Patents Issued in January 29, 2008
  • Patent number: 7324042
    Abstract: A method and system for optimizing transmit beam and receive beam antenna radiation patterns. The method includes inputting initial estimate of beam weights for a transmit beam and a receive beam to an optimizer; and using a cost function to optimize beam weights so that a response peaks in a main region and is minimized in a sidelobe region; wherein the cost function is based on using receive beam and transmit beam characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Paul C. Werntz, John J. Wooldridge
  • Patent number: 7324043
    Abstract: A system and method for an electronically scanned antenna is provided in which phase shifters are deposited en masse along with other electronically scanned antenna components on a wafer scale substrate using a thin film process. Alternative wafer scale sizes may be utilized to furnish a required antenna aperture area. Significant processing costs for radar and communication systems are saved utilizing the present invention as compared with contemporary discrete phase shifters that are individually mounted on an antenna. In an aspect, the phase shifter is made up of a base electrode, a barium strontanate titanate (BST) ferroelectric varactor and a top electrode. The BST ferroelectric material is a voltage variable dielectric, which generates a radiation phase. The radiation phase is regulated by a phase shifter control. The radiation phase generates an electromagnetic field about a radiating element and electromagnetic radio waves are radiated from the radiating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: George J. Purden, Shawn Shi
  • Patent number: 7324044
    Abstract: There is disclosed an object locator system for obtaining information about the location of an individual, animal or moveable object, having a lightweight, attached object locator, that is present in a region served by a two-way paging system and a global positioning satellite system. The object locator may be selectively activated to conserve power or enabled to respond only when beyond a boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Pfizer, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Durst, Eugene F. Fowler, Joseph C. McAlexander
  • Patent number: 7324045
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for a satellite navigation receiver to lock onto satellite signals in the cold start mode with no information on the receiver position, the satellite position, or time estimates stored in the receiver's memory. All satellites in a positioning system are divided into groups based on the satellite constellation structure. In an embodiment, the positioning system is the Global Positioning System (GPS) and all GPS satellites are divided into three groups. During initialization of the receiver, the satellites are searched per group to lock onto at least one satellite signal. Other satellites are then searched in a given order based on their respective distance or proximity to the first satellite acquired. This method reduces the Time-to-First-Fix (TTFF) ordinarily required by conventional receivers in the cold start mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Mo, Hansheng Wang, Chi-Shin Wang, Shaowei Han, Kudrethaya A. Shridhara
  • Patent number: 7324046
    Abstract: An airborne radio frequency (RF) antenna terminal system includes a two-axis gimbals control system and a phased array antenna. The phased array antenna electronically steers the receive and transmit beams using phase shifters. The electronically steered beams provide a virtual third-axis for the two-axis gimbals control system. The combination of the electronically steered beams and the two-axis gimbaled system provides accurate beam steering for the keyhole region of the two-axis gimbals control system so that the RF communication link is prevented from being lost in the keyhole region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Yeong-wei Andy Wu
  • Patent number: 7324047
    Abstract: An adaptive antenna apparatus includes two antenna elements and a parasitic element to which a variable reactance element is connected, and selects an adaptive control process according to detected signal quality. A controller executes a first adaptive control process for adaptively controlling respective signals received by the respective antenna elements and outputting the respective signals after the adaptive control as a combined received signal, and executes a second adaptive control process for reactance controlling an element value of the variable reactance element. The controller executes the first adaptive control process. The controller executes a communication process when the detected signal quality is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold. The controller executes the second adaptive control process when the detected signal quality is not equal to or larger than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yamamoto, Koichi Ogawa, Hiroshi Iwai, Yoshio Koyanagi, Akira Kato
  • Patent number: 7324048
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for constructing phased array antenna beamforming networks are provided, that allow to scan multiple beams and select appropriate sets of delay lines simultaneously. The beamforming networks disclosed herein generate less losses than conventional ones and in some cases, do not require active switching, making them completely passive. Three main methods are comprised in the invention: (1) laser wavelength hierarchies, (2) arrangements of Wavelengths Division Multiplexing (WDM) components, (3) re-use of laser wavelengths. Multiple laser wavelengths are arranged in groups and subgroups (wavelength hierarchies) in the wavelength domain. By switching between these wavelength groupings, the arrangements of WDM components disclosed herein enable the beamforming network to direct the beam signals to the proper time delay lines, and to differentiate multiple beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald Regis Stephens
