f Electric heater for hookah By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Electric heat for generating smoke from tobacco or the like in a hookah type smoking pipe. Electric heat is obtained from an electrically powered heating element which may be placed proximate the tobacco. The heating element may be contained within a housing which in turn may be placed above the smoking chamber of the hookah. The housing may have adjustably damped holes disposed to pass air over the heating element. Electrical circuitry serving the heating element may comprise a step down transformer and a voltage adjusting switch. The heating element may be integral with the hookah, may take the form of a separate component which is mountable over the smoking chamber of the hookah, or may comprise a free standing assembly which may be placed to stand adjacent to the hookah. Full Article
f Reducing levels of nicotinic alkaloids in plants By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Two genes, A622 and NBB1, can be influenced to achieve a decrease of nicotinic alkaloid levels in plants. In particular, suppression of one or both of A622 and NBB1 may be used to decrease nicotine in tobacco plants. Full Article
f Apparatus for dispensing moist smokeless tobacco By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for accurately dosing moist smokeless tobacco includes a dosing assembly and a dosing air source. The dosing assembly defines a loading chamber and a dosing chamber for containing a quantity of moist smokeless tobacco material. The dosing assembly also includes a discharge opening communicating with the dosing chamber. The dosing air source communicates with the dosing chamber and is operable to deliver compressed air to the dosing assembly so as to move moist smokeless tobacco material from the dosing chamber to the discharge opening. A method of pouching moist smokeless tobacco includes placing a predetermined quantity of moist smokeless tobacco in a dosing chamber having a predetermined volume, and ejecting the predetermined quantity of moist smokeless tobacco to pouching apparatus using compressed air. Full Article
f Aerosol devices and methods for inhaling a substance and uses thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Devices, cartridges, and method are described herein for emulating smoking wherein a device generates an aerosol for inhalation by a subject by heating a viscous material that can have a tactile response in the mouth or respiratory tract, while reducing Hoffman analytes and mutagenic compounds delivered to the user as compared to a common tobacco cigarette. Full Article
f Thermal treatment process for tobacco materials By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of thermally processing a tobacco material is provided, the method including the steps of (i) mixing a tobacco material, water, and an additive selected from the group consisting of lysine, glycine, histidine, alanine, methionine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, phenylalanine, valine, arginine, di- and trivalent cations, asparaginase, saccharides, phenolic compounds, reducing agents, compounds having a free thiol group, oxidizing agents, oxidation catalysts, plant extracts, and combinations thereof, to form a moist tobacco mixture; (ii) heating the moist tobacco mixture at a temperature of at least about 60° C. to form a heat-treated tobacco mixture; and (iii) incorporating the heat-treated tobacco mixture into a tobacco product. Heat-treated tobacco composition prepared according to the method are also provided, such as heat-treated smokeless tobacco composition comprising a tobacco material, water, flavorant, binder, and filler, the heat-treated smokeless tobacco composition having an acrylamide content of less than about 2000 ppb. Full Article
f Process for shredding a tobacco sheet and apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A process and apparatus for shredding tobacco sheets, especially tobacco sheets formed of reconstituted tobacco particles with guar and sugar comprises rotating opposing sets of cutter discs in a partially overlapping relation so as to establish a nip. The cutter discs have notches at spaced locations along a peripheral portion of the cutter discs. Adjacent pairs of cutter discs are spaced apart by a spacer disc with a stripper plate interposed between adjacent pairs of spaced apart cutter discs. A tobacco sheet which is fed into the nip of the sets of cutter discs is shredded by the discs. Full Article
f Filter element comprising smoke-altering material By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention provides a filter element of a smoking article having a longitudinal axis and adapted for filtration of mainstream smoke generated by the smoking article, the filter element including a first region extending along the longitudinal axis of the filter element and exhibiting a first pressure drop and a second region extending along the longitudinal axis of the filter element and exhibiting a second pressure drop lower than said first pressure drop, wherein the first and second regions are arranged in a side-by-side configuration such that both regions are visible in a cross-section of the filter element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein mainstream smoke can move from the second region into the first region, and further comprising a smoke-altering material, such as an oxidation catalyst, positioned in the first region. Full Article
f Method for extraction of nicotine from tobacco raw material By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to methods of nicotine extraction from tobacco, caporal and tobacco crumb. The proposed method for extraction of nicotine from tobacco, caporal and tobacco crumb implies continuous extraction from raw material with low-boiling solvents at vapor phase followed by solvent stripper and recurrence for further reuse in the process. Full Article
