Patents Issued in December 31, 2013
  • Patent number: 8619199
    Abstract: A demodulator includes an analog to digital converter configured to receive a television signal from a tuner and output a corresponding digitized television signal, where the television signal comprises a digital television signal or an analog television signal. A first gain module is configured to generate, based on the digitized television signal, a first feedback for adjusting the television signal provided to the analog to digital converter by the tuner, where the first feedback is applied to the television signal regardless of whether the television signal is a digital television signal or an analog television signal. A second gain module is configured to generate second feedback for further adjusting the television signal provided to the analog to digital converter by the tuner, where the second feedback is provided to further adjust the television signal only when the television signal is an analog television signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Zhang, Xiaolin Che, Kok-Wui Cheong
  • Patent number: 8619200
    Abstract: A television receives a command to power up from a standby mode. This causes the TV to start a boot process, and while the boot process proceeds. At a point in the boot process when the tuner input switch is operative, the process simultaneously determines a current time from a real time clock and retrieves a channel and a switch setting from a usage pattern database corresponding to the current time. The tuner is tuned to the channel and the input switch is set. At completion of the boot process the tuner is already tuned to the channel and the input switch is set to the switch setting corresponding the current time so that time to viewing a desired channel is often minimized. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Peter Rae Shintani
  • Patent number: 8619201
    Abstract: A display apparatus having a display driving unit on a lower part is provided. The LCD display apparatus includes a signal processing unit which performs video decoding, video scaling, and conversion into high-quality video on an input video; and a driving unit which is disposed closer to a lower end of the LCD display apparatus than to an upper end of the LCD display apparatus, and drives a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel to display a video output from the signal processing unit on the LCD panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-hwa Choi
  • Patent number: 8619202
    Abstract: A projector includes: a lighting device that emits light of a plurality of different colors; a plurality of liquid crystal light valves that modulate the light of a plurality of colors; a color synthesizing optical system that synthesizes the color light modulated by the plurality of liquid crystal light valves; and a projection optical system that projects the light synthesized by the color synthesizing optical system to a projection target face. A cell thickness of one liquid crystal light valve modulating light of one color of the plurality of liquid crystal light valves is smaller than a cell thickness of the other liquid crystal light valves modulating the light of other colors, and an alignment state of liquid crystal at the time of applying the maximum gradation voltage is substantially the same in one liquid crystal light value and the other liquid crystal light valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akihide Haruyama
  • Patent number: 8619203
    Abstract: A touch screen comprises a first substrate, a second substrate and a third substrate sequentially stacked. A first sensing layer is provided on a first surface of the second substrate opposing to the third substrate, and a second sensing layer is provided on a surface of the third substrate opposing to the second substrate. The second substrate provided with the first sensing layer and the third substrate provided with the second sensing layer constitute a touch unit for sensing a touch signal, and the second substrate and the first substrate constitute a display unit for displaying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Beijing Boe Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yun Sik Im, Yao Yu
  • Patent number: 8619204
    Abstract: A liquid crystal shutter that realizes a high speed response and that solves a problem in which light leakage cannot be alleviated is provided. An alignment film coated on substrate 5a adjacent to another liquid crystal device of substrates (5a) and (5b) of each of liquid crystal devices (2a, 2b) is horizontal alignment film (7a) and alignment film coated on the other substrate (5b) is vertical alignment film (7b). A alignment treatment is performed on the horizontal alignment film coated on substrate (5a) of liquid crystal device (2b) having a polarizer (3) in a direction parallel to a light transmission axis of analyzer (4) and an alignment treatment is performed on the horizontal alignment film coated on substrate (5a) of liquid crystal device (2a) having analyzer (4) in a direction parallel to the light transmission axis of polarizer (4). Liquid crystal materials (6) of liquid crystal devices (2a, 2b) have a positive dielectric anisotropy and have twisting directions that is the reverse of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Goroh Saitoh, Masao Imai
  • Patent number: 8619205
