Filters Patents (Class 348/835)
-
Patent number: 11989872Abstract: One variation of an optical inspection kit includes: an enclosure defining an imaging volume; an optical sensor adjacent the imaging volume and defining a field of view directed toward the imaging volume; a nest module defining a receptacle configured to locate a surface of interest on a first unit of a first part within the imaging volume at an image plane of the optical sensor; a dark-field lighting module adjacent and perpendicular to the nest module and including a dark-field light source configured to output light across a light plane and a directional light filter configured to pass light output by the dark-field light source normal to the light plane and to reject light output by the dark-field light source substantially nonparallel to the light plane; and a bright-field light source proximal the optical sensor and configured to output light toward the surface of interest.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2022Date of Patent: May 21, 2024Assignee: Instrumental, Inc.Inventors: Samuel Bruce Weiss, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
-
Patent number: 11981256Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a passenger display with a switchable view protection device that is actively switched in predetermined operating states so that display contents shown on the passenger display cannot be seen from the seating area of the driver. The vehicle includes a shading device having an illuminant oriented toward the passenger display and is controlled by a control unit and which, in order to prevent moving residual fragments that can still be detected from the driver's seat despite a view protection device which is switched to shading, externally illuminates the passenger display.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2021Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AGInventors: Benjamin Burger, Steffen Klapper
-
Patent number: 9476438Abstract: An exterior vehicle mirror assembly including an housing with a mirror glass disposed in the housing. A glass clamp connects the mirror glass and the housing. The glass clamp is slidably carried on both the mirror glass and the housing for moving between a locked position in which the glass clamp secures the mirror glass to the housing in a friction fit arrangement to resist movement of the mirror glass in the housing, and an unlocked position in which the clamp is free to be removed from the housing and mirror glass.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2013Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLCInventors: Alexandre Petroff, Andreas Enz
-
Patent number: 9319648Abstract: Some embodiments provide for a modular video projector system having a light engine module and an optical engine module. The light engine module can provide narrow-band laser light to the optical engine module which modulates the laser light according to video signals received from a video processing engine. Some embodiments provide for an optical engine module having a sub-pixel generator configured to display video or images at a resolution of at least four times greater than a resolution of modulating elements within the optical engine module. Systems and methods for reducing speckle are presented in conjunction with the modular video projector system.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2015Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: RED.COM, INC.Inventors: James H. Jannard, Stuart J. English, Gregory Alan Prior, Edmund Sandberg, Ryan Newham
-
Patent number: 8907231Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed. The apparatus includes: a display panel having a length, a width and a depth; and a film including a first portion, extending along a surface of the display panel defined by the length and the width, and a second portion, extending at least partially along the depth, coupled to an electronic device housing.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2012Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Nokia CorporationInventor: Vicente Calvo Alonso
-
Patent number: 8730404Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention includes a latch circuit having a first input to receive a data signal and a second input to receive a clock signal. This latch circuit may have a first pair of transistors including a first transistor gated by the data signal and a second transistor gated by an inverted data signal and a second pair of transistors including third and fourth transistors gated by the clock signal. The first transistor may be coupled to the third transistor at a first inter-latch node and the second transistor coupled to the fourth transistor at a second inter-latch node. A reset circuit may be coupled to the latch circuit to maintain the first and second inter-latch nodes at a predetermined voltage level when the clock signal is inactive.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.Inventors: Clayton Daigle, Abdulkerim L. Coban
-
Patent number: 8670079Abstract: A video display device displays an image of an input video signal. In the video display device, the video signal is supplied to a frequency component analyzing device, and the frequency component analyzing device extracts a frequency of each of frequency bands from video information of one screen with respect to the image. An image quality control circuit of the video display device performs an image quality control of the image based on the extracted frequencies of the respective frequency bands.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2008Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignees: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd., ATRC CorporationInventor: Takeshi Adachi
-
Patent number: 8500289Abstract: A projector is provided which can reduce power consumption while preventing the deterioration of a luminescent material by heat by controlling a luminescent wheel to rotate or stop rotating. The projector of the invention includes a light source unit having an excitation light source, a luminescent wheel on which a luminescent material layer is laid circumferentially which becomes luminous using light emitted from the excitation light source as excitation light and a wheel motor for driving the luminescent wheel, a display device, a light guiding optical system which guides light emitted from the light source unit to the display device, a projection side optical system which projects projection light generated in the display device, and a motor control part which determines whether to stop or drive the wheel motor in such a state that excitation light is shone on to the luminescent material layer by the excitation light source.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2011Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.Inventor: Mamoru Shibasaki
