Ernest M Stern

US Patent:

6879307, Apr 12, 2005

Filed:

May 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/150817

Inventors:

Ernest Stern - Concord MA, US

International Classification:

G09G003/34

US Classification:

345 84, 345108, 345211

Abstract:

A micromechanical panel display driver is shown in which only one driver and control bus are needed for each color. Furthermore, the elements are made with uniform film thicknesses, thereby minimizing the number of steps needed to fabricate the display. Here 6 bits are provided with temporal and aperture weighting. The use of temporal weighting generally requires the activation of most pixels twice/frame, which consumes considerable power. It should also be possible to eliminate temporal weighting by redistributing the contact area into a larger number of aperture weights and by adding a row electrode. Here pixels are activated only in response to a charge in the image. This generally reduces the drive power, since many pixels in a typical image do not change from frame to frame.

US Patent:

46529268, Mar 24, 1987

Filed:

Apr 23, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/602938

Inventors:

Richard S. Withers - Bedford MA
Richard W. Ralston - Bedford MA
Ernest R. Stern - Concord MA

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

H04N 314

US Classification:

358213

Abstract:

An optical imaging system for use as a solid-state camera, for example, which includes a plurality of solid-state elements for providing long-term storage of images, such elements being, for example, MNOS chips having a plurality of storage cells, which chips when exposed to an image focussed thereon can store a representation thereof. The chips are at a later time optically addressed, as by a scanning-light beam, to read out the stored image so as to provide an electrical output representing the stored image, such output being usable to provide a visual representation of the image such as on a display screen or in hard copy form.

US Patent:

40164128, Apr 5, 1977

Filed:

Mar 5, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/555367

Inventors:

Ernest Stern - Concord MA
Richard C. Williamson - Framingham MA

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G06G 719
H04R 1700

US Classification:

235181

Abstract:

A continuously programmable matched filter device using a piezoelectric substrate capable of propagating acoustic wave signals on a selected surface thereof and a semiconductor substrate mounted adjacent and spaced from such surface. Means are provided for altering the conductivity pattern in the semiconductor substrate in accordance with the wave form of a reference wave signal so that a representation of the reference wave is effectively stored therein. Storage of the reference is achieved with electrostatic charge by supplying a plurality of electrons in the spatial region between the substrates or by manipulating the carriers in the semiconductor material into trapping states in order to produce such altered conductivity pattern. A second signal can thereupon be propagated along the piezoelectric substrate to interact with the stored reference conductivity pattern to provide either correlation or convolution operation depending on the direction of propagation thereof along the piezoelectric surface.

US Patent:

42913900, Sep 22, 1981

Filed:

Sep 28, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/080098

Inventors:

Ernest R. Stern - Concord MA
Richard W. Ralston - Bedford MA
Daniel L. Smythe - Carlisle MA
Barry E. Burke - Lexington MA

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G11C 1140

US Classification:

365183

Abstract:

A solid state device capable of providing long-term storage of analog signals which in a particular embodiment utilizes a plurality of MNOS storage elements. An input analog signal is applied to a plurality of temporary storage means each associated with an MNOS storage element for temporarily storing a charge proportional to the amplitude of the portion of the input analog signal applied thereto. Storage control means are used to transfer the temporarily stored charges to the long-term MNOS storage elements so that controlled amounts of carrier charges are stored in the nitride layers thereof, such controlled amounts being substantially linearly proportional to the temporarily stored charges associated therewith. In a particular embodiment the input analog signal may be supplied via a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device and coupled to the MNOS device directly or it may be coupled to a charge-coupled device (CCD) and thence coupled to the MNOS device.

US Patent:

57713219, Jun 23, 1998

Filed:

Jan 4, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/582790

Inventors:

Ernest Stern - Concord MA

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G02B 626

US Classification:

385 31

Abstract:

The invention provides an optical coupling switch and flat panel display including an array of such optical coupling switches. The optical coupling switch includes a light storage plate adapted to set up conditions for total internal reflection such that light injected into the plate is internally reflected. A light tap is disposed proximal to a coupling surface of the light storage plate for coupling internally reflected light out of the light storage plate and into the light tap when the light tap is brought into contact with the light storage plate coupling surface. The light tap is capable of movement in a direction perpendicular to the light storage plate in response to an applied electrostatic force. The optical coupling switch includes a scattering mechanism, such as a scattering surface or scattering medium, for scattering light in the light tap into a viewing volume. With this configuration, the optical coupling switch provides an elegantly uncomplicated geometry that accommodates a range of actuation schemes for efficiently producing high-speed optical switching.

US Patent:

40757064, Feb 21, 1978

Filed:

Mar 31, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/672344

Inventors:

Ernest Stern - Concord MA
Richard C. Williamson - Framingham MA
Henry I. Smith - Sudbury MA

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G06G 719
G11C 2700

US Classification:

364821

Abstract:

A continuously programmable matched filter device using a piezoelectric substrate capable of propagating acoustic wave signals on a selected surface thereof and a semiconductor substrate mounted adjacent and spaced from such surface. Means are provided for altering the conductivity pattern in the semiconductor substrate in accordance with the wave form of a reference wave signal so that a representation of the reference wave is effectively stored therein. Storage of the reference is achieved with electrostatic charge by supplying a plurality of electrons in the spatial region between the substrates or by manipulating the carriers in the semiconductor material into trapping states in order to produce such altered conductivity pattern. A second signal can thereupon be propagated along the piezoelectric substrate to interact with the stored reference conductivity pattern to provide either correlation or convolution operation depending on the direction of propagation thereof along the piezoelectric surface.

US Patent:

40557588, Oct 25, 1977

Filed:

Mar 31, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/672345

Inventors:

Ernest Stern - Concord MA
Richard C. Williamson - Framingham MA
Abraham Bers - Arlington MA
John H. Cafarella - Swampscott MA

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G06G 719
H04R 1700

US Classification:

364821

Abstract:

A continuously programmable matched filter device using a piezoelectric substrate capable of propagating acoustic wave signals on a selected surface thereof and a semiconductor substrate mounted adjacent and spaced from such surface. Means are provided for altering the conductivity pattern in the semiconductor substrate in accordance with the wave form of a reference wave signal so that a representation of the reference wave is effectively stored therein. Storage of the reference is achieved with electrostatic charge by supplying a plurality of electrons in the spatial region between the substrates or by manipulating the carriers in the semiconductor material into trapping states in order to produce such altered conductivity pattern. A second signal can thereupon be propagated along the piezoelectric substrate to interact with the stored reference conductivity pattern to provide either correlation or convolution operation depending on the direction of propagation thereof along the piezoelectric surface.

US Patent:

42901189, Sep 15, 1981

Filed:

Sep 28, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/080100

Inventors:

Ernest R. Stern - Concord MA
Richard W. Ralston - Bedford MA
Daniel L. Smythe - Carlisle MA
Barry E. Burke - Lexington MA

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G11C 1140

US Classification:

365183

Abstract:

A solid state device combining the use of a surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) device and a charge-coupled device (CCD) which utilizes an interface means therebetween comprising a plurality of conductive fingers responsive to an acoustic wave on the SAW device. The conductive fingers are electrically connected at at least one end to the CCD substrate and a plurality of temporary storage means are used for temporarily storing a charge proportional to the voltage potential on the associated conductive finger. The temporary stored charges can be transferred to the storage wells of the CCD for storing a replica of the acoustic wave. The SAW-CCD combination is adapted for use as a buffer memory, an accumulating correlator, or as a matched filter device.