Patents by Inventor Tomoo MINAKI

Tomoo MINAKI 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: 12136398
    Abstract: A display device includes a display panel, a backlight module, and backlight control circuitry. The backlight module is configured to illuminate the display panel, the backlight module comprising a plurality of light sources. The backlight control circuitry is configured to control first luminance of a first light source of the plurality of light sources based at least in part on a first weighted average of brightness values for a first set of pixels of the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Hirobumi Furihata, Kazutoshi Aogaki, Takashi Nose, Masao Orio, Tomoo Minaki, Akio Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 12125447
    Abstract: A display driver includes a display panel, a backlight array, and backlight control circuitry. The backlight array includes a plurality of light sources and is configured to illuminate the display panel. The backlight control circuitry is configured to determine first base luminance for a first light source of the plurality of light sources based at least in part on pixel data for a first set of pixels associated with the first light source. The backlight control circuitry is further configured to determine first compensated luminance for the first light source by modifying the first base luminance based at least in part on a position of the first light source in the backlight array. The backlight control circuitry is further configured to control light emission of the first light source based at least in part on the first compensated luminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Masao Orio, Takashi Nose, Hirobumi Furihata, Tomoo Minaki, Kazutoshi Aogaki
  • Patent number: 12087197
    Abstract: A display driver comprises control circuitry configured to store a default gamma curve, determine a count of in-region pixels of a target pixel in a display panel and neighboring pixels of the target pixel, the in-region pixels being located in a predetermined region of the display panel, and determine a scale factor based on a ratio of the count of the in-region pixels to a total number of the target pixel and the neighboring pixels. The control circuitry also determines a modified gamma curve by scaling the default gamma curve with the scale factor. The display driver further comprises image processing circuitry configured to apply a gamma transformation based on the modified gamma curve to image data defined for the target pixel to generate output voltage data for the target pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Hirobumi Furihata, Tomoo Minaki, Masao Orio, Takashi Nose
  • Publication number: 20240203368
    Abstract: A display driver includes a display panel, a backlight array, and backlight control circuitry. The backlight array includes a plurality of light sources and is configured to illuminate the display panel. The backlight control circuitry is configured to determine first base luminance for a first light source of the plurality of light sources based at least in part on pixel data for a first set of pixels associated with the first light source. The backlight control circuitry is further configured to determine first compensated luminance for the first light source by modifying the first base luminance based at least in part on a position of the first light source in the backlight array. The backlight control circuitry is further configured to control light emission of the first light source based at least in part on the first compensated luminance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Applicant: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Masao Orio, Takashi Nose, Hirobumi Furihata, Tomoo Minaki, Kazutoshi Aogaki
  • Publication number: 20240038183
    Abstract: A display device includes a display panel, a backlight module, and backlight control circuitry. The backlight module is configured to illuminate the display panel, the backlight module comprising a plurality of light sources. The backlight control circuitry is configured to control first luminance of a first light source of the plurality of light sources based at least in part on a first weighted average of brightness values for a first set of pixels of the display panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Hirobumi Furihata, Kazutoshi Aogaki, Takashi Nose, Masao Orio, Tomoo Minaki, Akio Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 11748956
    Abstract: A display driver includes interface circuitry, image processing circuitry, and drive circuitry. The interface circuitry is configured to receive a full frame image and a foveal image from a source external to the display driver. The image processing circuitry is configured to: upscale the full frame image; render a foveated image from the upscaled full frame image and the foveal image. The foveated image includes a foveal area based on the foveal image, a peripheral are based on the upscaled full frame image, and a border area based on the foveal image and the upscaled full frame image. The border area being located between the foveal area and the peripheral area. The drive circuitry is configured to drive a display panel using the foveated image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Kota Kitamura, Goro Sakamaki, Tomoo Minaki
  • Patent number: 11710439
