Patents Examined by Richard A. Hjerpe
  • Patent number: 6236379
    Abstract: Two series of color video signal lines (1R, 1G, and 1B) (2R, 2G, and 2B) for receiving in a panel two series of input color video signals from outside the panel, a plurality of switching elements (11, 12, 13 . . . ) for connecting each of the two series of color video signal lines to each data line, and a drive pulse generating circuit which sequentially generates drive pulses (PC1, PC2, PC3 . . . ) for controlling open and close of the plurality of switching elements are provided. Odd-numbered drive pulses are applied to switching elements corresponding to a first series of color video signals, and even-numbered drive pulses are applied to switching elements corresponding to a second series of color video signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Yokoyama, Mitsugu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6232956
    Abstract: A variety of methods and systems for presenting and delivering user application input choices. One-handed or vocal user input provides chords or syllables. The invention includes systems and methods for presenting user application input choices, chord or syllable based apparatus and sub-systems for generating user application input choices in response to input signals associated with chords or syllables. One embodiment of input device resembles a joystick and includes a base and a key carrier extending from the base. A single key is provided along the top of the carrier, and four keys extend widthwise along a side surface. A system presents and delivers user application input choices. An input device receives chords and syllables. A processor associated with the input device receives chords or syllables and generates input signals, a second processor for receiving and evaluating the input signals and for sending a user application signal to the user application processor of the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Spice Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel S. Mailman
  • Patent number: 6229526
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a display of a data processing system uses first and second wireless position control devices, and a control base unit. The first wireless position control device includes a transducer for transmitting a first signal upon which X-Y position control and/or action control signals generated by the device are imposed. A second wireless position control device includes a transducer for transmitting a second signal upon which X-Y position control and/or other action control signals generated by the second control device are imposed. The first and second signals and second different frequencies. To prevent the control devices from interfering with each other, the control base is associated with the data processing system and includes circuitry for issuing polling signals to the control devices. Only one of the control devices is polled at a particular time. The control base circuitry also receives and decodes the carrier signals to generate decoded display control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Viktors Berstis
  • Patent number: 6229516
    Abstract: Two gate lines are applied with scanning signals simultaneously. The period of the scanning signal and the image signal being read from a frame memory is twice that of the image signal being written into a frame memory or that of the scanning signal of a conventional art. Therefore, the time for applying the image signal to the pixels increase twice. In addition, the image signals in a frame are continuously applied into the first row pixels to the last row pixels, and thus each row pixels have the same driving conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Gyu Kim, Tae-Sung Kim, Sang-Soo Kim, Seung-Jun Lee, Jung-Min Hu
  • Patent number: 6225985
    Abstract: A touchscreen is constructed directly on the glass surface of a cathode ray tube (CRT). To solve the problem of insufficient space between the CRT's bezel and frontal region to accommodate the transducers for the touchscreen, the transducers are moved away from the frontal region, to the highly curved shoulder region of the CRT. To preserve acoustic signal strength, the positioning of the transducers is chosen to take advantage of the fact that an acoustic wave on a non-Euclidean surface travels along a geodesic path. Allowance is also made for the acoustic lens and prism effect of the corner regions of the CRT, where the transducer may be located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Elo TouchSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald B. Armstrong, Joel Kent, James Roney
  • Patent number: 6225971
    Abstract: An ambient light reflective color electrophoretic display is comprised of a plurality of color pixels; each comprised of at least two electrophoretic cells. Each cell is comprised of a suspension of charged, white or colored light-scattering pigment particles in a light-transmissive fluid. Each cell is also comprised of a light-transmissive front window, at least one non-obstructing counter electrode, at least one non-obstructing collecting electrode, a light-absorbing panel, and a color filter medium. The cells of different colors are in a laterally adjacent relationship to each other and the charged pigment particles are responsive to the electrodes. The filter medium in each cell can be a light-transmissive color filter element. Alternatively, the pigment suspension fluid itself or the pigment particles themselves can be colored and serve as the filter medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Grover Gordon, II, Mark Whitney Hart, Sally Ann Swanson
  • Patent number: 6222516
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display has a liquid crystal layer, first and second electrodes, and a third electrode. The liquid crystal layer is inserted between the first and second electrodes to define liquid crystal cells. The third electrode is capacitively coupled with one of the first and second electrodes. A correction voltage for correcting distortion of a waveform for driving one of the first and second electrodes is applied to the third electrode, to keep an effective voltage applied to the liquid crystal cells unchanged and improve the display quality of the liquid crystal display. Therefore, the liquid crystal display of the present invention can correct distortion of a common voltage and prevent crosstalk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Masami Oda, Munehiro Haraguchi, Tadahisa Yamaguchi, Kazuhiro Takahara, Akira Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6219023
