Abstract: A plurality of pixel sets, each having 16 pixels are vertically provided successively one after another. A vertical transfer path 2 has two groups a and b of transfer electrodes 1a, 1b to 16a, 16b. Two like sequence transfer electrodes in the two electrode groups are provided for each of the pixels in each set. Each pixel is connected via a shift gate 3 to each transfer channel corresponding to each of the transfer electrodes in the electrode group a. To the transfer electrodes in the electrode group a, independent shift/transfer pulse application lead lines 4A are connected for applying independent gate pulses to the individual shift gates in addition to transfer pulses. Common lead lines are connected to the transfer electrodes 2a and 4a, 5a and 7a, 10a, 12a, and 13a and 15a. Transfer pulse application lead lines 4B are connected to the transfer electrodes in the electrode group b. Thus, a CCD imaging device is constructed, which is capable of performing a desired read-out operation by 4-phase driving.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an image display section in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in a matrix at intersections of a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data lines. A control circuit selects one of modes as an operation mode in response to a mode switching signal, and outputs a data signal and a scan control signal based on an image signal to be displayed and the selected mode. A row driving section is connected to the plurality of scan lines to sequentially drive the plurality of scan lines based on the scan control signal in a unit determined based on the operation mode. A column driving section is connected to the plurality of data lines to sequentially drive the plurality of data lines based on the data signal. In this way, an image corresponding to the image signal is displayed on the image display section.

Abstract: A drive circuit for a flat display apparatus is disclosed wherein different display objects can be displayed at a time individually with appropriate gamma characteristics. Reference voltages are produced in a plurality of systems having different gamma characteristics from each other, and one of the systems is selected in response to a selection signal. Then, the reference voltages of the selected system are selected in response to image data to set gradations of pixels.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for directing the flow of data and instructions into at least one functional unit. In one embodiment of a system of components defining a plurality of nodes, a queue network manager (QNM) forming a part of each node, is provided. In this embodiment, the QNM comprises an interface to a network that supports intercommunication among the plurality of nodes, an interface configured to pass messages with a functional unit within the node, a random access memory (RAM) configured to store at least one of a message and a programmable instruction, and logic configured to control an operational aspect of a functional unit based on contents of the programmable instruction.

Abstract: Subdividing rotation between two poses in three dimensions may be accomplished in three parts. First, data defining the two poses is obtained from the animation or modeling interface. Second, a path associated with the two poses is determined. Third, using quaternion interpolation, the roll between the two poses is interpolated at intermediate positions along the path. The amount of roll at each of these intermediate positions then may be applied to three dimensional structures used for character rigging.

Abstract: Tomographic projection data is segmented spatially by forming segmentation masks over the full outlines of objects appearing in isolation within selected data frame images. Further processing locates the object outlines in other data frames. Predictable effects of attenuation are used to attribute appropriate amounts of intensity to the segmented object space. Separate image reconstructions can be made of the segmented object data and the remaining projection data to independently optimize the reconstructions. Composite images can be made of the separate reconstructions.

Abstract: A visual programming interface allows an artist to create real time shaders using a tree of shader nodes. Each shader node represents an operation that can be performed in real time through the real time rendering engine. The visual interface allows the arbitrary combinations of these shader nodes to be made and allows the parameters of the shaders to be manipulated or animated. The visual programming interface may be activated in an interactive animation environment through a designation that a real time shader is to be applied to a surface. By integrating the visual programming interface with an interactive animation environment, an artist can experiment readily with different custom real time shaders. An artist also has the flexibility to create arbitrary real time shader trees and to view them interactively without requiring a programmer to develop or modify a custom shader.

Abstract: Methods for rendering an object includes determining diffuse illumination values for object surface points, associating a 3D grid including vertices with the object, mapping object surface points to vertices, determining diffuse illumination values for vertices from the diffuse illumination values for object surface points, low pass filtering diffuse illumination values for the vertices to determine illumination compensation values for the vertices, determining illumination compensation values for the object surface points from the illumination compensation values for the vertices, and determining compensated diffuse illumination values for the object surface points from a weighted combination of the diffuse illumination values and illumination compensation values for the surface points.

