Patents Issued in September 14, 2004
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Patent number: 6791623Abstract: An image display system includes a memory for storing at least one scanning line of an inputted video signal of the interlace scanning system, and reading means for repeating to read the video signal of one scanning line from the memory at a speed which is n (n is an integer of 2 or more) times of the writing speed of the video signal for the memory for a horizontal scanning period which is 1/n of the writing period and to stop reading for a horizontal scanning period of the remaining (n−1)/n for each scanning line of one field which is sequentially inputted and reading each scanning line so that the continuous fields interpolate the period of stopping of reading from the memory each other.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 1999Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kouzou Masuda, Ikuya Arai, Sadao Tsuruga, Jiro Kawasaki, Tsuyoshi Sano, Tamotsu Nagabayashi, Ryuuichi Someya, Fumio Inoue, Kouji Kitou, Yasuhiro Imai, Masatoshi Hirose
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Patent number: 6791624Abstract: A television receiver according to the present application obtains a plurality of moving image data indicating the same moving image by using received moving image data, performs different image quality adjusting processes for these moving image data, and displays a plurality of moving images related to these moving image data subjected to the different image quality adjusting processes on the same screen of a display device.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2000Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazumi Suga
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Patent number: 6791625Abstract: Apparatus and method for data transmission while performing encoding processing on a non-limited moving vector mode, which avoids an increase in required memory capacity and a reduction in processing load, the apparatus comprising a two dimensional address generating unit for generating an access address of an external memory and an address control unit for administrating the horizontal position and the vertical position of the extended logical space and generating an operation authorizing signal for the two dimensional address generating unit, and the two dimensional address generating unit and the address control unit are operated in relation to each other so that an access address to outside the effective video data region is controlled to be an address of a pixel data at the periphery of the effective video data region, thereby reducing the extended region in the external memory.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasuo Kohashi, Toshihiro Moriiwa, Shunichi Kuromaru, Hiromasa Nakajima, Tomonori Yonezawa, Miki Arita
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Patent number: 6791626Abstract: An input switching circuit for a television tuner includes first and second switching circuits provided between first and second input terminals to which a television signal and an FM broadcasting signal are input and an output terminal. The second switching circuit passes the FM broadcasting signal when receiving the FM broadcasting signal while blocking the FM broadcasting signal when receiving the television signal between the second input terminal and the output terminal. The second switching circuit includes first two diodes connected in series with each other between the second input terminal and the output terminal, which are turned off when receiving the television signal and turned on when receiving the FM broadcasting signal; and a second diode connected between the node between the first two diodes and the ground, which is turned on when receiving the television signal and turned off when receiving the FM broadcasting signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaki Yamamoto, Toshiro Furuta
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Patent number: 6791627Abstract: In a television signal receiver for receiving and processing television signals (RF) that comprise modulated video signals and modulated audio signals, a tuner (16) receives selected television signals and furnishes at least intermediate frequency (IF) signals, a SAW filter (17) is connected to the tuner (16), a video demodulator (18) demodulates the video signals from the SAW filter (17) to obtain demodulated video signals for further processing, a generator (16) supplies signals (SIF) comprising the modulated audio signals on a carrier frequency equal to the difference between a carrier frequency of the modulated video signals and a carrier frequency of the modulated audio signals in the television signals, an audio demodulator (5) demodulates audio signals from the signals (SIF) from the generator (16) to obtain demodulated audio signals for further processing. According to the invention, the generator (16) is connected with the tuner (16) and the audio demodulator (5) is connected with the generator (16).Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventor: Janardhana Bhat
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Patent number: 6791628Abstract: A portable computer system incorporating a rear projection display. The rear projection display is housed in a display enclosure that is movable between an open and closed position, and incorporates either a pliable or deformable projection surface or a projection surface formed of multiple rigid components. When the display enclosure is open, the projection surface is configured to expand beyond the form factor dimensions of the base portion of the portable computer. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the projection surface is a pliable material that can be safely deformed or collapsed within the display enclosure when it is closed. The rear projection display thereby allows the effective viewing area of a portable computer display to be increased without negatively impacting the form factor dimensions or weight of the portable computer.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2000Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: Charles A. Sellers
