Patents Issued in April 24, 2008
  • Publication number: 20080094360
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer mouse having a front sight button and the method for generating local coordinates with the same, which comprises a position sensor for generating coordinates in accordance with the movement of the mouse, a front sight button for generating a local shooting signal when being pressed, a serial interface device, of which one end is connected to a personal computer for exchanging data between the mouse and the personal computer, and a processing unit. The processing unit is connected to the position sensor, the front sight button and the serial interface device. Upon receiving a local shooting signal, the processing unit generates a specific area having plural perimeter coordinates corresponding to the current coordinate. The processing unit further transmits the current coordinate, the perimeter coordinates and corresponding key-strobe signals sequentially to the personal computer through the serial interface device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Chun Chu, Yung-Shun Chuang
  • Publication number: 20080094361
    Abstract: A control apparatus for enabling computer peripherals to be controlled by keyboard indication commands is disclosed, which is substantially a control box connected to a computer and a keyboard respectively by interfaces thereof, and is comprised of: a micro control unit (MCU), capable of issuing an activating signal while receiving a keyboard indication command from the keyboard; and a computer peripheral, capable of being activated/deactivated by the activating signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: ACTION STAR ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ching-Wei Cheng
  • Publication number: 20080094362
    Abstract: The invention provides a keyboard including a plurality of user-operable keys and a processor. The user-operable keys include a first key and a second key. The processor generates a first key signal in response to the key-in action of the first key, generates a second key signal in response to the key-in action of the second key, and generates the second key signal in response to the key-in action of the second key together with the first key. The first key signal represents the first key. The second key signal represents the second key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: Ta-Yuan Lee
  • Publication number: 20080094363
    Abstract: A thumbwheel input device oriented on an incline and comprising a wheel such that a first input is generated by rotation of the wheel about its axis, and a holder also having an axis of rotation and a portion thereon to receive the wheel whereby a second input is generated by rotation of the holder about the second axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: JASON GRIFFIN, CHAO CHEN
  • Publication number: 20080094364
    Abstract: In order to display the image included in the original one on a display part together with outputting the object, a key in a keypad on an operation part by a user. Thereby, the key operated by the user is specified in both of the mask image creation part 32 and data notification part 35. Subsequently, it is judged whether there is the object inherently assigned to the specified key or not. When the judge result is affirmative, the object that corresponds to the operation of the key is output together with displaying the image included in the original one. As a result, a changing of output object when an image included in an original one is displayed together with outputting an object is able to perform simply for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: VODAFONE K.K.
    Inventors: Mineko Moroto, Yusaku Nagai
  • Publication number: 20080094365
    Abstract: A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software. The device provides output in the form of a default output and a number of variants. The output is based largely upon the frequency, i.e., the likelihood that a user intended a particular output, but various features of the device provide additional variants that are not based solely on frequency and rather are provided by various logic structures resident on the device. The device enables editing during text entry and also provides a learning function that allows the disambiguation function to adapt to provide a customized experience for the user. The disambiguation function can be selectively disabled and an alternate keystroke interpretation system provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Vadim Fux, Michael Elizarov, Sergey Kolomiets
  • Publication number: 20080094366
    Abstract: A mobile communication terminal having a color changing function and its color changing method are disclosed. By changing an illumination color of a key input unit, a user can recognize an operation state of the terminal by intuition through the illumination color. In addition, because the key arrangement of the key input unit can be simplified, the terminal can become more compact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Jae Kwak, Sang Lee
  • Publication number: 20080094367
    Abstract: A remote control device has a display monitor for rendering an image and a touch screen for user interaction. The touch screen is pressure-sensitive. The device has an operational mode wherein the image is being scaled dependent on a value of the pressure registered by the touch screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Ramon Eugene Franciscus Van De Ven, Galileo June Destura, Michael Heesemans
  • Publication number: 20080094368
