Resumes
Resumes
Gil Afriat Phones & Addresses
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8525 Wilderness Dr, Colorado Spgs, CO 80908
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906 Valley St, Colorado Springs, CO 80904 (719) 473-2836
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1395 Farnham Pt, Colorado Springs, CO 80904 (719) 228-9108
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1450 Farnham Pt, Colorado Springs, CO 80904 (719) 228-9108
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575 Silver Saddle Rd, Monument, CO 80132
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1450 Farnham Pt APT 201, Colorado Spgs, CO 80904
Publications
Us Patents
Method And System For Optimizing Illumination Power And Integration Time In An Optical Sensing Device
View pageUS Patent:
6963059, Nov 8, 2005
Filed:
Jul 1, 2003
Appl. No.:
10/609686
Inventors:
James Harold Lauffenburger - Colorado Springs CO, US
Gil Afriat - Colorado Springs CO, US
Robert R. Rotzoll - Green Mountain CO, US
Gil Afriat - Colorado Springs CO, US
Robert R. Rotzoll - Green Mountain CO, US
Assignee:
EM Microelectronic-Marin SA - Marin
International Classification:
G01J001/32
US Classification:
250205, 250214 R
Abstract:
There is described an optical sensing device, a method for controlling operation of an optical sensing device comprising a light source for illuminating a surface portion with radiation, a photodetector device having at least one photosensitive element responsive to radiation reflected from the illuminated surface portion, and conversion means for integrating an output signal of said at least one photosensitive element over time during an integration period of variable duration, which duration depends on power of the light source and level of radiation reflected from the illuminated surface portion. The optical sensing device further comprises a regulating system for controlling power if the light source as a function of a comparison between a parameter representative of the evolution of the integration of the output signal of the said at least one photosensitive element and at least one reference value. Regulation is advantageously performed by timing the duration of the integration period or by determining the rate of evolution of the integrated signal, comparing this duration or rate of evolution with at least one reference value and controlling power of the light source as a function of the result of the comparison. There is also described an optical pointing device implementing the above regulation scheme as well as an optical sensing device exploiting this scheme so as to sense proximity of the illuminated surface portion with respect to the optical sensing device.
Method And Sensing Device For Motion Detection In An Optical Pointing Device, Such As An Optical Mouse
View pageUS Patent:
7078673, Jul 18, 2006
Filed:
Dec 27, 2004
Appl. No.:
11/020108
Inventors:
Gil Afriat - Monument CO, US
Assignee:
EM Microelectronic-Marin SA - Marin
International Classification:
G06M 7/00
G01N 21/86
G09G 5/08
G01N 21/86
G09G 5/08
US Classification:
250221, 25055932, 345166
Abstract:
There is described a method for measuring relative motion between an illuminated portion of a surface and an optical sensing device comprising a photodetector array including a plurality of rows and columns of pixels respectively aligned along first and second axes comprising essentially the steps of comparing at a first point in time light intensity between neighbouring pixels of the photodetector array and determining along each of the first and second axes, edge direction data from the detected first light intensity pattern, extracting edge inflection data from the edge direction data from the detected first light intensity pattern, comparing at a second point in time light intensity between neighbouring pixels and determining along each of said first and second axes, the edge direction data from the detected second light intensity pattern, extracting edge inflection data from the edge direction data from the detected second light intensity pattern. The method further comprises the steps of extracting inflection line data being descriptive of the succession of two adjacent edge inflection data of the same type transversal to at least one determined axis, counting a total number of the extracted line conditions and determining a measurement of the relative motion between the optical sensing device and the illuminated portion of the surface along the determined axis based on a ratio of a comparison of the edge inflection data previously extracted and a function of the total number of inflection conditions and the total number of line conditions.