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Patent number: 6791629Abstract: Projection lens systems for use with cathode ray tube (CRT) projection televisions are provided which have positive first lens units (U1) and negative second lens units (U2) where the negative second lens units are customized in terms of at least one optical property for at least two of the colors of light produced by the CRTs with which the units are used. The at least one optical property is not spectral transmission, although the second lens units can also be customized for spectral transmission. As illustrated in FIGS. 1B-1F and FIGS. 8B-8F, such customization of a non-transmissive property provides an effective and cost effective approach for improving the color performance of CRT projection lens systems. Constructions for the positive first lens unit which improve image contrast and reduce manufacturing costs are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Jacob Moskovich, Michael B. Larson, Richard J. Wessling
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Patent number: 6791630Abstract: Active matrix display devices having improved opening and contrast ratios utilize light blocking lines to improve display contrast ratios yet position the light blocking lines on the same level of metallization as the gate lines to thereby limit parasitic capacitive coupling between the data lines and the pixel electrodes. The light blocking lines are also positioned on only one side of the data lines so that improvements in the display's opening ratio can also be achieved. The light blocking lines are preferably patterned so that no overlap occurs between a display's data lines and the light blocking lines. The elimination of overlap reduces the step height in the display's pixel electrodes and thereby reduces the extent of disclination of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal material extending opposite the pixel electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Dong-Gyu Kim
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Patent number: 6791631Abstract: A pixel structure of a thin-film transistor liquid crystal display. A storage capacitor is formed by simultaneously defining a doped polysilicon layer, a dielectric layer and shielding metal layer and a source/drain region of a low-temperature polysilicon thin-film transistor. The shielding metal layer is formed on the doped polysilicon layer and is electrically connected to a pixel electrode. As the area occupied by the shielding metal layer is the area of the storage capacitor, the aperture ratio is greatly enhanced.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Toppoly Optoelectronics Corp.Inventors: Hsin-An Cheng, Chaung-Ming Chiu
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Patent number: 6791632Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection circuit for liquid crystal displays. The liquid crystal display includes a plurality of crossing gate and data lines on a first substrate and a data shorting line and a gate shorting line. A plurality of first ESD protection units connect the gate shorting line to the gate lines, and a plurality of second ESD protection units connect the data shorting line to the data lines. Third ESD protection units connect the gate shorting line to the data shorting line. A common electrode is formed on a second substrate. A fourth ESD protection unit directly connects the common electrode to the data shorting line.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hyun-Kyu Lee, Young-Goo Kim
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Patent number: 6791633Abstract: A liquid crystal display and a method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display which are capable of an inhibiting occurrence of strong flicker even when only pixels each having a same polarity are displayed on a screen, without causing a decrease in an aperture rate. In the above liquid crystal display, first and second data lines each feeding a pixel voltage being different in polarity to each of first and second pixel electrodes through first and second thin film transistors are formed in such a manner that the first data line is overlaid by the second data line with an insulating film being interposed between the first and second data lines.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.Inventor: Kimikazu Matsumoto
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Patent number: 6791634Abstract: A display device includes: a first substrate including data electrodes and first and second groups of connecting pads; a second substrate, which faces the first substrate and which includes data signal input terminals, a spare line, and third and fourth groups of connecting pads opposed to the first and second groups of connecting pads, respectively; and a display medium layer interposed between the first and second substrates. The data signal input terminals are connected to the third group of connecting pads. In case of disconnection, a data signal to be supplied to one of the data electrodes may be input through the spare line. The fourth group of connecting pads crosses the spare line with an insulating layer interposed between them. Each pair of connecting pads in the first and third groups or the second and fourth groups is electrically connected together with an anisotropic conductive material.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideki Ichioka, Tomohiko Yamamoto, Keiichi Tanaka, Naoto Inoue, Koji Fujiwara
