Patents Examined by Henry N. Tran
  • Patent number: 7400306
    Abstract: A flat panel display device for dual-panel display that comprises an array of pixels formed in rows and columns, a first sub-array of the array of pixels for image display in a first direction, a second sub-array of the array of pixels for image display in a second direction, at least one scan driver for sequentially scanning the array of pixels row by row, and a plurality of multiplexers, connectable to receive a control signal having a first state and a second state, for connecting the first sub-array of pixels to the at least one scan driver in response to the first state of the control signal, and connecting the second sub-array of pixels to the at least one scan driver in response to the second state of the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventor: Shuo-Hsiu Hu
  • Patent number: 7397461
    Abstract: An apparatus for concealing a light emitting video display mounted to a vertical surface by reflecting incident ambient light in mirror-like fashion. The apparatus includes a perimeter structure, which is positioned adjacent to the vertical surface about the video display. The perimeter structure has a front opening for enabling visual access to the video display. A beam-split film is disposed within the front opening, and has the characteristics of partial transmission of the light emitted by the video display and partial reflection of the incident ambient light. A fan is disposed to circulate air adjacent to the video display, and a light baffle is disposed about the perimeter structure for enabling circulation of ambient air through the perimeter structure while preventing the transmission of ambient light into the perimeter structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Inventor: Jonathan W. Graham
  • Patent number: 7397450
    Abstract: An image display and a display panel. The display panel includes data lines for transmitting a data signal corresponding to video signals, scan lines for transmitting select signals, and pixel circuits formed in pixel regions defined by two neighboring data lines and scan lines. The pixel circuit includes a display element and a first transistor having a capacitor coupled between main and control electrodes thereof. The first transistor outputs a current corresponding to the voltage between the main and control electrodes. A second transistor has a control electrode coupled to the control electrode of the first transistor. A first switch delivers the data signal from the data lines to the second transistor in response to the select signal from the current scan line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mi-Sook Suh, Keum-Nam Kim
  • Patent number: 7391409
    Abstract: A method and system for interactive interfacing with a computer gaming system is provided. The method includes providing an input device, where the input device is configured to convey mutlti-channel mixed input data that is to be interpreted by the computer gaming system. The method includes identifying an action to be performed by the computer gaming system, and the action is mapped to the mutlti-channel mixed input data provided by the input device. Then, a gearing is applied between the action to be performed by the computer gaming system and the mutlti-channel mixed input data received from the input device. The gearing scales an adjustment to impact the action to be performed by the computer gaming system. The gearing can be set dynamically by the game, by the user, or can be preset by software or user configured in accordance with a gearing algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
    Inventors: Gary M. Zalewski, Richard Marks, Xiadong Mao
  • Patent number: 7391407
    Abstract: A back-light driving circuit controlling red (R), green (G), and blue (B) back lights providing light to a liquid crystal panel in a field sequential liquid crystal display. The back-light driving circuit includes a driving voltage generator that provides a driving voltage to each of the R, G, and B back-lights to cause them to emit light having a predetermined luminance. The back-light driving circuit also includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generator for providing a PWM signal to each of the R, G, and B back-lights to control the chromaticity of the light emitted from each back-light. The driving voltages and/or PWM signals provided to each of the R, G, and B back-lights are catered to the particular characteristics of the corresponding back-light to cause them to emit color having a desired luminance and/or chromaticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 7388569
    Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal display device is integrated with a liquid crystal display panel (1), detects display surface illuminance by a plurality of light sensors (10) provided in the vicinity of the display surface, and in accordance with the detection result, controls luminous intensity of a front light (lighting means) (19) using a lighting control circuit (22) so that the display surface illuminance becomes a predetermined magnitude. Even if the use environment of the reflective liquid crystal display device changes, or more specifically, intensity of external light shone from outside of the device into the display surface varies, the configuration allows controlling automatically the amount of emission from the front light to automatically maintain an appropriate display luminance and to reduce electric power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masafumi Agari, Mitsuo Inoue, Takashi Yamamoto, Shigeyuki Yoshida, Takao Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7385590
