Patents Assigned to Applied Science & Technology
  • Patent number: 9431651
    Abstract: A composite material for a lithium ion battery anode and a method of producing the same is disclosed, wherein the composite material comprises a porous electrode composite material. Pores with carbon-based material forming at the pore wall are created in situ. The porous electrode composite material provide space to accommodate volumetric changes during battery charging and discharging while the carbon-based material improved the conductivity of the electrode composite material. The method creates pores to have a denser carbon content inside the pores and a wider mouth of the pores to enhance lithium ion distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science And Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Pau Yee Lim, Yingkai Jiang, Man On Fu, Tak Cheung Yau
  • Patent number: 9429417
    Abstract: A method for receiving user inputs in a system comprising a projector and a camera is provided. The method is based on determining an object's height above a reference surface. A surface map is used for mapping a location on the reference surface and a corresponding location in a camera-captured image having a view of the reference surface. In particular, a camera-observed shadow length, i.e. a length of the object's shadow observable by the camera, estimated by using the surface map, is used to compute the object's height above the reference surface (a Z coordinate). Whether or not the object touches the reference surface is also obtainable. After an XY coordinate is estimated, a 3D coordinate of the object is obtained. By computing a time sequence of 3D coordinates, the motional information, such as velocity and acceleration, is obtainable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventor: Wei Zhang
  • Patent number: 9424103
    Abstract: A method for operating a lock in a computing system having plural processing units and running under multiple runtime environments is provided. When a requester thread attempts to acquire the lock while the lock is held by a holder thread, determine whether the holder thread is suspendable or non-suspendable. If the holder thread is non-suspendable, put the requester thread in a spin state regardless of whether the requester thread is suspendable or non-suspendable; otherwise determines whether the requester thread is suspendable or non-suspendable unless the requester thread quits acquiring the lock. If the requester thread is non-suspendable, arrange the requester thread to attempt acquiring the lock again; otherwise add the requester thread to a wait queue as an additional suspended thread. Suspended threads stored in the wait queue are allowable to be resumed later for lock acquisition. The method is applicable for the computing system with a multicore processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Yi Al, Lin Xu, Jianchao Lu, Shaohua Zhang
  • Patent number: 9407896
    Abstract: Multi view images are generated with reduced flickering. A first depth map is generated from stereo images by stereo-matching. When stereo-matching is poor or varies too much from frame to frame, disparity fallback selects a second depth map that is generated from a single view without stereo-matching, preventing stereo-matching errors from producing visible artifacts or flickering. Flat or textureless regions can use the second depth map, while regions with good stereo-matching use the first depth map. Depth maps are generated with a one-frame delay and buffered. Low-cost temporal coherence reduces costs used for stereo-matching when the pixel location selected as the lowest-cost disparity is within a distance threshold of the same pixel in a last frame. Hybrid view synthesis uses forward mapping for smaller numbers of views, and backward mapping from the forward-mapping results for larger numbers of views. Rotated masks are generated on-the-fly for backward mapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company, Limited
    Inventors: Che Yuen Brian Lam, Wei Lun Alan Cheung
  • Patent number: 9401824
    Abstract: The presently claimed invention provides a method of channel estimation in a multi-user massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output system. Candidate pilots are selected for each user equipment based on their spatial correlation matrices. Through determining the similarity of spatial correlation matrices among different user equipments, shared pilots among them can be found, and a base station can transmit a union set of pilots for channel estimation. The present invention is able to provide high channel estimation accuracy and reduce training signal resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Yuxian Zhang, Man Wai Kwan, Eric Kong Chau Tsang
  • Patent number: 9397053
    Abstract: The present invention provides a molded encapsulated multi-layered semiconductor device, comprising a first substrate, a second substrate and an anti-delamination structure (ADS). The ADS comprises a connecting part and extended structures, and is filled by an insulating material. The present invention is able to provide the molded semiconductor device with higher reliability and longer lifetime through reduction of shear stress generated from the coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch between a silicon die and the substrates by mechanically locking with the ADS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Lourdito Olleres, Yueping Ye, Man Kai Cheung
  • Patent number: 9385542
    Abstract: A serial battery charger has a battery matrix with switches that are configured by a microcontroller that reads voltages between batteries to determine if each battery is fully-charged, charging, or absent. A switch configuration allows charging and discharging currents to flow simultaneously, and allows discharging current but blocks charging current from fully-charged batteries to prevent over-charging. The charging current flows through all charging batteries in series while the discharging current flows from all fully-charged and charging batteries in series. Blocking and bypass switches route the charging current to all charging batteries in series, but bypass all fully-charged and absent batteries. The blocking and bypass switches route the discharging current serially through all fully-charged and charging batteries in the battery matrix while avoiding absent batteries. The switches are controlled by the switch configuration from the microcontroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company, Limited
