Patents Issued in July 5, 2001
  • Publication number: 20010006361
    Abstract: The invention relates to a switch matrix having n inlets and p outlets, p being greater n. The matrix includes a plurality of switch members each having one inlet and at least two outlets and each enabling a signal applied to the inlet of said member to be transferred to one of the outlets. Each inlet of the matrix being for connection to one out of r outlets. The switch members are of the electronic type and are mounted in such as manner that when switching is performed consisting in modifying a connection from an inlet of the matrix to an outlet thereof, so that said same inlet is connected to another outlet of the matrix, the losses due to the switch members passed through remain substantially the same value. The invention applies to a matrix enabling a faulty electronic element connected to an outlet of the matrix to be replaced by another element connected to another outlet of the matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Cayrou, Sabine Robichez
  • Publication number: 20010006362
    Abstract: A coplanar resonator comprising first center electrodes each having open ends and a ground electrode which extends along either side thereof is formed on the upper plane of a dielectric substrate, and second center electrodes and a perimeter electrode are formed on the lower plane of the dielectric substrate, so as to face the above center electrodes and ground electrode. A filter, duplexer, and communication device using this resonator are provided, thereby reducing the size of the resonator part formed of electrode patterns on a dielectric substrate, facilitating reduction in size of the overall device, and increasing no-load Q.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Tsujiguchi
  • Publication number: 20010006363
    Abstract: In a noise removing filter for removing the electromagnetic wave noise leaking from an electronic equipment to the outside via a connector throughhole through which a connector passes, the noise removing filter includes a magnetic member filled in a gap between a body of the electronic equipment and the connector to cover the circumference of the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: Kunio Kawato
  • Publication number: 20010006364
    Abstract: The invention discloses the design of a low profile transformer, which is smaller in size and lighter in weight. The low profile transformer will meet the isolation safety standard and is manufactured with low cost. Furthermore, a variety of cores could be applied to the low profile transformer for a wide range of electrical current loading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Kuan-Ting Lin, Yeh Ming, Heng-Cheng Chou, Ren-Jye Huang, Hui-Hua Teng, Jau-Jen Du, Chien-Chia Lin
  • Publication number: 20010006365
    Abstract: An overload-protection push-button switch with automatic resetting mechanism of pull-push type is disclosed. The switch is characterized in that a pull-push rod and a floating rocker are used to transmit a force on a pressing stem to a conducting leaf. Moreover, a guiding mechanism including a guider and a guided member on the floating rocker is used to guide the moving direction of the floating rocker under the action of the pull-push rod. Thus, the direction force on the pressing stem can be different from the moving direction of the nose of the floating rocker by which the conducting leaf is actuated. Moreover, in case of overload, a positioning unit for positioning the pressing stem will be unlocked and thus the pressing stem can automatically return to its reset position. In view of the above, a push-button switch that has simple and easily-assembled structure as well as an operation of exactly tripping is available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Publication number: 20010006366
    Abstract: An apparatus and concomitant method of reducing the number of synchronization pulses transmitted to the alarm units for increasing the reliability of the overall alarm system is disclosed. The synchronization signal is implemented as a reference or reset signal from which the alarm units derive a reference time to begin activation of the alarm units. Thus, when an alarm unit receives a reference synchronization pulse, the alarm unit applies the reference synchronization pulse as a reference point in time to trigger a series of flashes or audio tones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: WHEELOCK, INC.
