Patents Assigned to American Panel Corporation
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Patent number: 10788945Abstract: A resistive touch panel assembly is disclosed. An optical stack located within a housing includes an electronic display layer adapted to display an image and a resistive touch panel. The touch panel includes a number of touch input receivers placed adjacent to a first and second independently operable, grid sections which are located adjacent to one another in a seamless fashion. A number of input/output devices are in communication with the optical stack and extend through a channel comprising shielding.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2019Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: American Panel CorporationInventor: Ken Mahdi
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Patent number: 10705286Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a substantially planar light guide defining an upper, lower, and first side surface. A first plurality of LEDs is positioned to emit light into the lower surface. A NVIS filter is placed adjacent to, and a second plurality of LEDs is positioned near to, the first side surface. A directing element extends between the second plurality of LEDs and the NVIS filter and directs the emitted light from the second plurality of LEDs through the NVIS filter and into the light guide. The NVIS filter extends substantially perpendicular from a support structure associated with the light guide.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2019Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: American Panel CorporationInventors: William Dunn, Harry Presley, Chris Tran
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Patent number: 10629141Abstract: A first and second plurality of lighting elements are each configured to produce a desired overall luminance output for a backlight when illuminated at full power. If a measured luminance output is greater than a threshold, a controller supplies a non-zero power level less than full power to the first and second plurality of lighting elements. If the measured luminance output is less than the threshold, the controller increases the power supplied to only one of the first and second plurality of lighting elements, up to full power, to return the measured luminance output to at least said threshold.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2019Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: American Panel CorporationInventor: William Dunn
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Patent number: 10558314Abstract: A resistive touch panel is placed above an electronic display and the assembly is housed in a sealed gasket. The resistive touch panel has at least two adjoining, seamless grid sections, each in communication with an input/output device. The resistive touch panel comprised of electronic circuits configured to minimize electromagnetic interference. The grid sections are surrounded by a series of receivers. The electronic display comprised of multiple layers configured to provide visibility in bright ambient conditions.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2015Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: American Panel CorporationInventor: Ken Mahdi
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Publication number: 20190348002Abstract: A first and second plurality of lighting elements are each configured to produce a desired overall luminance output for a backlight when illuminated at full power. If a measured luminance output is greater than a threshold, a controller supplies a non-zero power level less than full power to the first and second plurality of lighting elements. If the measured luminance output is less than the threshold, the controller increases the power supplied to only one of the first and second plurality of lighting elements, up to full power, to return the measured luminance output to at least said threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2019Publication date: November 14, 2019Applicant: American Panel CorporationInventor: William Dunn
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Patent number: 10467936Abstract: A system for detecting errors in a source driver for an electronic display includes an upstream logic device, a comparator, and a source driver. The source driver has a number of driven channels which transmit active signals for generating an image on the electronic display and one or more dummy channels which transmit dummy signals to the comparator. The comparator receives and compares signals from at least some of the driven channels with the dummy channels and generates an alert for transmission to the upstream logic device if a mismatch is detected.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2019Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: American Panel CorporationInventors: Charles Lemons, Gary Baek, Steve Preston, David Williams
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Patent number: 10388232Abstract: A first and second plurality of lighting elements are each capable of producing a desired overall luminance output for a backlight at power level P. A respective controller is in communication with each of the plurality of lighting elements. At least one of the controllers is configured to determine a threshold luminance output, measure a measured luminance output, apply a non-zero power level less than P to the plurality of lighting elements, and, when the measured luminance output drops below the threshold luminance output, increase the power level applied to at least one of the plurality of lighting elements, up to as high as power level P, to return the measured luminance output to said threshold luminance output.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2019Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: AMERICAN PANEL CORPORATIONInventor: William Dunn
