With Liquid Crystal Display (i.e., Lcd) Patents (Class 368/242)
  • Patent number: 11968054
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for broadcasting a message to a wearer of a watch comprising a step of digitising, by way of an electronic device, a graphical representation displayed in an aperture of a dial of said watch and a step of transmitting, by way of said electronic device, the message associated with said digitised graphical representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Bazin, Paulo Bravo
  • Patent number: 11846842
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a display device includes a liquid crystal display panel including a first substrate having a first length and a second substrate having a second length, a dimming panel including a third substrate having a third length and a fourth substrate having a fourth length, wherein the third length is greater than the first length, the second length and the fourth length, the first length is greater than the second length, the third thickness of the third substrate is greater than the first thickness of the first substrate, and the second thickness of the second substrate is greater than the first thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
    Inventors: Shimon Itakura, Yuzo Ota
  • Patent number: 11809038
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a reflective or transflective liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal cell whose liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a planar or vertical manner, this liquid crystal cell being formed of a transparent front substrate located on the side of an observer, and a rear substrate, also transparent, which extends under the front substrate, parallel to and at a distance from the latter, these two front and rear substrates being joined together with a sealing frame which delimits a sealed enclosure in which a liquid crystal composition is confined, the front and rear substrates being coated on the opposite faces thereof with electrically conductive transparent electrodes and counter-electrodes, the optical properties of the liquid crystal composition being changed by applying an electric field at the crossing point between an electrode and a corresponding counter-electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Michel Sagardoyburu, Simon Springer
  • Patent number: 11793023
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a display apparatus includes providing a substrate, forming a display unit defining an opening portion in a display region over the substrate, forming a thin film encapsulation layer to seal the display unit, forming a touch electrode over the thin film encapsulation layer, forming a touch insulating film covering the touch electrode such that the thin film encapsulation layer and the touch insulating film are sequentially stacked and formed over the substrate in the opening portion, forming a touch contact hole by removing a portion of the touch insulating film to expose a portion of the touch electrode, and removing a portion of the touch insulating film and a portion of the thin film encapsulation layer formed in the opening portion to expose a portion of the substrate during the forming of the touch contact hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonghyun Choi, Kinyeng Kang, Suyeon Sim
  • Patent number: 11768517
    Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided having internal components mounted to a structural glass support member. The structural glass support member may have a planar front surface that forms a front surface of the device. The structural glass support member may have bent portions that form sidewall surfaces of the device. Portions of the structural glass support member may form a transparent display cover layer. A rigid or flexible display may be mounted to the structural glass support member. Additional internal device components may be mounted to the display. A thin enclosure for enclosing the internal components in the device may be mounted to the structural glass support member. The thin enclosure may be mounted to the structural glass support member using a peripheral member. The thin enclosure may be free from attachments to internal components or may be adhesively bonded to one or more internal components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, John P. Ternus, Kevin D. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 11602245
    Abstract: A food storage container system which includes one or more food storage container assemblies. Each food storage container assembly has a container body and a lid designed and configured to work in functional combination to promote food storage means and with the lid containing timing means for tracking time elapsing during use (when storing food). The food storage container assemblies may be made of glass, plastic or other suitably equivalent material that is food- and dishwasher-safe. The lid of the container will be slidable into the base with an indented handle for sliding in and out of the body. The invention will contain an attachable timer that will slid into frond of container and be locked with a snapable button. The timer may comprise a display screen that shows a digital or non-digital display of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Inventor: Natosha Pyle
  • Patent number: 11458214
    Abstract: A fluid delivery system illustratively includes a spout, at least one valve in fluid communication with the spout, and a disinfectant device, illustratively an antibacterial device, fluidly coupled to the spout. The faucet is configured to selectively flow water through the disinfectant device in response to a user input to the faucet. In another illustrative embodiment, the fluid delivery system includes an outer housing, a plurality of fluid devices supported by the outer housing, and an ozone generator fluidly coupled to the fluid devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Delta Faucet Company
