Patents by Inventor Frederick P. Herrmann

Frederick P. Herrmann has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9679540
    Abstract: A method of writing image data to a pixel array includes decoding an address and activating, based on the decoded address, two or more row selection signals. The address may be a ternary address having at least one trit. The method further includes providing the two or more row selection signals to the pixel array to select two or more rows of the pixel array, the activation of which writes the image data to pixels in the two or more rows of the pixel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: KOPIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Pin Anupongongarch, Frederick P. Herrmann
  • Patent number: 9618783
    Abstract: An improved Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) heating system is provided. Resistor meshes, in particular VCOM resistor heating meshes, in the pixel array improve capacity of the display heater (heating system) so that the display is heated faster from low temperatures. The resistor mesh design provides much lower resistance from one point in the pixel array to an edge than pixel-to-pixel horizontal VCOM resistance, thus reducing horizontal crosstalk. Further, the approach permits the display to be active during the warm-up process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Kopin Corporation
    Inventors: Chompoonoot Anupongongarch, Frederick P. Herrmann, Wen-Foo Chern
  • Patent number: 9438896
    Abstract: A video eyewear device in which parallel side-by-side video signals are driven as analog signals to the left and right displays, with timing controlled by a common sampling clock. A left display sampling clock burst occurs during an active video period and the right display burst occurs during the same portion of the active video period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Kopin Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick P. Herrmann
  • Patent number: 9373297
    Abstract: Liquid crystal display (LCD) driver circuits, and corresponding driving methods, having selectable grayscale and bi-level modes, that also provide DC restore are presented, including an example embodiment driver circuit having selectable direct current (DC) restore voltage switches including a digital to analog converter, a high voltage video signal path including a high voltage video amplifier, a set of high voltage level switches, a high voltage capacitor and a low voltage video signal path including a low voltage video amplifier, a set of low voltage level switches, a low voltage capacitor. Advantages include, for some applications, a display operates in a bi-level mode saving power relative to operating in a grayscale mode, while also being able to offer full grayscale mode in other applications. Further, advantages of some example embodiments include an extended DC-restore mode providing a longer period of DC restore voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Kopin Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick P. Herrmann
  • Publication number: 20160125852
    Abstract: A method of writing image data to a pixel array includes decoding an address and activating, based on the decoded address, two or more row selection signals. The address may be a ternary address having at least one trit. The method further includes providing the two or more row selection signals to the pixel array to select two or more rows of the pixel array, the activation of which writes the image data to pixels in the two or more rows of the pixel array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Pin Anupongongarch, Frederick P. Herrmann
  • Publication number: 20140152933
    Abstract: An improved Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) heating system is provided. Resistor meshes, in particular VCOM resistor heating meshes, in the pixel array improve capacity of the display heater (heating system) so that the display is heated faster from low temperatures. The resistor mesh design provides much lower resistance from one point in the pixel array to an edge than pixel-to-pixel horizontal VCOM resistance, thus reducing horizontal crosstalk. Further, the approach permits the display to be active during the warm-up process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Kopin Corporation
    Inventors: Chompoonoot Anupongongarch, Frederick P. Herrmann, Wen-Foo Chern
  • Patent number: 8665177
    Abstract: Capacitive touch sensors are integrated with a head-mounted display (HMD) device or other video eyewear devices to create a more reliable and more intuitive user interface. The sensors, which may be implemented as an array, control various aspects of a left and right channel multimedia presentation, such as interpupillary distance or stereoscopic convergence, brightness, volume, or power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kopin Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick P. Herrmann, John Gassel, James Johnston
  • Publication number: 20130069999
    Abstract: Liquid crystal display (LCD) driver circuits, and corresponding driving methods, having selectable grayscale and bi-level modes, that also provide DC restore are presented, including an example embodiment driver circuit having selectable direct current (DC) restore voltage switches including a digital to analog converter, a high voltage video signal path including a high voltage video amplifier, a set of high voltage level switches, a high voltage capacitor and a low voltage video signal path including a low voltage video amplifier, a set of low voltage level switches, a low voltage capacitor. Advantages include, for some applications, a display operates in a bi-level mode saving power relative to operating in a grayscale mode, while also being able to offer full grayscale mode in other applications. Further, advantages of some example embodiments include an extended DC-restore mode providing a longer period of DC restore voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: KOPIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Frederick P. Herrmann
  • Publication number: 20120074961
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor having an active shield electrode driven by a unity gain amplifier. Various arrangements using multiplexors or switch arrays may allow single shield with multiple sense electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Kopin Corporation
    Inventor: FREDERICK P. HERRMANN
  • Patent number: 8022913
