Patents Assigned to AMS International AG
  • Patent number: 12259276
    Abstract: A spectrometer device includes: a substrate including multiple light detector elements; a first filter layer on the substrate, in which the first filter layer includes multiple groups of filter stacks, each filter stack in the first filter layer including multiple dielectric films of alternating refractive index; and a second filter layer on the first filter layer, in which the second filter layer includes multiple groups of filter stacks, each filter stack in the second filter layer including multiple dielectric films of alternating refractive index, in which each filter stack in the second filter layer is aligned with both a corresponding filter stack in the first filter layer and a corresponding light detector element to define a respective photodetector channel, and in which each photodetector channel includes a different optical transmission spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Ruitao Zheng, James Archibald
  • Patent number: 12253679
    Abstract: An optical system for an augmented reality (AR) display comprises an image generator for generating image light, and an optical combiner for location in a field of view of a user of the optical system between the user and a scene. The optical combiner is configured to transmit ambient light from the scene towards an eye of the user, the ambient light being incident on a first side of the optical combiner. The image generator and the optical combiner are arranged so that the image light is incident on a second side of the optical combiner, the second side of the combiner being opposite to the first side of the optical combiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: ams International AG
    Inventors: Eric Tremblay, Carlos Macias, Volker Zagolla, Robin Kaech
  • Patent number: 12231115
    Abstract: A power on reset circuit includes a threshold detector circuit. The threshold detector circuit includes a power supply voltage, a voltage comparator, first circuitry, second circuitry, and third circuitry. The voltage comparator has first and second input terminals, and an output terminal to provide a reset signal. The first circuitry is operable to convert the power supply voltage to a sensed current, and provides a positive temperature coefficient to the sensed current. The second circuitry is operable to generate, based on the sensed current, a temperature-dependent voltage corresponding to the power supply voltage and to couple the temperature-dependent voltage to the first input of the voltage comparator. The third circuitry is operable to generate, based on the sensed current, a reference voltage and to couple the reference voltage to the second input of the voltage comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: ams International AG
    Inventors: Andrea Bonelli, Stefania Chicca
  • Patent number: 12184288
    Abstract: An oscillator circuit includes a first integrator unit to charge a first capacitor at a first integration node, a second integrator unit to charge a second capacitor at a second integration node, a chopped comparator unit and a logic unit. The chopped comparator unit includes a switching unit, a sensing comparator and a replica comparator. The switching unit is configured to couple the first integration node, the second integration node and a reference voltage VREF to the sensing comparator and the replica comparator, depending upon a phase determined by a first input clock signal C1 and a second input clock signal C2, which have opposite phases. The logic unit is configured to generate signals C1, C2, D1, D2, E1, E2 for controlling each integrator unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Josip Mikulic, Gregor Schatzberger
  • Patent number: 12183410
    Abstract: A data storage apparatus includes an integrated circuit further including a control unit and a memory array of charge-based memory cells. The memory array includes a first subsection which is operable as a memory, and includes a second subsection which is operable as a dosimeter. The control unit is operable to provide a reference current and to conduct memory access operations to access the memory with reference to the reference current. The control unit is further operable to analyze a statistical distribution of read currents by using memory access operations in the second subsection. Said analysis involves counting of logical read errors of the memory access operations and calibrating the reference current depending on a number of counted logical read errors being indicative also of a Total Ionizing Dose, TID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Tommaso Vincenzi, Gregor Schatzberger
  • Patent number: 12181611
    Abstract: Methods for detecting a time-of-flight include: emitting a light pulse toward a target; detecting a presence of light received at a light detector; obtaining a delay time between emitting the light pulse and detecting the presence of the light at the light detector; responsive to obtaining the delay time, (a) updating an overall intensity counter that counts a total number of delay times that have been obtained and (b) updating a delay time counter out of a plurality of different delay time counters, wherein each delay time counter counts a total number of delay times obtained that have a corresponding delay time value; and monitoring a threshold of each delay time counter to determine whether a threshold value is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Thomas Jessenig, Robert Kappel, Manfred Lueger, Christian Mautner
  • Patent number: 12184996