  • Patent number: 7324049
    Abstract: A miniaturized ultra-wideband microstrip antenna, includes: a dielectric substrate; a feed line disposed on the dielectric substrate, and supplying an electromagnetic energy supplied from an external power source; a main radiating element radiating the electromagnetic energy inputted by the feed line; and at least one sub-radiating element disposed in proximity to the main radiating element for multi-radiation. Also, the antenna further includes at least one connection plate electrically connecting the main radiating element to at least one of the sub-radiating elements. The miniaturized ultra-wideband microstrip antenna can also be made ultralight, and include additional sub-radiating elements besides the main radiating element, whereby multi-radiation in UWB's range can be attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soung-ho Myoung, Do-Hoon Kwon, Seong-soo Lee
  • Patent number: 7324050
    Abstract: An antenna comprises a signal line, a conductive element, a receiving element, a ground element, a short element and a bandwidth modifying element. The conductive element is coupled to the signal line. The receiving element is connected to the conductive element. The short element is coupled to the ground element and the conductive element. The bandwidth modifying element is connected to the conductive element and located between the receiving element and the ground element. The antenna receives a plurality of wireless signals comprising a center signal with a center frequency, and the center signal comprises a center wavelength ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Wistron NeWeb Corp.
    Inventors: Tsung-Ying Chung, Hsi-Tseng Chou, Chih-Ming Wang
  • Patent number: 7324051
    Abstract: A supplemental antenna assembly is provided for use with an electronic device having an integral radio antenna, such as a wireless-enabled laptop computer, notebook computer, gaming device, personal digital assistant (PDA), or circuit card (e.g., a PCMCIA card) or other circuit assembly designed be used with such a device. The supplemental antenna assembly includes a parasitic element supported by a frame. The frame is configured to be attached to the housing of the portable device such that an inductive coupling is provided between the parasitic element and the integral radio antenna. The parasitic element may include, for example, an antenna and/or a coupling element, e.g., a coupling element configured to be connected to an external antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Gerard James Hayes
  • Patent number: 7324052
    Abstract: An antenna for a mobile transmitter and/or receiver device suitable for a hand-held transmitter/receiver for a wireless microphone includes a monopole or dipole antenna element for the excitation of a monopole or diopole and an additional antenna element for the excitation of a parallel line mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Success Chip Ltd.
    Inventors: Dirk Hamm, Marc Lenkeit
  • Patent number: 7324053
    Abstract: A recording/playback apparatus accommodates a recording medium in a cassette shell and performs recording and/or playback with respect to the recording medium cassette provided with a cassette-side antenna connected to an in-cassette memory. The playback apparatus includes a recording/playback mechanism, a cassette holding member, a cassette passing member and an apparatus side antenna. The apparatus side antenna effects communication through the in-cassette memory and the cassette-side antenna. An electric wave transmission portion is formed in a portion of the cassette holding member opposed to the cassette-side antenna. The apparatus-side antenna is arranged in correspondence with the electric wave transmission portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Ota, Takashi Katoku, Masayasu Kaneko
  • Patent number: 7324054
    Abstract: The method and apparatus described herein improves the impedance matching of a multi-band antenna. In particular, the multi-band antenna comprises a radiating element vertically displaced from an antenna ground plane by feed and ground elements, and a parasitic element interposed between the feed and ground elements. When the multi-band antenna operates in the first frequency band, a selection circuit connects the parasitic element to the ground plane to capacitively couple the ground element to the feed element. However, when the multi-band antenna operates in the second frequency band, the selection circuit disables the capacitive coupling. By applying the capacitive coupling only when the multi-band antenna operates in the first frequency band, the present invention improves the performance of the antenna in the first frequency band without adversely affecting the performance of the antenna in the second frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Mete Ozkar
  • Patent number: 7324055
    Abstract: An antenna device includes a seat, a longitudinal antenna member having a lower portion disposed on the seat, and a cylindrical antenna member having a lower portion disposed on the seat and having a chamber formed by an outer peripheral wall, and the longitudinal antenna member is disposed in the chamber of the cylindrical antenna member and spaced from the outer peripheral wall of the cylindrical antenna member for a distance, and the longitudinal antenna member includes an upper portion extended outwardly beyond the cylindrical antenna member. The antenna members may be used for receiving and transmitting signal of different frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Joymax Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tze Chung Wan