f Mechanisms for vaporizing devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure generally relates to electronic vaporizing devices comprising a plurality of components, and mechanisms for locking or otherwise securing the components together. Components of the electronic vaporizing devices may include a cartridge (e.g., including a liquid for vaporization) and a battery unit (e.g., including a rechargeable battery), among other possible components. The electronic vaporizing devices may be at least partially disassembled to allow a user to replace, replenish, recharge, and/or repair the device, as needed. Full Article
f Coil packaging for smokeless tobacco By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A pocket sized dispenser houses in coiled form a flexible strip of portions of smokeless tobacco sized for placement between a consumer's cheek and gum, where the flexible strip includes a base tape removably attached to the plurality of portions, and wherein the dispenser and strip are adapted to allow a consumer to separate individual portions from the base tape. The individual portions comprise either a collection of tobacco particles at least partially enclosed by a coating comprising a water-soluble non-crosslinked component and a substantially water-insoluble cross-linked component; or pouches attached to the base tape with a food-grade adhesive, the pouches comprising smokeless tobacco enclosed in a water-permeable wrapper with at least one lap-sealed edge. Methods of preparing such are disclosed. Full Article
f Smoking article with flavor delivery system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A flavor delivery release system for a cigarette or cigarette package. The system includes a cigarette, at least one capsule containing a flavorant, the capsule positioned on an external surface of the cigarette; and wherein the flavorant is released upon rupturing the capsule. Full Article
f Biodegradable plastic and use thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a biodegradable plastic having increased biodegradation speed. Said plastic comprises a) finely distributed particle of a biodegradable, water-soluble, organic component, and b) finely distributed particles of a water-soluble, inorganic component promoting the growth of microorganisms and comprising N, P, and/or S. Said plastic is particularly based on cellulose esters such as cellulose acetate. Preferable components A are water-soluble saccharides and/or water-soluble organic acids. Said particularly advantageous biodegradable plastic is particularly available in the form of fibers, films, injection molded items, granulate beads, and containers. Controlled-release biocides and/or fertilizers can also be included in the molded part, wherein the molded part is degraded faster in the environment as said ingredients are released. The accelerated biodegradation is based on a synergistic interaction of the components indicated. Full Article
f Method for producing triacetin from tobacco By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for producing triacetin from one or more plants of genus Nicotiana is provided. The triacetin can be derived inter alia from Nicotiana species biomass or from seed. In certain embodiments, the triacetin is produced by condensation of glycerin, generated by hydrolysis of acylglycerol-containing starting material derived from tobacco biomass or seed, and acetic acid, also derived from tobacco biomass or seed. The invention also provides articles and compositions including tobacco articles and tobacco compositions that include triacetin produced from one or more plants of genus Nicotiana. Full Article
f Method for forming a smoking article capable of delivering flavorant to mainstream smoke when ignited during smoking By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Delivery of additives in a smoking article is provided through thermally degradable, robust immobilized additive inserts. Additives can be immobilized in an elongated device or an insert, wherein the elongated device or the insert is sufficiently robust to allow the elongated device or the insert to be manually or machine inserted into a smoking article while maintaining the structure of the elongated device or the insert. By providing additives in the form of thermally degradable immobilized additive inserts, migration and/or loss of the additives in a smoking article prior to smoking can be reduced. Full Article
f Flue-curing apparatus and associated method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A flue-curing apparatus and a related method are provided. The flue-curing apparatus includes a circulation chamber and a curing chamber that are separated by a divider wall. An air circulation system includes a blower positioned in the circulation chamber that directs air to a heater device and a lower passage into the curing chamber. The air may be received from one or both of an inlet and an upper passage extending from the curing chamber to the circulation chamber. A humidity control system humidifies the air directed into the curing chamber. A controller may receive signals from wet and dry bulb thermometers to determine the conditions in the curing chamber and the condition of tobacco leaves being cured therein. The controller may adjust various operational parameters to cause the tobacco leaves in the curing chamber to cure at a desired rate. Full Article
