Patents Assigned to Solomon Systech Limited
  • Patent number: 8471501
    Abstract: An illumination brightness control apparatus receives an input voltage from a light dimmer and produces a control signal to regulate a drive signal to a power conversion switch of a switching mode power converter. The apparatus includes a voltage conditioning circuit to condition the dimmer input voltage to provide a conditioned voltage signal; an ADC circuit to sample analog data of the conditioned voltage signal at a sampling rate that is high relative to a nominal variation rate of the dimmer input voltage and to provide digital data corresponding to the sampled analog data; a digital signal processing circuit to produce a running data average of the digital data; and a controller to produce a signal corresponding to the running data average as the control signal to regulate the drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Solomon Systech Limited
    Inventors: Wing Chi Stephen Chan, Hing Mo Jeff Lam, Jun Pan, Stephen Wai-Yan Lai, Xiaolong He, Wai Kin Josh Cheng
  • Patent number: 8314779
    Abstract: A controller for detection of touches by a single finger or multiple fingers on a touch panel, the touch panel including a first group of electrodes arranged in a first direction and a second group of electrodes arranged in a second direction, thereby forming a plurality of crossover points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Solomon Systech Limited
    Inventors: Wing Chi Stephen Chan, Wai Pak Choi, Wai Kin Cheng, Kwok Wah Chu, Siu Hong Lui, Yao Lu, Wai Hon Ng
  • Patent number: 8228264
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for driving segments of a bistable display. The method may include providing, at the same time, a plurality of independent waveforms corresponding to display data for driving a plurality of segments of the display. The method may include selecting, for each segment, one of the independent driving waveforms. The method may also include determining whether an update of display data has occurred for one of the segments. The method may include selecting a different one of the waveforms to drive the segment if an update has occurred. The method may further include maintaining a currently selected waveform to drive the segment if an update has not occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Solomon Systech Limited
    Inventors: Chi Wai Ng, Siu Kei Wong, Wai Hon Ng, Man Chun Wong, Jimmy Chiu
  • Patent number: 8102360
    Abstract: A method of adjusting image intensity to compensate backlight dimming in dynamic backlight control, the method including estimating distortion of an image that corresponds to different mapping index values 204 selected from the intensity levels 202 of an image. The estimated distortion of image represents factors including the quantity of pixels 205 that have intensity exceeding a mapping index value 204; and the amount 206 that the intensity of each pixel exceeds the corresponding mapping index value. The method further includes selecting from a plurality of schemes 301 for adjusting image intensity to minimize the estimated distortion obtained from the estimating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Solomon Systech Limited
    Inventors: Wing Chi Stephen Chan, Wai Pak Icarus Choi, Wai-Yan Stephen Lai
  • Patent number: 8103120
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses of contrast enhancement on an image are disclosed. The method performs local shading of fine contrast variations in an image, with particular advantage in tone mapping applications. The amounts of shading are determined by the preferred degree of increased image contrast 810, including compensation for subsequent tone mapping, and the difference between a profile signal 803 and the image signal 801 conditional on the signal profile level being higher than the original image signal level, wherein avoiding boosting of brightness level to obtain contrast enhancement. The profile signal 803 is calculated by the weighted sum of the image signal and the absolute signal variation which is the absolute value of the variation between the brightness of two neighbor pixels. This amount of shading is reduced to zero when the profile signal 803 is lower than the original image signal 801 for avoiding the overshooting problem at sharp edges in an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Solomon Systech Limited
    Inventors: Wai Pak Choi, Stephen Wai-Yan Lai, Wing Chi Stephen Chan
  • Patent number: 7907116
    Abstract: A drive system for a display having segment and common lines is provided. The system may include a first charge pump; a first storage capacitor coupled to the first charge pump at a first pumped voltage level; a second charge pump, including an input terminal coupled to the first storage capacitor; and a second storage capacitor coupled to a pump output terminal at the second pumped voltage level. The system may also include a controller coupled to the first and second storage capacitors, coupled to segment and common lines of an associated display; and a control circuit operating a plurality of switching devices to selectively connect the segment output terminal to the first and second storage capacitors to supply charge to the segment output terminal during a first phase and to return charge from the segment output terminal to the second storage capacitor during a second phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Solomon Systech Limited
    Inventors: Wai Hon Ng, Man Chun Wong, Chi Wai Ng, Siu Kei Wong, Jimmy Chiu
  • Patent number: 7852304
