Patents Issued in April 10, 2007
  • Patent number: 7202897
    Abstract: If image data of a prior frame and image data of a current frame are compared with each other, a resulting image appears doubled because the distance of travel of an object within one frame becomes long when the object moves quickly. In a focal-plane shutter type CMOS imager which performs exposure row by row, a shutter scanning circuit 32 performs exposure twice with exposure time divided into two durations on one pixel 11 in a pixel section 21. Signals based on the two exposure durations from the one pixel are read through respective vertical signal lines 25 and 26 under the control of vertical scanning circuits 30 and 31. The two signals are then synchronized through the delay circuit 42, and a difference between the two signals is determined through the subtracter 43, and the difference signal is output. The motion of an object is detected based on the difference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Ryoji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7202898
    Abstract: A semiconductor surface is provided comprising a plurality of light sensitive pixels wherein each pixel of the plurality of pixels comprises an electronic circuit formed on or in the semiconductor surface, the circuit comprising: a photosensor that generates a signal responsive to light incident thereon at an output thereof; and circuitry that provides a signal responsive to a time lapse between a first time responsive to said signal and a reference time. There is also provided a 3D camera incorporating the semiconductor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: 3DV Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Ori J. Braun, Gavriel J. Iddan, Giora Yahav
  • Patent number: 7202899
    Abstract: A method and system for preventing white pixel difficulties resulting from undesired current induced in an image sensor having a photodiode and a depletion region therein. The photodiode is isolated in a pixel layout for an image sensor. A depletion region is configured, such that the depletion region is maintained in a defect-free region associated with the pixel layout for the image sensor, thereby reducing white pixel difficulties caused by induced and undesired current. The image sensor is preferably a CMOS image sensor. A depletion region of the photodiode is constantly maintained in a defect-free region during operation of the CMOS image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuen-Hsien Lin, Shang-Hsuan Liu, Chih-Hsing Chen, Hung Jen Tsai, Hsien-Tsong Liu
  • Patent number: 7202900
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing progressive scan signals representative of an image of a scene, including the following steps: providing an image sensor onto which the image is projected, the image sensor having a diagonal pixel pattern; producing frame pairs as follows: during one frame of a frame pair, outputting pixel values alternately from successive adjacent line pairs of the sensor, starting at an odd numbered line, and, during the other frame of a frame pair, outputting pixel values alternately from successive adjacent line pairs of the sensor, starting at an even numbered line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Florida Atlantic University
    Inventor: William E. Glenn
  • Patent number: 7202901
    Abstract: A video camera has a video camera body having a storage region in a side surface thereof, an imaging unit housed in the video camera body for imaging an object and generating a video signal, and an electronic viewfinder for monitoring the video signal generated by the imaging unit. An angularly movable support supports a side edge of the electronic viewfinder for angular movement about a first axis to move an opposite side edge of the electronic viewfinder away from the storage region. An auxiliary angularly moving mechanism angularly moves the electronic viewfinder about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, so that one of face and back sides of the electronic viewfinder can be selected for storage into the storage region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuo Hattori, Tomohiro Harata, Koji Yaginuma
  • Patent number: 7202902
    Abstract: In an image monitor apparatus for monitoring an image: a camera picks up an image; an emission control unit controls at least one light emitting element; an image signal acquiring unit performs analog-to-digital conversion of the image picked up by the camera so as to generate a digitized image signal, and stores the digitized image signal; a luminance examining unit examines luminance of the image represented by the digitized image signal, and determines whether or not the amount of light detected and stored in an image-pickup plane of the camera is appropriate; and a luminance control unit controls at least one of the camera and the luminance control unit so that the amount of light stored in an image-pickup plane becomes appropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Miura, Ichiro Kagami, Noriyuki Ihara, Hiroshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7202903