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Patent number: 6791635Abstract: A LCD comprises a surface light source device of side light type for auxiliary lighting. A fluorescent lamp is turned on to supply primary light to be introduce into a guide plate. A back face (upper face) of the guide plate provides a light control face including an emission promoting surface to promote emission from an illumination output face (lower face). The illumination output face provides a specular face without scattering power. Illumination light L2 introduced into the guide plate escapes gradually from the back face and the illumination output face on the way of propagation. Some of illumination light emitted from the illumination output face reaches a reflection plate after transmitting a liquid crystal cell and polarization plates. Quantity of light reaching the reflection plate depends on directions of transmission polarization planes of first and second polarization plates as well as state of a liquid crystal layer (depending on voltage applied to transparent electrodes).Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1999Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Enplas CorporationInventors: Shingo Ohkawa, Kazumasa Ohsumi
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Patent number: 6791636Abstract: In one embodiment, a color, transmissive LCD uses red, green, and blue LEDs as the light source. The red LED is optically coupled to a first edge of a rectangular light guide; the green LED is optically coupled to a second edge of the light guide; and the blue LED is optically coupled to a third edge of the light guide. Three sets of deformities in the light guide selectively direct the R, G, and B light out of the front surface of the light guide. The R, G, and B LEDs are constantly on and there is no color filtering. In another embodiment, a blue light LED is optically coupled to one or more edges of a light guide, and phosphor strips are placed on a surface of the light guide coinciding with the red and green pixel columns. Deformities below the red and green phosphor strips and below the blue pixel areas direct blue light to the backs of the phosphor strips and to the blue pixel areas. If an ultraviolet light LED is used, phosphor strips for the blue pixel areas would also be used.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Lumilecs Lighting U.S., LLCInventors: Steven PĂ olini, Gerard Harbers, Wayne L. Snyder
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Patent number: 6791637Abstract: The present invention relates to display, in particular to a liquid crystal display illuminated by ambient light. The display has a display area, and a light guide system for providing light to the display area, the light guide system comprising: a planar light guiding layer comprised of liquid crystal material and having a light emitting surface and a plurality of side faces disposed around the light emitting surface; a plurality of light pipes, each light pipe having a collector end for collecting ambient light and an output end, the output ends being arranged along the side faces of the light guiding layer so as to introduce the collected light into the guiding medium. The output ends of the light pipes are distributed evenly along each side face of the light guiding layer so as to provide homogeneous illumination to the display area.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: Susanne Klein
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Patent number: 6791638Abstract: There is provided a lighting panel having rectangular both surfaces one of which is a reflection surface and the other is a discharge surface, an edge light provided at a corner of the lighting panel. A plurality of prisms are circularly formed on the reflection surface of the lighting panel. Each of the prisms has a vertical angle &thgr; comprising a first inclination angle &thgr;1 on the edge light side and a second inclination angle &thgr;2 opposite to the first inclination angle &thgr;1. The first inclination angle &thgr;1 is set to 89.5°˜60°, and there is a following relationship between the first inclination angle &thgr;1 and the second inclination angle &thgr;2: &thgr;1(&thgr;1.1˜&thgr;1.n)>&thgr;2 &thgr;1.1≦&thgr;1.2≦ . . . &thgr;1.(m−1)≦&thgr;1.m . . . &thgr;1.(n−1)≦&thgr;1.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignees: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd., Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.Inventors: Junji Miyashita, Kenji Matsumoto
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Patent number: 6791639Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device of a direct view type, a lenticular lens sheet is provided in the backside of a liquid crystal display panel. Light emitted to a lens of the lenticular lens sheet is first converged in the liquid crystal display panel, and then diffused. When the light is emitted from the liquid crystal display panel, the radiation distribution thereof is widened. Thus, a bright display screen even when seen from a wide angle can be realized.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Evan George Colgan, Fuad Elias Doany, Rama Nand Singh, Masaru Suzuki