Abstract: A graphics system including a custom graphics and audio processor produces exciting 2D and 3D graphics and surround sound. A relatively low chip-footprint, versatile texture environment (TEV) processing subsystem is implemented in a pipelined graphics system circulates computed color and alpha data over multiple texture blending/shading cycles (stages). The texture-environment subsystem combines per-vertex lighting, textures and constant (rasterized) colors to form computed pixel color prior to fogging and final pixel blending. Blending operations for color (RGB) and alpha components are independently processed by a single sub-blend unit that is reused over multiple processing stages to combine multiple textures.

Abstract: A computer games apparatus includes a server operable under the control of a computer program to generate and store data defining a 3D game environment. Objects within that environment can be moved and/or changed in response to signals received by the server from player terminals. Those signals may be transmitted via the Internet and/or other networks. The server renders the object data into data defining one or more views of the 3D environment, which data can then be processed into a broadcastable form for receipt by a plurality of observers. The performance of the apparatus is unaffected by the number of observers actually in receipt of the broadcast data.

Abstract: Graphs representing multimedia content are validated and modified through graph matching and graph rewriting techniques using pre-defined model graphs. In one aspect, an input graph is validated against a model template graph. In another aspect, suggestions for modifying an input graph are provided based on model alphabet, rule and morphism graphs. The resulting graphs may represent queries against existing description schemes or new description schemes.

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: A method and system to generate chart models are disclosed. Graphs may be rendered more efficiently by utilizing chart models, where multiple chart models are be generated utilizing the same set of chart data. Each chart model may be utilized to render a corresponding chart. In order to generate a chart model, a set of data may be totally disassembled first and then reassembled in an appropriate manner (e.g., according to a desired chart description). Disassembling may include, from a set of data, extracting data corresponding to all X coordinates (all abscissas), extracting data corresponding to all categories, and extracting the values corresponding to each abscissa-category pair. Reassembling may include generating a new set of data or a model, according a sorting logic.

Abstract: A computer method, apparatus and storage medium is provided for creating quantitative aesthetic graphics from data. The invention utilizes a graph algebra to construct graphs and visually or otherwise represents the graphs as a quantitative aesthetic graphic representation. To create the quantitative aesthetic graphics from data, the data is indexed to form a data set. Thereafter, the data is converted into a variable data structure composed of an index set, a range and a function. The variable data structure is converted into a variable set by using at least one of a blend step, a cross step and a nest step. The variable set is mapped into a set of points and the set of points is mapped into an aesthetic representation.

Abstract: A formatting object according to the present invention conveys information to the reader of a document (such as a table or chart) by associating visual attributes (such as color, fill type, border width, line width, line style, font size, marker size and marker type) to characters or markers within the document. The formatting object may be used to emphasize data within a table or a chart by modifying the structural visual attributes of characters or markers within the table or chart according to pre-defined criteria. Similarly, the formatting object may be used to increase information density within a table or chart, and to elegantly represent the relationships between four or more interrelated variables in a two-dimensional chart. The formatting object accomplishes this by defining at least one format map that comprises one or more mapping segments.

Abstract: A method animates an object as a sequence of frames according to an animation script. The object is represented as a two-dimensional distance field. For each frame in the sequence of frames, a pose of the object is updated according to the animation script. The object is rendered using the updated pose and an antialiasing rendering method.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for performing graphics rendering on demand on a graphics subsystem, with only nominal host system operations being required. High-level specifications of graphics operations in a computer program are captured as I/O hardware programs in a memory. A graphics processor in the subsystem issues instructions in the captured programs to a graphics accelerator, which executes the instructions to perform graphics operations. The graphics accelerator has a status indicator containing status information relating to hardware events incident to the graphics operations. Under the control of instructions in the captured program, the graphics processor monitors the status indicator, and either issues, or delays issuing, the instructions in the captured programs, depending upon the status information in the indicator.

