Patents by Inventor Chi-Ting Chen

Chi-Ting Chen 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: 11201181
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a sensor layer and a metal layer. The sensor layer includes a plurality of sensing elements arranged as a 2-dimensional array along a first direction and a second direction. The metal layer includes a plurality of metal wires configured to form a plurality of apertures superposed on the plurality of sensing elements. At least one of the plurality of metal wires forming the plurality of apertures is entirely disposed along a third direction different from the first direction and the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chi-Ting Chen
  • Publication number: 20210365660
    Abstract: An optical fingerprint sensing device includes optical sensing pixels, optical blocked pixels and a readout circuit. Each of the optical sensing pixels includes a first photodevice for sensing an illumination through an optical path. The optical sensing pixels are configured to generate sensing signals. Each of the optical blocked pixels includes a second photodevice blocked from the illumination. The optical sensing pixels are configured to generate a plurality of tracking signals. The readout circuit is configured to generate output signals according to differences between the sensing signals and the tracking signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventor: Chi-Ting CHEN
  • Patent number: 11178351
    Abstract: A readout circuit is provided. The readout circuit is coupled to a pixel circuit for reading out signals from the pixel circuit. The readout circuit includes a biasing circuit. The biasing circuit includes a cascode transistor and a biasing transistor. A first terminal of the cascode transistor is coupled to an output terminal of the biasing circuit and the pixel circuit. A second terminal of the cascode transistor is coupled to a first terminal of the biasing transistor. A second terminal of the biasing transistor is coupled to a negative voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Kuo Wei Cheng, Chi-Ting Chen
  • Publication number: 20210352237
    Abstract: A readout circuit is provided. The readout circuit is coupled to a pixel circuit for reading out signals from the pixel circuit. The readout circuit includes a biasing circuit. The biasing circuit includes a cascode transistor and a biasing transistor. A first terminal of the cascode transistor is coupled to an output terminal of the biasing circuit and the pixel circuit. A second terminal of the cascode transistor is coupled to a first terminal of the biasing transistor. A second terminal of the biasing transistor is coupled to a negative voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Kuo Wei Cheng, Chi-Ting Chen
  • Patent number: 11170193
    Abstract: An object identifying method, suitable for an object identifying circuit configured to be disposed under a display panel, includes the following operations: displaying a black pattern by the display panel; generating a plurality of first sensing signals of a plurality of first sensor pixels of the display panel arranged in the black pattern; generating a plurality of second sensing signals of a plurality of second sensor pixels of the display panel arranged in a contact area with which the display panel contacting an object to be identified; adjusting voltage levels of the plurality of second sensing signals according to the plurality of first sensing signals; and generating an image corresponding to the object to be identified from the adjusted plurality of second sensing signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chi-Ting Chen
  • Publication number: 20210303817
    Abstract: A method for performing fingerprint sensing is introduced. The method includes performing a predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles; informing a processing unit that a fingerprint sensing driver is ready for providing pre-scanned fingerprint data after each cycle of a fingerprint sensing cycle set, wherein the fingerprint sensing cycle set includes at least one of the fingerprint sensing cycles except for a last one of the fingerprint sensing cycles; and providing the processing unit with the pre-scanned fingerprint data obtained from the each cycle of the fingerprint sensing cycle set. An electronic module capable of performing fingerprint sensing and a computing apparatus capable of performing the same are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: PING LIU, CHI-TING CHEN
  • Publication number: 20210303811
    Abstract: A method for fingerprint sensing of an electronic module capable of fingerprint sensing, the electronic module for being coupled to a plurality of fingerprint sensing pixels, the electronic module including an analog front-end stage for being coupled to the fingerprint sensing pixels, the method comprising the following steps. A first scanning operation is performed on at least a first portion of the fingerprint sensing pixels by using a first reference signal being applied to a reference terminal of the analog front-end stage to obtain a level of a second reference signal which is based on a sensing result of the first scanning operation and is different from the first reference signal. A second scanning operation is performed on at least a second portion of the fingerprint sensing pixels by using the second reference signal being applied to the reference terminal of the analog front-end stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: JUNG-CHEN CHUNG, CHI-TING CHEN
