Patents Issued in August 31, 2004
  • Patent number: 6784904
    Abstract: A capturing and viewing appliance and method are used for capturing and communicating images. The capturing and viewing appliance is an instrument used to capture and communicate images to other devices with communication capabilities. The capturing and viewing appliance includes a processor for manipulating and viewing the images on a built-in display. Program code stored in internal memory includes a menu/image navigation application program which allows the user to use navigation buttons to view multiple images as well as navigate menus. According to another aspect of the invention, the menu/image navigation interface provides a user-friendly interface for effective communication of functionality of an appliance or other device to the user through use of animated transitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: James C. Dow, Dan L. Dalton, Michael L. Rudd, Karin C. Ruffatto, Barry K. Hansen, Thomas E. Berg, David J. Sims, Daniel Formosa, Sandra Nieves, Paul Hamburger, Michael J. DeVries, Nancy Shepard, Scott Henderson, Davin Stowell, Steven Vordenberg
  • Patent number: 6784905
    Abstract: A method, system and program for selectively applying translucent filters to graphical images according to visual disability needs are provided. A selection of a filter for a particular user is received. The filter is applied to at least a portion of an original image. The original image is then graphically displayed overlayed by the filter within a user interface, such that the original image is adjusted to specifically accommodate for a visual disability of the particular user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown, Kelvin Roderick Lawrence, Michael A. Paolini, Richard Scott Schwerdtfeger
  • Patent number: 6784906
    Abstract: The present invention provides a direct thermal printer, which may include first and second printheads and first and second platens. The first printhead can be positioned proximate to a first platen, and a second printhead can be positioned proximate to a second platen. Generally, the first printhead is in a substantially opposed relation to the second platen and the second printhead is in a substantially opposed relation to the first platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: John Long, Richard B. Moreland
  • Patent number: 6784907
    Abstract: The present invention is a wire dot printer head wherein a spacer is inserted between a yoke block and a head holder. The yoke block has yokes opposed to plural armatures, coils wound respectively round plural cores whose one ends are opposed to the armatures, and fulcrum portions which hold the armatures so that the armatures can rise and fall with respect to end faces of the cores. The spacer is adapted to move under the action of an external force, thereby changing the spacing between the yoke block and the head holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Tetsuro Ichitani, Masayuki Iinuma, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Keishi Tsuchiya, Takeshi Okui
  • Patent number: 6784908
    Abstract: The present invention provides a printer in which a current is conducted to a thermal head 20 in order to pre-heat the thermal head 20 concurrently with battery checking prior to printing. Thereafter, power supplied from a battery is fed to the thermal head 20, which is a load, immediately before the color inks on an ink ribbon 7a are transferred. At the predetermined timing immediately succeeding the feeding of power (in 5 to 10 msec), a voltage developed from the battery 8 is detected. The detected voltage is corrected so that a printing density of inks transferred from the thermal head 20 will remain constant irrespective of whether the voltage developed from the battery 8 is high or low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Shibuya
  • Patent number: 6784909
    Abstract: The present invention provides a dot history compensation system for varying the drive current to the points of a thermal print head in response to the printing history of the points. One or two previous print lines may be examined. In addition, the history of points adjacent to a selected point may be used to compute a head drive signal. The inventive system is implemented in an auxiliary control device within a thermal printer. In addition, an end point compensation system is provided to ensure that end points of a thermal print head receive equivalent amounts of energy to central points, even when a large number of points may be simultaneously fired. The inventive system is adapted for operation with both single color and multiple color thermal printers. The auxiliary control device also manages paper movement functions, thus freeing the main microprocessor for communications and other duties within the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Axiohm Transaction Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Spano
  • Patent number: 6784910
    Abstract: Providing a thermal head capable of preventing the adherence of a thermally active component, a thermal activation device for thermally active sheet employing the thermal head, and a printer assembly employing the thermal activation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: SII P & S Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Sato, Shinichi Yoshida, Minoru Hoshino, Norimitsu Sambongi
  • Patent number: 6784911
    Abstract: A heat developing apparatus for developing a heat-processable photo-sensitive material having a supply unit provided with a loading section for loading the heat-processable photo-sensitive material, an exposure unit for forming a latent image based on an image signal or on a predetermined signal for density measurement, a developing unit for heat development, a device for gaining density information of the heat-processable photo-sensitive material developed, and a controller for conducting a correction for a density of the heat-processable photo-sensitive material based on a desired density and the density information, by controlling at least one of the exposure unit and the developing unit, wherein, the controller conducts the correction according to the density information when a predetermined condition is satisfied after a new package incorporating the heat-processable photo-sensitive material has been loaded on the loading section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Mamoru Umeki, Makoto Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 6784912
