Patents by Inventor Yi-Chia Shan

Yi-Chia Shan 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: 8159655
    Abstract: An optical blind-guide apparatus for detecting an object is provided. The optical blind-guide apparatus includes an illuminant module illuminating the object to form a reflection light from the object; a sensor sensing the reflection light to generate a digital message; a system module receiving and processing the digital message to obtain a blind-guide information; and an output device coupled with the system module and outputting the blind-guide information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Joe-Air Jiang, Jih-Huah Wu, Yi-Chia Shan
  • Patent number: 7978927
    Abstract: The invention discloses an image processing apparatus for adjusting lightness of an input image. The image processing apparatus includes a first processing module, a second processing module, a third processing module, and a fourth processing module. The first processing module is used for generating a lightness histogram with reference to the input image and determining a maximum lightness and an average lightness according to the lightness histogram. The second processing module is used for determining a first gain and a second gain according to the maximum lightness and a look-up table. The third processing module is used for selecting a lightness adjusting curve according to the average lightness. The fourth processing module is used for generating an output lightness corresponding to the input image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Marketech International Corp.
    Inventors: Hsu-Pin Kao, Yi-Chia Shan, Hsu-Chia Kao, Kai-Chiang Hsu
  • Patent number: 7916966
    Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for image signal contrast extension and overflow compensation. The system includes contrast extension and overflow compensation look-up tables, an image gray level boundary determining unit, a contrast extension unit, an overflow judging unit, and an overflow compensation unit. The image gray level boundary determining unit defines a maximum and a minimum among the gray levels of the pixels of an image signal and calculates the difference. The contrast extension unit selects corresponding parameter from the contrast extension table for contrast extension of a given image pixel. The overflow judging unit judges whether the pixels are overflowed. The overflow compensation unit compensates the pixel. When a pixel is overflowed, the overflow compensation unit selects, according to the gray level of the pixel, a corresponding overflow compensation parameter to reduce the gray level to overcome the problem of overflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Marketech International Corp.
    Inventors: Yi-Sheng Yu, Hsu-Pin Kao, Yi-Chia Shan, Tsan-Hung Tsai
  • Publication number: 20100296076
    Abstract: An optical blind-guide apparatus for detecting an object is provided. The optical blind-guide apparatus includes an illuminant module illuminating the object to form a reflection light from the object; a sensor sensing the reflection light to generate a digital message; a system module receiving and processing the digital message to obtain a blind-guide information; and an output device coupled with the system module and outputting the blind-guide information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Joe-Air Jiang, Jih-Huah Wu, Yi-Chia Shan
  • Patent number: 7773259
    Abstract: The invention provides a hue adjusting device. When one color axis including different hues is being adjusted by the user, the hue adjusting device will rotate each of the different hue angles in different rotation angles. Accordingly, the color of an image adjusted by the invention will be smoother than the prior art. Namely, the image quality can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Marketech International Corp.
    Inventors: Kai-Hsiang Hsu, Yi-Chia Shan, Tsan-Hung Tsai, Hsu-Chia Kao
  • Patent number: 7692607
    Abstract: A method for adjusting an image on the basis of characteristics of a display system is provided. The image includes M horizontal lines. Each of the M horizontal lines respectively includes N pixels. Each pixel has an original gray level. A look-up table previously stores a plurality of conversion coefficients related to the characteristics of the display system. The method first calculates an ith loading according to the N original gray levels of the N pixels in the ith horizontal line. Based on the ith loading, an ith conversion coefficient corresponding to the ith loading is selected from the plurality of conversion coefficients in the look-up table. The method respectively multiplies the N original gray levels of the N pixels in the ith horizontal line by the ith conversion coefficient to generate N new gray levels for the N pixels in the ith horizontal line, whereby the image is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Marketech International Corp.
    Inventors: Hsu-Pin Kao, Yi-Sheng Yu, Yi-Chia Shan, Tsan-Hung Tsai
  • Publication number: 20100033495
    Abstract: The invention discloses an image processing apparatus and an image processing method, for adjusting the contrast of an input image. The input image consists of plural pixels and each pixel has a respective input lightness. The apparatus can perform a normalization procedure on the pixels to obtain a respective normalized lightness of each pixel. In addition, the apparatus generates lightness statistics based on the pixels and determines plural threshold lightness based on the lightness statistics. According to the normalized lightness and the threshold lightness, the apparatus can change the lightness gain of a specific region of the input image dynamically, and thereby adjust the contrast of the input image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Kai-Hsiang Hsu, Yi-Chia Shan
  • Patent number: 7659910
    Abstract: The invention discloses a hue dividing and judging device including a memory unit, a calculation module, and a judgment module. The memory unit is used for storing a look-up table, and the look-up table records N boundaries, wherein the N boundaries includes j+1 operative boundaries for defining j color areas. The calculation module is used for calculating the hue of each pixel of an input image. According to the look-up table, the judgment module is used for judging where the hue of each pixel falls within two of the operative boundaries, so as to judge that the hue of the pixel of the input image falls into which one of the color areas. Accordingly, if there are more operative boundaries recorded in the look-up table, the hue will be divided into more color areas, and the user will have more choices for adjusting the color of the input image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Marketech International Corp.
