Liquid Crystal Patents (Class 365/108)
  • Patent number: 11686964
    Abstract: A common electrode for a display, which is originally provided in a liquid crystal display element, is also used as one (drive electrode) of a pair of electrodes for a touch sensor, and the other (detection-electrode-for-the-sensor) of the pair of electrodes is newly formed. An existing common drive signal as a drive signal for display is used in common for a drive signal for the touch sensor. A capacitance is formed between the common electrode and the detection-electrode-for-the-sensor, and touch detection is performed by utilizing a change of this capacitance caused by a finger touch of a user. Thus, a display device with a touch sensor is also applicable to a mobile device in which electric potential of the user is inconstant in many cases. The newly-provided electrode is only the detection-electrode-for-the-sensor, and it is unnecessary to newly prepare a drive signal for the touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
    Inventors: Koji Noguchi, Daisuke Takama, Yoshitoshi Kida
  • Patent number: 11402682
    Abstract: A common electrode for a display, which is originally provided in a liquid crystal display element, is also used as one (drive electrode) of a pair of electrodes for a touch sensor, and the other (detection-electrode-for-the-sensor) of the pair of electrodes is newly formed. An existing common drive signal as a drive signal for display is used in common for a drive signal for the touch sensor. A capacitance is formed between the common electrode and the detection-electrode-for-the-sensor, and touch detection is performed by utilizing a change of this capacitance caused by a finger touch of a user. Thus, a display device with a touch sensor is also applicable to a mobile device in which electric potential of the user is inconstant in many cases. The newly-provided electrode is only the detection-electrode-for-the-sensor, and it is unnecessary to newly prepare a drive signal for the touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
    Inventors: Koji Noguchi, Daisuke Takama, Yoshitoshi Kida
  • Patent number: 10803941
    Abstract: System on chips (SoCs) based on a microprocessor or a neural processor (e.g., brain-inspired processor) electrically coupled with electronic memory devices and/or optically coupled with an optical memory device, along with embodiment(s) of a building block (an element) of the microprocessor/neural processor, the electronic memory device and the optical memory device are disclosed. It should be noted that a microprocessor can be replaced by a graphical processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Inventors: Mohammad A. Mazed, Rex Wiig, Angel Martinez
  • Patent number: 10685675
    Abstract: Systems and methods for long-term non-volatile non-rotating optical storage of digital information rely on storage elements that include optical storage media, an access subsystem configured to access bits of information from one of the storage elements, and a support structure configured to support multiple storage elements. A laser used to retrieve and/or record bits of digital information may be moved along two orthogonal dimensions while the storage element is non-rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Inventor: Jasmin Ajanovic
  • Patent number: 10600839
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including pixels arranged in a matrix of n rows and m columns, in which the pixels in the m-th column are shielded from light, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 10551661
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes an upper substrate, a lower substrate including a data line and a gate line insulated from the data line, a liquid crystal layer between the lower substrate and the upper substrate, a current sensing unit which detects a data current based on a data signal applied to the data line so as to detect a change in a liquid crystal capacitance of the liquid crystal layer, a rectifying amplifier which rectifies or amplifies the detected data current so as to generate and output a rectified signal, a pulse generator which generates a sensing pulse by comparing the rectified signal with a reference voltage, and a duty width detector which detects a duty width of the sensing pulse generated by the pulse generator where the reference voltage is set based on a voltage difference between data signals successively applied to the data line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minsoo Choi, Seunghwan Moon, Okkwon Shin, Junpyo Lee
  • Patent number: 10037116
    Abstract: A common electrode for a display, which is originally provided in a liquid crystal display element, is also used as one (drive electrode) of a pair of electrodes for a touch sensor, and the other (detection-electrode-for-the-sensor) of the pair of electrodes is newly formed. An existing common drive signal as a drive signal for display is used in common for a drive signal for the touch sensor. A capacitance is formed between the common electrode and the detection-electrode-for-the-sensor, and touch detection is performed by utilizing a change of this capacitance caused by a finger touch of a user. Thus, a display device with a touch sensor is also applicable to a mobile device in which electric potential of the user is inconstant in many cases. The newly-provided electrode is only the detection-electrode-for-the-sensor, and it is unnecessary to newly prepare a drive signal for the touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
    Inventors: Koji Noguchi, Daisuke Takama, Yoshitoshi Kida
  • Patent number: 9049409