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Publication number: 20190189064Abstract: A first and second plurality of lighting elements are each capable of producing a desired overall luminance output for a backlight at power level P. A respective controller is in communication with each of the plurality of lighting elements. At least one of the controllers is configured to determine a threshold luminance output, measure a measured luminance output, apply a non-zero power level less than P to the plurality of lighting elements, and, when the measured luminance output drops below the threshold luminance output, increase the power level applied to at least one of the plurality of lighting elements, up to as high as power level P, to return the measured luminance output to said threshold luminance output.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2019Publication date: June 20, 2019Applicant: AMERICAN PANEL CORPORATIONInventor: William Dunn
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Patent number: 10203447Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide an electronic display assembly comprising a liquid crystal layer and a light guide positioned behind the liquid crystal layer. The light guide preferably includes a light emission surface and a light-collecting portion opposing the light emission surface. A pair of opposing side portions may define the periphery of the light guide. A first plurality of LEDs are placed so as to direct the emitted light into the light-collecting portion. An NVIS filter is preferably placed adjacent to at least one of the side portions. A second plurality of LEDs are placed to direct the emitted light through the NVIS filter and into a side portion of the light guide. Alternative embodiments can contain directing elements to direct the light from the second plurality of LEDs into the edge portions of the light guide.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2016Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignees: American Panel Corporation, American Panel CorporationInventors: William Dunn, Harry Presely, Chris Tran
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Patent number: 10056045Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, each horizontal and vertical conductor of a TFT array may be in electrical contact with a first and second control system. Initially, the entire display is driven by the first control system. When/if a failure occurs in the first control system, it is powered down and the second control system maintains operation of the entire display. Each control system may contain a set of source/gate drivers, display interface board, and power supply. A reversionary button may allow the user to manually switch between control systems. Alternatively, failure may be detected by the display interface boards or a graphics processor.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2016Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: American Panel CorporationInventors: William Dunn, David Williams, Hanwook Baek
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Patent number: 9997118Abstract: A system for powering and controlling a backlit electronic display where redundancy is used to provide two independent paths from a pair of power sources to the backlight. Further, two independent paths are also used from a pair of power sources to the electronic display. If any one of the paths were to fail or begin to degrade in performance, the system contains monitoring devices which can direct another path to be used by the system. Two separate control circuits for the electronic may be used so that either one may be used to control the electronic display if one were to fail. Two separate temperature sensors and luminance sensors may also be used to increase the durability of the system.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2017Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: American Panel CorporationInventors: William Dunn, Ken Mahdi
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Patent number: 9666148Abstract: A system for powering and controlling an LED-backlit liquid crystal display (LCD) where redundancy is used to provide two independent paths from a pair of power supplies to the LED backlight. Further, two independent paths are also used from a pair of power supplies to the LCD. If any one of the paths were to fail or begin to degrade in performance, the system contains monitoring circuits which can direct another path to be used by the system. Two separate control circuits for the LCD may be used so that either one may be used to control the LCD if one were to fail. Two separate temperature sensors and luminance sensors may also be used to increase the durability of the system.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2015Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: American Panel CorporationInventors: William Dunn, Ken Mahdi
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Patent number: 9418603Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, each horizontal and vertical conductor of a TFT array may be in electrical contact with a first and second control system. Initially, the entire display is driven by the first control system. When/if a failure occurs in the first control system, it is powered down and the second control system maintains operation of the entire display. Each control system may contain a set of source/gate drivers, display interface board, and power supply. A reversionary button may allow the user to manually switch between control systems. Alternatively, failure may be detected by the display interface boards or a graphics processor.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2013Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: AMERICAN PANEL CORPORATIONInventors: William Dunn, David Williams, Hanwook Baek
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Publication number: 20160170131Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide an electronic display assembly comprising a liquid crystal layer and a light guide positioned behind the liquid crystal layer. The light guide preferably includes a light emission surface and a light-collecting portion opposing the light emission surface. A pair of opposing side portions may define the periphery of the light guide. A first plurality of LEDs are placed so as to direct the emitted light into the light-collecting portion. An NVIS filter is preferably placed adjacent to at least one of the side portions. A second plurality of LEDs are placed to direct the emitted light through the NVIS filter and into a side portion of the light guide. Alternative embodiments can contain directing elements to direct the light from the second plurality of LEDs into the edge portions of the light guide.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2016Publication date: June 16, 2016Applicants: American Panel Corporation, American Panel CorporationInventors: William Dunn, Harry Presely, Chris Tran