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Patent number: 6791640Abstract: The present invention offers reflective color liquid crystal display devices with a high contrast ratio and eye-friendly multi-color display capability, and liquid crystal display devices incorporating a touch panel arranged therefrom, of which the display is not adversely affected by the installation of a pressure sensitive input device.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1999Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masayuki Okamoto, Seiichi Mitsui, Takashi Satoh
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Patent number: 6791642Abstract: A liquid crystal display with a Fresnel lens reflective layer includes an upper transparent substrate, a lower transparent substrate and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the upper and lower transparent substrates. A resin layer is laid on the lower transparent substrate. The resin layer is composed of numerous units each having more than one region. The region has a Fresnel lens concentric annular structures or a part thereof. A reflective layer is laid on the resin layer. The surface of the reflective layer has the Fresnel lens structure pattern for reflecting and scattering the light so as to reduce glare, enhance brightness and lower chromatic aberration.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Wintek CorporationInventor: Po Hsien Wang
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Patent number: 6791643Abstract: A dual-display liquid crystal display structure having first and second display regions. A first substrate and a second substrate opposite the first substrate are provided. A pixel electrode pattern is formed on the first substrate. A reflective layer is formed on an interior or exterior side of the second substrate in the second display region. A filter is formed on the second substrate and the reflective layer. A common electrode is formed on the filter. A liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. A light device is disposed on an exterior side of the first substrate.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Toppoly Optoelectronics Corp.Inventor: Li-Sen Chuang
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Patent number: 6791644Abstract: A reflective liquid-crystal display comprises a display assembly and a piezoelectric assembly, on which the display assembly is formed. The display assembly is composed of first- and second transparent nonpiezoelectric-plates having first- and second transparent electrodes, respectively, and a liquid crystal between thereof. The piezoelectric assembly is composed of a piezoelectric substrate, at least one electrode under the piezoelectric substrate, and a counter electrode over the piezoelectric substrate. If a first electric signal is applied to the piezoelectric assembly, a transition from a transparent- to an opaque state in the liquid crystal occurs. In this time, if a second electric signal is applied to a part of the liquid crystal, a transition from the opaque- to the transparent state in the liquid crystal occurs. Thus, a light through the part of the liquid crystal is reflected at the counter electrode.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Inventor: Kohji Toda
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Patent number: 6791645Abstract: An optical sheet is constituted by: a retardation film; and a transparent layer provided on one of opposite surfaces of the retardation film. The retardation film exhibits Nz=(nx−nz)/(nx−ny) in a range of from 0.4 to 0.6, both not inclusively, and (nx−ny)d in a range of from 200 to 350 nm when nx>ny in which d is the thickness of the retardation film, nz, nx and ny are a refractive index in a direction of the thickness d of the retardation film, a refractive index in a direction of the retardation film in the same plane as the direction of nx, and a refractive index in a direction of the retardation film in the same plane as the direction of nx, respectively. The transparent layer has a thickness not larger than 10 &mgr;m and exhibits refractive index anisotropy of nx≈ny>nz.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Nitto Denko CorporationInventors: Shuuji Yano, Yuuichi Nishikouji
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Patent number: 6791646Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel comprises first and second substrates and a liquid crystal inserted therebetween. The first substrate has active elements, picture electrodes and a first alignment film, and the second substrate has a common electrode and a second alignment film. The first and second alignment films are treated such that the liquid crystal molecules adjacent to the alignment films are oriented in predetermined directions (by rubbing), and at least one of the first and second alignment films is at least partly treated such that its surface condition is changed in order to restrain movement of the liquid crystal molecules (by UV irradiation).Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1997Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Fujitsu Display Technologies CorporationInventors: Hiroyasu Inoue, Keiji Imoto
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Patent number: 6791647Abstract: A multi-domain liquid crystal display device comprises first and second substrates facing each other; a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates; a plurality of gate bus lines arranged in a first direction on the first substrate and a plurality of data bus lines arranged in a second direction on the first substrate to define a plurality of pixel region; a thin film transistor positioned at a crossing area of the data bus line and the gate bus line, the thin film transistor comprising a gate electrode, a semiconductor layer, and source/drain electrodes; a common-auxiliary electrode comprising at least one electrode in the each pixel region; a plurality of pixel electrodes electrically charged through the thin film transistor; and an alignment layer on at least one substrate between the first and second substrates.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2000Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: LG Philips LCD Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jeom Jae Kim, Doo Hyun Ko, Joun Ho Lee, Jong Soon Kim, Jong Hwan Kim, Young Woo Cho, Mi Kyung Chu
