Patents Issued in October 14, 2003
  • Patent number: 6633323
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for test printing are described for computer printer or other printers, including multi-pass engines or other engines. A test pattern may be printed on a non-consumable material preferably inside the printer and is made viewable by an onlooker either by the non-consumable being stationary and in view of a window/door, or moveable to the window/door after the test pattern is printed. Preferably, the test pattern is printed on an electrophotographic print engine intermediate transfer, so that printing quality produced by the entire width of the photoconductor and transfer member is diagnosed. By viewing the test pattern image, a user may see whether all toners or inks are printing properly, preferably whether all are printing without significant defects and are all aligned. Once the temporary test pattern is viewed or when a new print job is requested, the system cleans the test pattern off of the transfer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP.
    Inventor: Richard F. Beaufort
  • Patent number: 6633324
    Abstract: A method and system configures video calls and schedules the calls for a video call network based on a query from a user to establish a video call between end points of the video call network. A configuration engine accepts video call information from a query engine based on the video call request and applies device data and rules to determine one or more possible call configurations. The configuration engine or an associated optimization engine determines a preferred video call configuration and schedules devices of the video call network without requiring the user to have any in depth understanding of the device limitations and capabilities. Automatic configuration and scheduling of video calls simplifies the use of a video call network to reduce the expense and complexity of efficiently using network resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Forgent Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: James H. Stephens, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6633325
    Abstract: A device for canceling co-channel interference and a method thereof are provided. The device, in a simulcast receiver for receiving a high definition television (HDTV) signal having a digital format and an analog broadcasting TV signal, includes a detector for detecting a synchronous signal from the analog broadcasting TV signal and outputting a detection signal, a co-channel interference rejection filter for removing co-channel interference from a first input signal including co-channel interference and outputting a second input signal, and a selector for selecting either the first or second input signal according to the detection signal. Therefore, the presence or absence of co-channel interference can be accurately determined regardless of channel environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Myeong-hwan Lee
  • Patent number: 6633326
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for capturing images three-dimensionally which comprises a rail 2 extending around a three-dimensional object images of which are to be captured, an image pickup head 3 movable along the rail 2, a signal cable 8 interconnecting a head terminal 81 on the head 3 and a signal relay terminal 82 on the rail 2, an auxiliary cable 83 interconnecting a head-side connecting point 85 on the head 3 and a rail-side connecting point 84 on the rail 2, and a connecting member 9 having the signal cable 8 and the auxiliary cable 83 slidably reeved therearound for turning back the cables in directions opposite to each other. The signal cable 8 extends from the head terminal 81 in one direction, is turned back on the connecting member 9 and extends to the signal relay terminal 82, while the auxiliary cable 83 extends from the head-side connecting point 85 in the opposite direction, is turned back on the connecting member 9 and extends to the rail-side connecting point 84.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinpei Fukumoto, Hiroshi Kano, Hideto Fujita, Hiroaki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6633327
    Abstract: An environmental monitoring system for a hazardous work area, such as a nuclear power plant, which monitors the radiation exposure of personnel working in the nuclear power plant and overlays a visual representation of the exposure data onto a video display of the location the personnel are working in. The apparatus includes a video source, such as a plurality of PTZ cameras, for providing video image signals of the work area. In the preferred embodiment, individual radiation exposure sensors provide signals representative of the radiation received by each worker in the work area. A computer, outside of the work area, is connected to the sensors for converting the sensor signals to a visual video representation of the sensor measurements. A gen/lock overlay unit is connected to the computer for combining the video image signals and the visual video representation of the sensor measurements wherein the visual video representations are overlaid onto the video images of the work area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Framatome ANP, Inc.