    Abstract: A video signal converting apparatus converts a low-resolution video signal from a host into a different-resolution video signal capable of being displayed on the entire screen of a high-resolution supporting display device. The apparatus has a memory for storing the digital video signals and a horizontal output generator. The horizontal output generator receives first and second data signals and a horizontal synchronization signal and generates a horizontal output signal for enabling the digital video signals corresponding to each horizontal line of the second display to be stored or read from the memory. A number of pixels per cycle of the horizontal output signal is equal to a value of the first data signal, and a number of pixels per pulse width of the horizontal output signal is equal to a value of the second data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byoung-Han Kim
  • Patent number: 6219015
    Abstract: A multicolor optical image-generating device comprised of an array of grating light valves (GLVs) organized to form light-modulating pixel units for spatially modulating incident rays of light. The pixel units are comprised of three subpixel components each including a plurality of elongated, equally spaced apart reflective grating elements arranged parallel to each other with their light-reflective surfaces also parallel to each other. Each subpixel component includes means for supporting the grating elements in relation to one another, and means for moving alternate elements relative to the other elements and between a first configuration wherein the component acts to reflect incident rays of light as a plane mirror, and a second configuration wherein the component diffracts the incident rays of light as they are reflected from the grating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: The Board of Directors of the Leland Stanford, Junior University
    Inventors: David M. Bloom, Andrew Huibers
  • Patent number: 6208330
    Abstract: A coordinate input apparatus has an optical scanning/detection unit for touch input, and a vibration sensor for pen input. While no coordinate input is made, some components of the optical scanning/detection unit are activated to detect the size of an object that approaches or contacts an input board. When the detected size is smaller than a predetermined value (as large as about the fingertip), it is determined that touch input has been made, and the optical scanning/detection unit is activated to acquire the coordinate value of the touch input. On the other hand, when the detected size is larger than the predetermined value (larger than a fist), it is determined that pen input has been made, and coordinate detection using the vibration sensor is done.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahide Hasegawa, Shoichi Ibaraki, Masahiro Ando
  • Patent number: 6204835
    Abstract: Bistable cholesteric liquid crystal material is disposed between opposed substrates, wherein one of the substrates has a first plurality of electrodes facing a second plurality of electrodes on the other substrate, wherein the intersection of the first and the second plurality of electrodes forms a plurality of pixels. The material is addressed by applying a preparation voltage across the first and second plurality of electrodes and then subsequently applying a selection voltage across the first and second plurality of electrodes. The material is then allowed to relax for a period of time, whereupon the preparation and selection voltages are reapplied. These steps are repeated until the liquid crystal material obtains the desired reflectance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Kent State University
    Inventors: Deng-Ke Yang, Yang-Ming Zhu
  • Patent number: 6204832
    Abstract: A point source array generates an array of output beams defining a plurality of image pixels. A microlens array receives the output beams and direct them toward desired pixel locations. Either one or both of the point source array and microlens array are scanned over time to form an image of pixels. An image is composed of an array of image portions. Each image portion includes a plurality of pixels. For each image portion, there is a corresponding point source of light and a corresponding microlens. The corresponding point source and microlens scan light within the area of the image portion to generate all of the pixels for such image portion. The microlens array is an integral array. Each lens moves together with each image portion being scanned concurrently by the microlens array an point source array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Charles D. Melville, Michael Tidwell, Richard S. Johnston
  • Patent number: 6204831
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display driver has a system of driving a plurality of segments with 1/n duty binary voltages. In the system, one frame period has the following three sub-periods; the first sub-period, where the line sequential driving is performed, the second sub-period, where adjustment is made on the segment voltage dispersion which occurs depending on display patterns, and the third sub-period, which is at the other time span than the first and the second sub-periods in the same frame period, where the potentials of the common signals and those of the segment signals are identical. With this driving method, constant Von/Voff ratio is obtained, and the contrast dispersion and crosstalk, which occur depending on a display pattern, are mostly eliminated. Then a good display quality is obtainable, and also the effective values of the voltages applied to the liquid crystal, are adjustable irrespective to the power source voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Nishioka, Osamu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6204828
