Patents Examined by Benjamin C. Lee
  • Patent number: 9726366
    Abstract: A touch pad device includes: an operating unit which includes an operation surface on which an operating body performs a proximity operation, and an illumination portion disposed in the operation surface; a first substrate which has a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being aligned with the operation surface and provided with a detection unit that detects the proximity operation; and a support member configured to integrally support the operating unit and the first substrate, in which the first substrate is provided so as not to overlap the illumination portion, a light source disposed in the vicinity of the illumination portion and outputs light toward the support member side is provided, and a reflective portion configured to reflect the light output from the light source toward the illumination portion is provided at a position that opposes the light source of the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Nakazawa, Suminari Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9727797
    Abstract: Techniques presented herein describe rotating text content rendered on a mobile device to a preferred orientation based on the mobile device orientation and language of the text content. A display tool executing on the mobile device detects an orientation of the mobile device changing from a first orientation to a second orientation. The mobile device currently displays the characters in the text content according to the first orientation. The display tool determines that the text content is written in a specified language. The display tool re-renders the display of the characters in the text content and any accompanying images according to the second orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Adrian B. Jordan, Joseph N. Kozhaya, Michael T. Peters, David S. Richardson, Teppei Tsurumi
  • Patent number: 9726880
    Abstract: In a system having a matrix of electrowetting display elements, a column driving system transmits a column voltage signal to an electrode of each electrowetting display element of at least one selected row of n rows of electrowetting display elements. A first row driving system transmits a first row voltage signal to a switchable element associated with each respective electrowetting display element of the selected row. A second row driving system transmits a second row voltage signal to the switchable element associated with each respective electrowetting display element of rows of the n rows of electrowetting display elements. A configuration of respective first and second fluids of the electrowetting display elements of at least one row of the n rows is controlled by selectively transmitting: the first row voltage signal using the first row driving system, and the second row voltage signal, using the second row driving system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Pavel Novoselov, Anthony John Slack, Henricus Petronella Maria Derckx, Jozef Elisabeth Aubert
  • Patent number: 9721501
    Abstract: An organic light-emitting display panel including a plurality of pixels arranged at a display area in column and row directions, the plurality of pixels being configured to receive power voltages; a voltage line associated with a pixel column, the voltage line being configured to apply a power voltage to the plurality of pixels included in the pixel column, the power voltage being supplied from a power line; and an auxiliary line coupled to a center node of the voltage line, the center node being located at a middle point of the voltage line, wherein the power voltage supplied from the power line is configured to be applied to the voltage line through the center node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Jin Cho, Deok-Young Choi, Young-In Hwang
  • Patent number: 9721514
    Abstract: A method for driving a reflective LCD panel is provided. The driving method includes following steps: the reflective LCD panel is driven by a driving signal with alternate positive and negative polarities, wherein the driving signal has positive polarity for a first driving duration and the driving signal has negative polarity for a second driving duration; a color beam is provided to irradiate the reflective LCD panel during a partial time period of the first driving duration; and the color beam is provided to irradiate the reflective LCD panel during a partial time period of the second driving duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Himax Display, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuet-Wing Li, Chien-Liang Wu, Kuan-Hsu Fan-Chiang
  • Patent number: 9720509
    Abstract: A gesture detection system having a gesture detection apparatus to detect a gesture of a user, and a mobile communication terminal that can communicate with the gesture detection apparatus, includes a storage unit to store first gesture data defining the gesture of the user, and audio or visual data associated with the first gesture data; an obtainment unit to obtain second gesture data representing the gesture of the user; a transmission unit to transmit the second gesture data to the mobile communication terminal; a determination unit to determine whether the gesture defined by the first gesture data is the same as the gesture represented by the second gesture data; a selection unit to select the audio or visual data associated with the first gesture data depending on the determination result; and an output unit to output the audio or visual data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Moff, Inc.
