Patents Examined by Jean Lesperance
  • Patent number: 6603446
    Abstract: Disclosed is a configuration of a PDP in which different sustaining discharge signals are applied to odd-numbered ones of X electrodes and Y electrodes and even-numbered ones thereof respectively. Owing to the configuration, the wiring in a drive circuit for driving the X electrodes or Y electrodes is simplified, and a scan driver can be formed with an IC or ICs. A plasma display device has a display panel including first to third electrodes. Sustaining discharge signals that are mutually out of phase are applied alternately to adjoining ones of the first electrodes and adjoining ones of the second electrodes respectively. Consequently, first display cells are defined between the second electrodes and the first electrodes on one side of the second electrodes, and second display cells are defined between the second electrodes and the first electrodes on the other side of the second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kanazawa, Takeshi Kuwahara, Haruo Koizumi
  • Patent number: 6600480
    Abstract: A system and method implement a virtual reality (VR) keyboard generated in a display device viewable to a user, with the VR keyboard simulating a physical keyboard with keys and simulating the depression of a physical key on the physical keyboard indicating a key input. The system and method address numerous difficulties of physical and/or hardware-based input devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Inventor: Anthony James Francis Natoli
  • Patent number: 6600471
    Abstract: There is provided an imaging system including a MOS pixel array having a number, r, of rows of pixels. Each pixel of the array includes a light detecting element, a reset node connected to the light detecting element for controlling dissipation of photogenerated charge produced by the light detecting element, and a sense node connected to the light detecting element for measuring photogenerated charge produced by the light detecting element. A charge control voltage generation circuit is provided, having a topology for producing a plurality of charge control voltages selected to control dissipation of photogenerated charge produced by the light detecting element, in accordance with a corresponding pixel transfer function. A switch circuit is connected to the voltage generation circuit and to the pixel array to apply voltages produced by the charge control voltage generation circuit to reset nodes of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: SMaL Camera Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hae-Seung Lee, Charles G. Sodini, Keith G. Fife
  • Patent number: 6590555
    Abstract: A LCD panel driving circuit, comprising a gate driver for outputting a scan signal, a data driver for outputting a video signal, a switch circuit, and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor detects the operating temperature of the LCD panel to determine whether or not the detected temperature is over a switch temperature and produces a selection signal. The switch selects a 1-line dot inversion control signal or a 2-line dot inversion control signal according to the selection signal and outputs a polar control signal, thereby controlling the selection of the outputted video signal polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Feng-Cheng Su, Chun-Chin Tseng
  • Patent number: 6583779
    Abstract: Displaying an image at different aspect ratios requires incorporating circuits such as memory and scan converters into the drive system driving the display thus increasing the cost. In an active matrix liquid crystal display device a logic control circuit is added to the vertical drive circuit, and when a black display pulse BLK for switching the aspect ratio is applied, the pixels in a specified range at the top and bottom (or left and right) of the pixel section are set to active status and, a black level signal written for all pixels of the area set to active status and, pixels of all other areas are set by line to active status in sequence in the pixel section by vertical scanning performed by a vertical scanner and display signals are written for each line by horizontal scanning with a horizontal scanner, to allow displaying different aspect ratios with a simple design, low cost and low power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Ushirono
  • Patent number: 6583776
    Abstract: There is provided an EL light-emitting device with less uneven brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama, Mai Osada
  • Patent number: 6580411
    Abstract: If a clock signal ck is “H” and an input pulse signal in (first control signal) is “H”, then n-type transistors M15 and M16 are turned on to make an output node/OUT have the GND level. Then, a p-type transistor M12 is turned on to make an output node OUT have a Vcc (16 V) level. Thus, a latch circuit LAT operates as a level shifter circuit when first and second control signals and the clock signal ck are at “H” and operates as a level hold circuit in any other case. Therefore, the shift register circuit constructed of the latch circuit LAT functions as a low-voltage interface, and the input of the clock signal ck is stopped when the latch circuit LAT is inactive, so that the load and the consumption of power of the clock signal line are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Kubota, Hajime Washio, Ichiro Shiraki, Kazuhiro Maeda, Yasuyoshi Kaise
  • Patent number: 6580413
    Abstract: This invention provides a means for establishing and controlling a desired image on a material that is both conformal and flexible by nature. Such materials include paper, textiles, molded plastics, and woven fabric. The invention permits a low cost, effective means for generating both static and dynamic images on these materials while preserving the primary structural and functional attributes of the host material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Shawn M. Walsh
  • Patent number: 6580419
    Abstract: A computer mouse which has a number of features protecting it from damage when dropped. Additionally, the mouse of the invention is designed with features that make it more easily graspable and less likely to drop out of a user's hand in the first place. Finally, aesthetic features are built in to the design of the drop-resistant features. In one aspect, the present invention provides buttons on the top, front of the mouse which are recessed and shielded by a frame to avoid damage when dropped. In addition, the buttons are set back from the nose or front of the mouse so there would not be direct forces on the buttons if dropped on its nose. In another aspect, the invention provides a horizontal slot in an encoder shaft support assembly. Thus, the shaft is blocked from popping upward in a conventional slot arrangement when dropped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Logitech Europe, S.A.
