Patents Examined by Francis Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6590571
    Abstract: Method of calculating new luminance value data based on original luminance value data to be displayed on a matrix display device, where luminance value data are coded in sub-fields, and double-line addressing for the least significant sub-fields is used for reducing the addressing time. A reduction of the difference between the new data and the original data is obtained by computing a new common value for the least significant sub-fields of a set of neighboring or adjacent lines, and new values for the most significant sub-fields of each line of said set of adjacent lines. The method comprises embodiments which are applicable to both binary and non-binary sub-fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electric N.V.
    Inventors: Franck Laffargue, Roy Van Dijk, Jurgen Jean Louis Hoppenbrouwers
  • Patent number: 6583783
    Abstract: To trigger technical control operations and/or to trigger the execution of technical functions, a manually operated input device with a torque-force sensor is used. Pressure is exerted onto a user interface of this input device and results in the generation of a pulse, which is measured with the aid of the force-torque sensor and converted into a pair of vectors formed by a force vector and a moment vector. This vector pair is then checked to determine whether certain predefined characteristic pulse conditions have been met. If these predefined pulse conditions are identified as having been met, at least one technical control operation that is to be performed by means of the input device and linked to a certain object, and/or at least one technical function to be executed by means of the input device, is triggered by switching to an activation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Dietrich, Bernd Gombert, Volker Senft
  • Patent number: 6567059
    Abstract: A plasma display panel driving apparatus for driving a plasma display panel having plural pairs of row electrodes and a plurality of column electrodes laid perpendicular to the pairs of row electrodes, forming discharge cells at respective intersections of the pairs of row electrodes and the column electrodes. The apparatus comprises a scan driver for supplying a scan pulse to one of each of the pairs of row electrodes to select a light-emitting discharge cell and a non-emitting discharge cell, and a discharge sustain driver for supplying a discharge sustain pulse to one of each of the pairs of row electrodes to maintain light emission of only the light-emitting discharge cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeo Ide, Masahiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6563485
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing serial transmission of a parallel input is accomplished by a parallel input serial output transmitter that includes a shift register operably coupled to receive a parallel input and to provide data serially to a gating circuit. The gating circuit, based on the state of the data it receives, generates a drive signal which causes a switching circuit to route current from first and second current sources to a third current source over different paths to produce a serial output. A bias circuit is coupled to the switching circuit to bias the serial output to a desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: ATI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Chak Cheung Ho, Nancy Ngar Sze Chan, Hugh Hin-Poon Chow
  • Patent number: 6563516
    Abstract: A system for providing information about the visual appearance of printed circuit cards in a card rack. A database is maintained at the site of the card rack, which contains data, such as a bit-map, indicating visual appearance of each card. When a remote party wishes to construct a computer display containing a view of a card, the party obtains the appropriate data from the database, and uses it to construct the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Thomas Orlofsky
  • Patent number: 6556191
    Abstract: An image display apparatus has an input dot clock reproducing circuit for reproducing an input dot clock on the basis of an input horizontal synchronizing signal of an input image signal, an A/D converting circuit for converting the input image signal into a digital signal in response to the input dot clock, and an image display unit drive circuit for converting the digital signal into a display signal which is suitable for display by an image display unit and generating a drive timing signal for the display. A number of horizontal valid pixels detecting circuit detects the number of horizontal valid pixels of the display signal on the basis of the display signal and the drive timing signal, and an input dot clock control circuit for controlling the frequency of the input dot-clock so that the number of horizontal valid pixels is equal to a desired value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Ouchi
  • Patent number: 6548768
    Abstract: A method and a device for determining a virtual raster of a code pattern consisting of a plurality of marks with associated coordinates mn. Each mark is located at a nominal position but displaced from the nominal position in one of a plurality of directions, depending upon the value of the mark. The nominal positions form raster points gn of the virtual raster, and the raster points are situated on raster lines, which intersect at a first angle. In addition there is a device for determining an initial vector V1,2 on the basis of the coordinates m1, m2 of one or more marks, which initial vector extends approximately between a first and a second adjacent raster point g1, g2. A calculation device determines a second vector V2,3, which forms said angle with the first vector and is the same length as the first vector and extends from the second raster point g2 approximately to a third raster point g3. The mark coordinate m3 which is associated with the third raster point g3 is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Anoto AB
