Patents Assigned to Elliptic Laboratories AS
  • Patent number: 12200452
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for detection of an object in proximity to an electronic device, which method comprises the steps of:—producing, via the processing unit using one or more parameters relating to a loudspeaker, a controlled audio signal; —amplifying using an amplifier at least said controlled audio signal, thereby producing an amplified audio signal at an amplifier output; wherein an amplitude of the controlled audio signal is such that the amplified audio signal is less than or equal to an amplitude determined to be safe for the loudspeaker in view of the one or more parameters, —analyzing at least one of said one or more parameters relating to the loudspeaker to detect a change in response of the loudspeaker; the change in response being caused by an object that is present in the acoustical path of the loudspeaker, —determining, based upon the analysis whether the object is located in close proximity to the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventor: Guenael Thomas Strutt
  • Patent number: 12047194
    Abstract: Present teachings relate to a method for controlling a service running at least partially on an electronic device, the method comprising the steps of: —Determining, using a proximity sensor in the electronic device, a first parameter indicative of the physical distance between the electronic device and a user; and—Adapting at least one operation of the electronic device dependent upon the first parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventors: Guenael Thomas Strutt, Anthony Bernard Padua
  • Publication number: 20240236563
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for detection of an object in proximity to an electronic device, which method comprises the steps of:—producing, via the processing unit using one or more parameters relating to a loudspeaker, a controlled audio signal;—amplifying using an amplifier at least said controlled audio signal, thereby producing an amplified audio signal at an amplifier output; wherein an amplitude of the controlled audio signal is such that the amplified audio signal is less than or equal to an amplitude determined to be safe for the loudspeaker in view of the one or more parameters,—analyzing at least one of said one or more parameters relating to the loudspeaker to detect a change in response of the loudspeaker; the change in response being caused by an object that is present in the acoustical path of the loudspeaker,—determining, based upon the analysis whether the object is located in close proximity to the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventor: Guenael Thomas STRUTT
  • Patent number: 11997461
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for detection of an object in proximity to an electronic device, which method comprises the steps of: —producing, via the processing unit using one or more parameters relating to a loudspeaker, a controlled audio signal; —amplifying using an amplifier at least said controlled audio signal, thereby producing an amplified audio signal at an amplifier output; wherein an amplitude of the controlled audio signal is such that the amplified audio signal is less than or equal to an amplitude determined to be safe for the loudspeaker in view of the one or more parameters, —analyzing at least one of said one or more parameters relating to the loudspeaker to detect a change in response of the loudspeaker; the change in response being caused by an object that is present in the acoustical path of the loudspeaker, —determining, based upon the analysis whether the object is located in close proximity to the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventor: Guenael Thomas Strutt
  • Patent number: 11581864
    Abstract: The present teachings relate to an electronic device comprising: a first module for generating an audio signal; a second module for generating an ultrasonic signal; a mixer for generating a combined signal; a transmitter for outputting an acoustic signal dependent upon the combined signal; and, a processing means for controlling the ultrasonic signal; wherein, in response to receiving a first instruction signal for initiating the ultrasonic signal, the processing means is configured to increase the amount of the ultrasonic signal in the combined signal from an essentially zero value to a predetermined value over a predetermined enable time-period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventors: Espen Klovning, John Magne Helgesen Røe, Thomas Kristoffersen Børstad
  • Patent number: 11543921
    Abstract: The present teachings relate to an electronic device comprising: a first module for generating an audio signal; a second module for generating an ultrasonic signal; a mixer for generating a combined signal; a transmitter for outputting an acoustic signal dependent upon the combined signal; and, a processing means for controlling the ultrasonic signal; wherein, in response to receiving a first instruction signal for initiating the ultrasonic signal, the processing means is configured to increase the amount of the ultrasonic signal in the combined signal from an essentially zero value to a predetermined value over a predetermined enable time-period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventors: Espen Klovning, John Magne Helgesen Røe, Thomas Kristoffersen Børstad
  • Patent number: 11536759
    Abstract: Present teachings relate to a method for proximity detection on an electronic device, the method comprising the steps of: performing a first measurement using a first sensor; calculating, using a processing unit, a first distance value from the first measurement; the first distance value being indicative of the distance between a user and the electronic device; in response to the first distance value, through the processing unit, adapting an energy level on the electronic device, said energy level being related to the Specific Absorption Rate (“SAR”), such that predefined SAR requirements due to exposure of emitted energy from the electronic device are met. The present teaching further relate to an electronic device comprising a measurement system configured to control an energy level on the electronic device, said energy level being related to the Specific Absorption Rate (“SAR”). The present teachings also relate to a computer software product for implementing any method steps disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventors: Guenael Thomas Strutt, Tom Øystein Kavli, Espen Klovning, Shangdong Gu