-
Patent number: 8499479Abstract: A portable advertising system well suited for outdoor advertising at night includes a body adapted to be secured to a transportation vehicle and may include a universal attachment system for that purpose. An advertisement may be displayed on an advertising surface mounted on the body. An illumination source is directed towards the advertising surface and may be integrated into an electronic display unit or may be directed at an advertising sheet such as a vinyl sheet. When the advertising sheet is used, a sheet tension system typically maintains tension on the sheet, and an openable protective cover may protect the sheet when not in use. The illumination source may be controlled based on environmental light conditions, sheet tension and/or position of the protective cover. The body may be part of a cargo container such as an ISO container suited for securing to a railroad car or other vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2012Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Freight Train Media LLCInventor: Theodore C. Johnson, Jr.
-
Patent number: 8436949Abstract: An image display system comprises a first liquid crystal projector which projects a counterclockwise-rotating, circularly polarized light beam to form an image containing specific visual information on a screen and a second liquid crystal projector which projects a clockwise-rotating, circularly polarized light beam to form a white image on the same screen. When viewed with the naked eye, a combination of the two images projected on the screen appears totally white. A viewer wearing a dedicated viewing device equipped with an optical filter which allows counterclockwise-rotating, circularly polarized light to pass through can selectively see the image projected by the first liquid crystal projector.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2010Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Yoshiharu Hirakata, Jun Koyama, Satoshi Teramoto
-
Patent number: 8437124Abstract: A video display includes a housing, a screen and a protective cover. The housing includes a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The screen is disposed on the first side of the housing. The protective cover is rotatably connected to the housing and coverable on the screen. The protective cover is capable of being held in any position in the process of rotating from the first side to the second side, as the driving force is removed. A car using the video display is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2011Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Lung Dai
-
Patent number: 8306351Abstract: An apparatus and a method for filtering noise in an image signal are provided. The apparatus includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a first filter, and a second filter. The ADC receives the image signal and converts the image signal into a digital signal. The first filter receives the digital signal and filters a first noise portion of the digital signal to generate a first signal. The second filter coupled to the first filter receives the first signal and filters a second noise portion of the first signal, wherein the first noise portion is a sampled-based impulse noise, and the second noise portion is a line-based impulse noise.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2009Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.Inventor: Hsin-I Lin
-
Patent number: 8260075Abstract: A two-dimensional filter arithmetic device comprises a picture memory, a line memory, a vertical filtering unit which includes nine first filter modules installed in parallel, a buffer for timing adjustments, and a horizontal filtering unit which includes four second filter modules installed in parallel. From the line memory, the pixel values of nine full pels per line are inputted in parallel to the vertical filtering unit, nine vertically-filtered values of half pels are generated and inputted to the horizontal filtering unit; thereby, four two-dimensionally-filtered values of half pels are generated.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2006Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Akihiko Inoue, Tokuzo Kiyohara
-
Patent number: 8172402Abstract: The invention relates to a projection system for displaying at least one visual image based on three primary colors, comprising a signal processing unit for converting said visual image into at least a visual image based on four primary colors, a frequency band being associated to each color primary, first display means for displaying three first primary colors of said visual image on a screen and second display means for displaying at least the fourth primary color of said visual image on said screen. According to the invention, the system further comprises optical filtering means that are adapted to enhance the separation between the frequency spectrum of the first three primary colors of the first display means and the frequency spectrum of the at least fourth primary color of the second display means. Application to anti-camcorder systems.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2008Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Jean-Ronan Vigouroux, Pascal Bourdon, Didier Doyen, Jean-Jacques Sacre, Patrick Morvan, Sylvain Thiebaud
-
Patent number: 8122628Abstract: The portable advertising system of the present invention comprises a body having a first end and a display support, at least one universal attachment system adapted for securing the body to a vehicle proximate the first end, at least one exterior wall arranged to display an advertisement, and the display support securing an illumination source directed towards the at least one exterior wall. The at least one exterior wall and the illumination source may be integrated into an electronic display unit. The at least one exterior wall may also be an advertising sheet composed of vinyl and the illumination source may be a plurality of light emitting diodes. The portable advertising system may include a railroad car arranged to receive the at least one universal attachment system.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2009Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Freight Train Media LLCInventor: Theodore C. Johnson, Jr.