  • Patent number: 7324056
    Abstract: A satellite-based communications system operating at high data rates includes a plurality of satellites each having uplink and downlink antennas for transmitting and receiving a plurality of signals utilizing a plurality of spot beams to and from a plurality of coverage areas at a predetermined range of frequencies. The system can include, or be combined with, other systems to enable increased capacity over high population areas and ubiquitous coverage over lower population areas. A portable antenna assembly can be coupled to a user's portable or mobile electronic device for coupling the electronic device directly to a satellite. A routing switch provides routing and switching on-board the satellite and routes signals according to their desired destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Ellen K. Wesel
  • Patent number: 7324057
    Abstract: The present invention provides a parabolic dish reflector antenna for wireless communications that is dually polarized for diversity reception purposes while causing minimal visual disturbance for use with cellular base stations and repeaters. The antenna comprises a reflector of paraboloidal shape along both the longitudinal and latitudinal axes of its diameter. The reflector of the antenna is comprised of 4 identical quadrants assembled at the installation site, where each quadrant is made of thin metal ribs with large openings metal mesh stretched and attached to the ribs. The antenna further comprises a feed that is located around the focal point. The antenna feed comprises an open cup-shaped conductive cavity wherein the two orthogonally mounted feeding elements of the antenna located within its volume, are low cost printed circuit board elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Inventors: Gideon Argaman, Shmuel Shtern
  • Patent number: 7324058
    Abstract: A communication distance difference due to an attached object can be canceled, and an RFID system can be provided which has approximately the same communication distance regardless of an attached position (surface) of a tag. A tag antenna used for such the RFID system is for transmitting/receiving a radio signal to/from an RFID reader/writer in an RFID system has a pair of antenna elements centered on a feeding point and when a carrier wavelength of the radio signal is ?, each of the pair of the antenna elements includes a dipole portion which has a length from the feeding point of approximate ?/4 and a plurality of bending portions as well as a circular polarized wave generation portion linked to an end of the dipole portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Manabu Kai, Toru Maniwa, Takashi Yamagajo
  • Patent number: 7324059
    Abstract: A stub printed antenna (SPDA) and a method of designing the same are provided. The SPDA include: a substrate; dipole arms disposed at both surfaces of the substrate for transmitting/receiving a signal; a parallel metal strip line disposed at both surfaces of the substrate, and each having one end connected to each of the dipole arms; a stub disposed at both surfaces of the substrate, and connected to the other end of the parallel metal strip line; a coaxial probe connected to the junction of the parallel metal strip line and the stub for feeding signals; a hole for inserting an inner conductor of the coaxial probe; and a contact for connecting to an outer conductor of the coaxial probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institiute
    Inventors: Sung-Jun Lee, Kwang-Chun Lee
  • Patent number: 7324060
    Abstract: An RF power divider circuit unequally divides an input signal into first and second signal components of unequal power. The circuit includes a single input port, first and second output ports, and a combination of a plurality of quarter wave transformers and a plurality of resistors coupled between the input port and the first and second output ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Clifton Quan, Stephen M. Schiller, Yanmin Zhang
  • Patent number: 7324061
    Abstract: An RFID tag in one embodiment. The RFID tag includes at least one integrated circuit and an antenna pattern coupled to the integrated circuit, wherein the antenna pattern has an inductor pattern which limits the effect of misplacement of the integrated circuit relative to the inductor pattern. Other embodiments and methods of making these apparatuses are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Alien Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Mark A. Hadley
  • Patent number: 7324062
    Abstract: An antenna unit comprises a hollow cylindrical member obtained by forming a flexible insulating film member into a hollow cylinder and an antenna pattern composed of four conductors formed on an inner peripheral surface of the hollow cylindrical member. A phase shifter pattern is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the hollow cylindrical member so as to be electrically connected to the antenna pattern. The antenna unit further comprises a hollow cylindrical cover case covering the hollow cylindrical member and a shield member provided so as to cover the phase shifter pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Noro, Takao Kato
  • Patent number: 7324063
    Abstract: In a helical antenna to be installed inside a mobile communication terminal, for processing low-bandwidth signals, a substrate is made of magnetic dielectric material, a plurality of lower electrodes are disposed on the underside of the substrate, and a plurality of upper electrodes are disposed on the top of the substrate. The upper electrodes are inclined with respect to the lower electrodes, respectively, at a predetermined angle. A plurality of side electrodes electrically connect the lower electrodes with the upper electrodes, respectively. At least a part of a magnetic moment vector, which is formed around each of the lower electrodes by a current flowing in the each lower electrode, is directed in parallel with a current flowing in each of the upper electrodes corresponding to the each lower electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok Bae, Jae Suk Sung, Mano Yasuhiko
