Patents by Inventor Chao Niu

Chao Niu 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).

  • Publication number: 20240332329
    Abstract: An image sensor includes an active pixel photodiode, a black pixel photodiode, a metal grid structure, a light shield, and a varying thickness dielectric layer. The varying thickness dielectric layer includes a first portion having a first dielectric layer thickness and a second portion having a second dielectric layer thickness different from the first dielectric layer thickness. The metal grid structure is disposed between the first portion of the varying thickness dielectric layer and a semiconductor material. The light shield is disposed between the second portion of the varying thickness dielectric layer and the black pixel photodiode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Kazufumi Watanabe, Chih-Wei Hsiung, Chao Niu
  • Publication number: 20240304642
    Abstract: A pixel array includes 2×2 groupings of photodiodes to generate image charge in response to incident light directed through a back side of the semiconductor layer. A Quad Bayer filter is disposed over the back side of the semiconductor layer over the 2×2 groupings of photodiodes. Each color filter of the Quad Bayer CFA is disposed over a respective one of the plurality of 2×2 groupings of photodiodes. Trench balance structures are disposed in the semiconductor layer. Each of the trench balance structures is disposed in the semiconductor layer between one of the photodiodes and a respective one of the red color filters of the Quad Bayer filter. None of the trench balance structures are disposed between any of the photodiodes and respective green color filters or blue color filters of the Quad Bayer filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Inventors: Chao Niu, Yuanwei Zheng, Zhiqiang Lin
  • Patent number: 12080740
    Abstract: An image sensor includes an active pixel photodiode, a black pixel photodiode, a metal grid structure, and a light shield. Each of the active pixel photodiode and the black pixel photodiode are disposed in a semiconductor material having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side of the semiconductor material is disposed between the light shield and the black pixel photodiode. The metal grid structure includes a first multi-layer metal stack including a first metal and a second metal different from the first metal. The light shield includes a second multi-layer stack including the first metal and the second metal. A first thickness of the first multi-layer metal stack is less than a second thickness of the second multi-layer metal stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kazufumi Watanabe, Chih-Wei Hsiung, Chao Niu
  • Patent number: 11984463
    Abstract: A flare-reducing image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, NP in number, and a plurality of microlenses, NML in number, where each of the plurality of microlenses is aligned to a respective one of the plurality of pixels, such that NP=NML. The flare-reducing image sensor further includes a plurality of phase-shifting layers, NL, in number, where each phase-shifting layer is aligned with a respective one of the plurality of microlenses, where NL, is less than or equal to NML.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Qin Wang, Chao Niu
  • Patent number: 11953402
    Abstract: An inertia braking test system and a control method is provided, wherein the inertia braking test system is composed of an inertia brake test system, a sensor system and a tested object. An actuating device is connected with the inertia brake control device through a ball stud. The actuation function of the inertia brake control device with two degrees of freedom along the front-and-rear direction and the up-and-down direction of the vehicle is realized. The movable chassis realizes the mobile function of the system. The acceleration sensor can sense the acceleration of the movable chassis. Each force is tested by the first force sensor, the second force sensor and the third force sensor. The displacement data is measured by the first displacement sensor and the second displacement sensor, so that a movable brake system test is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Changchun Automotive Test Center Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang Liu, Chao Niu, Yongchuang Wang, Bin Liang, Jingtao Zhang, Hui Jia, Peng Su, Wanli Hu
  • Publication number: 20240068911
    Abstract: An inertia braking test system and a control method is provided, wherein the inertia braking test system is composed of an inertia brake test system, a sensor system and a tested object. An actuating device is connected with the inertia brake control device through a ball stud. The actuation function of the inertia brake control device with two degrees of freedom along the front-and-rear direction and the up-and-down direction of the vehicle is realized. The movable chassis realizes the mobile function of the system. The acceleration sensor can sense the acceleration of the movable chassis. Each force is tested by the first force sensor, the second force sensor and the third force sensor. The displacement data is measured by the first displacement sensor and the second displacement sensor, so that a movable brake system test is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Changchun Automotive Test Center Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang LIU, Chao NIU, Yongchuang WANG, Bin LIANG, Jingtao ZHANG, Hui JIA, Peng SU, Wanli HU
  • Patent number: 11885891