-
Patent number: 8031969Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for selecting appropriate anisotropic filtering levels for images. An image is obtained, that image is Fourier transformed into its frequency components, and then those frequency components are normalized. The Fourier transformed into its frequency components are assigned to Fourier buckets (or bins) having dimensions selected in accord with the number of available anisotropic filtering levels. A predetermined threshold value is used to select one of the Fourier buckets by comparing the predetermined threshold value with the contents of the Fourier buckets. The selected Fourier bucket is used to determine an appropriate anisotropic filtering level for the image. Some embodiments of the present invention can provide for an automatic selection and setting of the appropriate anisotropic filtering level.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2004Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: NVIDIA CorporationInventor: Jeffrey T. Kiel
-
Patent number: 7980705Abstract: A projector includes a light source unit for emitting white light, a color wheel, a display device, a cooling fan, a light source side optical system for guiding light from the light source unit to the display device, a projection side optical system for projecting an image emitted from the display device onto a screen and a projector control unit for controlling the light source and the display device, wherein the color wheel has a plurality of segment areas, and on each segment area, a coating which transmits light of a wavelength band of a complementary color is applied to one side, while a coating which transmits light of a wavelength band of a primary color is applied to part of the other side.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2009Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masahiro Ogawa
-
Patent number: 7773160Abstract: An image display system comprises a first liquid crystal projector which projects a counterclockwise-rotating, circularly polarized light beam to form an image containing specific visual information on a screen and a second liquid crystal projector which projects a clockwise-rotating, circularly polarized light beam to form a white image on the same screen. When viewed with the naked eye, a combination of the two images projected on the screen appears totally white. A viewer wearing a dedicated viewing device equipped with an optical filter which allows counterclockwise-rotating, circularly polarized light to pass through can selectively see the image projected by the first liquid crystal projector.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2007Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Yoshiharu Hirakata, Jun Koyama, Satoshi Teramoto
-
Patent number: 7375464Abstract: An organic light emitting display having red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, and yellow color modulation layers. The organic light emitting display includes a substrate, a first electrode arranged on the substrate, a second electrode arranged on the first electrode, an organic functional layer arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode, the organic functional layer comprises at least an emission layer, and red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, and yellow color modulation layers separated from each other, wherein one of the first electrode and the second electrode is transparent and is arranged between each color modulation layer and the emission layer. Accordingly, it is possible to maintain white balance even for an aged display while having enhanced color reproducibility.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2005Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Byung-Doo Chin, Min-Chul Suh, Mu-Hyun Kim, Hye-Dong Kim
-
Patent number: 7290883Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method for projecting video onto a screen. A video unit (10) may comprise a color wheel (14), a light source (12) configured to project light through the color wheel (14) during a spoke time, and a digital micromirror device (18) configured to reflect the projected light (30) onto a screen (26). The method may comprise the acts of shining a generally white light (28) through a region on a color wheel (14) to create a colored light (30), the region comprising two color filters, reflecting the colored light (30) off of a micromirror disposed on a digital micromirror device (18), and projecting the reflected colored light (34) onto a screen (26).Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2005Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Assignee: TTE Tchnology, Inc.Inventor: Brent William Hoffman
-
Patent number: 7187420Abstract: An image display system comprises a first liquid crystal projector which projects a counterclockwise-rotating, circularly polarized light beam to form an image containing specific visual information on a screen and a second liquid crystal projector which projects a clockwise-rotating, circularly polarized light beam to form a white image on the same screen. When viewed with the naked eye, a combination of the two images projected on the screen appears totally white. A viewer wearing a dedicated viewing device equipped with an optical filter which allows counterclockwise-rotating, circularly polarized light to pass through can selectively see the image projected by the first liquid crystal projector.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2003Date of Patent: March 6, 2007Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Yoshiharu Hirakata, Jun Koyama, Satoshi Teramoto