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Patent number: 9268166Abstract: A backlight device for a liquid crystal display containing a substantially planar light guide with a light emission surface and a light-collecting portion opposing the light emission surface. A pair of opposing side portions may define the periphery of the light guide. A first plurality of LEDs are placed so as to direct the emitted light into the light-collecting portion. An NVIS filter is preferably placed adjacent to at least one of the side portions. A second plurality of LEDs are placed to direct the emitted light through the NVIS filter and into a side portion of the light guide. Alternative embodiments can contain NVIS filters and LEDs along additional edge portions of the light guide. Some embodiments may use directing elements or slanted surfaces of the light guide to direct the light from the second plurality of LEDs into the edge portions of the light guide.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2013Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: AMERICAN PANEL CORPORATIONInventors: William Dunn, Harry Presely, Chris Tran
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Patent number: 9117417Abstract: A system for powering and controlling an LED-backlit liquid crystal display (LCD) where redundancy is used to provide two independent paths from a pair of power supplies to the LED backlight. Further, two independent paths are also used from a pair of power supplies to the LCD. If any one of the paths were to fail or begin to degrade in performance, the system contains monitoring circuits which can direct another path to be used by the system. Two separate control circuits for the LCD may be used so that either one may be used to control the LCD if one were to fail. Two separate temperature sensors and luminance sensors may also be used to increase the durability of the system.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2014Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: American Panel CorporationInventors: William Dunn, Ken Mahdi
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Patent number: 9110334Abstract: Preferred embodiments utilize a plurality of optical channels to effectively aim the light emitted by a liquid crystal display (LCD). Embodiments may also change the nominal and range of viewing angles of light in two or three dimensions in order to confine the emitted light towards the intended observer.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2013Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: AMERICAN PANEL CORPORATIONInventors: William Dunn, Micahel LeCave, Harry Presley
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Publication number: 20140313237Abstract: A system for powering and controlling an LED-backlit liquid crystal display (LCD) where redundancy is used to provide two independent paths from a pair of power supplies to the LED backlight. Further, two independent paths are also used from a pair of power supplies to the LCD. If any one of the paths were to fail or begin to degrade in performance, the system contains monitoring circuits which can direct another path to be used by the system. Two separate control circuits for the LCD may be used so that either one may be used to control the LCD if one were to fail. Two separate temperature sensors and luminance sensors may also be used to increase the durability of the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: AMERICAN PANEL CORPORATIONInventors: William Dunn, Ken Mahdi
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Publication number: 20140312908Abstract: An electrical assembly and method for detecting failures in an LCD source driver is disclosed herein. A plurality of active channels are placed on the source driver which communicate electronically with an LCD. At least one dummy channel may be placed on the source driver which is driven with an original signal. A microprocessor may then receive the dummy channel and compare the received dummy channel signal to the original signal. An error message may be transmitted when the received dummy channel signal does not match the original signal. Alternatively, the source driver may be provided with a split active channel which is provided with an original signal that is split into an active split channel and a dummy split channel. While the active split channel is sent to the LCD, the dummy split channel is sent to the microprocessor for comparison with the original signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: American Panel Corporation, Inc.Inventors: Charles Lemons, David Williams, Gary Baek, Steve Preston
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Patent number: 8766994Abstract: Image latency is reduced in a video display system where an image is displayed for a stroke video frame period. The system has a display device and a plurality of memory buffers, each of which is adapted to receive image data (in a receiving condition) or to display data to the display device (in a display condition). The stroke video frame period is divided into at least two time periods and the number of memory buffers provided is at least the number of time periods per stroke video frame period. One of the memory buffers is in the display condition for a first time period, with the remaining memory buffers in the receiving condition. At the end of the time period, the memory buffers are rotated so that the displayed memory buffer moves to the receiving condition and one of the receiving buffers moves into the display condition.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2008Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: American Panel CorporationInventor: William Dunn