    Inventors: John W. Curran, Joseph Kosich
  • Publication number: 20010006367
    Abstract: A tracking and monitoring system directs an infrared sensor toward a heat source such as a human body, and three-dimensionally tracks the heat source, wherein the infrared sensor has four infrared detecting elements appropriately located with respect to a reference point in the field of view for producing respective detecting signals varied in magnitude depending upon the parts of the image of heat source incident on the four infrared detecting elements so that a wired logic circuit controls the attitude of the infrared sensor in such a manner as catch the image of the heat source at the reference point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Oda
  • Publication number: 20010006368
    Abstract: An object tracking system is provided for tracking the removal of objects from a location and the replacement of the objects at the location. The system includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached to each of the objects to be tracked and each tag has an antenna. When activated, the RFID tag of an object transmits a unique code identifying the object. A storage unit is provided at the location and the storage unit has a plurality of receptacles configured to receive objects replaced at the location. Each receptacle has an associated antenna for activating the RFID tag of an object in the receptacle and receiving the radio frequency transmitted code of the object. The antennae of the system can be capacitive plates for conveying the radio frequency transmissions through capacitive coupling or inductive loops for conveying the transmissions through inductive coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: Key-Trak, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Maloney
  • Publication number: 20010006369
    Abstract: A low cost x-y digitising system is described for use in consumer electronic devices, such as portable digital assistants, mobile telephones, web browsers and the like. The digitizer includes a resonant stylus, an excitation winding for energising the resonant stylus and a set of sensor windings for sensing the signal generated by the stylus, from which the x-y position of the stylus is determined. The excitation signals applied to the excitation winding are designed to reduce the power drawn from the power supply which makes the digitising system particularly suited to battery operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: David T.E. Ely
  • Publication number: 20010006370
    Abstract: A binary arithmetic coder and decoder provides improved coding accuracy due to improved probability estimation and adaptation. They also provide improved decoding speed through a “fast path” design wherein decoding of a most probable symbol requires few computational steps. Coded data represents data that is populated by more probable symbols (“MPS”) and less probable symbols (“LPS”). In an embodiment, a decoder receives a segment of the coded data as a binary fraction C. It defines a coding interval of possible values of C, the interval extending from a variable lower bound A to a constant upper bound 1. For each position in the decoded symbol string, the decoder computes a test value Z that subdivides the coding interval into sub-intervals according to the relative probabilities that an MPS or an LPS occurs in the position. A first sub-interval extends from the lower bound A to the test value Z; the second sub-interval extending from the test value Z to 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Yoshua Bengio, Leon Bottou, Paul G. Howard
  • Publication number: 20010006371
    Abstract: A device for rapid digital/analog conversion of pulse width modulated signals, includes a first changeover switch and an inverting integrator having a resistor, a first capacitor, a second changeover switch, a first operational amplifier, and an integrator output. A non-inverting input of the operational amplifier is connected to a reference voltage. An inverting input is selectively connected to an input through first switch connections and the resistor and to an amplifier output through first switch connections. The first capacitor is disposed between the inverting input and the amplifier output. The second changeover switch selectively connects the integrator output to a second capacitor and the integrator output to a third capacitor. A third changeover switch selectively connects a non-inverting input of a buffer amplifier to the second and third capacitors. The buffer amplifier output is the device output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: Stephan Bolz
  • Publication number: 20010006372
    Abstract: A friend or foe detection system and method is disclosed. Friend or foe warning unit 20 has a geographic locating system, a communication system for communicating with each of the warning units, and a military force detection system for detecting military forces in a combat area and has a signal routing and control circuitry 50 for controlling operations. A number of components, devices, or sub-systems, such as a transmitter/receiver radio 28, an antenna 26, a microphone 30, a speaker 32, a battery 34, a display 36, a microprocessor 38, a memory 40, a camera 56, a radar/lidar input 54, on/off switch 52, a GPS location system 45 that includes a GPS processor 46, a GPS receiver 42, a GPS antenna 44, are coupled to the circuitry 50. Display 36 provides a display to the user of the unit 20 and shows the location of friendly forces as well as unfriendly or unidentified forces in the area. Display 36 displays text messages for the user of the warning unit 20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Jerome H. Lemelson, Robert D. Pedersen, Steven R. Pedersen, Dorothy Lemelson
