Patents Examined by Regina Liang
  • Patent number: 9110529
    Abstract: An area selection operation of a character string is performed by touching the character string displayed on a display unit 1 via a touch panel unit 2 disposed on the display unit 1 by a finger and tracing the character string. When it is determined that the finger performing the area selection operation is positioned over a displayed character, character type information of the character at a contact position of the finger is determined. Then, when the contact position of the finger performing the selection operation moves from the character to a next character of the character string, a tactile sensation is provided based on information added to each of the characters. An end point of a selected area of the character string is set to a character for which the tactile sensation is provided immediately before detection of release of the finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Kousuke Kido
  • Patent number: 9105220
    Abstract: A projector includes a light source, a light source control section adapted to control a luminance of light emitted from the light source, an acquisition section adapted to obtain an image signal, a projection section adapted to project image light obtained by modulating the light emitted from the light source based on the image signal obtained by the acquisition section, and the correction section adapted to correct the image signal, when the luminance of the light emitted from the light source changes under control of the light source control section, so that a variation in an output luminance of the image light projected by the projection section is increased to a level greater than the variation in the luminance of the light emitted by the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Osamu Kumamoto
  • Patent number: 9099021
    Abstract: A display screen, terminal device using same and method for controlling same are described. The display screen includes a display panel portion configured to display an image based on inputted image data; a transparent fixing component, which is located above the display panel portion, configured to protect the display panel portion; and a camera unit provided on a first area of the display panel portion. By way of the above configuration, a user looks directly at the display screen during a video call or video chat. In this way, the user looks directly at the camera component which takes a video of the user, so that the users participating in the video call feel they are achieving eye contact, thus enhancing the experience of video calls and chats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignees: BEIJING LENOVO SOFTWARE LTD., LENOVO (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhou Yu
  • Patent number: 9086801
    Abstract: A computing device comprising a touch input device and a processor. The touch input device is configured to detect multiple touch point contacts. The processor is coupled to the touch device and configured to execute software instructions that process the multiple touch point contacts and, based on the multiple touch point contacts, adjust at least one audio setting of a plurality of audio output devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Nozomu Yasui
  • Patent number: 9086748
    Abstract: A dual display including: a first display for displaying first visual information and receiving a touch input; a second display including a double-sided emission display for displaying second visual information through a first surface or a second surface opposite to the first surface, and receiving a touch input; a sensor for sensing relative locations of the first and second displays; and a controller for determining whether or not the second display is covering the first display according to a signal of the sensor, and for controlling the first and second displays. Here, the controller is configured to receive the touch input from the second display when the second display unit covers the first display, and to receive the touch input from the first display when the second display does not to cover the first display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kee-Hyun Nam, Yea-Seul Kim
  • Patent number: 9081423
    Abstract: A system is provided for controlling, real-time logging, and archiving complex commercial transactions such as the purchase and financing of an automobile. An electronic contract disclosure unit or ECDU includes a digitizing display for imaging documents involved in the transaction and a digitizer for manual interaction with images on the display. A computer controls the transaction, and may for instance, control the order of presentation of documents to a vehicle purchaser, receive the purchaser's signature on the displayed documents when required, offer choices of various packages that can be accepted or declined by the purchaser, and insures that the entire transaction is carried out properly. The ECDU logs the transaction for future review and preferably records video and audio. Fingerprint readers allow participants to select between options by pressing their thumb or finger on the readers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Reynolds & Reynolds Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Maloney, Mark A. Singleton
  • Patent number: 9076385