    Abstract: A driver circuit, display system, and method includes a driver circuit that provides driving signals to drive a plurality of display pixel elements arranged in a plurality of rows and columns and coupled to associated row and column lines, respectively. The driver circuit includes a plurality of driver units coupled to associated ones of the plurality of column lines, and a plurality of switching components respectively coupled between outputs of ones of the driver units coupled to adjacent ones of the plurality of column lines. The driver units control associated ones of the switching components to electrically couple the adjacent outputs of the driver units to make the outputs the same or substantially the same when display data signals received for pixel elements coupled to the adjacent column lines are the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Solomon Systech Limited
    Inventors: Cheung Fai Lee, Yiu Sang Lei, Ki Leung Mak
  • Patent number: 7791575
    Abstract: A driving circuit for driving a display panel including a plurality of pixels. The driving circuit includes a selecting signal generator to generate a plurality of selecting signals according to a first and a second pixel data, a voltage divider to provide a plurality of sub-transition voltages, and a voltage selector coupled to receive the plurality of sub-transition voltages and the selecting signal, and to selectively output a plurality of sub-transition voltages serially according to the selecting signals. A drive buffer is coupled to receive the outputted sub-transition voltages serially and to serially generate a plurality of sub-transition driving voltages according to the outputted sub-transition voltages during a transition time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Solomon Systech Limited
    Inventors: Yuen Pat Lau, Wai Hon Ng, Stephen Wai-Yan Lai
  • Publication number: 20100074553
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses of contrast enhancement on an image are disclosed. The method performs local shading of fine contrast variations in an image, with particular advantage in tone mapping applications. The amounts of shading are determined by the preferred degree of increased image contrast 810, including compensation for subsequent tone mapping, and the difference between a profile signal 803 and the image signal 801 conditional on the signal profile level being higher than the original image signal level, wherein avoiding boosting of brightness level to obtain contrast enhancement. The profile signal 803 is calculated by the weighted sum of the image signal and the absolute signal variation which is the absolute value of the variation between the brightness of two neighbor pixels. This amount of shading is reduced to zero when the profile signal 803 is lower than the original image signal 801 for avoiding the overshooting problem at sharp edges in an image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Solomon Systech Limited
    Inventors: Wai Pak CHOI, Wing Chi CHAN, Stephen Wai-Yan LAI
  • Publication number: 20090278786
    Abstract: A method of adjusting image intensity to compensate backlight dimming in dynamic backlight control, the method including estimating distortion of an image that corresponds to different mapping index values 204 selected from the intensity levels 202 of an image. The estimated distortion of image represents factors including the quantity of pixels 205 that have intensity exceeding a mapping index value 204; and the amount 206 that the intensity of each pixel exceeds the corresponding mapping index value. The method further includes selecting from a plurality of schemes 301 for adjusting image intensity to minimize the estimated distortion obtained from the estimating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: Solomon Systech Limited
    Inventors: Wing Chi Chan, Wai Pak Choi, Wai-Yan Stephen Lai
  • Publication number: 20090251391
    Abstract: A power recycling method and apparatus for driving capacitive display elements are described. The driving process involves charging and discharging the display elements. More particularly, the method effectively reuses some of the energy during the discharging process. Energy in display elements flows back from the panel to a power supply and other optionally to devices like RAM, MCU directly during the discharging process. Diodes between one or more power supplies and the display elements ensure that the discharge paths are disconnected when the voltage of display elements drops below the voltage of the power supply. A resistor path from the display elements to ground or a power supply lower than the display threshold voltage of the display elements guarantees that elements are turned OFF after the discharge process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: Solomon Systech Limited
    Inventors: Ricky Chung Yee Ng, Felix Wai Yu Wong, Kenneth Chi Wai Lee, Stephen Wai-Yan Lai, Johnkid Lo
  • Patent number: 7528826
    Abstract: A driving circuit for driving a display panel including a plurality of cells arranged in rows. The driving circuit comprises a gate electrode driving circuit to provide a gate voltage to a row of cells, a common electrode driving circuit to provide a common voltage to the row of cells, and an external capacitor coupled to the gate electrode driving circuit and the common electrode driving circuit to provide an additional gate voltage to the row of cells. The external capacitor is charged by a potential difference between the common voltage and the gate voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Solomon Systech Limited
    Inventors: Cheung Fai Lee, Yiu Sang Lei
  • Patent number: 7522443
    Abstract: The integrated circuit memory comprises a memory array including a plurality of memory cells in rows and columns, the memory array being divided into a plurality of blocks of the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Solomon Systech Limited
    Inventors: Wai Hon Ng, Chi Wai Lee, Ka Wai Cheung, Yin Li
  • Patent number: 7400098