    Abstract: A mobile terminal includes: a display module formed to output image information to one surface thereof; a window covering one surface of the display module; and a bonding member formed on an upper surface of the display module to bond the window to the display module, wherein the bonding member extends from the upper surface of the display module to one point of a rear surface the display module through a lateral surface of the display module to integrally fix a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and a backlight module installed in the display module, and the display module is disposed between a rear surface of the window and a case forming the exterior of a terminal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Bohyoung Lee, Hanseok Chae, Minho Park
  • Publication number: 20150098262
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first memory region, a second memory region suitable for storing the same data as the first memory region, and a ray detection circuit suitable for detecting an incident ray to the first memory region, wherein a data stored in the second memory region is copied into the first memory region when the incident ray is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Jin-Wook SHIN
  • Publication number: 20150022327
    Abstract: An externally triggered memory type liquid crystal thin film is provided with a wireless communication module including first and second driver units wherein a current is generated in the second driver unit when a distance between the first driver unit and the second driver unit is equal to or less than a predetermined value; and a light adjustment module including a first conduction layer electrically connected to a first terminal of the second driver unit so that the second driver unit supplies the current to the first conduction layer, a second conduction layer electrically connected to a second terminal of the second driver unit, and a liquid crystal layer formed between the first and second conduction layers so that an electric field is generated in the liquid crystal layer by both the first and second conduction layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: Chung Hua University
    Inventors: Chien-Hung Wu, Li Fu Teng, Shui Jinn Wang, Kow Ming Chang
  • Patent number: 8750014
    Abstract: Memories, driver circuits, and methods for generating an output signal in response to an input signal. One such driver circuit includes an input stage and an output stage. The input stage receives the input signal and provides a delayed input signal having a delay relative to the input signal. The output stage receives the delayed input signal and further receives the complement of the input signal. The output stage couples an output node to a first voltage in response to a complement of the input signal having a first logic level and couples the output to a second voltage in response to the complement of the input signal having a second logic level. The output stage further decouples the output from the first or second voltage in response to receiving the delayed input signal to provide a high-impedance at the output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Greg King
  • Patent number: 7965534
    Abstract: A memory device of the present invention is characterized by a memory device for storing information by making use of molecular alignment of a liquid crystal compound in a liquid crystalline state formed by spot irradiation with a laser beam to carry out a selective heat treatment on an electroconductive liquid crystal semiconductor material layer containing a liquid crystal compound, comprising: a first electrode group including a plurality of linear electrodes which are parallel to each other; an electroconductive liquid crystal semiconductor material layer formed in such a manner that the layer covers the first electrode group, the layer containing a liquid crystal compound having a long linear conjugate structural moiety and exhibiting a smectic phase as a liquid crystal phase; and a second electrode group formed on the electroconductive liquid crystal semiconductor material layer and including a plurality of linear transparent electrodes being parallel to each other and extend in a direction intersecting
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignees: Yamanashi University, Nippon Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Haramoto, Takamasa Kato, Kohki Hiroshima
  • Patent number: 7551471
    Abstract: The memory element includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a layer containing a compound which can exhibit liquid crystallinity which is interposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, and a layer containing an organic compound which is interposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer and is in contact with the layer containing the compound which can exhibit liquid crystallinity. The layer containing the compound which can exhibit liquid crystallinity is formed in contact with the first conductive layer and is a layer which transfers at least from a first phase to a second phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20090116276
    Abstract: A memory device of the present invention is characterized by a memory device for storing information by making use of molecular alignment of a liquid crystal compound in a liquid crystalline state formed by spot irradiation with a laser beam to carry out a selective heat treatment on an electroconductive liquid crystal semiconductor material layer containing a liquid crystal compound, comprising: a first electrode group including a plurality of linear electrodes which are parallel to each other; an electroconductive liquid crystal semiconductor material layer formed in such a manner that the layer covers the first electrode group, the layer containing a liquid crystal compound having a long linear conjugate structural moiety and exhibiting a smectic phase as a liquid crystal phase; and a second electrode group formed on the electroconductive liquid crystal semiconductor material layer and including a plurality of linear transparent electrodes being parallel to each other and extend in a direction intersecting
