Patents by Inventor Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños
Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños 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: 20210215827Abstract: The current disclosure describes a stereo imaging system that is configured to use Time-of-Flight (“Tof”) techniques to aid in stereoscopic image processing. One process disclosed uses ToF to aid in identifying the same elements (e.g., pixel clusters) in stereo image pairs by narrowing down search areas for matching. Another process uses ToF to aid in identifying the same elements in stereo image pairs where there a small amount texture making it difficult to find a match.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2019Publication date: July 15, 2021Applicant: ams International AGInventors: Miguel Bruno VAELLO PAÑOS, David STOPPA, Markus ROSSI, Kang Seok JOO
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Publication number: 20210156976Abstract: A method of using an optical TOF module to determine distance to an object. The method includes acquiring signals in the TOF module indicative of distance to the object, using a first algorithm to provide an output indicative of the distance to the object based on the acquired signals, using at least one second different algorithm to provide an output indicative of the distance to the object based on the acquired signals, and combining the outputs of the first and at least one second algorithms to obtain an improved estimate of the distance to the object. In some implementations, each of the first and at least one second algorithms further provides an output representing a respective confidence level indicative of how accurately distance to the object has been extracted by the particular algorithm.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2018Publication date: May 27, 2021Applicant: ams International AGInventors: Stephan BEER, Ioannis TOLIOS, David STOPPA, Qiang ZHANG, Pablo TRUJILLO SERRANO, Ian Kenneth MILLS, Miguel Bruno VAELLO PAÑOS, Bryant HANSEN, Mitchell Sterling MARTIN, Doug NELSON
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Publication number: 20200319321Abstract: An optoelectronic module including a light emitter to generate light to be emitted from the module; a plurality of spatially distributed light sensitive elements arranged to detect light from the emitter that is reflected by an object outside the module; and one or more dedicated spurious-reflection detection pixels.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2020Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Jens Kubacki, Jim Lewis, Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños, Michael Lehmann, Stephan Beer, Bernhard Buettgen, Daniel Pérez Calero, Bassam Hallal
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Publication number: 20200319320Abstract: An optoelectronic module including a light emitter to generate light to be emitted from the module, a plurality of spatially distributed light sensitive elements arranged to detect light from the emitter that is reflected by an object outside the module, and one or more dedicated spurious-reflection detection pixels.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2020Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Jens Kubacki, Jim Lewis, Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños, Michael Lehmann, Stephan Beer, Bernhard Buettgen, Daniel Pérez Calero, Bassam Hallal
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Patent number: 10768283Abstract: A distance acquisition method comprising: initializing an optical ranging system, the optical ranging system including a plurality of pixels operable to covert incident light to electrical charges; collecting electrical charges with the plurality of exposed pixels over an integration time, each pixel collecting electrical charges with an amplification and a sensitivity; correlating the electrical charges collected in each pixel to an exposure value for each pixel, the exposure value corresponding to being adequately exposed, over-exposed, or under-exposed; identifying each exposure value for each pixel as being either valid or invalid, wherein a valid exposure value corresponds to an adequately exposed pixel and an invalid exposure value corresponds to an over-exposed or under-exposed pixel; totalling the number of valid exposure value pixels; totalling the number invalid exposure value pixels; determining an exposure ratio, the ratio being the number of pixels with valid exposure values divided by the numberType: GrantFiled: November 10, 2016Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Bryant Hansen, Cassian Strässle, Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños
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Patent number: 10746544Abstract: An optoelectronic module includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions stored thereon, that when executed on a processor, perform operations for calibrating the optoelectronic module and collecting distance data with the optoelectronic module. Methods for calibrating and collecting distance data include using an optoelectronic module with the non-transitory computer-readable medium that includes the aforementioned instructions. In some instances, a first target is highly reflective, and a second target is highly absorbing.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2017Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. LtdInventors: Javier Miguel Sànchez, Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños
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Patent number: 10705192Abstract: Optoelectronic modules (100) are operable to distinguish between signals indicative of reflections from an object of interest and signals indicative of a spurious reflection. Various modules are operable to recognize spurious reflections by means of dedicated spurious-reflection detection pixels (126) and, in some cases, also to compensate for errors caused by spurious reflections.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2015Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Jens Kubacki, Jim Lewis, Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños, Michael Lehmann, Stephan Beer, Bernhard Buettgen, Daniel Pérez Calero, Bassam Hallal
