Patents by Inventor Feng-Chi Liu

Feng-Chi Liu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11984465
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a CMOS image sensor having a multiple deep trench isolation (MDTI) structure, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the image sensor comprises a boundary deep trench isolation (BDTI) structure disposed at boundary regions of a pixel region surrounding a photodiode. The BDTI structure has a ring shape from a top view and two columns surrounding the photodiode with the first depth from a cross-sectional view. A multiple deep trench isolation (MDTI) structure is disposed at inner regions of the pixel region overlying the photodiode, the MDTI structure extending from the back-side of the substrate to a second depth within the substrate smaller than the first depth. The MDTI structure has three columns with the second depth between the two columns of the BDTI structure from the cross-sectional view. The MDTI structure is a continuous integral unit having a ring shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Chuang Wu, Ching-Chun Wang, Dun-Nian Yaung, Feng-Chi Hung, Jen-Cheng Liu, Yen-Ting Chiang, Chun-Yuan Chen, Shen-Hui Hong
  • Publication number: 20240153979
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an image sensor structure includes forming an isolation structure in a substrate to divide the substrate into a first region and a second region, forming a first light sensing region in the first region and a second light sensing region in the second region, forming a first gate structure over the first light sensing region and a second gate structure over the second light sensing region, forming gate spacers on sidewalls of the first and second gate structures, and depositing a blocking layer on sidewalls of the gate spacers. The blocking layer has an opening positioned between the first and second gate structures. A source/drain structure is formed directly under the opening in the blocking layer. The method also includes forming an interlayer dielectric layer over the first and second gate structures and the blocking layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Wei Long CHEN, Wen-I HSU, Feng-Chi HUNG, Jen-Cheng LIU, Dun-Nian YAUNG
  • Patent number: 11973101
    Abstract: An image-sensor device is provided. The image-sensor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a radiation-sensing region in the semiconductor substrate. The image-sensor device also includes a doped isolation region in the semiconductor substrate and a dielectric film extending into the doped isolation region from a surface of the semiconductor substrate. A portion of the doped isolation region is between the dielectric film and the radiation-sensing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jeng-Shyan Lin, Dun-Nian Yaung, Jen-Cheng Liu, Feng-Chi Hung
  • Publication number: 20240077350
    Abstract: An optical detection device includes a first linear light source, a second linear light source, an optical sensor array and a processor. The first linear light source is adapted to project a first long strip illumination beam onto the target container. The second linear light source is adapted to project a second long strip illumination beam onto the target container, and the second long strip illumination beam is crossed with the first long strip illumination beam. The optical sensor array is adapted to receive a first long strip detection beam and a second long strip detection beam reflected from the target container. The processor is electrically connected to the optical sensor array. The processor is adapted to analyze intensity distribution of the first long strip detection beam and the second long strip detection beam to acquire a relative distance between the optical sensor array and the target container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Feng-Chi Liu, Chi-Chieh Liao, Guo-Zhen Wang, Hung-Ching Lai
  • Patent number: 11915977
    Abstract: A stacked integrated circuit (IC) device and a method are disclosed. The stacked IC device includes a first semiconductor element. The first substrate includes a dielectric block in the first substrate; and a plurality of first conductive features formed in first inter-metal dielectric layers over the first substrate. The stacked IC device also includes a second semiconductor element bonded on the first semiconductor element. The second semiconductor element includes a second substrate and a plurality of second conductive features formed in second inter-metal dielectric layers over the second substrate. The stacked IC device also includes a conductive deep-interconnection-plug coupled between the first conductive features and the second conductive features. The conductive deep-interconnection-plug is isolated by dielectric block, the first inter-metal-dielectric layers and the second inter-metal-dielectric layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shu-Ting Tsai, Jeng-Shyan Lin, Dun-Nian Yaung, Jen-Cheng Liu, Feng-Chi Hung, Chih-Hui Huang, Sheng-Chau Chen, Shih Pei Chou, Chia-Chieh Lin
  • Patent number: 11852519
    Abstract: An optical detection device of detecting a target container includes a linear light source, an optical sensor array and a processor. The linear light source is adapted to project a long strip illumination beam onto the target container. The optical sensor array includes a plurality of sensing units arranged as a long strip adapted to receive a long strip detection beam reflected from the target container. The processor is electrically connected to the optical sensor array. The processor is adapted to analyze intensity distribution of the plurality of sensing units to acquire a relative distance between the optical sensor array and a rim of the target container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Feng-Chi Liu, Chi-Chieh Liao, Guo-Zhen Wang, Hung-Ching Lai
