Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Dike, Bronstein, Roberts & Cushman, IP Group of Edwards & Angell
  • Patent number: 6456359
    Abstract: A PBS for guiding light from a light source to a DMD as light modulating means as well as for guiding light modulated by the DMD to photographic paper is provided on an optical path between the light source and the DMD. The DMD is arranged so that light from the PBS perpendicularly enters itself, and is equipped with a plurality of micromirrors which swing in accordance with image data. This arrangement allows optical components to be disposed so that an angle of incidence of light with respect to the DMD is 0°, thereby enabling tight layout of the light source section. In other words, there is no need to spread the optical components around the light modulating means like in the conventional cases where an angle of incidence with respect to the light modulating means is more or less required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co, LTD
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Nishikawa, Kazuya Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 6456667
    Abstract: A method of coding a signal for digital optical communication using a symbol formed of N slots [s1, s2, s3, . . . sN], wherein si is either 0 or 1 where i is an integer and l≦i ≦N is provided. The method includes the steps of determining a plurality of symbols which satisfy the following expression, wherein k is an arbitrary positive integer, and p1, q1, p2, q2, . . . , pk and qk are integers which satisfy 1≦p1<q1, 1≦p2<q2, . . . , 1≦pk<qk, and p1/q1<p2/q2<. . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ohtani, Hiroshi Uno, Yutaka Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6452651
    Abstract: The invention provides a liquid crystal display having high reliability, which is excellent in terms of optical characteristics, heat resistance, and shock resistance, wherein a liquid crystal display consisting of a cholesteric liquid crystal, a chiral nematic liquid crystal or a liquid crystal 1 layer, being a combination thereof, which is roughly pillar-like and polygonal in section or has a roughly pillar-like form enclosed by a closed curve, and divided by said polymer network into areas whose minimum diameter measured by vernier calipers is 5 &mgr;m and whose maximum diameter measured by vernier calipers is 100 &mgr;m, is obtained by polymer networks 4 formed by polymerization of monomer, so that sufficient reflection can be obtained from the liquid crystal 1 without being optical scattering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Nanox Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Takami, Masaki Kitaoka, Ayumi Sasaki, Tomio Wada
  • Patent number: 6453132
    Abstract: Icons (displayed in the pictorial outline display area and in the finished output style display area) for displaying the conditions in accordance with the input of conditions through setting keys(keys displayed in setting key display area) integrally display multiple number of conditions input through setting keys in a multiple number of setting frames. A condition pictorially represented corresponding to the setting key arranged in the input-active setting frame is made visually distinguishable from that pictorially represented corresponding to the setting key arranged in an input-inactive setting frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kaoru Ishikura
  • Patent number: 6446573
    Abstract: A plasma process device capable of forming homogeneous plasma and coping with a large size substrate less costly can be obtained. The plasma process device includes a processing chamber, microwave guiding means, a shower plate and a reaction gas supply passage. The microwave guiding means guides a microwave into the processing chamber. The shower plate has a gas inlet hole to supply to the processing chamber a reaction gas attaining a plasma state by the microwave, and a lower surface facing the processing chamber and an upper surface positioned on the opposite side of the lower surface. The reaction gas supply passage is positioned on the upper surface of the shower plate and supplies the reaction gas to the gas inlet hole. A wall surface of the reaction gas supply passage includes an upper surface of the shower plate and a conductor wall surface opposing the upper surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Hirayama, Tadahiro Ohmi, Tatsushi Yamamoto, Takamitsu Tadera
  • Patent number: 6448104
    Abstract: A solid imaging device including: a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity types a layer of a second conductivity type formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, the layer at least including a photosensitive portion of the second conductivity type; and a MOS transistor of the second conductivity type coupled to the photosensitive portion, wherein the solid imaging device further includes a layer of the first conductivity type in at least a channel region of the MOS transistor of the second conductivity type, the layer of the first conductivity type having an impurity concentration which is higher than an impurity concentration of the semiconductor substrate, and wherein at least a portion of a boundary of the layer of the second conductivity type is in direct contact with the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6447101