  • Publication number: 20010006373
    Abstract: A vehicle tracking system of the present invention includeds an impact sensor mounted on a vehicle for detecting impact, an air bag which is blown up in accordance with an impact signal from the impact sensor, a navigation device receiving GPS information from satellites and transmitting an accident signal to the satellites when receiving the impact signal from the impact sensor, and a plurality of control centers for receiving an impact signal from the satellites and for sending a tracking command signal to the satellites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: Byong-Man Jeong
  • Publication number: 20010006374
    Abstract: In an antenna system having an array of antenna elements (10, 10′) and circuitry (111, 14) for controlling the phase of each element an arrangement (113) is provided for correcting the phase setting of each element as a function of the position of each element within the array expressed in polar co-ordinates. The phase correction is proportional to the sinusoid of the angular position of the element and proportional to an odd polynomial of radius having at least one term of third order or above. The resulting beam pattern includes low side-lobes in the lower hemisphere and gives rise to only limited and acceptable power loss on transmission. Furthermore, the implementation is rendered very simple, as the phase correction may be calculated element by element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Osten Erikmats, Jonny Eriksson
  • Publication number: 20010006375
    Abstract: To make it possible to execute the same application regardless of the number of connected panels even in a multi-panel environment. A host system, which transfers an image signal to a plurality of panels connected thereto, comprises: a panel ID recognition section for recognizing a panel ID of a single panel or a predetermined number of collected panels as a unit; a window ID allocation section for allocating a window ID to a window which is a transfer processing unit of the image signal; a control signal output section for outputting a control signal used for setting a window ID to be processed to the panel ID to be read out in transferring the image signal; and an image signal transfer section for adding the window ID allocated by the window ID allocation section to the image signal, thus transferring the image signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Takatoshi Tomooka, Johji Mamiya, Kazushi Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20010006376
    Abstract: The present invention provides an HMD system for reducing a harmful influence on eyes and for providing enhanced presence. A screen display portion is moved by means of a driving mechanism based on a control signal output from a video playback device. Furthermore, the screen display portion 2 is moved according to how a wearer has reacted. Therefore, an intention of a producer of video software can be reflected in the HMD. Therefore, even in a case of a two-dimensional video without bidirectional property and with inflexible video unfolding, enhanced presence can be reliably provided to the wearer. Because a relationship between positions of eyeballs and the screen display portion is not fixed, the harmful influence on eyesight can be reduced. Furthermore, because the system has a driving mechanism 3, a gyro sensor portion 4, and a control portion 5 for the screen display portion 2, the screen display portion can be moved arbitrarily in any direction and the above control can be carried out accurately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: Takayuki Numa
  • Publication number: 20010006377
    Abstract: A display apparatus adjusts the brightness of a plasma display panel. The display apparatus comprises an adjusting device, which acquires image brightness data, and adjusts the number of subfields Z on the basis of brightness data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Kasahara, Yuichi Ishikawa, Tomoko Morita
  • Publication number: 20010006378
    Abstract: A display apparatus adjusts the brightness of a plasma display panel. The display apparatus comprises an adjusting device, which acquires image brightness data, and adjusts the number of subfields Z on the basis of brightness data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Kasahara, Yuichi Ishikawa, Tomoko Morita
  • Publication number: 20010006379
    Abstract: A display apparatus adjusts the brightness of a plasma display panel. The display apparatus comprises an adjusting device, which acquires image brightness data, and adjusts the number of subfields Z on the basis of brightness data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Kasahara, Yuichi Ishikawa, Tomoko Morita
  • Publication number: 20010006380
    Abstract: Disclosed is a back light in a liquid crystal display (LCD) module, in particular, a back light device in a LCD module for irradiating light in a variety of colors according to a user's demand. The back light device in the liquid crystal display module includes a liquid crystal display, a reflecting plate laminated sheet by sheet on a bottom of the liquid crystal display, one or more lamps installed on one end of the reflecting plate, and a controller for controlling light emission of the installed lamps. The lamps are installed on both ends of the reflecting plate to combine colors. The light emitted by the lamps is diffused through the reflecting plate. The diffused light is irradiated according to an illumination control signal applied by the controller. The illumination control signal causes the irradiated light to have a pertinent color according to the user's demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co.
