Patents by Inventor Clemenz Portmann

Clemenz Portmann 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: 10608035
    Abstract: An apparatus is described that includes an image sensor and a light source driver circuit having configuration register space to receive information pertaining to a command to simulate a distance between a light source and an object that is different than an actual distance between the light source and the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Andrew Lin, Clemenz Portmann
  • Publication number: 20190198550
    Abstract: An apparatus is described that includes an image sensor and a light source driver circuit having configuration register space to receive information pertaining to a command to simulate a distance between a light source and an object that is different than an actual distance between the light source and the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Andrew Lin, Clemenz Portmann
  • Patent number: 10204953
    Abstract: An apparatus is described that includes an image sensor and a light source driver circuit having configuration register space to receive information pertaining to a command to simulate a distance between a light source and an object that is different than an actual distance between the light source and the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Andrew Lin, Clemenz Portmann
  • Publication number: 20180033818
    Abstract: An apparatus is described that includes an image sensor and a light source driver circuit having configuration register space to receive information pertaining to a command to simulate a distance between a light source and an object that is different than an actual distance between the light source and the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Andrew Lin, Clemenz Portmann
  • Patent number: 9812486
    Abstract: An apparatus is described that includes an image sensor and a light source driver circuit having configuration register space to receive information pertaining to a command to simulate a distance between a light source and an object that is different than an actual distance between the light source and the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Andrew Lin, Clemenz Portmann
  • Patent number: 9581696
    Abstract: An apparatus is described that includes an image sensor and a light source driver circuit integrated in a same semiconductor chip package. The image sensor includes visible light pixels and depth pixels. The depth pixels are to sense light generated with a light source drive signal. The light source drive signal is generated with the light source driver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Andrew Lin, Clemenz Portmann
  • Patent number: 9484856
    Abstract: A modulated signal based on a low-precision, fast startup oscillator is provided to a circuit with a high-precision, slow startup oscillator. The frequency of the modulated signal ranges around the characteristic or resonant frequency of the high precision oscillator without using feedback from the high precision oscillator circuit. An implementation can include one or more variable gain circuits that can be adjusted based on an amplitude threshold in relation to the output signal of the high precision oscillator circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Clemenz Portmann, Cheng-Yi Andrew Lin, Shahriar Rabii
  • Publication number: 20160178749
    Abstract: An apparatus is described that includes an image sensor and a light source driver circuit integrated in a same semiconductor chip package. The image sensor includes visible light pixels and depth pixels. The depth pixels are to sense light generated with a light source drive signal. The light source drive signal is generated with the light source driver circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Andrew Lin, Clemenz Portmann
  • Publication number: 20160182886
    Abstract: An apparatus is described that includes an image sensor and a light source driver circuit having configuration register space to receive information pertaining to a command to simulate a distance between a light source and an object that is different than an actual distance between the light source and the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Andrew Lin, Clemenz Portmann
  • Patent number: 9270282
    Abstract: A clock signal for use by a circuit can be switched between clocks glitchlessly. A series of delay devices are connected in series based on an integral timing ratio. The integral timing ratio can be based on a ratio of the one of the clock's frequency or period to the other's frequency or period. When a clock select signal is received, the select signal is qualified and then delayed an amount of time based on the integral timing ratio, using the delay devices. The number of delay devices in each series can be the next largest integer to the integral timing ratio, plus one. The clock signal can then be glitchlessly switched from one clock to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Clemenz Portmann, Donald Charles Stark
  • Publication number: 20150200625
    Abstract: A modulated signal based on a low-precision, fast startup oscillator is provided to a circuit with a high-precision, slow startup oscillator. The frequency of the modulated signal ranges around the characteristic or resonant frequency of the high precision oscillator without using feedback from the high precision oscillator circuit. An implementation can include one or more variable gain circuits that can be adjusted based on an amplitude threshold in relation to the output signal of the high precision oscillator circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Clemenz Portmann, Cheng-Yi Andrew Lin, Shahriar Rabii
  • Publication number: 20150180484
    Abstract: A clock signal for use by a circuit can be switched between clocks glitchlessly. A series of delay devices are connected in series based on an integral timing ratio. The integral timing ratio can be based on a ratio of the one of the clock's frequency or period to the other's frequency or period. When a clock select signal is received, the select signal is qualified and then delayed an amount of time based on the integral timing ratio, using the delay devices. The number of delay devices in each series can be the next largest integer to the integral timing ratio, plus one. The clock signal can then be glitchlessly switched from one clock to the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Clemenz Portmann, Donald Charles Stark
  • Patent number: 8779953