    Inventors: Robert W. Rodenbeck, John Noble, Anthony G. Spangler, Joel D. Sawaski, Jayashanger Goundiah Ramasamy, Patrick B. Jonte, Garry R. Marty
  • Patent number: 10820438
    Abstract: An electronic device and a stopping structure thereof are provided. The electronic device includes a housing, an electronic element, a cover and a buffer. The housing has an opening. The electronic element is disposed corresponding to the opening. An outer frame of the cover is coupled to a peripheral edge of the opening. A hook of the buffer is disposed between the outer frame and the electronic element, and directly contacts with the outer frame. Thus, the above structure may strengthen the structural strength of the electronic device, effectively disperse the pressure applied to the electronic device, and reduce the chance of structural damage due to the deformation caused by the pressure to prolong the service life of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: ABILITY ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jih-Yung Lu, Cheng-Kuang Tseng, Yu-Cheng Huang
  • Patent number: 10684592
    Abstract: A watch type terminal including a main body; an analog watch portion including a plurality of mechanical hands coupled to the main body to indicate the time; a touch screen including a hole region disposed adjacent to the analog watch portion and through which a central shaft supporting the rotation of the plurality of mechanical hands is passed; a user input unit disposed on a side surface of the main body and including a plurality of keys; and a controller configured to display a first screen on the touch screen in which a part of the first screen is obstructed by the hole region, and in response to a predetermined input applied to one of the plurality of keys, move the obstructed part of the first screen away from the hole region and display a region beyond an edge of the first screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Minkyoung Chang, Younghun Joo, Won Ha, Dongcheon Park
  • Patent number: 10553823
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a first display area including a first display unit configured to generate light and a first encapsulation unit disposed on the first display unit; a second display area including a second display unit configured to generate light and a second encapsulation unit disposed on the second display unit; and a through area disposed between the first display area and the second display area. The first encapsulation unit includes a first encapsulation layer covering a first side of an area of the first display unit corresponding to the through area. The second encapsulation unit includes a second encapsulation layer covering a second side of an area of the second display unit corresponding to the through area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kinyeng Kang, Seungwook Chang, Jonghyun Choi
  • Patent number: 10230069
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a display apparatus includes providing a substrate, forming a display unit defining an opening portion in a display region over the substrate, forming a thin film encapsulation layer to seal the display unit, forming a touch electrode over the thin film encapsulation layer, forming a touch insulating film covering the touch electrode such that the thin film encapsulation layer and the touch insulating film are sequentially stacked and formed over the substrate in the opening portion, forming a touch contact hole by removing a portion of the touch insulating film to expose a portion of the touch electrode, and removing a portion of the touch insulating film and a portion of the thin film encapsulation layer formed in the opening portion to expose a portion of the substrate during the forming of the touch contact hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonghyun Choi, Kinyeng Kang, Suyeon Sim
  • Patent number: 10205122
    Abstract: An organic light-emitting display including a substrate, an insulating layer on the substrate, the substrate and the insulating layer having an opening therethrough penetrating, a pixel array on the insulating layer, the pixel array including a plurality of pixels that surround the opening, a first pixel adjacent to the opening from among the plurality of pixels includes a pixel electrode layer, an intermediate layer on the pixel electrode layer, and an opposite electrode layer on the intermediate layer, and a stepped portion on the substrate and adjacent to the opening, the stepped portion having an under-cut step, wherein the intermediate layer including an organic emission layer, and wherein at least one of the intermediate layer and the opposite electrode layer extends toward the opening and is disconnected by the stepped portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonghyun Choi, Kinyeng Kang, Sunkwang Kim, Suyeon Sim
  • Patent number: 9915924
    Abstract: A display assembly including a display including a light source and a semi-transparent element for showing the display only when the display is activated, wherein the semi-transparent element includes a mother-of-pearl dial under which is disposed a semi-reflective element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventor: Michel Sagardoyburu
  • Patent number: 9785123
    Abstract: A wearable device is described herein. The wearable device includes a display. The display can be a digital display with analog components. The wearable device also includes an input device. The input device is to control the digital display and the analog components correspond to the digital display. In some cases, the input device is a bezel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Anna-Marie Mansour, Charles E. Johnson, II, Rowland L. Brown, Aaren B. Esplin, Wendy March, Steven T. Holmes, Saurabh Dadu, Michael R. Bynum, Min Liu