    Abstract: A clipping dock for network video cameras includes a primary clip rod, a secondary clip rod, a torsional spring, an actuating button and a cap. The secondary clip rod is stacked on the primary clip rod. The torsional spring is mounted onto the stacked location to enable the primary clip rod and the secondary clip rod to extend or fold elastically relative to each other. The secondary clip rod has ratchet teeth at the stacked location to engage with the actuating button located nearby. The cap covers the stacked location. When the primary clip rod and the secondary clip rod are extended or folded at a desired angle, the actuating button may be moved to engage with the ratchet teeth to form an anchor condition to thereby achieve a self-adjusting function for extending or folding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Inventec Multimedia & Telecom Corporation
    Inventors: Yu-Eou Lin, Jin-Shing Shr
  • Patent number: 7202904
    Abstract: A video monitoring device is constructed to include a casing formed of a hollow bottom shell and a top cover, which covers the bottom shell and is horizontally rotatable on the bottom shell, a camera turnable about a horizontal pivot at the top cover, and a driver mounted inside the bottom shell and controlled to rotate the top cover and the camera horizontally on the bottom shell and to turn the cameral vertically about the horizontal pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: E-Benk Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: David Wei
  • Patent number: 7202905
    Abstract: An electronic device, such as a radio communication device, includes a motor (102) that can operate in a first mode where it provides a vibration feature and a second mode where it can adjust the focus of a camera assembly (118). When in the second mode, a motor shaft (106) is caused to engage with a worm gear (108) that moves a gear (112) found in the camera assembly (118). The worm gear (108) causes an adjustment in the camera's lens in order to adjust the camera's focus when the motor shaft (106) is turned either clockwise or counter-clockwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Julio C. Castaneda, Donald W. Burnette
  • Patent number: 7202906
    Abstract: A portable, foldable electronic device comprising an opened use position and a closed use position, and a handle arrangement for the same. It comprises at least a first housing part, a second housing part, a hinge mechanism arranged for folding the housing parts, an electronic display fitted on at least one inner wall of the housing part, a handle-like third housing part arranged for holding the device in the use positions and comprising a wall to be placed transversely against the user's palm, wherein the hinge mechanism is arranged on the side of the opposite wall and arranged for folding the first and the second housing parts in relation to the third housing part, wherein each adjacent wall is provided with at least one key button within reach of the fingers, and wherein the first wall, the upper wall or the edge therebetween is provided with a navigation key within reach of the forefinger, equipped with a push-button function and arranged rotatable in at least two opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Jari Ijäs, Christian Lindholm, Hannu Pirskanen
  • Patent number: 7202907
    Abstract: Improved 2:2 and 3:2 pull-down detection techniques are presented. These techniques can, for example, be used when converting an interlaced video signal into a progressive video signal. The improved techniques are less susceptible to bad edits. In one embodiment, comparison values are generated using consecutive fields of the interlaced video signal having the same parity, with a sequence of one small comparison value followed four large comparison values, where the four large comparison values include two pairs of similar large comparison values, is used to indicate a 3:2 pull-down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Zoran Corporation
    Inventor: Wing-Chi Chow
  • Patent number: 7202908
    Abstract: A display processor integrated circuit includes a display processor portion and an on-chip programmable logic portion. The programmable logic portion can be configured to implement custom video and/or image enhancement functions. The display processor portion performs block-based motion detection. If no motion is detected for a given block of pixels, then interline gaps in the block are filled using temporal interpolation. If motion is detected, then interline gaps are filled using spatial interpolation. To maintain accuracy without unduly increasing computational complexity, a less complex high angle spatial interpolation method is employed where a low angle tilt condition is not detected. A more computationally intensive low angle spatial interpolation method can therefore be employed in low angle tilt conditions. Integrated circuit cost is reduced by employing pipelining to write parts of segment buffers at the same time that other parts are being read to perform the interpolation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Inventors: Qinggang Zhou, Clyde H. Nagakura, Sheng-Fu Wu, Andrew K. Chan
  • Patent number: 7202909
    Abstract: In motion compensated standards conversion, an output video field is constructed from four input fields (two inner fields and two outer fields) by shifting pixel information from an outer field to the output field position in two stages, the first stage using a first motion vector between the outer field and the adjacent inner field and the second stage using a second motion vector being derived from a motion vector pointing from one inner field to the other inner field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Snell & Wilcox Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Major
  • Patent number: 7202910
