Patents by Inventor Zhiming Zhuang

Zhiming Zhuang 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: 8542202
    Abstract: An electronic device is operable to determine a touch input applied to a capacitive touch panel system thereof so as to account for time-varying noise affecting the touch panel system. The electronic device includes the touch panel system, an analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) unit, and a processing unit. The processing unit is operable to: receive digital signal values from the ADC unit representing capacitances detected by sensing points of the touch panel system; adjust at least one of the digital signal values based at least on a time-varying noise to produce at least one noise-adjusted value; and determine the touch input based on the at least one noise-adjusted value. In one embodiment, the electronic device determines the time-varying noise prior to adjusting the digital signal values. In another embodiment, the time-varying noise is produced by a display panel of a touchscreen display that also includes the touch panel system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Zhiming Zhuang, William P. Alberth, Jr., Ken K. Foo
  • Publication number: 20130194313
    Abstract: A method performed by a processor of a electronic device, including rendering (402), on an electronic display, a line segment having a first direction and moving in a second direction. The method also includes a step of determining (404) whether the direction of the line segment (the first direction) is in the same direction that the line segment is moving (the second direction). If the processor determines that the line segment is not moving in the same direction of the direction of the line segment (the first direction), then the processor performs (408) a first action, such as adjusting the color intensity of the line segment. If the processor determines that the line segment is moving in the same direction of the direction of the line segment (e.g., the two directions are substantially parallel to each other), then the processor performs (406) a second action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Sen Yang, Brian M. Collins, Daniel C. Wong, Zhiming Zhuang
  • Patent number: 8487951
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of user interfaces of electronic devices having a displays configured to annunciate wallpaper images wherein a wallpaper image includes image data. Image data can be characterized, for example, by the luminance levels of pixels of the image and/or the power needed to display the image. An image characteristic threshold is related to current drain impact, for example, in terms of luminance and/or power needed to display an image. A disclosed method can include receiving the image data of the wallpaper image and determining whether the image characteristic of the image data (such as luminance level at a given percentile) exceeds the image characteristic threshold. A disclosed method can further provide generating a user interface notification relating to the image characteristic exceeding the image characteristic threshold and relating to the current drain impact of displaying the image as wallpaper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: William P Alberth, Zhiming Zhuang
  • Patent number: 8139195
    Abstract: A segmented optical shutter (200) is used with a high-resolution display (101) to provide a dynamic user interface (400) for a portable electronic device (100). To reduce optical interference corresponding to a correlation function for transmitted light occurring between the photospacers (209) in the segmented optical shutter (200) and the black matrix (107), the photospacers (209) are disposed along a light transmitting substrate (204) of the segmented optical shutter (200) in a quasi-random arrangement. The quasi-random arrangement, which may include varying the horizontal and vertical placement of the photospacers (209), repeating asymmetrical subsections of photospacer configurations, varying the size or shape of the photospacers (209), or combinations thereof, misaligns the photospacers (209) relative to the black matrix (107) or other elements to reduce optical interference and moiré patterns that may otherwise be perceptible to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Emig, Chien-Hui Wen, Zhiming Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20120062503
    Abstract: A display assembly comprises a touch sensor including at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode, and an electrophoretic display (EPD). The EPD including the at least one first electrode as a drive electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: MOTOROLA-MOBILITY, INC.
    Inventors: Zhiming Zhuang, William P. Alberth, Ken K. Foo
  • Publication number: 20110316844
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of user interfaces of electronic devices having a displays configured to annunciate wallpaper images wherein a wallpaper image includes image data. Image data can be characterized, for example, by the luminance levels of pixels of the image and/or the power needed to display the image. An image characteristic threshold is related to current drain impact, for example, in terms of luminance and/or power needed to display an image. A disclosed method can include receiving the image data of the wallpaper image and determining whether the image characteristic of the image data (such as luminance level at a given percentile) exceeds the image characteristic threshold. A disclosed method can further provide generating a user interface notification relating to the image characteristic exceeding the image characteristic threshold and relating to the current drain impact of displaying the image as wallpaper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, Zhiming Zhuang
