Patents by Inventor Nicolas Le Dortz

Nicolas Le Dortz 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: 20250069541
    Abstract: An electronic display device designed to a method and device that corrects for distorted luminance and colors due to data-to-scan coupling in a flat-panel display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jongyup Lim, Jie Won Ryu, Nicolas Le Dortz, Hyunwoo Nho, Sun-Il Chang, Patrick R. Cruce
  • Patent number: 12165343
    Abstract: A depth estimation system can enhance depth estimation using brightness image. Light is projected onto an object. The object reflects at least a portion of the projected light. The reflected light is at least partially captured by an image sensor, which generates image data. The depth estimation system may use the image data to generate both a depth image and a brightness image. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, each of which is associated with two ADCs. The ADCs receive different analog signals from the pixel and outputs different digital signals. The depth estimation system may use the different digital signals to determine the brightness value of a brightness pixel of the brightness image. The ADCs may be associated with one or more other pixels. The pixel and the one or more other pixels may be arranged in a same column in an array of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Javier Calpe Maravilla, Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz, Nicolas Le Dortz
  • Publication number: 20240331611
    Abstract: Embodiments herein provide various apparatuses and techniques to efficiently mitigate front-of-screen (FoS) artifacts that may occur due to voltage fluctuations due to alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) mechanisms that may occur in a variety of pixel types. In one embodiment, emission profile awareness circuitry may be implemented to mitigate for FoS artifacts due to DC mechanisms. Two-dimensional (2D) digital compensation circuitry may address the DC portion of the voltage fluctuations by accounting for an emission profile applied to content displayed on an electronic display. In some embodiments, the 2D digital compensation circuitry may compensate for the AC portion of the voltage fluctuations by duplicating the AC voltage fluctuations via voltage error subtraction circuitry and voltage error accumulation circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Hyunwoo Nho, Jie Won Ryu, Patrick R. Cruce, Yao Shi, Nicolas Le Dortz, Wei Xiong, Hyunsoo Kim, Wei H. Yao, Sun-Il Chang, Kingsuk Brahma, Ionut A. Mirel, Mahesh B. Chappalli, Ruicong Chen
  • Publication number: 20240319372
    Abstract: There is provided a continuous wave time of flight, CW-ToF, camera system comprising: a laser for emitting laser light; an imaging sensor, the image sensor comprising a pixel array for accumulating charge based on incident light comprising reflected laser light off an object, the pixel array comprising a plurality of rows of pixels; and a control system coupled to the imaging sensor and configured to control the pixel array to: identify at least a first row and a second row of the plurality of rows, wherein the first row and the second row are adjacent one another in the pixel array; accumulate charge in the pixels of the first row using a first integration setting for a first time period; accumulate charge in the pixels of the second row using a second integration setting for the first time period; and read out a set of charge samples, wherein the first row contains a first charge from accumulating using the first integration setting and the second row contains a second charge from accumulating using the sec
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Inventors: Javier Calpe, Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz, Nicolas Le Dortz
  • Publication number: 20240319373
    Abstract: There is provided a continuous wave time of flight, CW-ToF, camera system comprising: a laser for emitting laser light; an imaging sensor, the image sensor comprising a pixel array for accumulating charge based on incident light comprising reflected laser light off an object, the pixel array comprising a plurality of rows of pixels; and a control system coupled to the imaging sensor and configured to control the pixel array to: reset at least a first row and a second row of the plurality of rows, wherein the first row and the second row are adjacent one another in the pixel array; accumulate charge in the pixels of the pixel array using a first integration setting for a first time period; reset the first row of the plurality of rows; accumulate charge in the pixels of the pixel array using the first integration setting or a second integration setting for a second time period subsequent to the first time period; read out a set of charge samples, wherein the first row contains a first charge from accumulating a
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Inventors: Javier Calpe, Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz, Nicolas Le Dortz
  • Patent number: 11961257
    Abstract: An image processing system having on-the-fly calibration uses the placement of the imaging sensor and the light source for calibration. The placement of the imaging sensor and light source with respect to each other affect the amount of signal received by a pixel as a function of distance to a selected object. For example, an obstruction can block the light emitter, and as the obstruction is positioned an increasing distance away from the light emitter, the signal level increases as light rays leave the light emitters, bounce off the obstruction and are received by the imaging sensor. The system includes a light source configured to emit light, and an image sensor to collect incoming signals including reflected light, and a processor to determine a distance measurement at each of the pixels and calibrate the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Mathy, Brian C. Donnelly, Nicolas Le Dortz, Sefa Demirtas
