Patents Examined by William L. Boddie
  • Patent number: 7969400
    Abstract: A display device includes a drive circuit to which video data is supplied from the outside; video lines to which video signals outputted from the drive circuit are supplied; and pixels to which the video signals are supplied through the video lines. The drive circuit includes a static random access memory which stores the video data in memory cells. The drive circuit is configured to perform writing only on selected memory cells that are connected to shared writing and reading word lines, to drive other memory cells connected to the shared writing and reading word lines and not selected to perform writing to output video data respectively stored therein to a reading data line, and then to rewrite the video data back to the non-selected memory cells, without precharging the memory cells that are connected to shared writing and reading word lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Aoki, Mitsuru Goto, Shouji Nagao, Kouichi Kotera
  • Patent number: 7928955
    Abstract: An automatic brightness adjustment for devices with displays includes the capability to assess ambient light. The assessment may be made using circuitry, such as a light meter circuit, by exploiting exposure control circuitry, or using other approaches. The ambient light value is sent to a brightness adjustment driver, which may employ a look-up table to keep track of brightness adjustments for particular ambient conditions. The look-up table may include distinct adjustment values based upon the type of display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Cynthia S. Bell
  • Patent number: 7893913
    Abstract: Power consumption is reduced in a driving circuit of a display device capable of handling a low voltage amplitude input signal by employing level shifters that utilize a differential amplifier. The driving circuit is divided into a plurality of units and each unit is provided with a constant current source. In addition to a usual scanning circuit, there is provided a sub-scanning circuit for controlling ON/OFF of the constant current source arranged in each unit. The sub-scanning circuit turns ON only the constant current sources in the unit that is being scanned. A current thus can be supplied efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Koyama, Yoshifumi Tanada
  • Patent number: 7755580
    Abstract: A method for regulating the biasing voltage of column control circuits of an array screen formed of LEDs distributed in lines and columns, the column control circuits being adapted to turning on at least one LED of a line. The method includes increasing the biasing voltage when the current flowing through at least one activated LED is smaller than a determined luminance current and of decreasing the biasing voltage when the current flowing through each activated LED is equal to the determined luminance current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Céline Mas, Eric Benoit, Olivier Scouarnec, Olivier Le Briz, Danika Chaussy, Philippe Maige
  • Patent number: 7737933
    Abstract: In a display panel, a dummy pulse of a predetermined voltage signal is superimposed on a data signal and the dummy pulse has an amplitude much larger than the amplitude of the data signal, and thus a signal waveform applied to a light modulation layer such as LC layer is changed to a high frequency wave. The applying position of the dummy pulse is varied according to each color of R, G and B, or varied according to frame or field. By performing a MLS drive with the dummy pulse superimposed on the data signal, the amplitude difference between the selection signal and the data signal can be reduced. Thus, a common driver IC and a segment driver IC can be formed as one semiconductor chip to be placed on one side, constructing a three side free type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Yamano, Hiroshi Takahara, Hitoshi Tsuge
  • Patent number: 7643019
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a circuit arrangement to reduce motion blur of images shown in non-stroboscopic display devices, in particular Liquid Crystal Display Panels (LCDs). Thin Film Transistor Displays (TFTs), Color Sequential Displays. Plasma Display Panels (PDPs), Digital Micro Mirror Devices or Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) displays, in which motion vectors depending on moving components in each image of an input video, signal are calculated, in which anti-motion blur filtering of the input video signal is performed based on the calculated motion vectors to produce an output video signal, and in which images are generated on said display device depending on said output video signal. In order to provide an improved spatial filtering with less noise enhancement and less noise modulation, it is proposed that edge characteristics in each image of the input video signal are determined and that anti-motion blur filtering is further based on said determined edge characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Leo Jan Velthoven, Michiel Adriaanszoon Klompenhouwer, Gerard De Haan
  • Patent number: 7639248
    Abstract: A display device capable of displaying a picture of vivid colors maintaining a good balance of colors and a good balance of light-emitting brightnesses of the EL elements. The widths of the detour wirings supplying current to the power source feed lines are increased for those EL elements into which a current of a large density flows. This constitution decreases the wiring resistances of the detour wirings, decreases the potential drop through the detour wirings, and suppresses the amount of electric power consumed by the detour wirings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama, Kazutaka Inukai, Mitsuaki Osame
  • Patent number: 7595792
