Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Tung & Associates
  • Patent number: 8228011
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a bi-direction driver IC and a method for bi-directionally driving an object. The method comprises: providing a first and a second integrated circuit (IC) chips, coupled with an object to be driven, wherein each of the first and second IC chips is capable of single-directionally driving the object; providing a reverse current path in each of the first and second IC chips; driving the object in a first direction by the first IC chip, wherein current flows through the reverse current path in the second IC chip; and driving the object in a second direction by the second IC chip, wherein current flows through the reverse current path in the first IC chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Chip Goal Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hui-Yen Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8222876
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a power management chip with a dual function pin, the power management chip outputting pulse-width-modulation signals to control the switching of an up-gate transistor and a low-gate transistor for converting an input voltage to an output voltage, the up-gate and low-gate transistors being electrically connected to a node, the power management chip comprising: a dual function pin for electrically connecting with the input voltage or the node; a voltage sensing circuit electrically connected with the dual function pin for detecting the level of the input voltage; and a clock detection circuit electrically connected with the dual function pin for determining whether the signal received by the dual function pin is an oscillation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Ko-Cheng Wang
  • Patent number: 8221888
    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: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Sen-Huang Huang, Chin-Poh Pang, Hsin-Hui Hsu
  • Patent number: 8222829
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a driver circuit and a method for driving a load circuit. The driver circuit includes: a primary side circuit receiving rectified AC power; a transformer coupled to the primary side circuit and converting a primary voltage to a secondary voltage which is supplied to a load circuit; and a secondary side circuit coupled to the transformer, the secondary side circuit detecting current flowing through the load circuit and feedback controlling the primary side circuit accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Jing-Meng Liu
  • Patent number: 8217632
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a synchronous driver circuit, comprising: an inductor having one end coupled to an input voltage; a first power transistor having one end coupled to the other end of the inductor and another end supplying an output voltage; a second power transistor having one end coupled to the other end of the inductor and another end coupled to ground; a control circuit for controlling the operation of the first and second power transistors; a gate driver coupled to the control circuit and having an output controlling the gate of the first power transistor; and a bootstrap capacitor having one end coupled to a voltage node and the other end coupled to the other end of the inductor, the voltage across the bootstrap capacitor being provided as the operational voltage of the gate driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jing-Meng Liu, Chia-Wei Liao, Heng Yun
  • Patent number: 8215381
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a method to control excessive temperature changes in a coolant circuit includes providing a coolant circuit including a bypass flow pathway bypassing a heat exchanger, said coolant circuit at an elevated operating temperature; providing an adjustable coolant flow through said bypass flow pathway and said heat exchanger; providing a coolant pump in said coolant circuit; determining a temperature change in said coolant circuit in response to initiating a coolant flow from said heat exchanger into said coolant circuit, said temperature change greater than a predetermined limit; and in response to said determined temperature change, adjusting at least one or more of said coolant pump speed and said coolant flow to maintain said coolant circuit within a predetermined temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Samuel Schwartz, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 8212775
    Abstract: A computer input apparatus is disclosed which has improved safety control. Computer input devices with coherent light sources are popular. However, coherent light sources may cause serious and unrecoverable injuries to human eyes. Accordingly, there are several safety specifications defined by manufacturers and governments. Therefore, an improved device is disclosed that includes a calibration circuit and a fault detection circuit to control the operation current of a coherent light source to be within the safety specifications range, and to monitor for fault conditions. Furthermore, a computer input apparatus with coherent light source can be operated without the traditional optical lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporation
    Inventors: Sheng-Yeh Lai, Ming-Hui Kuo
  • Patent number: 8206221
    Abstract: A method for coordinate generation to be implemented using an orientation device includes the steps of: providing at least three reference marks on a target; aiming the orientation device at a target point on the target, and operating the orientation device such that the orientation device is able to capture an image of the target that contains the reference marks; assigning absolute coordinates to the reference marks in the image captured by the orientation device; and determining relative coordinates of the target point in a coordinate space of the target with reference to the absolute coordinates assigned to the reference marks. An orientation device that performs the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporation
    Inventors: Chih-Hsin Lin, Tzu-Yi Chao, Hsin-Chia Chen
  • Patent number: 8205833
    Abstract: An aircraft passenger seat configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention utilizes composite materials to achieve significant weight savings relative to conventional seat designs. The seat includes one or more lightweight composite support legs, a lightweight composite seat pan, and a lightweight composite seat back structure. The support legs are coupled to the seat pan, which is in turn coupled to the seat back structure. The support legs utilize composite frame elements that are formed as continuous compression molded composite extrusions. The seat pan includes composite fore and aft cross beams that are also formed as continuous compression molded composite extrusions. The aft cross beam includes a rear flange that serves as a flexible “hinge” for the seat back structure. The seat can leverage producible and relatively inexpensive composite manufacturing techniques such that the seat can be economically produced for use as an economy class seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Max U. Kismarton, James A. Fullerton
  • Patent number: 8194743
