Patents Issued in September 20, 2016
  • Patent number: 9448415
    Abstract: An image projector includes a spatially-interleaved polarization converter having an input and output lenslet array, and may transmit light thereon as converted linearly-polarized light. The image projector also includes a lens unit and a projector assembly having a pixel array and being capable of reflecting the converted light. The output lenslet array, the lens unit, and the projector assembly form an imaging system that images the input lenslet array to a top surface of the pixel array. A method for converting light to an output light beam having a single common polarization state includes transmitting the light as a plurality of beamlets each having an s-polarized component and a p-polarized component, splitting each beamlet into a transmitted p-polarized beamlet and a reflected s-polarized beamlet, converting each p-polarized beamlet to a first s-polarized output beamlet, and spatially interleaving the s-polarized beamlets with the first s-polarized output beamlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Yi-Wei Liu
  • Patent number: 9448416
    Abstract: A light source device includes: a laser light source; a circular substrate which has fluorescent body that emits light by using light from the laser light source as excitation light; a wheel motor which rotates circular substrate; a dichroic prism which transmits the light from fluorescent body while reflecting the light from the laser light source; a diffusion plate which diffuses the light from the laser light source; and a plate spring which interconnects diffusion plate and wheel motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroko Chifu, Motoyasu Utsunomiya
  • Patent number: 9448417
    Abstract: An illumination device includes a light source device, a uniformization optical system which uniformizes the illuminance distribution of light from the light source device on a region to be illuminated, and a diffraction optical element which is provided in an optical path between the light source device and the uniformization optical system, and rotates around a predetermined rotation axis. The diffraction optical element includes a first region which forms a first illuminance distribution, and a second region which is provided at a position different from the first region around the rotation axis, and forms a second illuminance distribution different from the first illuminance distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Junichi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9448418
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes: a positive first lens group; a negative second lens group; and a positive third lens group. The first through third lens groups move such that the distance between the first lens group and the second lens group is greater, and the distance between the second lens group and the third lens group G3 is smaller at a telephoto end compared to a wide angle end. The third lens group is constituted by a positive 3-1 lens group and a 3-2 lens group. The 3-1 lens group is fixed when camera shake occurs and during focusing operations. The 3-2 lens group includes a shake preventing lens group that moves in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis to correct camera shake, and a focusing lens group provided toward an image side of the shake preventing lens group that moves along the optical axis during focusing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Daiki Kawamura
  • Patent number: 9448419
    Abstract: The process of manufacturing of a coated spectacle frames is characterized by the following three main manufacturing processes: A—Bonding of at least one outer layer of coating material (A, C) on at least an inner layer of material having a structural function (B). The result is a coated panel (D); B—Cutting of the spectacle frame (E) from that covered panel (D); C—Bending and shaping of the previously cut spectacle (F). The layers that form the particular coated panel (D) may origin from different combinations of different materials, as indicated in the description and claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: HAPTER SRL
    Inventors: Eric Balzan, Mirko Forti
  • Patent number: 9448420
    Abstract: An eyeglasses temple comprises a first portion, having an end hingeable to a front rim of the eyeglasses and a fastening end, and a second portion, having an end designed to rest on a wearer's ear and a fastening end, the fastening ends being connectable by a snap-in connection; a first of the fastening ends comprises an elongate member extending in a longitudinal direction and having a tongue from which a tooth projects transversely to the longitudinal direction, the tongue being elastically deformable to allow the tooth to move in a locking direction transversal to the longitudinal direction; the second of the fastening ends comprises a socket having an opening to guide the insertion and extraction of the member into and from the socket in the longitudinal direction, and internally defines, on a wall which delimits the socket, a recess shaped to receive the tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: LUXOTTICA S.R.L.
