Patents Assigned to SONY EUROPE B.V.
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Publication number: 20240430597Abstract: A voltage ramp generator includes a resistor network, electronic switches and at least one reference voltage circuit. The resistor network includes resistor elements electrically connected in series between a first supply node (VDD) and a second supply node (VSS), wherein circuit nodes are formed between neighboring resistor elements. Each electronic switch is operable to connect one of the circuit nodes with a switch arrangement output. The at least one reference voltage circuit supplies a reference voltage to one of the circuit nodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2022Publication date: December 26, 2024Applicants: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation, Sony Europe B.V.Inventors: Jae-Sung AN, Naoki KAWAZU, Tore MARTINUSSEN
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Publication number: 20240421898Abstract: A method of operating a communications device for transmitting signals to and/or receiving signals from a non-terrestrial network (NTN) apparatus of a wireless communications network. The communications device acquires information for synchronising a transmission with the NTN apparatus. The communications device estimates a time remaining until an expiry time at which the information for synchronising the transmission with the apparatus will become invalid. The communications device receives, from the NTN apparatus, a biasing signal providing an indication to the communications device to bias an estimate of a time required to communicate the transmission with the NTN apparatus. The communications device determines, based at least in part on the indication provided by the biasing signal, the biased estimate of the time required to communicate the transmission with the NTN apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2022Publication date: December 19, 2024Applicants: Sony Group Corporation, SONY EUROPE B.V.Inventors: Martin Warwick BEALE, Samuel Asangbeng ATUNGSIRI
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Publication number: 20240340014Abstract: Examples relate to a circuit arrangement, a time-mode arithmetic unit circuit arrangement, an all-digital phase-locked loop, and corresponding methods. A circuit arrangement is configured to discard charges from a capacitive circuit element of the circuit arrangement based on a width of one or more signal pulses of an input signal being provided to the circuit arrangement, with the rate at which the charges are discarded being dependent on at least one control signal being provided to the circuit arrangement. The circuit arrangement is configured to provide an output signal flank having a delay relative to a readout signal flank being provided to the circuit arrangement, with the delay being based on the charges stored in the capacitive circuit element at the time the readout signal flank is provided to the circuit arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2022Publication date: October 10, 2024Applicants: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation, SONY EUROPE B.V.Inventors: Zhong GAO, Masoud BABAIE, Martin FRITZ, Jingchu HE, Morteza ALAVI, Bogdan STASZEWSKI
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Publication number: 20240257359Abstract: A method comprising the steps of: receiving an image from a dynamic vision sensor and an image from an image sensor, wherein the dynamic vision sensor and the image sensor capture at least an overlapping field of view; determining, from the image received from the dynamic vision sensor, an area of movement in the field of view of the image from the image sensor; applying a higher level of image compression to the areas of no movement compared with the area of movement in the image from the image sensor to produce a processed image; and outputting the processed image to a neural network.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2024Publication date: August 1, 2024Applicants: Sony Group Corporation, Sony Europe B.V.Inventors: Antonio AVITABILE, Salvatore FINATTI
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Patent number: 12049333Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising a battery holding portion configured to releasably hold a first battery to provide electrical power to the UAV, the battery holding portion being configured to hold the first battery in a position relative to a direction of travel of the UAV such that, upon the UAV encountering a second battery positioned in the path of travel of the UAV, the first battery receives a mechanical impulse from the second battery causing the first battery to be released from the battery holding portion and the second battery replaces the first battery to become held by the battery holding portion to provide electrical power to the UAV.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2019Date of Patent: July 30, 2024Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Europe B.V.Inventor: Nicolas Pierre Rose
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Patent number: 11983887Abstract: A method comprising the steps of: receiving an image from a dynamic vision sensor and an image from an image sensor, wherein the dynamic vision sensor and the image sensor capture at least an overlapping field of view; determining, from the image received from the dynamic vision sensor, an area of movement in the field of view of the image from the image sensor; applying a higher level of image compression to the areas of no movement compared with the area of movement in the image from the image sensor to produce a processed image; and outputting the processed image to a neural network.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2021Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignees: Sony Europe B.V., Sony Group CorporationInventors: Antonio Avitabile, Salvatore Finatti
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Patent number: 11900505Abstract: A method of generating pictographic representations including receiving input content comprising textual information and a video item, the textual information being associated with the video item and aligned to a video playback timeline associated with the video item, obtaining summarization information describing the video item, selecting one or more elements from the textual information, comparing the selected elements of the textual data with the obtained summarization information, determining, based on the comparison, that one or more of the selected elements satisfy a specified comparison threshold, and identifying a pictographic representation for each of the one or more of the selected elements that are determined to satisfy the specified comparison threshold, the pictographic representations being selected from a pictographic representation set comprising a plurality of pictographic representations, and selectively outputting, with the video item, the identified pictographic representations aligned toType: GrantFiled: January 28, 2020Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignees: SONY GROUP CORPORATION, SONY EUROPE B.V.Inventor: Renaud Difrancesco
