Patents by Inventor Marc Drader

Marc Drader has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7710466
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus enabling use of a light source emitting a spectrum of light not following characteristics of a blackbody source of light with a camera module programmed for use with light sources following characteristics of blackbody sources of light, wherein a white-balance patch is transmitted to the camera module to cause the camera module to accept color coordinates representing a point on a chromaticity chart that partly defines a region of color coordinates on the chromaticity chart into which color coordinates of the light source fall and to which color coordinates of a reference white color derived by a white-balance routine of the camera module are constrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Marc Drader, Ken Wu, Michael Purdy
  • Patent number: 7702235
    Abstract: An improved handheld electronic device and camera apparatus upon which can be executed an improved method enable a modular camera to be used in conjunction with a flash. In one implementation, compensation parameters that are intended for use in a non-flash situation are overwritten with compensation parameters that are configured to compensate for the combined effects of the camera and the flash and are used by an embedded compensation routine executed on the camera. In another implementation, an image signal is processed by the embedded compensation routine using the original compensation parameters, but if it is determined that the image signal is a flash image signal, the image signal is further processed by the embedded compensation routine employing an additional set of parameters which compensate the image signal for the effect of the flash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Marc Drader, Michael Purdy, Ken Wu
  • Patent number: 7684212
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a printed circuit board (PCB) for use in an electronic device. The PCB comprises: a top side; a bottom side; an edge between the top side and the bottom side; a cavity from the top side to the bottom side; a region on the top side for mounting an electronic device; and a connector for receiving connections from the electronic device. In the PCB, the connector is located on either the bottom side or the edge of the side of the PCB. The electronic device can be a display module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: Robert Lowles, James Robinson, Robert Phillips, Jacek Idzik, Jason Griffin, Marc Drader
  • Publication number: 20100060178
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining a maximum sustained flash current over the whole length of a flash using a programmable current drive in a handheld portable device powered by a battery. The method involves measuring the battery voltage before and after a flash is initiated and calculating the equivalent series resistance (ESR) of the battery. The calculated ESR is then used to adjust the flash current. The process may be repeated to correct for errors in the flash current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Marc Drader, Ryan Geris, Lyall Winger
  • Publication number: 20100020227
    Abstract: A method of controlling a flash output for capturing an image in a portable electronic device having a digital camera includes receiving light at an image sensor, determining a flash output adjusted for colour and brightness based on the light received at the image sensor, providing the flash output, and capturing a resultant image at a digital image processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: James Robinson, Marc Drader, Michael Purdy
  • Patent number: 7646448
    Abstract: A method for providing a hot spot filter for a light guide is provided by taking an image of the light output pattern of an illuminated light guide. The hot spot filter may be a film, a layer, or an additional liquid crystal display dedicated to attenuating bright spots from the light guide. The hot spot filter may be incorporated into the image display by adjusting the grey scale of individual pixels to provide sufficient compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: James Robinson, Marc Drader, Michael Purdy
  • Patent number: 7633234
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining a maximum sustained flash current over the whole length of a flash using a programmable current drive in a handheld portable device powered by a battery. The method involves measuring the battery voltage before and after a flash is initiated and calculating the equivalent series resistance (ESR) of the battery. The calculated ESR is then used to adjust the flash current. The process may be repeated to correct for errors in the flash current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Marc Drader, Ryan Geris, Lyall Winger
  • Publication number: 20090186653
    Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device is for use with a hearing aid including a hearing aid compatible (HAC) coil. The device may include a portable housing and a wireless receiver carried by the portable housing. The device may also include at least one image capture component and a positioning coil associated therewith and carried by the portable housing. A controller may also be carried by the portable housing for selectively operating the positioning coil for image capture, and for inductively coupling received signals from the wireless receiver to the HAC coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Marc Drader, Qian Wang, Larry Hawker
  • Publication number: 20090010595
    Abstract: A method for providing a hot spot filter for a light guide is provided by taking an image of the light output pattern of an illuminated light guide. The hot spot filter may be a film, a layer, or an additional liquid crystal display dedicated to attenuating bright spots from the light guide. The hot spot filter may be incorporated into the image display by adjusting the grey scale of individual pixels to provide sufficient compensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: James ROBINSON, Marc Drader, Michael Purdy
  • Publication number: 20080297469
    Abstract: A wireless handheld communications device with a liquid crystal display, especially, a field sequential liquid crystal display, includes a visual notification for a powered up, inactive state. The visual notification is preferably through a light emitting diode that may be part of the backlighting system for the LCD or may be independent from the backlighting system. The waveforms, periodicity, colour selection, and colour sequencing may be customizable by one or both of the manufacturer and user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Marc Drader, James Robinson, Robert Lowles
  • Patent number: 7445367