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: YAMANASHI UNIVERSITY, NIPPON CHEMICAL INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Haramoto, Takamasa Kato, Kohki Hiroshima
  • Publication number: 20070285959
    Abstract: The memory element includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a layer containing a compound which can exhibit liquid crystallinity which is interposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, and a layer containing an organic compound which is interposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer and is in contact with the layer containing the compound which can exhibit liquid crystallinity. The layer containing the compound which can exhibit liquid crystallinity is formed in contact with the first conductive layer and is a layer which transfers at least from a first phase to a second phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7286387
    Abstract: The write disturb that occurs in polymer memories may be reduced by writing back data after a read in a fashion which offsets any effect on the polarity of bits in bit lines associated with the addressed bit. For example, each time the data is written back, its polarity may be alternately changed. In another embodiment, the polarity may be randomly changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Coulson, Jonathan C. Lueker, Robert W. Faber
  • Patent number: 7196968
    Abstract: A method of driving source lines is arranged as follows: One output signal line S61 of a source driver is connected to a plurality of lines corresponding to respective source lines SR7 through SB12, and these source lines from SR7 (starting data line) to SB12 (terminating data line) are grouped as one block (group). In each block, a signal voltage of a divided output is supplied to the source lines during a first horizontal period T, while a signal voltage whose polarity is opposite to that of the aforesaid output is supplied to the source lines in a second horizontal period that is after the first horizontal period. In each of the horizontal periods, the source lines SR7 through SB12 are subjected to sequential selection. In addition to this, the source line SB12 is selected before turning the source line SR7 off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Harumi Okuno, Junichi Yamada, Hisashi Nagata
  • Patent number: 7131584
    Abstract: A display system includes a light writable display associated with an identification code and arranged to receive an image wise pattern of light to form an image on the display; a display writer for producing the image wise pattern of light for writing the image on the display; a scanner connected to the display writer for sensing the identification code; and a processor linked to the scanner and the display writer and responsive to the identification code for programming the display writer to write an image associated with the identification code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Stanley W. Stephenson, Xiang-Dong Mi, David M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6959358
    Abstract: The present invention provides a large capacity distributed content addressable memory (CAM) made up of a plurality of smaller CAMs interconnected on a high speed data bus. Each of the smaller CAMs is located at a local node on the data bus and configured to receive commands originating from both the local node in which the CAM is located and a local node in which another CAM on the data bus is located. As the resources and the data being stored by all the CAMs are shared through the high speed data bus, the aggregate contents of all the CAMs can be viewed as being stored in a single virtual CAM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alon Regev, Zvi Regev
  • Patent number: 6770524
    Abstract: An apparatus including a contact on a substrate, a dielectric material overlying the contact, a phase change element overlying the dielectric material on a substrate, and a heater element disposed in the dielectric material and coupled to the contact and the phase change element, wherein a portion of the dielectric material comprises a thermal conductivity less than silicon dioxide. A method including introducing over a contact formed on a substrate, a dielectric material, a portion of which comprises a thermal conductivity less than silicon dioxide, introducing a heater element through the dielectric material to the contact, and introducing a phase change material over the dielectric material and the heater element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Chien Chiang, Guy C. Wicker
  • Patent number: 6735009
    Abstract: Electrooptic devices (100, 600, 700) include a left handed (102, 708) and right handed (104, 710) cholesteric phase liquid crystal layers. Electrodes (120, 122, 124, 126, 602, 604) or magnetic coils (704, 706) are used to apply electric or magnetic fields perpendicular to helical axes of the cholesteric phase liquid crystal layers. The fields lengthen the helical pitch of the liquid crystal layers thereby shifting the reflectance of the liquid crystal layers to longer wavelengths. Spectral reflectance of both left and right hand polarized light is controlled by the electrooptic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Zili Li
  • Patent number: 6433310