    Abstract: Provided are a cold start method and apparatus of a global positioning system (GPS) module of a terminal, a terminal and a storage medium. The method includes acquiring (S110) target position information of the terminal; selecting (S120), according to the target position information, an ephemeris data record whose position information matches the target position information from a preset satellite visible window table to obtain a target record set; selecting (S130) N satellites according to the ephemeris data record in the target record set to form a visible satellite list, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 4; and positioning (S140) according to the satellites in the visible satellite list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chao Niu, Zhaoxin Wang
  • Patent number: 11869398
    Abstract: A screen display method includes: detecting a touch operation acting on a screen; determining display adjustment information for a bent area of the screen according to the touch operation; and adjusting display content in the bent area according to the display adjustment information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chao Niu
  • Patent number: 11860383
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein reduce petal flare. A flare-suppressing image sensor includes a plurality of pixels including a first set of pixels and a second set of pixels. The flare-suppressing image sensor further includes plurality of microlenses, where each microlens is aligned to a respective one of the first set of pixels. The flare-suppressing image sensor further includes plurality of sub-microlens, where each microlens array is aligned to a respective one of the second set of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gang Chen, Qin Wang, Chao Niu
  • Publication number: 20230395628
    Abstract: Half Quad Photodiode (QPD) for improving QPD channel imbalance. In one embodiment, an image sensor includes a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns of a pixel array that is disposed in a semiconductor material. Each pixel includes a plurality of subpixels. Each subpixel comprises a plurality of first photodiodes, a plurality of second photodiodes and a plurality of third photodiodes. The plurality of pixels are configured to receive incoming light through an illuminated surface of the semiconductor material. A plurality of small microlenses are individually distributed over individual first photodiodes and individual second photodiodes of each subpixel. A plurality of large microlenses are each distributed over a plurality of third photodiodes of each subpixel. A diameter of the small microlenses is smaller than a diameter of the large microlenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Chin Poh Pang, Wei Deng, Chen-Wei Lu, Da Meng, Guansong Liu, Yin Qian, Xiaodong Yang, Hongjun Li, Zhiqiang Lin, Chao Niu
  • Publication number: 20230268357
    Abstract: Image sensors include a pixel array arranged about an array center, each pixel of the pixel array having a photodiode formed in a semiconductor substrate, and a central deep trench isolation structure disposed in the semiconductor substrate relative to a pixel center between the photodiode and an illuminated surface of the semiconductor substrate. If the pixel center is not coincident with the array center, then the central deep trench isolation structure is disposed at a CDTI shift distance away from the pixel center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Hui Zang, Chao Niu
  • Publication number: 20230207592
    Abstract: An image sensor includes an active pixel photodiode, a black pixel photodiode, a metal grid structure, and a light shield. Each of the active pixel photodiode and the black pixel photodiode are disposed in a semiconductor material having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side of the semiconductor material is disposed between the light shield and the black pixel photodiode. The metal grid structure includes a first multi-layer metal stack including a first metal and a second metal different from the first metal. The light shield includes a second multi-layer stack including the first metal and the second metal. A first thickness of the first multi-layer metal stack is less than a second thickness of the second multi-layer metal stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Kazufumi Watanabe, Chih-Wei Hsiung, Chao Niu
  • Publication number: 20230061285
    Abstract: A flare-reducing image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, NP in number, and a plurality of microlenses, NML in number, where each of the plurality of microlenses is aligned to a respective one of the plurality of pixels, such that NP=NML. The flare-reducing image sensor further includes a plurality of phase-shifting layers, NL, in number, where each phase-shifting layer is aligned with a respective one of the plurality of microlenses, where NL, is less than or equal to NML.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Qin WANG, Chao NIU
  • Publication number: 20230035130
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein reduce petal flare. A flare-suppressing image sensor includes a plurality of pixels including a first set of pixels and a second set of pixels. The flare-suppressing image sensor further includes plurality of microlenses, where each microlens is aligned to a respective one of the first set of pixels. The flare-suppressing image sensor further includes plurality of sub-microlens, where each microlens array is aligned to a respective one of the second set of pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Gang CHEN, Qin WANG, Chao NIU
