Patents Examined by Michael H. Lee
  • Patent number: 7158192
    Abstract: A high frequency amplifier for amplifying inputted television signals; a mixer for subjecting the television signals which have been amplified to frequency conversion into intermediate frequency signals; a SAW filter for selecting, out of the intermediate frequency signals, intra-range intermediate frequency signals emerging in a range within a prescribed intermediate frequency band; and an intermediate frequency amplifier for amplifying the intra-range intermediate frequency signals are provided, and wide band detecting means for detecting the intermediate frequency signals inputted to the SAW filter and generating a first AGC voltage is provided to control a gain of the high frequency amplifier with the first AGC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Kunishima
  • Patent number: 7158191
    Abstract: Example burst signal sampling circuitry including synchronous separator circuit(s), waveshaping circuit(s), bandpass amplifier circuit(s), and burst separator circuit(s) is provided in order to extract burst signal(s) from video signal(s) output from video amplifier circuit(s). Level converting circuitry ACC detector/amplifier circuit(s) is provided in order to convert fluctuation in the burst signal(s) to DC voltage(s). This DC voltage(s) is fed back by way of intervening control circuit(s) to the cathode side(s) of input tuning variable capacitance diode(s) constituting frequency characteristics correction circuit(s) of input tuning circuit(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Oiwa
  • Patent number: 7151559
    Abstract: When a TS (Transport Stream) generator generates a TS, the TS is modulated by a signal modulator and outputted to a tuner set. In the tuner set, various noises generated by a noise source are added to an input signal, reception processing is performed, and then the resultant signal is outputted to a LVDS (Law Voltage Differential Signal) converter. The LVDS converter converts the input signal into a LVDS of the same format as TS, and outputs the LVDS to an error rate measuring device. The error rate measuring device find a difference between the generated TS and the inputted LVDS while adjusting a synchronization and outputs the difference to a personal computer. The personal computer compares the inputted difference with a predetermined BER (Bit Error Rate), and determines performance regarding the reception process of the tuner set based on the comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasunori Matsuda
  • Patent number: 7151575
    Abstract: A wireless link provides an extension to cable television signals for a television receiver that does not have access to a coaxial cable. Analog and digital cable channels are processed and transmitted over the wireless link. Security of the signal is provided by transmitting encrypted data and decrypting at the receiving node. The conditional access encryption inherent in the data can insure communication security or encryption may be performed at the transmitting node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Entropic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael William Landry, Itzhak Gurantz
  • Patent number: 7148935
    Abstract: A position sensor for determining the relative physical location of a movable item via a combination of a sensor and an indicator plate affixed to an actuator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Chung Ho, S. Scott Seeley, Gerald E. Lester
  • Patent number: 7148933
    Abstract: A projector employing a linear array of light-emitting sources forms a super pixel in the form of a plurality of beams that are focused onto scanning optics that cause the beams to move across a viewing surface on a first axis for defining image lines along the first axis and on a second axis such that super pixel overwrites every addressable spot on the viewing surface thereby producing interleaved and staggered scan patterns that hide the effect of burned out, misdirected, or marginally operating light-emitting sources that would otherwise result in a degraded projected image. An alignment system that includes alignment electronics that is responsive to a charge-coupled device facilitate adjusting the scanning optics to allow precise alignment of individual ones of the light-emitting sources and to detect burnt out individual ones of the light-emitting sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Winthrop D. Childers
  • Patent number: 7145610
    Abstract: Receiving method and apparatus of analog television signals where analog television signals receiving is performed by digital processing are proposed. A high frequency signal supplied to an input terminal 1 is supplied to a mixer circuit 2 and mixed with a local oscillation signal from a local oscillator circuit 3. The intermediate frequency signal from the mixer circuit 2 is supplied to an A/D converter circuit 4. Thereafter the digital converted signal is supplied to a video carrier wave reproducer circuit 5 and a video demodulator circuit 6 by digital processing, and a demodulated video signal is derived at an output terminal 7. At the same time the digital signal from the A/D converter circuit 4 is supplied to a phase comparator circuit 11 and phase compared with an oscillation signal from a variable frequency oscillator (VCO) 12 and further the phase compared output is supplied to the VCO 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Kaida
