Patents Examined by Peter Prizio
  • Patent number: 6940522
    Abstract: It is intended to provided an image processing method, an image display unit, and a storage medium, capable of effecting an appropriate color reproduction even under a change in brightness of external illumination. In an image display unit according to the present invention wherein a desired image processing is applied to inputted image data, an tone reproduction characteristic in a dark surround of the image display unit in a dark surround and an tone reproduction characteristic in a illuminated surround of the image display unit under illumination of a predetermined luminance value are measured by a measuring means and the tone reproduction characteristic in an illuminated surround is approximated to the tone reproduction characteristic in a dark surround in a desired input tone range by a characteristic approximating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Kanai
  • Patent number: 6924442
    Abstract: A pen input apparatus includes a plurality of penpoints for drawing tracks on a recording medium such as paper, and a selector for selecting a specific penpoint from the plurality of penpoints. The input apparatus including a type recognition unit for recognizing the type of the selected penpoint (such as the color of a line which can be drawn, the thickness of the line, pen type such as ballpoint pen, sign pen or fluorescent pen), and a transmitter for transmitting the track of the penpoint as position information, and transmitting the information on the type recognized by the type recognition unit to a computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Nakano, Hirohide Komiyama, Takayuki Akai
  • Patent number: 6897849
    Abstract: A key input device is provided for inputting digits/letters/characters/symbols by a keypad and a character input method for the key input device. In the key input device, a mode key is pressed to select one of a plurality of key matrixes for a corresponding mode, which is displayed on a display. A first directional key is used for inter-cell movement in the displayed key matrix and a second directional key is used to select an intended digit/letter/character/symbol within a cell. In the character input method, a mode with a unique key matrix is set by pressing a mode key. An intended cell is moved to within the key matrix by pressing a first directional key. An intended digit/letter/character/symbol is selected in the cell by pressing a second directional key. The selected digit/letter/character/symbol is displayed on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-Wook Kim
  • Patent number: 6882331
    Abstract: A light emitting diode matrix array is used as the light source of a picture projection system. Each cell of the LED matrix array has an assembly of one or more red, green and blue LEDs with metal lead structures to individually energize these LEDs. The lights emitted from the LED assembly is transmitted through one or more programmable liquid crystal plate or digital micro-mirror device to control the light transmission, and then merged together for projection as a pixel onto a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventor: Jiahn-Chang Wu
  • Patent number: 6879306
    Abstract: A display system for providing a user viewable visible color image includes a display for receiving color laser light so that the display, in response to color laser light, produces a viewable visible colored image; a plurality of different color laser light sources arranged in an array with each such laser light source including: a first dielectric stack for receiving and transmitting pump-beam light and being reflective to laser light over a predetermined range of wavelengths; an organic active region for receiving transmitted pump-beam light from the first dielectric stack; and a second dielectric stack for reflecting transmitted pump-beam light and laser light from the organic active region back into the organic active region. The display system projects color laser light from the array onto the display in a pattern to cause a visual image to be produced by the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: John P. Spoonhower, Keith B. Kahen, John A. Lebens
  • Patent number: 6879316
    Abstract: An input device with a pressure-sensitive element using a pressure sensing resistor. A solid elastomeric material is mounted over the pressure sensing resistor to transfer a force from the user's finger to the pressure sensitive resistor without visible deformation of the elastomeric material. This provides a comfortable button for a user which does not require the compression of a domed cap to provide pressure-sensing input. In another aspect of the invention, a pressure-sensing input element utilizes both the amount of pressure and the amount of time to determine the type of signal provided to the electronic system. In another aspect of the present invention, an input device contains a first scrolling element (e.g. a wheel) and includes a switch button mounted close to the scrolling element to activate continuous scrolling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Logitech Europe, S.A.
