Patents Examined by Ulysses Weldon
  • Patent number: 5404074
    Abstract: An image display comprises a plurality of picture elements arranged in a matrix and each connected to a switching thin film transistor and a capacitor. The switching thin film transistor is controlled to drive the corresponding picture element. The image display is capable of areal luminance and of displaying images in a satisfactorily high brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Watanabe, Toshio Ohoshi
  • Patent number: 5404150
    Abstract: In order to improve the contrast of a liquid crystal display device by the voltage equalization method, scanning side electrodes totaling D in number are scanned in line sequential fashion while applying a voltage between each selected scanning side electrode and each signal side electrode, the voltage applied being controlled in such a way that, during a total of D times of scanning of the scanning side electrodes for production of one frame, when a particular scanning side electrode and a particular signal side electrode are simultaneously in a select state, a voltage Vop is applied to the corresponding liquid crystal, and when the scanning side electrodes respectively are in a non-select state, which occurs the remaining (D-1) times for each of the scanning side electrodes, a voltage whose polarity is reversed in response to the select and non-select states of the signal side electrodes and whose absolute value is represented by .vertline.Vop/B.vertline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuo Murata
  • Patent number: 5404134
    Abstract: At least three control patterns are used for a connection management control of nodes in a ring network, each node determining a changeable communication status in accordance with a communication status of the own node and the nature of the control pattern received from an upstream node. The own node transmits one of the control patterns, selected in accordance with the changes in the communication status, to the downstream node. The control patterns indicate respective conditions of the own node so that the communication enable status of the ring network, as a whole, can be autonomously established by the nodes per se without employing a monitor node or supervisory node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Akira Jinzaki, Masahiro Higuchi
  • Patent number: 5404133
    Abstract: A luminous key top having display sections comprises: a display member having a plurality of protrusions corresponding to the respective external configurations of the display sections and formed of a transparent or a translucent synthetic resin; an external member consisting of an opaque synthetic resin and formed integrally on the display member except for the respective top surfaces of the protrusions; first light-transmitting color layers formed by printing on the respective top surfaces of the protrusions; and second light-transmitting color layers formed by printing on the first light-transmitting color layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Moriike, Atsushi Haseyama
  • Patent number: 5402151
    Abstract: A data processing system includes a multipurpose data input device formed by a touch screen and a digitizing tablet integrated with one another, which are activatable independently of each other by proper stimuli. The touch screen and the digitizing tablet each comprise a respective sensing means to sense the proper stimuli. The respective sensing means comprise respective components for producing respective signals representative of the proper stimuli, the respective components being physically and functionally distinct from one another. The input device is integrated with a flat panel display in order to establish a visual feedback to the user or to present information pertaining to the entered data after processing. The flat panel display, touch screen and digitizing tablet take a variety of forms and a variety of techniques are utilized to determine which of the touch screen and digitizing tablet is activated at any time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Arne L. Duwaer
  • Patent number: 5402147
    Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated display system for multi-media workstations wherein graphics image and video data are merged in a single frame buffer. The integrated display system employs 3-port VRAMs with a first serial access port for display data output, and a random access port for graphics data, a second serial access for video data input. The display system includes a single frame buffer memory system for a multi-media workstation which operates compatibly with display systems and logic designed for dual frame buffer systems and it uses the 3-port VRAM in combination with a means incorporating improved input locking, video update or refresh, and encoded video data input stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Inching Chen, Thomas A. Horvath, Andy G. Lean, Bob C. Liang
  • Patent number: 5399936
    Abstract: An organic electroluminescent device comprises a cathode, an emitting layer of organic compound including a quinoline derivative, a positive-hole transport layer of organic compound and an anode which are laminated in sequence, further comprising a metal film having a work function equal to or lower than that of the anode and partially disposed between the anode and the positive-hole transport layer. This device achieves a high luminance efficiency per se. The existence of the metal film reduces resistance values of whole anodes. The entering efficiency of the positive-hole carrier is partially decreased due to the metal film line. This metal film line decreases the waste electric current that does not contribute the emission of the emitting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventors: Tohru Namiki, Hitoshi Satoh, Kenichi Nagayama, Teruichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5400052
