Patents Issued in December 30, 2008
  • Patent number: 7471312
    Abstract: A printing system includes: a camera unit for performing an electro-optic conversion on an image from a subject, generating image data storable in a storage unit, and storing print instruction information as associated with the image data according to the capture information relating to the capture of the image; an image editing unit for performing image editing on the image data; an information rewriting unit for rewriting the print instruction information stored as associated with the image data corresponding to the contents of image editing by the image editing unit; and a printing unit for performing a printing process after performing a predetermined image processing on the image data corresponding to the print instruction information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Toyoda
  • Patent number: 7471313
    Abstract: A postcard generator includes an image capture device for capturing and storing an image. The postcard generator also stores a postcard format. The postcard generator receives a supply of print media and prints, using an in-built printer, a postcard having a printed image on one side and the postcard format on the other side. The postcard format includes an address zone and a token indicating that postage has been paid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7471314
    Abstract: Transmit data composed by linking to main data representing an image and/or audio accessory information including frame rate information and frame identification information of each frame included in a reference frame period is generated and output. If the main data is reproduced using this transmit data, a variable reproduction speed range is set based on the frame rate information. In accordance with a specified reproduction speed within the variable reproduction speed range, thinning-out or repeating processing is performed on the data of image and/or audio utilizing the frame identification information, thereby making a reproduction speed of the main data variable easily to generate image signals or audio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Ogikubo
  • Patent number: 7471315
    Abstract: An apparatus such as a digital camera includes an image sensor array adapted to capture a scene into electrical values and a reference detector proximal to the sensor array for detecting illuminant intensities. The reference detector at least partially surrounds the image sensor array. The reference detector is read multiple times during the frame period in which the image sensor array captures a scene to detect illuminant intensities during the same frame period. Using the illuminant intensities, the phase and the amplitude of the flicker of the illuminant are extracted. Using the phase and the amplitude parameters, a flicker correction signal is synthesized. The flicker correction signal is used to correct the captured image data to reduce or eliminate adverse effects of flicker on the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Silsby, Dwight Poplin, Richard L. Baer
  • Patent number: 7471316
    Abstract: The invention is an image capture device having an image capture element. The device further includes a flicker detection portion which extracts flicker component signals corresponding to periodic changes in brightness in an image capture environment from image signals for each frame supplied by the image capture element, performs correction to remove signals at or below a prescribed reference low-amplitude value, and detects the frequency or the period of the flicker component from the peaks and valleys of the corrected flicker component signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Seiji Takahashi, Akira Okawa, Noriyuki Uenishi
  • Patent number: 7471317
    Abstract: A digital camera apparatus is disclosed, which includes a recorder for recording a plurality of informative data of items, as an information file, to be used in classifying and arranging image data, a microphone for inputting voices, a voice decipher for deciphering a content of expression made by the voices picked up through the microphone, an item informative data extractor for extracting an informative datum of an item which informative datum is analogous to the deciphered content of the expression from the information file, and an item informative data recorder for recording the informative datum of the item extracted by the extractor into an Exif file for the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Seki
  • Patent number: 7471318
    Abstract: Images are captured within a camera. Upon preliminary image capturing being initiated, color balancing and auto-focus is performed and a predetermined number of images are captured for storage in a first-in-first-out buffer. This is repeated until capture is terminated. Upon a final image capture being initiated, a first image is transferred from the first-in-first-out buffer to a long-term memory within the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Melvin Butterworth
  • Patent number: 7471319
    Abstract: Imaging devices, such as digital cameras, scanners, displays and projectors, and related processing methods that implement calibration and post-capture image processing that quickly and accurately corrects image quality resulting from lens and CCD imperfections using a minimum amount of computation and memory storage space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Casey L. Miller
  • Patent number: 7471320
