Patents by Inventor Po-Chang Chen

Po-Chang 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: 9361678
    Abstract: A compensation method of spectral mismatch for a color filter array (CFA) comprising of white, red, green, and blue (WRGB) color filters includes introducing an offset representing spectral mismatch to modify a linear model that relates a W component of a pixel to R, G, and B components of the pixel. In one embodiment, an estimated offset is generated according to readout component images, and a compensated component image is generated according to the estimated offset and a corresponding readout component image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignees: National Taiwan University, Himax Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Po-Hsun Su, Homer H. Chen, Po-Chang Chen, Yi-Nung Liu
  • Publication number: 20160105599
    Abstract: An automatic focus searching method for an image capture device is provided. The image capture device has a lens and an image sensor. The method includes: setting an exposure time of the image sensor; computing a focal sweep trajectory of the lens based on at least the exposure time; during the exposure time, moving the lens along the focal sweep trajectory while exposing the image sensor; reading out pixel data of the image sensor that is generated during the exposure time; and applying a filtering operation upon the pixel data to generate an output image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: Po-Chang Chen
  • Patent number: 9307120
    Abstract: An image processing system adaptable to a dual-mode image device includes an adaptive color correction system coupled to receive an image, and configured to adaptively correct for color distortion according to a chief ray angle (CRA) of a pixel of the image and an IR signal from the dual-mode image device associated with a light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: HIMAX IMAGING LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuan-Chih Peng, Po-Chang Chen
  • Publication number: 20160021289
    Abstract: A method for controlling a frame exposure level, comprising: (a) determining a second integration time for the pixel array via a desired exposure level, and determining a second analog gain and a second digital gain via a desired total gain; (b) respectively applying the second analog gain and the second digital gain to amplify at least one second light sensing signal and at least one digital light sensing signal generated from the second light sensing signal; (c) computing a desired total gain for the third frame, and determining a third analog gain and a third digital gain via the desired total gain; and (d) respectively applying the third analog gain and the third digital gain to amplify at least one third light sensing signal and at least one digital light sensing signal generated from the third light sensing signal, and applying the second integration time to the pixel array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Po-Fang Chen, Po-Chang Chen, Yuan-Chih Peng
  • Publication number: 20160005514
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming an electronic element. The method for forming an electronic element comprises: providing a first substrate comprising a compound comprising a metallic element and a non-metallic element; performing a first treatment by a laser radiation in a first region of the first substrate; and forming a first electrically conductive layer in the first region radiated by the laser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Jai-Tai KUO, Yu-Hsi SUNG, Po-Chang CHEN
  • Patent number: 9185377
    Abstract: A color processing system includes a color interpolation unit coupled to receive color and white (W) signals and accordingly generate interpolated white signals and difference signals; a color correction unit configured to correct the difference signals, thereby resulting in corrected color signals; and a sensitivity control unit configured to generate adjusted color signals according to the corrected color signals, the interpolated white signals, and surrounding illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Himax Imaging Limited
    Inventors: Yuan-Chih Peng, Dong-Long Lin, Po-Chang Chen
  • Publication number: 20150281666
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a two dimensional array of pixel elements, a color filter array, and a digital circuit. The color filter array is superimposed on and in registration with the two dimensional array of pixel elements. The color filter array includes a first group of selectively transmissive filters and a second group of selectively transmissive filters. The first group of selectively transmissive filters is arranged to selectively transmit spectral energy in M colors of the visible spectrum, wherein M is larger than two. The second group of selectively transmissive filters is arranged to selectively transmit spectral energy in N colors of the visible spectrum, wherein any selectively transmissive filter of the first and the second groups of selectively transmissive filters is arranged to transmit spectral energy in one specific color of the visible spectrum, and N is larger than M. An associated illuminant estimation method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: Himax Imaging Limited
