Patents Examined by Alexander S. Beck
  • Patent number: 8797299
    Abstract: A stylus comprises a stylus barrel, a connecting element and a stylus body. The stylus barrel has a receptacle defined therethrough. The connecting element is fixed to one end of the stylus barrel. The stylus body is retractably and slidably coupled to the stylus barrel. The stylus body is configured to be optionally supported by the connecting element in an extended state or locked to the opposite end of the stylus barrel in a retracted state with the stylus body received within the receptacle of the stylus barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Shi-Xu Liang
  • Patent number: 8797632
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and devices for actuating, charging and calibrating the charge on a movable electrode in electromechanical systems (EMS) devices. The electromechanical systems device can include a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode by a gap, a complementary electrode, at least one electrical contact, and a movable third electrode disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. In one implementation, a method of calibrating charge on the movable electrode of the EMS device includes electrically connecting a complementary electrode to the first electrode to form a compound electrode and applying a calibration voltage across the compound electrode and the second electrode to produce a uniform electric field in the gap. Under the electric field the third electrode moves towards the first electrode until it connects with the at least one electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Hong, Chong U. Lee
  • Patent number: 8791901
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking an object's position and orientation within a room using patterns projected onto an interior surface of the room, such as the ceiling. Systems include at least one optical position sensitive device embedded in the object to detect relative changes in the projected pattern as the object's position and/or orientation is changed. In particular systems, the pattern includes a plurality of beacons projected by one or more steerable lasers. Projected beacons may be steered automatically to accommodate a variety of room topologies. Additional optical position sensitive devices may be disposed in known physical positions relative to the projected pattern to view either or both the projected pattern and the object. A subset of object positional data may be derived from a video camera viewing the object while another subset of object positional data is derived from the projected pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc.
    Inventor: Dominic S Mallinson
  • Patent number: 8786555
    Abstract: Computer-readable media, computerized methods, and a touchscreen device manipulating user-input elements are provided. Generally, manipulation includes identifying a predefined configuration associated with a request received from a user and/or application, deriving configuration settings from the predefined configuration, and transmitting the configuration settings to an electromechanical device that adjusts a portion of user-input elements to an extended orientation and activates a portion of user-input elements. In embodiments, the extended user-input elements positioned in the extended orientation are activated, while the remainder are set to an idle condition. Typically, the extended user-input elements produce outwardly-extending protrusions expressed at a flexible touchpad incorporated in the touchscreen device. These outwardly-extending protrusions may replicate keys of a standard keyboard and correspond with the presently-running application implemented on the touchscreen device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Eric M. Bloomcamp, Shane R. Werner, Warren B. Cope
  • Patent number: 8780056
    Abstract: A position detecting device includes: a display unit having a first electrode formed of a transparent conductive film, a plurality of second electrodes, and display material interposed between the first electrode and the second electrodes; a display driver configured to drive the display unit based on a video signal input to the display driver; and a position detecting section configured to detect a position of an indicator on the first electrode and to output the detected position. The display unit may comprise, for example, an “electronic paper,” such that the display state of the display unit can be maintained even after a drive power applied between the first electrode and the second electrodes is discontinued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadao Yamamoto, Naoto Onoda
  • Patent number: 8780057
    Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus including an operation display unit for displaying a display screen and detecting an operation location on the display screen based upon a user operation on the display screen, a pressure detecting unit including a plurality of pressure sensors for detecting a pressure value according to the user operation on the operation display unit for each of the plurality of pressure sensors, an operation type determining unit for determining a type of the user operation, a deriving unit for selectively deriving a barycentric location on the display screen based upon detection results from the plurality of pressure sensors, based upon a determination result from the operation type determining unit, and an estimating unit for estimating a pressure value on the operation location, based upon a derivation result from the deriving unit and upon information of barycentric location candidates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Fuminori Homma, Tatsushi Nashida
