Patents by Inventor Hongbo Zhu

Hongbo Zhu 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: 20200365446
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure is disclosed. Among a stack of mask layers, any other layers above the lowermost thin film layer are subsequently removed to expose the lowermost thin film layer and then the lowermost thin film layer is separately removed by a dry etching process. This improves an etching uniformity of the lowermost thin film layer and ameliorates the issue of material residues. Moreover, thanks to the anisotropic characteristic of the dry etching process, lateral etching of side walls of a trench isolation structure can be mitigated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Hongbo ZHU, Yi ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20200365629
    Abstract: To realize miniaturization of a pixel, reduction in noise, and high quantum efficiency, and to improve short-wavelength sensitivity while suppressing inter-pixel interference and variations for each pixel. According to the present disclosure, there is provided an imaging device including: a first semiconductor layer formed in a semiconductor substrate; a second semiconductor layer of a conductivity type opposite to a conductivity type of the first semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer; a pixel separation unit which defines a pixel region including the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; a first electrode which is connected to the first semiconductor layer from one surface side of the semiconductor substrate; and a second electrode which is connected to the second semiconductor layer from a light irradiation surface side that is the other surface of the semiconductor substrate, and is formed to correspond to a position of the pixel separation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun OGI, Yoshiaki TASHIRO, Takahiro TOYOSHIMA, Yorito SAKANO, Yusuke OIKE, Hongbo ZHU, Keiichi NAKAZAWA, Yukari TAKEYA, Atsushi OKUYAMA, Yasufumi MIYOSHI, Ryosuke MATSUMOTO, Atsushi HORIUCHI
  • Patent number: 10777597
    Abstract: To realize miniaturization of a pixel, reduction in noise, and high quantum efficiency, and to improve short-wavelength sensitivity while suppressing inter-pixel interference and variations for each pixel. According to the present disclosure, there is provided an imaging device including: a first semiconductor layer formed in a semiconductor substrate; a second semiconductor layer of a conductivity type opposite to a conductivity type of the first semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer; a pixel separation unit which defines a pixel region including the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; a first electrode which is connected to the first semiconductor layer from one surface side of the semiconductor substrate; and a second electrode which is connected to the second semiconductor layer from a light irradiation surface side that is the other surface of the semiconductor substrate, and is formed to correspond to a position of the pixel separation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Ogi, Yoshiaki Tashiro, Takahiro Toyoshima, Yorito Sakano, Yusuke Oike, Hongbo Zhu, Keiichi Nakazawa, Yukari Takeya, Atsushi Okuyama, Yasufumi Miyoshi, Ryosuke Matsumoto, Atsushi Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 10768150
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for conducting comprehensive chromatography analysis. Broadly, the method comprises separating a sample in a first chromatographic column to generate a primary stream, which is directed toward a non-modulator switching system comprising at least one micro-switch and at least one valve. The non-modulator switching system is continuously operated to: (a) selectively direct a portion of the primary stream to one of a plurality of thermal injectors and accumulating the portion of the primary stream for a predetermined amount of time; (b) inject the portion of the primary stream into one of a plurality of secondary chromatographic columns; (c) detect one or more analytes in a secondary stream exiting the secondary chromatographic column; and repeat (a)-(c) to selectively direct other portions of the primary stream to other thermal injectors and secondary chromatographic columns until all of the analytes in the sample are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Xudong Fan, Jiwon Lee, Menglian Zhou, Hongbo Zhu, Katsuo Kurabayashi
  • Patent number: 10718738
