Patents by Inventor Christophe Marc Macours
Christophe Marc Macours 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).
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Publication number: 20230356593Abstract: A method of generating an audible alert by a digital audio system configured to operate in a first operating mode and a second operating mode is described. An alert signal is generated or received. One or more segments of the generated or received alert signal is processed. The processed alert signal is then analysed to define the operating mode of the digital audio system. In the first operating mode, the alert output signal includes at least the alert signal. In the second operating mode, the alert output signal includes at least the processed alert signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2023Publication date: November 9, 2023Inventors: Temujin Gautama, Christophe Marc Macours, Bernard Kuhn
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Patent number: 11768541Abstract: An audio-haptic signal generator for a haptic system including an amplifier coupled to a haptic actuator is described. The audio-haptic signal generator includes an audio input configured to receive an audio signal; a haptic input configured to receive a haptic signal and a controller configured to receive to at least one of the haptic signal, an amplifier state and a haptic actuator state. A mixer is coupled to the audio input and the haptic input. The mixer has an output configured to be coupled to a haptic actuator. The controller controls the mixer to process the audio signal dependent on at least one of a characteristic of the haptic signal, an amplifier state, and a haptic actuator state. The mixer is configured to mix the haptic signal and processed audio signal on to output the mixed haptic signal and processed audio signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: GOODIX TECHNOLOGY (HK) COMPANY LIMITEDInventors: Christophe Marc Macours, Temujin Gautama
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Publication number: 20230088440Abstract: A signal processor and method of signal processing for a radio receiver is described. An input signal is received together with a spectral repetition interval value of an interferer signal. An interference reference signal is generated from the received spectral repetition interval value and the received signal. The received signal is adapted using the generated interference reference signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Inventors: Christophe Marc Macours, Temujin Gautama, Alexander Barry Young
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Publication number: 20230007395Abstract: An audio processor and method of audio processing for an amplifier system is described. The audio processor may receive an audio signal and adapt the audio signal generating a time varying offset. The time varying offset may be combined with the audio signal resulting in a shifted the audio signal level. The processed audio signal may also be clipped to remove the negative samples values. The processed signal may be used to drive an amplifier designed to only accept positive (or negative) signals such as a class C amplifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2022Publication date: January 5, 2023Inventors: Temujin Gautama, Christophe Marc Macours, Bram Hedebouw
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Patent number: 11490196Abstract: A peak current limiter for an audio system comprising at least two audio amplifiers is described. The peak current limiter comprises at least two audio inputs; at least two audio outputs, each audio output being coupled to a respective one of the at least two audio inputs and configured to be coupled to a respective one of the at least two audio amplifiers. The peak current limiter is configured to receive an audio signal on each of the respective audio inputs. The peak current limiter determines a current value required by each of at least two audio amplifiers. An audio characteristic of at least one of the received audio signals is modified to limit the total current supplied to the at least two amplifiers below a predefined maximum current value.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: GOODIX TECHNOLOGY (HK) COMPANY LIMITEDInventors: Christophe Marc Macours, Geraldine Vignon, Johan Laneau
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Publication number: 20220221937Abstract: An audio-haptic signal generator for a haptic system including an amplifier coupled to a haptic actuator is described. The audio-haptic signal generator includes an audio input configured to receive an audio signal; a haptic input configured to receive a haptic signal and a controller configured to receive to at least one of the haptic signal, an amplifier state and a haptic actuator state. A mixer is coupled to the audio input and the haptic input. The mixer has an output configured to be coupled to a haptic actuator. The controller controls the mixer to process the audio signal dependent on at least one of a characteristic of the haptic signal, an amplifier state, and a haptic actuator state. The mixer is configured to mix the haptic signal and processed audio signal on to output the mixed haptic signal and processed audio signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2022Publication date: July 14, 2022Applicant: GOODIX TECHNOLOGY (HK) COMPANY LIMITEDInventors: Christophe Marc MACOURS, Temujin GAUTAMA
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Patent number: 11320907Abstract: An audio-haptic signal generator for a haptic system including an amplifier coupled to a haptic actuator is described. The audio-haptic signal generator includes an audio input configured to receive an audio signal; a haptic input configured to receive a haptic signal and a controller configured to receive to at least one of the haptic signal, an amplifier state and a haptic actuator state. A mixer is coupled to the audio input and the haptic input. The mixer has an output configured to be coupled to a haptic actuator. The controller controls the mixer to process the audio signal dependent on at least one of a characteristic of the haptic signal, an amplifier state, and a haptic actuator state. The mixer is configured to mix the haptic signal and processed audio signal on to output the mixed haptic signal and processed audio signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 25, 2019Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: GOODIX TECHNOLOGY (HK) COMPANY LIMITEDInventors: Christophe Marc Macours, Temujin Gautama
