Patents Examined by Larry Sternbane
  • Patent number: 9519312
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a controller; a first part; a second part; an arrangement configured to add a third part between the first part and the second part to change a configuration of the apparatus from a first configuration in which the first part and the second part are adjacent and there is no third part between the first part and the second part, to a second configuration in which the first part and the second part are separated by the third part and the first part and the third part are adjacent, wherein the controller is configured to pair the first part and the second part as a user interface when the apparatus is in the first configuration, and is configured to pair the first part and the third part as a user interface when the apparatus is in the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Yi-Ta Hsieh, Alberto Casati, Haleh Barmaki
  • Patent number: 9514680
    Abstract: A pixel driving circuit includes a light emitting diode (LED), a data writing unit, two transistors and two compensation units. The gate of the first transistor is coupled to the data writing unit for determining the current flow of the LED. The first compensation unit is coupled to the first transistor for providing a current path from the gate of the first transistor to a first voltage source and a current path from the gate of the first transistor to a second voltage source. The second compensation unit includes a first capacitor coupled to the gate of the first transistor for voltage coupling and providing a differential voltage that equals to the OLED to the gate of the first transistor. The second transistor is coupled between the first voltage source and a second voltage source for enabling or disabling the current flow between the first and second voltage sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: AU OPTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Li-Wei Liu, Wei-Chu Hsu, Yung-Chih Chen
  • Patent number: 9495044
    Abstract: An image display device includes: a first substrate which has a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface; a second substrate which has a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface, the first surface being arranged to face the second surface of the first substrate, and is made of a transparent material; and an image display layer which is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein a driving electrode is provided on the first surface of the second substrate, a plurality of first detection electrodes are provided on the second surface of the second substrate, a second detection electrode is provided on the first substrate, the first detection electrodes and the driving electrode constitute a capacitance-type first touch panel unit, and the second detection electrode and the driving electrode constitute a capacitance-type second touch panel unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshitoshi Kida, Koji Noguchi, Koji Ishizaki, Kohei Azumi
  • Patent number: 9492747
    Abstract: Correspondence data representing correspondence between a plurality of selection target objects and the attitude of an input device is stored in an information processing apparatus. In accordance with attitude/motion data acquired from the input device, the attitude of the input device is calculated. In accordance with the correspondence data, a selection target object corresponding to the attitude of the input device is selected thereby to perform a process based on the selection target object having been selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Ryo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9489101
    Abstract: A touch panel includes a substrate; and a sensing electrode with a conductive pattern on the substrate, wherein the sensing electrode includes: an electrode layer; and a first buffer layer on the electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Keon Lee, Hyun Soo Kim, Jun Sik Shin, Joon Hyuk Yang, Jung Hwan Bang, Chan Kyu Koo
  • Patent number: 9489899
    Abstract: A control circuit having large effects of low power consumption in CABC drive is provided. The control circuit performs B/L luminance reduction in eliminating a discomfort in image quality by using the feature value calculation circuit in the video signal. The control circuit comprises a luminance control circuit controlling a backlight luminance according to an inputted video signal and a gradation conversion circuit for converting a gradation of inputted video signal according to a controlled luminance. The control circuit reduces continuously and smoothly the backlight luminance, while the screen area reaches one-pixel white, in case where the all white is inputted as video signal, one-pixel black is displayed in any screen area from a display condition of all white, a rate of screen area displaying one-pixel black is gradually increased, and the video signal is continuously changed until the screen area of all white reaches the one-pixel white.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: NLT TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Kouichi Ooga
  • Patent number: 9483113
    Abstract: Various embodiments enable additional content or features to be displayed to a user in response to detecting one eye of the user being closed either as a wink or for a duration of time. In one example, the additional content is graphical overlay, such as a menu containing selectable graphical elements to perform functions related to an application, game, or content, of global navigational features of the computing device in general, or to alternate views, features, or supplemental content for an application or game currently being displayed on a computing device. In one example, the overlay may be displayed only as long as the user keeps one eye closed or, alternatively, the user could wink to display the overlay and provide some other input to remove the overlay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Lee Fowers, William Allan Dugan, Ion Mateo Hardie, Isaac Jeremy Shepard, Brian David Fisher, Robert Gustave Schiewe
