Patents Issued in September 25, 2007
  • Patent number: 7274321
    Abstract: A analog to digital converter, comprising: an input for receiving an input signal to be digitized; a first converter core for performing a first part of an analog to digital conversion, and for outputting a first digital result; a first residue calculator for calculating a first residue as a difference between the input signal and the first digital result; a second converter core for performing a second part of the analog to digital conversion by converting the first residue; wherein at least one of the first and second converter cores comprises at least three analog to digital conversion engines and a controller for controlling the operation of the engines such that the engines collaborate to perform a successive approximation search, and wherein a plurality of bits can be determined during a single trial step of the successive approximation search.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Peter Hurrell, Colin Gerard Lyden
  • Patent number: 7274322
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for performing automatic gain control in a radar system. One embodiment of the system includes an attenuator that controls gain of signals received from a radar receiver. A digital signal processor determines coarse gain correction based on digitized noise data for a plurality of channels, determines fine gain correction based on the residual error after the coarse gain, and determines frequency vs. gain curve correction based on the digitized noise data for a plurality of channels and a mathematical model of frequency gain across a noise spectrum for the radar system. The result of the processor is a gain control signal that is sent to the attenuator to perform hardware gain control and a channel specific scale factor for software gain control. In one embodiment, the processor generates the gain control signal during an inactive scan mode of the radar system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Hester, Radde Majeed, Julia R. Baryl
  • Patent number: 7274323
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronized clocking between a radar receiver and a radar transmitter includes sharing a reference signal between the transmitter and receiver, dividing the common reference into a transmit clock signal in the transmitter and a receive clock signal in the receiver. The receive clock signal and the transmit clock signal are synchronized using a trigger pulse. The synchronization is performed to achieve a 180 degree phase shift between the transmit and receive clocks. Radar pulse transmissions occur on an edge of the transmit clock coinciding with the trigger pulse. A signal recorder is activated on the edge of the receive clock each time the trigger pulse is received. The signal recorder is deactivated after a fixed interval based upon the receiver clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Hester, William C. Weist
  • Patent number: 7274324
    Abstract: A path in three-dimensions for an object in flight is determined according to a radar signal reflected by the object. The radar signal is transmitted at an offset angle from horizontal sufficient to capture the object within the transmitted radar signal. The transmitted radar signal is reflected by the object to form a reflected radar signal containing an indication of a position of the object. The reflected radar signal is received and used to determine two-dimensional position information for the object by detection of the indication of the position of the object in the received radar signal. Position information is derived in three-dimensions from the position information in two-dimensions. The path information representative of the path for the object is obtained from the position information in three-dimensions based on an optimization of a curvature of said path information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as Represented by the Minister of National Defense
    Inventors: Rhonda L. Millikin, Joseph R. Buckley
  • Patent number: 7274325
    Abstract: A method of spatial transformation, such as scan conversion, uses a packed data table. The raw data and the data table are read sequentially, and the resulting image is computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ultrasonix Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Fattah, Laurent Pelissier, Kris Dickie
  • Patent number: 7274326
    Abstract: Signal processing systems for radar installations are provided for simultaneous processing of one or more IF signals of dynamically varying frequency and bandwidth with a single analog signal path. The signal processing system includes, but is not limited to, a converter configured to digitize a return signal resulting in a digitized broadband signal, and a signal processor coupled to the converter. The signal processor includes a digital filter having a center frequency and a bandwidth, and the digital filter is configured to select a signal from the digitized broadband signal. The selected signal has a center frequency. The signal processor is configured to match the center frequency of the digital filter with the center frequency of the selected signal, and adjust the bandwidth of the digital filter based on the selected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Gibson, Charles K. Hanneman
  • Patent number: 7274327