    Inventors: Po Wah Chang, Chi Chiu Tsang, Chik Wai (David) Ng, Yuanzhe Xu, Wai Kei Or, Kwok Kuen (David) Kwong
  • Patent number: 9385625
    Abstract: A RF-to-DC converter charges a battery or powers a circuit from the energy of received radio waves. The RF energy received is very small for far-field applications, so the converter is highly sensitive. Four capacitor arrays are arranged in two banks. Buffered RF signals pump bottom plates of the capacitors. A series of L-switches in each bank connect between the two capacitor arrays in that bank. Each L switch has a pre-charge switch that charges that stage's input capacitor, and a stage-transfer switch that shares charge from the input capacitor to an output capacitor for that stage. Switches in the two banks alternately pre-charge and pump, with the left bank pumping while the right bank pre-charges. Switches are transistors with substrates tied to their sources or actively driven by substrate control signals. One bank may use n-channel transistors with the other bank uses p-channel transistors. Gate voltages may be boosted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kwok Kuen (David) Kwong, Yat Tung Lai, Ka Hung Kwok
  • Patent number: 9374373
    Abstract: In an embodiment, content may be encrypted by a first device using a dual hash chain technique, where the first device maintains a forward hash chain and a second device maintains a backward hash chain, and content keys for encrypting content are derived using values of the forward and backward hash chains. The second device may not have knowledge of a seed used to generate the forward hash chain, and therefore may be unable to generate the content keys, reducing a likelihood that the encrypted content becomes compromised. Additionally, embodiments provide for techniques for using proxy re-encryption (PRE) to re-encrypt content, such that the encrypted content may be provided to and decrypted by a requesting device without knowledge of the forward and backward hash chains. Additionally, embodiments provide techniques for distributing encrypted content to a requesting device with fine-grained access control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung Fai Aldar Chan, Man Ming Andrew Hon
  • Patent number: 9367177
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a method and system for determining true touch points on input touch panel. Two optical sensing module pairs are used to determine two groups of possible touch regions, further with overlap checking with virtual shadow regions to find out potential touch points. Occlusion checking is implemented to acquire true touch points from the potential touch points. The method of the present invention is capable of acquiring true touch points in a fast and reliable way. Furthermore, an interactive input system of the present invention comprises optical sensing modules having their corresponding optical emitters with different wavelengths, and light filters with peak transmission at different wavelengths to avoid from interference effect and over-exposed signal during signal detection by the optical sensing modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Xiuling Zhu, Xurong Li, Lichun Ye
  • Patent number: 9362890
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods which provide an improved compensation filter, as may be used with respect to a decimator, optimally designed using a convex optimization approach. Compensation filters of embodiments of the invention may, for example, be used with respect to a CIC decimator. In accordance with embodiments of the invention, compensation filters are designed with minimum order to approximate target frequency response in the target frequency bands. Additionally or alternatively, compensation filters of embodiments are optimally designed for passband drop and stopband attenuation improvement, such as to satisfy the specified peak ripple in the passband and/or to satisfy the specified peak errors over a set of target sub-bands in the stopband.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhao Shaohua
  • Patent number: 9360935
    Abstract: A bi-sensing optical system capable of transmitting signals for eye and object tracking and/or detection, and/or capable of transmitting signals comprising visible light to an eye of a user and non-visible light for eye tracking and object detection and/or tracking is disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kin Lung Chan, Weiping Tang
  • Patent number: 9356442
    Abstract: Electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection is provided by a charge-latching power-to-ground clamp circuit. A filter capacitor and resistor generate a filter voltage that is buffered by three stages to drive the gate of a BigFET such as a large n-channel transistor. A transmission gate between the stages turns off when BigFET turns on, causing charge to be latched. The filter capacitor can then discharge while the BigFET remains on. A leaker resistor slowly discharges the gate of the large BigFET and turns the transmission gate back on when the BigFET turns off after shunting the ESD current. The length of time that the clamp shunts the ESD current is determined by the leaker resistor and gate capacitance of the BigFET, not by the filter capacitor, so a small filter capacitor may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company, Limited
    Inventors: Xiaowu Cai, Beiping Yan, Xiao Huo
  • Patent number: 9305916
