Patents by Inventor Craig A. Cordeiro

Craig A. Cordeiro 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).

  • Patent number: 8411066
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive device includes a touch panel, a drive unit, a sense unit, and a measurement unit. A touch applied to a node of the panel changes a capacitive coupling between two electrodes (a drive electrode and a sense electrode) of the touch panel. The drive unit delivers a drive signal, which may comprise one or more drive pulses, to the drive electrode. The sense unit couples to the sense electrode, and generates a response signal that includes a differentiated representation of the drive signal, which is then fed through a resistor. The amplitude of the response signal is responsive to the capacitive coupling between the electrodes, and is measured to provide an indication of a touch at the node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Craig A. Cordeiro, Thomas J. Rebeschi
  • Patent number: 8339286
    Abstract: A touch sensitive device implementing a routine that controls the device's baseline update procedure in certain circumstances, and associated methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Craig A. Cordeiro
  • Patent number: 8183875
    Abstract: Systems and methods determine the position of a touch on a surface of a device, such as a touch-sensitive device, by using passively-induced position-dependent electrical charges. In such a method, the position of a touching implement is determined on the sensing surface of a device. The method includes charging the sensing surface during a first time period by connecting all four corners of the sensing surface to a reference voltage, and over a second time period discharging two adjacent corners of the sensing surface into an integrator capacitor while connecting the two opposite corners to ground. The first and second time periods together form a charge/discharge cycle that is repeated a plurality of times, after which an output of the integrator capacitor is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Craig A. Cordeiro, Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Publication number: 20110291986
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive device includes a touch panel, a drive unit, a sense unit, and a measurement unit. A touch applied to a node of the panel changes a capacitive coupling between two electrodes (a drive electrode and a sense electrode) of the touch panel. The drive unit delivers a drive signal, which may comprise one or more drive pulses, to the drive electrode. The sense unit couples to the sense electrode, and generates a response signal that that is used to accumulate charge in a charge accumulator to provide an accumulated signal. The accumulated signal is responsive to the capacitive coupling between the electrodes, and is measured to provide an indication of a touch at the node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas J. REBESCHI, Craig A. Cordeiro
  • Publication number: 20110241907
    Abstract: A touch sensitive device implementing a routine that controls the device's baseline update procedure in certain circumstances, and associated methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventor: Craig A. CORDEIRO
  • Publication number: 20110163992
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive device includes a touch panel, a drive unit, a sense unit, and a measurement unit. A touch applied to a node of the panel changes a capacitive coupling between two electrodes (a drive electrode and a sense electrode) of the touch panel. The drive unit delivers a drive signal, which may comprise one or more drive pulses, to the drive electrode. The sense unit couples to the sense electrode, and generates a response signal that includes a differentiated representation of the drive signal, which is then fed through a resistor. The amplitude of the response signal is responsive to the capacitive coupling between the electrodes, and is measured to provide an indication of a touch at the node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Craig A. CORDEIRO, Thomas J. Rebeschi
  • Publication number: 20110084707
    Abstract: An operator identifying apparatus, operator identifying method, and a vehicle-mounted apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: Tasuku Nakayama, Craig A. Cordeiro, Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Publication number: 20100300773
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive device includes a touch panel, a drive unit, a sense unit, and a measurement unit. A touch applied to a node of the panel changes a capacitive coupling between two electrodes (a drive electrode and a sense electrode) of the touch panel. The drive unit delivers a drive signal, which may comprise one or more drive pulses, to the drive electrode. The sense unit couples to the sense electrode, and generates a response signal that includes a differentiated representation of the drive signal. The amplitude of the response signal is responsive to the capacitive coupling between the electrodes, and is measured to provide an indication of a touch at the node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Craig A. CORDEIRO, Thomas J. Rebeschi
  • Publication number: 20100127717
    Abstract: Systems and methods determine the position of a touch on a surface of a device, such as a touch-sensitive device, by using passively-induced position-dependent electrical charges. In such a method, the position of a touching implement is determined on the sensing surface of a device. The method includes charging the sensing surface during a first time period by connecting all four corners of the sensing surface to a reference voltage, and over a second time period discharging two adjacent corners of the sensing surface into an integrator capacitor while connecting the two opposite corners to ground. The first and second time periods together form a charge/discharge cycle that is repeated a plurality of times, after which an output of the integrator capacitor is measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Craig A. Cordeiro, Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Publication number: 20090284495
    Abstract: Matrix-based touch input systems assess touch locations of two or more temporally overlapping touch inputs by forming valid x-y coordinate pairs from independently determined x- and y-coordinates. Valid x-y pairs are formed based on comparing one or more signal parameters such as signal magnitude, signal strength, signal width, and signal rates of change. In matrix capacitive systems where capacitance-to-ground signals are used to determine the x- and y-coordinates, the determined coordinates may be formed into valid x-y pairs using mutual capacitance measurements. When resolving more than two temporally overlapping touches, information gained by resolving a valid x-y coordinate pair of at least one of the touches may be used to resolve the remaining touches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Bernard O. GEAGHAN, Craig A. Cordeiro