    Abstract: A mosaic picture display apparatus includes a picture processing unit and an external storage unit connected thereto. Mosaic size data is programmed in the external storage unit. In response to a control signal which is generated for each mosaic having a mosaic size determined by the mosaic size data at timing of the start thereof, a latch latches still picture character data outputted from a register. Therefore, each of dots in the mosaic is displayed by the same latched character data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd., Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Otake, Toyofumi Takahashi, Satoshi Nishiumi, Takuo Mukai
  • Patent number: 5400055
    Abstract: An expansible notebook computer includes a mainframe unit, a display, and a keyboard unit, wherein the mainframe unit has a floppy diskdrive on the inside, a display connector connected to a mainframe connector on the display unit, a top recess, which receives the keyboard unit, a keyboard connector on the top recess electrically connected to a connector on the keyboard unit, a plurality of expansion cartridge connectors on a vertical front wall thereof for connecting an expansion cartridge, a plurality of mounting slots and a plurality of battery contacts on the vertical front wall above the expansion cartridge connectors for connecting a battery box, a hard diskdrive connector and an expansion box connector on a bottom wall thereof for connecting a hard diskdrive and an expansion box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Inventors: Hsi K. Ma, Chan-Ik Chung
  • Patent number: 5400044
    Abstract: A signal generator generates a plurality of grey level signals which are inputted into a one bit-per-pixel raster scan video display device (such as a simple matrix liquid crystal display). Each grey level signal causes a particular proportion of pixels to be illuminated, in order to produce a particular grey level. Uniform high quality grey levels are produced by introducing into each grey level signal a variable frame phase shift for successive rows of each frame. The specific phase shifts introduced between successive rows and frames result in the illuminated pixels being distributed evenly in each frame. The pattern of illuminated pixels changes smoothly with time to produce the required uniform high quality grey level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Acorn Computers Limited
    Inventor: Alasdair R. P. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5400053
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the quality of a color-to-gray scale conversion is disclosed. A table is generated providing a visually correct conversion of all possible background/foreground colors. This table is then stored. In operation, after the attribute byte describing the foreground and background colors is retrieved from memory, it is used to access the stored conversion table, wherein its gray scale equivalent is stored. The stored equivalent is then used to generate the gray scale LCD display. In other embodiments, multiple copies of the table are stored, making multi-frame operations very efficient in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Chips and Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Arun Johary, Morris E. Jones
  • Patent number: 5398039
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a displaying apparatus for a vehicle which assures that a displayed image for displaying informations on the present running state of the vehicle such as a running speed or the like in the form of a virtual image by reflecting the displayed image on the displaying unit to an eye range on the driver's seat with the aid of a first reflective plate, and its object resides in providing a displaying apparatus of the foregoing type which assures that quality of the displayed image can be improved with inexpensive construction, and moreover, visual recognizability of the displaying apparatus can be improved (with improved optical contrast).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Furuya, Kunimitsu Aoki
  • Patent number: 5398048
    Abstract: CRT control apparatus for use in high-resolution graphic display equipment of the type including a graphics processor and a frame buffer having storage banks for storing digital signals representing the color intensities of red, green and blue colors of pixels to be presented on the CRT screen. The apparatus includes an MOS integrated-circuit (IC) chip which serves as the master timing control for the entire CRT sub-system, including timing of the read-out of pixel signals from the frame buffer, loading of the pixel signals into latches on the MOS chip, and multiplexing of the signals stored in the latches. Digital signals representing the color intensities are directed to corresponding DACs which generate the analog intensity color signals for the electron guns of the CRT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Denis O'Mahony
  • Patent number: 5396261
    Abstract: A polysilicon gate bus structure used for activating a row of pixels in a matrix of pixels of an active matrix liquid crystal display is described. The polysilicon gate bus is formed with a plurality of buffers interspersed along its length. A plurality of field effect transistors, each associated with one pixel in a row of pixels, have their gate electrodes connected to the polysilicon gate bus with the buffers interspersed among the gate electrode connections so as to speed up a row scanning signal propagation time to each of the gate electrode connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: WAH-III Technology Corporation
