Liquid Crystal System Patents (Class 349/1)
  • Publication number: 20090322970
    Abstract: An optical low-pass filter is constituted with a liquid crystal substrate including a layer of liquid crystal. The optical low-pass filter includes: a first liquid crystal part in which the liquid crystal is aligned along a first direction; and a second liquid crystal part in which the liquid crystal is aligned along a second direction different from the first direction. The first liquid crystal part and the second liquid crystal part are disposed in an alternately repeated fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Iwane
  • Patent number: 7633567
    Abstract: A liquid crystal glare-proof mirror is capable of displaying a picture in which a non-glare-proof mode and a glare-proof mode is switched, including a first polarizing plate for selecting a polarization component to be transmitted; a liquid crystal cell disposed at a back of the first polarizing plate, the liquid crystal cell having two control areas, each of which is controlled independently; a second polarizing plate disposed at a back of the liquid crystal cell, the second polarizing plate transmitting either one of two orthogonal polarization components of light and reflecting the other one of the polarization components; and an image generating apparatus disposed at a part of a back of the second polarizing plate, the part corresponding to either one of the two control areas, the image generating apparatus ejecting picture light having a polarization component which is transmitted through the second polarizing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Murakami Corporation
    Inventors: Ayako Yamada, Masahiro Motomiya, Hidenori Sato
  • Patent number: 7626653
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display device has a rear frame, a reflection sheet, a backlight, a pair of light frames, a liquid crystal panel, a bezel. The device further includes a cell guide for fixing the liquid crystal panel. In the cell guide, engagement portions are formed, and engaged with corresponding locking portions formed in the pair of light frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsunori Zensai
  • Patent number: 7623188
    Abstract: A directional display device that separates and displays images on an image display surface of a display panel in different viewing directions. The directional display device includes a polarization control unit which is arranged in front of the display panel. A liquid crystal lens is arranged in front of the polarization control unit. A polarization plate is arranged in front of the liquid crystal lens. The polarization control unit has first and second polarization areas which change incident light rays to light rays having different polarization axes. The liquid crystal lens includes a lens layer including having lenses with a predetermined refractive index and a liquid crystal layer. An alignment state of the liquid crystal layer is changed so as to change the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer and change the refractive power of the liquid crystal lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Goro Hamagishi
  • Publication number: 20090284669
    Abstract: A memory cell is provided in the present invention. The memory cell includes a first electrode receiving a first voltage to form an electric field therearound; and a combination arranged on the first electrode, comprising a liquid crystal molecule coupled with a magnetic substance for forming a magnetic field therearound, wherein the magnetic field changing with the first electric field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: An-Cheng Sun, Jen-Hwa Hsu, Ching-Ray Chang
  • Patent number: 7609360
    Abstract: The image display device includes a liquid crystal panel which has at least one optical sensor for outputting an electric signal resulting from light irradiation, pixel electrodes for driving a liquid crystal, switching elements for switching the pixel electrodes and a single transparent substrate on which the at least one optical sensor, the pixel electrodes and the switching elements are formed by laminating thin films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20090262266
    Abstract: A method of retrofitting a power system to a mobile work station includes coupling a replacement power system with the mobile work station in place of an existing power system, establishing a power link between a power interface and a docking station for a removable battery, and establishing a communication link between a power control system and a detector configured to detect user interaction with a removable battery docked with the docking station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Lee Melvin Harbin, Gary Coonan
  • Publication number: 20090261815
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of methods and systems related to stimulus responsive nanoparticles. In one embodiment includes a stimulus responsive nanoparticle system, the system includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a plurality of elongated electro-responsive nanoparticles dispersed between the first and second electrodes, the plurality of electro-responsive nanorods configured to respond to an electric field established between the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Darren Robert Cairns, Wade W. Huebsch, Konstantinos A. Sierros, Matthew S. Shafran
