Apple Inc.

Greg M Robbins

Michael Lane Gough

Thomas S Gilley

Daniel J Hansen, Jr

Abhay Oswal

Joseph J MacDougald

Daniel S Venolia

Gina D Venolia

Tommy H Tam

A method and apparatus is described for producing a translucent image over a base image created on the display screen of a computer system by a selected first application program, and conducting image operations either on the base image created by the selected application program with reference to the translucent image produced, or conducting image operations on the translucent image with reference to the base image of the first application program. The first application program runs on a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer system to produce a base image, and another application program referred to as the overlay program is run to produce the translucent image such that portions of the base image which are overlapped by the overlay image are at least partially visible through the translucent image. There is also a mechanism for blending the first video data and the second video data to produce a blended image on the screen assembly.

Method and apparatus for providing translucent images on a computer display

Method and apparatus for providing translucent images on a computer

A method and apparatus for producing a translucent image over a base image created on the display screen of a computer system by a selected first application program, and conducting image operations either on said base image created by the selected application program with reference to the translucent image produced, or conducting image operations on said translucent image with reference to said base image of the first application program. The first application program runs on a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer system to produce a base image, and another application program referred to as the overlay program is run to produce the translucent image such that portions of the base image which are overlapped by the overlay image are at least partially visible through the translucent image. There is also a mechanism for blending the first video data and the second video data to produce a blended image on the screen assembly.

A method and apparatus for providing a translucent overlay image over a base image on the screen of a computer system. The method includes the steps of running an application program on a central processing unit (CPU) of a pen computer system to produce a base image in a screen coupled to the CPU; and running an overlay program on the CPU to produce an overlay image on the screen such that portions of the base image which are overlapped by the overlay image are at least partially visible through the overlay image. The overlay program is a computer implemented process comprising the steps of displaying an overlay image on the screen, intercepting screen inputs which contact the overlay image, processing the intercepted screen inputs in the CPU, and updating the application program based on the processed screen inputs. In addition a pen computer system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a screen assembly coupled to the CPU, a mechanism coupled to the screen assembly for displaying a base image on the screen assembly, and a mechanism coupled to the screen assembly for displaying an overlay image on the screen assembly such that portions of the base image which are overlapped by the overlay image are at least partially visible through the overlay image. The screen assembly includes a tablet mechanism coupled to the CPU which can receive input from a pen or stylus. The mechanism for displaying a base image includes a first computer implemented process running on the CPU which produces first video data and a video driver circuit coupled between the CPU and the screen assembly. The mechanism for displaying the overlay image includes a second computer implemented process running on the CPU to produce second video data, and a video driver circuit coupled between the CPU and the screen assembly. There is also a mechanism for blending the first video data and the second video data to produce a blended image on the screen assembly. This blending mechanism can include the second computer implemented process, or can comprise the video driver circuitry.

Method and apparatus for displaying an overlay image

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Cupertino, CA, United States of America

Greg M Robbins