    Inventor: William A. Hastings, III
  • Patent number: 5396267
    Abstract: A reconfigurable video game/simulator system including a personal computer, a video display, a keyboard, and one or more game controllers including a throttle controller. The keyboard is coupled to the throttle controller as are the other game controllers. The throttle controller is coupled to the computer through a keyboard interface port. During a functional mode, the throttle controller receives inputs from the controllers and the keyboard and transmits a corresponding input keycode. During a reconfiguration mode, the user inputs the desired keycodes into the computer, either by inputting them by the keyboard or selecting a preexisting configuration file stored on the computer. The reconfiguration keycodes are then downloaded to the throttle controller over the keyboard interface. The throttle controller receives the reconfiguration keycodes and stores them in a non-volatile memory located within the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Thrustmaster, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank M. Bouton
  • Patent number: 5396263
    Abstract: This invention allows each of a plurality of windows to use its own distinct datatype and format while more than one window is being displayed on a monitor screen of a computer video graphics system. Different windows can use full color or pseudocolor frame buffer organizations, can use overlay planes or not, and can have other differences in the interpretation of the pixel values without affecting each other. Window dependent pixel datatypes are provided by means of a lookup table that is contained in logic between the frame buffer and the colormap/DAC that drives the monitor. This lookup table contains descriptors for pixel datatypes. It is indexed by a window number that is specified for each pixel. The pixel datatype descriptor accessed at each pixel is then used to control logic that processes that pixel value to create an index for the colormap. This allows each window to specify its own pixel datatype and format, that is used to interpret the pixels contained in the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Larry D. Seiler, James L. Pappas, Robert C. Rose
  • Patent number: 5396264
    Abstract: A portable information display device such as a pager (20) has a plurality of operating modes and a corresponding plurality of menu items (40, 140). A symbol (40, 142) corresponding each menu item is displayed on a display (22) in a sequence determined by a priority (46) of the menu item. The priority (46) of each menu item (40, 140) is determined in response to either a frequency of selection of the corresponding operating mode (44), or a default value assigned to the menu item (42, 142) or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Falcone, Eugene Lopatukhin, Greg Coonley
  • Patent number: 5394169
    Abstract: A trackball supporting device includes a plurality of trackball supports respectively installed in holes around a base to support a trackball on a trackball seat on the base, each trackball support including a front socket, a rolling ball revolvably retained in the respective front socket to support the trackball in the trackball seat, and a lubricating device to lubricate the respective rolling ball, each mounting hole having symmetrical hooks with raised portions clamped on the respective trackball support to hold it in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Silitek Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis Tseng
  • Patent number: 5394172
    Abstract: A video RAM having isolated array sections for providing write function that will not affect other array sections. The whole VRAM memory array does not have to be completely read before writing new pixel information to particular array section. At least two separate VRAM activities can be performed simultaneously to different parts of the array. Specifically, to write to one particular section of an array and to and for refreshing other parts of the VRAM. The overall read and write sequences can be shorter. When a particular pixel or memory cell has to be modified or update, only an associated SAM to the particular cell will be activated. This SAM will now only affect the column lines associated with that section of the array containing the activated SAM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Micron Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Loren L. McLaury
  • Patent number: 5394167
    Abstract: The display device comprises: a main control circuit for generating a light intensity reference; n secondary control circuits, each associated with a respective one of the n display subassemblies, each secondary control circuit including circuit for receiving the reference and circuit for monitoring the light source(s) of the associated subassembly so that each emitted light intensity corresponds to the reference light intensity; the monitor circuit presented by each secondary control circuit comprising circuit for directly detecting each light intensity emitted by the associated light source(s), circuit for comparing each light intensity with the reference, and circuit for controlling the power supply to the associated light source(s) as a function of the result of the comparison; and the circuit for direct detection of each light intensity comprise one or more fibers of the bundle of optical fibers and connected to a photoelectrical converter device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Securite et Signalisation
    Inventor: Philippe Migny