  • Publication number: 20090244411
    Abstract: A liquid crystal optical element having a crystal liquid optical element adapted to positively function as a diffraction element and an optical pickup apparatus including the liquid crystal optical element are disclosed. A transparent electrode having a diffraction pattern is arranged on one of a pair of transparent substrates. A liquid crystal panel has a transparent opposed electrode arranged on the other one of the pair of the transparent substrates. A driving unit generates a phase difference distribution in the liquid crystal layer by generating a potential difference between the transparent electrode and the transparent opposed electrode and causes the liquid crystal panel to function as a diffraction element for diffracting the incoming light beam transmitted therethrough. The diffraction pattern or the transparent opposed electrode is divided into a plurality of regions. The driving unit adjusts the potential difference for each of the regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Yoshiharu TAKANE, Shinya SATO, Nobuhiro SATO
  • Publication number: 20090244410
    Abstract: A liquid crystal module includes a liquid crystal panel and a support member configured to be contained in a mother device and to which the liquid crystal panel is mounted. A protection plate having protection function for the surface of the liquid crystal panel is attached to the support member, so that the protection plate, the liquid crystal panel, and the support member are made into a unitary block. Thus, it is possible to configure a liquid crystal module such that the protection plate has an additional function other than the protection of the liquid crystal panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Miyata
  • Publication number: 20090237575
    Abstract: Working range and beam cross-section are adjusted in an electro-optical reader for reading indicia by applying voltages to electrodes in one or more liquid crystal zone plates in which the index of refraction is changed in different regions of each zone plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventor: David Tsi-shi
  • Publication number: 20090237799
    Abstract: A vehicle rearview mirror system includes a transflective reflective element, an ambient light sensor that senses ambient light and a glare light sensor that senses glare light. A control circuit establishes a reflectance level of the reflective element, and the control circuit is responsive to light detection by at least one of the ambient light sensor and the glare light sensor. A display element is disposed behind the reflective element and operable to display information through the reflective element and viewable through the mirror reflector of the reflective element by a driver of the vehicle when the display element displays information, and substantially non-viewable by the driver of the vehicle when the display element does not display information. A display intensity control adjusts display intensity responsive to a light detection by at least one of the glare light sensor and the ambient light sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: John P. Drummond, Kenneth Schofield
  • Publication number: 20090231497
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes: a liquid crystal panel; a plurality of first light sources disposed below the liquid crystal panel; a first diffusion member disposed between the liquid crystal panel and the first light sources; a plurality of second light sources disposed below the liquid crystal panel and which emit a sensing signal toward the liquid crystal panel; and a plurality of sensors disposed in or below the liquid crystal panel. The sensing signal emitted from the plurality of second light sources toward the liquid crystal panel is reflected by an object disposed above the liquid crystal panel and is detected by the plurality of sensors before transmitting through the first diffusion member away from the liquid crystal panel such that a shape of the object is determined based on the sensing signal reflected from the object and detected by the plurality of sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiki TAKAHASHI, Bong-Hyun YOU, Hee-Jin CHOI, Sang-Soo KIM, Yong-Hwi KIM
  • Publication number: 20090201137
    Abstract: A rearview assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror element having a partially reflective, partially transmissive coating and a video display positioned behind the mirror element such that a display image is viewable through the partially reflective, partially transmissive coating. The video display may generate a viewable display image that has an intensity of at least 250 cd/m2. The video display may generate a display image that extends along and abuts at least a portion of curved edges of a housing. The assembly may include a forward facing light sensor for sensing a first light level forward of the vehicle, a rearward facing light sensor sensing a second light level to the rear of the vehicle, and a control circuit for comparing the first and second light levels and generating a warning signal when the second light level exceeds the first light level by at least threshold amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew D. Weller, Mark L. Larson, Ian A. McCabe, Niall R. Lynam, Rodney K. Blank, Joseph P. McCaw, John T. Uken
  • Publication number: 20090201435
