Patents by Inventor Ming-Tsan Kao

Ming-Tsan Kao 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).

  • Publication number: 20150248172
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for outputting a command by detecting a movement of an object, which includes the following steps. First, an image capturing device captures images generated by the movement of the object at different timings by. Next, a motion trajectory is calculated according to the plurality of images. Further next, a corresponding command is outputted according to the motion trajectory. The present invention also provides a system which employs the above-mentioned method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: PixArt Imaging Incorporation
    Inventors: Yu-Hao Huang, Yi-Fang Lee, Ming-Tsan Kao, Nien-Tse Chen
  • Patent number: 9122350
    Abstract: An optical touch apparatus includes a first light source, a second light source, a light guide device, a light reflecting device and an image sensing module. The first light source emits first light beam which travels within the light guide device and is reflective by an object close to or in contact with a surface of the light guide device to become a first image light beam. The first image light beam is reflected by a light reflecting device. The image sensing module receives the first image light beam. The second light source emits a second light beam, wherein when the optical touch apparatus moves on a working surface, the second light beam is reflective by the working surface to form a second image light beam which is received by the same image sensing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INCORPORATION, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Ming-Tsan Kao, Hui-Hsuan Chen, Tien-Chia Liu, Hsin-Chia Chen
  • Patent number: 9116578
    Abstract: An optical distance determination device includes a first image sensor, an auxiliary image sensor, and a distance measuring module. The first image sensor is for capturing a first image comprising image information of an object. The auxiliary image sensor is for capturing an auxiliary image comprising image information of the object, and a physical distance between the first image sensor and the auxiliary image sensor. The distance measuring module is for calculating pixel distance of an image formation position of the object in the first image and the auxiliary image for calculating an approximate distance between the object and the first image sensor according to the pixel distance, the physical distance, and focal lengths of the first image sensor and the auxiliary image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Ming-Tsan Kao, Tzu-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 9104910
    Abstract: A device for determining a gesture includes a light emitting unit, an image sensing device and a processing circuit. The light emitting unit emits a light beam. The image sensing device captures an image of a hand reflecting the light beam. The processing circuit obtains the image and determine a gesture of the hand by performing an operation on the image; wherein the operation includes: selecting pixels in the image having a brightness greater than or equal to a brightness threshold; sorting the selected pixels; selecting a first predetermined percentage of pixels from the sorted pixels; dividing the adjacent pixels in the first predetermined percentage of pixels into a same group; and determining the gesture of the hand according to the number of groups of pixels. A method for determining a gesture and an operation method of the aforementioned device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Yu-Hao Huang, Ming-Tsan Kao, Sen-Huang Huang, Nien-Tse Chen, En-Feng Hsu, Meng-Huan Hsieh, Yi-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 9092063
    Abstract: An electronic system incorporates an image-sensing device and a processor coupled with the image-sensing device. The image-sensing device includes an image-sensing area configured to generate a picture. The picture includes a noisy region. The processor is configured to select a tracking region from the portion of the picture outside of the noisy region. The tracking region corresponds to an operative region of the image sensing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Pixart Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Tsan Kao, Shu Sian Yang, Han Ping Cheng
  • Publication number: 20150193669
    Abstract: A system and method based on hybrid biometric detection capture first images of a user that is projected by first light of different wavelengths, extract various biometric informations from the first images, analyze and compare for each of the biometric informations to generate a matching score, determine an identity for the user according to all of the matching scores, generate second images and PPG signals from dispensed second light from the user, generate a time and PPG variation signal and a space and PPG variation signal for each frame of the second images, convert the time and PPG variation signals into frequency domain signals, determine a reference frequency according to the space and PPG variation signals, retrieve energy of the frequency domain signals at the reference frequency, and establish a three-dimensional energy distribution from the retrieved energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Ren-Hau GU, Ming-Tsan KAO, Sen-Huang HUANG
  • Patent number: 9063435