  • Patent number: 9551978
    Abstract: Embodiments of a digital clasp for a watch can include a watch having an analog watch face, a first watch band portion, a second watch band portion and an analog watch face. The digital clasp can include a clasp housing that includes a latch assembly configured for attachment to the first band portion and the second band portion, a digital display, and a circuit board associated with a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Wearatec, LLC
    Inventor: Dilshan Thilina Modaragamage
  • Patent number: 9064411
    Abstract: A traffic light illumination duration indicator that provides a motor vehicle operator with a visual indicator of the current illuminated light time remaining before the light changes. The visual indicator is a digital display for showing the remaining minutes and seconds before the traffic light changes state between green, amber and red. The visual indicator can also be a clock-like face that either turns on or turns off a plurality of LED's in a hand sweep action indicating the time duration before the traffic light changes from one state to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Inventor: Hezekiah Patton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9041632
    Abstract: A device for displaying a text message, comprising a display (10) having a plurality of characters, each of said characters being arranged at a fixed position, not overlapping with any other of said characters, and being adapted to be switched on and off, and a controller being connected to said plurality of characters and being adapted to switch on and off selected characters so that at a given time, a selected sub-group of said characters is switched on, the selected sub-group displaying a text message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Biegert & Funk Product Gmbh & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Funk, Marco Biegert
  • Patent number: 8917580
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods and computer program products for time and time management instruction are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes: a time instruction module; an indicia of time controlled by the time instruction module; and an input/output mechanism configured to provide a display related to time or time management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Golearn Toys, LLC
    Inventor: Jesus Cedeno
  • Patent number: 8902715
    Abstract: An information integration method applied to a touch display device includes the steps of displaying a time indicating unit on the touch display device, obtaining at least one event information, and displaying the event information as at least one information display unit on the touch display device in accordance with time data associated with the event information and in correspondence with the time indicating unit. A touch display device performing the information integration method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Asustek Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Chang-Jhu Tu, Chun-Yi Wang, Jian-Wei Gong
  • Patent number: 8873015
    Abstract: A display device that has a display panel having a front substrate, an image forming unit, and a back substrate rendered together in layers, and a wiring board layered on the back surface of the back substrate. A plurality of input/output pins are formed on the front surface of the back substrate, and a plurality of connection pins that are electrically connected to the input/output pins by respective conductor members are formed on the back surface of the wiring board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeaki Seki, Kenichi Okuhara
  • Patent number: 8817579
    Abstract: An improved electronic device and method provide an improved clock feature that includes an improved world clock function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventors: Sherryl Lee Lorraine Scott, Gerhard Dietrich Klassen
  • Patent number: 8547800
    Abstract: There is provided a clock display device including: a central processing unit; a liquid crystal display section; a clock information generating section; a converting section that converts the clock information into character data for display at the liquid crystal display section; a direct memory access section that fetches the character data for display without going through the central processing unit, and transfers the fetched character data for display without going through the central processing unit; a display register that stores the character data for display; a programmable display allocating section that allocates correspondences between respective bits of the character data for display that is within the display register, and respective display segments of the liquid crystal display section; and a display control section that, on the basis of results of the allocation, visibly displays the clock information at the liquid crystal display section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Lapis Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keisuke Kiyomizu
  • Patent number: 8456960
    Abstract: Hybrid digital-analog time displays are provided to tell time with digital hour and minute values, as well as simultaneous analog tracks that are coordinated in lengths with the minute values. These displays are shown in four successive quadrants and enable users to view current time exactly from the digital values and approximately from the analog tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Equitime, Inc.
