Patents Issued in January 6, 2004
  • Patent number: 6674451
    Abstract: A method for enabling a user to proactively reduce the likelihood of audio feedback in an application requiring audio input and output, comprising the steps of: generating a graphical user interface (GUI) display screen including a first area for displaying information about preventing audio feedback and a second area for user selections and controls; displaying a list of available audio outputs in the second area; prompting the user to select one of the audio outputs from the list; prompting the user to select one of a plurality of muting options for each selected one of the audio outputs; and, displaying in the GUI display screen an explanation for each one of the plurality of muting options, whereby muting selections for proactively reducing the likelihood of audio feedback can be made based on user experience and knowledge. Only one of the muting option explanations is displayed at a time, responsive to the user selection of one of the muting options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Fado, Peter Guasti, Amado Nassiff, Ronald Van Buskirk, Harvey Ruback
  • Patent number: 6674452
    Abstract: A According to the invention, a music search system includes a music player, music analyzer, a search engine and a sophisticated user interface that enables users to visually build complex query profiles from the structural information of one or more musical pieces. The complex query profiles are useful for performing searches for musical pieces matching the structural information in the query profile. The system allows the user to supply an existing piece of music, or some components thereof, as query arguments, and lets the music search engine find music that is similar to the given sample by certain similarity measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Reiner Kraft, Qi Lu, Shang-Hua Teng
  • Patent number: 6674453
    Abstract: A Web browser provides the ability to separate content and hyper-links from a Web page and provides a list of the links for viewing on a mobile device display screen, and once a link is selected using the mobile device, a services portal link is provided to the mobile device display to provide selection of services to be performed on the selected link, such as faxing or printing. Further, the services are made link dependent, or user dependent so that specific services can be displayed depending on factors such as the availability of services provided specifically from a Web page owner for link dependent services, or for the location of a user relative to a print service provider for user dependent services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: William N. Schilit, Jonathan James Trevor, Catherine Claire Marshall, Elizabeth F. Churchill
  • Patent number: 6674454
    Abstract: Image carriers are arranged so as to satisfy an expression; −Ts/2<t1+t2−t3−nTp<Ts/2. “Ts” is a time period of scanning performed by each of scanning surfaces of a rotary polygon mirror. “Tp” is a time period of one rotation of the polygon mirror. “t1” is a time period required for a first image formed on a first image carrier among the image carriers is transferred to the transferred object at a first transferring position. “t2” is a time period required for the first image is traveled from the first transferring position to a second transferring position at which a second image formed on a second image carrier adjacent to the first image carrier at a downstream of the transporting path is transferred to the transferred object. “t3” is a time period required for the second image formed on the second image carrier is transferred to the transferred object at the second transferring position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yujiro Nomura
  • Patent number: 6674455
    Abstract: A thermal printing mechanism prints a black pattern on a paper web with a direct printing process and additionally prints a color pattern on the paper web with a transfer printing process. The paper web and a transfer film web are moved between a platen and a thermal printhead, with the transfer film web between the paper web and the printhead, with heating elements within the printhead being operated at one temperature to produce the color pattern and at another, higher temperature to produce the black pattern. Preferably, the transfer film web is moved only when the color pattern is being printed and when it is otherwise necessary to prevent the film web from being worn through as the black pattern is printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Hunter Harris
  • Patent number: 6674456
    Abstract: A thermal printer includes a thermal printing head in an image forming section, which prints an image on one of first and second surfaces of a recording sheet oriented downwards. Feeder rollers feed the recording sheet to the image forming section after the recording sheet is set in a sheet supply slot. The printer includes at least one first memory for storing first image data of an image for being printed on the first surface, and second image data of an image for being printed on the second surface. The first or second image data are read from the first memory, and input to the image forming section. A second memory stores information of discrimination bar code adapted for designating the second image data associated with the first image data according to common assignment to the recording sheet. The information of the discrimination bar code is read from the second memory at a time of printing with the first image data to the first surface, and is printed on the first surface by the image forming section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takao Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 6674457