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, for use in conjunction with a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, comprises displaying at least a portion of a structured electronic document on the touch screen display, wherein the structured electronic document comprises a plurality of boxes of content, and detecting a first gesture at a location on the displayed portion of the structured electronic document. A first box in the plurality of boxes at the location of the first gesture is determined. The first box on the touch screen display is enlarged and substantially centered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Bas ORDING, Scott FORSTALL, Greg CHRISTIE, Stephen LEMAY, Imran CHAUDHRI, Richard WILLIAMSON, Chris BLUMENBERG, Marcel VAN OS
  • Publication number: 20080094369
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing email at a portable communications device with a touch screen display is disclosed. A first portion of a list of entries with information about corresponding electronic messages is displayed in a first area of the touch screen display. A first portion of an electronic message that corresponds to an entry in the list of entries is displayed in a second area of the touch screen display that is separate from the first area. In response to a first gesture by a user in the first area of the touch screen display, the list of entries is scrolled to display a second portion of the list of entries. In response to a second gesture by the user in the second area of the touch screen display, the electronic message is moved in two dimensions to display a second portion of the electronic message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Nitin GANATRA, Gregory NOVICK, Stephen LEMAY, Greg CHRISTIE, Scott FORSTALL
  • Publication number: 20080094370
    Abstract: A portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display is disclosed. One aspect of the invention involves a computer-implemented method in which the portable electronic device: displays an application on the touch-sensitive display; and when the application is in a predefined mode, performs a predefined operation in response to each gesture of a set of multiple distinct gestures on the touch-sensitive display. Another aspect of the invention involves a computer-implemented method in which the portable electronic device: displays a first application; when the first application is in a first mode, performs a first operation upon detecting a first gesture on the touch-sensitive display; and performs the first operation upon detecting a second gesture on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the second gesture is different from the first gesture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Bas ORDING, Scott HERZ, Wayne WESTERMAN, Scott FORSTALL, Greg CHRISTIE, Stephen LEMAY, Marcel VAN OS, Michael MATAS
  • Publication number: 20080094371
    Abstract: Deletion gestures for use on a portable multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display are disclosed. In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with the portable multifunction device comprises displaying a list of items on the touch-sensitive display, detecting a first gesture on the touch-sensitive display to edit the list of items, responding to the first gesture by displaying a first icon next to each deletable item in the list, detecting a second gesture on the touch-sensitive display to select one of the deletable items, and responding to the second gesture by displaying a second icon next to the selected item. If a third gesture on the second icon is detected, the selected deletable item is deleted. If a fourth gesture on the first icon next to the selected deletable item is detected, the second icon is deleted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Scott FORSTALL, Greg CHRISTIE, Stephen LEMAY, Bas ORDING, Marcel VAN OS
  • Publication number: 20080094372
    Abstract: A method of mounting a touch-screen element onto a control panel, and a corresponding assembled unit. In the assembled apparatus, the control panel has the touch-screen element mounted thereto. The touch-screen element comprises a sensing element mounted on a semi-rigid carrier, and first and second clamps for holding opposed sides of the touch-screen element to the panel. At least the second clamps is moveable between open and closed configurations, the open configuration being used during assembly. For assembly, one side of the touch-sensitive element is inserted into the first clamp. The touch-sensitive element is then bent into a curve and pushed down into the second clamp while the second clamp is in its open configuration. Once the touch-sensitive element has been flattened onto the panel and is in the second clamp, the second clamp is closed to complete the assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: Harald Philipp
  • Publication number: 20080094373
    Abstract: Provided is a keypad assembly used as a data input unit in various electronic devices. The keypad assembly includes a main board having one or more metal domes formed at predetermined positions on the main board, and a keypad disposed on the main board to apply a pressure on the metal dome and to be used as a touchpad according to a mode selection, the keypad includes a keytop layer having one or more keytops on which corresponding alphanumeric characters are formed, a touchpad layer disposed under the keytop layer; and a base layer disposed under the touchpad layer, and having one or more protrusions protruding from its bottom surface at the positions corresponding to the metal dome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sung-Hoon SONG
  • Publication number: 20080094374
    Abstract: A control device is disclosed for a spreader for spreading materials on a road. The device includes a touch screen for entering information and an arrangement associated with the touch screen for processing the information and for providing a color display. The device also includes a color display which permits a user to view displayed information in multiple colors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: Paul Treuthardt