  • Patent number: 11112302
    Abstract: A method of switching a control voltage of a photo sensor cell for a photo sensor includes when the photo sensor cell is switched from a turned-off state to an turned-on state, sequentially switching the control voltage to at least one first voltage provided by at least one first voltage supply, and switching the control voltage to a first target voltage provided by a first charging pump circuit; and when the photo sensor cell is switched from the turned-on state to the turned-off state, sequentially switching the control voltage to at least one second voltage provided by at least one second voltage supply or a ground voltage, and switching the control voltage to a second target voltage provided by a second charging pump circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Jung-Chen Chung, Chi-Ting Chen
  • Patent number: 11113376
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of finger touch authentication through a fingerprint sensor. The method includes obtaining a plurality of touch operations through the fingerprint sensor, detecting a pattern of the plurality of touch operations; comparing the pattern with a registered pattern to generate a comparison result, and authenticating the plurality of touch operations on the basis of the comparison result, wherein the pattern indicates at least one feature, and the fingerprint sensor is capable of authenticating a fingerprint of a user after or before the finger touch authentication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Sheng-Ruei Hsu, Chi-Ting Chen
  • Publication number: 20210250537
    Abstract: A readout integrated circuit configured to read out sensing signals from an optical sensing panel including a sensor array for fingerprint sensing is provided. The readout integrated circuit includes a plurality of input terminals, a comparator circuit and a control circuit. The plurality of input terminals are configured to be coupled to a plurality of output terminals of the optical sensing panel. The comparator circuit is configured to receive an output voltage from an output terminal of the plurality of output terminals of the optical sensing panel and at least one reference voltage, compare the output voltage to the at least one reference voltage and output a comparison result. The control circuit is coupled to the comparator circuit. The control circuit is configured to receive the comparison result and determine a supplementary charge amount to be charged to or discharged from the output terminal according to the comparison result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chi-Ting Chen
  • Publication number: 20210248342
    Abstract: A readout integrated circuit configured to read out sensing signals from an optical sensing panel is provided. The optical sensing panel includes a sensor array for fingerprint sensing. The readout integrated circuit includes a plurality of input terminals, a first discharging circuit and a control circuit. The plurality of input terminals are configured to be coupled to a plurality of output terminals of the optical sensing panel. The first discharging circuit is coupled to one of the plurality of input terminals. The first discharging circuit is configured to discharge one of the plurality of output terminals of the optical sensing panel by a first current during a readout period. The readout integrated circuit reads out a voltage of the output terminal as a sensing signal. The control circuit is coupled to the first discharging circuit. The control circuit is configured to output at least one control signal to control an operating period of the first discharging circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chi-Ting Chen
  • Publication number: 20210223981
    Abstract: A data writing method, a memory controlling circuit unit and a memory storage device are provided. The method includes: receiving data; determining whether the data is compressible; when the data is compressible, writing the data into a first type of the physical erasing units; and when the data is incompressible, writing the data to a second type of the physical erasing units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: PHISON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Po-Wen Hsiao, Chi-Ting Chen
  • Patent number: 11062110
    Abstract: A fingerprint detection device comprises a plurality of fingerprint sensing circuits and a processor. The plurality of fingerprint sensing circuits is corresponding to a plurality of sensing zones respectively. The processor is electrically coupled to the fingerprint sensing circuits through a shared transmission bus. The processor is configured to receive information of a touched area of each of the sensing zones, determine a transmission sequence according to the touched area of each of the sensing zones, and control the fingerprint sensing circuits to transmit sensing information of the corresponding sensing zones to the processor through the shared transmission bus according to the transmission sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Jung-Chen Chung, Chi-Ting Chen
  • Publication number: 20210182527