    Abstract: An individually drivable array of single stripe laser diodes is proposed for imaging printing plates. An imaging optics is used to produce n image points which have a spatial interval l between adjacent points. An interleaving raster scan line method is indicated, which, given proper selection of the increment, enables each dot to be exposed exactly once.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Bernard Beier, Uwe Ernst, Bernd Vosseler
  • Patent number: 6784913
    Abstract: An AOD is switched between a state capable of outputting 0th-order light and a state capable of outputting 1st-order light according to a switching signal, and a second delay signal which is produced by delaying the switching signal a given time is generated by a first delay unit and a second delay unit. 0th-order or 1st-order image data is supplied to a laser diode according to the second delay signal to record an image highly accurately on a recording film at a time selected in view of a response delay of the AOD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takayuki Uemura
  • Patent number: 6784914
    Abstract: The invention concerns a clock-generating circuit, which generates dot clock pulses for driving a light-emitting element employed in an optical-writing section of an image-forming apparatus and has a function of canceling unevenness of scanning-light amount caused by variations of transmittances and reflectances in the optical-writing section when a polygon mirror scans a laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Kouichi Takaki, Shinji Morita
  • Patent number: 6784915
    Abstract: A laser beam emitted from a laser light source passes through an illumination lens and is thereafter incident upon a total internal reflection prism. The total internal reflection prism bends the laser beam, which is applied to a Grating Light Valve™. The laser beam divided into a number of beams and modulated by the light valve is incident upon a focusing lens. The normal to the light valve forms an angle &thgr;xz with the optical axis of an illumination optical system including the total internal reflection prism and an illumination lens. The normal to the light valve also forms the angle &thgr;xz with the optical axis of a focusing optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Kataoka
  • Patent number: 6784916
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for improving the projection of a remote conferee's presence and improving eye contact between the remote video conferee and proximate conferee during a videoconference is disclosed. The image of the remote conferee's face is shown on a video monitor with a camera located along the eye level of the image of the remote conferee's face, and within the interocular distance of about 1.5 inches to 3 inches. A feedback screen showing the image of the proximate video conferee is also located near the camera and preferably within the interocular distance. Because the camera is within the interocular distance the proximate conferee will appear, to the remote conferee, to be looking at the eyes of the remote conferee when looking at the monitor, because the camera is within the interocular distance. This will be accentuated when the proximate conferee uses the feedback image, which is near the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Telbotics Inc.
    Inventor: Graham Thomas Smith
  • Patent number: 6784917
    Abstract: A digital broadcasting system is obtained having simple facilities and circuit structure and capable of efficiently transmitting and receiving synchronized pictures and displaying them without applying a synchronizing process thereto. According to the digital broadcasting system, picture signals respectively for the light eye and the left eye obtained from two synchronously operated cameras (13a, 13b) are converted to a noninterlace frame signal (picture data) by a frame memory unit (20) of the transmitting end. The picture data is compressed and modulated, and then transmitted to a communication satellite (8) over a transmission line of one channel. A transmission signal supplied from the communication satellite (8) is demodulated and decoded, and then converted to picture signals for the right and left eyes by a frame memory unit (21) of the receiving end, and the converted signals are displayed on a stereoscopic display monitor (12) in a stereoscopic manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Nippon Television Network Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Yamamoto, Yukio Mori
  • Patent number: 6784918
    Abstract: A system and method of determining an operating state of a consumer electronic device allows a computer to control the consumer electronic device without user input. The system includes an image detection device for obtaining in image of the consumer electronic device. The image detection device can be a camera, or other sensor such as a photocell(s). A processor, or personal computer, is coupled to the image detection device for extracting information from a consumer electronic device display image. The processor generates control instructions for the consumer electronic device, and provides the control instructions to an infrared transmitter for transmitting the control instructions to the consumer electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Jonathan G. Ritchie
  • Patent number: 6784919
