Patents Examined by M. Fatahiyar
  • Patent number: 7109967
    Abstract: A display input device comprises a display unit having a flexibility; and a first form change detection unit having a flexibility. The first form change detection unit is able to detect a deformation ascribed to the flexibility as a change in a electrical property. A display input system further comprises a display driving unit that supplies a display signal to the display unit and a signal judging unit that judges a input data based on the change in a electrical property in the first form change detection unit. The input of a first data can be performed by adding the deformation to the display input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Hioki, Masahiko Akiyama, Kenichi Kameyama, Kazuki Taira, Isao Mihara
  • Patent number: 7109966
    Abstract: A CMOS circuit comprises a first transistor of P channel type, a second transistor of N channel type and a drive circuit for driving the first and second transistors. The drive circuit includes a time constant circuit having a first time constant utilizing a first gate input capacitance of the first transistor (parasitic capacitance between a gate and a source of the first transistor) and a second time constant utilizing a second gate input capacitance of the second transistor (parasitic capacitance between a gate and a source of the second transistor). Either one of the first and second time constants of the time constant circuit is selected by turning either one of the first and second transistors ON after the other transistor OFF, when the drive circuit receives a predetermined logic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Abe, Masanori Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 7106311
    Abstract: A method and system for correcting alignment and linearity errors in devices using a finger or stylus input device with a display device interactively coupled to a digitizer is disclosed. Touching intersections in a calibration grid on the display device may be performed to create a linearity map. Subsequently, detected stylus input is mapped to a sector in the linearity map, and resultant screen coordinates are calculated using ratios within a reference rectangle corresponding to the detected stylus input and the mapped sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Michael H. Tsang
  • Patent number: 7102598
    Abstract: A predrive circuit, a drive circuit and a display device which are capable of driving output elements so as to transmit control signals stably even when reference potentials generated on the output elements side turn to high voltage. A first level shift circuit outputs a flow signal which is an input signal according to a first level shift potential. A second level shift circuit outputs a flow signal which is the flow signal output from the first level shift circuit, according to a second reference potential. A level shift power supply circuit supplies the level shift potential based on a prescribed power supply voltage and the second reference potential to the first level shift circuit and the second level shift circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Hitachi Plasma Display Limited
    Inventors: Makoto Onozawa, Tomokatsu Kishi, Shigetoshi Tomio, Tetsuya Sakamoto, Haruo Koizumi
  • Patent number: 7098880
    Abstract: The invention provides an electrooptic device that can include a first substrate on which pixel electrodes, first thin film transistors electrically connected to the pixel electrodes, and scanning lines and data lines electrically connected to the first thin film transistors are formed, a second substrate opposing the first substrate and having a common electrode, and an electrooptic substance held between the first substrate and the second substrate. The electrooptical device can further include a switching element for discharging in capacitors constituted by the pixel electrodes on the first substrate, the electrooptic substance, and the common electrode on the second substrate. The invention makes it possible to remove charges from inside the electrooptic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Inoue, Toshiyuki Hirase, Sadasumi Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 7095398
    Abstract: A display driver has a data input (18) for compressed data and a plurality of output (41) for driving respective column lines of a display. By accepting compressed data, the necessary data rate provided to the display driver can be reduced. A plurality of decode modules (48) may be provided connected to respective outputs (41) for decoding compressed data in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: David A. Fish
  • Patent number: 7088341
    Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for a user of a mobile computing device to input special characters using a modifier key on a keyboard. The special characters include accented characters associated with regular characters. In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for configuring a mobile computing device for a user to enter special characters is provided. The computer-implemented method includes inputting a regular character in response to a user pressing a key associated with the regular character. After the regular character has been inputted, the user may input a special character by pressing a modifier key. A special character associated with the regular character is determined in response to the user pressing the modifier key. The special character may be determined based on the number of times that the user has pressed the modifier key. The inputted regular character is then modified to the special character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Zeke Koch, Maurizio Cibelli, Jason William Fuller
