Patents by Inventor Raphaël Berner

Raphaël Berner 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).

  • Vision sensor, a method of vision sensing, and a depth sensor assembly
    Patent number: 11463637
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a vision sensor comprising, an array of pixels comprising rows and columns of pixels, wherein each pixel in the array comprises, a photosensor which is configured to output a current proportional to the intensity of light which is incident on the photosensor; a current source which is configured such that it can output a current which has a constant current level which is equal to the current level of the current output by the photosensor at a selected first instant in time, and can maintain that constant current level even if the level of the current output from the photosensor changes after said selected first instant in time; an integrator which is configured to integrate the difference between the level of current output by the current source and the level of current output by the photosensor, after the selected first instant in time; wherein the vision sensor further comprises a counter which can measure time, wherein the counter is configured such tha
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: SONY ADVANCED VISUAL SENSING AG
    Inventors: Raphaël Berner, Marc Osswald
  • Data rate control for event-based vision sensor
    Patent number: 11431937
    Abstract: In dynamic vision sensor (DVS) or change detection sensors, the chip or sensor is configured to control or modulate the event rate. For example, this control can be used to keep the event rate close to a desired rate or within desired bounds. Adapting the configuration of the sensor to the scene by changing the ON-event and/or the OFF-event thresholds, allows having necessary amount of data, but not much more than necessary, such that the overall system gets as much information about its state as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Advanced Visual Sensing AG
    Inventors: Raphaël Berner, Christian Brändli, Massimo Zannoni
  • Vision Sensor, a Method of Vision Sensing, and a Depth Sensor Assembly
    Publication number: 20210274115
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a vision sensor comprising, an array of pixels comprising rows and columns of pixels, wherein each pixel in the array comprises, a photosensor which is configured to output a current proportional to the intensity of light which is incident on the photosensor; a current source which is configured such that it can output a current which has a constant current level which is equal to the current level of the current output by the photosensor at a selected first instant in time, and can maintain that constant current level even if the level of the current output from the photosensor changes after said selected first instant in time; an integrator which is configured to integrate the difference between the level of current output by the current source and the level of current output by the photosensor, after the selected first instant in time; wherein the vision sensor further comprises a counter which can measure time, wherein the counter is configured such tha
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Raphaël Berner, Marc Osswald
  • Vision sensor, a method of vision sensing, and a depth sensor assembly
    Patent number: 11012646
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a vision sensor comprising, an array of pixels comprising rows and columns of pixels, wherein each pixel in the array comprises, a photosensor which is configured to output a current proportional to the intensity of light which is incident on the photosensor; a current source which is configured such that it can output a current which has a constant current level which is equal to the current level of the current output by the photosensor at a selected first instant in time, and can maintain that constant current level even if the level of the current output from the photosensor changes after said selected first instant in time; an integrator which is configured to integrate the difference between the level of current output by the current source and the level of current output by the photosensor, after the selected first instant in time; wherein the vision sensor further comprises a counter which can measure time, wherein the counter is configured such tha
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Advanced Visual Sensing AG
    Inventors: Raphaël Berner, Marc Osswald
  • DATA RATE CONTROL FOR EVENT-BASED VISION SENSOR
    Publication number: 20200288073
    Abstract: In dynamic vision sensor (DVS) or change detection sensors, the chip or sensor is configured to control or modulate the event rate. For example, this control can be used to keep the event rate close to a desired rate or within desired bounds. Adapting the configuration of the sensor to the scene by changing the ON-event and/or the OFF-event thresholds, allows having necessary amount of data, but not much more than necessary, such that the overall system gets as much information about its state as possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Raphaël Berner, Christian Brändli, Massimo Zannoni
  • Vision Sensor, a Method of Vision Sensing, and a Depth Sensor Assembly
    Publication number: 20200280691
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a vision sensor comprising, an array of pixels comprising rows and columns of pixels, wherein each pixel in the array comprises, a photosensor which is configured to output a current proportional to the intensity of light which is incident on the photosensor; a current source which is configured such that it can output a current which has a constant current level which is equal to the current level of the current output by the photosensor at a selected first instant in time, and can maintain that constant current level even if the level of the current output from the photosensor changes after said selected first instant in time; an integrator which is configured to integrate the difference between the level of current output by the current source and the level of current output by the photosensor, after the selected first instant in time; wherein the vision sensor further comprises a counter which can measure time, wherein the counter is configured such tha
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Raphaël Berner, Marc Osswald
  • Vision sensor, a method of vision sensing, and a depth sensor assembly
    Patent number: 10652489
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a vision sensor comprising, an array of pixels comprising rows and columns of pixels, wherein each pixel in the array comprises, a photosensor which is configured to output a current proportional to the intensity of light which is incident on the photosensor; a current source which is configured such that it can output a current which has a constant current level which is equal to the current level of the current output by the photosensor at a selected first instant in time, and can maintain that constant current level even if the level of the current output from the photosensor changes after said selected first instant in time; an integrator which is configured to integrate the difference between the level of current output by the current source and the level of current output by the photosensor, after the selected first instant in time; wherein the vision sensor further comprises a counter which can measure time, wherein the counter is configured such tha
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Insightness AG
    Inventors: Raphaël Berner, Marc Osswald
  • A Vision Sensor, a Method of Vision Sensing, and a Depth Sensor Assembly
    Publication number: 20190052821
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a vision sensor comprising, an array of pixels comprising rows and columns of pixels, wherein each pixel in the array comprises, a photosensor which is configured to output a current proportional to the intensity of light which is incident on the photosensor; a current source which is configured such that it can output a current which has a constant current level which is equal to the current level of the current output by the photosensor at a selected first instant in time, and can maintain that constant current level even if the level of the current output from the photosensor changes after said selected first instant in time; an integrator which is configured to integrate the difference between the level of current output by the current source and the level of current output by the photosensor, after the selected first instant in time; wherein the vision sensor further comprises a counter which can measure time, wherein the counter is configured such tha
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Raphaël Berner, Marc Osswald