    Abstract: An oral cavity image pickup apparatus having an image pickup device and a holding device including a first arm and a second arm. The first arm is of sufficient length for placement inside an oral cavity at least between left and right molars defining a transverse dimension. The image pickup device has an object lens and an imaging device and is held on at least the first arm between the first and second molars. The second arm has a first part for placement inside the oral cavity and coupled to the first arm. The second arm also has a second part at least as wide in transverse dimension as the first part for extending from both sides of the oral cavity. The image pickup device can image pick up full or partial dentition exposed inside and/or outside the oral cavity and partial bio-tissue at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoko Ooshima, Shinji Uchida
  • Patent number: 6784920
    Abstract: An underwater surveillance apparatus includes a watertight housing having a transparent part and a video tube received in the watertight housing. The video tube has a light receiving end positioned to view through the transparent part of the watertight housing. A video cable extends from the video tube to a video monitor disposed above a surface of the body of water. The watertight housing is configured such that the transparent part of the watertight housing is urged in a direction downstream when the watertight housing is submerged in a body of fluid moving relative to the watertight housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Eric D. Weber
  • Patent number: 6784921
    Abstract: A film mode detection method using a periodic pattern of a video sequence comprises the steps of: computing every absolute value of differences between every pair of corresponding pixels in two fields which are arranged within a predetermined distance on a time line; comparing a sum of the absolute value of differences between every corresponding pixels in two fields with the first predetermined threshold value M1 and limiting the sum to the first threshold value if the sum is greater than the first threshold value; filtering the video sequence and calculating a power of the filtered sum; and comparing the calculated power with the second predetermined threshold value M2 so as to determine the signal as a film mode if the power of the sum is greater than the second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Il Taek Lim
  • Patent number: 6784922
    Abstract: An area, such as an area of the earth's surface, is scanned by a scanner, such as an infrared line scanner, which is moved over the area at different heights and at different speeds. An overscan factor is determined in accordance with the height and speed of the scanner over the scanned area. A first image is centered, and an offset vector between the first image and a subsequently scanned second image is calculated in accordance with an image offset. The first and second images are aligned with one another in accordance with the offset vector. The image content of the aligned images are averaged with one another in overlapping image areas defined by the overscan factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Siegfried Fössel, Lothar Trunk, Heino Möller, Erwin Drachsler
  • Patent number: 6784923
    Abstract: The present invention provides for inductive pick-up devices employing a diversity and adaptive antenna arrangement. By utilizing diversity and adaptive antennas, the pick-up can be installed by a consumer without use of a computer monitor or other device to determine alignment. In addition, the arrangement increases the level of signal available to a data decoding system. In combining the two types of pick-ups and using the best features of both, we additionally gain performance on synchronizing frame rate and picking up data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Katherine Grace August, Robert Duchatellier, Norman R. Shaer, Theodore Sizer, II
  • Patent number: 6784924
    Abstract: A network configuration file is generated at a host computer and downloaded to a digital camera. This file contains instruction information for communicating with a selected destination via a communications interface. The digital camera includes a “send” button or LCD icon which allows the user to easily transmit one or more images via a wired or wireless communications interface to a desired destination, which among other possibilities may be an Internet Service Provider or a digital photofinishing center. When the user selects this option, the communications port settings, user account specifics, and destination connection commands are read from the network configuration file on the removable memory card. Examples of these settings include serial port baud rate, parity, and stop bits, as well as account name and password.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joseph Ward, Kenneth A. Parulski, James D. Allen
  • Patent number: 6784925
    Abstract: A system for managing files stored on a digital camera includes detection of the digital camera, automatic reception of thumbnail image files stored in the camera, and storage of the received thumbnail image files in a memory. The system also includes a user interface for a windowing application for viewing system objects which includes a first area for displaying a hierarchical tree of system objects, a second area for displaying a thumbnail image corresponding to a system object selected in the first area, a third area adjacent to the second area for displaying a second icon indicating that a sound file is associated with the displayed thumbnail image, and a fourth area which surrounds the second area and the third area, wherein the fourth area may be selected and dragged to an icon representing a storage device in order to copy the displayed thumbnail image, a full-resolution image file associated with the displayed thumbnail image, and any associated sound files to the storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Andrew Hunter Tomat, Manjula Geethani Wickramaratne, Laurence Andrew Lavendel
  • Patent number: 6784926