    Abstract: A three-dimensional video recognition system comprises a display device, a front plate, and AS glasses. Each of the AS glasses includes a first ?/4 plate, a first linear polarizing element, a liquid crystal cell, and a second linear polarizing element in this order from the outer surface side. The display device includes a third linear polarizing element on an observation surface side of the display device. The front plate has a second ?/4 plate. Specific angles formed between a transmission axis of polarizing elements and ?/4 plates are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Sakai, Kazuyoshi Sakuragi, Masahiro Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8619206
    Abstract: An electronic imaging device includes a display unit and a barrier layer. The display unit includes scan lines for transferring select signals, data lines for transferring data signals corresponding to first and second images formed according to one or more input signals, and pixels connected with the scan and data lines. The barrier layer includes first barriers and second barriers corresponding to the first barriers. The first image is displayed during a first period of a unit period during which an image of a single frame is displayed. The second image is displayed during a second period different from the first period. The first barriers are driven according to the first image, the second barriers are driven according to the second image, and a region of the barrier layer corresponding to a mixed region in which the first and second images coexist is a non-transmission region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hui Nam, Beom-Shik Kim, Chan-Young Park, Ja-Seung Ku
  • Patent number: 8619207
    Abstract: In an amorphous silicon thin film transistor-liquid crystal display device and a method of manufacturing the same, gate patterns including a gate line and a gate electrode are formed on an insulation substrate having a display region and a driving circuit region on which a plurality of shift resistors are formed. A gate insulating film, active layer patterns and data patterns including source/drain electrodes are formed successively on the substrate. A passivation layer on the substrate has a first contact hole exposing a drain electrode of the display region and second and third contact holes respectively exposing a gate electrode and source/drain electrode of a first transistor of each of the shift resistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong-Gyu Kim
  • Patent number: 8619208
    Abstract: In the case of forming switching elements and light sensor elements over the same substrate, an increase in the film thickness of active layers in an attempt to enhance the sensitivity of the light sensor elements would adversely affect the characteristics of the switching elements (TFTs). In a configuration of a display in which a channel layer 25 for constituting thin film transistors to form the switching elements for pixels and a photoelectric conversion layer 35 for constituting the light sensor elements are provided over a gate insulating film 24 on a glass substrate 5 to be provided with a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix pattern, the photoelectric conversion layer 35 is formed to be thicker than the channel layer 25, and/or the photoelectric conversion layer 35 is formed of a material different from the material for the channel layer 25, whereby the light absorption coefficient of the photoelectric conversion layer 35 is made to be higher than that of the channel layer 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Japan Display West Inc.
    Inventors: Dharam Pal Gosain, Tsutomu Tanaka, Makoto Takatoku
  • Patent number: 8619209
    Abstract: An electro-optical device includes an electro-optical panel and a backlight unit. A cover includes a window portion opened in correspondence with a pixel region of the electro-optical panel and a first sidewall provided so as to face the side surfaces of the electro-optical panel and the backlight unit. A frame holds the electro-optical panel and the backlight unit and has a second sidewall provided so as to face the side surfaces of the electro-optical panel and the backlight unit. The first sidewall has an engagement portion engaged with the backlight unit and the second sidewall has a protrusion for guiding the engagement portion to an engagement place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoaki Miyashita
  • Patent number: 8619210
    Abstract: A direct-viewing type display device 100 according to the present invention includes a plurality of display panels, having display regions 31a and 31b and frame regions 30a and 30b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hisashi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8619211
    Abstract: A lighting arrangement is disclosed with a light module (2) that has at least one first group (22, 22?) of light sources (221, 222, 223) and one second group (22, 22?) of light sources that are arranged spaced apart from each other on a flexible circuit board (21), and with a carrier (1) on which the light module is mounted, and a buffer zone (12) that laterally overlaps with the light module between the first and the second group of light sources. Furthermore, a backlighting device and a display device are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: OSRAM Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventors: Ralph Peter Bertram, David Dussault, Matthias Fiegler, Harald Stoyan
  • Patent number: 8619212