    Inventor: Alessandro Tormen
  • Patent number: 9448421
    Abstract: The present invention comprises an ophthalmic lens system capable of wireless communication through utilization of an external device, wherein the ophthalmic lens system comprises a first ophthalmic lens on a first eye and a second ophthalmic lens on a second eye, wherein the lenses may be configured to wirelessly communicate with each other by transmitting and receiving data through an external device. More particularly, in some embodiments, the external device may comprise electronic components with more computational power and energization capabilities than the ophthalmic lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Toner, Randall Braxton Pugh, Camille A. Higham
  • Patent number: 9448422
    Abstract: System and method embodiments are provided for a thermo-optic switch with thermally isolated and heat restricting pillars. The embodiments enable increased integration density in photonic integrated chips (PICs), reduced power consumption, improved switching speed, and increased chip lifetime. In an embodiment, an optical waveguide; a resistive heater in thermal contact with a surface of the optical waveguide; and a plurality of heat flow restricting pillars connected to the sides of the optical waveguide and supporting the optical waveguide such that the optical waveguide is substantially thermally isolated from a substrate below the optical waveguide by a gap formed between the optical waveguide and the substrate, and wherein the pillars restrict heat flow from the optical waveguide to a supporting structure that supports the pillars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dritan Celo
  • Patent number: 9448423
    Abstract: The invention discloses a device for selecting pulses comprising an optical waveguide for guiding the optical radiation along an axis; comprising a first electro-optical modulator designed to modulate the optical transparency of the waveguide; comprising a second electro-optical modulator designed to modulate the optical transparency of the waveguide, wherein the first modulator and the second modulator are arranged one after the other on the axis of the waveguide, and further comprising at least one control circuit designed to actuate the first modulator and the second modulator at offset times, and characterized in that a substrate of a semiconductive material is provided, the waveguide and the at least one control circuit are arranged on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Forschungsverbund Berlin E.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Hoffmann, Armin Liero, Andreas Klehr, Sven Schwertfeger
  • Patent number: 9448424
    Abstract: An optical module connected to an optical fiber for transmitting light includes: a substrate; a ferrule that is formed from a material capable of transmitting therethrough light having a predetermined wavelength, accommodates an end of the optical fiber, and is fixed on the substrate with a fixing agent cured by being irradiated with the light capable of passing through the material; and a semiconductor chip that is disposed on the substrate and modulates light emitted from the end of the optical fiber accommodated in the ferrule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU OPTICAL COMPONENTS LIMITED
    Inventors: Kohei Shibata, Seimi Sasaki, Teruhiro Kubo, Shinji Maruyama, Shintaro Takeuchi, Hiroshi Kato, Takehito Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9448425
    Abstract: An optical waveguide element includes: a rib waveguide and a pair of slab portions including a first slab portion and a second slab portion connected to both sides of the rib portion so as to sandwich the rib portion. The rib portion has a cross-sectional dimension which allows the propagation of a fundamental mode and a higher order mode in a predetermined single polarization state, and has a first P-type semiconductor and a first N-type semiconductor forming a PN junction, the first slab portion has a second P-type semiconductor and a P-type conductor connected to each other, the second P-type semiconductor is connected to the first P-type semiconductor of the rib portion, the second slab portion has a second N-type semiconductor and an N-type conductor connected to each other, and the second N-type semiconductor is connected to the first N-type semiconductor of the rib portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventors: Kensuke Ogawa, Kazuhiro Goi, Hiroyuki Kusaka
  • Patent number: 9448426
    Abstract: A Mach-Zehnder modulator includes: a conductive semiconductor region disposed on a substrate; a first waveguide arm disposed on the conductive semiconductor region; a second waveguide arm disposed on the conductive semiconductor region; a first electrode disposed on the first waveguide arm, the first electrode receiving a first drive signal applied to the first waveguide arm; a second electrode disposed on the second waveguide arm, the second electrode receiving a second drive signal applied to the second waveguide arm; a first ground electrode disposed on the conductive semiconductor region, the first ground electrode being electrically connected to a reference potential; and a second ground electrode disposed on the conductive semiconductor region. The first and second drive signals constitute a differential signal. The second ground electrode is electrically connected to the first ground electrode via the conductive semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Naoya Kono
  • Patent number: 9448427