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal display device appreciating room making it possible to prevent glare or external-image-projection on the basis of external light so that persons can watch the screen of a liquid crystal display device satisfactorily. The appreciating room comprises a room, a liquid crystal display device arranged inside the room and having a liquid crystal panel 2, and a light source which lightens the inside of the room, wherein a ¼ wavelength plate 6 is arranged on the front surface side of a viewing-side polarizer 3 of the liquid crystal panel 2, the ¼ wavelength plate 6 is arranged to set the angle ? of the slow axis direction X thereof to 45±5° or 135±5° from the absorptive axis direction A of the viewing-side polarizer toward the counterclockwise direction when the ¼ wavelength plate is seen from the viewing-side, and light inside the room is any one of left-handed circularly polarized light and right-handed circularly polarized light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yoshimi, Takeharu Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 7572490
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display having a brightness enhancement film and a method of manufacturing the brightness enhancement film, the method including providing a solution of high molecular weight resin on a high molecular weight film, uniformly distributing the solution of high molecular weight resin on the high molecular weight film, and drying the solution of high molecular weight resin to form a high molecular weight resin layer, wherein the high molecular weight resin layer has a hexagonal lattice structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Dae Park, Jin-Taek Hwang, Jin-Sung Choi
  • Patent number: 7564508
    Abstract: A light path shift device is disclosed that is able to divide an effective region of a light path and drive the divided regions independently. The light path shift device includes a liquid crystal layer held between at least two opposite transparent substrates, the liquid crystal layer being homeotropically aligned and being able to form a chiral smectic C phase; and plural electrodes for applying an electric field in the liquid crystal layer in a horizontal direction. An effective region of the liquid crystal layer through which a light path passes is divided into plural sub-regions, plural light path shift elements with the electrodes formed thereon are stacked only at positions corresponding to the sub-regions, and are arranged so that boundary lines of the sub-regions are in agreement when being viewed along the direction of light propagation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sugimoto, Toshiaki Tokita, Kazuhiro Fujita, Toshiharu Murai, Yasuyuki Takiguchi, Atsushi Takaura, Kazuya Miyagaki, Takanobu Osaka
  • Patent number: 7561332
    Abstract: A wire grid polarizer may be fabricated by forming plurality of substantially-straight metallic lines of predetermined periodicity ? on a thin film substrate A plurality of substantially straight nanometer-scale periodic surface relief structures is created on a surface of the substrate. The periodic surface relief structures cover a region greater than about 4 centimeters in length and greater than about 4 centimeters in width, wherein the periodicity ? is between about 10 nanometers and about 500 nanometers. One or more layers of material are formed on the periodic relief structures. The one or more layers include one or more conductor materials that form the plurality of substantially straight metallic lines over a region of the substrate greater than about 4 centimeters in length and greater than about 4 centimeters in width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Agoura Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Little, Charles W. McLaughlin
  • Publication number: 20090167965
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the provision of an optical pickup apparatus in which a liquid crystal optical element constructed by combining an aberration correcting liquid crystal panel and an n?/4 liquid crystal panel in an integral fashion is mounted in a tilted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Shuji Naka, Shinya Sato
  • Publication number: 20090147167
    Abstract: This invention relates to an LCD device comprising an electrically conductive and optically transparent nanostructure film deposited adjacent to or forming a part of at least one of a) a layer comprising triacetyl cellulose (TAC), b) a polarizing layer, c) an adhesive layer, d) a protective layer, e) an anti-glare layer f) an anti-reflective layer, or g) an antistatic layer. One embodiment is a device comprising an in plane switching (IPS) liquid crystal display (LCD) and a nanostructure film, wherein the film is electrically conductive, and wherein the film is optically transparent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventor: Young-Bae Park
  • Publication number: 20090141200
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting one or more light beams by a first portion of a light modulator formed outwardly from a substrate. The one or more transmitted light beams are spatially integrated. A second portion of the light modulator is formed outwardly from the substrate. The second portion of the light modulator spatially integrates the transmitted light beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew Ian Russell, Steven M. Penn, Jeffrey Scott Farris