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method is provided for enhancing a digital image comprised of pixels by adaptively sharpening the pixels and clipping the numerical values of the sharpened edge pixels so as to fall between the smallest unsharpened numerical value and the greatest unsharpened numerical value, respectively, of the pixels located within a neighborhood of the pixels. Pixels which are located on an edge are sharpened in the direction perpendicular to the edge. The threshold value used to ascertain the presence of an edge and sharpening parameter used to control the degree of sharpening can be adaptively controlled by the zoom ratio. The apparatus of the invention is particularly suited for an electronic set-top video camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Malkin, Larry K. Baxter, Steven C. Taetzsch, Daniel R. Phelps
  • Patent number: 7471321
    Abstract: A photographing device and method of dividing data of electric charges stored in all pixels corresponding to an image focused on an photographing device having a color filter for resolving color into M(?3) fields, transferring the divided data in sequence until data of m(<M) fields of the M fields are transferred, the transferred data of the m fields including all types of color signals and pixels necessary to prepare a color image and preparing a color image using the transferred data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Ojima, Kenji Shiraishi, Toshiaki Nakahira
  • Patent number: 7471322
    Abstract: A solid state imaging device of the present invention comprises a solid state imaging element which includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a matrix. In the solid state imaging device of the present invention, a pixel mixture unit area includes q pixels (q is a natural number equal to or greater than 2) in the first direction of the solid state imaging element and p pixels (p is a natural number equal to or greater than 2) in the second direction that crosses the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Izumi Shimizu, Toshiya Fujii, Kunihiro Imamura, Keijirou Itakura
  • Patent number: 7471323
    Abstract: The invention proposes an image sensor comprising a picture capture matrix having N rows and K columns of image dots, a read register at the free end of the K columns. In order to improve the read speed of the matrix, the invention proposes that the horizontal transfer into the read register be continued even while the vertical signals for shifting from one row to the other are operative, without however continuing the horizontal transfer while the transfer gate between columns and horizontal register is open. The unloading time of the horizontal read register therefore overlaps the time reserved for each vertical transfer step, instead of these times being added together. The gain in time, being repeated for each row, will be all the more significant the higher the number of rows. Means are provided for limiting the effect of the column transfer switching operations on the reading of the charges at the output of the read register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Atmel Grenoble
    Inventors: Pierre Fereyre, Thierry Ligozat
  • Patent number: 7471324
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved shared amplifier circuitry and method of operation which minimizes offset and column to column fixed pattern noise during a read out operation. The circuit improves the consistency of the pixel to pixel output of the pixel array and increases the dynamic range of the pixel output and saves chip area. This is accomplished by simultaneously sampling and storing charge accumulated signals from a first and a second desired pixel from a respective first and second column. The circuit amplifies the first charge signal and then samples and amplifies the reset signal of the first desired pixel and subsequently outputs the amplified first charge signal and the reset signal. Then the circuit amplifies the second charge signal and the reset signal of the first desired pixel and subsequently outputs the amplified second charge signal and the reset signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Nick Tu, Alexander Krymski
  • Patent number: 7471325
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device can improve a detection sensitivity of a signal detecting means by decreasing a parasitic capacity of a horizontal signal line. In a solid-state imaging device in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix fashion, a pixel signal is flowed through a horizontal switch (39) to a horizontal signal line (40) as a signal charge, and a signal is outputted by a signal detecting means connected to the end off the horizontal signal line (40), an insulating gate-type field-effect transistor comprising the horizontal switch (39) includes channels extended at least in two directions between its source electrode connected to the horizontal signal line (40) and other drain electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuya Yonemoto
  • Patent number: 7471326
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device can improve a detection sensitivity of a signal detecting means by decreasing a parasitic capacity of a horizontal signal line. In a solid-state imaging device in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix fashion, a pixel signal is flowed through a horizontal switch (39) to a horizontal signal line (40) as a signal charge, and a signal is outputted by a signal detecting means connected to the end off the horizontal signal line (40), an insulating gate-type field-effect transistor comprising the horizontal switch (39) includes channels extended at least in two directions between its source electrode connected to the horizontal signal line (40) and other drain electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuya Yonemoto
  • Patent number: 7471327
