Patents Assigned to Sharp
  • Apparatus for crystallizing semiconductor with laser beams
    Patent number: 7660042
    Abstract: Laser beams emitted by a plurality of laser sources are divided into a plurality of sub-beams, which are irradiated onto selected portions of an amorphous semiconductor on a substrate to crystallize the amorphous semiconductor. A difference in diverging angles between the laser beams is corrected by a beam expander. The apparatus includes a sub-beam selective irradiating system including a sub-beam dividing assembly and a sub-beam focussing assembly. Also, the apparatus includes laser sources, a focussing optical system, and a combining optical system. A stage for supporting a substrate includes a plurality of first stage members, a second stage member disposed above the first stage members, and a third stage member 38C, rotatably disposed above the second stage to support an amorphous semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan Laser Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuo Sasaki, Koichi Ohki
  • Gradation display reference voltage generating circuit and liquid crystal driving device
    Patent number: 7659875
    Abstract: In a gradation display reference voltage generating circuit, first reference voltages (VH0 to VH63) produced by resistors for positive polarity (RH0 to RH64) of a first ladder circuit in a first reference voltage producing section (LDH) are output from reference voltage output terminals (T0 to T63), respectively, at the positive polarity drive, while second reference voltages (VL0 to VL63) produced by resistors for negative polarity (RL0 to RL64) of a second ladder circuit in a second reference voltage producing section (LDL) are output from the reference voltage outputs (T0 to T63), respectively, at the negative polarity drive. A resistance ratio of the resistors for positive polarity (RH0 to RH64) is different from a resistance ratio of the resistors for negative polarity (RL0 to RL64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eisaku Miyazaki
  • Backlight device and display device comprising backlight device
    Patent number: 7658504
    Abstract: In a backlight device according to the present invention including a light emitting diode substrate, which has a light emitting diode and is placed on the back side of a panel module having an image display surface on the front side, and a reflection sheet for reflecting light emitted by the light emitting diode to the panel module, the reflection sheet is placed on the front side of the light emitting diode substrate, and the reflection sheet is provided with a through-hole into which the light emitting diode is inserted, so as to reduce brightness unevenness and color unevenness on the image display surface resulting from the light emitting diode substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Moriyasu, Toru Namiki
  • Smoke sensor and electronic equipment
    Patent number: 7659986
    Abstract: In a smoke sensor, a first light-receiving element which receives light from a light-emitting element and is disposed in a position where the quantity of received light changes according to a density of smoke and a second light-receiving element which monitors the quantity of light of the light-emitting element are arranged symmetrically with respect to the light-emitting element. Furthermore, a signal from the first light-receiving element and a signal from the second light-receiving element are amplified by an identical amplifier circuit. In a microcomputer, the density of smoke is computed based on a difference between an output obtained by amplifying an output of the first light-receiving element with the amplifier circuit and an output obtained by amplifying an output of the second light-receiving element with the amplifier circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Fenwal Controls of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kohichiroh Sugimoto
  • Image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 7660544
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, in an image forming apparatus that reverses the front and back of recording paper by performing switchback transport of the recording paper to perform duplex printing of the recording paper, the image forming apparatus is provided with a control means that, when performing duplex printing of the recording paper, forms a void area at a leading end and a trailing end of the recording paper, the void area preventing curling of the recording paper around a roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Fujita, Tadasu Taniguchi, Norichika Katsura, Yasunobu Ohkawa, Yasuhiro Takai
  • Lens-shutter coupling unit
    Patent number: 7658559
    Abstract: A lens-shutter coupling unit having a coupling structure of a lens shutter and a shutter unit capable of miniaturization and high-precision arrangement of a lens group, is provided. A shutter driving part for moving shutter blades and a filter driving part for moving an ND filter are disposed near an outer periphery of a protruding part of a lens group that protrudes from a barrel. The shutter driving part and the filter driving part can be disposed in a position (inner periphery) near an optical axis of the lens group. The center of rotation of the shutter blades and the ND filter can also be disposed near the optical axis of the lens group, and the shutter blades and the ND filter can be reduced in size. As a result, since the space at the time of retreat can be reduced, the shutter unit can be reduced in size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Fujita
  • Pyrazole carboxamides as inhibitors of 11-?-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1
    Patent number: 7659408
    Abstract: Pyrazole carboxamides of structural formula I are selective inhibitors of the 11?-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1. The compounds are useful for the treatment of diabetes, such as noninsulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM), hyperglycemia, obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, Metabolic Syndrome, and other symptoms associated with NIDDM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Merck Sharp & Dhome Corp.