    Inventors: Don Ronald Williams, Scot Rodney Wilson, Gerald Stewart Burk, Clifford John Maunz
  • Patent number: 6633328
    Abstract: A surgical video system 10 captures an image of a surgical procedure and displays the image on a video monitor 24 remote from the surgical procedure. The system includes at least one surgical lighthead 12, a video monitor 24, and a digital video camera 22 integrated into the surgical lighthead. The digital video camera forms part of a modular digital video camera unit 20 that is conveniently removable from the surgical lighthead so that camera units having different functionalities and capabilities can be selectively substituted as needed. A control unit 26 is operatively connected to the video camera and generates command signals that are executed by the modular camera unit to rotate the image of the surgical procedure displayed on the video monitor by at least 360° and to effect image zoom operations. The control unit is responsive to input signals from multiple sources including a hand-held IR/RF remote transmitter module 38, a wall mounted keypad 30, and a footswitch 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Steris Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Joe Byrd, Viroon Mai Ujjin, Saysana Say Kongchan, Howard D. Reed
  • Patent number: 6633329
    Abstract: A method of detecting frozen fields in a video signal that has undergone analog encoding at some point along a transmission path acquires the video signal as a digital video signal. Every field of the digital video signal and its nth subsequent field are selected as a pair, where n is an integer multiple of the number of fields required for one cycle of color phasing in the analog encoding. The pairs of the selected fields are compared and, if the difference is essentially zero, a frozen field error is indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Bozidar Janko, Steven D. Maurer
  • Patent number: 6633330
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to measure the precise color characteristic of an image pickup machine and accurately reproduce a subject in an image display unit. A color characteristic measurement apparatus which has a test chart (1) as a subject of an image pickup machine (6), a hole (2) made in the test chart (1), a black box (3) placed on a rear face of the test chart (1) and formed on an inner surface in black, and a light output section (4) placed in the black box (3) at a position where the light output section (4) can be observed through the hole (2) from the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Sugiura, Tetsuya Kuno, Junichiro Hayashi, Kiyotaka Yamamoto, Yoshikuni Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6633331
    Abstract: A programmable camera uses a fast image sensor such as a CCD and a relatively slower digitizing board. The system includes random pixel digitization capability whereby it is possible to digitize only some, but not all of the pixels output. The other pixels are passed through the system without A/D conversion thereby speeding up the acquisition of the entire frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Steven M. Potter, Jerome Pine
  • Patent number: 6633332
    Abstract: A digital camera system is provided for capturing pictures of scenery or scanning the text of a document. A lens of the digital camera system receives light from a scene, and a conversion device defines a first set of digital data based on this light. A scanning mechanism included within the digital camera system scans a document as the system is passed over the surface of the document and produces a second set of data that defines an image of the document. An audio signal interface included within the digital camera system receives an audio message and defines a third set of digital data based on the audio message. A system controller stores the first, second, and third sets of data into a storage device. If desired, the first and second sets of data may be merged together to define a combined image depicting at least a portion of the scene defined by the first set of digital data and depicting at least a portion of the document defined by the second set of digital data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin W Nay, Michael Andrews, Richard L Kochis
  • Patent number: 6633333
    Abstract: A camera producing colour video outputs may employ an image intensifier 5 and a monochrome CCD sensor 3. The scene is exposed through filters F3, F4 which may each contain stripes of subtractive primary colours alternating with clear regions. The video is decoded using waveforms derived from a memory which records the output of the sensor when imaged on, for example, primary colours such as red and blue, producing trains of pulses which identify the spatial regions of each line corresponding to the spatial areas of the pattern on the sensor produced by the colour filters F3, F4, in order that actual scenes can be decoded using the stored waveforms, for example using sample and hold devices. A colour interference signal is generated in matrix addition circuitry 10 to produce a luminance signal which has stripe visibility removed from it, permitting high resolution video signals to be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: GEC-Marconi Ltd.
