Patents Examined by Randal Willis
  • Patent number: 8587553
    Abstract: A detection circuit 1 includes: an input unit 2; two contact electrodes A and B which are connected to the input unit; phase inversion unit 3 connected to the contact electrode A; one amplification unit 41 arranged in each contact unit; and detection units 5A and 5B which detect as an electric change amount, an amplitude change of an input signal caused by a capacitance change in each of the contact electrodes A and B. The detection circuit 1 causes the two electrodes to input signals having phases shifted by a half period from each other by using the phase inversion unit 3. In the presence of contact, the amplitude of the input pulses is amplified by the one amplification unit 41. The respective detection units 5A and 5B detect signals of respective electrodes from the one amplified signal and output them to output units 6A and 6B, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Visteon Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuto Yamauchi, Yasunori Murayama, Sadahiko Tanaka, Keitaro Takizawa, Kouichi Yamanoue
  • Patent number: 8581123
    Abstract: A touch panel includes a plurality of first and second transparent electrodes extending in first and second directions on one side of a transparent substrate. One of a couple of adjacent electrodes of the first electrodes and a couple of adjacent electrodes of the second electrodes at each of crossing portions has no interruption while the adjacent electrodes of the other couple are interrupted. A transparent interlayer insulting film is disposed as an upper layer on the one couple at each of the crossing portions. A metal bridge electrode is an upper layer on the interlayer insulting film to connect between the adjacent electrodes of the other couple. Each of the coupling portions has a greater length than the bridge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: OPTREX Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Ozeki, Takashi Shimada, Kiyoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8570279
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with a computing device with a touch screen display comprises displaying a first soft keyboard. While displaying the first soft keyboard, a key for selecting a second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard is displayed. A first contact is detected on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard. In response to detecting the first contact, the second soft keyboard is displayed. Movement of the first contact is detected to a character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard. Lift off of the first contact is detected at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the first contact moved. In response to detecting the lift off, a character is inserted that corresponds to the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the first contact moved and the display of the second soft keyboard is ceased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bas Ording, Kenneth Kocienda
  • Patent number: 8558785
    Abstract: A bistable electro-optic display has a plurality of pixels, each of which is capable of displaying at least three gray levels. The display is driven by a method comprising: storing a look-up table containing data representing the impulses necessary to convert an initial gray level to a final gray level; storing data representing at least an initial state of each pixel of the display; receiving an input signal representing a desired final state of at least one pixel of the display; and generating an output signal representing the impulse necessary to convert the initial state of said one pixel to the desired final state thereof, as determined from said look-up table. The invention also provides a method for reducing the remnant voltage of an electro-optic display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Zehner, Holly G. Gates, Karl R. Amundson, Joanna F. Au, Ara N. Knaian, Alexi C. Arango, Jonathan L. Zalesky
  • Patent number: 8552992
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for specifying textual input for a computing device using a multi-directional input device. Each character of a textual group is associated with a different angle. Each character of the textual group is displayed on a display screen at the associated angle. A swipe angle of a directional swipe received at a multi-directional pointing device is determined. The associated angle closest to the swipe angle is identified. The character of the textual group corresponding to the identified angle on the display screen is highlighted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Kim, Robert Wai-Chi Chu, Steven Ka Cheung Moy, Laurent An Minh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8497816
    Abstract: A crossed monitoring device for a head-up display that can be used for displaying a representation of at least one first datum. The device includes a mechanism generating at least one first image from the at least one first datum, a mechanism receiving from the at least one second display at least one second image generated from at least one second datum, and a mechanism selecting one of the first and at least one second image. The device can further include a mechanism modifying images according to characteristics of the displays. Each display can modify the images to be displayed according to its characteristics, and each display can modify the images according to the characteristics of each display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Laurent Coloma, David Bideau
  • Patent number: 8493417