  • Publication number: 20220295181
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for detection of an object in proximity to an electronic device, which method comprises the steps of: —producing, via the processing unit using one or more parameters relating to a loudspeaker, a controlled audio signal; —amplifying using an amplifier at least said controlled audio signal, thereby producing an amplified audio signal at an amplifier output; wherein an amplitude of the controlled audio signal is such that the amplified audio signal is less than or equal to an amplitude determined to be safe for the loudspeaker in view of the one or more parameters, —analyzing at least one of said one or more parameters relating to the loudspeaker to detect a change in response of the loudspeaker; the change in response being caused by an object that is present in the acoustical path of the loudspeaker, —determining, based upon the analysis whether the object is located in close proximity to the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventor: Guenael Thomas Strutt
  • Publication number: 20220214451
    Abstract: The present teachings relate to a proximity detection system for an electronic device comprising a transmitter and a receiver, the transmitter being arranged to transmit a signal, at least some portion of which is directed towards an object, and the receiver being arranged to receive a reflected signal, the reflected signal being a portion of the signal reflected from the object, wherein the system comprises a first processing unit configured to, load and execute an engine for controlling the transmission of the signal, and extracting one or more parameters related to the object from the reflected signal; wherein the system further comprises a second processing unit configured to receive sensor data from other sensors in the electronic device; and transmit the sensor data to the engine, wherein the engine is configured to generate a proximity event by analyzing at least one of the one or more parameters, and at least some of the sensor data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventor: Espen Klovning
  • Patent number: 11283418
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a speaker protection module (36) arranged to receive an audio signal (22) and to use one or more parameters relating to a loudspeaker to produce a controlled audio signal (34). An amplifier (40) is arranged to amplify the controlled audio signal to produce an amplified audio signal (24, 26) which is passed to the loudspeaker. The amplitude of the controlled audio signal (34) is such that the amplified audio signal (24, 26) is less than or equal to an amplitude determined to be safe for the loudspeaker in view of the one or more parameters. An ultrasound generator (16) is arranged to generate an ultrasound signal (30) that is mixed (32) with the controlled audio signal (34) before the controlled audio signal (34) is passed to the amplifier (40). The ultrasound generator (16) is capable of producing said ultrasound signal at a plurality of frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventor: Thomas Kristoffersen Børstad
  • Patent number: 11144153
    Abstract: A system for detecting a user input to a device comprises a display arrangement (4) arranged to provide a display (20) on a surface. An optical proximity sensing arrangement (6, 8) is configured to produce touch information relating to whether an input object is within a threshold distance of the surface. An acoustic position sensing arrangement (10, 12, 14, and 16) configured to produce position information relating to a position of the input object on the surface. A processing arrangement configured to determine an input to the device from the position information only when it determines from the touch information that the input object is within the threshold distance of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventors: Guenael Thomas Strutt, Tom Kavli, Steven Lewis
  • Publication number: 20200158556
    Abstract: Present teachings relate to a method for determining the proximity of an object to an electronic device, the electronic device comprising an ultrasonic sensor and a second sensor, which ultrasonic sensor comprising at least one ultrasonic transmitter and at least one ultrasonic receiver, which method comprising the steps of: transmitting from the ultrasonic transmitter an ultrasonic signal; receiving at the ultrasonic receiver an ultrasonic response signal; determining an ultrasonic response by processing the ultrasonic response signal using a processor; determining a sensor response by processing a second signal using a processor, said second signal being generated by the second sensor; configuring via the processor a power level of a second ultrasonic signal transmitted from the ultrasonic transmitter in response to the ultrasonic response meeting a first criterion, and the sensor response meeting a second criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventors: Guenael Thomas STRUTT, Espen KLOVNING
  • Publication number: 20200150791
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method as well as a computer product, system and device for controlling the frequency range of an emitted ultrasound signal from a device. The device includes a number of acoustic transducers, the method including the step of generating an electronic signal within a predetermined frequency range in the time domain, convolving the said electronic signal with a time envelope function thus providing an emission signal. The time envelop function is calculated based on a transformation of the predetermined frequency range of the emitted signal into the time domain, the emitted acoustic signal being generated by the emission signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventor: Ludvik LIDICKY
  • Patent number: 10523870
