Intensity Control Of Ray Patents (Class 315/383)
  • Patent number: 11039516
    Abstract: A lighting circuit makes use of a switch mode power converter to drive a solid state lighting arrangement having a lighting unit and a lighting control switch. A pulse width modulation control signal is applied to the lighting control switch for dimming control with an activation pulse during which the lighting unit is activated. The power converter delivers a triangular current waveform and the activation pulse is delayed until a predetermined point within the triangular current waveform. This ensures that the PWM pulse during which the lighting arrangement is turned on has timing which is synchronized with the timing of the switch mode power converter. The prevents beat frequencies so that visible flicker is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Bertrand Johan Edward Hontele, Theo Gerrit Zijlman, Berend Jan Willem Ter Weeme
  • Patent number: 10439639
    Abstract: A seemingly monolithic interface between separate integrated circuit die may appear to be parallel or asynchronous from the perspective of the separate integrated circuit die. The signals of the seemingly monolithic interface, however, may actually be communicated between the separate die via serial and/or synchronous communication. In one method, a number of signals stored in a first parallel interface on a first integrated circuit die may be sampled. In some cases, at least one of the signals may be sampled more often than another one of the signals. A serial signal may be generated based on sampled signals. The serial signal may be transmitted to a corresponding second parallel interface on the second integrated circuit die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: David W. Mendel, Jeffrey Erik Schulz, Keith Duwel, Huy Ngo, Jakob Raymond Jones
  • Patent number: 10306306
    Abstract: Graphics are preferably superimposed on uncompressed image data received from an external device to be transmitted to another external device. An AV amplifier 12 inserted on an HDMI transmission path between a BD player 11 and a television receiver 13 superimposes the graphics on the transmitted uncompressed image data. At that time, the AV amplifier 12 receives dynamic range conversion definition information of the uncompressed image data and generates graphics image data on the basis of the dynamic range conversion definition information to superimpose, thereby displaying the graphics with desired luminance even when dynamic range reverse conversion is performed by the television receiver 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuhisa Nakajima
  • Patent number: 10122259
    Abstract: A power conversion circuit is provided. A power level of the power conversion circuit is determined by taking a first sample of a voltage potential of a resonant capacitor at a first time. A second sample of the voltage potential of the resonant capacitor voltage is taken at a second time. An electric current is determined based on the first sample and second sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Vaclav Drda, Roman Stuler
  • Patent number: 8144078
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling brightness, color and contrast in CRT monitors used in information handling systems. In accordance with the present invention, a viewing area on a CRT monitor is enhanced by applying appropriate signals directly to the grids in the CRT. In one embodiment of the present invention, appropriate voltage signals are applied to the G1 grid of the CRT. Parameter data is provided to the CRT using a DDC2/CI data channel, with the parameter data being based on the VESA MCCS command set. Utilizing the method and apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to achieve significantly greater brightness, color and contrast control in enhanced viewing areas displayed on a CRT monitor used in an information handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventor: Joseph Edgar Goodart
  • Patent number: 8094097
    Abstract: A data line driving circuit connected to data lines includes a bit shift unit that outputs input digital data composed of a plurality of bits for defining the brightness of pixels or bit-shifts the plurality of bits to lower levels to output them, based on a control signal, and a supply unit that supplies the output digital data of the bit shift unit to a D/A conversion unit. The D/A conversion unit supplies gray-scale signals obtained by D/A converting the output digital data of the supply unit to the data lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kasai, Hiroaki Jo, Takeshi Nozawa, Hiroshi Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 7978159
    Abstract: An organic light emitting diode display device for changing a gamma reference voltage step by step in accordance with an image brightness of a current frame to reduce damage with which the organic light emitting diode and the driving transistor thereof are applied is disclosed. In the organic light emitting diode display device, a brightness detector calculates a maximum brightness value of each pixel using inputted image data of current frame. An adder adds all maximum brightness values of each pixel which are detected by the brightness detector. An average value calculator calculates an average brightness value of a current frame using an added value of maximum brightness values which are added by the adder. A gamma weight calculator calculates a gamma reference voltage weight which is set to correspond to the calculated average brightness value among predetermined gamma reference voltage weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In Hwan Kim, Seung Chan Byun, Jin Hyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 7595490