    Inventors: Berj A. Terzian, Robert Alfred Brodmann
  • Publication number: 20120147714
    Abstract: A clock configured to display time as a cumulative sum of time display areas of various shapes arranged in various arrangements. The clock is also configured to display complete and fractional hours in any single display area capable of being activated in a random order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventor: Yaron Chaut
  • Patent number: 8164984
    Abstract: A timepiece with LED lights uses a simple light-medium body with a very rough finish to allow light from LED(s) to pass though input-end(s) of the light-medium body and travel within the body and obtain a very even brightness on all surfaces of the light medium that are seen by a viewer. Combined with a milky/frosted front sheet overlay, the light-medium surface can get perfect area illumination effects. The movement for the time display can include analog indicators with a guilt-in light-medium on the top cover to achieve a super slim LED illumination for the time piece. For night light application, the sealed-unit may consist of prong-means and an LED related circuit sealed within a safety standard plastic material and assembled with the night light body to save a lot of cost enable use of all kinds of materials. The invention may also be adapted to an LCD display timepiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventor: Tseng-Lu Chien
  • Patent number: 8149650
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device of the type wherein information is conveyed in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand, wherein the wearable electronic device includes a dial having a dial side and an opposite side, wherein the display hand is positioned on the dial side of the dial, wherein the wearable electronic device comprises among other things, a casing having a frontside and a backside, wherein the dial is viewable from the frontside thereof; and a digital display, operatively coupled to a controller assembly, wherein the digital display displays at least mode specific informational indicia and is viewable only from the backside of the device; at least one actuator, operatively coupled to the controller assembly, for changing the mode specific informational indicia displayed on the digital display; and wherein the controller assembly causes the mode specific informational indicia displayed on the digital display to be thereafter reflected in the information displayed in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventor: Fred. Olsen
  • Patent number: 8111589
    Abstract: Digital wristwatch, digital watch, and digital clock. For example, a digital wristwatch comprises: a clocking module able to track: (a) current real time, and (b) rounded time; and a display unit able to display at least the rounded time. Additionally or alternatively, the digital wristwatch comprises: a clocking module able to determine current real time; a rounding unit able to determine that the real current time is at least two seconds prior to a rounded horological hour, and able to calculate rounded-up horological information; and a display unit able to display the rounded-up horological hour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Inventor: Joel Vidal
  • Publication number: 20110267929
    Abstract: A clock comprising: a housing; a first face located on the housing; a front end, adjacent to the first face; a second face located on the housing and adjacent to the front end; a first time display located on the first face; a second time display located on the second face; a single control unit located in the housing, and in signal communication with the first time display and second time display; an angle ?, defining the angle between the first face and the second face, and where the angle ? is greater than 0° and less than 180°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventor: Chaim Isaac Ishakis
  • Publication number: 20110249532
    Abstract: The Ticker tape watch the present invention has integrated electronic components and an LCD display panel. A standard watch battery can power the watch. The most notable aspect of that ticker tape watch of the present invention is that watch clearly displays time, date and year as a scrolling ticker tape. The watch will have a mini-computer that will be programmable for the operation of the watch besides the time, date and year, the watch will be programmable by USB ports record for advertising, for example; prior to displaying time, the ticker tape will be programmed to read it's Miller time or it's time to have a Coke. Activated by the user, the advertising, the time or date scroll across the front of the watch from right to left, with the watch set to continuously scroll or to scroll on demand. The user can periodically check the time, simply by glancing at their watch and pressing the first push button once to display the time, or twice to Display the date time and year.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventor: Henry Joseph Leason
  • Publication number: 20100296371
    Abstract: In a rotative desk clock having in a main body of it a clock module, a driving module and a control module for sound controlling or touch controlling, wherein the driving module includes a rotary disk exposed downwardly out of the main body, when the control module is touched by a hand or senses the change of sound waves, it activates the driving module to rotate a rotary disk; thereby if the rotary disk is placed on the desk, the main body can rotate relatively to the rotary disk. Thus a dynamically rotating clock is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventor: Tey-Jen Wu