    Abstract: A hot spot filter for a light guide is created by taking an image of the light output pattern of an illuminated light guide. The hot spot filter may be a film, a layer, or an additional liquid crystal display dedicated to attenuating bright spots from the light guide. The hot spot filter may be incorporated into the image display by adjusting the grey scale of individual pixels to provide sufficient compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: James Robinson, Marc Drader, Michael Purdy
  • Publication number: 20080212298
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a printed circuit board (PCB) for use in an electronic device. The PCB comprises: a top side; a bottom side; an edge between the top side and the bottom side; a cavity from the top side to the bottom side; a region on the top side for mounting an electronic device; and a connector for receiving connections from the electronic device. In the PCB, the connector is located on either the bottom side or the edge of the side of the PCB. The electronic device can be a display module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Robert LOWLES, James Robinson, Robert Phillips, Jacek Idzik, Jason Griffin, Marc Drader
  • Patent number: 7415176
    Abstract: A hot spot filter for a light guide is created by taking an image of the light output pattern of an illiuminated light guide. The hot spot filter may be a film, a layer, or an additional liquid crystal display dedicated to attenuating bright spots from the light guide. The hot spot filter may be incorporated into the image display by adjusting the grey scale of individual pixels to provide sufficient compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: James Robinson, Marc Drader, Michael Purdy
  • Patent number: 7408786
    Abstract: The invention provides a printed circuit board (PCB) for use in an electronic device. The PCB comprises: a top side; a bottom side; an edge between the top side and the bottom side; a cavity from the top side to the bottom side; a region on the top side for mounting an electronic device; and a connector for receiving connections from the electronic device. In the PCB, the connector is located on either the bottom side or the edge of the side of the PCB. The electronic device can be a display module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: Robert Lowles, James Robinson, Robert Phillips, Jacek Idzik, Jason Griffin, Marc Drader
  • Publication number: 20080180544
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus enabling use of a light source emitting a light of changing intensity and changing spectrum as a flash with a camera module having a white-balance routine and an exposure routine, wherein an initial value representative of a color spectrum emitted by the light source is transmitted to the camera module, the light source is turned on, and the camera module is signaled to scan a plurality of images of the scene while the light source is turned on, allowing the white-balance and exposure algorithms to be employed with each image scanned to refine the first initial value to refine the degree of compensation employed in correcting a color and a light level in the last one of the images of the plurality of images scanned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Marc Drader, Ken Wu, Michael Purdy
  • Publication number: 20080181596
    Abstract: An improved handheld electronic device and camera apparatus upon which can be executed an improved method enable a modular camera to be used in conjunction with a flash. In one implementation, compensation parameters that are intended for use in a non-flash situation are overwritten with compensation parameters that are configured to compensate for the combined effects of the camera and the flash and are used by an embedded compensation routine executed on the camera. In another implementation, an image signal is processed by the embedded compensation routine using the original compensation parameters, but if it is determined that the image signal is a flash image signal, the image signal is further processed by the embedded compensation routine employing an additional set of parameters which compensate the image signal for the effect of the flash.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Marc Drader, Michael Purdy, Ken Wu
  • Publication number: 20080180545
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus enabling use of a light source emitting a spectrum of light not following characteristics of a blackbody source of light with a camera module programmed for use with light sources following characteristics of blackbody sources of light, wherein a white-balance patch is transmitted to the camera module to cause the camera module to accept color coordinates representing a point on a chromaticity chart that partly defines a region of color coordinates on the chromaticity chart into which color coordinates of the light source fall and to which color coordinates of a reference white color derived by a white-balance routine of the camera module are constrained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Marc Drader, Ken Wu, Michael Purdy
  • Publication number: 20080164847
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining a maximum sustained flash current over the whole length of a flash using a programmable current drive in a handheld portable device powered by a battery. The method involves measuring the battery voltage before and after a flash is initiated and calculating the equivalent series resistance (ESR) of the battery. The calculated ESR is then used to adjust the flash current. The process may be repeated to correct for errors in the flash current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Marc Drader, Ryan Geris, Lyall Winger
  • Patent number: 7391164
    Abstract: A wireless handheld communications device with a liquid crystal display, especially, a field sequential liquid crystal display, includes a visual notification for a powered up, inactive state. The visual notification is preferably through a light emitting diode that may be part of the backlighting system for the LCD or may be independent from the backlighting system. The waveforms, periodicity, colour selection, and colour sequencing may be customizable by one or both of the manufacturer and user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: Marc Drader, James Robinson, Robert Lowles
  • Publication number: 20080076482
    Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device includes a housing and circuit board carried by the housing and includes radio frequency (RF) circuitry and a processor carried by the circuit board and operative with each other. A display connector for an LCD connector is mounted on the circuit board and adapted to be connected to a display. Display connection lines are carried by the circuit board and interconnect the display connector and processor for carrying signals from the processor to the display connector and a connected display. Filters are carried by the circuit board and connected to the display connection lines and reduce any interfering energy from the processor and display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Lizhong Zhu, Michael Corrigan, Perry Jarmuszewski, Liviu George, George Mankaruse, James Robinson, Marc Drader