    Abstract: A photosensitive imaging apparatus has a linear array of groups of photosensors. In a low-resolution scanning mode, all of the photosensors in each group act together as one large photosensor. In a high-resolution scanning mode, each photosensor in a group acts outputs image-based signals independently. In either mode, the signals output by the photosensors are transferred to one of two output lines, such as for “odd-” and “even-” positioned photosensors or groups of photosensors. The signals on the two lines can then be multiplexed to a single output line. The dual output lines enable fast signal output in either resolution mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Hosier, Scott L. TeWinkle, Roger L. Triplett, Jagdish C. Tandon
  • Patent number: 7471328
    Abstract: A camera operating apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes a signal processor for rotating and storing a shot image so that a storage direction of the image shot with the camera rotated 90° or 180° may be a reference storage direction. The shot image is stored in such a way that a storage direction of the image shot with the camera rotated may be the reference storage direction, which provides convenience that a user needs not to rotate the camera to check the shot image when playing the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoung-shin Kim, Myoung-hoon Park
  • Patent number: 7471329
    Abstract: An image sensing unit with an improved structure and a digital camera adopting the same are provided. The image sensing unit for a digital camera includes a light-receiving surface having a plurality of pixel sensors arranged regularly on a two-dimensional region of a predetermined size, a scanning electronic circuit that outputs light incident onto the pixel sensors as an electric image signal that has undergone photoelectric conversion, and a color filter mosaic separated at a predetermined distance from the light-receiving surface in the light incidence direction. Here, the light-receiving surface is divided into a chromatic sensing element for receiving chromatic light entering through the color filter mosaic and the achromatic sensing element for receiving directly incident achromatic light that has not passed through the color filter mosaic. The digital camera adopting the image sensing unit can achieve smooth automatic focusing in a low brightness environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Myoung-hoon Park
  • Patent number: 7471330
    Abstract: A lens controlling apparatus is disclosed, which is capable of preventing an execution of irrelevant AF control in a combination of TV-AF method and an AF method other than the TV-AF method. The lens controlling apparatus comprises: a first signal generating section generating a first signal showing a contrast state of an object image on the basis of a predetermined frequency component of a signal; a second signal generating section generating a second signal by a focus detecting method different from that in the first signal generating section; and a controller, which selects one of a first focus control operation based on the first signal and a second focus control operation based on the second signal in accordance with each change amount of the first and second signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Okawara
  • Patent number: 7471331
    Abstract: This invention discloses an optical apparatus including an image pickup optical unit, a light quantity adjustment unit inserted in the optical axis of the image pickup optical unit, the light quantity adjustment unit changing the aperture diameter to change the light quantity, and a controller for controlling a change of the aperture diameter by the light quantity adjustment unit. The controller changes the set value for the minimum aperture diameter of the aperture diameter of the light quantity adjustment unit in accordance with the form of the image pickup device of the image pickup apparatus on which the lens apparatus is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoya Kaneda
  • Patent number: 7471332
    Abstract: In a system including an imaging device and a flash unit, the imaging device includes an imaging device flash start command terminal adapted to output a flash start command signal to the flash unit, and an output unit adapted to output a terminal connection check signal to the flash unit via the imaging device flash start command terminal, and the flash unit includes a flash unit flash start command terminal adapted to receive the flash start command signal from the imaging device, a detection unit adapted to detect the terminal connection check signal received from the imaging device via the flash unit flash start command terminal, and a connection state evaluation unit adapted to evaluate a terminal connection state such that the connection state evaluation unit determines that the imaging device and the flash unit are connected to each other via the imaging device flash start command terminal and the flash unit flash start command terminal in a required connection state if the detection unit detects the te
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kei Tohyama
  • Patent number: 7471333
    Abstract: The image sensing device interface unit attached to an image sensing device has dedicated means to detect a complete missing line and to perform clock gating of circuits for power management self-optimization. For each image frame, the time interval between start of line 1 and start of line 2 is computed and stored in a first register. The time interval between any other pair of two consecutive lines is also computed and stored in a second register. The stored values are compared, and if the value in the second register is greater than in the first register, a complete missing line has been detected and the gated clock used in said circuits is switched off for power saving. The interface unit can adapt to any type of sensor and does not require the help of any processor to perform the power saving function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andre R. Steimle, Bernard Jung
  • Patent number: 7471334