    Abstract: A discharge ionization current detector for ionizing and detecting a sample component where the sample component is ionized by UV light is provided. The detector includes a UV light source, and a microfluidic channel having a first surface including a conducting or semiconducting material and an opposing second surface including a conducting or semiconducting material, one of the first surface and the second surface being a collection electrode and the other of the first surface and the second surface being a bias electrode, the microfluidic channel being configured to receive a sample component. The microfluidic channel is in fluid communication with the UV light source such that, when activated, UV light from the UV light source can enter the microfluidic channel and ionize the sample component, which releases an electron, and the ionized sample component and electron are detected by the collection and bias electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Xudong Fan, Hongbo Zhu, Katsuo Kurabayashi
  • Patent number: 10715820
    Abstract: An inter-frame predictive encoding method is disclosed and comprises: dividing a frame to be encoded into a plurality of block to be encoded by an encoder; determining, for each block to be encoded, a forward encoding block and a backward encoding block corresponding to the block to be encoded; determining a first weighting parameter corresponding to the forward encoding block; determining an overall brightness-based second weighting parameter of a reference image containing the forward encoding block, and determining an overall brightness-based third weighting parameter of a reference image containing the backward encoding block; determining a fourth weighting parameter corresponding to the backward encoding block according to the first weighting parameter; determining a predictive actual weighting parameter of the block to be encoded according to the first, second, third, and fourth weighting parameters; performing predictive encoding on the block to be encoded by the predictive actual weighting parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: BEIJING QIYI CENTURY SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hongbo Zhu
  • Patent number: 10705061
    Abstract: A rapid flow-through, highly sensitive microfluidic photoionization detector (PID) which is micro-fabricated directly onto a substrate, such as a conductive silicon wafer, is provided. The microfluidic PID has an ionization chamber volume of less than 9 ?L. The microfluidic PID may have a flow through design with a microfluidic channel defines a serpentine pattern on the substrate. The flow through design of the microfluidic PID results in negligible dead volume, thus allowing a shortened response time over existing commercially available designs. Such microfluidic PIDs are particularly useful with gas chromatography (GC), including microGC and multi-dimensional microGC systems. Methods for calibrating PIDs are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Xudong Fan, Hongbo Zhu, Robert Nidetz, Katsuo Kurabayashi, Menglian Zhou, Jiwon Lee
  • Publication number: 20200186735
    Abstract: An imaging device according to the present disclosure includes: a pixel including a photoelectric converter configured to generate a signal in response to entering light, a storage configured to store data corresponding to the signal, and an output section configured to output the data stored in the storage; and a controller configured to control the output section to output the data in a case where the data stored in the storage satisfies a predetermined condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Kazuki Hizu, Hongbo Zhu, Takafumi Takatsuka, Yusuke Oike
  • Patent number: 10681367
    Abstract: The present invention provides a video coding intra-frame prediction method and a video coding intra-frame prediction device, wherein, the method comprises performing a bidirectional prediction of an intra-frame left and upper direction prediction and an intra-frame right and lower direction prediction on the current coding block to obtain a prediction result; weighting the prediction result obtained. Since the distance between the current coding block and the reference prediction pixel is closer, thus the prediction correlation is high, thus it could achieve the high accuracy prediction of the intra-frame prediction during the process of video coding and thus could improve the coding efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: BEIJING QIYI CENTURY SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hongbo Zhu
  • Patent number: 10488298
    Abstract: The present disclosure is an apparatus for testing an idle position of a servo, including: driving mechanism, a transmission unit transmitting torque of a driving servo to a testing servo, and a control circuit electrically connecting to the driving servo and the testing servo to acquire idle position information. The apparatus drives the output shaft of the testing servo to rotate by an external driving mechanism, and measures an amount of rotation of the output shaft by an internal sensor of the testing servo. Therefore, an external sensor may not be provided, and a problem of precision installation of the external sensor can be avoided. Further, a problem caused by poorly install the external sensor and the output shaft can also be avoided, and accuracy of a testing result can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP.