    Abstract: A heater, used in a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) pixel array that uses a common voltage polysilicon line to supply heat to the pixel elements, instead of using active control transistor input lines, such as gate input lines. The approach permits the display to be activated during the warm-up process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Kopin Corporation
    Inventors: Kun Zhang, Frederick P. Herrmann
  • Publication number: 20110194029
    Abstract: Capacitive touch sensors are integrated with a head-mounted display (HMD) device or other video eyewear devices to create a more reliable and more intuitive user interface. The sensors, which may be implemented as an array, control various aspects of a left and right channel multimedia presentation, such as interpupillary distance or stereoscopic convergence, brightness, volume, or power mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: Kopin Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick P. Herrmann, John Gassel, Jim Johnston
  • Publication number: 20110181707
    Abstract: A video eyewear device in which parallel side-by-side video signals are driven as analog signals to the left and right displays, with timing controlled by a common sampling clock. A left display sampling clock burst occurs during an active video period and the right display burst occurs during the same portion of the active video period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventor: Frederick P. Herrmann
  • Patent number: 7672420
    Abstract: A high voltage shift register stage which directly accepts low voltage clock signal inputs without using clock buffers. In particular, a shift register stage circuit is adapted to operate with a low voltage swing clock signal, with the stage circuit having a single state node, a, driven directly. This arrangement allows for reduced power consumption and higher operating speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Kopin Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick P. Herrmann, Kun Zhang
  • Patent number: 7595782
    Abstract: An apparatus and method can convert digital data to analog data using column load capacitances on adjacent pairs of column lines of the LCD. The apparatus includes a data bus containing digital data. A row buffer is coupled to the data bus for receiving and distributing the digital data. A switch network is coupled to the row buffer for converting the digital data received from the row buffer to analog data using column load capacitances on adjacent pairs of column lines of the LCD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Kopin Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick P. Herrmann
  • Publication number: 20090202033
    Abstract: A high voltage shift register stage which directly accepts low voltage clock signal inputs without using clock buffers. In particular, a shift register stage circuit is adapted to operate with a low voltage swing clock signal, with the stage circuit having a single state node, a, driven directly. This arrangement allows for reduced power consumption and higher operating speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: Kopin Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick P. Herrmann, Kun Zhang
  • Patent number: 7522694
    Abstract: A high voltage shift register stage which directly accepts low voltage clock signal inputs without using clock buffers. In particular, a shift register stage circuit is adapted to operate with a low voltage swing clock signal, with the stage circuit having a single state node, a, driven directly. This arrangement allows for reduced power consumption and higher operating speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Kopin Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick P. Herrmann, Kun Zhang
  • Publication number: 20080152072
    Abstract: A high voltage shift register stage which directly accepts low voltage clock signal inputs without using clock buffers. In particular, a shift register stage circuit is adapted to operate with a low voltage swing clock signal, with the stage circuit having a single state node, a, driven directly. This arrangement allows for reduced power consumption and higher operating speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Frederick P. Herrmann, Kun Zhang
  • Patent number: 7242383
    Abstract: An active matrix color crystal display has an active matrix circuit, a counterelectrode panel and an interposed layer of liquid crystal. The active matrix display is located in a portable microdisplay system that has a display computer that generates images to be displayed on the liquid crystal display and connected to the active matrix liquid crystal display. A data link transmits data at a rate of speed of greater than 200 Mbytes per second in series for at least a portion between the display computer and the active matrix liquid crystal display. In a preferred embodiment, the display system has a randomizing device that alternates the amplifier through which an analog video signal passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Kopin Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Zavracky, Jeffrey Jacobsen, Frederick P. Herrmann, Wen-Foo Chern, Hiap L. Ong, John C. C. Fan, Bor-Yeu Tsaur, Alan Richard, Ronald P. Gale, Jason Lo, Stephen A. Pombo, Rodney Bumgardner
  • Patent number: 7138993
    Abstract: An AC-coupled display driver circuit includes one or more DC-restore switches that are integrated within a liquid crystal display. A liquid crystal display system includes a coupling capacitor coupled at one end to a system input video signal, the coupling capacitor providing a display input video signal having a DC level offset. A liquid crystal display device coupled to another end of the coupling capacitor receives the first display input video signal at a video input for driving the display device. A switch integrated within the display device provides DC restore to the coupling capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Kopin Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick P. Herrmann
  • Patent number: 7057668
    Abstract: A color sequential display operative in one of two alternate modes. The first mode is a color sequential mode in which primary color images are displayed in successive frames while respective background light sources are simultaneously flashed on the display. The second mode is a monochrome mode in which the luminance Y signal is displayed in successive frames along with flashes of background white light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Kopin Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick P. Herrmann