    Abstract: An IF signal processing arrangement for processing both analog and digital signals is disclosed in the present application. The signal processing arrangement includes a signal source for providing one of digital and analog IF signals, a first SAW filter having an output for filtering the IF signal, digital signal processing circuitry coupled to the output for processing a filtered digital IF signal, and analog signal processing circuitry coupled to the output for processing which includes filtering a filtered analog signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Gary Dean Grubbs, Ricardo Haro, Rodger Anthony Diemer, Daniel Mark Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 7202911
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a de-interlacer circuit, a rate converter circuit and a zoom circuit. The de-interlacer circuit may be configured to generate a first progressive signal having a first rate in response to an interlaced signal. The rate converter circuit may be configured to generate a second progressive signal having a second rate in response to the first progressive signal. The zoom circuit may be configured to generate an output video signal in response to the second progressive signal. The output video signal may represent a portion of the second progressive signal having a frame size equal to a frame size of the interlaced signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation
    Inventor: Herve Brelay
  • Patent number: 7202912
    Abstract: A TV system that uses a single pixmap across multiple video rasters having different raster sizes. In general, the TV system uses at least two sets of headers to select different portions of a single pixmap to be displayed based on different raster sizes. Specifically, each of the headers in a header set points to a pixel line to select number of pixels for that pixel line. The number of the headers in a header set determines the height of the pixmap and the pixel number selection by a set of headers determines the width of the pixmap. In response to different displaying modes, the TV system selectively invokes one of the two header sets to select different portions of the single pixmap. By doing so, a single pixmap can be used across multiple video rasters having different raster sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Charu Aneja, Aaron Hal Dinwiddie
  • Patent number: 7202913
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling synchronization of on-screen display information in an auto-search mode of a radio-frequency receiver (2) connected to scan an incoming signal for valid channel frequencies, includes a picture intermediate frequency phase-locked loop detector (17) for supplying an output signal indicating whether an intermediate frequency demodulator is in an unlocked mode which is the case if the incoming signal frequency does not correspond to a valid channel frequency, or in a locked mode, which is the case if the incoming signal frequency does correspond to a valid channel frequency, a video detector (18) for detecting a video property in the incoming signal, a synchronization phase control loop (6, 8, 10) which is closed if the video property is detected and the output signal indicates the locked mode, a memory for storing the frequency of the incoming signal as a valid channel when the phase control loop (6, 8, 10) is closed, and a horizontal oscillator (8) connected to free run when the pha
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Guo Ji Wang, Boon Leong Tay
  • Patent number: 7202914
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transmitter identification system, which utilizes an identification signal embedded into a digital television signal, enabling the transmitter of origin to be identified at a receiving station. Ideally the identification signal is an orthogonal pseudo-random sequence time synchronized to the signal frame structure of the digital television signal. Particularly designed for single frequency networks, identification of the various transmitted signals enables the network to be tuned to eliminate or minimize multi-path effects at certain locations, which receive transmissions from various transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Her Majest the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Industry, through the Communications Research Centre Canada
    Inventors: Yiyan Wu, Xianbin Wang, Sebastien Lafleche, Benoit Ledoux, Bernard Caron
  • Patent number: 7202915
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a system and method for selecting the sources of at least two shows capable of being received and displayed by an entertainment system. The user selects for viewing, a first show associated with a first channel from a first source. The first show is then displayed. The user also selects for viewing, a second show associated with a second channel from any one of the first and a second sources. The second show is then displayed. A second aspect of the present invention relates to a system and method for selecting the sources of at least two shows capable of being received and displayed by an entertainment system. The user selects for viewing, a first show associated with a first channel from a first source. The first show is displayed on a first portion of a display screen. The user also selects for viewing, a second show associated with a second channel from any one of the first and a second sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: David Alan Desch