    Inventor: Byeong-Ro Jeong
  • Publication number: 20010006381
    Abstract: A finger-scale mouse casing structure is proposed, which allows the user to hold and move the mouse in a more effortless manner than the prior art, and also allows the overall mouse size to be made more compact than the prior art. This finger-scale mouse casing structure comprises: a base part for accommodating a movement-detection circuit; a first sidewall which is substantially upright erected on a first lateral side of the base part; a second sidewall which is substantially upright erected on a second lateral side of the base part; and a set of buttons disposed on the base part. With this finger-scale mouse casing structure, the user can hold and move the mouse simply by moving his/her thumb and fingers, without having to turn his/er wrist and elbow, thus preventing the Carpal tunnel syndrome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: Meng-Yu Wei
  • Publication number: 20010006382
    Abstract: The invention relates to a display system comprising a display device capable of displaying information in multiple windows of the display device, enabling the user to select a window for controlling a parameter of said window in response to subsequent user supplied parameter control commands. The display system according to the invention comprises two or more remote controls, and association means for associating a respective remote control with a respective window. Upon reception of a control command from a remote control, the window associated with the remote control is selected, and the control command is applied to the selected window. In this way, multiple users are enabled to independently control a window displayed on the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: Leonardus Hendricus Maria Sevat
  • Publication number: 20010006383
    Abstract: A stylus for use in a coordinate input system (e.g. digitizer tablet system) includes a finger wheel. The degree of rotation of the finger wheel by the user determines the extent to which a chosen graphical parameter (e.g. line thickness, color, shading, gray scale, etc.) is varied. Thus, a user can easily vary the graphical parameter while drawing by merely rotating the finger wheel about its fixed rotational axis. Preferably, rotation of the wheel causes an intermediate gear wheel with teeth thereon to rotate which in turn causes a potentiometer to detect the degree of rotation of the finger wheel. In alternative embodiments of this invention, a touchpad for inputting finger position and/or finger pressure information may be provided on the side of the stylus instead of the finger wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: David C. Fleck, Scott Rawlings, Yasuyuki Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20010006384
    Abstract: A picture of a plan view of an area is displayed on a screen of a base unit of a measuring apparatus. The picture contains symbols for respective traps disposed in the displayed area. A bar code is assigned to each trap for identifying it. When the bar code on one trap is read out, a marking “X” is added to the symbol for that trap, so that an operator can readily know the location in the area of that trap on the display screen and, therefore, the current position of the operator in the area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: TLV Company, Limited.
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Usaki
  • Publication number: 20010006385
    Abstract: Even when all selected dates cannot be displayed on a calendar, selected states of all the selected dates can be completely displayed so as to grasp the selected states of the selected dates. Further, the selected states can be simply changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Tsukui
  • Publication number: 20010006386
    Abstract: A navigation device performs navigation services for users and displays a navigation image. The navigation device is divided into the following four modules: an application unit for performing navigation services based on information from an external unit; an application control unit for controlling the application unit according to an internal state of the navigation device; a screen control unit for controlling display of the navigation image according to an instruction from the application unit; and a screen display unit for displaying the navigation image according to an instruction from the screen control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Shinichirou Araki, Yousuke Asai, Koji Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20010006387
    Abstract: Method of generating a hybrid grid allowing modelling of a heterogeneous formation crossed by one or more pipes such as, for example, an underground formation where one or more wells have been drilled, in order to form a representative model for example of fluid flows in this medium in accordance with a defined numerical pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Chakib Bennis, Sylvain Sarda, Eric Pain, Sophie Balaven
  • Publication number: 20010006388
    Abstract: The method for managing menu functions in a mobile station includes the steps of executing menu edition, selecting menu items the user uses frequently in the executed menu edition, to set up a menu, executing the menu, and displaying the menu of the selected menu items at first. The basic menu inclusive of all menu items the mobile station provides is selected as a last menu item of the mode menu displayed at first so that the user can access to menu items other than the menu items of preference. By providing easy mode menu with menu items the user or manufacturer of the mobile station uses frequently in advance, and displaying on a display window at first, the user is permitted a quick and easy access to a desired menu item without going through many steps of menus for using the desired menu item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Tae Hyoung Kim, Yu Chan Byun, Jin Soo Lee
