Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Chan

Thomas M. Chan 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: 7782398
    Abstract: A display processor integrated circuit (for example, for a television or for a digital camera) includes a display processor portion and an on-chip programmable logic portion. The on-chip programmable logic portion can be configured or programmed to implement custom video and/or image enhancement functions. Accordingly, an individual television or camera manufacturer can have his/her own custom enhancement function incorporated into the display processor integrated circuit by having the programmable logic portion configured or programmed appropriately. In one embodiment, the programming of the programmable logic portion involves changing just one mask, thereby reducing the cost, complexity and time associated with implementing the custom video/image enhancement function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas M. Chan, Harry J. Raftopoulos, Andrew K. Chan
  • Patent number: 7349030
    Abstract: A display processor integrated circuit includes a display processor portion and an on-chip programmable logic portion. The programmable logic portion can be configured to implement custom video and/or image enhancement functions. The display processor portion performs block-based motion detection. If no motion is detected for a given block of pixels, then interline gaps in the block are filled using temporal interpolation. If motion is detected, then interline gaps are filled using spatial interpolation. To maintain accuracy without unduly increasing computational complexity, a less complex high angle spatial interpolation method is employed where a low angle tilt condition is not detected. A more computationally intensive low angle spatial interpolation method can therefore be employed in low angle tilt conditions. Integrated circuit cost is reduced by employing pipelining to write parts of segment buffers at the same time that other parts are being read to perform the interpolation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Inventors: Clyde H. Nagakura, Qinggang Zhou, Thomas M. Chan
  • Patent number: 7346876
    Abstract: A method is disclosed whereby an inexpensive integrated circuit is provided for use in high volume electronic consumer devices of different makes, wherein each different make must perform a different special function. A common function required in all the different makes is realized in a substantially non-customizable portion. A dense mask-programmable portion is provided for realizing a special function. Interface circuitry is provided that enables an external FPGA to perform the special function at system operating speeds during system development. After system development, the circuitry implemented in the external FPGA is technology-mapped to the mask-programmable portion. A single mask is fashioned such that versions of the integrated circuit are produced with their mask-programmable portions customized to perform the special function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Inventors: Andrew K. Chan, Thomas M. Chan, Po Weng Chiu
  • Patent number: 7136108
    Abstract: A display processor integrated circuit includes a display processor portion and an on-chip programmable logic portion. The programmable logic portion can be configured to implement custom video and/or image enhancement functions. The display processor portion performs block-based motion detection. If no motion is detected for a given block of pixels, then interline gaps in the block are filled using temporal interpolation. If motion is detected, then interline gaps are filled using spatial interpolation. To maintain accuracy without unduly increasing computational complexity, a less complex high angle spatial interpolation method is employed where a low angle tilt condition is not detected. A more computationally intensive low angle spatial interpolation method can therefore be employed in low angle tilt conditions. Integrated circuit cost is reduced by employing pipelining to write parts of segment buffers at the same time that other parts are being read to perform the interpolation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Inventors: Clyde H. Nagakura, Qinggang Zhou, Thomas M. Chan
  • Publication number: 20040160529
    Abstract: A display processor integrated circuit includes a display processor portion and an on-chip programmable logic portion. The programmable logic portion can be configured to implement custom video and/or image enhancement functions. The display processor portion performs block-based motion detection. If no motion is detected for a given block of pixels, then interline gaps in the block are filled using temporal interpolation. If motion is detected, then interline gaps are filled using spatial interpolation. To maintain accuracy without unduly increasing computational complexity, a less complex high angle spatial interpolation method is employed where a low angle tilt condition is not detected. A more computationally intensive low angle spatial interpolation method can therefore be employed in low angle tilt conditions. Integrated circuit cost is reduced by employing pipelining to write parts of segment buffers at the same time that other parts are being read to perform the interpolation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Applicant: VIma Microsystems Corporation
    Inventors: Clyde H. Nagakura, Qinggang Zhou, Thomas M. Chan
  • Publication number: 20040041918
    Abstract: A display processor integrated circuit (for example, for a television or for a digital camera) includes a display processor portion and an on-chip programmable logic portion. The on-chip programmable logic portion can be configured or programmed to implement custom video and/or image enhancement functions. Accordingly, an individual television or camera manufacturer can have his/her own custom enhancement function incorporated into the display processor integrated circuit by having the programmable logic portion configured or programmed appropriately. In one embodiment, the programming of the programmable logic portion involves changing just one mask, thereby reducing the cost, complexity and time associated with implementing tyhe custom video/image enhancement function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas M. Chan, Harry J. Raftopoulos, Andrew K. Chan