Patents Assigned to Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
  • Patent number: 8857564
    Abstract: A device with simultaneous negative effective mass density and bulk modulus has at least one tubular section and front and back membranes sealing the tubular section. The front and back membranes sealing the tubular sections seal the tubular section sufficiently to establish a sealed or restricted enclosed fluid space defined by the tubular section and the membranes, and restrict escape or intake of fluid resulting from acoustic vibrations. A pair of platelets are mounted to the membranes, with the individual platelets substantially centered on respective ones of the front and back membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Guancong Ma, Min Yang, Ping Sheng, Zhiyu Yang
  • Patent number: 8854580
    Abstract: A method of producing spatially varying pretilt angles across a liquid crystal cell coats a substrate with a polyimide alignment layer and a layer of photoalignment material on top of the polyimide layer. An applied beam with variable light dosage spatial or temporal profiles is then used to achieve a corresponding pretilt angle distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Hoi Sing Kwok, Yuet Wing Li, Man Chun Tseng
  • Publication number: 20140295208
    Abstract: Roll-to-roll fabrication of predetermined or ordered three-dimensional nanostructure arrays is described. Provided methods can comprise imprinting a substrate with a two-dimensional (2-D) pattern by rolling a cylindrical pattern comprising a 2-D array of structures against a substrate. In addition, control or determination of nanostructure parameters via control of process parameters is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Zhiyong Fan, Siu-Fung Leung
  • Patent number: 8847169
    Abstract: The invention provides a CMOS CT detector design with high linearity, quantum-limited noise, good scalability, high fill factor with a single CMOS chip utilizing synchronous partial quantization. The CMOS CT detector includes a pixel array, digital column buses, analog column buses, column processing circuits, a shift register, a control signal generation circuit, and a reference generation circuit, and implements a synchronous partial quantization scheme with reset, integration and analog readout phases. Each pixel of the pixel array further includes a photodiode; an integration capacitor; an OPAMP; a reset switch; a comparator; a 1-bit dynamic random-access-memory (DRAM) cell; a circuit block for enabling subtraction of a substantially fixed amount of charge from the integrated photocharge if the integrated photovoltage increases beyond the reference voltage; an integration node; an analog buffer; and a switch coupled between the output of the DRAM cell and the digital column bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jie Yuan, Bing Liu
  • Patent number: 8840863
    Abstract: A method for the synthesis of nano-products, such as atomic titanium oxide wires. The method allows wires of anatase titanium oxide wires to be formed in a range of tunable diameters and aspect ratios in the nanometer and subnanometer size scales. The method also allows the titanium wires to be capped by oleic acid to enhance dispersing and solubility. The method allows the titanium wires to be surface doped with nitrogen species to enhance stability and functionality such as enhanced absorption in the visible wavelength region, which is useful for photodegradation of organic wastes in water by sunlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Shihe Yang, Chenmin Liu
  • Patent number: 8835833
    Abstract: A two-dimensional (2D) magneto-optical trap (MOT) for alkali neutral atoms establishes a zero magnetic field along the longitudinal symmetry axis. Two of three pairs of trapping laser beams do not follow the symmetry axes of the quadruple magnetic field and are aligned with a large non-zero degree angles to the longitudinal axis. In a dark-line 2D MOT configuration, there are two orthogonal repumping beams. In each repumping beam, an opaque line is imaged to the longitudinal axis, and the overlap of these two line images creates a dark line volume in the longitudinal axis where there is no repumping light. The zero magnetic field along the longitudinal axis allows the cold atoms maintain a long ground-state coherence time without switching off the MOT magnetic field, which makes it possible to operate the MOT at a high repetition rate and a high duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignees: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Shengwang Du, Shanchao Zhang, Shuyu Zhou, Guang Yu Yin, Chinmay Belthangady
  • Patent number: 8831111
    Abstract: Methods and systems for denoising embedded digital video decoding. Prediction and residue block of a current frame are obtained from motion vector. Variance of residue block is calculated using prior reference blocks, and a causal temporal linear minimum square error estimator is used to calculate a filter coefficient. The residue block is modified using the filter coefficient, and an output digital bitstream of blocks of pixels of the current frame is produced using the modified residue block and prior denoised prediction value of prior frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Oscar Chi Lim Au, Liwei Guo, Hon Wah Wong