f Method and equipment for adding tobacco dust into papermaking tobacco sheet By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT This invention discloses a method for adding tobacco dust in production process of the papermaking tobacco sheet and its equipment. The tobacco dust is added in 5-30% weight at four process points such as the pipeline from the slurry stabilization box to the slurry flow box, the long-net of the papermaking machine, the position from the vacuum couch to the first press, and the coating position on the papermaking machine. This invention adopts a method for adding the tobacco dust in production process of papermaking tobacco sheet, which has well improved its physical performances including the filling capacity of the papermaking tobacco sheet and solved smoking problems of the papermaking tobacco sheet, such as worse inherent quality, heavy stemy note, insipid tobacco aroma and etc. In addition, this method has also offered a good way to well utilize tobacco dust resource in sizes of 2 mm-100 mesh, which is abnegated in cigarette production, to save resource and to reduce the cigarette cost. Full Article
f Air suction device for a smoking apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The various embodiments herein provide an air suction device for a smoking apparatus. The air suction device comprises a cylindrical housing, an impeller, an impeller cover, a motor assembled inside the housing to drive the impeller, a plurality of batteries provided in the housing, a battery cover to enclose the plurality of batteries and a switch provided externally to the cylindrical housing. When the switch is in ON condition, the plurality of batteries supply an electrical power to the motor and the motor converts the electrical power into a mechanical power which in turn causes propulsion of the impeller thereby sucking out the air from a water bowl of the smoking apparatus. The propulsive motion of the impeller sucks out the air from the water bowl until the air inside the water bowl is replaced by condensed smoke. Full Article
f System comprising a simulated cigarette device and a refill unit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A simulated smoking device (1) comprising a simulated cigarette having a substantially cylindrical cigarette-like shape and a refill device (2, 50) having a substantially cuboid housing with a cigarette pack-like shape containing refill gas (32, 59) for the simulated cigarette and having means for selectively retaining the simulated cigarette. The simulated cigarette may be retained wholly within the housing. It may be retained at a location different from the refill location. A dose counter may be provided to give a visual indication of the doses in the refill device. Full Article
f Methods for extracting and isolating constituents of cellulosic material By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for extracting and isolating constituents of cellulosic matter, comprising providing cellulosic matter; contacting the cellulosic matter with a supercritical fluid; separating the supercritical fluid from the cellulosic matter, thereby forming an extract and a raffinate; and separating at least one compound present in the extraction medium by distillation. Full Article
f Protective device and method for preventing supply voltage sag of microcontroller from sagin electronic cigarette By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A protective device and method for preventing supply voltage of microcontroller from sag in electronic cigarette is provided, comprising a microcontroller, a power supply module, a field effect transistor, an energy storage circuit, wherein, the energy storage circuit is connected between the microcontroller and the power supply module, the energy storage circuit supplies electric power to the microcontroller when an over current or short circuit occurs, and maintains the supply voltage of the microcontroller not being less than its minimal operating voltage in a certain period of time; the microcontroller processes the over current or short circuit signal and turns off the MOSFET to cut off the current flow in a load circuit. The unstable or uncontrollable phenomena of the microcontroller in the existing technology are resolved. The circuit of the present invention is simple and low cost. Full Article
f Inline vapor cooling and filtering apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A vapor inhalation device includes a first body portion defining a first chamber and a second body portion defining a second chamber provided at least partially within the first chamber, where the second body portion has at least one aperture placing the second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber. An intake conduit defines a first air passageway from an exterior of the first body portion to within the second chamber. An output conduit has a proximal end located within the first chamber, a distal end opposite the proximal end and located at the exterior of the first body portion, is physically coupled to the first body portion at a location different from the proximal end of the output conduit, and defines a second air passageway extending from within the first chamber to the exterior of the body portion. Full Article
f Apparatuses, systems, and associated methods for forming porous masses for smoke filter By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system for producing porous masses may include a mold cavity disposed along the material path, at least one hopper before at least a portion of the mold cavity for feeding a matrix material to the material path, a heat source in thermal communication with at least a first portion of the material path, and a cutter disposed along the material path after the first portion of the material path. Full Article
f Tip charging electronic cigarette and system and method for charging the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A tip charging electronic cigarette includes a cigarette body including a shell and a mouthpiece, the shell having a forward portion terminating in a tip. The cigarette body further includes a battery, a charging circuit operatively coupled to the battery, and a cartomizer operatively coupled to a switch assembly. A center charging contact is disposed adjacent the tip, an annular charging contact is disposed adjacent the tip, and the center charging contact and the annular charging contact are operatively coupled to the charging circuit. The center charging contact and the annular charging contact are arranged for connection to cooperating electrical contacts of a charger assembly, wherein the battery is arranged to be charged upon engaging the tip with the charger assembly. Full Article