    Inventors: Ying-Duo Gao, Xin Gu, Nancy J. Kevin, Sherman T. Waddell
  • CGRP receptor antagonists
    Patent number: 7659264
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: Formula I: I and Formula II: (where variables R1, R2, R3, R4, A, B, J, Q, T, V, W, X and Y are as defined herein) useful as antagonists of CGRP receptors and useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which the CGRP is involved, such as headache, migraine and cluster headache. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which CGRP is involved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Burgey, James Z. Deng, Craig Potteiger, Theresa M. Williams
  • Image forming apparatus having unit housing permitting mechanism
    Patent number: 7658563
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an apparatus body; a first unit which can be pulled/pushed from/to the body along a first direction and which includes at least a part of an image forming section for forming an image and/or of a sheet transporting section for transporting a sheet onto which the formed image is transferred, and; a second unit which can be pulled/pushed from/to the first unit along a second direction in a state where the first unit is pulled from the body, the second direction being different from the first direction; and a housing permitting mechanism for permitting the first unit to be pushed into the body by a predetermined operation, the housing permitting mechanism being provided for at least one of the body and the first unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Tamehira, Yoshinori Shiraishi, Junya Masuda
  • Charging device
    Patent number: 7660547
    Abstract: A charging device includes a long electrode, a cleaning member, a timing device, a drive source, a load measuring device, and a control device. The drive source moves the cleaning member in the outward direction for a first time period after the outward passage time and then reverses the cleaning member in the homeward position. The load measuring device measures driving load imposed on the drive source while the cleaning member is being moved. The control device controls motion of the drive source to turn the cleaning member from the outward direction to the homeward direction at a predetermined objective point near the second end, based on sum of driving loads imposed on the drive source while the cleaning member is being moved from the first point to a second point located along the outward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiki Takiguchi, Masato Kuze, Yuji Kumagai, Hirokazu Yamauchi, Hiroyuki Murai
  • Offset adjustment device, semiconductor device, display device, offset adjustment method, noise detection device, and noise detection method
    Patent number: 7659777
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an operational amplifier circuit, a switching element is closed and a switching element is opened. A latch circuit DL latches an output voltage of an operational amplifier and supplies a Q output corresponding to the output voltage. A control circuit supplies an offset adjustment signal to an offset adjustment input terminal OR of the operational amplifier, thereby adjusting an offset of the output voltage. The latch circuit DL latches again the output voltage thus adjusted and minutely adjusts the offset adjustment signal so as to adjust the remaining offset. Weighting is carried out in accordance with how many times latching has been carried out, and the offset of the output voltage of the operational amplifier is quantized, thereby obtaining a binary logical signal and storing the signal in the control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Fujino, Tetsuya Minamiguchi, Michihiro Nakahara, Takahiro Nakai, Tomoaki Nakao
  • Lamp holding tool, lighting device for display device using the same, display device using the same and liquid crystal display device using lighting device for display device
    Patent number: 7658534
    Abstract: A lamp holding apparatus for mounting a lamp to a base member includes a mounting plate having a pair of locking portions protruding to a base side. The locking portion is inserted into a mounting hole provided at the base and capable of being locked to a peripheral edge on its back side. Abutting portions, which protrude to the base side and are capable of abutting the base at the time of mounting, are provided on a bottom surface of the mounting plate that is an opposing surface to the base. The abutting portions are provided at three spots with one of the locking portions interposed therebetween. At the time of mounting, each of the abutting portions abut the base, and the mounting plate is elastically deformed so as to be warped, whereby the locking surface of the locking portion is kept in the state in which it is locked to a peripheral edge of a back side of the mounting hole by its elastic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Azuma, Tatsuya Kudari, Yoshiki Takata
  • Image processing method, image processing system, and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 7660003
    Abstract: An image processing system according to the invention comprises a valuable information processing apparatus which manages valuable information equivalent to money, and an image forming apparatus which is connected to the valuable information processing apparatus and forms an image according to the valuable information. The image forming apparatus stores read or input image data into image data memory means. Then, image data stored in the image data memory means is invalidated when the valuable information to be managed by the valuable information processing apparatus fulfills a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nakai, Kohji Katamoto, Tamotsu Fukushima, Masao Saeda
  • Method for manufacturing toner and toner
    Patent number: 7659045