  • Patent number: 11609642
    Abstract: A method of an optical sensor apparatus which is to be used with a controlling device arranged for controlling an object having a long shape and flexible form of a material, includes: using a light emitting circuit to generate and output a light ray to a surface of a portion of the object; sensing the light ray reflected from the surface for multiple times to generate multiple images; detecting at least one motion image in the generated multiple images; and, determining a motion, an offset, or a rotation angle of the object, which is controlled by the thread controlling device, according to the detected at least one motion image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Feng-Chi Liu, Ching-Lin Chung
  • Publication number: 20230033053
    Abstract: There is provided a human falling detection system including an image sensor, a thermal sensor and a microphone. The image sensor captures an image frame that is used to identify a face and a height-width ratio of a human image. The thermal sensor is used as a filter for filtering out a living body and captures a thermal image that is used to identify a height-width ratio of a human thermal image. The microphone records a time stamp of an abrupt sound appearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: FENG-CHI LIU, NIEN-TSE CHEN
  • Publication number: 20220390646
    Abstract: An optical tracking device is used to track a target object. An outer surface of the target object is divided into a first region and a second region adjacent to each other, and a marker is disposed on the first region. The optical tracking device includes an optical sensor and an operation processor. The optical sensor has auto exposure function and is adapted to acquire a detection image containing at least one of the first region and the second region. The operation processor is electrically connected to the optical sensor and adapted to analyze variation of an exposure parameter of the auto exposure function for determining whether the first region is appeared in the detection image, so as to acquire an operation datum of the target object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Ching Geak CHAN, Chung-Ting Yang, Feng-Chi Liu
  • Publication number: 20220342490
    Abstract: A method of an optical sensor apparatus which is to be used with a controlling device arranged for controlling an object having a long shape and flexible form of a material, includes: using a light emitting circuit to generate and output a light ray to a surface of a portion of the object; sensing the light ray reflected from the surface for multiple times to generate multiple images; detecting at least one motion image in the generated multiple images; and, determining a motion, an offset, or a rotation angle of the object, which is controlled by the thread controlling device, according to the detected at least one motion image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Feng-Chi Liu, Ching-Lin Chung
  • Patent number: 11429199
    Abstract: A method of an optical sensor apparatus which is to be used with a controlling device arranged for controlling an object having a long shape and flexible form of a material, includes: using a light emitting circuit to generate and output a light ray to a surface of a portion of the object; sensing the light ray reflected from the surface for multiple times to generate multiple images; detecting at least one motion image in the generated multiple images; and, determining a motion, an offset, or a rotation angle of the object, which is controlled by the thread controlling device, according to the detected at least one motion image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Feng-Chi Liu, Ching-Lin Chung
  • Publication number: 20220245837
    Abstract: Disclosed in a movement direction determination system comprising a first detection region, a second detection region and a processing circuit. The first detection region and the second detection region respectively comprises an optical sensor. The processing circuit determines a movement direction of an object according to the optical data generated by the first detection region and the second detection region. The present invention also discloses a movement direction determination system using a single detection region. The present invention also discloses an object volume computation system which can compute an object volume according to sensed optical data. The disclosed movement direction determination system can be used for various applications and the object volume computation system can assist product confirmation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Jeng-Yue Weng, Tzung-Min Su, Feng-Chi Liu
  • Publication number: 20220120600
    Abstract: An optical detection device of detecting a target container includes a linear light source, an optical sensor array and a processor. The linear light source is adapted to project a long strip illumination beam onto the target container. The optical sensor array includes a plurality of sensing units arranged as a long strip adapted to receive a long strip detection beam reflected from the target container. The processor is electrically connected to the optical sensor array. The processor is adapted to analyze intensity distribution of the plurality of sensing units to acquire a relative distance between the optical sensor array and a rim of the target container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Feng-Chi Liu, Chi-Chieh Liao, Guo-Zhen Wang, Hung-Ching Lai