  • Patent number: 8780045
    Abstract: A system and method for tracking movement between a surface and an optical navigation device are described. In an embodiment, the optical navigation device has an image sensor that includes an array of pixels and motion tracking involves acquiring image information, the image information including pixel values that correspond to the pixels, calculating a surface quality (SQUAL) value from the image information, determining a level of saturation of the pixel array from pixel values of the image information, comparing the determined level of saturation of the pixel array to a saturation threshold, increasing a SQUAL threshold if the determined level of saturation of the pixel array is greater than the saturation threshold, and deciding whether or not to output motion tracking information in response to a comparison of the SQUAL value to the SQUAL threshold. Other embodiments of the method are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Willie Song, Siew Chin Lee, Keng Yeen Lye
  • Patent number: 8780040
    Abstract: A handwriting input device includes a housing and a nib selectively exposed from a bottom side of the housing or hidden in the housing. The device further includes a pressure sensor, a motion sensor, and a microcontroller. The pressure sensor generates pressure signals when the nib is depressed. The motion sensor senses movement of the device. The microcontroller records the sensed movement upon receiving the pressure signals, and processes the recorded movement to obtain track signals of handwritten information when the duration of not receiving the pressure signals exceeds a predetermined time interval. The track signals of handwritten information are then transmitted to an external electronic device communicating with the device to become handwriting shown on a display of the external electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ping-Yang Chuang, Ying-Chuan Yu
  • Patent number: 8773417
    Abstract: A system for transmitting and receiving a signal includes a transmitter that switches a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage and generates first and second voltage signals, and a receiver the receives the first and second voltage signals. The transmitter includes a reference voltage generator that generates the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage, and a switch block that switches the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage and outputs the first and second voltage signals. The receiver includes a resistor having two terminals to which the first and second voltage signals are applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-pil Lim, Dong-hoon Baek, Ji-hoon Kim, Jae-youl Lee
  • Patent number: 8773421
    Abstract: A multiplexer receives multiple differential signals, selects one differential signal, and outputs, via an output port, the differential signal thus selected. The multiple differential signals are respectively input to multiple differential input ports. Multiple buffers are respectively provided to the multiple differential input ports. Each buffer includes a differential input terminal connected to a corresponding differential input port, and a differential output terminal connected to an output port. Each buffer is configured to be capable of switching states, according to the control signal, between an enable state in which a differential signal that corresponds to a differential signal input to the differential input terminal is output, and a disable state in which current consumed by the buffer becomes substantially zero, and the differential output terminal thereof is set to a high-impedance state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimio Ando, Yuki Aoki
  • Patent number: 8773337
    Abstract: A color temperature tunable white light source comprises a first LED arrangement comprising at least one blue emitting LED configured to excite a remote phosphor and a second LED arrangement comprising at least one red emitting LED. The LED arrangements are configured such that the composite light emitted by the LED arrangements appears white in color. The relative drive currents of the LEDs is controllable, and thus variable in relative magnitude, such that the color temperature of the composite light emitted by the source is electrically tunable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Intematix Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Qun Li, Yi Dong, Xiaofeng Xu
  • Patent number: 8773353
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing, an input device, a sliding groove and an actuating unit. The input device is disposed on the housing, wherein the input device includes a first input interface and a second input interface, and the first input interface and the second input interface are respectively disposed on opposite surfaces of the input device. The sliding groove is formed on the housing. The actuating unit is connected to the input device, the actuating unit automatically moves between a first position and a second position of the sliding groove to rotate the input device, the first input interface faces outward from the housing when the actuating unit is in the first position, and the second input interface faces outward from the housing when the actuating unit is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Wistron Corp.