  • Patent number: 7202916
    Abstract: A television (TV) tuner includes a first mixer having an input terminal coupled to a received RF signal for producing an intermediate frequency signal, a notch filter having an input terminal coupled to the intermediate frequency signal for removing a first range of signals centered at a first center frequency in the intermediate frequency signal, a band-pass filter having an input terminal coupled to the intermediate frequency signal for passing a second range of signals centered at a second center frequency in the intermediate frequency signal, and a second mixer having inputs coupled to a filtered intermediate frequency signal for producing a first output signal. The filtered intermediate frequency signal is received from an output of the notch filter and the band-pass filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Tung-Ming Su, Dsun-Chie Twu, Liang-Hui Lee
  • Patent number: 7202917
    Abstract: A light source, an image display panel including multiple pixel regions, each of which modulates light, light control means for focusing light from the light source onto associated pixel regions according to their wavelength ranges, and optical systems that form an image on a projection plane by the light that has been modulated by the panel are provided. A circuit for generating data representing multiple image subframes from data representing each image frame as a component of the image and getting the subframes displayed by the panel time-sequentially, and an image shifter for shifting a selected one of the subframes on the projection plane are further provided. The same area on the projection plane is sequentially irradiated with light rays that have been modulated by different pixel regions of the panel and that fall within respectively different wavelength ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromi Katoh, Hiroshi Nakanishi, Hiroshi Hamada, Akihito Jinda, Tadashi Kawamura, Takashi Shibatani
  • Patent number: 7202918
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an illumination device of an LCD projection system. The illumination device comprises a light source, a quarter-wave retardation and a wire grid polarizer. The light source is used for providing light. The quarter-wave retardation is disposed near the light source. The wire grid polarizer is disposed parallel to the quarter-wave retardation, and is associated with the quarter-wave retardation to polarize the light from the light source. P-polarized light can pass through the wire grid polarizer. S-polarized light cannot pass through the wire grid polarizer, and is reflected to the quarter-wave retardation to become circular polarized light. The circular polarized light is reflected by a parabolic surface of the light source and passes through the quarter-wave retardation again to convert into p-polarized light. The converted p-polarized light can pass through the wire grid polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Himax Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kuo-Yuin Li
  • Patent number: 7202919
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a holographic data storage system including a spatial light modulator device (SLM) that comprises optical elements in the form of polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) elements. The PDLC elements are individually controllable, and can be made substantially transparent or substantially diffusive. The “on” or “off” state of each PDLC element is defined by whether the given PDLC element is transparent or diffusive. Additional states may also be defined for the PDLC elements, e.g., based on a level of diffusiveness of the PDLC elements. Also, a mirror layer may be added adjacent the PDLC elements to define a reflective-mode SLM. In any case, the SLM is used to encode bit maps into a holographic object beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventor: Jathan D. Edwards
  • Patent number: 7202920
    Abstract: Light-emitting elements can be accurately directly opposed to the entrance surface of a light guide at an accurate distance therefrom, and can be mounted on a single side of a printed circuit board together with other electronic components, whereby the number of manufacturing steps and the thickness of a liquid crystal display device can be reduced. The light guide and the printed circuit board are disposed on the back surface of the liquid crystal display panel, and the respective light-emitting elements are inserted through through-holes formed to extend through the printed circuit board, with the light-emitting portions of the respective light-emitting elements opposed to the entrance surface of the light guide. The light-emitting elements, together with the other electronic components, are mounted on the printed circuit board from one side. Electrodes of the light-emitting elements are bridged and secured to a mounting surface of the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Electronic Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Aoyagi, Yasushi Morika
  • Patent number: 7202921