    Abstract: A method for controlling content on a display of an electronic device includes emitting from an ultrasound transducer located in the electronic device, a first ultrasound signal at least some portion of which is directed towards the user. The method also includes receiving a second ultrasound signal at a receiver transducer located in the electronic device. The second ultrasound signal includes a portion constituted by a the first ultrasound signal being reflected from the user face. The method also includes computing a distance between the user and the electronic device using acoustic measurements involving at least one acoustic transducer. The electronic device includes a memory storing at least two sets of predetermined display features. The electronic device is set to display a first set when the distance between the electronic device and the user is above at least one chosen threshold and the second set of display features when the distance is less than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventors: Laila Danielsen, Guenael Thomas Strutt, Rachel-Mikel Arcejaeger, Øyvind Stamnes, Tom Øystein Kavli, Erik Forsström
  • Publication number: 20190199935
    Abstract: A method for controlling content on a display of an electronic device includes emitting from an ultrasound transducer located in the electronic device, a first ultrasound signal at least some portion of which is directed towards the user. The method also includes receiving a second ultrasound signal at a receiver transducer located in the electronic device. The second ultrasound signal includes a portion constituted by a the first ultrasound signal being reflected from the user face. The method also includes computing a distance between the user and the electronic device using acoustic measurements involving at least one acoustic transducer. The electronic device includes a memory storing at least two sets of predetermined display features. The electronic device is set to display a first set when the distance between the electronic device and the user is above at least one chosen threshold and the second set of display features when the distance is less than the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventors: Laila DANIELSEN, Guenael Thomas Strutt, Rachel-Mikel Arcejaeger, Øyvind Stamnes, Tom Øystein Kavli, Erik FORSSTRÖM
  • Patent number: 9946357
    Abstract: A movement of an object is recognized as a predetermined movement, by transmitting signals between transmitter-receiver pairs, which are reflected from the object. A first event is recorded for one of the transmitter-receiver pairs if a reflected signal meets a predetermined proximity criterion, and a second event is recorded for a second transmitter-receiver pair if, after the first event, a subsequent reflected signal meets a predetermined proximity criterion. The first and second events are used to identify the movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventor: Tobias Dahl
  • Patent number: 9733720
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises an ultrasound transmitter, an ultrasound receiver, a display screen, and a processing system. It transmits ultrasonic signals from the ultrasound transmitter and receives ultrasound signals, through air, at the ultrasound receiver. It uses signals transmitted by the ultrasound transmitter and received at the ultrasound receiver to determine, at intervals, whether or not an object is present within a three-dimensional detection zone adjacent the device, by determining whether or not a set of presence conditions is met. It alters the display screen when the results of two successive such determinations differ. It also uses signals transmitted by the ultrasound transmitter and received at the ultrasound receiver to detect a movement of an input object, and control a further operation of the device in response to said detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventors: Tom Kavli, Thomas Børstad
  • Patent number: 9582121
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus has a transmitter arranged to transmit an acoustic signal. It also has a receiver, for receiving acoustic energy comprising a reflection of the acoustic signal from an input object. It generates an electronic received signal from the received acoustic energy. The apparatus has processing means arranged to: (i) analyze at least a portion of the received signal to determine a linear combination of basis functions which represents an interference component in the received signal; (ii) use the determined linear combination to attenuate interference within the received signal, to give a post-attenuation signal; and (iii) use the post-attenuation signal to determine a user input to the electronic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventors: Hans Jørgen Bang, Tobias Gulden Dahl
  • Patent number: 9436321
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a front surface comprising a display screen; a rear surface; at least one ultrasonic transmitter; and at least one ultrasonic receiver. The device may be configured to transmit signals from the transmitter and to receive the signals at the receiver after reflection from an input object and to use the reflected signals to characterise the motion of said input object for controlling a function of the device. At least one of the ultrasonic transmitter and the ultrasonic receiver is disposed on the rear surface of the device. The device may be configured to transmit signals from the transmitter and to receive the signals at the receiver after reflection from a user's hand and to use the reflected signals to detect one of a predetermined set of gestures carried out adjacent to the device when the device is placed on its rear surface on a flat supporting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventors: Tobias Gulden Dahl, Hans Jørgen Bang
  • Patent number: 9367178
    Abstract: The shape or position of an object is estimated using a device comprising one or more transmitters and one or more receivers, forming a set of at least two transmitter-receiver combinations. Signals are transmitted from the transmitters, through air, to the object. They are reflected by the object and received by the receivers. A subset of the transmitter-receiver combinations which give rise to a received signal meeting a predetermined clarity criterion is determined. The positions of points on the object are estimated using substantially only signals from the subset of combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventor: Tobias Dahl