Patents by Inventor Chien-Ru Chen

Chien-Ru 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).

  • Publication number: 20120146976
    Abstract: A source driver for driving a display panel and including a protection unit, a bias voltage generation unit and a buffer is provided. The protection unit detects a characteristic parameter of the source driver, and generates a switching signal according to a detection result. The bias voltage generation unit determines whether or not to provide a bias voltage according to the switching signal. The buffer is operated in the bias voltage so as to drive pixels in the display panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: CHUAN-CHE LEE, Chien-Ru Chen
  • Patent number: 8169239
    Abstract: A driver circuit includes a mode control unit and a plurality of source drivers to drive a display panel including N pixel cells on each scan line. Each source driver has M driving channels, and a first subset of the driving channels and a second subset of the driving channels are respectively in a first mode and a second mode according to a preset mode sequence, wherein M?N. The 1st through Nth driving channels of a first source driver and the Mth through (M?N+1)th driving channels of a second source driver respectively drive the 1st through Nth pixel cells during a first scan period and a second scan period. The modes of the Mth through 1st driving channels of the second source driver are respectively altered to match the modes of the 1st through Mth driving channels of the first source driver by the mode control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Himax Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Meng-Tse Weng, Chien-Ru Chen
  • Patent number: 8125435
    Abstract: An identifier for identifying a source driver of a chip-on-glass liquid crystal display and an identifying method thereof are provided. The identifier includes a comparator for receiving a chip identity and a target identity, and generates a triggering signal to activate the source driver if the chip identity coincides with the target identity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Himax Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Chien-Ru Chen, Jung-Zone Chen, Ying-Lieh Chen
  • Patent number: 8040312
    Abstract: A display implemented with a unique circuit arrangement. The display includes a glass substrate, a plurality of serial-connected source drivers and at least one gate driver. The source drivers and the at least one gate driver are disposed on the glass substrate using, for example, chip-on-glass technology. The display further includes at least one flexible connector, such as a flexible printed circuit board. Each of the at least one flexible connector corresponds to a selected one of the source drivers. The selected one of the source drivers is configured to receive image data and control information from the corresponded flexible connector, and convey the image data and the control information to at least one neighboring source driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Himax Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Chien-Ru Chen, Jung-Zone Chen, Ying-Lieh Chen
  • Publication number: 20110175898
    Abstract: A data insertion circuit of a display apparatus includes a signal source, a switch unit and a control unit. The signal source is for providing a video driving signal. The switch unit has an output node coupled to a channel of the display apparatus, a first input node coupled to the signal source, and a second input node coupled to a control voltage for data insertion, and is for selectively outputting the video driving signal or the control voltage to the output node. The control unit is coupled to the switch unit, wherein when the display apparatus is in a normal mode, the control unit controls the switch unit to transmit the video driving signal to the display apparatus; and when the display apparatus is in a data insertion mode, the control unit controls the switch unit to transmit the control voltage to the display apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Yu-Jen Yen, Chien-Ru Chen
  • Patent number: 7965271
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display comprising a display panel, a plurality of gate drivers sequentially enabling rows of pixels of the display panel, a plurality of source drivers outputting a plurality of driving signals to the enabled row of the pixels of the display panel, and a timing controller outputting each of a plurality of start pulses to all the source drivers and sequentially enabling the source drivers so that each source driver respectively receives one of the start pulses, wherein each of the source drivers latch a plurality of image signals when receiving one of the start pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Himax Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Wen-Teng Fan, Chien-Ru Chen, Ying-Lieh Chen
  • Patent number: 7916113
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display is disclosed, which includes a panel having an array of pixels, a timing controller outputting image data and source control signals, a series of source drivers and a gate driver. One of the source drivers is selected to generate gate control signals by reference to at least one of the source control signals and transmitted to the gate driver. Thus, the gate driver along with the source drivers can drive the panel pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Himax Technologies Limited.
