Patents by Inventor Ming-Tsan Kao

Ming-Tsan Kao 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: 9541379
    Abstract: A displacement detection device includes an image sensor, a light source and a processing unit. The image sensor is configured to successively capture images. The light source provides light with an emission frequency and an emission duration for the image sensor in capturing the images. The processing unit is configured to calculate a displacement according to the images and to adjust both the emission frequency and the emission duration according to the displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC
    Inventors: Yu-Hao Huang, Ming-Tsan Kao, Sen-Huang Huang
  • Patent number: 9530051
    Abstract: There is provided a pupil tracking device including an active light source, an image sensor and a processing unit. The active light source emits light toward an eyeball alternatively in a first brightness value and a second brightness value. The image sensor captures a first brightness image corresponding to the first brightness value and a second brightness image corresponding to the second brightness value. The processing unit identifies a brightest region at corresponding positions of the first brightness image and the second brightness image as an active light image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Yu-Hao Huang, Ming-Tsan Kao, Yi-Fang Lee, En-Feng Hsu, Meng-Huan Hsieh, Nien-Tse Chen
  • Patent number: 9529521
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a gesture detecting apparatus which includes an image capturing device and a processing unit. The image capturing device is for capturing an object light beam reflected by an object and outputting corresponding image information accordingly. The processing unit is for processing the image information and generating a first command or a second command accordingly. The steps of generating the first command and the second command by the processing unit include: outputting a first command if an image size of the image information increases with a relatively higher velocity and decreases with a relatively lower velocity in a sequential time series; and outputting a second command if the image size of the image information increases with a relatively lower velocity and decreases with a relatively higher velocity in the sequential time series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INCORPORATION, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Yu-Hao Huang, Ming-Tsan Kao, En-Feng Hsu, Meng-Huan Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20160370859
    Abstract: There is provided a pupil tracking device including an active light source, an image sensor and a processing unit. The active light source emits light toward an eyeball alternatively in a first brightness value and a second brightness value. The image sensor captures a first brightness image corresponding to the first brightness value and a second brightness image corresponding to the second brightness value. The processing unit identifies a brightest region at corresponding positions of the first brightness image and the second brightness image as an active light image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Yu-Hao HUANG, Ming-Tsan KAO, Yi-Fang LEE, En-Feng HSU, Meng-Huan HSIEH, Nien-Tse CHEN
  • Patent number: 9524037
    Abstract: There is provided a gesture detection device including two linear image sensor arrays and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to compare sizes of pointer images in the image frames captured by the two linear image sensor arrays in the same period or different periods so as to identify a click event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Pixart Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Shu-Sian Yang, Han-Ping Cheng, Ming-Tsan Kao
  • Publication number: 20160328027
    Abstract: There is provided an optical navigation device including an image sensor, a processing unit, a storage unit and an output unit. The image sensor is configured to successively capture images. The processing unit is configured to calculate a current displacement according to the images and to compare the current displacement or an accumulated displacement with a threshold so as to determine an outputted displacement. The storage unit is configured to save the accumulated displacement. The output unit is configured to output the outputted displacement with a report rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Yu-Hao HUANG, Ming-Tsan KAO, Sen-Huang HUANG
  • Patent number: 9489077
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical touch panel system, an optical sensing module, and an operation method using for the same system. The system recognizes a track of an object moving on or above a touch control surface to determine a corresponding gesture function; it includes a touch control surface, at least one image sensor, and a processor. The touch control surface includes at least two touch control areas. The image sensor captures a plurality of continuous pictures including the images of the objects. The processer determines which touch control area the object is moving on or above according to a starting position or a path of the track, and executes a gesture function corresponding to the track and the touch control area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INCORPORATION, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Tzung-Min Su, Chih-Hsin Lin, Han-Ping Cheng, Ming-Tsan Kao, Yi-Hsien Ko
  • Patent number: 9489085
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical touch panel system and a positioning method for positioning an object existing in a touch control area. The system includes: at least one reflective element disposed on a side of the touch control area; at least one light guide module disposed on a side of the touch control area adjacent to or opposite the reflective element and emitting light; an image sensor capturing an image of the object; a plurality of photo detectors arranged on a side of the touch control area adjacent to the image sensor and sensing the object to obtain shade information; and a processor calculating the coordinates of the object according to the image and the shade information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INCORPORATION, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Chun-Shen Lin, Chun-Yi Lu, Chi-Chieh Liao, Tzung-Min Su, Ming-Tsan Kao
  • Patent number: 9471180
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical touch panel system and a positioning method for positioning an object in a touch control area. The system includes: at least two reflective elements respectively disposed on a first side and a second side of the touch control area, wherein the sum of lengths of the first side and the second side is larger than the sum of lengths of the two reflective elements; two lighting elements respectively disposed on a third side and a fourth side of the touch control area; an image sensor forming projected images by capturing an image of the object and at least one mirror image of the object formed by the two reflective elements; and a processor calculating the coordinates of the object according to geometric information of the projected images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INCORPORATION, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Ming-Tsan Kao, Chi-Chieh Liao, Chih-Hsin Lin, Tzung-Min Su
  • Patent number: 9459140