    Abstract: A backlight unit for an LCD is disclosed. The back light unit includes a light guide plate, a reflector, and a light source. The light guide plate has a light receiving lateral side, a first coupling lateral side, and a second coupling lateral side. The first and second coupling lateral sides include a first and a second coupling member, respectively. The reflector is disposed along the light receiving lateral side of the light guide plate, the reflector has a reflective cover, an opening, a first holder, and a second holder. The opening is positioned toward the light receiving lateral side. The first holder has a first linking member and extending toward the first coupling lateral side. The second holder has a second linking member and extending toward the second coupling lateral side. The light source is installed in the reflector, the light emitted from the light source is reflected by the reflective cover and then transmitted into the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventor: Hao-Chih Chen
  • Patent number: 7202922
    Abstract: A polarizing plate is provided which includes a polymer film, a polarizer, a polymer substrate, and an optically anisotropic layer containing a liquid crystal compound, laminated in this order, wherein the polarizer has a thickness of 10 to 25 ?m. A liquid crystal display using the polarizing plate shows high display quality without causing light leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoji Ito
  • Patent number: 7202923
    Abstract: A liquid crystal fabrication method includes the steps of: dropping liquid crystal on a first substrate at an upper surface inside regions enclosed by a sealing agent disposed thereon; overlaying a second substrate on the first substrate downward to stick the substrates together; sticking a polarizing plate on an upper surface of the first and second substrates; and collectively dividing the first and second substrates and the polarizing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Yamabuchi, Makoto Nakahara, Akinori Izumi
  • Patent number: 7202924
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display and a fabricating method thereof which prevent light leakage occurs near data lines in accordance with the rubbing direction of an alignment film. The present invention includes a thin film transistor plate having a gate line, a data line, a gate electrode, a thin film transistor, a passivation layer, and a pixel electrode, a color filter plate including a black matrix, a color filter and a common electrode on a second transparent substrate, and liquid crystals injected and sealed between the thin film transistor plate and the color filter plate, wherein the black matrix of the color filter plate is overlapped asymmetrically with the data line of the thin film transistor plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Sung-Il Park, In-Byeong Kang, Sung-Su Lee, Yu-Ho Jung, Kwang-Seop Park
  • Patent number: 7202925
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes a liquid crystal layer having a twist angle of ±10 degree. An upper polarizer is disposed over an upper substrate of the liquid crystal display panel, and includes an absorption axis forming at an angle of 47±10 degree in a clockwise direction with respect to a major axis. An upper ?/2 retardation film is disposed between the upper substrate and the upper polarizer, and includes ?nd1 of 260±10 nm and a slow axis forming at an angle of 166±10 degree in the clockwise direction with respect to the absorption axis. An upper ?/4 retardation film is disposed between the upper substrate and the upper ?/2 retardation film, and includes ?nd2 of 140±10 nm and a slow axis forming at an angle of 111±10 degree in the clockwise direction with respect to the absorption axis. Therefore, the optical condition of the optical film assembly is optimized to improve an image display quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-Kyu Jang, Won-Sang Park, Jae-Hyun Kim, Sang-Woo Kim, Sung-Eun Cha, Jae-Young Lee
  • Patent number: 7202926
    Abstract: Provided herein is a retardation optical element 10 that produces no bright and dark fringes on a displayed image even when placed between a liquid crystal cell 104 and a polarizer 102B and thus can effectively prevent lowering of display quality. The retardation optical element 10 includes a retardation layer 12 having a cholesteric-regular molecular structure with liquid crystalline molecules in planar orientation. The helical pitch in the molecular structure of the retardation layer 12 is so adjusted that the retardation layer 12 can, owing to its molecular structure, selectively reflect light whose wavelength falls in a range different from the wave range of light incident on the retardation layer 12 (the selective reflection wave range of the retardation layer is either shorter or longer than the wave range of the incident light).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiji Kashima
  • Patent number: 7202927
    Abstract: On a TFT array substrate, an electrooptic device contains pixel electrodes disposed in an image display region, TFTs which are disposed in a peripheral region at the periphery of the image display region and which form a peripheral circuit, and a protective film formed so as to cover at least a part of the peripheral region. The protective film is not provided in at least a part of an opening region of each pixel formed in the image display region. Accordingly, in the electrooptic device, such as a liquid crystal device, while the device life is increased by protecting electronic elements, such as transistors formed on the substrate by the protective film, degradation of display image quality caused by the presence of the protective film is reduced or prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Murade
  • Patent number: 7202928