    Abstract: An apparatus for communicating video frames from a source having a video input means to a destination having a visual display unit during the course of a telephone conversation. A first user can use a first computer communication means to make a first connection to a service provider. The service provider or first user then initiates a telephone call from the first to the second telephone via the service provider and the first and second communication paths. A second user can then use the second computer communication means to make a second connection to the service provider. Caller-id data is communicated between each of the first and second users and the service provider so that the service provider can correlate both the call and the first and second connections with each other. At least one video image is uploaded from the video input means to the service provider, and then downloaded to one of the computers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventors: Steven Gareth Davies, Stephen John Roe
  • Patent number: 6674458
    Abstract: A camera-based system includes a number of sites, each having a camera associated therewith. A processing system processes a video signal received from a camera at a given one of the sites, and provides a controlled switching between a representative presence mode and at least one other mode for presentation, at one or more of the sites remote from the given site, of corresponding output video associated with the given site. The processing system utilizes information derived from the video signal generated by the camera to control the switching between the representative presence mode and the other mode, which may be, e.g., a live video mode. For example, the processing system may process the video to identify a user of the system, retrieve a corresponding user profile, and control the switching between the modes in accordance with information in the retrieved user profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Eric Cohen-Solal, Miroslav Trajkovic
  • Patent number: 6674459
    Abstract: In a recorded network conference, a post-conference process is implemented to transcribe stored raw conference data into a viewable, standard format recording. The post-conference process postpones transcribing tasks until after the conference has ended. During the conference, raw conference data streams are stored directly in a compressed format used for network transmission. The post-conference process can be initiated based on one or more parameters to optimize use of resources. Possible parameters include conference schedules, CPU usage and availability for transcribing, and remaining storage capacity. In an embodiment, a recording unit joins the conference over the network in the manner of an attendee. The recording unit “listens” and blindly records the data, and later performs the post-conference process. In an embodiment, the transcribed recording is burned onto a CD-ROM and delivered to the conference attendees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ido Ben-Shachar, Ivan J. Leichtling, Leonard Alan Collins
  • Patent number: 6674460
    Abstract: A method and system for providing, in a television system, the combination, transmission, and reception of multiple video presentations over a single channel of a television distribution system. Presentations may be concurrently broadcast for viewing by many users, as well as interactively requested for display by many (potentially a thousand or more) individual users. A presentation consists of a sequence of images which reproduce a full motion, reduced motion, or a still image video presentation for the user when displayed. The signal is transmitted in a standard television format, and consists of a sequence of video images from the various presentations being transmitted. A user terminal receiving the transmitted signal is selectably operable to display one of the multiple transmitted presentations with accompanying audio. The terminal identifies the video images of the selected presentation, stores and displays the images on an associated television receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Liberate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Pocock, Allan Lodberg, Peter Coumans
  • Patent number: 6674461
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for synthesizing an image from a plurality of video streams. The method includes the steps of determining an orientation of a first and second video source of the plurality of video streams with respect to a video object lying within a field of view of both the first and second video sources and selecting an orientation of a synthesized video source with respect to the video object. The method further includes the step of interpolating among corresponding images of the first and second video sources to form a stream of perspective images of the video object from the selected orientation of the synthesized source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Matthew H. Klapman
  • Patent number: 6674462
    Abstract: Light is divided into transmitted light and reflected light by a half mirror 3. The transmitted light is photographed by a first imaging system and the reflected light is photographed by a second imaging system. In this case, a very-small binocular parallax is realized by parallax producing means 7S and 7K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoko Ooshima, Hiroshi Atsuta
  • Patent number: 6674463
    Abstract: The method involves using multiple aperture multiplexing, with display of image composite in fast sequences such that viewer does not detect changes. The method involves using a screen and an optical closure device in the beam path that can be blocked or made transparent for the segment. The observer is positioned within a defined distance and angular range with respect to the associated device. Perspective views are acquired in real time or non-real time using one or more or one moving image acquisition devices. This provides digital data sets that are converted into suitable image composites and displayed on a screen by a multiplex method. A controller opens one or more closure device apertures to display the image composite, in a sequence so fast that the observer does not detect the changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventors: Deiter Just, Hartmut Runge
  • Patent number: 6674464