Method And Sensing Device For Motion Detection In An Optical Pointing Device, Such As An Optical Mouse
View pageUS Patent:
7122781, Oct 17, 2006
Filed:
Dec 3, 2002
Appl. No.:
10/497020
Inventors:
Robert R. Rotzoll - Green Mountain Falls CO, US
Kevin Scott Buescher - Colorado Springs CO, US
James Harold Lauffenburger - Colorado Springs CO, US
Gil Afriat - Monument CO, US
Kevin Scott Buescher - Colorado Springs CO, US
James Harold Lauffenburger - Colorado Springs CO, US
Gil Afriat - Monument CO, US
Assignee:
EM Microelectronic-Marin SA - Marin
International Classification:
H01J 40/14
US Classification:
250221, 2502081
Abstract:
There is described a method as well as a device for motion detect ion in an optical sensing device, such as an optical mouse. A photodetector array comprising a plurality of pixels is used to detect successive light intensity patterns of an illuminated portion of a surface with respect to which a measurement of relative motion is to be determined. Light intensity between neighbouring pixels is compared in order to determine edge direction data descriptive of light intensity differences between the pixels, such data including (i) a first edge condition, or positive edge, defined as a condition wherein light intensity of a first pixel is less than light intensity of a second pixel, and (ii) a second edge condition, or negative edge, defined as a condition wherein light intensity of the first pixel is greater than light intensity of the second pixel. Through comparison of this edge direction data with edge direction data determined from a previous illumination (or by comparing data extracted from this edge direction data) a measurement of the relative motion of the optical sensing device with respect to the illuminated portion of the surface is determined.
Displacement Data Post-Processing And Reporting In An Optical Pointing Device
View pageUS Patent:
7161585, Jan 9, 2007
Filed:
Jul 1, 2003
Appl. No.:
10/609676
Inventors:
James Harold Lauffenburger - Colorado Springs CO, US
Gil Afriat - Colorado Springs CO, US
Robert R. Rotzoll - Green Mountain CO, US
Gil Afriat - Colorado Springs CO, US
Robert R. Rotzoll - Green Mountain CO, US
Assignee:
EM Microelectronic-Marin SA - Marin
International Classification:
G09G 5/08
G09G 5/00
H01L 31/14
G09G 5/00
H01L 31/14
US Classification:
345166, 345175, 345179, 250553
Abstract:
There is described a method of post-processing and reporting detected displacement in an optical pointing device as well as a sensing device for an optical pointing device implementing this method. Displacement is detected and a first count representative of a magnitude of the detected displacement is accumulated in an associated accumulation unit, this first count representing the magnitude of the detected displacement at a first resolution (or detection resolution). The first count accumulated in the accumulation unit is processed to convert this first count into a report count representing the magnitude of the detected displacement at a second resolution (or reporting resolution) lower than the first resolution. This report count is then reported, for instance to a PC or an external controller. These operations are repeated to generate periodic motion reports at the second resolution.
Method Of Operating An Optical Motion Sensing Device And Optical Motion Sensing Device Implementing This Method
View pageUS Patent:
7161586, Jan 9, 2007
Filed:
Jul 1, 2003
Appl. No.:
10/609687
Inventors:
James Harold Lauffenburger - Colorado Springs CO, US
Gil Afriat - Colorado Springs CO, US
Robert R. Rotzoll - Green Mountain Falls CO, US
Gil Afriat - Colorado Springs CO, US
Robert R. Rotzoll - Green Mountain Falls CO, US
Assignee:
EM Microelectronic-Marin SA - Marin
International Classification:
G09G 5/08
G09G 5/00
H01L 31/14
G09G 5/00
H01L 31/14
US Classification:
345166, 345175, 345179, 250553
Abstract:
There is described a method of operating an optical motion sensing device comprising a light source and a photodetector device, the method comprising the steps of a) illuminating a surface portion with radiation by means of the light source, b) detecting radiation reflected from the illuminated surface portion by means of the photodetector device, c) detecting and measuring displacement with respect to the illuminated surface portion; and d) outputting motion reports that are each representative of a magnitude of the detected displacement, steps a) to d) defining a flash period and being repeated at a selected flash rate. The method further comprises the steps of e) comparing the magnitude of the detected displacement with a determined displacement threshold, and f) increasing or decreasing the flash rate if the magnitude of the detected displacement is respectively greater or lower than the displacement threshold. There is also described an optical motion sensing device implementing this method.
