Patents by Inventor Christian Halper

Christian Halper 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: 11821984
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and apparatus that can be used to determine whether an object is in proximity of an electronic device. When an object is not in proximity to the electronic device, the arrangement of two sensors at different distances from the optical emitter results in a higher strength of a reflection signal received in the sensor closer to the optical emitter and a lower strength of a reflection signal received in the sensor further from the optical emitter. The system uses this difference in reflection signals to calculate a ratio between the signals that are being reflected to both sensors, and based on the ratio whether an object is in proximity to the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Helmut Theiler, Christian Halper
  • Publication number: 20220375432
    Abstract: A method of operating an optical proximity sensor of a computer device having a display, where the optical proximity sensor is located beneath or otherwise adjacent to the display. The method comprises obtaining a vertical synchronization signal from a display driver, and synchronizing periodic illumination of a light emitter of the optical proximity sensor with the vertical synchronization signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Bernhard Greimel-Làngover, Christian Halper, Helmut Theiler, Herbert Lenhard, Josef Kriebernegg, Manuel Hoerbinger, Peter Bliem, Whitney Hernandez
  • Patent number: 11410631
    Abstract: A method of operating an optical proximity sensor of a computer device having a display, where the optical proximity sensor is located beneath or otherwise adjacent to the display. The method comprises obtaining a vertical synchronization signal from a display driver, and synchronizing periodic illumination of a light emitter of the optical proximity sensor with the vertical synchronization signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: ams International AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Greimel-Làngover, Christian Halper, Helmut Theiler, Herbert Lenhard, Josef Kriebernegg, Manuel Hoerbinger, Peter Bliem, Whitney Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20220120896
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and apparatus that can be used to determine whether an object is in proximity of an electronic device. When an object is not in proximity to the electronic device, the arrangement of two sensors at different distances from the optical emitter results in a higher strength of a reflection signal received in the sensor closer to the optical emitter and a lower strength of a reflection signal received in the sensor further from the optical emitter. The system uses this difference in reflection signals to calculate a ratio between the signals that are being reflected to both sensors, and based on the ratio whether an object is in proximity to the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Helmut Theiler, Christian Halper
  • Publication number: 20210256935
    Abstract: A method of operating an optical proximity sensor of a computer device having a display, where the optical proximity sensor is located beneath or otherwise adjacent to the display. The method comprises obtaining a vertical synchronization signal from a display driver, and synchronizing periodic illumination of a light emitter of the optical proximity sensor with the vertical synchronization signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Bernhard Greimel, Christian Halper, Helmut Theiler, Herbert Lenhard, Josef Kriebernegg, Manuel Hoerbinger, Peter Bliem, Whitney Hernandez
  • Patent number: 11022487
    Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement comprises a photodiode (11), an integrator (12) with an integrator input (15) coupled to the photodiode (11), a comparator (13) with a first input (18) coupled to an integrator output (16) of the integrator (12), and a reference capacitor circuit (14) that is coupled to the integrator input (15) and is designed to provide a charge package to the integrator input (15). In a start phase (A), charge packages are provided to the integrator input (15), until a comparator input voltage (VIN) at the first input (18) of the comparator (13) crosses a comparator switching point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Greimel-Rechling, Peter Bliem, Herbert Lenhard, Josef Kriebernegg, Joachim Lechner, Christian Halper
  • Patent number: 10950187
    Abstract: A method is suggested for sensing light being incident on an electronic device. The electronic device comprises a display and a light sensor arrangement mounted behind the display such as to receive incident light through the display. The method comprises periodically switching the display on and off depending on a control signal, wherein a period is defined by a succession of an on-state and an off-state of the display. A sensor signal is generated by integrating the incident light by means of the light sensor arrangement for a total integration time comprising a number of periods. A first signal count is determined from the sensor signal being indicative of an amount of integrated incident light during an on-state. A second signal count is determined from the sensor signal being indicative of an amount of integrated incident light during an off-state. A third signal count is determined from the sensor signal being indicative of an amount of integrated incident light during the total integration time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Josef Kriebernegg, Bernhard Greimel-Rechling, Herbert Lenhard, Peter Bliem, Joachim Lechner, Christian Halper, Manuel Hoerbinger