    Abstract: There is provided a protective film to be bonded to a polarizer to form a lower polarizing plate for a liquid crystal display panel. The protective film for a lower polarizing plate includes a matrix of a resin material and a diffusing component dispersed in the matrix. At least one-side surface, which is to face the polarizer, of the protective film is flat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Asano, Mitsuru Inoue, Katsunori Shintani, Daijiro Kodama, Keiko Kitano
  • Patent number: 8619213
    Abstract: A backlight unit and a display module employing the backlight unit, the backlight unit including a light guide panel for guiding light to a display apparatus for displaying an image; and a plurality of light source devices arranged in a side portion of the light guide panel, wherein the plurality of light source devices are electrically connected to each other by connecting units having conductivity. The display module may be further slimmed since the limitation due to the thickness of a light source device circuit board is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hwan-Jin Kim, Min-Seop Kim, Hyo-Shin Song
  • Patent number: 8619214
    Abstract: An LCD device includes a transparent substrate. A first data electrode, a first CLC-MC layer, a first selection electrode, a second CLC-MC layer, a second data electrode, an insulating layer, a second selection electrode, a third CLC-MC layer, and a third data electrode are sequentially formed in this order on the transparent substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ippei Inoh
  • Patent number: 8619215
    Abstract: An optical element includes: a substrate having a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions that are partitioned in plan view; a first grid one-dimensionally formed in the plurality of first regions on the substrate; a diffraction function portion including a plurality of grooves parallel to each other in the plurality of second regions on the substrate; and a second grid formed in a region excluding the plurality of grooves on the diffraction function portion. The optical element reflects a part of incident light and transmits a part of the incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitomo Kumai
  • Patent number: 8619216
    Abstract: An optical wavelength selective device includes a waveguide grating unit to separate input beam signals with different wavelengths into a plurality of output beam signals, each of which has a different wavelength span and is output from a different channel region of the waveguide grating unit; a polarization splitting unit to split each of the output beam signals into a first polarized beam with a first polarization and a second polarized beam with a second polarization different from the first polarization; a birefringence control member to control the first polarized beam to undergo a different refractive effect than the second polarized beam when the first and second polarized beams pass through the birefringence control member under a first voltage applied thereto; and a reflection member configured to reflect the first and second polarized beams output from the birefringence control member back to the birefringence control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: INLC Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Seong Woo Suh
  • Patent number: 8619217
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a first base substrate, a second base substrate facing the first base substrate, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a non-transmissive layer on the first base substrate to absorb light, a plurality of color filter layers arranged on the non-transmissive layer and including a cholesteric liquid crystal to change a wavelength of light and reflect the light, an alignment layer arranged between the non-transmissive layer and the color filter layers to align the cholesteric liquid crystal, a first electrode on the color filter layers, and a second electrode on the second base substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Seong Kim, Sangil Kim, WooJae Lee, Min ho Yoon
  • Patent number: 8619218
    Abstract: A display substrate and a display device including the same are provided. The display substrate includes a first substrate which is divided into a display portion including pixel regions and a non-display portion including a region other than the display portion. Color filters are formed in the pixel regions of the substrate to respective thicknesses. At least one stepped pattern is formed on the non-display portion of the substrate and from the same material as used to form at least one of the color filters. The stepped patterns are formed at an area occupancy density of 20% or more of the non-display portion. A minimum distance is maintained between the stepped patterns and the pixel regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyuk-Jin Kim, Hyo-Taek Lim, Kweon-Sam Hong, Hyun Park, Tae-Hyeong Kim
  • Patent number: 8619219
    Abstract: As a wiring becomes thicker, discontinuity of an insulating film covering the wiring has become a problem. It is difficult to form a wiring with width thin enough for a thin film transistor used for a current high definition display device. As a wiring is made thinner, signal delay due to wiring resistance has become a problem. In view of the above problems, the invention provides a structure in which a conductive film is formed in a hole of an insulating film, and the surfaces of the conductive film and the insulating film are flat. As a result, discontinuity of thin films covering a conductive film and an insulating film can be prevented. A wiring can be made thinner by controlling the width of the hole. Further, a wiring can be made thicker by controlling the depth of the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Shinji Maekawa, Yohei Kanno