    Abstract: A receiver unit (400) capable of determining its approximate location using a first and a second satellite transmission source (12 & 14) and, a first terrestrial transmission source (18) includes a receiver (402) and decoder (450) for receiving and decoding a first synchronization pulse from the first satellite, a second synchronization pulse from the satellite signal, and a third synchronization pulse from the terrestrial source. The receiver unit further includes a counter (412) for measuring a first delay between the first synchronization pulse and the second synchronization pulse and for measuring a second delay between one of the first synchronization pulse or the second synchronization pulse and the third synchronization pulse. The receiver unit further includes a processor (421) for determining an east-west constant delay line based on the first delay and for determining a north-south constant delay line based on the second delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: XM Satellite Radio, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Marko, Craig Wadin, Richard Andrew Michalski
  • Patent number: 7274328
    Abstract: A system for transmitting and receiving signals includes an array system of one or more active electronically scanned arrays. The array system includes a receive portion of a first number of receive elements and a transmit-receive portion of a second number of transmit-receive elements. A transmit-receive element includes monolithic microwave integrated circuit power amplifiers and low-loss miniature combiners. A signal processing system processes signals. A beam forming system generates receive beams of the receive elements. A receive beam has a receive beam beamwidth that is less than a transmit beam beamwidth of a transmit beam of the transmit-receive elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Gregory D. McIntire, Cyrus E. Clark
  • Patent number: 7274329
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting a beam error is disclosed. One embodiment of the method comprises the steps of selecting beamweight coefficients based on the satellite orbital data, evaluating an effect of quantization of the beamweight coefficients on the beam error, and selecting beamweight coefficients based at least in part upon the evaluation of the effect of beamweight coefficient quantization on beam error. One embodiment of the apparatus comprises a beamweight correction module for selecting beamweight coefficients based on satellite orbital data, for evaluating the effect of quantization of the beamweight coefficients on beam error, and for selecting beamweight coefficients based at least in part upon the evaluation of the effect of beamweight coefficient quantization on beam error. The beamweight correction module comprises a beamweight generator and a beamweight quantizer for quantizing beamweights from the beamweight generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Fowell, Hanching G. Wang
  • Patent number: 7274330
    Abstract: A beam switching antenna system and method and apparatus for controlling the same is provided, by which optimal antenna characteristics can be maintained according to a peripheral environment, the necessary time and power consumption of searching an optimal beam-direction can be reduced, and electromagnetic waves of a beam generated from an antenna can be minimized. The beam switching antenna system includes an antenna element for transmitting and receiving a beam; a dielectric body surrounding said antenna element; at least one conductive reflector facing a lateral outside of said dielectric body; and a ground switch circuit connected to said at least one conductive reflector. The ground switch circuit includes a reference voltage source generating a reference voltage; a ground line connected to the reference voltage source; an electrical switching device connected between the ground line and the conductive reflector; and a controller for controlling the electrical switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Hyo Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 7274331
    Abstract: A phase-shifting system for electrically swiveling the direction of a beam of an antenna field includes several radiators with two planes of polarization. The phase-shifting system includes two jointly changeable phase shifters with microstrip lines associated therewith. The electrical length of each phase shifter can be changed by a dielectric which is slidable above the microstrip lines. Such a phase-shifting system offers a simplified design and added functional safety by arranging the microstrip lines of both phase shifters in parallel next to each other and by providing a common slidable dielectric in order to change the electrical length of the microstrip lines of both phase shifters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Huber + Suhner AG
    Inventors: Markus Heiniger, Eugen Spirig
  • Patent number: 7274332
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for locating people or objects. In particular, a system and method for locating a wireless mobile station using a plurality of mobile station location estimators is disclosed. The system is useful for 911 emergency calls, tracking, routing, people and animal location including applications for confinement to and exclusion from certain areas. Additionally, a computational system and method for calibrating the relative performance of multiple models for various application domains is disclosed (e.g., medical, vehicle, communication diagnosis, robotics, seismic signal processing, recognition of terrestrial and/or airborne objects from satellites), wherein each such model may generate hypotheses (e.g., estimates and/or predictions) of an unknown condition. Additionally, the computational system and method may be distributed across a network such as the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: TracBeam LLC