f Method and apparatus for making a custom made cigar using resealable packaging unit or pouch having multiple cigar wrappers By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A pouch with multiple tear areas is provided. In one embodiment instructions are provided for resealing with heat. In one embodiment a zip-lock type reseal can be used in place of one of the multiple tear areas. Full Article
f Cigarette filter By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a special, highly efficient cigarette filter. In particular, the invention relates to a new cigarette filter, in which materials of natural origin not used before in this special field are applied. More particularly, the present invention relates to a special, highly efficient cigarette filter, which can be used favorably for adsorbing the toxic components of the cigarette smoke, and neutralizing the free radicals produced during burning of the cigarette. Full Article
f Moist tobacco product and method of making By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A portioned moist tobacco product with a super-hydrated membrane coating and method of manufacturing is disclosed. The super-hydrated membrane coating is formed by ionic cross-linking using two polymers. The soluble component of the super-hydrated membrane coating dissolves upon placement in the mouth, while the insoluble component maintains the tobacco within the coating for the duration of the use of the product. The moist tobacco product is soft and flexible so as to fit comfortably in an oral cavity when placed therein. Full Article
f Process for making a continuous structure of an encapsulated material By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for providing an encapsulated flavorant or chemesthetic agent in a smoking article includes forming an emulsion including: (i) a first aqueous solution, comprising one or more cross-linkable polysaccharides; and (ii) a hydrophobic additive comprising one or more flavorants or chemesthetic agents. The method also includes extruding the emulsion into a second aqueous solution in the form of an elongated structure, cross-linking at least a portion of the one or more cross-linkable polysaccharides, removing the cross-linked elongated structure from the second aqueous solution, introducing the cross-linked elongated structure into a filter, or into a rod including a smoking composition, or both; and forming the filter or the rod of the smoking composition into a smoking article. The method can include a drying step. Full Article
f Device for filling a cigarette tube with a metered amount of tobacco By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device for filling cigarette tubes that can be designed and used manually, partially automatically, or, fully automatically for packing cigarette tubes with a metered, precise amount of tobacco that leads to a consistent filling of the tube to an even and complete density such that the burning rate and continuity are consistently the same, regardless of the cut of tobacco being used, or of moisture content of the tobacco, and, independent of operator control variables. Full Article
f Inhibition of sensory irritation during consumption of non-smokeable tobacco products By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An orally-enjoyable tobacco product includes a portion of smokeless tobacco comprising an active ingredient and either: (1) a collection of tobacco particles at least partially enclosed by a coating comprising a water-soluble non-crosslinked component and a substantially water-insoluble cross-linked component, or (2) a pouch comprising smokeless tobacco enclosed in a water-permeable wrapper. The active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a mercaptan, camphor, borneol, isoborneol, bornyl acetate, isobornyl acetate, mono-bornyl succinate, mono-isobornyl succinate, mono-bornyl formate, and mono-isobornyl formate. The active ingredient is present in an amount effective to reduce or eliminate the sensory irritation arising from the smokeless tobacco. Also disclosed is a method of making such a product. Full Article
f Method of applying phase transition materials to semi-porous, flexible substrates used to control gas permeability By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Method of applying phase transition substance to impart reduced ignition propensity to a smoking article comprising a tobacco column and a wrapper surrounding the tobacco column and having a porous structure with a base permeability. The method comprising forming a pattern of phase transition material on the wrapper such that, when subjected to the heat of the tobacco column burning firecone, the phase transition material at least partially fills the wrapper porous structure in the vicinity of the burning firecone to form an area on the wrapper having reduced permeability lower than that of the wrapper base permeability. The reduced permeability of the wrapper in the vicinity of the burning firecone imparts reduced ignition propensity such that there is insufficient air flow to sustain combustion of the firecone or insufficient air flow to sustain an intensity of the burning firecone necessary to ignite the substrate. Full Article
