Patents Assigned to Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
  • Patent number: 10109843
    Abstract: The invention provides a coating or film adapted to be arranged between a separator and at least one electrode of a rechargeable battery. The coating or film comprises a first material capable of forming a porous layer and allowing a passage of ions therethrough; wherein, in response to temperature change, the first material porous layer is adapted to substantially close pores in said first material porous layer to thereby substantially reduce or prevent further passage of ions through the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Laiyong Xie, Pau Yee Lim
  • Patent number: 10108845
    Abstract: Using multiple imaging modes in whole slide image screening is potentially useful to reduce false positives. To use multiple imaging modes, a method for locating anomalies on a medical sample from an image thereof uses an anomaly-detection process that comprises using plural base classifiers individually to classify an object-of-interest suspected to be an anomaly. Each base classifier respectively extracts features of the object-of-interest and generates, according to the extracted features, a score indicating a likelihood of the object-of-interest being anomalous. The anomaly-detection process further comprises using an aggregate classifier to combine the scores generated by the base classifiers to determine whether the object-of-interest is the anomaly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Xiaohua Wu, Yan Nei Law
  • Patent number: 10103742
    Abstract: A hybrid Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) has multiple stages. A first stage and a final stage each use a Successive-Approximation Register (SAR) ADC to generate the Most-Significant-Bits (MSBs) and the Least-Significant-Bits (LSBs) over successive internal cycles. Middle stage(s) use a faster flash ADC with multiple comparators in parallel to generate the middle binary bits, which are then re-converted by a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) and subtracted from the stage's input analog voltage to generate a difference that is amplified by a residual amplifier that outputs an amplified voltage to the next stage. The first stage also has this multiplying DAC structure to convert the MSBs to an amplified voltage to the first of the middle stages. Finally, digital error correction logic removes redundant binary bits between stages. Initial and final SAR stages of 4 and 8 bits with a 4-bit middle stage provide a hybrid ADC of 14-bit precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company, Limited
    Inventors: Huimin Guo, Lu Chen, Kam Chuen Wan
  • Patent number: 10063396
    Abstract: The presently claimed invention relates generally to a method and an apparatus for pilot decontamination for massive MIMO system and, more particularly, to a massive MIMO communication system based on channel estimation with topological interference alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Yaming Luo, Yuxian Zhang, Man Wai Kwan, Kong Chau Tsang
  • Patent number: 10064048
    Abstract: A gateway (GW) acquires an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) of a user equipment (UE) without requesting a mobile management entity (MME) of a core network (CN) to provide it. The GW detects arrival of a S1AP message for the UE. If the GW does not have the IMSI of the UE, and if a NAS payload of the S1AP message is ciphered, send to the UE a rejecting message indicating detaching the UE from the CN, causing the UE to request re-attaching to the CN in a S1AP message that is an Initial UE Message, which contains a temporary identifier of the UE. Then alter the Initial UE Message with a fabricated temporary identifier not recognizable by the MME and send the altered message to the MME, causing the MME to ask the UE to identify itself with the IMSI, which is read by the GW.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Ka Ho Mui, Yau Yau Yolanda Tsang, Yee Simon Wong
  • Patent number: 10044420
    Abstract: A method for transmitting payload data from a base station (BS) to a user equipment (UE) via a MIMO channel is provided. Channel estimation is performed first and the channel-estimation result is used for optimizing data transmission. Instead of reporting CQI, RI and PMI to the BS, the UE reports a first channel transfer function characterizing an end-to-end process of obtaining received CSI-RS symbols from originally-sent CSI-RS symbols. Computation burden at the UE is reduced as computation of the CQI, RI and PMI is eliminated. At the BS, an effect caused by the antenna port-to-transceiver unit (AP-to-TXRU) virtualization operation is removed from the first channel transfer function to yield a second channel transfer function. With the second channel transfer function closer to the MIMO channel transfer function than the first one, the “content” of the MIMO channel is better utilized in optimizing data-transmission performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Yuxian Zhang, Man Wai Kwan, Eric Kong Chau Tsang
  • Patent number: 10037231
    Abstract: Provided is a method and system in a mobile wireless communication network for jointly determining computational offloading and data prefetching for a plurality of user equipments (UEs) in the mobile network. The method includes using a decision module in the mobile wireless communication network to process data indicative of mobile wireless communication network status including statuses of one or more UEs attached to the network. The decision module is configured to determine if the status of the mobile wireless communication network including said one or more UEs is sufficient to support joint computational offloading and data prefetching by at least one of the UEs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: HONG KONG APPLIED SCIENCE and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Vinit Jakhetiya, Lu Wang, Fei Yu
  • Patent number: 9991161
    Abstract: A method for filling a through hole (TH) located on a substrate is provided. The TH is a continuous channel having an upper rim, a lower rim and an interior surface. In one embodiment, the method comprises steps (a)-(d). In the step (a), a conductive material (CM) is deposited over the substrate to thereby deposit a layer of the CM around the rims and on the interior surface. In the step (b), the deposited CM is etched. In particular, the etching step selectively removes more CM deposited at the rims relative to CM deposited at a mid-section of the interior surface of the channel. In the step (c), the steps (a) and (b) are optionally repeated until the channel is sealed at the mid-section by a bridge formed of CM. In the step (d), the CM is further deposited over the substrate to thereby completely fill the TH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Yaofeng Sun, Sha Xu, Shu Kin Yau
