International Business Machines Corporation

Seiji Motai

Yasushi Tsukamoto

Noboru Aoyama

Yasuhiro Kitabatake

Seiichi Idei

Toshiroh Hiromitsu

Taketoshi Kohno

The present invention aims at improving an image compression rate and enhancing quality of images after expansion. An image compression device generates compressed data formed by compressing an image. The device includes a boundary area detection section for detecting boundary areas which include both of internal and external parts of an object rendered in the image, from among plural areas included in the image; a non-boundary area data generation section for, by compressing non-boundary areas which are not the boundary areas in the image, in a predetermined compression mode, generating partial compressed data in the compressed data, corresponding to the non-boundary areas; and a boundary area data generation section for generating partial compressed data in the compressed data, corresponding to the boundary areas, from the boundary areas, in a mode in which difference between images before compression and after expansion is less in comparison with a case where the boundary areas are compressed in the predetermined compression mode.

Image compression and expansion technique

The present invention is directed to a device for illuminating a keyboard or other portion of a PC main body unit of a portable computer (e.g., a convertible PC that can be used as a notebook PC or a tablet PC) by utilizing a center latch mechanism. An embodiment of the invention includes a latch provided in the vicinity of an upper edge of the cover unit, and a latch receiving portion provided in the main-body unit. When the cover unit is closed, the latch receiving portion is engaged with the latch to secure the main-body unit and the cover unit in a position where the cover unit is closed. A light source is embedded in the cover unit in the vicinity of the latch, and a light-reflecting surface provided on a surface of the latch so that, when the cover unit is open, light from the light source can be reflected to the keyboard to illuminate the keyboard.

Keyboard illumination device for portable computer

Growing community of inventors

Sagamihara, Japan

Seiji Motai