Patents Assigned to Sharp
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Patent number: 7417630Abstract: A color data signal (DATA) and the control signal (CTL) are supplied from a central processor to a display controller, and an address conversion parameter included in the control signal (CTL) is stored in a control register 5. In accordance with the address conversion parameter, display address generating means 6 performs address conversion to generate a display address, and in accordance with the display address, the color data signal (DATA) is stored in a primary storage means 7. Thereafter, an image signal is outputted via image signal outputting means 8 to a display panel. This makes it possible to provide the display controller which can reduce a mounting area and power consumption and reduce the load of a processing on the central processor which performs a processing for editing image data.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2002Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kippei Kojima, Hironori Nakatani, Yasuyuki Watanabe, Akira Sakamoto
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Patent number: 7418214Abstract: A state detection mechanism includes a movable member, a spring member, a fringesection, and a stopper member. The spring member displaces the movable member arranged at the first predetermined position to a second predetermined position by applying restoration force in a D direction to the movable member. The fringe section restricts the displacement by abutting to a protrusion member formed on the movable member arranged at the first predetermined position. The stopper member restricts rotation of the movable member, which rotates around an axis that extends in a D direction, by abutting to the protrusion member formed on the movable member arranged at the first predetermined position. When torque is transmitted to the movable member from a shaft, the movable member rotates wound an axis that extends in the D direction, and the protrusion member and the stopper member abut to each other.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2006Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Wataru Yoshida, Keiji Kato, Fumito Mizoguchi, Atsushi Inoue
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Patent number: 7417772Abstract: A vector error diffusion (VED) method employable in cycles with respect to a hi-tonal color printing engine which prints bi-tonal color images in a device output color space. The method generally includes (a) acquiring input color-image data which is characterized with an input color space, (b) processing, with available pre-established VED accumulated error data, such input data to produce a VED-processed input color-image data stream, (c) from such VED-processed input color-image data stream, creating, without employing interpolation, a VED-processed output color-image data stream which is characterized by the mentioned device output color space, and which is suitable for delivery to and use by the mentioned printing engine, and (d) changing, as appropriate for the next cycle, the VED accumulated error data which will be employed in that next cycle as pre-established VED accumulated error data.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2004Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.Inventor: Ching-Wei Chang
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Patent number: 7417771Abstract: Artifacts of error diffusion halftoning are reduced by selecting a halftone threshold for a current pixel on the basis of an accumulated halftone error for the pixel and its neighbors.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2001Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.Inventor: Ching-Wei Chang
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Patent number: 7418220Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a sheet transport path, a first unit, and a second unit. The sheet transport path guides a sheet from a sheet feeding section, through an image recording section, to a sheet output section. The sheet transport path includes a first path and a second path. The first unit is mounted detachably in a housing. The first unit is detached from the housing by being moved in a first direction toward the front of the housing. In the first unit, the first path is positioned. The second unit is mounted detachably in the first unit. The second unit is detached from the first unit by being moved in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction with the first unit detached from the housing. In the second unit, the second path is positioned.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2006Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshinori Shiraishi, Masato Tamehira, Junya Masuda
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Patent number: 7416752Abstract: A method is provided for fortifying a seed, grain, nut, bean, or the like with an essential fatty acid such as docosahexaenoic acid or eicosapentaenoic acid. Using the method, it is possible to produce seeds that can be used as a dietary source of that essential fatty acid. A seed that has been soaked in an aqueous mixture containing an essential fatty acid so as to become fortified with the fatty acid, and a food product formed using the seed are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2004Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Sharp Ingrained Functional Foods, Inc.Inventors: Bruce J. Holub, Arun Nagpurkar
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Patent number: 7417716Abstract: A multiple ranging apparatus has a light emitting section constituted by a plurality of aligned LEDs which emit light rays of wavelengths different from one another, and a light receiving section constituted by a plurality of aligned PSD parts which have wavelength sensitivities corresponding to the different wavelengths of the light rays emitted from the LEDs. Thus, even when ranging of respective points is simultaneously measured in multiple ranging measurement, it is possible to identify which LED the light is emitted from, and therefore, to simultaneously measure the distances of two or more points.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2005Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kohji Nagasaka, Seiichi Narasako
