Light-emitting Diodes Patents (Class 345/46)
  • Patent number: 7474287
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a time delay mechanism in electrical connection with a power source for time shifting at least a portion of a power signal outputted by the power source and a plurality of light emitting units formed by at least a light emitting diode (LED)structure, each light emitting unit being driven alternately and sequentially using the power source and the time delay mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology
    Inventors: Enboa Wu, Ming Lu, Geoffrey Wan Tai Shuy
  • Patent number: 7466081
    Abstract: An emergency lighting with an electrical illuminant (DL1, DL2, DL3), which, as a power supply drops below a predeterminable value, can be connected to an energy source that can be charged from the power supply by means of a charging connection, for example, by means of an electronic switch (T1), where the energy source consists of at least one high-capacity storage condenser (CS; CS1, CS2) and where light-emitting diodes can be provided as illuminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens AG Österreich
    Inventor: Harald Schweigert
  • Patent number: 7463224
    Abstract: Each pixel in a display device includes an emissive element, a driver transistor, a control transistor, and a control capacitor. The driver transistor is provided between the emissive element and a power supply and controls supply of power from the power supply to the emissive element. The control transistor is connected between a constant voltage power supply and a gate of the driver transistor, receives a digital data signal on a gate, and controls whether or not to fix a gate voltage of the driver transistor. The control capacitor is connected between a control line and the gate of the driver transistor. The gate voltage of the driver transistor is shifted to a voltage corresponding to a control pulse signal when the control transistor is off and is non-fixed during a light emission period defined by the control pulse signal applied to the control line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiichi Sano
  • Patent number: 7458691
    Abstract: Described is an optical device for combining multiple light sources in an optical projection system. One embodiment of the optical device includes at least two light sources having first and second wavelengths, and an optical element for substantially diffracting the first and second wavelengths of the two light sources and combining them into a single beam of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Walter M. Duncan
  • Publication number: 20080291121
    Abstract: A low cost, low power consuming display for a solid state depth locator is provided. The display has no moving parts yet provides a real-time output indicative of the depth, size and density of targets in a body of water using colored LCDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventor: Duane E. Cummings
  • Patent number: 7453419
    Abstract: An edge lighting system has a plurality of light sources, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted at spaced-apart intervals along a rail that is disposed adjacent to an edge of a display surface. Orifices formed in the rail in which the light sources are inserted are sized to enable each light source to move freely into contact with the edge of the display surface when urged by a force provided by a compressed elastomeric member to provide a uniform illumination as the light is internally reflected in the material comprising the display surface. The light sources extend beyond a concave (parabolic) surface on the rail that reflects light from the light sources into the edge. Any object approaching the display surface is illuminated by the light being conveyed within the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Dawson Yee, Thomas D. Mehlhaff
  • Patent number: 7450311
    Abstract: Optical display systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Luminus Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexei A. Erchak, Eleftrios Lidorikis, John W. Graff
  • Patent number: 7441415
    Abstract: A bracelet includes at least one electronic display unit. Each display unit has a display having a plurality of display elements arranged in a sequence lying along the length of the bracelet and/or arranged in a sequence lying substantially around the perimeter of the display. The bracelet has a control circuit to control the display elements so that the characters displayed by the display elements appear to move along the sequence of display elements with time. In the alternative, the characters appear to move along a discrete face which is provided along the bracelet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Inventor: Philip John Radley-Smith
  • Patent number: 7417608
    Abstract: An organic LED (OLED) display device and an operating method of driving the same. In an OLED image display device, one switch transistor is provided in one pixel. For at least a part of an OFF period of time of the switch transistor, the OLED is in the non-light emission state, and also the bias of the polarity reverse to that in the light emission is applied to the OLED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kaneko, Takayuki Ouchi, Nobuaki Kabuto, Toshihiro Sato
  • Publication number: 20080186256