  • Publication number: 20070236478
    Abstract: Touch panel systems and methods are disclosed that can distinguish temporally overlapping touch inputs from single touch inputs so that valid touch position coordinates can be determined. Touch panel systems and methods of the present invention can distinguish overlapping touches by comparing signal magnitudes to specified thresholds, by comparing the rates of change of signal magnitudes or measured positions to determined parameters, by locating the proximity a calculated location to icons or other such active areas, and the like. Because touch panel systems and methods of the present invention can discriminate single touches from double touches, they can be used in multiple user applications such as multiplayer games as well as in applications that may be subject to rapidly successive or overlapping touch inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Bernard GEAGHAN, Robert Moshrefzadeh, Craig Cordeiro, Edward Hagermoser, James Hart, Paul Hatin, Karl Hauck, Richard Peterson, Stephen Schulz, Gordon Taylor
  • Patent number: 7254775
    Abstract: Touch panel systems and methods are disclosed that can distinguish temporally overlapping touch inputs from single touch inputs so that valid touch position coordinates can be determined. Touch panel systems and methods of the present invention can distinguish overlapping touches by comparing signal magnitudes to specified thresholds, by comparing the rates of change of signal magnitudes or measured positions to determined parameters, by locating the proximity a calculated location to icons or other such active areas, and the like. Because touch panel systems and methods of the present invention can discriminate single touches from double touches, they can be used in multiple user applications such as multiplayer games as well as in applications that may be subject to rapidly successive or overlapping touch inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bernard O. Geaghan, Robert S. Moshrefzadeh, Craig A. Cordeiro, Edward S. Hagermoser, James J. Hart, Paul M. Hatin, Karl P. Hauck, Richard A. Peterson, Jr., Stephen C. Schulz, Gordon F. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20070074913
    Abstract: Touch sensing systems and methods employ a touch surface and a touch sensor. An array of electrodes of the touch sensor is configured to capacitively couple to a touch in proximity with the touch surface. Circuitry is coupled to each electrode via a channel and configured to sense signals present on the electrodes. The circuitry is configured to independently adjust a sensed response of each electrode. For example, the circuitry may be configured to adjust a gain of each channel, an offset of each channel, or a gain and offset of each channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Inventors: Bernard Geaghan, Craig Cordeiro
  • Patent number: 7154481
    Abstract: A touch sensing method and a touch sensing device are described for sensing a location of a touch. When the touch sensing device is touched, a first conductive layer disposed on a supporting layer is deflected toward a second conductive layer. The touch location is determined by sensing the change in capacitance at the location of the touch. A change in capacitance at the touch location is sensed by driving one of the conductive layers with an electrical signal referenced to the other conductive layer and measuring the current flow between the conductive layers. The sensed change in capacitance is greater than a change in the external capacitance of the touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Elisa M. Cross, Robert S. Moshrefzadeh, Anthony F. Chernefsky, Frank J. Bottari, Craig A. Cordeiro, Stephen C. Schulz, Michael J. Kardauskas
  • Publication number: 20030234769
    Abstract: A touch sensing method and a touch sensing device are described for sensing a location of a touch. When the touch sensing device is touched, a first conductive layer disposed on a supporting layer is deflected toward a second conductive layer. The touch location is determined by sensing the change in capacitance at the location of the touch. A change in capacitance at the touch location is sensed by driving one of the conductive layers with an electrical signal referenced to the other conductive layer and measuring the current flow between the conductive layers. The sensed change in capacitance is greater than a change in the external capacitance of the touch sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Inventors: Elisa M. Cross, Robert S. Moshrefzadeh, Anthony F. Chernefsky, Frank J. Bottari, Craig A. Cordeiro, Stephen C. Schulz, Michael J. Kardauskas
  • Publication number: 20030063073
    Abstract: Touch panel systems and methods are disclosed that can distinguish temporally overlapping touch inputs from single touch inputs so that valid touch position coordinates can be determined. Touch panel systems and methods of the present invention can distinguish overlapping touches by comparing signal magnitudes to specified thresholds, by comparing the rates of change of signal magnitudes or measured positions to determined parameters, by locating the proximity a calculated location to icons or other such active areas, and the like. Because touch panel systems and methods of the present invention can discriminate single touches from double touches, they can be used in multiple user applications such as multiplayer games as well as in applications that may be subject to rapidly successive or overlapping touch inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventors: Bernard O. Geaghan, Robert S. Moshrefzadeh, Craig A. Cordeiro, Edward S. Hagermoser, James J. Hart, Paul M. Hatin, Karl P. Hauck, Richard A. Peterson, Stephen C. Schulz, Gordon F. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4680788
    Abstract: A control and switching device which links a remote terminal by modems over telephone lines to a local central processing unit (CPU) and a local computer console terminal is disclosed. The device, which is coupled by separate lines to the modem at the local site, the local console and the TTY and ASYNC ports of the CPU, includes a microprocessor, a memory, logic circuits and a switch assembly. The switch assembly includes first, second and third switches which are interlocked and which allow three different levels of remote access of the remote terminal. When the first switch is depressed, the device is powered down, the remote terminal has no access to either the TTY or ASYNC ports of the CPU and the local console is hardwired through the device to the TTY port of the CPU. When the second switch is depressed, the local console is hardwired to the TTY port of the CPU and the remote terminal is electrically connected to the ASYNC port of the CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: Data General Corporation
    Inventors: Craig A. Cordeiro, John P. Graham