  • Patent number: 8619220
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a color filter including following steps is provided. First, a partition is formed on a substrate to form a plurality of pixel regions on the substrate. Next, a color pigment is provided along a continuous pigment-providing route, so as to form the color pigment on a sequence of pixel regions among the plurality of pixel regions and the partition. The method mentioned above can prevent the unfilled phenomenon of the pigment around the corners of the pixel region. Besides, a liquid crystal display panel having the color filter is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Ya Wang, Shu-Chin Lee, Wen-Lung Chen, Fu-Chuan Tsai, Yung-Lung Lin, Yong-Mao Lin, Chun-Chieh Tsao
  • Patent number: 8619221
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal display panel including pixels each having an active device, a pixel electrode, a common electrode and a liquid crystal layer arranged in a dot matrix array. The liquid crystal display panel has a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate has the active device, the pixel electrode, the common electrode and a first alignment film. The second substrate has a second alignment film. The first alignment film and the second alignment film are respectively a photo alignment film formed by irradiating a photo decomposition type insulating film with light. The second alignment film has a thickness of at least 10 nm and no greater 50 nm and is thinner than the first alignment film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Sonoda, Chikae Matsui, Noboru Kunimatsu, Yuko Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8619222
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display element including a first alignment film and a second alignment film and a liquid crystal layer that is provided between the first alignment film and the second alignment film, wherein the first alignment film includes a compound in which a polymer compound that includes a cross-linked functional group or a polymerized functional group as a side chain is cross-linked or polymerized, the second alignment film includes the same compound as the compound that configures the first alignment film, and the formation and processing of the second alignment film is different from the formation and processing of the first alignment film and when a pretilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules which is conferred by the first alignment film is ?1 and a pretilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules which is conferred by the second alignment film is ?2, ?1>?2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Nakamura, Shunichi Suwa, Masashi Miyakawa, Tadaaki Isozaki
  • Patent number: 8619223
    Abstract: A thin film transistor (TFT) substrate includes a substrate, data lines, scan lines and pixel electrodes. The data lines and the scan lines intersect each other on the substrate for defining pixel areas. The pixel electrodes are disposed in corresponding pixel areas. Each of the pixel electrodes defines at least two slits by which the pixel electrode is divided into at least two first areas and at least two second areas. The first areas and the second areas are insulated with respect to each other. The first areas are disposed diagonally and the second areas are disposed diagonally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Chimei Innolux Corporation
    Inventors: Ying-Jen Chen, Young-Ran Chuang, Chih-Yung Hsieh, Chien-Hong Chen, Ju-Hsien Chen
  • Patent number: 8619224
    Abstract: Embodiments may be directed to an LCD apparatus including: an array substrate including a pixel electrode in each pixel of a plurality of pixels of an image area; a color filter substrate including a common electrode facing the pixel electrode; and a liquid crystal layer between the array substrate and the color filter substrate, and the common electrode includes a first common electrode corresponding to a center portion of the image area and a second common electrode corresponding to a boundary portion of the image area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Seok Chae, Kon-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 8619225
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device, which has a plurality of pixels and switching elements provided in correspondence with the pixels, includes an element substrate, an interlayer insulating film, a first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer. The switching elements are formed in the element substrate. The interlayer insulating film is formed on the switching elements. The first electrode layer is formed on the interlayer insulating film. The second electrode layer is formed in the element substrate and overlaps the first electrode in plan view through an interelectrode insulating film. Each of the pixels includes a first region and a second region. The first electrode layer overlaps the second electrode layer in plan view in the first region. Of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, only the first electrode layer is formed in the second region. The thickness of the second electrode layer is smaller than the thickness of the first electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Japan Display West Inc.