    Abstract: A method for operating a charged particle beam emitting device and, in particular, an electron beam emitting device including a cold field emitter is provided. The method includes the steps of placing the cold field emitter in a vacuum of a given pressure, the emitter exhibiting a high initial emission current I0 and a lower stable mean emission current IS under a given electric extraction field; applying the given electric extraction field to the emitter for emitting electrons from the emitter surface; performing a cleaning process by applying at least one heating pulse to the cold field emitter for heating the emitter surface, whereby the cleaning process is performed before the emission current of the cold field emitter has declined to the lower stable mean emission value IS; and repeating the cleaning process to keep the emission current of the emitter continuously above the substantially stable emission value IS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: ICT, Integrated Circuit Testing Gesellschaft fur Halbleiterpruftechnik mbH
    Inventors: Fang Zhou, Pavel Adamec, Jürgen Frosien, Jimmy Vishnipolsky
  • Patent number: 7544951
    Abstract: A device which employs an electron beam, for performing a desired function, includes an electron gun for generating the electron beam. The electron gun includes a barrel shaped rotatable structure having a plurality of annularly disposed electron sources. A curvature of a surface portion of the rotatable structure is shaped to optimize electric field concentrations. The rotatable structure further includes end portion protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney Kendall, Tomohiko Abe
  • Publication number: 20090140670
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a light beam control system includes a positive intrinsic negative diode coupled to a controller circuit. The positive intrinsic negative diode receives a portion of a light beam generated by a light source and converts the portion into a measured intensity. The controller circuit receives the measured intensity, determines an output signal according to the measured intensity and a reference, and adjusts the light beam according to the output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventor: Fred J. Reuter
  • Patent number: 7286175
    Abstract: Bias control circuitry and method for use in controlling one or more cathode ray tube (CRT) beam currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Charles Guan
  • Patent number: 6970203
    Abstract: The automatic cut-off system includes a video data processing circuit, a cut-off control circuit, a drive circuit, and a level control section. The video data processing circuit adds a cut-off reference pulse having a predetermined level to primary-color signals of red (R), green (G) and blue (B) at different timings within a single vertical blanking interval, and outputs latch timing signals respectively indicating the timings. The cut-off control circuit shifts a level of each primary-color signal having the cut-off reference pulse added thereto based on a corresponding cut-off control signal. The drive circuit drives each cathode of a CRT (cathode-ray tube) based on a corresponding one of the shifted primary-color signals, and outputs a voltage corresponding to each cathode current as a common feedback signal. The level control section latches the feedback signal in response to each latch timing signal, and outputs the cut-off control signal of one of the primary-color signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Otani, Masahiko Sasada, Nobuo Taketani, Masahiro Takeshima, Hiroshi Moribe
  • Patent number: 6937287
    Abstract: In order to reduce the total capacity of a ROM used for adjustment of the black level and the white level of a digitized luminance signal for a television receiver, for example, a comparator compares the input luminance signal with a predetermined threshold value, a NOT gate inverts the input luminance signal, a first switching unit selects the input luminance signal or the output of the NOT gate, a ROM outputs an adjustment characteristic signal responsive to the output of the first switching unit, a multiplier multiplies the output of the ROM by a weighting signal and outputs the result of the multiplication as an adjustment value, a subtractor subtracts the adjustment value from the input luminance signal, an adder adds the adjustment value to the input luminance signal, and a second switching unit selects the output of the subtractor or the output of the adder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Gai, Yoshiaki Okuno, Jun Someya, Masaki Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 6888575
    Abstract: An improved digital cut-off control loop for black level adjustment in a video processor for controlling RGB output signals. The improved circuit advantageously provides a higher resolution of the black level adjustment, and a short cut-off convergence time when the TV set is switched on. The improved circuit can also blank the RGB output when the cut-off control loop has not converged to the correct level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yann Desprez-Le Goarant, Jean-Luc Jaffard, Christian Michon