    Inventors: Chien-Ru Chen, Jung-Zone Chen
  • Publication number: 20110069088
    Abstract: A source driver includes a driver unit and a data analysis unit. The driver unit drives a display panel according to a video signal. The data analysis unit, which is coupled to the driver unit, analyzes gray level distribution of the video signal, and the data analysis unit enables or disables a charge sharing function of the driver unit according to an analysis result. As a result, the charge sharing function is enabled optionally during different charge sharing periods, and thus the power consumption in the source driver and the operation temperature of the source driver could be reduced as compared with the prior art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Meng-Tse Weng, Ying-Lieh Chen, Chien-Ru Chen, Chuan-Che Lee
  • Patent number: 7858438
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a chip, a first bump electrode, a conductive wire and a second bump electrode. The chip has at least one contact pad, and the first bump electrode is formed on the contact pad. The conductive wire is disposed on an active surface of the chip and electrically connected to the first bump electrode. The second bump electrode is formed on the conductive wire, and the second bump electrode is not disposed over any contact pad of the chip. In addition, a method for packaging a chip and an IC package are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Himax Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Chien-Ru Chen, Ying-Lieh Chen
  • Publication number: 20100321361
    Abstract: A source driver includes a gamma voltage generator and a digital to analog converter. The gamma voltage generator generates a plurality of gamma voltages, in which the gamma voltage generator includes a gamma resistor string, a second resistor, a plurality of first switches and a second switch. The first resistors are electrically connected serially for dividing a first gamma reference voltage and a second gamma reference voltage, in which the first resistors have first ends and second ends for providing gamma voltages. The second resistor has a first end electrically connected to the gamma resistor string and a second end receiving a third gamma reference voltage. The first switches are uniformly conducted to the first ends or the second ends of the first resistors according to a timing control signal for passing the gamma voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Meng-Tse Weng, Chuan-Che Lee, Chin-Tien Chang, Chien-Ru Chen
  • Publication number: 20100321412
    Abstract: The invention describes a system and method for driving a display device that includes an array of pixels respectively coupled with a plurality of scanning lines along a first direction and a plurality of data lines along a second direction, each of the data lines being adapted to transmit a driving signal that is amplified in a high-driving mode of operation. In one embodiment, the method comprises reading first digital data associated with a first pixel, reading second digital data associated with a second pixel, and based on the content of the first and second digital data determining whether one or more condition for generating a control signal to disable the high-driving mode of operation is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Meng-Tse Weng, Ying-Lieh Chen, Chien-Ru Chen
  • Publication number: 20100321413
    Abstract: The invention describes a system and method for driving a display device that includes an array of pixels respectively coupled with a plurality of scanning lines along a first direction and a plurality of data lines along a second direction, each of the data lines being adapted to transmit a driving signal that is amplified in a high-driving mode of operation. In one embodiment, the method comprises reading digital data associated with each of a plurality of pixels along one or more scanning line, evaluating a distribution of gray scale levels for pixels coupled along the one or more scanning line based on the content of the digital data, and determining whether the distribution of gray scale levels meets a condition for generating a control signal to disable the high-driving mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Meng-Tse Weng, Ying-Lieh Chen, Chien-Ru Chen
  • Publication number: 20100315388
    Abstract: A source driver receiving data from an external bus is provided. The source driver comprises: a plurality of internal buses; a serial-to-parallel unit, a shift register and a plurality of channels. The serial-to-parallel unit is for receiving the data from the external bus and converting the data into plural display data for transmitting respectively on the internal buses in parallel; the shift register is for outputting shift control signals; and the plurality of channels are for latching data from the internal buses according to the shift control signals; wherein each shift control signal controls at least two channels that correspond respectively to the internal buses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Wen-Teng Fan, Chien-Ru Chen, Ying-Lieh Chen, Chao-Ching Chi
  • Publication number: 20100315396
    Abstract: A display, which includes a display panel, a timing controller, and a source driver is provided. The timing controller analyzes gray level distribution of a video data to obtain an analysis result. The source driver is coupled between the display panel and the timing controller for driving the display panel to display a corresponding frame according to a video signal provided by the timing controller, and further the timing controller enables or disables a charge sharing function of the source driver in the display according to the analysis result. As a result, the charge sharing function is enabled optionally during different charge sharing periods, and thus the power consumption and the operation temperature of the source driver could be reduced as compared with the prior art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Meng-Tse Weng, Ying-Lieh Chen, Chien-Ru Chen, Chuan-Che Lee