  • Patent number: 9970884
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a light transmissive optical component comprises an image capturing module arranged on a first side of a support configured to hold a light transmissive optical component while it is being inspected. One or more first illuminating means are arranged on the first side of the support and adapted to illuminate from a first side of a light transmissive optical component held by the support. One or more second illuminating means are arranged on a second side of the support and adapted to illuminate from a second side of the light transmissive optical component held by the support, the second side of the support opposing the first side of said support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Vladislav Nikitin, Anna Liu, Changli Wu
  • Patent number: 9966913
    Abstract: A Programmable-Gain Amplifier (PGA) has programming steps that are linear when expressed in Decibels (linear-in-dB). A Recursive Current Division (RCD) resistor network generates currents that are selected by programmable switches to connect to a summing node input of an amplifier. A feedback resistor is connected across the summing node and the amplifier output. The resistor network has only three resistance values regardless of the number of currents selectable as programming steps. The value of a third resistor is set equal to the equivalent resistance of a second resistor in parallel with a series connection of a first resistor and the third resistors. Each final cell in the resistor network is equivalent to the third resistor, allowing recursive division of adjacent currents. The ratio of adjacent currents remains constant for all cells. Recursive Current Division (RCD) produces linear-in-dB programming steps. Floating switches are avoided since switches connect to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company, Limited
    Inventors: Chi Hong Chan, Bun Go Yau, Gordon Chung
  • Patent number: 9954927
    Abstract: Real-time managing multiple display windows on a screen for multiple users each allowed to request reserving an area on the screen and each having a priority value indicating a level of right to use the screen is considered. In a method, the screen is partitioned into grid-area units. Upon receiving a request from a requesting user, determine a target window formed by one or more of these units to cover the area to be reserved. Whether the requesting user is permitted to use the target window is then determined. If permitted, the target window is allocated to the requesting user as a new window. If the target window overlaps any already-allocated display window, the already-allocated window is adjusted (resized/removed) to not overlap the target window. All the allocated windows are then tiled one by one in an order according to the users' priority values for maximizing the screen's usage percentage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventor: Yat Cheung Ngai
  • Patent number: 9954543
    Abstract: A Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) has a multi-curve voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) with a curve-select input that adjusts the capacitance within the VCO and thus the VCO gain. A calibration unit generates a curve-select value to the VCO. Coarse calibration selects a Center Curve CC value using binary search of the curve-select bits. During fine calibration, the number of pulses of the VCO output are counted and stored for all curves in a target window around the center curve. The stored pulse counts are compared to an ideal pulse count for a specified frequency, and the curve-select value for the closest-matching pulse count is applied to the VCO. The target window is much smaller than all possible curves, so calibration is performed only on a few curves, reducing calibration time. A switch before the VCO opens the loop for faster open-loop calibration. Pulses are counted digitally without expensive analog comparators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tat Fu Chan, Shiyuan Zheng, Yunlong Li, Wang Chi Cheng
  • Patent number: 9949226
    Abstract: A system comprising beacon-generating clusters for enabling a mobile computing device to perform location or proximity determination is provided. Each cluster comprises a primary station for broadcasting a primary beacon, and an offset-assisted station, positioned from the primary station by an offset distance along a direction, for broadcasting a secondary beacon. The offset distance and the direction are unique for all the clusters, causing a jittering area, within which the mobile computing device is unable to determine which one of adjacent primary stations is closer to from detecting the primary beacons, to be reduced by further utilizing the secondary beacons provided by the clusters. Fluctuation in received signal strength indicator (RSSI) can be reduced by having each station, primary or secondary, installed with multiple co-located broadcasting units for utilizing space and time diversity to reduce RSSI fluctuation. In another option, multiple offset-assisted stations are used for each cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Chunhua Sun, Xinyi Liu, Eddy Chiu
  • Patent number: 9931076
    Abstract: A method for determining an artery location on a living subject's skin and positioning a tonometry pressure sensor on the artery location for tonometric blood pressure measurement is provided. The method comprises a non-contact optical search followed by a contact pressure search. In the non-contact optical search, an optical-sensing unit is used to scan the skin along a scan path while maintaining a pre-determined distance between the unit and the scan path. A search region within the scan path and a height profile characterizing the scan path's curvature are determined. The search region is determined such that an artery is predicted to lie thereunder. The artery location is then searched within the search region by the contact pressure search, in which the pressure sensor sweeps along the search region and the sweeping is guided by curvature information provided by the height profile. A device using the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventor: Wenbo Gu