  • Patent number: 7088339
    Abstract: This invention relates to ergonomically designed input devices, and methods of using these devices, that are suitable for use with computers, gaming consoles, or electronic typewriters. In one embodiment the present invention comprises a keyboard housing, which is adapted to contain the components of a keyboard, comprising a first side and a second side. The first side is operably and pivotally coupled to the second side, and the first and second sides of the keyboard housing include a front face, a back face and side portions. In this embodiment, a plurality of input keys for inputting data into an electronic device can be located on the front face of at least one of the first and second sides of the keyboard housing. In one embodiment, the first side and the second side of the keyboard housing can pivot, which allows the operator to adjust the keyboard housing to fit the contours of the operator's hands and wrists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Inventor: Mike Gresham
  • Patent number: 7084846
    Abstract: A liquid crystal (LC) display device includes a LC panel and a driving circuit. The LC panel exhibits, in its voltage-transmittance characteristics, an extreme transmittance at a voltage equal to or lower than a lowest gray-level voltage. The driving circuit supplies to the LC panel a predetermined driving voltage overshooting a gray-level voltage corresponding to an input image signal of a current vertical period, according to a combination of an input image signal of an immediately preceding vertical period and the input image signal of the current vertical period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takako Adachi, Makoto Shiomi
  • Patent number: 7079096
    Abstract: Before a potential of counter electrode is changed, a potential holding circuit fixedly holds potentials of data signal lines S during a non-selective period of scanning signal lines G. This prevents the potentials of the data signal lines S from being an undesirably large potential, which is caused by coupling capacitors between the counter electrode and each data signal line S, whereby it is possible to supply to the pixel capacitor an electric charge corresponding to a gradation to be displayed, by using the relatively low potentials of the data signal lines S. This lowers a power supply voltage of a data signal driving circuit SD, thus reducing the electric power consumption. In short, with this arrangement, a liquid crystal display device can perform an opposed AC drive for line-inversion drive, frame-inversion drive and the like, by low power supply voltage of the data signal line driving circuit SD, thereby reducing the electric power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hajime Washio, Yasuyoshi Kaise, Kazuhiro Maeda, Yasushi Kubota
  • Patent number: 7068241
    Abstract: A stereo picture recognition device has a time-sharing picture display shutter disposed between a display surface of a display device and a viewer. The time-sharing picture display shutter has a function of shutting off only an area covered by a viewing angle which corresponds to a display area of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Sato, Akira Kawamura
  • Patent number: 7046226
    Abstract: The invention provides a semiconductor integrated circuit that can be used as either a segment driver or a common driver, where the number of wires for scanning data is reduced so that the area of the wiring is reduced and the layout is simplified. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a plurality of data holding devices that each hold data that is inputted via a first terminal and output the data to a second terminal or hold data that is inputted via the second terminal and output the data to the first terminal in response to the operating mode and the scanning direction; a switching device that switches the connections of the plurality of data holding devices in response to the operating mode; and a plurality of selecting devices that select one out of data outputted from the terminals of the plurality of data holding devices and data outputted from the terminals of the plurality of data holding devices in response to the operating mode and the scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hidehiko Yajima
  • Patent number: 7046236
    Abstract: A stylus for use with a portable processing system is disclosed. The stylus comprises a pointing member that is changeable in circumference when utilized. A stylus in accordance with the present invention can be expanded or contracted in very small amounts to adjust to the size of a user's fingers and hand, as well as a user's comfort level and specific health needs, thereby making much longer periods of usage far more pleasant and productive, yet such a stylus will still fit within the small size holes in a portable processing system or the recessed area often provided for a stylus in a computerized drawing tablet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Brian D. Blacklock
  • Patent number: 7038675