    Abstract: A thermal assembly comprising at once a reading-writing-erasing capability. The present invention, accordingly, can realize important advantages of providing dual yet independent capabilities or functionalities for manifesting reading-writing-erasing on the nanometer scale. An illustrative such thermal assembly includes a thermal heater for writing on a media; a temperature sensor capable of monitoring thermal coupling between the sensor and the media; and, a heater element for heating the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hemantha Kumar Wickramasinghe, Hendrik F. Hamann, Yves Martin
  • Patent number: 6205106
    Abstract: Method of storing and retrieving information by exposing cells of a storage medium to a first beam of light having a first set of properties affecting the optical properties of said storage medium, and by exposing a plurality of individual cells, forming a page of information, of said storage medium to a second beam of light having a second set of properties. A third light beam from said storage medium forms an image of said page on a detecting means. The detected light image is converted into electric data signals, each bit of said data signals corresponding to a cell of said storage medium. The first beam of light is generated by a first light source and there is provided an electrooptical means having an electric input for receiving data and being arranged for modulating said first light beam in dependance of said data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Inventor: Peter Toth
  • Patent number: 6005838
    Abstract: An novel optical information storage media having M information storage decks. Each information storage deck has N information storage layers, and each information storage layer has a pair of information storage structures. Each paired information storage structure has a characteristic wavelength and polarization state, and from which recorded information can be read by a laser beam having similar wavelength and polarization-state characteristics. A novel system is provided for reading the optical information storage media of the present invention. In the illustrative embodiment, an optical storage device of the present invention having M.times.N.times.2 information storage layers can be read using only N laser lines (i.e. spectral components), thereby providing a 2M-fold increase in information storage capacity over prior art systems. The information storage and retrieval system of the present invention is completely backward compatible to allow for the reading of conventional CD-ROM devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Reveo, Inc.
    Inventors: Bunsen Fan, Sadeg M. Faris
  • Patent number: 5838653
    Abstract: Disclosed is a novel optical information storage media having M information storage decks. Each information storage deck has N information storage layers, and each information storage layer has a pair of information storage structures. Each paired information storage structure has a characteristic wavelength and polarization state, and from which recorded information can be read by a laser beam having similar wavelength and polarization-state characteristics. A novel system is provided for reading the optical information storage media of the present invention. In the illustrative embodiment, an optical storage device of the present invention having M.times.N.times.2 information storage layers can be read using only N laser lines (i.e. spectral components), thereby providing a 2M-fold increase in information storage capacity over prior art systems. The information storage and retrieval system of the present invention is completely backward compatible to allow for the reading of conventional CD-ROM devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Reveo, Inc.
    Inventors: Bunsen Fan, Sadeg M. Faris
  • Patent number: 5712066
    Abstract: Provided an image forming method comprising the steps of;forming electric charges on a recording layer by charging the recording medium comprising a conductive substrate and, provided thereon a photoconductive layer and a recording layer containing a polymeric liquid crystal compound, in this order;irradiating, after the step of charging, said recording medium with a light corresponding to an image information to move electric charges to said photoconductive layer; andwriting said image information by means of changing a birefringence of the recording layer caused by said movement of electric charges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Yoshinaga, Shuzo Kaneko, Kazuo Isaka, Yoshio Takasu
  • Patent number: 5646927
    Abstract: A packaged integrated information recording system has a plurality of information recording media radially arranged on a disk substrate. Each of the recording media comprises a liquid crystal recording medium including a liquid crystal-polymer composite layer with polymer balls filled in a liquid-crystal phase, stacked on a first electrode layer and a photoelectric sensor including a second electrode layer and a photoconductive layer formed on a transparent substrate. The liquid crystal recording medium and photoelectric sensor are stacked directly, or through an interlayer on each other while the liquid crystal recording layer and photoconductive layer are opposed to each other. The recording media may also be arranged in a row on a film substrate provided with feed holes on both side edges and received in a closable case such that it can be drawn. Alternatively, the recording media on a film substrate may be received in a packaging case having a window openable and closable by a shutter to unroll the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Shimizu, Minoru Utsumi, Yuudai Yamashita, Hironori Kamiyama, Shinichi Sakano, Masato Okabe