  • Patent number: 7324064
    Abstract: System and method for improving the interference resistance of an radio frequency (RF) antenna system through passive prescreening of the RF energy incident upon the antenna. The invention physically partitions the RF environment into two or more sectors with respect to the direction of arrival of incident energy. The power level of the RF frequencies of interest incident upon each sector is determined such that whenever the power level exceeds a given threshold, the received signal from energy incident on that sector is modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Science Applications International Corporation
    Inventors: Cordell Fox, Kevin Wing, Robert A. Murphy, David C. Priester
  • Patent number: 7324065
    Abstract: An antenna radiation collimator structure is provided as including a number of resonator circuit boards oriented to form a block structure. A sheet of dielectric material is disposed between each of the number of resonator circuit boards to maintain a substantially uniform spacing between each of the resonator circuit boards. A plurality of conductive unit resonator cells may be disposed on first planar surfaces of each of the number of resonator circuit boards and a plurality of conductive strip lines may also be disposed on second planar surfaces of each of the number of resonator circuit boards. In this arrangement, radiation applied to a substantially central location of the block structure interacts with the plurality of conductive unit resonator cells and the plurality of conductive strip lines for redirecting the radiation out of front and rear facing surfaces of the block structure as respective first and second substantially collimated beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Beverly Turchinetz, John Derov, Everett Crisman
  • Patent number: 7324066
    Abstract: An antenna reflector panel comprises a reinforcing element and a reflector sheet being mounted onto said reinforcing element. The reinforcing element comprises a block of a machinable material having a shaped front surface, the reflector sheet being fixed to the front surface of the block so as to form a first skin layer of the block of machinable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hitec Luxembourg S.A.
    Inventor: Pierre Hirtt
  • Patent number: 7324067
    Abstract: A satellite dish antenna assembly includes a dish surface, a convexly curved arc surface, a pair of corresponding protruding edges A, B disposed at the utmost front end of the two sides and serving as a base line AB, such that upper and lower ends of the arc surface are extended from the two protruding edges along the dish to a level position of the base line AB to form an upper and a lower pulling surface coupled to the two protruding edges respectively, and a flange is installed at the periphery of the dish surface and its front side is substantially level, so as to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art antenna dish that may be deformed or warped easily when pressed and improve the life of the antenna and the accuracy of receiving signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Inventor: Wen-Chao Shen
  • Patent number: 7324068
    Abstract: A chained image display apparatus having a mutual examining function where a plurality of image display apparatuses, controlled by a central control unit and connected in series, recognize interruption of power to an image display apparatus and correspondingly notify the central control unit. The chained image display apparatus may include a control signal driving unit converting a control signal inputted to the image display apparatuses into a control signal having a predetermined level and buffering the control signal having the predetermined level, and an examining unit transmitting an alert signal, in response to a power supply to an image display apparatus among the plurality of image display apparatuses being interrupted, to next and previous image display apparatuses which are connected to the image display apparatus to which the power supply was interrupted, indicating that the power supply to the image display apparatus is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byoung-han Kim
  • Patent number: 7324069
    Abstract: A system comprises a source providing video in a first format, a video converter for converting video from the first to a second format, a server storing a video image from the video, and combining the video image with a graphical user interface to form a composite video, and a first user display device displaying the composite video, and receiving from the user, a plurality of commands, wherein the first user display device is for receiving from the user, a plurality of annotations associated with a video frame from the composite video, and for determining the video frame from the composite video in response to a command, wherein the server is for forming an annotated video in response to the video frame and the plurality of annotations, for storing the plurality of annotations and the video frame, and for associating the plurality of annotations and the video frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Pixar
    Inventors: Karon A. Weber, Antoine McNamara, Maxwell O. Drukman, Philip Bradley Bird, Brendan Peter Donohoe, Michael Boyle Johnson, Alex Stahl
  • Patent number: 7324070
