Patents Examined by Steven E. Holton
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Patent number: 7557780Abstract: A pixel is provided in which normal display of an image is possible even if a sustain period is shorter than an address period in a driving method combining digital gray scales and time gray scales, and in which operation can be compensated by changing the electric potential of a signal line even for a case in which the EL driver transistor becomes normally on due to deterioration. One of a source region and a drain region of an erasure TFT is connected to an electric current supply line, and the remaining one of the source region and the drain region is connected to a gate signal line. It is possible to change the voltage between a gate and a source of an EL driver TFT by changing the electric potential of the gate signal line so that the EL driver TFT is placed in a non-conducting state with certainty with this structure, even for cases in which the EL driver TFT becomes normally on due to a shift in the value of its threshold voltage.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2006Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hajime Kimura
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Patent number: 7542015Abstract: Disclosed is a driving device of a PDP having a misfiring erase period between reset and address periods. Large amounts of positive and negative charges are respectively formed on scan and sustain electrodes because of an unstable reset operation in the reset period. Because of the charges, discharging can occur between the scan and sustain electrodes in the sustain period even without addressing in the address period. In the misfiring erase period, a voltage is applied between the scan and sustain electrodes to generate discharging and respectively form negative and positive charges on the scan and sustain electrodes. An erase pulse is then applied to erase the negative and positive charges respectively formed on the scan and sustain electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2004Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jin-Boo Son
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Patent number: 7511701Abstract: The invention relates to portable communication devices and in particular to the key arrays and associated legends of such devices. The user input element legends are printed on respective surfaces of a transparent face.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2001Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Vertu LimitedInventor: Frank Nuovo
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Patent number: 7499036Abstract: An apparatus for use in an electrographic position sensing system comprises an antenna system and a signal strength detector. In one embodiment, the antenna system comprises two antennas. The detector measures the signal strength from each antenna. A microprocessor contains an algorithm to calculate the position of the detector near the antennas.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2003Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: Mark Flowers
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Patent number: 7499065Abstract: A method and apparatus of the present invention is particularly for use in display systems having spatial light modulators in which the pixels present asymmetrical switching delays. For a desired illumination intensity of a pixel, a series of pulse-width-modulation bit values for the pixel is determined based at least in part upon a parameter that characterizes the asymmetrical transition behavior of the pixel between states.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2004Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Peter Richards
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Patent number: 7495646Abstract: A display device which includes a plurality of adjacent gate lines and drain lines disposed in a display area of the display device, and a plurality of pixels disposed in the display area, each of the plurality of pixels having a switching element coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of adjacent gate lines and a corresponding one of the plurality of drain lines. During one frame period, the plurality of adjacent gate lines are selected, and thereby video signals are written into the plurality of pixels via the plurality of drain lines, and thereafter during the one frame period, the plurality of adjacent gate lines are selected, and thereby signals corresponding to blanking data are written into the plurality of pixels.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2005Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kawabe, Junichi Hirakata
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Patent number: 7483000Abstract: A plasma display panel sustain-discharge circuit. First and second signal lines for supplying first and second voltages and at least one inductor coupled between one end of the panel capacitor and a third voltage are formed. Energy is stored in the inductor through a path formed between the third voltage and the first signal line in a state where a voltage of one end of the panel capacitor is substantially fixed to the first voltage. The voltage of one end of the panel capacitor substantially decreases to the second voltage using resonance current generated between the inductor and the panel capacitor and the stored energy. Energy is stored in the inductor through a path formed between the third voltage and the second line in a state where a voltage of one end of the panel capacitor is substantially fixed to the second voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2005Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Joo-Yul Lee, Kyoung-Ho Kang, Hee-Hwan Kim
