Patents by Inventor Mario MANNINGER
Mario MANNINGER 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: 20240136372Abstract: A pixel for an ambient light and/or color sensor includes a plurality of pinned photodiodes. The pixel also includes a floating diffusion region. A ratio of an active area of the plurality of pinned photodiodes to an area of the floating diffusion region is greater than 150.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2022Publication date: April 25, 2024Inventors: Benjamin Joseph SHEAHAN, Jong Mun PARK, Robert VAN ZEELAND, Kirk David PETERSON, Wern Ming KOE, George Richard KELLY, Mario MANNINGER, Dong-Long LIN, Pascale FRANCIS, Koen RUYTHOOREN
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Publication number: 20230298507Abstract: An apparatus comprises a display screen, and an optical sensor module which is disposed behind the display screen. The optical sensor module further comprises a light emitter operable to generate light having a wavelength for transmission through the display screen toward a target object. A light sensor is operable to sense light reflected by the target object and having the wavelength. A reducer is arranged for reducing the optical power density by increasing a diameter of a light beam generated by the light emitter on the display screen, wherein the reducer is disposed between the light emitter and the display screen so as to intersect the light beam generated by the light emitter.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2021Publication date: September 21, 2023Applicant: ams-OSRAM AGInventors: Mario MANNINGER, Jens GEIGER, Klaus SCHMIDEGG, Laurent NEVOU, Nemanja NIKETIC, Igor GUREVICH, Bassam HALLAL
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Patent number: 11733355Abstract: An optical sensor module for time-of-flight measurement comprises an optical emitter, a main detector and a reference detector which are arranged in or on a carrier. An opaque housing of the optical sensor module has a first chamber and a second chamber which are separated by a light barrier. The housing has a cover section and is arranged on the carrier such that the optical emitter is located inside the first chamber, the main detector is located inside the second chamber and the reference detector is located outside the first chamber. Furthermore, a main surface of the cover section is positioned opposite the carrier. The optical emitter is arranged and configured to emit light through a first aperture in the cover section, and the main detector is arranged and configured to detect light entering the second chamber through a second aperture in the cover section.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2017Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: AMS AGInventors: Robert Kappel, Mario Manninger, Todd Bishop
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Patent number: 11686826Abstract: A semiconductor body includes a driver for driving a light source, at least two detectors each including an avalanche diode, a time-to-digital converter arrangement coupled to outputs of the at least two detectors, a memory that is coupled to the time-to-digital converter arrangement and is configured to store at least one histogram, and an evaluation unit coupled to the driver and to the memory.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2018Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: AMS AGInventors: Kerry Glover, Manfred Lueger, Robert Kappel, Christian Mautner, Mario Manninger, Georg Roehrer
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Publication number: 20200300989Abstract: A semiconductor body comprises a driver for driving a light source, at least two detectors each comprising an avalanche diode, a time-to-digital converter arrangement coupled to outputs of the at least two detectors, a memory that is coupled to the time-to-digital converter arrangement and is configured to store at least one histogram, and an evaluation unit coupled to the driver and to the memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2018Publication date: September 24, 2020Inventors: Kerry Glover, Manfred Lueger, Robert Kappel, Christian Mautner, Mario Manninger, Georg Roehrer
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Publication number: 20200271765Abstract: A method is presented for calibrating a time-of-flight system having a time-of-flight sensor located behind a cover plate. The method involves emitting a plurality of sending pulses of light in response to respective trigger pulses of a control signal and detecting received pulses of light. Respective difference values are determined which are representative of a time period between one of the sending pulses and one of the received pulses. The difference values are accumulated into a number of bins of at least one histogram. The method further involves recording at least one crosstalk response in the histogram within a predetermined range of bins, and calibrating the histogram using the recorded crosstalk response. Finally, an output signal is generated which is indicative of a time-of-flight based on an evaluation of the calibrated histogram.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2018Publication date: August 27, 2020Inventors: Kerry Glover, Manfred Lueger, Robert Kappel, Christian Mautner, Mario Manninger
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Publication number: 20190237500Abstract: A 3D-Integrated optical sensor comprises a semiconductor substrate, an integrated circuit, a wiring, a filter layer, a transparent spacer layer, and an on-chip diffuser. The semiconductor substrate has a main surface. The integrated circuit comprises at least one light sensitive area and is arranged in the substrate at or near the main surface. The wiring provides an electrical connection to the integrated circuit and is connected to the integrated circuit. The wiring is arranged on or in the semiconductor substrate. The filter layer has a direction dependent transmission characteristic and is arranged on the integrated circuit. In fact, the filter layer at least covers the light sensitive area. The transparent spacer layer is arranged on the main surface and, at least partly, encloses the filter layer. A spacer thickness is arranged to limit a spectral shift of the filter layer. The on-chip diffuser is arranged on the transparent spacer layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2017Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: Hubert Enichlmair, Martin SCHREMS, Gregor Toschkoff, Thomas Bodner, Mario Manninger