-
Patent number: 7064892Abstract: A bandpass filter containing specific combinations of the dyes to yield filters which are adapted to selectively transmit predetermined primary color wavelengths of an electromagnetic spectrum as well as selectively absorb wavelengths other than the predetermined primary color wavelengths. The multiple bandpass filters are employed to improve the images on CRT screens and plasma display panels.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2004Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, LimitedInventors: Chia-Chi Teng, Suk Youn Suh, George Malinoski
-
Patent number: 7006141Abstract: A method for modifying the spectrum of light rays passing through an objective lens to an electronic camera that includes providing an interference type filter within the objective lens. The interference type filter may be a coating on a separate optical element added to the objective lens or on a normal optical component of the objective lens. The interference filter coating is located along the optical axis where the light rays are substantially collimated and have a minimum light ray incidence angle with respect to the coating surface, which angle should not exceed 15 degrees for any of the light rays passing therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 1999Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Panavision, Inc.Inventors: Iain A. Neil, John J. Galt
-
Patent number: 6954185Abstract: A display device is provided for making images of a movie, a TV or the like invisible to a driver while the vehicle is traveling, but at the same time visible to a passenger riding in a front passenger seat. A viewing angle control shutter 20 using a liquid crystal is disposed facing a front surface of a liquid crystal display panel 19. When the vehicle is in a stopping state, the viewing angle control shutter 20 is set to off, thereby making the image that is displayed on the display panel 19 visible from the driver's seat side and the front passenger seat side. While the vehicle is traveling, the viewing angle control shutter 20 is driven such that the driver can watch an image produced by the navigation device 13, but cannot watch an image reproduced by a DVD reproduction device 14.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2002Date of Patent: October 11, 2005Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Takayuki Ogino
-
Patent number: 6912017Abstract: There is disclosed a display device using a color wheel having a color filter Cw, in addition to normal color filters corresponding to the three primary colors. The filter Cw has almost flat spectral transmission characteristics. Brightness information included in a color image signal is quantized with (n+m) bits. Information corresponding to the lower-order n bits is displayed by light transmitted through the filter Cw. Information corresponding to the upper-order n bits is displayed by light transmitted through the normal color filters. Only brightness information to which the human eye is visually sensitive is reproduced by the filter Cw having a lower transmissivity. This can eliminate a lack of the number of gray levels due to a constraint on the minimum switching speed of a light valve. Furthermore, the brightness little deteriorates.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2000Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koji Minami, Yoshiteru Suzuki, Kohei Teramoto, Hiroaki Sugiura, Shinsuke Shikama
-
Patent number: 6846083Abstract: A TV screen cover includes a cover member for reducing glare and volumes of light emitted from a TV. The TV screen cover further includes a housing positionable on top of a TV and securable thereto by a plurality of fastening members. The housing includes an elongated shaft with the cover member releasably wound thereabout. The housing has a slot disposed at a lower surface thereof and in front of a TV screen. The housing further includes a second elongated shaft adjacent the slot for guiding the cover member forwardly and downwardly through the slot. The cover member includes a rod connected to the bottom portion thereof and for assisting a user to uniformly move the cover member between wound and unwound positions. The TV screen cover further includes an attaching mechanism for selectively maintaining the cover member at an unwound position.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2004Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Inventor: Jeffrey A. Mylar
-
Patent number: 6833665Abstract: A flat display panel comprising a flat display panel main body, and a front protective plate which comprises an antireflection layer, a translucent electrically conductive layer, containing a metal having an electromagnetic wave shielding property and a near infrared ray shielding property, a highly rigid transparent substrate made of a tempered glass or a semi-tempered glass and an adhesive layer laminated in this order, bonded to the viewer's side surface of the flat display panel main body by means of the adhesive layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2002Date of Patent: December 21, 2004Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, LimitedInventors: Hiroshi Wachi, Ken Moriwaki, Takeomi Miyako