  • Publication number: 20080094375
    Abstract: A universal flat horizontal use stylus, this stylus design avoids damage to the fragile outer membranes of existing touch sensitive screens devices mostly found on today's PDA's (personal digital assistant). Due to the curvature of the present inventions flat body and downward angled flat conical nose tip, and control/support curve at rear of present invention, the new holding angle which involves the user's index, thumb and middle fingers, most of the exertion pressure from a users hand due to the new horizontal holding angle of the present invention and flat design, impact pressure would be significantly reduced at the tip of this stylus and the fragile touch sensitive screen of today's PDA's., as one could not do with an ordinary pen-type stylus which allows for easy over exertion and damage to the delicate and fragile membrane found on most PDA's.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: Jerry Craig
  • Publication number: 20080094376
    Abstract: A method calibrates a stylus to a display interface by first resetting a calibration pattern and calibration parameters. The calibration pattern is displayed on the display interface at a location corresponding to an estimated position of a stylus tip. The position of the stylus tip is measured while sensing the calibration pattern with a photosensor arranged on the stylus tip. If coordinates of the location are equal to coordinates of the position, then the resetting, displaying, measuring and determining steps are repeated periodically, and otherwise a size of the calibration pattern is increased and the displaying, measuring and determining steps are repeated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: Paul H. Dietz
  • Publication number: 20080094377
    Abstract: A data management device in an electronic pen apparatus operates to receive (602) images of a product surface and extract (604) data from these images. The product surface may be provided with part of a position-coding pattern, and the extracted data may then represent positions encoded by the pattern. The device selectively processes the extracted data in an online process and an offline process. The selection (606) of process may be controlled by the pattern data in the images. The online process is operable to provide (614) the extracted data, sequentially and typically in near real time, on a communications interface of the pen apparatus. The offline process is operable to store (608) the extracted data in an internal storage (M) of the pen apparatus. The offline process is also operable to selectively provide (610) the extracted data in non-sequential order on the communications interface, by retrieving and collating extracted data originating from a specific part of the abstract position-coding pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Johan Zander, Stefan Lynggaard
  • Publication number: 20080094378
    Abstract: A method for reducing gain and lag signals associated with trapped charges is described. Data is collected from a detector. A forward bias voltage is temporarily applied to the detector between collecting the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Ivan Petrov Mollov, Carlo Alberto Tognina, Roberto Totaro
  • Publication number: 20080094379
    Abstract: The information display system has: a display panel portion 100, in which display media are sealed in a closed space between opposed two substrates, at least one substrate being transparent, and, in which the display media, to which an electrostatic filed is applied, are made to move so as to display information such as an image; and a control CPU 101 constantly connected to the display panel portion 100. In the control CPU, a driving program is installed, and, in the case that displayed information on the display panel portion 100 is continuously displayed without varying for more than a predetermined time (for example, one day or one week), an action, such that the displayed information is changed back to an original display information after making even or reversing an electric field distribution of the display media, is performed at least one time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Maki Masutani, Norio Nihei, Shuhei Tsuchie
  • Publication number: 20080094380
    Abstract: An electronic device has a first active matrix pixel array device (52) and a second pixel array device (54). The first and second pixel arrays are provided on separate substrates (56,58), and a part (62) of the addressing or processing circuitry of the first active matrix array device (52) is provided on the substrate (58) of the second pixel array. The invention provides the distribution of control circuitry between two substrates (56,58) in a device having two array devices (52,54). This can enable the costs associated with a defect in the row and column driver circuitry to be minimised.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Martin J. Edwards, John R.A. Ayres
  • Publication number: 20080094381
    Abstract: In a case where the data drive circuit is used for a face-up mounting, a reverse switching circuit is controlled so that a reverse switching signal RB can be at an “H” level. Thus, an output terminal S11 is caused to function as an output terminal from which to output a drive signal representing the R color, whereas an output terminal S13 is caused to function as an output terminal from which to output a drive signal representing the B color. In a case where the data drive circuit is used for a face-down mounting, the reverse switching circuit is controlled so that the reverse switching signal RB can be at an “L” level. Thus, the output terminal S11 is caused to function as the from which to output the drive signal representing the B color, whereas the output terminal S13 is caused to function as the output terminal from which to output the drive signal representing the R color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hitoshi Hiratsuka
