Patents Issued in August 14, 2007
  • Patent number: 7256737
    Abstract: The time difference of arrival for a signal received at two or more receiving sites as transmitted from a wireless communications device, is determined by a frequency domain technique. The constituent frequencies of the signals received at the two or more receiving sites are determined, including the phase, or a value representative of the phase, of each frequency component. The phase values for the same frequency are subtracted to yield a phase difference values as a function of frequency. The slope of the function represents the time difference of arrival for the wireless communications device signal as received at the two receiving sites. To determine the mobile location based on the determined time difference of arrival values, a seed or initial location is first assumed for the wireless communications device and the distance difference of arrival (the time difference of arrival multiplied by the speed of light) is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Inventors: Christopher J. Hall, Clay S. Turner, Jimmy C. Ray
  • Patent number: 7256738
    Abstract: A resonant circuit having a circuit coil formed on each surface of a dielectric film. Each coil has a line-width and an outer periphery in which the line-width of each circuit is 1/50 or more of the length of the outermost periphery of that circuit. Each coil has at least three complete turns, and the coils are provided on the faces of a dielectric film in such a manner that the coils are faced to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Miyake
    Inventors: Shinya Uchibori, Takaaki Mizukawa, Yoshinori Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 7256739
    Abstract: To provide an antenna shape devised to be integrated and compact. The antenna connected to an IC chip that performs wireless identification includes a slit that separates two connection points with respect to the IC chip, in which a length of the slit is approximately 3 millimeters, and a width of the slit is in a range of from 0.8 millimeter to 1.4 millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Usami
  • Patent number: 7256740
    Abstract: Apparatus, system, and method are described for a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit device having a first metal layer that includes a radiating element and a second metal layer that includes a first conductor coupled to the radiating element. The first conductor and the radiating element are mutually coupled to form an antenna to wirelessly communicate a signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Keith R. Tinsley, Seong-Youp Suh
  • Patent number: 7256741
    Abstract: A multiple-band antenna having a plurality of operating frequency bands is provided. The antenna includes a plurality of structures configured for operation in respective ones of the plurality of operating frequency bands, and a plurality of structures configured for operation in more than one of the plurality of operating frequency bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Geyi Wen, Krystyna Bandurska, Perry Jarmuszewski
  • Patent number: 7256742
    Abstract: A flexible antenna apparatus and a manufacturing method thereof are provided for wireless communication devices. The flexible antenna has a metal layer with an adhesive layer pasted onto the back surface of the metal layer, so that it can be directly pasted onto the housing of the wireless communication device. On another side of the metal layer, there is a transparent protective layer and the metal layer reserves a zone without the transparent protective layer for electrically coupling to the electrical substrate of the wireless communication device. The present flexible antenna apparatus reduces the developing time and cost of the device and the manufacturing process more convenient. The flexible antenna apparatus is suitable for all wireless communication devices and increases the flexibility of the manufacturing process by adding a holder having at least one plastic pin, or a pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Inpaq Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bin-Hung Chen, Chih-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 7256743
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal multiband antenna intended for small-sized radio devices, and a radio device with such an antenna. The basic structure of the antenna is a two-band PIFA. A parasitic element (230) is added to it inside the outline of the radiating plane (220) of the PIFA, e.g. in the space (229) between the conductor branches (221, 222) of the radiating plane. The parasitic element extends close to the feeding point (FP) of the antenna, from which place it is connected to the ground plane of the antenna with its own short-circuit conductor (235). The structure is dimensioned so that the resonance frequency based on the parasitic element comes close to the one resonance frequency of the PIFA, thus widening the corresponding operating band, or a separate third operating band is formed for the antenna with the parasitic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Pulse Finland Oy
    Inventor: Heikki Korva
  • Patent number: 7256744
    Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a housing, a main dielectric substrate carried by the housing, circuitry carried by the main dielectric substrate, and a ground plane conductor on the main dielectric substrate. The mobile wireless communications device may further include an L-shaped dielectric extension comprising a vertical portion extending outwardly from the main dielectric substrate and an overhang portion extending outwardly from the vertical portion and above an adjacent portion of the main dielectric layer. A main loop antenna conductor comprising at least one conductive trace may be relatively positioned on the overhang portion of the L-shaped dielectric extension so as not to overlap the ground plane conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: Yihong Qi, Ying Tong Man, Perry Jarmuszewski
  • Patent number: 7256745
    Abstract: For fixing an object to a fixing plate by a fixing portion of the object and a fixing member, a fixing device includes a first screw member formed on the object and a second screw member corresponding to the first screw member. The fixing member includes a bottom plate portion provided with a through hole allowing a threaded portion of the second screw member to pass therethrough and a plurality of spring portions extending from the bottom plate portion in one direction. The bottom plate portion has an outer dimension smaller than a fixing hole formed on the fixing plate. A combination of the spring portions extends in the one direction from the bottom plate portion having an outer dimension greater than the fixing hole in at least an upper part thereof. Each of the spring portions has lateral sides provided with cut-away portions formed by cutting the lateral sides from the bottom plate portion in the one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Saito, Kyuichi Sato
  • Patent number: 7256746
    Abstract: A molded component for the beam path of a radar apparatus with a low radio transmission loss and improved hardness and abrasion resistance is provided. The molded component for the beam path of a radar apparatus comprises a base body 21 composed of a cyclic polyolefin resin layer, and a bright decoration layer 24 disposed on the surface of the base body. Preferably, by disposing a modified layer 22 treated by plasma ion etching and/or highly concentrated ozone water especially on the surface of the cyclic polyolefin resin, wettability on the surface is improved, thereby substantially improving the adhesion to the bright decoration layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Itsuo Kamiya, Koichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7256747
    Abstract: One aspect relates to a hearing aid having a housing with a face plate to which a handle is connected. Additionally, an at least partially coiled antenna is located proximal to the face plate. Another aspect relates to an apparatus comprised of a means for locating hearing aid components in a housing, a means for inserting and removing the hearing aid with a handle, a means for connecting the handle to the housing, and a means for integrating an antenna with the handle, wherein the antenna is located proximal to the housing. Another aspect relates to a method of making a hearing aid, including connecting an antenna to a handle and connecting the handle to the hearing aid, wherein the antenna is located proximate to the hearing aid housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Victorian, James Newton
  • Patent number: 7256748
    Abstract: An azimuth drive for a radar array comprises at least one circular track mounted to a wheel on which the radar array is mounted. A motor is coupled to the at least one circular track and capable of moving along the track in the tangential direction, to relocate the center of mass of the wheel on which the radar array is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Inventor: Byron W. Tietjen
  • Patent number: 7256749
    Abstract: A mechanically scanned reflector antenna system that produces a compact swept diameter and overall height, which is ideally suited for use on the external surface of a high speed mobile platform where a low profile, lightweight antenna is needed. The antenna system includes a main reflector and a subreflector both formed from composite materials. A support assembly includes a pair of arms that cantilever the main reflector forwardly of a base portion of the support assembly such that a portion of the main reflector can be positioned below an upper surface of the base portion. This enables the vertical height of the swept arc of the main reflector to be reduced when the main reflector is rotated about its elevation axis. The assembly provides an even more compact system that can be enclosed within a smaller radome when the system is employed on an external surface of a high speed mobile platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Glen J DeSargant, Albert L Bien
  • Patent number: 7256750
    Abstract: E-plane omni-directional antenna is described. In an embodiment, a transmission signal connection system includes a center conductive rod to communicate a radio frequency transmission signal, and includes one or more outer conductive rods that each provide a grounded return for the radio frequency transmission signal and shield the center conductive rod. The center conductive rod and the one or more outer conductive rods also couple a first antenna element to at least a second antenna element, and the center conductive rod couples the first antenna element and the at least second antenna element to the radio frequency transmission signal. Each antenna element includes coplanar waveguide dipoles that generate an e-field transmission which are combined to form an E-plane omni-directional transmission pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Vivato, Inc.