    Abstract: A displacement estimation device includes a vector calculator and a displacement calculator, for use in estimating a displacement vector from a pattern in a first original image to a pattern in a second original image. The vector calculator calculates a parameter for each pixel in the first original image and the second original image. The parameter of a pixel integrates the information of the intensities of all the pixels in a region of interest (ROI) surrounding the pixel, and the relative distances from all the pixels in the ROI to the pixel. The displacement calculator calculates the displacement vector from a pattern in the first original image to a pattern in the second original image based on the parameters calculated by the vector calculator for the first original image and the second original image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Pixart Imaging Incorporation
    Inventors: Hsin-Chia Chen, Yi-Fang Lee, Tzu-Yi Chao
  • Patent number: 8181631
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon canister purge system includes a hydrocarbon storage canister, a fuel tank disposed in fluid communication with the hydrocarbon storage canister, an engine disposed in fluid communication with the hydrocarbon storage canister, a hydrocarbon sensor provided in the hydrocarbon storage canister and a controller disposed in signal-receiving communication with the hydrocarbon sensor and in signal-transmitting communication with the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott A. Bohr, Chris Christopher Kragh, Mark W. Peters, Michael G Heim
  • Patent number: 8183076
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device, comprising: a mass including a main body and two capacitor plates located at the two sides of the main body and connected with the main body, the two capacitor plates being at different elevation levels; an upper electrode located above one of the two capacitor plates, forming one capacitor therewith; and a lower electrode located below the other of the two capacitor plates, forming another capacitor therewith, wherein the upper and lower electrodes are misaligned with each other in a horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Pixart Imaging Incorporation
    Inventors: Sheng Ta Lee, Chuan Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 8178935
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a MEMS chip and a package method thereof. The package method comprises: making a capping wafer by: providing a first substrate and forming an etch stop layer on the first substrate; making a device wafer by: providing a second substrate and forming a MEMS device and a material layer surrounding the MEMS device on the second substrate; bonding the capping wafer and the device wafer; after bonding, etching the first substrate to form at least one via; etching the etch stop layer through the via; etch the material layer; and forming a sealing layer on the first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Pixart Imaging Inc.
    Inventor: Chuan-Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 8180008
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for single-wire transmission without clock synchronization, comprising: providing three states; defining a spacing bit by a first state of the three states; and defining data signals, a start signal and an end signal by combinations of the second and third states of the three states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Ching Wang, Jing-Meng Liu, Dah-Chih Lin
  • Patent number: 8179059
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a circuit and a method for controlling a light emitting device, and an integrated circuit therefore. The circuit for controlling a light emitting device comprises: a power stage controller circuit controlling a power stage circuit to convert an input voltage to an output voltage, which is supplied to at least one light emitting device channel including at least one light emitting device; a transistor switch in the light emitting device channel; and a current source circuit controlling a current through the light emitting device channel, wherein the power stage controller circuit and the current source circuit are integrated in an integrated circuit which provides a control voltage to control a gate of the transistor switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Chih-Hao Yang, Fu-Yuan Shih, An-Tung Chen, Shui-Mu Lin
  • Patent number: 8174056
    Abstract: A micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) is disclosed, which comprises a substrate; at least one transistor formed on the substrate and electrically connected with a contact plug; at least one MEMS device; and a local interconnection line at the same level of the contact plug, through which the MEMS device is coupled to the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Pixart Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheng-Ta Lee, Chuan-Wei Wang, Hsin-Hui Hsu
  • Patent number: 8164317
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a power system with temperature compensation control, for selectively supplying power from an external power source or a battery to a load, or charging the battery from the external power source, the power system comprising a buck converter electrically connected between the external power source and the load, and a temperature compensation control circuit for adjusting an output voltage of the buck converter according to a sensed temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Tzu-Huan Chiu
  • Patent number: 8159294
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a multi-voltage headphone driver circuit comprising: at least one operational amplifier having an output supplied to a headphone speaker, the operational amplifier receiving a first power supply as its high operation voltage; a charge pump receiving a second power supply to generate a negative voltage corresponding to the second power supply in magnitude; and an m-fold circuit multiplying the negative voltage by m and providing the result to the operational amplifier as a low operation voltage thereof, wherein m is a real number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporaton
    Inventors: Jwin-Yen Guo, Ching-Hsiang Yang
  • Patent number: 8159195
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an overvoltage protection (OVP) circuit for use in a charger circuit system, comprising: a power transistor electrically connected between a voltage supply and a battery; an OVP circuit which turns off the transistor when a voltage supply exceeds a threshold value; and a multiplexing circuit electrically connected between an output of the OVP circuit and the gate of the transistor. The present invention also discloses a charger circuit with an OVP function, comprising: a single power transistor electrically connected between a voltage supply and a battery; an OVP control circuit which turns off the power transistor when a voltage supply exceeds a threshold value; and a charger control circuit which controls the gate of the power transistor to determine a charge current to the battery when the voltage supply does not reach the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chien-Ping Lu, Nien-Hui Kung, Li-Wei Lee, Kwan-Jen Chu, Ying-Hsin Hsing, Chun-Tsung Chen
  • Patent number: 8159171
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a controller and a method for adaptively adjusting motor driving current waveforms. According to the present invention, the controller receives multiple different control parameters which may be determined according to the characteristics of a fan to be controlled, and adjusts the delayed ON time and advanced OFF time of a PWM driving signal based on the control parameters and the present rotation speed of the fan motor, so that the fan operates under an optimum driving current waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Padauk Technology Co., Ltd., R.O.C.
    Inventor: Mao-Hsin Cheng