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Patent number: 11871324Abstract: A relay device operable to relay emergency information to a plurality of mobile terminals. The device includes: a receiver configured in use to receive a broadcast signal, the broadcast signal being in a first format and containing the emergency information; a transmitter configured in use to connect to the plurality of mobile terminals using a communication channel; and a processor configured in use to provide the emergency information received in the broadcast signal to the plurality of mobile terminals in a second format using the transmitter, wherein the second format is different to the first format.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignees: SONY GROUP CORPORATION, SONY EUROPE B.V.Inventor: Renaud Difrancesco
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Patent number: 11851180Abstract: A control system in a delivery system performs a method of controlling unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs, which are organized in a group or swarm to perform one or more missions to deliver and/or pick up goods. The method includes obtaining drag data indicative of air resistance for one or more UAVs in the group, determining, as a function of the drag data, a respective relative position of at least the one or more UAVs within the group, and controlling at least the one or more UAVs to attain the respective relative position. Such adjustment in the relative position of one or more UAVs enables improved energy efficiency and may be made to reduce energy consumption, increase reach or decrease travel time of at least one UAV in the group.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2021Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignees: Sony Europe B.V., Sony Group CorporationInventors: Hannes Bergkvist, Pär Spjuth, Anders Isberg, Peter Exner, Shaun Lee
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Patent number: 11854109Abstract: A scheduling device performs a method of scheduling transports by a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs, to enable improved utilization of the fleet. The method includes computing, for the fleet, aggregated cost data, ACM, that associates utilization cost with distributed sub-regions within a geographic region, the utilization cost of a respective sub-region representing an estimated cost for directing at least one of the UAVs to the respective sub-region. The method further includes receiving a query indicative of one or more potential locations for pick-up or delivery of a payload, determining, based on the ACM, a transportation price for at least one potential location, and presenting the transportation price for the at least one potential location. The scheduling device thereby provides an interactive ordering system that enables utilization of the fleet to be automatically optimized by swarm intelligence.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2021Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignees: Sony Europe B.V., Sony Group CorporationInventors: Pär Spjuth, Anders Isberg, Hannes Bergkvist, Peter Exner, Shaun Lee
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Patent number: 11787541Abstract: A control system in a delivery system performs a method to deliver a payload by an unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV, without requiring presence of the recipient even if the payload comprises sensitive or vulnerable goods. The method comprises obtaining a designated location for delivery of the payload, obtaining at least one payload vulnerability index for the payload, and obtaining a pick-up time indicative of a time point when the payload is expected to be retrieved by the recipient. The method further comprises selecting a final delivery area at or near the designated location as a function of the at least one payload vulnerability index and the pick-up time, and operating the UAV to deliver the payload to the final delivery area.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignees: Sony Europe B.V., Sony Group CorporationInventors: Peter Exner, Pär Spjuth, Anders Isberg, Hannes Bergkvist, Shaun Lee
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Publication number: 20230232078Abstract: A method of generating an emotion descriptor icon includes receiving input content comprising video information, and performing analysis on the input content to produce information representing the video information with respect to a plurality of characteristics. The method also includes determining, based on a comparison of the information representing the video information at a temporal position in the video information and a set of information items respectively representing an emotion state, a relative likelihood of association between the input content and at least some of a plurality of emotion states, selecting an emotion state based on the outcome of the determination, and outputting an emotion descriptor icon selected from an emotion descriptor icon set comprising a plurality of emotion descriptor icons. The outputted emotion descriptor icon is associated with the selected emotion state.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2023Publication date: July 20, 2023Applicants: SONY GROUP CORPORATION, SONY EUROPE B.V.Inventor: Renaud DIFRANCESCO
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Patent number: 11683646Abstract: A method of distributing sound in a sporting venue, comprising: determining an event based on a position of at least one player and/or sporting projectile within the sporting venue; selecting a sound effect based on the determined event; and sending the sound effect to at least one speaker located in the sporting venue.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY EUROPE B.V.Inventor: Edward Hawke