-
Patent number: 6674489Abstract: In an image display which reproduces a color image by using lights color-separated into four or more colors through color filters, the objects of the invention are to effectively utilize the energy of light from a light source and to reduce the effect that a slight shift of the spectral transmittance characteristics of the color filters exerts on the spectral distributions of the lights after color separated.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 1999Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuichi Kagawa, Hiroaki Sugiura, Kohei Teramoto, Shinsuke Shikama, Yoshiteru Suzuki
-
Patent number: 6608652Abstract: An image display system comprises a first liquid crystal projector which projects a counterclockwise-rotating, circularly polarized light beam to form an image containing specific visual information on a screen and a second liquid crystal projector which projects a clockwise-rotating, circularly polarized light beam to form a white image on the same screen. When viewed with the naked eye, a combination of the two images projected on the screen appears totally white. A viewer wearing a dedicated viewing device equipped with an optical filter which allows counterclockwise-rotating, circularly polarized light to pass through can selectively see the image projected by the first liquid crystal projector.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1996Date of Patent: August 19, 2003Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Yoshiharu Hirakata, Jun Koyama, Satoshi Teramoto
-
Patent number: 6598977Abstract: A color wheel having a bonding apparatus consists of a carrier and a filter set. The carrier is a circular disk and has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The first surface has a bulged rim formed thereon. The carrier has a plurality of apertures formed thereon between the bulged rim and the perimeter thereof. The filter set is mounted onto the first surface of the carrier. Adhesive is injected and filled into the apertures from the second surface such that the filter set is bonded to the first surface of the carrier to form the color wheel of the invention. The color wheel thus made has evenly coated adhesive without increasing the thickness thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2002Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: Progressive Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jason Chen
-
Patent number: 6555955Abstract: The present invention provides to a front panel for a display in which the light transmittance of the front panel at a wavelength of 450 nm is higher than the light transmittance at a wavelength of 525 nm and the light transmittance at the wavelength of 525 nm is higher than the light transmittance at a wavelength of 630 nm. The front panel for a display of the present invention improves image contrast and color reproducibility of the display, when it is installed at the front side of a projection television receiver, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 1999Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, LimitedInventor: Satoshi Honda
-
Publication number: 20030007227Abstract: A display device is provided for making images of a movie, a TV or the like invisible to a driver while the vehicle is traveling, but at the same time visible to a passenger riding in a front passenger seat. A viewing angle control shutter 20 using a liquid crystal is disposed facing a front surface of a liquid crystal display panel 19. When the vehicle is in a stopping state, the viewing angle control shutter 20 is set to off, thereby making the image that is displayed on the display panel 19 visible from the driver's seat side and the front passenger seat side. While the vehicle is traveling, the viewing angle control shutter 20 is driven such that the driver can watch an image produced by the navigation device 13, but cannot watch an image reproduced by a DVD reproduction device 14.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2002Publication date: January 9, 2003Inventor: Takayuki Ogino
-
Patent number: 6330040Abstract: A television system performs beam convergence in video displays. The system is implemented through one or more convergence sensors, which are exposed to two distinct convergence test patterns. The output signals from the sensors when exposed to the two test patterns are used in beam convergence calculations. The test patterns are selected to reduce the dynamic range requirement for an A/D converter in the television system supplied with the sensor output signals. A low-pass filter circuit with selectable characteristics is also used to reduce the dynamic range requirement.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1998Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronic, Inc.Inventor: Toshiyuki Kawashima
-
Patent number: 6268693Abstract: In a cathode ray tube us a glass panel having a difference in thickness between a central region and a peripheral region of a face portion, the glass panel having an outer surface with a colored film formed thereon, the colored film being thin in film thickness in an area corresponding to a thick part of the face portion of the glass panel and thick in film thickness in an area corresponding to a thin part of the face portion of the glass panel so as to reduce the difference in transmittance resulting from the difference in thickness between the central region and the peripheral region of the face portion of the glass panel. As another embodiment, the colored film comprises a film having a light color tone in an area corresponding to a thick part of the face portion of the glass panel and a dark color tone in an area corresponding to a thin part of the face portion of the glass panel.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1999Date of Patent: July 31, 2001Assignee: Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiharu Miwa, Tsutomu Imamura
