Smartphone Screen Scanner Insights from Patents

US9122349 illustrates a new image sensor panel (ISP) that can be easily integrated with a display panel and can capture graphical, textual, or other information from the two-dimensional surface of an information bearing substrate without having to focus. The new image sensor panel enables a smartphone screen to scan business card, document images, and capture fingerprints.

FIG. 1 illustrates a sectional view of the smartphone screen that includes the ISP and a backlight module. The ISP includes transparent areas such that the light source generated from the backlight module can penetrate. The light source is then reflected from the object. The reflected light optically carries information and can be detected by photosensitive pixels formed on the ISP.

FIG. 2 illustrates a plane view of the image sensor panel. The ISP 100 includes a transparent substrate 110, an array of sensor pixels 120, and several column conductive lines (columns) 130 and row conductive lines (rows) 140 electrically coupled with the sensor pixels 120. Sensor pixels 120 can be formed proximate intersections of columns 130 and rows 140. The sensor pixels 120 can be arranged on the first region of substrate 110 to form a lattice structure. The ISP 100 is optically transparent at non-sensor pixel regions (i.e., other than the first region).

FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of a sensor pixel 120 of the image sensor panel 100 in FIG. 2. The sensor pixel can be formed on a TFT backplane.

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LTE Devices, Patent War, and Patent Pool

According to GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) there were 45 manufacturers for 161 LTE-enabled user devices as of July 2011: http://www.gsacom.com/news/gsa_336.php4.
LTE user devices are Modules, Tablets, Notebooks/netbooks, PC Cards, Smartphones, Routers, and USB dongles.

Among 45 manufacturers, only 9 manufacturers - Ericsson, Huawei, LG, Motorola, NEC, Qualcomm, RIM, Samsung, and ZTE - were LTE essential patents shareholders based on TechIPm's LTE patent analysis:

To find the key IPR holders for the LTE patents, a keyword search of the USPTO patent data base has been performed. For completeness, patent data in the lists of patents declared essential to 3GPP LTE appear at the ETSI IPR Online website is also included. More than 1,400 LTE related patents, issued and published applications in the US as of Aug. 31, 2011, are analyzed to find essential patent candidates for LTE RAN (Radio Access Network) standards. To evaluate the essentiality of a LTE patent, patent disclosures in claim and detail description for each LTE patent are compared to the final versions of the 3GPP Release 8 technical specifications. Total of 184 patents are identified as the potential candidates for LTE RAN essential patent. The LTE IPR shareholders for essential patent candidates are Ericsson, ETRI, Freescale, Huawei, InterDigital, LG, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Nortel, NSN, Qualcomm, RIM, Samsung, TI, and ZTE.

How about other 36 manufacturers? Are they free from patent lawsuit?

Recently, NGMN Board recommended that all stakeholders should participate in an effective LTE patent pool formation to avoid further delays in LTE licensing: http://www.lteportal.com/MediaChannel/Articles/LTE__LTE-Advanced;6/Regulation,_Standards,_Spectrum;31/NGMN_Board_Recommendation_on_LTE_Patent_Pool;2621?1&PHPSESSID=5fa3ddd96ac550ca5ac597f0a6b21909.

Who will be key players for the LTE patent pool?, Are there enough essential patents for the pool?

For details, please refer LTE Essential Patent Candidates Data:

LTE Essential Patent Candidates Data is the TechIPm's product based on LTE patents research for US market leader among LTE UE (cellular phones, smart phones, PDAs, mobile PCs, etc.) and base station (eNB) product manufactures. LTE Essential Patent Candidates Data provides assignee, patent number, related 3GPP TS36 specifications, and the key technology components for an implementation of the products.
For details about the product, please contact Alex Lee at alexglee@techipm.com


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Samsung's Mistake for InterDigital's Patents Acquisition

According to a S. Korea's news media, Seoul Economic Daily, Samsung finally decided that it will not participate in auction for InterDigital's patents: http://economy.hankooki.com/lpage/industry/201108/e20110819164352120250.htm.

After Apple's acquisition of Nortel's patents, Samsung had expressed that it is interested in bidding for InterDigital's patents:http://www.slashgear.com/samsung-may-bid-on-interdigital-patent-portfolio-according-to-source-03169241/.