    Inventor: Simon Howard Spencer
  • Patent number: 6633334
    Abstract: To optimize the layout of a pixel portion, there is provided a solid-state image pickup device including a photoelectric conversion portion, a charge transfer portion for transferring signal charges generated in the photoelectric conversion portion, and an amplifier portion for amplifying a signal corresponding to the signal charges transferred from the charge transfer portion and outputting the signal, wherein a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions, a plurality of charge transfer portions, and a plurality of amplifier portions are arranged in the row or/and column directions, and the charge transfer portion and the amplifier portion which are closest to each other are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhito Sakurai, Shigetoshi Sugawa, Isami Ueno, Katsuhisa Ogawa, Toru Koizumi, Tetsunobu Kochi, Hiroki Hiyama
  • Patent number: 6633335
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a picture display using CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor; and, more particularly, to a CMOS image sensor having a testing circuit embedded therein and a method for verifying operation of the CMOS image sensor using the testing circuit. The CMOS image sensor according to the present invention includes a control/interface unit for controlling its operation sensor using a state machine and for interfacing the CMOS image sensor with an external system; a pixel array including a plurality of pixels sensing images from an object and generating analogue signals according to an amount of incident light; a converter for converting the analogue signals into digital signals to be processed in a digital logic circuit; and a testing circuit for verifying operations of the converter and the control/interface unit, by controlling the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Oh Bong Kwon, Woodward Yang, Suk Joong Lee, Gyu Tae Hwang
  • Patent number: 6633336
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus according to this invention has a display unit for displaying an index, an operation unit used for moving the index displayed by the display unit, and an adjustment unit for adjusting the operation unit, so that the moving direction of the index displayed by the display unit matches a moving direction that an operator intended. This invention can provide an effect of matching the moving direction that the operator intended with the actual moving direction of the index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Toyoizumi, Hideyuki Arai, Kazunori Kashimura, Kunio Motohara, Junichi Doi, Hiroshi Hosoe
  • Patent number: 6633337
    Abstract: The invention relates to a compact electronic camera which enables an electronic image to be displayed on a two-dimensional display element while it is phototaken or after it has been phototaken, so that the image can be magnified and displayed by a compact magnifying optical system constructed of a curved reflecting mirror to view a phototaken image of high precision. An electronic camera for photoelectrically converting a subject image formed by a phototaking optical system 2 into an electronic image to be recorded comprises a two-dimensional display element 4 for displaying an electronic image during or after phototaking and a magnifying optical system 5 for magnifying an image displayed on the two-dimensional display element 4 in the form of a virtual image. The magnifying optical system 5 is constructed of at least one curved reflecting mirror 26 and a surface 28 having a combined reflecting and transmitting action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takayoshi Togino
  • Patent number: 6633338
    Abstract: The field portion (40) of a workpiece (14) that an electro-optical system (28) can image is deflected by a field-of-view deflector (38) and an array of light sources (42, 44) illuminates the workpiece. As the field of view (40) moves about the workpiece surface, individual sources (42, 44) in the light-source array are so turned on and off that all sources that could be imaged into the field of view by specular reflection are turned off. In this way, proper dark-field illumination is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: GSI Lumonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Pelsue, Jonathan S. Ehrmann
  • Patent number: 6633339
    Abstract: A decoding apparatus (VDA) for decoding a mixed video stream (STv) of a plurality of streams (interlace scheme, progressive scheme) of different frame rates in predetermined decode timing (Vmc) for seamless playback, the apparatus including a stream analyzer (Ddv, 2) for extracting each frame rate before the plurality of streams (IS, PS) are decoded and a video decode controller (CDV) for determining the timing (Vmc) for decoding a slice layer (SL) of the video stream (STv) based on the extracted frame rate. The video stream (STv) is decoded in the determined timing (Vmc). Even if the video stream (STv) is switched between the streams (IS, PS) of different frame rate, seamless playback can be carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichi Goto, Shintaro Nakatani
  • Patent number: 6633340
    Abstract: A video signal processor reduces the deterioration of image quality due to the superposition of noise on a sync signal included in a luminance signal. A frequency discriminator outputs a first error signal if a ratio of the frequency of a frequency-modulated signal during a sync-signal interval to the frequency of a reference frequency signal is smaller than a predetermined ratio. Alternatively, the discriminator outputs a second error signal if the ratio is greater than the predetermined ratio. If the first error signal has been input to a frequency controller a preset number of times or more during an interval before the second error signal is input thereto, the controller instructs a frequency modulator to increase the frequency of the frequency-modulated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ohara, Takuji Yoneda
  • Patent number: 6633341
