Patents by Inventor Christopher Marc Macours

Christopher 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).

  • Patent number: 12337687
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Temujin Gautama, Christophe Marc Macours, Bernard Kuhn
  • Publication number: 20250095667
    Abstract: An interference signal reduction system and method of interference signal reduction is described. An input signal includes a plurality of signal segments (frames). The input signal is provided to a machine learning model trained to output an estimate of a desired target signal from the input signal. Each signal segment maybe classified as a target-only signal segment, an interference-only signal segment, or an undefined signal segment. The machine learning model may be adapted based on the target-only signal segments and the interference-only signal segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Bruno Gabriel Paul G. Defraene, Temujin Gautama, Christophe Marc Macours
  • Publication number: 20250078660
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a vehicle acoustic alert signal for a vehicle comprising an acoustic vehicle alerting system (AVAS) is described. The method includes detecting and classifying an object. If the object is classified as a vulnerable road user (VRU), one or more VRU characteristics such as distance and velocity of the VRU are determined. An acoustic alert signal is generated and transmitted via the AVAS dependent on the at least one VRU characteristic. The at least one VRU characteristic is transmitted to a further vehicle for use in determining how the further vehicle generates an acoustic alert signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventors: Ashish Pandharipande, Christophe Marc Macours
  • Patent number: 12225360
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Temujin Gautama, Christophe Marc Macours, Bram Hedebouw
  • Patent number: 12003264
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Christophe Marc Macours, Temujin Gautama, Alexander Barry Young
  • Publication number: 20230356593
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Temujin Gautama, Christophe Marc Macours, Bernard Kuhn
  • Patent number: 11768541
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: GOODIX TECHNOLOGY (HK) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Christophe Marc Macours, Temujin Gautama
  • Publication number: 20230088440
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Christophe Marc Macours, Temujin Gautama, Alexander Barry Young
  • Publication number: 20230007395
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Temujin Gautama, Christophe Marc Macours, Bram Hedebouw
  • Patent number: 11490196
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: GOODIX TECHNOLOGY (HK) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Christophe Marc Macours, Geraldine Vignon, Johan Laneau
  • Patent number: 11320907
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: GOODIX TECHNOLOGY (HK) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Christophe Marc Macours, Temujin Gautama
  • Patent number: 11277287
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Joris Louis L Luyten, Christophe Marc Macours, Temujin Gautama
  • Publication number: 20210306188
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Joris Louis L Luyten, Christophe Marc Macours, Temujin Gautama
  • Patent number: 10735567
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: ams International AG
    Inventors: Kim Phan Le, Martin Valkenburg, Christophe Marc Macours, Zoran Zivkovic
  • Publication number: 20200218352
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Christophe Marc Macours, Temujin Gautama
  • Patent number: 10643595
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: GOODIX TECHNOLOGY (HK) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Christophe Marc Macours, Temujin Gautama, Nicolas Vincens
  • Patent number: 10531191
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Christophe Marc Macours
  • Patent number: 10165364
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Christophe Marc Macours
  • Publication number: 20180350339
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Christophe Marc Macours, Temujin Gautama, Nicolas Vincens
  • Publication number: 20180139538
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventor: Christophe Marc Macours