  • Patent number: 7142246
    Abstract: An output stream of the de-interlaced image frames is produced from an incoming stream of interlaced image fields, where the interlaced image fields include complementary pairs of fields, which together comprise a frame. An input buffer includes field buffers storing the incoming stream of interlaced image fields. Field match detection logic is coupled to the input buffer, and detects matching fields in field buffers storing fields from the incoming stream separated by one other field. De-interlace logic is coupled to the input buffer and reads complementary pairs of fields from the input buffer and outputs de-interlaced frames. Control logic causes the current field from one of the field buffers to be paired with a complementary field selected from one of two fields stored in adjacent field buffers. The control logic sets a mode for the de-interlace sequence, including a standard mode and a 3:2 pulldown mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yen-Ting Chen, Pei-Ming Shan
  • Patent number: 7142251
    Abstract: A video input processor is provided to process different input video format, including RGB, RGB Bayer, YUV 4:2:2 interlaced and progressive video data. The video input processor also uses an advanced algorithm to efficiently convert video data in RGB color space to YUV color space. The video input processor further enables multi-functions such as video image scaling, video image filtering before the video data are output for further video compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Micronas USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Li Sha, Shuhua Xiang, Yaojun Luo, He Ouyang
  • Patent number: 7142249
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for interpolating a pixel from an intermediate line of a first field of a sequence of interlaced fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Micronas GmbH
    Inventors: Marko Hahn, Guenter Scheffler, Peter Rieder, Christian Tuschen, Markus Schu
  • Patent number: 7139033
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for frame capture and redisplay in a stand-alone television. The method comprises: down-converting a television signal including a plurality of frames; selecting an accepted frame; capturing the selected frame; storing the captured frame; selecting a stored frame; and, displaying the selected frame. Some aspects of the method further comprise: storing auxiliary information with the stored frame, such as time, date, or channel. Then, displaying the frame includes displaying the frame with the auxiliary information. Other aspects of the method further comprise: accepting a remote capture and remote display signals from a television remote control. Down-converted frames are selected for storage, and stored frames are selected for display in response to the remote signals. In other aspects, stored frames are displayed as thumbnail displays. For example, a single thumbnail display, or a group of thumbnail displays can be presented overlying the down-converted television signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Shijun Sun
  • Patent number: 7139032
    Abstract: In a display apparatus (PI) displaying a closed-caption (Scc, DS) multiplexed in the first and second component video signals (Scv1: Y, PB, and PR, Svc2: Y and C) received from externally provided video signal sources, a video signal selector (7) selects one of said first and second component video signals (Scv1, Scv2); a closed-caption extractor (3) extracts the closed-caption (Scc, DS) from said selected one of first and second component video signals (Scv1, Scv2); and a controller (10) controls the closed-caption extractor (3) based on the format type of the selected first and second component video signals (Scv1 and Scv2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toyoaki Unemura
  • Patent number: 7139031
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in connection with home television receivers involving processing an electronic signal, including audio and video processors; the audio information, including digital representations thereof, is analyzed and modified to compare words and phrases represented in the audio information with words and phrases stored in electronic memory for elimination of undesirable words or phrases in audible or visible representations of the audio with options for replacing undesirable words with acceptable words. The options include varying degrees of selectivity in specifying words as undesirable and control over substitute words which are used to replace undesirable words. The options for control of the method and apparatus for language filtering are selectable from an on-screen menu through use of a conventional television remote transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Principle Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Richard Bray
  • Patent number: 7139038