    Abstract: A light sensor is disclosed. The light sensor comprises a first pixel and a second pixel. The light sensor comprises measurement circuitry. The first pixel is configured to accumulate a first charge and the second pixel is configured to accumulate a second charge when the light sensor is exposed to light. The first pixel is configured to trigger the measurement circuitry to measure the second charge when the first charge reaches a threshold capacity of the first pixel. Also disclosed is an active pixel sensor comprising the light sensor, an image sensor and a device incorporating the light sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: ams International AG
    Inventors: Herbert Lenhard, Karl Waser, Bernhard Greimel-Laengauer, Mario Teufel
  • Patent number: 12164062
    Abstract: A time of flight sensor includes at least one demodulation pixel. Each demodulation pixel includes a semiconductor substrate; a charge generation region in the semiconductor substrate, the charge generation region having a lateral extent, the charge generation region being configured to convert light into charge carriers; a light directing element in the charge generation region of the semiconductor substrate, the light directing element being configured to direct light through at least a portion of the lateral extent of the charge generation region; a collection region in the semiconductor substrate, the collection region being configured to collect the charge carriers generated in at least a portion of the lateral extent of the charge generation region, and a readout component in electrical communication with the collection region, the readout component being operable to control an electrical coupling between the charge generation region and the collection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños, David Stoppa
  • Patent number: 12163839
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and apparatus that can be used to determine various characteristics of ambient light when an ambient light sensor is located behind a display screen. The strategy of the disclosure relies, at least in part, on spectral decomposition of ambient light measurements into components (e.g., red, green, and blue components of an Organic Light Emitting Diode (“OLED”) display screen and ambient light). Following the spectral decomposition technique, statistical analysis are performed on the measurement data to remove the OLED light components from the measurement. This technique enables determinations such as ambient lux and correlated color temperature independent of the content displayed on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: James Archibald, Doug Nelson, Timothy Cogan
  • Patent number: 12155171
    Abstract: Illuminator modules having improved safety features are described. In some implementations, light to be emitted from a module is produced by a light source, and light reflected by an optical component disposed over the light source is detected by a photodetectors. A distribution of the reflected light detected by the photodetectors is monitored, and an optical output power of the light source is regulated if it is determined, based on the monitored distribution of light, that an unsafe level of light may be emitted from the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños, David Stoppa, Manfred Lueger, Thomas Jessenig
  • Patent number: 12149246
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for charge integration may include an input for applying a signal representing charge pulses, an output for providing an integrated signal, and an integrating circuit connected between the input and the output, comprising a resistive circuit and a capacitor and having an RC time constant which is a function of the resistive circuit and the capacitor. The circuit arrangement may include a feedback control circuit connected at its input, to the output of the circuit arrangement and providing, at its output, a control signal, where at least one of the resistive circuit and the capacitor has a variable value based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: ams International AG
    Inventor: Andreas Fitzi
  • Patent number: 12140474
    Abstract: A system comprising a display and an ambient light sensing module, the ambient light sensing module being located beneath the display. The display comprises an array of light emitting diodes and a first polarizer located above the display. The sensing module comprises a first sensor and a second sensor, a second polarizer being located above the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Matthew Sampsell, George R. Kelly, James Archibald
  • Patent number: 12123770
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for a light-to-frequency sensor conversion. In some implementations, a first output waveform is generated from a light signal, a frequency of the first output waveform being based on an intensity of the light signal, including integrating the light signal across multiple clock cycles. In response to receiving a notification, a hold operation is performed to stop integrating the light signal for a period of time. In response to an end of the hold operation, a second output waveform is generated that includes integrating the intensity of the light signal starting from the end of the hold operation over a count of the multiple clock cycles that start after the end of the hold operation by a delay amount. The first output waveform and the second output waveform are summed to determine the intensity of the light signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventor: Ravi Kumar Adusumalli
  • Patent number: 12126337