    Abstract: A value editor and a corresponding method is described for a measuring apparatus, by which setting parameter values can be modified. Parameters can be set for at one of multiple functional units and modified by control elements. Multiple control elements can together constitute a control block and the active control block is highlighted by a focus. To modify parameter values in the highlighted focus, displayed alphanumerically in the control elements, a first or second edit mode can be selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Angela Rieger, Kurt Lainer, Bernhard Reifert, Valentin Illich, Sebastian Thoma
  • Patent number: 7570244
    Abstract: Signal lines for supplying signal currents to respective pixel circuits having light emitting elements are arranged. A signal line driving circuit generates, on a signal line, a signal current corresponding to the image data, by switching bit weighting currents output from bit weighting current source circuits provided for respective bits of the image data, using a switch circuit turned on/off dependent on the corresponding bit. Each current source circuit has a function of correcting the level of the bit weighting current output from itself, based on a reference current of the bit weighting current supplied from a reference current line. Therefore, even when the characteristics of TFTs forming respective current source circuits vary widely, variation in signal currents among the signal lines can be suppressed, and unevenness in emission luminance can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabuhsiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masafumi Agari, Hidetada Tokioka, Ryuichi Hashido, Takahiro Urakabe, Suehiro Gotoh, Masashi Okabe, Mitsuo Inoue
  • Patent number: 7567239
    Abstract: A method and system for written input and subsequent display of said written input of an electronic device (100). The electronic device (100) has a touch input screen (104), said touch input screen operable to accept written input, a display element (105), said display element (105) operable to display one or more of recognized text and digital ink. The recognized text is determined from the written input using a recognition feature coupled to the touch input screen (104) while the digital ink corresponds to the written input. The digital ink may be edited by the user. A scrolling mechanism is coupled to the touch input screen (104) that enables at least a portion of the touch input screen (104) to appear to move as written entries are input thereon so as to continuously present screen space on the touch input screen (104) to the user for written input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Giovanni Seni
  • Patent number: 7522155
    Abstract: A trackball device including (i) a sphere, (ii) a support for rotatably supporting the sphere, (iii) a rotation detector for detecting rotation of the sphere, and (iv) a controller. The controller generates a specific output signal responsive to a signal from the rotation detector. The trackball device further includes an informer for generating auxiliary information that gives feedback of the situation to an operator according to how the sphere rotates. This structure can provide a trackball device having excellent user-friendliness. Because this trackball device gives feedback of the position of a pointer on a display to the operator, the operator doesn't have to look at the display. Thus, this trackball device is especially preferred for incorporation into a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takatoshi Ono, Takefumi Inoue
  • Patent number: 7522141
    Abstract: A method of writing an image on a liquid crystal display of the type having a layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material disposed between a pair of unpatterned conductors and a light absorbing layer for forming an image wise thermal pattern in response to an image wise pattern of light, including applying a first voltage to the conductors; applying a second voltage different from the first voltage to the conductors after applying the first voltage, wherein the first and second voltages are non-zero; and exposing the liquid crystal display to the image wise pattern of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Xiang-Dong Mi, Joshua M. Silbermann, Jorge I. Rangel, Stanley W. Stephenson
  • Patent number: 7489303
    Abstract: Disclosed are what I call “Reconfigurable Tactile Control Displays” particularly suited for applications such as automobile instrument panels where large displays and controls are desirable to provide a wide range of information, with minimal driver distraction and the safe input of data to vehicle subsystems or for communication based activities. Preferred embodiments utilize rear projection displays with electro-optically sensed controls and offer, at low cost, a maximum of reconfigurability to different car lines, drivers, and tasks. Also disclosed are novel implementations for military vehicles, and other applications such as control of appliances, heating and other household functions which may share common control and display presentation with those used in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Inventor: Timothy R. Pryor
  • Patent number: 7439951
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing safe and low-cost force feedback peripherals for consumer applications. A device microprocessor local to an interface device is coupled to the host by a first interface bus. The microprocessor receives host commands from the host computer on the first interface bus, such as an RS-232 interface, and commands an actuator to apply a force to a user object, such as a joystick, in response to host commands. A sensor detects positions of the user object and output signals to the host on a second interface bus, such as a PC game port bus, separate from the first bus. In a “recoil” embodiment, a user initiates force feedback by pressing a button on the joystick, which sends an activation signal to the actuator. In other recoil embodiments, the host computer can transmit one or more enable signals and/or activation signals to the actuator to enable or command forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Louis B. Rosenberg, Adam C. Braun, Bruce M. Schena