    Inventors: Hongbo Zhu, Lifu Zhang, Youjun Xiong
  • Publication number: 20190327481
    Abstract: The present invention provides a video coding intra-frame prediction method and a video coding intra-frame prediction device, wherein, the method comprises performing a bidirectional prediction of an intra-frame left and upper direction prediction and an intra-frame right and lower direction prediction on the current coding block to obtain a prediction result; weighting the prediction result obtained. Since the distance between the current coding block and the reference prediction pixel is closer, thus the prediction correlation is high, thus it could achieve the high accuracy prediction of the intra-frame prediction during the process of video coding and thus could improve the coding efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventor: Hongbo ZHU
  • Publication number: 20190289240
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a plurality of pixels including a first pixel and a second pixel, and a differential amplifier including a first amplification transistor, a second amplification transistor, and a first load transistor. The first load transistor receives a power source voltage. The imaging device includes a first signal line coupled to the first amplification transistor and the first load transistor, a second signal line coupled to the second amplification transistor, and a first reset transistor configured to receive the power source voltage. A gate of the first reset transistor is coupled to the first load transistor. The first pixel includes a first photoelectric conversion element and the first amplification transistor, and the second pixel includes a second photoelectric conversion element and the second amplification transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hongbo ZHU, Mamoru SATO, Akihiko KATO
  • Patent number: 10386574
    Abstract: By using various anisotropic silicon etching techniques, a silicon substrate layer (1) and an epitaxial buffer layer (2) under the device structure are removed to obtain a monolithic photonic integration of silicon substrate suspended light-emitting diode (LED) with optical waveguide, and an ultra-thin device monolithically integrated with a suspended LED and an optical waveguide is obtained by further using the nitride back thinning etching technique. Therefore, internal loss of the LED is reduced and light emitting efficiency is improved. In the device according to the present disclosure, the light source and the optical waveguide are integrated on the same wafer, which solves the problem of monolithic integration of planar photons, enables the light emitted by the LED to be transmitted along the optical waveguide, addresses the problem of transmission of light in the optical waveguide, and implements the function of transmitting light within a plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: NANJING UNIVERSITY OF POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
    Inventors: Yongjin Wang, Guixia Zhu, Dan Bai, Jialei Yuan, Yin Xu, Hongbo Zhu
  • Publication number: 20190246119
    Abstract: An inter-frame predictive encoding method is disclosed and comprises: dividing a frame to be encoded into a plurality of block to be encoded by an encoder; determining, for each block to be encoded, a forward encoding block and a backward encoding block corresponding to the block to be encoded; determining a first weighting parameter corresponding to the forward encoding block; determining an overall brightness-based second weighting parameter of a reference image containing the forward encoding block, and determining an overall brightness-based third weighting parameter of a reference image containing the backward encoding block; determining a fourth weighting parameter corresponding to the backward encoding block according to the first weighting parameter; determining a predictive actual weighting parameter of the block to be encoded according to the first, second, third, and fourth weighting parameters; performing predictive encoding on the block to be encoded by the predictive actual weighting parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventor: Hongbo ZHU
  • Publication number: 20190196693
    Abstract: A method including acquiring a received reminder message; identifying a pin-to-top reminder message or a common reminder message from the reminder message according to a display mode configured for the reminder message; and displaying the pin-to-top reminder message in a first display area in a reminder message display page, and displaying the common reminder message in a second display area in the reminder message display page, wherein the first display area and the second display area are respectively located at different positions in the reminder message display page. With the technical solution of the present disclosure, reminder messages may be mode-differentiated and partially displayed in a pin-to-top manner, thus preventing an important message from being obscured due to too many reminder messages, helping improve the reminding effect, and improving the communication efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Boyu Yang, Ming Zhang, Jintao Lv, Dengxian Lai, Hailong Yao, Hongbo Zhu, Huachen Liu
  • Publication number: 20190157323
