Patents by Inventor Sabine Roth
Sabine Roth 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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Patent number: 8704926Abstract: A CMOS image sensor allows for selectively outputting one of two vertical resolutions, e.g. 1080 to 720 lines. The scan conversion is implemented completely on the image sensor chip by using smaller sub-pixel cores, which can be electrically combined via switch transistors. A basic circuit of the CMOS image sensor has a number of pixel cells arranged in lines and columns. Each pixel cell has a photosensitive element that converts impinging light into electric charge and a first transfer element. The first transfer elements of m pixel cells arranged consecutively in the same column are arranged for transferring the charge generated in the respective m photosensitive elements during exposure to a single first charge storage element provided for the respective group of m pixel cells. In an exemplary embodiment the switching scheme allows for combining the signal information of either two or three vertically adjacent sub-pixel cores.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2009Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Heinrich Schemmann, Petrus Gijsbertus Maria Centen, Sabine Roth, Boon Keng Teng
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Patent number: 8292525Abstract: In a method for controlling a print head with a number of printing elements operating according to the thermotransfer principle, an energy quantity is fed to a printing element in a feed step in order to transfer ink from an ink carrier device associated with the print head to a substrate associated with the ink carrier device to generate an image point of a barcode, with the energy quantity being adjusted dependent on the position of the image point in the barcode.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2008Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbHInventors: Axel Kieser, Raimund Nisius, Frank Reisinger, Dirk Rosenau, Sabine Roth, Olaf Turner
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Patent number: 8284287Abstract: Image sensor, which comprises a plurality of pixels arranged as a pixel array with rows and columns and at least one read-out arrangement for reading out the pixels row by row. The columns are grouped into blocks with a certain number N of columns. Each read-out arrangement comprises N column read out circuits and an addressing circuit for with at least two groups of addressing lines for addressing the blocks. The blocks are selectively addressed by the groups of addressing lines in a way that a read-out sequence of blocks addressed by the groups is continuous across all blocks.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2007Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Patrick Vogel, Steffen Lehr, Heinrich Schemmann, Sabine Roth, Petrus Gijsbertus Maria Centen, Jeroen Rotte, Friedrich Heizmann
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Patent number: 8179464Abstract: A circuit for resetting and reading out a pixel cell of a CMOS image sensor is proposed. The circuit allows for reading out the pixel cell at least two times during a main integration interval, thereby generating at least two pixel signals. The circuit further comprises means for combining the at least two pixel signals to an output signal. The means for combining are operable to combine the at least two pixel signals weighted in dependence on a saturation level of the pixel cell. A method for controlling the circuit for reading out the image sensor is also proposed.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2007Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Heinrich Schemmann, Sabine Roth, Steffen Lehr, Volker Neiss, Nicolaas Johannes Damstra, Petrus Gijsbertus Maria Centen, Jeroen Rotte
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Patent number: 8145862Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for exchanging customer data of a franking machine, a data processing device is in communication with a first memory that is permanently connected therewith, and is also in communication with a security module for implementing security-relevant services associated with franking. The data processor stores user data in the first memory that are predetermined by a user. A second memory is connected to the data processor in a manner allowing the second memory to be readily detached. The data processor stores the user data in the second memory for data backup.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2007Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbHInventors: Rainer Ehresmann, Christoph Kunde, Thomas Kux, Torsten Schlaaff, Sabine Roth
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Patent number: 8102442Abstract: An image sensor circuit comprises a pixel cell array having a plurality of pixel cells arranged along a plurality of column lines, a plurality of readout circuits connected to said column lines, each of which comprises an analog-to-digital converter and a multiplexer for selectively applying an output signal of one of said column lines to said analog-to-digital converter. Between two of said column lines which are connected to a first one of said readout circuits located at a first side of said pixel cell array, there is a column line which is connected to a second one of said readout circuits located at a second side of said pixel cell array opposite to said first side.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2007Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Steffen Lehr, Patrick Vogel, Petrus Gijsbertus Maria Centen, Jeoren Rotte, Ruud van Ree, Heinrich Schemmann, Karl-Heinz Schaaf, Sabine Roth
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Patent number: 8094218Abstract: An image sensor circuit comprises at least one pixel cell for providing an output signal which is variable according to illumination of said pixel cell between a maximum and a minimum level, an analogue-to-digital converter for converting output signals from said pixel cell into digital data, and an offset signal source for providing an offset signal having a level between said maximum and minimum levels. The analogue-to-digital converter is fully differential and is connected to said pixel cell and to said offset signal source.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2007Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Patrick Vogel, Steffen Lehr, Heinrich Schemmann, Sabine Roth, Petrus Gijsbertus Maria Centen, Jeroen Rotte, Ruud Van Ree, Neil Mallory