  • Publication number: 20240111055
    Abstract: There is provided continuous wave time of flight, CW-ToF, camera system comprising: one or more lasers for outputting laser light; one or more imaging sensors, the one or more image sensors each comprising a plurality of imaging pixels for accumulating charge based on incident light comprising reflected laser light off a first surface of an object; and a distance determination system coupled to the one or more imaging sensors and configured to: acquire a first set of charge samples from the one or more imaging sensors in respect of the object by: a) driving the one or more lasers to output laser light modulated with a first modulation signal, wherein the first modulation signal has a first frequency; and b) after step a, reading out image sensor values indicative of charge accumulated by at least some of the plurality of imaging pixels of the one or more imaging sensors; acquire a second set of charge samples from the one or more imaging sensors in respect of the object by: c) driving the one or more lasers t
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Javier CALPE-MARAVILLA, Filiberto Pla, Jonathan Hurwitz, Nicolas Le Dortz
  • Publication number: 20240096132
    Abstract: Far field devices typically rely on audio only for enabling user interaction and involve only audio processing. Adding a vision-based modality can greatly improve the user interface of far field devices to make them more natural to the user. For instance, users can look at the device to interact with it rather than having to repeatedly utter a wakeword. Vision can also be used to assist audio processing, such as to improve the beamformer. For instance, vision can be used for direction of arrival estimation. Combining vision and audio can greatly enhance the user interface and performance of far field devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Atulya YELLEPEDDI, Kaushal Sanghai, John Robert McCarty, Brian C. Donnelly, Johannes Traa, Nicolas Le Dortz
  • Patent number: 11830289
    Abstract: Far field devices typically rely on audio only for enabling user interaction and involve only audio processing. Adding a vision-based modality can greatly improve the user interface of far field devices to make them more natural to the user. For instance, users can look at the device to interact with it rather than having to repeatedly utter a wakeword. Vision can also be used to assist audio processing, such as to improve the beamformer. For instance, vision can be used for direction of arrival estimation. Combining vision and audio can greatly enhance the user interface and performance of far field devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Atulya Yellepeddi, Kaushal Sanghai, John Robert McCarty, Brian C. Donnelly, Nicolas Le Dortz, Johannes Traa
  • Publication number: 20230305123
    Abstract: The disclosure provides different time of flight, ToF, methods and systems for using two or more non-sinusoidal control signals to achieve modulated output light and/or image sensor control with reduced harmonic content. In particular, the two or more non-sinusoidal control signals have different relative phase offsets or duty cycle ratios such that a combined signal resulting from combing the two or more control signals has reduced harmonic content. By utilising non-sinusoidal signals and effectively making using of the combined signal for the output light and/or image sensor control, the system is more straightforward and lower cost to implement compared with systems that use sinusoidal control signals, whilst still maintaining accuracy of the system by minimising the harmonic noise normally associated with non-sinusoidal signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz, Nicolas Le Dortz, Erik D. Barnes, Eoin E. English
  • Publication number: 20230258810
    Abstract: A depth estimation system can enhance depth estimation using brightness image. Light is projected onto an object. The object reflects at least a portion of the projected light. The reflected light is at least partially captured by an image sensor, which generates image data. The depth estimation system may use the image data to generate both a depth image and a brightness image. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, each of which is associated with two ADCs. The ADCs receive different analog signals from the pixel and outputs different digital signals. The depth estimation system may use the different digital signals to determine the brightness value of a brightness pixel of the brightness image. The ADCs may be associated with one or more other pixels. The pixel and the one or more other pixels may be arranged in a same column in an array of the image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Ephraim David HURWITZ, Nicolas LE DORTZ
  • Publication number: 20230260094
    Abstract: A depth estimation system can use a guided filter to enhance depth estimation using brightness image. Light is projected onto an object. The object reflects at least a portion of the projected light. The reflected light is at least partially captured by an image sensor. The depth estimation system may generate a depth image based on a phase shift between the captured light and the projected light and generate a brightness image based on brightness of the captured light. The depth estimation system may use the guided filter to identify a pixel that represents at least a portion of a boundary of the object. The guided filter can determine a depth value of the pixel based on the value of the corresponding pixel in the brightness image. The depth estimation system can assign the depth value to the pixel and generates an enhanced depth image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Kevin Joseph MCANDREW, Krystian BALICKI, Charles MATHY, Nicolas LE DORTZ, Jonathan Ephraim David HURWITZ, Eoin E. ENGLISH, Javier CALPE MARAVILLA