  • Publication number: 20040080286
    Abstract: The vertical/horizontal amplitude control device for controlling a vertical amplitude and a horizontal amplitude of an image display device for displaying a video signal includes a brightness level detector for detecting a brightness level of the video signal, a vertical amplitude controller for controlling the vertical amplitude based on the brightness level, and a horizontal amplitude controller for controlling the horizontal amplitude based on the brightness level. The device controls the vertical and horizontal amplitudes into constant without a delay from a change of a video signal even when the brightness level of the video signal abruptly changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroshi Moribe, Nobuo Taketani, Ryuichi Shibutani, Masahiro Takeshima, Hisao Morita, Hiroshi Ando, Koji Matsuhira
  • Publication number: 20040066155
    Abstract: Disclosed are improved beam steering and scanning devices which utilize cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) elements arranged in branches to form a logic tree structure. Each branch thereof comprises an active and passive CLC element; the former further comprising a half-wave retarder and an electrode and the latter only the CLC element. Each succeeding branch contains twice as many branches as a preceding branch and, by activating active CLC element electrodes under control of a programmable pulsed source, inputs applied to the first stage of a logic tree are delivered as a scanned line of electromagnetic energy or light to the imaging cells of the last stage of the logic tree. By stacking identical logic tree structures with a laser source for each tree, a flat panel imaging array or display panel is formed in which the transmission intensity losses are minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventor: Sadeg M. Faris
  • Patent number: 6703802
    Abstract: The invention provides a circuit for controlling a cathode ray tube. The circuit comprises a source of input color signals (Uin(R), Uin(G), Uin(B)) for the primary colors of the cathode ray tube. Output amplifiers are coupled to the source of color input signals and to electron guns of the cathode ray tube. Finally, limiting means are provided to limit the color input signals to a predetermined threshold value. In this way the output amplifiers are prevented from saturation and undesirable smears do not appear on the screen. In an advantageous embodiment the limiting means are realized by a diode biased in reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventor: Bernd Fey
  • Patent number: 6686710
    Abstract: A circuit for regulating a signal, such as a cathode current. The circuit has an input stage for inputting a signal and for producing a sense signal based thereon. The circuit may input timing signals and have a first stage for comparing a first reference signal with the sense signal when a first timing signal indicates and for outputting a first correction signal based on the comparison. The circuit may have a second stage for comparing a second reference signal with the sense signal when a second timing signal indicates and for outputting a second correction signal based on the comparison. The circuit may further have elements for measuring a leakage signal in the input signal during a third time interval. In this embodiment, the first and second stages are further for subtracting the leakage signal from the sense signal prior to the comparisons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Guan, Andrew Morrish
  • Publication number: 20040017166
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for using a multi-element field emission cathode in a color cathode ray tube. The field emission cathode may have from four to ten field emission arrays linearly arranged. The arrays are preferably formed from carbon-based material. An electron gun assembly focuses electron beams from each array on to a phosphor stripe or dot on the screen of the cathode ray tube. Deflection apparatus moves the beam from each field emission array according to clock signals. Clock signals also turn on or turn off voltage to contacts controlling electron current from the array. Values of voltage applied, determined by a video signal, determine the intensity of electron current from each array, which controls the intensity of the light emitted by each color stripe or dot of phosphor on the phosphor screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: Extreme Devices Incorporated
    Inventors: Byron G. Zollars, John J. Lorr, Kent R. Kalar
  • Patent number: 6674253
    Abstract: A video signal is split into a first signal and a second signal. The first signal includes low amplitude/high frequency components of the video signal, which can be properly amplified by a video amplifier. The second signal includes high amplitude/high frequency components of the video signal, which cannot be properly amplified by the video amplifier. The first signal is combined with the video signal, amplified by the video amplifier, and used to modulate the intensity of an electron beam. The second signal is amplified by a scan velocity modulation amplifier and used to modulate the horizontal scan velocity of the electron beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Zilog, Inc.