    Abstract: A video apparatus has a first connector for outputting first RGB signals, a second connector for receiving second RGB signals, and an On-Screen Display circuit generating third RGB signals. A RGB generator generates fourth RGB signals. A first RGB switch is connected to the second connector and to the On-Screen Display circuit for receiving respectively said second RGB signals and said third RGB signals. The first RGB switch outputs fifth RGB signals. A second RGB switch is connected to the first RGB switch and to the RGB generator for receiving respectively said fifth RGB signals and said fourth RGB signals. The second RGB switch outputs the first RGB signals. A process to control such a video apparatus is also proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Frank Dumont, Chee Lam Tan, Qing Jin Zhou
  • Patent number: 7136110
    Abstract: A resizing unit resizes a captured image or an inputted image and outputs a resized image. A first conversion unit converts the resized image into an RGB image or an image for a TV monitor. A second conversion unit converts the RGB image or the image for the TV monitor into a plurality of serial data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Honma, Yuji Sakaegi
  • Patent number: 7133082
    Abstract: An outdoor-antenna digital television receiver system has an electrically controlled remote tuner located close to the antenna. In response to a remote control signal, the remote tuner selects a particular radio-frequency digital television signal to be received, converts that RF DTV signal to an intermediate-frequency digital television signal of prescribed carrier frequency, and drives a downlead transmission line, preferably a coaxial cable. Indoors, the downlead transmission line is provided with an echo-free termination This echo-free termination may be in a “set-top” box that includes a frequency up-conveter that converts the IF DTV signal back to an RF DTV signal for reception by a conventional digital television receiver. Alternatively, the echo-free termination may be in a special DTV receiver without a local tuner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Inventor: Allen Le Roy Limberg
  • Patent number: 7123305
    Abstract: Viewing of a program is enabled at optimum image quality. A correspondence table of an image signal processing parameter and a combination of TMCC information and transmission errors is stored in a RAM. A CPU reads out an image signal processing parameter corresponding to a combination of TMCC information supplied from an IF demodulator and transmission errors supplied from the IF demodulator, a demultiplexer and an MPEG video decoder from the correspondence table stored in the RAM, and controls signal processing in an image signal processing portion and display processing in an image display portion based on the image signal processing parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Shirahama, Ken Tamayama, Shinichiro Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7123306
    Abstract: A data transmitter for detecting a reference time stamp for use in reproducing a system clock from a transport packet data of a first transport stream, adding the detected reference time stamp as a header information to the transport packet data, converting the transport packet data and the header information into a second transport stream, and transmitting the second transport stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichi Goto, Norihiko Mizobata, Hiroyuki Iitsuka, Masazumi Yamada, Ryogo Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 7119848
    Abstract: A television system is provided which includes a display screen connected to or integrally formed with a broadcast data receiver (BDR). The BDR receives data from a broadcaster at a remote location and decodes the data to form video, audio and/or auxiliary data. At least part of the decoded data is used to generate first and second windows (4, 6, 8, 20, 22) on the display screen and one or more of the windows contain user selectable options. Upon user selection of a particular option (24) from the first window, at least a part of the first or second windows (4, 6, 8, 20, 22) are reconfigured, such that the at least part of the first window covers or disables a remaining part of the first window and/or a part or whole of the at least second window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Pace Micro Technology Plc
    Inventors: Donn Alan Smith, Anders Bjørnsøn Rørholt
  • Patent number: 7119850
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sub picture control apparatus and method for a TV that can achieve an effective viewing of the sub picture. The apparatus includes a region data extracting section (52) for extracting region data included in a broadcasting signal tuned by a second tuner (43), a second luminance/chrominance (Y/C) separating section (45) for separating a chrominance signal and a luminance signal from the broadcasting signal selected by the second tuner (43), a region extracting section/scaler (46) for extracting a video signal of a region corresponding to a specified region information and performing a picture size adjustment with respect to the extracted video signal, and a control section (53) for controlling a region extracting section/scaler (46) to extract the video signal corresponding to a region information extracted from the region extracting section/scaler (46) and controlling a video processing section (48) to process an output signal of the region extracting section/scaler (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sang-O Park