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for simulating an operating television for the purpose of deterring potential intruders by providing the appearance that one or more occupants are at home. Realistic simulation of a television is accomplished via perceived random combinations, amplitudes, colors, and durations of television program scene modes, these scene modes comprised of fades, swells, flicks, and static periods. Efficient, reliable, and inexpensive super-bright LEDs serve as light sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventor: Blaine Clifford Readler
  • Patent number: 7408308
    Abstract: To realize an LED drive circuit capable of feeding equal currents to parallel-connected LED circuits with a simple arrangement, there are provided a current source generating a temporally altering current and a first smoothing capacitor and a second smoothing capacitor, and there are also provided: a first LED circuit, containing one LED or series-connected LEDs, which is connected in parallel with the first smoothing capacitor; and a second LED circuit, containing one LED or series-connected LEDs, which is connected in parallel with the second smoothing capacitor, the drive circuit comprising: a current-dividing coil containing two coils coupled at a tap so that the current generated in the current source flows into the tap; a first reverse current blocking diode connected between an end of the current-dividing coil and an electrode of the first smoothing capacitor; and a second reverse current blocking diode connected between another end of the current-dividing coil and an electrode of the second smoothing
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Sawada, Takayuki Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20080136796
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for maintaining displayed imagery stationary relative to the physical surroundings when the imagery is displayed on a display device which moves (e.g., translates and/or rotates) relative to the physical surroundings. To maintain an image's position relative to the physical surroundings, the position of the display device may be directly measured or otherwise tracked, and the position of the imagery as displayed on the display device adjusted accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions
    Inventor: Kevin J. Dowling
  • Patent number: 7372441
    Abstract: A circuit is provided for over-driving a super-luminescent light emitting diode having a maximum forward continuous current rating. A power supply provides a pulse width modulated signal to an analog memory connected to the power supply and a pulse generator. The pulse generator includes a window comparator engaged with the analog memory, and is responsive to a portion of the pulse width modulated signal. A power driver that is controlled by the output of the pulse generator, is operably connected with the super-luminescent light emitting diode and with the power supply so as to energize the super-luminescent light emitting diode with a current that is above the maximum forward continuous current rating by between two and ten times that rated current. A signal is also provided along with a method of over-driving a super-luminescent light emitting diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Trafcon Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Gallagher, Matthew Johnson, Timothy Zink
  • Patent number: 7372430
    Abstract: A light emitting device including a plurality of pieces of LEDs D01, D02 to D16, one or more driving circuit(s) for supplying the plurality of LEDs D01, D02 to D16 with electrical power, the number of the driving circuit(s) being less than the number of the LEDs D01, D02 to D16, one or more multiplexer(s) being between the plurality of LEDs D01, D02 to D16 and each of the one or more driving circuit(s), a storage member for storing an image data, and a main control unit for letting the plurality of LEDs emit light by outputting a control signal to each of the multiplexer(s) based on the image data, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Nittoh Kogaku K.K.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20080106493
    Abstract: A laser image projector display system (200) includes laser operating electronics (208, 210, 212, 400, 500, 700) that selectively operates a laser diode at a bias that is low enough to save energy based on analysis pixel brightness values. The laser bias may be high enough that laser can be transitioned to a lasing state in time to display a pixel, or the system can “look ahead” into a stream of pixels and adjust the bias in advance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Lach, Tomasz L. Klosowiak, Zili Li, George T. Valliath, Dmitry Voloschenko, Min-Xian M. Zhang
  • Patent number: 7350942
    Abstract: The invention relates to a display apparatus, particularly to structure of LED display modules. The invention could be implemented through a LED matrix display module with high luminance area ratio comprising an injection molding unit and a printing board fitted therewith, wherein, LEDs are regularly arranged in a matrix on said printing board, and each pixel dot is correspondingly provided with a reflecting cavity on said molding unit, with the reflecting cavity expanding gradually from the inside section (close to the display surface). The circumference of the inside section of the reflecting cavity forms a closed and smooth circular curve. The invention is characterized in that, the circumference of the outside section of the reflecting cavity forms a closed and smooth curve which is a square with round corners, and the side face of the reflecting cavity is a smooth and cured surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Shanghai Sansi Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bishou Chen, Yinghua Wang, Peng Wang, Xiaoliang He