    Inventors: Po-Chang Chen, Yuan-Chih Peng
  • Patent number: 9088740
    Abstract: In a system and method of reducing noise, an image sensor with a color filter array (CFA) outputs raw data, and a noise reduction device corrects the raw data according to distances between an original current pixel and neighboring same-color pixels in a process mask, thereby generating a new current pixel so as to output corrected raw data. A color interpolation device couples to receive the corrected raw data to result in full-color data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Himax Imaging Limited
    Inventors: Yen-Te Shih, Po-Chang Chen
  • Patent number: 9083900
    Abstract: A lens shading correction (LSC) system includes an illuminant estimator configured to calculate at least one spectral association-measurement of a current frame according to pixel data of an LSC circuit, and then to correlate the at least one calculated spectral association-measurement with spectral association-measurements of a plurality of pre-defined illuminants to determine at least one correlated illuminant. An LSC parameter generator retrieves at least one set of pre-calibrated LSC parameters from a pre-calibrated LSC parameter memory. The LSC parameter generator generates a set of LSC parameters based on the at least one retrieved set of pre-calibrated LSC parameters according to the at least one correlated illuminant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Himax Imaging Limited
    Inventor: Po-Chang Chen
  • Publication number: 20150129919
    Abstract: The present application discloses a light-emitting device comprises a semiconductor light-emitting element, a transparent element covering the semiconductor light-emitting element, an insulating layer which connects to the transparent element, an intermediate layer which connects to the insulating layer; and a conductive adhesive material connecting to the intermediate layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Chien-Liang LIU, Ming-Chi HSU, Shih-An LIAO, Jen-Chieh YU, Min-Hsun HSIEH, Jia-Tay KUO, Yu-His SUNG, Po-Chang CHEN
  • Publication number: 20150124128
    Abstract: A lens shading correction (LSC) system includes an illuminant estimator configured to calculate at least one spectral association-measurement of a current frame according to pixel data of an LSC circuit, and then to correlate the at least one calculated spectral association-measurement with spectral association-measurements of a plurality of pre-defined illuminants to determine at least one correlated illuminant. An LSC parameter generator retrieves at least one set of pre-calibrated LSC parameters from a pre-calibrated LSC parameter memory. The LSC parameter generator generates a set of LSC parameters based on the at least one retrieved set of pre-calibrated LSC parameters according to the at least one correlated illuminant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Himax Imaging Limited
    Inventor: PO-CHANG CHEN
  • Patent number: 9001238
    Abstract: A lens shading correction method for pixels of an image is provided. The method includes the steps of: inputting coordinates of the pixels and setting a threshold range on the image; providing a first gain function and a second gain function, each relating the coordinates of the pixels to brightness gains; performing the first gain function on the pixels located at the interior of the threshold range for calculating the brightness gains; and performing a blended gain function on the pixels located at the exterior of the threshold range for calculating the brightness gains, wherein the blended gain function is the combination of the first gain function and the second gain function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Himax Imaging Limited
    Inventors: Po-Chang Chen, Yuan-Chih Peng, Kuan-Hua Chen
  • Publication number: 20150077599
    Abstract: A lens shading correction method for pixels of an image is provided. The method includes the steps of: inputting coordinates of the pixels and setting a threshold range on the image; providing a first gain function and a second gain function, each relating the coordinates of the pixels to brightness gains; performing the first gain function on the pixels located at the interior of the threshold range for calculating the brightness gains; and performing a blended gain function on the pixels located at the exterior of the threshold range for calculating the brightness gains, wherein the blended gain function is the combination of the first gain function and the second gain function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Himax Imaging Limited
    Inventors: Po-Chang Chen, Yuan-Chih Peng, Kuan-Hua Chen
  • Publication number: 20140375850
    Abstract: In a system and method of reducing noise, an image sensor with a color filter array (CFA) outputs raw data, and a noise reduction device corrects the raw data according to distances between an original current pixel and neighboring same-color pixels in a process mask, thereby generating a new current pixel so as to output corrected raw data. A color interpolation device couples to receive the corrected raw data to result in full-color data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Yen-Te Shih, PO-CHANG CHEN
