Patents by Inventor Wu-Wei LIN

Wu-Wei LIN 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: 20240145571
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit (IC) in which a memory structure comprises an inhibition layer inserted between two ferroelectric layers to create a tetragonal-phase dominant ferroelectric structure. In some embodiments, the ferroelectric structure includes a first ferroelectric layer, a second ferroelectric layer overlying the first ferroelectric layer, and a first inhibition layer disposed between the first and second ferroelectric layers and bordering the second ferroelectric layer. The first inhibition layer is a different material than the first and second ferroelectric layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Po-Ting Lin, Yu-Ming Hsiang, Wei-Chih Wen, Yin-Hao Wu, Wu-Wei Tsai, Hai-Ching Chen, Yu-Ming Lin, Chung-Te Lin
  • Patent number: 11967168
    Abstract: A method and device of fingerprint image generation for saving memory. The method includes generating a first fingerprint image of an original data size according to a plurality of first analog sensing signals which are read from a fingerprint sensor array before an exposure period ends. Then the first fingerprint image represented by a first data size which is equivalent to or smaller than the original data size is stored. a second fingerprint image of the original data size is generated after generating the first fingerprint image of the original data size according to a plurality of second analog sensing signals which are read from the fingerprint sensor array during the exposure period. The second fingerprint image represented by a compressed data size smaller than the original data size is then stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Weilun Shih, Wu-Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 11961584
    Abstract: The present invention provides a readout integrated circuit and an operation method thereof. The readout integrated circuit includes a readout circuit, a line buffer and a communication interface circuit. The readout circuit reads out a plurality of row sensing results of a plurality of sensor rows of a sensor. The line buffer is coupled to the readout circuit for temporarily storing a current row sensing result of a current sensor row of the sensor. The communication interface circuit is coupled to the line buffer. After the current row sensing result of the current sensor row is temporarily stored into the line buffer, the communication interface circuit outputs the current row sensing result in real time to a host circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Wu Wei Lin
  • Publication number: 20240113222
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a thin film transistor comprising an active layer over a substrate. An insulator is stacked with the active layer. A gate electrode structure is stacked with the insulator and includes a gate material layer having a first work function and a first interfacial layer. The first interfacial layer is directly between the insulator and the gate material layer, wherein the gate electrode structure has a second work function that is different from the first work function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Yan-Yi Chen, Wu-Wei Tsai, Yu-Ming Hsiang, Hai-Ching Chen, Yu-Ming Lin, Chung-Te Lin
  • Publication number: 20240113225
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate, a semiconductor structure, a gate insulating layer, a first source/drain feature and a second source/drain feature. The gate insulating layer is located between the gate and the semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes at least one first metal oxide layer, a first oxide layer, and at least one second metal oxide layer. The first oxide layer is located between the first metal oxide layer and the second metal oxide layer. The first source/drain feature and the second source/drain feature are electrically connected with the semiconductor structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wu-Wei Tsai, Yan-Yi Chen, Hai-Ching Chen, Yu-Ming Lin, Chung-Te Lin
  • Publication number: 20240013817
    Abstract: The present invention provides a readout integrated circuit and an operation method thereof. The readout integrated circuit includes a readout circuit, a line buffer and a communication interface circuit. The readout circuit reads out a plurality of row sensing results of a plurality of sensor rows of a sensor. The line buffer is coupled to the readout circuit for temporarily storing a current row sensing result of a current sensor row of the sensor. The communication interface circuit is coupled to the line buffer. After the current row sensing result of the current sensor row is temporarily stored into the line buffer, the communication interface circuit outputs the current row sensing result in real time to a host circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Wu Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 11749012
    Abstract: A chip capable of controlling a panel to perform fingerprint sensing is provided. Fingerprint sensing pixels of the panel are divided into a plurality of fingerprint zones along a first direction. The chip includes a control circuit. The control circuit provides multiple control signals for controlling the panel to perform fingerprint sensing. The control signals include multiple start pulse signals. The start pulse signals are used to indicate the selected fingerprint zone. The number of the fingerprint zones is greater than the number of the start pulse signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Wei-Lun Shih, Wu-Wei Lin, Huang-Chin Tang, Ting-Hsuan Hung