    Inventor: Royden M. Honda
  • Patent number: 7256751
    Abstract: An antenna includes at least one element whose physical shape is at least partially defined as a second or higher iteration deterministic fractal. The resultant fractal antenna does not rely upon an opening angle for performance, and may be fabricated as a dipole, a vertical, or a quad, among other configurations. The number of resonant frequencies for the fractal antenna increases with iteration number N and more such frequencies are present than in a prior art Euclidean antenna. Further, the resonant frequencies can include non-harmonically related frequencies. At the high frequencies associated with wireless and cellular telephone communications, a second or third iteration, preferably Minkowski fractal antenna is implemented on a printed circuit board that is small enough to fit within the telephone housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Inventor: Nathan Cohen
  • Patent number: 7256752
    Abstract: A unitary feed structure for sliding installation in a passage in the insulative core of a dielectrically-loaded antenna comprises the unitary combination of a tubular outer shield conductor and elongate inner conductor which extends through the shield conductor and is insulated from the latter. The shield conductor and inner conductor have oppositely directed radially extending connection members at an end of the feed structure, these connection members being integrally formed as part of the respective conductors so that the feed structure can be inserted as a unit into the passage in the antenna core so that the connection members engage respective connection portions formed on an end face of the core adjacent on end of the passage. Soldering of the connection members to the connection portions can be performed as a single operation so as to connect the feed structure to conductive antenna elements plated on the outer surface of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Sarantel Limited
    Inventors: David Michael Wither, Oliver Paul Leisten
  • Patent number: 7256753
    Abstract: By configuring a high impedance frequency selective surface (HZ-FSS) structure for the appropriate values of surface impedance (surface resistance and surface reactance), a high frequency artificial ferrite metamaterial can be synthesized with almost any desired value of real and imaginary permeability. Materials with these properties have not previously been physically realizable at frequencies above 1 GHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Douglas H. Werner, Douglas J. Kern
  • Patent number: 7256754
    Abstract: The color display device includes a colored light generation unit for repetitively generating a plurality of colored lights in a time sequence with a predetermined frequency, and an image generation unit for processing said plurality of colored lights, so as to generate an image corresponding to each of the plurality of colored lights generated in a time sequence. The said predetermined frequency is 180 Hz or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Wada, Junichi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7256755
    Abstract: A display apparatus displaying gray scale by using a subfield method has a main path, a sub path, a switch circuit, a motion region detection circuit, a first judging circuit, a level detection circuit, a motion detection correction circuit, and a second judging circuit. The switch circuit outputs a first image signal generated by the main path or a second image signal generated by the sub path by switching therebetween, and the first judging circuit outputs a first motion signal in accordance with an output of the motion region detection circuit. The motion detection correction circuit receives the first motion signal and a level signal, and outputs a second motion signal in accordance with the level signal, and the second judging circuit receives the second motion signal and the level signal, and outputs a switching control signal to the switch circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Hitachi Plasma Display Limited
    Inventors: Shunji Ohta, Masanori Takeuchi, Yutaka Chiaki, Masaya Tajima, Akira Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7256756
    Abstract: In a D/I conversion section of the semiconductor device for driving a light emission display device, a precharge circuit is provided at the rear of each 1-output D/I conversion section. A precharge signal PC is input into the precharge circuit. The D/I conversion section has two output blocks internally thereof, and a role for storing and outputting current is changed every frame to enable securing a period for driving a pixel longer. Further, at the time of driving, in the precharge circuit, current driving is carried out after a voltage corresponding to output current has been applied to the pixel, and therefore, the pixel can be driven at high speed. Thereby, output current of high accuracy can be supplied to digital image data to be input, and even where an output current value is low, the current load device can be driven at high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Katsumi Abe
  • Patent number: 7256757
    Abstract: An organic EL display panel includes a substrate, pixel electrodes, a common electrode, signal lines, power supply lines, thin-film transistors, scan lines, organic EL elements and storage capacitors. To obtain a full color image by light emissions of the organic EL elements, red, green and blue emitters are patterned correspondently with the pixel electrodes and arranged in this order along the gate line direction. The emitters are patterned such that each pair of the red, green and blue emitters which are adjacent to each other along the gate line direction overlap each other to define a light-emitting layer overlap region, where colors of light components which exit the organic EL elements and pass through the emitters are mixed, between the adjacent organic EL elements arranged along the gate line direction. At least one of the thin-film transistor and the storage capacitor is arranged in the light-emitting layer overlap region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Nanno, Hiroshi Tsutsu