    Abstract: A workstation for a surveillance system comprising a display, a user input device and a control unit in communication with the display and the user input device. The user input device has a plurality of keys and a light source to light the keys with a plurality of different colors. The control unit generates an image on the display that has a plurality of differently colored icons with each of the icons symbolizing a function to be performed by the control unit. The control unit generates a control signal to the user input device causing the light source to light the plurality of keys in the user input device in colors to correspond to the colors of the icons in the image on the display. The control unit performs the control function corresponding to a particular icon from the plurality of differently colored icons when a user activates a key from the plurality keys having the color that corresponds to the color of the particular icon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Pelco, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Max Millar, Jim George
  • Patent number: 7382382
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display device inputs a signal, corrected by a correction circuit provided with a sigmoid inverse function generator, to a source driver. A sigmoid function which is an S-shaped function is used to approximate an input/output characteristic (applied voltage-transmittance curve) of a liquid crystal panel. The sigmoid inverse function generator converts an input signal by using an inverse function of the sigmoid function obtained by performing the approximation. A ? conversion circuit provided on the correction circuit and the sigmoid inverse function generator realize the desired ? characteristic regardless of a characteristic of the liquid crystal panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Furukawa, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Masafumi Ueno
  • Patent number: 7382342
    Abstract: A pixel circuit able to prevent a spread of the terminal voltages of drive transistors inside a panel and in turn able to reliably prevent deterioration of uniformity, wherein a source of a TFT serving as a drive transistor is connected to an anode of a light emitting element, a drain is connected to a power source potential, a capacitor is connected between a gate and source of the TFT, and a source potential of the TFT is connected to a fixed potential through a TFT serving as a switch transistor and wherein pixel circuit lines are connected by an upper line and bottom line and are arranged in parallel with pixel circuit power source voltage lines so as not to have intersecting parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhide Uchino, Junichi Yamashita, Tetsuro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7382363
    Abstract: A mounted display assembly comprises a flexible substrate that supports both display elements and control circuits. The display assembly generally comprises: an electrical connection formed on the flexible substrate, the electrical connection having first and second contact pads; a display element in electrical communication with the first contact pad; and a control circuit mounted on the flexible substrate and in electrical communication with the second contact pad. In a preferred embodiment, the display element comprises a microencapsulated electrophoretic display medium. In another preferred embodiment, printing processes are employed in manufacturing methods for the display assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Albert, Holly G. Gates
  • Patent number: 7382351
    Abstract: An electrophoretic display device includes a substrate and unit cells. Each of the unit cells has one display electrode, two collection electrodes and two types of charged particles different from each other in charged polarity and coloration, and has a driving means capable of forming a state in which each of the two types of charged particles have been collected respectively at each of the collection electrodes, a state in which one of the two types of charged particles have been disposed on the display electrode and the other type of charged particles have been collected at one of the collection electrodes, a state in which one of the two types of charged particles have been collected at one of the collection electrodes and the other type of charged particles have been disposed on the display electrode, and a state intermediate between these states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Etsuro Kishi
  • Patent number: 7379043
    Abstract: A multiplexed pixel display includes a plurality of pixel electrodes, a plurality of storage elements, a first voltage supply terminal, a second voltage supply terminal, a common electrode, and a plurality of multiplexers each selectively coupling an associated one of the pixel electrodes with one of the first voltage supply terminal and the second voltage supply terminal responsive to a value of a data bit stored in an associated one of said storage elements. A controller is configured to sequentially write each bit of multi-bit data words to the storage elements, and assert, while each bit is stored in the storage elements, a first predetermined voltage on the first voltage supply terminal, a second predetermined voltage on the second voltage supply terminal, and a third predetermined voltage on the common electrode, for a time dependent on the significance of the stored bit. Various alternate controllers facilitate the use of additional driving schemes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Aurora Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Spencer Worley, III, Edwin Lyle Hudson, Wing Hong Chow
  • Patent number: 7379048