  • Patent number: 9478003
    Abstract: A display driver that receives display line data of plural display lines to perform drive control on a display panel includes a line memory for storing display line data which is supplied from the outside. The display driver includes a logic circuit that controls write and read-out of the display line data in and from the line memory, and sorts pixel data of the display line data using read out data from the line memory, to generate display drive data. Drive circuits drive the display panel in units of display lines based on the drive data which is output from the logic circuit. The drive circuits are separately arranged on both sides of the logic circuit and the line memory which are interposed therebetween. The storage capacity of the line memory corresponds to the number of lines smaller than the number of display lines of a display frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Synaptics Display Devices GK
    Inventors: Hikaru Shibahara, Hideaki Honda, Hiroki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9477438
    Abstract: Discrete electronic modules, such as display tiles, designed and configured to be mosaicked and operatively connected with one another and/or to one or more differing types of discrete electronic modules. In some embodiments, the electronic modules include one or more recessed receptacles along their edges that receive corresponding connector biscuits that operatively connect abutting or confronting electronic modules with one another and/or to a controller. In some embodiments, the sizes of the recessed receptacles and connector biscuits are precisely matched so that the biscuits participate in aligning the abutting or confronting display tiles with one another. In some embodiments, the recessed receptacles are provided in recesses in the backsides of the display tiles, which allows each tile to be easily installed and removed from a display mosaic of which the tile is part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Revolution Display, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Hochman, Robbie Thielemans, Steve Danko
  • Patent number: 9471107
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electronic device. The method includes: detecting whether a flexible display is rolled up into a pen-like shape; detecting a handwriting motion according to movement of the flexible display by using at least one sensor when the flexible display is rolled up into a pen-like shape; and displaying a locus according to the handwriting motion of the flexible display on the flexible display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Soo Woo, Yun-Ju Seo, Jin-Gil Yang, Sae-Mee Yim, Sook-Kyung Choi
  • Patent number: 9465456
    Abstract: Algorithms can be used to reduce stylus tip wobble for a stylus translating on a surface over and between electrodes of a touch sensor panel. In some examples, a first position estimate can be calculated using a first position calculation method and a second position estimate can be calculated using a second position calculation method. The position of the stylus can be determined based on a weighted combination of the first and second position estimates. In some examples, the first position estimate can be calculated using an even-point centroid of signal contributions from an even number of electrodes of a touch sensor panel and the second position estimate can be calculated using an odd-point centroid of signal contributions from an odd number of electrodes. In some examples, the weighting can be assigned based on a ratio of the two largest amplitude signals and based on a ratio of the second and third largest amplitude signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vivek Pant, Shahrooz Shahparnia, John Greer Elias
  • Patent number: 9460664
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes: a light emitting unit having a plurality of light sources; a display unit; a determination unit configured to determine, for each light source, a target brightness on the basis of a display image data in region corresponding to the light source; and a control unit configured to control the emission brightness of each light source to the target brightness, wherein when a brightness-insufficient light source is present, the determination unit adjusts the target brightness of light sources around the brightness-insufficient light source, to a value higher than a value corresponding to the display image data in regions corresponding to the light sources around the brightness-insufficient light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takushi Kimura
  • Patent number: 9454243
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for converting a display into a touch display. One or more optical sensors are arranged proximate the display. A processor receives a signal from the optical sensor(s) and, based on the signal, executes instructions for: (i) determining a distance between a pointer device and a surface of the display signal; (ii) determining a position of the pointer device on the surface of the display; (iii) when the distance is less than a threshold detection distance and greater than a threshold touch distance, providing an indication on the display that the position of the pointer device has been determined; and (iv) when the distance is less than the threshold touch distance, taking an action indicative of contact between the pointer device and the surface of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Iconics, Inc.