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to the processing of measured data. Especially the invention applies to the binning procedure of data which is measured with a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) sensor unit. The invention is preferably used in photometrics for measuring radiation from samples on a well plate. It is the objective of the present invention to create a solution, in which a good signal-to-noise value is achieved, and the measuring results of the neighbouring sample wells can still be well separated. This objective is achieved in photometrics application by selecting the binning factor on the basis of position and size of sample wells on a well plate (530, 550). With the present invention it is possible to achieve a maximal signal-to-noise ratio, because all pixels within the image area of one sample are accumulated. However, since the pixels between the sample images are not accumulated with the pixels within the sample images (526, 546), the problem of interference between samples can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Wallac Oy
    Inventors: Jarmo Korpi, Donal Denvir
  • Patent number: 6784927
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for correcting the position of a specific object included in a moving image formed by a plurality of successive images to a predetermined position on the frame, sets a reference point on the object included in the first image of the plurality of images, which serves as a reference image, detects the positions of points, which correspond to the reference point, from a plurality of second images, which are different from the first image, of the plurality of images, detects the shift amounts between the corresponding points and the reference point in units of images on the basis of the positions of the corresponding points detected from the plurality of second images, and the position of the reference point, and corrects the positions of the object included in the plurality of second images in correspondence with the shift amounts detected in units of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Itokawa
  • Patent number: 6784928
    Abstract: A solid state image pickup device has a drive unit with an all pixel drive mode for reading all pixels in a horizontal direction and a pixel skip drive mode for reading pixels in the horizontal direction by skipping some pixels, and a plurality of read-out systems for reading pixels. In the all pixel drive mode, signals of pixels are divisionally read by the plurality of read-out systems, and in the pixel skip drive mode, signals of pixels are read by one of the plurality of read-out systems. In this manner, in the pixel skip drive mode, the power consumption can be reduced and a difference between output signal levels to be caused by a variation in characteristics of elements of the read-out system can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhito Sakurai, Shigetoshi Sugawa, Isamu Ueno, Katsuhisa Ogawa, Toru Koizumi, Tetsunobu Kochi, Hiroki Hiyama
  • Patent number: 6784929
    Abstract: A programmable two-dimensional timing generator according to the invention employs a clock generator (102) and a user-defined two-stage waveform generator (106, 108). A single static random access memory (SRAM) (112) stores a user-defined waveform control word for both waveform generator control units. The SRAM data is entered via the host controller external data bus. A single waveform control word may be used to control both waveform generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies North America Corp.
    Inventor: Tai-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 6784930
    Abstract: An active pixel sensor arrangement that provides sub-sampling and reset of all pixel cells after sub-sampling. In one embodiment, logic is provided between sampled and non-sampled rows to propagate reset signals to the non-sampled rows when the sampled rows are reset. In another embodiment, reset of non-sampled rows is implemented with control logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ray A. Mentzer
  • Patent number: 6784931
    Abstract: An amplification type solid state imaging device of the present invention includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix each of which includes: a photodiode for photoelectric conversion; a signal amplification MOS transistor which functions as an amplifier for amplifying a change in the potential of the photodiode; a pixel selection MOS transistor; and a reset MOS transistor for resetting the potential of the photodiode to a predetermined initial potential, gate terminals of the selection MOS transistors of the pixels along each row being commonly connected together with a predetermined signal read pulse being applied to the gate terminals, gate terminals of the reset MOS transistors of the pixels along each row being commonly connected together with a predetermined reset pulse being applied to the gate terminals, and terminals on one end of the selection MOS transistors of the pixels along each column being commonly connected together to form a signal line, wherein a shutter reset operation is performe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kudo
  • Patent number: 6784932
    Abstract: A hierarchical readout circuit includes a plurality of first capacitors for respectively interposed in a plurality of lines at which individual voltages are developed. Before the individual voltages appear at the lines, the inputs of the first capacitors are simultaneously biased at least once, and the outputs of the first capacitors are simultaneously biased. The output of each of the first capacitors is selectively biased again in the presence of the individual voltages at the lines. A plurality of buffers are connected in stages in a hierarchical configuration to the outputs of the first capacitors. Scanning circuitry selectively couples the output of a lower-stage buffer to a higher-stage buffer via a second capacitor. The output of the second capacitor is first biased before the individual voltages appear at the lines and then at periodic intervals before each first capacitor is selectively biased again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Fuyuki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6784933