  • Patent number: 7256758
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing switched power to an AMOLED is disclosed. During certain time intervals, voltage and/or polarity provided to active devices such as thin film transistors (TFT) driving the AMOLEDs may be changed to reverse polarity or differ in absolute magnitude of voltage. During a subsequent time interval, the changed power may be changed again and/or reverted to an original state. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which 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: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Shuo-Hsiu Hu, Li-Wei Shih, Chiao-Ju Lin, Wen-Kuen Chen
  • Patent number: 7256759
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is disclosed, which provides data in a time-divided manner to left and right pixel regions of one data line, thereby reducing the number of source drive ICs, expensive component. The liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of pairs having first and second gate lines being adjacent to each other; a plurality of data lines for being in perpendicular to the pair of the first and second gate lines, thereby defining a plurality of left and right side pixel regions; and left and right side pixel electrodes, respectively formed in the left and right side pixel regions, and selectively driven by switching parts of the first and second gate lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woo Hyun Kim, Kyung Kwon Park
  • Patent number: 7256760
    Abstract: A systemized active matrix display in which a pixel matrix circuit, a driver circuit and a logic circuit are mounted on the same substrate, is formed. A TFT of the present invention has such characteristics as to be able to operate in a wide driving frequency range of 0.05 to 2 GHz, and by designing a channel length and a film thickness of a gate insulating film of the TFT according to characteristics required by circuits, it is possible to form a high frequency driving circuit and a low frequency driving circuit on the same substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama, Hisashi Ohtani
  • Patent number: 7256761
    Abstract: A scanner integrated circuit comprises a gate integrated circuit including a shift register, a delay unit, a voltage detecting unit and a logic unit for achieving an output enable function so that the integrated circuit can reduce the pin numbers and the package volume and decrease the chip cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.
    Inventors: Juin-Ying Huang, Shih-Hsiung Huang, Wen-Tse Tseng
  • Patent number: 7256762
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for dynamically adjusting a switch frequency of a burst mode for a liquid crystal display. The method of the invention comprises the steps of: (a) receiving a scan frequency value from a signal source; (b) deriving a switch frequency value of the burst mode according to the scan frequency value; and (c) transmitting the switch frequency value to a lamp controller. According to the method of the invention, the switch frequency value can be obtained through calculation or by a look-up table. The stitch frequency value preferably equals a scan frequency value multiplied by a multiple (N+0.5), wherein N is a positive number. A tolerable range of the switch frequency value of the burst mode is ±20 Hz. The method of the invention utilizes various scan frequency values to adjust the switch frequency value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Wu.Chang Yang, Tsao-Yu Lee, Huang Wen Sui, Pao-Wei Cheng, Cheng-Hsia Kuo
  • Patent number: 7256763
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display and a method of driving the same, the liquid crystal display includes: a liquid crystal display panel having a matrix of a plurality of pixels arrayed two dimensionally in a first direction and in a second direction crossing the first direction; and an illuminating device including a plurality of light sources facing the pixel matrix of the liquid crystal display panel. The plurality of light sources are arrayed in the first direction and grouped into a plurality of light source areas. The turn-on start timing of light sources in each light source area is set to a specific timing based on the input timing of the video signal to the selected pixel rows in the pixel matrix. Further, the turn-on and turn-off timings of the light source areas are set to specific conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kaneki, Mutsumi Maehara
  • Patent number: 7256764
    Abstract: An image input/output device 100 includes an image information detection section 130 for detecting image information of an image information object 200 by receiving reflected light L from the image information object 200, and a self-luminous image display section 120 for displaying an image based on the image information detected by the image information detection section 130. The image information detection section 130 and the self-luminous image display section 120 are attached together in a back-to-back arrangement. The self-luminous image display section 120 functions as an image-information-detecting light source for irradiating the image information object 200 with light L through the image information detection section 130.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Izumi
  • Patent number: 7256765
    Abstract: An electrophoretic device according to the present invention comprises electrophoretic dispersion including a liquid-phase dispersion medium and electrophoretic particles dispersed therein, in which the positions of the electrophoretic particles are controlled in accordance with an electric field applied thereto. In addition, the electrophoretic device further has a first means for applying a first voltage so that a first dispersion state of the electrophoretic particles is changed into a second dispersion state and a second means for applying a second voltage so that the second dispersion state is substantially sustained. The electrophoretic device described above has superior image-sustaining properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kawai, Tatsuya Shimoda