    Inventor: Dennis J. Dupray
  • Patent number: 7274333
    Abstract: A method of operating a plasma antenna, reflector, director, and barrier, where the plasma antenna is pulsed at a pulse power for a pulse duration and a pulse frequency to energize a plasma within the plasma antenna for an afterglow duration, where the pulse duration is shorter than the afterglow duration. In this manner, the power required to operate the plasma antenna is dramatically reduced, while the power at which the antenna operates can be dramatically increased. In addition, the antenna operates primarily in the low noise afterglow phase. Thus, several problems in regard to the prior art are overcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Inventor: Igor Alexeff
  • Patent number: 7274334
    Abstract: An antenna structure having a ground plane, a feed line and at least one resonator element that is embedded in a dielectric substrate and which is meandering in shape such that it includes at least two adjacent resonator segments. As a result, the resonator element resonates in two separate frequency bands. A second resonator element is provided, the second resonator element being dimensioned to resonate in a frequency band below a third operating frequency band, the feed line and ground plane being arranged to cause a resonance in a frequency band located above the third operating frequency band. During use, the combined effect of the resonance of the second resonator element and of the feed line and ground plane is to cause the antenna structure to resonate in the third operating frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Pauline O'Riordan, Joseph Modro
  • Patent number: 7274335
    Abstract: An antenna for a slide-type wireless terminal device includes a radiator formed in a first body, a ground surface formed on a second body, a power feeder connected to the ground surface in the second body, a first connection part connected to the radiator in the first body and operative to come in contact with the power feeder when the first body is slidably moved, and a short-circuit wire operative to come in contact with the radiator and the ground surface when the first body is slidably moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-jin Kim, Do-hoon Kwon, Seong-soo Lee, Young-eil Kim
  • Patent number: 7274336
    Abstract: An aircraft phased array antenna system has transmit and receive antenna structures externally mounted on the aircraft fuselage. Each antenna comprises a plurality of phased array elements and antenna power and support equipment. Aerodynamically shaping antenna structure to enclose an antenna element grid provides additional antenna structure volume, which is efficiently utilized by locating antenna support equipment within the antenna structure. To control signal attenuation a receive antenna internal converter converts receive frequency signals to L-band frequency signals for aircraft use, and a similar transmit antenna converter converts L-band frequency signals to transmit frequency signals, thus unconstraining antenna to internal aircraft equipment spacing. To reduce power loss and cabling weight, antenna operating power is first generated in the 28 to 270 volts DC range within the aircraft, and locally converted in each antenna to the 3 to 6 volt DC power to operate each antenna's phased array elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Ronald S Carson
  • Patent number: 7274337
    Abstract: An antenna structure that can be received in a case in a condition that an occupied space is minimized, and allows reception of an electric wave at excellent sensitivity, and a wave clock having the antenna structure, and a method for manufacturing the antenna structure are provided. An antenna structure of a wave clock has an arcuately curved, soft-magnetic magnetic core member, and a coil wound on the center in an extending direction of the magnetic core member, and is received in a case. In the antenna structure, the magnetic core member has outer circumferential surfaces at at least one of ends exposed from the coil, the surfaces extending non-arcuately such that it is situated at more inner circumferential side as it approaches a tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Akira Takakura
  • Patent number: 7274338
    Abstract: A meander line capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole antenna is disclosed. The antenna includes a transformer loop having a balanced feed interface, and a meander line capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole radiator. The meander line capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole radiator also includes an electric field bridge. For example, the meander line capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole radiator may include a quasi loop with a first end and a second end, with the electric field bridge interposed between the quasi loop first and second ends. The electric field bridge may be an element such as a dielectric gap, lumped element, circuit board surface-mounted, ferroelectric tunable, or a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) capacitor. The transformer loop has a radiator interface coupled to a quasi loop transformer interface. In one aspect, the coupled interfaces are a shared perimeter portion shared by both loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Mete Ozkar, Gregory Poilasne
  • Patent number: 7274339