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus for performing efficient signal processing depending on the operational mode. In the finder mode, a CCD interface 21a decimates horizontal components of image data supplied from an image generating unit 10 to one-third and moreover processes the decimated image data with data conversion and resolution conversion to produce Y, Cb and Cr image data which are routed to and written in an image memory 32 over a memory controller 22. In the recording mode, the CCD interface 21a causes the image data from the image generating unit 10 to be written in the image memory 32 via memory controller 22 after decimation and gamma correction etc. The camera DSP 21c reads out the image data via memory controller 22 from the image memory 32 to effect data conversion for writing the resulting data via memory controller 22 in the image memory 32.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Mizutani, Masayuki Takezawa, Hideki Matsumoto, Ken Nakajima, Toshihisa Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6674465
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing image data including three complementary color components representing the three primary colors includes a distribution circuit for distributing the image data into first to third complementary color components. A multiplication circuit generates first to third products by multiplying the first and second complementary color components, the first and third complementary color components, and the second and third complementary color components. A square root circuit then calculates the square root of each of the three products. The calculated square roots represent the three primary colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshio Nakakuki
  • Patent number: 6674466
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus for reducing the light-dark contrast between a main subject and a background when an image photographed by a camera or the like using an electronic flash is read optically. An image portion corresponding to a wall as a background, where the light amount is reduced, and an image portion corresponding to a person are separated from each other. Only the wall image portion is sampled, the decreased light amount thereof is corrected (addition is carried out) on the basis of the photographing distance to the wall and the light distribution characteristics of the electronic flash, and the light-darkness contrast between the wall image portion and the main subject image portion can be reduced. As a result, image quality can be improved, and an appropriate photographic image can be taken even with an inexpensive and simple camera such as an LF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Takaoka
  • Patent number: 6674467
    Abstract: An electronic still camera is described which allows previewing the composition of an image before the image is stored. The digital still camera includes at least two release switches; a lens unit; an image pickup unit for converting the optical image into corresponding electronic image data; a controller responsive to the settings of the release switches and outputting either static image data or moving image data in real time; a first memory device for temporarily storing the static image data received from the controller; and a display unit for displaying either the static image corresponding to the static image data or the moving image corresponding to the moving image data, as determined by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Aerospace Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Gi Lee
  • Patent number: 6674468
    Abstract: In an image recording apparatus and method, when photographing images and recording the photographed images in a recording medium, by arranging so as to perform a plurality of different kinds of retrieval operations for the images recorded in the recording medium in accordance with respective operational modes of the apparatus, it is possible to promptly retrieve unnecessary recorded data during a photographing operation of recording moving images in a randomly accessible recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hosoe, Kyoji Tamura
  • Patent number: 6674469
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device of the frame transfer system is designed to provide two types of image signals. A light receiving section of the solid-state image pickup device adopts a six-phase drive in which second and fifth transfer clocks &phgr;2 and &phgr;5 are set high at a first image pickup operation so that a potential well is formed respectively under the corresponding transfer electrodes. After completion of the first image pickup operation, information charges in the potential well under the transfer electrode corresponding to the second transfer clock &phgr;2 are transferred to the potential well under the transfer electrode corresponding to the fifth transfer clock &phgr;5. At a second image pickup operation, the second and fifth transfer clocks &phgr;2 and &phgr;5 are again set high so that a potential well is formed respectively under the corresponding transfer electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tohru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6674470
    Abstract: A solid state imaging device comprises a plurality of unit cells formed in a surface region of a semiconductor substrate. Each of the unit cells comprises a photoelectric converter, an MOS-type read-out transistor for reading a signal from the photoelectric converter, an MOS-type amplifying transistor having a gate connected to a drain of the read-out transistor and for amplifying the signal read by the read-out transistor, a reset transistor having a source connected to the drain of the read-out transistor and for resetting a potential of a gate of the amplifying transistor, and an addressing element connected in series to the amplifying transistor and for selecting the unit cell. The read-out transistor is formed in a first device region in the semiconductor substrate. The reset transistor is formed in a second device region in the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nagataka Tanaka, Eiji Oba, Keiji Mabuchi, Michio Sasaki, Ryohei Miyagawa, Hirofumi Yamashita, Yoshinori Iida, Hisanori Ihara, Tetsuya Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6674471