    Abstract: Provided are a field sequential image display apparatus that reduces flicker and a method of driving the same. The field sequential image display apparatus, which uses a plurality of single color light sources, includes: an image analyzing unit dividing frames of an image signal into fields, whereby the number of fields is greater than the number of single color light sources; an image display panel displaying the fields sequentially; and a light source unit comprising the plurality of single color light sources that are independently driven or driven with other light sources in order to supply lights corresponding to the color components of the fields to the image display panel, wherein an average driving frequency of the single color light sources is higher than a frame rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun-seung Cho
  • Patent number: 8471822
    Abstract: A system including a capacitive array element capable of sensing touch from either side is described. A connected processor unit, either in the device or the host system, may be adapted to interpret signals from the capacitive array element as a cursor or view movement with six degrees of freedom. The track pad device may include a display element and the capacitive array element may be translucent. The display element and the array element may be configured with respect to each other, where different configurations can be associated with different operating modes. For example, when the array element lies over the display screen so that the display screen is viewable through the array element, the array element can function as a touch screen. In another configuration, the array element may generate signals indicating a user's touch from one or the other or both sides of the array element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Chris Lightenberg
  • Patent number: 8471839
    Abstract: A signal control circuit and a method thereof, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a timing controller thereof are provided. The signal control circuit of the present invention maintains a voltage level of a driving signal output from the timing controller for driving data drivers to the supply voltage, such that the data drivers may cease outputting display data to the liquid crystal display panel when the LCD is turned off. Therefore, the image sticking, ghost image and fan-out phenomenon occurred when the LCD is turned off may be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hao-Shun Lin
  • Patent number: 8456493
    Abstract: A method is described for driving matrix displays which are made up of a plurality of lines with individual pixels, which lines are configured as rows and columns, wherein individual lines are driven selectively by rows being activated for a defined row addressing time and an operating current or a corresponding voltage being applied to the columns in correlation with the activated row corresponding to the desired brightness in the pixels. In order to improve the performance of the display, the row addressing time for each row is determined as a function of the maximum brightness of all the columns of the row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignees: Universitat des Saarlandes, Kyocera Display Europe GmbH, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Wissenschaften E.V.
    Inventors: Chihao Xu, Jürgen Wahl, Friedrich Eisenbrand, Andreas Karrenbauer, Kian Min Soh, Christoph Hitzelberger
  • Patent number: 8427390
    Abstract: A space-dividing apparatus for a single-leaf section, a divider etc. A division plate section constitutes a single-leaf screen device and divides a space. On a front surface of the division plate section, nine TV receiving sets are arranged in a matrix shape and an attachable/detachable manner. On a back surface of the division plate section, nine image pickup elements are mounted to, for example, positions that correspond to the TV receiving sets respectively, when each are detached. An imaging direction of each of the image pickup elements can be automatically aligned with a line of sight of the user based on a position of the user (position of a remote controller). An image due to a video signal obtained by each of the image pickup elements can be displayed on the TV receiving sets, thereby permitting the user to observe the other side of the division plate section easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Yasushi Tatehira, Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Kazutaka Uchida, Naohide Yamada, Yoshinori Watanabe, Shinsuke Araya
  • Patent number: 8416173
    Abstract: A method is arranged to process a frame for an LCD with a modified polarity pattern. The pattern employs a polarity reversal scheme that results in line inversion and/or dot inversion patterns that are observable by pixel locations within the frame. The drive polarity for the column drivers in the LCD is toggled according to the modified polarity pattern. The scanning sequence for each row on the display is modified for cooperation with the pattern. A first subframe is scanned during a first interval while applying a first set of drive polarities. A second subframe is scanned during a second interval that is non-overlapping with the first time interval. The application of the method enables the column drivers in the LCD to operate with reduced power while retaining the benefits of line and dot inversion techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher A. Ludden
  • Patent number: 8411035
    Abstract: A track ball cursor positioning sub-system is employed by a handheld electronic device including an operating system and a plurality of applications having a plurality of predetermined scaling values. The cursor positioning sub-system includes a track ball cursor positioning device adapted to output a plurality of device pulses, and a track ball cursor resolution controller adapted to repetitively input the device pulses and to responsively output to the operating system a plurality of cursor movement events. The cursor resolution controller is further adapted to be controlled by the operating system or by the applications to learn which one of the applications is active and to automatically scale a number of the cursor movement events for a corresponding number of the device pulses based upon a corresponding one of the predetermined scaling values of the active one of the applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Steven H. Fyke, Vahid Moosavi