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Patent number: 6791648Abstract: A liquid crystal device has inorganic alignment layers (36, 42) disposed on a surface of a liquid crystal layer side of a pair of the substrates, when the range of the average pre-tilt angle &thgr; of liquid crystal molecules 50a of the liquid crystal layer is 5 degrees≦&thgr;≦20 degrees, twist angle &phgr; of the liquid crystal molecules (50a) of the liquid crystal layer, cell gap d, and helical pitch P of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer satisfy the relationship of (0.6/360)&phgr;<d/P<(1.4/360)&phgr;, and when the range of the average pre-tilt angle &thgr; of liquid crystal molecules 50a of the liquid crystal layer is &thgr;>20 degrees, twist angle &phgr; of the liquid crystal molecules (50a) of the liquid crystal layer, cell gap d, and helical pitch P of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer satisfy the relationship of (0.8/360)&phgr;<d/P<(1.6/360)&phgr;.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Takaaki Tanaka, Yasushi Yamazaki
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Patent number: 6791649Abstract: There is disclosed an anti-reflection film comprising 5-65% by volume of inorganic fine particles having an average particle size of 1-200 nm and having a core/shell structure, and 35-95% by volume of a polymer, wherein a high-refractive-index layer having a refractive index of 1.65-2.40 and a low-refractive-index layer having a refractive index of 1.30-1.55 are laminated. There is also disclosed a polarizing plate and image display device utilizing the anti-reflection film. The anti-reflection film is suitable for mass production.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2000Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenichi Nakamura, Ichiro Amimori, Akihiro Ikeyama, Jun Watanabe
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Patent number: 6791650Abstract: A vertically aligned liquid crystal display device includes a site in a liquid crystal layer in which liquid crystal molecules are tilted in a predetermined direction in a non-activated state of the liquid crystal display device.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1999Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Fujitsu Display Technologies CorporationInventors: Seiji Tanuma, Yohei Nakanishi, Takatoshi Mayama
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Patent number: 6791651Abstract: An array substrate for an in-plane switching (IPS) mode liquid crystal display (LCD) device including a substrate, a plurality of gate lines disposed along a first direction on the substrate, a plurality of data lines disposed along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on the substrate to define a plurality of pixel regions, a pixel electrode and a common electrode on the substrate, the pixel electrode including an extension portion, a plurality of vertical portions, and a horizontal portion, and a transparent electrode contacting the horizontal portion of the pixel electrode and extending over one of the gate lines, wherein the data line includes aluminum dual layer structure having a first metal layer and a second metal layer.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: LG. Philips LCD Co., Ltd.Inventors: Gyoo-Chul Jo, Gee-Sung Chae
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Patent number: 6791652Abstract: An array substrate for in-plane switching (IPS) mode liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a substrate having a plurality of pixel regions, a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of common lines in a horizontal direction. A plurality of data lines cross the gate line and the common line, the data line in a crossing portion between the data line and the gate line and between the data line and the common line having a substantially the same line width as the data line. A thin film transistor is at a crossing point of the gate and data lines. A pixel electrode has an extension portion, a plurality of vertical portions and a horizontal portion. A common electrode has a plurality of vertical portions and a horizontal portion. A transparent electrode pattern covers the horizontal portion of the pixel electrode.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: LG Philips LCD Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yun Suk Yang, Myung Ho Do
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Patent number: 6791653Abstract: An in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display includes a first substrate and a second substrate, a first electrode on the first substrate, a gate insulating film on an entire surface of the first substrate, a second electrode on the gate insulating film for forming an in-plane electric field, together with the first electrode, a protection film on the first electrode and the second electrode, an asymmetric transparent electrode on the protection film, and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, thereby shielding against signal distortion caused by Cr black matrix, reducing vertical crosstalk and reducing the driving voltage.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2000Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.Inventors: Joun Ho Lee, Jeong Ki Park
