Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Tung & Associates
  • Patent number: 8341996
    Abstract: A method and a deep-drawing apparatus for the deep drawing of a metal sheet by means of a press, a table, a drawing punch, and also a drawing die and a counterpressure plate interacting with the drawing die, which together form a flow path for the metal sheet, wherein at least one drawing strip movable relative to the counterpressure plate is pushed transversely through the flow path of the metal sheet in order to deflect the metal sheet during a drawing phase (first deflection phase) and the drawing strip, for a stop phase, is pushed by a further short distance transversely through the flow path (F) (second deflection stage), wherein a deflection increased once again inhibits the flow of the metal sheet during the second deflection stage, and wherein the metal sheet is essentially plastically formed at the end of the deep-drawing operation, wherein the degree of deflection required during the first deflection stage is set by means of an interchangeable distance piece which is arranged between the counterpres
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Torsten Hallfeldt, Raymund Pflitsch, Carsten Greisert, Juergen Wesemann
  • Patent number: 8324700
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an image sensor device and a method for making an image sensor device. The image sensor device comprises an optical pixel and an electronic circuit, wherein the optical pixel includes: a substrate; an image sensor area formed in the substrate; a masking layer formed above the image sensor area, wherein the masking layer is formed during a process for forming the electronic circuit; and a light passage above the masking layer for increasing light sensing ability of the image sensor area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Pixart Imaging Incorporation
    Inventors: Jui-Kang Li, Yi-Fong Tseng, Chien-Hsien Tseng
  • Patent number: 8325154
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical touch control apparatus, comprising: a light guide module having an optical information capturing position, the light guide module guiding light to the optical information capturing position, and generating optical information according to light input through or reflected from the optical information capturing position; and an image sensor module for sensing the optical information, and generating an electronic signal according to the optical information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporation
    Inventors: Cho-Yi Lin, Yao-Ching Hsu, Hui-Hsuan Chen, Chin-Chou Lee, Kuo-Hsiung Li, Hsin-Chia Chen
  • Patent number: 8319442
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an LED array control circuit with voltage adjustment function and a driver circuit and a method for the same. The LED array includes multiple LED strings each of which has multiple LED devices connected in series. The LED array control circuit includes: a power supply circuit for providing a supply voltage to the LED array; and an LED driver circuit for controlling current through each LED string, the LED driver circuit including: multiple current sources corresponding to the multiple LED strings respectively, each current source having a first end which is coupled to a corresponding LED string, and a second end; and a voltage adjustment circuit for adjusting a voltage of the second end of a corresponding current source according to a signal indicating a voltage drop across the corresponding LED string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Shui-Mu Lin, Ti-Ti Liu
  • Patent number: 8320149
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a multi-chip module with master-slave analog signal transmission function. The multi-chip module comprises: a master chip having a first setting input pin for receiving an analog setting signal to generate an analog setting in the master chip, and the master chip duplicating the analog setting to output a first analog output; and a first slave chip for receiving the first analog output from the master chip to generate an internal setting of the first slave chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Chien Fu Tang, Isaac Y. Chen
  • Patent number: 8320087
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a switching regulator control circuit which distinguishes the output short-circuit condition, which imposes immediate danger, from other mild over current conditions. The switching regulator control circuit includes: an over current judgment circuit comparing a current sense signal with a current limit to generate an over current indication signal; a time comparison circuit comparing the over current indication signal with a clock signal to generate an output short-circuit indication signal; and a timer receiving the over current indication signal and the output short-circuit indication signal, wherein when the output short-circuit indication signal does not indicate output short-circuit, the timer counts a first time period, and when the output short-circuit indication signal indicates output short-circuit, the timer counts a second time period shorter than the first time period, for better safety protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Richpower Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hung-Lin Lin
  • Patent number: 8319444