    Inventors: Akinori Takahagi, Motohiro Yonesaka
  • Patent number: 9721491
    Abstract: A display includes first pixels, second pixels, a first de-multiplexer and a second de-multiplexer. The first de-multiplexer transmits a first data signal to the first pixels sequentially in response to first control signals. The second de-multiplexer transmits a second data signal to the second pixels sequentially in response to second control signals. The polarity of the first data signal is different from that of the second data signal. Levels of the first control signals are switched between a first voltage level and a zero voltage level, corresponding to the polarity of the first data signal. Levels of the second control signals are switched between a second voltage level and the zero voltage level, corresponding to the polarity of the second data signal. The first voltage level is different from the second voltage level. A method of transmitting signals in a display is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Cheng-Chiu Pai
  • Patent number: 9721536
    Abstract: A display apparatus with a touch detection function includes: a substrate; a display area including a plurality of pixels; a touch detection electrode including a plurality of small electrode portions; a plurality of wiring portions electrically coupling the small electrode portions to a terminal portion formed; and a plurality of drive electrodes forming capacitance between the drive electrodes and the touch detection electrode. The small electrode portions each include one conductive thin wire in which one first thin wire segment and one second thin wire segment are coupled in a first direction, the first thin wire segment makes a first angle with respect to the first direction, the second thin wire segment makes a second angle with respect to the first direction, and the wiring portions each include the one first thin wire segment and the one second thin wire segment that are coupled in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Hayato Kurasawa, Koji Ishizaki
  • Patent number: 9713990
    Abstract: The invention relates to a haptic feedback module to be built into a motor vehicle for a mobile device (3) having touch-sensitive surface (3a), characterized in that said haptic feedback module comprises at least one actuator (17) configured to transmit a movement to said mobile device (3). The invention also relates to a control device for a motor vehicle which includes such a haptic feedback module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: DAV
    Inventors: Stéphane Vanhelle, Jean-Marc Tissot
  • Patent number: 9711092
    Abstract: Provided is a driving method whereby it is possible to simultaneously compensate for both degradation of a drive transistor and degradation of a light-emitting element without causing special light emission at the time of detecting characteristics in a display device. In a display device which includes a pixel circuit including an electro-optic element and a drive transistor, a driving method includes: a first characteristic detection step for detecting a characteristic of the drive transistor; a second characteristic detection step for detecting a characteristic of the electro-optic element; a correction data storage step for storing characteristic data obtained based on detection results in the first and second characteristic detection steps as correction data; and a video signal correction step for correcting the video signal based on the correction data. The second characteristic detection step is performed in a light emission period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritaka Kishi
  • Patent number: 9696861
    Abstract: A touch panel includes capacitive sensing electrodes and a touch controller operates in a first operating mode to detect a touch location on the touch panel. In a second operating mode, the touch controller transmits a modulated data signal through the touch panel to an active stylus. Each electrode is driven by a line driver circuit. A control circuit selectively actuates first ones of the line driver circuits to pass the modulated data signal to corresponding first ones of the electrodes which do not pass through a region of the touch panel associated with the location of the detected touch. Simultaneously, the control circuit selectively actuates second ones of the line driver circuits, different from said first ones of the line driver circuits, to ground corresponding second ones of the electrodes which do pass through the region of the touch panel associated with the location of the detected touch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Leonard Dinu, Eng Jye Ng, Kien Beng Tan
  • Patent number: 9696817
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a touch-sensitive display including a display and display touch-sensors to detect touches, and a keyboard including mechanical keys associated with characters, the mechanical keys including depressible keycaps to output the characters and keyboard touch sensors to detect touches on the mechanical keys. A processor is coupled to the keyboard and to the touch-sensitive display to detect a touch at a location associated with a signature entry field displayed on the touch-sensitive display, in response to detecting the touch, enter a keyboard signature process, detect a moving touch on the mechanical keys of the keyboard, along a path of contact of the touch on the mechanical keys, and, in response to detecting completion of the moving touch, enter a signature defined by the path of contact of the touch on the mechanical keys into the signature entry field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Cody Bryant
  • Patent number: 9690389
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for controlling a keyboard to provide automatic compensation for force variation in sensitivity over time for a force sensing keyboard. In certain embodiments, an information handling system includes a keyboard control system software which can automatically compensate for this variation in sensitivity over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventor: Charles D Hood, III
  • Patent number: 9684413
    Abstract: Touch screen apparatus, including a display unit including a touch surface, a number of light pulse emitting units for emitting light pulses over and across the touch surface, a number of light pulse receiving units for measuring amounts of light received from the light pulse emitting units, circuitry for selectively activating the light pulse emitting units and the light pulse receiving units, and a calculating unit to control the circuitry to provide a low-frequency idle mode and a high-frequency active mode, wherein only one of the light pulse emitting units and one of the light pulse receiving units are activated in the idle mode, and to determine that a light pulse in the idle mode is broken, based on the measured amounts of light received at the one receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Neonode Inc.