    Inventor: Anatoliy V. Tsyrganovich
  • Patent number: 6633142
    Abstract: A cathode ray tube is provided having an electron gun equipped with a main lens having a function of controlling a shape of an electron beam spot which is deflected to the peripheral portion of a display screen, to improve a resolution at the peripheral portion of the screen of the cathode ray tube for use in a direct view color television receiver or a color display terminal. To reduce the dynamic correction voltage of the electron gun, an electrostatic quadrupole lens with a simple structure is used, thereby reducing deterioration due to the deflection aberration of the electron beam spot at the peripheral portion of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Shirai, Kenichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6580233
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cathode ray tube and a intensity controlling method achieving a reduced amount of factors for correcting intensity prepared and capable of performing proper intensity control so that the joint portion of split picture planes is inconspicuous from a viewpoint of intensity. With respect to the direction of overlapping a plurality of split picture planes, only correction factors at representative signal levels are pre-stored as a basic factor table. Any of the factors at the other signal levels is obtained by performing an interpolating operation using the basic factors in the basic factor table. The value of the signal level of a video signal referred to when the correction factor in the overlapping direction is obtained is changed by using a shift factor associated with the pixel position in the direction orthogonal to the overlapping direction. The basic factor is thereby changed according to the pixel position in the orthogonal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Nakanishi, Masamichi Okada
  • Patent number: 6563276
    Abstract: A CRT display apparatus capable of displaying images in high contrast and high brightness without causing noises and halftone-reproduction degradation within dark areas is disclosed. The apparatus includes a circuit for generating an R-control signal, a G-control signal and a B-control signal by removing, from each of the R-, G- and B-video signals, portions which are below a predetermined level in amplitude, an amplification circuit for inverting and amplifying the R-, G- and B-control signals, and a selection circuit for selecting, for each of the three G1 electrodes, either a corresponding one of the R-, G- and B-control signals inverted and amplified by the amplification circuit or a potential of a predetermined value in accordance with an instruction from an outside, and applying each of the three G1 electrodes with a selected one of the corresponding one of the R-, G- and B-control signals and the potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akinori Heishi, Hironobu Yasui, Tetsuya Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6545717
    Abstract: A display system (10) which includes a CRT feedback current simulating circuit (20) to simulate the cathode feedback current directly from the from the red, green and blue output biases of the video processor (13). Furthermore, the display system (10) applies blanking to the references pulses applied to the CRT output driving stage (16) so that the reference pulses will not be visible during a vertical underscanned condition. Shifting the generation of the cathode feedback current prior to the application of the blanking prevents any significant distortion, modification or skewing of the cathode feedback current sensed by the AKB sensing circuitry (19) of the video processor (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: William G. Miller, Mark Laramie, Gregg Keck
  • Patent number: 6528958
    Abstract: The invention relates to a display device comprising a cathode ray tube including an electron source and an electron beam guidance cavity having an entrance aperture and an exit aperture for concentrating electrons emitted from the cathode in an electron beam. Furthermore, the cathode ray tube comprises a first electrode which is connectable to a first power supply for applying, in operation, an electric field with a first field strength E1 between the cathode and the exit aperture. &dgr;1 and E1 have values, which allow electron transport through the electron beam guidance cavity. Furthermore, a modulating means positioned between the cathode and the exit aperture is present for modulating a beam current to the display screen. According to the invention, the display device is provided with switching means for preventing the electron beam from passing through the exit aperture in a blanking period and for passing the electron beam through the exit aperture in a display period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Jozef Johannes Maria Hulshof, Frederik Christiaan Gehring
  • Patent number: 6512340
