Patents Examined by Prabodh Dharia
  • Stylus fixing structure for a portable computer
    Patent number: 7102627
    Abstract: A fixing structure is employed to secure a stylus in a portable computer. The fixing structure has a storage slot, an attachment means, a latch and an elastic apparatus. An attachment means mounted on a stylus has an engraved notch. The latch embedded in the storage slot fits in the engraved notch of the attachment means to prevent the stylus from slipping out of the storage slot. The latch is pushed by the elastic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Quanta Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chang Yang, Shih-Hwa Lan
  • Optical trackball device and electronic apparatus
    Patent number: 7098895
    Abstract: An optical trackball device of the present invention includes a ball as an operating member, using a material that partially transmits light, and this ball is rotatably supported by a support member. Light emitted from a light emitter disposed beneath the ball is reflected on this ball. A detector detects the reflected light to identify rotation of the ball. Since the light from the light emitter is partially transmitted through the ball, the ball can be illuminated without providing an additional component. Accordingly, a location of the ball is easily recognizable even in a dark place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takatoshi Ono, Takefumi Inoue
  • Image display method and system for plasma display panel
    Patent number: 7098876
    Abstract: An image of each field displayed on a plasma display panel corresponding to input image signals is divided into sub-fields of different weights, the sub-fields being divided into two continuous sub-field groups having a different weighting value, and in which the weighting values of the sub-fields combine to display grays. The method includes generating original grays; determining a diffusion filter value; generating final grays by applying the diffusion filter value to the original grays; generating gray data corresponding to the final grays, the gray data being distributed over the two sub-field groups; and displaying an image on the PDP according to the gray data. The disclosed method and system reduce flicker and contour noise and other display problems associated with the display of 50 Hz Phase Alternating by Line image signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Seok Jeong, Tae-Kyong Kwon, Nam-Sung Jung, Cheol-Hong Kim
  • Inverter controller with automatic brightness adjustment circuitry
    Patent number: 7095392
    Abstract: An inverter controller for an LCD panel display with automatic brightness adjustment circuitry is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the controller includes a look-up table that receives a signal indicative of the ambient light around the LCD panel and generates a signal corresponding to desired panel brightness. The signal corresponding to the desired panel brightness is, in turn, used as a threshold signal in a conventional feedback inverter topology supplying power to lamps associated with the LCD panel. In another exemplary embodiment, a master controller is provided that includes a light sensor controller to poll a slave light sensor to generate a signal indicative of the ambient light around the LCD panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: 02Micro International Limited
    Inventor: Yung-Lin Lin
  • System and method for generating a high speed estimated position output for a position encoder
    Patent number: 7094978
    Abstract: A system and method for generating an approximated position signal that is updated and output at a rate higher than a base rate of actual position signals measured using a position transducer. The actual position signals are determined and/or stored by a transducer signal processing circuit at discrete time intervals. The approximated position signals are generated by a high frequency estimated position generating circuit. A rate of incrementing the approximated position signals is adjusted for use during the next discrete time interval by an error correction feedback loop, based on a difference between certain approximated and actual position values. The accuracy of the system may be further improved by utilizing a latch signal to ensure that the approximated and actual position values that are compared by the error feedback loop correspond to the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: David Skurnik
  • Centerline mounted sensor fusion device
    Patent number: 7091930
    Abstract: A sensor unit (F) has at least a first and second sensor (10, 12) arranged along a sensor axis (14). A head adapter (16) provides support to mount at least one selected device about a user's cranium (18). A securing module (20) is attached to the sensor unit for mounting the sensor unit (F) to the head adapter (16). The sensor unit (F) is to be mounted above an ocular axis (22) formed between a pair of eyes (24) of the user (U) when the sensor unit (F) is attached to the head adapter element (16). When the sensor unit (F) is secured to the user (U) with the head adapter element (16), the sensor axis (14) is essentially perpendicular to the user's ocular axis (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy E. Ostromek, Joseph P. Estrera, Antonio V. Bacarella, Kenneth W. Sauter, Michael J. Iosue, Timothy B. Hogan
  • Display device
    Patent number: 7091937