Abstract: A receiver for recovering a serial clock of a transmitter is provided. The receiver comprises a buffer configured to store packets received from the transmitter. The packets may be sent through a packet switched network that may incur packet delay during transmission through the network. A memory controller is configured to determine a fill level of the buffer. A frequency generator is configured to generate a clock frequency, where the frequency is used to determine when to read packets from the buffer. A frequency controller is configured to instantaneously adjust the frequency of the frequency generator based on an algorithm that determines the clock frequency based on the fill level of the buffer. Accordingly, by adjusting the frequency outputted by the frequency generator, the frequency controller is able to recover the serial clock of the transmitter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low cost animation sequence function for OSDs. An animation sequence is produced by changing the attributes associated with a character within the OSD rather than by substituting the character itself. A character may have several different attributes associated with it. These attributes change the colors associated with the pixels within the character producing a different character visually. The attributes are selected and changed according to a predetermined interval to produce the animation sequence. Each attribute is displayed for the predetermined time before moving on to displaying the character using the next attribute to produce the animation sequence. Each color attribute associated with the character in the animation sequence uses up only two words of ROM space, whereas the character itself takes up eight words or more of ROM space. Therefore, there is considerable savings in ROM space as compared to storing a separate character for each animation frame.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, method and computer program product for reducing fill and improving quality of interlaced displays using multi-sampling. In an embodiment of the invention, a frame buffer for a interlaced display is filled. Initially, a first multi-sample of the first line of the first field is calculated. The bottom sub-pixels of the first multi-sample are the top sub-pixels of a multi-sample of the first line of the second field. The first multi-sample is written into the frame buffer. Then, a second multi-sample of the second line of the first field is calculated. The top sub-pixels of the second multi-sample are the bottom sub-pixels of a multi-sample of the first line of the second field. Also, the bottom sub-pixels of the second multi-sample are the top sub-pixels of the second line of the second field. The second multi-sample is written into the frame buffer.

Abstract: A method for visualizing data includes receiving code representing content for display on the screen of a computer, the content including at least one hyperlink to other content and at least one attribute associated with the hyperlink. User preferences are set for each attribute. The content is displayed on the screen, and at least one of the hyperlinks is hidden in response to the combination of user preference for that attribute.

Abstract: A method for adjusting attributes of a video signal within a system is disclosed. The system includes a display device and a host. The display device has a first signal attribute specification, and the video signal has a second signal attribute specification. The first step of this method is to output a video signal from the host. The display device responds with a status signal to the host according to the first and the second signal attribute specifications. Afterward, the host can modify the attributes of the video signal according to the status signal.

Abstract: A method for generating anti-aliased lines and characters is disclosed. The method comprises generating a texture map based on a distribution and applying the texture map to a polygonal region. In one aspect of this embodiment, the step of generating a texture map based on a distribution further comprises generating a texture map comprising a series of concentric half circles. In the texture map, the concentric half circles represent a decreasing intensity as the radius of the concentric half circle increases. Additionally, in one embodiment, the texture map is generated using a Gaussian distribution. In another aspect of this embodiment, for each texel in a texture map defining a character, the smallest distance between a texel and each line segment that forms a character is calculated. The smallest distance is used to determine an intensity value using the distribution. Then, the texel is associated with the intensity value to form a texture map for the character.

Abstract: A texturing system for use in a three-dimensional graphics system has an input for receiving object data for an object to be textured. Encrypted texture data is obtained from a store a decrypted in a decryption unit. The decrypted texture data generates texture image data for a frame buffer from where it can be output for display. There is also provides a method for producing a software application for use in a three-dimensional graphics system which creates instructions for a software application and creates static texture data for use in conjunction with the instructions. The static texture data is encrypted and provided as encrypted texture data with the software instructions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to effect a gamut conversion of source image data to a target image data set for rendering on a device with possibly a different gamut. One gamut conversion system comprises an input channel means, a gamma unit, a chorma/luma unit, a hue angle calculator, and a gamut conversion unit. The input channel means receives source image data. The gamma unit converts the source image data into perceptually uniform space data. The chroma/luma unit converts the preceptiually uniform space data into a format comprising chroma and luma components. The hue angle calculator receives at least the chroma components from the chroma/luma unit and calculates hue angles for the source image data based on received components. The gamut conversion unit derives gamut conversion values to apply to the components of the source image data using a gamut conversion table.

