Patents Examined by Tammy Pham
  • Patent number: 8482825
    Abstract: When a lightness level expressed by a selected pixel value is equal to or larger than a threshold, the use amounts of respective color materials of a first color material group, and those of respective color materials of a third color material group are stored in a memory in association with the selected pixel value. On the other hand, when the lightness level expressed by the selected pixel value is smaller than the threshold, the use amounts of respective color materials of the first color material group, and those of respective color materials of a second color material group are stored in the memory in association with the selected pixel value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Hayashi, Masanori Yokoi, Koji Harada
  • Patent number: 8467099
    Abstract: As set forth herein, computer-implemented methods and systems facilitate halftoning by adapting 2nd generation halftone techniques to the spatial frequency content of an image utilizing a spot function introduced in conjunction with a technique for determining seed locations, which results in halftone images exhibiting improved edge and detail rendition. A dominant orientation of pixels in an input image is employed to select a pre-generated stochastic screen used to determine the seed locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Shen-ge Wang, Edgar A. Bernal, Robert P. Loce, Zhigang Fan
  • Patent number: 8467097
    Abstract: In a method and a device to sort pixel data in a print data stream, a data sorting memory is used configured so that it can be written per column and read per row. The pixel data are entered per column into the data sorting memory in the order of the incoming print data stream. Via the per-row readout the pixel data are re-sorted into an order suitable to control the print head. The sorting can thereby take place in only one write process and one read process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Océ Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Baumgartner, Martin Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 8432571
    Abstract: An image forming system including an image forming apparatus, which is configured to form an image on a sheet according to an input print job, and a plurality of postprocessing apparatuses, which is configured to execute postprocessing on a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus, includes a supply unit configured to supply the plurality of postprocessing apparatuses with a signal, which instructs a batch power supply to the plurality of postprocessing apparatuses, and a control unit configured, after the plurality of postprocessing apparatuses have been powered on by the supply unit instructing the batch power supply, to discontinue a power supply to a second postprocessing apparatus, which is connected further downstream of a first postprocessing apparatus provided most downstream in a direction of conveying the sheet in the input print job, of the plurality of postprocessing apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kato, Yasuo Fukatsu, Naoki Ishikawa, Tomoharu Sato
  • Patent number: 8411408
    Abstract: Provided is an electrostatic chuck (8) of self power supply type, which is capable of supplying power while generating power to be used by an attraction electrode (3) during processing of a substrate. The electrostatic chuck (8) attracts and holds a substrate in a substrate processing apparatus (11) that processes the substrate while generating optical energy. The electrostatic chuck (8) includes: an electrode sheet (5) including an attraction electrode (3); a metal base (1) having the electrode sheet (5) laminated on an upper surface side thereof; an internal power supply for obtaining power to be supplied to the attraction electrode (3); and a voltage boost circuit (7) for boosting voltage of the power obtained by the internal power supply. The internal power supply includes a solar cell (6), and converts the optical energy into the power during the processing of the substrate, to thereby cause the electrode sheet (5) to attract and hold the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Creative Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Tatsumi, Hiroshi Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8395226
    Abstract: An electro-optical device 10 comprises a body 12 of a semiconductor material, such as silicon. A light source 14 is formed integrally in the body. The device comprises an associated light detector 16 and an optical path providing part 19 having a refractive index and extending between the light source 14 and the detector 16, to provide an optical path 18 having a path length. A sensor 20 cooperates with the optical path providing part 19 and is configured to modulate light emitted by the light source 14, by changing at least one of light absorption characteristics in the optical path by exposing a medium in the optical path to the emitted light, the path length and the refractive index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Insiava (Pty) Limited
    Inventors: Monuko Du Plessis, Lukas Willem Snyman
  • Patent number: 8385088