    Abstract: A display device includes signal lines, scanning lines, pixel switches, display pixels, and a signal line driving circuit which supplies analog video signals to the signal lines. Each of the display pixels comprises one of three types of luminescent element, the three types of luminescent element being arrayed in a scanning line direction. The driving circuit includes a conversion circuit which is arranged to divide the signal lines into signal line blocks each having a predetermined number of signal lines, converts an external digital signal for each signal line block by means of a digital-to-analog converter into an analog signal based on gradation reference voltage groups corresponding to the type, and serially outputs the analog signal as the analog video signal, and a signal line selection circuit which sequentially distributes the analog video signal to related signal lines of the signal line block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Norio Nakamura
  • Method and apparatus for compensating white balance of plasma display panel
    Patent number: 7088313
    Abstract: A white balance compensating method of a plasma display panel includes detecting an average brightness of an input data; determining a discharge frequency in accordance with the average brightness of the data; and applying gamma correction to the data in consideration of the discharge frequency. A white balance compensating apparatus of a plasma display panel includes an average picture level controller for detecting an average brightness of an input data and determining a discharge frequency in accordance with the average brightness of the data; and a gamma corrector for applying gamma correction to the data in consideration of the discharge frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Seong Ho Kang
  • Display device having SRAM built in pixel
    Patent number: 7084851
    Abstract: Disclosed is a technology of further reducing power consumption while a display device having an SRAM built therein is being driven based on data held in the SRAM. A power source voltage control circuit is provided in a power source voltage generating unit for supplying a power source voltage to a data driver and a scan driver of the display device. During a period when graphic data held in the SRAM is supplied to a pixel and a display is performed, the supply of the power source voltage from the power source voltage control circuit is stopped, and operations of the data driver and the scan driver are stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Nobuo Yamasaki
  • Power saving in monochrome LCD display driver IC's by eliminating extraneous switching
    Patent number: 7084865
    Abstract: A method and a system to reduce the power consumption of a LCD driver have been achieved. In order to save power a logic circuitry is connected to the output of a RAM automatically comparing displayed data on a line by line during the scan and, on detection of no data change, keeping the output pins static. In the case a COMMON row contains zero data only the corresponding common output is not selected and does not switch the display and hence saves the charging current for said row of data. This logic circuit is an extension to standard prior art circuitry controlling a LCD display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventors: Julian Tyrrell, Dave Clewett
  • Portable display device and method utilizing embedded still image buffer to facilitate full motion video playback
    Patent number: 7081874
    Abstract: A portable display device (10) includes an LCD display module (12) that includes an embedded still image buffer (16), and external processing circuitry (24) and associated processor memory (22), wherein the processor memory (22) receives decoded motion video (30) as pixel data from a video decoder (216), while the data from the embedded still image memory is displayed on an LCD display (14). When a completely decoded frame of video is stored in the memory, the processing circuitry (24) turns an external pixel transfer clock signal (19) on and transfers the decoded frame (21) from the memory (22) to the embedded image buffer (16) in the LCD display module (12). When the transfer of the decoded frame (21) is complete, an end of frame indication signal (236) is generated and the processing circuitry (24) turns off the external pixel transfer clock signal (19) to the LCD display module (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos Rivera-Cintron, Daniel Baudino
  • Document viewing device
    Patent number: 7081882
    Abstract: A document display device, comprising a memory arranged to store a document in the form of a sequence of pages; a display arranged to provide a user view of pages from the sequence; at least one user input device; a processor responsive to the at least one user input device to change the user view of the sequence of pages wherein the processor is arranged to allow reference markers to be associated with a page by a predetermined first input to the input device and further arranged such that a page associated with the reference marker can be at least partially displayed by a further predetermined input to the input device. Such an arrangement allows one or more pages to marked as a block of pages, and the device allows a user to refer back to the pages at either end of the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Anthony Sowden, Russell David Gallop
  • Method and apparatus for positioning a software keyboard
    Patent number: 7081887
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning a software keyboard are described herein. In one embodiment of the invention, the method includes determining a screen touch location indicating where a touch screen display device was last touched. The method also includes determining a bounding region corresponding to an area on the touch screen display device based on the screen touch location and displaying a software keyboard outside the bounding region on the touch screen display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Edward R. Harrison