    Abstract: The present image forming device is provided with a toner carrier and a counter electrode opposite the toner carrier. Between the toner carrier and the counter electrode is provided a jet control section having a plurality of gates, each forming a space for passage of a jet of toner. Also provided is a control electrode driver, which is capable of applying potentials independently to each gate of the jet control section. The present image forming device forms a toner image on a transfer material by controlling passage of toner through a given gate by application of an ON potential which allows passage of the toner through the gate and an OFF potential which prevents passage of the toner through the gate. A potential difference VH between the toner carrier and the counter electrode and an intensity EH of an electrical field in the vicinity of the counter electrode satisfy VH≦1.5 kV and EH≧1.8 kV/mm, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Adachi, Daisaku Imaizumi, Takasumi Wada
  • Patent number: 6441811
    Abstract: An electronic book display control device capable of solving the problem of a conventional page turning method of an electronic book device that pages are turned in accordance with a value predetermined by a speed controller and hence it is difficult to turn pages flexibly in accordance with the contents of the book and the characteristics of the user. The control device is provided with a CPU (1) which controls the whole device, an image data storage unit (2) in which the contents of the book are stored as image data, an image data control unit (3) which receives the image data and performs the required control, a display preparation image data memory unit (4) in which image data of the page being displayed and the page to be displayed next are stored, and a display unit (5) on which information concerning the image data and information concerning the operation of the electronic book are displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Sawada, Yasuhisa Nakamura, Hisashi Saiga, Masafumi Yamanoue, Keisuke Iwasaki, Yoshihiro Kitamura
  • Patent number: 6442064
    Abstract: A magnetic tunnel junction element includes a first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer acting as a memory layer, and a first insulating layer sandwiched between the first and second magnetic layers. Further, the magnetic tunnel junction element includes a third magnetic layer on a side of the second magnetic layer opposite from the first insulating layer. This third magnetic layer constitutes a closed magnetic circuit together with the second magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Michijima, Hidekazu Hayashi, Ryoji Minakata
  • Patent number: 6438274
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes (i) an image interpolating section for calculating interpolation point and interpolation density of the interpolation point when subjecting a binary image to resolution conversion and scaling and (ii) an offset amount correcting section for giving an offset beforehand when the image interpolating section calculates the interpolation point. As a result, the image forming apparatus can comply with unrounded magnifications of other than integral multiples and a desirable image even with respect to a character image and a pseudo-halftone image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuru Tokuyama, Masaaki Ohtsuki, Masatsugu Nakamura, Mihoko Tanimura
  • Patent number: 6433803
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus for image formation uses power control means provided to a laser driver for controlling exposure energy and accordingly forming an image. Specifically, exposure energy is varied depending on an isolated-dot pattern and an isolated-line pattern by changing the pulse height (drive power) of a drive pulse for each dot. Both of the isolated-line and isolated-dot patterns of a high resolution can thus be reproduced with a high image quality without increase of cost due to requirements for accuracy in processing and positioning of a lens and without decrease of life of a photoreceptor due to a decreased thickness of its photosensitive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Mutou, Tetsuro Toyoshima, Tadashi Iwamatsu, Nobuyuki Azuma, Yoshinori Nakajima
  • Patent number: 6429839
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display device; a light source for illuminating the liquid crystal display device; a LCD device driving circuit for providing a driving voltage to the liquid crystal display device based on a display data signal and a plurality of liquid crystal driving signals including a display data latch signal; a dividing circuit for dividing a frequency of the display data latch signal by a factor of N so as to obtain a period which is N times as large as that of the display data latch signal, where N is an integer greater than zero; a duty control circuit for changing an ON duty ratio of the frequency-divided signal by using the frequency-divided signal as a reference frequency; and a light source driving circuit for turning the light source ON/OFF based on a signal from the duty control circuit having the ON duty ratio set in the duty control circuit, wherein, where a driving duty is (1/D), and a remainder of D divided by the integer N is A, each of the inte
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6421509