    Abstract: A transparent display apparatus. The apparatus includes a transparent display and a prism. The prism includes a polarizing beam splitter for splitting a received light into a first polarized light component and a second polarized light component. The prism transmits the first light component and reflects the second light component into the prism. In addition, the prism includes an optical rotator for converting the second light component to a first light component. The converted first light component is transmitted through the prism and displayed through the transparent display. In one embodiment, one or more custom prisms are used. In another embodiment, one or more cube prisms are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Inventors: Ram Pattikonda, Shariq Hamid
  • Patent number: 9448428
    Abstract: A system for stabilizing the temperature sensitivity in photonic circuits comprising a thermoelastic cladding directly overlaid on a photonic circuit, wherein the properties of the thermoelastic cladding are such that the temperature of the photonic circuit is passively stabilized, such as by adjustment of the effective refractive index of the photonic circuit. The thermoelastic cladding may comprise a negative thermo-optic coefficient and the photonic circuit has a positive thermo-elastic coefficient. The thermoelastic cladding may be a liquid, solid, or gas, and may be contained within a chamber having an inlet and an outlet. A pressure sensor may be contained within the chamber for monitoring pressure. The sensor can detect whether the fluid/gas has reached its maximum expansion and can send a signal when that happens. The pressure sensor is connected in a feedback loop and it sends an alarm once the chamber pressure is at a maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by Secreatary of the Navy
    Inventors: Joanna N. Ptasinski, Sanja Zlatanovic
  • Patent number: 9448429
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for fabricating a lightweight and thin liquid crystal display (LCD) device, using a supplementary substrate for processing of a thin glass substrate. Inactive gas is sprayed onto the surface of the substrate to thus remove OH groups from the surface, before the thin glass substrate and the supplementary substrate are attached to each other. Under such configuration, the supplementary substrate can be easily separated from a completed liquid crystal panel which is in an attached cell state, without any damages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignees: LG Display Co., Ltd., Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: JaeYoung Oh, JaeDuk Jo, ByeongKeun Kim, GiSang Hong, YoungKwang Park, EunJin Bae, KangHoon Lee, HyooKyung Choi, Yasuhiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9448430
    Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate provided with a reflective electrode, a second substrate provided with a transparent electrode, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and an anisotropic scattering member formed on the second substrate. The anisotropic scattering member has first and second surfaces each including a first refractive index region and a second refractive index region having a refractive index different from that of the first refractive index region. A refractive index difference between the first refractive index region and the second refractive index region in the first surface is larger than that in the second surface. The anisotropic scattering member is disposed so that light enters from the first surface thereof and the light exits as scattered light from the second surface thereof. A phase difference is given to the light entered the anisotropic scattering member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Masashi Mitsui, Yoko Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 9448431
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a display panel that displays an image and a window layer disposed on the display panel and including a display area transmitting the image and a non-display area surrounding the display area. The window layer includes a window cover disposed to face the display panel, a decorated printed layer disposed on a lower surface of the window cover in the non-display area, and a polarization layer disposed on the lower surface of the window cover in the display area and disposed in the non-display area to cover the decorated printed layer. An inner side surface of the decorated printed layer makes contact with a side surface of the polarization layer at a boundary surface between the display area and the non-display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: SungHwan Park
  • Patent number: 9448432
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a display having high visibility and a transflective type liquid crystal display device having a reflection electrode having a concavo-convex structure formed without especially increasing the process. During manufacturing a transflective liquid crystal display device, a reflection electrode of a plurality of irregularly arranged island-like patterns and a transparent electrode of a transparent conductive film are layered in forming an electrode having transparent and reflection electrodes thereby having a concavo-convex form to enhance the scattering ability of light and hence the visibility of display. Furthermore, because the plurality of irregularly arranged island-like patterns can be formed simultaneous with an interconnection, a concavo-convex structure can be formed during the manufacturing process without especially increasing the patterning process only for forming a concavo-convex structure. It is accordingly possible to greatly reduce cost and improve productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Shingo Eguchi, Yutaka Shionoiri, Etsuko Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 9448433
