Patents by Inventor Nicola Bettina Pfeffer

Nicola Bettina Pfeffer 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: 11184552
    Abstract: A method includes capturing a first image of a scene, detecting a face in a section of the scene from the first image, and activating an infrared (IR) light source to selectively illuminate the section of the scene with IR light. The IR light source includes an array of IR light emitting diodes (LEDs). The method includes capturing a second image of the scene under selective IR lighting from the IR light source, detecting the face in the second image, and identifying a person based on the face in the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Arjen Gerben Van Der Sijde, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer, Quint Van Voorst Vader, Yourii Martynov, Charles André Schrama
  • Publication number: 20210325712
    Abstract: A backlight apparatus can include a light emitting element configured to emit visible light. The backlight apparatus can include a polarizing device including a prism situated to receive the visible light and to polarize the visible light to generate polarized light. The backlight apparatus can include a light guide panel configured to receive the polarized light at an input surface facing the polarizing device and to distribute the polarized light to a major surface of the light guide panel facing a display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Mehdi Aas, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer, Arjen Gerben Van der Sijde, Erno Fancsali
  • Patent number: 11145191
    Abstract: A flash light module (1) can include a housing (30) carrying at least a visible flash light emitter (10) to emit a flash light beam along an optical axis (OA) and at least one additional emitter (20) emitting non-visible light arranged at a second distance (D2) perpendicular to the optical axis (OA), where position and orientation of the additional emitter (20) and at least the second distances (D2) are suitably adapted as well as the housing (30) is suitably shaped in order to enable the additional emitter (20) to emit non-visible light (22) along a non-visible light emitting direction (IRD), wherein the additional emitter (20) is adapted to emit the non-visible light (22) to the environment suitable to remote communicate to, preferably to remote control, external electronic devices (5) comprising corresponding receivers for the non-visible light (22). A mobile device (100) can include the flash light module (1) and a method to operate the mobile device (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Thierry De Smet, James Tarne, Arjen van der Sijde, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer, Olivier Meilhon
  • Patent number: 11086198
    Abstract: A method according to embodiments of the invention includes, for a field of view comprising a plurality of portions, determining an amount of light for each portion. LEDs corresponding to each portion are selectively energized over a plurality of time periods, such that a sum of illumination generated by each LED during the plurality of time periods equals the determined amount of light. An image of the field of view is captured, for example by a camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Arjen Van Der Sijde, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer, Yourii Martynov
  • Patent number: 11076083
    Abstract: Multi-color flash with image post-processing that uses a camera device with a multi-color flash and implements post-processing to generate images is described. In one aspect, the multi-color flash with image post-processing may be implemented by a controller configured to control a camera and flashes of at least two different colors. The controller may be configured to cause the camera to acquire a first image of a scene while the scene is being illuminated with the first flash but not the second flash, then cause the camera to acquire a second image of the scene while the scene is being illuminated with the second flash but not the first flash, and generate a final image of the scene in post-processing based on a combination of the first image and the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Charles Schrama, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer, Arjen van der Sijde
  • Patent number: 11073653
    Abstract: A backlight apparatus can include a lens to receive light and generate light with a collimated batwing configuration. The lens can include a receiving surface and an opposing transmission surface. The lens can be symmetric about a plane of symmetry. The transmission surface can include an angle of curvature that increases closer to the plane of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Mehdi Aas, Arjen Gerben Van der Sijde, Erno Fancsali, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer
  • Publication number: 20210225816
    Abstract: The invention describes a light emitting diode array module (30) comprising a plurality of light emitting diode structures (10a, 10b), wherein the light emitting diode structures (10a, 10b) are arranged such that there is an optical cross talk between the light emitting diode structures (10a, 10b) during operation of the light emitting diode array module (30), wherein at least a first light emitting diode structure (10a) of the plurality of light emitting diode structures (10a, 10b) is characterized by a first color, and wherein at least a second light emitting diode structure (10b) of the plurality of light emitting diode structures (10a, 10b) is characterized by a second color different than the first color, wherein the first color, the second color and the optical cross talk between the light emitting diodes are arranged to provide a predefined light distribution in a reference plane (40) perpendicular to an optical axis (50) of the light emitting diode an-ay module (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Rob Jacques Paul Engelen, Frans Hubert Konijn, Charles André Schrama, Emanuel Nicolaas Hermanus Johannes Stassar, Erno Fancsali, Varun Dev Kakkar, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer
  • Publication number: 20210219394
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus and method of controlling a lighting apparatus are described. A power supply capable of supplying an amount of power is connected to an array of light emitting elements capable of illuminating an area in response to the supplied amount of power. At least some light emitting elements can have independently controllable illumination intensity, with the array of light emitting elements being switchable between a first mode in which each member of the array of light emitting elements received the supplied amount of power and provides a broadly collimated beam, and second mode where a subset of the array of light emitting elements receive the supplied amount of power and provides a narrower collimated beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: LUMILEDS LLC
    Inventors: Arjen van der Sijde, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer, Quint van Voorst Vader
  • Publication number: 20210200064
    Abstract: A method according to embodiments of the invention includes, for a field of view comprising a plurality of portions, determining an amount of light for each portion. LEDs corresponding to each portion are selectively energized over a plurality of time periods, such that a sum of illumination generated by each LED during the plurality of time periods equals the determined amount of light. An image of the field of view is captured, for example by a camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Arjen Van Der Sijde, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer, Yourii Martynov
  • Publication number: 20210191033
    Abstract: A backlight apparatus can include a lens to receive light and generate light with a collimated batwing configuration. The lens can include a receiving surface and an opposing transmission surface. The lens can be symmetric about a plane of symmetry. The transmission surface can include an angle of curvature that increases closer to the plane of symmetry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Mehdi Aas, Arjen Gerben Van der Sijde, Erno Fancsali, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer
  • Publication number: 20210183940
    Abstract: Segmented LED arrays with various diffusing elements are disclosed. An example segmented LED array includes a plurality of LEDs arranged in a plurality of sections where a given section may include one or more LEDs and where each section may be aligned with a different respective optical element such as a lens. Each LED may be a wavelength-converting LED in that it may include a light emitter arrangement and a wavelength-converter structure. In various embodiments, diffusing elements in the form of one or more structures of a diffuser material may be provided over the wavelength-converter structure of one or more LEDs, the one or more structures being in a light path between the wavelength-converter structure and at least one of the plurality of optical elements, and configured to diffuse light emerging from the wavelength-converter structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: Lumileds LLC.
    Inventors: Arjen van der Sijde, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer
  • Publication number: 20210180754
    Abstract: A device for controlling illumination of a scene using an LED array that includes a plurality of individually addressable LEDs, built into a hand-held device, is disclosed. The device includes a controller arranged to configure a first sub-set of the LEDs to provide illumination for a target spot in the scene and to monitor movement of the hand-held device. If the controller detects movement of the hand-held device while the first sub-set of the LEDs is providing illumination, then the controller may configure a second sub-set of the LEDs to continue providing illumination of the target spot. In this manner, even though there may have been movement that could change the specific area illuminated by the LED array, the movement is compensated for, at least partially, by selecting one or more other LEDs to illuminate the same target spot in a manner that is substantially unnoticeable to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Arjen van der Sijde, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer
  • Publication number: 20210180773
    Abstract: A device for controlling illumination of a scene using an LED array that includes a plurality of individually addressable LEDs, built into a hand-held device, is disclosed. The device includes a controller arranged to configure a first sub-set of the LEDs to provide illumination for a target spot in the scene and to monitor movement of the hand-held device. If the controller detects movement of the hand-held device while the first sub-set of the LEDs is providing illumination, then the controller may configure a second sub-set of the LEDs to continue providing illumination of the target spot. In this manner, even though there may have been movement that could change the specific area illuminated by the LED array, the movement is compensated for, at least partially, by selecting one or more other LEDs to illuminate the same target spot in a manner that is substantially unnoticeable to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: LUMILEDS LLC
    Inventors: Arjen van der Sijde, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer
  • Patent number: 11029564
    Abstract: A backlight apparatus can include a light emitting element configured to emit visible light. The backlight apparatus can include a polarizing device including a prism situated to receive the visible light and to polarize the visible light to generate polarized light. The backlight apparatus can include a light guide panel configured to receive the polarized light at an input surface facing the polarizing device and to distribute the polarized light to a major surface of the light guide panel facing a display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Mehdi Aas, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer, Arjen Gerben Van der Sijde, Erno Fancsali
  • Publication number: 20210167245