    Abstract: A dual-band multi-mode array antenna is provided, including an antenna substrate with antenna units each of which having a feeding via; and a conductive substrate connected to the antenna substrate to form an angle in between. The conductive substrate has a symmetric feeding network disposed on a surface of the conductive substrate; and a first ground portion disposed on another surface of the conductive substrate. The symmetric feeding network and the first ground portion are electrically coupled to each of the antenna units through the feeding vias. Moreover, the antenna units are electrically coupled in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Smartant Telecom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Han Wu, Jia-Jiu Song
  • Patent number: 7274340
    Abstract: An antenna module has a substrate, first and second coupling elements, and first and second resonant circuits disposed on the substrate. The first and second coupling elements are mounted to the substrate and particularly adapted to couple respective first and second frequency bands to a ground plane through respective first and second ports. The first resonant circuit has a plurality of components having electrical values selected so as to function as a band-pass filter within the first frequency band and to present a high impedance at least in the second frequency band. The second resonant circuit is coupled to the second port and has a plurality of components that have electrical values selected so as to function as a band-pass filter within the second frequency band and to present a high impedance at least in the first frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Sinasi Ozden, Bjarne K. Nielsen, Claus H. Jorgensen, Juha Villanen, Clemens Icheln, Pertti Vainikainen
  • Patent number: 7274341
    Abstract: A structure for mounting an antenna device on a first side of a panel body is disclosed. A first fixation member includes a first end having a first width, a second end, and a slit connecting the first end and the second end. A protrusion is protruded from the antenna device and fitted into the first end of the first fixation member. A second fixation member is fitted into the second end of the first fixation member while being coupled with the protrusion in a screwing manner. The first width is smaller than an aperture formed in the panel body when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in a first screwing position, so that the protrusion, the first fixation member and the second fixation member are allowed to pass through the aperture from the first side to a second side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Yokowo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadao Ohno, Motonao Takahashi, Kazuki Katono, Keisuke Yamaya
  • Patent number: 7274342
    Abstract: A first signal line for supplying a potential to one terminal of a capacitive load, a first switch element for supplying a first potential to the first signal line, a first drive circuit for driving the first switch element, and a second signal line for supplying a second potential different from the aforesaid first potential to the one terminal of the capacitive load are included. A first capacitor is capable of supplying a lower potential than the first and the third potentials to the first signal line. A coil circuit is connected between the first signal line or the second signal line and a supply line for supplying the third potential. A floating power supply circuit supplies power supply voltage with a potential of the first signal line as a reference to the first drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Hitachi Plasma Display Limited
    Inventors: Makoto Onozawa, Shigetoshi Tomio, Tetsuya Sakamoto, Katsumi Itoh
  • Patent number: 7274343
    Abstract: A PDP address driver circuit includes: an inductor coupled to a conductive pattern. A first current applier applyies a current of a first direction to the inductor and the conductive pattern while sustaining a panel capacitor at an address voltage. A discharger generates a resonance between the inductor and the panel capacitor to discharge the panel capacitor to 0V, while the current of the first direction flows to the inductor and the conductive pattern. A second current applier applyies a current of a second direction to the inductor and the conductive pattern while sustaining the panel capacitor at 0V. A charger generates a resonance between the inductor and the panel capacitor to charge the panel capacitor to the address voltage, while the current of the second direction flows to the inductor and the conductive pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Hyung Kim, Jin-Sung Kim, Myeong-Seob So, Nam-Sung Jung
  • Patent number: 7274344
    Abstract: A method for driving a plasma display having discharge regions each crossed by a pair of sustain electrodes (YS, YAS) and at least one trigger electrode (XA) is disclosed. The method includes a succession of image frames or subframes which each have a discharge region sustain phase including the application of voltage pulses VS between the electrodes of each pair of sustain electrodes serving these regions, and the application of a trigger pulse VM, of duration ?M less than 1 ?S, between the trigger electrode (XA) and one and/or the other of the electrodes of each pair serving these regions. The intensity and luminous efficiency of plasma displays can thus be significantly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Plasma
    Inventors: Ana Lacoste, Dominique Gagnot, Laurent Tessier
  • Patent number: 7274345
