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).
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Patent number: 11048119Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 17, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology CorporationInventors: Chun-Lin Chen, Chin-Fa Wu, Wen-Tong Liu, Er-Hao Chen, Ming-Fu Yen
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Patent number: 10727866Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 17, 2018Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Lite-On Technology CorporationInventors: Er-Hao Chen, Wen-Tong Liu
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Publication number: 20200124915Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2019Publication date: April 23, 2020Applicants: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology CorporationInventors: Chun-Lin Chen, Chin-Fa Wu, Wen-Tong Liu, Er-Hao Chen, Ming-Fu Yen
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Publication number: 20190052285Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2018Publication date: February 14, 2019Applicant: Lite-On Technology CorporationInventors: Er-Hao Chen, Wen-Tong Liu
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Patent number: 8749407Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 14, 2009Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignees: Lite-On Electronics (Guangzhou) Limited, Lite-On Technology CorporationInventors: Wen-Tong Liu, Chien-Hui Chang
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Patent number: 8314723Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 29, 2009Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignees: Silitek Electronic (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., Lite-On Technology CorporationInventors: Chiung-Chih Huang, Wen-Tong Liu, Kuo-Fu Kuo
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Patent number: 8264384Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 9, 2009Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignees: Silitek Electronic (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., Lite-On Tehcnology Corp.Inventors: Mao-Ta Tsao, Wen-Tong Liu
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Publication number: 20100253553Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2009Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicants: SILITEK ELECTRONIC (GUANGZHOU) CO., LTD., LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Wen-Tong LIU, Chien-Hui Chang
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Publication number: 20100253554Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2009Publication date: October 7, 2010Inventors: Chiung-Chih Huang, Wen-Tong Liu, Kuo-Fu Kuo
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Publication number: 20100073204Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2009Publication date: March 25, 2010Inventors: Mao-Ta Tsao, Wen-Tong Liu