    Abstract: An object is to provide a liquid crystal display device which can recognize image display even when the liquid crystal display device is used in a dim environment. In one pixel, a pixel electrode including both of a region where incident light through a liquid crystal layer is reflected and a transmissive region is provided, and image display can be performed in both modes: the reflective mode where external light is used as an illumination light source; and the transmissive mode where the backlight is used as an illumination light source. When there is external light with insufficient brightness, that is, in a dim environment, the backlight emits weak light and an image is displayed in the reflective mode, whereby image display can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama, Yoshiharu Hirakata
  • Patent number: 9448434
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a liquid crystal display panel and a method of driving the same. A subpixel unit includes a transmissive portion and a reflective portion, the transmissive portion comprises a transmissive portion thin film transistor and a transmissive pixel electrode connected to a drain of the transmissive portion thin film transistor, the reflective portion comprises a reflective layer, a reflective portion thin film transistor and a reflective pixel electrode connected to a drain of the reflective portion thin film transistor, a gate of the transmissive portion thin film transistor and a gate of the reflective portion thin film transistor each are connected to a gate line of the subpixel unit, and a source of the transmissive portion thin film transistor and a source of the reflective portion thin film transistor are connected to different data lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jianshe Xue, Xiang Liu
  • Patent number: 9448435
    Abstract: In a first substrate, a reflective first common electrode is located on the first and second source lines and extending toward a region between the first and second source lines so as to form an aperture portion. A transmissive pixel electrode is arranged in a pixel defined by the first gate line, the second gate line, the first source line and the second source line and electrically connected with a switching element. The transmissive pixel electrode includes a first end extending along the first and second source lines so as to face the first common electrode. A second substrate includes a second common electrode arranged facing the pixel electrode and set to the same potential as the first common electrode. A liquid crystal layer is held between vertical alignment films formed on the first substrate and the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventor: Jin Hirosawa
  • Patent number: 9448436
    Abstract: In the present invention, a backlight (3) serving as a planar light source unit is equipped with: multiple LEDs (12); and a bottom plate (11a) having a mounting surface (11a1). The multiple LEDs (12) are two-dimensionally arranged on the mounting surface (11a1) within a rectangular area (RA) that is smaller than the bottom plate (11a). In addition, the arrangement density of the LEDs in the rectangular area (RA) is lower at the center part (Rc) than at the peripheral part (Rp). The rectangular area (RA) has a corner area, where at least one LED (12) is provided, at each of the four corners thereof. The LEDs (12) positioned in the respective corner areas are installed such that the central axes of the LEDs lean toward the periphery side of the rectangular area (RA) with respect to the direction perpendicular to the mounting surface (11a1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kohji Sakai
  • Patent number: 9448437
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a transparent display device, a first polarizer on a first surface of the transparent display device, a first retarder between the first polarizer and the first surface of the transparent display device, a second polarizer on a second surface of the transparent display device opposite the first surface, and a conversion retarder between the second polarizer and the second surface of the transparent display device, the conversion retarder being configured to delay a wavelength of the external light within a range from a first phase to a second phase and to transmit the wavelength-delayed light therethrough when power is supplied to the conversion retarder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-Hoon Yim, Young-Woo Song, Jin-Koo Chung
  • Patent number: 9448438
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel including a first display substrate, a second display substrate coupled to and spaced apart from the first display substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second display substrates. The first and second display substrates include inorganic layers containing an inorganic silicon-based material. The liquid crystal layer includes alignment molecules vertically aligned with respect to the inorganic layers, and liquid crystal molecules vertically aligned between the inorganic layers. A manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display panel includes surface-treating the inorganic layers to vertically align the liquid crystal molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heungshik Park, Jihong Bae, Sujin Kim, Kichul Shin, Jooyoung Yoon, Hyeokjin Lee, Suk Choi
  • Patent number: 9448439
