Patents by Inventor Wen-Yan Chang

Wen-Yan Chang 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).

  • Publication number: 20160080654
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of capturing images and an image capturing device using the method. The image capturing device has a first lens module and a second lens module having a view angle which is smaller than that of the first lens module. The method comprises: increasing an exposure time and reducing a light sensitivity value of the first lens module and capturing a first image by using the first lens module; reducing the exposure time and increasing the light sensitivity value of the first lens module and capturing a second image by using the second lens module; extracting a plurality of image features from the first image and the second image respectively and determining a region corresponding to the second image in the first image; and merging the second image into the region in the first image to generate an output image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Wen-Yan CHANG, Hong-Long CHOU, Yi-Hong TSENG, Tsan-Wei WANG, Che-Lun CHUANG
  • Publication number: 20160080657
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an image capturing device and a digital zoom method. The image capturing device comprises a first lens module, a second lens module, a feature extraction unit, an image zooming-deformation unit and an image merging unit. The first lens module and the second lens module are applied to capture a first image and a second image, respectively. The feature extraction unit extracts a plurality of first image features and second image features from the first image and the second image, respectively, and generating pixel offset characteristics. Based on a zoom factor and the pixel offset characteristics, the image zooming-deformation unit zooms and deforms the first and second images to generate a third image and a fourth image. The image merging unit bases the zoom factor to merge the third image and the fourth image for obtaining a combined image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Hong-Long CHOU, Yi-Hong TSENG, Yu-Chih WANG, Che- Lun CHUANG, Chia-Chun TSENG, Tai-Chang YANG, Wen-Yan CHANG, Tsan-Wei WANG
  • Patent number: 9225909
    Abstract: An image capturing device and a digital zoom display method are provided. The device includes two lens modules configured to respectively capture a first image and a second image, and their capturing view fields are substantially identical, a preview processing unit configured to generate a third image by down-sampling the first image according to a display unit's resolution, a feature extraction unit, an image zooming and distortion unit and an image fusing unit. The second image is trimmed for generating a fourth image according to the same size of the third image. A pixel offset feature corresponding with the third and fourth images is generated by the feature extraction unit. The image zooming and distortion unit generates a fifth image and a sixth image according to the pixel offset feature and zoom ratio to the image fusing unit to generate a combined image displayed on the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: ALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hong-Long Chou, Yi-Hong Tseng, Wen-Yan Chang, Yu-Chih Wang, Chia-Chun Tseng, Tai-Chang Yang, Che-Lun Chuang, Tsan-Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 9210303
    Abstract: The present disclosure illustrates a lens distortion correction method to solve influence for distortion correction caused by an alignment error between a lens center and a center of image sensor unit during assembling. The present disclosure is characterized in that the spatial geometric calibration is incorporated with the lens distortion correction and different image centers are selected repeatedly when transformation relationship of image coordinates is used to perform the lens distortion correction, so as to correct the image center of the image to be corrected and enhance the accuracy of lens distortion correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: ALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hong-Long Chou, Yu-Chih Wang, Wen-Yan Chang, Yao-Sheng Wang
  • Publication number: 20150319421
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for optimizing depth information are provided. One of a left image and a right image is divided into a plurality of segmentations for obtaining a plurality of segmentation maps. A necessary repair depth map is obtained, and the necessary repair depth map is partitioned into a plurality of depth planes according to a plurality of primary depth values and a camera parameter. The primary depth values are recorded in the necessary repair depth map having a plurality of holes. A plurality of optimized depth values are respectively generated for the holes in each of the depth planes by using the segmentation maps, and the optimized depth values are filled into the depth planes to obtain an optimized depth map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Yu-Chia Chung, Wen-Yan Chang, Chia-Chun Tseng, Yun-Chin Lee
  • Publication number: 20150304527
    Abstract: The present disclosure illustrates a lens distortion correction method to solve influence for distortion correction caused by an alignment error between a lens center and a center of image sensor unit during assembling. The present disclosure is characterized in that the spatial geometric calibration is incorporated with the lens distortion correction and different image centers are selected repeatedly when transformation relationship of image coordinates id used to perform the lens distortion correction, so as to correct the image center of the image to be corrected and enhance the accuracy of lens distortion correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: Altek Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Hong-Long CHOU, Yu-Chih WANG, Wen-Yan CHANG, Yao-Sheng WANG
  • Publication number: 20150292873
