EP0355627A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Improved electronic transparency method and apparatus
Assignee: In Focus Systems Inc
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Filing: 1989-08-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-08-11
Abstract
Abstract An electronic transparency device is provided with a memory in which a plurality of frames of video data ("slides") can be stored. The apparatus includes a control microprocessor which can cause predefined sequences of slides to be presented on the LCD panel automatically. These slide "shows" are defined by the user using a hand held remote control unit in conjuntion with menus displayed on the LCD panel in window fashion by the microprocessor. The user can specify the duration that each slide in a sequence is to be shown, the video transition by which it is to be introduced, the degree of "windowshading" with which it is to be displayed, etc. Once a show is defined, it can be instituted and controlled from the remote control unit. Among other numerous features, the transparency also includes a pointer that can be superimposed on the display and controlled by the remote control unit. This pointer can be used to define certain portions of the screen that are to be displayed in highlighted fashion.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven R. Hix
- 👤 Paul E. Gulick
- 👤 Robert E. Haas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:53
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/14; G06F3/147; H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/74; H04N5/7416; H04N5/7441; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/1336; G02F1/133626; G02F1/133627; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S353/00; Y10S353/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 59
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
An improved video display device that can be used with a computer having a display port, comprising: input means for receiving a video data signal from the computer display port; clock means coupled to the input means for processing a signal received from the computer display port to reconstruct a clock signal related thereto; frame buffer means coupled to the input means and to the clock means for storing data corresponding to a frame of video output by the computer; display means for displaying the frame of video data stored in the frame buffer means; and auxiliary memory means remote from said computer and coupled to the frame buffer means for storing additional frames of video data for subsequent display.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
An improved video display device that can be used with a computer having a display port, comprising: input means for receiving a video data signal from the computer display port; clock means coupled to the input means for processing a signal received from the computer display port to reconstruct a clock signal related thereto; frame buffer means coupled to the input means and to the clock means for storing data corresponding to a frame of video output by the computer; display means for displaying the frame of video data stored in the frame buffer means; and auxiliary memory means remote from said computer and coupled to the frame buffer means for storing additional frames of video data for subsequent display.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The display device of claim 1 which further comprises: addressing means for retreiving a selected frame of video data from said auxiliary memory means; and means for transferring said selected frame of video data to the frame buffer means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The display device of claim 2 in which said display means comprises means from which the displayed video can be optically projected onto a passive screen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electronic transparency comprising: video display means from which displayed video can be optically projected onto a passive screen; video processing means for storing a frame of video data and for providing video data to the video display means for display; said video processing means further including windowshade means for processing said frame of video data to obscure a selected portion thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electronic transparency comprising: video display means from which displayed video can be optically projected onto a passive screen; video processing means for storing a frame of video data and for providing video data to the video display means for display; said video processing means further including windowshade means for processing said frame of video data to obscure a selected portion thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The electronic transparency of claim 4 in which said video processing means further includes control means for defining the selected portion of said frame of digital data which is to be obscured.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electronic transparency of claim 4 in which said control means includes a remote control unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
An electronic transparency comprising: a display device; video circuitry for driving said display device; a housing structure for supporting said display device and for containing said video circuitry; and first connector means supported by said housing and electrically coupled to said video circuitry for connection to a memory means storing a plurality of frames of video data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
An electronic transparency comprising: a display device; video circuitry for driving said display device; a housing structure for supporting said display device and for containing said video circuitry; and first connector means supported by said housing and electrically coupled to said video circuitry for connection to a memory means storing a plurality of frames of video data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
A memory means for use with the electronic transparency of claim 7 comprising: memory circuitry for storing a plurality of frames of video data; an enclosure containing said memory circuitry; and second connector means disposed on said enclosure, electrically coupled to said memory means and matable with the first connector means for providing video data from the memory circuitry to the video circuitry.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
200 words