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Patent number: 7477238Abstract: A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software. The device provides output in the form of a default output and a number of variants. The output is based largely upon the frequency, i.e., the likelihood that a user intended a particular output, but various features of the device provide additional variants that are not based solely on frequency and rather are provided by various logic structures resident on the device. The device enables editing during text entry and also provides a learning function that allows the disambiguation function to adapt to provide a customized experience for the user. The disambiguation function can be selectively disabled and an alternate keystroke interpretation system provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2004Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: Research In Motion LimitedInventors: Vadim Fux, Michael G. Elizarov, Sergey V. Kolomiets
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Patent number: 7474306Abstract: A source driver 4A arranged on a liquid crystal panel includes therein in-chip reference voltage wires 17 extending from one end to the other end of an LSI chip. The source driver 4A includes therein: branch reference voltage wires 17a branching off from in-chip reference voltage wires 17; reference voltage production buffers 31; a control circuit 30 for controlling the reference voltage production buffers 31; a reference voltage production resistor section 32 for subdividing the reference voltage into values of n steps; voltage level selection circuits 34 each for selecting one of the subdivided voltages; and output buffers 35. Since the reference voltages are supplied to each source driver 4 via wiring for connecting the in-chip reference voltage wires 17 in series with one another, the wiring structure for supplying the reference voltages can be simplified.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2005Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Yasuyuki Doi, Tetsuro Oomori, Kazuyoshi Nishi
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Patent number: 7456819Abstract: A lamp driving device includes a power supplying part and a feedback detection part. The power supplying part provides a plurality of lamps electrically connected in parallel to each other with power. The feedback detection part receives current that flows via the lamps to provide the power supplying part with a feedback signal that prevents the power supplying part from providing normal lamps with power, when at least one of the lamps are abnormal. Although one power supply provides all lamps with power, when at least one of the lamps is abnormal, then whole circuit is opened. Thus, excess current does not flow via remaining lamps that are normal. Thus, a life span of the lamps is not reduced, and a lamp driving device is safe.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2003Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Inn-Sung Lee, Seung-Hwan Moon
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Patent number: 7450089Abstract: An improved plasma display panel and a method for driving the same are disclosed. Illustratively, the plasma display panel includes a plurality of address electrodes and a plurality of scan electrodes and sustain electrodes, and displays video data through dual scanning. A temperature sensor included in the plasma display panel detects a temperature of the plasma display panel. When the detected temperature is determined to be low, a scanning direction in which a voltage is applied to the scan electrodes is controlled such that the plasma panel is scanned from both ends to the center. When the detected temperature is determined to be high, a scanning direction in which a voltage is applied to the scan electrodes is controlled such that the plasma panel is scanned from a top towards the center. Altering the scan direction based on temperature improves picture quality.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2004Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jin-Boo Son
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Patent number: 7450108Abstract: The invention relates to an operating unit, especially for operating a multimedia system in a motor vehicle, comprising an operating element that can be rotated about an axis (z), that can be moved along said axis of rotation (z) and that can be locked in a position (0, 1) on said axis (z). The operating element can also be moved on an plane (x, y) that is orthogonal relative to said axis (z) in order to control the movement of a cursor that can be shown on a display in any given direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2002Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Andreas Clabunde, Helmut Dörre, Hans Kinzler, Nhu Nguyen Thien, Oliver Pichl
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Patent number: 7450117Abstract: A synchronous signal/active signal restoring apparatus and method are disclosed in which a display device receives a digital image signal transmitted in an optical signal form from a source device through an optical cable, a physical medium which can not transmit a clock signal, and restores a horizontal/vertical synchronous signal and a horizontal/vertical active signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2003Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Sang-Il Seo, Ha-Jin Hwang, Chul-Yong Joung, Nam-Seok Jo, Dong-Il Han
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Patent number: 7436383Abstract: The present invention relates to a driving method for cholesteric liquid crystal display. A plurality of pixels of the display are controlled by a plurality of row drivers and a plurality of column drivers. According to the method of the invention, firstly, a DC input voltage or a non-symmetric AC input voltage is applied to the row drivers and the column drivers so that the voltage of the pixel is larger than a withstand voltage of the drivers. Then, an initial column signal and an initial row signal are respectively supplied by the corresponding column driver and row driver so as to initialize the corresponding pixel. The polarity of the initial column signal is different from that of the initial row signal. Because the initial row signal minus the initial column signal equals the signal of the pixel, the amplitude of the signal applied to the pixel can be increased.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2004Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Himax Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Yen-Chen Chen, Chien-Pin Chen, Chia-Cheng Lai