    Abstract: A light-emitting apparatus can include a reflective cavity that can reflect visible light within the reflective cavity. The reflective cavity can allow the reflected visible light to exit the reflective cavity only at one or more specified emission locations. A visible light-emitting diode can emit visible light into the reflective cavity. An infrared light-emitting diode can emit infrared light into the reflective cavity. A lens can angularly redirect infrared light and visible light that exit the cavity through the one or more emission locations. The reflective cavity can be formed by surfaces at least partially coated with a coating that is reflective for visible light. The coated surfaces can include a circuit board that supports the light-emitting diodes, an incident surface of the lens, and an extension portion of the lens that extends from a flange to the incident surface of the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Mehdi Aas, Erno Fancsali, Frans Hubert Konijn, Arjen Van der Sijde, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer
  • Publication number: 20210152719
    Abstract: Multi-color flash with image post-processing that uses a camera device with a multi-color flash and implements post-processing to generate images is described. In one aspect, the multi-color flash with image post-processing may be implemented by a controller configured to control a camera and flashes of at least two different colors. The controller may be configured to cause the camera to acquire a first image of a scene while the scene is being illuminated with the first flash but not the second flash, then cause the camera to acquire a second image of the scene while the scene is being illuminated with the second flash but not the first flash, and generate a final image of the scene in post-processing based on a combination of the first image and the second image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: Lumileds Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Charles Schrama, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer, Arjen van der Sijde
  • Publication number: 20210151647
    Abstract: A lighting device comprises a light-emitting module with light-emitting elements, wherein the light-emitting elements are arranged adjacent to each other and are configured to emit light towards a light-emitting side. The light-emitting module is configured such that the light-emitting elements can be addressed partially independently of each other, such that some may be brought into a switched-on state while others are brought into a switched-off state. A top layer is disposed on the light-emitting module at the light-emitting side. Further comprising a switching material capable of a reversible change in transmittance for the light emitted by changing to a higher transmittance in regions where the top layer situated on light-emitting elements in the switched-on state or to a lower transmittance in regions of the top layer situated in the switched-off state. The invention further refers to methods for producing and operating a lighting device and using a lighting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Nicola Bettina Pfeffer, Arjen Gerben Van der Sijde, Marcel Rene Bohmer
  • Publication number: 20210150743
    Abstract: Multi-color flash with image post-processing that uses a camera device with a multi-color flash and implements post-processing to generate images is described. In one aspect, the multi-color flash with image post-processing may be implemented by a controller configured to control a camera and flashes of at least two different colors. The controller may be configured to cause the camera to acquire a first image of a scene while the scene is being illuminated with the first flash but not the second flash, then cause the camera to acquire a second image of the scene while the scene is being illuminated with the second flash but not the first flash, and generate a final image of the scene in post-processing based on a combination of the first image and the second image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: Lumileds Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Charles Schrama, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer, Arjen Gerben Van Der Sijde
  • Patent number: 10998298
    Abstract: A light emitting diode array module includes a plurality of light emitting diode structures. The light emitting diode structures are arranged such that there is an optical cross talk between the light emitting diode structures during operation of the light emitting diode array module. At least a first light emitting diode structure of the plurality of light emitting diode structures is characterized by a first color. At least a second light emitting diode structure of the plurality of light emitting diode structures is characterized by a second color different than the first color. The first color, the second color, and the optical cross talk between the light emitting diodes are arranged to provide a predefined light distribution in a reference plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the light emitting diode array module. A lighting device can include one or more LED array modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Rob Jacques Paul Engelen, Frans Hubert Konijn, Charles André Schrama, Emanuel Nicolaas Hermanus Johannes Stassar, Erno Fancsali, Varun Dev Kakkar, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer
  • Patent number: 10996516
    Abstract: A backlight apparatus can include a light emitting element configured to emit visible light. The backlight apparatus can include a polarizing device including a prism situated to receive the visible light and to polarize the visible light to generate polarized light. The backlight apparatus can include a light guide panel configured to receive the polarized light at an input surface facing the polarizing device and to distribute the polarized light to a major surface of the light guide panel facing a display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Mehdi Aas, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer, Arjen Gerben Van der Sijde, Erno Fancsali