    Abstract: An intelligent luminance correction system is used in a vision system. The vision system has a video decoder, used to receive a video signal and decode the video signal into three basic components of red, green, and blue. A photodetector is used to detect the luminance of the current environment, so as to export a reference signal. A color correction circuit is used to receive the reference signal and the three component of RGB. The color correction circuit also stores a vision response curve at dark condition and a vision response curve at bright condition, so that the color correction circuit can determine one curve of the vision response curve at dark condition and a vision response curve at bright condition according to environment luminance indicated by the reference signal. The three components of RGB thereby are corrected individual. After correction, the color correction circuit exports the corrected three components of RGB to a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jimmy Su
  • Patent number: 6633342
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for eliminating noise of a received image and compensating its sharpness is provided. A common circuit is used in a structure for eliminating noise based on a double smoothing method and a structure for making the outline sharp based on an unsharp masking method. Noise elimination and sharpness enhancement are processed for a difference signal between an original signal of the image and its low pass filtered signal, thereby compensating the original signal. Thus, an image having an improved picture quality can be provided in a product which transmits/receives or displays image data, and high competitiveness of the product can be obtained by simplifying the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sang Yeon Kim
  • Patent number: 6633343
    Abstract: An appropriate correction quantity is obtained for a video luminance signal on an individual video basis with a characteristic value, like the maximum or average value, of the luminance signal taken into account, thereby performing gray scale correction more effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Ito, Atsuhisa Kageyama, Nobutaka Okada, Katsuya Ishikawa, Hidetoshi Suzuki, Hisao Kunitani, Yuki Kakuya
  • Patent number: 6633344
    Abstract: A memory management process for buffering progressive, interlaced, CCIR 601/656 compliant, and MPEG compliant video signals in a video memory that is partitioned into first and second buffers. The process includes identifying the format of a received video signal, buffering the received video signal in the video memory in accordance with a standard buffering mode if the video signal is in an interlaced, CCIR 601/656 compliant, or MPEG compliant format, and buffering the received video signal in the video memory in accordance with an override buffering mode if the video signal is in a progressive format such as a 240p signal generated by a game console, VCR, cable text generator, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventors: Charles William Worrell, Michael Evan Crabb, Andrew Kent Flickner, Wenhua Li
  • Patent number: 6633345
    Abstract: A receiver includes a tuner that converts an FM radio broadcast signal into an intermediate frequency signal that has the same frequency as a sound intermediate frequency subcarrier signal when receiving the television broadcast signal and outputs the intermediate frequency signal when receiving the FM radio broadcast signal, a SAW filter passing only an intermediate frequency band of the output of the tuner, a video detector detecting a video signal containing a sound subcarrier signal when receiving the television broadcast signal and detecting a sound subcarrier signal when receiving the FM radio broadcast signal, a VIFAGC circuit making the video signal have a constant amplitude, and an AGC circuit making a sound subcarrier signal output from a band pass filter have a constant amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Kyoei Sangyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Izuta, Akio Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 6633346
    Abstract: A projection television has a screen that can be oriented toward the viewer. An image-projecting device produces an enlarged video image. A reflecting mirror reflects the enlarged image to the screen from behind such that the image is focused on the screen. A casing houses the screen, the image-projecting device, the reflecting mirror. At least one of the screen, image-projecting device, and reflecting mirror, and casing is tiltable such that the screen is oriented toward a viewer, so that the viewer is able to view the video image having a maximum luminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Zenkou Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6633347
    Abstract: A display assembly to be mounted on a ceiling portion of a space includes a casing having a downwardly directed face and a receptacle cavity of a substantially rectangular shape and opening into the face; and a display unit having a display screen to be received within the receptacle cavity. The display unit is connected to the casing so as to be controllable in attitude. The display assembly is provided with a rotary body rotatable about a first axis substantially perpendicular to the face of the casing. The display unit is supported on the rotary body for pivoting about a second axis extending perpendicular to the first axis. When the rotary body is placed at a predetermined rotational position, the display unit is pivoted relative to the rotary body to be received within the receptacle cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Akitoshi Kitazawa
  • Patent number: 6633348
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal display including a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer intervening between the first and second substrates and containing liquid crystal substances different from each other, a sum of values each calculated from a formula: X&agr;(RTlogP&agr;+HE&agr;) for all the liquid crystal substances in the liquid crystal layer being 32 kJ/mol or higher, wherein X&agr; denotes a molar fraction of a component &agr; in the liquid crystal layer, P&agr; denotes a distribution ratio of the component &agr; between an aqueous phase and a 1-octanol phase, HE&agr; denotes a hydration energy for 1 mol of the component &agr;, R denotes a gas constant of 8.3 J/K·mol, and T denotes a temperature of 300 K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Shohara, Takeshi Yamamoto, Natsuko Maya, Nobuko Fukuoka, Katsuyuki Naito
