Patents by Inventor Albert C. Sun

Albert C. Sun has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8717291
    Abstract: A wireless wrist mouse, used with an apparatus including a display having a cursor, has a body mountable to a user's hand/wrist by wrist mounting structure. A motion sensor and motion circuitry are carried by the body and are operably connected to one another. The motion circuitry includes a library of command motions. The motion circuitry is constructed to generate first and second command signals corresponding to the first and second command motions when the body has been moved in predetermined manners for receipt by and operation of the apparatus. The first command signals correspond to cursor movement directions for controlling movement of the cursor over the display. The second command signals correspond to control functions for the apparatus. In some examples, the motion sensor comprises a MEMS sensor. In some examples, the motion sensor comprises a translational, rotational, and vibrational movement motion sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: AFA Micro Co.
    Inventors: Albert C. Sun, Chungming Glendy Sun, Ying-Che Lo, Shyh-Hong Tseng, Shyh-Shyan Liao, Hsin-Tang Chien
  • Patent number: 8564304
    Abstract: A carrier and a frame, movable relative to one another in both an x-y direction and a z direction provide a test bed for MEMS like integrated circuits. The carrier includes receptacles mounted on a test substrate. The frame includes pins projecting from a surface of a plate. The plate has open areas. In a test sequence, the frame and carrier are oriented so that the cavities are exposed by open areas of the plate; a tool is used to place a device to be tested in each cavity; the frame and carrier are moved into alignment and toward one another to bring the pin ends into contact with the devices in the cavities. Then a test cycle is carried out. Following the test cycle the process is reversed to expose the devices for a pick-and-place tool to remove and bin the tested devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: AFA Micro Co.
    Inventors: Shyh-Shyan Liao, Ying-Che Lo, Albert C. Sun
  • Patent number: 8482678
    Abstract: A remote control controls an audiovisual apparatus, such as a TV, using conventional physical inputs, such as buttons, or by controlled movement of the remote control. Circuitry connected to the physical inputs generates command signals for receipt by and operation of the apparatus. The command signals, such as On or Change Channel, correspond to control functions for the apparatus. The remote control also includes a motion sensor and motion circuitry connected to one another and constructed to generate at least some of the command signals when the body has been moved in predetermined manners for receipt by and operation of the apparatus. The remote control can therefore be operated using either the physical inputs or by moving the remote control in at least one of the predetermined manners. In some examples the motion sensor comprises a MEMS sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: AFA Micro Co.
    Inventors: Albert C. Sun, Chungming Glendy Sun
  • Publication number: 20110260734
    Abstract: A carrier and a frame, movable relative to one another in both an x-y direction and a z direction provide a test bed for MEMS like integrated circuits. The carrier includes receptacles mounted on a test substrate. The frame includes pins projecting from a surface of a plate. The plate has open areas. In a test sequence, the frame and carrier are oriented so that the cavities are exposed by open areas of the plate; a tool is used to place a device to be tested in each cavity; the frame and carrier are moved into alignment and toward one another to bring the pin ends into contact with the devices in the cavities. Then a test cycle is carried out. Following the test cycle the process is reversed to expose the devices for a pick-and-place tool to remove and bin the tested devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: AFA Micro Co.
    Inventors: Shyh-Shyan Liao, Ying-Che Lo, Albert C. Sun
  • Publication number: 20110080339
    Abstract: A wireless wrist mouse, used with an apparatus including a display having a cursor, has a body mountable to a user's hand/wrist by wrist mounting structure. A motion sensor and motion circuitry are carried by the body and are operably connected to one another. The motion circuitry includes a library of command motions. The motion circuitry is constructed to generate first and second command signals corresponding to the first and second command motions when the body has been moved in predetermined manners for receipt by and operation of the apparatus. The first command signals correspond to cursor movement directions for controlling movement of the cursor over the display. The second command signals correspond to control functions for the apparatus. In some examples, the motion sensor comprises a MEMS sensor. In some examples, the motion sensor comprises a translational, rotational, and vibrational movement motion sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: AFA Micro Co.
    Inventors: Albert C. Sun, Chungming Glendy Sun, Ying-Che Lo, Shyh-Hong Tseng, Shyh-Shyan Liao, Hsin-Tang Chien
  • Publication number: 20110058107
    Abstract: A remote control controls an audiovisual apparatus, such as a TV, using conventional physical inputs, such as buttons, or by controlled movement of the remote control. Circuitry connected to the physical inputs generates command signals for receipt by and operation of the apparatus. The command signals, such as On or Change Channel, correspond to control functions for the apparatus. The remote control also includes a motion sensor and motion circuitry connected to one another and constructed to generate at least some of the command signals when the body has been moved in predetermined manners for receipt by and operation of the apparatus. The remote control can therefore be operated using either the physical inputs or by moving the remote control in at least one of the predetermined manners. In some examples the motion sensor comprises a MEMS sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: AFA Micro Co.