    Inventors: Kai-Hsiang Hsu, Yi-Chia Shan, Tsan-Hung Tsai, Hsu-Chia Kao
  • Patent number: 7609886
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for applying a dynamic contrast expansion technique to plasma display panels through performing a gamma conversion for the inputted image to convert the relationship of the brightness and gray level of the inputted image into a linear relation, performing a subtraction for the gray level value of the image to maintain the image at its smallest color deviation, analyzing the image property histogram to compute the maximum gray level and the minimum gray level required for carrying out the image contrast expansion and obtaining an image contrast expansion gain, and adopting an average of several previously inputted image contrast expansion gains and a current image contrast expansion gain as the contrast expansion gain used in the actual contrast expansion gain formula, so as to compute a new outputted gray level value after the image contrast expansion is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Marketech International Corp.
    Inventors: Hsu-Pin Kao, Yi-Sheng Yu, Yi-Chia Shan, Tsan-Hung Tsai
  • Patent number: 7564438
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method to automatically regulate brightness of liquid crystal displays (LCDs), which resolves the overload and easy fatigue of human eyes and poor image contrast due to high brightness of the conventional LCD. The present invention includes use of four parts, including an image brightness regulating unit, an image brightness ratio computation and output controlling unit, an ambient light detection and brightness adaptation regulating unit and an image gray level expanding unit. The image signals of an LCD are processed in such a manner to enable automatic control of optical flux of LCD TV by regulating the gray level of output images. Also, optical flux of LCD TV can be automatically controlled with the change of images and ambient light, thus alleviating overburdening of human eyes and improving the contrast and comfort of images for a better visual effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Marketech International Corp.
    Inventors: Hsu-Pin Kao, Tsan-Hung Tsai, Yi-Chia Shan, Hsu-Chia Kao
  • Patent number: 7545539
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a target gray level of a target pixel based on a spatial mask is provided. The target pixel is surrounded with N adjacent pixels; each of the N adjacent pixels respectively has an adjacent gray level. The method first multiplies the target gray level with a sharpness index to generate an amplified target gray level and respectively multiplies each of the adjacent gray level with an adjacent index to generate N modified adjacent gray levels. Then, the amplified target gray level and the N modified adjacent gray levels are added up to generate a first gray level sum. The method multiplies the first gray level sum with a multiplying parameter to generate a second gray level sum. At last, the method divides the second gray level sum by a dividing parameter to generate an adjusted gray level for the target pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Marketech International Corp.
    Inventors: Hsu-Pin Kao, Tsan-Hung Tsai, Yi-Chia Shan, Kai-Hsiang Hsu, Hsu-Chia Kao
  • Patent number: 7528805
    Abstract: The method to reduce image sticking in a plasma display panel (PDP) includes four steps. There is converting a relationship between gray level and brightness of an input signal into a linear relation by a converter. Next, there is recording an image with a static image detector at time t using a frame buffer, and after a period of time ?t, comparing the image at time t with the image at time t+?t, thereby identifying static or dynamic images in the pixel. Then, there is recording a gain of every pixel by a brightness regulator using an image gains memory buffer zone, the gain being regulated according to detection results of the static image detector. Finally, there is improving gray level performance of output images by a gray level promoter and brightness converter. Thus, method actively detects static pixels and reduces brightness in the static region for minimized image sticking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Marketech International Corp.
