Funai Licenses Fergason Patents for Dynamic Contrast Ratio
MENLO PARK CA July 15, 2009 — Fergason Patent Properties LLC (FPP) announced the completion of a licensing agreement with Funai Electric Company Ltd. (Funai) of Osaka, Japan under which FPP has licensed certain rights related to a family of patents that include U.S. patents 5,717,422, 6,816,141 and 7,352,347 as well as European patent EP 1111575.
The licensed patents relate to System Synchronized Brightness Control (SSBC™) technology that improves the video image quality and reduces the power requirements of LCD and projection displays through the synchronous modulation of backlight brightness and the video signal. The process is widely described in the display industry as Dynamic Contrast Ration (DCR) or High Dynamic Range (HDR) video.
John Fergason, Managing Partner of FPP commented, “Funai has clearly established itself as a leading player in consumer television especially in the United States where is (it) has a strong position in the consumer sales channel especially through Walmart. In the U.S. Funai markets its products under the Emerson, Sylvania, and Symphonic brands and beginning in 2009, the Philips and Magnavox brands. The company is also a leading OEM manufacturer of televisions and consumer video equipment with facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America. We are very pleased to have Funai as a licensee.”
About Fergason Patent Properties. FPP develops and licenses technology and IP related to displays and LCDs. Currently, there are more than ten licensees for the DCR related technology including Panasonic, LPL, Sharp, Samsung, Sony, AUO, and JVC. For more information, see www.fergasonpatents.com or contact Chuck McLaughlin at chuck@mcgweb.com.