    Abstract: Variations occur in the characteristics of transistors. The present invention is a signal-line drive circuit comprising first and second current source circuits corresponding to respective plurality of signal lines, a shift register, and n (n is a natural number of one or more) video-signal constant current source s, wherein each of the first and second current source circuits has a capacitance means and a supply means. The capacitance means held in one of the first and second source circuits converts a current including a current supplied from each of the n video-signal constant current source s to voltage in response to a sampling pulse supplied from the shift register and a latch pulse supplied from the exterior; and the supply means held in the other supplies a current responsive to the converted voltage. The values of the currents supplied from the n video-signal constant current source s are set to a proportion of 20:21: . . . :2n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Kimura
  • Patent number: 9075473
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus for a touch sensitive display device are disclosed. The display device may include a detachable transparent front panel which overlays a display panel. The detachable transparent front panel may be held against the display panel and a plurality of pressure sensors by a series of magnets. This allows the front panel to act as an interactive touch display system. By having a detachable transparent front panel, the touch sensitive display device may be placed in messy environments, such as a kitchen. A user can then remove and wash the detachable transparent front panel without harming any electronic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Daniel Moses, Robert Mitchell Kleiman, Sergiu Radu Goma, Milivoje Aleksic, Sergio Lopez
  • Patent number: 9069404
    Abstract: A force imaging touch pad includes first and second sets of conductive traces separated by a spring membrane. When a force is applied, the spring membrane deforms moving the two sets of traces closer together. The resulting change in mutual capacitance is used to generate an image indicative of the amount or intensity of the applied force. A combined location and force imaging touch pad includes two sets of drive traces, one set of sense traces and a spring membrane. In operation, one of the drive traces is used in combination with the set of sense traces to generate an image of where one or more objects touch the touch pad. The second set of drive traces is used in combination with the sense traces and spring membrane to generate an image of the applied force's strength or intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Hotelling, Brian Q. Huppi
  • Patent number: 9052762
    Abstract: An image display unit is provided which includes an input module receiving touch inputs, a display module displaying an image thereon, a touched state detection module detecting a touch input made onto the input module, a touched position acquiring module acquiring a touched position of the touch input, a flick detection module detecting whether the touch input is made by a flick operation, a flick direction detection module detecting a direction of the flick operation, and a display screen changing module executing either of a first display screen changing process of increasing the number of images displayed on the display module and contracting images displayed on the display module and a second display screen changing process of decreasing the number of images displayed on the display module and expanding images displayed on the display module based on the direction of the flick operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeo Ozawa
  • Patent number: 9024897
    Abstract: An instruction input apparatus comprising: a display being provided with a display screen; an electrostatic touch panel being deposited on the front of the display screen on the display, the touch panel being configured to input instructions to the instruction input apparatus; an approach sensor being configured to detect a user's hand approaching to a part of frame of the touch panel; a coordinate identification portion being configured to identify the coordinate of a contact position at which the user touches on the touch panel; and a controller being configured to, if the approach sensor detects the user's hand approaching to the part of frame of the touch panel, change a contact detectable area of the touch panel so that the contact detectable area will exclude the coordinate of the user's contact position which is identified by the coordinate identification portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Tomoji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9013439
    Abstract: A terminal device with a display function enables only an operation of a desired operation key valid, and easily perform the invalidation operation. In response to switching to a predetermined function mode by manipulating a jog dial, an image in the switched function mode is displayed in a display surface, based on an image signal from a display control section. A bar is located on a borderline between a contents area and an operation area in an initial state of displaying an image. When the jog dial is manipulated by the user to thereby move the bar from the borderline to a predetermined position within the operation area, a CPU determines that the position of the bar has been moved. Then, the CPU detects a new position of the bar, and makes an operation with respect to the operation key located between the bar and the borderline invalid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Eita Katsu, Michiaki Koizumi
  • Patent number: 9007326
    Abstract: This relates to an architecture of a receive channel circuit used during both a spectrum analysis phase and a touch panel detection phase. Various components of the receive channel can be used during both the spectrum analysis phase and the touch panel detection phase. For example, a plurality of digital signal mixers used in the receive channel circuit can be used to demodulate signals during both a spectrum analysis phase and a touch sensor panel detection phase. In addition, the number of digital mixers needed in the receive channel can be reduced by dividing groups of signals to be demodulated into multiple sets of signals and demodulating each set at different times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas James Wilson