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a display driver includes a voltage and current source that drive pixels and compensate for parasitic voltage to produce row pixels having intensities that are relatively uncorrelated to the number of “ON” pixels in a given row. The voltage source that provides the pre-charge for each pixel includes a constant value and a compensation voltage determined based on the number of “ON” pixels in each row. The compensation voltage is also determined based on the characteristics of the diodes associated with each pixel and the resistance associated the common ground of each row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Solomon Systech Limited
    Inventors: Chung Yee Ricky Ng, Stephen Wai-Yan Lai, Wai Yu Felix Wong, Cheung Fai Lee
  • Patent number: 7333078
    Abstract: A driving system and method for electroluminescence displays having a matrix of electroluminescence elements arrayed in rows and columns with a control circuit for discharging each anode line to a column equalization bus (CEB), includes connecting the charged anode line to the CEB at the end of activation of each anode line. Discharging and subsequent de-activation of the anode line are allowed by charge-sharing with un-activated anode lines that are to be activated for the next row. This is accomplished by connecting the charged anode line to the CEB. In displaying images, anode lines are activated for a number of time periods according to gray scale or color data. Anode lines are consequently de-activated accordingly at different times during a lighting phase for each row display time. When anode lines are discharged through charge sharing on the CEB, a control circuit maintains the voltage on the CEB below a level that may cause inadvertent activation of the de-activated elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Solomon Systech Limited
    Inventors: Wai-Yan Stephen Lai, Chung Yee Ricky Ng, Wai Yu Wong
  • Publication number: 20070290979
    Abstract: An output buffer (100) for a TFT-LCD display device includes a push-pull output stage having a first device (Mp) for supplying current to an output (Vout) and a second device (Mn) for drawing current from the output. A first pre-amplifier (101) is coupled to an input (Vin) of the buffer for driving the first device to supply current to the output. A second pre-amplifier (102) is coupled to the input of the buffer for driving the second device to draw current from the output. A first switchable offset is associated with the first pre-amplifier (101) and a second switchable offset is associated with the second pre-amplifier (102). A switchable current source (Ip) is configured to supply current to the output and a switchable current sink (In) is configured to draw current from the output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: SOLOMON SYSTECH LIMITED
    Inventors: Cheung Fai Lee, Yiu Sang Lei
  • Patent number: 7239117
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter circuit includes an inductor having an inductor current, an inductor current emulation circuit for producing an emulated inductor current, and a control circuit coupled with the emulation circuit for receiving the emulated inductor current and determining a peak inductor current for the DC-DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Solomon Systech Limited
    Inventors: Cheung Fai Lee, Stephen Wai-Yan Lai, Alvin Chit-Sang Chan, David Chin-Tung Or
  • Patent number: 7151550
    Abstract: The present invention provides a display system comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD) controller and an organic light emitting diode (OLED) driver circuit. The LCD controller can be a mono super twisted nematic (STN) and gray scale and color thin film transistor (TFT) controller. The LCD controller processes general format data and accordingly generates segment control signals and common control signals. The OLED driver circuit according to a general embodiment of the display system of the present invention comprises an OLED segment driver with a corresponding segment interface adopter processing the segment control signals from the LCD controller, and an OLED common driver with a corresponding common interface adopter processing the common control signals from the LCD controller. According to a further embodiment, the display system further comprises a drive strength selector controlling the drive strength in the OLED segment driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Solomon Systech Limited
    Inventors: Yuen Pat Lau, Wai-Yan Stephen Lai, Yiu Sang Lei, Chung Yee Ng, Jimmy Chiu
  • Patent number: 6501226
    Abstract: A driving system and its corresponding driving scheme for electroluminescence displays that employs the principle of electric charge conservation and recycling in order to reduce switching current requirement against the system power source. In an electroluminescence display of a matrix of electroluminescence elements arrayed in rows and columns, wherein anodes of the electroluminescence elements on each row being electrically connected to a corresponding anode line, and cathodes of the electroluminescence elements on each column being electrically connected to a corresponding cathode line, a driving system for driving said electroluminescence display comprises a row/column control circuit for lighting at least one of said electroluminescence elements by establishing an electrical route across the power source and the ground in a driving scheme. The driving scheme sequentially scans each of the cathode lines while simultaneously drives at least one of the anode lines during each scanning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Solomon Systech Limited
    Inventors: Wai-Yan Stephen Lai, Wah Chi Raymond Wang, Hing Kau Stephen Cheung, Wai Yu Felix Wong, Chung Yee Ricky Ng