    Abstract: A pixel unit 1 comprises a nonvolatile memory transistor MT, which is formed on a p-type well 12 of a semiconductor substrate 10 and which has a floating gate 14 and a control gate 16, and selecting gate transistors ST1 and ST2 which share a diffusion layer 17 with the memory transistor MT and which is formed on both sides of the memory transistor MT. The memory transistor MT has a photoelectric converting region PD in the substrate directly below the floating gate 14. By irradiating the memory transistor MT with light while a positive writing voltage is applied to the control gate 16, charges generated in the photoelectric converting region PD are injected into the floating gate 14 to be held therein, so that pixel information is stored as a threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hiroto Nakai
  • Patent number: 6784934
    Abstract: An active type solid-state imaging device of the present invention includes: a plurality of pixels arranged in an array; a plurality of signal lines wherein each of the pixels is connected to one of the signal lines; a first power source; and a second power source having a lower voltage than that of the first power source. Each of the pixels includes: a photoelectric conversion section; a first, depletion type MOS transistor; a second, reset MOS transistor for resetting a signal charge which has been stored in the photoelectric conversion section; and a third, pixel selection MOS transistor serially connected to the first MOS transistor to form a transistor pair. One end of the transistor pair is connected to one of the signal lines and the other end thereof is connected to the first power source. One end of the second MOS transistor is connected to the photoelectric conversion section and the other end thereof is connected to the second power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6784935
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus having:a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements each generating an electric signal through photoelectric conversion; a plurality of signal storage elements for storing the electric signals generated by the photoelectric conversion elements; a plurality of gates for reading the electric signals generated by the photoelectric conversion elements and storing the read electric signals in the signal storage elements; a controller for performing a first image pickup operation by making the photoelectric conversion elements generate the electric signals, reading the generated electric signals and storing the read electric signals in the signal storage elements, thereafter performing a second image pickup operation under an image pickup condition different from the first image pickup operation by making the photoelectric conversion elements generate the electric signals, thereafter outputting the electric signals generated by the first image pickup operation and stored in the signal
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignees: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinji Uya, Tetsuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 6784936
    Abstract: An image-pickup display apparatus including a camera unit with: an image-pickup optical system; an image-pickup device having a light intercepting surface at a position of image formation by the image-pickup optical system, a signal processing circuit for generating a picture signal based on an image-pickup signal output by the image-pickup device, and a controller for correcting exposure by controlling the image-pickup device and the signal processing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Fukushima, Takehiko Ueno
  • Patent number: 6784937
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a lens assembly comprising an enclosure, annular rotating means, gear assembly, spring, leaf spring, cap, and lens. The enclosure has a housing and haft. The housing has a lower hole for supporting the image capture apparatus, and an upper hole, which is consisted of three slope sets. Each slope set has a sub-slope and a main slope, the main slopes of the slope sets having a same gradient and being in a same height at highest points or lowest points of the main slopes. The annular rotating means having three extrusive portions is connected to the slope sets of enclosure. The gear assembly, which is supported by the haft of enclosure and connected with the annular rotating means, is applied for driving the annular rotating means. The spring is mounted on the first inner rim of the upper surface of the annular rotating means. The leaf spring is placed on the second inner rim of the upper surface of the annular rotating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Nu-Cam Corporation
    Inventor: Nai-Sim Goh
  • Patent number: 6784938
    Abstract: An electronic camera of the present invention includes a CCD, a diaphragm, an EEPROM, and a CPU. The CCD has a condenser micro-lens opposed to a light receptor. The diameter of the diaphragm is variable in relation to a plurality of f-numbers. In the EEPROM, data items of outputs of the CCD associated with the plurality of f-numbers or ratios of the outputs are stored in advance. The CPU calculates an exposure time according to an output of the CCD associated with a given f-number, controls exposure, and corrects an exposure time according to data stored in the EEPROM during recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Kidono, Hitoshi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6784939
