Patents Assigned to Sony
  • Patent number: 7786664
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a plane display device in which a cathode panel having a plurality of electron emitting areas provided therein, and an anode panel having phosphor layers and an anode electrode provided therein are joined to each other in their peripheral portions, and a space defined between the cathode panel and the anode panel is kept at a vacuum, the plane display device, including: an exhaust tube made of a conductive material, the exhaust tube having one end portion communicating with the space, and the other end portion located outside the plane display device; and an elastic member made of a conductive material; in which the exhaust tube and the anode electrode are electrically connected to each other through the elastic member disposed in the space; and a predetermined voltage is applied to the anode electrode through the exhaust tube and the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7787038
    Abstract: A CMOS image sensor is disclosed which can achieve reduction of the voltage used to read out signal charge and can achieve expansion of the dynamic range. A P-well region is formed on a semiconductor substrate, and an embedded photodiode, a transfer transistor, an amplification transistor, a selection transistor, a reset transistor, a floating diffusion and so forth are provided in the P-well region. Signal charge of the photodiode is transferred to the floating diffusion by operation of the transfer transistor. A substrate bias voltage in the form of a negative voltage is applied to the P-well region in synchronism with the charge transfer operation of the transfer transistor to control the potential balance between the photodiode and the transfer gate portion to reduce the voltage for charge transfer. Further, during charge storage of the photodiode, the substrate bias voltage is varied to modify the angle of the sensitivity curve to achieve expansion of the dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Keiji Mabuchi
  • Patent number: 7786993
    Abstract: A system and method for environment mapping determines a computer-generated object's reflective appearance, based upon position and orientation of a camera with respect to the object's location. An embodiment of the present invention is implemented as a real-time environment mapping for polygon rendering, however, the scope of the invention covers other rendering schemes. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a vector processing unit (VPU) uses a modified reflection formula—r=e?(e·(n+eo))(n+eo)/(1?nz)=e?(e·[nx, ny, nz?1])[nx, ny, nz?1]/(1?nz), wherein eo=[0,0,?1], and nx, ny, and nz are the components of the surface normal vector n—to compute reflective properties of an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC
    Inventors: Mark Evan Cerny, Pal-Kristian Engstad
  • Patent number: 7787751
    Abstract: In an information processor having a function to check out a content to a portable device such as a portable disc player, a content is recorded to a content data base under the control of a content management program, and it is set under the control of a display/operation instruction program whether the recorded content has to be checked out to the portable device. If a content is recorded in case it has been set that the content has to be checked out, the content having been recorded in the content data base is checked out to the portable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuyuki Hatanaka, Toshihiro Morita, Kiyonobu Kojima, Shin Shiroma
  • Patent number: 7788727
    Abstract: Prior to using a HDCP KSV for HDMI-based encryption authentication, the KSV from the source is examined to determine whether it is in a list of KSVs that have been pre-approved by the sink vendor, to further restrict access to the interface of the sink to only those HDCP-compliant sources that have been approved by the sink vendor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Shintani
  • Patent number: 7786954
    Abstract: A head-mount type display device has a first display unit for left eye, a second display unit for right eye, a guide that guides the first and second display units to slide them in a longitudinal way, and an adjustment mechanism that adjust a distance between the first and second display units. The adjustment mechanism includes a revolving member having a shaft, a left-side arm having a first end that rotatively connects the first display unit and a second end that rotatively connects the revolving member, and a right-side arm having a third end that rotatively connects the second display unit and a fourth end that rotatively connects the revolving member. When the revolving member revolves around the shaft, the first and second display units slide by a same distance from the shaft in the longitudinal way along the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Mizuuchi, Kensaku Abe
  • Patent number: 7787920
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable communication device arrangement comprising a main unit and an auxiliary unit. The main unit includes an electrical interface to an auxiliary unit, a ground plane dimensioned for antenna operation at a multiple of a quarter of a wavelength of a desired frequency, and a radio communication unit connected to the ground plane and to the electrical interface. The auxiliary unit comprises at least one electrical conductor to be connected to the electrical interface and including a first radio frequency trap, where the distance between the first radio frequency trap and an end of the conductor that is to be connected to the electrical interface corresponds to an odd multiple of a quarter of a wavelength of the desired frequency. The invention provides a good antenna through reuse of elements already provided in relation to a portable communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Hans Peter Körner
  • Patent number: 7788697
    Abstract: A digital broadcast receiver apparatus includes: a detection section that detects a receivable digital broadcast wave; a list production section that produces a list by associating pieces of provider information of a plurality of broadcast programs superposed on the digital broadcast wave with identifiers uniquely assigned to the broadcast programs and then sorting the pieces of provider information associated with the identifiers in predetermined order; an addition section that adds, if the identifiers of a currently-produced current list are the same as the identifiers of a previous list that was produced immediately before the current list, detailed information about the pieces of provider information to sub items associated with the identifiers; and a display control section that displays, based on the identifiers, the pieces of provider information of the list and contents of the sub items corresponding to the identifiers on a display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yuji Sakai
  • Patent number: 7787662
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes acquiring means for acquiring setting information arbitrarily set by a user and stored in another apparatus, display controlling means for controlling display of the acquired setting information on a screen, authenticating means for, when the setting information displayed on the screen is indicated to be valid by an operation performed by the user, authenticating whether or not the user is valid, and processing means for, when the user has been authenticated to be valid, executing predetermined processing operated by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tadashi Morita
  • Patent number: 7787473
    Abstract: A transcoder is provided for converting copyright information. The transcoder includes a separator configured to extract a video transport stream packet including a first video stream having copyright information, a non-video transport stream packet, and timing information from a first transport stream. A memory stores the timing information. The conversion unit generates a second video stream from the first video stream by converting the copyright information. A multiplexer multiplexes a video transport stream packet including the second video stream and the non-video transport stream packet based on the stored timing information to generate a second transport stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Motoki Kato
