Did You Know...
...that the video game, Pong, was invented by a guy who graduated at the bottom of his engineering class? Nolan Bushnell spent more time running the games at a local amusement park than he did on his studies at the University of Utah. His dreams of working for Disney's amusement empire were dashed when the company wouldn't hire him. Taking a boring job, Nolan daydreamed about electronic versions of popular games. He invented Pong, the first video game, and went on to found Atari Co.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8164814 | Domestic viewing panel unit A domestic viewing panel unit for a door, comprising: a first panel comprising one or more first panel light transparent regions that are substantially transparent to visible light and one or more first panel light hindering regions which substantially hinder transm... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8120833 | Variable space shutter for LED display A variable space shutter includes: a first frame having vertically spaced slats forming vertical openings; a second frame having a horizontal indented channel, the second frame being affixed to the first frame around a periphery of the first frame; and a shutter par... | 02/21/2012 |
| 7973993 | Flat panel display and manufacturing method thereof A flat panel display includes a first substrate, a thin film transistor formed on the first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a light controller formed on the second substrate, wherein the light controller is electrically connected to the... | 07/05/2011 |
| 7796316 | Micro-optic shutter A shutter includes micro-optics having first and second concentrator arrays. A transducer laterally displaces one of the first and second concentrator arrays between transmissive and shuttered modes. In the transmissive mode, the arrays of concentrators are opticall... | 09/14/2010 |
| 7746529 | MEMS display apparatus This invention relates to display apparatuses having an array of light modulators and a plurality of spacers distributed within the interior of the array. The display apparatus may also include a reflective aperture layer disposed on a front facing surface of a subs... | 06/29/2010 |
| 7742215 | Methods and apparatus for spatial light modulation The invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming images on a display utilizing a control matrix to control the movement of MEMs-based light modulators. ... | 06/22/2010 |
| 7675665 | Methods and apparatus for actuating displays This invention relates to display apparatuses having an array of light modulators and a plurality of apertures formed in a layer of material. Each light modulator corresponds to one or more apertures and has a portion which may overlap a corresponding aperture, wher... | 03/09/2010 |
| 7652811 | Small mechanical optical shutter with non-imaging concentrating optics In one embodiment, there is provided a method comprising positioning a light concentrating component, having a body comprising a near end and a far end, an exit pupil at the far end, and an internal reflective surface shaped and dimensioned to concentrate light ente... | 01/26/2010 |
| 7545548 | Modifiable assembly of microscopic apertures The invention concerns a modifiable assembly of microscopic apertures comprising several plates (100, 110) that are opaque except on transparent parts (101, 114, 115), capable of moving relative to one another, to modify the size of resulting pinholes.... | 06/09/2009 |
| 7400433 | Installable pinhole Adjustable pinhole, particularly for the illumination beam path and/or detection beam path of a laser scanning microscope, wherein the pinhole is defined by foil edges which are adjustable relative to one another, and at least two foils, each with at least one strai... | 07/15/2008 |
| 7391552 | Methods and apparatus for spatial light modulation Improved apparatus and methods for spatial light modulation are disclosed which utilize optical cavities having both front and rear reflective surfaces. Light-transmissive regions are formed in the front reflective surface for spatially modulating light. ... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7388712 | Confocal scanning microscope using two Nipkow disks A confocal scanning microscope using a Nipkow disk prevents deterioration of performance in an optical axis direction while maintaining a high measurement speed. The confocal scanning microscope includes a light source, an illuminating device to pass the light from ... | 06/17/2008 |
| 7324253 | Installable pinhole Adjustable pinhole, particularly for the illumination beam path and/or detection beam path of a laser scanning microscope, wherein the pinhole is defined by foil edges which are adjustable relative to one another, and at least two foils, each with at least one strai... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7276686 | Method and device for detecting the opening angle of the shutter of an adjustable rotating shutter in a film camera The invention relates to a method and a device for detecting the opening angle of the shutter (light or dark sector) of an adjustable rotating shutter (1) arranged in a film camera. Said shutter comprises a circular-segment-shaped or circular-sector shaped sh... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7263838 | Pulse tube cooler with internal MEMS flow controller A regenerative refrigeration system includes one or more control devices that utilize micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) technology. Such MEMS devices may be small in size, on a scale such that it can be introduced into a refrigeration system, such as a cryocoo... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7245285 | Pixel device A pixel device, comprising; a first plate, a second plate disposed under the first plate, and a third plate disposed under the second plate; a first power supply for providing a first voltage to the first plate; a second power supply for providing a second voltage t... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7242749 | Methods and systems for dynamic pitch helical scanning Methods and systems for controlling x-ray exposure during a dynamic pitch helical scan using a translatable table are provided. The system includes a collimator positioned between an x-ray source and an object to be scanned configured to shutter an x-ray fan beam ge... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7121672 | Adjustable light attenuator or blocker for vehicle Attenuating or blocking light in a vehicle includes a rotatingly connected first and second sheet each with a plurality of holes and apertures, respectively. During use, a hole of the first sheet is registered with an aperture of the second sheet and both the hole a... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7113318 | Light amount control apparatus, photographing apparatus, and filter It is an object of this invention to independently control the F-number and the number of light attenuation steps of a multi-density ND filter by using a light amount control apparatus using an iris stop and the ND filter. The iris stop mechanism made up of a plural... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7088487 | Modifiable assembly of microscopic apertures The invention concerns a modifiable assembly of microscopic apertures comprising several plates (100, 110) coated with an opaque deposition except on transparent parts, for example (101, 114, 115), capable of sliding relative to one another, separated ... | 08/08/2006 |