  • Publication number: 20010006389
    Abstract: An electronic document distributing system in which a sending terminal device is connected to a plurality of receiving terminal devices via a network. Electronic documents are sent from the sending terminal device to the receiving terminal devices via the network. Simultaneously, a signal to prohibit deletion of the electronic documents is sent, and if necessary, a signal to cancel the prohibition of deletion is sent. In each of the receiving terminal devices, when a power switch is turned off, when the receiving terminal device is disconnected from the network or when a specified time passes from the sending time of the electronic documents, the prohibition of deletion is cancelled. Such an electronic document distributing system can be structured into an electronic conference system which has a terminal display device which receives and stores information sent from a host device (an electronic document server) and displays the information on a display panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Nanba, Sadafusa Tsuji, Katsuhiko Asai, Masahiko Matsuura, Makiko Mandai
  • Publication number: 20010006390
    Abstract: In a radio communication terminal, a microprocessor determines a mode selected by user manipulation of a key input portion. The microprocessor turns on a backlight of a display with the backlight in accordance with the determined mode, controls the time period of a bright display mode, and turns the backlight off after the lapse of the period to switch the bright display mode to a dark display mode. The ON time period in the bright display mode is set longer in another mode than in a normal mode. The backlight ON time is optimally controlled in correspondence with a mode selected by the user, thereby improving the operability and prolonging the service life of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Masayoshi Tanabe
  • Publication number: 20010006391
    Abstract: A frame of still picture data is captured at an instant specified by a user from video signals supplied from a given video source, such as a television receiver, a video camera, etc., and the image data is displayed. When the user specifies an area of image to be cut out from the displayed still picture, the image data in the specified area is cut out and recorded as a cutout image. Each cutout image recorded is displayed in the form of an icon. When any of the icons is selected by the user, the corresponding cutout image data is read and pasted in a part to be changed in the original image data. Thus an image can be easily created by user's choice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Sawano, Hirofumi Matsuoka, Takashi Endo
  • Publication number: 20010006392
    Abstract: A printing head includes a first type nozzle groups for ejecting respective inks of a first ink group, and a second type nozzle group for ejecting respective inks of a second ink group. The second type nozzle group includes twice the number of nozzles in the first type nozzle group. On the forward passes of the main scanning, ink droplets are ejected from both the first type nozzle group and the second type nozzle group. On the reverse passes of the main scanning, ink droplets are ejected from only from the first type nozzle group. With respect to the first type nozzle group, the ejection timing of the ink droplets is corrected on the reverse passes of the main scanning on the basis of a specific correction value for dot misalignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi Otsuki
  • Publication number: 20010006393
    Abstract: An ink-jet print cartridge is especially configured for loading and unloading into and from an ink-jet print cartridge by use of substantially only horizontal translational movements relative to a carriage of the printer. The apparatus includes a generally rectangular prismatic print cartridge having its major axis of elongation disposed horizontally. The print cartridge includes a pair of outwardly extending elongate horizontal supporting lips located one on each of the opposite side walls of the print cartridge, a carriage body, a chute mounted on the carriage for receiving the print cartridge, and a generally horizontal guide rail on each of the pair of side walls of the chute. The guide rails guide the print cartridge into the carriage by supportingly engaging the lips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Daniel S. Kline, Junji Yamamoto, Ram Santhanam, Marcus Scholz
  • Publication number: 20010006394
    Abstract: An ink jet nozzle assembly includes a nozzle chamber having an inlet in fluid communication with an ink reservoir and a nozzle through which ink from the chamber can be ejected. The chamber includes a fixed portion and a movable portion configured for relative movement in an ejection phase and alternate relative movement in a refill phase. An expanding, flexible arm and a rigid arm are each connected to the movable portion and cooperate to effect periodically the relative movement. The inlet is positioned and dimensioned relative to the nozzle such that ink is ejected preferentially from the chamber through the nozzle in droplet form during the ejection phase, and ink is alternately drawn preferentially into the chamber from the reservoir through the inlet during the refill phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20010006395
    Abstract: Disclosed is an inkjet printing system including a semipermanent printhead having a fluid input for receiving ink and an ejection portion for depositing ink in response to control signals. The printing system also includes a replaceable ink supply configured for providing ink to the printhead that stores an ink volume. The printhead is capable of lasting throughout the life of a plurality of the ink volumes. The printing system includes a fluid accumulator portion in fluid communication with the printhead and the replaceable ink supply. The fluid accumulator is adapted to accommodate the air introduced into the printhead during the usage of the ink supplies without purging air from the printhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Norman E. Pawlowski, Mark Hauck, John Barinaga, Donald E. Wenzel