  • Patent number: 6633349
    Abstract: A projection type liquid crystal display unit includes (a) a first frame (13) having a first surface (15) formed with a first opening (13a), (b) a second frame (12) having a second surface formed with a second opening (12a), and (c) a liquid crystal display panel (11) sandwiched between the first and second frames (13, 12) such that an incident light passes through the second opening (12a), the liquid crystal display panel (11) and the first opening (13a) in this order. The first and second frames (13, 12) are both composed of resin, and the first surface (15) of the first frame (13) is roughened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignees: NEC Corporation, NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumihiko Fujishiro
  • Patent number: 6633350
    Abstract: A display apparatus is constituted by a planar display device and a planar illumination device therefor. A lowering in light quantity at a periphery of the planar illumination device is prevented by inserting a reflection member, such as a reflection frame, having an inside reflection surface along the periphery of the illumination device, or a combination of a scattering means and a transparent sheet member between the display device and the illumination device. A plurality of the display apparatus may be combined to allow an associate movement thereof so as to constitute a composite display apparatus, such as a head-mount display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takao Sasakura, Noritaka Mochizuki, Hiroaki Hoshi
  • Patent number: 6633351
    Abstract: An optical functionality sheet provided with microlenses and a functional film (reflective film or light-blocking film/light-diffusing layer), with the above described functional film formed upon a patterned transparent conductive film. Thereby, self-alignment exposure using microlenses is made possible, and an optical functionality sheet with good directivity with respect to incident light, and good angle of visibility characteristics, can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Hira, Toshihiko Ariyoshi
  • Patent number: 6633352
    Abstract: A reflection type liquid crystal display device having a wide viewing angle, and capable of assuring a light utilization factor at or above a certain value for bright display even when conditions of an external light are varied is provided. The reflection type liquid crystal display device comprises (a) a liquid crystal cell comprising an upper substrate, a lower substrate and a liquid crystal layer between the substrates, (b) a polarizing film provided in a side of the upper substrate in the liquid crystal cell, (c) light reflecting means provided in a side of the lower substrate in the liquid crystal cell; and (d) an optical member provided between the polarizing film and the liquid crystal cell, and having a retardation axis when it is viewed in the normal direction. An angle between an absorption axis of the polarizing film and the retardation axis of the optical member is within a range of about 88° to about 92° or about −2° to about +2° .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisanori Yamaguchi, Tomoaki Sekime, Yoshio Iwai, Tetsu Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6633353
    Abstract: In a dark environment, light emitted by a fluorescent tube 301 enters a liquid crystal panel by a light guide plate 302, is transmitted through a transflective electrode 102 after passing through a polarizer 114 and a retardation plate 113, and is introduced into a liquid crystal layer 50 following coloration of light by a color filter 104. The light introduced into the liquid crystal layer 50 is emitted at an observation side of the liquid crystal panel through the retardation plate 213 and the polarizer 214 sequentially. On the other hand, in a bright environment, light from the observation side passes through the polarizer 214 and the liquid crystal layer 50, and is reflected at the transflective electrode 102 following coloration of light by the color filter 104, whereby the light is emitted at the observation side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Seki, Eiji Okamoto, Keiji Takizawa
  • Patent number: 6633354
    Abstract: A light controlling film is disclosed, comprising a polymerized polymer network varying spatially in a direction normal to the film surface, where the polymerized polymer network is a crosslinked high molecular weight polymeric material mixed with a low molecular weight nematic material exhibiting cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) order, wherein an electric field impressed in the film controls the reflection bandwidth of circularly polarized light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Reveo, Inc.
    Inventors: Le Li, Bunsen Fan, Yingqiu Jiang, Sadeg M. Faris, Jian-Feng Li
  • Patent number: 6633355
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling a pretilt angle direction for a liquid crystal cell comprising the steps of first setting the magnitude of pretilt angle and a plurality of pretilt angle directions in an alignment layer. This first step is achieved by irradiating linearly the alignment layer with polarized or unpolarized UV light. One of the plurality of pretilt angle directions is then selected by exposing the alignment layer to UV light a second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: LG. Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuriy Reznikov, Oleg Yaroshchuk, Joung Won Woo, Yoo Jin Choi, Ki Hyuk Yoon, Mi Sook Nam, Jong Hyun Kim, Soon Bum Kwon
  • Patent number: 6633356