    Abstract: A method for automatically controlling an exposure time in image sensor having a pixel array includes the steps of producing total pixel value of the green pixels from the pixel array, producing a mean value of the green pixels dividing the total pixel value of the green pixels by the number of the green pixels, producing a deviation value, wherein the deviation value is an absolute value of a difference between the mean value and a predetermined reference value, comparing the deviation value with a predetermined boundary value, in case where the deviation value is smaller than the predetermined boundary value, capturing a next image according to a current exposure time, and in case where the deviation value is larger than the predetermined boundary value, calculating an exposure control rate and determining whether an automatic exposure control mode is enabled, and in case where the automatic exposure control mode is disabled, capturing the next image according to the current exposure time, and in case where
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suk-Joong Lee, Gyu-Tae Hwang
  • Patent number: 6784940
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a high-speed image pickup apparatus, which can easily obtain the same image quality as that of the standard-speed image pickup by simply converting a high-speed video signal into a plurality of standard-speed video signals. Since the video camera system comprises a video camera for outputting a video signal by picking up an object at a high speed, a transmitting path for transmitting the video signal and a CCU for signal-processing the transmitted video signal, and divides the high-speed video signal into a plurality of standard-speed video signals directly or by providing a blank field as an additional period by the video camera, transmits the plurality of standard-speed video signals by the transmitting path, and arranges and outputs the plurality of standard-speed video signals at every unit period T by the CCU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Syuichi Takazawa, Yoshiro Nitta
  • Patent number: 6784941
    Abstract: A digital camera with video input is disclosed. An image sensor is provided to capture an image and convert the captured image into R/G/B image signals the are processed by a video signal processing unit for being converted into pixel data having a first format. A TV decoder converts input analog video signals into pixel data having a second format. A scaling unit performs aspect ratio processing and zoom/pan function to pixel data. A TV interface unit converts pixel data having the second format into pixel data having the first format for being selectively output to the scaling unit directly and output to the scaling unit after transferring to the video signal processing unit for performing edge enhancement. A compressing and storage unit performs compress operation to the pixel data output from the video signal processing unit and the scaling unit. An USB unit converts pixel data after being compressed into serial data for output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Te-Sung Su, Jiann-Jong Tsai
  • Patent number: 6784942
    Abstract: A system and method for generating an interpolated pixel at a vertical position in a field of a video frame. The method comprises the steps of receiving at least two pixels vertically adjacent the vertical position in the field and at least three pixels from at least one adjacent field, detecting a degree of motion in the vicinity of the interpolated pixel, providing weighting factors based on the degree of motion, and calculating the interpolated pixel based on a combination of weighted contributions from the at least two pixels and the at least three pixels. The weighted contributions are derived from a combination of the weighting factors and at least vertical-temporal and temporal interpolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Genesis Microchip, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Selby, Daniel Stan
  • Patent number: 6784943
    Abstract: An auxiliary digital data extractor in a television receiver includes a source of a composite video signal. The composite video signal includes an auxiliary digital data component which is either a first frame code having a predetermined number of bits and auxiliary data in a first format, or a second frame code having the same number of bits and auxiliary data in a second format. A frame code detector is coupled to the composite video signal source. The frame code detector is responsive to one subset of the frame code bits to detect the first frame code and to a different subset of frame code bits to detect the second frame code. An auxiliary data utilization circuit is coupled to the composite video signal source and the frame code detector. The auxiliary data utilization circuit receives auxiliary data in the either first format when the first frame code is detected or the second format when the second frame code is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventor: Juri Tults
  • Patent number: 6784944
    Abstract: A method and system of noise filtering is provided. The pixels of a first filter mask are separated into groups based on luminance . . . The sizes of each group is determined and a largest group is selected. The distance of each group of pixels from the largest group is also calculated. Pixels in groups that are small compared to the largest group and far from the largest group are tagged as noisy. After tagging the noisy pixels, additional filtering can be applied to the pixels of first filter mask without degradation from the tagged pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: SmartASIC, Inc.
    Inventors: Biao Zhang, Jin Ji
  • Patent number: 6784945
    Abstract: A multiple information decoding system and method are provided in which multiple information content is decoded sequentially and provided to a viewer such that the viewer perceives the information content as being simultaneously decoded. One embodiment of the system and method is in a video display system where RF channels are decoded by a single tuner for concurrent presentation to a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Microtune (Texas), L.P.