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Patent number: 6791654Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate having a plurality of thin film transistors and first electrodes connected to the thin film transistor, a second substrate having a plurality of color filters and second electrodes, and a seal pattern formed along edges of one of the first and second substrates, the seal pattern having least one injection hole having a trapezoid shape, wherein a width of the injection hole decreases from a side exterior to the first and second substrates to a side interior to the first and second substrates.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: LG Philips LCD. Co., Ltd.Inventor: Joun-Ho Lee
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Patent number: 6791655Abstract: A reflective display having a first substrate having a first electrode, a second substrate having a second electrode and arranged opposite to the first electrode, and partition walls existing between the first and second substrates and arranged in a direction not perpendicular to the first and second substrates. A non-conductive liquid in which colored particles are dispersed resides in a cell including the partition walls. The colored particles can moved by an electric field, and the display color is thereby changed. Alternatively, the display color can be changed by shape deformation of a liquid-crystal-filled microcapsule enclosed in the cell.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Shintaro Enomoto, Hideyuki Nakao, Hajime Yamaguchi, Yutaka Nakai
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Patent number: 6791656Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel capable of avoiding display unevenness. The liquid crystal display panel is manufactured by a method comprising: preparing a pair of polarizer films each having at least a polyvinyl alcohol layer and a triacetyle cellulose layer; preparing a liquid crystal substrate assembly which comprises a first glass substrate and a second glass substrate and a liquid crystal material disposed between said first glass substrate and said second glass substrate; heating said polarizer films at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time in a first heat treatment process; and sticking the polarizer films on the first and second glass substrates, after the first heat treatment process. The method may further comprises, after sticking the polarizer films on the first and second glass substrates, heating the liquid crystal substrate assembly in a second heat treatment process.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.Inventor: Akiyoshi Kouya
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Patent number: 6791657Abstract: A light control device includes a GH cell and a polarizer wherein a host material is made of a negative type liquid crystal whose dielectric anisotropy is negative and a guest material is made of a dichromatic positive type dye. The polarizer is provided at a side of light incident on the polarizer. A cell gap ranges from 2 &mgr;m to 4 &mgr;m, at least, in an effective light path.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Toshiharu Yanagida, Toru Udaka, Masaru Kawabata
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Patent number: 6791658Abstract: Two electric fields that are directed to respective directions rectangular relative to each other are selectively applied to polymer dispersed liquid crystal by means of electrodes arranged to sandwich the polymer dispersed liquid crystal and electrodes arranged along a substrate to uniformly orient the liquid crystal in either of the directions. While conventional polymer dispersed liquid crystal is adapted to utilize scatter of light in a randomly oriented state, the polymer dispersed liquid crystal of this invention is adapted to utilize a uniformly oriented state to improve the efficiency of scattering light. The present invention is also applicable to devices where polymer dispersed liquid crystal has a memory property.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomoko Maruyama, Yoshinori Uno
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Patent number: 6791659Abstract: An apparatus and method for fabricating a liquid crystal display that is capable of shortening a liquid crystal exhaust time in a liquid crystal injection and sealing process to improve the productivity of the liquid crystal display. In the apparatus and method, a heater heats a high-pressure air pressurizing the upper plate and the lower plate of the liquid crystal display panel to heat and pressurize the upper plate and the lower plate of the liquid crystal display panel. Accordingly, the liquid crystal is heated when it is exhausted by the pressurization to have a low viscosity, so that a liquid crystal exhaust time can be shorted to improve the productivity of the liquid crystal display.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: LG. Philips LCD Co., Ltd.Inventor: Choul Min Choi
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Patent number: 6791660Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing an electrooptical device including a first member on which an electrooptical element is disposed, and a second member covering the electrooptical element. The method includes (a) feeding an adhesive material to the first region and second region of the joint region to bond the first member and second member; (b) bonding the first member and second member with interposition of the adhesive material; (c) hardening the adhesive material fed to the first region of the joint region; and (d) hardening the adhesive material fed to the second region of the joint region after step (c). The present invention provides a method of manufacturing the electrooptical device having high productivity.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kenji Hayashi, Shigeki Tanaka, Hidekazu Kobayashi, Makoto Nakadate