    Abstract: A computer-driven system aids operator positioning of a cursor by integrating eye gaze and manual operator input, thus reducing pointing time and operator fatigue. A gaze tracking apparatus monitors operator eye orientation while the operator views a video screen. Concurrently, the computer monitors an input device, such as a mouse, for mechanical activation by the operator. According to the operator's eye orientation, the computer calculates the operator's gaze position. Also computed is a gaze area, comprising a sub-region of the video screen that includes the gaze position. This region, for example, may be a circle of sufficient radius to include the point of actual gaze with a certain likelihood. When the computer detects mechanical activation of the operator input device, it determines an initial cursor display position within the current gaze area. This position may be a predetermined location with respect to the gaze area, such as a point on the bottom of the gaze area periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Arnon Amir, Myron Dale Flickner, Steven Carlyle Ihde, Shumin Zhai
  • Patent number: 6201529
    Abstract: An electrically controlled birifringence type liquid crystal display panel has a pictograph (picto) display area and character display areas. Character codes are stored in a DDRAM and color attribute data indicating the display colors of characters are stored in a CCRAM, both in one-to-one association with the character display areas. Character patterns for character codes stored in the DDRAM are read from a character generator, and, simultaneously color attribute data in the CCRAM is read out. A segment driver performs PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control on voltages to be applied to electrodes of the liquid crystal display panel based on the character patten and the color attribute data, for displaying the characters in arbitrary colors. Color attribute data which specifies the display color of each of pixels constituting a pictograph is set in a picto RAM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6201518
    Abstract: A plasma display device having three-electrode pixels. Each pixel may be set either in a write state or in a sustain state by a pair of select electrodes. In the write state the pixel may be set either ON or OFF. A pixel is put in a write state when the AC signals applied to the select electrodes are in phase. Once the signals applied to the select electrodes are in phase, the pixel may be set ON or OFF depending on the phase of the signal applied to a data electrode. In the sustain state the pixel remains either ON or OFF regardless of the signal applied to the data electrode. A pixel is put in a sustain state when out-of-phase signals are applied to the pair of select electrodes. The pixels in the display are arranged in rows and columns. Each pixel column has a single data electrode, and each pixel row has a pair of select electrodes associated with it. Pixels in unselected rows may be illuminated concurrently with the writing into pixels in selected rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Gillis Kane, William Ronald Roach
  • Patent number: 6201535
    Abstract: A flat panel display apparatus includes a sampling clock generator for generating a sampling clock signal with a frequency corresponding to a synchronous signal supplied from a host, a delay circuit for delaying the sampling clock signal, a level converter for converting an analog video signal supplied from the host to have a given digital voltage level, a phase detector for detecting the phase difference between the digital voltage level video signal from the level converter and the sampling clock signal delayed by the delay circuit to generate a phase difference data, a comparator for comparing the phase difference data with a delay data corresponding to the synchronous signal, a micro-controller for generating the delay data to increase or decrease the delay time of the delay circuit to adjust the phase of the sampling clock signal in response to the output of the comparator, and an analog to digital converter for converting the analog video signal into corresponding digital video signal in response to the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ho-Dae Hwang
  • Patent number: 6201519
    Abstract: A process for addressing cells of a plasma panel includes the step of coding the grey levels NG1 and NG2 relating to an item of information regarding the luminance of two cells situated in the same column and in two adjacent lines I and I+1. The grey levels NG1 and NG2 are coded as a first control word corresponding to a common value VC and as a second control word and a third control word corresponding to specific values, VS1 and VS2. The coding is such that, NG1=VS1+VC and NG2=VS2+VC. The process further includes the step of transmitting the bits of the first control word on the column inputs by simultaneously addressing the two lines I and I+1 in respect of the selection of the corresponding cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Thomson multimedia
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Chevet, Didier Doyen, Dominique Touchais
  • Patent number: 6198475
    Abstract: A touch operation information output apparatus is provided in a position at which a driver can operate it, and detects a touched position with respect to the input pad and outputs its coordinate data to the display device. Here, protruding brackets are provided at 16 positions on the input pad. A first group of protruding brackets that are in 4 positions at a center of the input pad are formed in a “+” shape, a second group of protruding brackets that are in four corners of the input pad are formed in an “L” shape and a third group of protruding brackets are formed in a “T” shape. Because of this, the driver can recognize the touched position with respect to the touch operation information output apparatus and blind operation becomes possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Kunimatsu, Minoru Morikawa, Satoshi Mori, Chikao Nagasaka, Masato Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 6198470
    Abstract: A digital input device for entering data into a digital system, comprises at least two remote sensors and a control unit. A working area is set up in proximity to the sensors and the position of an object within the working area is detected by the input device based on data provided by each sensor and transmitted, by said control unit, to said digital system. The position of an object outside said working area, if detected by said input device, is rejected by said control unit and is not transmitted to said digital system. The sensors can be ultrasonic sensors and the object can be a part of the body of a user. Use of a third sensor allows three-dimensional detection of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventors: Uri Agam, Eli Gal, Eli Ben-Bassat, Ronen Jashek, Yaron Baratz