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a tail-less LED control circuit, which includes: a power supply stage having an output terminal which provides electrical power to an LED circuit; an output capacitor coupled to the output terminal; an LED driver circuit coupled to the power supply stage for controlling the power supply stage to provide the electrical power to the LED circuit, the LED driver circuit receiving a PWM dimming signal for adjusting brightness of the LED circuit; and a MOSFET switch coupled to the output capacitor in series, the MOSFET switch switching synchronously with the PWM dimming signal to alleviate LED afterglow, wherein the MOSFET switch includes a body diode having an anode-cathode direction against the discharge direction of the output capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Chiawei Liao, Jing-Meng Liu, Leng-Nien Hsiu
  • Patent number: 8308182
    Abstract: A trailer connection assist system includes a towing vehicle having a hitch receiver, a trailer having a trailer hitch, a system controller, a position sensor provided on the hitch receiver and the trailer hitch and communicating with the system controller, a vehicle motor of the towing vehicle interfacing with the system controller, vehicle wheels of the towing vehicle interfacing with the vehicle motor and a steering system connected to the system controller and the vehicle wheels and adapted to steer the vehicle wheels. The system controller is adapted to operate the vehicle motor and the steering system responsive to input from the position sensor. A method of aligning a hitch with a hitch receiver provided on a towing vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Walt Joseph Ortmann, Marvin Paul Kraska, Dan Scott Colvin, Brandon R. Masterson
  • Patent number: 8309165
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a color filter by copper and silver film, comprising: a lower copper layer; a lower silver layer formed on the lower copper layer; a medium formed on the lower silver layer; an upper copper layer formed on the medium; and an upper silver layer formed on the upper copper layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Pixart Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Sen-Huang Huang, Chin-Poh Pang, Hsin-Hui Hsu
  • Patent number: 8303827
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for making a MEMS device, comprising: providing a zero-layer substrate; forming a MEMS device region on the substrate, wherein the MEMS device region is provided with a first sacrificial region to separate a suspension structure of the MEMS device from another part of the MEMS device; removing the first sacrificial region by etching; and micromachining the zero-layer substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Pixart Imaging Incorporation
    Inventors: Chuan Wei Wang, Sheng Ta Lee
  • Patent number: 8299907
    Abstract: A method and system for customizing vehicle interior sounds and other indicia associated with vehicle accessories and events. The method enables a vehicle operator to selectively associate a particular sound with a particular event by selecting a desired sound and associating it with a particular event whereby emission of the desired sound occurs upon occurrence of the particular event to notify the vehicle operator of the occurrence of the particular event. Accordingly, the present invention enables a vehicle operator to configure and associate specific vehicle notification with particular events. In addition, the present invention provides a method and system whereby the vehicle operator uploads into the system customized sounds and sound bytes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kelly A. Vandenbrink, Alexander Petniunas, David L. Payne, Melanie R. Russell, John Puda
  • Patent number: 8294439
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a buck-boost switching regulator, and a control circuit and a method therefor, to convert an input voltage to an output voltage. The control method comprises: obtaining a feedback signal relating to the output voltage; comparing the feedback signal with a reference voltage to generate an error amplified signal; when the error amplified signal is between a first voltage (V1) and a second voltage (V2), causing the switching regulator to operate in a buck conversion mode; when the error amplified signal is between a third voltage (V3) and a fourth voltage (V4), causing the switching regulator to operate in a boost conversion mode; and when the error amplified signal is between the second voltage and the third voltage, causing the switching regulator to operate in a buck-boost conversion mode in which each power switch operates according to a respective predetermined pulse width, wherein V1<V2<V3<V4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chien-Ping Lu, Kwan-Jen Chu, Tzu-Huan Chiu
  • Patent number: 8282368
    Abstract: A check valve. An illustrative embodiment of the check valve includes a valve body, a plurality of discharge port openings having at least one of a non-uniform width and a non-uniform position extending through the valve body and a flexible valve disk disposed generally adjacent to the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Peter Francis Worrel
  • Patent number: 8258752
