Patents by Inventor Ronald Thomas Keen

Ronald Thomas Keen 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: 8624980
    Abstract: A video apparatus such as a television signal receiver enables a video display that readily indicates the detected degree of a video attribute such as motion and/or other video attribute present in the video display. According to an exemplary embodiment, the video apparatus includes first circuitry operative to receive video data. Second circuitry is operative to enable a video display corresponding to the video data. The video display includes first and second video attributes. The first video attribute varies in proportion to a detected degree of the second video attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Mark Francis Rumreich, Ronald Thomas Keen
  • Patent number: 8314886
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to an electrostatic discharge/electromagnetic interference (ESD/EMI) protection circuit for an integrated circuit. The ESD/EMI protection circuit comprises an input that is adapted to receive a communication signal, a Zener diode pair connected between the input and a ground that is shared with the input, a resistor coupled to the input, and a capacitor coupled in series with the resistor between the input and the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Shenzhen TCL New Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Ronald Thomas Keen
  • Patent number: 7995792
    Abstract: There is provided a system and/or method of monitoring media content. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided a method of monitoring operation of an electronic device having a plurality of signal inputs, the method comprising periodically collecting images from each of the plurality of signal inputs, storing the collected images for later evaluation if an image storage option is enabled, and sending the collected images for direct viewing if the image storage option is not enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Shenzhen TCL New Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Mark Nierzwick, Ronald Thomas Keen
  • Publication number: 20100091197
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to an electrostatic discharge/electromagnetic interference (ESD/EMI) protection circuit for an integrated circuit. The ESD/EMI protection circuit comprises an input that is adapted to receive a communication signal, a Zener diode pair connected between the input and a ground that is shared with the input, a resistor coupled to the input, and a capacitor coupled in series with the resistor between the input and the integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: Shenzhen TCL New Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Ronald Thomas Keen
  • Patent number: 7126645
    Abstract: The invention teaches a method, means and apparatus for clamping a back porch interval of a video signal including clamping a sync-tip level of said video signal to a variable reference voltage, comparing a back-porch voltage level of the sync-tip clamped video signal to a predetermined reference voltage, generating an error signal representative of the difference between the back-porch voltage level and the predetermined reference voltage, and adjusting the variable reference voltage in response to the error signal such that the error signal is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Ronald Thomas Keen
  • Patent number: 7106385
    Abstract: On a line scanned video display, the frequency of an artifact producing signal within the video passband is selected to be an odd harmonic of one half the horizontal line scan frequency so that adjacent scan lines of the artifact are 180 degrees out of phase with each other. Thus, the artifact is rendered largely visually canceled when viewed due to the integrating characteristics of the eye of the viewer, even though the artifact is still there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Ronald Thomas Keen
  • Patent number: 6982765
    Abstract: A television monitor display comprises a first selectable source of a first video display signal and a second selectable source of a second signal for video display. A video processor receives signals from the first and second selectable sources and controllably combines the second signal with said first video display signal. A sync separator is coupled to receive the combined signal and generate therefrom separated synchronizing signals. A controller is responsive to user selection of the first selectable source and generates a disable signal for controlling the video processor to inhibit combining of the second signal for a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: William John Testin, Ronald Thomas Keen, Mark Alan Nierzwick
  • Patent number: 6967691
    Abstract: A color video display signal processor comprises a source of a color difference signal and an analog to digital converter for converting the color difference signal to a digital signal. A potential divider is coupled to reference voltages of the analog to digital converter for generating a clamp voltage. A clamp arrangement is coupled to the color difference signal and to the analog to digital converter and receives the clamp reference voltage. In response to a clamp pulse the clamp arrangement couples said clamp voltage to said color difference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Ronald Thomas Keen
  • Patent number: 6947099
    Abstract: An ACC system includes a controllable amplifier having an input coupled to receive a chroma input signal and an output for providing an chroma output signal of controllable amplitude. A first feedback path, including a cascade connection of means for providing a signal representative of a measured burst amplitude, means for providing an error signal representative of the difference between a desired burst amplitude and the measured burst amplitude, and an integrator, is coupled between the output of the controllable amplifier and a gain control input of the controllable amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Mark Francis Rumreich, Ronald Thomas Keen