    Abstract: The invention provides an electro-optical device having circuits for driving electro-optical elements, such as organic EL elements, and a driving device, which can employ driving elements having low driving ability, such as ?-TFTs. By providing a charge storage capacitor between the source electrode and the gate electrode of a driving transistor which is between power sources, the electro-optical device can allow the driving transistor to control a driving current, even when an electro-optical element is connected to the source side of the driving transistor. In addition, driving data can be stored in the charge storage capacitor by applying a predetermined voltage to the source electrode of the driving transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Imamura, Toshiyuki Kasai, Tokuro Ozawa
  • Patent number: 7274346
    Abstract: A detection system for the detection of brightness and uniformity variations in an OLED display, comprising: a two-dimensional OLED display having a pre-defined group of light-emitting elements distributed across the display; a two-dimensional imager; optical elements arranged so that the imager is exposed to all of the light-emitting elements in the predefined group of light-emitting elements of the OLED display simultaneously and at a magnification such that each light-sensitive sensor element records the light output from no more than one light-emitting element; and a controller to control the OLED display and cause each of the light-emitting elements of the predefined group of light-emitting elements to illuminate and the imager to acquire images of the illuminated light-emitting elements in the OLED display. The invention is further directed towards a method for the measurement of brightness and uniformity variations in light-emitting elements of an OLED display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Ronald S. Cok, James H. Ford
  • Patent number: 7274347
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for preventing charge accumulation in microelectromechanical systems, especially in micromirror array devices having a plurality of micromirrors. Voltages are applied to the micromirrors for actuating the micromirrors. Polarities of the voltage differences between mirror plates and electrodes are inverted so as to prevent charge accumulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Peter R. Richards
  • Patent number: 7274348
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus which have a circular polarizer and a liquid crystal display in a stack. The liquid crystal display has a chilral nematic liquid crystal layer between substrates, and on the mutually opposite sides of the substrates, electrodes and aligning layers are formed. The liquid crystal switches between a planar alignment state and a focal-conic alignment state depending on the voltage applied thereto through the electrodes. In a planar state, light reflected by the electrodes is absorbed by the circular polarizer, and a black display is made. In a focal-conic state, light reflected by the electrodes passes through the circular polarizer, and a white display is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomoo Izumi, Mitsuyoshi Miyai, Jun Yamada, Masakazu Okada, Keiichi Furukawa
  • Patent number: 7274349
    Abstract: An EL display having high operating performance and reliability is provided. LDD regions 15a through 15d of a switching TFT 201 formed in a pixel are formed such that they do not overlap gate electrodes 19a and 19b to provide a structure which is primarily intended for the reduction of an off-current. An LDD region 22 of a current control TFT 202 is formed such that it partially overlaps a gate electrode 35 to provide a structure which is primarily intended for the prevention of hot carrier injection and the reduction of an off-current. Appropriate TFT structures are thus provided depending on required functions to improve operational performance and reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Yamauchi, Takeshi Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7274350
    Abstract: A buffer circuit for a liquid crystal display device that comprises a first transistor further comprising a gate connectable to an input signal, a first electrode coupled to a first power supply, and a second electrode connectable to a second power supply, a second transistor further comprising a gate coupled to the second electrode of the first transistor, a first electrode connectable to the first power supply, and a second electrode connectable to the second power supply, a first capacitor being connectable to the input signal storing a voltage of the input signal when connected to the input signal, and providing a first voltage to the gate of the first transistor when disconnected from the input signal, a second capacitor further comprising a terminal coupled to the second electrode of the first transistor and the gate of the second transistor providing a second voltage at the terminal when the first transistor is turned on, and a third capacitor coupled to the first electrode of the second transistor pro
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventor: Shin-Hung Yeh
  • Patent number: 7274351