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a display screen, and an optical proximity sensor module disposed behind the display screen. The optical proximity sensor module includes a light emitter operable to produce light having a wavelength for transmission through the display screen toward a target object, and a light sensor operable to sense light reflected by the target object and having the wavelength. The optical proximity sensor module can includes means for reducing a maximum energy density of a light beam produced by the light emitter. The means for reducing the maximum energy density of the light beam is disposed between the light emitter and the display screen so as to intersect the light beam produced by the light emitter. In some cases, there are multiple light emitters collectively operable to provide sufficient optical energy for proximity sensing without producing a visible spot on the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Jian Liu, Klaus Schmidegg, Whitney Hernandez, Helmut Theiler, Josef Kriebernegg, George Richard Kelly, Matt Kroese
  • Patent number: 12087780
    Abstract: An optical sensor device comprises a semiconductor body with a light-sensitive area, metal layers which are arranged above the light-sensitive area and comprise an upper metal layer and a lower metal layer, wherein the upper metal layer is located at a greater distance from the light-sensitive area than the lower metal layer. The optical sensor device further comprises an aperture opening in the metal layers above the light-sensitive area and a via structure, which is arranged outside the aperture opening and interconnects the metal layers and/or the semiconductor body. The via structure is arranged in such a fashion that any straight line that is parallel to the light-sensitive area and traverses the aperture opening between the light-sensitive area and the upper metal layer is limited in both of its opposite directions by the via structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventor: Franz Lechner
  • Patent number: 12071341
    Abstract: A microstructure for use in a micro electro-mechanical device comprises a substrate having a top surface and a rear surface and a thin-film structure arranged at the top surface of the substrate. The thin-film structure comprises a raised portion spaced from the substrate, a lower portion of the thin-film structure, which is in mechanical contact with the substrate, at least one protruding portion, the protruding portion being hollow and having at least one sidewall and a bottom part and the protruding portion mechanically connecting the raised portion to the substrate via the bottom part, and at least one further sidewall of the thin-film structure at a distance to the at least one protruding portion, wherein the further sidewall mechanically connects the lower portion with the raised portion of the thin-film structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Peter Heeb, Michelle Müller, Goran Stojanovic
  • Patent number: 12055482
    Abstract: An integrated sensor module includes a UV radiation source operable to emit UV radiation onto a sample, and a sensor including spectrally sensitive UV channels disposed so as receive UV radiation from the sample. Each of the UV channels includes a respective sensing device and a respective UV interference filter disposed over a UV radiation sensitive portion of the respective sensing device. The respective UV interference filter for each particular one of the channels has transmission characteristics that are spectrally responsive to a spectral signature of a respective chemical substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: ams International AG
    Inventors: Frederic Roger, Troy Chesler
  • Publication number: 20240248218
    Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray detector component including an X-ray detector chip made from a silicon substrate and comprising charge collecting electrodes. The X-ray detector chip is suitable for providing an X-ray-dependent current at the charge collecting electrodes. The X-ray detector component further includes a CMOS read-out circuit chip including connection electrodes. The X-ray detector chip and the CMOS read-out circuit chip are mechanically and electrically connected in such a manner that the charge collecting electrodes and the connection electrodes are electrically connected. The invention further relates to an X-ray detection module, an imaging device and a method for manufacturing an X-ray detector component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: ams International AG
    Inventor: Jens HOFRICHTER
  • Patent number: 12047056
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement is provided where the arrangement of a feedback resistor between a first branch and a second branch enables that a voltage is provided at an output terminal in an efficient way, this means with a high settling speed and a low current consumption. The feedback resistor is arranged between a reference node and the output terminal, where the reference node is connected to a current mirror. The circuit arrangement can be employed as a gate driver. Furthermore, a driver block and a method of driving a circuit arrangement are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Camillo Stefanucci, Vincenzo Leonardo
  • Patent number: 12047078
    Abstract: An oscillator circuit includes a current controller, a first capacitor and a second capacitor. A current generator is coupled to the current controller, the first and the second capacitor, and is operable, under control of a control signal of the current controller, provide charging currents. A comparator stage comprises a first input coupled to the first capacitor, a second input coupled to the second capacitor and a reference input to be supplied with the reference voltage. The comparator stage further includes an oscillator output to provide a clock signal based on a comparison of the capacitor voltages and the reference voltage, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventor: Cheng Zhang