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Patent number: 11277287Abstract: In one example, a communications circuit processes an amplitude modulated signal by using a first circuit having signal paths to process an amplitude modulated signal as represented by an in-phase component and by a quadrature component, and by using a second circuit to discern random noise pulses from the quadrature component of the amplitude modulated signal. In response, the second circuit generates an estimate of overall noise representing the random noise pulses in the amplitude modulated signal. In the above and more specific examples, the random noise pulses may appear as pulses which overlap with, in terms of time and bandwidth of frequency spectrum, information of the amplitude modulated signal, and the first and second circuits may be part of an RF radio receiving the amplitude modulated signal from an antenna.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2020Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventors: Joris Louis L Luyten, Christophe Marc Macours, Temujin Gautama
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Publication number: 20210306188Abstract: In one example, a communications circuit processes an amplitude modulated signal by using a first circuit having signal paths to process an amplitude modulated signal as represented by an in-phase component and by a quadrature component, and by using a second circuit to discern random noise pulses from the quadrature component of the amplitude modulated signal. In response, the second circuit generates an estimate of overall noise representing the random noise pulses in the amplitude modulated signal. In the above and more specific examples, the random noise pulses may appear as pulses which overlap with, in terms of time and bandwidth of frequency spectrum, information of the amplitude modulated signal, and the first and second circuits may be part of an RF radio receiving the amplitude modulated signal from an antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2020Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Joris Louis L Luyten, Christophe Marc Macours, Temujin Gautama
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Publication number: 20210127203Abstract: A peak current limiter for an audio system comprising at least two audio amplifiers is described. The peak current limiter comprises at least two audio inputs; at least two audio outputs, each audio output being coupled to a respective one of the at least two audio inputs and configured to be coupled to a respective one of the at least two audio amplifiers. The peak current limiter is configured to receive an audio signal on each of the respective audio inputs. The peak current limiter determines a current value required by each of at least two audio amplifiers. An audio characteristic of at least one of the received audio signals is modified to limit the total current supplied to the at least two amplifiers below a predefined maximum current value.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2020Publication date: April 29, 2021Inventors: Christophe Marc MACOURS, Geraldine VIGNON, Johan LANEAU
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Patent number: 10735567Abstract: A mobile device comprising an environmental sensor and an electrically actuated membrane is described. The electrically actuated membrane may increase the airflow over the environmental sensor which may improve the response of the sensor to changes in the ambient environment around the mobile device.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2016Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: ams International AGInventors: Kim Phan Le, Martin Valkenburg, Christophe Marc Macours, Zoran Zivkovic
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Publication number: 20200218352Abstract: An audio-haptic signal generator for a haptic system including an amplifier coupled to a haptic actuator is described. The audio-haptic signal generator includes an audio input configured to receive an audio signal; a haptic input configured to receive a haptic signal and a controller configured to receive to at least one of the haptic signal, an amplifier state and a haptic actuator state. A mixer is coupled to the audio input and the haptic input. The mixer has an output configured to be coupled to a haptic actuator. The controller controls the mixer to process the audio signal dependent on at least one of a characteristic of the haptic signal, an amplifier state, and a haptic actuator state. The mixer is configured to mix the haptic signal and processed audio signal on to output the mixed haptic signal and processed audio signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 25, 2019Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventors: Christophe Marc Macours, Temujin Gautama
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Patent number: 10643595Abstract: A method and apparatus of acoustic processing for a mobile device having a haptic actuator is described. A vibration drive signal for driving a haptic actuator is received. A vibration noise output from a haptic actuator is detected. At least one vibration noise metric from the detected vibration noise output and the vibration drive signal is generated. The vibration noise output level is adapted in dependence of the at least one vibration noise metric.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2018Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: GOODIX TECHNOLOGY (HK) COMPANY LIMITEDInventors: Christophe Marc Macours, Temujin Gautama, Nicolas Vincens