    Abstract: A method of an optical detecting device for synchronizing an exposure timing sequence of an image detector with a light emitting timing sequence of a reference light source is disclosed. The method includes capturing a continued image set according to a predetermined period, analyzing intensity variation of the continued image set, and adjusting the exposure timing sequence of an image detector according to the intensity variation, so as to synchronize the exposure timing sequence of the image detector with the light emitting timing sequence of the reference light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Han-Ping Cheng, Chia-Cheun Liang, Ming-Tsan Kao
  • Patent number: 9454238
    Abstract: There is provided a keyboard module including a plurality of keyboard keys, an optical finger mouse and a transmission interface. The keyboard keys are configured to trigger a digital signal. The optical finger mouse is configured to detect a physiological characteristic and a displacement. The transmission interface is configured to send the digital signal, the physiological characteristic and the displacement to a display device. There is further provided a display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Ren-Hau Gu, Ming-Tsan Kao, Sen-Huang Huang
  • Publication number: 20160274672
    Abstract: An input system includes a first gesture detection unit and a second gesture detection unit. The first gesture detection unit includes a first light emitting device for emitting a first light beam, a first light sensing device for receiving the first light beam reflected by a first motion trajectory generated by a user and outputting a first image signal, and a first processing unit for processing the first image signal and outputting a first command signal. The second gesture detection unit includes a second light emitting device for emitting a second light beam, a second light sensing device for receiving the second light beam reflected by a second motion trajectory generated by the user and outputting a second image signal, and a second processing unit for processing the second image signal and outputting a second command signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: PixArt Imaging Incorporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Yu-Hao Huang, Yi-Fang Lee, Ming-Tsan Kao
  • Patent number: 9435646
    Abstract: There is provided a displacement detection device including an image sensor, a light source, a light control unit and a processing unit. The image sensor captures image frames at a sampling frequency. The light source provides, in a speed mode, light for the image sensor in capturing the image frames. The light control unit controls the light source with the speed mode to turn on at a lighting frequency or to turn off serially. The processing unit calculates a displacement according to the image frames captured when the light source turns on to be served as an estimated displacement for an interval during which the light source turns off. There is further provided an operating method of a displacement detection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Pixart Imaging Inc
    Inventors: Yu-Hao Huang, Hsin-Chia Chen, Ming-Tsan Kao, Sen-Huang Huang
  • Patent number: 9433382
    Abstract: There is provided a user interface system including a slave device and a master device. The slave device provides light of two different wavelengths to illuminate a finger surface, receives reflected light from the finger surface to generate a plurality of image frames, calculates and outputs an image data associated with a predetermined number of the image frames. The master device calculates a contact status and a displacement of the finger surface and a physiological characteristic of a user according to the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC
    Inventors: Ren-Hau Gu, Ming-Tsan Kao, Sen-Huang Huang
  • Patent number: 9423893
    Abstract: There is provided a gesture detection device including two linear image sensor arrays and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to compare sizes of pointer images in the image frames captured by the two linear image sensor arrays in the same period or different periods so as to identify a click event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Pixart Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Shu-Sian Yang, Han-Ping Cheng, Ming-Tsan Kao
  • Patent number: 9389726
    Abstract: There is provided a click-event detection device including a light source, a light control unit, an image sensor and a processing unit. The light control unit is configured to control the light source to illuminate a finger. The image sensor receives reflected light from the finger to accordingly output a plurality of bright image frames and dark image frames. The processing unit is configured to calculate a differential image characteristic between the bright image frames and the dark image frames, to determine a plurality of operating states according to the differential image characteristic, to count a residence time at each of the operating states, and to identify a click-event according to the operating states and the residence time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Hsin Chia Chen, Yu Hao Huang, Ren Hau Gu, Yi Fang Lee, Ming Tsan Kao
  • Patent number: 9389731
    Abstract: There is provided an optical touch system including at least one lighting unit, at least one image sensing module and a processing unit. The image sensing module is configured to capture light of a pointer and the lighting unit to generate a two-dimensional image and to convert entire of the two-dimensional image to a one-dimensional feature. The processing unit positions the pointer according to the one-dimensional feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC
    Inventors: Tzung-Min Su, Chih-Hsin Lin, Yi-Hsien Ko, Ming-Tsan Kao
  • Publication number: 20160187468
    Abstract: Disclosed are a distance measuring method and a distance measuring apparatus. During the distance measuring, an image is obtained. If the location of a center of gravity of the image is within a first segment, the calculating unit calculates a distance between the object and the distance measuring apparatus corresponding to the projection point, according to a first mapping relationship and the location of a center of gravity of the image. If the location of a center of gravity of the image is within a second segment, the calculating unit calculates a distance between the object and the distance measuring apparatus corresponding to the projection point according to a second mapping relationship and the location of a center of gravity of the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: GUO-ZHEN WANG, MING-TSAN KAO
  • Patent number: 9360949
    Abstract: There is provided a human interface device including a control chip and a plurality of control components. The control chip includes a voltage detection circuit coupled to the plurality of control components via a multiplexing pin and detects a voltage value on the multiplexing pin through the voltage detection circuit thereby identifying an operating state of the plurality of control components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC
    Inventors: Yu Han Chen, Chia Cheun Liang, Hsiang Sheng Liu, Chih Yen Wu, Chien Jung Huang, Chih Chung Tsai, Ming Tsan Kao
  • Patent number: 9363444
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a background model update method for image process. The accuracy of distinguishing a foreground image from the background model can be improved by adjusting the background model update level according to image variations such as brightness variation, motion variation, color variation, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INCORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu-Hao Huang, En-Feng Hsu, Ming-Tsan Kao, Meng-Huan Hsieh