  • Publication number: 20040027493
    Abstract: A color video display signal processor comprises a source of a color difference signal and an analog to digital converter for converting the color difference signal to a digital signal. A potential divider is coupled to reference voltages of the analog to digital converter for generating a clamp voltage. A clamp arrangement is coupled to the color difference signal and to the analog to digital converter and receives the clamp reference voltage. In response to a clamp pulse the clamp arrangement couples said clamp voltage to said color difference signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: Ronald Thomas Keen
  • Publication number: 20040027492
    Abstract: The invention teaches a method, means and apparatus for clamping a back porch interval of a video signal including clamping a sync-tip level of said video signal to a variable reference voltage (33), comparing a back-porch voltage level of the sync-tip clamped video signal to a predetermined reference voltage (22), generating an error signal (24) representative of the difference between the back-porch voltage level and the predetermined reference voltage (22), and adjusting the variable reference voltage (33) in response to the error signal (24) such that the error signal (24) is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: Ronald Thomas Keen
  • Publication number: 20030053000
    Abstract: A television monitor display comprises a first selectable source of a first video display signal and a second selectable source of a second signal for video display. A video processor receives signals from the first and second selectable sources and controllably combines the second signal with said first video display signal. A sync separator is coupled to receive the combined signal and generate therefrom separated synchronizing signals. A controller is responsive to user selection of the first selectable source and generates a disable signal for controlling the video processor to inhibit combing of the second signal for a predetermined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: William John Testin, Ronald Thomas Keen, Mark Alan Nierzwick
  • Publication number: 20020080282
    Abstract: An ACC system includes a controllable amplifier having an input coupled to receive a chroma input signal and an output for providing an chroma output signal of controllable amplitude. A first feedback path, including a cascade connection of means for providing a signal representative of a measured burst amplitude, means for providing an error signal representative of the difference between a desired burst amplitude and the measured burst amplitude, and an integrator, is coupled between the output of the controllable amplifier and a gain control input of the controllable amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Mark Francis Rumreich, Ronald Thomas Keen
  • Patent number: 6177962
    Abstract: A chrominance signal C is separated (30) into component vectors U and V and coupled via respective paths each including a controllable gain amplifier (60,62) to respective outputs (56,58). A chroma overload protection unit (50) is provided including a saturation calculator (78) determines the saturation of the vector components and provides a saturating indicating signal to a gain characteristic unit (72) which jointly controls the gain of the amplifiers to proportionally limit the vector component magnitudes as a given function of the saturation indicating signal on a pixel by pixel basis thereby providing output component vectors (U,V) exhibiting no tint shift upon limiting conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventors: Mark Francis Rumreich, Mark Robert Zukas, Ronald Thomas Keen
  • Patent number: 6002447
    Abstract: Video signal processing apparatus includes a picture enhancement processor for processing a video signal to produce an enhanced video signal. The video signal includes a signal component representing video image data and another signal component representing non-image data such as vertical sync and a binary information component. The binary information component represents binary information that may occur, for example, during vertical blanking such as closed caption data, content advisory information (V-chip), or extended data services information. A control unit modifies the enhancement performed by the picture enhancement processor during intervals of the video signal that include non-image information. Modifying enhancement processing (e.g., reducing or disabling) during intervals that include the non-image information reduces degradation of the non-image information caused by the enhancement processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Francis Rumreich, Ronald Thomas Keen, John Alan Hague
  • Patent number: 5907369
    Abstract: A television system utilizes a common signal processing unit (e.g., a common chrominance demodulator) for processing a combined video signal suitable for coupling to a display device for producing an image having a portion attributable to a main video signal and a portion attributable to an auxiliary video signal. If the common signal processing unit relies upon the color information (e.g., color burst) contained in the main video signal, and the main signal is either non-existent or lacking such color information, then a substitute color information signal will be generated so that the combined video signal may be processed to roduce a color auxiliary image, and a monochrome (or non-existent) main image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Francis Rumreich, Ronald Thomas Keen