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes an imaging area including a plurality of pixels arranged in columns and rows, and peripheral circuitry for selecting at least one of the pixels. Each said pixel includes: a photoelectric transducer for creating electric charges by photoelectric conversion and storing the charges therein; means for storing the charges read out from the photoelectric transducer; a transfer electrode, provided between the photoelectric transducer and the storage means, for reading out the charges from the photoelectric transducer to the storage means; an amplifier for sensing a variation in potential in the storage means; and a reset electrode for discharging the charges, stored in the storage means, to a power supply, thereby resetting the potential in the storage means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Masuyama
  • Patent number: 6674472
    Abstract: A digital camera includes a memory configured to store image data including thumbnail image data and a display configured to display the thumbnail image data. Further, a controller is configured to control the display of the thumbnail image data and to display page data with the thumbnail image data. The page data can include data of a currently displayed page and data of a total number of pages, and further an operator can set and reset the number of thumbnail images which form one page. Further, the operator can change this setting of the number of thumbnail images in one page while selecting a specific thumbnail image of a currently displayed page of thumbnail image data. The controller can calculate the total number of pages in a currently displayed page, and can recalculate this data if the number of thumbnail images in a page is reset by an operator. Further, each of the pages can be accessed sequentially and the first and last pages can be viewed as sequential pages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoru Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 6674473
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a compact and low-cost image pickup apparatus capable of photographing a high-quality image comparable to silver halide photographs, particularly an image in which color shift is inconspicuous. In the image pickup apparatus, an image of an object produced by an optical system 10 is formed on an electronic image pickup device 20, thereby obtaining image information concerning the object. The electronic image pickup device 20 and the optical system 10 satisfy the conditions: (1) 1.5<P<7.0; (2) 3.0<N<20; (3) 1.0×P<67 <5.0×P; and (4) nL/nT<0.25; where P is the pixel pitch (given in micrometers) of the image pickup device; N is the number of pixels (given in million) of the image pickup device; and &thgr; is the angle (°) at which the central ray of a light beam exiting from the optical system or a ray passing through the center of a stop is incident on the image pickup device at the maximum image height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Takada
  • Patent number: 6674474
    Abstract: In a television camera apparatus, while a high luminance level range is detected from a picture signal which is acquired by imaging a moving photographing object by using an image pick-up element or acquired by imaging a subject almost in a static state that enters into a visual field of the image pick-up element by remotely rotating or elevating the image pick-up element, such a range which becomes a high luminance level is predicted based upon a temporal change and the like of this detected range, and such a transmission light amount control is carried out in such a manner that a light amount of imaging light of the predicted range, which is received by a light receiving plane of the image pick-up element, is extincted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Hatae, Akimi Tsukui, Yoshifumi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6674475
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for controlling the shutter open time in an opto-electronic device is presented. A frame of pixel intensity data is collected and the average pixel intensity value is across said frame is calculated and compared to a first threshold. If the average pixel intensity is outside a first intensity range defined by said first threshold, the shutter open time is adjusted in a first direction. Otherwise, the peak pixel intensity value across the frame is found and compared to a second threshold. If the peak pixel intensity value is outside a second intensity range defined by said second threshold, the shutter open time is adjusted in said first direction. If the peak pixel intensity value is not outside a second intensity range, the peak pixel intensity value is compared to a third threshold. If the peak pixel intensity value is outside a third intensity range defined by the third threshold, the shutter open time is adjusted in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A Anderson
  • Patent number: 6674476
    Abstract: A housing for a TV camera has an automatic wiping mode for automatically driving a wiper, which is provided at a front window of the housing, at predetermined time intervals. The execution of the automatic wiping mode while the TV camera is unused prevents a large amount of snow and frost, etc. from adhering to the front window. The wiper and two nozzles of a window-washing device for jetting a washing liquid are provided on the front window of the housing in a pan/tilt head. If the pan/tilt head is set to the automatic wiping mode, the wiper and the window-washing device automatically operate at predetermined time intervals. This prevents the snow and the frost from adhering to the front window while the pan/tilt head is not operated, e.g., at night. Thus, the shooting can be begun quickly when the need arises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6674477