    Abstract: An implementation of an unregulated dormant mode with an output reset controller in a power converter is disclosed. An example method for controlling an output of a power converter includes generating a drive signal with a drive signal generator to regulate a flow of energy to one or more loads coupled to an output of the power converter in response to an energy requirement of the one or more loads. The drive signal generator is rendered dormant to cease for a first time period the regulation of energy flow to the one or more loads when the energy requirement of the one or more loads falls below a threshold value. The energy requirement of the one or more loads is not responded to during the first time period. The drive signal generator is then powered up to resume after the first time period has elapsed the regulation of energy flow to the one or more loads. After the first time period has elapsed, it is identified whether there is an increase in the energy requirement of the one or more loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Bailey, David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Patent number: 8362995
    Abstract: A multi-domain LCD panel includes data lines, scan lines and pixels. Each pixel includes first and second sub-pixels respectively having first and second storage capacitors. A first data switch is selectively coupled to a first terminal of the first capacitor and one of the data lines. A second data switch is selectively coupled to a first terminal of the second capacitor and one of the data lines. First and second bias lines are respectively coupled to second terminals of the first and second capacitors. When a corresponding scan line is enabled, the first and second data switches turn on such that a signal on the data line is transmitted to the first and second sub-pixels. After the scan line is disabled, levels of the first and second bias lines are changed such that pixel voltages of the first and second sub-pixels differ from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Chimei Innolux Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-Feng Hsieh, Chien-Hong Chen, Chih-Yung Hsieh, I-Lin Ho, Che-Ming Hsu, Fu-Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 8358259
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which can obviate the generation of leaking of light and display irregularities in the vicinities of so-called dummy pixels. The liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates which are arranged to face each other in an opposed manner with liquid crystal sandwiched therebetween, a plurality of gate signal lines and a plurality of drain signal lines which are formed on one substrate in a matrix array, a plurality of pixel regions defined by the gate signal lines and the drain signal lines, and a reference electrode and a pixel electrode which are formed in the inside of each pixel region. In such a constitution, the plurality of pixel regions are formed in both a display region and a non-display region, and a voltage applied to the reference electrodes is applied to the pixel electrodes in the inside of the pixel regions in the non-display region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignees: Hitachi Displays, Ltd., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nagatoshi Kurahashi, Masahiro Ishii, Hiroshi Yamagata
  • Patent number: 8344973
    Abstract: An electrostatic preventing device for light emitting diodes (LED), operative to backlight a liquid crystal display (LCD) device is disclosed. The device includes RGB assemblies installed on a flexible circuit board, and an electrostatic preventing circuit separately installed on the flexible circuit board. The device is adapted to protect RGB LED chips inside each RGB package for backlight, mounted in the RGB assemblies, from static electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong-Hwae Lee
  • Patent number: 8325159
    Abstract: A touch sensor comprises a substrate capable of propagating acoustic waves and includes a first surface having a touch sensitive region. A first sidewall intersects the first surface along a first edge. The first edge is configured to propagate a first acoustic wave along the first edge. The first acoustic wave may be a one-dimensional edge wave. A wave converter converts the first acoustic wave to a second acoustic wave, and the first surface is configured to propagate the second acoustic wave across the touch sensitive region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Elo Touch Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel C. Kent, Paulo I. Gomes, Robert Adler
  • Patent number: 8314759
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for displaying an image on a display unit and controlling a backlight module which irradiates the display unit are disclosed. The method includes: processing the image signal and generating a driving signal to drive the display unit; displaying contents of the image signal; analyzing luminance values of the image signal to generate a luminance analysis result; and generating a control signal to control the backlight module according to the luminance analysis result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-Liang Lu, Wen-Ho Hsiao, Shu-Yueh Ko
  • Patent number: 8310467
    Abstract: There is provided an optical-emission-signal output apparatus for outputting an optical-emission signal specifying an optical-emission timing to an optical-emission unit for outputting light to an optical-scan unit for scanning incident light by resonance. The optical-emission-signal output apparatus comprises a frequency divider for dividing a master clock output at predetermined intervals, a delay-time setting unit for specifying one of a plurality of delay times, and a signal output unit for outputting the optical-emission signal in accordance with a result of division by the frequency divider and a delay time specified by the delay-time setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shoji Yamada
  • Patent number: 8184359