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Patent number: 7417718Abstract: In an optical distance measuring apparatus, a transmitter has a light-emitting device emitting an optical signal synchronized with a modulating signal having a predetermined repetition frequency, and a modulating signal generator outputting the modulating signal to the light-emitting device. A receiver has a photodetector receiving an optical beam reflected by an object to be measured and converting it to an electrical signal, a switch receiving the signal from the modulating signal generator and alternately choosing two channels for the electrical signal with a predetermined timing, and first and second storage sections storing electrical signals on the two channels. A signal processing section has a differential operation section performing a differential operation on electrical signals stored in the first and second storage sections, and a distance determining section determining a distance to the object on the basis of the result of the differential operation of the differential operation section.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2006Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideo Wada, Nobuhisa Watanabe, Takayuki Taminaga
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Patent number: 7417760Abstract: A main controlling portion controls each portion of a facsimile system, and when a communication controlling portion receives facsimile communication information from a sender indicated by predetermined sender information stored in a storing portion, causes a LAN controlling portion to notify a notify party indicated by notify party information associated with the received sender information of notification information only when determining that a predetermined notification condition is satisfied. It is possible to notify of the notification information only when the predetermined notification condition desired by a user is satisfied, and it is possible to increase convenience. Moreover, consequently, the facsimile system does not execute an operation process of notifying of the notification information when the predetermined condition is not satisfied, so that it is possible to prevent a wasteful operation process.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2005Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazumasa Tonami, Satoshi Murakami
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Patent number: 7417739Abstract: The present invention realizes a specular gloss simulation device which can accurately simulate specular glossiness of an image even if the image has a low density and low glossiness by measuring, in a given geometry, luminance of a sample having a base material and a colorant material layer formed on the base material and then simulating a specular reflection light amount in an other geometry from the measured luminance. A specular gloss simulation device is provided with a lower layer reflection light component calculating section for calculating a lower layer reflection light component, an internal reflection light component creating section for creating an internal reflection light component, a surface reflection light component creating section for creating a surface reflection light component, and a specular reflection light amount calculating section for obtaining a specular reflection light amount of the sample by adding up the components thus created by each section.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2005Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Doshoda, Yoichi Miyake
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Patent number: 7416824Abstract: According to the present invention, an enamine compound having a specific structure is used as an organic photoconductive material. This enamine compound is obtained based on asymmetrical secondary naphtylamine which is readily available at a lowest price, by introducing phenyl groups containing substituents, as constituents units of the enamine part and presents excellent compatibility with binder resins, will not present detrimental effects such as partial crystallization at film forming and have a high charge mobility. The compound is able to realize highly reliable electrophotographic photoreceptor and an image forming apparatus which present a high electrostatic potential, high sensitivity and high enough light response and are excellent in durability and will not degrade in these characteristics under a low-temperature environment or in a high-speed process and will not lower in these characteristics even due to exposure to light.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2004Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akihiro Kondoh, Takatsugu Obata, Kazuya Ishida
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Patent number: 7418226Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus utilizing a concurrently transferring and fixing method which improves a transfer efficiency of a toner image from an intermediate transfer member to a transferring and fixing member, allows a stable forming of a high-definition image in a high-speed image forming, and ensures further reduction of power consumption, and prevention of heat deterioration of a photoreceptor, with no upsizing of the apparatus. In an image forming apparatus comprising a toner image baring section, a first intermediate transfer section, a transferring and fixing section, and an electrical field section, a second intermediate transfer section is disposed between the first intermediate transfer section and the transferring and fixing section.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2007Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroyuki Yamaji, Hiroshi Doshoda, Yukikazu Kamei
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Patent number: 7417258Abstract: A method of manufacturing a nitride semiconductor device comprises the steps of: growing an InxGa1-xN (0?x?1) layer, and growing an aluminium-containing nitride semiconductor layer over the InxGa1-xN layer at a growth temperature of at least 500° C. so as to form an electron gas region at an interface between the InxGa1-xN layer and the nitride semiconductor layer. The nitride semiconductor layer is then annealed at a temperature of at least 800° C. The method of the invention can provide an electron gas having a sheet carrier density of 6×1013cm?2 or greater. An electron gas with such a high sheet carrier concentration can be obtained with an aluminium-containing nitride semiconductor layer having a relatively low aluminium concentration, such as an aluminium mole fraction of 0.3 or below, and without the need to dope the aluminium-containing nitride semiconductor layer or the InxGa1-xN layer.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2006Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Stewart Edward Hooper, Valerie Bousquet, Jonathan Heffernan