Samsung told to the media that there will be more lost then benefit for buying the patents because of price bubble in InterDigital's patents. It may be true if Samsung do not consider its strong competitor- Apple.

According to TechIPm's analysis for LTE patents, some part of InterDigita's LTE patent portfolio have a relative competitiveness over Samsung's, and it may be a good tool to Apple to attack Samsung, if it acquires InterDigital's patents.

TechIPm, LLC (http://www.techipm.com/) provides patent portfolio evaluation service for patent due diligence in mobile business acquisition. LTE patent portfolio evaluation can provide the followings.

1. What is the quality of the LTE patent portfolio?
2. What are the strengths/weaknesses of the LTE patent portfolio?
3. Comparative analysis among the patent portfolios (e.g. InterDigital v. Samsung).
4. Who is the best candidate for mobile business acquisition considering the business integration and/or compatibility?
5.What are the potential risks considering the possible patent lawsuits?

For more information, please contact Alex Lee at alexglee@techipm.com .


©2011 TechIPm, LLC All Rights Reserved
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InterDigital Patent Acquisition Strategic Options

Following the recent big deal regarding Nortel's patents and Motorola's patents, InterDigital's patents are scheduled to be the next big acquisition deal.

As to the seller, it is a good opportunity considering the uncertainty of future money making power in emerging LTE licensing market: InterDigital's licensing power in LTE is expected to be weaker compare to the situations in 2G and 3G based on TechIPm's LTE essential patent analysis over the past 3 years.

As to the buyers, it is also a good opportunity not only to make up their current LTE patent portfolio but also to get additional cash flow source through the existing InterDigital's licensing agreement.

TechIPm, LLC (http://www.techipm.com/) provides patent portfolio evaluation service for patent due diligence in mobile business acquisition. LTE patent portfolio evaluation can provide the followings.

1. What is the quality of the LTE patent portfolio?
2. What are the strengths/weaknesses of the LTE patent portfolio?
3. Comparative analysis among the patent portfolios (e.g. InterDigital v. Motorola).
4. Who are the best candidate for mobile business acquisition considering the business integration and/or compatibility?
5.What are the potential risks considering the possible patent lawsuits?

For more information, please contact Alex Lee at alexglee@techipm.com .


©2011 TechIPm, LLC All Rights Reserved
http://www.techipm.com/

Smartphone Patent War: Google & Android Coalition's Air Strike

According to recent article in etnews (http://www.etnews.co.kr/news/detail.html?id=201006160208&mc=m_012_00001), Google appears to be preparing a big air strike in smartphone patent lawsuit. In response to the Apple's patent battle against to the Google's Android OS based smatphone (e.g. Apple's ITC complaint against HTC), Google is calling for the 'Andriod Coalition' by asking smartphone patents to major Android smartphone manufacturers such as Samsung and LG.

It is well known that Apple's smatphone patent wall is very thick and strong with more than 200 patents including the famous multi-touch technology (for the smartphone patent landscape, please refer http://techipm-innovationfrontline.blogspot.com/2010/04/smartphone-patents-for-ui-key.html).
Could the Andriod Coalition's patent bomb be strong enough to break the Apple's smatphone patent fortress?


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Smartphone Patents for UI Key Technologies

To find the key IPR holders for the Smartphone UI (User Interface), a keyword search of the global patent data bases (USPTO, EPO, and WIPO (PCT)) has been performed.

As of April 23 2010, the key IPR holders and their IPR share for the Smartphone UI are as follows:

1. Patents for multi-touch technology (total of 120 patent applications and issued patents)

Apple (99, 82%), LG (3, 2%), Samsung (3, 2%), Hong Fu Jin Precision (2, 1%), and RIM (2, 1%)

2. Patents for optical joystick technology (total of 34 patent applications and issued patents) Philips (10, 29%), Samsung (8, 23%), Crucial Tec (5, 15%), and NXP B.V. (5, 15%)

3. Patents for projected capacitive touch screen technology (total of 213 patent applications and issued patents)

RIM (184, 86%), Sony Ericsson (6, 3%), 3M (6, 3%), and Nokia (3, 1%)


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Smartphone & 4G Mobile Trends & Issues 1Q 2010

Trend and Issue analysis of patent, technology, market, and S. Korea for smartphone & 4G mobile communication:

