Patents Examined by Vincent E. Kovalick
  • Patent number: 7742036
    Abstract: A haptic device having a plurality of operational modes, including a first operational mode and a second operational mode is provided. The first operational mode is associated with a frequency range. The second operational mode is associated with a frequency range that is different from the frequency range of the first operational mode. A controller is coupled to the haptic device, and is configured to send the haptic device a plurality of control schemes. Each control scheme is uniquely associated with an operational mode from the plurality of operational modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Danny A. Grant, Kollin M. Tierling, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Alex S. Goldenberg
  • Patent number: 7592970
    Abstract: A tiled display device is formed from display tiles having picture element (pixel) positions defined up to the edge of the tiles. Each tile includes a memory which stores display data, and pixel driving circuitry which controls the scanning and illumination of the pixels on the tile. The tiles are formed in two parts, an electronics section and a display section. Each of these parts includes connecting pads which cover several pixel positions. Each connecting pad makes an electrical connection to only one row electrode or column electrode. The connecting pads on the display section are electrically connected and physically joined to corresponding connecting pads on the electronics section to form a complete tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Inventors: Dennis Lee Matthies, Roger Green Stewart, James Harold Atherton, Dennis J. Bechis, Heinz H. Busta, Zilan Shen
  • Patent number: 7414620
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a plasma display panel, and more particularly, to an energy recovery apparatus of a plasma display panel and method thereof. The energy recovery apparatus includes a capacitive load equivalently formed between a scan electrode and a sustain electrode, an energy recovery unit for recovering energy charged in the capacitive load and again supplying the recovered energy to the capacitive load, an energy supply unit disposed between the energy recovery unit and the capacitive load, wherein the energy supply unit relays energy between the energy recovery unit and the capacitive load and supplying a reference voltage to the capacitive load so that stabilized discharging can be generated in the capacitive load, and an energy relay unit disposed between the energy recovery unit and the energy supply unit, for relaying energy between the energy recovery unit and the energy supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronic Inc.
    Inventor: Ji Seung Yoo
  • Patent number: 7411581
    Abstract: A touch pad (101) includes transducers (201-204) for receiving acoustic signals resulting from touch events, such as the continuous movement of a fingertip across the surface (105) of the touch pad. The acoustic signals are acquired at different transducer locations in the surface. Signals from different transducers are combined, preferably in antiphase, to improve signal characteristics. The transducer signals are supplied to a stereo analogue to digital converter (407). Phase differences (706) are obtained and compared (703) with phase difference profiles (607) of known location, in order to identify the location of the touch event. An index (606) is used to identify candidate locations to reduce the amount of processing. Interpolation (705) is used to locate the touch event between profile locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: SoundTouch Limited
    Inventor: Anthony Richard Hardie-Bick
  • Patent number: 7397476
    Abstract: In response to a requirement of transferring a file from a personal computer PC to a projector 10 that is output by dragging and dropping a corresponding file icon onto a projector icon, a CPU 50 requires setting of a password. The CPU 50 maps the preset password to a file and transfers the file with the password to an external storage device of the projector 10. The projector 10 requires input of a password, which is expected to be assigned to the file, and allows reproduction of the file when the input password is coincident with the preset password.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shoichi Akaiwa, Tomohiro Nomizo, Miki Nagano, Masaru Kono
  • Patent number: 7382356
    Abstract: A computer game system uses an infrared sensor which produces an infrared light to produce pulse of infrared light. Optics focus reflections from the infrared light pulse from different portions of the environment to different detectors in a 2D array of detectors. The detectors produce indications of the distance of the closest objects. The indications can be used by a processor to determine each action. The determined action can be used as input to a computer game. The infrared sensor can also be used with a musical keyboard system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corp.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Parker, Charles E. Taylor, Patricia I. Brenner
  • Patent number: 7382333
    Abstract: A display processing construct utilized in information device, discloses a first and a second display processing devices. The display signal outputs from the first and second display processing devices are against the switches separately, wherein the switching of switches are utilized to choose or control the delivery of display signal from the first or the second display processing devices to the displayer. Further a selector is used to control or choose the contact of the switch of the first or second display processing devices so as to deliver the display signal from the first or the second display processing devices to the displayer and contain the power supply module to offer the power to said selected display processing device. The user can choose the appropriate display processing device according to the desirable effectiveness of the displaying and further advance the function of the information device and save the power of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Elitegroup Computer Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Chen, Yun-Ping Liu, Sung-Yuan Chen, Min-Chih Chin