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Patent number: 10663691Abstract: The present disclosure describes imaging techniques and devices having improved autofocus capabilities. The imaging techniques can include actively illuminating a scene and determining distances over the entire scene and so that a respective distance to each object or point in the scene can be determined. Thus, distances to all objects in a scene (within a particular range) at any given instant can be stored. A preview of the image can be displayed so as to allow a user to select a region of the scene of interest. In response to the user's selection, the imager's optical assembly can be adjusted automatically, for example, to a position that corresponds to optimal image capture of objects at the particular distance of the selected region of the scene.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2019Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Christian Tang-Jespersen, Michael Kiy, Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños, Florin Cutu, James Patrick Long, Hartmut Rudmann
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Patent number: 10578739Abstract: An optoelectronic module operable to acquire distance data and spectral data includes an array of demodulation pixels and an array of spectral filters. The demodulation pixels can possess an intrinsic wavelength-dependent sensitivity, wherein the intrinsic wavelength-dependent sensitivity can be offset by an intensity balancing micro-lens array in some cases. In some cases, the intrinsic wavelength-dependent sensitivity can be offset by a combined filter array, while in other cases the intrinsic wavelength-dependent sensitivity can be offset by an intensity balancing filter array. Still in other cases, the demodulation pixels can be operable in such as to offset the intrinsic wavelength-dependent sensitivity.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2016Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Bernhard Buettgen, Gözen Köklü, Daniel Furrer, Stephan Beer, Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños
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Publication number: 20200064453Abstract: The present disclosure describes calibration methods for optoelectronic modules with active illumination, such as 3D ranging systems. Calibration methods include determining cross-talk calibration parameters for an optoelectronic module having an emitting channel and a receiving channel where the optoelectronic module is operable to demodulate modulated light incident on the receiving channel. Cross-talk calibration parameters are saved to a readable storage medium and recalled during distance measurements to an object or objects in a scene.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2016Publication date: February 27, 2020Inventors: Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños, Javier Miguel Sánchez, Cassian Strässle, Liming Chen
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Publication number: 20190271828Abstract: The present disclosure describes imaging techniques and devices having improved autofocus capabilities. The imaging techniques can include actively illuminating a scene and determining distances over the entire scene and so that a respective distance to each object or point in the scene can be determined. Thus, distances to all objects in a scene (within a particular range) at any given instant can be stored. A preview of the image can be displayed so as to allow a user to select a region of the scene of interest. In response to the user's selection, the imager's optical assembly can be adjusted automatically, for example, to a position that corresponds to optimal image capture of objects at the particular distance of the selected region of the scene.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2019Publication date: September 5, 2019Applicant: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Christian Tang-Jespersen, Michael Kiy, Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños, Florin Cutu, James Patrick Long, Hartmut Rudmann
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Patent number: 10359505Abstract: The present disclosure describes optical imaging and optical detection modules that include sensors such as time-of-flight (TOF) sensors. Various implementations are described that, in some instances, can help reduce the amount of optical cross-talk between active detection pixels and reference pixels and/or can facilitate the ability of the sensor to determine an accurate phase difference to be used, for example, in distance calculations.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2015Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Bernhard Buettgen, Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños, Stephan Beer, Michael Lehmann, Daniel Pérez Calero, Sophie Godé, Bassam Hallal
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Patent number: 10276628Abstract: An imaging device, including a monolithic semiconductor integrated circuit substrate, comprises a focal plane array of pixel cells. Each one of the pixel cells includes a gate overlying a region of the substrate operable to convert incident radiation into charge carriers. The pixel also includes a CMOS readout circuit including at least one output transistor in the substrate. The pixel further includes a charge coupled device section on the substrate adjacent the gate, the charge coupled device section including a sense node to receive charge carriers transferred from the region of the substrate beneath the gate. The sense node is coupled to the output transistor. The pixel also includes a reset switch coupled to the sense node. The pixel's charge coupled device section has a buried channel region. The pixel also includes one or more bias enabling switches operable to enable a bias voltage to be applied to the gate.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2017Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Radoslaw Marcin Gancarz, Daniel Furrer, Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños, Stephan Beer
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Patent number: 10261287Abstract: The present disclosure describes imaging techniques and devices having improved autofocus capabilities. The imaging techniques can include actively illuminating a scene and determining distances over the entire scene and so that a respective distance to each object or point in the scene can be determined. Thus, distances to all objects in a scene (within a particular range) at any given instant can be stored. A preview of the image can be displayed so as to allow a user to select a region of the scene of interest. In response to the user's selection, the imager's optical assembly can be adjusted automatically, for example, to a position that corresponds to optimal image capture of objects at the particular distance of the selected region of the scene.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2016Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Christian Tang-Jespersen, Michael Kiy, Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños, Florin Cutu, James Patrick Long, Hartmut Rudmann