Abstract: There is provided a method for augmented reality guided instrument positioning. A graphics guide is determined for positioning an instrument. The graphics guide is rendered such that an appearance of at least one portion of the graphics guide is modulated with respect to at least one of space and time.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for displaying data categories each having a plurality of data subcategories. The apparatus comprises a display having a current luminous output capacity that is configured to produce a first visual presentation of first data subcategories and a second visual presentation of second data subcategories and a processor that is configured to control the display. The first data subcategories include one category displayed at ninety percent of the current luminous output capacity and other subcategories having a luminance difference of at least thirty percent of the current luminous output capacity. Second data subcategories have a common luminance that is thirty percent to sixty percent of the luminous output capacity of said display, a color saturation that is greater than seventy-five percent, and a transparency of at least forty percent.

Abstract: A system for reducing crosstalk for a display.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for processing video pictures especially for dynamic false contour effect and dithering noise compensation. The main idea of this invention is to divide the picture to be displayed in areas of at least two types, for example low video gradient areas and high video gradient areas, to allocate a different set of GCC (for Gravity Center Coding) code words to each type of area, the set allocated to a type of area being dedicated to reduce false contours and dithering noise in the area of this type, and to encode the video levels of each area of the picture to be displayed with the allocated set of GCC code words. In this manner, the reduction of false contour effects and dithering noise in the picture is optimized area by area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rendering a color image on a delta-structured display are provided. The method for rendering a color image on a display apparatus in which a pixel expressing an input image is formed with delta-structured sub-pixels, the method comprising: (a) forming a scaling filter which is used to make the resolution of the input image correspond to the resolution of the display apparatus; (b) obtaining a representative value of a sub-pixel of the display apparatus corresponding to a consideration area which is an area processed by the scaling filter in the input image; (c) obtaining the value of the sub-pixel based on the difference of pixels in the consideration area in the input image; (d) performing gamma correction of the sub-pixel value so that the sub-pixel is appropriate to the display apparatus; and (e) rendering the gamma-adjusted sub-pixel value on the display apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to dropout control in which one or more samples are added to adjacent samples that fall within an image outline. The samples are used in sub-pixel rendering to compensate for unnaturally thin or faint object stems. Horizontal dropout control operations are provided to add samples to sets of horizontally adjacent samples such that each set of samples comprises a minimum number of samples. Vertical dropout control operations are provided to position samples such that the weighted anti-aliasing filtering will take sufficient account of the samples. In one embodiment, an associative table is utilized to calculate alternative patterns of samples. In another embodiment, the baseline of an object is used in the dropout control operations to reduce artifacts that can be created by the addition of samples in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for use in computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing, computer-aided engineering and product lifecycle management. An efficient, non-centralized communications framework makes “synchronous” collaborative design possible. Users are resident at workstations that are connected in a peer-to-peer arrangement. In a collaborative design session, the model is resident in memory at each workstation. Modifications are made at any workstation, and commands, which are interpreted at each workstation to effect the modifications, are transmitted over the network. In addition, cell descriptors may be used to identify one or more geometric cells of a model. The cell descriptors are in the form of scripts specifying constraints or filters for identifying cells.

Abstract: A system and method for bumping graphical components between display regions of a graphical computer interface are provided. The present invention bumps a selected graphical component in response to a signal from an input device. Bumping involves locating a destination location for the graphical component to be bumped, and moving the graphical component to the destination. The destination can be determined in any one of a number of different manners. Destinations can be located at a predetermined distance from an original location of a graphical component, at an “analogous” location on another display region, or at an open location in the same display region or another display region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a colored or shaded texture for images to be displayed on a display device or printed. The method includes the step of providing a plurality of shape elements, each of which defines a surface. Each of the shape elements also has an associated opacity which varies across its surface. The shape elements are arranged in an overlapping fashion and then rendered for output to a printer or display device. The overlapping opacities and opacity gradients provide a visually interesting colored or shaded texture. Preferably the shape elements are circles and the opacity is applied as a cone-shaped function tapering to zero opacity at its edges.