    Abstract: To realize miniaturization of a pixel, reduction in noise, and high quantum efficiency, and to improve short-wavelength sensitivity while suppressing inter-pixel interference and variations for each pixel. According to the present disclosure, there is provided an imaging device including: a first semiconductor layer formed in a semiconductor substrate; a second semiconductor layer of a conductivity type opposite to a conductivity type of the first semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer; a pixel separation unit which defines a pixel region including the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; a first electrode which is connected to the first semiconductor layer from one surface side of the semiconductor substrate; and a second electrode which is connected to the second semiconductor layer from a light irradiation surface side that is the other surface of the semiconductor substrate, and is formed to correspond to a position of the pixel separation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun OGI, Yoshiaki TASHIRO, Takahiro TOYOSHIMA, Yorito SAKANO, Yusuke OIKE, Hongbo ZHU, Keiichi NAKAZAWA, Yukari TAKEYA, Atsushi OKUYAMA, Yasufumi MIYOSHI, Ryosuke MATSUMOTO, Atsushi HORIUCHI
  • Patent number: 10265846
    Abstract: A servo includes a housing including a gear shaft supporting and positioning structure therein, an electric motor arranged within the housing, a speed reduction gear set, an output gear shaft including a front end protruding out of the housing and a rear end located within the housing, an angle detection device, and a control circuit board. The electric motor is engaged with the output gear shaft through the speed reduction gear set. The rear end of the output gear shaft is connected to the angle detection device. The control circuit board is connected to the electric motor and the angle detection device. The angle detection device includes a magnetic sensor arranged on the control circuit board and a magnet that is connected to the rear end of the output gear shaft and located right in front of the magnetic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: UBTECH Robotics Corp.
    Inventors: Youjun Xiong, Wenquan Shu, Guanyou Li, Hongbo Zhu
  • Publication number: 20180267238
    Abstract: By using various anisotropic silicon etching techniques, a silicon substrate layer (1) and an expitaxial buffer layer (2) under the device structure are removed to obtain a monolithic photonic integration of silicon substrate suspended light-emitting diode (LED) with optical waveguide, and an ultra-thin device monolithically integrated with a suspended LED and an optical waveguide is obtained by further using the nitride back thinning etching technique. Therefore, internal loss of the LED is reduced and light emitting efficiency is improved. In the device according to the present disclosure, the light source and the optical waveguide are integrated on the same wafer, which solves the problem of monolithic integration of planar photons, enables the light emitted by the LED to be transmitted along the optical waveguide, addresses the problem of transmission of light in the optical waveguide, and implements the function of transmitting light within a plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: NANJING UNIVERSITY OF POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
    Inventors: Yongjin WANG, Guixia ZHU, Dan BAI, Jialei YUAN, Yin XU, Hongbo ZHU
  • Publication number: 20180188136
    Abstract: The present disclosure is an apparatus for testing an idle position of a servo, including: driving mechanism, a transmission unit transmitting torque of a driving servo to a testing servo, and a control circuit electrically connecting to the driving servo and the testing servo to acquire idle position information. The apparatus drives the output shaft of the testing servo to rotate by an external driving mechanism, and measures an amount of rotation of the output shaft by an internal sensor of the testing servo. Therefore, an external sensor may not be provided, and a problem of precision installation of the external sensor can be avoided. Further, a problem caused by poorly install the external sensor and the output shaft can also be avoided, and accuracy of a testing result can be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: HONGBO ZHU, Lifu Zhang, Youjun Xiong
  • Publication number: 20180164261
    Abstract: A rapid flow-through, highly sensitive microfluidic photoionization detector (PID) which is micro-fabricated directly onto a substrate, such as a conductive silicon wafer, is provided. The microfluidic PID has an ionization chamber volume of less than 9 ?L. The microfluidic PID may have a flow through design with a microfluidic channel defines a serpentine pattern on the substrate. The flow through design of the microfluidic PID results in negligible dead volume, thus allowing a shortened response time over existing commercially available designs. Such microfluidic PIDs are particularly useful with gas chromatography (GC), including microGC and multi-dimensional microGC systems. Methods for calibrating PIDs are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Xudong FAN, Hongbo ZHU, Robert NIDETZ, Katsuo KURABAYASHI, Menglian ZHOU, Jiwon LEE