  • Publication number: 20090134398
    Abstract: An array substrate for an LCD device and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The array substrate includes: a substrate defining a display area and a non-display area; an n-type driving TFT and a p-type driving TFT in the non-display area; a switching TFT in the display region; a storage capacitor in the display region, the storage capacitor including first to third storage layers sequentially layered with intervening insulating layers, wherein the first storage layer contacts a first semiconductor layer under the first storage layer; and a pixel electrode in the display region, the pixel electrode connected to the switching TFT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Seok-Woo Lee, Yong-In Park
  • Patent number: 7531366
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of detection of analytes, and in particular to detection of viruses, cells, bacteria, lipid-membrane containing organisms, proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and other biomolecules, organic molecules and inorganic molecules using a liquid crystal assay format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Platypus Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Abbott, Christopher Murphy, Barbara Israel, Doug Hansmann
  • Publication number: 20090115920
    Abstract: An exemplary liquid crystal display device includes scanning lines (201), data lines (202), and a control circuit (200). The control circuit includes a data driver (230), a scanning driver (220), and a DC/DC converter (260). The DC/DC converter includes a reference voltage output terminal (262), a high voltage output terminal (263), a low voltage output terminal (264), a first adjusting circuit connected to the reference voltage output terminal, a second adjusting circuit connected to the high voltage output terminal and a third adjusting circuit connected to low voltage output terminal. The first adjusting circuit includes a first terminal. The second adjusting circuit includes a second terminal. The third adjusting circuit includes a third terminal. Three voltages of the three output terminals are determined by three voltages of the three terminals of the three adjusting circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventor: Shung-Ming Huang
  • Publication number: 20090109353
    Abstract: A lighting device includes a light-emitting element, an ultrasonic member, a signal processing unit, a light control unit, an indicator and an indicator control unit. The light-emitting element emits a light. The ultrasonic member emits an ultrasonic signal and receives the ultrasonic signal reflected from an object. The signal processing unit is communicated with the ultrasonic member for converting the reflected ultrasonic signal into a control signal. The light control unit is interconnected between the signal processing unit and the light-emitting element for controlling the light-emitting element to emit light in a selected operating mode in response to the control signal. The indicator control unit is interconnected between the signal processing unit and the indicator for controlling the indicator to assert a notification signal indicative of the operating mode in response to the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: LITE-ON IT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chia-Yu Liu, Tzu-Nan Chen
  • Publication number: 20090103160
    Abstract: An integrated electro-optical module apparatus includes in one embodiment an optical modulator configured to modulate an input optical signal coupled thereto; and a control circuit assembly configured to provide electrical control signals to the optical modulator to modulate the input optical signal; wherein the control circuit assembly is attached to the optical modulator in a stacked arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Glen Peter Koste, Christopher James Kapusta, Joseph Alfred Iannotti
  • Publication number: 20090102989
    Abstract: A display system includes a liquid crystal display (10) including a backlight (3), a liquid crystal display panel (1), and a viewing angle control panel (2) for controlling the viewing angle of the display panel (1), the display system causing the amount of external light reflected by the liquid crystal display (10) to be relatively larger than the amount of light leaked from the backlight (3) onto the liquid crystal display panel (1). This provides a display system having an enhanced blocking effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Takehiko Sakai, Tsuyoshi Okazaki, Katsuhiko Morishita, Yoshiharu Kataoka, Chikanori Tsukamura, Takahiro Sasaki, Dai Chiba
  • Patent number: 7521159
    Abstract: A reimagable medium and a method for “writing” to a reimagable medium are disclosed. The reimagable medium includes a liquid crystal layer, one or more photochromic layers and an electric field generating apparatus. The electric field generating apparatus supplies voltage levels across the liquid crystal layer causing the liquid crystal layer to transfer between a white and a transparent state. The photochromic layers transfer to a colored state when illuminated by ultraviolet light and to a transparent state when illuminated by visible light. Each of the layers maintains their present states when voltage or illumination below corresponding thresholds is supplied. The reimagable medium is flexible and may maintain an image “written” to it until the paper is rewritten. The paper may be attached to a colored substrate if an additional color is to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel Iftime, Peter M. Kazmaier