  • Patent number: 7256766
    Abstract: The invention features an electrophoretic display element. The display element includes an electrophoretic display medium, an optical biasing element to modify an optical characteristic of the electrophoretic display element, and an addressing electrode to address the electrophoretic display medium. The optical biasing element may include, for example, a distinct layer of material, or may include particles or molecules embedded in a layer of the display element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Albert, Barrett Comiskey
  • Patent number: 7256767
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided that includes a user-interface feature, a detection mechanism and one or more internal components. The user-interface feature is configurable to have a selected orientation about one or more axes. The detection mechanism can detect orientation information about the electronic device. The one or more components may select the orientation of the user-interface feature based on the detected orientation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: PALM, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoon Kean Wong, William Robert Hanson, Shawn R. Gettemy
  • Patent number: 7256768
    Abstract: A computer keyboard has a grid of conductors forming a plurality of intersections, with force-sensitive resistor (FSR) elements located between the conductors at the intersections. A plurality of keys are located above the intersections and exert force on the conductors and FSR elements during key presses. A resistor network sub-circuit is connected to some of the conductors, and is switchable between low and high resistance values. An Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) is coupled to the resistor network sub-circuit. A microprocessor grounds a conductor and tests another conductor for a threshold voltage level while the resistor network is switched to the high resistance value. The microprocessor switches the resistor network to the low resistance value upon detecting the threshold voltage level and subsequently receives from the ADC a digital value of a voltage on the tested conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Steven N. Bathiche
  • Patent number: 7256769
    Abstract: A system and method for efficient Asian character text input into a reduced keypad machine such as a word processor, telephone, hand-held computer, or personal computer is provided. The system comprises a data entry keypad associated with a monitor, and a disambiguation process supporting multiple keycap depression timespan range definitions and interpretations to produce accurate messaging with a reduced keypad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Zi Corporation of Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Yin Lun Pun, John M. Conrad, Eun-Kyong Paek, Changshi Xu
  • Patent number: 7256770
    Abstract: In a computer system, a touch sensitive input device having touch sensitive auxiliary controls system can be used to anticipate a user's action. When a user's hand approaches a touch sensitive input device, feedback can be displayed on a display screen. A user can receive feedback without activating the input device. The feedback may take the form of status information related to the feature controlled by the input device and can vary depending upon the application open. Likewise, when the hand of a user is moved away from the touch sensitive input device, the feedback brought on by sensing the user's hand may disappear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Steven N. Bathiche, William Vong, James H. Cauthorn, Corey M. Ladas, Kenneth V. Fry
  • Patent number: 7256771
    Abstract: An apparatus for operating a medical appliance, such as a moving operating table, has a touchscreen on which a user interface is displayed. The user interface has a number of first buttons. A control unit initiates first actions of the medical appliance when the first buttons are actuated by a user. Furthermore, the user interface has at least one stop area which, when actuated, stops any first action. The first buttons and the stop area are spatially distributed over the user interface such that center points between each first button and the stop area are located outside each first button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Storz Endoskop Produktions GmbH
    Inventors: Pavel Novak, Tasso Ströhle
  • Patent number: 7256772
    Abstract: A touch system includes a touch surface on which an image is, displayed and at least one camera acquiring images of the touch surface. A pointer contact data generator generates pointer position data in response to pointer contact with the touch surface. The pointer position data represents the location of the pointer on the touch surface where pointer contact is made. A processor communicates with the at least one camera and the pointer contact data generator. The processor uses known points in the displayed images to calibrate automatically co-ordinate systems of the touch system, and uses calibrated pointer position data to update image data that is used to present the displayed image on the touch surface. In one embodiment, the touch system includes an active touch sensitive screen that comprises both the touch surface and the pointer contact data generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Smart Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald D. Morrison
  • Patent number: 7256773