    Inventor: Shin Fujita
  • Patent number: 8619226
    Abstract: A pixel structure of a fringe field switching (FFS) mode LCD is provided, and the pixel structure includes: a scan line, a thin film transistor (TFT), a common electrode, a pixel electrode, and a patterned insulative layer. The pixel electrode is insulatively disposed on the common electrode. The pixel electrode generates a fringe field corresponding to the common electrode. The patterned insulative layer, which is disposed above the scan line and the TFT, is utilized to confine the fringe field so as to reduce disordered electrical field, thereby improving the shortcoming of light leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiun-jr Huang, Hsu-ping Chiu, Shih-fong Huang
  • Patent number: 8619227
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to apply a sufficient electrical field to a liquid crystal material in a horizontal electrical field liquid crystal display device typified by an FFS type. In a horizontal electrical field liquid crystal display, an electrical field is applied to a liquid crystal material right above a common electrode and a pixel electrode using plural pairs of electrodes rather than one pair of electrodes. One pair of electrodes includes a comb-shaped common electrode and a comb-shaped pixel electrode. Another pair of electrodes includes a common electrode provided in a pixel portion and the comb-shaped pixel electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Kimura, Hideki Uochi
  • Patent number: 8619228
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes an array substrate and a counter substrate that face each other with a liquid crystal layer therebetween. The array substrate includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an alignment sustaining layer. The first electrode has a comb-teeth shape. The second electrode has a comb-teeth shape, faces the first electrode, and includes a protruding portion protruding from the first electrode in a direction where comb teeth are arranged. The alignment sustaining layer is formed above a surface of the array substrate being in contact with the liquid crystal layer and gives liquid crystals a pre-tilt to a direction in which the second electrode protrudes from the first electrode, in a direction in which the comb teeth are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mie Shimizu, Koichi Minato, Kenzo Fukuyoshi, Manabu Ito
  • Patent number: 8619229
    Abstract: A backlight assembly has improved luminance and uniformity, and a liquid crystal display includes the backlight assembly. The backlight assembly may be constructed with a light source; a flexible printed circuit board including a base film and conductors, and mounted with the light source; a light guide panel into which light emitted from the light source is incident; and a mold frame including an opening for receiving the light guide panel and a boss for fixing the flexible printed circuit board. The flexible printed circuit board is provided with an insertion hole into which the boss is inserted, and the conductors are formed along the circumference of the insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Se-Hoon Jang, Chang-Sub Jung
  • Patent number: 8619230
    Abstract: An approach is provided for manufacturing a LCD apparatus. A first substrate is formed by forming a transparent conductive layer on a first transparent insulating substrate and forming a transparent conductive electrode on the transparent conductive layer. A second substrate is formed by forming a thin-film transistor (TFT) on a second transparent insulating substrate and forming a pixel electrode. The first substrate is coupled to the second substrate using a sealing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Hwan Shim, Gug-Rae Jo, Sung-Hoon Yang, Kap-Soo Yoon, Ki-Hun Jeong, Jae-Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 8619231
    Abstract: A cleaning method includes cleaning a member, used at the time of exposing a substrate via liquid, which is in contact with the liquid. The method includes cleaning the member with an alkali solution followed by cleaning the member with a solution including hydrogen peroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Shunji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8619232
    Abstract: A method for damping an object in two or more degrees of freedom, including measuring a position quantity at each of the two or more measurement locations; extracting from the measured position quantities a measurement signal for each dynamic mode; feeding the measurement signal of a dynamic mode to a controller unit associated with the respective dynamic mode, the controller unit providing for each dynamic mode an output signal on the basis of the respective measurement signal; and providing a control signal to each of the two or more actuators, the control signal for each actuator being based on output signals of one or more controller units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Hans Butler, Marc Wilhelmus Maria Van Der Wijst
  • Patent number: 8619233
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of compensating for distortion of an exposure pattern due to stage yawing in a maskless exposure apparatus using digital micromirror devices (DMDs). Requirements as to control performance of the stage yawing through the adjustment of sync signals (PEGs) to switch frames of the DMDs are eliminated, thereby reducing manufacturing costs of a large-sized stage. Also, distortion of an exposure pattern, which may occur due to uncompensated yawing, is digitally compensated by controlling the stage yawing, thereby achieving high-quality exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong Hyoun Sung
  • Patent number: 8619234
    Abstract: Techniques for transferring utilities to and from a reticle or wafer stage in a lithography system while minimizing physical disturbances that affect the stage are described. These techniques involve transferring utilities to and from the stage without making physical contact with the stage. Alternatively, utilities are transferred by making physical contact with the stage while the stage is in a stationary position. In addition to transferring utilities to and from the stage, devices such as processing devices, buffers (storage mediums), electrical components, and mechanical components can be placed within the stage to use and/or control the transferred utilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Alton Hugh Phillips
