Christopher J King

US Patent:

20130026729, Jan 31, 2013

Filed:

Jul 26, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/191191

Inventors:

Christopher Dale King - Portland OR, US
Erik Steven Drews - Portland OR, US
Brian Keith Schultz - Portland OR, US

International Classification:

B62K 21/00
B23P 11/00
F16C 35/00

US Classification:

280270, 384428, 29428

Abstract:

A steering bearing assembly includes a cap and a bearing element that define an axial force transmission path therethrough. A compression ring is moveably coupled to the cap and is disposed radially inwardly of the bearing assembly outside of the axial force transmission path. The compression ring includes an inner annular surface adapted to transmit a radial compressive force from the cap to a steerer element. A steering assembly, and method for assembling the steering assembly, also are provided.

US Patent:

59866284, Nov 16, 1999

Filed:

May 14, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/856140

Inventors:

Richard Tuenge - Hillsboro OR
Terrance Larsson - Sherwood OR
Steven Wald - Tualatin OR
Christopher N. King - Portland OR

Assignee:

Planar Systems, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

G09G 330

US Classification:

345 76

Abstract:

A full color active matrix electroluminescent display includes an active matrix of pixel electrodes, a broad spectrum electroluminescent phosphor stack placed atop the active matrix of pixel electrodes and a transparent electrode placed atop the electroluminescent phosphor stack. A liquid crystal color shutter device is placed atop the transparent electrode for selectively filtering light from the electroluminescent phosphor stack selectively permitting the transmission of red, green or blue colored light in response to commands from a synchronizing circuit that synchronizes the operation of the shutter with the illumination of selected pixels in the active matrix display. Performance is further enhanced by the use of a double notch filter for the white light emitting broad spectrum electroluminescent phosphor so as to provide it with a uniform response at all waves lengths of interest.

US Patent:

50721526, Dec 10, 1991

Filed:

Feb 5, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/474949

Inventors:

Richard T. Tuenge - Hillsboro OR
Christopher N. King - Portland OR

Assignee:

Planar Systems, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

H05B 3312
H05B 3310

US Classification:

313509

Abstract:

A TFEL device for producing a high brightness output comprises a substrate supporting a laminar thin film stack including a front electrode layer and a rear electrode layer sandwiching an electroluminescent laminate comprising an electroluminescent layer sandwiched by a pair of insulating layers. A thin film insulating layer is grown by evaporation on the glass substrate and produces a surface having a degree of roughness which is replicated by the remaining thin film layers. The surface contour at the interfaces between each of the thin film layers is convoluted which reduces internal light reflection and provides more light output at the front of the panel.

US Patent:

58777350, Mar 2, 1999

Filed:

Jun 23, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/494184

Inventors:

Christopher N. King - Portland OR
Iranpour Khormaei - Beaverton OR
Brad Aitchison - Portland OR
Monte Rhoads - Hillsboro OR

Assignee:

Planar Systems, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

G09G 330

US Classification:

345 76

Abstract:

An active matrix electroluminescent device that includes a plurality of layers. A rearwardly disposed support layer supports the plurality of layers and an interface circuit. The interface circuit is electrically connected to row and column drivers by a plurality of first electrical lines. The drivers are electrically connected to the plurality of layers so as to enable pixels within the electroluminescent device to be selected. An interface controller is remotely located from the support layer and is electrically connected to the interface circuit by at least one second electrical line so as to indicate which pixels within the device to illuminate. The number of first electrical lines is greater than the number of the at least one second electrical line. In another embodiment of the present invention, the number of lines required to interconnect a passive thin film electroluminescent device with an interface controller can in a similar manner be reduced by including an interface circuit.

US Patent:

46911448, Sep 1, 1987

Filed:

Jan 22, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/821464

Inventors:

Christopher N. King - Portland OR
Brian J. Dolinar - Lake Oswego OR
William A. Barrow - Beaverton OR
Robert T. Flegal - Beaverton OR
Paul E. Gulick - Beaverton OR
Laurin G. Blacken - Wilsonville OR

Assignee:

Planar Systems, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

G09G 330

US Classification:

3151693

Abstract:

A TFEL panel includes orthogonally disposed sets of scanning and data electrodes. The scanning electrodes are strobed with a preconditioning voltage and data is provided to selected data electrodes simultaneously with the line by line strobing of the scanning electrodes. A refresh pulse is applied to the screen once per frame of data at times which vary from frame to frame. This may be accomplished either by varying the time of occurrence of the refresh pulse within each frame or by holding the time of occurrence of the refresh pulse constant and varying the strobing sequence of the scanning electrodes. This technique prevents certain portions of the screen from generating a latent image due to charge accumulation which would otherwise result from the timing asymmetry between the scanning of certain electrodes and the fixed timing of the refresh pulse.

US Patent:

56526008, Jul 29, 1997

Filed:

Nov 17, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/341404

Inventors:

Iranpour Khormaei - Beaverton OR
Christopher N. King - Portland OR

Assignee:

Planar Systems, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

G09G 330

US Classification:

345 76

Abstract:

A method of illuminating an active matrix EL device (AMEL) to provide a gray scale display. The device comprises a first electrode layer comprising an active matrix of individually adjustable pixel electrodes, a second electrode layer, and a thin film EL laminate stack including at least an EL phosphor layer and a dielectric layer, and the stack being disposed between the first and second electrode layers. The gray scale display is illuminated by the steps of, energizing a first set of selected ones of the pixel electrodes with data signals during a first subframe time period. Selected pixels are illuminated by driving the second electrode layer during the first subframe time period a first illuminating signal having predetermined characteristics including frequency, amplitude, wave shape and time duration. Thereafter, a second set of selected ones of the pixel electrodes are energized with data signals during a next subframe time period. Selected pixels are again illuminated during the next time period with an altered illumination applied to the second electrode signal wherein one or more of the predetermined characteristics differ from the first illuminating signal.

US Patent:

49637886, Oct 16, 1990

Filed:

Jul 14, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/218848

Inventors:

Christopher N. King - Portland OR
Richard E. Coovert - Portland OR

Assignee:

Planar Systems, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

H05B 3304
H05B 3306
H05B 3328

US Classification:

313503

Abstract:

A TFEL device having improved contrast includes a laminate having a phosphor layer sandwiched between front and rear insulating layers placed upon a substrate supporting a set of front transparent electrodes. The rear set of electrodes are transparent or semitransparent so as not to reflect ambient light toward the viewer. The TFEL laminate is contained within a cavity created by an enclosure secured to the substrate by an adhesive. Darkly dyed filler material is injected into the cavity whose rear inside wall may have a dark coating. The semitransparent electrodes may be made of gold or may be made of transparent indium tin oxide having narrow aluminum bus bars for improved conductivity.

US Patent:

49995391, Mar 12, 1991

Filed:

Dec 4, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/445444

Inventors:

Richard E. Coovert - Portland OR
Christopher N. King - Portland OR

Assignee:

Planar Systems, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

H05B 3306
G09G 330

US Classification:

313505

Abstract:

An electrode configuration for reducing contact density in matrix-addressed display panels includes a first set of electrodes having termination points for connection to external driving electronics situated near the edge of a supporting substrate, and a second set of electrodes alternately interleaved among said first set having termination points spaced inwardly from the substrate's edge. An insulating film covers the termination points of the second plurality of electrodes and bond pads placed atop the insulating film are connected to the electrodes by leads. This insulates the second plurality of electrodes from a possible short circuit caused by random or one-on-one interconnects that bridge areas in the gaps between the electrodes.