    Abstract: A reception control section 11 for receiving the information including data and its transmission format information from a memory or communication channel, a separating section 12 for analyzing and separating received information, a transmitting section 13 for transmitting information to a memory or transmission channel, a video extending section 14 for extending a video, and video-extension control section 15 control the processing state of said video extending section 14 for extending at least one or more videos and a video synthesizing apparatus constituted with a video synthesizing section 16 for synthesizing videos in accordance with extended information, an output section 17 for outputting a synthesized result, and a terminal control section 18 for controlling the above means makes it possible to synthesize a plurality of videos at the same time and correspond to a dynamic change of transmission format information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Yamaguchi, Minoru Etoh, Hiroshi Arakawa
  • Patent number: 6674478
    Abstract: The invention provides an image processing apparatus and method as well as a providing medium by which deterioration of the vertical resolution is prevented and conspicuous appearance of line flickering is suppressed. In order to convert an interlaced video signal having 525 scanning lines into another progressive video signal having 525 scanning lines while maintaining the image size, in an odd-numbered field, a line after conversion is offset by 0.5 H (H is the distance between horizontal scanning lines of the inputted video signal). Consequently, pixel data of each line Oi are produced from pixel data of two lines Ii and Ii+1 before conversion. As a result, pixels of a line on the boundary between white pixels and black pixels have a gray color. In an odd-numbered field, no offset is given, and pixel data of each line I1 of the field before conversion are set as they are as pixel data of each line Oi of the field after conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichiro Miyazaki, Akira Shirahama, Takeshi Ohno
  • Patent number: 6674479
    Abstract: A method and circuit are provided for color space conversion of Y (luminance) and UV (chrominance) components from a planar YUV 4:2:0 format to an interleaved, or packed YUV 4:2:2 format, and from an interleaved, or packed YUV 4:2:2 format to a planar YUV 4:2:0 format. The method for both conversions includes reading source data, interpolating the sampled YUV component values, and performing a pass to thereby write the converted YUV component values in three passes, one pass for all values of the respective YUV components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Val Cook, Kam Leung, Wing Hang Wong
  • Patent number: 6674480
    Abstract: A frame-rate converting device in a moving picture decoder which realizes a smooth display of pictures at a frame rate of 30 Hz or 60 Hz based on stream data whose frame rate of 24 Hz is provided. A control section performs a 3:2 pull-down processing when the output frame rate is 24 Hz and when a re-display of picture is indicated. When a re-display of picture is not indicated, the control section detects that the picture is of a progressive material, and repeats one field every two frames. When the picture is not a progressive material, the control section determines whether the top and the bottom of the picture are of the same time instant and repeats one field every two frames when they are of the same time instant but repeats one frame every four frames when they are not of the same time instant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 6674481
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a display apparatus, a marker signal making process, a marker signal detector circuit, and a control signal generator circuit that are suitable for use when making a display in which a display screen is divided into a plurality of areas and images whose picture qualities are different at every area are displayed. Thus, in the present invention, image signals (R/G/B) from input terminals 1R, 1G, 1B are supplied to a preamplifier IC 3, e.g. to respective sharpness improving circuits 32R, 32G, 32B therein. Image signals derived from the preamplifier IC 3 are subjected to DC voltage conversion by a cutoff adjusting amplifier 6 and then supplied, e.g. to a cathode ray tube 7 as a display means. A microcomputer 40 which is present within this apparatus and controls various kinds of functions forms first and second DC voltage data for controlling, e.g. the sharpness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shunji Umemura, Ichiro Sato, Katsuhiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6674482
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating a sync of a digital television in which an analog signal inputted to a digital television constantly provides stabilized synchronization regardless of a standard or a nonstandard so as to be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Dong Ho Park
  • Patent number: 6674483
    Abstract: A television receiving apparatus capable of notifying a user away from home of a message stored in the apparatus includes a memory for storing various data, a clock circuit for counting a current time, a modem for establishing connection with a public switched network, and a control circuit. When the clock circuit reaches a time stored previously in the memory, the control circuit causes a message held in the memory to be transmitted via the modem to an address designated by data stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kasumi Takeda, Ayumi Mizobuchi, Mami Uchida
  • Patent number: 6674484
    Abstract: The two dimensional sample rate conversion capabilities of a video display system are used to produce three-dimensional effects. Linear and non-linear scaling is applied to a video image to convey a sense of depth. The three dimensional effects are used to increase the visual appeal of existing and new feature sets in display systems. A multi-faceted object representation, such as a representation of a cube or a pyramid, can be used to display different video images on each facet of the representation. By appropriately scaling each image on each facet, an impression of depth is achieved. The images on the different facets can be selected to represent different aspects of a common theme, such as datacast information related to a primary source of information. Channel changing on a television can be presented as a rotation of the multifaceted object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Liza G. Boland, Johan G. Janssen