f PIXEL ARRAY STRUCTURE, DISPLAY PANEL AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE PIXEL ARRAY STRUCTURE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A pixel array structure including a bottom carrier plate, a wire layer, a planarization layer, a pixel unit layer and a conductor structure is provided. The wire layer is disposed on the bottom carrier plate. The planarization layer covers the wire layer and has a flat surface at a side away from the wire layer. The pixel unit layer is disposed on the flat surface of the planarization layer. The pixel unit layer includes a pixel unit including a driving circuit structure and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the driving circuit structure. The conductor structure passes through the planarization layer and is connected between the driving circuit structure and the wire layer. A display panel having the pixel array structure and a method of fabricating the pixel array structure are also provided. Full Article
f DISPLAY DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DRIVING DISPLAY DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A display device includes: a display unit in which light-emitting pixels are disposed in rows and columns; and a control circuit controlling the display unit. The light-emitting pixels each include: a light-emitting element (organic EL element); and a drive transistor which supplies the light-emitting element with a current causing the light-emitting element to emit light, and the control circuit, when display by the display unit is stopped, calculates an amount of shift of a threshold voltage of the drive transistor at a time when a stopped state of the display unit is started, and determines on the basis of the amount of shift, at least one of (i) a recovery voltage which reduces the amount of shift by being applied across a gate and source of the drive transistor while the display by the display unit is stopped, and (ii) an application period during which the recovery voltage is applied. Full Article
f DISPLAY DEVICE AND METHOD OF DRIVING THE SAME By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A display device and a method of driving the same are disclosed. The display device includes a first driver integrated circuit configured to drive a first pixel array, a second driver integrated circuit configured to drive a second pixel array, a power module integrated circuit configured to receive an enable signal and output a driving voltage, and an AND gate configured to receive an output of the first driver integrated circuit and an output of the second driver integrated circuit and output the enable signal. The driving voltage output from the power module integrated circuit is commonly supplied to the first and second driver integrated circuits. Full Article
f DISPLAY APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING DISPLAY APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An object is to provide a display device of an organic light emitting type suppressing luminance unevenness. The display device includes: a pixel including an organic light emitting element and a pixel circuit that controls a current supplied to the organic light emitting element; a first wiring 41 and a second wiring 42 supplying a first signal used for controlling the pixel circuit to the pixel circuit; and a third wiring 43 suppling a second signal used for controlling the pixel circuit to the pixel circuit. The first wiring 41 to the third wiring 43 are arranged inside an area in which the pixel circuit is arranged in a first direction, and the third wiring 43 is arranged between the first wiring 41 and the second wiring 42. Full Article
f DISPLAY DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DRIVING SAME By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT In a current measurement period set in a pause period, a display device of the present invention applies measurement voltages to data lines (S1 to Sm) and measures currents outputted to monitoring lines (M1 to Mm) from m pixel circuits (18), and then applies data voltages generated corresponding to video signals to the data lines (S1 to Sm). Full Article
f ORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE DISPLAY DEVICE AND DRIVING METHOD THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention discloses an organic light-emitting diode display device and a driving method thereof. The device includes: a plurality of pixels, including a plurality of organic light-emitting diodes and a plurality of drive transistors for supplying drive currents to the organic light-emitting diodes; a data driver, configured to transmit corresponding data signals to the plurality of pixels via a plurality of data lines; and a pre-charge circuit, configured to pre-charge voltage signals reserved in a previous time sequence to an initial voltage, the initial voltage being less than or equal to a minimum voltage of the data signals, wherein before the data driver transmits the corresponding data signals to the plurality of pixels, the pre-charge circuit acts to pre-charge the voltage signals reserved in the previous time sequence by the plurality of pixels to be less than or equal to the minimum voltage of the data signals. Full Article
f Power Management for Modulated Backlights By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Power levels of a backlight are adjusted in a number of ways and based on a number of criteria. The adjustments result in a lower power consumption and, in some cases, may enhance audience attention to important objects in a scene. The adjustments comprise, for example, a combination of ramping down power (lowering final display brightness) in concert with corresponding compensatory LCD adjustments (increasing final display brightness). The adjustments may also include, for example, system dimming after ramp down/LCD adjustments are exhausted, or the shifting of an LDR2HDR curve. Full Article
