Patents by Inventor Florian R. Fournier
Florian R. Fournier 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: 20250035933Abstract: To accommodate variations in the interpupillary distances associated with different users, a head-mounted device may have left-eye and right-eye optical modules that move with respect to each other. Each optical module may have a display that creates an image and a corresponding lens that provides the image to an associated eye box for viewing by a user. The optical modules each include a lens barrel to which the display and lens of that optical module are mounted and a head-mounted optical module illumination system. The illumination system may have light-emitting devices such as light-emitting diodes that extend along some or all of a peripheral edge of the display. The light-emitting diodes may be mounted on a flexible printed circuit with a tail that extends a lens barrel opening. A stiffener for the flexible printed circuit may have openings that receive the light-emitting diodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2024Publication date: January 30, 2025Inventors: Marinus Meursing, Keenan Molner, Chengyi Yang, Florian R. Fournier, Ivan S. Maric, Jason C. Sauers
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Patent number: 12140767Abstract: To accommodate variations in the interpupillary distances associated with different users, a head-mounted device may have left-eye and right-eye optical modules that move with respect to each other. Each optical module may have a display that creates an image and a corresponding lens that provides the image to an associated eye box for viewing by a user. The optical modules each include a lens barrel to which the display and lens of that optical module are mounted and a head-mounted optical module illumination system. The illumination system may have light-emitting devices such as light-emitting diodes that extend along some or all of a peripheral edge of the display. The light-emitting diodes may be mounted on a flexible printed circuit with a tail that extends a lens barrel opening. A stiffener for the flexible printed circuit may have openings that receive the light-emitting diodes.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2023Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Marinus Meursing, Keenan Molner, Chengyi Yang, Florian R. Fournier, Ivan S. Maric, Jason C. Sauers
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Publication number: 20240302025Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include adaptive light source modules that can provide adaptive illumination to a scene. The adaptive light source modules may comprise a housing, an emitter array, and a lens. The emitter array comprises a plurality of emitters. The lens may redirect light emitted from the emitter array through a transparent window of the housing. The housing may further include a prismatic surface that distorts light emitted from the emitter array and/or one or more non-transparent portions that limits light travelling therethrough. The adaptive light source module may optionally comprise a light sensor, and a portion of the lens may be configured to direct light toward the light sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2024Publication date: September 12, 2024Inventors: Angelo M. Alaimo, Blake M. Coughenour, Bryan Dang, Florian R. Fournier, Katherine J. Armstrong
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Patent number: 12040598Abstract: A mobile device includes a camera and a light source module embedded in the mobile device. The light source module includes at least a laser-pumped phosphor light source that includes a photoluminescent phosphor and a laser diode to generate laser light within a first wavelength range to pump the photoluminescent phosphor. Exposure of the photoluminescent phosphor to the laser light results in emission of visible light within a second wavelength range according to a laser-pumped emission spectrum associated with the photoluminescent phosphor.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2023Date of Patent: July 16, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Angelo M. Alaimo, Richard L. Baer, Garam Young, Florian R. Fournier, Blake M. Coughenour, Bryan Dang
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Patent number: 12018832Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include adaptive light source modules that can provide adaptive illumination to a scene. The adaptive light source modules may comprise a housing, an emitter array, and a lens. The emitter array comprises a plurality of emitters. The lens may redirect light emitted from the emitter array through a transparent window of the housing. The housing may further include a prismatic surface that distorts light emitted from the emitter array and/or one or more non-transparent portions that limits light travelling therethrough. The adaptive light source module may optionally comprise a light sensor, and a portion of the lens may be configured to direct light toward the light sensor.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2022Date of Patent: June 25, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Angelo M. Alaimo, Blake M. Coughenour, Bryan Dang, Florian R. Fournier, Katherine J. Armstrong
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Patent number: 12001121Abstract: A light source module includes an illumination element and an adjustable light diffusing material. The light source module is configured to receive or generate a control signal for adjusting diffusion of light emitted from the light source module and accordingly adjust an amount of diffusion of light emitted from the light source module. In some embodiments, an adjustable light diffusing material includes a polymer stabilized cholesteric texture (PSCT), a smectic phase liquid crystal, a polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC), or other suitable material. A controller for a light source module may determine a level of diffusion based on a level of inclusion of a wide-angle field of view of a wide-angle lens system or a telephoto field of view of a telephoto lens system in a composite camera field of view that includes a combination of the wide angle field of view and the telephoto field of view.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2021Date of Patent: June 4, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Blake M. Coughenour, Hossein Nemati, Florian R. Fournier
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Publication number: 20240061252Abstract: To accommodate variations in the interpupillary distances associated with different users, a head-mounted device may have left-eye and right-eye optical modules that move with respect to each other. Each optical module may have a display that creates an image and a corresponding lens that provides the image to an associated eye box for viewing by a user. The optical modules each include a lens barrel to which the display and lens of that optical module are mounted and a head-mounted optical module illumination system. The illumination system may have light-emitting devices such as light-emitting diodes that extend along some or all of a peripheral edge of the display. The light-emitting diodes may be mounted on a flexible printed circuit with a tail that extends a lens barrel opening. A stiffener for the flexible printed circuit may have openings that receive the light-emitting diodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventors: Marinus Meursing, Keenan Molner, Chengyi Yang, Florian R. Fournier, Ivan S. Maric, Jason C. Sauers