    Inventors: Albert C. Sun, Chungming Glendy Sun
  • Publication number: 20100289743
    Abstract: A laser pointer is combined with a gesture-based input system to enable presenters to make a seamless presentation, using the laser pointer to highlight content on a screen and in addition as a mount for a motion sensor comprising at least one small sensor such as a micro-electromechanical sensor MEMS that is used as an input device for delivering commands to a host computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: AFA Micro Co.
    Inventors: ALBERT C. SUN, Chungming Glendy Sun
  • Patent number: 7406559
    Abstract: An architecture for an integrated circuit with in-circuit programming allows real-time modification of the in-circuit programming code and other code stored on the chip. The architecture utilizes a microprocessor and control logic on an integrated circuit having a single non-volatile memory that stores instructions and data, such as in-circuit programming and user code, and input/output ports and related structure for exchanging data with an external device. Using in-circuit programming code stored on the chip, the chip interactively establishes an in-circuit programming exchange with an external device to update data and instructions including the in-circuit programming code. Input/output conflicts during in-circuit programming can be avoided by employing a code generator that supplies control routines to the microprocessor during at least part of the in-circuit programming operations. The code generator allows the in-circuit programming code to be updated in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Albert C. Sun, Jeon-Yung Ray, William Chen
  • Patent number: 7237145
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing fault-tolerance for in-circuit programming systems. The invention operates by storing a minimal set of code to initialize the in-circuit programming process in a protected memory so that if the in-circuit programming process fails, the in-circuit programming process can be restarted from the protected memory. This type of fault-tolerance is especially important in systems which allow the code which accomplishes the in-circuit programming to be modified by the in-circuit programming process. One embodiment of the present invention provides a multiplexer to selectively switch between a normal boot code sequence and a protected boot code sequence, as well as a watchdog timer to monitor the in-circuit programming process to determine whether the in-circuit programming process is not progressing properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Albert C. Sun, Chee H. Lee, Chang L. Chen
  • Patent number: 6842820
    Abstract: An architecture for an integrated circuit with in-circuit programming, allows for dynamically altering the in-circuit programming instruction set itself, as well as other software stored on the chip. The architecture is based on a microcontroller on an integrated circuit having two or more banks of embedded non-volatile memory arrays which store instructions, including an in-circuit programming instruction set. Using a control program stored on the device, the device interactively establishes an in-circuit programming exchange with a remote partner, and updates data and software, including the in-circuit programming instruction set, when needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Albert C. Sun, Chang-Lun Chen, Chee-Horng Lee
  • Publication number: 20040030953
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing fault-tolerance for in-circuit programming systems. The invention operates by storing a minimal set of code to initialize the in-circuit programming process in a protected memory so that if the in-circuit programming process fails, the in-circuit programming process can be restarted from the protected memory. This type of fault-tolerance is especially important in systems which allow the code which accomplishes the in-circuit programming to be modified by the in-circuit programming process. One embodiment of the present invention provides a multiplexer to selectively switch between a normal boot code sequence and a protected boot code sequence, as well as a watchdog timer to monitor the in-circuit programming process to determine whether the in-circuit programming process is not progressing properly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Albert C. Sun, Chee H. Lee, Chang L. Chen
  • Publication number: 20030120860
    Abstract: An architecture for an integrated circuit with in-circuit programming, allows for dynamically altering the in-circuit programming instruction set itself, as well as other software stored on the chip. The architecture is based on a microcontroller on an integrated circuit having two or more banks of embedded non-volatile memory arrays which store instructions, including an in-circuit programming instruction set. Using a control program stored on the device, the device interactively establishes an in-circuit programming exchange with a remote partner, and updates data and software, including the in-circuit programming instruction set, when needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Albert C. Sun, Chang-Lun Chen, Chee-Horng Lee
  • Patent number: 6493788
    Abstract: An architecture for an integrated circuit with in-circuit programming, allows for dynamically altering the in-circuit programming instruction set itself; as well as other software stored on the chip. The architecture is based on a microcontroller on an integrated circuit having two or more banks of embedded non-volatile memory arrays which store instructions, including an in-circuit programming instruction set. Using a control program stored on the device, the device interactively establishes an in-circuit programming exchange with a remote partner, and updates data and software, including the in-circuit programming instruction set, when needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Albert C. Sun, Chang-Lun Chen, Chee-Horng Lee
  • Publication number: 20020091963