    Abstract: An outdoor, battery powered digital camera includes a passive infrared motion detector that allows the camera to be left unattended, as the detector automatically triggers the camera to take a picture upon sensing the presence of a moving animal. To prolong the life of the battery, the camera goes into a power-saving sleep mode between pictures. To enable the camera to instantly take a picture upon suddenly being awakened by the motion detector, the exposure setting of the camera is periodically checked, adjusted and stored so that the camera can use that fairly recent exposure setting, or one near it, to take an instant picture rather than wasting excessive time adjusting the exposure when the animal first appears. In some cases, the camera is used in conjunction with picture management software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas A. Stenger
  • Patent number: 7471335
    Abstract: An imaging unit to be inserted into a camera body from a predetermined direction, thus to constitute a digital camera in combination with the camera body, is provided. The imaging unit is provided with an image pickup unit including an imaging device that obtains an object image, an imaging device driver that drives the imaging device, an image processor that processes an output signal of the imaging device; a casing for accommodating the image pickup unit, the imaging device driver and the image processor, and a lid attached to the casing so as to slide between a closed position where the lid covers a receiving surface of the image pickup unit, and an open position where the lid does not cover the receiving surface of the image pickup unit. In this structure, the lid is moved to the open position by a force exerted for inserting the imaging unit into the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeo Enomoto
  • Patent number: 7471336
    Abstract: Global-adaptive deinterlacing systems and methods for reducing scintillation and feathering artifacts. Motion adaptive deinterlacing (MADI) local motion quantization thresholds are adaptively adjusted according to the amount of global motion present in the video sequence, thereby minimizing scintillation and feathering artifacts when deinterlacing the fields. A set of global motion scenarios are defined for the purpose of classifying fields, and a number of global motion indicators are used to detect on a field-by-field basis different global motion scenarios. The global motion indicators are corrected to reduce Luma dependencies, thereby improving reliability and robustness. Depending on the global motion scenario of a field, the local motion thresholds are adaptively adjusted. The adaptive adjustment of quantization thresholds are optionally also applied to temporal noise reduction and cross-color suppression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Genesis Microchip Inc.
    Inventor: Eduardo R. Corral Soto
  • Patent number: 7471337
    Abstract: A method for synchronization of an audio stream and a video stream comprising the steps of (A) determining a first presentation time stamp from the video stream and generating a first handshake signal when the video stream is ready to be transmitted, (B) repeating and dropping one or more audio frames of the audio stream in response to the first handshake signal and a plurality of first predetermined threshold values until a second presentation time stamp from the audio stream matches the first presentation time stamp and generating a second handshake signal when the audio stream is ready to be transmitted and (C) transmitting the video stream and the audio stream in response to the second handshake signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Paul J. Wells, Herve Brelay
  • Patent number: 7471338
    Abstract: In order to reduce the circuit scale and the manufacturing cost by decreasing the amount of data to be stored, a synchronizing signal data generating circuit outputs, at each timing, relative synchronizing signal data showing the ratio of a synchronizing signal level to an amplitude level of the synchronizing signal, a multiplier multiplies synchronizing signal amplitude level data, a divider divides by the maximum value N of image signal data which can be outputted from the synchronizing signal data generating circuit, thereby the synchronizing signal data showing actual synchronizing signal level is provided, and an adder adds input image signal data thereto, whereby output image signal data, in which the synchronizing signal data is superposed on the input image signal data, is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Kotaro Esaki
  • Patent number: 7471339
    Abstract: A high-speed video signal processing system, which includes a reception end for receiving analog signals; a plurality of analog to digital converters coupled to the reception end for converting analog signals received from the reception end to digital signals according to control signals; and an interleaving controller coupled to the plurality of analog to digital converters for generating the control signals to selectively enable the plurality of analog to digital converters according to a predetermined sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Sterling Smith, Chia-Ming Yang, Chih-Shiun Lu
  • Patent number: 7471340
    Abstract: A video quality adaptive variable-rate buffering method and system for stabilizing a sampled video signal reduces the buffer size required to compensate for line-to-line variations in an unstable video source. A video signal is sampled at a predetermined rate and decimated by a selectable decimation factor prior to buffering. By selecting different decimation factors, the effective length of the buffer is changed from short duration for stable input signals and to longer duration for unstable input signals. A video signal quality detector is employed to provide a selection input that adjusts the decimation factor and also the loop bandwidth of a clock generator that provides the output clock for the buffer, which is generated from the input signal via a phase-lock loop (PLL). The operation of the system automatically varies from highly responsive for stable video input signals to less responsive for unstable video input signals, providing improved stability in the video output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahsan Chowdhury, Rahul Singh, John L. Melanson, James A. Antone