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of human-computer interfacing that provides efficient implementation of intuitive controls in a three-dimensional space. The method comprises providing a three-dimensional space, characterized by x and y dimensions, together defining a plane approximately orthogonal to the user's direction of view into the space. A z dimension, approximately parallel to the direction of view, further characterizes the three-dimensional space. Objects in the space can be defined by x, y, and z coordinate sets. A control is provided having x and y coordinate sets as any other object. The z coordinate set of the control, however, spans a range of values, giving the control an increased depth. The control's range of z can be infinite, making the control accessible at all depths, or can be a finite range, making the control accessible only from that range of depths. Movement of a cursor into the region corresponding to the control initiates interaction with the user according to the control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Novint Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas G. Anderson
  • Patent number: 7358955
    Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid crystal display for a mobile phone that is adaptive for minimizing horizontal flicker. A liquid crystal display for a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel where liquid crystal cells are each arranged in a matrix at each intersection part of data lines and gate lines; and a driver supplying a data signal to the data line and, in addition, supplying a gate signal to the adjacent gate lines in a different direction from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joo Soo Lim
  • Patent number: 7352357
    Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes a main body, a cover unit having a display such as an LCD, and a detecting mechanism for detecting the opening and closing of the cover unit in relation to the main body. The detecting mechanism includes a cam mounted coaxially to and rotating together with a pivot shaft that can rotate together with the cover unit, and a detecting switch mounted to the main body and directly or indirectly actuated by the action of the cam as the cover unit opens and closes to detect the opening and closing of the cover unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Tadanori Tachikawa, Sonomasa Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7352363
    Abstract: A single press method for entering text using a keypad is disclosed. A conventional four-row by three-column 12-key keypad is used to enter all of the letters of the alphabet using single key actuation. Depending on the letter, either a single key or multiple side-by-side keys, such as a pair of side-by-side keys, that can be substantially simultaneously depressed by a user's finger or thumb are used to enter alphabet letters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Justine E. Coates, Timothy D. Sharpe
  • Patent number: 7352359
    Abstract: Methods and systems for interactive interfacing with a computer gaming system are provided. A method includes providing an input device, where the input device is configured to convey inertial data that is to be interpreted by the computer gaming system. The method then identifies an action to be performed by the computer gaming system, where the action is mapped to the inertial data provided by the input device. Then, the method applies a gearing between the action to be performed by the computer gaming system and the inertial data received from the input device. The gearing scales an adjustment to impact the action to be performed by the computer gaming system. The gearing can be set dynamically by the game, by the user, or can be preset by software or user configured in accordance with a gearing algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
    Inventors: Gary M. Zalewski, Richard Marks, Xiadong Mao
  • Patent number: 7352339
    Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein relate to sources of diffuse illumination for providing substantially uniform illumination to a surface. The diffuse illumination arises from varying the diffusion angle of light generated by an LED system. To vary the diffusion angle, a translucent member is placed between the LED system and the surface. Light emitted from the LED system across the translucent member can subsequently can uniformly cover the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions
    Inventors: Frederick Marshall Morgan, Ihor Lys
  • Patent number: RE40324
    Abstract: Various x-y input devices are disclosed that are adapted to allow a user to hold and operate the input device with a stress-reducing, open grip posture with the thumb pointing forward and on top of the device. One preferred embodiment discloses an input device for a computer comprising an x-y input sensor (such as a touchpad) positioned perpendicular to the thumb such that the user provides input with the thumb tip by using pivotal movement of the thumb. Various stress-reducing zero force touch switches are disclosed including zero force touch switches that can be adjusted to accommodate variations in user finger length. The mode of x-y cursor control can be altered through the use of x-y input sensor perimeter inputs. One preferred embodiment discloses a thumb actuated scroll select touch switch that alters the response to actuation of the finger actuated zero force touch switches from mouse button input to scroll wheel input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Dhol New Ventures, LLC
    Inventor: Peter James Crawford
  • Patent number: RE40410
    Abstract: A method and system for tracking attitude of a device includes fixing a two-dimensional array of photosensors to the device and using the array to form a reference frame and a sample frame of images. The fields of view of the sample and reference frames largely overlap, so that there are common imaged features from frame to frame. Sample frames are correlated with the reference frame to detect differences in location of the common features. Based upon detection of correlations of features, an attitudinal signal indicative of pitch, yaw, and/or roll is generated. In the preferred embodiment, the attitudinal signal is used to manipulate a screen cursor of a display system, such as a remote interactive video system (RIVS). However, attitudinal tracking using the invention may be employed in other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP Pte Ltd
    Inventor: Gary B. Gordon