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display including: a first substrate including a first electrode to which a drive voltage is applied, and a first alignment film formed on the first electrode and aligning liquid crystal molecules vertically to a surface of the first alignment film when the drive voltage is not applied; a second substrate including a second electrode opposed to the first electrode, and a second alignment film formed on the second electrode and aligning the liquid crystal molecules vertically to a surface of the second alignment film when the drive voltage is not applied; and a liquid crystal layer sealed between the first substrate and the second substrate and having negative dielectric constant anisotropy, a projection for restricting a tilting direction of the liquid crystal molecules when the drive voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, disposed between the first electrode and the first alignment film, and/or between the second electrode and the second alignment film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Shingo Kataoka, Kunihiro Tashiro, Katsufumi Ohmuro, Yoshio Koike
  • Patent number: 6633357
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a multi-domain liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same. More specifically, a multi-domain liquid crystal display device having first and second substrates includes a pixel electrode over the first substrate, a side electrode surrounding the pixel electrode, a common electrode over the second substrate, a first dielectric structure on the common electrode, and at least one second dielectric structure over the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: LG. Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Doo Hyun Ko, Joun Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 6633358
    Abstract: Three measuring methods and apparatus for determining the twist angle (&phgr;) and retardation value (d&Dgr;n) of any twisted nematic liquid crystal (LC) cell are disclosed. These methods make use of a monochromatic light source such as a laser beam. Twist angle and retardation values an be obtained by data fitting using data obtained by adjusting only the polarizes and the LC cell orientation. No retardation wave-plate is needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Hoi-Sing Kwok, Shu-Tuen Tang
  • Patent number: 6633359
    Abstract: An active matrix type liquid crystal display capable of displaying an image of high quality and brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Fujitsu Display Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Hongyong Zhang, Takatoshi Mayama
  • Patent number: 6633360
    Abstract: In an active matrix type liquid crystal display apparatus, each of pixel electrodes has overhanging portions at its opposite side edges. These overhanging portions of the pixel electrode cover two signal lines placed on opposite sides of the pixel electrode, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Okada, Atsushi Ban
  • Patent number: 6633361
    Abstract: A LCD display device includes a LCD panel unit and a LCD driver (TCP) for driving the LCD panel unit. The panel terminals of the signal lines are bonded to respective TCP leads of the LCD driver. The panel terminal has a slit therein for inspection of the alignment of the panel terminal and the TCP lead. If the alignment is achieved, light does not pass the slit whereas if the alignment is incomplete, light passes the slit, whereby the misalignment is detected by human eyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Fujita
  • Patent number: 6633362
    Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus includes an illumination optical system for illuminating a pattern formed on a first object, with light, a projection optical system for projecting the pattern of the first object, illuminated by the illumination optical system, onto a second object for exposure of the same with the pattern, a main system including the illumination optical system and the projection optical system, and an interferometer for use in measurement of an optical characteristic of the projection optical system and being mounted on the main system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiichi Murakami, Osamu Kakuchi
  • Patent number: 6633363
    Abstract: A scanning exposure apparatus and method for synchronously moving a mask and a substrate with respect to an exposing radiation flux to project an image of a mask pattern on the mask onto the substrate, includes an alignment sensor detecting the initial rotational angle of the mask relative to the substrate, a mask position detector, a substrate position detector, a calculation unit processing the position signals of the mask and the substrate in accordance with the projection ratio of the projection optical system and the initial rotational angle of the mask relative to the substrate to derive a positional deviation of the mask stage relative to the substrate stage, and a controller controlling the mask stage movement and the substrate stage movement to eliminate the positional deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Susumu Makinouchi
  • Patent number: 6633364
    Abstract: The exposure apparatus comprises a gas supply system that supplies a low absorptive gas with a predetermined purity to the illumination system housing and the barrel of the projection optical system and collects the gas exhausted from these closed spaces and supplies the gas to the mask chamber which houses the mask stage and the substrate chamber which houses the substrate stage. The illumination system housing, the barrel of the projection optical system, the mask chamber, and the substrate chamber are respectively located on the optical path of the exposure light. Accordingly, the low absorptive gas that has circulated the illumination system housing and the barrel of the projection optical system is used as the replacement gas of the mask chamber and the substrate chamber, while sufficiently satisfying the purity of the low absorptive gas and maintaining the transmittance of the exposure light required in each chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yutaka Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6633365
    Abstract: A projection optical system according to the present invention whose image side numerical aperture is greater than or equal to 0.75, and which forms an image of a first object upon a second object using light of a predetermined wavelength less than or equal to 300 nm, comprises: a first lens group G1 of positive refractive power; a second lens group G2 of negative refractive power; a third lens group G3 of positive refractive power; and a fourth lens group G4 of positive refractive power, and: the first lens group G1, the second lens group G2, the third lens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4 are arranged in order from a side of the first object; and a distance D in mm along an optical axis between an optical surface of the fourth lens group G4 closest to the second object, and the second object, satisfies a condition of 0.1<D<5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yutaka Suenaga