  • Patent number: 8878965
    Abstract: A black level adjustment method for a CMOS image sensor is provided. The CMOS image sensor has a pixel array with dark rows and active rows. The method has the following steps of: computing an average value of pixels from the dark rows, wherein the average value is in the form of an integer and a fraction; calculating a black level control (BLC) offset value according to the integer; generating a dithering mask based on the fraction; applying the dithering mask to pixels from the active rows; and adding the calculated BLC offset value to the dithered pixels from the active rows to generate resulting pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Himax Imaging Limited
    Inventors: Po-Chang Chen, Yuan-Chih Peng
  • Publication number: 20140306294
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip IC having transistors with structures separated by a flowable dielectric material, and a related method of formation. In some embodiments, an integrated chip has a semiconductor substrate and an embedded silicon germanium (SiGe) region extending as a positive relief from a location within the semiconductor substrate to a position above the semiconductor substrate. A first gate structure is located at a position that is separated from the embedded SiGe region by a first gap. A flowable dielectric material is disposed between the gate structure and the embedded SiGe region and a pre-metal dielectric (PMD) layer disposed above the flowable dielectric material. The flowable dielectric material provides for good gap fill capabilities that mitigate void formation during gap fill between the adjacent gate structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Po-Chang Chen, Po-Hsiung Leu, Ding-I Liu
  • Patent number: 8735915
    Abstract: A LED (Light-Emitting Diode) lighting fixture and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The LED lighting fixture comprises a LED module generating light at a wavelength range of 300-700 nm, a lamp cover shielding the LED module, and a phosphor layer. The phosphor layer which is coated on an inner surface towards the LED module comprises at least two types of phosphor mixed at a default ratio for transforming the light of 300-700 nm in wavelength to luminary light in the wavelength range of 400-700 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Lextar Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Hao Lin, Cheng-Wei Hung, Kun-Hua Wu, Chao-Hsien Wang, Po-Chang Chen, Chih-Ping Lo, Po-Chang Chen
  • Patent number: 8654225
    Abstract: A color interpolation system is disclosed. An enhancement unit receives raw signals from an image sensor, and then processes the raw signals to output an enhanced first signal. A first interpolation unit receives and processes a raw first signal and accordingly outputs an interpolated first signal. A gain generator generates an enhancement gain according to the enhanced first signal and the interpolated first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Himax Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Po-Chang Chen, Yuan-Chih Peng, Yu-Yu Sung
  • Patent number: 8559745
    Abstract: An image signal processor for image enhancement is provided. The image signal processor receives a first, a second, and a third component of an RGB signal of each pixel of an image, and has: an image enhancer for performing image enhancement on the first component of the RGB signal to produce a first enhanced component of the RGB signal; a gain generator, coupled to the image enhancer, for producing an enhancement gain based on the first component and the first enhanced component of the RGB signal; and a gain multiplier, coupled to the gain generator, for performing image enhancement on the second and the third component based on the enhancement gain to produce a second and a third enhanced component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Himax Imaging Limited
    Inventors: Yuan-Chih Peng, Po-Chang Chen, Jing-Chu Chan
  • Patent number: 8452115
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for designing an image restoration filter and a method and an apparatus for restoring an image by using the image restoration filter are provided. A test image is captured by an imaging system to obtain image information of the test image. The image restoration filter is then calculated according to original image information of the test image and the image information obtained by the imaging system through a numerical method, such that the obtained image information after being processed by the image restoration filter has a better similarity to the original image information. Thereafter, an image captured by the imaging system is processed by using the image restoration filter as a kernel, so as to resolve the problems of image blur and distortion caused by the optical path and the imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Po-Chang Chen, Chih-Hao Liu, Chuan-Chung Chang, Ludovic Angot, Chir-Weei Chang