Patents Examined by William C. Spencer
-
Patent number: 6753835Abstract: The liquid crystal display is a “Cs on Gate type” active matrix liquid crystal display in which an auxiliary capacitor is formed by each pixel electrode and an adjacent gate line. By driving gate lines sequentially line by line to control the potential of the pixel electrode through the auxiliary capacitor Cs at a predetermined time before one frame period ends, a blanking (BL) writing is performed, thereby for forcedly blanking a display.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 1999Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Hideaki Sakai
-
Patent number: 6633279Abstract: A touch panel including an upper substrate (4A) consisting of a soft film having an upper resistor film (51) and a lower substrate of a hard plate having a lower resistor film, which are bonded together to face each other. The touch panel provides a detection output representing the position of contact between the upper resistor film (51) and the lower resistor film as two-dimensional coordinate values. Either the upper resistor film (51) or the lower resistor film or both are of a comb shape having a plurality of resistive lines with a common connector (41) at one end.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2000Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Device Engineering Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masao Kono, Shinsaku Chiba
-
Patent number: 6628274Abstract: A display drive apparatus for driving liquid crystals by applying a voltage to the liquid crystals based on gray-scale data representative of a display. The display drive apparatus includes a polarity control circuit, an input selection circuit, a non-linear operation region identifying circuit and an offset current generation circuit. The polarity control circuit generates a polarity control signal based on a polarity signal. The input selection circuit selects a predetermined reference voltage for driving the liquid crystals from a plurality of reference voltages provided from an input voltage generation circuit or a plurality of reference voltages generated within the input selection circuit based on an input signal representative of gray-scale data and the polarity control signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2000Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Akira Morita
-
Patent number: 6621473Abstract: A touch screen construction provides a plurality of brilliant command icons for a user to easily operate an electronic device. The icons are marked on an icon layer mounted between a top touch layer and a bottom display layer. A cool light layer is located under the icon layer for illuminating the command icons. The user can see the icons clearly and mistaken operation of the electronic device can be prevented even in the dark.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2001Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: Inventec Appliances Corp.Inventors: Cheng-Shing Lai, Yun Gu
-
Patent number: 6597335Abstract: A method for driving a liquid crystal display device is provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1999Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Norio Yasunishi, Satoshi Ueno
-
Patent number: 6531999Abstract: A camera-based system implements a calibration procedure for determining, for a given system user, calibration information that characterizes the manner in which the user points within the system. The system directs the user to point separately at each point in a set of two or more points at different positions on a display. The system then detects, for each of the points pointed to by the user, a location of a pointing finger of the user in an image generated by each camera in a set of cameras of the system, such that for each of the points the location of the pointing finger and the corresponding point on the display specify a line. The lines associated with the points are then used to compute a reference point or other pointing direction calibration information for the user. The calibration information for the user may be stored with user-identifying information in a database of the system, and is utilized in subsequent pointing direction determinations for that user.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2000Date of Patent: March 11, 2003Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventor: Miroslav Trajkovic
-
Patent number: 6522320Abstract: A cursor controller used to control displacement direction and speed of a cursor by changing equivalent capacitance comprises a conductive layer, two electrode layers and a press body. The electrode layers are attached to each face of the conductive layer respectively, wherein a plurality of electrode lines is formed on each electrode layer; one end of each electrode line is coupled with a resistor, and a vector zone is formed on each electrode layer at a section without connected resistor to cross each other perpendicularly in different orientations. An insulation portion is printed on a peripheral area of the electrode lines and on the resistors. The conductive layer and the electrode layers are glued together to form a thin-film printed circuit board. When the press body is pressed against the electrode layer the conductive layer will contact the electrode layers to effect a matrix output signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2000Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: Shin Jiuh Corp.Inventor: Chin-Wen Chou
-
Patent number: 6512510Abstract: In a keyboard device of the present invention, a leader portion formed integrally with a film substrate is provided with switch terminal portions and pointing device terminal portions, and the film substrates are provided with lead-out conductors to be led out to the pointing device terminal portions. A flexible substrate is provided with connection conductors. The connection conductors are connected to lead-out conductors adjacent to the pointing device.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2000Date of Patent: January 28, 2003Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ryoichi Maeda
-
Patent number: 6504530Abstract: A method and apparatus for discriminating against false touches in a touchscreen system is provided. The system is designed to confirm a touch registered by one touch sensor with another touch sensor, preferably of a different sensor type, prior to acting upon the touch (i.e., sending touch coordinates to the operating system). If the touch registered by the first touch sensor is not confirmed by the second touch sensor, the touch is invalidated. Thus the strengths of one type of sensor are used to overcome the deficiencies of another type of sensor. In one aspect, the secondary touch sensor comprises a force sensor to discriminate between true and false touches on other types of touch sensors, such as contaminants on optical and surface acoustic wave sensors, noise or weak signals on capacitive sensors, etc. The force sensor may be a simple one-element system that merely indicates that a touch has occurred or a multi-element system that can provide confirming or supplementary coordinate data.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 1999Date of Patent: January 7, 2003Assignee: ELO Touchsystems, Inc.Inventors: Geoffrey D. Wilson, Victor E. Borgnis, Joel Kent, Mike Lewis, Drew Loucks, James Roney, Michael Bruno Patti
-
Patent number: 6501464Abstract: A graphical user interface in the form of a transparent keyboard may be positioned over an existing computer display. The user may input textual data through the keyboard by selecting keys in the transparent keyboard display. The text entry may then appear on the computer display in non-transparent or conventional format.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2000Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: David A. Cobbley, William C. DeLeeuw
