The memory controllers are further coupled to each other through a memory controller bus upon which a memory access request and data may be passed from one memory controller to other memory controller. A memory access request to a memory location in one addressable memory area, but received by a memory controller coupled to another addressable memory area, is passed through the memory controller bus from the receiving memory controller to the memory controller coupled to the addressable memory area in which the requested location is located in order to service the memory access request. Additional memory controllers coupled to a respective addressable memory area may be included in the memory system. The memory controllers are coupled to the memory controller bus in order to receive and pass memory access requests from the other memory controllers.

Abstract: Processing video data with a combination of one or more operations, such as special effects, on a general-purpose computer may be improved by enabling one or more operations to access and process multiple samples of video data from other operations that introduce latencies for each request for data. Operations that introduce latencies include, for example, hardware for decompression and compression, network interfaces, and file systems. Because a computer program to implement the operations may be executed on several different general-purpose platforms, exact specifications of available hardware are not known in advance. For each operation, a computer program determines the available system memory and an amount of data that can be processed by each operation used in a composition or portion of a composition while sharing the available memory with other operations. Available system memory is allocated among the operations being used.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for storing data using two-dimensional arrays mapped to memory locations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing pixel rasterization in a 3D rendering processor is disclosed. According to the method and apparatus, the primary depth checking is performed before the performing of the texture mapping, and thus the unnecessary performing of the texture mapping can be removed. Also, the consistency problem can be simply and easily solved using the flag memory, and by performing the depth reading and depth checking twice, the hit rate of the pixel cache memory is heightened. Thus, the method and apparatus is effective in cost, performance, and power consumption.

Abstract: A 3D graphics accelerator in which vertex data is locally cached, at individual rendering subsystems, in circular buffers which are NOT large enough to hold the maximum number of data fields for the maximum number of vertices which can be parallel-processed. Instead, the circular buffers are preferably made large enough to hold the maximum number of data fields for a minimum useful number of vertices; the same buffers can also be used to hold a smaller number of data fields for the maximum number of vertices.

Abstract: A vertex data access apparatus and method. The apparatus receives a vertex index, compares the vertex index with any vertices' indices used before, issues a request if necessary for fetching vertex data in system memory, stores the return vertex data in a vertex data queue and gets corresponding vertex data from the vertex data queue for further processing and, more particularly, if the vertex index is the same as one of those vertices' indices, the corresponding vertex data can be directly fetched from the vertex data queue. The vertex data queue performs the vertex cache function.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for rendering an input video stream as a polygon texture. The method provides process steps to receive the input video data in a Mip Map generator, wherein the Mip Map generator converts the video data to Mip Map data and stores the Mip Map data in a first memory storage device; wherein the first memory storage device is located in a V buffer. The method further includes sending a data set from a Z buffer to V buffer and mapping the data set to RGB values at a texel address in the V buffer memory. The data set includes U, V and Z coordinates, Mip Map level and channel identification data. The V buffer includes a V buffer fetch module that receives the data set from the Z buffer and maps to RGB data within V buffer memory.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a preferred embodiment for generating anti-aliased layered fog which is textured manipulated as if in a geocentric virtual environment to thereby show horizon depression at high altitudes. Hardware is provided such that layer model data and texture model data is combined to generate fogged pixel color.

Abstract: The method of global rendering allows a three dimensional scene to be rendered accurately and viewed correctly from multiple angles and directions at once. The method includes the steps of placing an object representing a multidimensional texture map into a database, replacing the object with a bounding geometry that completely encloses the object, sampling the bounding geometry with a sample of interest, extracting pixel information from the sample of the bounding geometry, and displaying the rendered object using the extracted pixel information.

Abstract: A mechanism for, and method of, clipping a red-green-blue (RGB) integer value to an n-bit maximum value and a processor incorporating the mechanism or the method. In one embodiment, the mechanism includes: (1) a multiplexer having a first input that accepts n low-order bits of the RGB integer value and a select input that accepts at least one high-order bit of the RGB integer value and (2) an n-bit maximum value generator, coupled to a second input of the multiplexer, that provides the n-bit maximum value to the second input, an output of the multiplexer providing the n low-order bits when the at least one high order bit has a zero value and providing the n-bit maximum value when the at least one high order bit has a nonzero value.

Abstract: It is intended to provide an image processing method, an image display unit, and a storage medium, capable of effecting an appropriate color reproduction even with a change in external environment.

Abstract: In a display device according to a first aspect of the invention, luminance is not made substantially uniform over the entire display screen but rather imparted a luminance gradient such that luminance substantially monotonously decreases from the center of the screen towards the peripheral portion using a luminance gradient forming means, whereby power consumption is reduced compared to cases in which the entire screen shows substantially uniform luminance. In a second aspect of the invention, by optimizing gray level characteristics and thereby improving a viewer's impression of brightness, luminance gradient is made even less perceivable without increasing power consumption. These configurations provide large screen, low power consumption display devices.

Abstract: A method and system for color clipping, taking into account the actual color of the surface, while still giving the appearance of a very bright surface that does not result in a washed-out image. A maximum value of the color component is determined. A ratio of the maximum value to a maximum allowable value is determined. A scaling factor is determined based on the determined ratio. The value to be color clipped is set to a value including the scaling factor. The scaling factor is non-linear, for example, logarithmic. In one embodiment, determining the scaling factor further includes computing the scaling factor as the Log10 of the ratio; or includes adding the value 1 to the scaling factor, and multiplying by a variable scale factor. The color-clipped image is then displayed.

Abstract: An electronic instrument for displaying musical notes on a monitor or screen with colors selected from a color palette created by an artist/musician for each note as selected shapes at selected locations on the monitor or screen.

Abstract: A method for computing normalized minor axis distance to an ideal line for variable-width line antialiasing. The method involves performing line primitive setup by constructing a triangle from the two line vertices and a third vertex biased from a line endpoint by the line width/2. Normalized barycentric coordinates are computed for this triangle, which together can be used for primitive attribute interpolation. One of the barycentric coordinates contains the normalized minor-axis distance to the ideal line, which can be used with a slope-correct coverage table to compute coverage. Because the minor-axis distance is normalized, the coverage value is independent of line width.

Abstract: The invention relates to an autostereoscopic method and a device for the three-dimensional representation of information according to a barrier-, lenticular-, prismatic mask-, or similar method using flat-panel displays (liquid crystal-, plasma-, electroluminescent- or other displays) for use in the computer and video technology, games and advertising, medical engineering, virtual reality applications, and other fields. According to the invention, the image points are proportionally tracked to lateral movement of the observer by shifting, for each colored subpixel, of the intensities of the colored subpixels to horizontally adjacent colored subpixels. The method can be used with known devices. It becomes especially useful when, for each image point, n+1 adjacent colored subpixels are addressed. Observers moving sideways continue to see the image in practically consistently high quality.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in an absolute and relative coordinate based format description system and method for displaying information, such as text, graphics, audio/visual multimedia, hyperlinks, etc. within a computer environment. Multimedia information including text, graphics, audio media, visual media and hyperlinks, is effectively presented and displayed within the computer environment. The multimedia information is contained within geometrical objects, which can be located anywhere within a working area with absolute or relative positioning and properties. Each object can be independent of other objects (absolute values) or dependent on other objects (relative values).

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus to display information. The method comprises retrieving a first value representative of a first device parameter, and detecting a second value representative of a second device parameter. A template corresponding to a graphic object is retrieved from a storage. A graphic attribute that characterizes the graphic object is generated from the template. The first and second values displayed and an image is generated from the graphic object according to the graphic attribute.