  • Patent number: 7471341
    Abstract: A ghost image cancellation technique for video signals received from multipaths during transmission of a TV signal over a transmission channel. In one example embodiment, an apparatus computes edge parameters of synchronization signals received from each of the multipath video signals. The edge parameters are then used to select an input video signal. The selected input video signal along with the computed edge parameters are then used to remove remaining video signals from the video signals received from the multipaths to cancel ghost images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh Bhaskar, Sudheesh A Somanathan
  • Patent number: 7471342
    Abstract: A method and system for correcting luma data and chroma data from a composite signal for a plurality of lines are disclosed. The method and system include correlating line data of the composite signal from a portion of the plurality of lines to provide a plurality of correlation signals. The method and system also include generating a chroma suppression signal based on the plurality of correlation signals. The chroma suppression signal indicates whether to suppress a portion of the chroma data. The chroma suppression signal indicates that the portion of the chroma data should be suppressed when a large luma transition and the chroma data being beneath a threshold are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Aleksandr M. Movshovich, Brad A. Delanghe, Darren Neuman
  • Patent number: 7471343
    Abstract: The invention provides an image processing device that reduces flickering on a screen by simplifying the structure of an image processing device. The image processing device can include a statistical value calculating unit, a correction parameter calculating unit, and an image correcting unit. The statistical value calculating unit can generate statistical value data. The correction parameter calculating unit equalizes the statistical value data using the low pass filter whose time constant changes according to whether change occurs in the scene, thereby generating the correction parameter. A look-up table is generated based on the correction parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoaki Murai, Hidekuni Moriya
  • Patent number: 7471344
    Abstract: An image display apparatus has a control circuit that periodically varies a characteristic, such as an amplitude characteristic or timing characteristic, of the displayed image signal. Periodic variations may be produced by passing the image signal through a variable inductance element, for example, or by alternately selecting two amplifier circuits with different gain characteristics, or by periodically delaying the image signal. The periodic variations reduce peaks in the spectrum of unintended radiation emissions, and suppress undesired moire patterns in the displayed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki K.K.
    Inventor: Toshitsugu Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 7471345
    Abstract: A flat display device includes, vertical synchronization lock means which generates an internal vertical synchronization signal, a window signal generating circuit which generates a window signal by use of the internal vertical synchronization signal, a detecting circuit which detects whether or not an external vertical synchronization signal is present in a period of the window signal, and a determination circuit which determines whether a preset condition that a plurality of detection signals are present in a preset period is satisfied or not and controls an output inhibition circuit to inhibit a gate signal from being output when the preset condition is not satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kimio Anai
  • Patent number: 7471346
    Abstract: A transflective type liquid crystal display panel used as a displaying liquid crystal panel in a 2D/3D switching type liquid crystal panel, wherein a color filter having a colored layer and a transparent layer is provided on an opposing substrate. The transparent layer is formed to face only the reflective region of an active matrix substrate (region where a reflective electrode is formed), and serves as a diffuser processed layer. Accordingly, a liquid crystal display panel having a 2D/3D switching function and a transflective function can prevent moire in 2D display and at the same time provide good 3D display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Tanaka, Kanae Suenaga, Toshihiro Matsumoto, Ikuji Konishi
  • Patent number: 7471347
    Abstract: An LCD device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed, in which a width of a gate line is decreased by forming a storage capacitor of a high capacitance with a small area, and by improving an aperture ratio, thereby obtaining high picture quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong Suk Yoo, Woo Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 7471348
    Abstract: There is provided an MVA type liquid crystal display device having high brightness and excellent display quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsunori Misaki, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Yoshihisa Taguchi, Kenichi Nagaoka, Manabu Sawasaki
  • Patent number: 7471349
