Patents Examined by Benjamin C. Lee
  • Patent number: 10068519
    Abstract: The present invention incorporates unique methods and components for data entry and typing using the components including an ergonomic keyboard with substantially and uniformly low-profile key elevation in combination with built-in germicidal, non-germicidal light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and laser lights to disinfect and illuminate surface of the lowly situated key caps and adjacent affected surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Inventor: Hau Pham
  • Patent number: 10061430
    Abstract: A processing system for multiple input object force estimation includes sensor circuitry and processing circuitry. The sensor circuitry is configured to acquire measurements of a sensing region using sensor electrodes. The processing circuitry is connected to the sensor circuitry. The processing system is configured to obtain a delta image of the sensing region using the measurements, identify locations of the input objects in the sensing region using the delta image, and determine a force estimate for each input object using the delta image, a bending response model, and the plurality of locations. The processing system is further configured to perform an action based on the force estimate of each input object of the plurality of input objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael White, Michael Comstock
  • Patent number: 10062352
    Abstract: A display comprises a plurality of autonomous pixels on a substrate. Each autonomous pixel comprises a display element, a sensing element and a control element. The sensing element is arranged to detect an external stimulus and the control element is arranged to generate, entirely within the autonomous pixel, a control signal to drive the display element based, at least in part, on a magnitude of the external stimulus detected by the sensing element. Additionally, the control element comprises one or more groups of transistors, each group comprising two or more transistors arranged to perform the same function and connected in parallel with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Edward Hodges, Nicholas Yen-Cherng Chen, David Sweeney, Tobias Grosse-Puppendahl
  • Patent number: 10061387
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program product are provided for generating a projected user interface. The apparatus may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to receive information regarding a detected position of the user's body and to determine whether the detected position is an activation position, in which case the projection of a user interface may be provided. The user interface may be projected on an area on the user's body, such as a hand or a forearm, or on the surface of an object. The activation position may thus be a predefined position of the user's body in which effective projection of the user interface onto the surface and user interaction with the user interface is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
    Inventors: Aaron Toney, Sean White, Kenneth McClure
  • Patent number: 10055064
    Abstract: Embodiments include an electronic input system, which has a wearable input device having an accelerometer and circuitry configured for an operation detection mechanism and an input communication mechanism. The operation detection mechanism acquires acceleration data from the accelerometer to detect an input event. The electronic input system also has a first electronic device having circuitry for a first communication mechanism, a first event analyzer, a screen display, and a first data communication mechanism. The electronic input system also has a second electronic device having circuitry configured for a second communication mechanism, a second event analyzer, a second data communication mechanism, a screen combining mechanism, and a screen display. Embodiments also include a method of communicating an event between an input device and one or more electronic portable devices, such as the first electronic device and the second electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications Inc.
    Inventor: Kenji Tokutake
  • Patent number: 10042497
    Abstract: A sheet-like conductor that is arranged on a display screen includes at least an insulator, a first detection electrode that is placed on a surface of the insulator on an opposite side to the display screen and arranged on a viewing side, and a second detection electrode that is placed on a surface of the insulator on a side close to the display screen and arranged on an opposite side to the viewing side, in which the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode are formed of thin metal wires in a mesh shape, and when a line width of the thin metal wire of the first detection electrode is a line width Wa and a line width of the thin metal wire of the second detection electrode is a line width Wb, the line width Wa and the line width Wb satisfy the following expressions (1) and (2). 0.5 ?m?Wb<Wa?10 ?m??(1) Wa?Wb ?4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Sutou
  • Patent number: 10037183
    Abstract: A method of interacting frames between multiple electronic devices for a first electronic device includes determining if a first frame of the first electronic device and a second frame of a second electronic device toward a same direction when the first electronic device detects an approaching or contact from the second electronic device to operate in an extend mode or a clone mode. If the first and second electronic devices operate in the extend mode, the first and second electronic devices collaboratively display one of the first and second frames being a dominant frame; if the first and second electronic devices operate in the clone mode, the first and second electronic devices respectively display one of the first and second frames being the dominant frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Xiao-Yun Han
  • Patent number: 10037726
    Abstract: A display module is provided. The display module includes a display area which includes a plurality of pixels, a plurality of first conductive lines, and a plurality of second conductive lines intersecting the first conductive lines, a non-display area at least partially surrounding the display area, test circuitry electrically connected with the first conductive lines, and a third conductive line electrically connected between one of the first conductive lines and the test circuitry. The third conductive line may include a portion disposed in the non-display area and extending along a periphery of the display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon Gyu Lee, Jae Wan Kim
  • Patent number: 10037744
    Abstract: A display apparatus transmits a picture acquisition request for getting picture information to an external image apparatus connected through a predetermined interface to the display apparatus from the external image apparatus at predetermined intervals and gets a plurality of pieces of picture information from the external image apparatus to be displayed. The plurality of pictures may be switched at predetermined intervals, for example, to be displayed, so that the plurality of pictures may be displayed in a so-called slide show manner. A plurality of pictures for thumbnail may be produced from the plurality of pieces of picture information and be arranged together to be displayed in one picture screen of a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kurita, Hitoaki Owashi
  • Patent number: 10037111
    Abstract: In general, in one aspect, one or more embodiments relate to a peripheral device that includes a single charging terminal configured to couple to an active electrode driven with an alternating current (AC) signal, a diode for rectifying the AC signal from the active electrode to obtain a rectified signal, and a charging circuitry for charging an energy storage device using the rectified signal and a connection between the peripheral device and free space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Tom R. Vandermeijden
