Patents Assigned to Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
  • INTRA FRAME ENCODING USING PROGRAMMABLE GRAPHICS HARDWARE
    Publication number: 20090147849
    Abstract: GPU-based intra frame processing techniques are provided to selectively offload computation loading from a CPU to a GPU. By rearranging the 4×4 block encoding order, the process can benefit from a parallel processing mechanism available on the GPU. Block list size has an effect on speed and by using the optimal block list size for a selection, up to about two times speed improvement in intra frame processing can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Oscar Chi Lim Au, Man Cheung Kung
  • TRANSFLECTIVE LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY
    Publication number: 20090147187
    Abstract: Pixels of an LCD are divided into two sub-pixels, one for a reflective mode and one for a transmittive mode. The cell gaps of both sub-pixels are the same, improving fabrication ease. A novel photoalignment technique is used together with a shadow mask in an embodiment of the invention. Double exposure of the alignment layer with different orientations produces different alignment directions, thereby achieving the different LCD modes for the sub-pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Hoi Sing KWOK, Vladimir Grigorievich Chigrinov
  • Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor structure for high density and high performance integrated circuits
    Patent number: 7545008
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate and an insulating layer formed on the substrate. A multi-layer fin may be formed on the insulating layer and may include two semiconducting layers isolated by an insulating layer in vertical direction. A first MOS type device comprising a first source region, a first channel region and a first drain region is arranged on the first semiconducting layer in the multi-layer fin. A second MOS type device comprising a second source region, a second channel region and a second drain region is arranged on the second semiconducting layer in the multi-layer fin. A gate electrode is provided so as to be vertically adjacent to the first and second channel regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Philip Ching Ho Chan, Man Sun Chan, Xusheng Wu, Shengdong Zhang
  • Catalytic material and method of production thereof
    Patent number: 7541012
    Abstract: The present invention features a catalytic material which includes a metal catalyst anchored to a nano-sized crystal containing a metal oxide. Furthermore, the present invention features a method of producing the catalytic material described herein. Finally, the present invention features using the catalytic material for removing contaminants and for getting the desired products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: King Lun Yeung, Nan Yao, Ka Yee Ho
  • Membrane nanopumps based on porous alumina thin films, membranes therefor and a method of fabricating such membranes
    Patent number: 7540717
    Abstract: A technique has been developed to fabricate micro- or nanopumps based on porous alumina thin films. The main body of the nanopump consists of a porous alumina thin film (containing nano-sized channels of about 40-300 nm in diameter) with conductive surfaces (e.g. Au coating layers) on both sides of the film. Through the fabrication of nanochannels in (the alumina films) and the subsequent annealing and surface activation processes, high-efficiency micro- or nanopumps can be made. The nanofluidic flow through the nanochannels of the alumina thin films is driven by an electric field with no moving parts. The flow rate (up to 50 millilitres/(min·cm2)) of water through the alumina thin film can be continuously tuned through the intensity of the electric field, i.e., the DC electric potential applied across the nanochannels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Ping Sheng, Ning Wang, Jianying Miao, Zhiyu Yang, Shihe Yang, Xinyi Zhang
  • FAST MOTION ESTIMATION IN SCALABLE VIDEO CODING
    Publication number: 20090135911
    Abstract: Scalable Video Coding is recently attracting attentions due to its high flexibility. The current H.264/AVC scalable extension has adopted the Motion Compensated Temporal Filter (MCTF) framework to provide temporal scalability. In this paper, described is another fast motion estimation (ME) algorithm based on the MCTF framework. Simulation results show that the herein described algorithm can reduce the encoding complexity significantly while maintaining similar bit rate and PSNR, comparing with existing fast ME algorithms implemented in the reference software.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Oscar Chi Lim Au, Sui Yuk Lam
  • POLYCRYSTALLINE SILICON AS AN ELECTRODE FOR A LIGHT EMITTING DIODE & METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20090134790
    Abstract: Metal induced polycrystallized silicon is used as the anode in a light emitting device, such as an OLED or AMOLED. The polycrystallized silicon is sufficiently non-absorptive, transparent and made sufficiently conductive for this purpose. A thin film transistor can be formed onto the polycrystallized silicon anode, with the silicon anode acting as the drain of the thin film transistor, thereby simplifying production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Hoi Sing Kwok, Man Wong, Zhiguo Meng, Jiaxin Sun, Xiuling Zhu