  • Publication number: 20100188939
    Abstract: A multicolored LCD watch/clock, comprising a top shell (1), a bottom shell (2), a drive circuit and a LCD (4) which is located on said top shell (1) and is connected to said drive circuit, characterized in that there is a reflecting module (5) under said LCD (4), wherein multiple reflectors corresponding with said LCD (4) are arranged on said reflecting module (5). The reflectors include illuminable or reflecting polyhedrons made by materials such as diamond, crystal, glass, plastic, metal and their analogs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventor: Chung Wai Tsang
  • Publication number: 20100039904
    Abstract: An elapsed time and remaining time liquid crystal measuring device having a display face around the periphery of which there are a plurality of numerical indicia marks arranged in a generally clockwise pattern with successive numerical indicia marks decreasing in numerical value in a clockwise direction from a twelve o'clock position. An annular ring of electronically generated graphic indicia are visible on the display face and spaced inwardly from the peripheral numerical indicia and a digital numerical read-out display of elapsed times is visible internally of the annular ring of graphic indicia. There is at least one electronic control element for setting a desired elapsed set time into the device, which desired elapsed set time is indicated both on the digital read-out display and as a complete ring or an arcuate section of the annular ring on the display face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventor: Janice L. Rogers
  • Publication number: 20090245031
    Abstract: The invention proposes a liquid crystal (38) display device (12) including a liquid crystal (38) cell (30), a control unit (26), and a backlighting module (48) including at least a first (50) and a second (52) light source of different colours which transmit light rays (Rr, Rb) inside a light guide (54), characterized in that the light guide (54) includes a plurality of prisms (64, 66) which deflect the light rays (Rr, Rb) towards the display face (28), a first series (S1) of prisms (64, 66) being orientated towards the first light source (50) and a second series (S2) of prisms (52) being orientated towards the second light source (52), and in that the prisms (64, 66) are distributed in zones of the light guide (54) which are located underneath the electrodes (40). The invention also proposes a timepiece (10) fitted with this device (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LTD.
    Inventors: Emile Grosjacques, Pascal Winkler
  • Publication number: 20090207701
    Abstract: A display for a watchband includes a housing member having a first shell and a second shell member, each shell having a joining means, when assembled such first and second shell members form a cavity. At least a portion of a top surface of such second shell of such housing member is transparent. A predetermined power source is located at a predetermined location within such cavity. A control unit is located at a predetermined location within such cavity operably connected to such power source and having an integrated circuit with a clock function to output day, date and other information. A display mechanism is located within such cavity operably connected to such power source and such control unit. An input mechanism on such housing member is operably connected to such control unit. A band attaching mechanism attaches such housing member to such watch band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventor: Peter Jacques
  • Publication number: 20090135680
    Abstract: In various implementations, a personal article or a portion thereof may be able to change colors. The personal article may transmit a first range of wavelengths of light and upon activation transmit a second range of wavelengths of light different from the first range of wavelengths of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: Fossil, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Rosales
  • Patent number: 7505370
    Abstract: The invention relates to a clock display and particularly a clock display comprising a combined electronic display unit and mechanical clock hands. The clock hand has a visible state for showing the time and a transparent state used when in it is not desired to obscure the underlying display unit. The clock display may be incorporated in a portable device, such as a mobile telephone or a wrist watch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: {dot over (A)}ke Rydgren
  • Publication number: 20090040879
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner, wherein a controller is operable in a first mode and at least a second mode, the dial assembly is operatively coupled to the controller, and is a liquid crystal display assembly, and preferably a cholesteric liquid crystal display, wherein the dial assembly displays informational indicia corresponding to the mode in which the electronic device is operating, and wherein the informational indicia is changeable based on the mode in which the wearable electronic device is operating; and wherein the positioning of the display hand as it rotates in the one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions in the predefined increments conveys the information by referring to particular informational indicia, and wherein the controller operatively controls the positioning of the hand so that the hand can convey the information in the analog manner for each of the at least two modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Louis M. Galie, Wolfgang Burkhardt, Gerhard Stotz