  • Publication number: 20080074348
    Abstract: An apparatus for driving an LED includes a power conversion module and a protection module. The power conversion module shifts the potential of an input voltage upward or downward according to a duty cycle of a PWM signal, and outputs a driving signal to drive the LED. In addition, the protection module determines a state of a protection signal to control the operation of the power conversion module according to the potential of the driving signal. When the potential of the driving is greater than a first preset value and smaller than a second preset value, the power conversion module is controlled to stop outputting the driving signal. When the potential of the driving signal is not greater than the first preset value and not smaller than the second preset value, the power conversion module is controlled operating normally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: BEYOND INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chin-Fa Kao
  • Publication number: 20080068298
    Abstract: A constant power DC light emitting diode (LED) driving system and method is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of LED, a DC voltage source for LED current generation, and a constant-voltage and constant-current regulator for constant luminance control. A method and a redundancy circuit thereof for LED current detouring and LED luminance maintenance are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: VastView Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhren Shen, Hung-Chi Chu, Chun-Chi Chen, Yu-Hsien Chang
  • Publication number: 20080062070
    Abstract: LED brightness compensation system and method to account for aging and/or temperature effects on LED brightness. The system includes one or more LEDs and a circuit coupled to the LEDs to maintain substantially constant LED brightness based on determined operating characteristics of the LEDs. The circuit includes an LED brightness controller for controlling the current running through the LEDs and a brightness compensation controller for directing the LED brightness controller to compensate for aging and/or temperature. The method includes: storing adjustment information in a memory unit; energizing one or more LEDs with an electric current; accumulating the operating time; sensing the operating temperature of the LEDs; and adjusting the current supplied to the LEDs based on the stored adjustment information, the accumulated time the LEDs have been energized, and the operating temperature of the LEDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard De Oto, Thomas E. Clary
  • Publication number: 20080062071
    Abstract: A shift register and an organic light emitting display using the same with a simplified design of a shift register having high reliance, and reduced dead space includes a plurality of stages dependently connected to a start pulse input line, each of the stages including: a voltage level controller to control voltage levels of first and second output nodes according to a start pulse or an output signal of a previous stage and a second clock signal; a control capacitor coupled between the first output node and an input line of a first clock signal; a first transistor coupled between a first power supply and a third output node and including a gate electrode coupled to the first output node; and a second transistor coupled between the third output node and an input line of the third clock signal and including a gate electrode coupled to the second output node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin Tae JEONG
  • Publication number: 20080055196
    Abstract: In a high luminance area having a target luminance L of not lower than a preset reference luminance L0, the light emitting element driver of the invention adopts a direct current drive mode and enables the function of a constant current driving circuit to drive an LED or light emitting diode. In a low luminance area having the target luminance L of lower than the preset reference luminance L0, on the other hand, the light emitting element driver adopts a pulse width modulation drive mode and enables the function of a pulse width modulation driving circuit to drive the LED. This control procedure enables the luminance adjustment by the pulse width modulation drive control in the low luminance area, while ensuring the high power efficiency by the direct current drive control in the high luminance area. The advantage of this arrangement simultaneously satisfies both the luminance adjustment in a wide range including the low luminance area and the high power efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eiji Izumida
  • Publication number: 20080048933
    Abstract: The present invention provides a display device capable of automatically adjusting display orientation and the display segment arrangement thereof. The display device is provided for an electronic product. The display device includes: a segment display device, a position detection device and a decoding circuit. The segment display device has plural display segments arranged on the electronic device. The position detection device is arranged on the electronic product for generating a first status signal or a second status signal based on the electronic product being positioned horizontally or vertically. The decoding circuit connects to the segment display device and the position detection device for receiving a numerical signal and displaying the numerical signal on the segment display device based on the first status signal or second status signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Fou-Ming Liou, Yu-Liang Liu