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Publication number: 20230169545Abstract: A method of mapping an object to a location in a virtual space, the method comprising assigning to locations in the virtual space a prominence value representing the prominence of an object at the location when the virtual space is viewed by a user, the prominence value being assigned according to a distance from each location to a reference location in the virtual space and at least one physiological characteristic of a user, determining a purchase value for the locations in the virtual space representing a payment required to place an object at respective locations in the virtual space, the purchase value being determined at least according to the prominence value assigned to a respective location in the virtual space and in response to receiving the payment for a location in the virtual space, mapping the object to that location in the virtual space.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2023Publication date: June 1, 2023Applicants: Sony Group Corporation, SONY EUROPE B.V.Inventors: Nigel Stuart MOORE, Nicolas ROSE
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Patent number: 11615539Abstract: An apparatus for predicting whether an object moving across a surface will reach a target destination is provided, the apparatus comprising circuitry configured to: receive a first image and one or more subsequent second images from a camera; identify a location of an object on a surface in the first image; identify a location of the object on the surface in one or more of the second images; determine one or more motion characteristics of the object based on the location of the object in the first image and the location of the object in the one or more second images; generate a predicted path of the object across the surface based on a model of the surface and the motion characteristics of the object; and generate a prediction of whether the object will reach the target destination based on the predicted path of the object and the location of the target destination.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2021Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignees: Sony Group Corporation, Sony Europe B.V.Inventors: Mathew Richards, Luke Dodd
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Patent number: 11615580Abstract: A method of generating a path of an object through a virtual environment is provided, the method comprising: receiving image data, at a first instance of time, from a plurality of image capture devices arranged in a physical environment; receiving image data, at an at least one second instance of time after the first instance of time, from a plurality of image capture devices arranged in the physical environment; detecting a location of a plurality of points associated with an object within the image data from each image capture device at the first instance of time and the at least one second instance of time; projecting the location of the plurality of points associated with the object within the image data from each image capture device at the first instance of time and the at least one second instance of time into a virtual environment to generate a location of the plurality of points associated with the object in the virtual environment at each instance of time; and generating a path of the object throughType: GrantFiled: September 7, 2021Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY EUROPE B.V.Inventors: Anthony Daniels, William Brennan
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Patent number: 11599911Abstract: A method of mapping an object to a location in a virtual space, the method comprising assigning to locations in the virtual space a prominence value representing the prominence of an object at the location when the virtual space is viewed by a user, the prominence value being assigned according to a distance from each location to a reference location in the virtual space and at least one physiological characteristic of a user, determining a purchase value for the locations in the virtual space representing a payment required to place an object at respective locations in the virtual space, the purchase value being determined at least according to the prominence value assigned to a respective location in the virtual space and in response to receiving the payment for a location in the virtual space, mapping the object to that location in the virtual space.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2019Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignees: Sony Corporation, SONY EUROPE B.V.Inventors: Nigel Stuart Moore, Nicolas Rose
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Patent number: 11594241Abstract: A method comprising determining feature values of an input audio window and determining a formant attenuation/amplification coefficient for the input audio window based on the processing of the feature values by a neural network.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2018Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Sony Europe B.V.Inventor: Emmanuel Deruty
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Patent number: 11531457Abstract: A video display apparatus for displaying a catalogue of one or more candidate video items for replay, each video item being represented in the catalogue by a catalogue entry having at least one displayed representative image comprises a user control device operable to resize a displayed catalogue entry by a select-and-drag operation; and means responsive to a resizing of a catalogue entry to select a number of distinct representative images, for display in respect of that video item, so that the number displayed increases with increasing size of the catalogue entry while the display size of each representative image stays substantially constant with respect to changes in the catalogue entry size.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2016Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: SONY EUROPE B.V.Inventor: David William Trepess
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Patent number: 11514678Abstract: A data processing method comprising obtaining information identifying a position of an object in a scene at a time during a sporting event; obtaining an image of the scene captured at the time during the sporting event; projecting the position of the object in the scene onto an image plane of the image; and outputting information based on the projection.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignees: Sony Europe B.V., Sony Group CorporationInventors: Mathew Richards, Edward Hawke, Luke Dodd, Hattori Hironori