    Inventors: Florian Max Kehlstadt, Baptiste Merminod, Laurent Plancherel, Emmanuel Dubois
  • Patent number: 6876349
    Abstract: Digital to analogue conversion in an AMLCD is obtained by using the column electrode capacitance as part of the digital to analogue conversion circuit by dividing columns (19) into separate sections and serially performing the conversion via switching elements (31). Alternative embodiments comprise a column driver circuit with capacitors having a (binary) divided range of capacitance or use column sub-electrodes of different widths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Martin John Edwards, Karel Elbert Kuijk
  • Patent number: 6867750
    Abstract: The value of a stereo vision parameter for an immediately preceding frame is subtracted from the value of the stereo vision parameter for a current frame to obtain a differential value d. If d<?? (lower limit value), the differential value d is set to ??, and if d>? (upper limit value), the differential value d is set to ?. If the differential value d is within the range of ?? to ?, it is left as it is without being changed. The thus set differential value d is added to the value of the stereo vision parameter for the immediately preceding frame, and the resulting value is set as the stereo vision parameter for the current frame. By thus setting the stereo vision parameter, a limit is imposed upon abrupt change of the stereo vision parameter for the current frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Noro
  • Patent number: 6862013
    Abstract: On a termination side of each scanning line is provided a charging switching element and a discharging switching element in parallel with each other, the charging switching element having a gate electrode which is connected with one end of a scanning auxiliary line, the other end of which is connected to a scanning line of the same stage, the discharging switching element having a gate electrode which is connected with one end of a scanning auxiliary line, the other end of which is connected to a scanning line of the following stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanori Takeuchi, Nobuyoshi Nagashima, Naofumi Kondo, Kazuyori Mitsumoto
  • Patent number: 6859199
    Abstract: A method of determining a movement vector between two images is disclosed. The method comprises capturing a first image using a sensor array. Next, a first feature set is extracted from the first image. A second image subsequent in time from the first image is captured. Similarly, a second feature set is extracted from the second image. The first feature set is compared to the second feature set to determine a shift in position of the second image relative to the first image. Finally, the movement vector is output based upon the shift in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ge Shi
  • Patent number: 6853371
    Abstract: Within one pixel element 200, two display circuits corresponding to the analog display mode and the digital display mode are disposed such that they are adjacent to each other. One of these two display circuits can be selected through the circuit selection circuits 40 or 43. Since the high voltage power line 150 of the retaining circuit 110, which is used under the digital display mode, also performs as the signal selection line 88, it is possible to have the high density integration of the pixel element 200. Also, the bias voltage Vsc supplied through the selection storage capacitor line 81 is same as the signal A. Therefore, the storage capacitor line 81 is connected to the drain of the TFT 122 of the signal selection circuit 120 so that the signal line 82 for supplying the signal A can be omitted. Thus, the high-density integration of the pixel element 200 can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Miyajima, Michiru Senda
  • Patent number: 6853384
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device carries out tone display with pixels by applying a tone voltage according to tone data to each pixel in each frame, and includes: an LUT memory, which receives tone data of a display frame and tone data of an immediately preceding frame, for converting and outputting the tone data of the display frame; a source driver for applying the tone voltage to the pixels based on the converted tone data outputted from the LUT memory; and a liquid crystal cell, which makes up the pixels, for realizing tone display by the applied tone voltage, wherein the LUT memory stores beforehand output tone data which is specified by the tone data of the display frame and the tone data of the immediately preceding frame. This reduces a voltage change of pixel electrodes which is associated with a tone change to suppress unmatched tone display, thereby improving image quality of moving images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidekazu Miyata, Makoto Shiomi, Akihito Jinda, Kazunari Tomizawa, Koichi Miyachi
  • Patent number: 6677935
    Abstract: An objective is to provide a position pointing device, a program and a method for detecting the position pointing device which relates to a device pointing a position on a display screen and which can discriminate a scan mode of a display device and obtain information of pointed position by performing a processing corresponding to the discriminated scan mode. A photosensor (18) provided in the position pointing device detects a scanning beam from a display device (140) and generates a light detection signal. A scan mode discriminating section (30) judges that a scan mode in the display device is not a standard scan mode type, but a multi-density scan type if a frequency component of the light detection signal includes a frequency component of a horizontal synchronous signal in a multi-density scan type display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignees: Namco Ltd., Tamura Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Kobayashi, Yukihiko Yagi, Nobuaki Arai
  • Patent number: 6667735
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus, a method and a system for reducing stress for a user's hands and fingers while operating a computer. The apparatus includes a fluid-filled structure proximate to the computer that encloses a fluid-proof keyboard. In one embodiment, the fluid-filled structure has a pair of detachable arm-hand inserts attached on one side, with each situated to permit at least a portion of an arm and a corresponding hand to be inserted within in a manner that facilitates operation of the fluid-proof keyboard. The apparatus further includes the fluid-proof keyboard, which is submerged in the fluid-filled structure proximate to the computer and which is coupled to the computer to provide for manual keyboard input to the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: William H Cresswell