  • Patent number: 8809987
    Abstract: Structures, devices and methods are provided for creating heterojunction AlGaN/GaN metal two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) tunnel-junction field-effect transistors (TJ-FET). In one aspect, metal-2DEG Schottky tunnel junctions can be employed in group III-Nitride field-effect devices that enable normally-off operation, large breakdown voltage, low leakage current, and high on/off current ratio. As a further advantage, AlGaN/GaN metal-2DEG TJ-FETs are disclosed that can be fabricated in a lateral configuration and/or a vertical configuration. Further non-limiting embodiments are provided that illustrate the advantages and flexibility of the disclosed structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jing Chen, Li Yuan, Hongwei Chen, Chunhua Zhou
  • Patent number: 8800353
    Abstract: Described herein are systems, apparatuses and methods for the design and use of a suction-controlled box for the measurement of stress-dependent soil and water characteristics, shear strength, volume changes and consolidation characteristics from a single unsaturated soil specimen. The suction-controlled box can include a suction control part and a mechanical loading part, which can apply various suctions and mechanical loadings to test a specimen for a full range of suctions. The suction-controlled box can also include a helical water compartment that can flush diffused air bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventor: Charles Wang Wai Ng
  • Patent number: 8798965
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to generating models from images. In an aspect, multi-view semantic segmentation is provided to recognize and segment images at the pixel level into semantically meaningful areas, and which can provide labels with a specific object class. In further aspects, a partition scheme is provided that can separate objects into independent blocks using major line structures of a scene. In addition, an inverse patch-based orthographic composition and structure analysis on a block is provided that can regularize noisy and missing reconstructed 3D data to facilitate image-based modeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Long Quan, Jianxiong Xiao, Tian Fang, Peng Zhao
  • Publication number: 20140212359
    Abstract: AIE (aggregation-induced emission)-active TPE derivatives, TPE-TPP, TPE-MitoR and TPE-IQ are contemplated. These specific TPE derivatives are useful as fluorescent agents for mitochondrial imaging and as apoptosis inducers. Possessing high specificity to mitochondria, superior photostability and appreciable tolerance to microenvironment change, TPE derivatives are well-suited imaging agents for mitochondrial targeting and morphological change tracking. Because of their synthetic flexibility, TPE derivatives can be further modified as dual-functional probes for an array of applications such as sensing of ROS, metal ions, or pH change in mitochondria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Benzhong TANG, Yuning HONG, Sijie CHEN, Wai Tung LEUNG, Engui ZHAO, Haiqin DENG
  • Publication number: 20140201311
    Abstract: Cooperative caching systems incorporating Plug-and-Play base stations are described herein. Plug-and-Play base stations with large caching capacities are employed in a wireless network to perform cooperative transmission with macro base stations. Each Plug-and-Play base station can either have wireless backhaul or a low-cost wired backhaul connection to the macro base stations. Cooperative caching systems can direct traffic between the Plug-and-Play base stations and the macro base stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventor: Vincent Kin Nang LAU
  • Publication number: 20140174279
    Abstract: Disclosed are ways to generate a melody. Currently, no algorithm exists for automatically composing a melody based on music lyrics. However, according to some recent studies, within a song, there usually exists a correlation between a song's notes and a song's lyrics wherein a melody can be generated based on such correlation. Disclosed herein, are systems, methods and algorithms that consider the correlation between a song's lyrics and a song's notes to compose a melody.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Chi Wing WONG, Raymond Ka Wai SZE, Cheng LONG
  • Patent number: 8760141
    Abstract: A frequency-hopping pulse-width modulator is disclosed, which facilitates a switching regulator to use smaller-size inductive and capacitive elements, to have an improved power efficiency at light load, as well as predictable spectrum at different load levels. The improved modulator automatically determines the switching frequency of a switching regulator according to the load current delivered by the switching regulator from a number of pre-defined frequencies, which are all multiples of a fundamental frequency. By designing the maximum switching frequency of frequency-hopping pulse-width modulator in the MHz range, a switching regulator is able to use smaller-size inductive and capacitive elements. Light-load efficiency of the switching regulator with the frequency-hopping pulse-width modulator is also greatly improved as switching frequency of such switching regulator is reduced with decreased load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Tsz Yin Man, Kwok Tai Philip Mok, Man Sun John Chan
