Patents Examined by Richard A. Hjerpe
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Patent number: 6236379Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 25, 1998Date of Patent: May 22, 2001Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ryoichi Yokoyama, Mitsugu Kobayashi
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Patent number: 6232956Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 27, 1998Date of Patent: May 15, 2001Assignee: Spice Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Daniel S. Mailman
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Patent number: 6229526Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 18, 1997Date of Patent: May 8, 2001Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Viktors Berstis
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Patent number: 6229516Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 30, 1996Date of Patent: May 8, 2001Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Dong-Gyu Kim, Tae-Sung Kim, Sang-Soo Kim, Seung-Jun Lee, Jung-Min Hu
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Patent number: 6225985Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 26, 1999Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: Elo TouchSystems, Inc.Inventors: Donald B. Armstrong, Joel Kent, James Roney
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Patent number: 6225971Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 16, 1998Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Joseph Grover Gordon, II, Mark Whitney Hart, Sally Ann Swanson
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Patent number: 6222516Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 7, 1997Date of Patent: April 24, 2001Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Masami Oda, Munehiro Haraguchi, Tadahisa Yamaguchi, Kazuhiro Takahara, Akira Yamamoto
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Patent number: 6219023Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 7, 1997Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Byoung-Han Kim
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Method and apparatus for using an array of grating light valves to produce multicolor optical images
Patent number: 6219015Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 18, 1996Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Assignee: The Board of Directors of the Leland Stanford, Junior UniversityInventors: David M. Bloom, Andrew Huibers -
Patent number: 6208330Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 9, 1998Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masahide Hasegawa, Shoichi Ibaraki, Masahiro Ando
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Patent number: 6204835Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 12, 1998Date of Patent: March 20, 2001Assignee: Kent State UniversityInventors: Deng-Ke Yang, Yang-Ming Zhu
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Patent number: 6204832Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 4, 1998Date of Patent: March 20, 2001Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Charles D. Melville, Michael Tidwell, Richard S. Johnston
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Patent number: 6204831Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 7, 1998Date of Patent: March 20, 2001Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuyuki Nishioka, Osamu Yamamoto
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Patent number: 6204828Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 31, 1998Date of Patent: March 20, 2001Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Arnon Amir, Myron Dale Flickner, Steven Carlyle Ihde, Shumin Zhai
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Patent number: 6201529Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 6, 1996Date of Patent: March 13, 2001Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masayuki Shimizu
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Patent number: 6201518Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 31, 1998Date of Patent: March 13, 2001Assignee: Sarnoff CorporationInventors: Michael Gillis Kane, William Ronald Roach
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Patent number: 6201535Abstract: 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 theType: GrantFiled: February 8, 1999Date of Patent: March 13, 2001Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ho-Dae Hwang
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Patent number: 6201519Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 26, 1999Date of Patent: March 13, 2001Assignee: Thomson multimediaInventors: Jean-Claude Chevet, Didier Doyen, Dominique Touchais
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Patent number: 6198475Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 23, 1998Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-SeisakushoInventors: Yoshimasa Kunimatsu, Minoru Morikawa, Satoshi Mori, Chikao Nagasaka, Masato Nishikawa
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Patent number: 6198470Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 28, 1998Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Inventors: Uri Agam, Eli Gal, Eli Ben-Bassat, Ronen Jashek, Yaron Baratz