Patents by Inventor Wen-Tong Liu

Wen-Tong Liu 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: 11048119
    Abstract: A keyboard device and an operating method thereof are provided. The keyboard device includes a microcontroller, a drive circuit, a backlight module, and a plurality of key units. The microcontroller is coupled to a computer device. A detection module of the computer device detects an input mode of the computer device. The plurality of key units is disposed on the backlight module. The plurality of key units each has a plurality of character symbols corresponding to different input modes. The microcontroller outputs a control signal to the drive circuit according to the input mode. The drive circuit drives the backlight module according to the control signal to selectively illuminate one of the plurality of character symbols of each of at least a portion of the plurality of key units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chun-Lin Chen, Chin-Fa Wu, Wen-Tong Liu, Er-Hao Chen, Ming-Fu Yen
  • Patent number: 10727866
    Abstract: A keyboard apparatus including a key module and a detection circuit is provided. The key module includes a plurality of keys, a plurality of scan lines, and a plurality of return lines. The scan lines and the return lines are crossed to each other and coupled to the keys respectively. The detection circuit is coupled to the return lines and configured to detect a current flowing through each of the return lines and indicate that a switch of each of the keys is in an on state or in an off state according to a value of the current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Er-Hao Chen, Wen-Tong Liu
  • Publication number: 20200124915
    Abstract: A keyboard device and an operating method thereof are provided. The keyboard device includes a microcontroller, a drive circuit, a backlight module, and a plurality of key units. The microcontroller is coupled to a computer device. A detection module of the computer device detects an input mode of the computer device. The plurality of key units is disposed on the backlight module. The plurality of key units each has a plurality of character symbols corresponding to different input modes. The microcontroller outputs a control signal to the drive circuit according to the input mode. The drive circuit drives the backlight module according to the control signal to selectively illuminate one of the plurality of character symbols of each of at least a portion of the plurality of key units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicants: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chun-Lin Chen, Chin-Fa Wu, Wen-Tong Liu, Er-Hao Chen, Ming-Fu Yen
  • Publication number: 20190052285
    Abstract: A keyboard apparatus including a key module and a detection circuit is provided. The key module includes a plurality of keys, a plurality of scan lines, and a plurality of return lines. The scan lines and the return lines are crossed to each other and coupled to the keys respectively. The detection circuit is coupled to the return lines and configured to detect a current flowing through each of the return lines and indicate that a switch of each of the keys is in an on state or in an off state according to a value of the current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Er-Hao Chen, Wen-Tong Liu
  • Patent number: 8749407
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and system for detecting hidden ghost keys on a keyboard matrix. The keyboard matrix is composed of multiple rows crossing with multiple lines that form multiple key-locating positions. The method comprises: selecting multiple preset keys from the matrix; detecting ghost keys among the matrix based on the selected preset keys; selecting multiple examining keys from the preset keys and the detected ghost keys, based on that at least one ghost key is included in the examining keys; and determining hidden ghost keys based on the examining keys. The system detects ghost keys among the matrix via a preset key selecting unit and a ghost key detecting unit, which selects multiple examining keys via an examining key selecting unit, and determines hidden ghost keys based on the examining keys through a hidden ghost keys detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignees: Lite-On Electronics (Guangzhou) Limited, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Wen-Tong Liu, Chien-Hui Chang
  • Patent number: 8314723
    Abstract: A ghost key detecting circuit includes at least first and second scan lines, at least first and second return lines, a plurality of switch elements, and a level detecting circuit. The level detecting circuit is used for performing level detection upon measured voltage values at the first and second return lines. When a measured voltage value at a return line is greater than or equal to a reference voltage value, the level detecting circuit generates a logic signal for indicating that a switch element corresponding to the return line at a current scan line is turned off. When the measured voltage value is smaller than the reference voltage value, the level detecting circuit generates a logic signal for indicating that the switch element is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignees: Silitek Electronic (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chiung-Chih Huang, Wen-Tong Liu, Kuo-Fu Kuo
  • Patent number: 8264384
    Abstract: A keyboard control circuit for a keyboard having P keys includes an array module that includes P key switches, and a key-matrix having N scan lines that intersect M return lines to form N×M intersections, where P<N×M. The intersections include ghost key positions free of the key switches, and safe key positions being of a number at least equal to P. Each key switch is disposed at a corresponding safe key position. Each ghost key position cooperates with a corresponding group of first, second and third ones of the safe key positions to constitute four corners of a rectangle in the key matrix. A processing unit provides a scan signal to each scan line during a scan period, receives at least one scan line from the return lines in response to operation of at least one key switch, and outputs an input signal corresponding to operation of the at least one key switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignees: Silitek Electronic (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., Lite-On Tehcnology Corp.
    Inventors: Mao-Ta Tsao, Wen-Tong Liu
  • Publication number: 20100253553
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and system for detecting hidden ghost keys on a keyboard matrix. The keyboard matrix is composed of multiple rows crossing with multiple lines that form multiple key-locating positions. The method comprises: selecting multiple preset keys from the matrix; detecting ghost keys among the matrix based on the selected preset keys; selecting multiple examining keys from the preset keys and the detected ghost keys, based on that at least one ghost key is included in the examining keys; and determining hidden ghost keys based on the examining keys. The system detects ghost keys among the matrix via a preset key selecting unit and a ghost key detecting unit, which selects multiple examining keys via an examining key selecting unit, and determines hidden ghost keys based on the examining keys through a hidden ghost keys detecting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicants: SILITEK ELECTRONIC (GUANGZHOU) CO., LTD., LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wen-Tong LIU, Chien-Hui Chang
  • Publication number: 20100253554
    Abstract: A ghost key detecting circuit includes at least first and second scan lines, at least first and second return lines, a plurality of switch elements, and a level detecting circuit. The level detecting circuit is used for performing level detection upon measured voltage values at the first and second return lines. When a measured voltage value at a return line is greater than or equal to a reference voltage value, the level detecting circuit generates a logic signal for indicating that a switch element corresponding to the return line at a current scan line is turned off. When the measured voltage value is smaller than the reference voltage value, the level detecting circuit generates a logic signal for indicating that the switch element is turned on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Chiung-Chih Huang, Wen-Tong Liu, Kuo-Fu Kuo
  • Publication number: 20100073204
    Abstract: A keyboard control circuit for a keyboard having P keys includes an array module that includes P key switches, and a key-matrix having N scan lines that intersect M return lines to form N×M intersections, where P<N×M. The intersections include ghost key positions free of the key switches, and safe key positions being of a number at least equal to P. Each key switch is disposed at a corresponding safe key position. Each ghost key position cooperates with a corresponding group of first, second and third ones of the safe key positions to constitute four corners of a rectangle in the key matrix. A processing unit provides a scan signal to each scan line during a scan period, receives at least one scan line from the return lines in response to operation of at least one key switch, and outputs an input signal corresponding to operation of the at least one key switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Mao-Ta Tsao, Wen-Tong Liu