-
Patent number: 6262843Abstract: The privacy system apparatus and method of the present invention allow users of a publicly accessible terminal to privately access information displayed on a visual monitor of the terminal. In one embodiment, the privacy system 10 is implemented with a terminal 20 having a visual monitor 22 being disposed within a user area 50. The user area 50 provides a space for users 2 to privately access the terminal 20 and is at least partially separated from an external area 30 by a barrier assembly 40. A first filter 60 receives radiation 24 from the visual monitor 22 and transmits linearly polarized radiation 62 into the user area 50. A second filter 44 disposed between the user area 50 and the external area 30 transmits linearly polarized radiation 46. By selecting first and second filters, 60 and 44, respectively, with orthogonal transmission axes, radiation 24 emitted by the visual monitor 22 is substantially blocked from transmission to the external area 30.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 1997Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: Qwest Communications Int'l, Inc.Inventor: Adam N. Marx
-
Patent number: 6151084Abstract: A television receiver having an integral design without spoiling the external appearance includes a panel sheet (4) on which an operation unit (6) corresponding to the operation unit arranged in the cabinet, a filter unit (7) corresponding to the light sensor unit, and a sound output unit (8) corresponding to the sound output unit which are formed integrally and is attached to the cabinet of the television receiver.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1996Date of Patent: November 21, 2000Assignees: Sony Corporation, Nissho CorporationInventors: Mitsuru Goto, Katsutoshi Oshima
-
Patent number: 6144479Abstract: A low reflectivity, variable attenuation contrast enhancement filter having a total visible light reflectance of less than about 2.0% when measured with light incident to the first outer major surface. The contrast enhancement filter has a first layer(s) for providing antireflection, the first layer(s) defining the first outer major surface; a variable attenuation element interposed between the first major outer surface and the second major outer surface; element(s) for providing fixed attenuation interposed between the variable attenuation element and the first major outer surface; and at least one substrate.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1998Date of Patent: November 7, 2000Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Paul S. Lugg, Kenton D. Budd, John E. Bailey, Matthew H. Frey, Scott G. Theirl
-
Patent number: 5990984Abstract: An article comprising a transparent or translucent polymer substrate and a transparent or translucent coating applied thereto in which the refractive index of the coating material substantially matches the refractive index of the polymer substrate. The invention also relates to a method for making an article comprising a polymer substrate and a coating in which the refractive index of the coating substantially matches the refractive index of the polymer substrate.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 1997Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: Viratec Thin Films, Inc.Inventors: William A. Meredith, Jr., Bradway F. Phillips, Jeffrey L. Kokoschke
-
Patent number: 5959762Abstract: A flexible panel is provided that is easily and conformingly applied to a curved display screen of a VDU to afford, in a lightweight manner, variably adjustable contrast enhancement of the VDU while simultaneously providing a decrease in the amount of ambient light reflected from the curved display screen. The flexible panel is a glass microsheet layered, on one side thereof, with an antireflection coating and, on the other side, with an electrochromic device. The electrochrmic device allows for variable adjustment of the contrast of the VDU as a function of the voltage applied across the electrochromic device. The flexible glass microsheet dually possesses the advantages of conventional rigid glass panels, such as excellent optical performance, high durability, capability of being coated with various optical coatings under extreme temperature, pressure and chemical conditions and the additional benfeit of physical flexibility.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1997Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignee: Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc.Inventors: Steven P. Bandettini, Lindsey Brown, Bryant P. Hichwa, Michael J. Cumbo, J. Gordon H. Mathew, Nada A. O'Brien
-