  • Patent number: 9935640
    Abstract: A two-point modulation Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) has a gain-adjustable voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). A digital data modulation signal is combined with a carrier and input to a feedback divider. The data modulation signal is also input to a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) to generate an analog voltage to a second input of the VCO. A calibration unit divides the VCO output and counts pulses. During calibration, the data modulation signal is set to minimum and then maximum values and VCO output pulses counted. A count difference for the data modulation signal at maximum and minimum values is input to a Look-Up Table (LUT) to read out a gain calibration value. During normal operation mode, the gain calibration value from the LUT is applied to a second input of the DAC, which drives the VCO to adjust VCO gain. A switch before the VCO opens the loop for faster open-loop calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tat Fu Chan, Shiyuan Zheng, Yunlong Li, Wang Chi Cheng
  • Patent number: 9928426
    Abstract: A method for a vehicle management system with a perspective view camera generating perspective images of vehicles in a traffic direction, including performing an anti-perspective transform on the perspective images; separating each anti-perspective image into sub-images along one of a radial direction and a tangential direction relative to the traffic direction; determining a scale factor for each sub-image based upon measuring a scale of each vehicle at plural positions in one image using a frame difference method performing a scale transform for each sub-image using the corresponding scale factors for the sub-image; combining each of the scale transformed sub-images for each vehicle into corresponding enhanced anti-perspective images; performing vehicle detection for each vehicle based a combination of the enhanced anti-perspective images in which tracking is enhanced with an optimized detection box size range determined by the enhanced anti-perspective images; and performing vehicle tracking for each vehic
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: HONG KONG APPLIED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Hailiang Li, Zhi Bin Lei, Yang Liu, Man Yau Chiu, Kangheng Wu
  • Publication number: 20180082131
    Abstract: A method for a vehicle management system with a perspective view camera generating perspective images of vehicles in a traffic direction, including performing an anti-perspective transform on the perspective images; separating each anti-perspective image into sub-images along one of a radial direction and a tangential direction relative to the traffic direction; determining a scale factor for each sub-image based upon measuring a scale of each vehicle at plural positions in one image using a frame difference method performing a scale transform for each sub-image using the corresponding scale factors for the sub-image; combining each of the scale transformed sub-images for each vehicle into corresponding enhanced anti-perspective images; performing vehicle detection for each vehicle based a combination of the enhanced anti-perspective images in which tracking is enhanced with an optimized detection box size range determined by the enhanced anti-perspective images; and performing vehicle tracking for each vehic
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Applicant: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Hailiang LI, Zhi Bin LEI, Yang LIU, Man Yau CHIU, Kangheng WU
  • Publication number: 20180083475
    Abstract: A charging device to wirelessly charge a target device, including: a coil antenna having a first surface facing a first direction at which the target device is placed for charging and a second surface facing an opposite direction from the first direction, generating a first magnetic field; a plurality of pairs of metallic small loop transmission coils arranged to the second surface side of the coil antenna, to generate a second magnetic field in response to the first magnetic field to enhance the first magnetic field, the first and second magnetic fields being directed in the first direction; and wherein a first one of each pair of metallic small loop transmission coils is coupled to a second one of the pair in parallel and a size of the first one of each pair is different from that of the second one of the pair, such that when a distance between the target device and the first surface is changed, one of the pair of metallic small loop transmission coils is enabled to be resonant with the coil antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Applicant: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Yan LIU, Jun CHEN
  • Patent number: 9846929
    Abstract: The present invention provide a high speed spatial density estimation algorithm to estimate defect density maps for blob analysis in an image processing field for inspection. The method of the present invention uses a rotated L1 epsilon-ball neighborhood mask for determining a defect density for each of target pixels to generate a defect density map for defect detection of an object. The present method is capable of providing high detection speed and substantially eliminating influence of the noise from images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventor: Weiwen Zou
  • Publication number: 20170345214
    Abstract: A hybrid-resolution panoramic VR generator places High-Resolution (HR) patches from a ring of HR cameras onto a 360-degree Low-Resolution (LR) image from a LR camera pointing upward from the ring into a panoramic mirror that captures the combined field of view of all the multiple HR cameras, but at a lower resolution. Ghosting artifacts caused by parallax errors between adjacent HR cameras are eliminated because object placement is determined by the 360-degree LR image. Each HR image is homographicly projected into 3 projections by grouping objects of different depths to obtain homographic matrixes. The 360-degree LR image is upscaled to HR and a query patch is searched in search windows in the three projections for up to two adjacent HR images. Best-matching patches are weighted by similarity with the query patch and blended to generate a reconstructed patch placed at the query patch location in a reconstructed HR panorama image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: Hong Kong Applied Science & Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Kwok Wai HUNG, Luhong LIANG, Xuejiao LIU