    Abstract: An image capture device, a depth generating device and a method thereof are disclosed. The present disclosure is characterized in that a depth calculation technology with a structure light projection and a pictorial depth calculation technology are combined to better both of resolution and accuracy of the calculated image depth. In addition, the utilization of a modified flashlight enables the combination of the two technologies to be applied to a hand-held capture device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: Altek Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Hong-Long CHOU, Wen-Yan CHANG, Yu-Chih WANG
  • Patent number: 9100584
    Abstract: The present disclosure illustrates a camera array correction method. The method comprises steps of calculating the gain values between the images captured by cameras with the pre-measured characteristic of each of the cameras. By such correction method, the different cameras in the camera array can capture images of the same brightness values and color values simultaneously. In addition, the huge computation requirement due to the increasing of the cameras can be reduced effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: ALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hsin-Te Wang, Kai-Yu Tseng, Wen-Yan Chang
  • Publication number: 20150201182
    Abstract: An auto focus (AF) method adapted to an AF apparatus is provided. The AF method includes following steps. A first image is captured by using the first image sensor. At least one characteristic is detected based on the first image, and whether the characteristic meets a predetermined condition is determined. If the characteristic meets the predetermined condition, a focus depth is calculated according to a three-dimensional (3D) depth information and movement of a first lens of the first sensor is driven according to the focus depth for focusing. If the characteristic does not meet the predetermined condition, the first lens is driven to move for many times to obtain a plurality of contrast values, such that movement of the first lens is driven according to the contrast values for focusing. Additionally, an AF apparatus is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: Wen-Yan Chang, Yu-Chen Huang, Hong-Long Chou, Chung-Chia Kang, Shan-Lung Chao
  • Patent number: 9053368
    Abstract: An image transfer apparatus and a method thereof comprise: capturing at least one first image, wherein the first image includes at least one face image; performing a face detection to obtain at least one face feature; a database has at least one identification information which comprises at least one face photo and a corresponding communication information; comparing the face feature with the face photo saved in the database; retrieving the corresponding communication information and the identification information corresponding to the face photo, if the face feature matches the face photo; performing the face image processing corresponding to the identification information in the first image, so as to obtain at least one second image; transmitting each second image according to the communication information of the processed face image in the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Altek Corporation
    Inventors: Hong-Long Chou, Wen-Yan Chang, Tai-Chang Yang
  • Patent number: 9019379
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a license plate image-pickup device and an image exposure adjustment method thereof. The license plate image-pickup device comprises an image-sensing module, a recognition module and a processing module. The license plate image-pickup device takes a scene. The image-sensing module senses the scene to produce an image. The recognition module detects a vehicle object. The processing module adjusts the exposure of the vehicle object to produce an exposure adjusted vehicle object, and then the recognition module detects a license plate object from the exposure adjusted vehicle object, and the processing module adjusts the exposure of the license plate object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Altek Corporation
    Inventors: Wen-Yan Chang, Tai-Chang Yang, Chia-Chun Hsieh, Shan-Lung Chao, Hsin-Te Wang, Hong-Long Chou
  • Patent number: 8909037
    Abstract: The present disclosure illustrates an auto-focus system using multiple lenses and method thereof, the system is characterized in using multiple lenses and combining multiple focus approaches to improve focus speed and precision. In particular, the system moves multiple lenses simultaneously to perform focusing for reducing focus time efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Altek Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Yu-Chen Huang, Wen-Yan Chang
  • Patent number: 8903233
    Abstract: The present disclosure illustrates an auto-focus system using multiple lenses and method thereof. The system is characterized in using multiple lenses and combining a focus depth based approach and a contrast value based approach to improve focus speed and precision. In particular, the system can avoid the impairment caused by the repeat pattern in the focus depth based approach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Altek Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Yu-Chen Huang, Wen-Yan Chang, Chung-Chia Kang
  • Patent number: 8897589
    Abstract: A method of detecting the subject of an image and imaging device thereof are disclosed. The method comprises the following steps of providing an image capturing module to capture the temporal image, providing the image processing module to receive the temporal image and to determine a plurality of objects from the temporal image, using the image processing module to define a plurality of regions on the temporal image based on the center of temporal image, using the image processing module to assign an initial setup value to each of the objects according to the region corresponding to each of the objects, using the imaging processing module to execute an operation to increase or decrease each of the initial setup values, using the image processing module to execute a sorting, and selecting at least one of the objects as a subject of the temporal image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Altek Semiconductors Corporation
    Inventors: Chia-Chun Hsieh, Wen-Yan Chang, Hong-Long Chou
  • Patent number: 8891834