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Patent number: 11828944Abstract: To accommodate variations in the interpupillary distances associated with different users, a head-mounted device may have left-eye and right-eye optical modules that move with respect to each other. Each optical module may have a display that creates an image and a corresponding lens that provides the image to an associated eye box for viewing by a user. The optical modules each include a lens barrel to which the display and lens of that optical module are mounted and a head-mounted optical module illumination system. The illumination system may have light-emitting devices such as light-emitting diodes that extend along some or all of a peripheral edge of the display. The light-emitting diodes may be mounted on a flexible printed circuit with a tail that extends a lens barrel opening. A stiffener for the flexible printed circuit may have openings that receive the light-emitting diodes.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Marinus Meursing, Keenan Molner, Chengyi Yang, Florian R. Fournier, Ivan S. Maric, Jason C. Sauers
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Publication number: 20230299564Abstract: A mobile device includes a camera and a light source module embedded in the mobile device. The light source module includes at least a laser-pumped phosphor light source that includes a photoluminescent phosphor and a laser diode to generate laser light within a first wavelength range to pump the photoluminescent phosphor. Exposure of the photoluminescent phosphor to the laser light results in emission of visible light within a second wavelength range according to a laser-pumped emission spectrum associated with the photoluminescent phosphor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2023Publication date: September 21, 2023Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Angelo M. Alaimo, Richard L. Baer, Garam Young, Florian R. Fournier, Blake M. Coughenour, Bryan Dang
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Patent number: 11658465Abstract: A mobile device includes a camera and a light source module embedded in the mobile device. The light source module includes at least a laser-pumped phosphor light source that includes a photoluminescent phosphor and a laser diode to generate laser light within a first wavelength range to pump the photoluminescent phosphor. Exposure of the photoluminescent phosphor to the laser light results in emission of visible light within a second wavelength range according to a laser-pumped emission spectrum associated with the photoluminescent phosphor.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2020Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Angelo M. Alaimo, Richard L. Baer, Garam Young, Florian R. Fournier, Blake M. Coughenour, Bryan Dang
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Publication number: 20230086557Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include adaptive light source modules that can provide adaptive illumination to a scene. The adaptive light source modules may comprise a housing, an emitter array, and a lens. The emitter array comprises a plurality of emitters. The lens may redirect light emitted from the emitter array through a transparent window of the housing. The housing may further include a prismatic surface that distorts light emitted from the emitter array and/or one or more non-transparent portions that limits light travelling therethrough. The adaptive light source module may optionally comprise a light sensor, and a portion of the lens may be configured to direct light toward the light sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Inventors: Angelo M. Alaimo, Blake M. Coughenour, Bryan Dang, Florian R. Fournier, Katherine J. Armstrong
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Patent number: 11588961Abstract: A lighting module which provides adjustably controllable illumination of a camera field of view of a camera module includes an adjustable collimator which can be adjustably positioned such that the emitted light beam is adjustably directed to illuminate various regions of various camera fields of view. The collimator can be adjusted via an actuator which adjustably positions the collimator relative to static components of the lighting module, including the light emitter. The light beam can be directed to illuminate a selected limited region of a camera field of view, based on identification of a subject within the limited region. The light beam can be adjustably directed based on user interactions with a user interface, including adjusting the light beam according to user-commanded beam angle, intensity, and direction. The light beam can be adjustably directed to illuminate a region according to different fields of view of different camera modules.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2021Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Miodrag Scepanovic, Angelo M. Alaimo, Florian R. Fournier, Andreas G. Weber, Simon S. Lee
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Publication number: 20210409582Abstract: A lighting module which provides adjustably controllable illumination of a camera field of view of a camera module includes an adjustable collimator which can be adjustably positioned such that the emitted light beam is adjustably directed to illuminate various regions of various camera fields of view. The collimator can be adjusted via an actuator which adjustably positions the collimator relative to static components of the lighting module, including the light emitter. The light beam can be directed to illuminate a selected limited region of a camera field of view, based on identification of a subject within the limited region. The light beam can be adjustably directed based on user interactions with a user interface, including adjusting the light beam according to user-commanded beam angle, intensity, and direction. The light beam can be adjustably directed to illuminate a region according to different fields of view of different camera modules.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Miodrag Scepanovic, Angelo M. Alaimo, Florian R. Fournier, Andreas G. Weber, Simon S. Lee
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Patent number: 11122193Abstract: A lighting module which provides adjustably controllable illumination of a camera field of view of a camera module includes an adjustable collimator which can be adjustably positioned such that the emitted light beam is adjustably directed to illuminate various regions of various camera fields of view. The collimator can be adjusted via an actuator which adjustably positions the collimator relative to static components of the lighting module, including the light emitter. The light beam can be directed to illuminate a selected limited region of a camera field of view, based on identification of a subject within the limited region. The light beam can be adjustably directed based on user interactions with a user interface, including adjusting the light beam according to user-commanded beam angle, intensity, and direction. The light beam can be adjustably directed to illuminate a region according to different fields of view of different camera modules.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2018Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Miodrag Scepanovic, Angelo M. Alaimo, Florian R. Fournier, Andreas G. Weber, Simon S. Lee