    Abstract: In a method of forming a liquid crystal display device, a black matrix is disposed on a substrate including a switching element formed thereon, a color filter is disposed on the switching element, a pixel electrode is electrically connected to the switching element, and a first alignment layer is disposed on the pixel electrode, to form a first substrate. A second substrate including a second alignment layer is formed. At least one of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer includes a reactive mesogen. A liquid crystal layer is interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. A light is irradiated onto the second substrate to provide pretilt angles of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ji-Won Sohn, Joo-Seok Yeom, Jeong-Uk Heo, Ho-Yun Byun, Jung-Hun Lee, Na-Young Shin
  • Patent number: 9448441
    Abstract: A plurality of grooves (28) are provided in a surface of the array substrate (20) facing the liquid crystal layer (50) to extend along a sealing material, and are spaced apart from each other in a width direction of the sealing material. An alignment film (27) covers surfaces of some or all of the grooves located from a midway portion of the sealing material in a width direction thereof toward a display region (D), and is in contact with the sealing material, and part of the sealing material located from the midway portion in the width direction in a direction away from the display region is directly in contact with the array substrate without the alignment film being provided between the seal material and the array substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Moriwaki
  • Patent number: 9448442
    Abstract: To improve the reliability of a display device, a liquid crystal display device includes a substrate having a back surface, a substrate having a front surface opposing the back surface, a display functional layer arranged between the substrate and the substrate, and a sealing section SL that adhesively fixes the substrates around the display functional layer in a plan view. The sealing section SL includes a member PS extending along an outer edge of the display functional layer and sealing materials adjacently arranged on both sides of the member PS and continuously surrounding the periphery of the display functional layer in a plan view. The member PS includes a plurality of portions PS1 having a height TK1 and a plurality of portions PS2 arranged among the plurality of portions PS1 and having a height TK2 smaller than the height TK1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventor: Hideki Shiina
  • Patent number: 9448443
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes switching elements, transparent pixel electrodes, and a transparent common electrode having a predetermined area overlapped with an upper layer of the transparent pixel electrode through an insulating film and driving liquid crystal with the transparent pixel electrode. In plane view, a shading layer covers at least one part of a conductive pattern where a light leakage occurs in front view by an alignment defect of the liquid crystal near a non-permeable conductive pattern disposed in the display region at the time of black display, and has eaves more protruding than the conductive pattern. The transparent common electrode is provided to overlap with the conductive pattern arranged to overlap with the light-shielding layer having the eaves in a side of the liquid crystal and to protrude compared with the light-shielding layer having the eaves in a planar view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Yonemura
  • Patent number: 9448444
    Abstract: A display device includes: a first insulation substrate; an insulating layer disposed on the first insulation substrate; a pixel electrode including a first subpixel electrode including a first subregion electrode disposed on the insulating layer and a second subregion electrode disposed below the insulating layer, and a second subpixel electrode disposed on the insulating layer, wherein a first voltage is applied to the first subpixel electrode and a second voltage is applied to the second subpixel; a second insulation substrate facing the first insulation substrate; and a common electrode disposed on the second insulation substrate and configured to receive a common voltage, wherein the second subregion electrode overlaps a portion of the second subpixel electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dan Bi Yang, Hyo Sik Kim, Ki Chul Shin, Jae Hoon Jung, Min Ju Han, Ji Phyo Hong
  • Patent number: 9448445
    Abstract: An electrode structure comprises an introduction electrode and a body electrode, and a first isolating layer and a second isolating layer arranged between the introduction electrode and the body electrode. A first via hole is formed in the first isolating layer, a second via hole is formed in the second isolating layer. The hole axes of the first via hole and the second via hole are on the same straight line passing through the body electrode, so that a part of the body electrode is exposed via the first and the second via holes. The introduction electrode is electrically connected with the body electrode through the part of the body electrode. The diameter of the first via hole is smaller than that of the second via hole, and the first isolating layer extends to completely cover the hole wall of the second via hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., HEFEI BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min Zhang, Minsu Kim
  • Patent number: 9448446