    Abstract: An information display system capable of displaying the instruction input frame(basic frame) for allowing instructions of conditions of an arbitrary processing job to be input therethrough and the status confirmation frame (job status frame) for allowing the status of an arbitrary processing job to be checked is characterized in that with the basic frame preferentially displayed, a job list area that presents brief content of a processing job displayed in the job status frame can be displayed along with the basic frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuo Nomura, Mitsukazu Okuda, Kouki Fukuda, Yuji Okamoto, Syoichiro Yoshiura
  • Patent number: 6418091
    Abstract: There are provided a magneto-optical disk, a super-resolution magneto-optical disk and a domain wall moving magneto-optical disk whose cross-talk, cross-write and cross-erasure are suppressed and whose recording density is improved. A recording magnetic layer formed on a land is shut off magnetically from the recording magnetic layer formed on a groove and thermal diffusion in the track direction is suppressed, by selectively oxidizing a magnetic layer formed on a side wall between the land and the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junji Hirokane, Noboru Iwata
  • Patent number: 6406017
    Abstract: In a recording medium transportation apparatus that transports a recording medium held attracted to a belt by air suction, the recording medium can be transported stably with generation of curling at the side end of the recording medium suppressed. A plurality of suction holes generating suction force by air suction are formed at the belt. A plurality of suction holes extending in one row over the belt running direction form hole rows. Each hole row is set to be located corresponding to the width dimension of a paper sheet of the size of A3, B4, A4, B5 defined by the Japanese Industrial Standard and post card. When a sheet of respective size is placed on the belt, the side end of the width direction is drawn by suction holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Yaneda
  • Patent number: 6403040
    Abstract: The main object of the present invention is to provide an ionizer that has been improved to allow reduction of ripples and of balance shift without degrading the capability of an ionizer. A grounded ground electrode that makes contact with the ions for capturing a portion of the ions is provided in the vicinity of a discharge electrode. Means for changing the area of contact between ground electrode and the ions is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Sasakura, Yasuo Mizokoshi
  • Patent number: 6400465
    Abstract: An image forming system, wherein a second digital copying machine stores image data temporarily on behalf of a first digital copying machine at its request and returns the stored image data upon receipt of a return request. When the second digital copying machine has not received any return request from the first digital copying machine within a predetermined period, the second digital copying machine erases the stored image data to utilize its own memory efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetomo Nishiyama, Yasuhiro Nakai, Syoichiro Yoshiura
  • Patent number: 6397089
    Abstract: A portable terminal device includes a connector connected to a mobile telephone terminal device providing a signal that changes its output depending upon whether power is turned on or not, a power-on detection device connected to the connector, a power supply circuit under control of the power-on detection device, and a data communication device receiving power supply from the power supply circuit, and under control of the output of the power-on detection device. The data communication device includes a processor that activates system software when power supply is initiated. The system software activates communication software in response to an output of the power-on detection device. The portable terminal device can include a data adapter unit coupled between the data communication device and the connector. The data adapter unit may have power controlled by the output of the power-on detection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayuki Kabe
  • Patent number: 6397317
    Abstract: A data processor comprising an adder for adding an address signal and an address conversion data set up by a central processing unit, to decide a converted address signal corresponding to the address signal, and a selector for selecting either of the converted address signal decided by the adder or the address signal, based on the detection signal output from an agreement detection circuit which judges whether the address signal agrees with the original ROM address or not, wherein the processings in the adder and the agreement detection circuit are performed in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Izumi Kusutaki
  • Patent number: 6396960
    Abstract: An image composite processing method for composing a plurality of images, each having a duplicate portion, into a single composite image based on a retrieved duplicate portion, wherein the duplicate areas of every two adjacent composite subject images are compared and one of the duplicate areas is adopted based on the comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideyoshi Yoshimura