  • Patent number: 7463557
    Abstract: A display assembly for a wearable electronic device. The display assembly is disposed within a housing of the wearable electronic device. The electronic device is constructed to receive at least a first and second dial assembly each of which is adapted to provide a different display configuration. The display assembly comprises a liquid crystal display assembly comprising at least two display sections, driving means for providing driving signals to the respective display sections; and a controller, operatively coupled to the driving means, for signaling the driving means to provide the driving signals; wherein the display configuration of the wearable electronic device is changeable based on the dial assembly operatively coupled within the housing, wherein the first dial assembly provides for the viewability of at least the first display section and the second dial assembly provides for the viewability of at least the second display section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventors: Louis M. Galie, Wolfgang Burkhardt, Gerhard Stotz, Hans G. Schnell, Roland Burghausen
  • Patent number: 7359290
    Abstract: A power saving method of a chip-on-glass liquid crystal display. The method first (a) wakes up the source drivers of the LCD and (b) transmitting the image data and control signals from the source driver corresponding to the FPC to the farthest waked source drivers, and then switching them to power-saving mode. Steps (b) and (c) are repeated until all the source drivers are switched to power-saving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Himax Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Chien-Ru Chen, Jung-Zone Chen, Ying-Lieh Chen
  • Patent number: 7274625
    Abstract: An oscillator circuit includes (2n+1) inverters connected in series when n is a natural number, an integrator circuit having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of a (2n+1)-th inverter and an output terminal connected to an input terminal of a first inverter, first and second p-type transistors connected in series between the input terminal of the first inverter and a first reference potential, and first and second n-type transistors connected in series between the input terminal of the first inverter and a second reference potential. An output voltage of a j-th inverter is applied to control electrodes of the first p-type transistor and the first n-type transistor. An output voltage of a k-th inverter is applied to control-electrodes of the second p-type transistor and the second n-type transistor. Symbol j is an odd number, k is an even number, and j<k=2n is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Matsumoto, Kozo Yasuda, Hiroshi Kageyama, Hideo Sato, Toshio Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 7271503
    Abstract: A power supply circuit is constructed by a step-up circuit for receiving an input DC voltage to generate a plurality of output DC voltages, and a plurality of voltage regulators, each powered by two voltages selected from a combination of the output DC voltages and the ground voltage. The difference between the two voltages of each of the voltage regulators are substantially the same, to stably operate the voltage regulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignees: NEC Corporation, NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Nonaka
  • Patent number: 7136138
    Abstract: A timepiece provided with a liquid crystal display panel (9) for displaying thereon at least one of time information (5) and calendar information (4), wherein a solar battery unit (12) is provided to face at least a part of a visual recognition side surface of the liquid crystal display panel (9) or an opposite-side (lower-side) surface thereof, the light being applied to a power generation portion of the solar battery unit (12) through a transmission portion of the liquid crystal display panel (9) to generate electric power or what is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel (9) being visually recognized through a transmission portion of the solar battery unit (12), a timepiece circuit and the liquid crystal display panel (9) being driven by utilizing the electric power generated by the solar battery unit (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kanetaka Sekiguchi, Katsumi Aota, Kozo Miyoshi, Yuichi Akiba
  • Patent number: 7091964
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a bezel feature, a connector and a processor. The bezel feature is provided on the front panel and interfaces with the processor. The bezel feature includes a circumferential track provided on the front panel and is formed by a contact-sensitive material that provides a surface capable of detecting contact from a user at multiple positions on the track. The contact indicates an input based on both a starting position and a finishing position of the contact on the track. The processor is configured to calculate the input based on the starting position and the finishing position and to perform an operation corresponding to a selection of an application based on the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoon Kean Wong, William Robert Hanson, Shawn R. Gettemy