    Abstract: A method and device for testing a digital-to-analog converter is provided. The method may include configuring a decoder to address an individual unit cell of a plurality of unit cells of a digital-to-analog converter. The configured decoder may select a particular unit cell of the plurality of unit cells for testing. The selected unit cell may have digital and analog circuitry. A bias current of the selected unit cell may be increased. The increased bias current of the selected unit cell may be greater during the testing than during normal operation. A test logic signal may be applied to the selected unit cell. In response to the test logic signal, an output signal may be output from the selected unit cell logic circuitry of the digital-to-analog converter. A device may include logic circuitry configured to select an individual unit cell for testing and a current generating circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Clemenz Portmann, Shahriar Rabii, Donald Charles Stark
  • Patent number: 8296540
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the performance of a memory system is provided. A memory system comprises a master device and a slave device. A memory channel couples the master device to the slave device such that the slave device receives the system operating information from the master device via the memory channel. The slave device further includes tuning circuitry within the slave device such that the performance of the memory system is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Bruno Werner Garlepp, Pak Shing Chau, Kevin S. Donnelly, Clemenz Portmann, Donald C. Stark, Stefanos Sidiropoulos, Richard M. Barth, Paul G. Davis, Ely K. Tsern
  • Publication number: 20110074617
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an analog to digital converter includes a comparator having a first input, a second input and an output, the first input being coupled to an analog signal, a successive approximation register having a serial input coupled to the output of the comparator, and being configured to generate a plurality of control signals and an N-bit digital value corresponding to the analog signal, and a digital to analog converter having an input coupled to the plurality of control signals, the digital to analog converter further comprising a first, a second, and a third capacitor and a plurality of switches controlled by the plurality of control signals and being configured to couple the first capacitor to the second capacitor and the third capacitor to the second capacitor mutually exclusively to share charge on the first capacitor and charge on the third capacitor with charge on the second capacitor and to generate an analog signal on the second capacitor, the second capacitor being coupled to the second i
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Clemenz Portmann, Christoph Lang
  • Patent number: 7916063
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an analog to digital converter includes a comparator having a first input, a second input and an output, the first input being coupled to an analog signal, a successive approximation register having a serial input coupled to the output of the comparator, and being configured to generate a plurality of control signals and an N-bit digital value corresponding to the analog signal, and a digital to analog converter having an input coupled to the plurality of control signals, the digital to analog converter further comprising a first, a second, and a third capacitor and a plurality of switches controlled by the plurality of control signals and being configured to couple the first capacitor to the second capacitor and the third capacitor to the second capacitor mutually exclusively to share charge on the first capacitor and charge on the third capacitor with charge on the second capacitor and to generate an analog signal on the second capacitor, the second capacitor being coupled to the second i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Clemenz Portmann, Christoph Lang
  • Patent number: 7913104
    Abstract: Data and clock synchronization within a gigabit receiver is maintained throughout the data byte processing logic of the receiver by utilizing the same byte clock signal. The deserialization clock signal that is used to deserialize the received serial data stream is phase coherent with the distributed byte clock signal used within the physical coding sublayer (PCS), thus establishing reliable data transfer across the physical media attachment (PMA) and PCS layers of the gigabit receiver while maintaining a known, fixed latency. The phase relationship between a derived bit clock signal and the byte clock signal is shifted in a manner that achieves coarse data alignment within each data byte without affecting the latency. Conversely, the coarse data alignment is combined with a data alignment toggling procedure to reduce data alignment granularity with minimized latency changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignees: Xilinx, Inc., Netlogic Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren E. Cory, Donald Stark, Dean Liu, Clemenz Portmann
  • Publication number: 20080162759
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the performance of a memory system is provided. A memory system comprises a master device and a slave device. A memory channel couples the master device to the slave device such that the slave device receives the system operating information from the master device via the memory channel. The slave device further includes means for tuning circuitry within the slave device such that the performance of the memory system is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: RAMBUS INC.
    Inventors: Bruno Werner Garlepp, Pak Shing Chau, Kevin S. Donnelly, Clemenz Portmann, Donald C. Stark, Stefanos Sidiropoulos, Richard M. Barth, Paul G. Davis, Ely K. Tsern
  • Patent number: 7337294
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the performance of a memory system is provided. A memory system comprises a master device and a slave device. A memory channel couples the master device to the slave device such that the slave device receives the system operating information from the master device via the memory channel. The slave device further includes means for tuning circuitry within the slave device such that the performance of the memory system is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Bruno Werner Garlepp, Pak Shing Chau, Kevin S. Donnelly, Clemenz Portmann, Donald C. Stark, Stefanos Sidiropoulos, Richard M. Barth, Paul G. Davis, Ely K. Tsern
  • Publication number: 20070083700
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the performance of a memory system is provided. A memory system comprises a master device and a slave device. A memory channel couples the master device to the slave device such that the slave device receives the system operating information from the master device via the memory channel. The slave device further includes means for tuning circuitry within the slave device such that the performance of the memory system is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Bruno Garlepp, Pak Chau, Kevin Donnelly, Clemenz Portmann, Donald Stark, Stefanos Sidiropoulos, Richard Barth, Paul Davis, Ely Tsern