  • COMPLEXITY ADAPTIVE VIDEO ENCODING USING MULTIPLE REFERENCE FRAMES
    Publication number: 20090135901
    Abstract: Encoding techniques are provided that consider decoder complexity when encoding video data. A complexity adaptive encoding algorithm encodes video data by encoding current frame data based on reference frame data taking into account an expected computational complexity cost of decoding the current frame data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Oscar Chi Lim Au, Sui Yuk Lam
  • FULL-RATE DISTRIBUTED SPACE-TIME CODES FOR COOPERATIVE COMMUNICATIONS
    Publication number: 20090129496
    Abstract: A full-rate distributed space-time (ST) code design is provided for amplify-and-forward cooperative wireless channels. A signal space diversity technique is employed at the source node and a unique signature vector at each relay node. The distributed space-time (ST) codes can achieve full cooperative diversity and full rate. The achievable diversity gain is M+1, where M is the number of relay nodes. Optimal power allocation can be used to maximize the coding gain under a total power constraint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Wei Zhang, Khaled Ben Letaief
  • FREQUENCY DOMAIN EQUALIZATION WITH TRANSMIT PRECODING FOR HIGH SPEED DATA TRANSMISSION
    Publication number: 20090122854
    Abstract: Various embodiments of multi input multi output (MIMO) communication systems include a transmit Tomlinson-Harashima Precoding (THP) technique and a single carrier frequency domain equalization (SC-FDE) technique. Parallel THP-FDE and successive THP-FDE are proposed based on the minimum mean square error (MMSE) criterion. For the successive THP-FDE technique, where all transmit streams are subsequently precoded, both suboptimal and optimal MMSE ordering algorithm are set forth. Since the feedback processing is performed at the transmitter, no error propagation problem exists in the THP-FDE MIMO techniques, yielding significant performance improvements over conventional FDE MIMO techniques. Applying channel prediction and THP compensation techniques can also further enhance performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yu Zhu, Khaled Ben Letaief
  • Schisandrin B preparation
    Patent number: 7531195
    Abstract: The present invention provides a composition (e.g., a pharmaceutical composition) for reducing aging-related mitochondrial antioxidant status changes in a subject, wherein the composition comprises Schisandrin B. The present invention further provides a composition (e.g., a pharmaceutical composition) for reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury in an aging subject, wherein the composition comprises Schisandrin B. Also provided are methods for reducing aging-related mitochondrial antioxidant status changes and/or for reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury in an aging subject using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventor: Kam Ming Ko
  • ROBUST TIMING SYNCHRONIZATION FOR MB-OFDM FREQUENCY HOPPING SYSTEMS IN A SOP ENVIRONMENT
    Publication number: 20090109953
    Abstract: System and methodologies for timing synchronization in a wireless communication system are provided herein. The provided systems and methodologies can utilize various timing synchronization algorithms and an associated state machine to reduce the down time of a wireless communication system due to the presence of simultaneously operating piconets (SOP) and/or other factors. Frequency band finger pattern detection techniques are additionally described that can reduce boundary mismatch rates for wireless receivers. In one example, by making use of the fact that time frequency codes (TFCs) possess unique frequency hopping patterns, system down time can be reduced and OFDM boundary matching can be enhanced to allow a receiver to obtain correct timing information even for communication channels having a very low SINR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Yui Ming Tsang, Chi Tin Luk, Wing Kwan Ng, Vincent Kin Nang Lau, Roger Shu Kwan Cheng, Chi Ying Tsui
  • OPTIMAL HEEGARD-BERGER CODING SCHEMES
    Publication number: 20090110062
    Abstract: Optimal Heegard-Berger coding methods, devices, and systems are provided based on the disclosed coding schemes. The disclosed schemes facilitate decoding even in the absence of side information, with lower coding complexity than conventional Wyner-Ziv based distributed coding techniques. The disclosed details enable various refinements and modifications according to system design considerations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Oscar Chi Lim AU, Xiaopeng FAN
  • EFFICIENT ERROR RECOVERY WITH INTRA-REFRESH
    Publication number: 20090103617
    Abstract: Systems and methodologies for concealing errors related to INTRA-frame losses in a transmitted video signal are provided herein. Systems and methodologies provided herein can refine a lost INTRA-coded frame and its subsequent INTER-coded frames using INTRA-coded macroblocks that are provided in a video bitstream in accordance with a Random INTRA Refresh (RIR) scheme. When an INTRA-frame is lost, INTRA-coded macroblocks can be used to refine neighboring INTER-coded macroblocks based on region filling, spatial interpolation, or other algorithms that are based on the strong correlation between values of adjacent pixels in a video signal. Further, motion compensation can be used to refine an INTER-coded pixel having an INTRA-coded pixel in its motion trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Oscar Chi Lim Au, Mengyao Ma