    Inventors: Hsu-Pin Kao, Yi-Chia Shan, Tsan-Hung Tsai, Hsu-Chia Kao
  • Publication number: 20090102772
    Abstract: The invention provides an image display system including a detection module, an adjusting module, and a display module. The display module includes a control unit and a panel. The detection module is used to determine whether an image signal includes a black stripe area. If the determination is true, the detection module will transmit out a control signal. The adjusting module is used to adjust a gray level of the black stripe area to a predetermined value. The control unit lowers the brightness corresponding to the black stripe area according to the control signal. The panel is used to display the image signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Yi-Sheng YU, Tsan-Hung Tsai, Yi-Chia Shan, Hsu-Pin Kao
  • Patent number: 7450091
    Abstract: The invention discloses an apparatus for increasing the display gray levels. The apparatus includes a signal transformation circuit, an error diffusion circuit, and an operation circuit. According to a first predetermined manner, the signal transformation circuit transforms a set of image signals into a set of transformed signals. The error diffusion circuit receives the set of transformed signals and generates a set of diffused signals according to a judging rule. The operation circuit receives the set of diffused signals and generates a set of output image signals according to a second predetermined manner and a predetermined operational rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Quanta Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Hsu-Pin Kao, Hsu-Chia Kao, Yi-Chia Shan, Yi-Sheng Yu
  • Patent number: 7447357
    Abstract: A method for adjusting an input image on the basis of the characteristics of a display system is provided. The input image includes N color elements and the display system is capable of displaying P second gray levels. P sets of first conversion coefficients related to the characteristics of the display system are beforehand stored in a look-up table. The method according to this invention first calculates an estimated gray level according to the input image and a set of predetermined second conversion coefficients. Then, a set of third conversion coefficients corresponding to the estimated gray level is selected from the look-up table. A final gray level is calculated on the basis of the set of third conversion coefficients. Finally, the final gray level and the N color components are combined into an adjusted image to replace the input image, whereby the input image is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Quanta Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Hsu-Pin Kao, Yi-Sheng Yu, Yung-Sheng Hsu, Yi-Chia Shan
  • Publication number: 20080219551
    Abstract: The invention discloses an image processing apparatus for adjusting lightness of an input image. The image processing apparatus includes a first processing module, a second processing module, a third processing module, and a fourth processing module. The first processing module is used for generating a lightness histogram with reference to the input image and determining a maximum lightness and an average lightness according to the lightness histogram. The second processing module is used for determining a first gain and a second gain according to the maximum lightness and a look-up table. The third processing module is used for selecting a lightness adjusting curve according to the average lightness. The fourth processing module is used for generating an output lightness corresponding to the input image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Hsu-Pin KAO, Yi-Chia Shan, Hsu-Chia Kao, Kai-Chiang Hsu
  • Publication number: 20080049275
    Abstract: The invention discloses an image adjusting device. According to a certain color axis and a certain adjusting parameter selected by a user, the image adjusting device is used for adjusting a current image parameter (such as lightness or saturation). The image adjusting device of the invention is capable of providing different adjusting gains for adjusting the lightness or the saturation based on different color axes, such that the image can be displayed smoothly without any uneven lines. Consequently, the image quality can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Kai-Hsiang Hsu, Yi-Chia Shan, Tsan-Hung Tsai, Hsu-Chia Kao
  • Publication number: 20080042574
    Abstract: A plasma display panel is provided. The plasma display panel includes a front plate, a back plate, a shadow mask, and a discharge destructive film. The shadow mask is located between the front plate and the back plate. The discharge destructive film is formed in a predetermined pattern between the shadow mask and the back plate. The discharge destructive film increases the firing voltages of some parts of the back plate. The discharge distance between the front plate and the back plate is accordingly increased. Thus, the luminous efficiency of the plasma display panel can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Hsu-Pin Kao, Jang-Jeng Liang, Sheng-Wen Hsu, Hsu-Chia Kao, Yi-Chia Shan
  • Publication number: 20080013135
    Abstract: The invention provides a hue adjusting device. When one color axis including different hues is being adjusted by the user, the hue adjusting device will rotate each of the different hue angles in different rotation angles. Accordingly, the color of an image adjusted by the invention will be smoother than the prior art. Namely, the image quality can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Kai-Hsiang Hsu, Yi-Chia Shan, Tsan-Hung Tsai, Hsu-Chia Kao
  • Publication number: 20070297690
    Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for image signal contrast extension and overflow compensation. The system includes contrast extension and overflow compensation look-up tables, an image gray level boundary determining unit, a contrast extension unit, an overflow judging unit, and an overflow compensation unit. The image gray level boundary determining unit defines a maximum and a minimum among the gray levels of the pixels of an image signal and calculates the difference. The contrast extension unit selects corresponding parameter from the contrast extension table for contrast extension of a given image pixel. The overflow judging unit judges whether the pixels are overflowed. The overflow compensation unit compensates the pixel. When a pixel is overflowed, the overflow compensation unit selects, according to the gray level of the pixel, a corresponding overflow compensation parameter to reduce the gray level to overcome the problem of overflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Yi-Sheng Yu, Hsu-Pin Kao, Yi-Chia Shan, Tsan-Hung Tsai