  • Patent number: 5579199
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device according to the present invention includes: a substrate; a storage medium provided above the substrate; a writing unit having a heating unit provided above the substrate, for heating the storage medium by the heating unit to write data in the storage medium with a thermal change of a physical value of the storage medium; and a reading unit having an electrical reading unit provided above the substrate, for reading the change of the physical value of the storage medium as data written in the storage medium by the electrical reading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Kawamura, Naofumi Kimura, Yoshitaka Yamamoto, Yutaka Ishii
  • Patent number: 5568061
    Abstract: A master enable circuit is provided which receives multiple enable signal inputs while matching the redundant decoder enable delay with decoder enable delay. A master enable circuit contains a hard coded master fuse, driver transistor, and a multiple input logic gate. A blown master fuse forces the driver output to an enable state. When the proper select signals are then received by the logic gate, the decoder is enabled to allow selection of the redundant row without introducing a mismatch of redundant and normal line select times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: David C. McClure
  • Patent number: 5555205
    Abstract: The invention provides a system in which a photoelectric sensor having a transparent electrode and a photoconductive layer formed on a transparent substrate in this order is opposed to a liquid crystal recording medium having a transparent electrode and a polymer dispersion type of liquid crystal layer formed on a transparent substrate in this order, and voltage is applied between both the electrodes for exposure to image-carrying light, so that the liquid crystals are oriented to record the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Okabe
  • Patent number: 5532952
    Abstract: A selectively alterable optical data memory (10) has a liquid crystal display (12) with a nematic medium (22), which consists of a nematic phase and a solid dispersed in it, a first voltage source (26), a second voltage source (30) and a modulable laser (32). With the first voltage source (26), the entire display can be converted into the homeotropic state by producing a forming voltage. With the laser (32), an orientation pattern can be produced in display 12 that can be erased or altered at least partially by the application of the threshold voltage and simultaneous irradiation with the laser (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: NEMATEL Dr, R. Eidenshink
    Inventors: Markus Kreuzer, Rudolf Eidenschink
  • Patent number: 5527650
    Abstract: Provided an image forming method comprising the steps of;forming electric charges on a recording layer by charging the recording medium comprising a conductive substrate and, provided thereon a photoconductive layer and a recording layer containing a polymeric liquid crystal compound, in this order;irradiating, after the step of charging, said recording medium with a light corresponding to an image information to move electric charges to said photoconductive layer; andwriting said image information by means of changing a birefringence of the recording layer caused by said movement of electric charges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Yoshinaga, Shuzo Kaneko, Kazuo Isaka, Yoshio Takasu
  • Patent number: 5515316
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device which includes a recording medium, a heating means for heating the recording medium, a reading means for reading the information stored in the recording medium, and the recording medium containing a liquid crystal compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Yamamoto, Yutaka Ishii
  • Patent number: 5489451
    Abstract: The invention relates to reversibly crosslinked, orientable liquid crystalline (LC) polymer films, comprised ofan LC poly(meth)acrylate PP and/ora mixture of PP with low molecular weight crosslinking components. The inventive films have numerous applications, e.g. for optical information storage, and for surface coatings, laminates, or bonded systems having special anisotropic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Roehm GmbH Chemische Fabrik
    Inventors: Jurgen Omeis, Joachim Knebel, Karlheniz Goll
  • Patent number: 5454112
    Abstract: Auxiliary light source for a display is controlled by a light source controller. The light source controller executes a control operation for turning the auxiliary light source on or off in accordance with detecting a change of supplied power, detecting a command sent from an input device, and detecting a special status, for example the operating status mode of a printer or disk drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masayuki Kadono, Yoshimi Hironaka
  • Patent number: 5444651
    Abstract: As a memory medium, a liquid crystal composite or a composite including a liquid crystal component in a molecule is used. The memory medium is heated by a heat generating layer which is heated by a pair of electrodes, thereby changing a phase of the memory medium. Thus, data is written into the memory medium. A change in a property or a phase transition of the memory medium is electrically or optically detected, thereby reading the data from the memory medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Yamamoto, Yutaka Ishii
  • Patent number: 5412595