    Abstract: Even when gate lines are pulled around at both left and right picture frame regions, it is possible to prevent a gate wiring pattern which is constituted of the gate lines and gate-line pull-around lines and a storage wiring pattern which is constituted of storage lines and a common line which connects storage lines each other from getting over each other. The gate lines GL1, GL2 are pulled around by the gate-line pull-around lines GLL1, GLL2 in both left and right picture frame regions. The common lines B2, B3 which connect the storage lines STL each other are formed at both left and right picture frame regions. Further, the gate wiring pattern which is constituted of the gate lines GL1, GL2 and the gate-line pull-around lines GLL1, GLL2 and the storage wiring pattern which is constituted of the storage lines STL and the common lines B2, B3 do not cross each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Komeno, Kouichi Anno
  • Patent number: 7471350
    Abstract: Disclosed is an array substrate for a liquid crystal display, including: a substrate; a gate line and a thin film transistor having a gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode and an active layer formed over the substrate; an interlayer insulating layer formed on the thin film transistor; a first gate redundancy line formed on the interlayer insulating layer, and connected electrically with one of the gate electrode and the gate line through a first gate contact hole and formed of the same material as the source and drain electrodes; a passivation layer provided on the first gate redundancy line and the interlayer insulating layer; and a pixel electrode electrically connected with the drain electrode through the drain contact hole formed in the passivation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: LG. Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoung Mook Lee, Seung Hee Nam, Jae Young Oh
  • Patent number: 7471351
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a repair structure for a liquid crystal display and a method of repairing the same to repair a defect caused by a short circuit between a scan line and a data line. More specifically, a repair structure for a liquid crystal display having a substrate includes a scan line on the substrate, a data line crossing the scan line and having first, second, and third segments, wherein the second segment is an electrically isolated from the first and third segments and located at a portion where the scan line and the data line overlap, and a repair pattern electrically isolated from the second segment and electrically connecting the first segment with the third segment of the data line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Woo Hyuk Choi
  • Patent number: 7471352
    Abstract: A birefringent lens structure comprises a birefringent lens array capable of directing light of a given polarisation into a directional distribution, the birefringent lens comprising a solid birefringent material and an isotropic material having an interface having a refractive structure. A switchable liquid crystal layer capable of rotating the polarisation of light passing therethrough is arranged adjacent the first birefringent material. The interface between the birefringent material and the liquid crystal layer has an alignment microstructure providing alignment of the birefringent material and the liquid crystal layer. A pair of electrodes for applying an electric field to switch the liquid crystal are arranged with both the lens array and the switchable liquid crystal layer therebetween and a conductive material is incorporated in the lens array to reduce the voltage drop across the lens array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Graham John Woodgate, Jonathan Harrold
  • Patent number: 7471353
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device that includes: a liquid crystal display panel; a backlight unit disposed on the rear surface side of the liquid crystal display panel; and a flexible printed circuit whose end is connected to a terminal portion of the liquid crystal display panel. In the device, the backlight unit includes a frame-shaped mold, the liquid crystal display device includes at least a fixing member for use for fixing the liquid crystal display panel to the frame-shaped mold in an area not including a display area of the liquid crystal display panel, and the fixing member is shaped like a ring, and inside of the ring of the fixing member, the liquid crystal display panel and the frame-shaped mold are disposed. The resulting liquid crystal display device can implement size and profile reduction with ease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Oohira
  • Patent number: 7471354
    Abstract: A backlight module including a frame, a reflective adhesive tape, a fixing adhesive tape, a reflective plate, a light-guiding plate and at least one of light source, is provided. The frame has a groove at one side. The reflective adhesive tape is disposed in the groove. The fixing adhesive tape is disposed at the side of the frame, and is disposed on the reflective adhesive tape. The reflective plate is disposed in the frame, wherein a gap is formed between the reflective plate and the fixing adhesive tape, and the gap is above the reflective adhesive tape. The light-guiding plate is disposed in the frame, and is disposed on the reflective plate and the fixing adhesive tape. The light-guiding plate has at least one light-incident surface. The light source is disposed beside the light-incident surface of the light-guiding plate. The backlight module is adapted for providing uniform surface light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shin-Chang Chen
  • Patent number: 7471355
