Method and apparatus for generating variably scaled displays

Patent 4790028 Issued on December 6, 1988. Estimated Expiration Date:

September 12, 2006. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventor

Ramage, William W.

Assignee

Westinghouse Electric Corp.

Application

No. 06/906718 filed on 09/12/1986

US Classes:

382/298, To change the scale or size of an image345/173, Touch panel345/667, Image based (addressing)348/581, Size change348/588, Multiple distinct images (e.g., splitscreen)348/601, Marker or pointer generator382/295, To position or translate an image700/83Having operator control interface (e.g., control/display console)

Examiners

Primary: Boudreau, Leo H.
Assistant: Couso, Jose L.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Abeles; D. C.

International Classes

G06T 3/40 (20060101)
G06F 3/033 (20060101)

Abstract

Portions of an image generated on an electronic display device are magnified for closer examination while other areas are compressed so that no material is lost from the total viewing area. To achieve this, the image is divided into segments with some assigned scaling functions having values greater than one and others assigned scaling functions having values less than one in a manner such that the mean value of the scaling functions across the screen is one. A transformation function is generated for each segment as a function of the assigned scaling functions. Each image point is then transformed using the appropriate transformation function an a rescaled image is generated from the rescaled image points. The variably scaled image can be generated on a touch screen device such that an area to be magnified can be designated by touching the screen at the desired location and the value of the scaling function can be set as a function of the length of time that the screen is touched.