  • COMPACT 3-PORT ORTHOGONALLY POLARIZED MIMO ANTENNAS
    Publication number: 20090096699
    Abstract: Generalized non-limiting embodiments include employing a dipole antenna and/or a half slot antenna. Each of the antennas constitutes three mutually perpendicular radiating elements to achieve good isolation and low antenna signal correlation between the three ports. In one generalized non-limiting embodiment the antennas are fabricated on FR-4 epoxy boards. Experimental results show that the antennas resonate a reasonable frequency and have a desired mutual coupling. In addition experimental results for the diversity performance and the MIMO channel capacity are also provided for these antennas and these results show that the herein described antennas offer good diversity gain and the channel capacity can be increased by as much as three times by using these antennas over conventional antennas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Chi Yuk CHIU, Jie Bang YAN, Ross David MURCH
  • DURABLE WIDEBAND ANTENNA FABRICATED ON LOW RESISTIVITY SILICON SUBSTRATE
    Publication number: 20090096676
    Abstract: An antenna that is easily fabricated on a low resistivity CMOS-grade silicon substrate is herein described. The antenna has a reasonable radiation efficiency. One generalized non-limiting embodiment includes employing an antenna that resonates at about 5.8 GHz. Another generalized non-limiting embodiment includes a differential feed operationally coupled to a first and a second half-antenna portion. Each of the herein described antennas have an efficiency of greater than approximately 20%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jie Bang Yan, Ross David Murch
  • LOW POWER VITERBI DECODER USING SCARCE STATE TRANSITION AND PATH PRUNING
    Publication number: 20090089648
    Abstract: Low power Viterbi decoder techniques using Scarce State Transition (SST) and path pruning and related methods and systems are provided, which facilitate practical implementations that reduce the computational overhead and power consumption. In addition, the invention provides uneven-partitioned memory architectures for the survivor memory unit that advantageously exploits the characteristic of the maximum likelihood state probability distribution of the SST decoder facilitating further power reduction. The disclosed details enable various refinements and modifications according to decoder and system design considerations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Chi Ying Tsui, Jie Jin
  • CROSS-LAYER MULTI-PACKET RECEPTION BASED MEDIUM ACCESS CONTROL AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION
    Publication number: 20090086706
    Abstract: A cross-layer multi-packet reception media access control and resource allocation technique is provided for wireless networks having receivers with multiple antennas. User devices on the wireless network access the network for data transmission by making a request to send (RTS) request after a random backoff time. In response to a request to send, an access point (or other receiver) determines transmission parameters that optimize the use of the physical layer based at least in part on channel state information. Those transmission parameters are transmitted along with a clear to send (CTS) message from the receiver to an indicated transmitter. Once the CTS message is received, data is transmitted in accordance with transmission parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Weilan Huang, Khaled Ben Letaief
  • DIGITAL WATERMARKING FOR FEW-COLOR IMAGES
    Publication number: 20090080688
    Abstract: Systems and methodologies for embedding a watermark in a few-color image are provided herein. A digital watermarking algorithm named Spatial Unified Key Insertion (SUKI) can be utilized, wherein adaptive threshold halftoning can be performed in combination with contour shaping and modification to embed a binary logo into a digital image. Watermarking can be performed for an image using SUKI without introducing “salt-and-pepper” artifacts into the image. Further, watermarking techniques described herein can embed data into an image with a considerably high payload while providing excellent resistance against JPEG compression and other attacks and introducing no additional colors into an image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Oscar Chi Lim Au, Shu Kei Yip
  • EFFICIENT REAL-TIME RATE CONTROL FOR VIDEO COMPRESSION PROCESSES
    Publication number: 20090074075
    Abstract: In advanced video coding standards such as H.264, macro-blocks belong to more advanced MB types, such as skipped and non-skipped macro-blocks. In non-skipped macro-blocks, the encoder determines whether each of 8×8 luminance sub-blocks and 4×4 chrominance sub-block of a macro-block is to be encoded, giving the different number of sub-blocks at each macro-block encoding times. It has been found that the correlation of bits between consecutive frames is high. This correlation is even higher after macro-block normalization by considering advanced macro-block types. Based on this bit characteristic, a fast real-time H.264 rate control scheme is herein described. The empirical example results suggest that this scheme can achieve PSNR gain over JM10.2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Oscar Chi Lim Au, Dicky Chi Wah Wong