  • Patent number: 6633366
    Abstract: Various options for improving throughput in an e-beam lithography apparatus are described. A slider lens moves in synchronism with the scanning motion of the electron beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Inventors: Pieter Willem Herman de Jager, Pieter Kruit, Arno Jan Bleeker, Karel Diederick van der Mast
  • Patent number: 6633367
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for optoelectronic distance measurement and a measurement device based on this method, in which two light emitters, particularly laser emitters and two photodiode receivers are used for calibration. Part of the modulated output of the main emitter reaches the measurement object and then arrives at the main photoreceiver in the form of scattered light and another part of the output of the main emitter travels directly to a reference photoreceiver, while a part of the modulated output of the reference light emitter is guided directly to the main photoreceiver and another part is guided directly to the reference photoreceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Torsten Gogolla
  • Patent number: 6633368
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method for determining the volume of single red blood cells or other particles that are suspended in liquids. The sample is disposed into an optical cuvette suitable for microscopic analysis. A fluorescent dye is added that does not leak into the cells, and that is able to absorb excitation light and emit fluorescence light at wavelengths that are only weakly absorbed by the cells. The cell volume is determined using fluorescence intensity values measured (i) in a first area comprising a single cell, (ii) in a second area close to that cell, and (iii) in said second area, after changing the cuvette thickness by a known amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Klaus W. Berndt
  • Patent number: 6633369
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method for determining the volume of individual red blood cells or other particles that are suspended in liquids. The sample is disposed into an optical cuvette suitable for microscopic analysis. An absorbing dye is added that does not leak into the cells, and that is able to absorb light at wavelengths that are only weakly absorbed by the cells. The cell volume is determined using transmitted light intensity values measured (i) in a first area comprising a single cell, (ii) in a second area close to that cell, and (iii) in said second area, after changing the cuvette thickness by a known amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Klaus W. Berndt
  • Patent number: 6633370
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for obtaining information about an object, as is a system operating in accordance with the method. The method includes steps of (a) placing a plurality of regions onto the object, each region being capable of emitting a predetermined wavelength of light; (b) detecting the light; and (c) decoding information from the detected light. At least one of the regions contains semiconductor particles having a radius larger than a quantum dot radius for a corresponding semiconductor material, and a chemical composition selected to provide the predetermined wavelength of light. The semiconductor material contains at least one of a Group II-IV alloy, or a Group III-V alloy, or a compound comprised of an indirect bandgap material, such as Si or Ge. The concentrations of the alloy or compound constituent elements are preselected to provide the predetermined emission wavelength. The semiconductor material may further include a selected dopant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Spectra Science Corporation
    Inventor: Nabil M. Lawandy
  • Patent number: 6633371
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for wavelength control and measurement are disclosed. An optical signal to be measured is tapped off a portion thereof referring to as a source signal. Together with a reference signal, the source signal is coupled to a tunable filter. The frequency response or passing band of the tunable filter is so controlled that one wavelength &lgr;x from the source signal and one wavelength &lgr;rx from the reference signal transmit through. Relying on a band separation filter, the wavelength &lgr;rx is separated from the reference signal and coupled to a gas cell of a known spectrum, a filtered signal of the wavelength &lgr;rx is then coupled to a photo-detector for subsequent electrical measurement. In accordance with the known spectrum, the wavelength &lgr;x can be precisely derived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Alliance Fiber Optic Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Tongxin Lu, Zheng Yan
  • Patent number: 6633372
    Abstract: The invention relates to optical instruments. There are provided a method for inspection of an analyzed surface and a scanning analyzer for inspection of defects on the surface. The method comprises the steps of rotating an object with the analyzed surface about a first center of rotation; forming a light spot on the analyzed surface; and sensing separately a light mirror-reflected and a light scattered from the analyzed surface at the incidence point of the light spot; and detecting surface defects by analyzing the produced signals. To implement the method, a surface scanning analyzer moves the light spot relative to the analyzed surface through an arc about a second center of rotation which lies outside the analyzed surface; and detects defects on the surface of wafers by measuring the magnitude of the scattered light. The reduced size and cost of the measurement device enables its integration into manufacturing equipment for inspection of semiconductor wafers in electronic industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Obschestvo S Ogranichennoi Otvetstvennostiju “Reflex Lait”
    Inventor: Alexandr Vladimirovich Voinalovich