  • Publication number: 20080094382
    Abstract: A display panel driving mechanism for electronic device supports a lower side of a display panel (1), which is arranged on a front plane of an electronic device, to be freely turned around a first shaft (5a) which moves by following a slider (4) driven in to and fro directions. The mechanism shifts a second shaft (9a), which is provided on a member (9) attached on an upper side of the display panel (1), along a guide groove (2a) provided on a member (2) fixed to a case. In a shifting initial period of the first shaft (5a), the first shaft (5a) is shifted in a rear direction from an initial status, in which the display panel (1) is at a position where it covers the front plane of the electronic device by not inclining and the front plane of the display panel is inclined to face down. In the shifting initial period, the first shaft (5a) is permitted to shift to the rear and to an upper part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KENWOOD
    Inventor: Keiji Kasai
  • Publication number: 20080094383
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for driving a display panel (DP) having pixels (P). The display panel (DP) is driven with a sequence of image frames. The image frames are converted to a drive signal (V2) comprising refresh frames with a refresh frame period (TR) shorter than the image frame period. A pixel (P) of the display panel (DP) is driven with an adapted drive signal having a first polarity during a first group of refresh frame periods, and having a reversed polarity during a subsequent second group of refresh frame periods. The first group and the second group each comprise at least two refresh frame periods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Jeroen Hubert Christoffel Jacobus Stessen, Aleksandar Sevo
  • Publication number: 20080094384
    Abstract: An exemplary driving circuit for a liquid crystal display (3) includes a power supply circuit (34), a backlight control circuit (356) and a counter (355). The power supply circuit provides voltages for the LCD. The backlight control circuit controls whether or not the voltages provided by the power supply circuit are transferred to a backlight module of the LCD. The counter is configured for counting a number of pulses received from an external circuit, when the number of pulses received reaches a predetermined threshold number, the counter provides a trigger signal to turn on the backlight control circuit, so that the voltages provided by the power supply are transferred to the backlight module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: Zhan-Wei Fu
  • Publication number: 20080094385
    Abstract: A first switch circuit is provided between a gradation voltage selection circuit and an output circuit. The output circuit includes a test switch that disconnects the gradation voltage selection circuit from the output circuit in a test mode; a test switch that connects, in the test mode, the gradation voltage selection circuit to a tester connection terminal TESR1; and a test switch that connects, in the test mode, the output circuit to a tester connection terminal TESR2. A second switch circuit is provided between a gradation voltage generation circuit and the gradation voltage selection circuit to disconnect, in the test mode, the gradation voltage generation circuit from the gradation voltage selection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshikazu Tazuke
  • Publication number: 20080094386
    Abstract: A voltage generator includes a boosting circuit boosting a power voltage to generate first through fourth voltages, and a boosting controller controlling the boosting circuit. The boosting controller sets the third and fourth voltages to a voltage level lower than that of a ground voltage while the first and second voltages are generated, so that a plurality of voltages may be stably generated, i.e., without latch-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Jae-Ho Park, Won-Sik Kang
  • Publication number: 20080094387
    Abstract: Under the condition of a computer system being powered on, a switch on a monitor controls the power or the display parameters of the monitor according to the triggering time of the switch. When the switch is triggered for more than a predetermined period of time, a control unit of the monitor sets the monitor to the standby state or powers off the monitor. When the switch is triggered for less than the predetermined period of time, the control device then controls the monitor to display video signals from the computer system according to different display parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: Min-Jye Chen
  • Publication number: 20080094388
    Abstract: A drive circuit of an electro-optical device includes: plural rows of scanning lines; plural columns of data lines; a plurality of common electrodes; pixel switching elements, pixel capacitors; and pixels. Here, the drive circuit includes a scanning line drive circuit; and first transistors corresponding to the plurality of common electrodes. Each of the first transistors includes: a common electrode drive circuit for connecting the common electrode to a power supply line, to which a predetermined voltage is applied, when the scanning line is selected, a common signal output circuit having a voltage for allowing a detection voltage of the common electrode corresponding to a scanning line to become a reference voltage when the scanning line is selected, and a data line drive circuit having a voltage according to the gray scale level of the pixel to the pixel corresponding to the selected scanning line via the data line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsunori Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20080094389