  • Patent number: 8049747
    Abstract: An apparatus (100) including a pixel diffuser for a stretchable display is disclosed. The apparatus may include an elastic viewable display (110) that is stretched in a first viewable display area configuration and contracted in a second viewable display area configuration. The apparatus can also include a plurality of addressable picture elements (120 and 125) disposed on the elastic viewable display, an optical barrier (132) between each of the plurality of addressable picture elements, and an elastic diffuser (140) optically coupled to the plurality of addressable picture elements on the elastic viewable display. The apparatus can also include an electrical interface (150) coupled to the elastic viewable display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore Arneson, Zhiming Zhuang
  • Patent number: 7972051
    Abstract: Described are a backlight, a backlight assembly for use in an electronic device and an electronic device configured to activate the backlight's first light source and to activate the backlight's second light source independently of one another. The described double-sided backlight may illuminate either the primary display or the secondary display. The disclosed backlight includes two light sources, each used to direct light in opposite directions from the double-sided backlight. The light guide of the backlight is configured to direct light from the first light source in a first direction to exit the light guide via its first face, and to direct light from the second light source in a second direction different from the first direction to exit the light guide via its second face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Wang, Sen Yang, Zhiming Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20110157069
    Abstract: An electronic device is operable to determine a touch input applied to a capacitive touch panel system thereof so as to account for time-varying noise affecting the touch panel system. The electronic device includes the touch panel system, an analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) unit, and a processing unit. The processing unit is operable to: receive digital signal values from the ADC unit representing capacitances detected by sensing points of the touch panel system; adjust at least one of the digital signal values based at least on a time-varying noise to produce at least one noise-adjusted value; and determine the touch input based on the at least one noise-adjusted value. In one embodiment, the electronic device determines the time-varying noise prior to adjusting the digital signal values. In another embodiment, the time-varying noise is produced by a display panel of a touchscreen display that also includes the touch panel system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Zhiming Zhuang, William P. Alberth, JR., Ken K. Foo
  • Patent number: 7953438
    Abstract: Disclosed are circuits and user interfaces of a mobile communication device that include a light source and a shutter that are driven by at least one common voltage line. Also disclosed are circuits and user interfaces of a mobile communication device that include a sensor and a shutter that are driven by at least one common voltage line. Further disclosed are circuits and user interfaces that include a light source, a sensor and a shutter that are driven by at least one common voltage line. The shutter may be divided into a plurality of segments so that one segment may be in optical alignment with a light source and another segment may be in optical alignment with a sensor. A shutter may be part of the same circuit as a light source and/or a sensor without needing its own circuit and driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Polak, Ken K. Foo, John W. Kaehler, Zhiming Zhuang
  • Patent number: 7933509
    Abstract: A camera-movement compensation device includes a first liquid-crystal cell with a pair of parallel transparent plates and a first voltage source coupled to the first liquid-crystal cell and able to apply and alter a first voltage gradient across the plates of the first liquid-crystal cell. The device also includes a second liquid-crystal cell having a pair of parallel transparent plates and disposed so that each of the plates of the second liquid-crystal cell is parallel to the plates of the first liquid-crystal cell and in light communication with at least one wave of light passing through the plates of the first liquid-crystal cell, a second voltage source coupled to the second liquid-crystal cell and able to apply and alter a second voltage gradient across the surfaces of the second liquid-crystal cell, and a movement detector coupled to the voltage sources to alter the slope of the voltage gradients in proportion to a movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Sen Yang, Kevin W. Johnson, Dongxue Wang, Chien-Hui Wen, Zhiming Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20100117809
    Abstract: A mobile communication terminal (10) is provided. The mobile communication terminal (10) includes a touch sensitive liquid crystal display (LCD) module (12) having a predetermined plurality of touch sensitive areas (20, 22) and a plurality of piezoelectric elements (106, 108, 110, 112) disposed along a periphery of a cover glass of the display module (12) wherein activation of the piezoelectric elements provides tactile feedback to a user of activation of a portion of the touch sensitive LCD module (12) by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: MOTOROLA INC.