    Abstract: An exposure adjusting apparatus, which comprises: an image sensor, for catching an image according to an exposure parameter; a computing apparatus, for computing an exposure amount of the image and for determining whether the exposure amount is in a predetermined exposure range or not; and an exposure updating apparatus. If the exposure amount is in the predetermined exposure range, the exposure updating apparatus does not adjust the exposure amount. If the exposure amount is not in the predetermined exposure range, the exposure updating apparatus generates at least one adjusting amount according to at least one of the predetermined exposure range, the exposure amount and the exposure parameter, and utilizes the adjusting amount to increase or decrease the exposure parameter to generate a new exposure parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Hao Huang, Ming-Tsan Kao, Sen-Huang Huang
  • Patent number: 9063585
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for outputting a command by detecting a movement of an object, which includes the following steps. First, an image capturing device captures images generated by the movement of the object at different timings by. Next, a motion trajectory is calculated according to the plurality of images. Further next, a corresponding command is outputted according to the motion trajectory. The present invention also provides a system which employs the above-mentioned method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INCORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu-Hao Huang, Yi-Fang Lee, Ming-Tsan Kao, Nien-Tse Chen
  • Patent number: 9058064
    Abstract: An interactive image system includes a host generating interactive images; a light source generating at least one light beam; and an interactive control device transmitting data to the host and switching between an operation status and an idle status. The interactive control device includes: an image sensor capturing a first picture in the idle status, wherein the first picture has a reference point image formed by the light beam; and a control circuit selecting a pixel area according to the position of the reference point image in the first picture, controlling the image sensor to obtain a second picture according to the pixel area, and comparing a threshold value with the brightness information of at least one pixel in the pixel area of the second picture to confirm whether the interactive control device is still in the idle status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INCORPORATION, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Chia-Cheun Liang, Ming-Tsan Kao
  • Patent number: 9049333
    Abstract: A method of synchronization adjustment is applied to an optical detecting device, so as to synchronize an exposure timing sequence of an image detector with a light emitting timing sequence of an indicating light source. The method includes acquiring a continued image set, analyzing intensity of each image of the continued image set, and adjusting the exposure timing sequence according to duty cycle of the image detector and intensity ratio of at least two images. An exposure frequency of the image detector is greater than a flickering frequency of the indicating light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Ming-Tsan Kao, Hsin-Chi Cheng, Yi-Hsien Ko
  • Patent number: 9035913
    Abstract: A power-saving sensing module includes a light source, a first and a second sensor, a first and a second detection unit, and a controller. The first sensor detects a touch of an external object to generate a first sensing signal corresponding to the touch. The first detection unit generates a touch signal corresponding to the first sensing signal. The second sensor senses a second sensing signal corresponding to the external object in response to the light ray. When the touch signal is greater than a touch threshold value, the second detection unit outputs a displacement signal corresponding to the second sensing signal. The controller outputs a control signal in response to the touch signal of the first detection unit and the touch threshold value, so that the second detection unit operates at a dormant state or a sensing state in response to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Ren-Hau Gu, Ming-Tsan Kao, Sen-Huang Huang
  • Patent number: 9025037
    Abstract: An event data recorder (EDR) is configured to operate in a driving mode and a parking mode. In the driving mode, the EDR is configured to perform high quality video recording using an image-capturing circuit. In the parking mode, the EDR is configured to periodically activate the image-capturing circuit for event detection and start to perform low quality video recording after detecting a specific event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: En-Feng Hsu, Ming-Tsan Kao
  • Publication number: 20150116480
    Abstract: There is provided a mobile carrier and an auto following system using the mobile carrier. The mobile carrier is capable of capturing at least an image of a guiding light source and automatically following the guiding light source based on the captured image of the guiding light source. The mobile carrier is further disposed with a mobile light source for a remote image sensing device to capture an image of the mobile light source while the mobile carrier cannot capture the image of the guiding light source, so that the mobile carrier can be guided by a control signal provided according to the captured image of the mobile light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: CHIA-CHEUN LIANG, MING-TSAN KAO, YI-HSIEN KO, HSIN-CHIA CHEN
  • Patent number: 9013407