  • Patent number: 7379073
    Abstract: A method of restoring RGB gray scale data for maintaining a sharpness of a screen and reducing a size of a memory is disclosed. The RGB gray scale data having M bits are truncated to generate a first RGB gray scale data having N bits, M being a positive integer and N being an integer less than M. RGB gray scale data information is generated based on a bit information of the first RGB gray scale data. A bit value of a MSB of the first RGB gray scale data is compared with a value of a dither table based on the RGB gray scale data information to generate a comparison value, when a bit value of at least one bit of the first RGB gray scale data is different from other bit values of the first RGB gray scale data. The first RGB gray scale data are compensated based on the RGB gray scale data information and the comparison value. Thus, the sharpness of a screen may be maintained and the size of the memory may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Chul Park, Yong-Guen Ku
  • Patent number: 7379079
    Abstract: An electro emission device (EED) operated by a driver for modulating the pulse width of a driving pulse according to a pulse width modulation (PWM) clock signal to control the brightness of images. The EED calculates a brightness level of image data indicating the brightness of the whole image for each unit image of a video signal. The image data is stored for each unit image of the video signal. The reference brightness level stored in the look-up table is compared with a calculated brightness level to determine a signal of the PWM clock signal condition. A PWM clock signal is generated according to the signal of the PWM clock signal condition to drive the display panel based on the PWM clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mun-Seok Kang
  • Patent number: 7375725
    Abstract: Gamma correction of a video signal voltage applied to respective pixels of a display device can be accomplished without modulating a ramp voltage. The display device includes a common voltage generating circuit which selectively outputs a high-potential-side common voltage or a low-potential-side common voltage to common electrodes in response to an alternating signal, a data storage circuit, a reference data generating circuit which, a ramp voltage generating circuit, a plurality of comparing circuits which compare data stored in the data storage circuit and the reference data generated by the reference data generating circuit, and a plurality of sampling circuits which sample the ramp voltage generated by the ramp voltage generating circuit in response to comparison results of the comparing circuits and output the sampled ramp voltage as a video signal voltage to respective video lines. The reference data generated by the reference data generating circuit is changed non-linearly with respect to time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Sato, Tomohiko Sato, Masahiro Maki, Takayuki Nakao
  • Patent number: 7372434
    Abstract: In a method of driving a discharge display panel, each subfield may include a first address period, a first display-sustain period, a second address period, and a second display-sustain period. In the first address period, a predetermined wall voltage may be generated in display cells selected from the display cells of the first display electrode-line pair group. In the first display-sustain period, display-sustain discharge may occur during a time proportional to a gray scale weight of each of the subfields in the selected display cells of the display cells of the first display electrode-line pair group when the first address period has elapsed. In the second address period, a predetermined wall voltage may be generated in display cells selected from the display cells of the second display electrode-line pair group when the first display-sustain period has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoung-Ho Kang, Woo-Joon Chung, Jin-Sung Kim, Seung-Hun Chae
  • Patent number: 7369102
    Abstract: Methods for navigating a graphical user interface on a smaller display. One method may include displaying a virtual desktop or a portion of a virtual desktop on a display, displaying a map pane over the portion of the virtual desktop, wherein the map pane includes an internal frame, increasing the opacity of the map pane in response to detecting a cursor over the map pane, and panning the virtual desktop in response to detecting the cursor dragging the frame within the map pane. The map pane preferably includes a scaled down image of the virtual desktop. In one embodiment, the portion of the scaled image of the virtual desktop within the frame in the map pane corresponds to the portion of the virtual desktop displayed on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Hok-Sum Horace Luke, Otto G. Berkes, David W. Williams
  • Patent number: 7369115
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a signal source, a driver and an electro-mechanical transducer. The signal source is configured to output a haptic feedback signal. The driver is configured to receive the haptic feedback signal and output a drive signal. The electro-mechanical transducer is configured to receive the drive signal. The electro-mechanical transducer is configured to have a set of operational modes. Each operational mode from the set of operational modes has at least one resonant mode from a set of resonant modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny Grant, Vincent Hayward