  • Patent number: 7324099
    Abstract: In an image display device according to the present invention, means for selecting a pixel to which a display signal current is to be passed has a function of selecting a plurality of pixels simultaneously. Thus, high-precision display can be realized with a number of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Akimoto, Toshihiro Satou, Hiroshi Kageyama
  • Patent number: 7319440
    Abstract: A novel OLED light source and method for controlling said OLED light source panel are disclosed wherein said light source is constructed such that active areas are segmented and said segments are separately addressable. In one embodiment, the segments are a series of RGB lines or stripes and the control unit may separately drive each individual stripe or may drive all separate color lines or may drive separate lines within a given region on the panel. In another embodiment, the stripes of the panel are connected to control lines that are either current limited or have a fuse that serves to obviate a current runaway condition on the panel. In another embodiment, the output light chromaticity of the panel is controlled either by users or by light sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Homer Antoniadis, Karl Pichler
  • Patent number: 7310074
    Abstract: A DMX512 signal source distributor and a loader for a plurality of LED controllers can control LED devices such as an LED board. The DMX512 signal source distributor includes a UART, an MCU connecting to a memory, and a DMX512 encoder chip connecting to a memory. The UART is connected with a personal computer and the MCU, and the UART also can provide a wireless transmission function. The DMX512 encoder chip is further connected to several differential drivers. A loader includes a UART, a MCU connecting to a memory, a keyboard, and an LCM. The signal controllers are controlled by the DMX512 signal source distributor and the loader. The LED controllers can be modulized, which not only can work alone, but also can be combined into a complex system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Artled Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Chih-Hsiung Chen
  • Publication number: 20070279322
    Abstract: A numeric display, comprising a matrix having nominally m columns by n rows, a plurality of light emitting diodes populating at least some of the matrix, first and second void areas within the matrix wherein respective first and second subsets of the m columns by the n rows are devoid of light emitting diodes, and a controller coupled to the plurality of light emitting diodes and configured to select a one of a plurality of fonts. The controller is further configured to energize a third variable subset of the m columns by the n rows for at least one of a set of cardinal numerals, wherein the third variable subset is chosen from the one of the plurality of fonts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: FutureMedia Displays, Inc.
    Inventors: David Good, Arnon Z. Wilson, Joe Wilson
  • Patent number: 7298347
    Abstract: The image quality of a display device using a bottom gate TFT is improved. In particular, fluctuation in luminance is controlled and the frequency characteristic of a driver circuit is compensated by suppressing a change in amount of current flowing through an EL element which is caused by a change in surrounding temperature while the device is in use. A monitoring EL element is provided in addition to a pixel portion EL element. The monitoring EL element constitutes a temperature compensation circuit together with a buffer amplifier and the like. A current is supplied to the pixel portion EL element through the temperature compensation circuit. This makes it possible to keep the amount of current flowing through the pixel portion EL element constant against a change in temperature, and to control the fluctuation in luminance. An input signal is subjected to time base expansion to perform sampling with accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama, Kazue Hosoki
  • Patent number: 7292210
    Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit for driving a flat panel display, including a storage capacitor, a transmission gate and a current-limiting transistor. A first terminal of the storage capacitor is coupled to a system voltage, and a second terminal of the storage capacitor is at storage voltage. A first input/output terminal of the transmission gate is coupled to the storage voltage, and the second input/output terminal of the transmission gate is coupled to the data current source. A first gate terminal of the transmission gate is coupled to the first signal; a second gate terminal of the transmission gate is coupled to the second signal. A gate terminal of the current-limiting transistor is coupled to the storage voltage, wherein a first source/drain terminal is coupled to the system voltage, and a second source/drain terminal provides current for driving the flat panel display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventor: Wein-Town Sun
  • Patent number: 7286108