    Abstract: An Electro-Static-Discharge (ESD) protection circuit uses Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) transistors with buried oxide but no parasitic substrate diode useable for ESD protection. A filter voltage is generated by a resistor and capacitor. When a VDD-to-VSS ESD positive pulse occurs, the filter voltage passes through an n-channel pass transistor and inverted to drive a gate of a big SOI transistor that shunts ESD current. A second path is used for a VSS-to-VDD ESD positive pulse. The filter voltage passes through a p-channel pass transistor to the gate when the positive ESD pulse is applied to VSS. The big SOI transistor can connect between VDD and VSS for a power clamp, and the gates of the n-channel and p-channel pass transistors connect to VDD. A small diode may be added between VDD and VSS to generate a small triggering current to activate grounded-gate transistors near I/O pads for full-chip Pad-based ESD protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company, Limited
    Inventors: Xiaowu Cai, Beiping Yan, Xiao Huo
  • Patent number: 9306461
    Abstract: A power converter reduces output ripple without using an electrolytic primary-side capacitor that can reduce product lifetime. Primary-Side Regulation (PSR) using an auxiliary winding provides a regulated secondary voltage with some low-frequency ripple on a secondary winding of a transformer. A smaller secondary capacitor that is not an electrolytic capacitor filters the output of the secondary side. A bang-bang controller controls the secondary side current to reduce current ripple despite voltage ripple. The bang-bang controller has a series resistor and inductor in series with a load such as an LED. A voltage drop across the series resistor increases when a switch turns on. This increasing voltage drop toggles the switch off once an upper limit voltage is reached. The voltage drop then decreases as inductor current is shunted by a diode, until the voltage drop reaches a lower limit voltage and the switch toggles on again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company, Limited
    Inventors: Po Wah Chang, Chik Wai (David) Ng, Hing Kit Kwan, Wai Kit (Victor) So, Shaobin Wu, Kwok Kuen (David) Kwong
  • Patent number: 9298076
    Abstract: An image projector for augmenting the appearance of a physical object is disclosed, also known as an augmented reality projector. The augmented reality projector comprises an optical arrangement to provide the possibility of precise matching of a projected image of the physical object back onto the object itself, instead of using digital image processing to do so. Digital image processing may be used to enhance features of the image and is not required for resizing or orienting the image to the object. This reduces the need for computational power to process the image and spares processing resources to refresh the image in real time. Accordingly, the processed image can be refreshed to change the appearance of a moving object. Furthermore, the precise matching provides the possibility of using projected images a graphical use interface, as movements of a user's fingers on the interface can be determined accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Changli Wu, Xuyan Huang, Ying Liu
  • Patent number: 9295420
    Abstract: A transmission-reflectance swappable Raman device and a method thereof are disclosed. The excitation light is selectively directed to the sample in one direction for generating the transmission Raman signal in transmission mode or in another direction for generating the reflectance Raman signal in reflectance mode. The content of an analyte in a sample can be determined by analyzing transmission and reflectance Raman signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Chun Zhang, Ka Cheung Kwok, Lydia Lap Wai Leung
  • Patent number: 9299152
    Abstract: Systems and methods which provide generation of image depth maps which more accurately represent the local depth discontinuity within images through use of image global depth maps adapted based upon image global motion and/or localized depth analysis utilizing relative relationships of attributes across depth discontinuities in the image are disclosed. Embodiments utilize a full global depth map which is larger than or equal to the image being converted in order to accommodate image global motion, in generating an image global depth map. In operation according to embodiments, an image global depth map is identified within the full global depth map, such as based upon global motion within the image. Localized depth analysis, using pixel attribute relative relationships, is applied with respect to the image global depth map according to embodiments to generate an image depth map which more accurately reflects the local depth discontinuities within the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wang Lu, Huo Yan, Ren Junyan
  • Patent number: 9287624
    Abstract: An antenna circuit is having an impedance circuit which can cancel signal leakage from the input port into the isolation port of a directional coupler. The antenna circuit further comprises a second impedance circuit for optimizing power transfer from the input port to the output port of the directional coupler. Furthermore, the antenna is tunable in order to maximize the reception strength of the antenna. The antenna circuit provides at once the possibility of tuning the antenna strength, optimizing the power transmission and reducing signal jamming by cancelling signal leakage. The antenna finds use as an effective and miniature RFID antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Tak Ki Wan, Yan Liu, Song He, Dan Yang, Chi Keung Angus Mak
  • Patent number: 9273407
    Abstract: This invention relates to a new compound represented by formula (I). Particularly, the new compound is used as an additive in copper electroplating. A chemical structure for the leveler, an electroplating bath containing the same, a method of preparing the additive and a method of electroplating a substrate with the electroplating bath containing the additive are disclosed. The additive compound/molecule of the present invention provides a branched structure at each ends, wherein each of the branches comprises a positively charged nitrogen moiety. The additive compound/molecule is formed by linking the branches having the positive charged nitrogen moieties to the backbone of the additive compound/molecule. This leads to a high charge density novel additive compound/molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Jiye Luo, Yaofeng Sun, Shu Kin Yau