  • Patent number: 7515213
    Abstract: A three-dimensional image display unit comprising a liquid crystal parallax barrier provided on the surface of an image display unit such as a transmitting liquid crystal display unit across a transparent plate, wherein a shielding member such as a black mask for shielding the outgoing light of a light incident from the side surface of the transparent plate is provided in the vicinity of the boundary of the effective display area of the parallax barrier. The shielding member may be provided inside or outside the parallax barrier. Such a construction can prevent blur forming in the vicinity of the boundary of the effective display area or a deterioration in display quality such as insufficient black displaying at a part that should be black-displayed, thereby providing a three-dimensional image display unit giving a good display quality in the vicinity of the boundary of the effective display area even if it is enlarged in size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Tottori Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Aramatsu
  • Publication number: 20090073328
    Abstract: A hermetically sealed housing having a base deck, a cover member and a seal assembly constructed of a liquid crystal material (LCM), the base deck and cover member forming an enclosure containing an inert gas atmosphere. Various embodiments have the LCM seal bonded to one or both of the base deck and cover member and bonded to seal the enclosure by molding, compression, adhesive bonding, thermoplastic welding or soldering, or a combination of such.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Neal Frank Gunderson, Daniel Dennis Dittmer, Michael A. Mewes
  • Publication number: 20090067089
    Abstract: A tape drive system according to one general embodiment includes a magnetic head; a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic recording tape over the head; a cable coupled to the magnetic head, the cable comprising a first layer of liquid crystal polymer, and at least 16 electrically conductive leads operatively coupled to the first layer of liquid crystal polymer; and a controller coupled to the cable, and communicating with the head using the cable. A cable according to another general embodiment includes a first layer of liquid crystal polymer; and at least 16 electrically conductive leads operatively coupled to the first layer of liquid crystal polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Sassan K. Shahidi, Larry LeeRoy Tretter, George G. Zamora
  • Patent number: 7494698
    Abstract: Shape-persistent organic materials, including polymers, with large degrees of interior free volume are described, along with behaviors and phenomena enabled by their unique properties. One class of such a material is built up from triptycene base moieties wherein three benzene rings are bridged together about a [2.2.2] tricyclic ring system. These units can be assembled into discreet molecules and polymers. These materials and/or formulations thereof with liquid crystals or polymers are useful for the complexation of chemicals and/or polymers; they have very low dielectric constants for use as coatings in dielectric circuits, they provide additional ordering mechanisms in liquid crystals, and they display unusual mechanical responses when subjected to electrochemical, chemical, or mechanical stimuli.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Timothy M. Long, Zhengguo Zhu
  • Publication number: 20090046213
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device into which a phase difference film is incorporated on the color filter substrate side, the phase difference film can be formed more easily than the prior art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Masahiro Teramoto, Junji Tanno
  • Publication number: 20090046237
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal provided between a first layer and a second layer. The first layer and the second layer may be in a substantially parallel direction to each another. Spacers may be provided in the liquid crystal to keep the first layer and the second layer spaced apart from each other. Electrode layers may include structural elements operable to prevent the spacers from moving through the liquid crystal in the substantially parallel direction. The display may include a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer having one or more gaps defining an electrode structure including electrodes to control the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: TPO Displays Corp.
    Inventor: HARRIE HERMENS
  • Publication number: 20090033509
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device with a substrate and a gas detector. The substrate has a pixel array area and an electrical connection area. The pixel array area has a plurality of pixels. The electrical connection area has a plurality of bond pads positioned on the surface of the substrate to address the plurality of pixels in the pixel array area. The gas detector is positioned within the electrical connection area. The gas detector is arranged to detect the presence of a specified gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: TPO Displays Corp.