  • Patent number: 7787083
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate having an alignment film; a second substrate disposed opposite the first substrate and having first and second electrodes and an alignment film; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the alignment films of the first and second substrates; a retardation film disposed on a side of the first substrate facing away from the liquid crystal layer; a first polarizer disposed on the side of the first substrate facing away from the liquid crystal layer; and a second polarizer disposed on a side of the second substrate facing away from the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer is aligned in a direction parallel to the first and second substrates by the alignment films and is driven by an electric field generated between the first and second electrodes. The slow axis of the retardation film is parallel to the transmission axis of the first or second polarizer and is parallel to the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiharu Matsushima
  • Patent number: 7786426
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including a substrate of which surface is provided with a pixel area where a plurality of pixels arranged, each pixel including a photoelectric converting element to receive light from a subject image and perform photoelectric conversion on the received light to generate signal charge, and a surrounding area that is positioned around the pixel area and that includes a surrounding circuit to process the signal charge generated by the photoelectric converting elements. The solid-state imaging device includes a color filter facing the substrate so as to receive the light from the subject image in a surface corresponding to the surface of the substrate and to allow the light to transmit therethrough onto the surface of the substrate. The color filter includes a first colored layer and a second colored layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Yamashita, Yoshiharu Kudoh
  • Patent number: 7785901
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a method of attaching hydrophilic species to hydrophilic macromolecules and immobilizing the hydrophilic macromolecules on a hydrophobic surface, to a nano-assembly and to uses of the nano-assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Harnack, William E. Ford, Jurina Wessels, Akio Yasuda
  • Patent number: 7787762
    Abstract: An image photographing apparatus for capturing a subject image in accordance with smile detection of a subject includes an optical unit; an image capturing unit configured to capture the subject image; an optical mechanism driving control unit configured to control driving of mechanisms of the optical unit; an image signal processing unit configured to perform signal processing on the captured image; an image recording unit configured to record the captured image onto a predetermined recording medium; a face detection unit configured to detect a face of the subject; a smile detection unit configured to detect a smile on the detected face; and a smile-detection photography control unit configured to perform photographing processing for the subject image in response to detection of the smile of the subject from the captured image, while the driving of the mechanisms by the optical mechanism driving control unit is maintained fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Abe
  • Patent number: 7787190
    Abstract: An optical element includes a first liquid; a second liquid that is immiscible with the first liquid and that has polarity or electrical conductivity; a first substrate portion; a second substrate portion; a sidewall portion; a second electrode disposed on one of the second substrate portion and the sidewall portion; and an accommodating portion constituted by the first substrate portion, the second substrate portion, and the sidewall portion and sealing the first liquid and the second liquid therein. The optical element further includes a first film disposed on the first substrate portion side of the accommodating portion and having high affinity with the first liquid, a second film disposed on the second substrate portion side of the accommodating portion and having high affinity with the second liquid, and a third film disposed at the center of the second film and having high affinity with the first liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yukihiro Mitsuda, Yukihiro Sano, Keita Kaifu, Kazuhiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7786484
    Abstract: A display device is provided which includes: pixel circuits for pixel electrode switching, arranged on a substrate; and an interlayer insulating film covering the pixel circuits. In this display device, the interlayer insulating film has connection holes which expose at bottom portions thereof connection portions of the pixel circuits, and connection portions of adjacent pixel circuits of the pixel circuits are exposed at the bottom portions of the connection holes. A method for manufacturing the above display device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Noriyuki Kawashima
  • Patent number: 7786367
    Abstract: A system compiles a music playlist to accommodate the tastes of various participants in a group setting. A music profile is created for each participant, the profile containing representations of songs that are characteristic of the participant's tastes. A master device may then compile a “super profile” that constitutes a compilation of the various participant profiles. Each participant device may then access the super profile and search among its specific song collection to find music that is similar to one or more songs represented in the super profile. From such songs, the master device may compile a playlist of songs that are similar among the participant devices, thereby representing the songs that correspond to the collective musical tastes of the participants. The playlist may be updated as participants enter and leave the group to track the changing collective tastes of the participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Emil Hansson, Brian Johnson, Mathias Jeppsson
  • Patent number: 7787512
    Abstract: A light-emitting element assembly includes a support substrate having a first surface, a second surface facing the first surface, a recessed portion, and a conductive material layer formed over the first surface and the inner surface of the recessed portion, and a light-emitting element. The light-emitting element has a laminated structure including a first compound semiconductor layer, a light-emitting portion, and a second compound semiconductor layer, at least the second compound semiconductor layer and the light-emitting portion constituting a mesa structure. The light-emitting element further includes an insulating layer formed, a second electrode, and a first electrode. The mesa structure is placed in the recessed portion so that the conductive material layer and the second electrode are in at least partial contact with each other, and light emitted from the light-emitting portion is emitted from the second surface side of the first compound semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Rintaro Koda, Takahiro Arakida, Satoshi Taniguchi, Yuji Masui, Nobuhiro Suzuki, Tomoyuki Oki, Chiyomi Uchiyama, Kayoko Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7787697
    Abstract: A method obtains media on a device, provides identification of an object in the media via image/video recognition and audio recognition, and displays on the device identification information based on the identified media object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Tobias Robert Jan Ritzau, Marcus Liwell
  • Patent number: D622733
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Rajesh Lal