  • Publication number: 20010006396
    Abstract: An ink cartridge for an ink jet printer is provided with a container having at least a first wall. An ink supply port is formed through the first wall for supplying ink to the exterior of the container. An ink chamber and an ink supply chamber are formed by a membrane valve seat made of an elastic thin membrane and formed with a through hole therethrough. A valve body is positioned opposing the through hole formed in the membrane valve seat, the valve body and membrane valve seat adjacent said through hole formed therein being maintained selectively in contact by a pressure difference between said ink chamber and said ink supply chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: Yuji Iida
  • Publication number: 20010006397
    Abstract: An ink tank for an ink jet printer is provided. The ink tank includes a tank body, a sponge disposed in the tank body, for absorbing and storing ink, an air flow member positioned above the sponge, for guiding air outside the ink tank to be induced into the ink tank, a nozzle coupled to one end of the air flow member, for supplying air outside the ink tank to the ink tank, and an air flow hole formed at one side of the tank body connected to the other end of the air flow member, and opened/closed by a sealing means installed on a printer frame according to the movement of the carrier and the ink tank. The air outside the ink tank is supplied only during the printing operation, thereby preventing evaporation of moisture contained in the ink stored in the ink tank. Also, the internal pressure of the ink tank is adjusted to be lower than the atmospheric pressure, thereby preventing leaking of ink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Dae-soon Lim, Jae-ho Moon
  • Publication number: 20010006398
    Abstract: An electrophoretic printing method comprises layering a back electrode and a dispersion system containing electrophoretic particles on a printing substrate to form a printing layer; and providing a printing head separately from the printing substrate. The printing head has a front electrode which is a counterpart of the back electrode and which has a predetermined printing pattern. The front electrode is brought into contact with the printing layer formed on the printing substrate to oppose the back electrode. Voltage is applied between the front electrode and the back electrode so as to change a distribution of the electrophoretic particles according to the polarity of the voltage and to form a desired image on the dispersion system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Masanari Nakamura, Hirokazu Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20010006399
    Abstract: In a laser marking method of irradiating laser beam onto a display area of a pattern display device and marking a required marking pattern on a surface of an objective article for being marked through a required display pattern displayed on the irradiated display area, a distance P between centers of adjacent dot marks formed collectively on a marking surface of the objective article for being marked is set such that, when dimensions of the dot marks in a matrix direction are set to be D1 and D2, and a gap between the dot marks adjacent in the matrix direction is G, the equation P≧{(D1+G)2+(D2+G)2}½(here, G≧0) can be satisfied. As a result, the adjacent dot marks are not fused to each other at the time of dot marking, and the dot marks are formed orderly with their shapes being maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: Teiichirou Chiba
  • Publication number: 20010006400
    Abstract: The CPU 17 accesses multiple slots 41a and 41b in a digital camera 1 at regular intervals to detect whether or not memory cards 40a and 40b are mounted in the slots 41a and 41b, respectively. Based on whether or not memory cards 40a and 40b are mounted in the slots 41a and 41b, respectively, the CPU 17 selects one slot as the slot to be accessed. There are three modes available as the mode from which to perform this selection, i.e., a fixed mode, a priority mode and a manual operation mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kubo, Yasuhiro Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20010006401
    Abstract: Openings (OPa, OPb) corresponding to respective card slots (18a, 18b) are formed in a side face of a digital camera, and a slot cover (121) having a size covering both of the openings (OPa, OPb) is placed in a manner so as to shift thereon, thereby allowing either of the openings of the card slots to be selectively exposed. A CPU, installed therein, is allowed to access a card-type medium attached to the card slot that is not exposed, and is not allowed to access a card-type medium attached to the card slot that is exposed. A card-type medium can be detachably attached to the card slot that is exposed, and with respect to the card slot that is not exposed, the attaching and removing operations of a card-type medium are restricted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: MINOLTA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshio Nakagawa, Daigo Yoshioka, Hisanori Itoh, Naohiko Hayashi, Shoichi Minato
  • Publication number: 20010006402
    Abstract: A CMOS-based photosensor array, having a plurality of photodiodes therein, includes a spillover protection circuit associated with each photodiode. The spillover protection circuit causes a potential to be applied to a photodiode in response to a charge spillover or “blooming” condition. The spillover protection device is momentarily disabled whenever a bias charge is injected onto the photodiode by the transfer circuit. Also, a reference voltage applied to the gate of a transistor forming the spillover protection device is higher than a threshold voltage of the transistor but is lower than a sum of the threshold voltage and a maximum light-intensity signal from the photodiode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: PAUL A. HOSIER, SCOTT L. TEWINKLE, JAGDISH C. TANDON