    Abstract: An array substrate for use in an in-plane switching liquid crystal display device includes a gate line on a substrate; a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel region having an aperture area; a thin film transistor disposed at one corner of the pixel region and connected to the gate line and the data line, the thin film transistor including a semiconductor layer; a common line spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the gate line; a common electrode extending from the common line and including a plurality of common electrode patterns, wherein an outermost portion of the common electrode pattern is substantially rectangle shaped within the pixel region and has a substantially circular opening in the middle thereof; a capacitor electrode overlapping the rectangle shaped common electrode pattern, the capacitor electrode connected to the thin film transistor; a pixel connecting line substantially parallel to the data line in the pixel region and connected to the capacitor electrode; and a pixe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: LG. Philips LCD Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yun-Bok Lee, Won-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 7202929
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, each pixel region formed over a liquid crystal side of one substrate out of respective substrates which are arranged to face each other with liquid crystal therebetween includes pixel electrodes to which a video signal is supplied from a drain signal line through a switching element driven in response to a scanning signal from a gate signal line and capacitive elements which are formed between the pixel electrodes and a capacitive signal line by way of a dielectric film. In such a constitution, the pixel region is divided into a plurality of regions, and video signals are supplied to respective pixel electrodes and capacitive elements in respective regions through paths which are branched from the switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryouichi Ootsu, Takanori Nakayama, Takahiro Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7202930
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an LCD panel and a method for fabricating the same. More specifically, the LCD panel includes first and second substrates, a photo-hardening sealant between the first and second substrates, a plurality of metal lines on the first substrate, wherein the metal lines are formed of a transparent conductive film at least at portions where the metal lines cross one another, and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Joung Won Woo, Woo Sup Shin
  • Patent number: 7202931
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate having a first region and a second region, wherein the second region surrounds the first region, a plurality of patterned spacers over the first substrate in the first region, a plurality of supporting patterns spaced apart from each other over the first substrate in the second region, a seal pattern in the second region including the plurality of supporting patterns, a second substrate spaced apart from and attached to the first substrate by the seal pattern, and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Sang Chung, Young-Suk Park
  • Patent number: 7202932
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display comprises an injection hole post structures compatible with liquid crystal formed in an area near an injection hole to prevent pollutants seeped from an end-sealing material from penetrating into a display area, thereby suppressing the deterioration of picture quality in the display area. The liquid crystal display comprises a first substrate and a second substrate having a predetermined gap therebetween. Liquid crystal is sealed in the gap. The liquid crystal display comprises post structures for controlling the gap, and a sealing material provided outside the display area for sealing the liquid crystal in the gap, and forming the open injection hole for injecting the liquid crystal therethrough. The end-sealing material seals the injection hole after the liquid crystal is sealed. Injection hole post structures are provided in the area near the injection hole, for dividing the injection hole into a plurality of portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Niwa, Hidefumi Yamashita, Tatsushi Koike, Yoshiaki Ohbayashi
  • Patent number: 7202933
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal inserted between first and second substrates and surrounded by a peripheral seal. The liquid crystal is dripped onto the first substrate in an area defined by the seal of the first substrate. The first substrate and the second substrate are joined or bonded together under pressure in a vacuum chamber. The chamber is then exposed to the atmosphere while keeping the first substrate and the second substrate under pressure. The pressure is then released and thereafter light is irradiated onto the peripheral seal. The vacuum chamber includes upper and lower surface plates to support the substrates. The surface plate includes an electrostatic chuck and a vacuum attraction passage provided in the chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Murata, Hiroyuki Sugimura, Norimichi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7202934
