Patents by Inventor Franck Ruffier

Franck Ruffier 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: 10161741
    Abstract: A method and a system for the optical detection, with hyperacuity, of a contrasted target, allowing the detection of the relative position of said target in relation to said detection system and therefore the acquisition and the pursuit of such a target. One or more embodiments is applicable to the field of autonomous robotic systems, especially for the positioning of drones or robots on a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignees: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, UNIVERSITÉ D'AIX-MARSEILLE
    Inventors: Stephane Viollet, Franck Ruffier, Augustin Manecy, Julien Diperi
  • Patent number: 10061319
    Abstract: The invention relates to a surface identification device for the movement of a vehicle at a distance from that surface, the device comprising a detection head, the head including at least one sensor of a property depending on the distance of the center of the head from the surface, each sensor covering a detection zone centered on a line of sight, an orientation system for the detection zone of each sensor, and a controller processing the signals from each sensor and controlling the system based on said signals. The controller estimates the direction of the perpendicular to the surface, and uses said system to rotate the line of sight of each sensor in a separate direction by a reorientation angle of the direction of said perpendicular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignees: UNIVERSITE D'AIX-MARSEILLE, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
    Inventors: Franck Ruffier, Fabien Expert
  • Publication number: 20180120091
    Abstract: A method and a system for the optical detection, with hyperacuity, of a contrasted target, allowing the detection of the relative position of said target in relation to said detection system and therefore the acquisition and the pursuit of such a target. One or more embodiments is applicable to the field of autonomous robotic systems, especially for the positioning of drones or robots on a target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Stephane VIOLLET, Franck RUFFIER, Augustin MANECY, Julien DIPERI
  • Patent number: 9797919
    Abstract: A motion sensor assembly is adapted to determine an angular velocity of a moving contrast in its field of view. The motion sensor assembly includes: a motion sensor with a first and a second analog photoreceptor each adapted for observing the moving contrast, the first and the second photoreceptors being separated by a predetermined interreceptor angle; and an angular velocity calculating unit connected to the first and second photoreceptors for calculating the angular velocity of the moving contrast based on a first and a second analog signal delivered by the first and the second photoreceptors, respectively. The first and the second analog signals delivered by the first and the second photoreceptors at are sampled a given sampling frequency to obtain a first and a second digital signal, respectively. An interpolator is configured to interpolate the first and the second digital signals upon their crossing a predetermined threshold between successive samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSITE D'AIX MARSEILLE, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (C.N.R.S.)
    Inventors: Franck Ruffier, Fabien Expert
  • Publication number: 20160259337
    Abstract: The invention relates to a surface identification device for the movement of a vehicle at a distance from that surface, the device comprising a detection head, the head including at least one sensor of a property depending on the distance of the center of the head from the surface, each sensor covering a detection zone centered on a line of sight, an orientation system for the detection zone of each sensor, and a controller processing the signals from each sensor and controlling the system based on said signals. The controller estimates the direction of the perpendicular to the surface, and uses said system to rotate the line of sight of each sensor in a separate direction by a reorientation angle of the direction of said perpendicular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Franck RUFFIER, Fabien EXPERT
  • Publication number: 20150285833
    Abstract: A motion sensor assembly is adapted to determine an angular velocity of a moving contrast in its field of view. The motion sensor assembly includes: a motion sensor with a first and a second analog photoreceptor each adapted for observing the moving contrast, the first and the second photoreceptors being separated by a predetermined interreceptor angle; and an angular velocity calculating unit connected to the first and second photoreceptors for calculating the angular velocity of the moving contrast based on a first and a second analog signal delivered by the first and the second photoreceptors, respectively. The first and the second analog signals delivered by the first and the second photoreceptors at are sampled a given sampling frequency to obtain a first and a second digital signal, respectively. An interpolator is configured to interpolate the first and the second digital signals upon their crossing a predetermined threshold between successive samples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Franck Ruffier, Fabien Expert
  • Patent number: 8938324
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for measuring a time delay between two output signals measured by two adjacent optical sensors, the time delay resulting from a movement of an object moving in a given direction. The method comprises the steps: carrying out a spatial filtering of the signals Ph1 and Ph2 delivered by a first and a second optical sensor; calculating a first order derivative and carrying out a temporal low-pass filtering of the signals; calculating the second order derivative of the signals; measuring the delay between the signals; and is characterized in that the step of measuring the delay is a feedback loop based on an estimated delay between the temporally filtered signals. Device and set of devices for measuring the angular velocity of a luminance transition zone and steering aid system for fixation and tracking a target comprising at least one such luminance transition zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignees: Universite d'Aix-Marseille, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.)
    Inventors: Lubin Kerhuel, Stéphane Viollet, Franck Ruffier
  • Publication number: 20120310451
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for measuring a time delay between two output signals measured by two adjacent optical sensors, the time delay resulting from a movement of an object moving in a given direction. The method comprises the steps: carrying out a spatial filtering of the signals Ph1 and Ph2 delivered by a first and a second optical sensor; calculating a first order derivative and carrying out a temporal low-pass filtering of the signals; calculating the second order derivative of the signals; measuring the delay between the signals; and is characterized in that the step of measuring the delay is a feedback loop based on an estimated delay between the temporally filtered signals. Device and set of devices for measuring the angular velocity of a luminance transition zone and steering aid system for fixation and tracking a target comprising at least one such luminance transition zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSITE D'AIX-MARSEILLE
    Inventors: Lubin Kerhuel, Stéphane Viollet, Franck Ruffier
  • Patent number: 7440826
    Abstract: A steering aid system for altitude and horizontal speed of an aircraft (4) includes: a measuring device (22) for delivering a measured signal based on the aircraft altitude and horizontal speed, a common predetermined reference value (26) for the aircraft altitude and horizontal speed, and elements (20) for slaving the signal to the reference value by pitch loop, the elements being adapted to vary automatically the pitch and/or propulsive performance of the lifting members to lock the measured signal to the reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifque (C.N.R.S.)
    Inventors: Nicolas Franceschini, Franck Ruffier, Stéphane Viollet, Marc Boyron
  • Publication number: 20060138277
    Abstract: A steering aid system for altitude and horizontal speed of an aircraft (4) includes: a measuring device (22) for delivering a measured signal based on the aircraft altitude and horizontal speed, a common predetermined reference value (26) for the aircraft altitude and horizontal speed, and elements (20) for slaving the signal to the reference value by pitch loop, the elements being adapted to vary automatically the pitch and/or propulsive performance of the lifting members to lock the measured signal to the reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventors: Nicolas Franceschini, Franck Ruffier, Stephane Viollet, Marc Boyron