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Patent number: 6791661Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a preliminary chamber which accommodates a mask on which a pellicle is attached, an exhaust device which exhausts a gas from the preliminary chamber, a deformation measuring device which measures the deformation of the pellicle, and a control section which regulates the amount of a gas to be exhausted from the preliminary chamber. At the time of replacing a gas in a space by exhausting the gas from the preliminary chamber, the control section adjusts the exhaust amount of the gas from the preliminary chamber based on the result of the measurement made by the deformation measurement device so that the deformation of the pellicle is within a predetermined range. This can ensure stable gas replacement while preventing the pellicle from being damaged.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2000Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Tatsuo Sato
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Patent number: 6791662Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a light source, one or two or more housings each for accommodating therein an optical element disposed along an exposure light path extending from the light source to a substrate, a first substitution system for substituting the interior of the housing with an inert gas ambience, and a second substitution system for substituting the interior of a holding mechanism for holding the optical element accommodated in the housing, with an inert gas ambience. The structure enables reduction in time for substitution of the exposure light path with an inert gas, and assures enlargement of a throughput of the exposure apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshinori Miwa
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Patent number: 6791663Abstract: An image forming apparatus for suppressing deviations in the application position of light emitted from an optical box, thus preventing an image from being deteriorated, has an image bearing body, a light source, a deflecting device for deflecting a light emitted from the light source, a lens for imaging a light deflected in this manner onto the image bearing body, and an optical box for containing at least the light source, the deflecting device, and the lens, wherein the optical box is provided plurally and the plurality of optical boxes are stacked to be integrated.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yasuo Suzuki
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Patent number: 6791664Abstract: Vibrational movement between the top of a lens and a main plate on which the lens is mounted is reduced by attaching between the lens and the main plate a lens support which detects relative movement between the lens and the main plates using piezoelectric sensors and compensates for that movement to reduce vibration using piezoelectric actuators which are in series with the piezoelectric sensors. The control signal which is generated to actuate the actuated piezoelectrics is generated by a controller.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Frank Auer, Franciscus Andreas Cornelis Johannes Spanjers, Jan Holterman, Marinus Pieter Koster, Theodorus Jacobus Adrianus De Vries
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Patent number: 6791665Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus is provided wherein an object situated in a pulsed beam of radiation has an electrode in its vicinity and a voltage source connected either to the electrode or to the object. This configuration can provide a negative voltage pulse to the object relative to the electrode. The beam of radiation and the voltage pulse from the voltage source are provided in phase or out of phase. In this way, the object is shielded against secondary electrons generated by radiation beam illumination.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Ralph Kurt, Levinus Pieter Bakker, Frank Jeroen Pieter Schuurmans
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Patent number: 6791666Abstract: A variable transmission focal mask to compensate lens heating is disclosed. A semiconductor fabrication alignment and exposure equipment includes an exposure and alignment unit, a variable transmission mask, and a stage. The unit has a light source and a lens. The mask is under the lens, and at least indirectly measures focus. The mask further can adjust the focus in real time in response to determining that the focus is out of specification. A wafer is placed on the stage for exposure to the light source through a mask or a reticle. The variable transmission mask normally has a substantially high transmission of light rating that can be adjusted downward to adjust the focus. For example, the mask can be a liquid crystal display (LCD) that can be darkened to so reduce its transmission of light rating.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., LtdInventors: Yuan-Cheng Yu, Chin-Chuan Hsieh
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Patent number: 6791667Abstract: A masking aperture for a photomask illumination system provides controlled on-axis and off-axis illumination. The masking aperture has a dithered pattern of pixels. The intensity of the pattern controls the illumination of the photomask. The masking aperture pattern defines one or more zones of illumination. Zones comprise elements that are patterned in accordance with a selected wavelength of incident light to diffract the incident light into an illumination pattern for illuminating a photomask. Each of the elements is constructed with a matrix of pixels. In the preferred embodiment the array of pixels is 8×8. The number of elements is generally greater than 3×3.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventor: Bruce W. Smith