f FIELD-SEQUENTIAL DISPLAY PANEL, FIELD-SEQUENTIAL DISPLAY APPARATUS AND DRIVING METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A field-sequential display panel, a field-sequential display apparatus and a driving method are provided. The field-sequential display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display panel and an OLED light source arranged at one side of the liquid crystal display panel where light is incident to provide trichromatic light for pixel cells of the liquid crystal display panel. The OLED light source includes multiple groups of trichromatic light sources, each of the groups of trichromatic light sources includes a first color sub-light source, a second color sub-light source and a third color sub-light source, and each sub-light source includes an anode, a cathode and a light emitting layer between the anode and the cathode. Full Article
f LIQUID CRYSTAL PANELS AND THE DRIVING METHOD THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A liquid crystal panel and the driving method thereof are disclosed. The liquid crystal panel includes at least one storage electrode, a plurality of scanning lines, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of pixel areas. Each of the pixel areas includes a pixel electrode, a first TFT and a second TFT. The first TFT drives the corresponding pixel electrode. The gate of the second TFT connects with the previous scanning line, and one of the source and the drain of the second TFT connects to the corresponding pixel electrode within the pixel area, and the other one connects with the storage electrode. In this way, the optimal common voltage is applied to the liquid crystal panel when the liquid crystal panel is in a displaying process, and thus the display performance is guaranteed. Full Article
f LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICE AND PIXEL INSPECTION METHOD THEREFOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT According to one embodiment, each pixel of a liquid crystal display device includes: a switch configured to sample subframe data; a storage unit configured to hold the subframe data sampled by the switch, the storage unit and the switch constituting an SRAM cell; and a conductive switch disposed between a liquid crystal display element and an adjacent pixel. A range of a source voltage of NMOS and PMOS transistors constituting each inverter constituting the storage unit of one pixel is configured to be able to be set separately from a range of a source voltage of NMOS and PMOS transistors constituting each inverter constituting the storage unit of another pixel. Full Article
f DISPLAY DEVICE AND METHOD OF DRIVING THE SAME By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a display device. The display device includes: a plurality of gate lines extending in a first direction; a plurality of data lines extending in a second direction that intersects the first direction; and a plurality of pixels connected to the gate lines and the data lines, wherein the pixels include pixels h-th row pixels (h is a natural number) and (h+1)-th row pixels, which are adjacent to each other in the second direction, with a (k+1)-th gate line (k is a natural number) therebetween among the gate lines; and a first pixel displaying a first color and connected to the (k+1)-th gate line among the h-th row pixels and a second pixel displaying the first color and connected to the (k+1)-th gate line among the (h+1)-th row pixels are spaced apart from each other in the first direction and receive different polarities of data voltages. Full Article
f DRIVER INTEGRATED CIRCUIT FOR DRIVING DISPLAY PANEL, DISPLAY DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DRIVING DRIVER INTEGRATED CIRCUIT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A driver IC for driving a display panel, a display device and a method for driving the driver IC are provided. The driver IC is provided with N pins corresponding to N signal transmission lines of the display panel respectively. Each pin is connected to one corresponding signal transmission line through one transmission wire. The N pins include a first pin and a second pin. The transmission wires include a first transmission wire connected to the first pin and a second transmission wire connected to the second pin and having a length less than the first transmission wire. The driver IC includes a signal generation module configured to generate N driving signals. The N driving signals include a first driving signal corresponding to the first pin and a second driving signal corresponding to the second pin and having a current intensity less than the first driving signal. Full Article
f DISPLAY APPARATUS AND A METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A display apparatus includes a display panel, a first data driver, a second data driver, and a first capacitor. The display panel is connected to a plurality of data lines. The first data driver is connected to first data lines among the plurality of data lines, and is configured to perform a first charge sharing for the first data lines. The second data driver is connected to second data lines among the plurality of data lines, and is configured to perform a second charge sharing for the second data lines. The first capacitor is connected to the first data driver and the second data driver. Each of the first and second charge sharings is performed using the first capacitor. Full Article
f ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING SMALLER NUMBER OF DRIVE CHIPS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides an electronic device (100) having smaller number of drive chips and including a timing controller (10), a gate and a source drive chips (20, 30), a pixel cells matrix (60) and a multiplexer (40). The multiplexer (40) includes a plurality of first signal outputs connected to the pixel cells matrix (60). The timing controller (10) might generate enable signals for the multiplexer (40). In this way, the multiplexer (40) could output scan signals to the pixel cells matrix by a corresponding signal end. The number of the drive chips could be reduced by the present invention. Full Article