  • Patent number: 11538836
    Abstract: A pixel cell includes a photodiode disposed proximate to a front side of a semiconductor layer to generate image charge in response to incident light directed through a backside of the semiconductor layer. A cell deep trench isolation (CDTI) structure is disposed along an optical path of the incident light to the photodiode and proximate to the backside of the semiconductor layer. The CDTI structure includes a plurality of portions arranged in the semiconductor layer. Each of the plurality of portions extends a respective depth from the backside towards the front side of the semiconductor layer. The respective depth of each of the plurality of portions is different than a respective depth of a neighboring one of the plurality of portions. Each of the plurality of portions is laterally separated and spaced apart from said neighboring one of the plurality of portions in the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Zang, Gang Chen, Chao Niu, Zhiqiang Lin
  • Publication number: 20220366825
    Abstract: A screen display method includes: detecting a touch operation acting on a screen; determining display adjustment information for a bent area of the screen according to the touch operation; and adjusting display content in the bent area according to the display adjustment information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventor: Chao NIU
  • Publication number: 20220107426
    Abstract: Provided are a cold start method and apparatus of a global positioning system (GPS) module of a terminal, a terminal and a storage medium. The method includes acquiring (S110) target position information of the terminal; selecting (S120), according to the target position information, an ephemeris data record whose position information matches the target position information from a preset satellite visible window table to obtain a target record set; selecting (S130) N satellites according to the ephemeris data record in the target record set to form a visible satellite list, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 4; and positioning (S140) according to the satellites in the visible satellite list.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Chao NIU, Zhaoxin WANG
  • Publication number: 20220052085
    Abstract: A pixel cell includes a photodiode disposed proximate to a front side of a semiconductor layer to generate image charge in response to incident light directed through a backside of the semiconductor layer. A cell deep trench isolation (CDTI) structure is disposed along an optical path of the incident light to the photodiode and proximate to the backside of the semiconductor layer. The CDTI structure includes a plurality of portions arranged in the semiconductor layer. Each of the plurality of portions extends a respective depth from the backside towards the front side of the semiconductor layer. The respective depth of each of the plurality of portions is different than a respective depth of a neighboring one of the plurality of portions. Each of the plurality of portions is laterally separated and spaced apart from said neighboring one of the plurality of portions in the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Hui Zang, Gang Chen, Chao Niu, Zhiqiang Lin
  • Patent number: 11203358
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus including a driving force generation unit, a driving force distribution mechanism distributing a driving force from the driving force generation unit to a front wheel and a rear wheel, and an electronic control unit having a microprocessor and a memory. The microprocessor is configured to perform: determining whether a mode switching instruction from self-drive mode enabling a self-drive function to manual drive mode disabling the self-drive function has been input; and controlling the driving force distribution mechanism so that a driving force distribution rate of rear wheel driving force relative to front wheel driving force is a first distribution rate during driving in the self-drive mode, and thereafter so that the driving force distribution rate is a second distribution rate greater than the first distribution rate when it is determined that the mode switching instruction has been input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shogo Takano, Kota Saito, Takashi Adachi, Chao Niu, Masakatsu Hori
  • Patent number: 11072341
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus including an operation detector detecting driving instruction, a direction detector detecting actual traveling direction of the vehicle, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is configured to perform: determining whether a deviation of the actual traveling direction from target traveling direction according to the driving instruction is greater than or equal to predetermined deviation; switching to the self-drive mode when the deviation is greater than or equal to the predetermined deviation during traveling in the manual drive mode; and controlling the actuator in accordance with the driving instruction, the controlling including controlling the actuator so as to match the actual traveling direction with the target traveling direction after switching to the self-drive mode, and the switching including switching to the manual drive mode when the actual traveling direction is matched with the target traveling direction after switching to the self-drive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao Niu, Shogo Takano, Kota Saito, Takashi Adachi