An electronic transparency for use with a computer having a display port, comprising: input means for receiving a video data signal from the computer display port; clock means coupled to the input means for processing a signal received from the computer display port to reconstruct a clock signal related thereto; frame buffer means coupled to the input means and to the clock means for storing data corresponding to a frame of video output by the computer; display means from which displayed video can be optically projected onto a passive screen; display driver means for providing to said display means a video driving signal corresponding to the frame of video data stored in the frame buffer means; frame buffer addressing means coupled to the clock means for controlling the flow of data from the input means into the frame buffer means and for controlling the flow of data from the frame buffer means out to the display driver means; and an auxiliary memory system distinct from any memory in the computer comprising: memory means for storing data corresponding to a plurality of frames of video; and control means for selectively transferring data between the frame buffer means and the memory means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
200 words
An electronic transparency for use with a computer having a display port, comprising: input means for receiving a video data signal from the computer display port; clock means coupled to the input means for processing a signal received from the computer display port to reconstruct a clock signal related thereto; frame buffer means coupled to the input means and to the clock means for storing data corresponding to a frame of video output by the computer; display means from which displayed video can be optically projected onto a passive screen; display driver means for providing to said display means a video driving signal corresponding to the frame of video data stored in the frame buffer means; frame buffer addressing means coupled to the clock means for controlling the flow of data from the input means into the frame buffer means and for controlling the flow of data from the frame buffer means out to the display driver means; and an auxiliary memory system distinct from any memory in the computer comprising: memory means for storing data corresponding to a plurality of frames of video; and control means for selectively transferring data between the frame buffer means and the memory means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
86 words
The electronic transparency of claim 9 in which the control means comprises: a microprocessor; a programmable memory for storing microprocessor data; and user interface means including: capture means for instructing the microprocessor to copy the data then resident in the frame buffer means into the memory means; and sequence specifying means for storing microprocessor data into the programmable memory specifying the sequence in which captured frames of data are to be transferred from the memory means to the frame buffer means under control of the microprocessor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
78 words
An improved display device for use with a computer, comprising: frame buffer means for storing data corresponding to a frame of video output by the computer; display means for displaying the frame of video data stored in the frame buffer means; and an auxiliary memory system comprising: memory means for storing video data corresponding to a plurality of frames of video; and control means for selectively transferring video data between the frame buffer means and the memory means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
An improved display device for use with a computer, comprising: frame buffer means for storing data corresponding to a frame of video output by the computer; display means for displaying the frame of video data stored in the frame buffer means; and an auxiliary memory system comprising: memory means for storing video data corresponding to a plurality of frames of video; and control means for selectively transferring video data between the frame buffer means and the memory means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
101 words
The display device of claim 11 in which the control means comprises: logic circuitry; a programmable memory for storing data relating to operation of the logic circuitry; and user interface means including: capture means permitting a user to instruct the logic circuitry to copy the video data then resident in the frame buffer means into the memory means; and sequence specifying means permitting a user to store data into the programmable memory specifying the sequence in which frames of digital video data are to be transferred from the memory means to the frame buffer means under control of the logic circuitry.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
130 words
An improved display device for use with a computer having a display port, comprising: auxiliary memory means remote from the computer for storing video data; frame buffer means coupled to the data bus for storing video data corresponding to a frame of video, said frame buffer means having an input and an output; display means coupled to an output of the frame buffer means for displaying video; and interface means coupled to the data bus and having two states, in the first state said interface means comprising means for providing live video data from the computer display port to the input of the frame buffer means, and in the second state comprising means for providing video data from the auxiliary memory means to the input of the frame buffer means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
130 words
An improved display device for use with a computer having a display port, comprising: auxiliary memory means remote from the computer for storing video data; frame buffer means coupled to the data bus for storing video data corresponding to a frame of video, said frame buffer means having an input and an output; display means coupled to an output of the frame buffer means for displaying video; and interface means coupled to the data bus and having two states, in the first state said interface means comprising means for providing live video data from the computer display port to the input of the frame buffer means, and in the second state comprising means for providing video data from the auxiliary memory means to the input of the frame buffer means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
An auxiliary video memory module for an electronic transparency comprising: memory means for storing a plurality of frames of video data; means permitting the retrieval of video data from the memory circuitry; a housing containing the aforesaid elements; and means for providing video data retrieved from said memory circuitry to a video apparatus located externally of said housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
58 words
An auxiliary video memory module for an electronic transparency comprising: memory means for storing a plurality of frames of video data; means permitting the retrieval of video data from the memory circuitry; a housing containing the aforesaid elements; and means for providing video data retrieved from said memory circuitry to a video apparatus located externally of said housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The auxiliary video memory module of claim 14 which additionally comprises: processing means for executing a decompression function on video data stored in the memory means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