    Abstract: A monitoring device, process and system use an image recording device for recording an image falling on the eyes of the user of the device. The monitoring device includes a display and a signal processor with which at least the image signals recorded by the image recording device can be evaluated. An input medium and a storage medium are used for storing and retrieving information about the topology of the building. An instantaneous position of the user of the device is determined by evaluating the image signals sent by the image recording device by pattern recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Werner Jumpertz
  • Patent number: 7324071
    Abstract: A character display comprises fifty-nine segments arranged into rows and columns. Twenty eight of the fifty-nine segments define a periphery of the display, eleven additional segments define horizontal and vertical dividers that define four quadrants, and five additional segments are disposed in each of the four quadrants to define diagonals thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph M Carpinelli, George Herbert Needham Riddle, Ian Gregory Hill
  • Patent number: 7324072
    Abstract: A display device having a display matrix including a pixel border of width x and located around the edge locations of the matrix for improved viewability. The pixels of the border are “dummy pixels” each containing a red, a green and a blue subpixel. Each subpixel has a color filter and is manufactured with a “dummy” transistor which operates to fix open the subpixels thereby allowing a predetermined amount of “white” color brightness through the dummy pixels. The pixel border is useful for increasing viewability of characters that are displayed along the edge of the LCD matrix area in which images are generated from a frame buffer memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis James Canova, Jr., Katherine Noesen, Richard Blair
  • Patent number: 7324074
    Abstract: Electroluminescent display panel and method for operating the same. The electroluminescent display panel having a plurality of unit pixels defined by a plurality of gatelines, and a plurality of sourcelines running perpendicular to each other, the unit pixel including a first switching device, a capacitor having a first terminal connected to an output terminal of the first switching device, and a second terminal connected to a power source voltage terminal, a second switching device connected to the power source voltage terminal, an electroluminescent part, and a light emission suppressing part connected to the one end of the capacitor for turning off the electroluminescent part for a preset period during a period before the present frame is operated, by receiving an enable signal that causes discharge of the capacitor and discharging a charge stored in the capacitor, thereby fabricating a high definition display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: LG. Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han Sang Lee, Myung Ho Lee, Joon Kyu Park
  • Patent number: 7324075
    Abstract: When a switching TFT is switched on, a data voltage on a data line is stored in a storage capacitor as a gate voltage of a driver TFT. In this state, a voltage on a pulse drive line is caused to fall. AMOS type capacity element having a second electrode connected to a reference voltage is connected to a gate of the driver TFT. The MOS type capacity element is in an ON state before a fall of the pulse drive line and becomes an OFF state during the fall, and a capacitance changes at the switching of ON state to the OFF state. Therefore, the slope of fall of the gate voltage changes, and the gate voltage after the fall on the pulse drive line can be corrected corresponding to the variation in the threshold values among driver TFTs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Sano, Koji Marumo, Masayuki Koga, Kenya Uesugi, Michiru Senda, Kuni Yamamura
  • Patent number: 7324076
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a user-selected color point is received. RGB tristimulus values are then derived for the color point. It is also determined whether the user-selected color point is outside a color selection range of the LED light source and, if so, an error flag is set. Pulse width modulated signals for a plurality of LED drivers for the LED light source are also generated. In another embodiment, tristimulus values representing a color of light produced by an LED light source are received. The received tristimulus values are then compared to tristimulus values corresponding to a user-identified color point. In response to the comparison, pulse width modulated signals are generated for a plurality of LED drivers for the LED light source. After a predetermined number of repetitions of these actions, an error flag is set if the user-selected color point has not been achieved by the LED light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon Chok Lee, Len Li Kevin Lim, Rizal Bin Jaffar
  • Patent number: 7324077
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling luminance of a backlight based on a processed image data after receiving information of image data, in order to improve the visibility of moving picture. An inverter according to the present invention includes a first block generating a first luminance control signal with an analog value depending on the luminance control signal with a duty ratio depending on a synchronization signal. The luminance control signals generated by the respective blocks are synthesized luminance control signal. Accordingly, a liquid crystal display employing two backlight control methods can be provided. Thus, it is possible to remove the drag phenomenon of a screen and, at the same time, to improve the visibility for moving picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Moon-Shik Kang, Inn-Sung Lee, Song-Yi Han
  • Patent number: 7324078