    Inventors: Denis O'Keeffe, Niall White
  • Patent number: 6563480
    Abstract: A LED display panel has a plurality of pixel elements arranged in a matrix along a row direction and a column direction, wherein each of the pixel elements includes a LED and an associated memory cell for storing image data for the pixel. The memory cell functions for a video RAM generally disposed separately from the LED display panel in a conventional LED display panel. A higher-speed operation and reduction of occupied area can be obtained in the LED display panel of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6559833
    Abstract: A touchpad and supporting logic that provides absolute or relative positioning of a graphics cursor on a display. Absolute positioning is preferably invoked by touching the touchpad in a designated region. Relative positioning is preferably implemented by continual movement across a touchpad relative to a reference location. A method of achieving absolute and relative positioning is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company
    Inventor: Mark Steven Rowe
  • Patent number: 6559609
    Abstract: A raster center control circuit for a CRT-type display device that automatically determines a correct horizontal center position of a raster, regardless of a horizontal sync frequency input from a video card. The raster center control circuit includes a horizontal deflection circuit, electrically connected to a horizontal deflection yoke, to supply the horizontal deflection yoke with a parabolic wave signal used to determine a horizontal center position of the raster. A memory device stores predetermined values for raster control according to horizontal sync signal frequencies. A microprocessor determines a frequency of a horizontal sync signal and generates a raster control signal by converting one of the predetermined values stored in the memory device into a raster control signal according to the predetermined frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-soo Jo
  • Patent number: 6559821
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display comprising one or more than one shift registers is characterized in that the timing of turning off the input gate of the inverter connected to the gate of the pMOS transistor of the CMOS transistor is earlier than that of the input gate of the inverter connected to the gate of the nMOS transistor of the CMOS transistor by the difference between the two MOS transistors in the time required for getting to a threshold level after turning off the input gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Ichikawa, Katsumi Kurematsu, Osamu Koyama
  • Patent number: 6556181
    Abstract: Provided are a color display driving principle obtained while taking into account a difference in eye sensitivity to the flickering of differently colored lights, a TFT liquid crystal display module structure that is adequate for this method, and a double-panel projection type display device. The count of the G (green) color data that can be written is increased compared with the count for the other primary colors, or the display period for green can be extended. The repetitive unit is set to R, G, B and G, so that a satisfactory refresh rate can be set for the important color G. Therefore, the overall refresh frequency and the power consumed by the display device can be reduced without deterioration of the display quality, and requests for the time response speeds by the display device can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Fumiaki Yamada, Yoshitami Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 6556186
    Abstract: In a keyboard input device, a mounting member of a pointing device has holes, and a base has projections. The projections are joined to the holes by caulking, thereby mounting the pointing device on the base. An operating portion of the pointing device is placed among a plurality of control keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Narusawa, Masaru Komatsu, Shinji Hirano
  • Patent number: 6552712
    Abstract: The semiconductor device according to the present invention comprises at least one first semiconductor circuit 2 in which first currents (Ih&ngr;a1 to Ih&ngr;a4) excited by external light (h&ngr;) are produced. It further comprises at least one second semiconductor circuit (3) which is electrically connected to the first semiconductor circuit (2) and in which second currents (Ih&ngr;b1 to Ih&ngr;b4) excited based on the external light (h&ngr;) and canceling a part or all of the voltage fluctuation produced by the current increment of the first currents (Ih&ngr;a1 to Ih&ngr;a4) when the external light (h&ngr;) shines are produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Norio Koizumi
  • Patent number: 6552720
    Abstract: A compact device and method for communication and entertainment needs that include combining various functions performed by different keypads and units into a single pad or unit. The device includes circuitry with transceiver capabilities, a chassis, a display, two arms secured to the chassis that can rotate from an open position to a closed position, and a user-interface that provides the user with navigational control and image conversion. The method for reducing the number pads on a keypad of the device, which has the circuitry, includes providing a chassis for securely holding the circuitry, securing a user-interface to the chassis, coupling the user-interface to the circuitry, limiting rotation of the user-interface to a first range of rotational motion using a locking mechanism to provide navigational control, and releasing the locking mechanism to allow rotation of the user-interface beyond the first range of rotational motion to provide image conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrew Julian Gartrell, Alastair Stuart Curtis, Tanja Finkbeiner
  • Patent number: 6535185
    Abstract: An active driving circuit for a display panel includes first to fourth transistors, a capacitor, a constant current source, and a capacitor. The first transistor is connected with a positive power source. The second transistor has a common gate terminal together with the first transistor and a mirror circuit against the first transistor. Also, the second transistor is turned on by a common gate signal applied to the common gate terminal to supply the positive power source to a display device. The third transistor sets a saturated threshold voltage for the common gate terminal by allowing the first transistor and the second transistor to constitute a mirror circuit against each other in accordance with a scan line signal. The constant current source supplies a current with a ground one side and controlled by a gray signal of a data line. The fourth transistor sets the common gate voltage corresponding to the controlled current of the constant current source by the scan line signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hak Su Kim, Oh Kyong Kwon, Young Sun Na
  • Patent number: 6522315
    Abstract: A display apparatus, that includes current driving type luminescent elements, has a driving system that takes the conduction types of TFTs to control the emission of the luminescent elements into consideration. In order to reduce driving voltage and improve display quality simultaneously, the arrangement is provided such that if the second TFT which performs the “on-off” function of the current for the luminescent element is of an N channel type, the potential of the common power supply line (“com”) is lowered below the potential of the opposite electrode (“op”) of the luminescent element to obtain a higher gate voltage (“Vgcur”).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuroh Ozawa, Mutsumi Kimura
  • Patent number: 6512508
    Abstract: This invention provides joystick interfaces and methods of providing position information of a joystick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Scott E. Harrow, Donald Kesner, Judy Fong