    Abstract: A liquid crystal optical device of an embodiment includes: a first substrate unit; a second substrate unit; and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate unit and the second substrate unit. The liquid crystal molecules on a side of a first alignment layer of the first substrate unit is aligned perpendicularly to a first principal surface of the first substrate unit while the liquid crystal molecules on a side of a second alignment layer of the second substrate unit are aligned horizontally along a second direction. The opposing electrode includes: a first region and a second region, the first region has N first openings, and the second region includes M second openings, N being an integer of 0 or greater, M being an integer of 1 or greater, M being greater than N.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yuko Kizu, Machiko Ito, Hajime Yamaguchi, Ayako Takagi, Shinichi Uehara
  • Patent number: 9448447
    Abstract: A lateral electric field type liquid crystal display device includes substrates, liquid crystal put between the substrates, scan lines and data lines arranged on one of the substrates, and pixels each of whose boundary is defined by two scan lines and two data lines. In each pixel, a strip-shaped electrode and a common electrode are formed with an insulating film put thereamong, and the pixel electrode is arranged to extend close along one of the data lines. In each pixel, a part of the common electrode covering one of the data lines overlaps with the pixel electrode, the pixel electrode partially projects from the overlapping area, and a side edge of the projecting part of the pixel electrode is separated from a side edge of a part of the common electrode covering the other data line so as to generate a lateral electric field to drive the liquid crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: NLT TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Ito, Shinichi Nishida, Takahiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9448448
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a TFT substrate, a CF substrate, and a liquid crystal interposed between the TFT substrate and the CF substrate, and drives the liquid crystal in a horizontal electric field. The TFT substrate includes a recess, and the CF substrate includes a columnar protrusion. The protrusion of the CF substrate is fitted to the recess of the TFT substrate so as to function as a stopper for preventing a positional gap between the TFT substrate and the CF substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Tomioka, Takato Hiratsuka, Osamu Itou
  • Patent number: 9448449
    Abstract: A glare reduction system is disclosed including a display device configured for placement in a line of sight of an object. The display device includes a plurality of picture elements without a color filter. Each of the picture elements have a pair of spaced apart polarizing elements in substantially parallel orientation with respect to each other, and a liquid crystal element between the polarizing elements. An imaging source is provided to receive light from the object. The glare reduction system further includes a display driver to process the received light to generate a voltage signal, and selectively provide the voltage signal to one or more of the picture elements in order to regulate the opacity of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Inventor: Venkataraman Ramanathan
  • Patent number: 9448450
    Abstract: A display device is provided with high definition and improved display capabilities. The display device includes a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels being arranged with a thin film transistor and a condenser; wherein the condenser includes a protruding portion arranged at a certain height above a substrate, a first electrode arranged on the protruding portion, an insulation film arranged on the first electrode, and a second electrode arranged on the insulation film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Mitsuhide Miyamoto, Toshihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 9448451
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a liquid crystal display device and a driving method of a liquid crystal display device in each of which deterioration of an image display function can be suppressed and power consumption can be sufficiently reduced. In the liquid crystal display device, a fixed potential is input to a capacitor before a power source is turned off, so that a potential difference between electrodes of the capacitor disappears (capacitance becomes almost zero) such that electric field is not applied to liquid crystals, whereby the liquid crystals are in an initial state. When the supply of the power source is stopped after an initial-state image is displayed, unnecessary electric field is not continuously applied to the liquid crystals in an off state, whereby the liquid crystals can be in the stable initial state; therefore, the liquid crystals can be prevented from deteriorating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouhei Toyotaka, Koji Kusunoki
  • Patent number: 9448452
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display (LCD) device. The LCD device include first and second gate lines, data lines, a common electrode line formed between adjacent data lines and configured to perpendicularly cross the plurality of first and second gate lines and divide the plurality of pixel areas into first and second areas, first and second thin film transistors (TFTs) formed between a corresponding first gate line and a second gate line adjacent to the corresponding first gate line, a protective layer configured to include a first contact hole and a second contact hole, a common electrode formed on the protective layer and coupled to the common electrode line through the first contact hole, an insulation layer formed on the protective layer to cover the common electrode and a pixel electrode formed on the insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min Jic Lee
