Cheng Chou Chen

US Patent:

7683983, Mar 23, 2010

Filed:

Aug 8, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/500677

Inventors:

John Z. Zhong - Cupertino CA, US
Wei Chen - Palo Alto CA, US
Cheng Chen - Kent OH, US
Victor H. E. Yin - Cupertino CA, US
Shawn R. Gettemy - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Apple Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

G02F 1/1335

US Classification:

349 98, 349 96

Abstract:

One embodiment of the present invention provides a display that emits circularly-polarized light. This display includes a display mechanism that emits linearly-polarized light and a layer placed in the path of the linearly-polarized light. The layer receives the linearly-polarized light on one surface, converts the linearly-polarized light to circularly-polarized light, and then emits the circularly-polarized light from another surface. By emitting circularly-polarized light, the display reduces the perceived distortion found at some angles when the display is viewed through a linearly-polarizing filter.

US Patent:

7911565, Mar 22, 2011

Filed:

Jan 19, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/689762

Inventors:

John Z. Zhong - Cupertino CA, US
Wei Chen - Palo Alto CA, US
Cheng Chen - Kent OH, US
Victor H. E. Yin - Cupertino CA, US
Shawn R. Gettemy - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Apple Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

G02F 1/1335

US Classification:

349 98, 349 96

Abstract:

One embodiment of the present invention provides a display that emits circularly-polarized light. This display includes a display mechanism that emits linearly-polarized light and a layer placed in the path of the linearly-polarized light. The layer receives the linearly-polarized light on one surface, converts the linearly-polarized light to circularly-polarized light, and then emits the circularly-polarized light from another surface. By emitting circularly-polarized light, the display reduces the perceived distortion found at some angles when the display is viewed through a linearly-polarizing filter.

US Patent:

8111232, Feb 7, 2012

Filed:

Mar 27, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/413082

Inventors:

Ming Xu - Cupertino CA, US
Cheng Chen - Cupertino CA, US
Shih Chang Chang - Cupertino CA, US
Mingxia Gu - Santa Clara CA, US
John Z. Zhong - Cupertino CA, US

Assignee:

Apple Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

G09G 3/36

US Classification:

345 98, 345 87

Abstract:

Systems, devices, and methods for reducing direct current bias and/or enabling a simplified manner of polarity inversion in liquid crystal display (LCD) devices are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, a device may include a processor, a memory device, and a liquid crystal display having a pixel array including rows and columns of pixels. Each pixel of the pixel array may include a pixel electrode separated from a common electrode by a dielectric passivation layer, and may include a transistor to provide a data signal when the transistor is activated. The pixel array is configured such that a neutral amount of direct current bias is generated on the passivation layer when each row of pixels is activated. The common electrodes of certain pixels may be disposed above their respective pixel electrodes, while the common electrodes of certain other pixels may be disposed below their respective pixel electrodes.

US Patent:

8115892, Feb 14, 2012

Filed:

Jan 31, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/018266

Inventors:

John Z. Zhong - Cupertino CA, US
Wei Chen - Palo Alto CA, US
Cheng Chen - Kent OH, US
Victor H. E. Yin - Cupertino CA, US
Shawn R. Gettemy - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Apple Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

G02F 1/1335

US Classification:

349 98

Abstract:

One embodiment of the present invention provides a display that emits circularly-polarized light. This display includes a display mechanism that emits linearly-polarized light and a layer placed in the path of the linearly-polarized light. The layer receives the linearly-polarized light on one surface, converts the linearly-polarized light to circularly-polarized light, and then emits the circularly-polarized light from another surface. By emitting circularly-polarized light, the display reduces the perceived distortion found at some angles when the display is viewed through a linearly-polarizing filter.

US Patent:

8243426, Aug 14, 2012

Filed:

Dec 31, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/347556

Inventors:

Cheng Chen - Cupertino CA, US
John Z. Zhong - Cupertino CA, US
Wei Chen - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Apple Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

H05K 5/00
H05K 7/00

US Classification:

36167921, 36167922, 36167926, 36167955, 36167956

Abstract:

One embodiment may take the form of a system for reducing the appearance of optical effects in a display. The system may include an enclosure with a first surface and a second surface. Furthermore, the system may include spacers that may be deposited on the bottom face of the first surface and/or the top face of the second surface, where the first surface may be a touch panel and/or cover lens and the second surface may be a display module. The spacers may be deposited in one layer with an anti-reflection coating. The thickness of the coating may be less than the diameter of the spacers.

US Patent:

8294647, Oct 23, 2012

Filed:

Feb 13, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/371380

Inventors:

Cheng Chen - Cupertino CA, US
Ming Xu - Cupertino CA, US
Mingxia Gu - Santa Clara CA, US
Shih Chang Chang - Cupertino CA, US
Shawn Robert Gettemy - San Jose CA, US
John Z. Zhong - Cupertino CA, US

Assignee:

Apple Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

G09G 3/36

US Classification:

345 88

Abstract:

A liquid crystal display (LCD) having a plurality of pixels is provided. In one embodiment, the pixels of the LCD each include common and pixel electrodes formed on an insulating layer, and a liquid crystal layer responsive to electric fields generated by the electrodes. The plurality of pixels may include two or more sets of pixels each configured to transmit light of a different color, and the pixel electrodes of one set of pixels may be configured differently from those of another set. In other embodiments, the sizes of the pixels may differ. Various additional devices and methods are also provided.

US Patent:

8294850, Oct 23, 2012

Filed:

Mar 31, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/415848

Inventors:

Cheng Chen - Cupertino CA, US
John Z. Zhong - Cupertino CA, US
Ming Xu - Cupertino CA, US
Mingxia Gu - Santa Clara CA, US

Assignee:

Apple Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

G02F 1/1334

US Classification:

349 88, 349186

Abstract:

A liquid crystal display (LCD) having a liquid crystal layer is provided. In one embodiment, the liquid crystal layer includes a nematic liquid crystal material having liquid crystal molecules in an untwisted state. A chiral dopant is dispersed within the liquid crystal layer and configured to bias the liquid crystal molecules toward a twisted state. Furthermore, a polymer network is disposed among the liquid crystal molecules and configured to bias the liquid crystal molecules toward the untwisted state. Various additional devices and methods are also provided.

US Patent:

8345177, Jan 1, 2013

Filed:

Feb 13, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/371284

Inventors:

Shih Chang Chang - Cupertino CA, US
Shawn Robert Gettemy - San Jose CA, US
Ming Xu - Cupertino CA, US
Cheng Chen - Cupertino CA, US
Mingxia Gu - Santa Clara CA, US
John Z Zhong - Cupertino CA, US

International Classification:

G02F 1/136

US Classification:

349 43, 349 42

Abstract:

A liquid crystal display (LCD) is provided having transistors disposed within via holes having elongated (e. g. , rectangular or oval) contact areas. The use of via holes having elongated contact areas allows an opaque mask defining an aperture for light transmission to be lengthened, thereby increasing the overall area of the aperture. The increase in the area of the aperture may increase the amount of light that can pass through the aperture.