    Inventors: Xunhu Dai, Paul Baciu, Zhiming Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20090169192
    Abstract: A camera-movement compensation device includes a first liquid-crystal cell with a pair of parallel transparent plates and a first voltage source coupled to the first liquid-crystal cell and able to apply and alter a first voltage gradient across the plates of the first liquid-crystal cell. The device also includes a second liquid-crystal cell having a pair of parallel transparent plates and disposed so that each of the plates of the second liquid-crystal cell is parallel to the plates of the first liquid-crystal cell and in light communication with at least one wave of light passing through the plates of the first liquid-crystal cell, a second voltage source coupled to the second liquid-crystal cell and able to apply and alter a second voltage gradient across the surfaces of the second liquid-crystal cell, and a movement detector coupled to the voltage sources to alter the slope of the voltage gradients in proportion to a movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Sen Yang, Kevin W. Johnson, Dongxue Wang, Chien-Hui Wen, Zhiming Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20090161059
    Abstract: A segmented optical shutter (200) is used with a high-resolution display (101) to provide a dynamic user interface (400) for a portable electronic device (100). To reduce optical interference corresponding to a correlation function for transmitted light occurring between the photospacers (209) in the segmented optical shutter (200) and the black matrix (107), the photospacers (209) are disposed along a light transmitting substrate (204) of the segmented optical shutter (200) in a quasi-random arrangement. The quasi-random arrangement, which may include varying the horizontal and vertical placement of the photospacers (209), repeating asymmetrical subsections of photospacer configurations, varying the size or shape of the photospacers (209), or combinations thereof, misaligns the photospacers (209) relative to the black matrix (107) or other elements to reduce optical interference and moiré patterns that may otherwise be perceptible to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: David M. Emig, Chien-Hui Wen, Zhiming Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20090153542
    Abstract: An apparatus (100) including a pixel diffuser for a stretchable display is disclosed. The apparatus may include an elastic viewable display (110) that is stretched in a first viewable display area configuration and contracted in a second viewable display area configuration. The apparatus can also include a plurality of addressable picture elements (120 and 125) disposed on the elastic viewable display, an optical barrier (132) between each of the plurality of addressable picture elements, and an elastic diffuser (140) optically coupled to the plurality of addressable picture elements on the elastic viewable display. The apparatus can also include an electrical interface (150) coupled to the elastic viewable display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: Motorola,Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore Arneson, Zhiming Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20090122017
    Abstract: A mobile electronic device and corresponding method have a user interface for receiving a touch input. The mobile electronic device includes a capacitive sensor having an electrode layer with non-etched away portions and etched away portions, and having isolation areas formed in the etched away portions, and a segmented optical shutter disposed on a side of the capacitive sensor, the optical shutter including a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a top absorbing polarizer and a bottom absorbing polarizer, and including a reflectance increasing element disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the bottom absorbing polarizer. A reflectance of the reflectance increasing element is selected to reduce a ratio of a reflectance through the non-etched away portions to a reflectance through the etched away portions to make an appearance of the user interface substantially uniform in an off state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: David Michael Emig, Zhiming Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20090079707
    Abstract: Disclosed are touch screen devices and methods of sensing an object near the surface of a touch screen device. A capacitive sensor is integrated into display electronics by flipping the traditional thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT) stack-up which has a bottom gate structure so that it is an inverted bottom gate structure. Accordingly, the gate structure is near the top of the display and the gate drive lines are re-used as excitation lines in addition to their function as display lines. The excitation lines therefore drive excitation to generate an induced electric field at the surface of the display device. Additionally, other lines are used as sensor lines so that sensor signals are input to the device controller to determine the position of an object at the surface of the display device. Accordingly, the excitation lines are scanned to detect the presence of a finger or other object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: JOHN W. KAEHLER, KEN K. FOO, ZHIMING ZHUANG
  • Publication number: 20090059101
    Abstract: An auto-focus camera (100) can include a lens (102), a sensor (108) for detecting an image from the lens, a first liquid crystal layer (104) between the lens and the sensor, and a second liquid crystal layer (106) between the lens and the sensor and further orthogonally aligned to the first liquid crystal layer. The auto-focus camera can further include an integrated circuit programmed to drive the first liquid crystal layer and the second liquid crystal layer. The auto-focus camera can include a controller (202) programmed to control two orthogonally aligned liquid crystal layers. The liquid crystal layers can serve as an optical anti-alias filter using birefringence properties of the liquid crystal layers. The first liquid crystal layer and the second liquid crystal layer can be orthogonally aligned to achieve polarization insensitive operation of the auto-focus camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: DONGXUE WANG, KEVIN W. JOHNSON, ZHIMING ZHUANG
  • Publication number: 20090046089
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, apparatus are provided, which include a burn-in compensation pixel generator and burn-in compensation circuitry. The burn-in compensation pixel generator is configured to generate burn-in compensation pixel data. The burn-in compensation circuitry is configured to provide, within break-from-standard-use periods of a device employing a display, the generated burn-in compensation pixel data instead of a select predetermined subset of default pixel data, for input to a display interface of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhiming Zhuang, Ken K. Foo, John W. Kaehler, Robert D. Polak
  • Publication number: 20080266244
    Abstract: A dual-sided electrophoretic display (700) having a first region (701) and a second region (702) is provided. Each of the first region (701) and the second region (702) includes selectively operable members (703,704) that function as pixels for presenting images on the electrophoretic display (700). Each of the selectively operable members (703,704) is driven by a driver circuit (710) by way of corresponding thin film transistors and capacitors (742,742), which are opaque. As the selectively operable members (704) of the second region (702) are bigger than are the selectively operable members (703) of the first region (701), the aperture ratio of the selectively operable members (704) of the second region (702) is greater than in the first region (701) when viewed from the rear side (730). Thus, a contrast ratio of the second region (602), when viewed from the rear side (730) is sufficiently high that text, icons, and characters presented in the second region (602) are legibly visible on the rear side (730).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: XiaoPing Bai, John P. Boos, Bharat N. Vakil, Zhiming Zhuang