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are used to determine whether specific electronic pen gestures with respect to pen-based computing systems should be processed as “press-and-hold” gestures (e.g., to activate right mouse button click actions). Such methods may include: (a) measuring two different parameters associated with pen interaction or orientation with respect to a digitizer during a pen-down event; and (b) determining whether the pen-down event constitutes a press-and-hold gesture based, at least in part, on the measured parameters. In some instances, if the systems and methods cannot immediately determine whether a press-and-hold gesture is intended, measurements may be made again (as many times as necessary or until a time-out occurs) such that the determining step can be performed one or more additional times taking into consideration the additional parameter measurement data collected since the original parameter measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander J. Kolmykov-Zotov, Shiraz Somji, Matt Lerner
  • Patent number: 7256774
    Abstract: Each pixel includes: a first wiring for allowing a current to flow to an organic EL element; a first TFT element, provided in series to the organic EL element so as to be positioned in a path for allowing the current to flow from the first wiring, which has a control terminal for controlling conductance of the first TFT element; a second TFT element, provided in series to the organic EL element and the first TFT element so as to be positioned in the path, which has a control terminal for allowing/disallowing conduction; a capacitor which applies a voltage corresponding to stored electric charge to the control terminal of the first TFT element as a control voltage for controlling the conductance of the first TFT element; a third TFT element, provided in a path for supplying the electric charge to the capacitor, which has a control terminal for allowing/disallowing conduction, said third TFT element causing the capacitor to store the electric charge by disallowing conduction; a second wiring which applies a con
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Senda, Takao Muroi
  • Patent number: 7256775
    Abstract: A light emitting display including a selection signal unit, an emission control signal unit and a plurality of pixels. The selection signal unit receives a first start signal, generates a first shift signal, generates a selection signal using the first shift signal, and outputs the selection signal. The emission control signal unit receives a clock signal and a second start signal, generates a second shift signal, generates first and second emission control signals using the first and second shift signals, and outputs the emission control signals. At least one of the pixels includes first and second light emitting elements. The first light emitting element is emitted by the first emission control signal in the first field, and the second light emitting element is emitted by the second emission control signal in the second field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki-Myeong Eom
  • Patent number: 7256776
    Abstract: In an electrooptical device including an electrooptical modulating layer between a first substrate 101 and a second substrate 105, all edges 107 to 109 of the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 105, except an edge where IC chips 110 and 111 are attached, are trued up each other between the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 105. By this, it is possible to make the area of the first substrate 101 minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama, Yoshiharu Hirakata, Takeshi Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7256777
    Abstract: This invention provides a method and an apparatus for saving power dissipation during the testing and evaluation of liquid crystal display LCD panels. In addition, this invention provides a method and apparatus of the changing of the order of backplane and segment addressing to reduce the power consumed by LCD panels. The method includes the step of interlacing the access of common or backplane addresses to an LCD. The LCD power saving method also includes the interlacing the access of the RAM data driving the LCD segment drivers. The segment address signals are developed from data read out of a random access memory, RAM. The segment address signals are activated such that alternating LCD panel locations are written with ones and zeros in a checkerboard pattern so as to stress the LCD panel in the worst case. This method provides for the saving of power dissipation during testing and evaluation by reducing the amount of segment switching from once every backplane cycle to once every frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventors: Kevin Jones, Julian Tyrrell
  • Patent number: 7256778
    Abstract: A reset circuit of a timing controller includes: a transistor including an emitter connected to a first node, a base connected to a second node and a collector connected to a third node, a digital input voltage (DVCC) being applied to the first node; a first resistor connected between the first and second nodes; a second resistor connected between the second node and a fourth node, the fourth node being grounded; a third resistor connected between the third and fourth nodes; a fourth resistor connected between the third node and a fifth node, the fifth node being connected to an input terminal of the timing controller; and a capacitor including a first electrode connected to the fifth node and a second electrode grounded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: LG. Philips LCD Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-Kwon Choi
  • Patent number: 7256779
    Abstract: Video game play rendered using a panoramic view of a cube map style rendering uses an associated depth map to supply three-dimensionality to the pre-rendered scene. The resulting panoramic rendering may be indistinguishable from rendering the original scene in real-time except that the background is of pre-rendered quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Paul Donnelly
  • Patent number: 7256780