  • Patent number: 7365750
    Abstract: It is an object to provide an user identity authentication system and an user identity authentication method with the Internet and a mobile information communication device. The mobile information communication device includes a liquid crystal device with a built-in image sensor. The image sensor reads individual information of a user, and user's identity is authenticated based on the individual information. A result of the authentication is unicast via the Internet. Alternatively, it is judged whether or not the result of the authentication is required to be unicast in accordance with a degree of requirement preset in the mobile information communication device or a destination terminal of communication, and the result is unicast via the Internet only when needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama, Yasuyuki Arai, Hideomi Suzawa, Koji Ono, Toru Takayama
  • Patent number: 7362310
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a keyboard may be moved to a location behind a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Brian A. Wilk, Shawn S. McEuen, Justin Huttula, Alton W. Hezeltine
  • Patent number: 7358967
    Abstract: A method for driving a plasma display panel, including a reset period, an address period, and a sustain discharge period, wherein the reset period has a rising ramp section. During the rising ramp section of the reset period, a flat period of maintaining a peak voltage of a rising ramp applied to a scan electrode is maintained for longer than a period until a variation in a state of wall charges of the scan electrode is ended in all discharge cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-Seong Kim, Woo-Joon Chung, Jin-Sung Kim, Kyoung-Ho Kang, Seung-Hun Chae
  • Patent number: 7358966
    Abstract: The present invention provides a data controller for controlling an electrostatically-controlled micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device having a variable operating characteristic based on control data. The data controller comprises a data comparator and an update circuit. The data comparator is configured to receive control data of a present update cycle, to compare the control data of the present update cycle to control data of a previous update cycle on which the variable operating characteristic of the MEMS device is presently based, and to provide an update signal having a first state when the control data of the present update cycle is substantially equal to the control data of the previous update cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company L.P.
    Inventors: Eric T. Martin, Andrew L. Van Brocklin, Adam L Ghozeil
  • Patent number: 7355561
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing images are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the system for providing images includes a first image display device for displaying a first image at a first image plane and a second image display device for displaying a second image at a second image plane. The first image plane is in front of the second image plane relative to an audience. The system also includes a real-object tracking system for tracking the position and orientation of a real object positioned between the first image plane and the second image plane and a video sub-system coupled to the first and second image display devices and the real-object tracking system for synchronizing the first image with the second image and the first and second images with the position and orientation of the real object placed between the first and second image planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Jerry A. Clarke, John M. Vines, Eric R. Mark
  • Patent number: 7355570
    Abstract: In a method of expressing a gray level of a high load image and an apparatus for driving a Plasma Display Panel (PDP) using the method, a load ratio of the input image signal is calculated, and an error diffusion of a lower bit of gray level data corresponding to the input image signal is performed when it has been determined that the calculated load ratio is greater than or equal to a critical load ratio which is a lowest load ratio among the load ratios in which luminance at every gray level does not increase while the gray level increases at a low gray level area. The error-diffused gray level data is then displayed on the PDP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Im-Su Choi
  • Patent number: RE40891
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multiple coordinate controller device having a three-dimensional body with a first surface portion and a second surface portion where the second surface portion is not coplanar with the first surface. A first transducer with a first sensing surface is coupled to the first surface portion of the body and capable of detecting both positions and a range of pressure forces at positions on the first sensing surface. The first transducer is further capable of providing a first range of z coordinates at a detected x,y coordinate in response to the range of pressure forces on said first sensing surface. A second transducer having a second sensing surface is coupled to the second surface portion of the body and capable of detecting both positions and a range of pressure forces at the positions on the second sensing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Sandio Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Taizo Yasutake