    Abstract: A power-saving sensing module includes a light source, first and second sensors, first and second detection units, and a controller. The first sensor detects a first image corresponding to a working plane in response to at least a part of the light ray from the light source to generate a first sensing signal. The first detection unit generates a displacement signal in response to the first sensing signal. The second sensor detects a second image corresponding to an object in response to at least a part of light ray to generate a second sensing signal. The second detection unit generates a touch signal corresponding to the object in response to the second sensing signal. The controller outputs a control signal in response to the touch signal. The first detection unit operates at a dormant state or a sensing state in response to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Ren-Hau Gu, Ming-Tsan Kao, Sen-Huang Huang
  • Patent number: 8994693
    Abstract: A locating method for an optical touch device to calculate a position of a light blocking object is provided. The optical touch device includes a number of image detecting components. Each of the image detecting components includes a number of pixels arranged in a straight line. In the locating method, the pixels of each of the image detecting components are at least divided into a first group and a second group. When the first group detects a dark point caused by the light blocking object, the position of the dark point is calculated using a first calculating method. When the second group detects the dark point, the position of the dark point is calculated using a second calculating method. The locating method can determine the position of the light blocking object accurately. An optical touch device that is suitable for using the locating method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Pixart Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Ming-Tsan Kao, Hsin-Chi Cheng, Teng-Wei Hsu
  • Patent number: 8969787
    Abstract: An optical detecting apparatus, which comprises: a detecting surface; a first light source, for providing light parallel to the detecting surface; an image sensor, for detecting an object close to the detecting surface, to generate object image data; and an object location determining apparatus, for computing location information of the object according to the object image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Hsin-Chia Chen, Shu-Sian Yang, Yi-Fang Lee, Ming-Tsan Kao
  • Patent number: 8937595
    Abstract: An optical touch control apparatus, for detecting displacement between an object and the optical touch control apparatus. The optical touch control apparatus comprises: an object detecting apparatus, for detecting the object to generate an object image, having a first detecting area in a first mode and having a second detecting area in a second mode, wherein the first detecting area is larger than the second detecting area; an image sensor, for capturing at least one frame of the object image; and a control unit, for adjusting an image capturing area of the image sensor, according which one of the first detecting area and the second detecting area the object detecting apparatus utilizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Hsin-Chia Chen, Feng-Cheng Yang, Ching-Lin Chung, Ming-Tsan Kao
  • Patent number: 8913012
    Abstract: There is provided an operating method of an optical mouse including a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the optical mouse detects a finger displacement, a contact status and a physiological characteristic according to a plurality of image frames associated with a finger surface. In the second mode, the optical mouse calculates a mouse displacement according to a plurality of image frames associated with a work surface. There is further provided an optical mouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Pixart Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Ren-Hau Gu, Ming-Tsan Kao, Sen-Huang Huang
  • Patent number: 8914197
    Abstract: There is provided an optical raindrop detector including a light source, a light guide, an image sensor and a processing unit. The light source alternatively emits light with different brightness values. The light guide has an incident surface, a detection surface and an ejection surface, wherein the light source emits incident light into the light guide via the incident surface, and a plurality of microstructures are formed on the ejection surface to reflect the incident light to become scattered light toward the detection surface. The image sensor receives reflected light formed by raindrops in front of the detection surface reflecting the scattered light to penetrate the light guide and eject from the ejection surface, and generates image frames corresponding to the different brightness values of the light source. The processing unit calculates differential images of the image frames to accordingly identify rain intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Hsin-Chia Chen, Horng-Goung Lai, Feng-Cheng Yang, Hui-Hsuan Chen, Ching-Lin Chung, Ming-Tsan Kao
  • Patent number: 8902164
    Abstract: There is provided a mouse control module including two light sources, an image sensor, a processing unit and a communication unit. The two light sources emit light of different wavelengths to illuminate a finger surface. The image sensor receives reflected light from the finger surface to generate a plurality of image frames. The processing unit detects a displacement of the finger surface and a physiological characteristic of a user according to the plurality of image frames. The communication unit encodes and/or sequences the displacement and the physiological characteristic so as to generate finger and physiology information. There is further provided an optical finger mouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Pixart Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Ren Hau Gu, Ming Tsan Kao, Sen Huang Huang