  • Patent number: 9448453
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes upper and lower pixels; gate lines in electrical connection with the adjacent pixels and extending in a row direction, and data lines which cross the gate lines; and a reference voltage line including a vertical portion which passes through the adjacent pixels, and horizontal portions which alternately extend from the vertical portion. Each of the adjacent pixels includes first and second thin film transistors (TFTs) each in electrical connection with a gate line and a data line which correspond to a respective pixel; and a pixel electrode including a first subpixel electrode in connection with an output terminal of the first TFT, and a second subpixel electrode in connection with an output terminal of the second TFT. The horizontal portions of the reference voltage line are in electrical connection with the second subpixel electrodes of the adjacent pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyung-Ho Park, Bo-Yeong Kim, Jae-Won Kim, Byoung-Sun Na, Hyung-Jun Park, Dong-Hyun Yoo, Kye-Uk Lee
  • Patent number: 9448454
    Abstract: An active matrix substrate (5) is provided with mounting terminals (DT3), draw-out lines (22) connecting mounting terminals (DT4) and data bus lines (D), a first common wire (47) connected in common to the plurality of data bus lines (D), and second thin-film transistors (second switching elements) (45) connected between the draw-out lines (22) and the first common wire (47). End portions of the data bus lines (D) to which the mounting terminals (DT3) are not connected are connected to second common wires (54) via third thin-film transistors (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Yoshida, Isao Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 9448455
    Abstract: A thin film transistor array panel includes a first subpixel electrode and a second subpixel electrode electrically connected with a drain electrode through a first contact hole and a second contact hole, respectively. The first subpixel electrode and the second subpixel electrode include a plurality of vertical stems, a plurality of horizontal stems, and a plurality of branch electrodes. The first subpixel electrode is formed above a gate line and the second subpixel electrode is formed below a gate line. The thin film transistor array panel further includes a first protrusion formed in the plurality of vertical stems of the first subpixel electrode and the plurality of vertical stems of the second subpixel electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hee Hwan Lee, Kyu Su Ahn, Kyung Ho Kim, Kee Bum Park
  • Patent number: 9448456
    Abstract: A liquid crystal optical device has a layered structure with split liquid crystal layers having alignment surfaces that define in a liquid crystal material pre-tilt angles of opposite signs. Four liquid crystal layers can provide two directions of linear polarization. In the case of a lens, the device can be a gradient index lens, and the alignment surfaces can have a spatially uniform pre-tilt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: LENSVECTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Karen Asatryan, Tigran Galstian, Aram Bagramyan, Vladimir Presniakov, Amir Tork, Armen Zohrabyan, Peter P. Clark
  • Patent number: 9448457
    Abstract: An optical modulator according to the present invention includes an optical branching section having at least one beam splitter and a mirror and configured to branch input light, a lens configured to converge the respective lights branched in the optical branching section, a plurality of phase modulation sections each configured to perform phase modulation of each light which is input thereto through the lens, and an optical combining section configured to combine a plurality of phase-modulated lights which are output from the plurality of phase modulation sections, and output modulated signal light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takatomo Itou, Minoru Shinozaki, Yukihiro Yazawa
  • Patent number: 9448458
    Abstract: An optical communication device has a pair of Mach-Zehnder optical modulators; a voltage monitor configured to monitor a voltage component acquired by optical-to-electric conversion of combined light output from the Mach-Zehnder optical modulators; a power monitor configured to monitor a power component acquired by square law detection of the optical-to-electric converted combined light from the Mach-Zehnder optical modulators; a first controller configured to control a substrate bias voltage or a driving amplitude applied to one of two waveguides of each of the Mach-Zehnder optical modulators based upon an output of the power monitor, and a second controller configured to control the substrate bias voltage or the driving amplitude applied to the other of the two waveguides of each of the Mach-Zehnder optical modulator based upon an output of the voltage monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU OPTICAL COMPONENTS LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nishimoto, Akihiro Toya
  • Patent number: 9448459
    Abstract: An autostereoscopic display device includes an adjuster for adjusting a direction of a light beam. The adjuster has an off-state and on-state, and includes a stack of layers. The stack includes first and second solid material layers having first and second optic axes, respectively, and a switchable birefringent material. Further, the stack includes a first interface between the first solid material layer and the birefringent material, and a second interface between the second solid material layer and the birefringent material. In the off-state, the birefringent material at the first and second interfaces are configured to have optic axes parallel to the first and second optic axes, respectively. In the on-state, the birefringent material at the first and second interfaces are configured to have optic axes perpendicular to the first and second optic axes, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Fetze Pijlman