    Abstract: A liquid crystal panel (2) includes scanning signal lines (31) for supplying scanning signals to gate electrodes (20) of TFTs (14), and data signal lines (32) for supplying data signals to data electrodes (24) of TFTs. The liquid crystal panel further includes auxiliary capacitive electrode pads (27a) for use in forming auxiliary capacitance and an auxiliary capacitive lines (33) so as not to generate a capacitive bond with the scanning signal lines. The liquid crystal panel is driven at a rewriting frequency of a screen of not more than 30 Hz. As a result, the liquid crystal panel can be driven at a low consumption power while maintaining a desirable display quality of the liquid crystal panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Tsuda, Masahiro Shimizu, Hisakazu Nakamura, Kouji Kumada, Takashige Ohta
  • Patent number: 7273286
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention can provide a display device capable of providing stable light control with simplified control and structure. A display device can include light sources in which light control can be performed by controlling the operating conditions. The light sources can include a plurality of lamps having light-emitting diodes (LEDs), respectively. The display device can further include an outside-air temperature sensor that measures the temperature outside the casing in which the plurality of lamps are disposed, and a light-source control unit that controls the operating conditions of the lamps on the basis of the measurement of the outside-air temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomo Ikebe, Hiroyuki Hosaka
  • Patent number: 7262758
    Abstract: A display apparatus for producing colored pixelated light includes a backlight unit for providing a pump-beam light. The apparatus also includes a microcavity light-producing array responsive to pump-beam light and having pixels wherein each pixel including a transparent substrate, a bottom dielectric stack reflective to light over a predetermined range of wavelengths, an active region responsive to pump-beam light for producing display light, and a top dielectric stack spaced from the bottom dielectric stack and reflective to light over a predetermined range of wavelengths. The apparatus further includes a light shutter for permitting selected display light from the microcavity light-producing array to pass therethrough, a polarizing layer disposed between the microcavity light-producing array and the light shutter, and a beam expander disposed over the light shutter for increasing the angular cone of view of the display light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Keith B. Kahen, Erica N. Montbach
  • Publication number: 20070171147
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for representing gradation are provided. The apparatus for representing gradation comprises a diode which emits light with an intensity which is proportional to the current flowing therethrough, a gradation representation unit that is connected in series to the diode and includes a plurality of switches connected in parallel, and a gray controller which receives a video signal and turns on a number of switches corresponding to a gray level of the video signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jin-gil Jeong
  • Patent number: 7233325
    Abstract: A structure and a method for reducing source line resistance of a light emitting diode. A light emitting diode display has at least a light emitting diode, a power source and a power source line structure for guiding the power source to provide the required power for driving the light emitting diode. The structure for reducing the source line resistance has an insulation layer formed on at least a part of the source line structure. The insulation layer has at least two openings exposing the source line structure. A conductive layer is formed to cover the insulation layer and is in electrical contact with the source line structure through the openings. Thereby, the conductive layer and the source line are connected in parallel, and the resistance of the source line is thus reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jen-Yi Hu, Wein-Town Sun
  • Patent number: 7212193
    Abstract: A method for driving a display is provided which is capable of reducing current consumption. In the method above, a scanning frequency in a self-emissive display is changed based on a display content to be displayed in the self-emissive display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Ueda
  • Patent number: 7161567
    Abstract: A mold part formed of a light transmitting material having a high refractive index is molded in a concave-shaped reflecting member, and a light emitting element such as an LED chip or the like is inserted in the center of the mold part. A circular direct emitting portion is provided at the center of a front face of the mold part, a ring-shaped total reflecting portion is provided around it, and a slanted total reflecting portion is provided between the direct emitting portion and total reflecting portion. Thereby, the uniformity of front face luminance with a simple structure in a light emitting device provided with a reflecting member on a back face of a mold part is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Homma, Takahiro Ayabe, Hironobu Kiyomoto
  • Patent number: 7142173
    Abstract: A visual display device is constructed which uses the “persistence of vision” effect of human vision and responds to kinetic motions of the user as the device is held and swung by an operator. Displays may consist of alphanumeric and graphic data with image symmetry not required. A microcontroller adjusts the display to conform to the speed and width of the users swing, synchronizing the display to the users motions. Both the user and viewers of the device are enabled to see the displayed images correctly oriented and stable within the path of the swinging device. The user is provided with visual and or audio feedback, which helps in coordinating a steady swing, and gives an indication of the orientation of the displayed data. The device is fabricated in such a way that costs are at a minimum, allowing this technology to be used in widespread disposable or reusable applications. The technology is expanded to displays in which the viewer provides the kinetic motion and the device is held stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Inventor: Arthur Lane Bentley