    Abstract: A laser projector display module for a handheld device may include an electronics module, a miniaturized light source module electrically connected with the electronics module, a scanner module electrically connected with the electronics module, and an optical assembly configured to direct light from the light source onto the scanner module. The scanner module and the light source module may abut the electronics module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Hoffman, Tomasz L. Klosowiak, Lawrence E. Lach, Junhua Liu, Ion V. Nicolaescu, Min-Xian M. Zhang
  • Patent number: 8149203
    Abstract: A method and a system for displaying images are provided. In the method, a pixel is provided that includes a layer of ferroelectric material and a layer of liquid crystal material. A first electric field is momentarily applied to the pixel to electrically polarize the ferroelectric layer to a first polarization. The first polarization is then used to maintain the liquid crystal material in a first orientation corresponding to a first apparent brightness of the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Ken A. Nishimura, Ian Hardcastle, Pierre Mertz, Rene Helbing, Charels W. Hoke, Barry Bronson
  • Patent number: 8139013
    Abstract: An image display according to the present invention includes a driving device which performs pulse width modulation drive, restrains power consumption, and produces a good multi-tone display. The image display makes the difference between the scan line voltage and the signal line voltage equal in positive polarity writing and negative polarity writing by which pixels are AC driven, so as to make the on-resistances of transistors equal. This allows a maximum pulse width, the size of switching elements, etc. to be determined first so that they match positive polarity writing in which the resistances value of the switching elements rise. No high frequency clock is required to produce subtle differences of charge ratio in negative polarity writing in which the resistances of the switching elements fall. Power consumption which depends on the clock frequency drops too.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouji Kumada, Takashige Ohta, Haruhito Kagawa
  • Patent number: 8130187
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display comprises: a liquid crystal layer capable of bend orientation; a display screen on which an image is displayed by light transmitted through a bend-oriented liquid crystal layer; and liquid crystal voltage application means for applying a liquid crystal voltage to the liquid crystal layer according to luminance information for each field of image information composed of serial fields, the liquid crystal voltage being applied to cause transmittance of the light to change, thereby sequentially displaying the image corresponding to the fields of the image information, and when the luminance information changes between current and subsequent fields, the liquid crystal voltage application means applies the liquid crystal voltage which changes so as to have a value according to the luminance information by the time the liquid crystal voltage is applied for the subsequent field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nakao, Tsuyoshi Uemura, Seiji Kawaguchi, Junichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8102354
    Abstract: A data driver includes a gamma voltage generator that generates red, green, and blue gamma voltages according to red, green, and blue adjustment signals, and a digital to analog converter that converts data signals received from a latch to positive or negative analog video signals using the red, green, and blue gamma voltages received from the gamma voltage generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae Woo Jung
  • Patent number: 8077189
    Abstract: A drive circuit of the present invention is a drive circuit for driving a display element in accordance with grayscale information, which circuit outputs a drive waveform controlled through (i) plural-stepped voltage amplitude modulation and (ii) a pulse width modulation which is settable for each voltage amplitude of the plural-stepped voltage amplitude modulation, the drive circuit including an output control section for (A) latching a pulse width corresponding to a maximum voltage amplitude, according to the grayscale information, which amplitude is one of plural steps of amplitudes of the drive waveform, and which amplitude is to be outputted, so as to control a pulse width of the maximum voltage amplitude, and (B) outputting a maximum pulse width for a voltage amplitude smaller than the maximum voltage amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ishida
  • Patent number: 8072473
    Abstract: A gray scale voltage generator and a method of generating a gray scale voltage in a transmissive and reflective type liquid crystal display device are disclosed. A transmissive mode gray scale data are transformed into real reflective mode gray scale data. An integer part is extracted from the real reflective mode gray scale data as a first reflective mode gray scale data. The first reflective mode gray scale data and temporary reflective mode gray scale data are mixed in a predetermined ratio by N-frame period. The temporary reflective mode gray scale data has a sum of one and the first reflective mode gray scale data. Pseudo gray scale data are inserted into the second reflective mode gray scale data. Therefore, superior display quality is provided in both transmissive and reflective mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Il Kim, Cheol-Woo Park, Tae-Hwan Kim, Dong-Sik Sakong, Young-Chol Yang, Won-Sang Park, Jae-Chang Kim