    Inventor: Pavel Novoselov
  • Publication number: 20090027574
    Abstract: A passive infrared sensor (PIR) for detecting infrared radiation which includes a lens positioned in a sensor housing, and a pyroelectric element electrically connected to a circuit board within a filter housing positioned in the sensor housing. A microprocessor is electrically connected to a main circuit board and controls a liquid crystal display (LCD) attached to the sensor housing. The lens overlaps the LCD. The LCD has LCD regions corresponding to lens regions of the lens. Using the microprocessor, the LCD regions selectively prevent radiation energy from passing to the pyroelectric element, and the LCD regions selectively allow radiation energy to pass to the pyroelectric element. A signaling device communicates an alarm signal indicating when radiation energy within a specified wavelength band reaches the pyroelectric element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventor: Lewin A. Edwards
  • Patent number: 7482188
    Abstract: A rubbing system for an alignment layer of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, comprises: a rubbing table on which a substrate having an alignment layer thereon is positioned; a rubbing roll on which a rubbing material is wound, substantially positioned on the rubbing table thus to substantially contact the alignment layer, for rubbing the alignment layer by rotation of the rubbing roll; and a controlling unit for controlling the alignment layer to be rubbed by substantially contacting the rubbing roll onto the alignment layer by simultaneously lifting and lowering a rubbing table and the rubbing roll according to an alignment controlling force to be applied to the alignment layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Won Moon, Byoung-Chul Choi
  • Publication number: 20090015531
    Abstract: A driving system and method for liquid crystal display is disclosed. The system stores only the driving values corresponding to specific grayscale values of pixels on a current frame and specific grayscale values of pixels on a previous frame. The stored driving values are then used by an operation processing unit of the system to calculate out driving values to be applied to the current frame. Moreover, the system is provided with a logic judging unit for preventing the noises of the frame from being overdriven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Pei-Ting TSAI, Wen Min LU
  • Publication number: 20090015732
    Abstract: On the display surface side of a DV display apparatus which performs image separation via a parallax barrier, a normally-white TN liquid crystal section is arranged such that a viewing angle direction heads toward the passenger seat. In a case where display is performed for both the driver's seat and the passenger seat, a drive voltage of the TN liquid crystal section is switched off. In a case where display for the driver's seat is set to non-display and an image is displayed only for the passenger seat, a halftone voltage is applied as the drive voltage of the TN liquid crystal section. In the case where display for at least one display direction is set to non-display in a display apparatus which can display different images in plural display directions by using a common display screen, it is possible to prevent image light for other directions from leaking to the non-display direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Yabuta, Hiroshi Fukushima, Tomoo Takatani
  • Publication number: 20090009668
    Abstract: A polarization-selective diffractive optical element includes a liquid crystal polymer film supported by a substrate. The liquid crystal polymer film includes an array of pixels, each pixel encoded with a fixed liquid crystal director such that each liquid crystal director is aligned in a common plane perpendicular to the liquid crystal polymer film and provides a predetermined pattern of out-of-plane tilts. A size of the pixels in the array and the predetermined pattern are selected such that the liquid crystal polymer film forms a phase hologram for diffracting light polarized parallel to said common plane and a zeroth order diffraction grating for light polarized perpendicular to the said common plane. The non-etched and flat phase hologram is suitable for a wide range of applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Kim Leong Tan, David M. Shemo
  • Publication number: 20090002575
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal glare-proof mirror capable of displaying a picture in which a non-glare-proof mode and a glare-proof mode is switched, including a first polarizing plate for selecting a polarization component to be transmitted; a liquid crystal cell disposed at a back of the first polarizing plate, the liquid crystal cell having two control areas, each of which is controlled independently; a second polarizing plate disposed at a back of the liquid crystal cell, the second polarizing plate transmitting either one of two orthogonal polarization components of light and reflecting the other one of the polarization components; and an image generating apparatus disposed at a part of a back of the second polarizing plate, the part corresponding to either one of the two control areas, the image generating apparatus ejecting picture light having a polarization component which is transmitted through the second polarizing plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ayako Yamada, Masahiro Motomiya, Hidenori Sato
  • Publication number: 20090002576
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal glare-proof mirror including a first polarizing plate and a second polarizing plate formed of resin layers having refractive index anisotropy. The refractive index anisotropy of the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate allows an ordinary ray to be separated from an extraordinary ray in which the incident light is refracted in different directions depending on an angle at which the incident light comes into the one of the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norihiro Suzuki, Noriyuki Unno, Hidenori Sato