  • Patent number: 7843420
    Abstract: A data transmitting method for inputting a data signal to an electronic device. The data signal includes first and second sets of data, and the electronic device includes first to fourth receiving units and corresponding first to fourth registers. The transmitting method includes the following steps. First, the first and second receiving units are disabled. Then, the first set of data is inputted to the electronic device through the third and fourth receiving units and stored in the third and fourth registers during a first clock cycle of a clock signal. Thereafter, the second set of data is inputted to the electronic device through the third and fourth receiving units and stored in the third and fourth registers while the first set of data stored in the third and fourth registers is inputted to the first and second registers during a second clock cycle of the clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Himax Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Chien-Ru Chen, Ying-Lieh Chen, Lin-Kai Bu
  • Publication number: 20100283768
    Abstract: An output buffer adapted to a source driver and a source driver are provided. The output buffer comprises an input and an output stage. The input stage comprises an input node, a first and a second output terminal. The output stage comprises a PMOS, a NMOS, a first and a second switches. The first and the second switch are connected between the gate of the PMOS, the first output terminal and the gate of the PMOS, the voltage supply respectively to both receive a latch signal. When the latch signal is in a first state, the first and the second switches disable the output stage. When the latch signal is in a second state, the first and the second switches enable the output stage to transfer an analog data from a DAC of the source driver to the output node connected to the drain of the PMOS and NMOS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Meng-Tse Weng, Chien-Ru Chen
  • Patent number: 7830353
    Abstract: A method for transmitting control signals of a liquid crystal display is provided. The LCD includes a timing controller. The method packs the control signals of the timing controller into a control packet which comprises a header field and a control item having a control field and a data field. The header field indicates the start of the control packet, the control field records a type of an event, and the data field records a parameter of the event. The control packet is transmitted on one or a limited number of transmission lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Himax Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Chien-Ru Chen, Jung-Zone Chen
  • Publication number: 20100259523
    Abstract: A source driver adaptive to driving a plurality of data lines on a display panel is provided herein. The source driver includes a plurality of channels and an output switch. The channels generate driving voltages to drive the display panel. The output switch includes a plurality of output multiplexers, so as to selectively connect the channels to data lines of the display. Each of the output multiplexers connects at least one of the channels to one of the data lines while being activated, wherein the output multiplexers are sequentially activated within a frame period. The source driver utilizes the output switch to sequentially delay a control signal, for controlling the output multiplexers to be sequentially activated within the frame period. Therefore, an electromagnetic interference can be reduced for ensuring the source driver operates normally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Da-Rong Huang, Chien-Ru Chen
  • Publication number: 20100259522
    Abstract: A driver circuit includes a mode control unit and a plurality of source drivers to drive a display panel including N pixel cells on each scan line. Each source driver has M driving channels, and a first subset of the driving channels and a second subset of the driving channels are respectively in a first mode and a second mode according to a preset mode sequence, wherein M?N. The 1st through Nth driving channels of a first source driver and the Mth through (M?N+1)th driving channels of a second source driver respectively drive the 1st through Nth pixel cells during a first scan period and a second scan period. The modes of the Mth through 1st driving channels of the second source driver are respectively altered to match the modes of the 1st through Mth driving channels of the first source driver by the mode control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Meng-Tse Weng, Chien-Ru Chen
  • Publication number: 20100253654
    Abstract: A display controlling system utilized in a display, such as an LCD, includes a plurality of data lines and a plurality of source drivers. The source drivers receive a plurality of transfer pulse signals, each of which corresponds to one of the source drivers, and drive the corresponding data lines upon receiving the corresponding transfer pulse signal, wherein the transfer pulse signals are not all identical. The transfer pulse signal can be produced by the timing controller of the display, or the transfer pulse information required for generating the transfer pulse signals can be embedded in the source data to be delivered to the source drivers that generate the transfer pulse signals after obtaining the transfer pulse information. The transfer pulse signal lines between the timing controller and the source drivers can therefore be removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Meng-Tse Weng, Chien-Ru Chen