-
Patent number: 6498602Abstract: An optical digitizer which has a function to recognize kinds of pointing instruments, allowing an input by a finger or by a pen, is provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2000Date of Patent: December 24, 2002Assignee: Newcom, Inc.Inventor: Yasuji Ogawa
-
Patent number: 6498597Abstract: A writable and erasable flexible medium 2 as display is stored in a cylindrical magazine type case 3 as a scroll so that the flexible medium can be rewound. Write and read can be executed by means of a CPU, write head, scanner, etc., contained in the case 3, and additional write, erasion, etc., with a write pen 5 can also be performed as desired.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1999Date of Patent: December 24, 2002Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventor: Mitsuru Sawano
-
Patent number: 6489949Abstract: A keyboard includes a keyboard body and a cover. On the keyboard body are provided grooves. The cover has pivots movably mounted in the grooves so that the cover is rotatable and movable with respect to the keyboard body. Alternatively, slots are provided on the cover. The keyboard body has pivots movably mounted in the slots so that the cover is rotatable and movable with respect to the keyboard body.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2000Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: Acer Peripherals, Inc.Inventor: Chun-Shiung Yin
-
Patent number: 6489950Abstract: A hand-held electronic device with a keyboard, thumbwheel, display and associated software is optimized for use of the device with the thumbs. The associated software has a plurality of features to optimize efficient use of the limited keyboard space and encourage the use of the device by thumb-based data entry through the thumbwheel and/or through a combination of minimal number of keystrokes. Software features include international character scrolling, and auto-capitalization. The keys on the device keyboard are optimally shaped and configured for thumb-based input. In addition, the thumbwheel is inclined between the front and a side edge of the device so as to be reachable by either the thumb or index finger of the user's hand at the side edge of the device.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2000Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: Research In Motion LimitedInventors: Jason T. Griffin, John A. Holmes, Mihal Lazaridis, Herb A. Little, Harry R. Major, Craig Dunk, Michael Brown, Jérôme Lang
-
Patent number: 6473076Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the power of a handheld computing device with a stylus is provided. A handheld computing device includes a power “on” state and a power “off” state. The handheld computing device further includes an elongated slot for receiving a stylus, and a switch positioned within the slot for transitioning the handheld computing device from the power “on” state to the power “off” state when the stylus is inserted into the elongated slot.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2000Date of Patent: October 29, 2002Assignee: 3COM CorporationInventors: Curtis D. Thompson, Kenneth A. Croft, Jay B. McCleary
-
Patent number: 6456279Abstract: A liquid crystal display device has a position information input device over an image-displaying surface of liquid crystal panel. The position information input device is formed by a first substrate and a second substrate more easily deformable than the first substrate. A transparent insulation film is provided over a surface of the first substrate opposed to the second substrate. By providing a first transparent electrode on the transparent insulation film, the flatness of the first transparent electrode is improved and a connection failure of the position information input device is prevented.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 1999Date of Patent: September 24, 2002Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Device Engineering Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kiichiro Kubo, Yoshikuni Nagashima, Masaru Suzuki, Terunori Saito
-
Patent number: 6452581Abstract: A liquid crystal device of the type comprising a pair of substrates and a chiral smectic liquid crystal disposed between the substrates so as to form at least one pixel, is driven by a driving method including applying a signal waveform to a selected pixel. The driving method includes the step of applying the signal waveform which includes a clear pulse for placing the liquid crystal in a first state and a writing pulse subsequent to the clear pulse for selectively placing the liquid crystal in a second state depending on input data. The writing pulse includes a higher voltage portion and a pair of lower voltage portions sandwiching the higher voltage portion. The writing pulse is effective in reducing power consumption while ensuring a wider drive margin.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 1998Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazunori Katakura, Shinjiro Okada, Akira Tsuboyama, Jun Iba
-
Patent number: 6429847Abstract: Mounting the cursor actuator control or mouse buttons on the keyboard portion of a portable computer in a manner to permit the translation of the cursor actuator control across the keyboard portion of the portable computer, thereby allows the positioning of the cursor actuator control for comfort and convenience of the operator. The ability to relocate the cursor actuator control further allows any operator of the portable computer to minimize inadvertent operation thereof by the accidental and unintentional contact of user's thumb with the cursor actuator controls.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1999Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Assignee: Gateway, Inc.Inventor: Dax J. Johnson
-
Patent number: 6414652Abstract: In a color image reading apparatus of the present invention, a first light output controller 23 controls, in full-color reading, a variable current regulating circuit 7 according to first reference data from a first storage device 25 in synchronism with a first lighting controller 21 for setting the light output of each light emitting diode to a first predetermined level. Further, a second light output controller 24 controls, in monochrome reading, the variable current regulating circuit 7 according to second reference data from a second storage device 26 for setting the light output of a green light emitting diode, which is turned on continuously by a second lighting controller 22, to a second predetermined level less than the first predetermined level.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 1999Date of Patent: July 2, 2002Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hideki Sawada
-
Patent number: 6411271Abstract: A liquid crystal display including many speakers within a stand and having a display unit, a display angle of which can be adjusted by a cam in order that a user can conveniently see it. The stand supports the display unit through a support and has an inclined part between a front part and a rear part. In addition, a speaker for outputting a high-pitched sound is installed within the front part of the stand and speakers for outputting a middle-low pitched sound are installed within the both sides of the stand. The support is rotatably connected to the display unit and the stand by a driving of the cam and contacted with the cam provided to toe inclined part of the stand and the angle of the support is adjusted by a rotation of the cam and so an angle of the display unit is adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1999Date of Patent: June 25, 2002Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Il-Soon Bang, Byeong-Yong Song, Joo-Hwan Ji