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Patent number: 7432907Abstract: An electrophoretic display device includes a plurality of electrophoretic particles and an insulating liquid which are held in a container, a first electrode and a second electrode which are disposed close to the insulating liquid, and means for applying voltages between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrophoretic display device exhibits a display state including a first state in which the electrophoretic particle are dispersed in the insulating liquid by applying an AC voltage between the first and second electrodes, a second state in which the electrophoretic particles are attracted toward the first electrode by applying a DC voltage of one polarity between the first and second electrodes, and third state in which the electrophoretic particles are attracted toward by applying a DC voltage of the other polarity between the first and second electrodes. The second and third states are exhibited alternately.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2004Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tatsuhito Goden
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Patent number: 7423616Abstract: A method of driving a plasma display panel including discharge cells, each at an intersection of a scan electrode and a sustain electrode, and a data electrode. One field period is divided into a plurality of sub-fields, each having an initializing period, writing period, and sustaining period. The sustaining period of at least one sub-field has a first sustaining period and a second sustaining period. In the first sustaining period, a transition period of a sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode is not temporally overlapped with a transition period of a sustain pulse applied to the sustain electrode. In a second sustaining period, a transition period of the sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode is temporally overlapped with a transition period of the sustain pulse applied to the sustain electrode. The second sustaining period is included at least at the end of the sustaining period.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2003Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Ogawa, Shigeo Kigo, Kenji Sasaki
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Patent number: 7417604Abstract: A method and an apparatus for driving a plasma display panel with improved image quality are provided. The method for driving a PDP includes: determining whether a frame period is varied on the basis of order of an inputted vertical synchronization signal; varying the frame period; and shifting and arranging the first and second frames in the varied frame period.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2004Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Dai Hyun Kim
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Patent number: 7405728Abstract: High-speed scrolling is performed when an operating dial 35 is rotated taking a central button member 36 as an axis, and low-speed scrolling when pushing either an upper button 42A or a lower button 42C by pushing the operating dial 35 in the direction of an axis of rotation. It is therefore possible to include information it is wished to view, in an appropriate manner within a display range of a screen, with fewer operations by appropriately changing over the speed of scrolling. In addition, as it is possible to operate the operating dial 35 for both high-speed scrolling and low-speed scrolling, when changing over the speed of scrolling, it is possible to change over the speed of scrolling in a straightforward manner without operating members other than the member that has been operated so far.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2003Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Japan, Inc.Inventors: Emi Arakawa, Kayo Sasaki, Shigeya Yasui, Mayu Irimajiri
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Patent number: 7403191Abstract: A tactile overlay for a touchscreen includes one or more button structures, a flexible resilient membrane, and one or more nibs corresponding to the one or more button structures. The overlay is disposed over and in propinquity with the touchscreen display, with button and corresponding nib structure(s) of the overlay corresponding to virtual buttons that are displayed by the touchscreen display. The button structure(s) and corresponding nibs are positioned on the overlay so that a user can press a button structure, which causes the corresponding nib to touch a desired virtual button being displayed by the touchscreen display. The flexible resilient layer causes the nib to return to original position, breaking contact with the touchscreen display.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2004Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Michael J. Sinclair
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Patent number: 7400315Abstract: A power control system for an LCD monitor having an LCD panel includes a light source unit providing light to the LCD panel, a power supply unit generating a standard low DC current, and a high-voltage generator for converting the lower DC voltage to a relatively high voltage and supplying the high voltage to the light source. The power control system further includes a feedback control unit coupled to the power supply unit for interrupting the operation of the power supply unit when the converted high voltage is determined to be abnormal. The feedback control unit includes a cable, through which a voltage can be induced due to high voltage generated by the high-voltage generator, and a power supply control circuit capable of interrupting the operation of the power supply unit when the converted high voltage is determined to be abnormal by analyzing the induced current.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2003Date of Patent: July 15, 2008Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Sang Ho Lee