    Abstract: An image data processing system with computing means for the automatic segmentation of a treelike tubular structure in a 3-D image comprising: means (20) for computing a treelike center path of the tubular tree-like structure; means (21) for dividing the treelike center path of the tubular treelike structure into segments formed of points; means (40) for generating generic cylindrical meshes formed of cells, for individual segments of the tree-like center path; means (50) for fusing generic cylindrical meshes by two.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Rouet, Franck Laffargue, Maxim Fradkin
  • Publication number: 20080094390
    Abstract: An operation input reception unit (201) receives an operation input for a virtual vehicle to be run on the running path. Further, a running condition managing unit (203) manages the running condition of the virtual vehicle based on the received operation input. Then, a video generation unit (204) generates a front image appearing in front of the virtual vehicle, based on image information stored in an image information storage unit (202) and the managed running condition. Meanwhile, a load calculation unit (205) calculates a load to be imposed on the virtual vehicle, based on the managed running condition. Further, a tire drawing unit (206) draws a tire image whose shape is changed according to the calculated load. Then, a display control unit (208) synthesizes the generated front image and the tire image, and displays the synthesized image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Nakagawa, Yutaka Ito
  • Publication number: 20080094391
    Abstract: To perform three-dimensional graphics processes by reducing the number of polygons to be processed, a storage unit (202) of an image processor (201) stores each of a plurality of polygons making up the surfaces of an object placed in a virtual three-dimensional space, in association with any of the surfaces of an approximate polyhedron which approximates the shape of the object, a determination unit (203) determines whether or not each of the surfaces of the stored approximate polyhedron can be seen in a case where the virtual three-dimensional space is observed along a predetermined sight line direction from a predetermined viewpoint, and a generation unit (204) generates an image, as observed along the predetermined direction from the predetermined viewpoint, of polygons, among the plurality of polygons stored in association, that are determined at a determining step as can been seen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Yanagihara
  • Publication number: 20080094392
    Abstract: A method and appertaining system load 3D shape information defining a hearing aid shell into a processor and present a representation of the shell on a display. A fill boundary is entered by a user operating a user input device and a fill region for the shell is thus defined. The fill boundary is then displayed, but can be modified by the user. Various checks may be performed to ensure that the fill region is a proper one, and if not, a status can be provided to the user indicating why the fill region is unacceptable. The displayed shell can be rotated and moved to assist the user. Once an acceptable fill region has been defined, an indication is provided by the user that the displayed fill region is to be used as the actual fill region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Fred McBagonluri, Artem Boltyenkov, Oleg Saltykov
  • Publication number: 20080094393
    Abstract: An object collation method comprising a registration procedure for registering the registered data of a registered object in a database, and a collation procedure for collating the input image of a target object with the registered data. The registration procedure includes a step of storing the three-dimensional shape of the registered object and a texture space defined by a texture group indicating the luminance and/or color information of each position of the object surface under various illumination conditions. The collation procedure includes the steps of: generating an illumination fluctuation space defined by the image group under the various illumination conditions, at the location and position of the target object in the input image from the three-dimensional shape and the texture space; and collating the target object and the registered object based on the distance between the illumination fluctuation space and the input image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Rui Ishiyama
  • Publication number: 20080094394
    Abstract: A system and method for creating a derivative view from graphical data which is derived from native application data. The native application data may be extracted from a graphical application, such as a CAD application, converted to an intermediate or derivative format, and a derivative view of the graphic information produced by the original, native application is provided from the intermediate format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: RIGHT HEMISPHERE LIMITED
    Inventors: Mark Thomas, Paul Delaney, Mark Shafer, David Dauncey, Patrick Ashby
  • Publication number: 20080094395
