Method, system, and computer program for visually approximating scattered data
Granted: January 19, 1999
Patent Number:
5861891
A method, system, and computer program product are provided for visually approximating a scatter plot. Bins of scattered data points are formed. Each axis of a scatter plot is discretized according to a binning resolution. Bin positions along each discretized scatter plot axis are determined from the bin numbers. The bins, which represent a cloud of scattered data points, are volume rendered as splats. The opacity of each splat is a function of the number (count) of data points in a…
Method and apparatus for indicating selected objects by spotlight
Granted: January 19, 1999
Patent Number:
5861885
A method and apparatus are presented for displaying a three-dimensional navigable display space containing an aggregation of graphical objects and an overview of the aggregation of display objects. An altered perspective is provided by compressing the horizontal dimension of the displayed objects so that a user can see a representative overview of the entire aggregation of display objects that have been selected for display together on a display screen. The compressed component is…
System and method for merging pixel fragments based on depth range values
Granted: December 29, 1998
Patent Number:
5854631
A system and method for merging received pixel fragments with an existing fragment compares a depth range for the received fragment with a depth range for the existing fragment. If there is a range overlap, the new fragment is merged with the existing fragment for which there is overlap. If there is no range overlap, the new fragment is discarded. The merge operation can be performed for fragments received for a single surface, such as the nearest surface. Alternatively, the merge…
Loading and placement device for connecting circuit boards
Granted: December 15, 1998
Patent Number:
5848906
A loading and placement device for connecting circuit boards using a flex circuit and a compression connector is disclosed. A mounting mechanism holds one or more circuit boards and a flex circuit and a compression connector couple the circuit boards to a circuit board having a backplate hook and rail housings mounted onto it. The rail housings engage the frame of the mounting mechanism for easy alignment and secure attachment. A plate of the mounting mechanism slides so to engage and…
System and method for creating visual images of aircraft wake vortices
Granted: December 8, 1998
Patent Number:
5845874
A system and method for creating visual images of aircraft wake vortices allows a user, such as an aircraft controller, to increase a number of airport transactions while maintaining a predetermined level of safety. Wake vortices are simulated in a three dimensional environment taking into account various aircraft, environmental, and atmospherical conditions. The simulated wake vortices are rendered from a perspective selectable by the user. The displayed image allows the user to direct…
Integrated apparatus for displaying a plurality of modes of color information on a computer output display
Granted: December 8, 1998
Patent Number:
5847700
A circuit for translating pixel data to be displayed on the output display of a computer system including a plurality of color index maps for providing a first set of digital values of shades to produce a final color on an output display in response to color index values; and a plurality of gamma correction maps for providing a second set of digital values of shades to produce a final color on an output display in response to the first set of digital values of shades.
Manipulation of graphic structures using inverse kinematics
Granted: December 8, 1998
Patent Number:
5847716
A graphic structure having joint angles is manipulated from an initial configuration towards a goal configuration by a succession of iterations, in each of which an update configuration is derived from a prior configuration. A regular iteration determines at least one test configuration by modifying fewer than all of the joint angles of the prior configuration, determines, for each test configuration, an improvement value reflecting the improvement between the differences of the prior…
Compiler having automatic common blocks of memory splitting
Granted: December 8, 1998
Patent Number:
5848275
In a computer system having a cache memory and a main memory for storing data, a method for laying out blocks of data to minimize a number of memory transfers between the cache memory and the main memory. Memory layout normally occurs at link time, after all the source files have been compiled. The code is compiled with the assumption that the memory blocks can be optimally placed. The linker then determines whether there has been any memory violations. Memory violations are marked. All…
Computer graphics system and method for texture mapping using triangular interpolation
Granted: December 1, 1998
Patent Number:
5844567
Texture mapping using triangular interpolation in a computer graphics system is discussed herein. A texture mapping module maps a pixel from an image space to a sample point in a texture space. The sample point has coordinates (si+sf, ti+tf). The texture mapping module identifies the three texels in the texture space that form a triangular region enclosing the sample point. The texture mapping module determines whether the triangular region represents a lower region or an upper region.…
Distributed connection management system with replication
Granted: November 17, 1998
Patent Number:
5838921
A distributed connection management system for an interactive multimedia network that controls the allocation and recovery of bandwidth resources in the network between client and server. The connection manager accepts as input the topology of a network to be controlled and partitions the local access portion of the network into separately administered neighborhoods. Resources for each of the partitioned neighborhoods are allocated by a replicated neighborhood connection manager. The…