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes a temperature sensor with current mode output utilized within a cathode ray tube (CRT)-based display system for providing thermal protection to a CRT driver. Specifically, the current mode output temperature sensor of the present embodiment is implemented with the CRT driver of the CRT display system. Furthermore, the temperature sensor has a current sink output that is connected to an Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL) circuit of the CRT display. The current sink of the temperature sensor operates in a manner similar to an “OR gate” with the CRT anode current. As such, when the CRT driver temperature rises above a threshold temperature, the current mode output temperature sensor sinks a current and activates the ABL circuit. As a result, the video amplitude of the CRT driver is reduced and its temperature is stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Hon Kin Chiu
  • Patent number: 6512339
    Abstract: In a CRT display device including a CRT (MM tube) having brightness higher than that in the background-art CRT, it is an object of the present invention to improve contrast and prevent conspicuous recognition of noises. A video signal modulation circuit (10) modulates a video signal (9) (first video signal) into a second video signal having a signal level in an area of low gradation level lower than a signal level of the first video signal. A cathode bias voltage source (7) generates a driving voltage on the basis of the second video signal. It is therefore possible to keep the driving voltage in the area of low gradation level low and reduce brightness in the area of low gradation level of a CRT (1). As a result, noises of an image in the area of low gradation level are not conspicuously recognized and a contrast value is increased, resulting in improvement in image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitomo Nakamura, Haruo Shigematsu, Akinori Heishi, Hironobu Yasui
  • Patent number: 6495978
    Abstract: A cutoff adjustment method of a CRT using a Hi-Gm tube is proposed as well as a problem that luminance of a display screen is changed by a fluctuation of a Gm voltage to be applied to a Gm electrode in relation to fluctuations of currents flowing into the Gm electrode and a G2 electrode is solved. On this occasion, the cutoff adjustment method of the Hi-Gm tube sets such that a Gm voltage value of a Gm electrode voltage source and a black level bias voltage value applied to a cathode for displaying a black level agree with each other. Further, the CRT display device having the Hi-Gm tube is constituted such that it is provided with a voltage detection circuit in an output side of the Gm electrode voltage source for measuring a fluctuation of an output voltage from the Gm electrode voltage source to keep the Gm voltage constant by a feedback from the voltage detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hironobu Yasui, Akinori Heishi
  • Patent number: 6479952
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a CRT, the CRT including an electron gun having a cathode, a G1 electrode, a G2 electrode, and a G3 electrode disposed in that order to draw electrons from the cathode. The electron gun further has a modulating Gm electrode disposed between the G2 and G3 electrodes. The display apparatus is provided with a controller for controlling a value of a voltage applied to the Gm electrode to adjust brightness of a picture on a screen of the CRT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hironobu Yasui, Akinori Heishi
  • Patent number: 6456019
    Abstract: A method and a apparatus are provided for operating an E-beam system including an E-beam source for generating an E-beam directed along a column axis and an electrode aligned with the column axis direct the E-beam towards means for measuring the E-beam. A signal proportional to leakage current emitted from the E-beam is generated. When the result of a comparison with a desired value is excessive, an excess leakage signal is generated. The excess leakage signal can be provided as an emergency output signal and/or produce an OFF signal for stopping production of the E-beam by turning OFF voltage/power sources for producing the E-beam in response to the excess leakage signal. Preferably, a filament is heated by an electric current and a cathode is bombarded with electrons from the filament to produce the E-beam. Then a filament control signal is employed for controlling the filament heating current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Stuart Gordon, Samuel Kay Doran
  • Patent number: 6388403
    Abstract: A process for color adjustment of a color monitor including a cathode-ray tube and a brightness adjustment module includes providing a nominal brightness signal downstream of a white level adjustment module for adjusting a white level and upstream of a black level adjustment module for adjusting a black level. The process also includes setting a voltage required to obtain a black color image, setting a voltage required to obtain a white color image, providing the nominal brightness signal upstream of the white level adjustment module, and setting the voltage required to obtain the black color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Blanc