    Abstract: A face recognition system and a face recognition method thereof. The face recognition system comprises a storage module, a processing module and a display module. The storage module stores a plurality of face recognition codes, a plurality of face images or face coordinates corresponding to the plurality of face recognition codes. The processing module calculates an overlap rate of the (T?1)th face image that overlaps the Tth face image in the plurality of face images. When the overlap rate is greater than a first preset value, the processing module calculates a similarity between the (T?1)th face image and the Tth face image. If the similarity is smaller than a second preset value, the processing module retains the face recognition code of the (T?1)th face image. The display module displays the face recognition code in the Tth face image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Altek Corporation
    Inventors: Wen-Yan Chang, Tai-Chang Yang, Hong-Long Chou
  • Publication number: 20140327743
    Abstract: An auto focus (AF) method and an AF apparatus are provided. The method includes the following steps. At least one target object is selected and photographed by a first image sensor and a second image sensor to generate a three-dimensional (3D) depth map. A block covering at least one initial focusing point is selected. The 3D depth map is queried for reading depth information of a plurality of pixels in the block. It is determined whether depth information of the pixels is enough to operate. If yes, a first statistics operation is performed, and focusing depth information is obtained. If not, the position of the block is moved or the size of the block is enlarged to obtain the focusing depth information. A focusing position is obtained according to the focusing depth information and the AF apparatus is driven to perform an AF procedure according to the focusing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Hong-Long Chou, Chung-Chia Kang, Wen-Yan Chang, Yu-Chen Huang
  • Publication number: 20140307054
    Abstract: An auto focus (AF) method adapted to an AF apparatus is provided. The AF method includes following steps. A target object is selected and photographed by a first image sensor and a second image sensor to generate a first image and a second image. A procedure of three-dimensional (3D) depth estimation is performed according to the first image and the second image to generate a 3D depth map. An optimization process is performed on the 3D depth map to generate an optimized 3D depth map. A piece of depth information corresponding to the target object is determined according to the optimized 3D depth map, and a focusing position regarding the target object is obtained according to the pieces of depth information. The AF apparatus is driven to execute an AF procedure according to the focusing position. Additionally, an AF apparatus is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Altek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Wen-Yan Chang, Yu-Chen Huang, Hong-Long Chou, Chung-Chia Kang
  • Publication number: 20140192215
    Abstract: A method of detecting the subject of an image and imaging device thereof are disclosed. The method comprises the following steps of providing an image capturing module to capture the temporal image, providing the image processing module to receive the temporal image and to determine a plurality of objects from the temporal image, using the image processing module to define a plurality of regions on the temporal image based on the center of temporal image, using the image processing module to assign an initial setup value to each of the objects according to the region corresponding to each of the objects, using the imaging processing module to execute an operation to increase or decrease each of the initial setup values, using the image processing module to execute a sorting, and selecting at least one of the objects as a subject of the temporal image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: ALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: CHIA-CHUN HSIEH, WEN-YAN CHANG, Hong-Long CHOU
  • Publication number: 20130342708
    Abstract: An image transfer apparatus and a method thereof comprise: capturing at least one first image, wherein the first image includes at least one face image; performing a face detection to obtain at least one face feature; a database has at least one identification information which comprises at least one face photo and a corresponding communication information; comparing the face feature with the face photo saved in the database; retrieving the corresponding communication information and the identification information corresponding to the face photo, if the face feature matches the face photo; performing the face image processing corresponding to the identification information in the first image, so as to obtain at least one second image; transmitting each second image according to the communication information of the processed face image in the second image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: ALTEK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hong-Long Chou, Wen-Yan Chang, Tai-Chang Yang
  • Publication number: 20130335314
    Abstract: An intelligence reminding apparatus and a method thereof. The intelligence reminding method comprises: using an image capturing unit to preview a preview-image or capture a dynamic image; detecting at least one face image of the preview-image or the dynamic image to obtain a face image; recognizing the face image according to a face photo of a database which comprises at least one face photo and at least one corresponding information; acquiring the corresponding information if the face image matches the face photo. Wherein the face recognition is proceeding during the image preview or dynamic image capturing; reminding the corresponding information to users in a display mode, or reminding in a voice mode via a connected earphone or a connected voice apparatus if the connected earphone or the connected voice apparatus is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: ALTEK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wen-Yan Chang, Tai-Chang Yang, Hong-Long Chou, Chih-Wei Tsai