    Abstract: A display apparatus including an offset value setting input part to specify an offset value for a DE signal determining an effective area of a video signal; and a DE signal generator to generate the DE signal depending on the offset value. With this configuration, the present invention provides a display apparatus and a control method thereof, which in advance, offsets a noise section contained in a video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-chan Kim
  • Patent number: 7324079
    Abstract: A gradation potential generating circuit in a color liquid crystal display device includes 65 resistance elements connected in series and dividing a voltage applied between first and second nodes to generate 64 gradation potentials; a first current amplifier circuit provided corresponding to each gradation potential higher than a precharge potential of a data line and having charging capability higher than discharging capability; and a second current amplifier circuit provided corresponding to each gradation potential lower than the precharge potential and having discharging capability higher than charging capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Youichi Tobita
  • Patent number: 7324080
    Abstract: Techniques for providing backlight techniques in liquid crystal flat panel displays are disclosed. According to one aspect of the techniques, the source to backlight a liquid crystal panel includes a plurality of light emitting diodes that are in at least three colors. The exact colors of the light emitting diodes are chosen to cover or exceed a full spectrum of color reproductions in accordance with a television standard (e.g., NTSC or PAL) in addition to a balanced white. In one embodiment, a set of control signals is configured to ensure that the light emitting diodes provide desired and consistent backlighting to a LCD panel. One of the control signals adaptive to a scene or content of a scene causes the backlighting to change accordingly or drastically to create artistic effects required or desired in the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Inventors: Darwin Hu, Kebin Li
  • Patent number: 7324081
    Abstract: The invention relates to an augmented-reality system having a mobile apparatus for the context-dependent insertion of assembly instructions. The context-dependent insertion of assembly instructions with process-optimized allocation of the necessary work steps provides situation-related support by for work sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Friedrich, Wolfgang Wohlgemuth
  • Patent number: 7324082
    Abstract: A portable data processing device with one touch control and a switching method thereof apply to the portable data processing device with a touch pad and a built-in one touch control official system, and users can directly press the key on the touch pad to execute the corresponding application program or function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Inventec Corporation
    Inventor: Jih-Fong Lin
  • Patent number: 7324083
    Abstract: A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software. The device provides output in the form of a default output and a number of variants. The output is based largely upon the frequency, i.e., the likelihood that a user intended a particular output, but various features of the device provide additional variants that are not based solely on frequency and rather are provided by various logic structures resident on the device. The device enables editing during text entry and also provides a learning function that allows the disambiguation function to adapt to provide a customized experience for the user. The disambiguation function can be selectively disabled and an alternate keystroke interpretation system provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Vadim Fux, Michael G. Elizarov, Sergey V. Kolomiets
  • Patent number: 7324084
    Abstract: A mouse device includes a holding member, and a mouse member; the holding member is secured on a laptop computer, and it has a holding room, a signal receiving plate in the holding room, and a stick therein, which is movable within an area of the holding room; the mouse member has a hole on a lower side thereof, and it is held in the holding member and connected to the movable stick with the movable stick being passed into the hole thereof; the mouse member has a signal transmitting unit on a lower side thereof, which can give signals to the signal receiving plate, such that one person can move a cursor by means of sliding the mouse member so as to move the signal transmitting unit within the signal receiving plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Inventor: Hsuan-Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 7324085
    Abstract: The present invention is a system that creates a volumetric display and a user controllable volumetric pointer within the volumetric display. The user can point by aiming a beam which is vector, planar or tangent based, positioning a device in three-dimensions in association with the display, touching a digitizing surface of the display enclosure or otherwise inputting position coordinates. The cursor can take a number of different forms including a ray, a point, a volume and a plane. The ray can include a ring, a bead, a segmented wand, a cone and a cylinder. The user designates an input position and the system maps the input position to a 3D cursor position within the volumetric display. The system also determines whether any object has been designated by the cursor by determining whether the object is within a region of influence of the cursor. The system also performs any function activated in association with the designation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravin Balakrishnan, Gordon Paul Kurtenbach, George William Fitzmaurice
  • Patent number: 7324086