    Abstract: A display driver includes an image processing circuit and a driver circuit. The image processing circuit is configured to: receive input image data corresponding to an input image; generate first subpixel rendered data from a first part of the input image data for a first display region of a display panel using a first setting; and generate second subpixel rendered data from a second part of the input image data for a second display region of the display panel using a second setting different from the first setting. The first pixel layout is different than the second pixel layout. The driver circuit is configured to update the first display region of the display panel based at least in part on the first subpixel rendered data and update the second display region of the display panel based at least in part on the second subpixel rendered data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Tomoo Minaki, Hirobumi Furihata, Takashi Nose, Akio Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20230124739
    Abstract: A display driver includes first interface circuitry, a graphic memory, image processing circuitry, and drive circuitry. The first interface circuitry is configured to receive an edge illumination command from a controller external to the display driver. The graphic memory is configured to store image data. The image processing circuitry is configured to render an edge-illuminated image by overlaying an edge illumination graphic on a first image corresponding to the image data in response to the edge illumination command. The edge illumination graphic extends along an edge of a display region of a display panel. The drive circuitry is configured to drive the display panel based on the edge-illuminated image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Tomoo Minaki, Takashi Nose, Hirobumi Furihata
  • Publication number: 20230111826
    Abstract: A display driver includes interface circuitry, image processing circuitry, and drive circuitry. The interface circuitry is configured to receive a full frame image and a foveal image from a source external to the display driver. The image processing circuitry is configured to: upscale the full frame image; render a foveated image from the upscaled full frame image and the foveal image. The foveated image includes a foveal area based on the foveal image, a peripheral are based on the upscaled full frame image, and a border area based on the foveal image and the upscaled full frame image. The border area being located between the foveal area and the peripheral area. The drive circuitry is configured to drive a display panel using the foveated image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Kota KITAMURA, Goro SAKAMAKI, Tomoo MINAKI
  • Patent number: 11620933
    Abstract: A display driver includes image processing circuitry and driver circuitry. The image processing circuitry is configured to process first image data for pixels of a display panel comprising a first region and a second region to generate output voltage data. The first region and the second region have different pixel layouts. The driver circuitry is configured to update the pixels based on the output voltage data. Processing the first image data comprises IR-drop compensation based on first luminances of the pixels, each of the first luminances being determined based on the first image data and whether a corresponding pixel of the pixels is located in the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Masao Orio, Takashi Nose, Hirobumi Furihata, Akio Sugiyama, Tomoo Minaki
  • Publication number: 20230100358
    Abstract: A display driver includes an image processing circuit and a driver circuit. The image processing circuit is configured to: receive input image data corresponding to an input image; generate first subpixel rendered data from a first part of the input image data for a first display region of a display panel using a first setting; and generate second subpixel rendered data from a second part of the input image data for a second display region of the display panel using a second setting different from the first setting. The first pixel layout is different than the second pixel layout. The driver circuit is configured to update the first display region of the display panel based at least in part on the first subpixel rendered data and update the second display region of the display panel based at least in part on the second subpixel rendered data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Tomoo Minaki, Hirobumi Furihata, Takashi Nose, Akio Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 11615762
    Abstract: A display driver includes first interface circuitry, a graphic memory, image processing circuitry, and drive circuitry. The first interface circuitry is configured to receive an edge illumination command from a controller external to the display driver. The graphic memory is configured to store image data. The image processing circuitry is configured to render an edge-illuminated image by overlaying an edge illumination graphic on a first image corresponding to the image data in response to the edge illumination command. The edge illumination graphic extends along an edge of a display region of a display panel. The drive circuitry is configured to drive the display panel based on the edge-illuminated image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Tomoo Minaki, Takashi Nose, Hirobumi Furihata
  • Publication number: 20220392385