Abstract: An image processor is provided which utilizes images taken by an imaging device, e.g., a digital camera, as an input interface to enter commands, etc. Such image processor includes a memory operable to store an image from a series of real time images of a location captured by an imaging device over time, the stored image at least partially including a target that is subject to movement from one point in the time to another point in the time. The image processor further includes a detector operable to detect the target and a movement component thereof by detecting features of the captured images at different points in the time, and includes an image generator operable to generate an object image representing a predetermined object so that a color of a predetermined portion of the object image varies according to the detected movement component of the target.

Abstract: A displaying apparatus including a signal generator part generating a video signal, and a display part displaying thereon a picture based on the video signal generated by the signal generator part, further comprising including a setting part including a portion set part for setting whether to indicate an arbitrary portion within a screen of the display part, and a size adjuster part adjusting the size of the set portion based on movement from an arbitrary position within the portion set by the portion set part to another position; and a controller part for storing a position value of the set portion set by the setting part, generating a setting signal corresponding to the set portion based on the position value, and processing the video signal according to the setting signal. With this configuration, the user can make a selection allowing an emphasized portion to be shown within a screen of the display part, and can select the size, the position, and the brightness of the emphasized portion.

Abstract: There is provided a device for driving a display apparatus. A data line drive section is common to a main screen and a sub-screen, supplies to the main screen gray scale voltages corresponding to display data from CPU, and supplies to the sub-screen a gray scale voltage corresponding to black or white data during a vertical blanking period of the main screen. A scan line drive section scans the main screen, and also scans the sub-screen during the vertical blanking period of the main screen.

Abstract: A method for driving an LED backlight device using pulse width modulation with an additional timer to manage the power consumption, thermal output, and lighting level of the device with improved resolution.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for generating an incremental explanatory object in an educational application program, First, at least one interface is provided including a plurality of fields. Educational textual information is then entered via the interface for entry into the fields. During operation, the user is permitted to select an incremental explanatory icon on the interface. Upon the selection of the incremental explanatory icon, a plurality of sequential fields are shown. Thereafter, the user is prompted to enter educational textual information for entry into the sequential fields. The received textual information is subsequently compiled in an executable educational application program.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a pyridinyl-linked bis-amino ligand that comprises, (a) reacting 2,6-dibromophenyl amine with an arylboronic acid component which is substituted or unsubstituted to produce a 2,6-diarylphenyl amine which is substituted or unsubstituted; (b) reacting the 2,6-diarylphenyl amine with a 2,6-dialkanoic pyridine characterized by the formula: wherein R? and R? are each independently a C1–C20 hydrocarbyl group; to produce a mono-imine ligand characterized by the formula: wherein TRP is a terphenyl group which is substituted or unsubstituted; and (c) reacting the mono-imine ligand with an aniline which may be substituted or unsubstituted to produce a bis-amine ligand characterized by the structure: wherein: TRP is a substituted or unsubstituted terphenyl group; and AR is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group.

Abstract: A photographic printer removably holds a magazine for containing a roll of photographic paper is provided. The photographic paper is advanced and supplied to a transporting path. A large-width loading support is loaded with a large-width magazine removably. A small-width loading support is loaded with plural small-width magazines removably. The small-width magazines have a smaller width than the large-width magazine, and are arranged in a path crosswise direction that extends along a width of the transporting path. As viewed from the large width loading support, the small-width loading supports are arranged in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the path crosswise direction. Furthermore, a cutter cuts the photographic paper to form a photographic paper sheet.

Abstract: A fixing device to be installed in an image forming apparatus includes a housing for defining the fixing device. In the housing, a heating member which heats a recording medium onto which a toner image is transferred to fix the image and a pressing member which is brought into press contact with the heating member are provided. In the housing, a first conveyance path and a second conveyance path which has a path different from the first conveyance path is formed. A switching member which switches a destination of the recording medium to the first conveyance path or the second conveyance path is arranged in the housing. As a result, when the image recording medium is sent to a paper reversing device installed in the image forming apparatus, the length of a conveyance path extending to the switching member can be shortened.