Patent number: 5922401Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for producing a color filter for liquid crystal display device by applying inks to a base by an ink-jet printing system to arrange colorants on the base, which comprises the steps of applying inks, which each comprise a homopolymer of a monomer represented by the formula (I) ##STR1## or of the formula (II) ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 is H or CH.sub.3, and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independently H or an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and/or a copolymer of the monomer with another vinyl monomer and can be cured by light or heat, directly onto the base or onto a resin layer provided on the base by the ink-jet printing system, thereby arranging colorants contained in the inks; and then curing the thus-applied inks by light exposure or heating.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1997Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akio Kashiwazaki, Katsuhiro Shirota, Koichiro Nakazawa, Shoji Shiba, Masashi Hirose
-
Patent number: 5852513Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical filter including a flexible, transparent substrate coated with a novel combination of optical coatings, and a frame system designed for mounting the optical filter to a television or other visual display screen. A neutral density contrast enhancement is included within the composition of a flexible substrate, or is coated on either the front, the rear, or both of the surfaces of the substrate. A silicone anti-glare hardcoat is applied to both the front and rear surfaces of the substrate. An anti-reflection coating is added to the front surface of the substrate, preferably via sputtering, and designed to reflect a specific color at a preferred brightness measurement. The combination of a front surface anti-reflection coating, front and rear surface anti-glare coatings, and a neutral density contrast enhancement, eliminates the need for an anti-reflection coating on the rear surface of the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 1997Date of Patent: December 22, 1998Assignee: Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc.Inventors: James D. McDole, Donald L. Keehn, John Morse Huish, Orville Larry Creech, Jr.
-
Patent number: 5811923Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for enhancing the performance of visual display units which utilize plasma display panels. More specifically, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for providing an optically enhancing/noise suppressing device for positioning in front of the viewing surface of a plasma display panel. The device also increases the impact resistance of the PDP. The device of the present invention is manufactured separately from the PDP. The device may be provided with attachment means for securing the device to the surface of the visual display unit in a position in front of the viewing surface of the PDP or may be designed to be free-hanging, i.e., suspended, or otherwise positioned in front of the viewing surface of the PDP.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1996Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc.Inventors: Jaroslaw Zieba, James W. Seeser, Michael Cumbo, William T. Beauchamp, Robert Scanlon, Curtis Hruska
-
Patent number: 5754259Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical filter for visual display terminals, comprising a filter proper with a shape corresponding to a screen of the visual display terminal to have the filter mounted, and a frame for holding the filter proper, and can be mounted onto visual display terminals irrespective of the kind thereof, without giving any feeling of incompatibility. In the optical filter, the frame comprises a frame proper with a predetermined depth and a front shape corresponding to the main body of the visual display terminal, for holding the filter proper, and side frame members connected to be able to be horizontally adjusted in relative position against the frame proper. Also in the optical filter, the frame comprising a front frame with a shape corresponding to the main body of the visual display terminal, a top plate and side plates connected to the front frame tiltably at any optional positions, and corner members for connecting the top plate with the side plates.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1996Date of Patent: May 19, 1998Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.Inventors: Osamu Nakamatsu, Hiroshi Matsumoto
-
Patent number: 5627606Abstract: A computer screen filter assembly includes a filter and a frame for receiving the filter. The frame has a pair of generally longitudinally disposed sawtooth surfaces. One of the sawtooth surfaces is disposed adjacent one side of the filter and the other of the sawtooth surfaces is disposed adjacent the other side of the filter. A pair of brackets are slidably attached to the frame adjacent the upper corners of the frame. The brackets each have a horizontally disposed support adapted to engage the top surface of a computer monitor so that the filter is disposed over the computer screen. The brackets each have a pawl capable of engaging and disengaging a respective sawtooth surface so that the frame and the filter can be adjusted to a variety of vertical locations with respect to the computer screen.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1995Date of Patent: May 6, 1997Assignee: Interex, Inc.Inventors: Gary L. Pember, Robert R. Deines, R. Reed Hinkel
-