  • Publication number: 20020047669
    Abstract: A tracking index cathode ray tube circuit is described, comprising tracking means connected to a shadowmaskless tracking cathode ray tube for deriving a tracking signal therefrom, where the tracking means comprises a modulator demodulator circuit. The tracking signal from the CRT tube is thus modulated, AC coupled to a low voltage and demodulated to obtain a baseband tracking signal for use as a control signal for the electron beam spots on the screen of the CRT tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Applicant: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Petrus Johannes Gerardus Van Lieshout, Adrianus Sempel, Pieter Johannes Engelaar
  • Patent number: 6369527
    Abstract: A vertical blanking amplifier and bias clamp boost supply in accordance with the present invention uses the amplified vertical blanking signal to generate the boosted high voltage needed for powering the bias clamp circuits. A latch circuit is used to effectively lengthen the duration of the first vertical blanking pulse so as to ensure that the boosted power supply voltage is generated in the short time interval of one or two vertical scan intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Morrish
  • Patent number: 6329770
    Abstract: Unintentional emissions are controlled responsive to the spectral content of the display signal. A video display apparatus comprises a cathode ray tube for video image display. A processor controls a magnitude of a video image display signal coupled to the cathode ray tube for display in response to an emission control signal. A generating means is coupled to the processor for generating the emission control signal responsive to a component of the video image display signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Owen Allender, Dal Frank Griepentrog, Brian Jonathan Cromarty
  • Patent number: 6313878
    Abstract: A hardware-implemented screen-saver prevents burn-in of an image displayed on a screen of a display product by automatically reducing the video gain, and therefore the contrast, of the image when the portion of the image within a two-dimensional detection window has changed by less than a predetermined amount for a predetermined period of time. A lack of change of the incoming video signal of the image is detected and used to invoke a reduction in contrast of the image displayed on the display product. This allows the image to remain visible, yet reduces the possibility of burn-in of the image in the screen of the display product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Joseph Jankowiak
  • Publication number: 20010022500
    Abstract: Openings 2C01 and 2C03, which are formed by dividing pins 531 and 5033, are formed on a side section 2C of a horizontal deflection coil 2 within a range of 20 to 35% of a length of the horizontal deflection coil 2 from a larger diameter flange 2B and within an angle of 10 to 25 degrees to an X-axis. Other openings 2C02 and 2C04, which are formed by dividing pins 5032 and 5034, are formed on the side section 2C of the horizontal deflection coil 2 within a range of 55 to 70% of a length of the horizontal deflection coil 2 from the larger diameter flange 2B and within an angle of 25 to 40 degrees to the X-axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Applicant: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Nozawa, Manabu Asayama
  • Patent number: 6288690
    Abstract: A video control circuit controls the gains for red(R), green(G), and blue(B) color video signals inputted to a monitor, the brightness and contrast of a video display on the monitor, and the bias of a cathode ray tube within the monitor. A microcomputer outputs, in an I2C manner, data for a control signal for controlling contrast, brightness, gain and/or bias. The data are inputted to an I2C data process/PWM signal generation section which converts the data to PWM signal outputs. Rectification sections rectify the PWM signal outputs to provide contrast, brightness, gain and cutoff voltage signals. Only two output terminals of the microcomputer are employed for outputting a clock signal and the data for the control signal so as to control contrast, brightness, gain and bias control signals according to output signals of the variable resistors VR11 and VR12 and a bias/grain control section. A clock signal is generated by the microcomputer in synchronization with the data DATA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ho Jin Byun
  • Patent number: 6285401
    Abstract: Display apparatus includes a kinescope cathode current sensor (18) coupled to a load (200) for developing a beam current measurement pulse during a beam current measurement interval. Overshoots in the pulses are suppressed by a pulse correction circuit (300) comprising a first capacitor (Ca) coupled from the load circuit (200) to a source of reference potential (Gr) via a switch (Q300); and a control circuit (Ca, Ra, Rb), responsive to the presence of the overshoot, for closing the switch for a predetermined length of time and for opening the switch otherwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventor: Dal Frank Griepentrog