  • Patent number: 6674485
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image compositing apparatus capable of producing a natural composite image, with a simple structure and a less occupying space. The present invention also provides a method for compositing an image by providing shadow-free conditions in a limited space for chroma-keying so that a subject image and a desired background image are naturally integrated as one image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiho Akiyama, Kou Otokozawa, Shigehiro Fukase, Naoto Baba, Yoshihiro Naitou, Tohru Baba
  • Patent number: 6674486
    Abstract: A video signal processor includes a sharpening circuit, a non-correlation detecting circuit, and, optionally, a noise level detecting circuit. The sharpening circuit is capable of receiving an input luminance signal. The sharpening circuit has a transversal filter. The transversal filter is operable to filter the input luminance signal to produce an intermediate signal and to produce a filtered luminance signal with a time lag. The sharpening circuit is operable to multiply the filtered luminance signal by a predetermined factor, to adjust the time lag to produce a resultant luminance signal, and to add the resultant luminance signal to the intermediate signal. The non-correlation detecting circuit detects noise or fluctuation in the intermediate signal. The non-correlation detecting circuit is operable to set the predetermined factor to a selected value based upon the presence of at least one of the noise or the fluctuation in the intermediate signal, according to a threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Ueyama
  • Patent number: 6674487
    Abstract: Hue is controlled using a saturation control circuit. A first color space value is adjusted based on a hue angle and a saturation value, and a second color space value is adjusted based on the hue angle and the saturation value. The first and second color space values are processed to obtain a hue-adjusted color space value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Alexander V. Smith
  • Patent number: 6674488
    Abstract: A luminance (Y) and a color difference (C) signal separator switches filters according to an image and separates a Y signal and a C signal included in a composite color picture signal to eliminate a degradation which would otherwise be involved at a transition point because of the characteristics of the filters. A first weighting circuit calculates the weighted average of the C signals extracted from the composite signal by a comb filter and a three-line comb filter. A second weighting circuit calculates the weighted average of the C signals extracted by the three-line comb filter and a two-line comb filter. When the motion level of the image exceeds a predetermined threshold, a selector selects, as the final C signal, the signal output from the second weighting circuit. When the motion level is equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold, the selector selects, as the final C signal, the signal output from the first weighting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasunori Satoh
  • Patent number: 6674489
    Abstract: In an image display which reproduces a color image by using lights color-separated into four or more colors through color filters, the objects of the invention are to effectively utilize the energy of light from a light source and to reduce the effect that a slight shift of the spectral transmittance characteristics of the color filters exerts on the spectral distributions of the lights after color separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Kagawa, Hiroaki Sugiura, Kohei Teramoto, Shinsuke Shikama, Yoshiteru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6674490
    Abstract: A light source for a digital image projection system with a thin-film resonant microchamber comprising a plurality of image-generating light sources. The light images generated from the plurality of light sources are combined and projected onto a projection screen. Each light source comprises a primary electro-luminescent image-generating unit, comprising a layer of electro-luminescent phosphorus and an array of control electrodes for generation of a luminescent image in the phosphorus layer; furthermore an image amplifier with a photocathode adjacent to the electro-luminescent phosphorus layer and generating electrons as a result of light from the primary electro-luminescent image, and an anode for acceleration of the generated electrons by a voltage difference in the direction of the thin-film resonant microchamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Reinhold Thiel
  • Patent number: 6674491
    Abstract: The invention relates to a software method for reducing the electromagnetic irradiation of the Phase Lock Loop (PLL) within an On-Screen Display Menu system. The method includes the steps as follows: setting the resolution of an OSD system to a predetermined pass value of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI); checking the OSD system; changing the resolution of the OSD system to a value to be displayed if the OSD system is started; keeping on the predetermined value of EMI if the OSD system is not started; repeating the checking of the OSD system step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Benq Corporation
    Inventor: Hsien-Chun Tsou
  • Patent number: 6674492
    Abstract: A transparent filter including a sheet-shaped body and numerous linear conductive elements arrayed on a surface thereof, which is adapted to be disposed in front of an image device having rectangular pixels; wherein the conductive elements with a linewidth of 50 &mgr;m or less are arrayed on the sheet-shaped body in two directions with a pitch P1 and a pitch P2, respectively; an aperture ratio of the filter is not less than 70%; and when lengths of a pixel of the image device in the vertical direction Y and in the horizontal direction X are denoted by W1 and W2, respectively, P1, P2, W1 and W2 satisfy a relation expressed by the following Equation (1) and Equation (2), n1+0.35≦W1/P1≦n1+0.65  (1) n2+0.35≦W2/P2≦n2+0.65  (2) The use of the transparent filter can increase the aperture ratio in comparison with that of a conventional mesh, and besides the disposal thereof in front of an image device having rectangular pixels can make the moire inconspicuous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Kogame, Makoto Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6674493
