Patents by Inventor David Mehrl

David Mehrl 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: 11336944
    Abstract: A method is proposed for controlling a display parameter of a mobile device. The mobile device comprises a display and a first imaging unit. The method comprising the step of positioning and orienting the display with respect to a reference plane located at a reference position, such that the first imaging unit faces towards the reference plane. Then a first image is generated by means of the first imaging unit, wherein the first image depends on ambient light incident on the first imaging unit and emitted from at least one ambient light source. A first light level is calculated from the first image, wherein the first light level is indicative of a first fraction of the incident ambient light which illuminates the reference plane by means of specular reflection of the incident ambient light at the display. Finally, the display parameter is adjusted depending on the first light level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: David Mehrl, Greg Stoltz
  • Patent number: 10859433
    Abstract: An assembly line in-situ calibration arrangement, optical sensor arrangement and a method for calibration of an optical sensor arrangement are presented. A calibration arrangement comprises a calibration head comprising at least one calibrated light source located behind an aperture in a housing and being electrically connected to a power terminal. A power source is connected to the power terminal, the power source comprising a switching unit electrically connected to the at least one light source. An interface unit is connected to the switching unit by means of an interface connection, wherein the interface unit is arranged to control the switching unit. A control unit is connected to the interface unit, wherein the control unit is arranged to drive the interface unit such that the at least one light source is switched to emit a calibration pulse sequence to be received by the optical sensor arrangement to be placed with respect of the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventor: David Mehrl
  • Patent number: 10847664
    Abstract: An optical package is proposed comprising a carrier, an optoelectronic component, an aspheric lens, and a reflective layer. The carrier comprises electrical interconnections and the optoelectric component is arranged for emitting and/or detecting electromagnetic radiation in a specified wavelength range. Furthermore, the optoelectric component is mounted on the carrier or integrated into the carrier and electrically connected to the electric interconnections. The aspheric lens has an upper surface, a lateral surface, and a bottom surface and the bottom surface is arranged on or near the optoelectric component. The aspheric lens comprises a material which is at least transparent in the specified wavelength range. The reflective layer comprises a reflective material, wherein the reflective layer at least partly covers the lateral surface of the aspheric lens, and wherein the reflective material is at least partly reflective in the specified wavelength range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: David Mehrl, Thomas Bodner, Gregor Toschkoff, Harald Etschmaier, Franz Schrank
  • Patent number: 10768044
    Abstract: An optical sensor device comprises a first and a second optical sensor arrangement. In the first optical sensor arrangement at least one optical sensor structure measures the incidence angle of incoming light that is approximately on the main beam axis of a light source. The second optical sensor arrangement comprises at least one optical sensor structure with at least one optical sensor, at least two metal layers and opaque walls optically isolating the optical sensor. An evaluation circuit provides an output signal of the second optical sensor arrangement under the condition that the incidence angle measured by the first optical sensor arrangement lies within a set interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: ams International AG
    Inventors: David Mehrl, Troy Chesler, Eugene G. Dierschke
  • Publication number: 20200204853
    Abstract: A method is proposed for controlling a display parameter of a mobile device. The mobile device comprises a display and a first imaging unit. The method comprising the step of positioning and orienting the display with respect to a reference plane located at a reference position, such that the first imaging unit faces towards the reference plane. Then a first image is generated by means of the first imaging unit, wherein the first image depends on ambient light incident on the first imaging unit and emitted from at least one ambient light source. A first light level is calculated from the first image, wherein the first light level is indicative of a first fraction of the incident ambient light which illuminates the reference plane by means of specular reflection of the incident ambient light at the display. Finally, the display parameter is adjusted depending on the first light level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: David MEHRL, Greg Stoltz
  • Patent number: 10677898
    Abstract: An optical driver arrangement (10) comprises a comparator (11) and a pulse generator (15). The comparator (11) comprises a first input (12) for receiving a sensed output signal (S1) derived from a sensor signal (S2) generated by a light sensor (24), a second input (13) for receiving a reference signal (S3) and a comparator output (14) for providing a comparator signal (S4). The pulse generator (15) comprises a control input (16) coupled to the comparator output (14) and a generator output (22) for providing a driver signal (S5) to a light source (21). The driver signal (S4) comprises a series of at least one pulse and a parameter of the driver signal (S4) is controlled by the comparator signal (S4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Josef Kriebernegg, Christian Mautner, David Mehrl, Kerry Glover