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Patent number: 7963630Abstract: In a method and thermotransfer printing device for setting the speed of a relative movement between the print head and a recording medium during a printing procedure in the thermotransfer printing device, in particular for setting the transport speed of a mail piece in a thermotransfer printing franking machine, the heat energies required for the generation of a predeterminable print image are calculated for the individual heating elements of the print head from start value that has been established for the desired speed. It is subsequently computationally checked whether the respectively calculated heat energy can be emitted at the respective heating element in a first time interval predetermined by the start value of the desired speed and a predeterminable remaining time. If so, a printing procedure follows in which the beginning of the printing procedure ensues using the end value of the desired speed.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2007Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbHInventors: Frank Reisinger, Dirk Rosenau, Sabine Roth, Olaf Turner
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Publication number: 20110128425Abstract: A CMOS image sensor allows for selectively outputting one of two vertical resolutions, e.g. 1080 to 720 lines. The scan conversion is implemented completely on the image sensor chip by using smaller sub-pixel cores, which can be electrically combined via switch transistors. A basic circuit of the CMOS image sensor has a number of pixel cells arranged in lines and columns. Each pixel cell has a photosensitive element that converts impinging light into electric charge and a first transfer element. The first transfer elements of m pixel cells arranged consecutively in the same column are arranged for transferring the charge generated in the respective m photosensitive elements during exposure to a single first charge storage element provided for the respective group of m pixel cells. In an exemplary embodiment the switching scheme allows for combining the signal information of either two or three vertically adjacent sub-pixel cores.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2009Publication date: June 2, 2011Inventors: Heinrich Schemmann, Petrus Gijsbertus Maria Centen, Sabine Roth, Boon Keng Teng
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Patent number: 7837295Abstract: A measuring arrangement and measurement method determine the play of a cartridge pivot unit of an inkjet printing system that has at least one stop for the cartridge pivot unit. The cartridge pivot unit is driven by a first motor via a gear train and is equipped with a first movement sensor to establish a movement of the cartridge pivot unit upon leaving the stop. The cartridge pivot unit moves only when the play of the gear train is overcome. The stop for the cartridge pivot unit is formed by a mobile cleaning and sealing station. A counter is provided to count pulses, the count being representative of the play of the gear train of the cartridge pivot unit counting begins with leaving the mobile stop and continues until the movement of the cartridge pivot unit upon leaving the stop again ensues in conformity with the actuation by the first motor.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2008Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbHInventors: Rainer Ehresmann, Ralf Mueller, Wolfgang Muhl, Sabine Roth
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Publication number: 20100265371Abstract: An image sensor circuit comprises at least one pixel cell for providing an output signal which is variable according to illumination of said pixel cell between a maximum and a minimum level, an analogue-to-digital converter for converting output signals from said pixel cell into digital data, and an offset signal source for providing an offset signal having a level between said maximum and minimum levels. The analogue-to-digital converter is fully differential and is connected to said pixel cell and to said offset signal source.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2007Publication date: October 21, 2010Inventors: Patrick Vogel, Steffen Lehr, Heinrich Schemmann, Sabine Roth, Petrus Gijsbertus Maria Centen, Jeroen Rotte, Ruud Van Ree, Neil Mallory
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Patent number: 7609284Abstract: In a method and apparatus for improving the printing with a thermotransfer print head, an energy value is calculated before the printing process according to different types to be implemented when a dot is to be printed. Energy values also are calculated for the heating elements at the ends of the row of heating elements of the high-resolution thermotransfer print head, so as to activate these heating elements even though in heating phases no dot to be printed at the border external to the barcode image. Additionally, those heating elements that do not lie in the two border regions of the heating element row are also activated for a limited time duration, the aforementioned time duration directly preceding the printing of a barcode image. A microprocessor calculates the energy values and is connected with a pixel energy memory for non-volatile buffering of the data that are transferred into a print data controller and are converted into a print pulse duration.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2007Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbHInventors: Olaf Turner, Ratmund Nisius, Frank Reisinger, Sabine Roth
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Publication number: 20090251580Abstract: A circuit for resetting and reading out a pixel cell of a CMOS image sensor is proposed. The circuit allows for reading out the pixel cell at least two times during a main integration interval, thereby generating at least two pixel signals. The circuit further comprises means for combining the at least two pixel signals to an output signal. The means for combining are operable to combine the at least two pixel signals weighted in dependence on a saturation level of the pixel cell. A method for controlling the circuit for reading out the image sensor is also proposed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2007Publication date: October 8, 2009Inventors: Heinrich Schemmann, Sabine Roth, Steffen Lehr, Volker Neiss, Nicolaas Johannes Damstra, Petrus Gijsbertus Maria Centen, Jeroen Rotte