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device formed of a plurality of a liquid crystal display elements in which a liquid crystal material is supported between first and second substrates, plural semiconductor chips for operating the liquid crystal display elements, and a power source circuit, a resistance voltage-dividing circuit is mounted on a peripheral portion along one side of the first substrate, which resistance voltage-dividing circuit divides the voltage supplied from the power source circuit and supplies the divided voltage to each of the semiconductor chips. This allows the resistance voltage-dividing circuit to be easily modified, so that the period until the product forwarding of the liquid crystal display devices is shortened without increasing the cost even after various kinds of design changes have been implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kawamura, Yoshihiro Imajo
  • Patent number: 7034800
    Abstract: A driving circuit for a piezoelectric transformer is provided, which is capable of driving a piezoelectric transformer at a high efficiency and with low distortion, and being miniaturized. At the commencement of lighting a cold-cathode fluorescent tube, a digital controller fixes frequencies of first and second control signals VC1 and VC2 at a predetermined frequency and controls the phase difference therebetween so that an output power of the piezoelectric transformer becomes from substantially zero to a predetermined output power. After lighting of the cold-cathode fluorescent tube, the digital controller controls the phase difference between the first and second control signals VC1 and VC2 so that current detecting data CD substantially is matched with reference data RD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakatsuka, Katsu Takeda, Takashi Ishikawa, Katsunori Moritoki
  • Patent number: 7034817
    Abstract: The aligning a video image with an edge of a display screen, the video image being displayed by a scanning of lines of the display screen by at least one electron beam modulated by a modulation signal, including, for each scanned line of the screen, storing successive digital video data in a storage device; detecting the end of the scanning of the line preceding the scanned line; initiating a delay upon detection of the end of the scanning of the line preceding the scanned line; starting the reading, from the storage device, of the successive digital video data stored at the end of the delay; and providing the modulation signal based on the read successive digital video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: BenoƮt Marchand, Patrice Leurent
  • Patent number: 7009588
    Abstract: In a PDP driver, first and second signal lines for a voltage of Vs and third and fourth signal lines for a voltage of 0V are formed. While maintaining Y and X electrodes of the panel capacitor at Vs and 0V, a first current path is formed from the first signal line to the fourth signal line through an inductor to supply a first-directional current to the inductor. A second current path is formed from the Y electrode to the X electrode through the inductor to change the Y and X electrode voltages using the resonance. When the electrode voltages become 0V and Vs, a third current path is formed from the third signal line to the second signal line through the inductor to reduce the first-directional current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Young Lee, Jin-Sung Kim, Hak-Ki Choi, Chan-Young Han
  • Patent number: 7002607
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for compensating image blocking artifacts are capable of eliminating image blocking artifacts occurring in consecutively input image signals, in advance. The apparatus for compensating image blocking artifacts has a video signal comparing unit for comparing gradation values of video signals which are consecutively input at a predetermined time interval, the video signal comparing unit determining if the difference between the gradation values meets a certain condition, as the image blocking artifacts occur in the consecutively input video signals; and an operation processing unit for removing the image blocking artifacts by adding/subtracting the gradation values of the input video signals when it is determined that the image blocking artifacts occur. By eliminating the image blocking artifacts occurring in the consecutively input image signals, the image blocking artifact compensating apparatus can provide a clearer video on the liquid crystal display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bong-hwan Cho
  • Patent number: 6987501
    Abstract: Disclosed are a ferroelectric liquid crystal apparatus using a swing power supply, and a driving method for the ferroelectric liquid crystal apparatus, wherein the pulse duration of a scanning electrode driving waveform is made shorter than the pulse duration of the swing power supply, and the time from the beginning of a pulse trailing edge of the scanning electrode driving waveform to the beginning of a pulse leading edge of the swing power supply is set equal to or shorter than the period during which the pulse trailing edge of the scanning electrode driving waveform rises or falls while describing a time constant curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Rintarou Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6985135
    Abstract: The invention provides an information processing apparatus wherein playback of display data and playback of audio data relating to the display data are changed over in an associated relationship with each other in response to an open or closed state of a lid with respect to a housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Sugimoto