  • Patent number: 7429985
    Abstract: Brightness irregularities that develop in a light emitting device due to is persion among pixels in the threshold values of TFTs used for supplying electric current to light emitting devices become obstacles to improved image quality of the light emitting device. As an image signal input to a pixel from a source signal line, a desired electric potential is applied to a gate electrode of a TFT for supplying electric current to an EL device, through a TFT having its gate and drain connected to each other. A voltage equal to the TFT threshold value is produced between the source and the drain of the TFT 105. An electric potential in which the image signal is offset by the amount of the threshold value is therefore applied to the gate electrode of the TFT. Further, TFTs are disposed in close proximity to each other within the pixel, so that dispersions in the TFT characteristics do not easily develop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Kimura, Yoshifumi Tanada
  • Patent number: 7420544
    Abstract: A new-type user interface for providing a hotkey is disclosed, which has high operability and which can also be used to provide the hotkey in a conventional manner. In information processing apparatus has a hierarchical structure including a keyboard as one of hardware parts in a bottom layer, a built-in controller as one of hardware parts in a layer higher than the keyboard, and an operating system and an application program as software part in a layer higher than the built-in controller, wherein the operating system and the application program are connected to the built-in controller via a bus. In this information processing apparatus, if an Fn key is pressed and released, information indicating that the Fn key has been pressed and released is supplied to a utility via an SPIC which is logically different from the keyboard controller. In response, a launcher including hotkey menu icons corresponding to additional keys is displayed on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Ono, Hidenori Yamaji
  • Patent number: 7417631
    Abstract: A color filter cross-talk compensator is provided for a multi-color reflective display system having a controllable display cell with multiple adjacent color filters that transmit generally different components with overlaps between them, ambient light being transmitted into the display cell and reflected back through it. The color filter cross-talk compensator receives image data that correspond to a display image to be rendered and generates cross-talk compensated color component drive signals that are delivered to the display cell (e.g. L.C.D). The cross-talk compensated color component drive signals compensate for the overlapping color components transmitted by the color filters for the different color components. A color filter cross-talk compensation method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Gary K. Starkweather
  • Patent number: 7405721
    Abstract: According to the present invention, in a liquid crystal display device which intermittently drives (burst driving) a light source device having a discharge tube which is arranged to face a main surface of a liquid crystal display panel in an opposed manner and is turned on in response to an alternating electric field, the resistance between first and second active elements which constitute a resonance circuit at a primary side of a driving circuit of the light source device and the reference potential in the driving circuit is set higher when burst driving of the discharge tube assumes the turn-OFF state than when the burst driving of the discharge tube assumes the turn-ON state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadayoshi Tachibana
  • Patent number: 7388568
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device of the present invention, a source line is formed of a gate metal and a gate line is formed of a source metal for reduction of the number of masks, whereby deterioration of a liquid crystal on the gate line is prevented. During a period in which the liquid crystal display is not used, an inverse voltage for preventing deterioration of the liquid crystal is applied to it. In addition, when the gate line is scanned, a width of a start pulse inputted in a shift register for driving a gate line is increased to approximately ten times as large as an ordinary width to improve a duty ratio in an inverted period of the gate line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Koyama, Shingo Eguchi
  • Patent number: RE42183
    Abstract: An improved interface control advantageously may be operated by one hand. A thumbpiece is slidably disposed within a longitudinal arm member which moves in an arcuate path. Placing his or her thumb in the thumbpiece, a user controls the horizontal positioning of a cursor by moving the arm member along the arcuate path. Vertical positioning of the cursor is controlled by sliding the thumbpiece along the length of the arm member. Trigger functions are implemented by exerting a downward force on the thumbpiece. Since the downward force used to implement the trigger function is orthogonal to motions used to control positioning of the cursor irrespective of the particular positions of the arm member and thumbpiece, the disclosed interface control prevents a user from inadvertently altering the positioning of the cursor during implementation of the trigger function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventor: Craig Culver