  • Patent number: 7131735
    Abstract: A light source device, comprising a light guide block that is provided with an inner wall capable of reflecting light and is shaped as a hollow component to form a light guide, and a point light source array that is located opposite one end face of the light guide block and is capable of emitting light into the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7126559
    Abstract: A multi-light-emitting diode (LED) display for a USB flash drive produces a visually dazzling display. When accessed, a USB flash controller drives pulses onto an activity signal that increments a counter on a pattern-decoding generator. The pattern-decoding generator decodes the count and drives signals to data outputs. The data outputs connect to LED's, turning LED's on and off according to a display pattern. The pattern can be programmed by the USB flash controller into the pattern-decoding generator, or can be a hardwired pattern. Marquee patterns having a lit LED appearing to move down a line of LED's have more visual appeal than single LED indicators. Each data line can drive two LED's in different parts of a dual display, reducing costs. Multi-color LED's can be used to improve variety. The multiple LED's and the pattern-decoding generator can be mounted on a flexible PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Super Talent Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ching-Jong Su, Sun-Teck See, Tzu-Yih Chu
  • Patent number: 7123211
    Abstract: A surround-vision display system with a very high visual dynamic range is made possible by distributing a limited number of LED's on the inside of a drum and then spinning that drum around a user. The pixel information for each horizontal position in space is sent to each corresponding LED it visits that position. The LED's are arranged in a grid on a panel tile, and the panel tile is tilted slightly, e.g., at 1.1-degrees. The result is each panel tile presents a continuous vertical stripe in the picture frame as all its LED's are swept by in the drum motion. Several panel tiles stacked vertically inside the drum all contribute to the whole height of the picture frame, e.g., several feet. The entire inside circumference of the drum is populated with the LED panel tiles to keep frame refresh rates up to avoid flicker while keeping drum rotation speeds down to reasonable levels. Thus even though the LED's and drum are moving, the image projected appears to be relatively stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Andreas Nowatzyk
  • Patent number: 7115888
    Abstract: A LED driving semiconductor circuit of the present invention includes a first input terminal connected to a light-emitting diode, a switching device block having a first FET and a first switching device, a reference voltage terminal which is connected to the first FET and outputs the reference voltage, a start/stop circuit which outputs a start signal when the reference voltage is equal to or larger than a predetermined value and outputs a stop signal when the reference voltage is less than the predetermined value, a current detection circuit which detects the current flowing through the first switching device, and a control circuit which controls ON/OFF of the first switching device intermittently at the predetermined frequency based on the output signal of the start/stop circuit and the output signal of the current detection circuit so that the constant current flows through the light-emitting diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Hachiya, Ryutaro Arakawa
  • Patent number: 7091941
    Abstract: A color OLED display includes an array of light emitting pixels, each pixel having three light emitting elements for emitting red, green, and blue colors of light specifying a gamut and at least one additional element for emitting a color of light within the gamut and wherein the power efficiency of the additional element is higher than the power efficiency of at least one of the red, green, and blue elements; and wherein the light emitting elements in the pixel are arranged in a two-by-two array having the green light emitting element and the additional element diagonally opposed to each other at two opposite corners of the two-by-two array and having the red and blue light emitting elements diagonally opposed to each other at the other two opposite corners of the two-by-two array, and wherein the additional element is larger than at least one of the red, green or blue light emitting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Andrew D. Arnold, Ronald S. Cok, Michael E. Miller, Michael J. Murdoch
  • Patent number: 7091667
    Abstract: A thin film transistor (TFT) array comprises: a drive TFT for driving an organic light emitting diode (OLED), which is an electroluminescence (EL) device; first common wiring disposed for performing a current source or a current sink for the OLED; second common wiring disposed for performing a current source or a current sink for the OLED, the second common wiring being connected alternately with the first common wiring for each horizontal line and each vertical column of a pixel; and a switching TFT, which is a connection switch for connecting either one of the first common wiring and the second common wiring to a pixel electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitami Sakaguchi, Daiju Nakano