  • Publication number: 20190392772
    Abstract: A method is suggested for sensing light being incident on an electronic device. The electronic device comprises a display and a light sensor arrangement mounted behind the display such as to receive incident light through the display. The method comprises periodically switching the display on and off depending on a control signal, wherein a period is defined by a succession of an on-state and an off-state of the display. A sensor signal is generated by integrating the incident light by means of the light sensor arrangement for a total integration time comprising a number of periods. A first signal count is determined from the sensor signal being indicative of an amount of integrated incident light during an on-state. A second signal count is determined from the sensor signal being indicative of an amount of integrated incident light during an off-state. A third signal count is determined from the sensor signal being indicative of an amount of integrated incident light during the total integration time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Josef Kriebernegg, Bernhard Greimel-Rechling, Herbert Lenhard, Peter Bliem, Joachim Lechner, Christian Halper, Manuel Hoerbinger
  • Publication number: 20190212194
    Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement comprises a photodiode (11), an integrator (12) with an integrator input (15) coupled to the photodiode (11), a comparator (13) with a first input (18) coupled to an integrator output (16) of the integrator (12), and a reference capacitor circuit (14) that is coupled to the integrator input (15) and is designed to provide a charge package to the integrator input (15). In a start phase (A), charge packages are provided to the integrator input (15), until a comparator input voltage (VIN) at the first input (18) of the comparator (13) crosses a comparator switching point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2016
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Bernhard Greimel-Rechling, Peter Bliem, Herbert Lenhard, Josef Kriebernegg, Joachim Lechner, Christian Halper
  • Patent number: 9698679
    Abstract: A circuit for DC-DC conversion with current limitation comprises a DC-DC converter (100) with a coil (110) and a controllable switch (120) that can be switched into a low-impedance and a high-impedance state, and a current limiter (300a, 300b) for generating a control signal (IOC) for controlling the state of the controllable switch in the DC-DC converter (100). The current limiter (300a, 300b) is constructed such that the current (IL) through the coil at which the current limitation takes place is nearly independent of the ratio of the on-times and off-times of the controllable switch in the DC-DC converter (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Thomas Jessenig, Manfred Lueger, Christian Halper, Peter Bliem
  • Patent number: 9323665
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit and to a method for generating a start sequence. The circuit comprises at least one partially programmable memory (nonvol) for storing an encoded start sequence (Ni) and a control unit (CTRL), which is equipped to read the encoded start sequence (Ni) and decode it into a decoded start sequence (dNi) and to generate a target register address (n) depending on the decoded start sequence (dNi). An addressable memory (vol) is provided, to which the decoded start sequence (dNi) can be written by means of the control unit (CTRL) at the target register address (n).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Peter Kammerlander, Thomas Jessenig, Christian Halper
  • Publication number: 20140310446
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit and to a method for generating a start sequence. The circuit comprises at least one partially programmable memory (nonvol) for storing an encoded start sequence (Ni) and a control unit (CTRL), which is equipped to read the encoded start sequence (Ni) and decode it into a decoded start sequence (dNi) and to generate a target register address (n) depending on the decoded start sequence (dNi). An addressable memory (vol) is provided, to which the decoded start sequence (dNi) can be written by means of the control unit (CTRL) at the target register address (n).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: AMS AG
    Inventors: Peter Kammerlander, Thomas Jessenig, Christian Halper
  • Publication number: 20140285174
    Abstract: A circuit for DC-DC conversion with current limitation comprises a DC-DC converter (100) with a coil (110) and a controllable switch (120) that can be switched into a low-impedance and a high-impedance state, and a current limiter (300a, 300b) for generating a control signal (IOC) for controlling the state of the controllable switch in the DC-DC converter (100). The current limiter (300a, 300b) is constructed such that the current (IL) through the coil at which the current limitation takes place is nearly independent of the ratio of the on-times and off-times of the controllable switch in the DC-DC converter (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: ams AG
    Inventors: Thomas Jessenig, Manfred Lueger, Christian Halper, Peter Bliem