  • Publication number: 20010017522
    Abstract: A shadowmaskless tracking cathode ray tube control circuit is described, comprising a control loop, which is coupled to a deflection unit of a shadowmaskless tracking cathode ray tube. The shadowmaskless tracking cathode ray tube control circuit further comprises a loop gain control means for compensating the loop gain of the control loop in dependence on the inverse value of the beam current in the shadowmaskless tracking cathode ray tube. The effect is that a constant loop gain is created, which is independent of the beam current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventor: Petrus Johannes Gerardus Van Lieshout
  • Patent number: 6262543
    Abstract: An oscilloscope intensity regulation apparatus is disclosed. The oscilloscope displays wave-forms with the regulated intensity in spite of various wave-form repetition rates or sweep ranges. The scope has a CCD sensor 11 on a CRT 10. The CCD output 28 is applied to a video circuit 12 delivering a video signal 29. The CPU 4 instructs an intensity of an electron beam to a Z-axis circuit 8 and an AGC (automatic gain control) revision signal 27 to a AGC circuit 13 in accordance with an intensity input signal 21. The AGC circuit 13 controls its gain for amplifying a video signal 29 from the CCD 11 via the video circuit 12. When the video signal 29 is small in its amplitude, the AGC circuit 13 has a large gain. When the video signal 29 is large, the circuit 13 has a small gain. Therefore, an intensity of wave-forms being displayed is regulated in the intensity desired, in spite of various repetition rates of the wave-forms or sweep velocities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Iwatsu Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Ozawa, Kikutada Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6259216
    Abstract: A cathode ray tube is described having at least one electron gun including a cathode, a control grid, and a focusing unit, and a strip made of electrically conductive material applied to the cathode ray tube in parallel to the outer coating of the tube and connected to ground potential. Means and measures are provided to eliminate harmful effects of high-voltage sparkovers. The cathode ray tube may be is used, for example, in monitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Eckhardt, Klaus Burkhardt
  • Patent number: 6226037
    Abstract: An AKB interface apparatus in a display system (10), includes a video signal processing IC (12) having outputs coupled via respective kinescope driver ICs (18,20,22) to respective kinescope cathodes (K1,K2,K3) for display of a color image, the signal processing IC having an input 27 for receiving an AKB input signal, the driver ICs having respective outputs (28,30,32) providing respective cathode current indicating signals (RP,GP,BP) An interface circuit (100) couples the cathode current indicating signals to the AKB input of the signal processing IC. The interface circuit comprises a load circuit (110) for generating a load voltage (Vo) in response to at least one of the cathode current indicating signals. A leakage correction circuit (130), responsive to said load voltage (Vo), feeds back a leakage correction current (Io) to the load circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventor: Dal Frank Griepentrog
  • Patent number: 6215259
    Abstract: An apparatus for compensating for corner focus and brightness in a CRT improves compensation efficiency for corner focus and brightness regardless of the dimensions of the CRT and minimizes the manufacturing cost and power consumption. The apparatus for compensating for corner focus and brightness in a CRT includes a CRT, a parabola signal generator for generating a parabola signal from input vertical and horizontal driving pulses, a fly back transformer for supplying high voltage of parabola waveform to an anode electrode of the CRT, an adder for adding the parabola signal of the parabola signal generator and a feedback voltage from the fly back transformer, an error amplifier for amplifying error components of an output voltage of the adder and a reference voltage, and a +B converter for converting the output of the error amplifier to a direct current voltage level required to operate the fly back transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Kwang Ho Park
  • Patent number: 6211629
    Abstract: The cut-off level (Vcod) of a drive signal (Vd) of a cathode ray tube (3) is (Ib1, Ib2) occurring at these two levels (Vd1, Vd2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Dirk J. A. Teuling, John H. P. Moors
  • Patent number: 6208094