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an integrated PMOS transistor and Schottky diode, comprising a PMOS transistor which includes a gate, a source, a drain and a channel region between the source and drain, wherein the source, drain and channel region are formed in a substrate, and a parasitic diode is formed between the drain and the channel region; and a Schottky diode formed in the substrate and connected in reverse series with the parasitic diode, the Schottky diode having one end connected with the parasitic diode and the other end connected with the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignees: Richpower Microelectronics Corporation, Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chin Chiu, Chih-Feng Huang
  • Patent number: 8258714
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an LED controller with phase-shift dimming function and an LED Phase-Shift dimming circuit and method thereof. The LED controller includes: a power circuit for supplying DC power to multiple LED channels; and an LED phase-shift dimming circuit for receiving a pulse width modulation (PWM) input signal and generating multiple phase-shifted PWM signals with a shifted phase between one another, wherein a turn-ON timing of each of the multiple phase-shifted PWM signals follows a turn-OFF timing of a previous PWM signal which is the input PWM signal or a previous one of the multiple phase-shifted PWM signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventor: Jing-Meng Liu
  • Patent number: 8253407
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a voltage mode switching regulator with improved light load efficiency and mode transition characteristic, and a control circuit and a control method therefor. The switching regulator can switch between a pulse width modulation (PWM) mode and a pulse skipping mode. The control method for the switching regulator comprises: comparing a feedback signal relating to an output voltage with a reference signal, to generate an error amplification signal; generating a duty signal according to the error amplification signal and a ramp signal, to control the switching regulator; setting a threshold level of the error amplification signal and a threshold level of the pulse skipping mode according to the error amplification signal in a stable status; and when the error amplification signal is close or equal to the threshold level of the pulse skipping mode, generating a pulse skip signal to enter the pulse skipping mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: An-Tung Chen, Jo-Yu Wang
  • Patent number: 8246817
    Abstract: A novel deionization filter for removing ions from a coolant in an electric fuel cell vehicle cooling system is disclosed. The deionization filter includes a filter housing having a coolant inlet port, through which the coolant enters the filter housing; and a coolant outlet port, through which the coolant exits the filter housing. An ion exchange bed having positively-charged and negatively-charged ion exchange resin beads is provided in the filter housing for removing negative and positive ions, respectively, from the coolant. At least one filter assembly is typically provided in the filter housing for filtering particles from the coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Mukesh Kumar, George Shih, Stephen Fan
  • Patent number: 8248000
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a light emitting device array controller which controls a power stage to supply an output voltage to one end of each of a plurality of light emitting device strings. The other end of each of the light emitting device strings is coupled to a corresponding transistor having a current inflow end, a current outflow end and a control end. The present invention obtains signals from the control ends of the transistors instead of the current inflow ends, and feedback controls the output voltage according to the highest voltage of the control ends. Thus, the number of pins required for a circuit chip is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventor: Jing-Meng Liu
  • Patent number: 8247126
    Abstract: A method of controlling pressure of a fuel gas in a fuel cell stack is disclosed. The method includes establishing a specification for a fuel gas/oxidant gas delta pressure vs. time value, operating the fuel cell stack, monitoring the fuel gas/oxidant gas delta pressure vs. time value and reducing stress resulting from excessive pressure of the fuel gas by implementing at least one of the following: (1) inducing the fuel cell stack to convert excess fuel gas into electrical current; (2) shutting off supply of the fuel gas to the fuel cell stack; and (3) and raising an operating pressure of the fuel cell stack when the fuel gas/oxidant gas delta pressure vs. time value strays beyond the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Bradley Spare, Keith Oglesby
  • Patent number: 8242725
    Abstract: A method of aligning a sensorless brushless polyphase DC motor including aligning a rotor to a known stopped position with respect to at least one coil during a shut-down of said motor wherein a voltage is applied to one or more coils in a timed sequence of voltage application steps; and, starting said rotor from said known stopped position, wherein a voltage is applied to one or more coils in a timed sequence of voltage application steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James L Thompson, Kyi-Shin Shiah