    Inventor: Ren-Jing Wei
  • Patent number: 8773339
    Abstract: A method of driving a display panel includes applying a common voltage to the display panel, sensing a frequency of the display panel to generate a frequency signal, adjusting a gain of an operational amplifier based on the frequency signal, receiving a feedback common voltage from the display panel, and compensating the common voltage using an input resistor, the operational amplifier and a feedback resistor based on the feedback common voltage to apply the compensated common voltage to the display panel. The operational amplifier includes an inverting input terminal connected to the input resistor, a non-inverting input terminal to which a reference common voltage is applied and an output terminal. The feedback resistor is between the inverting input terminal and the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Su Kim, Jae-Hoon Lee, Chang-Ho Lee, Yu-Han Bae
  • Patent number: 8766931
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for digital signal processing (DSP) techniques for generally improving a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of capacitive touch sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Perceptive Pixel Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Westhues, Jefferson Y. Han
  • Patent number: 8766889
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display and a driving method thereof are provided. The liquid crystal display includes a plurality of pixels, a plurality of scan lines, and a plurality of data lines. Each pixel includes a plurality of sub-pixels. Each sub-pixel is coupled to the data line, and includes a switch, a storage capacitor, and a sub-pixel electrode. The switch is coupled to a scan line to receive a scan signal. The switch is turned on by the scan signal to receive a data signal transmitted from the data line. The storage capacitors of the sub-pixels of each pixel are coupled to the scan lines, or the storage capacitor of one of the sub-pixels of each pixel is coupled to a common electrode and the storage capacitors of the other sub-pixels are coupled to the scan lines. The switch and the storage capacitor of each sub-pixel are coupled to different scan lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-Sheng Lai, Chih-Wei Wang, Hsueh-Ying Huang, Chen-Kuo Yang
  • Patent number: 8760413
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a device includes a surface and an actuator mechanism operably associated with the surface. The actuator mechanism is configured to provide tactile feedback to a user responsive to an electrical signal. In at least some embodiments, the actuator mechanism comprises a pair of spaced-apart substrates each of which supports a conductive layer of material. A dielectric material and an adjacent air gap may be interposed between the substrates. Drive circuitry is operably connected to the spaced-apart substrates and is configured to drive the conductive layers of material with an electrical signal. This signal may be responsive to sensing a touch input on the surface or other appropriate event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Cody George Peterson, Douglas M. Krumpelman, Andrew P. Huska
  • Patent number: 8760445
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of brightness correction for the electronic display, which consists of the following steps: take pictures of the electronic display; get the characteristic values of all the light-emitting components in the pictures; calculate the correction values of each light-emitting component with the characteristic values; correct the brightness of the display with the correction values. The present invention reduces the time cost of measuring the actual brightness values of the light-emitting components, and improves the efficiency of correcting the brightness uniformity of the electronic display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Zhongqing Digital Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yin-liang Shao, Lei Yang, Li Guan
  • Patent number: 8760367
    Abstract: The mobile communication terminal comprises a first casing and a second casing carrying a first display part and a second display part, respectively. The first display part and the second display part are each capable of 3D display. The controller of the mobile communication terminal detects the mobile communication terminal being opened vertically or horizontally and detects the opening angle between the first casing and the second casing. In the 3D display in the horizontal opened state, the visibility of the 3D display is altered as the opening angle is changed. Therefore, the controller of the mobile communication terminal calculates the viewing angle according to the detected opening angle and changes the parameters for the 3D display, whereby excellent visibility is maintained even if the opening angle is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Ken Yoshino
  • Patent number: 8760386
    Abstract: The present invention relates a display device and a method for driving the same which can improve a picture quality. The display device can include a histogram generation/analysis unit for analyzing image data, generating a histogram of the image data to each of the frames, and analyzing the histograms, a gamma reference voltage generating unit for generating gamma reference voltages and adjusting magnitude of the gamma reference voltages according to a result of analysis and forwarding the gamma reference voltages adjusted, a timing controller for re-arranging the image data, controlling output timings of the image data re-arranged and forwarding the image data re-arranged, and a data driver for generating gamma gradient voltages by using the gamma reference voltages, converting the image data into analog image signals by using the gamma gradient voltages and supplying the analog image signals to a display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Hwan An, Jae-Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 8760364
    Abstract: A separable portable multi-display device is provided. A portable multi-display device includes a main body panel housing having a first display, a sub-panel housing having a second display, and a coupling device for coupling the main body panel housing to the sub-panel housing such that at least one sides of the first display and the second display can contact each other. The panel housings are separable from and connectable to each other, a range of a border between the displays when the panel housings are interconnected being minimized so that the displays can be shown as if it is driven as a single screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Inventors: Si Han Kim, Hyun Hee Kim, Jang Ho Kim