Patents by Inventor Marc Albrecht

Marc Albrecht 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).

  • Publication number: 20140267370
    Abstract: A method is provided for compensating for brightness change in a display. The method includes storing a plurality of look-up tables (LUTs), where each table has a plurality of pixel levels at a variable refresh rate (VRR) and a plurality of brightness signals that provide compensation for the brightness change when refresh rate is changed during a panel self-refresh (PSR). The method also includes receiving an input signal from a graphics processing unit (GPU) and determining the VRR of the input signal from the GPU. The method further includes obtaining the LUT at the determined VRR of the input signal and adjusting the input signal to produce an output signal that compensates for the brightness change for each pixel or sub-pixel in a timing controller based upon the LUT at the determined VRR. The method further includes transmitting the output signal to the display. A system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Albrecht, Christopher Philip Alan Tann, Nocholas G. Roland
  • Publication number: 20140267448
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for compensating for brightness changes in a display having an array of display pixels. The method includes storing a plurality of look-up tables, where each table has a plurality of brightness signals that provide compensation for a brightness change when the refresh rate is changed during a panel self-refresh. The method also includes using display control circuitry to determine the refresh rate associated with an input signal and to determine a compensation based on the refresh rate. The display control circuitry may, for example, use non-linear interpolation to generate a look-up table for the refresh rate. The display control circuitry may adjust the input signal based on the look-up table to produce an output signal that compensates for a brightness change at the refresh rate. The output signal may be transmitted to the array of display pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Albrecht, Christopher Philip Alan Tann, Nicholas G. Roland, Sandro H. Pintz, Taesung Kim
  • Publication number: 20140198138
    Abstract: The disclosure describes procedures for dynamically employing a variable refresh rate at an LCD display of a consumer electronic device, such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a mobile phone, or a music player device. In some configurations, the consumer electronic device can include a host system portion, having one or more processors and a display system portion, having a timing controller, a buffer circuit, a display driver, and a display panel. The display system can receive image data and image control data from a GPU of the host system, evaluate the received image control data to determine a reduced refresh rate (RRR) for employing at the display panel, and then transition to the RRR, whenever practicable, to conserve power. In some scenarios, the transition to the RRR can be a transition from a LRR of 50 hertz or above to a RRR of 40 hertz or below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Prasanna Nambi, Jason N. Gomez, Fenghua Zheng, Paolo Sacchetto, Sandro H. Pintz, Taesung Kim, Christopher P. Tann, Marc Albrecht, David W. Lum
  • Publication number: 20140198093
    Abstract: The disclosure describes procedures for dynamically employing a variable refresh rate at an LCD display of a consumer electronic device, such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a mobile phone, or a music player device. In some configurations, the consumer electronic device can include a host system portion, having one or more processors and a display system portion, having a timing controller, a buffer circuit, a display driver, and a display panel. The display system can receive image data and image control data from a GPU of the host system, evaluate the received image control data to determine a reduced refresh rate (RRR) for employing at the display panel, and then transition to the RRR, whenever practicable, to conserve power. In some scenarios, the transition to the RRR can be a transition from a LRR of 50 hertz or above to a RRR of 40 hertz or below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Prasanna Nambi, Jason N. Gomez, Fenghua Zheng, Paolo Sacchetto, Sandro H. Pintz, Taesung Kim, Christopher P. Tann, Marc Albrecht, David W. Lum
  • Publication number: 20140198114
    Abstract: The disclosure describes procedures for dynamically employing a variable refresh rate at an LCD display of a consumer electronic device, such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a mobile phone, or a music player device. In some configurations, the consumer electronic device can include a host system portion, having one or more processors and a display system portion, having a timing controller, a buffer circuit, a display driver, and a display panel. The display system can receive image data and image control data from a GPU of the host system, evaluate the received image control data to determine a reduced refresh rate (RRR) for employing at the display panel, and then transition to the RRR, whenever practicable, to conserve power. In some scenarios, the transition to the RRR can be a transition from a LRR of 50 hertz or above to a RRR of 40 hertz or below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Prasanna Nambi, Jason N. Gomez, Fenghua Zheng, Paolo Sacchetto, Sandro H. Pintz, Taesung Kim, Christopher P. Tann, Marc Albrecht, David W. Lum
  • Publication number: 20140139571
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a display and display control circuitry. The display may be calibrated to compensate for changes in display temperature. Display calibration information may be obtained during manufacturing and may be stored in the electronic device. The display calibration information may include color-specific adjustment factors configured to adjust display colors and reduce temperature-related color shifts. During operation of the display, the display control circuitry may receive input pixel values for a display pixel. The display control circuitry may also receive display temperature information from a temperature sensor in the electronic device. The display control circuitry may determine adjustment factors based on a color associated with the input pixel values and the display temperature information. The display control circuitry may apply the adjustment factors to the input pixel values to obtain adapted pixel values. The adapted pixel values may be provided to the display pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Albrecht, Ulrich Barnhoefer, Gabriel Marcu, Sandro H. Pintz
  • Publication number: 20140139570