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for visualizing volume rendered images relative to a viewing vector are provided, where the apparatus includes a processor, a detection unit in signal communication with the processor for detecting occluding contours of opacified structures in the image data, and a resampling unit in signal communication with the processor for generating curved multi-planar-reformat (MPR) resamplings that follow the occluding contours of the opacified structures; and the method includes receiving a volume rendered image, including distance values and surface normals for every pixel that is opacified, gathering all opacified pixels that are orthogonal to the viewing vector into a group of occluding points, and separating the group of occluding points into individual occluding contours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Williams, Klaus D. Engel, Gianluca Paladini
  • Patent number: 7256781
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for finding reflectivity based on a BRDF model expressing a ratio of reflection of light incident upon one point of a surface of an object to be drawn at the object surface, the image processing apparatus having an operation unit for calculating the reflectivity based on a BRDF model calculated by a quadratic-form matrix expression including a vector comprised of a light source direction vector, a viewpoint direction vector, and a normal direction vector and a matrix determining the characteristics of the BRDF model, thereby able to achieve both a variety of expression power and good operation efficiency when mounted in a programmable pixel shader and further having enough of a compactness to easily cope with a shift-variant BRDF, and a method of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Shioya
  • Patent number: 7256782
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) model OB, a plane of projection PL, a light source L and a reference viewpoint O are defined in a virtual space on a computer. When a line of sight LC for tracing from the reference viewpoint O to the 3D model OB and to the light source L is determined, the view point is corrected to be shifted from the reference viewpoint O by a displacement VD for each projection pixel PP, to obtain a proper line of sight LC. Accordingly, a computer-graphics image as thus rendered can be provided to be composited with a picture taken from life by a camera, thereby generating a composite image having a natural impression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chiaki Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7256783
    Abstract: The imaging device reads out a first time spatial parameter required for image capturing of an object from various time spatial parameters stored in the storage server and/or recorded on the recording medium, captures the images of the object and produces the captured image data on the basis of this time spatial parameter. The imaging device causes the captured image data and the time spatial parameter corresponding thereto to be stored in the storage server, and/or to be recorded on the recording medium. These captured image data and the time spatial parameter corresponding thereto are supplied to the image data processing unit in the holographic stereogram producing device, in which this supplied time spatial parameter is used as a second time spatial parameter which is required at the time of producing a holographic stereogram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Baba, Akira Shirakura
  • Patent number: 7256784
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for displaying a plurality of statistical data usually presented in a histogram, such as sample counts and percentages of a collection of categorized samples, in a compact single table. The method comprises presenting grouped statistical data that exists within a collection of “buckets” and presenting the sample count for the collected data as an integer in a corresponding cell in the table. Additionally, as disclosed by the present invention, the percentage value of the samples located in each bucket data cell is represented in the data cell as a superimposed gray-scale representation. Presenting the percentages in gray-scale provides overall clarity to the table, assists in ensuring that data can be quickly and easily interpreted and not be subject to misinterpretation, and further allows for the compact display of such information in a single table and subsequent manipulation by automated analysis tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Hyperformix, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Palmer
  • Patent number: 7256785
    Abstract: Techniques for assigning a subpath attribute to a subpath in a drawing are disclosed. One technique includes editing the drawing to define a current path having a current subpath, matching a previous vertex in a previous path with a current vertex in the current path, and assigning a current subpath attribute to the current subpath based on the vertex match. Another technique includes editing the drawing to define a current path having a current subpath, comparing the current subpath with a previous subpath having a previous subpath attribute, and assigning a previous subpath attribute to the current subpath based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul J. Asente, Michael D. Schuster
  • Patent number: 7256786
    Abstract: The principles of the present invention relate to appropriately rendering a graphical object when a corresponding outline has exact or inexact control points. Based on the positions of control points on an outline it is calculated, that between a first parent control point and a second parent control point, the outline passes approximately though the center of a grid location. The positions of the first and second parent control points are adjusted by a first and second fraction of the size of a grid location respectively. The position of the child control point is realigned along a second axis of the grid space based on the positions of the first and second parent control points. The child control point position is rounded by a fraction of the size of a grid location based on the positions of the first and second parent control points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Beat Stamm, Gregory C. Hitchcock, Michael J. Duggan