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Patent number: 7418542Abstract: A rewritable, nonvolatile memory includes a first region having stored therein a processing program which allows an electronic device to perform a process, and having a first specific portion which is accessed first upon boot-up by the electronic device; and a second region having stored therein a boot program and a rewrite program. Upon erasing storage contents of the first region, the storage contents of the first region are erased by the rewrite program such that a storage content of the first specific portion is erased last. Upon writing storage contents into the first region, new storage contents are written into the first region by the rewrite program such that a storage content of the first specific portion is written first.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2005Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsushi Ogo, Shuhji Fujii
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Publication number: 20080199226Abstract: A toner bottle stores toner in a cylindrical section having an inner circumferential surface provided with a plurality of protruding portions raised inward the cylindrical section. When the cylindrical section is driven to rotate on its central axis, the toner is discharged from the cylindrical section via an outlet. When cross-sections perpendicular to the central axis of the cylindrical section are projected from a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical section, the cylindrical section has an inner circumference provided with one or more regions where the protruding portions are not projected. This prevents the toner from making contact with the protruding portions. Therefore, the toner can be conveyed while suppressing the generation of frictional heat by reducing the resistance between the toner and the protruding portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2008Publication date: August 21, 2008Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koichi Mihara, Toshihide Ohgoshi, Hiroshi Kubota, Hideaki Kurimoto, Masatoshi Kaneshige
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Publication number: 20080199052Abstract: When an information medium is copied, information is printed while preventing personal information from leaking. An image scanning section 2 scans the information medium and inputs the image. An identification section 64 calculates the size of the information medium from the inputted image and identifies the type of the information medium. The position of the unique image indicating personal information is fixed according to the information medium. An area determination section 63 identifies the unique image in the information medium and determines the position of the specific area in which the unique image exists in the inputted image. A control section 7 performs image processing for masking the specific area. An image forming section 3 prints the image in a state in which the unique image is hidden.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2008Publication date: August 21, 2008Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuji Okamoto, Naofumi Ueda
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Publication number: 20080198049Abstract: An A/D converter compares one or more analog voltages to be converted with a reference voltage given by a voltage change value of ramp voltage whose voltage value changes monotonically for a certain period or a voltage proportional to the voltage change value, converts each analog voltage to a digital value corresponding to the reference voltage, and outputs it, the A/D converter comprising an arithmetic unit for comparison between the analog voltage and reference voltage with respect to each analog voltage, the arithmetic unit having a first power supply line for receiving a power supply voltage, wherein the first power supply line is provided as another power supply line not affected by voltage fluctuation of a second power supply line for supplying a system power supply voltage by providing a MOS transistor whose gate terminal is connected to a stabilized voltage source between the first and second power supply lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2008Publication date: August 21, 2008Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Masahiko Maruyama
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Publication number: 20080199001Abstract: A method and network device increases the power of the signal transmitted by the device on a wired communications network, such as a powerline communications (PLC) network, without exceeding the maximum allowable common-mode (CM) current specified by regulatory bodies. The device is first tested for regulatory body compliance on a standard network. The output voltage of the device is adjusted until the maximum allowable CM current is detected, and this voltage level and CM current are recorded and stored in non-volatile memory of the device. The device is then connected to the actual network and the output voltage set to the previously recorded value. At this voltage level, the CM current in the actual network is measured and recorded.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2007Publication date: August 21, 2008Applicant: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.Inventor: Song-Lin Young
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Publication number: 20080198090Abstract: An antenna of the present invention includes a coaxial cable, antenna elements (3a and 3b), and an unbalanced/balanced converter. The unbalanced/balanced converter has a high-pass circuit provided between an input terminal port1 and an output terminal port2 and a low-pass circuit provided between the input terminal port1 and an output terminal port3. Moreover, the high-pass circuit rejects frequencies within a VHF band, and the high-pass circuit and the low-pass circuit both pass frequencies within a UHF band. In response to a signal, inputted to the input terminal port1, which falls within the UHF band, the high-pass circuit and the low-pass circuit output signals that are inverted in phase and equal in amplitude with respect to each other. Therefore, the antenna has high transmission and reception sensitivity in a wide frequency range, i.e., in the VHF and UHF bands. This makes it possible to provide an antenna having high transmission and reception sensitivity in a wide frequency range.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2008Publication date: August 21, 2008Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Motofumi YAMAGUCHI, Eiji Suematsu, Haruo Suzuki
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Patent number: D575791Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2007Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Makoto Takimoto