65 words
A user interface for an electronic transparency, the electronic transparency including a display device, the interface comprising: control means for controlling operation of the electronic transparency; menu means for indicating to the user, by a display on the display device, at least one operation which can selectably be executed by the control means; and selection means permitting the user to select said operation for execution.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
65 words
A user interface for an electronic transparency, the electronic transparency including a display device, the interface comprising: control means for controlling operation of the electronic transparency; menu means for indicating to the user, by a display on the display device, at least one operation which can selectably be executed by the control means; and selection means permitting the user to select said operation for execution.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
72 words
The interface of claim 16 in which: the menu means includes means for indicating to the user, by a display on the display device, a plurality of operations which can selectably be executed by the control means; and the selection means includes means permitting the user to move a graphical marker displayed on the display device to indicate to the control means which of the plurality of operations the user desires executed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The interface of claim 17 in which the select means includes a remote control unit with means for remotely instructing the graphical marker to move on the display device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
55 words
An improved electronic transparency, comprising: a display device; means for storing a plurality of frames of video data; means for displaying selected ones of said stored frames of video data in a desired sequence on the display device; and means permitting a user to specify the sequence in which said frames are to be displayed.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
55 words
An improved electronic transparency, comprising: a display device; means for storing a plurality of frames of video data; means for displaying selected ones of said stored frames of video data in a desired sequence on the display device; and means permitting a user to specify the sequence in which said frames are to be displayed.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electronic transparency of claim 19 which further includes means for displaying on the display device a menu presenting to the user certain display options and means permitting the user to select therefrom.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electronic transparency of claim 19 which further includes means permitting the user to specify the relative lengths of time each of the selected frames is to be displayed.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electronic transparency of claim 19 which further includes transition specifying means permitting the user to specify the type of video transition to be used in sequencing from one frame of video data to the next.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
42 words
The electronic transparency of claim 22 in which the transition specifying means includes means permitting the user to choose a video transition from a list including at least two of the following: replace, random dissolve, center-out dissolve, side-to-side sweep and corner-to-corner sweep.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electronic transparency of claim 19 which further includes means for displaying on the display device a number indicating the sequence number of a frame being displayed in the sequence of frames being displayed.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
61 words
An improved electronic transparency comprising: video display means from which displayed video can be projected onto a passive screen; means for incorporating data comprising a pointing indicator into said video displayed by the video display means; and remote means for controlling the position of said pointing indicator in the video display means from a location remote from said video display means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
61 words
An improved electronic transparency comprising: video display means from which displayed video can be projected onto a passive screen; means for incorporating data comprising a pointing indicator into said video displayed by the video display means; and remote means for controlling the position of said pointing indicator in the video display means from a location remote from said video display means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electronic transparency of claim 25 which further includes highlighting means for highlighting certain portions of the displayed video.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
66 words
An improved electronic transparency comprising: video display means from which displayed video can be optically projected onto a passive screen; memory means for storing a plurality of frames of video data; means for providing frames of video data from the memory means to the video display means for display; and means for transitioning from one frame of video to the next using a special video effect.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
66 words
An improved electronic transparency comprising: video display means from which displayed video can be optically projected onto a passive screen; memory means for storing a plurality of frames of video data; means for providing frames of video data from the memory means to the video display means for display; and means for transitioning from one frame of video to the next using a special video effect.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
49 words
An interactive electronic transparency including: video display means from which displayed video can be optically projected onto a passive screen; programmable control means for controlling operation of the transparency; and means for presenting data on the video display means to aid a user in programming the programmable control means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
49 words
An interactive electronic transparency including: video display means from which displayed video can be optically projected onto a passive screen; programmable control means for controlling operation of the transparency; and means for presenting data on the video display means to aid a user in programming the programmable control means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