Patent number: 5619286Abstract: An eye protective glass with its position adjustable in all directions has a glass body fixed with a frame surrounding the glass body. The frame is provided with a vertical hole each in two vertical sides for installing a support rod of each of two adjusting units, which enable the frame with the glass body to move up and down to alter its position vertically. A support rod base is additionally provided to have an upper curved-up cap and a base disc rotatably combined with the upper cap for fitting movably the horizontal portion of each support rod in a straight semicircular groove in the upper cap. Then the support rod can be moved forward of backward to alter the position of the frame with the glass body. And the upper cap can be rotated relative to the base disc, enabling the support rod to be moved right and left to alter the position of the frame with the glass body to the right and to the left.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 1995Date of Patent: April 8, 1997Inventor: Chien-Charn Ho
-
Patent number: 5570141Abstract: A molded frame for fixing optical elements in a liquid crystal shutter including a registration portion configured similar to a 35 mm slide frame for precisely registering the elements relative to one another and a mounting portion configured to mate with the outer surface of a CRT and couple the frame thereto.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1992Date of Patent: October 29, 1996Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: Eric R. Sirkin, Joseph J. Curry
-
Patent number: 5543863Abstract: An eye protecting mask of a video display comprises a frame and an adjustment device. The frame is provided centrally in the top side thereof with a recessed portion which is provided respectively in the inner walls of two sides thereof with a predetermined number of retaining slots and with an opening adjacent to the retaining slots. The adjustment device comprises a base and a pivoting member capable of swiveling on a pivot and corresponding in location to the recessed portion of the frame. The pivoting member is provided respectively at both ends thereof with a retaining portion and a cut adjacent to the retaining portion. The pivoting member is fitted into the recessed portion of the frame such that the two retaining portions of the pivoting member are engaged with the retaining slots of the frame so as to locate properly the eye protecting mask in front of the video display.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 1995Date of Patent: August 6, 1996Assignee: Three Soma Technology Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jui-Ming Lin
-
Patent number: 5528319Abstract: A privacy filter (20) for a display device includes at least two spaced-apart, generally parallel grids (22 and 24). Each grid includes an array of strips (26 and 30) or blocking members having transparent space (28 and 32) therebetween. The strips or blocking members are formed aligned such that an image (37) displayed on the display device may be viewed through the filter at an angle of incidence within a predetermined range of angles but is not discernable at angles outside of the predetermined range.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1994Date of Patent: June 18, 1996Assignee: Photran CorporationInventor: R. Russel Austin
-
Patent number: 5526065Abstract: An apparatus for displaying a television image on a television monitor applicable to a vehicle passenger compartment. In the television image displaying apparatus, the television monitor is installed on a center console of a vehicle passenger compartment. A liquid crystal filter is arranged on a television monitor screen which has variable transmittance according to a voltage applied across a whole surface electrode thereof. The liquid crystal filter serves to limit an angle of visible field around a driver's seat position with a front passenger seat position being provided a high image transmittance. In addition, a louver type filter is arranged between the TV monitor screen and liquid crystal filter. The louver type filter generally has a plurality of fine louvers, each elongate direction of the louvers being aligned in the horizontal direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 1994Date of Patent: June 11, 1996Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, LimitedInventor: Tsuyoshi Todoriki
-
Patent number: 5523802Abstract: A dual-mode image display apparatus includes a black-and-white image display device and a selective filter. The selective filter is caused to assume a first mode in which it sequentially serves as red, green and blue filters, and a second mode in which it transmits all the color components. Thus, the image display apparatus can selectively perform color display or black-and-white display. The selective filter may include variable optical retarders and may be caused to selectively assume the first mode or the second mode through control over the variable optical retarders. The selective filter may alternatively be moved by a motor between a first position in which the filter is in the path of light from the display device to the viewer, and a second position in which the filter is out of the path of light. A power supply controller is also used to conserve power by turning unneeded parts of a color image processing circuit OFF when the display apparatus is in the second mode.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 1994Date of Patent: June 4, 1996Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shouichi Sugihara, Masaki Yamakawa