Auto Wake-Up Method From Sleep Mode Of An Optical Motion Sensing Device
View pageUS Patent:
7227464, Jun 5, 2007
Filed:
Jun 30, 2005
Appl. No.:
11/170071
Inventors:
Gil Afriat - Monument CO, US
Assignee:
EM Microelectronic-Marin SA - Marin
International Classification:
G08B 1/08
US Classification:
34053913, 340555, 340566, 340557, 250221, 25055919, 356 28, 356496
Abstract:
There is described a method for waking up an optical sensing device from a sleep mode to a motion detection mode, the optical motion sensing device comprising a light source, a photodetector device, a motion sensing unit and a control unit, the motion detection mode being defined as a mode during which motion is detected between the optical motion sensing device and a portion of a surface illuminated by the light source at a defined flash rate being set between minimum and maximum flash rate values, the motion sensing unit sending motion reports to the control unit, the sleep mode being defined as a mode during which the flash rate is set to a low flash rate value being lower than the minimum flash rate value and no motion report being reported from the sensing unit to the control unit, wherein the method comprises during the sleep mode the steps of (i) illuminating said surface portion with radiation by means of the light source at the low flash rate value; (ii) detecting a radiation pattern reflected from the illuminated surface portion by means of the photodetector device; (iii) detecting occurrence of a loss-of-tracking event between two successive reflected radiation patterns detected by the photodetector device indicating the user has returned; (iv) increasing the flash rate if an occurrence of the loss-of-tracking event is detected; (v) entering into said motion detection mode.
Angle-Error Correction Algorithm
View pageUS Patent:
7326909, Feb 5, 2008
Filed:
Apr 8, 2005
Appl. No.:
11/101563
Inventors:
Gil Afriat - Monument CO, US
Assignee:
EM Microelectronic-Marin SA - Marin
International Classification:
G09G 5/08
US Classification:
250221, 345165, 345163
Abstract:
There is described a method for measuring relative motion between an illuminated portion of a surface and an optical sensing device comprising a photodetector array, which includes a plurality of rows and columns of pixels respectively aligned along first and second axes, the method allowing to determine a measurement of the relative motion between the optical sensing device and the illuminated portion of the surface based on a comparison of motion features extracted from light intensity patterns obtained with the photodetector array, wherein said method includes a checking process between two light intensity patterns for discarding erroneous motion features due to the surface design.
Method Of Optimization Of Measurement Time For Optical Mouse Sensor
View pageUS Patent:
7358477, Apr 15, 2008
Filed:
May 15, 2006
Appl. No.:
11/383258
Inventors:
André Grandjean - Cressier, CH
Gil Afriat - Monument CO, US
Lawrence Bieber - Colorado Springs CO, US
Kevin Scott Buescher - Colorado Springs CO, US
James Harold Lauffenburger - Colorado Springs CO, US
Gil Afriat - Monument CO, US
Lawrence Bieber - Colorado Springs CO, US
Kevin Scott Buescher - Colorado Springs CO, US
James Harold Lauffenburger - Colorado Springs CO, US
Assignee:
EM Microelectronic-Marin SA - Marin, SA
International Classification:
G01J 1/44
H01J 40/14
H03F 3/08
H01J 40/14
H03F 3/08
US Classification:
250214R
Abstract:
A method for operating an optical sensing device having a light source and a photodetector device with at least one photosensitive element. A surface portion is illuminated with radiation by the light source and the radiation reflected from the illuminated surface portion is detected with a photosensitive element. While said surface portion is being illuminated, an output signal of the photosensitive element over time is integrated, the output signal integration level is compared with a first integration reference level during integration; the integration step is interrupted if the output signal integration level has reached the first integration reference level, or the comparison step is repeated until a first integration period has elapsed if the output signal integration level has not reached the first integration reference level.