    Abstract: A data input device for use with a tracking surface having light-scattering properties. The device comprises a single laser configured to project a light beam onto the tracking surface. A portion of the light beam striking the tracking surface reflects back into a cavity of the laser and thereby alters at least one characteristic of the projected light beam. A detector associated with the laser detects the altered characteristic of the light beam projected by the laser. A controller responsive to the detector determines the relative distance between the device and the tracking surface as a function of the altered characteristic of the projected light beam detected by the detector. Another device comprises a laser projecting a light beam oriented substantially perpendicular to the tracking surface when the device is operating in a tracking mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Yuan Kong
  • Patent number: 7324087
    Abstract: A method for controlling a cursor by moving the cursor in response to the operation of pointing device on a predetermined working area, wherein a predetermined proportion of the vector of the shift of the pointing device immediately before the movement of the pointing device is stopped is reflected in the movement of the cursor, when the pointing device is stopped and in contact with the working area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadahiko Iijima
  • Patent number: 7324088
    Abstract: A pointing device with a locus smoothing function. The pointing device comprises a locus processing circuit receiving a digitized displacement and executing an accumulation procedure to generate an accumulated value of displacement, wherein when the accumulated value satisfies a preset condition, the accumulated value is output to a processing device for smoothing a locus of a pointer on a display device and a reset procedure is executed to reset the accumulated value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Chun-Huang Lin, Jeng-Feng Lan
  • Patent number: 7324089
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved optical device for optical mouse, being installed inside the case body of the optical mouse, comprising: a LED, a lens mount, a sensor and a digital signal processor. That is, instead of using the LED, the LED assembly clip, the positioning holes and the lens mount, which are separated from and independent to one another, for fixing the LED inside the optical mouse, the present invention uses a combined device featuring fool-proof, and positioning-insetting-all-in-one concept can place the LED precisely at the first lens of the lens mount and is capable of installing the LED accurately onto the lens mount and the same time rapidly and effectively adjusting and fixing the relative angle and position as seen in FIG. 6 between the lens mount and the LED. Moreover, the combined device is easy to positioned such that the forgoing shortcomings of high manufacturing cost and difficult to mass-produced are avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignees: Leahsin Technologies Inc., Elan Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Lin, Yu-Min Lin
  • Patent number: 7324090
    Abstract: A single-piece component rotatably supports a scroll wheel and includes an integral follower arm extending into a well within which the scroll wheel rotates. Formed on a circumferential surface of the scroll wheel are regularly spaced detents or other structures forming regularly spaced regions of alternating height. Located on an end of the follower arm is a follower which moves in and out of the detents as the scroll wheel rotates, with the arm biasing the follower against movement out of the detents. The carriage may also include pivots for relative movement of the carriage and scroll wheel assembly with respect to a housing, and a tab for actuating a switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: James Y. Koo
  • Patent number: 7324091
    Abstract: An improved handheld electronic device having an improved keyboard provides enhanced usability with fewer keys by enabling the keys to pivot slightly to provide multiple functions to the keys. The improved keyboard may, for example, include internal strips of conductive carbon that are disposed adjacent the keys and are electrically engageable with contacts on a printed circuit board. Specifically, when a key is pressed directly downward it collapses a single dome and connects together a set of primary contacts to provide a first function. When the key is pressed at the side thereof, the key pivots slightly, collapses the dome and connects together the primary contacts, and also engages a carbon strip with a pair of secondary contacts to connect together the secondary contacts, all of which provide a second function. The keyboard may be configured to be of a QWERTY configuration while using only a relatively small number of keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Steven Henry Fyke
  • Patent number: 7324092
    Abstract: An electronic device hinge structure includes at least one rotation shaft horizontally protruded on a side of a display unit of the electronic device and having a bearing portion formed on at least one end thereof; and at least one bearing member formed on a side of a base unit of the electronic device at a position corresponding to the rotation shaft on the display unit, and having a supporting portion formed thereon at a position corresponding to the bearing portion, such that the bearing portion correspondingly abuts against and is supported on the supporting portion so as to reinforce structural strength of the display unit and prevent scratches of a housing of the electronic device caused by bezels on the display unit if being deformed by external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Inventec Corporation
    Inventors: Tien-Chang Lin, Xin-Jie Miao