| 7018071 | Light apparatus A light apparatus, which produces a central motionless light beam and at least one light beam rotating around the central beam, includes a cylindrical housing, a parabolic reflector, a lamp having a light sours in reflector's focus and a rotating non-transparent dis... | 03/28/2006 |
| 6956858 | Network routing table and packet routing method A routing table circuit for a router has one or more input ports and output ports for message communication. In the routing table circuit, one or more routing table memories store a plurality of routing table arrays. The routing table arrays are arranged hierarchica... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6934079 | Confocal microscope comprising two microlens arrays and a pinhole diaphragm array A confocal microscope comprises a microlens array having a plurality of microlenses for splitting a ray bundle of illumination light into a plurality of convergent partial ray bundles which illuminate a sample simultaneously at several measuring points; a beam split... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6875991 | Modulated resistance heater infrared radiation source An electrically heated resistance element disposed on axis within a gold coated reflector, which collects the radiated infrared energy from the resistance element and shapes it to a desired beam, provides a shaped high intensity source of infrared radiation which is... | 04/05/2005 |
| 6854851 | Projection display A projection display according to the present invention reduces the size of a light beam in the optical path of an illumination optics from the periphery to change the amount of light incident on a video display device and the angle of such incidence, thereby making... | 02/15/2005 |
| 6850351 | Method and apparatus for ultra-fast aperture exposure An apparatus and method for extremely fast opening and closing of an exposure path or optical axis. Two disk-shaped shutters are coaxially rotated in opposite directions at an initial synchronous speed so as to dynamically align openings in the discs at an angular p... | 02/01/2005 |
| 6784771 | MEMS optical mirror array A compact high aspect ratio MEMS optical switch, and a process for fabricating same, are disclosed. An outer body portion is mounted so as to have a first rotational degree of freedom about a first axis. An inner body portion is coupled mechanically to the outer bod... | 08/31/2004 |
| 6769777 | Multi-aperture optical dimming system A dimming system is provided that facilitates a wide dimming range and precise control of the dimming range. In one embodiment, the dimming system comprises a multi-aperture dimming system. The multi-aperture dimming system can be implemented in any display that uti... | 08/03/2004 |
| 6639572 | Paper white direct view display A low power, paper white, direct-view display includes an array of hinged micromirrors that are deflected between two states, a first state in which the micromirror covers a portion of the background and a second state in which the micromirror uncovers th... | 10/28/2003 |
| 6583915 | Display device using a micro light modulator and fabricating method thereof A display device using a micro light modulator that is capable of applying to various display apparatus. The display device has a plurality of fixed members installed parallel to each other over a substrate, the member being apart from each other; and a p... | 06/24/2003 |
| 6559999 | System for modulating radiation using two rotating discs The present invention is directed to a system for modulating thermal infrared radiation for a pyroelectric imaging sensor or similar sensor by providing two discs rotating at the same speed, both discs provided adjacent to one another and between a source... | 05/06/2003 |
| 6556334 | Flat panel display using microelectromechanical device There is provided a flat panel display using a micro-electromechanical device, comprising a back glass substrate having a transparent electrode of a transparent electric conductor; a front glass substrate having a color filter layer; an micro-electromecha... | 04/29/2003 |
| 6491404 | Microelectromechanical apparatus with tiltable bodies including variable tilt-stop engaging portions and methods of operation and fabrication therefor A micromechanical apparatus includes a microelectronic substrate and a tiltable body thereon. The tiltable body includes a plate configured to tilt about an axis parallel to the microelectronic substrate and a tilt stop engaging portion disposed axially a... | 12/10/2002 |
| 6429446 | Multiple infrared missile jammer Apparatus for providing simultaneous jamming of a number of missiles is disclosed comprising a plurality of reticles each having a pattern therein which provides necessary spin frequency and carrier frequency (if required) for the missile to be jammed. Th... | 08/06/2002 |
| 6420719 | Modulated infrared source A modulated infrared source is disclosed in which spatial modulation is accomplished by the sweeping of an infrared beam past a point in space. In one embodiment close to 100% of the energy from the infrared source is focused by rotating optics including ... | 07/16/2002 |
| 6420721 | Modulated infrared source A modulated infrared source is disclosed in which spatial-on-spatial modulation is accomplished by the rotation of two sets of beam forming optics about an infrared source. Close to 100% of the energy from the infrared source is focused by rotating two se... | 07/16/2002 |
| 6420720 | Countermeasure method A method of countermeasuring heat seeking missiles is disclosed in which an infrared source is spatially modulated by providing a beam from the source which is swept past a point in space to produce pulsed infrared energy at this point. In one embodiment ... | 07/16/2002 |
| 6420718 | Modulated infrared source A modulated infrared source is disclosed in which spatial modulation is accomplished by the rotation of beam forming optics about an infrared source in which a portion of the energy in the beam produced includes energy coming directly from the IR source w... | 07/16/2002 |
| 6411423 | Transmissive display device using micro light modulator A transmissive display device using a micro light modulator that is capable of improving a light efficiency. In the display device, a plurality of stationary members are provided on the first surface of the first transparent substrate in a line with and a... | 06/25/2002 |
| 6329967 | Bistable paper white direct view display A thin low power, paper white, direct-view display includes an array of bistable micromirrors that are deflected between two stable states, a dark state in which the mirror covers a portion of the background and a white state in which the mirror uncovers ... | 12/11/2001 |