    Inventor: Magnus George Goertz
  • Patent number: 9678603
    Abstract: In a method of operating at least first and second electronic devices, the devices are each arranged to transmit and receive ultrasonic signals, e.g. to operate a touchless user interface. Both devices, or at least two of the devices, are synchronised to transmit said signals at substantially the same time. The devices may, for example, listen to each other's ultrasonic signals or use a WiFi network access point for synchronization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: ELLIPTIC LABORATORIES AS
    Inventors: Jens T. Thielemann, Tom Øystein Kavli
  • Patent number: 9679514
    Abstract: An inverting circuit is disclosed. The inverting circuit includes a pull-up unit including first, second, and third terminals. The first terminal receives a first control signal, and the third terminal is connected to a signal output terminal and outputs a first level signal. The inverting circuit also includes a pull-down unit including fourth, fifth, and sixth terminals. The fourth terminal is connected to the second terminal of the pull-up unit, and the fifth terminal receives a second control signal. In addition, the sixth terminal is connected to the signal output terminal and outputs a second level signal. The inverting circuit also includes a first capacitor, connected to the second terminal of the pull-up unit and the fourth terminal of the pull-down unit, and to the third terminal of the pull-up unit and the sixth terminal of the pull-down unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignees: SHANGHAI TIANMA AM-OLED CO., LTD., TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tong Wu, Dong Qian
  • Patent number: 9681120
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are provided for controlling stereo glasses. Left and right eye shutters of stereo glasses are controlled to switch between closed and open orientations and simultaneously remain in a fast switching orientation for a predetermined amount of time between the closed and open orientations. The fast switching orientation of each of the left and right eye shutters has at least one open time and at least one closed time. A duration from a first one of the at least one open time and the at least one closed time through a last one of the at least one open time and at least one closed time is equal to the predetermined mount of time. Each of the at least one open time of the fast switching orientation of each of the left and right eye shutters is shorter than or equal to 1/24 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Inventor: Yi-Ou Hsu
  • Patent number: 9665279
    Abstract: A portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device includes a memory configured to store instructions, a plurality of keys configured to receive respective key inputs, and a screen. The portable electronic device also includes a processor configured to execute the instructions to detect a first key input at one of the plurality of keys, enable a preview mode based on the detected first key input. While the preview mode is enabled, the processor is also configured to a second key input at one of the plurality of keys, at least one of the first or second key input being associated with a content preview for one of a plurality of applications, and display on the screen the content preview for the associated one of the plurality of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Jason Tyler Griffin, Dan Zacharias Gärdenfors
  • Patent number: 9666114
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a driving method for an image display apparatus which includes an image display panel and a signal processing section. Each of the pixels includes a first subpixel for displaying a first primary color, a second subpixel for displaying a second primary color, a third subpixel for displaying a third primary color and a fourth subpixel for displaying a fourth color. The signal processing section is capable of calculating a first subpixel output signal, a second subpixel output signal, and a third subpixel output signal. The driving method includes the step, further carried out by the signal processing section, of calculating a fourth subpixel output signal based on a fourth subpixel control second signal and a fourth subpixel control first signal, and outputting the calculated fourth subpixel output signal to the fourth subpixel of the (p,q)th pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
    Inventors: Amane Higashi, Akira Sakaigawa, Masaaki Kabe, Yasuo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9665335
    Abstract: A projector includes an optical modulation section, a projection section, a driving section driving the optical modulation section, a selection section selecting at least one electronic apparatus, a storage section storing each user name of a plurality of electronic apparatuses, a reception section receiving an input by a user on a projection surface, and a projection image creation section creating a projection image. The projection image creation section reflects an image drawn on the basis of the input received by the reception section onto the projection image, creates a selection image including a user name stored in the storage section, and reflects the selection image onto the projection image. When an input for selecting a user is received, the selection section selects an electronic apparatus corresponding to the selected user on the projection surface onto which the selection image is projected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Eguchi, Takahiro Otsu, Mitsuhiro Yoshida