    Abstract: A driver circuit for a display device includes a plurality of set-reset flip-flops and switch circuits, and is arranged so that a timing pulse for sampling outputted from the flip-flop is supplied to the switch circuit, so as to cause the switch circuit to receive a clock signal. The clock signal operates as a set signal of the next stage flip-flop and outputted as a control signal for carrying out pre-charging of a data signal line and a selected pixel connected to the data signal line, with a switch. Thus, in case of performing pre-charging of a signal supplying line with an internal pre-charging circuit by using a pre-charging power source having small driving ability, this arrangement can provide a driver circuit for a display device capable of preventing fluctuation of a signal supplied to a different signal supplying line, while keeping the circuit scale of the shift register small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hajime Washio, Shunsuke Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7274352
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a combining detection circuit for a flat panel display, which applies a combination circuit to detect the layout of a liquid crystal display thin film transistor array (LCD TFT array) manufacturing process. This method uses a plurality of switches and connection wires for directing in a short-ring layout and a shorting-bar layout so that when designing the layout, the panel manufacturer will not be limited to the detection facility. Therefore, the detection for any layout facility can be amply applied and the switches are used for freely switching the various detection methods so as to increase the yield and decrease the cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.
    Inventor: Chih-Lung Yu
  • Patent number: 7274353
    Abstract: A capacitive touchpad integrated with key and handwriting functions is provided for operation in key, handwriting and mouse modes. Several regions are defined on the panel of the touchpad and have several patterns printed thereon for the operation modes thereby. In the key mode, the key patterns among the printed patterns simulate a keyboard. In the handwriting mode, the handwriting region among the defined regions serves to handwriting input. In the mouse mode, the defined regions provide a cursor moving region and a horizontal and vertical scroll bars for input operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yen-Chang Chiu, Ting-Hao Yeh, Yung-Lieh Chien, Shih-Chi Lin
  • Patent number: 7274354
    Abstract: A portable electronic apparatus disclosed has excellent operability, being capable of zooming, scrolling, moving a cursor, selecting an icon and others with one small operation unit. This portable electronic apparatus includes a display unit, the operation unit and a controller. The display unit displays information received or stored. The one operation unit is used for operations including moving of a pointer displayed on the display unit, the zooming and the scrolling of the information displayed on the display unit, the moving of the cursor and the selection of the icon. The controller executes the operations in response to operation of the operation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Yamamoto, Kenichi Kagami, Toyoshi Fukumura
  • Patent number: 7274355
    Abstract: A transfer function is provided for use with computer pointing devices such as trackpads. The transfer function includes a first component having characteristics of a positional transfer function and a second component having characteristics of a velocity-based transfer function. The first (positional) component and the second (velocity-based) component of the transfer function are blended so that the transfer function exhibits purely positional behavior in response to a first range of inputs and exhibits combined positional and velocity-based behavior in response to a second range of inputs. The first range of inputs may, for example, correspond to a region in the input coordinate space that is bounded by a circle having a predetermined threshold radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: OQO, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Betts-LaCroix, Michael Prichard
  • Patent number: 7274356
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a pointer within a region of interest includes a first reflective element extending along a first side of the region of interest and reflecting light towards the region of interest. A second reflective element extends along a second side of the region of interest and reflects light towards the region of interest. The second side is joined to the first side to define a first corner. A non-reflective region generally in the plane of at least one of the first and second reflective elements is adjacent the first corner. At least one imaging device captures images of the region of interest including reflections from the first and second reflective elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Smart Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Chi Man Charles Ung, David Kenneth Booth, Stephen Worthington, Mark Andrew Fletcher, Roberto A. L. Sirotich
  • Patent number: 7274357
    Abstract: A touch pad module includes a touch pad unit for generating contact signals in response to operation thereof, a control circuit unit separate from the touch pad unit, and an electrical coupling unit having a first end coupled to the touch pad unit and a second end coupled to the control circuit unit. The electrical coupling unit permits transmission of the contact signals generated by the touch pad unit to the control circuit unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Sentelic Corporation
    Inventors: Jao-Ching Lin, Shyh-In Hwang, Lin Chu, Chung-Yi Shen
  • Patent number: 7274358