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus arranged to transfer a pattern from a patterning device onto a substrate is disclosed. The apparatus includes an optics compartment that contains a patterned surface of the patterning device and an optical element, and a substrate compartment connected to the optics compartment by a connection that is arranged to pass a patterned beam of radiation from the optical element to the substrate. The apparatus also includes a first flush gas inlet arranged to supply a first flush gas into the connection, a second flush gas inlet adjacent to the patterned surface and arranged to supply a second flush gas into the optics compartment and to create a region adjacent the patterned surface in which the second flush gas flows in a direction with a component normal to and away from the patterned surface, and a gas pump arranged to pump the flush gases from the optics compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Hubertus Josephina Moors, Erik Leonardus Ham, Gert-Jan Heerens, Paulus Martinus Maria Liebregts, Erik Roelof Loopstra, Henri Gerard Cato Werij
  • Patent number: 7202935
    Abstract: An imprinting apparatus including a plate unit, and a plurality of imprinting modules provided on a lower surface of the plate unit. Each imprinting module is self-aligned by a compliance of six degree of freedom and vertically moved along with the plate unit by a controller. The imprint module is independently self-aligned in response to surface conditions of an objective material to compensate for a relative pose error thereof, such that a pattern formed on a lower end of the imprinting module can be imprinted on an upper surface of the objective material within a predetermined unit range, and a sequence of imprinting the pattern of the imprinting module on the objective material can be variously controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials
    Inventors: Jae Jong Lee, Kee Bong Choi, Gee Hong Kim, Kwang Jo Chung
  • Patent number: 7202936
    Abstract: An exposure method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display utilizes a scanning exposure apparatus to expose a pattern of a mask onto a glass plate. The exposure method includes a step of moving a mask stage that holds the mask in a scanning direction by a first electromagnetic actuator. The first electromagnetic actuator moves the mask stage associating with a guide member that extends in the scanning direction. The method also includes the step of moving the mask stage in a non-scanning direction different from the scanning direction by a second electromagnetic actuator. The second electromagnetic actuator moves the mask stage associating with no guide member, and a moving distance in the non-scanning direction by the second electromagnetic actuator is shorter than a moving distance in the scanning direction by the first electromagnetic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Horito Horikawa
  • Patent number: 7202937
    Abstract: A balanced positioning apparatus comprises a balance mass which is supported so as to be moveable in the three degrees of freedom, such as X and Y translation and rotation about the Z-axis. Drive forces in these degrees of freedom act directly between the positioning body and the balance mass. Reaction forces arising from positioning movements result in corresponding movement of the balance mass and all reaction force are kept within the balanced positioning system. The balance mass may be a rectangular balance frame having the stators of two linear motors forming the uprights of an H-drive mounted on opposite sides. The cross-piece of the H-drive spans the frame and the positioned object is positioned within the central opening of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Yim Bun P. Kwan, Wilhelmus J. T. P. van de Wiel
  • Patent number: 7202938
    Abstract: In an off-axis levelling procedure a height map of the substrate is generated at a measurement station. The height map is referenced to a physical reference surface of the substrate table. The physical reference surface may be a surface in which is inset a transmission image sensor. At the exposure station the height of the physical reference surface is measured and related to the focal plane of the projection lens. The height map can then be used to determine the optimum height and/or tilt of substrate table to position the exposure area on the substrate in best focus during exposure. The same principles can be applied to (reflective) masks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Theodorus M. Modderman, Gerrit J. Nijmeijer, Nicholaas A. A. J. van Asten, Frederik T. E. Heuts, Richard J. H. Du Croo de Jongh, Marcus E. J. Boonman, Jacob F. F. Klinkhamer
  • Patent number: 7202939
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus comprises an illumination system for supplying a beam of radiation, a patterning arrangement incorporating an array of individually controllable elements for imparting a pattern to the beam cross-section, a substrate table for supporting a substrate, and a projection system incorporating a microlens array for projecting the beam onto a target portion of the substrate. An error compensator is provided for supplying error correction values for compensating for the effect of positional errors in the microlens array, and a grey scale modulator is provided for supplying drive signals to controllable elements of the patterning arrangement in dependence on the error correction values in order to compensate for the effect of positional errors in the microlens array by varying the intensity of some parts of the pattern relative to other parts of the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Cheng-Qun Gui, Pieter Willem Herman De Jager, Robert-Han Munnig Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7202940