  • Patent number: 10635153
    Abstract: A method for passive optical motion detection uses an optical sensor arrangement comprising an optical sensor having at least one signal channel. The optical sensor arrangement is initialized for repeated signal acquisition and an initial frame comprising a tuple of sensor data is collected from the at least one signal channel. The initial frame is set as a previous frame. A loop of motion detection is entered and the following steps are repeated. First, a current frame comprising another tuple of sensor data is collected from the at least one signal channel. Then, a motion parameter is computed from a motion metric depending on the current and previous frames. The so computed motion parameter is compared with a threshold value. A motion event parameter is set depending on the comparison of the motion parameter with the threshold value. The current frame is set as previous frame so that the loop can start all over again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventor: David Mehrl
  • Patent number: 10629576
    Abstract: An optical proximity sensor arrangement comprises a semiconductor substrate (100) with a main surface (101). A first integrated circuit (200) comprises at least one light sensitive component (201). The first integrated circuit is arranged on the substrate at or near the main surface. A second integrated circuit (300) comprises at least one light emitting component (301), and is arranged on the substrate at or near the main surface. A light barrier (400) is arranged between the first and second integrated circuits. The light barrier being designed to block light to be emitted by the at least one light emitting component from directly reaching the at least one light sensitive component. A multilayer mask (500) is arranged on or near the first integrated circuit and comprising a stack (501) of a first layer (502) of first elongated light blocking slats (503) and at least one second layer (504) of second elongated light blocking slats (505).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: David Mehrl, Greg Stoltz
  • Patent number: 10423849
    Abstract: The arrangement comprises a filter region (10) filtering electromagnetic radiation and a shielding component (20) inhibiting propagation of electromagnetic radiation. The filter region comprises a central filter region (11) and a separate peripheral filter region (13). The shielding component comprises an aperture (21). The aperture is arranged above the central filter region. The central filter region and the peripheral filter region are optimized for different angles of incidence (?, ?) and provided for measurements by individual sensor regions (18, 19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: David Mehrl, George Kelly
  • Patent number: 10393851
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement comprises at least a first, a second, and a third light sensor. A three-dimensional framework comprises at least a first, a second, and a third connection means which are connected to the at least first, second, and third light sensor, respectively. The first, the second, and the third connection means are configured to align the at least first, second, and third light sensor along a first, second, and third face of a polyhedron-like volume, respectively, such that the sensor arrangement encloses the polyhedron-like volume. The invention also relates to a method for operating the sensor arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: David Mehrl, Kerry Glover
  • Patent number: 10393577
    Abstract: Color light sensors are used to sense colored light and a full spectrum light in order to generate at least three color channel signals and a clear channel signal. An infrared component IR is calculated by summing up the color channel signals with individual weighting factors and subtracting a weighted clear channel signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Kerry Glover, David Mehrl, Dan Jacobs
  • Publication number: 20190154498
    Abstract: An optical sensor device comprises a first and a second optical sensor arrangement. In the first optical sensor arrangement at least one optical sensor structure measures the incidence angle of incoming light that is approximately on the main beam axis of a light source. The second optical sensor arrangement comprises at least one optical sensor structure with at least one optical sensor, at least two metal layers and opaque walls optically isolating the optical sensor. An evaluation circuit provides an output signal of the second optical sensor arrangement under the condition that the incidence angle measured by the first optical sensor arrangement lies within a set interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: David Mehrl, Troy Chesler, Eugene G. Dierschke
  • Patent number: 10190905
    Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement comprises an optical barrier which is placed between a light-emitting device and a photodetector. Herein the light-emitting device and the photodetector are arranged on a first plane and are covered by a cover. The photodetector exhibits an active zone. The optical barrier exhibits an extent along a first principal axis, which is pointing parallel to the line connecting the centers of the light-emitting device and the photodetector. Herein the extent is greater than a dimension of the active zone. The optical barrier is designed to block light emitted by the light-emitting device that otherwise would be reflected by the cover by means of specular reflection and would reach the photodetector. The optical barrier is designed to pass light emitted by the light-emitting device and scattered on or above an outer surface of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Yu Wang, David Mehrl, Greg Stoltz, Kerry Glover, Tom Dunn
  • Publication number: 20180348841