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Publication number: 20190187254Abstract: An optical sensor module for time-of-flight measurement comprises an optical emitter, a main detector and a reference detector which are arranged in or on a carrier. An opaque housing of the optical sensor module has a first chamber and a second chamber which are separated by a light barrier. The housing has a cover section and is arranged on the carrier such that the optical emitter is located inside the first chamber, the main detector is located inside the second chamber and the reference detector is located outside the first chamber. Furthermore, a main surface of the cover section is positioned opposite the carrier. The optical emitter is arranged and configured to emit light through a first aperture in the cover section, and the main detector is arranged and configured to detect light entering the second chamber through a second aperture in the cover section.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2017Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventors: Robert KAPPEL, Mario MANNINGER, Todd BISHOP
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Patent number: 10006806Abstract: A light sensor arrangement according to the proposed principle comprises at least one first unshielded well (D0) and at least one second shielded well (D1) in a substrate (P). The at least one first unshielded well (D0) is being exposed to incident light (?) and configured to generate a first sensor signal (Ch0) as a function of the incident light (?). The at least one second shielded well (D1) in the substrate (p) being shielded from the incident light (?) and configured to generate a second sensor signal (Ch1) as a function of the incident light (?). The light sensor arrangement further comprises means for temperature compensation providing the first and second sensor signals (Ch0, Ch1) as temperature compensated sensor signals as a function of substrate temperature. Means to determine spectral content of the incident light (?) are provided to determine the spectral content as a function of the temperature compensated first and second sensor signals (Ch0, Ch1).Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2013Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: ams AGInventors: Gonggui Xu, Lloyd Hasley, Cecil Aswell, Mario Manninger
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Patent number: 9791935Abstract: A method for gesture detection comprises pre-processing and main-processing steps, wherein the pre-processing comprises emitting light using a light emitting device and generating of directional sensor signals as a function of time by detecting a fraction of the emitted light reflected by means of a movable object using a directional light sensor array). The main-processing comprises calculating coordinates as a function of time by using the directional sensor signals, being indicative of a position of the object with reference to a plane parallel to a principal plane of the light sensor array, and detecting a movement of the object depending on the timing of the coordinates.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2014Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: AMS AGInventors: Peter Trattler, Mario Manninger
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Patent number: 9683889Abstract: A photodiode (2) and a further photodiode (3) are arranged in a substrate (1) at or near a main surface (10). The photodiodes are formed and arranged in such a manner that in case of incident ultraviolet radiation (26) the electric signal from the photodiode (2) is larger than the further electric signal from the further photodiode (3). In particular, the first photodiode may be more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation than the further photodiode. The electric signal from the photodiode is attenuated by the further electric signal and thus yields an electric signal primarily measuring the incident ultraviolet radiation. The attenuation of the electric signal from the first photodiode may be achieved internally using an integrated circuit (25) or externally using a separate device.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2014Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: AMS AGInventors: Eugene G. Dierschke, Todd Bishop, Mario Manninger
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Publication number: 20160299008Abstract: A light sensor arrangement comprising a stack having a light sensor, an optical filter, and a mask between the light sensor and the optical filter. In particular, the light sensor comprises a light sensitive surface. The mask comprises an upper opaque base facing away from the light sensitive surface and having first apertures each confining an optical path in the mask, respectively. The mask further comprises a lower opaque base facing the light sensitive surface and having second apertures, each confining the optical path in the mask, respectively. The upper and lower base are made from metal. The optical paths are designed for allowing incident light to reach the light sensitive surface when having an angle of incidence from an allowed interval of angles determined by the size of the first and second apertures and defined with respect to an optical axis of the optical paths, respectively. A spectrometer is shown comprising at least light sensor arrangements of the aforementioned kind.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2014Publication date: October 13, 2016Inventors: Mario MANNINGER, Peter TRATTLER
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Publication number: 20160070358Abstract: A method for gesture detection comprises pre-processing and main-processing steps, wherein the pre-processing comprises emitting light using a light emitting device and generating of directional sensor signals as a function of time by detecting a fraction of the emitted light reflected by means of a movable object using a directional light sensor array). The main-processing comprises calculating coordinates as a function of time by using the directional sensor signals, being indicative of a position of the object with reference to a plane parallel to a principal plane of the light sensor array, and detecting a movement of the object depending on the timing of the coordinates.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2014Publication date: March 10, 2016Inventors: Peter TRATTLER, Mario MANNINGER