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Publication number: 20090237542Abstract: An image sensor circuit comprises a pixel cell array having a plurality of pixel cells arranged along a plurality of column lines, a plurality of readout circuits connected to said column lines, each of which comprises an analog-to-digital converter and a multiplexer for selectively applying an output signal of one of said column lines to said analog-to-digital converter. Between two of said column lines which are connected to a first one of said readout circuits located at a first side of said pixel cell array, there is a column line which is connected to a second one of said readout circuits located at a second side of said pixel cell array opposite to said first side.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2007Publication date: September 24, 2009Inventors: Steffen Lehr, Patrick Vogel, Petrus Gijsbertus Maria Centen, Jeoren Rotte, Ruud van Ree, Heinrich Schemmann, Karl-Heinz Schaaf, Sabine Roth
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Publication number: 20090174802Abstract: Image sensor, which comprises a plurality of pixels arranged as a pixel array with rows and columns and at least one read-out arrangement for reading out the pixels row by row. The columns are grouped into blocks with a certain number N of columns. Each read-out arrangement comprises N column read out circuits and an addressing circuit for with at least two groups of addressing lines for addressing the blocks. The blocks are selectively addressed by the groups of addressing lines in a way that a read-out sequence of blocks addressed by the groups is continuous across all blocks.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2007Publication date: July 9, 2009Inventors: Patrick Vogel, Steffen Lehr, Heinrich Schemman, Sabine Roth, Petrus Gijsbertus Maria Centen, Jeroen Rotte, Friedrich Heizmann
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Publication number: 20090033706Abstract: A measuring arrangement and measurement method determine the play of a cartridge pivot unit of an inkjet printing system that has at least one stop for the cartridge pivot unit. The cartridge pivot unit is driven by a first motor via a gear train and is equipped with a first movement sensor to establish a movement of the cartridge pivot unit upon leaving the stop. The cartridge pivot unit moves only when the play of the gear train is overcome. The stop for the cartridge pivot unit is formed by a mobile cleaning and sealing station. A counter is provided to count pulses, the count being representative of the play of the gear train of the cartridge pivot unit counting begins with leaving the mobile stop and continues until the movement of the cartridge pivot unit upon leaving the stop again ensues in conformity with the actuation by the first motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2008Publication date: February 5, 2009Inventors: Rainer Ehresmann, Ralf Mueller, Wolfgang Muhl, Sabine Roth
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Publication number: 20080213022Abstract: In a method for controlling a print head with a number of printing elements operating according to the thermotransfer principle, an energy quantity is fed to a printing element in a feed step in order to transfer ink from an ink carrier device associated with the print head to a substrate associated with the ink carrier device to generate an image point of a barcode, with the energy quantity being adjusted dependent on the position of the image point in the barcode.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2008Publication date: September 4, 2008Inventors: Axel Kieser, Raimund Nisius, Frank Reisinger, Dirk Rosenau, Sabine Roth, Olaf Turner
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Publication number: 20080145085Abstract: In a method and thermotransfer printing device for setting the speed of a relative movement between the print head and a recording medium during a printing procedure in the thermotransfer printing device, in particular for setting the transport speed of a mail piece in a thermotransfer printing franking machine, the heat energies required for the generation of a predeterminable print image are calculated for the individual heating elements of the print head from start value that has been established for the desired speed. It is subsequently computationally checked whether the respectively calculated heat energy can be emitted at the respective heating element in a first time interval predetermined by the start value of the desired speed and a predeterminable remaining time. If so, a printing procedure follows in which the beginning of the printing procedure ensues using the end value of the desired speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2007Publication date: June 19, 2008Inventors: Frank Reisinger, Dirk Rosenau, Sabine Roth, Olaf Turner
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Publication number: 20080126670Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for exchanging customer data of a franking machine, a data processing device is in communication with a first memory that is permanently connected therewith, and is also in communication with a security module for implementing security-relevant services associated with franking. The data processor stores user data in the first memory that are predetermined by a user. A second memory is connected to the data processor in a manner allowing the second memory to be readily detached. The data processor stores the user data in the second memory for data backup.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2007Publication date: May 29, 2008Inventors: Rainer Ehresmann, Christoph Kunde, Thomas Kux, Torsten Schlaaff, Sabine Roth
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Publication number: 20080123659Abstract: In a method and arrangement for loading data from a transmission device into a non-volatile memory of a receiver device that can be connected with the transmission device, the non-volatile memory being erased only sector-by-sector, the data to be loaded are divided by the transmission device into a number of data packets and at least one part of the data packets is loaded into the memory in a load step. A check step that is implemented before the current load step in which a current load state of the memory is checked, the current load state indicating whether at least a part of the data packets has already been successfully loaded into the memory in a preceding load step. The data packets to be loaded into the memory in the current load step are determined dependent on the current load state.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2007Publication date: May 29, 2008Inventors: Dirk Rosenau, Sabine Roth