    Inventors: Mats Petter Pettersson, Tomas Edso
  • Patent number: 6549197
    Abstract: In accordance with a technique for stabilizing the picture output in a video display apparatus, the resolution of the video mode supplied from a PC, for example, is converted into a resolution of a pre-set video mode, thereby making it possible to output stabilized picture. The method for stabilizing a picture output in a video display apparatus includes the following steps. A power-on is recognized, and then a first power control signal is outputted. A counting is carried out for N seconds by an internal counter after outputting the first power control signal, and then a second power control signal is outputted. Then, counting is carried out for N/4 seconds by an internal counter after the outputting of the second power control signal, and control data and a clock signal are then outputted. In this manner, the format converter module and the circuit blocks are sequentially drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Doug Kim
  • Patent number: 6545651
    Abstract: A pulse generator 1 creates a pulse in synchronization with a driving pulse 26. A charging circuit 2 charges EL elements 20 only for a period which is determined by an output from the pulse generator 1. The charging time is determined by resistance of a switching element 3 in its on condition and a junction capacity of the EL elements 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Eitaro Nishigaki, Shingo Kawashima
  • Patent number: 6525714
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a computer pointing device having an annular rotating ring that is rotatable by a user to control the movement of a cursor on a computer screen. The annular rotating ring is preferably implemented around a trackball to facilitate the ease of use by the user. The annular rotating ring is made up of three constituent rings, namely, a finger ring, a bearing ring, and a shutter ring. The three constituent rings are constructed in such a way that they are interlocked to eliminate any unnecessary movement or slop during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Acco Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald G. Varga, Nigel G. Taylor, Mark A. Edwards, James C. N. Chan, Ben Roberts, John Cavacuiti
  • Patent number: 6462735
    Abstract: A display device in which brightness and contrast in an electro-optical device are improved, and gain adjustment and brightness adjustment are not necessary. The present invention provides a device which drives a liquid crystal device in which light transmittance ratio changes based on applied voltage. Furthermore, a digital picture signal is gamma-corrected in a digital gamma correction circuit, and subsequently converted into an analog signal in a D/A conversion block and supplied to the liquid crystal device. The digital gamma correction circuit converts an 8-bit digital picture signal into a 10-bit digital picture signal based on gamma correction characteristics predetermined by applied voltage-transmittance characteristics inherent in the liquid crystal device in the entire transmittance range of 0% and 100%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Keijiro Naito
  • Patent number: 6456306
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for concurrently displaying from a single window on a network management station the health status of all network devices and objects of a computer network. The network devices may be categorized according to state or device type, as determined by the network manager. The method and apparatus provides a network manager with the ability to determine the current state of network devices and objects within an enterprise network and invoke further actions such as configuration, performance, fault, and security management tasks. The network manager can drag and drop icons from one network management system application window to another network management system application window to obtain fault information about network devices and objects, thus allowing multiple network management system applications to run concurrently on the same network management station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Jeff Chin, Hanh Tran, Leon Leong
  • Patent number: 6441828
    Abstract: In an image display apparatus, information on a direction in which an image is to be displayed on a display panel is recorded in a memory card, and a to-be-displayed image signal corresponding to the displaying-direction information read from the memory card is displayed on the display panel. The displaying-direction information relates to a direction in which the image is to be displayed on the display panel. More particularly, it is information indicative of a direction designated by the user of the apparatus pressing a rotate button on an operation panel and in which image information initially read from the memory card is displayed on the display panel. Pressing the rotate button a maximum of three times for one image will rotate the image clockwise, for example, whereby it is possible to designate a desired direction in which the image is to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Kunihito Sawai, Yoshiaki Inoue, Iwami Tsujimura
  • Patent number: 6437775
