Novatek Microelectronics has filed a patent for an imaging control circuit that collects object image data from a display panel. The circuit includes touch sensors and imaging sensors to detect and determine the location of an object on the panel. It also generates a variable sized object imaging zone using a subset of the imaging sensors based on the object’s location and size. GlobalData’s report on Novatek Microelectronics gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.

According to GlobalData’s company profile on Novatek Microelectronics, Adaptive video coding was a key innovation area identified from patents. Novatek Microelectronics's grant share as of September 2023 was 59%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

Imaging control circuit for object image data collection

Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Credit: Novatek Microelectronics Corp

A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230316800A1) describes an imaging control circuit for collecting object image data on a display panel. The circuit includes a first circuit that receives touch sensing signals from touch sensors in the display panel, a second circuit that receives object image sensing signals from imaging sensors, and a third circuit that determines the location of the object and generates a variable sized object imaging zone based on the location and size of the object image. The variable sized object imaging zone consists of a variable subset of the imaging sensors.

The patent also mentions that the imaging control circuit can be integrated within a portable electronic device designed to identify human fingerprints. Additionally, the circuit only scans the variable subset of imaging sensors to generate an object image with sufficient information for object identification. The object can be a human appendage, and its detection is based on optical and/or acoustic detectable features.

The third circuit in the imaging control circuit is responsible for generating the object image from the object image sensing signals and controls the scanning of the variable subset of imaging sensors. The circuit also includes a switch circuit that switches the variable subset of imaging sensors and transmits the object image sensing signals to the second circuit under the control of the third circuit.

Furthermore, the third circuit can perform a remapping operation when the object spans adjacent logical image sensing channels. It can also generate another variable sized object imaging zone based on the location and size of another object image presented within the display panel simultaneously with the first object image.

Another aspect of the patent describes an imaging control circuit specifically designed for controlling image scanning of a human appendage, such as a finger, on a display panel with input and output capability. This circuit includes a touch circuit that receives touch sensing signals from touch sensors and an imaging circuit that receives appendage image sensing signals from image sensors. A scanning control circuit determines the location and boundaries of the appendage image and generates an appendage imaging zone based on this information. The appendage imaging zone consists of a variable number of appendage image sensing signals extending from the boundaries and spanning the width of the appendage image. The circuit collects appendage image data from this imaging zone.

Overall, this patent introduces innovative imaging control circuits that can efficiently collect object image data from a display panel, particularly for object identification purposes.

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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.