    Abstract: A method for passive optical motion detection uses an optical sensor arrangement comprising an optical sensor having at least one signal channel. The optical sensor arrangement is initialized for repeated signal acquisition and an initial frame comprising a tuple of sensor data is collected from the at least one signal channel. The initial frame is set as a previous frame. A loop of motion detection is entered and the following steps are repeated. First, a current frame comprising another tuple of sensor data is collected from the at least one signal channel. Then, a motion parameter is computed from a motion metric depending on the current and previous frames. The so computed motion parameter is compared with a threshold value. A motion event parameter is set depending on the comparison of the motion parameter with the threshold value. The current frame is set as previous frame so that the loop can start all over again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: ams AG
    Inventor: David MEHRL
  • Publication number: 20180323320
    Abstract: An optical package is proposed comprising a carrier, an optoelectronic component, an aspheric lens, and a reflective layer. The carrier comprises electrical interconnections and the optoelectric component is arranged for emitting and/or detecting electromagnetic radiation in a specified wavelength range. Furthermore, the optoelectric component is mounted on the carrier or integrated into the carrier and electrically connected to the electric interconnections. The aspheric lens has an upper surface, a lateral surface, and a bottom surface and the bottom surface is arranged on or near the optoelectric component. The aspheric lens comprises a material which is at least transparent in the specified wavelength range. The reflective layer comprises a reflective material, wherein the reflective layer at least partly covers the lateral surface of the aspheric lens, and wherein the reflective material is at least partly reflective in the specified wavelength range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: ams AG
    Inventors: David MEHRL, Thomas BODNER, Gregor TOSCHKOFF, Harald ETSCHMAIER, Franz SCHRANK
  • Publication number: 20180306639
    Abstract: An assembly line in-situ calibration arrangement, optical sensor arrangement and a method for calibration of an optical sensor arrangement are presented. A calibration arrangement comprises a calibration head comprising at least one calibrated light source located behind an aperture in a housing and being electrically connected to a power terminal. A power source is connected to the power terminal, the power source comprising a switching unit electrically connected to the at least one light source. An interface unit is connected to the switching unit by means of an interface connection, wherein the interface unit is arranged to control the switching unit. A control unit is connected to the interface unit, wherein the control unit is arranged to drive the interface unit such that the at least one light source is switched to emit a calibration pulse sequence to be received by the optical sensor arrangement to be placed with respect of the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: David MEHRL
  • Patent number: 10037106
    Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement (10) comprises at least two light sensors (35, 36) for providing at least two sensor signals (S1, S2), and an evaluation circuit (12) that comprises an input (16) coupled to the at least two light sensors (35, 36) and is designed to evaluate the at least two sensor signals (S1, S2) for gesture detection in an adaptive manner using previous values of the at least two sensor signals (S1, S2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Kerry Glover, David Mehrl, Sean Donnelly, James Lawrence Archibald, II
  • Publication number: 20180081022
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement comprises at least a first, a second, and a third light sensor. A three-dimensional framework comprises at least a first, a second, and a third connection means which are connected to the at least first, second, and third light sensor, respectively. The first, the second, and the third connection means are configured to align the at least first, second, and third light sensor along a first, second, and third face of a polyhedron-like volume, respectively, such that the sensor arrangement encloses the polyhedron-like volume. The invention also relates to a method for operating the sensor arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: David MEHRL, Kerry GLOVER
  • Publication number: 20170323171
    Abstract: The arrangement comprises a filter region (10) filtering electromagnetic radiation and a shielding component (20) inhibiting propagation of electromagnetic radiation. The filter region comprises a central filter region (11) and a separate peripheral filter region (13). The shielding component comprises an aperture (21). The aperture is arranged above the central filter region. The central filter region and the peripheral filter region are optimized for different angles of incidence (?, ?) and provided for measurements by individual sensor regions (18, 19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: David MEHRL, George KELLY
  • Publication number: 20170285145
    Abstract: An optical driver arrangement (10) comprises a comparator (11) and a pulse generator (15). The comparator (11) comprises a first input (12) for receiving a sensed output signal (S1) derived from a sensor signal (S2) generated by a light sensor (24), a second input (13) for receiving a reference signal (S3) and a comparator output (14) for providing a comparator signal (S4). The pulse generator (15) comprises a control input (16) coupled to the comparator output (14) and a generator output (22) for providing a driver signal (S5) to a light source (21). The driver signal (S4) comprises a series of at least one pulse and a parameter of the driver signal (S4) is controlled by the comparator signal (S4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Josef KRIEBERNEGG, Christian MAUTNER, David MEHRL, Kerry GLOVER