44 words
The electronic transparency of claim 28 which further includes an illumination source adapted to matably engage a back portion of the electronic transparency to aid the user in viewing the data presented on the video display means without use of an optical projection system.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of using an electronic spreadsheet program comprising the steps: assembling a plurality of persons having an interest in the data to be manipulated by a spreadsheet program; running the spreadsheet program on a computer; displaying the output of the spreadsheet program on a passive screen by use of an electronic transparency; inquiring of the persons assembled whether the data on which the spreadsheet analysis is based is acceptable; and iteratively changing the data used in the spreadsheet analysis until the persons assembled agree that it is acceptable.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of using an electronic spreadsheet program comprising the steps: assembling a plurality of persons having an interest in the data to be manipulated by a spreadsheet program; running the spreadsheet program on a computer; displaying the output of the spreadsheet program on a passive screen by use of an electronic transparency; inquiring of the persons assembled whether the data on which the spreadsheet analysis is based is acceptable; and iteratively changing the data used in the spreadsheet analysis until the persons assembled agree that it is acceptable.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of advancing an electronic transparency from one screen to the next, comprising the steps: providing a light reflective screen onto which an image from the electronic transparency can be projected by an overhead projector; providing an optoelectronic detector on the electronic transparency; orienting the electronic transparency so the light reflective screen is visible to the optoelectronic detector; transmitting an optical command signal from a hand held remote control unit to the light reflective screen; reflecting said optical command signal from the screen to the optoelectronic detector; and advancing the electronic transparency from one screen to the next in response to said reflected command signal.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of advancing an electronic transparency from one screen to the next, comprising the steps: providing a light reflective screen onto which an image from the electronic transparency can be projected by an overhead projector; providing an optoelectronic detector on the electronic transparency; orienting the electronic transparency so the light reflective screen is visible to the optoelectronic detector; transmitting an optical command signal from a hand held remote control unit to the light reflective screen; reflecting said optical command signal from the screen to the optoelectronic detector; and advancing the electronic transparency from one screen to the next in response to said reflected command signal.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of transforming a first electronic transparency presentation to a second electronic transparency presentation comprising the steps: providing an electronic transparency having a memory in which is stored data comprising a first electronic transparency presentation; replicating said data in said memory to form a second electronic transparency presentation identical to the first; and editing one of said first or second data to yield a second electronic transparency presentation different from the first.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of transforming a first electronic transparency presentation to a second electronic transparency presentation comprising the steps: providing an electronic transparency having a memory in which is stored data comprising a first electronic transparency presentation; replicating said data in said memory to form a second electronic transparency presentation identical to the first; and editing one of said first or second data to yield a second electronic transparency presentation different from the first.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 32 in which said editing step includes the step of operating a remote control unit in conjunction with menus displayed by the electronic transparency.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
41 words
In an electronic transparency, an improvement comprising: memory means associated with the electronic transparency for storing a plurality of video images; and means coupled to said memory means for displaying selected ones of said images on the transparency in a sequence.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
41 words
In an electronic transparency, an improvement comprising: memory means associated with the electronic transparency for storing a plurality of video images; and means coupled to said memory means for displaying selected ones of said images on the transparency in a sequence.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 34 which further comprises means causing the sequence to repeat after a last image in the sequence has been displayed.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 34 which further comprises: means for superimposing a pointing indicia on an image displayed on the electronic transparency; and means for moving said pointing indicia to a desired location.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 34 which further comprises: means for defining an area on a displayed image to be highlighted; and means for highlighting said defined area.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 37 in which the means for highlighting comprises means for displaying the defined area of the image in reverse video form.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention of claim 34 which further comprises: image selecting means for selecting which of said plurality of stored images are to be displayed; and sequence determining means for determining the sequence in which said selected images are to be displayed.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 39 which further comprises duration specifying means for specifying the length of time each of said selected images is to be displayed.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 40 in which the image selecting means, the sequence determining means and the duration specifying means comprise a microprocessor means having a remote control unit as an input device thereto.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 34 which further includes means for revising video images stored in the memory means.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
16 words
The display device of claim 1 in which the auxiliary memory means comprises a magnetic disk.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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