  • Patent number: 8619235
    Abstract: A level sensor configured to measure a height level of a substrate arranged in a measurement position is disclosed. The level sensor comprises a projection unit to project multiple measurement beams on multiple measurement locations on the substrate, a detection unit to receive the measurement beams after reflection on the substrate, and a processing unit to calculate a height level on the basis of the reflected measurement beams received by the detection unit, wherein the projection unit and the detection unit are arranged next to the substrate, when the substrate is arranged in the measurement position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: William Peter Van Drent
  • Patent number: 8619236
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to determining a lithographic set point using simulations of optical proximity correction verification. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method of determining a lithographic tool set point for a lithographic process is disclosed. The method may include: providing a model of a production lithographic process including simulations of printed shapes; analyzing the model of the production lithographic process to determine whether a set of structures on a production mask used in the production lithographic process to create the printed shapes will fail under a plurality of set points; determining an operating region of set points where the set of structures on the production mask does not fail; and establishing a set point location within the operating region based upon a set point selection function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Bruce, Edward W. Conrad, Jacek G. Smolinski
  • Patent number: 8619237
    Abstract: Laser-Scanning Intersecting Plane Tomography (L-SIPT) can provide a non-contact imaging geometry that can allow high speed volumetric scanning, such as of non-scattering to moderately scattering tissues. The L-SIPT imaging apparatus can include a first lens, located and configured to receive from a sample light received from different depths of the sample. A first light redirector can be located and configured to receive via the first lens and to redirect light received from the different depths of the sample to provide redirected light to a light detector capable of detecting individual measurements of light at different locations along a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Elizabeth Marjorie Clare Hillman, Matthew B. Bouchard
  • Patent number: 8619238
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present concept are directed to a rangefinder that can be aligned to a fixed sight on a shooting device so that a range can be accurately taken that corresponds to a fixed sight that is used to align the shooting device to a target. Other embodiments of this concept provide methods of aligning the rangefinder to the fixed sight of the shooting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Leupold & Stevens, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric T. Overstreet
  • Patent number: 8619239
    Abstract: A technique for providing range correction values in a laser rangefinder range processor uses return pulse width (rather than return pulse amplitude) for correcting amplitude (range walk) and speed of light problems. A plurality of range correction values may be generated in a test setup (by simulating return pulse delays) and stored in a lookup table based on return pulse width, nominal range (time of return), and other factors such as temperature and pressure. The technique is also capable of correcting other problems such as receiver delay. The technique allows for the use of a saturating preamplifier with the increased sensitivity that it offers, and is relatively simple to implement, as it may be embedded within a digital processor (DSP) or gate array that is normally present for a basic range counter implementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Modules Inc.
    Inventors: Ian D. Crawford, Noal T. Chandler
  • Patent number: 8619240
    Abstract: This document discusses among other things, methods and apparatus to conserve energy when providing proximity information. An example apparatus can include an energy emitter configured to emit a first pulse of energy, an energy sensor configured to receive reflected energy from the first pulse of energy, a control circuit including a processor, the processor configured to provide first proximity information of the apparatus with respect to an object using the reflected energy. The control circuit can be configured to control the energy emitter, to compare the first proximity information with second proximity information, and to modulate a delay between the first pulse of energy and a subsequent pulse of energy using the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Card
  • Patent number: 8619241
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method for detecting a distance to an object. The method comprises providing a lighting system having at least one pulse width modulated visible-light source for illumination of a field of view; emitting an illumination signal for illuminating the field of view for a duration of time y using the visible-light source at a time t; integrating a reflection energy for a first time period from a time t?x to a time t+x; determining a first integration value for the first time period; integrating the reflection energy for a second time period from a time t+y?x to a time t+y+x; determining a second integration value for the second time period; calculating a difference value between the first integration value and the second integration value; determining a propagation delay value proportional to the difference value; determining the distance to the object from the propagation delay value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Leddartech Inc.