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Publication number: 20160025558Abstract: A photodiode (2) and a further photodiode (3) are arranged in a substrate (1) at or near a main surface (10). The photodiodes are formed and arranged in such a manner that in case of incident ultraviolet radiation (26) the electric signal from the photodiode (2) is larger than the further electric signal from the further photodiode (3). In particular, the first photodiode may be more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation than the further photodiode. The electric signal from the photodiode is attenuated by the further electric signal and thus yields an electric signal primarily measuring the incident ultraviolet radiation. The attenuation of the electric signal from the first photodiode may be achieved internally using an integrated circuit (25) or externally using a separate device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2014Publication date: January 28, 2016Inventors: Eugene G. DIERSCHKE, Todd BISHOP, Mario MANNINGER
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Patent number: 9148914Abstract: In one embodiment a current source comprises an input (In) for receiving a brightness signal (Sb), and an output (Out) for providing a driving current (Id) for at least one light-emitting diode, LED, wherein the current source (CS) is configured to extract a first and a second current value (idac_high, idac_low) from the brightness signal (Sb), to derive a duty cycle value (Smod) from the brightness signal (Sb) and to modulate the driving current (Id) as a function of the duty cycle value (Smod) in a pulse-width modulation comprising the first and the second current values (idac_high, idac_low). Furthermore, a method for providing a current is described.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2013Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: ams AGInventors: Michael Böhm, Peter Trattler, Mario Manninger
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Publication number: 20140117215Abstract: A light sensor arrangement according to the proposed principle comprises at least one first unshielded well (D0) and at least one second shielded well (D1) in a substrate (P). The at least one first unshielded well (D0) is being exposed to incident light (?) and configured to generate a first sensor signal (Ch0) as a function of the incident light (?). The at least one second shielded well (D1) in the substrate (p) being shielded from the incident light (?) and configured to generate a second sensor signal (Ch1) as a function of the incident light (?). The light sensor arrangement further comprises means for temperature compensation providing the first and second sensor signals (Ch0, Ch1) as temperature compensated sensor signals as a function of substrate temperature. Means to determine spectral content of the incident light (?) are provided to determine the spectral content as a function of the temperature compensated first and second sensor signals (Ch0, Ch1).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2013Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: AMS AGInventors: Gonggui XU, Lloyd HASLEY, Cecil ASWELL, Mario MANNINGER
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Publication number: 20130293140Abstract: In one embodiment a current source comprises an input (In) for receiving a brightness signal (Sb), and an output (Out) for providing a driving current (Id) for at least one light-emitting diode, LED, wherein the current source (CS) is configured to extract a first and a second current value (idac_high, idac_low) from the brightness signal (Sb), to derive a duty cycle value (Smod) from the brightness signal (Sb) and to modulate the driving current (Id) as a function of the duty cycle value (Smod) in a pulse-width modulation comprising the first and the second current values (idac_high, idac_low). Furthermore, a method for providing a current is described.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2013Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: ams AGInventors: Michael BÖHM, Peter TRATTLER, Mario MANNINGER
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Patent number: 8542840Abstract: A signal-processing circuit for the generation of a loudspeaker signal may include an input for the feeding of a digital input signal and a digital equalizer filter that is coupled with the input and has at least one first recursive filter that is defined by a first adjustable set of coefficients, an amplification device, a current measurement device, a digital filter block that may be configured to generate, through filtering, an estimate signal as a function of the measurement signal, and a matching block that may be configured to determine a new set of coefficients as a function of the measurement signal, the estimate signal, and the filtered input signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2010Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: AMS AGInventors: Mario Manninger, Franz Fuerbass
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Patent number: 8525331Abstract: A chip design (1) comprising an external supply connection (VBAT), an internal supply connection (VDD), an integrated circuit (2) that is coupled to the internal supply connection (VDD) for voltage supply, and a fuse (3) that electrically connects the internal supply connection (VBAT) and is arranged within the chip design (1).Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2009Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: AMS AGInventors: Karl Ilzer, Rainer Minixhofer, Mario Manninger
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Publication number: 20120104605Abstract: A chip design (1) comprising an external supply connection (VBAT), an internal supply connection (VDD), an integrated circuit (2) that is coupled to the internal supply connection (VDD) for voltage supply, and a fuse (3) that electrically connects the internal supply connection (VBAT) and is arranged within the chip design (1).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2009Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: AUSTRIAMICROSYSTEMS AGInventors: Karl Ilzer, Rainer Minixhofer, Mario Manninger