  • Patent number: 8761258
    Abstract: Method, systems and software are proposed for obtaining for blocks of a first image similar blocks of a second image (the “reference image”). The blocks of the first image are processed sequentially, for each block trying out a number of candidate locations in the second image and evaluating a cost function for each. Each candidate location in the second image is displaced by a respective motion vector from the block of the first image. In a first aspect of the invention the cost function is a function of a predicted motion vector for future blocks of the first image (i.e. blocks of the first image which have not yet been processed). In a second aspect of the invention the motion vectors are given by location values which are not all whole pixel spacings, halves of the pixel spacing, or quarters of the pixel spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Oscar Chi Lim Au, Hoi Ming Wong
  • Patent number: 8761125
    Abstract: Multi-hop architectures of a wireless mesh network (WMN) compatible with the existing WiFi devices and potentially offering a much larger total capacity than a single-hop WiFi cell. The proposed architectures are scalable and do not have the hidden-terminal and the exposed-terminal problems intrinsic in a multi-hop environment that limited the space reuse efficiency of a WMN. The various disclosed architectures also support a fast and efficient location tracking scheme and can overcome the low space reuse efficiency in many of the existing WMN architectures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventor: Chin Tau Lea
  • Patent number: 8754737
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus described herein are associated with integrated magnetic induction devices. A magnetic induction device can include a groove formed in a substrate, a magnetic core included in the groove and surrounded by a conductive winding that is adjacent to portion(s) of the substrate, and respective insulation layers included between the substrate and the conductive winding and between the magnetic core and the conductive winding. An inductor can further include conductive vias formed in the substrate and connected to respective portions of the conductive winding. Further, a transformer can include a groove formed in a substrate, a closed-loop/gapped magnetic core included in the groove and surrounded by first and second conductive windings that are adjacent to respective portions of the substrate, and respective insulation layers formed between the substrate and the first and second conductive windings, and between the closed-loop/gapped magnetic core and the first and second conductive windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Johnny Kin On Sin, Rongxiang Wu, Xiangming Fang
  • Patent number: 8755022
    Abstract: The invention relates to liquid crystal display cells with fast response and continuous gray scale. The liquid crystal cell is based on a field-sequential color system (“FSC”) and comprises a chiral smectic liquid crystal whose helix pitch is less than thickness of liquid crystal layer placed between two polarizers, as well as a source of voltage applied to electrodes of the cell, wherein the amplitude of the applied voltage is less than the critical voltage amplitude of the helix unwinding. The liquid crystal has one steady state corresponding to twisted helix without applied voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Vladimir Grigorievich Chigrinov, Evgeny Pavlovich Pozhidaev, Anatoli Alexandrovich Murauski, Hoi Sing Kwok
  • Patent number: 8741325
    Abstract: The present invention provides a material for forming an antimicrobial surface coating with multi-level antimicrobial properties, which comprises one or more volatile or gaseous biocides, one or more nonvolatile biocides, and one or more polymers, wherein the volatile or gaseous biocides are encapsulated in the polymers to provide a sustained release of the volatile or gaseous biocides. The present invention further provides a method for preparing the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: King Lun Yeung, Wai Kin Leung
  • Patent number: 8718135
    Abstract: Described herein is a novel transcoding technique called lossless inter frame transcoding (LIFT) for improving the error resilience of video streaming. According to various embodiments, conventional coded blocks are selectively transcoded into new transcoded blocks. At the decoder, the transcoded blocks can be transcoded back to the conventional coded blocks when prediction is available and can also be robustly decoded independently when prediction is unavailable. According to another embodiment, an offline transcoding and online composing technique is provided for generating a composite frame using the transcoded and conventional coded blocks and adjusting the ratio of the transcoded blocks, thereby achieving error robustness scalability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Oscar Chi Lim Au, Xiaopeng Fan