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a display and display control circuitry. The display may be calibrated to compensate for changes in display temperature. Display calibration information may be obtained during manufacturing and may be stored in the electronic device. The display calibration information may include adjustment factors configured to adjust incoming pixel values to reduce temperature-related color shifts. During operation of the electronic device, display control circuitry may determine the temperature at different locations on the display. The display control circuitry may determine the temperature at a given display pixel using the temperatures at the different locations on the display. The display control circuitry may determine adjustment values based on the temperature at the display pixel. The display control circuitry may apply the adjustment values to incoming pixel values to obtain adapted pixel values, which may in turn be provided to the display pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Albrecht, Ulrich Barnhoefer, Gabriel Marcu, Sandro H. Pintz, Keith Cox
  • Publication number: 20140043369
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a display and display control circuitry. The display may be calibrated to reduce color non-uniformity in the display. Display calibration information may be obtained during manufacturing and may be stored in the electronic device. The display calibration information may include color-specific, intensity-specific, location-specific correction factors. During operation of the display, display control circuitry may receive pixel data to be displayed by each pixel in the display. The pixel data may include color information and intensity information for each pixel. Based on the color information for each pixel, the intensity information for each pixel, and the location of each pixel in the display, the display control circuitry may determine a color-specific, intensity-specific, location-specific correction factor to apply to the pixel data for each pixel. Adapted pixel data may be supplied to each pixel in the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Marc Albrecht, Ulrich Barnhoefer, Gabriel Marcu, Sandro H. Pintz
  • Patent number: 8411116
    Abstract: A method and system for displaying an image on a liquid crystal display (LCD) that may reduce power consumption. The method and system can include calculating a luminance for pixels in an image in a LCD based upon a light spread function and brightness values of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The method and system can also include changing a brightness of an LED based upon a consideration of the gray value of the pixels and the distance of the pixels from a dominant LED. The method and system can further set the brightness of the LED units to a brightness or brightness value substantially greater than or equal to a gray value of each pixel of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Chihao XU
    Inventors: Andreas Karrenbauer, Marc Albrecht, Chihao Xu
  • Patent number: 8323152
    Abstract: A method is provided for automatic shutdown of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, in particular in a vehicle having an automatic transmission, by way of a stop-start unit which automatically shuts down the internal combustion engine when the vehicle is decelerated to a standstill and kept at a standstill by operation of the brake pedal for a predetermined interval of time. Within the predetermined interval of time, the driver is given an opportunity to prevent the automatic shutdown. According to the invention, an automatic shutdown is prevented when the driver of the vehicle depresses the brake pedal fully within the predetermined interval of time and then releases the brake pedal again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Marc Albrecht
  • Publication number: 20110230309
    Abstract: A method is provided for automatic shutdown of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, in particular in a vehicle having an automatic transmission, by way of a stop-start unit which automatically shuts down the internal combustion engine when the vehicle is decelerated to a standstill and kept at a standstill by operation of the brake pedal for a predetermined interval of time. Within the predetermined interval of time, the driver is given an opportunity to prevent the automatic shutdown. According to the invention, an automatic shutdown is prevented when the driver of the vehicle depresses the brake pedal fully within the predetermined interval of time and then releases the brake pedal again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Marc Albrecht
  • Publication number: 20110063201
    Abstract: A method and system for displaying an image on a liquid crystal display (LCD). The method and system can include calculating a luminance for pixels in an image in a LCD based upon a light spread function and brightness values of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The method and system can also include changing a brightness of an LED based upon a consideration of the gray value of the pixels and the distance of the pixels from a dominant LED. The method and system can further set the brightness of the LED units to a brightness substantially greater than or equal to a gray value of each pixel of the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: X-Motive GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Karrenbauer, Marc Albrecht, Chihao Xu
  • Publication number: 20110063331
    Abstract: A method and system for displaying an image on a liquid crystal display (LCD). The method and system can include calculating a luminance for pixels in an image in a LCD based upon a light spread function and brightness values of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The method and system can also include changing a brightness of an LED based upon a consideration of the gray value of the pixels and the distance of the pixels from a dominant LED. The method and system can further set the brightness of the LED units to a brightness or brightness value substantially greater than or equal to a gray value of each pixel of the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: X-Motive GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Karrenbauer, Marc Albrecht, Chihao Xu
  • Patent number: 7788021
    Abstract: A device for controlling an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, including a control unit for monitoring and limiting the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine that are designed in such a manner that after a predetermined first speed threshold an integral formation of the current present values over time occurs, and that, on reaching a predetermined integral limit value, the rotational speed is automatically limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Marc Albrecht
  • Publication number: 20100012085
    Abstract: A device for controlling an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, including a control unit for monitoring and limiting the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine that are designed in such a manner that after a predetermined first speed threshold an integral formation of the current present values over time occurs, and that, on reaching a predetermined integral limit value, the rotational speed is automatically limited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Marc ALBRECHT