    Abstract: An opto-electronic memory system comprises a memory element (14) in which information is stored in an array of optically readable memory locations (17) and reading means comprising an electro-optic, e.g. liquid crystal, shutter arrangement (10) which is operable to scan the memory element with reading light and an array of linear light sensitive elements (18) disposed adjacent the output side of the shutter arrangement and extending in the scan direction, the light sensitive element array defining a reading surface remote from the shutter arrangement (10) on which the memory element (14) is disposed with the memory locations (17) in close proximity to the light sensitive elements (18) and being operable in a contact sensing mode to sense reading light reflected from the memory locations of the memory element according to the reflectance characteristics of the memory locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Shannon
  • Patent number: 5410502
    Abstract: In an opto-electronic memory system having a memory element (14), for example an optical data card, in which optically-encoded data is stored in rows of memory locations (17) and reading elements (10,12) comprising a photosensitive element array (12) and operable to read out stored data in response to illumination of the memory locations, data is stored at memory locations as colors representing different data values and the memory locations are addressed with reading light of different colors in sequence, thereby enabling higher data storage capacities to be obtained. The memory locations may be reflective or transmissive. The reading elements may comprise linear or two dimensional arrays of photosensitive elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Neil C. Bird
  • Patent number: 5386310
    Abstract: A parallel optical switching apparatus wherein at least one m-channel light emission element array and one n-channel light receiving element array are optically connected via an m.times.n optical conversion element array and the optical conversion element array has an optical amplification function by inductive discharge of input light for each element and performs optical arithmetic or optical conversion in parallel for input light from the light emission element array by the amplification and modulation function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Haneda, Yuuichi Ono, Katuaki Chiba
  • Patent number: 5353247
    Abstract: This application relates to a new read-write optical storage technology which is based on the cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) polymer property of selective reflection at a characteristic wavelength. Each layer in a multi-layer CLC storage arrangement has a different characteristic wavelength, making it possible to randomly select any layer for reading, writing or erasing. Each layer incorporates a plurality of memory cells, in a write/erase mode, disposed on a dye polymer material or having such dye polymer material integrated into the CLC material such that, in the presence of light and electric or magnetic fields, the molecules of the CLC material are heated and align themselves with the electric or magnetic field. To the extent that the CLC molecules align themselves with a magnetic field normal to the plane of a storage element, electromagnetic energy in the form of light or infrared radiation at a specific wavelength, in a read mode, will be reflected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Inventor: Sadeg M. Faris
  • Patent number: 5317345
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus for selectively storing image data received from image data outputting means in an optical image memory by beam light and printing it out on a recording medium, the image formation apparatus including, clocking means for clocking a predetermined time after completion of printing, and erasing means for erasing contents stored in the optical image memory after the predetermined time is passed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Ueki, Fumio Shimazu
  • Patent number: 5312703
    Abstract: A process for the reversible or irreversible production of an image by imagewise exposure of a recording layer to energy in the presence or absence of an electrical and/or magnetic field, resulting in a pattern of surface charges on the surface of the recording layer corresponding to the imagewise exposure to energy. The recording layer consists essentially ofan organic material which solidifies in a glass-like manner, is non-photoconductive or substantially non-photoconductive and contains permanent dipoles, in whichthe pattern of surface charges is produced without or substantially without the formation of free charge carriers by reversible imagewise alignment of at least some of the permanent dipoles present in the recording layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Wagenblast, Volker Bach
  • Patent number: 5272552
    Abstract: An optical modulation device is provided by forming an optical modulation layer comprising a polymer liquid crystal having a helical structure and a non-helical structure in chiral smectic C phase. The helical structure of the polymer liquid crystal is selectively formed or removed to provide a recorded state. The recorded state is held below the glass transition point of the polymer liquid crystal. The helical pitch of the helical structure can be selectively changed to form a recorded state. The helical structure can be formed to dispose its principal axis perpendicularly to the polymer liquid crystal layer. The recorded state may be read out by detecting a reflectance from the polymer liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Yoshinaga, Yutaka Kurabayashi, Kazuo Isaka, Shuzo Kaneko, Akihiro Mouri, Yomishi Toshida, Toshikazu Ohnishi, Takeo Eguchi
  • Patent number: 5267224