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing fault-tolerance for in-circuit programming systems. The invention operates by storing a minimal set of code to initialize the in-circuit programming process in a protected memory so that if the in-circuit programming process fails, the in-circuit programming process can be restarted from the protected memory. This type of fault-tolerance is especially important in systems which allow the code which accomplishes the in-circuit programming to be modified by the in-circuit programming process. One embodiment of the present invention provides a multiplexer to selectively switch between a normal boot code sequence and a protected boot code sequence, as well as a watchdog timer to monitor the in-circuit programming process to determine whether the in-circuit programming process is not progressing properly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Albert C. Sun, Chee H. Lee, Chang L. Chen
  • Patent number: 6401221
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing fault-tolerance for in-circuit programming systems. The invention operates by storing a minimal set of code to initialize the in-circuit programming process in a protected memory so that if the in-circuit programming process fails, the in-circuit programming process can be restarted from the protected memory. This type of fault-tolerance is especially important in systems which allow the code which accomplishes the in-circuit programming to be modified by the in-circuit programming process. One embodiment of the present invention provides a multiplexer to selectively switch between a normal boot code sequence and a protected boot code sequence, as well as a watchdog timer to monitor the in-circuit programming process to determine whether the in-circuit programming process is not progressing properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Albert C. Sun, Chee H. Lee, Chang L. Chen
  • Publication number: 20020032879
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing fault-tolerance for in-circuit programming systems. The invention operates by storing a minimal set of code to initialize the in-circuit programming process in a protected memory so that if the in-circuit programming process fails, the in-circuit programming process can be restarted from the protected memory. This type of fault-tolerance is especially important in systems which allow the code which accomplishes the in-circuit programming to be modified by the in-circuit programming process. One embodiment of the present invention provides a multiplexer to selectively switch between a normal boot code sequence and a protected boot code sequence, as well as a watchdog timer to monitor the in-circuit programming process to determine whether the in-circuit programming process is not progressing properly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Albert C. Sun, Chee H. Lee, Chang L. Chen
  • Patent number: 6282675
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing fault-tolerance for in-circuit programming systems. The invention operates by storing a minimal set of code to initialize the in-circuit programming process in a protected memory so that if the in-circuit programming process fails, the in-circuit programming process can be restarted from the protected memory. This type of fault-tolerance is especially important in systems which allow the code which accomplishes the in-circuit programming to be modified by the in-circuit programming process. One embodiment of the present invention provides a multiplexer to selectively switch between a normal boot code sequence and a protected boot code sequence, as well as a watchdog timer to monitor the in-circuit programming process to determine whether the in-circuit programming process is not progressing properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Albert C. Sun, Chee H. Lee, Chang L. Chen
  • Patent number: 6167556
    Abstract: A system and process for logic extraction from the layout of logic blocks is described. Logic design information is extracted from a transistor level net list which is stored in a memory. The transistor level net list in turn is generated from a layout polygon database using techniques in the art. The process comprises processing the transistor level net list in the memory to define groups of transistors according to whether or not transistors in the transistor level net list are connected to a supply voltage, whether or not transistors in the transistor level net list are connected to a reference voltage and the transistor type. The groups of transistors are analyzed according to their interconnections, and their membership in groups. Finally, logic units are identified in response to the step of analyzing the groups of transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Albert C. Sun, Chee-Horng Lee, Chang-Lun Chen, Chun-hao Li
  • Patent number: 6151657
    Abstract: An architecture for an integrated circuit with in-circuit programming, allows for dynamically altering the in-circuit programming instruction set itself, as well as other software stored on the chip. The architecture is based on a microcontroller on an integrated circuit having two or more banks of embedded non-volatile memory arrays which store instructions, including an in-circuit programming instruction set. Using a control program stored on the device, the device interactively establishes an in-circuit programming exchange with a remote partner, and updates data and software, including the in-circuit programming instruction set, when needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Albert C. Sun, Chang-Lun Chen, Chee-Horng Lee
  • Patent number: 5901330
    Abstract: An architecture for an integrated circuit with in-circuit programming includes a microcontroller on an integrated circuit and one or more banks of non-volatile memory which store instructions, including an in-circuit programming (ICP) set of instructions. Using a control program stored on the device, the device interactively establishes an in-circuit programming exchange with a device external to the integrated circuit and uses data obtained in the exchange to update software for the microcontroller. Portions of the ICP code which are likely to change between different application environments are stored in reprogrammable flash memory cells. Other portions of the ICP code, which are not likely to change between different application environments, are stored in space-efficient mask ROM memory cells. In this way, the ICP system can be flexibly adapted to different application environments, while conserving on silicon area occupied the ICP system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Albert C. Sun, Chang-Lun Chen, Chee-Horng Lee