  • Patent number: 10008168
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a pixel electrode which includes a first subpixel electrode and a second subpixel electrode, a first insulating substrate and a second insulating substrate which faces the first insulating substrate, a common electrode which overlaps the pixel region, where the first subpixel electrode includes a first main unit electrode and a first sub unit electrode which is electrically connected to the first main unit electrode and smaller in area than the first main unit electrode, the second subpixel electrode includes a second main unit electrode, and a first opening part which overlaps the first main unit electrode, a second opening part which overlaps the second main unit electrode, and a third opening part which overlaps the first sub unit electrode and has a different shape from those of the first opening part and the second opening part are defined in the common electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wan Namgung, Ik Han Oh, Ho Jun Lee, Youn Hak Jeong, Seung Kyu Lee, Mi Hyeon Jo
  • Patent number: 10007343
    Abstract: An input device can be integrated within an electronic device and/or operably connected to an electronic device through a wired or wireless connection. The input device can include one or more force sensors positioned below a cover element of the input device or an input surface of the electronic device. The input device can include other components and/or functionality, such as a biometric sensor and/or a switch element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sora Kim, Martin P. Grunthaner, Rui Jin, Michael B. Wittenberg, MIchael K. McCord, Henric Larsson, Giovanni Gozzini, Lucy Browning, Scott A. Myers
  • Patent number: 10001880
    Abstract: A strain quantity threshold value is set in accordance with a distance from a pressure detection unit for each divided predetermined subdivision which is obtained by dividing an operation surface of a touch panel unit into a plurality of subdivisions. The minimum value of the strain quantity threshold value is set to be a value larger than a strain quantity when water or the like is attached to the operation surface of the touch panel unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yamaguchi, Tomoki Takano
  • Patent number: 10001869
    Abstract: A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with a wearable device; a touch screen; a sensor unit configured to sense at least one of a mobile terminal acceleration signal and a mobile terminal vibration signal; and a controller configured to display a screen corresponding to an application executing on the mobile terminal, receive first state information from the wearable device indicating at least one of a wearable device acceleration signal and a wearable device vibration signal of the wearable device, receive second state information from the sensor unit indicating said at least one of the mobile terminal acceleration signal and the mobile terminal vibration signal of the mobile terminal, and transfer operations of the application executing on the mobile terminal to the wearable device, based on the first and second state information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Soyeon Yim, Shinhui Ahn, Youjin Jeon, Soomin Kim
  • Patent number: 9997110
    Abstract: Disclosed is a circuit and technique to determine the temperature of an AMOLED display in order to calibrate programming data signals. The temperature of selected pixels of a plurality of pixels in an AMOLED display is measured via one of several disclosed methods. A thermal sensor for the selected pixels may be used. A measurement of output voltage data may be used to estimate temperature. A finite element analysis model may be used based on consumed power of the selected pixel. The temperature data for the selected pixel is then interpolated to the neighboring non-selected pixels to estimate the temperature of those pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Ignis Innovation Inc.
    Inventors: Javid Jaffari, Gholamreza Chaji, Tong Liu
  • Patent number: 9983650
    Abstract: A computing device that includes a programmatically controlled front light. The front light cast light onto a display surface and/or other region of the computing device, for purpose of providing illumination and/or lighting effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: RAKUTEN KOBO INC.
    Inventor: Damian Lewis
  • Patent number: 9977547
    Abstract: A smart home controller receives information from an electronic device with a two-dimensional capacitance sensing area. The received information is based on a predefined capacitance distribution detected for an object placed on or near the two-dimensional capacitance sensing area. In response to receiving the information from the electronic device with the two-dimensional capacitance sensing area, the smart home controller is at least conditionally configured, such that the smart home controller changes from operating in a first configuration to operating in a second configuration, distinct from the first configuration, based on the received information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: David Sloo, Shigefumi Honjo, Anthony M. Fadell
  • Patent number: 9953611
    Abstract: The present application provides a shift register and a driving method thereof, a gate driving circuit and a display device. The shift register includes: an input module for introducing a signal of an output terminal of a previous level shift register to the pull-up node; an output module for introducing a signal of the first clock signal terminal to the output terminal; a reset module for resetting the pull-up node, the output terminal, the first pull-down node, and the second pull-down node using signals of the OFF signal terminal, the first signal terminal, and the second signal terminal; a voltage setting module for introducing a signal of the OFF signal terminal to the first pull-down node and the second pull-down node; and a holding module for introducing signals of the first signal terminal and the second signal terminal to the first pull-down node and the second pull-down node, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zheng Wang
  • Patent number: 9952322
    Abstract: A method of operating an optoelectronic proximity sensor including a radiation-emitting component, a radiation-detecting component and a control unit includes: operating the radiation-emitting component with a pulsed current, wherein the pulsed current of the radiation-emitting component has an on time and an off time during a measurement period, and causing the control unit to evaluate a detector signal of the radiation-detecting component during the on time and ending the on time if the detector signal exceeds a threshold value, wherein the ratio of the on time to the measurement period is less than 1/10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Sossenheimer, Christian Müller
  • Patent number: 9952735
    Abstract: A sensor-equipped display device is provided and includes a display panel and a detection electrode. The panel includes a display area in which unit pixels are arranged in a matrix, each of unit pixels including subpixels. The electrode includes conductive line fragments arranged on a detection surface, and is configured to detect a contact of an object to the surface. The detection electrode has an electrode pattern formed of the line fragments on a grid defined by first and second lines. Extending directions of the first and second lines are tilted based on a first and second unit length of the unit pixel in the first and second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
    Inventors: Hayato Kurasawa, Koji Ishizaki