    Abstract: A multiplexed video amplifier circuit includes a video preamplifier and a bias/brightness circuit the output of both being coupled to a switch. The video preamplifier provides a video signal, the bias/brightness circuit provides a DC bias signal, and the switch selectively couples to the output of either the video preamplifier or the bias/brightness circuit. In this way, the switch alternately receives the video signal and the DC bias signal and combines them to provide a single multiplexed video signal with both video and DC bias signal data. This multiplexed video signal is sent to a clamp amplifier and a video amplifier, both of which compare the magnitude of the multiplexed video signal with a reference signal. When the magnitude of the multiplexed video signal transcends the reference signal in a first direction, for example is lower than the reference signal, the clamp amplifier provides the DC bias signal to an external circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Andy Morrish
  • Patent number: 6204882
    Abstract: Recent circuit concepts inject measurement lines, for cutoff and drive control of the cathode current, into each color channel during the vertical frame blanking period. Owing to the physically dependent exponential beam current characteristic profile as a function of the cathode control voltage VK, the exponent &ggr; of the characteristic profile and the ratio of two cathode components IK1 and IK2 may be used to form control reference values for cutoff and drive control, this process being started in each case from a fixed value of the exponent &ggr; or of the ratio of the two cathode currents IK1 and Ik2. However, it has been found that, if a fixed value is assumed for the exponent &ggr; or for the ratio of the two cathode currents IK1 and IK2, it is not possible to achieve an optimum result for displaying monochrome pictures. Thus, according to the invention, the exponent &ggr; is defined as a function of the color tube 1. The aim in this case is to reduce a &ggr;-dependent DC voltage offset u0f to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Sowig
  • Patent number: 6137245
    Abstract: A control grid voltage generating circuit comprises a high voltage source, a low voltage source and an amplifier biased by the high/low voltage sources. The high voltage source is coupled to the ground through a low-impedance path. The amplifier receives an input signal and generates a control grid voltage in response to the input signal. When the CRT is powered off, the amplifier can be rapidly discharged via the low-impedance path, thereby speedily turning off the amplifier. The control grid voltage is then driven to be the low reference voltage, thereby cutting off the electron beam and protecting the CRT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Acer Communications and Multimedia Inc.
    Inventor: Chang-Fa Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6069660
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically stabilizing the black level of a displayed picture when (1) an automatic black level stabilizing function is OFF, (2) black level error occurs between at an ON state and at an OFF state and (3) black level variation and picture disturbance occurs during activation and deactivation of the automatic black level stabilizer. Black level variations when the automatic black level stabilizer are OFF is controlled by processing a cathode current in a negative feedback loop and controlling a CRT grid voltage, storing a divided grid voltage during a converging period and processing the grid voltage in another negative feedback loop in order to adjust the grid voltage to an ON state value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Sato
  • Patent number: 6040664
    Abstract: In a television receiver, a higher beam current is enabled and a brighter image is provided, without adversely effecting the life of the cathode ray tube or endangering the high-tension transformer. The high-tension transformer includes a temperature sensor which acts with a control circuit for reducing the beam current when the temperature of the transformer rises above a specific temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Deutsche-Thompson Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Dieterle, Martin Laufer
  • Patent number: 5994841
    Abstract: A circuit apparatus and method is disclosed for determining the actual beam current of a display device having at least one cathode and that actual beam current is used to both correctly bias a voltage that drives the display device and determine the actual drive voltage according to a desired beam current. At periodic intervals, according to the invention, a series of test voltages in known relation to one another are applied to the display device, and measured cathode currents corresponding to the applied voltages are stored in appropriate memory elements of an correction unit. If at least two of the test voltages is selected to result in a black level, and at least one of the test voltages is selected to result in a white level beam current then the correction unit can precisely determine actual beam current through application of a mathematical relationship between test voltage an measured beam current which takes into account a leakage current between a cathode and a first grid of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Allen, Paul DeLucia