Abstract: A model of a thermal print head is provided that models the thermal response of thermal print head elements to the provision of energy to the print head elements over time. The thermal print head model generates predictions of the temperature of each of the thermal print head elements at the beginning of each print head cycle based on: (1) the current ambient temperature of the thermal print head, (2) the thermal history of the print head, (3) the energy history of the print head, and (optionally) (4) the current temperature of the print medium. The amount of energy to provide to each of the print head elements during a print head cycle to produce a spot having the desired density is calculated based on: (1) the desired density to be produced by the print head element during the print head cycle, and (2) the predicted temperature of the print head element at the beginning of the print head cycle.

Abstract: A thermal activation device has a thermal head having heat generating elements for generating heat to heat a thermal activation sheet. A radiator absorbs and dissipates heat generated by the heat generating elements of the thermal head. The radiator has a portion disposed in contact with an introduction path along which the thermal activation sheet is introduced toward the thermal head for contacting the thermal activation sheet to preheat the thermal activation sheet as the thermal activation sheet advances in the introduction path.

Abstract: A feeder is provided inside an exposure section of a photographic printer. First and second feed-roller pairs are respectively disposed at an upstream side and a downstream side of an exposing position of the feeder. A first nip roller of the first feed-roller pair and a second nip roller of the second feed-roller pair are movable between a nip position for nipping paper sheets, and a release position for releasing the nip thereof. The second nip roller is moved to the nip position after an anterior end of the paper sheet situated at the most upstream side has passed the second nip roller. The first nip roller is moved to the release position before a posterior end of the paper sheet situated at the most downstream side leaves the first nip roller.

Abstract: A communication system (100) includes two or more communication devices (110, 150) for communicating video including at least one virtual image. An avatar is associated with each communicated image. Change messages are communicated between a transmitting communication device (110) and at least one receiving communication device (150) to provide iterative enhancement of each avatar associated with a current digital image at the receiving communication device (150).

Abstract: A multi-participant videoconference system incorporating a back-channel connection and a client video mixer is disclosed. The multi-participant videoconference system includes a client component and a server component. The server component provides a composite conference video signal to the client component. A region is defined in the composite conference video signal and the size and coordinates of the region are communicated to the client component by the server component over the back-channel. The client component captures local video and mixes local video into the composite conference video signal using the size and coordinates received from the server component for display.

Abstract: At least one video camera mounted upon the tractor part of a truck. An anchor is affixed to the truck so as to prevent any relative motion of anchor and truck, and a rail is affixed to the anchor. A slider is moveably mounted upon the rail so that motion along the rail is allowed but the slider cannot depart from the rail. A camera rack is affixed to the slider but the camera rack and slider are angularly coupled to the trailer/semi-trailer of the truck, so that the rack and any cameras mounted thereon swivel with the trailer, not with the tractor. The angular coupling may be achieved with at least one roller affixed to the camera rack but urged against the trailer. There may be at least two cameras: one showing each side of the trailer.

Abstract: In the vehicle surroundings display device of the invention, an image processor generates an image showing the situation around a vehicle. When an obstacle is detected by an obstacle detection means, the image processor determines an image missing region using the position of the border of the obstacle on the vehicle side detected by an obstacle position detection means and fills the image missing region with substitute image data. This eliminates unnaturalness of a display image the user may feel and enables the user to accurately recognize the position of a neighboring obstacle that is important in driving operation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating an omnidirectional mosaic image are presented in which a number of images are acquired about an axis of rotational. The images have a large field of view along the axis of rotation and a small field of view or image width in a second direction. The images can be image strips, formed from non-parallel rays directed onto an image sensor (1008), which are formed from a narrow width of parallel rays directed onto imaging sensor (1008). The images are combined to form a spherical mosaic. In the case of overlapping image strips, image combination can be performed by identifying common features in the overlapping regions and aligning consecutive image strips accordingly. A blending algorithm can then be used to improve image fidelity in the overlapping regions.