    Abstract: A method, medium, and system rendering 3-dimensional (3D) graphic data. The method of rendering 3D graphic data may include grouping objects from among transparent objects included in graphic data, which overlap each other in a 3D space, and rendering the group and remaining objects excluding the grouped objects, in an order determined according to the distance between the group and a viewpoint and the distance between the remaining objects and the viewpoint. In particular, in the rendering of the group, the objects included in the group may be rendered in an order determined according to the distance between each unit element of each object belonging to the group and the viewpoint. By using such a method, medium, and system, rendering picture quality of a transparent object may be improved by avoiding rendering errors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-oak Woo, Hee-sae Lee
  • Publication number: 20080094396
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for the generation of 3D images of a moving joint (1). A rotational X-ray device (10) generates projections of said joint from different directions while the simultaneous periodic movement of the joint (1) is recorded by a monitoring device (20). The generated X-ray projections are then classified according to the phase of joint movement to which they belong, and 3D images are reconstructed from X-ray projections of each class. Thus a 3D movie of the joint movement can be produced and shown on a monitor. The monitoring device (20) may particularly be realized by an apparatus that allows the forced movement of the joint (1) in synchronization with the generation of X-ray projections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Joerg Sabczynsdi, Geert Streekstra
  • Publication number: 20080094397
    Abstract: A method for rendering a two-dimensional image comprising: (a) obtaining a first three-dimensional set of data for a relatively high quality image; (b) generating a second three-dimensional set of data for a relatively low quality image from the obtained three-dimensional set of data; (c) rendering a relatively low quality two-dimensional image from second three-dimensional set of data; (d) rendering a first portion of a relatively high quality two-dimensional image from a first portion of the first three-dimensional set of data; (e) blending the rendered low quality two-dimensional image with relatively high quality two-dimensional image; (f) rendering a second portion of a relatively high quality two-dimensional image from a different portion of the first three-dimensional set of data; and (g) blending the rendered low quality two-dimensional image from second three-dimensional set of data with relatively high quality two-dimensional image from the second portion of the first three-dimensional set of data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: Siemens Corporate Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei Li
  • Publication number: 20080094398
    Abstract: In exemplary embodiments of the present invention a 3D visualization system can be ported to a laptop or desktop PC, or other standard 2D computing environment, which uses a mouse and keyboard as user interfaces. Using the methods of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a cursor or icon can be drawn at a contextually appropriate depth, thus preserving 3D interactivity and visualization while only having available 2D control. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a spatially correct depth can be automatically found for, and assigned to, the various cursors and icons associated with various 3D tools, control panels and other manipulations. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention this can preserve the three-dimensional experience of interacting with a 3D data set even though the 2D interface used to select objects and manipulate them cannot directly provide a third dimensional co-ordinate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: Bracco Imaging, s.p.a.
    Inventors: Hern NG, Luis SERRA
  • Publication number: 20080094399
    Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for displaying a graphical representation of a graph including nodes and edges. A layout of the graph is determined. The layout of the graph is determined by determining respective positions of each of the nodes and edges within the layout. The position of each node is determined using a first model and, optionally, a second force model, wherein the first force model comprises a substantially linear repulsive force in a first region, a substantially exponential repulsive force in a second region, and an attractive force in a third region. In one embodiment, the position of each edge may be determined using the first force model. A graphical representation of the layout is generated. The graphical representation of the layout is displayed to one or more users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Ulrich Karl Heinkel, Axel Schneider, Stephan Walter
  • Publication number: 20080094400
    Abstract: A method including processing and modeling a script stored in a first device, determining a state transition diagram of the first device based on the script model, utilizing the state transition diagram to determine a state of the first device and displaying an image based on the state of the first device in response to internal and/or external events associated with the first device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Ning-Nibble Yang, Jyri P. Salomaa, Jouka Mattila, Ciaran Harris, Elina M. Koivisto
  • Publication number: 20080094401
    Abstract: A method of simplifying the programming of animation of vector graphics for the graphic user interface of, for example, a SCADA system. The programming method allows the programmer to input unique yet simple instruction codes instead of inputting multiple lines of logic script to animate vector graphic objects and texts. An animation engine is used to interpret the simple instruction codes and instruct the browser to perform the necessary animation on the selected vector graphic objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: ECAVA SDN. BHD.