  • Publication number: 20080316374
    Abstract: The present invention represents an object with high-quality texture. A texture image display apparatus includes: a panel display device (20) having a plurality of pixels (21); a lens array (30) having a plurality of lenses for controlling outgoing directions of light outputted from the pixels (21); a pixel data generation part (14) for generating pixel data for each pixel; and a panel driving circuit 15 for driving the panel display device (20) on the basis of the pixel data. One lens (31) is provided for a plurality of adjacent pixels (21), and directs light outputted from these adjacent pixels (21) in directions different from one another. For each pixel (21), the pixel data generation part (14) generates pixel data of different image brightness levels depending on outgoing direction of light, for the same image point in displayed content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Takafumi Koike, Kei Utsugi, Michio Oikawa, Masami Yamasaki
  • Publication number: 20080309836
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display with an IC tag in which information of an IC chip can be read from the surface of the liquid crystal display, while the IC chip can be mounted on the small-size liquid crystal display without lowering the attraction of design thereof. A common electrode is formed in a wide region of an upper electrode layer constituting the liquid crystal display. Antennas are formed in a region of an edge portion of the upper electrode layer where the common electrode is not formed, and within the region of a surface-side glass. An IC chip is placed out of the region of the surface-side glass. X-axis and Y-axis matrix electrodes are formed in a region of a lower electrode layer opposite to the common electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Sakama, Minoru Ashizawa
  • Publication number: 20080309835
    Abstract: An optical system includes at least one lens and a liquid crystal optical element. The liquid crystal optical element is constructed so that a first liquid crystal lens and a second liquid crystal lens are oppositely arranged so that orientation directions cross at right angles with each other in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, a voltage applied to the liquid crystal optical element is controlled and a shift of a focal position relative to incident light from a different object point is corrected, and when the liquid crystal optical element does not have a ray deflecting action, a far object point is brought into focus, while when the liquid crystal optical element has the ray deflecting action, a near object point is brought into focus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keiichi Kuba
  • Publication number: 20080304248
    Abstract: A display device useful to create an interactive image having different sizes by employing one display panel that is allowed to emit the light toward both directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Dong-Un Jin, Chan-Young Park
  • Patent number: 7460188
    Abstract: A solar-powered LCD device, e.g., for a clock, includes a solar cell arrangement and a liquid crystal display. The solar cell arrangement includes an at least partially transparent carrier and at least one solar cell provided with at least one at least partially transparent contact, at least one first polarizer, a first at least partially transparent carrier, a first at least partially transparent contact, a liquid crystal, a second transparent contact, a second transparent carrier, a second polarizer, and a reflector in a stacked arrangement. The carrier of the solar cell arrangement is one of the carriers of the liquid crystal display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Junghans Uhren GmbH
    Inventors: Hanna Brummack, Günter Megner
  • Publication number: 20080291346
    Abstract: A memory device includes first electrodes, second electrodes, third electrodes, heaters, and memory cells between the first electrodes and the heaters. Each third electrode is provided on the heaters, and each second electrode is provided at a side portion of the heaters. Each memory cell contains an electroconductive liquid crystal compound having a long linear conjugate structure and exhibiting a smectic phase as a liquid crystal phase. Information can be written in the memory cells by selectively heating the heaters to cause the corresponding memory cells to have both electroconductivity and optical anisotropy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicants: YAMANASHI UNIVERSITY, NIPPON CHEMICAL INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichiro HARAMOTO, Takamasa KATO, Kohki HIROSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20080284923
    Abstract: A LCD hanging-brand using solar energy for advertising, which includes a transparent base, a transparent scaling cover, a PCB board, a picture layer, a LCD sheet, a solar sheet, LEDs, a storage battery and a metal coil. One or more color transparent films can be mounted in the picture layer, and the films can be rotated by a motor or a rotating button. The LCD sheet is transparent when it is not turned on, and the image of the picture layer can be seen through the LCD sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventor: Sze Keun Chan
  • Patent number: 7453528
    Abstract: There is provided a plasma display apparatus capable of reducing the cost and complexity of fitting circuit boards to a chassis base. The plasma display apparatus comprises a plasma display panel (PDP), a chassis base having a first side attached to the PDP, the first side also supporting the PDP, and circuit boards provided at a second side of the chassis base opposite to the first side attached to the PDP. The chassis base has at least one boss and at least one supporter disposed thereon, which correspond to holes disposed in a circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guy-Seong Kim, Won-Kyu Bang