  • Data driver and method used in a display device for saving space
    Patent number: 7081879
    Abstract: A data driver includes an input module, a plurality of latches, a plurality of shift registers, and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The method includes utilizing the input module to receive an N-bit digital data set that is classified into m groups, wherein m and n are integers with values either equal to or greater than two. The method further includes utilizing the shift registers to output a plurality of switch signals so as to store the m groups of digital data into the latches in sequence, transmitting the m groups of digital data into the DAC in sequence according to the switch signals, transforming the m groups of digital data into a corresponding analog voltage signal in sequence, and outputting the analog voltage signal to a data line in sequence for pre-charging and driving the data line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Wein-Town Sun, Shin-Hung Yeh
  • Data input
    Patent number: 7079115
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for selecting an item from a predetermined set of items. The apparatus comprises a user interface comprising an input having a plurality of actuators, and an output. It further comprises control means for controlling the user interface to provide a first menu selection comprising a plurality of items not exceeding the number of actuators, and selection means responsive to operation of the actuators for selecting the item from the menu associated with the operated actuator. The control means controls the user interface to provide a further menu selection in response to selection of an item, at least one item of the further menu selection representing a subset of the selected item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones Limited
    Inventor: Steve Arnold
  • Analog to digital converter controller
    Patent number: 7079117
    Abstract: A touch screen controller has a converter that digitizes analog input as a function of an interference signal generated by an underlying touch screen device. To that end, the touch screen controller includes a set of inputs for receiving the noted interference signal from the touch screen device. The set of inputs also receives analog data from the touch screen device. The above noted converter, which is operatively coupled with the set of inputs, is capable of digitizing the analog data received from the touch screen device as a function of the interference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Susan M. Pratt, Thomas P. Kearney, Jose M. Vinau, Yukihisa Handa
  • Optical mouse with rolling ball
    Patent number: 7071922
    Abstract: An optical mouse is operated on a work surface and includes at least one light emitter for emitting a light beam; a light receiver contained by a casing; a rolling ball arranged on the casing and opposite to the light receiver. The light beam has only one reflection by the rolling ball during an optical path thereof and then is detected by the light receiver. The rolling ball is made of transparent material and the distance thereof with the light receiver is adjustable to vary image resolution. The optical mouse can be turned over and placed on a notebook computer for using as a track ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Edison Opto Corp.
    Inventors: Tsung-Ting Sun, Jui-Chien Chuang, Cheng-Hung Tsai, Hsuan Kai Huang
  • Method of and device for displaying images on a display device
    Patent number: 7071894
    Abstract: A method for displaying images on a display device. The display device includes a general processing unit, a display having several display units and an individual processing unit per display unit. In order to display the images, data concerning the image to be displayed are transmitted from the general processing unit to the individual processing units in the form of a data stream, in that there is a control communication between the general processing unit and each of the individual processing units in the form of control signals. The data from the data stream are collected at every individual processing unit as a function of the control signals transmitted to the individual processing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: BARCO, naamloze vennootschap
    Inventors: Robbie Thielemans, Peter Gerets
  • Plasma display panel and imaging device using the same
    Patent number: 7071901
    Abstract: A plasma display panel and an imaging device realize a high luminous efficiency, a long lifetime and stable driving. The plasma display panel uses a discharge-gas mixture containing at least Xe, Ne and He. A Xe proportion of the discharge-gas mixture is in a range of from 2% to 20%, a He proportion of the discharge-gas mixture is in a range of from 15% to 50%, the He proportion is greater than the Xe proportion, and a total pressure of the discharge-gas mixture is in a range of from 400 Torr to 550 Torr. A width of a voltage pulse to be applied to an electrode serving as an address electrode is 2 ?s or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Fujitsu Hitachi Plasma Display Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihiro Uemura, Keizo Suzuki, Hiroshi Kajiyama, Yusuke Yajima, Masayuki Shibata, Yoshimi Kawanami, Koji Ohira, Ikuo Ozaki
  • Digital backplane
    Patent number: 7071908
    Abstract: The present invention provides a various methods, systems and devices for controlling light modulating elements and/or spatial light modulators. In some embodiments of the present invention, a recursive feedback method is used to control light modulating elements and/or spatial light modulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Kagutech, Ltd.
    Inventors: Karl M. Guttag, Alvin Guttag