Arrangement for modifying eletrical printed circuit boards
Granted: November 10, 1998
Patent Number:
5834705
An apparatus for modifying a printed circuit board comprised of a nonconductively adhering flexible circuitized substrate, the flexible circuitized substrate having a conductive circuit trace composed of one or more layers of thin wires sandwiched between two or more layers of flexible insulating protective material. The wires forming the circuit trace of the flexible substrate and the conductors forming the circuitry in and on the printed circuit board are electrically interconnected at…
Circuit to separate and combine color space component data of a video image
Granted: November 10, 1998
Patent Number:
5835729
A method and arrangement for separating interleaved luminance and chrominance color space components data in a single data stream with minimum CPU intervention is provided. In the separating circuit, the separating circuit receives as input a series of graphics/video image data composed of interleaved luminance and chrominance color space components at successive clock cycles. The separating circuit directs selected bytes of the graphics/video image data representing the luminance color…
System and method for saving state information in an interactive television system
Granted: November 10, 1998
Patent Number:
5835717
A computer-based system and method for saving and restoring states in an interactive television system. The system presents interactive programs to a user; each program includes one or more states. When a user leaves a state in an interactive program by selecting a second state, the system saves state information sufficient to restore the first state. When the user elects to return to the first state, the system retrieves the state information and uses it to restore the first state; if…
Optical system for single camera stereo video
Granted: November 10, 1998
Patent Number:
5835133
A mechanism and method for recording stereo video with standard camera system electronics and a uniquely adapted optical assembly is disclosed. The optical assembly comprises left and right optical channels disposed to capture and project separate left and right images onto a single image sensor such that the boundary between the projected images is sharply delineated with no substantial overlap or gap. The viewpoints of the left and right optical channels are separated by a distance, d,…
Mechanism for non-linear browsing of diverse information sources
Granted: November 10, 1998
Patent Number:
5835092
Software implementing a display technique called "miniviews." Miniviews provide a single viewing mechanism for information from a variety of sources and keep supplemental and related information within easy reach by a user without interrupting the flow of a main information concept. Miniviews are displayed when predetermined portions of the surrounding browser is expanded and can be displayed in any order as predetermined by the author, depending on the portions of the surrounding…
Heatsink and method of forming a heatsink
Granted: November 3, 1998
Patent Number:
5829512
A heatsink for dissipating heat from electronic components, such as integrated circuits, on a circuit board. The heatsink is formed from metal foil and comprises a series of coplanar base portions interposed with transverse fins. The heatsink can be constructed from a length of metal foil which is folded to form the base portions and transverse fins. A base layer comprising, for example, an additional strip of sheet metal material, has adhesive on both sides and is affixed to the base…
System and computer-based method for creating real-time mirror reflections
Granted: November 3, 1998
Patent Number:
5831620
A system and computer-based method for performing real-time mirror reflection of objects in a scene using a computer graphics system having a stencil buffer. The scene includes a background and a plurality of mirrors, and the stencil buffer comprises bits with initial values. A first level reflection mask is generated in the stencil buffer for the plurality of mirrors in the scene. Using the first level reflection mask, second level mirror reflections are determined, followed by first…
Flat panel display screen apparatus with optical junction and removable backlighting assembly
Granted: November 3, 1998
Patent Number:
5831697
A flat panel display screen apparatus with optical junction and removable backlighting assembly. An optical junction is formed between a permanently housed light source within a display assembly and a removable light pipe when inserted into the display assembly. The optical junction is formed from a reflective film attached along the long axis of the light source and extends past a side of the light source to cover a gap between the light source and the light pipe. Another reflective…
Acknowledge triggered forwarding of external block data responses in a microprocessor
Granted: November 3, 1998
Patent Number:
5832306
A computer system and method using an acknowledging triggered forwarding mechanism for managing the receipt of an external block data response from an external agent. The mechanism consists of an incoming buffer and control logic. The incoming buffer connects internal memory units, such as a load store unit (LSU), cache, and instruction fetch unit (IFU) to an external agent. An external block data response sent by the external agent is stored in an entry partition in the incoming buffer…
Rotary latch assembly for a computer housing
Granted: October 27, 1998
Patent Number:
5826922
A rotary latch assembly which allows for simple, inexpensive and reliable attachment of a computer bezel to a computer housing. Latches disposed on each side of the bezel engage openings in the computer housing so as to secure the bezel to the computer housing. The latches are attached to rails which includes gears. A knob which includes rotary gears extends through an opening in the bezel. The rotary gears engage the gears of both of the rails such that the latches may be moved within a…