  • Publication number: 20010006403
    Abstract: Television receiver furnished with a memory (21, 22, 23) for receiving service data comprising a processing module (11) which correlates usage criteria received together with the service data and storage criteria characterizing the memory or memories of the receiver. By correlating the two criteria, the module determines the conditions of storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Valerie Crocitti, Pierre Houeix
  • Publication number: 20010006404
    Abstract: A combined terrestrial wave/cable broadcast receiver is disclosed which identifies if a cable broadcast program being carried and received or a cable broadcast program to be received is a HD broadcast and receives a HD broadcast from a terrestrial wave broadcasting station in the form of a HD terrestrial wave broadcast automatically or according to a user's selection, and a program information processing method therefor which processes program information such that it can identify a cable broadcast program as a HD broadcast in an EIT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: Hwa Young Yun
  • Publication number: 20010006405
    Abstract: A video signal processing apparatus A comprises: an adder 107 for generating a second address value S106 which has a predetermined phase difference from a first address value S101 outputted by an address value output means 120 and outputting the same; a selector 108 for selecting either a first address value S101 or a second address value S106 to output as an output signal S107; a vertical synchronizing signal output means 123 for outputting the vertical synchronizing signal S104 to the selector 108; a ROM 109 for outputting first data corresponding to the first address value S101 or second data corresponding to the second address value S106 as a signal S108; a loading hold mode flip-flop 110 for preserving the first data; a loading hold mode flip-flop 111 for preserving the second data; and a hue adjustment means B which adjusts the hue of the video signal by using the output signal S109 of the loading hold mode flip-flop 110 and the output signal S110 of the loading hold mode flip-flop 111.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: Satoru Tanigawa
  • Publication number: 20010006406
    Abstract: A reflection-type liquid crystal display apparatus capable of securing sufficient brightness, gray scale display and reducing color changes with a viewing angle, and a cost-effective manufacturing method of the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakasima
  • Publication number: 20010006407
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel employing an in plane switching (IPS) mode wherein an alignment direction of a liquid crystal is moved on a plane parallel to the surface of the panel. In the panel, electrode patterns are formed on each substrate in such a manner to be opposed to each other. A liquid crystal layer is filled between the substrates provided with the electrode patterns. Alignment films are formed on each of the substrates in such a manner to be positioned between the electrode patterns and the liquid crystal layer. The alignment films allow an alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer to be changed on a plane parallel to the surfaces of the substrates by an electric field applied between the electrode patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Suk Won Choi, Su Seok Choi
  • Publication number: 20010006408
    Abstract: In an orientation division type liquid crystal display device for widen a viewing angle of a display pixel of an active matrix type liquid crystal color display device having a COT structure, pixel color layers (6B, 6R, 6G) as color filters and pixel electrodes 3 are formed on a substrate on the side of the pixel electrodes and slopes 13 are provided along four side peripheries of each pixel electrode. Liquid crystal molecules 8 between each pixel electrode of the pixel electrode substrate and a common electrode of an opposing substrate are controlled in orientation direction along the slopes to divide it to a plurality of directions to thereby widen a viewing angle of a pixel display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Hiroaki Matsuyama, Kiyomi Kawada, Seiji Suzuki, Yoshihiko Hirai, Michiaki Sakamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Yuji Yamamoto, Toshiya Ishii, Teruaki Suzuki, Ken Sumiyoshi, Masayoshi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20010006409
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) device has electrodes on barrier ribs that are adaptive for widening a viewing angle and improving an aperture ratio of the LCD device. In the device, barrier ribs are formed from an insulating material at the boundary portion of the pixel cells. First and second electrodes are provided at the front side and the rear side of the barrier ribs to apply an electric field to the liquid crystal. Accordingly, the viewing angle can be widened and the electrode area can be minimized, thereby improving the aperture ratio and the light transmissivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: Seung Chul Lee
  • Publication number: 20010006410
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer provided between the substrates, wherein liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer have a negative dielectric anisotropy, and the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a direction substantially vertical to the substrates when no voltage is being applied and are axis-symmetrically aligned in each of a plurality of pixel regions under application of a voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: NOBUAKI YAMADA, FUMIKAZU SHIMOSHIKIRYO, YASUHIRO KUME, SHUICHI KOZAKI, TAKAKO ADACHI, SHINICHI TERASHITA, TAKASHI KURIHARA