Patents Assigned to The Hong Kong University of Science an Technology
  • Publication number: 20090179206
    Abstract: A system, structure, and method of making the structure are disclosed for generating a large chemical potential difference between spin-up and spin-down electrons in non-magnetic materials. The device includes an inverse spin valve of a sandwiched layer structure with alternating non-magnetic and magnetic layers. In an embodiment of the invention, the structure is a tri-layer device with a magnetic layer sandwiched by two non-magnetic metals. Once the inverse spin valve structure is provided, an external electric field is applied to the inverse spin valve to generate a large chemical potential difference between the spin-up and spin-down electrons. In an embodiment of the invention, this feature is exploited to create a tunable light emitting diode or laser. In an embodiment of the invention, a dynamical magnetism is induced and controlled in the valve by an electric field. The dynamical magnetization may be used as spin source, or in electronic storage devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventor: Xiangrong Wang
  • Publication number: 20090174383
    Abstract: A frequency compensation method for voltage-mode switching regulators is disclosed. A lowpass filter and a bandpass filter are employed in the two signal paths into the dual inputs of PWM comparators. In one embodiment, two zeros are generated to compensate for the L-C output filter poles. Stable operation, low output voltage ripple and fast load transient response are achieved; while the power consumption of error amplifier and the area for implementing on-chip passive components are greatly reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Yip Sum Tsui, Ying Wu, Kwok Tai Philip Mok
  • Publication number: 20090174440
    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: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Tsz Yin MAN, Kwok Tai Philip MOK, Man Sun John CHAN
  • Patent number: 7553505
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel soy isoflavone product with high purities and strong biological activities and the method of producing the same from natural soybeans, soybean materials (i.e. tofu dregs, soy molasses) and other plant sources. The method includes three steps consisting of extraction with an organic solvent, hydrolysis using an acid and crystallization using an antisolvent. The procedure is very simple and thus can be easily adapted for large-scale manufacturing. Moreover, the procedure is able to produce a high yield of total isoflavones at a lower cost. HPLC analysis and E-Screen bioassay reveal that the obtained product not only contains a high content of isoflavone aglycones by weight of dry matter but also exhibits strong estrogenic activity toward human cells. Therefore, the product should be efficacious for relieving menopausal symptoms and other estrogen-deficient diseases and can be used in health care supplements or as additives for foods, beverages or cosmetics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Ka Ming Ng, Qian Luo, Jingnan Zhang, Benny Harjo
  • Patent number: 7551252
    Abstract: The invention provides a bistable twisted nematic liquid crystal display, comprising a first substrate having thereon a first conductive layer and a first alignment layer; a second substrate having thereon a second conductive layer and a second alignment layer; a liquid crystal layer in the first and second alignment layers; an alignment layer on each of the substrates, the alignment layer imparting a preferred direction for liquid crystal molecules near the alignment layer, and possessing different azimuthal and polar anchoring energies when used to align a liquid crystal layer: the alignment layers being rubbed in such a way to give a stable twist angle of the liquid crystal of ? where ? can be any value in between ?45° to +45°; and wherein the d/p ratio of the liquid crystal layer is between the values of 0.15+0.5?/? and 0.35+0.5?/?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Hoi-Sing Kwok, Fion Sze Yan Yeung, Yuet Wing Li
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20090068975
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a quadrature divider which may be used in a phase locked loop or frequency synthesiser or with a single side band mixer. According to a preferred embodiment the divider takes a quadrature input and has a quadrature output. The divider has four analog mixers 1, 2, 3 and 4. The first two mixers 1, 2 take the in-phase quadrature input, while the second mixers 3, 4 take the quadrature-phase quadrature input. The outputs and feedback loops of the mixers are properly arranged such that the in-phase and quadrature-phase outputs of the divider have a determinisitic phase sequence relationship based on the phase sequence relationship of the corresponding quadrature inputs. Third order harmonics may be minimised or reduced by addition or subtraction of the mixer outputs. As the divider is able to take a quadrature input, there is no need for a dummy divider in the phase locked loop, thus saving space and power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Howard Cam Luong, Hui Zheng
  • Publication number: 20090052594
    Abstract: Joint erasure marking Viterbi algorithm (JEVA), decoder schemes, methods, and systems are provided which perform robust trellis decoder techniques. The provided JEVA decoding schemes are shown to be maximum likelihood decoding schemes that find the most likely transmitted code sequence with a set of symbol erasures, without knowledge of the impulsive noise probability distribution function, and can be implemented sequentially such that they are well suited for dynamically changing impulsive noise channels. In addition, the disclosed details enable various refinements and modifications according to decoder and system design considerations. For example, truncated JEVA is provided for continuous transmission and long frame applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Tao Li, Wai Ho Mow, Man Hung Siu
  • Patent number: 7495805
    Abstract: A method is proposed for converting an image in which each pixel takes one of two binary values, into an image in which each pixel can take continuous values. The method is iterative and works in the space domain. For each pixel, a neighborhood of the image is defined containing that pixel and other pixels. In a first iteration, the method obtains a continuous value for each pixel as a weighted sum of the binary values of the pixels in its neighborhood. In further iterations, the method obtains a continuous value for each pixel as a weighted sum of the values of the pixels in its neighborhood at the previous iteration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Oscar Chi-Lim Au, Ming Sun Fu
  • Patent number: 7494610
    Abstract: A method of activating a zeolite membrane comprising a step of placing the membrane in contact with a fluid mixture containing ozone, wherein when the fluid mixture is a gaseous mixture, the fluid mixture has a temperature of at least 423K, and wherein when the fluid mixture is a liquid mixture, the fluid mixture has a temperature of 353K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: King Lun Yeung, Koon Fung Lam, Samuel Heng, Lik Hang Joseph Chau
  • Patent number: 7482994
    Abstract: A three dimensional (3D) fractal structure with H as the mother element is hereby disclosed. Such a 3D structure can act as selective total microwave reflectors or selective microwave filters in transmission. When excited through current injection, such a 3D fractal structure can act as highly efficient antenna for radiating or detecting pre-determined microwaves, with the relevant wavelength much larger than the size of the radiation or detection structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Weijia Wen, Ping Sheng, Bo Hou
  • Publication number: 20090003452
    Abstract: Improved methods, systems, and devices for Wyner-Ziv video compression are provided based on the disclosed successive resolution refinement techniques. The disclosed resolution refinement schemes improve rate-distortion performance, visual quality and decoding speed with lower complexity than conventional bitplane refinement methods. The disclosed details enable various refinements and modifications according to system design considerations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Oscar Chi Lim Au, Xiaopeng Fan
  • Publication number: 20080316963
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide cross layer medium access control systems and methods that dynamically adjusts each node's transmission probability according to physical layer characteristics. Accordingly, when a backoff time counter reduces to zero, each node can selectively transmit according to network population, current CSI, and MPR capability of the system. The disclosed details enable various refinements and modifications according to system design considerations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Weilan Huang, Khaled Ben Letaief
  • Publication number: 20080303733
    Abstract: Compact 24-port and 36-port multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna designs and methods of construction based on a cube-like structure are provided. The antennas can be implemented with slot antennas distributed on the edges and faces of cubes. According to various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, both spatial and polarization diversity can be achieved and average mutual couplings among the ports better than ?20 dB can be achieved providing good channel capacity in MIMO applications. The disclosed details enable various refinements and modifications according to antenna and system design considerations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Chi Yuk Chiu, Jie Bang Yan, Ross David Murch