Patents by Inventor Daniel Furrer

Daniel Furrer 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: 12321137
    Abstract: A time-to-digital converter circuit is disclosed, the time-to-digital converter circuit including a plurality of delay stages connected to form a delay line, a plurality of event counters, an encoder circuit for triggering the delay line, and a binning circuit for associating an event with an event counter from plurality of event counters. The binning circuit selects the event counter based on a signal from the delay line, and wherein the encoder circuit is configured to sequentially trigger a different delay stage of the plurality of delay stages. Also disclosed is a time-of-flight sensor implementing the time-to-digital converter circuit, and an associated apparatus and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Robert Kappel, Daniel Furrer, Manfred Lueger, Yiming Jiang, Hesong Xu, Daniele Perenzoni
  • Patent number: 11994586
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and apparatus for enabling an imaging sensor to perform Time-of-Flight measurements while requiring less histogram memory and in many cases less power consumption. A light source is operated to cause multiple light emissions and a coarse/estimated distance is determined based on a first echo received based on the first light emission. A histogram is saved and a fine distance is calculated from the coarse distance and data derived from the echo of a second light emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Christian Mautner, Daniel Furrer, Daniele Perenzoni, Robert Kappel
  • Publication number: 20230324853
    Abstract: A time-to-digital converter circuit is disclosed, the time-to-digital converter circuit including a plurality of delay stages connected to form a delay line, a plurality of event counters, an encoder circuit for triggering the delay line, and a binning circuit for associating an event with an event counter from plurality of event counters. The binning circuit selects the event counter based on a signal from the delay line, and wherein the encoder circuit is configured to sequentially trigger a different delay stage of the plurality of delay stages. Also disclosed is a time-of-flight sensor implementing the time-to-digital converter circuit, and an associated apparatus and method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: ams International AG
    Inventors: Robert KAPPEL, Daniel FURRER, Manfred LUEGER, Yiming JIANG, Hesong XU, Daniele PERENZONI
  • Publication number: 20230130040
    Abstract: A sensing system is disclosed for performing distance measurements. The sensing system may include an emitter configured to emit electromagnetic radiation modulated at a known frequency. The sensing system may further include a detector configured to sample incident electromagnetic radiation at the known frequency, convert the sampled electromagnetic radiation into charge carriers, and collect the charge carriers in a storage component to produce an electronic signal. The sensing system may include a processor configured to determine a correction by applying a non-linear polynomial function to the electronic signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Miguel Bruno VAELLO PAÑOS, Daniel FURRER, Javier Miguel SÁNCHEZ, Stephan BEER
  • Publication number: 20210199802
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and apparatus for enabling an imaging sensor to perform Time-of-Flight measurements while requiring less histogram memory and in many cases less power consumption. A light source is operated to cause multiple light emissions and a coarse/estimated distance is determined based on a first echo received based on the first light emission. A histogram is saved and a fine distance is calculated from the coarse distance and data derived from the echo of a second light emission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Christian Mautner, Daniel Furrer, Daniele Perenzoni, Robert Kappel
  • Patent number: 10578739
    Abstract: An optoelectronic module operable to acquire distance data and spectral data includes an array of demodulation pixels and an array of spectral filters. The demodulation pixels can possess an intrinsic wavelength-dependent sensitivity, wherein the intrinsic wavelength-dependent sensitivity can be offset by an intensity balancing micro-lens array in some cases. In some cases, the intrinsic wavelength-dependent sensitivity can be offset by a combined filter array, while in other cases the intrinsic wavelength-dependent sensitivity can be offset by an intensity balancing filter array. Still in other cases, the demodulation pixels can be operable in such as to offset the intrinsic wavelength-dependent sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Bernhard Buettgen, Gözen Köklü, Daniel Furrer, Stephan Beer, Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños
  • Patent number: 10276628
    Abstract: An imaging device, including a monolithic semiconductor integrated circuit substrate, comprises a focal plane array of pixel cells. Each one of the pixel cells includes a gate overlying a region of the substrate operable to convert incident radiation into charge carriers. The pixel also includes a CMOS readout circuit including at least one output transistor in the substrate. The pixel further includes a charge coupled device section on the substrate adjacent the gate, the charge coupled device section including a sense node to receive charge carriers transferred from the region of the substrate beneath the gate. The sense node is coupled to the output transistor. The pixel also includes a reset switch coupled to the sense node. The pixel's charge coupled device section has a buried channel region. The pixel also includes one or more bias enabling switches operable to enable a bias voltage to be applied to the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Radoslaw Marcin Gancarz, Daniel Furrer, Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños, Stephan Beer
  • Patent number: 10236400
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes quantum dot film based demodulation structures and optical ranging systems including an array of QDF demodulation structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel Furrer, Stephan Beer, Bernhard Buettgen
  • Publication number: 20180284273
    Abstract: An optoelectronic module operable to acquire distance data and spectral data includes an array of demodulation pixels and an array of spectral filters. The demodulation pixels can possess an intrinsic wavelength-dependent sensitivity, wherein the intrinsic wavelength-dependent sensitivity can be offset by an intensity balancing micro-lens array in some cases. In some cases, the intrinsic wavelength-dependent sensitivity can be offset by a combined filter array, while in other cases the intrinsic wavelength-dependent sensitivity can be offset by an intensity balancing filter array. Still in other cases, the demodulation pixels can be operable in such as to offset the intrinsic wavelength-dependent sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Bernhard Buettgen, Gözen Köklü, Daniel Furrer, Stephan Beer, Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños
  • Publication number: 20170338274
    Abstract: An imaging device, including a monolithic semiconductor integrated circuit substrate, comprises a focal plane array of pixel cells. Each one of the pixel cells includes a gate overlying a region of the substrate operable to convert incident radiation into charge carriers. The pixel also includes a CMOS readout circuit including at least one output transistor in the substrate. The pixel further includes a charge coupled device section on the substrate adjacent the gate, the charge coupled device section including a sense node to receive charge carriers transferred from the region of the substrate beneath the gate. The sense node is coupled to the output transistor. The pixel also includes a reset switch coupled to the sense node. The pixel's charge coupled device section has a buried channel region. The pixel also includes one or more bias enabling switches operable to enable a bias voltage to be applied to the gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Radoslaw Marcin Gancarz, Daniel Furrer, Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños, Stephan Beer
  • Publication number: 20170222076
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes quantum dot film based demodulation structures and optical ranging systems including an array of QDF demodulation structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel Furrer, Stephan Beer, Bernhard Buettgen
  • Patent number: 8324518
    Abstract: A flush-mounted switch, in particular a door-opener switch, for mounting on a fastening surface, has a tubular housing and a flange which protrudes over the cover and an axially moveable button for actuating a switching member connected to the housing. The button is held in its rest position by a restoring force and can be pushed in counter to the action of this restoring force. A fastening ring affixes the door-opener switch on the fastening surface. The flange of the housing covers the fastening ring. A support ring is provided by way of which the button is lockable to the fastening ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: EAO Holding AG
    Inventor: Daniel Furrer
  • Publication number: 20120168288
    Abstract: A flush-mounted switch, in particular a door-opener switch, for mounting on a fastening surface, has a tubular housing and a flange which protrudes over the cover and an axially moveable button for actuating a switching member connected to the housing. The button is held in its rest position by a restoring force and can be pushed in counter to the action of this restoring force. A fastening ring affixes the door-opener switch on the fastening surface. The flange of the housing covers the fastening ring. A support ring is provided by way of which the button is lockable to the fastening ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: EAO HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Daniel FURRER