  • Patent number: 11709565
    Abstract: A fingerprint sensing apparatus includes a plurality of fingerprint sensors and a fingerprint readout circuit. The fingerprint sensors may be configured to operate in a fingerprint sensing cycle. The fingerprint readout circuit may be coupled to the plurality of fingerprint sensors via a plurality of sensing lines. The fingerprint readout circuit may be configured to control the fingerprint sensors to operate in the fingerprint sensing cycle. The fingerprint sensing cycle includes an initialization period, an exposure period and a readout period. A voltage of a reset node in each fingerprint sensor among the plurality of fingerprint sensors is reset to a first voltage in a reset period after the fingerprint sensing cycle ends. The voltage of the reset node in each fingerprint sensor is initialized to an initial voltage in the initialization period. The initial voltage is different from the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Yu-Hsien Lee, Ting-Hsuan Hung, Feng-Lin Chan, Wu Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 11615640
    Abstract: A driving device and an operation method thereof are provided. The driving device includes a first driving circuit and a second driving circuit. The first driving circuit performs a display driving operation to a display panel. The second driving circuit performs a fingerprint sensing operation (including a sensor reset operation and an image capture operation) to the display panel according to a timing control signal of the first driving circuit. The fingerprint sensing operation is operated with a same frame polarity configuration rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Wei-Lun Shih, Wu Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 11551469
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fingerprint recognition driving method for a display panel, the display panel including a fingerprint recognition circuit, a fingerprint recognition driving circuit and a controller, the fingerprint recognition driving circuit being used to provide a fingerprint recognition driving signal to the fingerprint recognition circuit, the fingerprint recognition driving method including: periodically arranging, by the controller, time periods for display and touch in a case that the controller does not receive a fingerprint recognition start signal; periodically arranging, by the controller, time periods for display and touch and time periods for fingerprint recognition at intervals in a case that the controller receives the fingerprint recognition start signal; generating, by the controller, a first fingerprint recognition reset signal during at least one time period for display and touch, and the fingerprint recognition driving circuit being reset under the control of the first fi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: NOVATEK MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Wu-Wei Lin
  • Publication number: 20220383654
    Abstract: A chip capable of controlling a panel to perform fingerprint sensing is provided. Fingerprint sensing pixels of the panel are divided into a plurality of fingerprint zones along a first direction. The chip includes a control circuit. The control circuit provides multiple control signals for controlling the panel to perform fingerprint sensing. The control signals include multiple start pulse signals. The start pulse signals are used to indicate the selected fingerprint zone. The number of the fingerprint zones is greater than the number of the start pulse signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Wei-Lun Shih, Wu-Wei Lin, Huang-Chin Tang, Ting-Hsuan Hung
  • Patent number: 11508182
    Abstract: An electronic circuit adapted to drive a panel including a plurality of fingerprint sensing zones is provided. The electronic circuit includes a fingerprint sensing circuit. The fingerprint sensing circuit is configured to determine at least two fingerprint sensing zones to perform a fingerprint sensing operation according to a touch area and receive a fingerprint sensing signal corresponding to fingerprint sensing data from the at least two fingerprint sensing zones. The fingerprint sensing circuit rearranges the fingerprint sensing data from the at least two fingerprint sensing zones. In addition, an electronic device and a method for sensing a fingerprint image are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Wu-Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 11462044
    Abstract: A chip, an electronic device, a panel and an operation method thereof are provided. The chip can control the panel to perform fingerprint sensing. Fingerprint sensing pixels of the panel are divided into a plurality of fingerprint zones along a column direction. The chip includes a selecting circuit and a control circuit. The selecting circuit obtains information about a selected fingerprint zone among the fingerprint zones. The control circuit provides multiple control signals for controlling the panel to perform fingerprint sensing. The control signals include multiple start pulse signals. The start pulse signals collectively indicate the selected fingerprint zone. The number of the fingerprint zones is greater than the number of the start pulse signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Wei-Lun Shih, Wu-Wei Lin, Huang-Chin Tang, Ting-Hsuan Hung
  • Patent number: 11450132