    Inventors: John P. Norsworthy, Stanley Vincent Birleson, Douglas J. Bartek
  • Patent number: 6784946
    Abstract: An arrangement in which the light emitted by a source of light (44) is directed by means of illumination optics (12) onto a surface (25) by which an image can be generated that can be projected by means of projection optics (4), onto a screen, wherein the illumination optics (12) have an optical device (28) arranged following the source of light and a prism (10) positioned between the surface (25) and the optical device (28), and the light coming from the optical device (28) is deflected without reflection by means of the prism (10) herein the optical device (28) has a first optical axis (29), and wherein said projection optics comprises a first and a second partial optics (22, 24) having a shared second optical axis (20) and in that the surface (25) is reflective, whereby the first optical axis (29), together with the second optical axis (20), includes an angle that is smaller than 90°, and whereby the optical device (28) lies outside of an area that is traversed from the second partial optics (24) to th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH
    Inventors: Gudrun Schröter, Christfried Symanowski
  • Patent number: 6784947
    Abstract: An image display apparatus which employs a cathode ray tube displays, when an image displayed on a screen of the cathode ray tube is to be corrected against an inclination caused by the terrestrial magnetism, a reference for correction is displayed on the screen of the cathode ray tube so that correction current appropriate for correction of the image against the inclination caused by the terrestrial magnetism can be obtained in a short time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Fumito Kuramochi, Etsuko Morota, Katsuyuki Kurita
  • Patent number: 6784948
    Abstract: A touch panel has a reduced whole thickness when attached to a display device, increases the accuracy of the positional information, and improves the display quality and durability inexpensively. One of a pair of resistive layers facing each other across insulating dot spacers is laid on a light-transmissible flat plate formed of a PET film rather than a glass plate, and a light conductive plate of a front light unit is integrated with an outer surface of the light-transmissible flat plate. An AR film having a transparent gel layer is disposed between the PET film and the light conductive plate. The transparent gel layer is of a gel material such as silicone rubber and is applied integrally on the AR film, which is formed such that anti-reflection treatment is applied on a surface of a base material of a FET film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kawashima, Katsuji Ishigami
  • Patent number: 6784949
    Abstract: A signal line and a pixel capacitor wire that doubles as a pixel capacitor electrode are fabricated parallel to each other from the same electrode layer through patterning thereof. Therefore, no additional steps are required to form the pixel capacitor wire. In such an arrangement, the pixel capacitor wire and the signal line are disposed parallel to each other; therefore, delays of signal transmission in the signal line and crosstalk between pixels are prevented from occurring. The active matrix substrate incorporating this arrangement is suitably used in liquid crystal display devices, image sensors, and the like. Similar advantages are available with an arrangement in which the signal line and the pixel capacitor wire are disposed parallel to each other, and the storage capacitor electrode, which will constitute a storage capacitor with the pixel electrode therebetween, and the scanning line are fabricated from the same electrode layer through patterning thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisashi Nagata, Yoshihiro Izumi, Takayuki Shimada
  • Patent number: 6784950
    Abstract: A source electrode and a metal pattern for a storage capacitor are formed on an insulating substrate, a silicon layer having a doped source region and a doped drain region is formed on the substrate and the source and the drain regions directly contact to the source electrode and the metal pattern. A gate insulating film is formed thereon, and a storage electrode is formed on the gate insulating film opposite the metal pattern. A passivation film covering the storage electrode is formed and the pixel electrode is formed thereon. The pixel electrode is directly connected to the drain region or to the metal pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Hoo Jung, Chang-Won Hwang, Byung-Seong Bae
  • Patent number: 6784951
    Abstract: A display device comprising a front frame having an annular picture frame and having a pair of side faces and a pair of end faces provided in outer circumferential sides of the picture frame, a mold frame sandwiched by the pair of side faces and the pair of end faces, and a display panel arranged between the front frame and the mold frame. Stopper pieces for alignment of the display panel are formed in the side faces and the end faces. A display device in which the picture frame of the front frame can be narrowed is obtainable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Display Inc.
    Inventors: Takuya Kuroki, Yoshihide Nishida
  • Patent number: 6784952
    Abstract: A reflection type semiconductor display device which can make satisfactory display even when external light is not satisfactorily intense is provided. A reflection type semiconductor display device according to the present invention can take in light other than incident light on a liquid crystal panel to be an auxiliary light source using optical fibers, and thus, display of high quality level can be made even indoors or in a place where light is faint. Further, by combining the semiconductor display device with a front light, insufficient amount of light can be supplemented with the front light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6784953
    Abstract: This invention relates to liquid crystal (LC) displays comprising cells of well-defined shape, size and aspect ratio which cells are filled with a liquid crystal composition preferably containing dichroic dye(s), and novel processes for their manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: SiPix Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Rong-Chang Liang, Scott C-J Tseng, Xuan Phan, Ying-Syi Li, Weijin Li