    Abstract: An acoustic touchscreen having a substrate capable of propagating acoustic waves, the substrate having a touch-sensitive area, and an array of acoustically reflective elements lying in or on the substrate are positioned to transmit or receive acoustic signals into or out of the touch-sensitive area, the elements having a focusing shape that provides waveguide functionality, i.e., focusing the acoustic wave energy to a narrow area along a center line of the array axis, without requiring a further waveguide core structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Joel Christopher Kent
  • Patent number: 7274359
    Abstract: A display device including a plurality of pixels is provided, which includes: a signal controller for processing image data for the pixels from an external source; a plurality of pad areas, each pad area provided with a plurality of conductors for transmission of the image data, the conductors of adjacent two of the pad areas having a correspondence; and a plurality of interconnections connecting the corresponding conductors, wherein each conductor in each pad area transmits one of bits of the image data and the corresponding conductors are arranged in reversed order on the respective pad areas. The display device further includes a plurality of data driver units connected to the respective pad areas and sequentially activated to receive respective image data from the pad areas under control of the signal controller, the data driver units converting the received image data into analog voltages and provides the analog voltage for the pixels under control of the signal controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Haeng-Won Park
  • Patent number: 7274360
    Abstract: A first controller and a second controller for controlling corresponding electronic devices, which are incorporated in a composite electronic apparatus, are connected in parallel to a display driver via a serial communication line. When the first controller controls the display driver, the first controller outputs a first control signal to the second controller so as to put a three-state output terminal of the second controller in a high impedance state. When the first controller does not control the display driver, the first controller outputs a second control signal to the second controller so as to allow the second controller to control the display driver, and puts a three-state output terminal thereof in a high impedance state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Irie
  • Patent number: 7274361
    Abstract: A display control device includes a controller, a scaling engine, a timing controller, a selector and an interface circuit. The controller is for providing a mode-control signal. The scaling engine is for producing a first interface signal. The timing controller is for converting the first interface signal into a second interface signal. The selector selects either the first interface signal or the second interface signal to serve as a reference signal according to the mode-control signal. The interface circuit converts the reference signal into an output signal according to the mode-control signal. When the mode-control signal is under a first mode, the output signal is virtually the first interface signal. When the mode-control signal is under a second mode, the output signal is virtually the second interface signal. When the mode-control signal is under a third mode, the interface circuit converts the first interface signal into a third interface signal to serve as the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Tien Chang, Teng-Hann Huang, Chao-Ping Huang
  • Patent number: 7274362
    Abstract: A display device includes a dynamic ratioless shift register which is operated in a stable manner and can expand the degree of freedom of design. In the dynamic ratioless shift register which is provided with thin film transistors having semiconductor layers made of p-Si on a substrate surface, a node which becomes the floating state is connected to a fixed potential through a capacitance element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Device Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Miyazawa, Iwao Takemoto, Atsushi Hasegawa, Masashiro Maki, Kazutaka Goto
  • Patent number: 7274363
    Abstract: A display panel driving device and driving method for providing high quality images without irregular luminance even after long-time use. The value of the light-emission drive current flowing when causing each light-emission elements bearing each pixel to independently emit light in succession is measured, then the luminance is corrected for each input pixel data based on the above light-emission drive current values, associated with the pixels corresponding to the input pixel data. According to another aspect, the voltage value of the drive voltage is adjusted in such a manner that one value among each measured light-emission drive current value becomes equal to a predetermined reference current value. According to a further aspect, the current value is measured while an off-set current component corresponding to a leak current of the display panel is added to the current outputted from the drive voltage generator circuit and the resultant current is supplied to each of the pixel portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Ishizuka, Masami Tsuchida, Hideo Ochi, Tsuyoshi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7274364
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for defining a bi-cubic spline surface in a computing environment. One operation in the method is creating a control mesh with a substantially rectangular structure. A further operation is inferring from the control mesh the tensor product B-spline basis functions for each control point. The surface can then be computed based on the basis functions and the control mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Brigham Young University