  • Publication number: 20230055829
    Abstract: An image processing system having on-the-fly calibration uses the placement of the imaging sensor and the light source for calibration. The placement of the imaging sensor and light source with respect to each other affect the amount of signal received by a pixel as a function of distance to a selected object. For example, an obstruction can block the light emitter, and as the obstruction is positioned an increasing distance away from the light emitter, the signal level increases as light rays leave the light emitters, bounce off the obstruction and are received by the imaging sensor. The system includes a light source configured to emit light, and an image sensor to collect incoming signals including reflected light, and a processor to determine a distance measurement at each of the pixels and calibrate the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles MATHY, Brian C. DONNELLY, Nicolas LE DORTZ, Sefa DEMIRTAS
  • Patent number: 11423572
    Abstract: An image processing system having on-the-fly calibration uses the placement of the imaging sensor and the light source for calibration. The placement of the imaging sensor and light source with respect to each other affect the amount of signal received by a pixel as a function of distance to a selected object. For example, an obstruction can block the light emitter, and as the obstruction is positioned an increasing distance away from the light emitter, the signal level increases as light rays leave the light emitters, bounce off the obstruction and are received by the imaging sensor. The system includes a light source configured to emit light, and an image sensor to collect incoming signals including reflected light, and a processor to determine a distance measurement at each of the pixels and calibrate the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Mathy, Brian C. Donnelly, Nicolas Le Dortz, Sefa Demirtas
  • Patent number: 11387624
    Abstract: A laser emitter circuit comprises a laser diode; a driver circuit configured to generate a drive signal; and a resonant circuit coupled to the driver circuit and the laser diode, wherein the resonant circuit is configured to use the drive signal of the driver circuit to generate a continuous wave sinusoidal drive signal to drive the laser diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Jiannan Huang, Frank M. Yaul, Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz, Nicolas Le Dortz, Junhua Shen
  • Patent number: 11272157
    Abstract: An image processing system for time-of-flight depth imaging includes a processor for determining depth measurements using different modes of operation. The processor determines depth measurements in a first set of frames using a second set of frames. The first mode is a continuous wave modulation mode without depth linearization and the second mode is a continuous wave modulation mode with depth linearization. The depth estimates collected in the second mode using depth linearization are used to correct the depth estimates collected in the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES INTERNATIONAL UNLIMITED COMPANY
    Inventors: Nicolas Le Dortz, Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz, Erik D. Barnes
  • Patent number: 11272156
    Abstract: Time of Flight (ToF) image processing methods include collecting correlation samples to calculate a phase estimate. Systems and methods are provided for collecting correlation samples from multiple pixels. An image processing system for continuous waves includes a light source configured to emit light, an image sensor having a plurality of pixels, and a processor configured to collect correlation samples from a subset of the plurality of pixels in the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES INTERNATIONAL UNLIMITED COMPANY
    Inventors: Nicolas Le Dortz, Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz, Erik D. Barnes
  • Patent number: 11259002
    Abstract: Time of Flight (ToF) image processing systems and methods for proximity detection are disclosed. In particular, use of a separate proximity detector can be eliminated by using the time of flight image processing system as disclosed herein. In particular, the time of flight image processing system has two modes: a low resolution proximity detection mode and a high resolution imaging mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES INTERNATIONAL UNLIMITED COMPANY
    Inventors: Nicolas Le Dortz, Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz, Erik D. Barnes
  • Patent number: 11209528
    Abstract: Time of Flight (ToF) depth image processing methods. Depth edge preserving filters are disclosed with superior performance to standard edge preserving filters applied to depth maps. In particular, depth variance is estimated and used to filter while preserving depth edges. In doing so, filter strength is calculated which can be used as an edge detector. A confidence map is generated with low confidence at pixels straddling a depth edge, and which reflects the reliability of the depth measurement at each pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Mathy, Nicolas Le Dortz, Richard Haltmaier
  • Publication number: 20210242659
    Abstract: A laser emitter circuit comprises a laser diode; a driver circuit configured to generate a drive signal; and a resonant circuit coupled to the driver circuit and the laser diode, wherein the resonant circuit is configured to use the drive signal of the driver circuit to generate a continuous wave sinusoidal drive signal to drive the laser diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Jiannan Huang, Frank M. Yaul, Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz, Nicolas Le Dortz, Junhua Shen