    Abstract: Resin particles containing at least binding resin and wax particles having a diameter of 30 to 600 nm are coagulated, and a resulting coagulated product is heated. Such wax particles are manufactured, for example, by way of a coarse particle preparing step, a slurry preparing step, a pulverizing step, a cooling step, and a depressurizing step. Slurry of wax coarse particles obtained by way of the coarse particle preparing step and the slurry preparing step is directed under heat and pressure through a pressure-resistant nozzle whereby the wax coarse particles are pulverized into the wax particles at the pulverizing step. The cooling step and the depressurizing step are disposed just after the pulverizing step to prevent the wax particles from coarsening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Shibai, Satoru Ariyoshi, Katsuru Matsumoto
  • Active silicon device on a cleaved silicon-on-insulator substrate
    Patent number: 7659582
    Abstract: A system and method for hydrogen (H) exfoliation are provided for attaching silicon-on-insulator (SOI) fabricated circuits to carrier substrates. The method comprises: providing a SOI substrate, including a silicon (Si) active layer and buried oxide (BOX) layer overlying a Si substrate; forming a circuit in the Si active layer; forming a blocking mask over selected circuit areas; implanting H in the Si substrate; annealing; removing the blocking mask; in response to the H implanting, forming a cleaving plane in the Si substrate; bonding the circuit the top oxide layer to the carrier substrate; and, cleaving the Si substrate. More specifically, the cleaving plane is formed along a horizontal peak concentration (Rp) H layer in the Si substrate and along the buried oxide layer interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Droes, Masao Moriguchi, Yutaka Takafuji
  • Silicon plate, producing method thereof, and solar cell
    Patent number: 7659542
    Abstract: A polycrystalline silicon plate has grain boundary lines on a surface thereof, and at least one of the grain boundary lines is a quasi-linear grain boundary line (1). The silicon plate is used to produce a solar cell. The silicon plate is formed using a base substrate having an irregular surface provided with dotted or linear protrusions, which makes it possible to control the grain boundary lines. As such, an inexpensive and high-quality silicon plate can be provided. Further, by employing this silicon plate to produce a solar cell, an inexpensive and high-quality solar cell can be provided as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Tsukuda
  • Monocyclic anilide spirolactam CGRP receptor antagonists
    Patent number: 7659300
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: I (where A1, A2, B, J, K, m, n, R4, R5a, R5b and R5c are as defined herein) useful as antagonists of CGRP receptors and useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which the CGRP is involved, such as headache, migraine and cluster headache. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which CGRP is involved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
    Inventors: Ian M. Bell, Craig A. Stump
  • Inverter with four-transistor Schmitt trigger
    Patent number: 7659586
    Abstract: A four-transistor Schmitt trigger inverter is provided. The Schmitt trigger inverter is made from an n-channel MOS (NMOS) dual-gate thin-film transistor (DG-TFT) and a p-channel MOS (PMOS) DG-TFT, both DG-TFTs having a top gate, a back gate, and source/drain regions. A (conventional) NMOS TFT has a gate connected to an NMOS DG-TFT first S/D region and a PMOS DG-TFT first S/D region. The NMOS TFT also has a first S/D region connected to the NMOS DG-TFT back gate and the PMOS DG-TFT back gate. A (conventional) PMOS TFT has a gate connected to the NMOS TFT gate, and a first S/D region connected to the NMOS TFT first S/D region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Themistokles Afentakis, Apostolos T. Voutsas, Paul J. Schuele
  • Image forming apparatus, program, and preview display method
    Publication number: 20100027056
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus that enables to confirm a finish state in a preview reliably so that unnecessary image formation processing due to setting errors by a user is able to be prevented and that processing load for performing a preview display at high speed is reduced. On a preview screen before performing image formation, a preview image showing the entire page of image data is displayed. When a information about finishing such as forming a punch hole, staple, and a paper fold are set to recording paper on which the image data is printed, these as information about finishing are displayed out of a recording paper area of the preview image. In addition, for example, an arrow indicating a position of the actual punch hole to the recording paper is also displayed as a part of the information about finishing together with the punch hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kumiko Ogino, Takaya Nakatani
  • IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, PROGRAM, RECORDING MEDIUM, AND PREVIEW DISPLAY METHOD
    Publication number: 20100027060
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that makes it possible to visually identify whether or not additional information is added to image data to be output in a screen in which a preview is displayed easily. The image forming apparatus is provided with an image display portion such as a touch panel for displaying a preview of image data and is capable of outputting such as printing the image data with additional information added thereto. When image data to be output is output with additional information added thereto, a digital multi-functional peripheral synthesizes an existence image showing an existence of the additional information, instead of the additional information, with a preview image to display on the image display portion in displaying the preview image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kumiko OGINO, Takaya NAKATANI