  • Patent number: 7071959
    Abstract: After measurement, light-emitting elements are temporarily numbered (1), . . . in measuring order and arranged successively on a temporary palette. In parallel with this operation, measured light intensity data are input to a computer system in association with the temporary numbers (1), . . . In the computer system, the measured light intensity data are rearranged according to predetermined algorithm to make the light intensity values of adjacent light-emitting elements substantially equal, so that the temporary numbers (1), . . . are rearranged on a memory in accordance with the rearranged data. The rearranged data are sent from the computer system to a robot, so that the light-emitting elements on the temporary palette are arranged on a taping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Kato, Koichi Kaga, Kanae Matsumura
  • Patent number: 7046217
    Abstract: An energy recovery apparatus for a plasma display panel is provided that may include a capacitor equivalently formed at a discharge cell, an inductor, an energy recovery capacitor, switching units and a voltage sustain diode. The inductor may form a resonance circuit together with the capacitor. The energy recovery capacitor may recover energy of the capacitor thus to be charged. The switching units may be installed between the capacitor and the energy recovery capacitor, for controlling a charging/discharging of the capacitor. The voltage sustain diode may be installed between the inductor and a ground voltage source, for preventing a voltage between the inductor and the capacitor from being dropped to a voltage less than a ground voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jeong Pil Choi
  • Patent number: 7030893
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for driving a full-color LED display board with high resolution. It features three original color LED pixels that are arranged in a diamond pattern to form LED array, and an interlacing scan circuit is used to control the LED array. As a result, the display of a new pixel can be inserted between two contiguous pixels and the resolution of the full-color LED display board increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Neo-Led Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Hsiang Yang
  • Patent number: 7009580
    Abstract: A solid-state lighting array driving circuit in which a plurality of solid-state lighting devices such as LEDs are rearranged in a reconfigurable circuit. The circuit may be changed to incorporate the LEDs into a larger or fewer number of parallel circuits each containing less or more LEDs themselves respectively. The reconfiguration may be done as a result of variable input voltages such that the circuit may reconfigure to provide a preferred number of LEDs in each circuit for the sensed voltage in the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Cotco Holdings, Ltd.
    Inventor: Wa-Hing Leung
  • Patent number: 6989806
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention pertains to an electronic device such as a passive matrix display, an alpha-numeric display, a detector array, or a solar cell array. The electronic device includes multiple organic optoelectronic devices and one or more of these organic optoelectronic devices are protected from shorts. Each of the one or more organic optoelectronic devices that is protected from a short has one of its electrodes coupled to a first current limiting device and optionally has another electrode coupled to a second current limiting device. Also, one of the electrodes of that organic optoelectronic device, the first current limiting device, or the second current limiting device is patterned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Franky So, Homer Antoniadis, Ian Millard, Vung Vo
  • Patent number: 6982527
    Abstract: A method for driving a light emitting diode coupled to an output of a current mirror is provided. The method includes providing a control terminal voltage of the current mirror as a reference voltage, increasing a voltage of an input of the current mirror and providing an input of the light emitting diode as a voltage feedback point for keeping a constant voltage difference between the input and the output of the current mirror, and driving the light emitting diode by a voltage at the output of the current mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Analog Integrations Corporation
    Inventors: Albert Minru Lee, Wei Wen Feng
  • Patent number: 6980181
    Abstract: An LED drive circuit having reduced power consumption has a constant current generating circuit for driving a plurality of LEDs and at least one switch connected to a respective LED for periodically turning on and off the respective LED at a rate higher than a visual perception rate to reduce power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Minoru Sudo
  • Patent number: 6975291
    Abstract: A novel driving method targeting area color organic light emitting diode display devices aims at resolving the problems of poor color balance and uneven luminosity on the display panel resulting from different luminous materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Wintek Corporation
    Inventors: Yung-Chou Chan, Chih-Chung Chien