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Publication number: 20190033071Abstract: An optoelectronic module includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions stored thereon, that when executed on a processor, perform operations for calibrating the optoelectronic module and collecting distance data with the optoelectronic module. Methods for calibrating and collecting distance data include using an optoelectronic module with the non-transitory computer-readable medium that includes the aforementioned instructions. In some instances, a first target is highly reflective, and a second target is highly absorbing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2017Publication date: January 31, 2019Inventors: Javier MIGUEL SÁNCHEZ, Miguel Bruno VAELLO PAÑOS
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Publication number: 20180348371Abstract: This disclosure is directed to methods for acquiring distance data using optical ranging systems. Optical ranging systems include one or more reference pixels and one or more object pixels. The methods employ operations for optimizing reference-pixel integration times and object-pixel integration times such that accurate distance data can be collected.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2016Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños, Cassian Strässle, Bryant Hansen
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Publication number: 20180329043Abstract: A distance acquisition method comprising: initializing an optical ranging system, the optical ranging system including a plurality of pixels operable to covert incident light to electrical charges; collecting electrical charges with the plurality of exposed pixels over an integration time, each pixel collecting electrical charges with an amplification and a sensitivity; correlating the electrical charges collected in each pixel to an exposure value for each pixel, the exposure value corresponding to being adequately exposed, over-exposed, or under-exposed; identifying each exposure value for each pixel as being either valid or invalid, wherein a valid exposure value corresponds to an adequately exposed pixel and an invalid exposure value corresponds to an over-exposed or under-exposed pixel; totalling the number of valid exposure value pixels; totalling the number invalid exposure value pixels; determining an exposure ratio, the ratio being the number of pixels with valid exposure values divided by the numberType: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2016Publication date: November 15, 2018Inventors: Bryant Hansen, Cassian Strässle, Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños
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Publication number: 20180284273Abstract: An optoelectronic module operable to acquire distance data and spectral data includes an array of demodulation pixels and an array of spectral filters. The demodulation pixels can possess an intrinsic wavelength-dependent sensitivity, wherein the intrinsic wavelength-dependent sensitivity can be offset by an intensity balancing micro-lens array in some cases. In some cases, the intrinsic wavelength-dependent sensitivity can be offset by a combined filter array, while in other cases the intrinsic wavelength-dependent sensitivity can be offset by an intensity balancing filter array. Still in other cases, the demodulation pixels can be operable in such as to offset the intrinsic wavelength-dependent sensitivity.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2016Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Bernhard Buettgen, Gözen Köklü, Daniel Furrer, Stephan Beer, Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños
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Publication number: 20180252894Abstract: The present disclosure describes imaging techniques and devices having improved autofocus capabilities. The imaging techniques can include actively illuminating a scene and determining distances over the entire scene and so that a respective distance to each object or point in the scene can be determined. Thus, distances to all objects in a scene (within a particular range) at any given instant can be stored. A preview of the image can be displayed so as to allow a user to select a region of the scene of interest. In response to the user's selection, the imager's optical assembly can be adjusted automatically, for example, to a position that corresponds to optimal image capture of objects at the particular distance of the selected region of the scene.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2016Publication date: September 6, 2018Inventors: Christian Tang-Jespersen, Michael Kiy, Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños, Florin Cutu, James Patrick Long, Hartmut Rudmann
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Publication number: 20170338274Abstract: An imaging device, including a monolithic semiconductor integrated circuit substrate, comprises a focal plane array of pixel cells. Each one of the pixel cells includes a gate overlying a region of the substrate operable to convert incident radiation into charge carriers. The pixel also includes a CMOS readout circuit including at least one output transistor in the substrate. The pixel further includes a charge coupled device section on the substrate adjacent the gate, the charge coupled device section including a sense node to receive charge carriers transferred from the region of the substrate beneath the gate. The sense node is coupled to the output transistor. The pixel also includes a reset switch coupled to the sense node. The pixel's charge coupled device section has a buried channel region. The pixel also includes one or more bias enabling switches operable to enable a bias voltage to be applied to the gate.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2017Publication date: November 23, 2017Applicant: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Radoslaw Marcin Gancarz, Daniel Furrer, Miguel Bruno Vaello Paños, Stephan Beer