    Abstract: In the invention, a fingerprint driving circuit, a fingerprint sensing device, an electronic apparatus, and an operation method of the fingerprint sensing device are provided. By keeping fingerprint sensing lines in a non-fingerprint sensing region in an electrically non-floating state, flash phenomenon in a display panel may be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Wei-Lun Shih, Wu Wei Lin, Ting-Hsuan Hung, Wen-Yi Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20220197469
    Abstract: A fingerprint sensing apparatus includes a plurality of fingerprint sensors and a fingerprint readout circuit. The fingerprint sensors may be configured to operate in a fingerprint sensing cycle. The fingerprint readout circuit may be coupled to the plurality of fingerprint sensors via a plurality of sensing lines. The fingerprint readout circuit may be configured to control the fingerprint sensors to operate in the fingerprint sensing cycle. The fingerprint sensing cycle includes an initialization period, an exposure period and a readout period. A voltage of a reset node in each fingerprint sensor among the plurality of fingerprint sensors is reset to a first voltage in a reset period after the fingerprint sensing cycle ends. The voltage of the reset node in each fingerprint sensor is initialized to an initial voltage in the initialization period. The initial voltage is different from the first voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Yu-Hsien Lee, Ting-Hsuan Hung, Feng-Lin Chan, Wu Wei Lin
  • Publication number: 20220189196
    Abstract: A method and device of fingerprint image generation for saving memory. The method includes generating a first fingerprint image of an original data size according to a plurality of first analog sensing signals which are read from a fingerprint sensor array before an exposure period ends. Then the first fingerprint image represented by a first data size which is equivalent to or smaller than the original data size is stored. a second fingerprint image of the original data size is generated after generating the first fingerprint image of the original data size according to a plurality of second analog sensing signals which are read from the fingerprint sensor array during the exposure period. The second fingerprint image represented by a compressed data size smaller than the original data size is then stored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: WEILUN SHIH, WU-WEI LIN
  • Publication number: 20220171494
    Abstract: An integrated driving device is provided. The integrated driving device includes a touch sensing circuit and an optical sensing circuit. The touch sensing circuit is configured to perform touch sensing in a plurality of touch sensing periods during a first frame period. The optical sensing circuit is configured to perform optical sensing during at least one optical sensing period during the first frame period to obtain optical sensing signals for generating first ambient light information. The touch sensing periods and the optical sensing period are non-overlapping. Correspondingly, an operation method of an integrated driving device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicant: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Wei-Lun Shih, Wu-Wei Lin, Jiun-Jie Tsai, Huang-Chin Tang, Ching-Chun Lin
  • Publication number: 20220130168
    Abstract: An electronic circuit adapted to drive a panel including a plurality of fingerprint sensing zones is provided. The electronic circuit includes a fingerprint sensing circuit. The fingerprint sensing circuit is configured to determine at least two fingerprint sensing zones to perform a fingerprint sensing operation according to a touch area and receive a fingerprint sensing signal corresponding to fingerprint sensing data from the at least two fingerprint sensing zones. The fingerprint sensing circuit rearranges the fingerprint sensing data from the at least two fingerprint sensing zones. In addition, an electronic device and a method for sensing a fingerprint image are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Wu-Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 11302102
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of a control circuit for controlling a fingerprint sensing operation of a display panel. The fingerprint sensing operation includes a reset operation, an exposure operation and a sample operation. The method includes steps of: performing the reset operation, the exposure operation and the sample operation of a fingerprint sensing cycle during a display frame interval in which a polarity of display data voltage on the display panel remains unchanged; and adjusting an exposure time of the exposure operation to be within the display frame interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Ping Liu, Wu-Wei Lin
  • Publication number: 20220092287
    Abstract: An electronic circuit adapted to control an operation of a gate driver circuit is provided. The electronic circuit includes a gate control circuit. The gate control circuit outputs control signals to the gate driver circuit in a display period and a fingerprint sensing period via the same output nodes. The control signals include a start pulse signal and a switch control signal. The switch control signal controls the gate driver circuit to operate in the display period or the fingerprint sensing period. The gate driver circuit includes a plurality of shift register groups and a switch circuit. The shift register groups output scan signals according to the start pulse signal. The switch circuit receives and outputs the scan signals to display scan lines in the display period and outputs the scan signals to fingerprint scan lines in the fingerprint sensing period according to the switch control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Wei-Lun Shih, Wu Wei Lin, Kuei Jung Chen