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting a target which uses composition correlation filters with score reaffirmation post processing for acquiring a target. The method and system uses target decision rules that are based on comparing the dot products, or peaks, of three score reaffirmation filters and their registered LADAR image to detect a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Chi-Kin Lam, Thomas Dean Cook
  • Patent number: 7202941
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring a parameter of a target in accordance with embodiments of the present invention includes transmitting at least one signal towards a target and receiving at least a portion of the transmitted signal back from the target. The measured parameter is one of distance velocity, or reflectivity. The transmitted signal is of the coherent burst waveform, and upon reception is processed with equivalent time sampling, AGC with minimal, if any, error, and a discrete Fourier transform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Inventor: James F. Munro
  • Patent number: 7202942
    Abstract: A system for measuring velocity of a target is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a laser device, a detector and a signal processor. The laser device produces a frequency-modulated laser beam, wherein the frequency-modulated beam is split into at least two laser beams, wherein a reflected beam comprising one split beam is directed to the target and reflected from the target. The detector detects a combination of the reflected beam and a reference beam comprising another split beam, wherein the reflected beam and the reference beam have unequal delays. The signal processor obtains velocity information from the combined beam by use of Doppler-shifted harmonics of the modulation frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Doppler, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kent L. Deines
  • Patent number: 7202943
    Abstract: An optical based identification system that is easily deployable and can be used in broad daylight. Fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots) that fluoresce at specific wavelengths are distributed in a suitable polymer. The resulting mixture can then be applied as paint or on an adhesive label for application to a portion of any equipment or member of a friendly unit. The system also has a corresponding detectional processing unit which may be mounted on ordnance or on any other equipment such as aircraft. The detection unit uses a laser, which when active, causes a laser beam to strike the paint or adhesive able applied to the friendly unit. This causes the quantum dots to fluoresce. The fluorescence of the quantum dots can be detected by the sensor portion of the detection/processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Shoude Chang, Ming Zhou
  • Patent number: 7202944
    Abstract: Determining a measuring uncertainty and/or maximum measuring error of a polarization dependent loss—PDL—tester for determining a PDL value of a device under test—DUT—is provided by using the PDL tester for determining a value of PDL of a verification element having an actual value of PDL greater than a maximum value of a specified measuring range, wherein the PDL tester has an expected measuring uncertainty and/or expected maximum measuring error. The measuring uncertainty and/or maximum measuring error or the tester is then derived from the determined value of PDL of the verification element in conjunction with the actual value of PDL of the verification element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregor Cedilnik
  • Patent number: 7202945
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) and a method for determining parameters of fluid-containing samples (2) in a system (3) for individually irradiating the samples (2) with light (4) of a light source (5) in an essentially vertical irradiation direction (6). In this case, this system (3) includes a detector (7) for measuring the light (8) coming from a single sample, and this detector (7) has a detection direction (9?), which lies on an optical axis (9) that is essentially parallel to the optical axis (6) of the light source (5). This device (1) includes at least one reflective surface (10), using which the light (4) coming essentially vertically out of the light source (5) may be at least partially deflected in an essentially horizontal irradiation direction (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Andreas Erlbacher, Lutz Niggl, Alois Krutzenbichler
  • Patent number: 7202946
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide novel methods and devices for sampling gas, exciting the sampled gas to emit radiation and detecting in real time from the emitted radiation a plurality of wave bands of an emission spectrum. Energy used to excite the sampled gas may be adjusted based on the detected wave bands. A process may be controlled in real time based on the detected wave bands. Novel interfaces may be used to display portions of the detected wave bands. A known flow of a reference gas may be included in the flow of sampled gases and an unknown flow of an unknown flow gas determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Lightwind Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Powell, Richard L. Hazard