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Publication number: 20210191233Abstract: A light source module includes an illumination element and an adjustable light diffusing material. The light source module is configured to receive or generate a control signal for adjusting diffusion of light emitted from the light source module and accordingly adjust an amount of diffusion of light emitted from the light source module. In some embodiments, an adjustable light diffusing material includes a polymer stabilized cholesteric texture (PSCT), a smectic phase liquid crystal, a polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC), or other suitable material. A controller for a light source module may determine a level of diffusion based on a level of inclusion of a wide-angle field of view of a wide-angle lens system or a telephoto field of view of a telephoto lens system in a composite camera field of view that includes a combination of the wide angle field of view and the telephoto field of view.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2021Publication date: June 24, 2021Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Blake M. Coughenour, Hossein Nemati, Florian R. Fournier
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Patent number: 10942423Abstract: A light source module includes an illumination element and an adjustable light diffusing material. The light source module is configured to receive or generate a control signal for adjusting diffusion of light emitted from the light source module and accordingly adjust an amount of diffusion of light emitted from the light source module. In some embodiments, an adjustable light diffusing material includes a polymer stabilized cholesteric texture (PSCT), a smectic phase liquid crystal, a polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC), or other suitable material. A controller for a light source module may determine a level of diffusion based on a level of inclusion of a wide-angle field of view of a wide-angle lens system or a telephoto field of view of a telephoto lens system in a composite camera field of view that includes a combination of the wide angle field of view and the telephoto field of view.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2018Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Blake M. Coughenour, Hossein Nemati, Florian R. Fournier
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Patent number: 10855895Abstract: A light source module includes an array of illumination elements and a light diffusing material. The light source module is configured to receive a control signal for adjusting diffusion of light emitted from the light source module and in response adjust the amount of diffusion of light emitted from the light source module. A light source module may include a segmented light diffusing material where each segment is associated with an illumination element. And individual segments may have light diffusing properties that are different than other segments of the light diffusing material. Some illumination elements may emit light of a different color spectrum than other illumination elements, and a light diffusing material may scatter the different colored light to illuminate a scene with combinations of light of different colors. A light source module may be embedded in a mobile computing device.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2018Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Florian R. Fournier, Angelo M. Alaimo, Simon S. Lee, Miodrag Scepanovic, Andreas G. Weber
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Patent number: 10475361Abstract: A device which includes a display can provide adjustable light output, based in part on the color of the display screen output, to control the light output of the display screen. An illumination processor can adjustably control light output based on the colors of portions of the display screen. The light output can be adjusted to maintain the light output of the display screen across a range of colors of display screen light output. Controlling the light output of the display screen results in controlling the illuminance of a subject. The device can include a camera which captures an image of the subject and displays the image on a portion of the display screen, where the light output of a portion of the display screen can illuminate the subject such that the captured image has at least a certain level of image quality.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2015Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Miodrag Scepanovic, Angelo M. Alaimo, Florian R. Fournier
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Patent number: 10145730Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described, including an apparatus for testing a light beam emitted by a light source. The apparatus includes a transparent substrate, a first face of the substrate being shaped to define a plurality of optical deflectors. At least one optical detector is positioned to face a second face of the substrate that is not opposite the first face. Each one of the deflectors is configured to deflect a portion of the light beam toward the detector, when the light beam is passed through the first face of the substrate. Other applications are also described.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2015Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Florian R. Fournier, Miodrag Scepanovic
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Publication number: 20180288295Abstract: A lighting module which provides adjustably controllable illumination of a camera field of view of a camera module includes an adjustable collimator which can be adjustably positioned such that the emitted light beam is adjustably directed to illuminate various regions of various camera fields of view. The collimator can be adjusted via an actuator which adjustably positions the collimator relative to static components of the lighting module, including the light emitter. The light beam can be directed to illuminate a selected limited region of a camera field of view, based on identification of a subject within the limited region. The light beam can be adjustably directed based on user interactions with a user interface, including adjusting the light beam according to user-commanded beam angle, intensity, and direction. The light beam can be adjustably directed to illuminate a region according to different fields of view of different camera modules.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2018Publication date: October 4, 2018Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Miodrag Scepanovic, Angelo M. Alaimo, Florian R. Fournier, Andreas G. Weber, Simon S. Lee