    Abstract: A head mounted display may include a single liquid crystal display element. The display element may successively generate left and right image pairs. A beam slitter may be utilized to successively provide a first image to the left eye and a subsequent image to the right eye and so on so that a stereoscopic image may be produced from a single display element. As a result, the power consumption, cost, size and weight of the head mounted display may be reduced in some embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Jeff A. Shaw
  • Patent number: 6674494
    Abstract: On substrates 2a, 2b of a chiral nematic liquid crystal optical element 1, transparent electrodes 3a, 3b and electrical insulation layers 4a, 4b are formed, and further, resin layers 5a, 5b having a pencil hardness of “B” or less are formed on the electrical insulation layers by a spin coating method so as to be in contact with a liquid crystal layer 7. When the surface hardness of the resin layers is to be measured, a glass substrate on which a resin layer is formed by screen-printing is prepared as a test piece, and the test piece is fitted to a pencil-scratching tester. The surface hardness is measured by scratching the test piece with two kinds of testing pencil selected from testing pencils having 17 grades of density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: OPTREX Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Niiyama, Noriko Suehiro
  • Patent number: 6674495
    Abstract: A black matrix having an opening at pixels of a matrix array in a display area, a common wire including common pads and common signal lines, and gate pads in a peripheral area, and an alignment key in outer area to align interlayer thin films are formed on an insulating substrate. Red, blue and green color filters the edge of which overlap the black matrix are formed at the pixels on the insulating substrate, and an organic insulating layer covering the black matrix and the color filters and having a contact hole exposing the gate pad is formed thereon. A gate wire including a gate line connected to the gate pad through the contact hole and a gate electrode connected to the gate line is formed on the organic insulating layer, and a gate insulating layer covering the gate wire is formed on the organic insulating layer. A semiconductor pattern and ohmic contact layers are sequentially formed on the gate insulating layer of the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mun-Pyo Hong, Wan-Shick Hong, Sang-Il Kim, Soo-Guy Rho, Jin-Kyu Kang, Snag-Gab Kim
  • Patent number: 6674496
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) device has a first side and a second side in parallel with the first side. The LCD device includes a front light source positioned on the first side of the LCD device for generating light beams, and a transflective liquid crystal panel. The transflective liquid crystal panel includes a first glass substrate located between the front light source and the second side of the LCD device, a second glass substrate located between the first glass substrate and the second side of LCD device, and a transflective layer located between the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate for reflecting and transmitting the light beams generated by the front light source. The LCD devices can display images both through the first side and through the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corporation
    Inventor: Chung-Kuang Wei
  • Patent number: 6674497
    Abstract: A display device, in particular for a motor vehicle, having a pointer, a scale and an electrooptic display, it being possible to represent measured values on the scale in an analog fashion using the pointer, and at least one area of the electrooptic display being arranged along the movement path of the pointer. In order to provide a high level of information density while simultaneously making the display easy to read, the electrooptic display has a first display field which runs along at least one section of the movement path of the pointer and has display segments which can be actuated, and a second display field which can be actuated in an unrestricted way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Peter Brandt
  • Patent number: 6674498
    Abstract: In a normally black double cell, grey scale enhancement is obtained by dividing pixels in the driving cell into sub-pixels which are rotated preferably through 180° with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Sjoerd Stallinga, Peter Van De Witte
  • Patent number: 6674499
    Abstract: There is disclosed an active matrix liquid crystal display apparatus in which a data signal line is disposed apart from a pixel electrode, a gate insulating film is disposed between the data signal line and an extending portion of an auxiliary capacity line, the extending portion is superposed upon a peripheral portion of the pixel electrode, and a parasitic capacity Cds between the pixel electrode and the data signal line is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yayoi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6674500
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal material sandwiched between the pair of substrates, a shield area disposed on the outer periphery of a display area, and an outer edge sealing member disposed on the further outer periphery than the shield area and formed except for the liquid crystal inlet. Particularly, in this liquid crystal display device, a shield pattern comprising a resin of a predetermined thickness and a color filter thinner than the predetermined thickness coexist with each other on a plane in the shield area in the vicinity of the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Atsuyuki Manabe, Nobuko Fukuoka, Daisuke Miyazaki, Hitoshi Hato, Tetsuya Iizuka