    Inventors: Kok Peng LEE, Foot Yow WONG, Kin Hoon WONG
  • Publication number: 20080094402
    Abstract: A computing system having a parallel graphics rendering system employing multiple graphics processing pipelines (GPPLs) dynamically controlled according to time, image and object division modes of parallel operation during the run-time of graphics-based applications running on the computing system. The parallel graphics rendering subsystem includes a plurality of graphics processing pipelines (GPPLs) and supports multiple modes of parallel operation selected from the group consisting of object division, image division, and time division. The GPPLs support a parallel graphics rendering process that employs one or more of the object division, image division and/or time division modes of parallel operation in order to execute graphic commands and process graphics data (GCAD), and render pixel-composited images containing graphics for display on a display device during the run-time of the graphics-based application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Reuven Bakalash, Yaniv Leviathan
  • Publication number: 20080094403
    Abstract: A computing system capable of parallelizing the operation of multiple graphics processing units (GPUs) supported on external graphics cards, employing a multi-mode parallel graphics rendering subsystem. The computing system includes (i) CPU memory space for storing one or more graphics-based applications, (ii) a CPU/GPU fusion-architecture chip including one or more CPUs, one or more GPUs, a memory controller for controlling the CPU memory space, and an interconnect network, and (iii) an external graphics cards supporting multiple GPUs and being connected to the CPU/GPU fusion-architecture chip by way of a data communication interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Reuven Bakalash, Yaniv Leviathan
  • Publication number: 20080094404
    Abstract: A computing system having a multi-mode parallel graphics rendering subsystem which includes multiple graphics processing pipelines (GPPLs) and automated division of graphics commands and data during automatic mode control. The multi-mode parallel graphics rendering subsystem supports multiple modes of parallel operation selected from the group consisting of object division, image division, and time division. The GPPLs support a parallel graphics rendering process that employs one or more of the object division, image division and/or time division modes of parallel operation in order to execute graphic commands and process graphics data, and render pixel-composited images containing graphics for display on a display device during the run-time of the graphics-based application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Reuven Bakalash, Yaniv Leviathan
  • Publication number: 20080094405
    Abstract: A scalable shader architecture is disclosed. In accord with that architecture, a shader includes multiple shader pipelines, each of which can perform processing operations on rasterized pixel data. Shader pipelines can be functionally removed as required, thus preventing a defective shader pipeline from causing a chip rejection. The shader includes a shader distributor that processes rasterized pixel data and then selectively distributes the processed rasterized pixel data to the various shader pipelines, beneficially in a manner that balances workloads. A shader collector formats the outputs of the various shader pipelines into proper order to form shaded pixel data. A shader instruction processor (scheduler) programs the individual shader pipelines to perform their intended tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Rui BASTOS, Karim Abdalla, Christian Rouet, Michael Toksvig, Johnny Rhoades, Roger Allen, John Tynefield, Emmett Kilgariff, Gary Tarolli, Brian Cabral, Craig Wittenbrink, Sean Treichler
  • Publication number: 20080094406
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a way of storing 3D images. The 3D image is composed of a stack of two-dimensional video data subsets represented by arrays of pixel data. Each array of pixel data is partitioned into a plurality of overlapping and adjacent vertical stripes of pixel data having a width at most equal to a cacheline of the memory. The upper most left stripe is stored first and each stripe is stored after the left adjacent stripe. When storing each stripe having multiple rows of pixel data, the upper row is stored first and the first pixel data of each subsequent row of the stripe is stored in a memory location coming after a memory location where the last pixel data of the preceding row in the stripe is stored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Juergen Weese, Gundolf Kiefer, Marc Busch
  • Publication number: 20080094407
    Abstract: Systems and methods for graphics data management are described. One embodiment includes a graphics processing system comprising a texture management unit configured to organize texture map data according to a slice major format, wherein the texture map data spans at least one mip level. Furthermore, the graphics processing system comprises a texture cache, wherein the texture cache is coupled to the texture management unit and configured to receive the reorganized texture map data from the texture management unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: VIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jim Xu, John Brothers, Sibyl Shao
  • Publication number: 20080094408
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for graphics processing. The graphics processing system comprises the primitive assembly, a vertex/geometry shader, the second primitive assembly, a cache memory, and a texture engine. The vertex/geometry shader can receive primitive data to execute can output vertex data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Xiaoqin Yin, Jinshan Zheng, Fang Xia, Pingping Shao, Jianbo Zhang, Lixia Yan
  • Publication number: 20080094409
    Abstract: A calculation unit (58) references texture data (62) in a storage unit (60) and acquires texel information of index color formal An integral look-up table (64) has a structure containing a plurality of color look-up tables based on the detail degree (LOD) of the area to be plotted A look-up table reference unit (70) selectively references the color look-up table based on the LOD stored in the integral look-up table (64) according to the LOD value of the texel obtained by the LOD calculation unit (68), acquires color information corresponding to the index value of the texel, and outputs it to the calculation unit (58). The calculation unit (58) performs filter processing such as bi-linear interpolation according to the texel color information and outputs the texel information after the processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Takahiro Koguchi, Norio Takama