    Inventor: Yvan Mimeault
  • Patent number: 8619242
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus using a design and evaluation method for a device or an apparatus concerning microscopic particles in conformity with dual mechanics is provided, and this apparatus may be utilized as an evaluation apparatus for evaluating whether or not quantum computers can be realized; wherein the dual mechanics is universal mechanics constructed by combining classical mechanics and novel wave mechanics and may be applicable to all particles ranging from microscopic to macroscopic particles. As a result, it is possible to prevent making useless efforts for realizing quantum computers that are judged to be impossible to realize and to pitch those efforts that might be wasted on the above realization into developing other effective technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventor: Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8619243
    Abstract: A mobility measuring apparatus includes a storage unit that respectively stores a relationship between the mobility ? of carriers in a semiconductor and a decay constant ? of the carriers and a relationship between a reflectivity R of the semiconductor to a terahertz light and the decay constant ? of the carriers, a light radiating unit that radiates a terahertz light to the semiconductor as a sample, a detecting unit that detects a reflected light of the sample to the radiated terahertz light, a reflectivity calculating unit that calculates the reflectivity Rexp of the sample by determining a ratio of an intensity of the reflected light relative to an intensity of the radiated terahertz light, an obtaining unit that obtains the decay constant ?exp of the sample corresponding to the reflectivity Rexp of the sample by making reference to the stored relationship between the reflectivity R and the decay constant ? of the carriers, and a mobility calculating unit that calculates the mobility ?exp of the sample fr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignees: Riken, Furukawa Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seigo Ohno, Hiromasa Ito, Hiroaki Minamide, Akihide Hamano
  • Patent number: 8619244
    Abstract: A method to test the authenticity of a document (1), such as an ID, a passport or a card, protected against forgery, wherein it comprises at least an inner co-laminated fabric layer (2) forming an optical watermark. This layer presents cuts, and so separated zones with fabric material and other zones without fabric material, forming well recognizable forms or pictures. Co-laminating one or a plurality of such fabric layers inside of the document body allows to create a multiple watermark having both surface relief and opacity effect, without adding any volume to the body of the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: HID Global GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Hecker, Andreas Griesbach
  • Patent number: 8619245
    Abstract: A system for enabling an authenticating device includes an enabling target (17); measuring one or more attributes of the enabling target with the authenticating device; comparing at least one measured attribute with a predetermined expected value; enabling the authenticating device when the at least one measured attribute matches the predetermined expected value; and operating the authenticating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas D. Pawlik, Myra T. Olm, Thomas J. Widzinski, Judith A. Bose, Mark P. Henry
  • Patent number: 8619246
    Abstract: An optical node apparatus whose plural function units are connected each other through an optical transmission line includes a control unit which carries out control to send an optical test signal and to stop sending the optical test signal a sending unit which sends the optical test signal on the basis of an instruction issued by the control unit a receiving unit which receives the optical test signal sent by the sending unit through the optical transmission line and a discriminating unit which discriminates whether the receiving unit receives the optical test signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Takuya Hisamoto
  • Patent number: 8619247
    Abstract: An apparatus having a linear structure that enables real time measurement of the spatial profile, circularity, centroid, astigmatism and M2 values of a laser beam generated by a low power laser beam. A laser beam source transmits a laser beam through a focusing lens, a Fabry-Perot resonator, a pair of polarizers and a camera that detects spots of light that pass through the first and second mirrors and the polarizers. The resonator includes a pair of high reflecting mirror plates disposed in parallel, spaced apart relation to one another at a common angle of incidence to the laser beam. The polarizers are disposed at an opposite angle of incidence and are rotationally adjustable to enable intensity adjustment of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Haas Laser Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Scaggs
  • Patent number: 8619248
    Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining mapping of Ultra Wide-Angle (UWA) lenses are disclosed. Captured image of a set of grid points on the inner surface of a precision made calibration dome is used as an input image. Image processing techniques are used to identify components of the image and compute the lens mapping. The lens mapping can be used to calibrate the lens against a standard or against other lenses. The mapping can further be used for perspective correction applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Geo Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Zorawar Singh Bassi, Ashkan Alavi-Harati