    Abstract: A fingerprint detection device comprises a plurality of fingerprint sensing circuits and a processor. The plurality of fingerprint sensing circuits is corresponding to a plurality of sensing zones respectively. The processor is electrically coupled to the fingerprint sensing circuits through a shared transmission bus. The processor is configured to receive information of a touched area of each of the sensing zones, determine a transmission sequence according to the touched area of each of the sensing zones, and control the fingerprint sensing circuits to transmit sensing information of the corresponding sensing zones to the processor through the shared transmission bus according to the transmission sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Jung-Chen CHUNG, Chi-Ting CHEN
  • Patent number: 10990782
    Abstract: An operating method of an optical fingerprint capture apparatus includes: by the apparatus upon receipt of a scan command from a host, entering an exposure mode where an image sensor thereof is exposed to light carrying information of a fingerprint; by the apparatus upon complete exposure of the image sensor to the light, entering a sample mode where multiple pieces of pixel data that cooperatively represent an image of the fingerprint are obtained and written to a data buffer thereof; and by the apparatus at a predetermined output time point that is later than a start of the sample mode and earlier than an end of the sample mode, outputting an interrupt request to cause the host to start reading the pieces of pixel data from the data buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: NOVATEK MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chun-Yen Lin, Ping Liu, Chi-Ting Chen
  • Patent number: 10984216
    Abstract: An optical fingerprint recognition system is disclosed. The optical fingerprint recognition system comprises a processing circuit; and an image sensor comprising a pixel array; wherein in an enrollment operation, the processing circuit is configured to set a first exposure time and control the image sensor to capture a first fingerprint image according to the first exposure time and in a matching operation, the processing circuit is configured to set a second exposure time and control the image sensor to capture a second fingerprint image for the matching operation according to the second exposure time; wherein the first exposure time is longer than the second exposure time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chi-Ting Chen
  • Patent number: 10970512
    Abstract: A fingerprint sensing apparatus having a large-area sensing mechanism is provided that includes at least three optical fingerprint sensing circuits and a processing circuit. The at least three optical fingerprint sensing circuits are configured to perform sensing within a plurality of sensing areas to obtain a plurality of sensed images, wherein each of the sensing areas corresponds to one of the optical fingerprint sensing circuits. The processing circuit is electrically coupled to the optical fingerprint sensing circuits to receive the sensed images and is configured to splice the sensed images together to form an integrated sensed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Jung-Chen Chung, Chi-Ting Chen
  • Publication number: 20210073508
    Abstract: An operating method of an optical fingerprint capture apparatus includes: by the apparatus upon receipt of a scan command from a host, entering an exposure mode where an image sensor thereof is exposed to light carrying information of a fingerprint; by the apparatus upon complete exposure of the image sensor to the light, entering a sample mode where multiple pieces of pixel data that cooperatively represent an image of the fingerprint are obtained and written to a data buffer thereof; and by the apparatus at a predetermined output time point that is later than a start of the sample mode and earlier than an end of the sample mode, outputting an interrupt request to cause the host to start reading the pieces of pixel data from the data buffer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Chun-Yen LIN, Ping LIU, Chi-Ting CHEN
  • Publication number: 20210064838
    Abstract: An object identifying method, suitable for an object identifying circuit configured to be disposed under a display panel, includes the following operations: displaying a black pattern by the display panel; generating a plurality of first sensing signals of a plurality of first sensor pixels of the display panel arranged in the black pattern; generating a plurality of second sensing signals of a plurality of second sensor pixels of the display panel arranged in a contact area with which the display panel contacting an object to be identified; adjusting voltage levels of the plurality of second sensing signals according to the plurality of first sensing signals; and generating an image corresponding to the object to be identified from the adjusted plurality of second sensing signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventor: Chi-Ting CHEN
  • Publication number: 20210043667
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a sensor layer and a metal layer. The sensor layer includes a plurality of sensing elements arranged as a 2-dimensional array along a first direction and a second direction. The metal layer includes a plurality of metal wires configured to form a plurality of apertures superposed on the plurality of sensing elements. At least one of the plurality of metal wires forming the plurality of apertures is entirely disposed along a third direction different from the first direction and the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventor: Chi-Ting Chen