I. Smart Phone

1.1 4G & Smart Phone Innovation Frontiers in 2010
1.2 4G Smart Phone Chip Innovation Frontiers
1.3 4G Smart Phone Innovation Cluster in S. Korea
1.4 4G Mobile IPTV Services in S. Korea
1.5 Mobile Cloud Computing Test-Bed in S. Korea
1.6 Qualcomm’s Mobile R&D Center in S. Korea

II. LTE

2.1 LTE Essential Patent Candidates Landscape
2.2 LTE Essential Patent Candidates for LTE Modem
2.3 LTE Modem Innovation Leader: Samsung & LG
2.4 LTE Products Competitor Analysis

III. LTE-Advanced

3.1 LTE -Advanced Patent Analysis
3.2 Mobile Heterogeneous Network Patent Landscape
3.3 Cognitive Radio Patent Landscape

IV. Mobile WiMAX

4.1 New Mobile WiMAX Services in S. Korea

V. Intellectual Property

5.1 Nortel's LTE Patents Valuation
5.2 NPEs (Patent Trolls) in Mobile Telecommunications
5.3 Invention Capital in S. Korea

VI. New Opportunities in Korea’s Testing Market

6.1 Testing Market for Emerging Technologies in IT & Telecom
6.2 Commercialization as Dominant Design Strategy
6.3 National Strategy for 4G & Beyond 4G Mobile Innovation
6.4 National Strategy for Green IT Innovation
6.5 M2M: S. Korean Telco’s New Strategic Options
6.6 Songdo u-City: Global IT Innovation Hub
6.7 Future Network 2020 Forum
6.8 3D Industry Supporting Center in S. Korea

Link: http://www.slideshare.net/alexglee/smartphone-4g-mobile-trends-issues


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Qualcomm’s Mobile R&D Center in S. Korea

In recent media interview, Qualcomm’s CEO, Dr. Paul E. Jacobs expressed the planning of the second R&D center in S. Korea. Jacobs told that the details about the R&D center will be reviled when he is going to visit S. Korea in early February.

Jacobs expected the dramatic increase in mobile computing market based on 4G networks and smart phones in near future. He also expected that the strategic collaborations with S. Korean Mobile industry could make Qualcomm as the global leader in emerging mobile computing market.

Qualcomm is going to invest to S. Korean technology ventures and to expend business partnership with S. Korea’s mobile phone manufactures.


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4G Smart Phone Innovation Cluster in S. Korea

Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE: http://www.mke.go.kr/) announced the planning of mobile phone cluster formation for global leadership in 4G mobile phone innovations. According to MKE, about 200 M $ will be invested to the public-private collaboration project for the construction of 4G mobile phone innovation ecosystem.

All the stakeholders for mobile phones will be located in the cluster for a complete collaborative environment from R&D to production and field tests to keep the S. Korea’s leadership in rapidly changing global mobile phone market. Global mobile phone manufactures such as Samsung and LG and major S. Korea’s Telco such as KT and SKT expressed their participation in the mobile phone innovation cluster.


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4G Smart Phone Chip Innovation Frontiers: CPU’s Speed & Security

IEEE Spectrum's special report recently selected the Intrinsity’s processor chip for smart phones, dubbed Hummingbird, as the year 2010’s winner for technology innovations (http://spectrum.ieee.org/computing/hardware/winner-intrinsitys-more-cerebral-cortex/2).

Intrinsity’s Hummingbird is a fast CPU, jointly developed with Samsung, based on ARM’s Cortex A8 architecture and Samsung’s 45nm LP (Low Power) process to provide a clock speed of 1GHz at a minimum supply voltage of 1V.

As the deployment of the 4G mobile services and a huge user demand for smart phones, it is expected that the mobile CPU which can provide a PC like performance will be the most competitive innovation frontiers in 2010.

In addition to the 4G mobile CPU’s speed, security will be the wildcard for the successful mass deployment of 4G smart phones.

Discretix's CryptoCell system is one of the state of art technology to provide the embedded security features for smart phones. CryptoCell includes a hardware core layer that can be implemented on the underlying modem chipset and middleware elements that create secure access to the hardware. It also includes the application-layer toolkits and APIs to support applications such as secure digital rights management, mobile TV security, IPSec etc.

Discretix's CryptoCell system is going to implemented in LG’s future LTE phones.


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