  • Patent number: 11304271
    Abstract: A compound heating apparatus includes a microwave generating unit and an infrared radiation generator disposed in a casing outwardly of a heating chamber of the casing. A light shield is disposed around the infrared radiation generator, and has a shield opening facing toward the heating chamber. A microwave blocker plate covers the shield opening. An air supply module is connected to the light shield to blow air to the light shield for causing heat radiant energy generated from the infrared radiation generator to pass acceleratedly by forced heat convection through microwave blocking holes of the microwave block plate to the heating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Food Industry Research and Development Institute
    Inventors: Feng-Chi Liu, Jia-Yan Hou, Binghuei-Barry Yang
  • Patent number: 11172548
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus for cooking ingredients packaged together in a package is provided. The cooking apparatus includes a cooking device and a barcode reader. The cooking device includes a housing defining a cooking room for accommodating the ingredients therein, a cooking unit for heating contents in the cooking room, and a control module electrically connected to the cooking unit for controlling operation of the cooking unit. The barcode reader is electrically connected to the control module, and scans a barcode on the package representing data related to information about the ingredients, decodes the barcode so as to obtain the data, and transmits the data to the control module that controls operation of the cooking unit based on the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Inventors: Binghuei-Barry Yang, Feng-Chi Liu, Pei-Wen Lo, Yao-Te Tsai, Yu-Chi Cheng
  • Publication number: 20210216149
    Abstract: A method of an optical sensor apparatus which is to be used with a controlling device arranged for controlling an object having a long shape and flexible form of a material, includes: using a light emitting circuit to generate and output a light ray to a surface of a portion of the object; sensing the light ray reflected from the surface for multiple times to generate multiple images; detecting at least one motion image in the generated multiple images; and, determining a motion, an offset, or a rotation angle of the object, which is controlled by the thread controlling device, according to the detected at least one motion image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Feng-Chi Liu, Ching-Lin Chung
  • Publication number: 20210112638
    Abstract: A compound heating apparatus includes a microwave generating unit and an infrared radiation generator disposed in a casing outwardly of a heating chamber of the casing. A light shield is disposed around the infrared radiation generator, and has a shield opening facing toward the heating chamber. A microwave blocker plate covers the shield opening. An air supply module is connected to the light shield to blow air to the light shield for causing heat radiant energy generated from the infrared radiation generator to pass acceleratedly by forced heat convection through microwave blocking holes of the microwave block plate to the heating chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Feng-Chi Liu, Jia-Yan Hou, Binghuei-Barry Yang
  • Publication number: 20190215916
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus for cooking ingredients packaged together in a package is provided. The cooking apparatus includes a cooking device and a barcode reader. The cooking device includes a housing defining a cooking room for accommodating the ingredients therein, a cooking unit for heating contents in the cooking room, and a control module electrically connected to the cooking unit for controlling operation of the cooking unit. The barcode reader is electrically connected to the control module, and scans a barcode on the package representing data related to information about the ingredients, decodes the barcode so as to obtain the data, and transmits the data to the control module that controls operation of the cooking unit based on the information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Binghuei-Barry Yang, Feng-Chi Liu, Pei-Wen Lo, Yao-Te Tsai, Yu-Chi Cheng
  • Patent number: 10260918
    Abstract: A flow amount measuring apparatus comprising: a rotating device, configured to rotate while material flows through the rotating device; a rotating bar, connected to the rotating device, configured to rotate corresponding to rotating of the rotating device; a feature acquiring device, configured to detect at least one feature of the rotating bar; and a computing unit, configured to compute a number for full rotations for the rotating bar based on the feature of the rotating bar, and configured to compute a flow amount for the material flows through the rotating device based on the number for full rotations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Feng-Chi Liu, Yen-Min Chang
  • Publication number: 20180306612
    Abstract: A flow amount measuring apparatus comprising: a rotating device, configured to rotate while material flows through the rotating device; a rotating bar, connected to the rotating device, configured to rotate corresponding to rotating of the rotating device; a feature acquiring device, configured to detect at least one feature of the rotating bar; and a computing unit, configured to compute a number for full rotations for the rotating bar based on the feature of the rotating bar, and configured to compute a flow amount for the material flows through the rotating device based on the number for full rotations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Feng-Chi Liu, Yen-Min Chang