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Patent number: 6791668Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus and method for upgrading uniformity of critical dimension by compensating the flare effect at wafer edge are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the invention uses an exposure plate mounted on tilt pincettes which can protrude and retract from a wafer stage of a stepper to eliminate the alteration of uniformity of critical dimension at wafer edge. The exposure plate uses the tilt pincettes to tilt along with a wafer so as to keep planar with the wafer.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Winbond Electronics CorporationInventors: Kao-Tsair Tsai, Yasuko Tabata
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Patent number: 6791669Abstract: A positioning device for positioning a wafer table and an exposure apparatus including the positioning device are disclosed. The positioning device includes a housing, a piezoelectric actuator, and a structure for moving the wafer table in a second direction. The piezoelectric actuator has a first and second end. The first end is fixedly mounted to the housing and the second end is movable in a first direction in response to a change in voltage applied to the piezoelectric actuator. The structure includes a first joint, a second joint, a diagonal member, and a flexure. The first joint is movable in the first direction in response to the second end of the piezoelectric actuator moving in the first direction. The second joint is movable in the second direction to move the wafer in the second direction. The diagonal member is connected to the first and second joints at an angle with respect to the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Alex Ka Tim Poon
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Patent number: 6791670Abstract: A linear motor apparatus includes a movable member having a magnet, and a coil wound about the magnet so as to generate a drive force for driving the movable member and having a multi-layer structure formed by winding a foil-like conductor and an insulating layer. The foil-like conductor (i) has a plurality of partial coils having identical current application/rotation directions, and the plurality of partial coils are formed in such a way that the foil-like conductor forms a continuous, seamless strip, and (ii) is continuously wound in a multilayered, aligned state to form the coil, and adjacent layers of the foil-like conductor are insulated by the insulating layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshikazu Miyajima, Kazuhito Outuka, Keiji Emoto
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Patent number: 6791671Abstract: Disclosed is an image fixing apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium. During a process of continuously forming an image on a plurality of recording media, the recording medium feeding speed is switched when the temperature of a fixing roller has dropped to a particular value which is set depending on the rate at which the temperature of the fixing roller drops.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 1999Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuhiro Hayashi, Hiroyuki Arakawa
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Patent number: 6791672Abstract: A camera is disclosed which is provided with a sensor device that includes: a substrate having formed thereon which first and second line sensors that are arranged a fixed baseline length apart from each other and a third sensor for receiving light from a field which is arranged on a line in arrangement direction of the first and second line sensors, a first light receiving optical unit for condensing light from the field onto the first line sensor, a second light receiving optical unit for condensing light from the field onto the second line sensor, a third light receiving optical unit for condensing light from the field onto the third sensor, wherein, when focal lengths of the first, second, and third light receiving optical units are assumed to be f1, f2, and f3, respectively, the following condition is satisfied: f1=f2≧f3.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Teruyuki Ohkado
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Patent number: 6791673Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for exercising surveillance over a surface from an observation point above the surface utilizing three-dimensional map data pertaining to the surface. The method comprises the steps (1) intercepting the light rays from a surface in a field of view, (2) separating the intercepted light rays into a plurality of light-ray clusters, a light-ray cluster comprising a plurality of light-ray bundles, a light-ray bundle being the light rays from a point on the surface in the field of view, a light-ray cluster being the light-ray bundles from a region of contiguous points on the surface, (3) determining the map coordinates of each region from which a light-ray cluster comes, (4) obtaining a measure of the radiant power and/or color of each light-ray cluster at predetermined time intervals, and (5) identifying the map coordinates of a surface activity from measurements of the radiant power of the light-ray clusters.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Inventors: Robert E. Malm, Gregory E. Johnston