f SHIFT REGISTER UNIT, GATE DRIVE DEVICE AND DISPLAY DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure provides a shift register unit including a pull-up module, an input module, a pull-down control module, a pull-down module, a reset discharging module, a voltage dividing module, a holding module, and a far end pull-down module. The shift register unit is designed in a split manner in order to perform pull-down compensation to the output signal at the far end, saving the low voltage signal at the far end, thereby saving the space and facilitating the design. The present disclosure further provides a gate driving device and a display device using the shift register unit. Full Article
f DISPLAY PANEL DRIVING APPARATUS, A METHOD OF DRIVING A DISPLAY PANEL USING THE DISPLAY PANEL DRIVING APPARATUS AND A DISPLAY APPARATUS INCLUDING THE DISPLAY PANEL DRIVING APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A display panel driving apparatus includes a data processor configured to receive N-th line data of image data. N is a natural number not less than 2. The data processor is further configured to perform a first line delay on the N-th line data to output (N−1)-th line data, to output (N−1)-th line substitution data which is obtained by N-th line substitution data, which is based on the N-th line data and the (N−1)-th line data, and to compensate the N-th line data based on the N-th line data and the (N−1)-th line substitution data to output compensation image data. The display panel driving apparatus further includes a data driver and a gate driver. Full Article
f PROGRAMMABLE LEVEL SHIFTER FOR LCD SYSTEMS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A programmable level shifter for providing upshifted control signals to an active matrix display based on logic-level control signals received from a timing controller. The programmable level shifter includes a programmable state machine, level-shifting output drivers, and a programming interface. The programmable state machine is configured to receive at least one control signal from a timing controller. The state machine generates, based on said at least one control signal, a plurality of outputs for driving gate drivers of the active matrix display. The level-shifting output drivers convert the plurality of outputs generated by the programmable state machine to a higher-magnitude voltage level. The programming interface facilitates the programming of aspects of the programmable state machine. Full Article
f ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR REPORTING INFORMATION, DISPLAY METHOD THEREFOR, AND RECORDING MEDIUM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A timepiece wrist terminal includes: a setting processing unit; a location information acquisition unit; a related information acquisition unit; a time difference calculation processing unit; and an output control unit. The setting processing unit acquires a first location. The location information acquisition unit acquires a second location that is different from the first location. The related information acquisition unit acquires information related to the first location. The related information acquisition unit also acquires information related to the second location. The time difference calculation processing unit generates differential information in accordance with the information related to the first location and the information related to the second location. The output control unit controls the output unit so as to display an object that represents the differential information, at least one of attributes of the object displayed being continuously varied in accordance with a differential amount representing the differential information. Full Article
f Flexible Display Screen, Display Device, and Display Method Applied to Flexible Display Screen By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Provided are a flexible display screen having an extending mode and a retracting mode, a display device comprising the flexible display screen and a display method applicable to the flexible display screen, wherein in the extending mode, the entire flexible display screen can be used for displaying, and in the retracting mode, at least a portion of the flexible display screen is curled and an uncurled portion thereof can be used for displaying. According to the flexible display screen, the display device and the display method, a display region of the flexible display screen can be extended in the extending mode so as to enhance visual experience of the user, and at least a portion of the flexible display screen can be curled and retracted in the retracting mode so as to improve the portability. Meanwhile, a partitioned control can be performed to the displaying on the flexible display screen so as to reduce power consumption of the flexible display screen. Full Article
f Method of simulating print color on mobile devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method of simulating print color on mobile devices, comprising: obtaining a second group of tristimulus values by a chromaticity measuring device through a measuring method; creating a CIEXYZ color space of the mobile device by the second group of tristimulus values, and transforming the CIEXYZ color space to a sRGB color space via a 1D lookup table and a transformation matrix; obtaining a print color from a ICC profile of an output device by 3D lookup table and generating a second color calibrated profile by finding another color, similar to the print color from the ICC profile of the output device, in the sRGB color space through tone mapping; and simulating the print color on a screen of the mobile device by using the second color calibrated profile, whereby the user can directly preview the printed photo on the screen thereby achieving saving print ink and time. Full Article