  • Patent number: 8988378
    Abstract: A touch device and a driving method thereof are provided. A scanning line driving frequency of the touch device is switched according to a plurality of preset driving frequency setting data groups, so as to prevent misjudgment of a touched position caused by electromagnetic noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Himax Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Jui-Ming Liu, Li-Lin Liu, Chung-Wen Chang, Shen-Feng Tai
  • Patent number: 8988351
    Abstract: An input device includes a substrate, a key top, a magnet, magnetic sensors, and electromagnetic converters. The substrate includes first and second surfaces. The key top is arranged on a first surface side, slides from a reference position in directions parallel to the substrate, and moves in a perpendicular direction. The magnet is fixed on a substrate side, and moves together with the key top. The magnetic sensors are fixed on the second surface, are respectively arranged apart in different directions parallel to the substrate, and detect a position of the magnet. The electromagnetic converters are fixed on the second surface, are respectively arranged apart in different directions parallel to the substrate, are arranged at positions different from the magnetic sensors, and generate magnetic force in a direction in which the magnet is away from the substrate in the perpendicular direction, in accordance with a supply of electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Casio Mobile Communications, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Okada
  • Patent number: 8982102
    Abstract: A coordinate input apparatus includes a light projecting unit configured to project light parallelly to an effective coordinate input region, a reflection unit configured to retroreflect the light projected by the light projecting unit, and a light receiving unit configured to receive light from the light projecting unit or the reflection unit. The coordinate input apparatus includes a moving unit configured to move a set of the light projecting unit, light receiving unit, and reflection unit in a direction perpendicular to the effective coordinate input region in order to ensure a light amount with which a pointed position in the effective coordinate input region can be calculated based on variations of a light amount distribution obtained from the light receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirokuni Takano, Yuichiro Yoshimura, Katsuyuki Kobayashi, Ritsuo Machii, Takuto Kawahara, Takayuki Hashimoto, Naoki Umemura, Hajime Sato, Takayuki Komine, Akihiro Matsushita
  • Patent number: 8976098
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an adjustable viewing angle display device. The display device includes a display panel composed of a first substrate, a second substrate, a display medium layer interposed therebetween, a first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode. Pluralities of sub-pixels are defined in the display panel. The first and second electrodes are disposed on the first substrate in the sub-pixels. The first electrode is spaced apart from the second electrode. The third electrode is disposed on the second substrate. When the display device is operated in a narrow viewing angle mode, there exists a non-zero potential difference between the second electrode and the third electrode, and when the sub-pixel is at gray level of zero, the potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode is not zero. A driving method for driving the display device is disclosed as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Chen-Feng Fan, Chao-Wei Yeh, Chih-Hsiang Yang, Chien-Huang Liao, Wen-Hao Hsu
  • Patent number: 8976137
    Abstract: A touch barrier panel having a touch sensing capability and a 3-dimensional image display capability is disposed on a display panel such that manufacturing cost may be reduced and the thickness thereof is relatively thin. Also, the negative liquid crystal that is not affected by the vertical electric field is used such that a mode change speed and response speed may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nam-Hee Goo, Ji Woong Kim, Chul Kim, Yu-Han Bae, Byoung Jun Lee
  • Patent number: 8970531
    Abstract: A tactile sensation providing apparatus determines a touched object and stores touch information based on the object in a memory unit 16. When an object in current touch information does not match an object in previous touch information stored in the memory unit 16, the tactile sensation providing unit 12 provides a first tactile sensation. When these objects match each other, the tactile sensation providing unit 12, based on the current touch information and the previous touch information, provides the first tactile sensation or a second tactile sensation, which is different from the first tactile sensation and provided with lower power than that for providing the first tactile sensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Takeda
  • Patent number: 8963851
    Abstract: A moving point gesture determination method is disclosed for a touch sense device mapped to a screen according to absolute position. The moving point gesture determination method includes steps of comparing one or more signal values of one or more detecting signals generated by the touch sense device with one or more threshold values, to determine whether any touch event occurs, and determining that a moving point gesture occurs once the determination indicates that a touch event occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Hui-Hung Chang, Chun-Chieh Chang, Chih-Chang Lai