    Abstract: A display driver comprises control circuitry configured to store a default gamma curve, determine a count of in-region pixels of a target pixel in a display panel and neighboring pixels of the target pixel, the in-region pixels being located in a predetermined region of the display panel, and determine a scale factor based on a ratio of the count of the in-region pixels to a total number of the target pixel and the neighboring pixels. The control circuitry also determines a modified gamma curve by scaling the default gamma curve with the scale factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Hirobumi Furihata, Tomoo Minaki, Masao Orio, Takashi Nose
  • Patent number: 11475822
    Abstract: A system and method for rendering subpixels comprising performing an eight-color halftoning process on the second image data to generate third image data which describe a grayscale value of each of an R subpixel, a G subpixel and a B subpixel of each pixel with one bit, generating the third image data by performing a dithering process on the second image data using a dither value selected from elements of the dither table, when the third image data associated with a pixel of interest of the display panel is generated, and driving the display panel in response to the third image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Hirobumi Furihata, Tomoo Minaki
  • Patent number: 11443671
    Abstract: A display driver includes control circuitry and image processing circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to store a default gamma curve and determine a scaling factor based on a location of a target pixel in a display panel. The control circuitry is further configured to determine a modified gamma curve by scaling the default gamma curve with the scaling factor. The image processing circuitry configured to apply a gamma transformation based on the modified gamma curve to image data defined for the target pixel to generate output voltage data for the target pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Hirobumi Furihata, Tomoo Minaki, Masao Orio, Takashi Nose
  • Publication number: 20220223080
    Abstract: A display driver includes control circuitry and image processing circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to store a default gamma curve and determine a scaling factor based on a location of a target pixel in a display panel. The control circuitry is further configured to determine a modified gamma curve by scaling the default gamma curve with the scaling factor. The image processing circuitry configured to apply a gamma transformation based on the modified gamma curve to image data defined for the target pixel to generate output voltage data for the target pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Hirobumi Furihata, Tomoo Minaki, Masao Orio, Takashi Nose
  • Publication number: 20220114942
    Abstract: A display driver includes image processing circuitry and driver circuitry. The image processing circuitry is configured to process first image data for pixels of a display panel comprising a first region and a second region to generate output voltage data. The first region and the second region have different pixel layouts. The driver circuitry is configured to update the pixels based on the output voltage data. Processing the first image data comprises IR-drop compensation based on first luminances of the pixels, each of the first luminances being determined based on the first image data and whether a corresponding pixel of the pixels is located in the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Masao Orio, Takashi Nose, Hirobumi Furihata, Akio Sugiyama, Tomoo Minaki
  • Patent number: 11282480
    Abstract: A display driver includes gamma curve control circuitry and a converter controller. The gamma curve control circuitry is configured to generate a first gamma curve for a first display brightness value (DBV), and a second gamma curve for a second DBV lower than the first DBV. The converter controller is configured to control a digital-analog converter (DAC) configured to perform digital-analog conversion of an input image data. Further, the converter controller is configured to adjust an analog signal voltage amplitude of the DAC based on a range of an output voltage associated with the second gamma curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Hirobumi Furihata, Kazutoshi Aogaki, Tomoo Minaki, Akio Sugiyama, Takashi Nose
  • Patent number: 11270609
    Abstract: A system and method for generate mura correction data comprises obtaining brightness values of a pixel-existing area and a pixel-absent area of a display panel. Further, updated brightness values are generated by replacing the brightness value of the pixel-absent area with a suitable value. Mura correction data is generated using the updated brightness values. A display driver is configured with the mura correction data for updating a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Hirobumi Furihata, Kazutoshi Aogaki, Tomoo Minaki
  • Patent number: 11270662
    Abstract: A display driver comprises signal supply circuitry and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to generate a first luminance value using a DBV. The signal supply circuitry is configured to supply to a display panel at least one signal using the first luminance value. The first luminance value has a one-to-one correlation with the display brightness level. The DBV does not have a one-to-one correlation with the display brightness level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Hirobumi Furihata, Masao Orio, Tomoo Minaki, Akio Sugiyama, Kazutoshi Aogaki