  • Patent number: 7068569
    Abstract: The invention is an informational clock, wherein the clock displays information correlating to time displayed on the clock. Information is also varied by a randomizer, wherein a specific entry of information in a database, within an array selected to correlate with the time, is determined at random. Database information can be downloaded and be thematically-based.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Inventor: John Dutkiewicz
  • Patent number: 7061832
    Abstract: A baby bottle timer includes a timer configured to have a maximum two-hour time period and an adjustable band attached to the timer and configured to removably attach the baby bottle timer to a baby bottle. The timer has a switch mechanism and a display with changeable indicia displaying an initial indicia at the beginning of the time period and a different indicia at the end of the time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Inventor: Robert F. Lansing
  • Patent number: 7042809
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and an electronic device for recognizing characters traced manually on an input zone (10) comprising a plurality of sensors (15) each capable of being activated by a finger or a tracing instrument (13). The method consists in comparing the manual trace of a character (100) produced on the input zone with a group of characters of a predetermined set of characters. The invention is characterised in that each character of the set of characters is represented by at least one predetermined model representative of a way in which the character can be traced, and in that a model representative of the way in which the manual trace of the character (100) has been performed on the input zone is elaborated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Mignot
  • Patent number: 7042805
    Abstract: A contact lens reminder clock for use with a contact lens tray to remind wearers of disposable contact lenses of the exact day since the lenses were first used. The reminder clock includes dual digital display showing days (and/or hours) since the clock was reset and may be permanently or temporarily mounted to the contact lens tray housing the contact lenses. On the specific day that a wearer installs the contact lenses for the first time, the wearer would depress the reset button for each display which begins the continuous time display digitally in days (and hours if desired) for each lens from the initiation date so that the wearer is able to determine at any time how many days each lens has been used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Inventor: Brandon E. Kallman
  • Patent number: 6967903
    Abstract: The control method allows execution of various functions in an electronic diary watch, which includes, in a case closed by a crystal, a time-keeping circuit and/or a watch movement powered by an energy source, and a dial on which the time is displayed in a digital and/or analogue manner. A determined number of sensors (C1 to C7) are provided with touch sensitive pads arranged on an inner or outer face of the crystal. These sensors are provided for carrying out the various controls of the method when they are individually activated by a user's finger. In order to consult data or parameters, the method includes a first series of steps consisting in displaying different menus (102 to 106) of the diary function on at least one liquid crystal display by activating at least one sensor (C4, C5) of a group of sensors (C4 to C7), and in selecting the menu or record to be consulted (107 to 111) by activating a validation sensor (C1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Charles Guanter
  • Patent number: 6965543
    Abstract: A radio controllable clock includes an analog display having a plurality of clock hands each fastened to a uniquely associated one of a plurality of clock hand shafts that each rotate about a common axis. The clock also includes a plurality of rotary gears each uniquely associated with one of the clock hand shafts, for rotating the clock hand shafts. Each rotary gear has a face perpendicular to the common axis, wherein each of the rotary gears includes a protrusion extending substantially perpendicular from the face. A microcontroller provides a plurality of drive command signals and the rotary gears are driven responsive to the drive command signals. A reset claw is operably positioned to engage at least one of the protrusions to stop the rotation of the clock hand shaft associated with the protrusion in order to position the clock hand associated with the protrusion at a datum position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Kienzle Time (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Wai Ki Shum, Wan Sang Chan
  • Patent number: 6903784
    Abstract: A second device (24) is mounted on a first device (22) formed of a liquid crystal (27) display cell (26) at the front of which is arranged a first linear polarizer (40), of a liquid crystal (29) optical valve (28) at the back of which is arranged a second polarizer (44) and means (23) for controlling the valve (28) and the cell (26) from a switched state to a non switched state. When the cell (26) is switched to display a data item, by associating a first light or dark device (22) with a second absorbent or reflective polarizer (44), an inversion of the contrast in said data is obtained by switching the valve (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventor: Naci Basturk