    Abstract: A flat display unit has a display area including scanning lines, signal lines, switching elements arranged in the vicinity of intersections of the scanning lines and the signal lines, and display pixels connected to corresponding switching elements. The display area is divided into small regions, each of which includes a set of signal lines and signal line driving circuits, each of which is arranged to correspond to one of the small regions, for supplying a picture signal to each set of signal lines in parallel. At least one of the signal line driving circuits has a shift register for transferring a start pulse in a predetermined direction in a predetermined timing, a sampling circuit for sampling an input picture signal to supply the picture signal to a corresponding one of the signal lines on the basis of an output of each stage of the shift register, and a control circuit for inverting the transfer direction of the start pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Jun Hanari
  • Patent number: 6417841
    Abstract: In an information extraction apparatus of the present invention, a distance image input section inputs a distance image including a plurality of objects to be respectively recognized. An area division section divides the distance image into a plurality of areas according to position information of a plurality of blocks to respectively execute an active event. An image processing section recognizes the plurality of objects in the areas corresponding to the blocks actually executed the active event, and supplies the recognition result to a system of the active event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Miwako Doi, Naoko Umeki, Isao Mihara, Yasunobu Yamauchi, Akira Morishita, Shunichi Numazaki, Takahiro Harashima
  • Patent number: 6396471
    Abstract: There is disclosed a color liquid crystal display (LCD) device capable of displaying color images in response to direct entry of input data and/or instructions through operation of an associated coordinate pointing tool. Typically, this tool is a pen-like input device known as the “input pen” for use in determining the individual position for color display on the screen of a built-in LCD panel. A coordinate detector operates to recognize the position as designated by the input pen, generating and issuing an output signal indicative of the corresponding coordinate data. A color designator circuit designates a color as presently selected for color display. A memory device stores therein color data representative of the color designated. A memory controller is responsive to receipt of an address issued from the selected coordinate data for controlling the color data to be written into and read out of the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Hirakata
  • Patent number: 6392626
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display that prevents a flicker by employing a circuit with adjustable resistors in the output of a common voltage generator. The common voltage generator supplies two distinct common voltages, one common voltage being supplied to a common electrode at a point that is physically close to the output of a gate driver, and a second common voltage being supplied to a point that is physically further from the output of the gate driver than the point where the first voltage is applied. These points where the first common voltage and the second common voltages are applied are electrically coupled via an internal panel resistor. A flicker is prevented by adjusting the variable resistors so that the difference between the first and second common voltages is equal to the difference in the kickback voltages at the first point and at the second point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung-Hwan Moon
  • Patent number: 6384804
    Abstract: A display apparatus according to our invention comprises a multiplicity of nominally identical smart pixels, a given pixel comprising an organic light emitting diode and an organic or inorganic (e.g., amorphous or polycrystalline Si) pixel FET. The display also comprises drive/compensation circuitry adapted for mitigating or eliminating non-idealities associated with the organic components. Among the non-idealities are variations in mobility and/or threshold voltage of the pixel FET from transistor to transistor, change in mobility and/or threshold voltage with time in a given pixel FET, change over time of the LED characteristics, capacitive signal feed-through through the gate insulator of the pixel FETs by short rise/fall time pulses, poor on-off ratio of the pixel FET, and charge leakage through the gate dielectric. Exemplary drive/compensation circuitry is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Lucent Techonologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ananth Dodabalapur, Rahul Sarpeshkar
  • Patent number: 6359608
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for addressing a flat screen composed of lines and columns, with pixels located at their intersections, characterized in that, at the start of each sampling of the video signal to be displayed on the screen, a voltage (Vr) higher than the working voltage range (V) is applied to the selected pixel for a time tr, then the working voltage is sampled for a time ts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Thomson LCD
    Inventors: Hughes Lebrun, Francois Maurice, Eric Sanson, Bruno Mourey
  • Patent number: 6353440
    Abstract: A display controller assists a host processor in decoding MPEG data. The display controller receives YUV data in non-pixel video format from a host CPU and perform the otherwise CPU intensive task of rasterization within the display controller. In addition, the display controller may use its internal BITBLIT engine to copy U and V data from one line in a BITBLIT operation to adjacent lines, so as to replicate U and V data. A byte mask preserves Y data on the adjacent lines from being overwritten. At the end of the BITBLIT operation, the display controller generates a signal indicating that the frame buffer has been filled with new data, and thus display controller automatically switches to reading from the newly written frame buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: S3 Graphics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: David Keene