    Abstract: An improved liquid crystal device such as an optical disc memory or a display device with a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) is shown. As FLC a chiral smectic liquid crystal is employed to exhibit a hysteresis between a pair of substrates which have easy polarization axes normal to each other. Information to be recorded are written on the disc in terms of a binary system by use of the hysteresis. A ferroelectric layer contiguous to the liquid crystal makes the nonvolatility of the memory sure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 5262980
    Abstract: An electro-optic memory system includes reading means comprising a planar array of parallel linear electro-optic, e.g. LC, light shutters (16) which are illuminated with parallel light (11) and a parallel, spaced, planar array of light sensing elements, (18) e.g. thin film photodiodes, extending at right angles to the light shutters with read-out regions (20) being defined at the intersections of the shutters and sensing elements. A memory element (14) comprising a two dimensional array of memory locations in which information is stored in the form of a light transmission characteristic is disposed between the shutter and sensing element arrays with the memory locations aligned with read-out regions. Rows of memory locations are optically read, one at a time, for example in sequence, by selective operation of the light shutters by a drive circuit (42) and electrical outputs (43,45) obtained from the sensing elements (18) according to the characteristics of the corresponding row of memory locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Shannon
  • Patent number: 5247377
    Abstract: A process for producing thin, anisotropic layers composed of liquid crystalline substances, the liquid crystalline substances being applied in a thin layer to one side of a support having a surface prestructured in such a way that the structure is given a preferred direction which determines orientation of the liquid crystalline substance and data storage devices produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Rohm GmbH Chemische Fabrik
    Inventors: Juergen Omeis, Norbert Rau, Michael Kunesch
  • Patent number: 5241376
    Abstract: A cinematographic system records motion-picture images on an elongate information recording medium which includes either a charge storage layer or a light modulating layer. The recorded images are reproduced and projected onto a screen. If the charge storage layer is employed, the motion-picture images are recorded as corresponding electric charge images photoelectrically converted from optical images, and if the light modulating layer is employed, image information corresponding to the motion-picture images is recorded under an electric field depending on electric charge images photoelectrically converted from optical images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Itsuo Takanashi, Shintaro Nakagaki, Tsutou Asakura, Masato Furuya, Yoshihisa Koyama, Yuji Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 5227885
    Abstract: A charge latent image recording medium includes an electrode, a dielectric member, a member suppressing a transfer of charges, and a photoconductive member laminated in the order without any gaps therebetween. A system for reading a charge latent image recorded in a recording member includes means for projecting a first electromagnetic radiation beam along a path extending to the recording member, means projecting a second electromagnetic radiation beam approximately along the path for reading the charge latent image, guiding means disposed in the path changing electric resistance thereof along the path threthrough, in response to the first electromagnetic radiation beam projected thereto, for guiding an electric field of charges of the charge latent iamge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Itsuo Takanashi, Shintaro Nakagaki, Hirohiko Shinonaga, Tsutou Asakura, Masato Furuya, Hiromichi Tai
  • Patent number: 5200283
    Abstract: An information recording medium includes a first transparent electrode, and a carrier transport layer formed on the first transparent electrode for generating an electric current on the basis of fed carriers. A carrier generation layer formed on the carrier transport layer serves to generate carriers corresponding to a distribution of an intensity of incident information-writing light containing information, and serves to feed the generated carriers to the carrier transport layer. An electric power supply electrically connected to the first transparent electrode serves to generate an electric field corresponding to the distribution of the intensity of the incident information-writing light in cooperation with the carrier transport layer and the carrier generation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Nakano, Dai Imanishi, Tadayuki Shimada, Shigeo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5192631
    Abstract: A variable electroconductivity material characterized by being obtained by formulating (a) an electroconductivity variation imparting agent comprising a substance which is caused by light or heat energy to undergo structural change, reversibly or irreversibly, between nonionic and ionic structures and (b) a charge transport substance the electroconductivity of which is varied by said structural change of said electroconductivity variation imparting agent, and an information recording medium obtained by the use of this material has excellent memory stability, and also a light (heat) converting device having conversion characteristics can be obtained by the use of this material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiichi Inoue, Atsumi Noshiro, Minoru Utsumi