    Inventor: Thomas W. Sederberg
  • Patent number: 7274365
    Abstract: A technique for graphically processing perimeter information includes determining a polar representation of the perimeter of an object to define polar perimeter information, storing the polar perimeter information, retrieving the stored polar perimeter information using an overlay, and applying the retrieved polar perimeter information to provide a graphical effect within a scene (such as, but not limited to, a shadow effect).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Sean E. Dunn
  • Patent number: 7274366
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting an edge in an image or video. The present invention can detect an edge more quickly by detecting edge information by using the absolute values and codes of two coefficients (AC01, AC10) in the DCT domain. In addition, the present invention can detect a more rapid and accurate edge by using the edge detection method using two coefficients as a pre-filter and using the edge detection method using a spatial filter as a post-filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Bae Jun, Kyoung Ro Yoon
  • Patent number: 7274367
    Abstract: A system and a computer-readable medium are provided for controlling a computing device to define a set of computer animation parameters for an object to be animated electronically. An electronic reference model of the object to be animated is obtained. The reference model is altered to form a modified model corresponding to a first animation parameter. Physical differences between the electronic reference model and the modified model are determined and a representation of the physical differences are stored as the first animation parameter. Altering of the reference model and determining of the physical differences are repeated. The stored parameters are provided to a rendering device for generation of the animation in accordance with the stored parameters. Determining physical differences between the electronic reference model and the modified model and storing a representation of the physical differences as the first animation parameter include comparing vertex positions of the reference model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Erich Haratsch, Joern Ostermann
  • Patent number: 7274368
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for remote rendering of computer graphics. The system includes a graphics application program resident at a remote server. The graphics application is invoked by a user or process located at a client. The invoked graphics application proceeds to issue graphics instructions. The graphics instructions are received by a remote rendering control system. Given that the client and server differ with respect to graphics context and image processing capability, the remote rendering control system modifies the graphics instructions in order to accommodate these differences. The modified graphics instructions are sent to graphics rendering resources, which produce one or more rendered images. Data representing the rendered images is written to one or more frame buffers. The remote rendering control system then reads this image data from the frame buffers. The image data is transmitted to the client for display or processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip C. Keslin
  • Patent number: 7274369
    Abstract: Digital Image compositing using a programmable graphics processor is described. The programmable graphics processor supports high-precision data formats and can be programmed to complete a plurality of compositing operations in a single pass through a fragment processing pipeline within the programmable graphics processor. Source images for one or more compositing operations are stored in graphics memory, and a resulting composited image is output or stored in graphics memory. More-complex compositing operations, such as blur, warping, morphing, and the like, can be completed in multiple passes through the fragment processing pipeline. A composited image produced during a pass through the fragment processing pipeline is stored in graphics memory and is available as a source image for a subsequent pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Rui M. Bastos, Daniel Elliott Wexler, Larry Gritz, Jonathan Rice, Harold Robert Feldman Zatz, Matthew N. Papakipos, David Kirk
  • Patent number: 7274370
    Abstract: A secondary frame buffer is provided for use by classic applications designed to paint directly to a frame buffer. Classic applications paint their windows to the secondary frame buffer, not to the primary frame buffer. A compositor reads window data from the secondary frame buffer and paints it to the primary frame buffer. The compositor also reads window data written to back buffers by other applications and paints that data to the primary frame buffer. Since the compositor maintains visible region data for all windows, the windows are correctly painted to the primary frame buffer whether they are from the back-buffered windows or from classic applications. In addition, optimizations in classic applications that cause classic windows to be inappropriately painted over newer style windows no longer have this effect, since the compositor is responsible for painting legacy windows to the frame buffer, not the applications themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Paquette