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display has a light guide plate having a light-emitting plane on its one end surface, a light source arranged on a side surface of the light guide plate, and a liquid crystal panel arranged opposite the light-emitting plane of the light guide plate. Deflection patterns are formed on a surface opposite the light-emitting plane of the light guide plate, and the deflection patterns are arranged so that two independent components on the surface opposite the light-emitting plane of the light guide plate are random. In a certain region on the surface opposite the light-emitting plane, when an average value of the number of the deflection patterns included in each region opposite each pixel of the liquid crystal panel is designated by ?n and a standard deviation is designated by on, their ratio satisfies the relationship: 0<?n/?n?0.154.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Watanuki, Gouo Kurata, Kenji Sakurai, Akihiro Funamoto, Shigeru Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7471356
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reflector having a light-diffusing property which suppresses inter-object reflection over a wide angle, and giving particularly high reflectance in an intended range of viewing angle; and to provide a reflection type liquid crystal display device using the same. The reflector includes a plurality of light-reflective concave portions. Each of the concave portions is formed so that an inclination angle (an angle between a plane tangential to a point on a concave surface and the surface of the base material) is maximum on a side portion of the curved surface, and so that the direction of the side portion having the maximum inclination angle is on a far side from a view point of an observer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumasa Yoshii, Tatsuya Moriike, Kenji Omote, Mitsuru Kano
  • Patent number: 7471357
    Abstract: This invention relates to a transflective thin film transistor substrate and a fabricating method thereof that is adaptive for simplifying process, and a liquid crystal display device using the same and a fabricating method thereof. A liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a gate line and a data line crossing each other with a gate insulating film to define a pixel area on a first substrate; a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line; a pixel electrode in the pixel area connected to the thin film transistor and to be exposed through a transmission area; a reflection electrode formed in a reflection area having separated areas with the transmission area in between; and an organic insulating film formed under the reflection electrode and formed in a first horizontal area including the reflection area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung Chul Ahn, Joo Soo Lim
  • Patent number: 7471358
    Abstract: In order to make a boundary inconspicuous, which is located between an image area which displays an image by translucent pixels and a dummy area which always displays a white color by reflection pixels, a size ratio of transparent areas in color filters of the reflection pixels with respect to reflection areas therein is made larger than a size ratio of transparent areas in color filters of the translucent pixels with respect to reflection areas therein. In such a way, brightness of the display is balanced by adjusting quantities of transmission light through the transparent areas of the reflection pixels with respect to quantities of reflection light generated unexpectedly on transmission areas of the translucent pixels. Then, degrees of whiteness in the translucent pixels and the reflection pixels are approximated to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Tago, Hiroshi Tabatake, Hiroyuki Kimura, Tetsuya Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7471359
    Abstract: A color filter layer includes a first region and a second region, wherein the number of times that light used for display is transmitted through the color filter layer is different between the first region and the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yozo Narutaki, Masumi Kubo, Shogo Fujioka, Takayuki Shimada, Mikio Katayama, Youji Yoshimura, Yutaka Ishii
  • Patent number: 7471360
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal display in which polarizing plates A and B are provided so as to be held between a vertical orientation mode crystal cell and the corresponding liquid crystal cell, wherein the polarizing layer A comprises the polarizing plate protective films A1 and A2 and the polarizing layer B comprises the polarizing plate protective films B1 and B2, and at least one of the polarizing plate protective films A2 and B2 that are disposed at the liquid crystal cell side is a cellulose ester film Y that simultaneously satisfies the condition that retardation value Ro is 0 to 10 nm and Rt is ?20 to 20 nm shown by the equation below, and at least one of the polarizing plate protective films A2 and B2 is the optical compensation film W which has an optically anisotropic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Murakami, Hiroki Umeda
  • Patent number: 7471361
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device. An optical film having negative uniaxial double refractive index ellipsoids is arranged below a semi-transmitting liquid crystal display cell and, thereafter, a ?/4 phase difference plate, a ?/2 phase difference plate and a polarizer are arranged. The orientation axis direction of the optical film having negative uniaxial double refractive index ellipsoids is substantially equal to the direction which is rotated by 90° in the clockwise direction from a resultant vector of the orientation axis direction of the upper orientation film and the orientation axis direction of the lower orientation film of the liquid crystal display cell. Further, phase lagging axis of the upper and lower ?/4 phase difference plate is set substantially equal to the orientation axis direction of the optical film having negative uniaxial double refractive index ellipsoids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Fukuda, Yoshiaki Nakamura