    Inventors: Vojta Kresl, Christopher N. Elsbree, Russell L. Agrusa, Paulo G. De Barros, Petr Altman
  • Patent number: 9454271
    Abstract: A capacitance distribution detection circuit (2) includes a multiplexer (4), a driver (5), and a sense amplifier (6), and the multiplexer (4) switches states between a first connection state in which first signal lines (HL1 to HLM) are connected to the driver (5) and second signal lines (VL1 to VLM) are connected to the sense amplifier (6), and a second connection state in which the first signal lines (HL1 to HLM) are connected to the sense amplifier (6) and the second signal lines (VL1 to VLM) are connected to the driver (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Miyamoto, Kunihiko Iizuka
  • Patent number: 9454254
    Abstract: A wet ink texture engine and associated method. The wet ink texture engine may run in the context of any application on any device, service, or general endpoint capable of receiving ink input. For example, the wet ink texture engine may be used in the context of a note application that receives input in the form of writing or drawing. The wet ink texture engine reduces, minimizes, or eliminates lag between receiving the input and displaying the input to improve inking experience for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Goins, Sergey Ten, Edward Augustus Layne, Jr., Mario Baumann
  • Patent number: 9448622
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus including a positional relationship acquiring unit configured to acquire information of a positional relationship of users near a display with respect to the display, and a feedback generation unit configured to generate feedback information for a first user on a basis of the information of the positional relationship, the first user being a user among the users and operating or owning content displayed on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Ishihara, Hirotake Ichikawa, Ichiro Sakamoto, Mitsuru Nishibe
  • Patent number: 9449563
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes an electrowetting display device having at least one picture element with a display area. The display area has an active area and a different, inactive area and a display controller controls a display effect of the picture element in a range between a dark state and a light state, with a three-phase line between a first fluid, a second fluid and a first support plate of the picture element being completely in the inactive area for a first applied voltage corresponding to the dark state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bokke Johannes Feenstra, Romaric Mathieu Massard
  • Patent number: 9448637
    Abstract: Technologies for detection of and response to extra-device touch events may include mobile device sensors, such as accelerometers, that detect that a touch event has taken place by detecting device movement in response to the touch event. In some embodiments, a touch event feature vector is generated from sensor readings and passed to a classifier that determines the touch event location. Other touch event information, such as timing, intensity and a profile of the object that caused the touch event can also be determined. The detecting and locating of touch events allows the interaction area of a mobile device to be extended beyond the physical bounds of the device, and allows multiple users to simultaneously use a mobile device in a more convenient manner. Applications executing on a mobile device or the device's operating system can take various actions based on the touch event's location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Avrahami
  • Patent number: 9451705
    Abstract: A touch panel that includes a substrate, a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and FPCs including a first FPC and a second FPC, the first FPC is connected to the first conductive layer, the second FPC is connected to the second conductive layer; the first conductive layer includes n rows of first conductive patterns, one end of each row is connected to one end of a first metal wire, the other end of the first metal wire is connected to the first FPC; the second conductive layer includes m columns of second conductive patterns, one end of each column is connected to one end of a second metal wire, the other end of the second metal wire is connected to the second FPC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Huawei Device Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xingfa Tian, Zengcai Sun, Zhu Liu
  • Patent number: 9442571
    Abstract: A control method and an electronic device are described where the method includes acquiring a real-time collection image regarding a space operation area; according to the real-time collection image, determining whether a first finger and a second finger belonging to a same hand of a user are present in the space operation area; acquiring a first distance between a first fingertip portion of the first finger and a second fingertip portion of the second finger, and generating a first determination result according to the first distance; determining whether the first fingertip portion leaves the second fingertip portion along a direction away from the user's body or approaches the second fingertip portion along a direction approaching the user's body; acquiring a motion parameter of the first fingertip portion; and generating a control instruction according to the motion parameter of the first fingertip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: LENOVO (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xinru Hou