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Patent number: 10531191Abstract: A controller for a haptic feedback element is described, the haptic feedback element being configured to generate haptic vibrations, wherein the controller comprises a sense input and is configured to sense a signal induced on at least one terminal of the haptic feedback element in response to an external vibration source. The controller may sense vibrations induced one or more terminals of a haptic feedback element. The external vibration source may for example be due to speech transmitted via bone conduction which can be detected and subsequently processed.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2016Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventor: Christophe Marc Macours
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Patent number: 10165364Abstract: A linear resonant actuator controller for a mobile device having a linear resonant actuator is described. The linear resonant actuator controller comprises a controller output configured to be coupled to a linear resonant actuator; an audio processor having an audio processor input and an audio processor output coupled to the controller output. The audio processor is configured to receive an audio signal comprising speech, to process the audio signal by attenuating the audio signal frequency components at the resonant frequency of the linear resonant actuator with respect to at least some other audio signal frequency components, and to output the processed audio signal on the audio processor output.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2017Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventor: Christophe Marc Macours
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Publication number: 20180350339Abstract: A method and apparatus of acoustic processing for a mobile device having a haptic actuator is described. A vibration drive signal for driving a haptic actuator is received. A vibration noise output from a haptic actuator is detected. At least one vibration noise metric from the detected vibration noise output and the vibration drive signal is generated. The vibration noise output level is adapted in dependence of the at least one vibration noise metric.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2018Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: Christophe Marc Macours, Temujin Gautama, Nicolas Vincens
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Publication number: 20180139538Abstract: A linear resonant actuator controller for a mobile device having a linear resonant actuator is described. The linear resonant actuator controller comprises a controller output configured to be coupled to a linear resonant actuator; an audio processor having an audio processor input and an audio processor output coupled to the controller output. The audio processor is configured to receive an audio signal comprising speech, to process the audio signal by attenuating the audio signal frequency components at the resonant frequency of the linear resonant actuator with respect to at least some other audio signal frequency components, and to output the processed audio signal on the audio processor output.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2017Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventor: Christophe Marc Macours
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Patent number: 9959716Abstract: A system for producing a mechanical haptic pattern based on linear resonance actuator (LRA) signal is disclosed. The system includes an actuator displacement sensor, the actuator displacement sensor configured to apply an alternating measurement signal at a predetermined frequency to an actuator motor. The actuator displacement sensor configured to use a measure of a voltage across and a current through the actuator motor to determine its impedance at the predetermined frequency and determine an estimated displacement of the actuator motor using said impedance and a predetermined displacement-impedance function. The system also includes a controller configured to accept the LRA signal and the estimated displacement, wherein the controller is configured to alter the input LRA signal according to the estimated displacement to limit excursion of a moving part of the actuator motor.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2017Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventors: Christophe Marc Macours, Shawn William Scarlett, Michael Joehren
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Publication number: 20180109658Abstract: A mobile device comprising an environmental sensor and an electrically actuated membrane is described. The electrically actuated membrane may increase the airflow over the environmental sensor which may improve the response of the sensor to changes in the ambient environment around the mobile device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2016Publication date: April 19, 2018Inventors: Kim Phan LE, Martin VALKENBURG, Christophe Marc MACOURS, Zoran ZIVKOVIC
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Patent number: 9947186Abstract: A haptic feedback element controller for a mobile device and a method of controlling a haptic feedback element for a mobile device is described. The haptic feedback element includes a processor having a processor output, a first processor input, and a second processor input, a control state module having an output coupled to the second processor input and configured to determine at least one operating state parameter of at least one of a haptic feedback element and a haptic feedback element amplifier; wherein the processor is configured to alter the amplitude of one or more frequency components of an input signal received on the first processor input in dependence of the at least one operating state parameter and to output a processed signal to a haptic feedback element amplifier having an output for coupling to a haptic feedback element. The haptic feedback element controller may maximize the drive signal up to mechanical and thermal limits without lifetime reduction of the haptic feedback element.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2016Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventor: Christophe Marc Macours