  • Patent number: 9448460
    Abstract: A system for imaging an object is provided. The system includes a light source configured to emit light having a predetermined wavelength towards the object. The system further includes a metalens including a metallic film having a plurality of slits defined therethrough, the plurality of slits having a width a and a periodicity d that are both less than the predetermined wavelength, wherein the object is positioned between the light source and the metalens. The system further includes a detector configured to acquire measurements indicative of light transmitted through the metalens, and a computing device communicatively coupled to the detector and configured to reconstruct an image of the object based on the acquired measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jung-Tsung Shen, Yuecheng Shen, Lihong Wang
  • Patent number: 9448461
    Abstract: Disclosed are a light conversion member and a display device having the same. The display device includes a light source, and a light conversion member adjacent to the light source. The light conversion member includes a plurality of light conversion particles to convert a wavelength of a light emitted from the light source, and a sealing member to receive the light conversion particles. The sealing member includes an incident part facing an exit surface of the light source, an exit part facing the incident part while the light conversion particles are interposed between the exit part and the incident part, and a reflection part connected to the incident part and the exit part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seung Ryong Park
  • Patent number: 9448462
    Abstract: A drive mechanism configured to drive a thermally isolated actuator between two positions. The drive mechanism includes a rotary actuated motor configured to rotatably drive a motor member, and a drive member coupled to the motor member and having a drive arm configured to responsively move from a first position to a second position upon rotation of the motor member. An actuator is responsive to movement of the drive arm moved from the first position to the second position. A drive circuit is configured to generate a pulse width modulated (PWM) drive signal configured to controllably drive the motor, the PWM drive signal having a first duty cycle configured to advance the drive arm from the first position, and having a second duty cycle different than the first duty cycle as the drive arm approaches the second position. The drive signal may be removed before the drive arm engages a hard stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Amy M. Yoshida, Thomas J. Kostrzewa, Eric T. Hughes, Michael L. Brest, Eric J. Griffin, Jerry Hershberg
  • Patent number: 9448463
    Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus includes a focus lens, a focus detection unit that detects focus in a contrast auto focusing (AF) method by moving the focus lens, and a controller that calculates a velocity of a subject from a first focus detection result and a second focus detection result in a continuous shooting operation. The controller restricts a U-turn driving for correcting backlash of the focus lens when the calculated velocity of the subject is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. An AF initiating location and a final correction operation are adaptively adjusted based on the velocity of the subject in each process of the continuous shooting, thereby improving an AF performance and the continuous photographing speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-hoon Won, Yuki Endo, Kazuhiko Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 9448464
    Abstract: A projector includes an image beam generator and a projecting lens. The projecting lens includes a relay system and a projection system. The relay system has a focusing set and a converging set, and the projection system has a projection lens group and a reflector. The image beam generator generates an image beam, and emits it to the projecting lens, and the image beam emits through the focusing set, the converging set, and the projection lens group in sequence, and then is reflected by the reflector to enter the projection lens group again. After leaving the projection lens group the image beam emits through a lens of the converging set, and then is projected onto a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Inventors: Yi-Jou Lin, Hsin-Ying Wu
  • Patent number: 9448465
    Abstract: A projection screen has a gold coated projection receiving surface that reflects light. The projection screen includes a support structure and an adhesive layer on top of the support structure. A fiber support is adhered to the support structure using the adhesive layer. A chalk and adhesive layer is applied on to the fiber support and a clay and adhesive layer is applied on to chalk and adhesive layer. A gold layer is applied to the clay and adhesive layer. A light or a portion thereof passes through each of the multiple ordered layers, including the gold layer, the clay and adhesive layer, the chalk and adhesive layer and reflects back a lustrous, iridescent image that has motion and depth qualities with transmuted color characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Inventor: Joseph Luis Ramirez