  • Patent number: 8405602
    Abstract: Notification is sent to an upper layer via a control device 2 (a device for managing operation buttons) provided between operation buttons “A-1”, “A-2” and the like and devices for operation input “Device A”, “Device B” and the like such as a pointing device for executing application processing. Function assignment and the like are put under management by the control device 2, so that any modification or change is not required in the OS, drivers, and applications in association with change in key assignment, which is advantageous and effective for reduction of cost and time for product development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Narukawa, Shinji Nakajima, Masataka Suzuki, Mikio Sakemoto, Takanori Nishimura, Tomohiro Tsuyuhara, Naoko Tobata
  • Patent number: 8368631
    Abstract: A driving integrated circuit and methods thereof are provided. The driving IC includes a memory for driving a display panel and having a memory structure including at least one cell block, a scan register receiving data read from the memory, a source driver receiving data output from the scan register and outputting the received latched data to the panel and a switching unit establishing a connection between an activated cell block and the scan register in response to an activation of the activated cell block. One method includes performing a read operation to read data from a memory, the read operation including sensing and amplifying data stored within a memory cell, turning on a switch to increase a bit line voltage above a voltage threshold and latching the amplified data received through a line connected to the switch and transmitting the read data to the panel of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheol-Ha Lee, Young-Ju Choi
  • Patent number: 8358276
    Abstract: A multi-touch capacitive touch sensor panel can be created using a substrate with column and row traces formed on separate layers of the substrate. The column and row traces can include sections extending from a central trace and forming a rectilinear trace pattern with sections of the columns and rows interdigitated with one another. The trace pattern can comprise a plurality of pixels arranged continuously across the sensor panel. In this manner, the sensor panel can provide a linear or near linear response to touches across the touch sensor panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Porter Hotelling, Kenneth Lawrence Staton
  • Patent number: 8354987
    Abstract: The present invention is applied to, for example, a liquid crystal display in which a driving circuit is integrally formed on an insulating substrate, and after a sampling capacitor C3 is charged with a reference current I1 and a gate-source voltage Vgs of a transistor Q14 due to the reference current I1 is set in the sampling capacitor C3, the transistor Q14 is driven to function as a constant current circuit, by the voltage Vgs of the sampling capacitor C3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitoshi Kida, Yoshiharu Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8354981
    Abstract: In an active matrix type display apparatus, during a first selection period, a second main conductive terminal of a drive transistor and a display element are isolated, and at the same time, a control terminal of the drive transistor and the second main conductive terminal and a signal line are connected, and the signal line is supplied with a first current capable of conducting the drive transistor. The first current does not correspond to a signal current corresponding to a current injected to the display element. During a second selection period, a connection of the second main conductive terminal of the drive transistor and the signal line is broken, and the signal line is supplied with a second current. The second current corresponds to a signal current corresponding to the current injected to the display element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Somei Kawasaki, Tatsuhito Goden
  • Patent number: 8354984
    Abstract: An organic light emitting display and a driving method thereof, in which an image is displayed with uniform brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Moo Choi
  • Patent number: 8339385
    Abstract: A self calibrating imaging display system and machine-readable storage for such systems are provided, which perform various steps. The steps include forwarding a display test pattern, where the display test pattern including a measurement field comprising approximately 10% of a total number of pixels displayed by a screen and where the measurement field can be placed at different regions of the screen. The steps also include causing the measurement field to be stepped through a sequence of values. The steps further include receiving luminance and color values from photosensors to detect distinct luminance and color levels at the different regions of the screen. The steps also include determining luminance and color correction factors by comparing the detected luminance and color values to reference luminance and color data. The steps additionally include applying the determined luminance and color correction factors to the different regions of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sussan S. Coley, Victor S. Moore, Robert M. Szabo