Patents by Inventor Dale A. Gray
Dale A. Gray 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: 11989408Abstract: A touch sensor system includes touch sensors, drive-sense circuits (DSCs), memory, and a processing module. A DSC drives a first signal via a single line coupling to a touch sensor and simultaneously senses, when present, a second signal that is uniquely associated with a user. The DSC processes the first signal and/or the second signal to generate a digital signal that is representative of an electrical characteristic of the touch sensor. The processing module executes operational instructions (stored in the memory) to process the digital signal to detect interaction of the user with the touch sensor and to determine whether the interaction of the user with the touch sensor compares favorably with authorization. When not authorized, the processing module aborts execution of operation(s) associated with the interaction of the user with the touch sensor. Alternatively, when authorized, the processing module facilitates execution of the operation(s).Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2022Date of Patent: May 21, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Patent number: 11984902Abstract: A digital decimation filtering circuit of an analog to digital conversion circuit includes an n-tap anti-aliasing filter operable to receive a 1-bit analog to digital converter (ADC) output signal at an oversampling rate and filter the 1-bit ADC output signal to remove frequencies higher than a selected cut-off frequency to produce an n-bit filtered signal at a first data output rate. The digital decimation filtering circuit further includes a decimator operable to receive the n-bit filtered signal at the first data output rate, decimate the n-bit filtered signal by a decimation factor to produce a set of output signals, and sum the set of outputs to produce a decimated signal at a second data output rate. The first data output rate is greater than the second data output rate.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2023Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Grant Howard McGibney, Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand
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Patent number: 11983344Abstract: A touch screen display includes a display, a video graphics processing module, electrodes integrated into at least a portion of the display, and drive-sense circuits coupled to the electrodes. The drive-sense circuits, when enabled and concurrent with the display rendering frames of data into the visible images, detect changes in electrical characteristics of electrodes. At least some drive-sense circuits monitor sensor signals on at least some electrodes. A sensor signal includes a drive signal component and a receive signal component. The at least some drive-sense circuits generate the drive signal components of the sensor signals. The receive signal component is a representation of a change in an electrical characteristic of an electrode of the at least some electrodes when a corresponding drive signal component is applied to the electrode. The change in the electrical characteristic of the electrode is indicative of a proximal touch to the touch screen display.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2022Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Patent number: 11982715Abstract: A battery characterization system includes a drive-sense circuit (DSC), memory that stores operational instructions, and processing module(s) operably coupled to the DSC and the memory. Based on a reference signal, the DSC generates a charge signal, which includes an AC (alternating current) component, and provides the charge signal to a terminal of a battery via a single line and simultaneously to senses the charge signal via the single line to detect an electrical characteristic of the battery based on a response of the battery. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the electrical characteristic of the battery. The processing module(s), based on the operational instructions, generate the reference signal to include a frequency sweep of the AC component of the charge signal (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2023Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Michael Frederick David Olley, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Patent number: 11977120Abstract: A battery characterization system includes a drive-sense circuit (DSC), memory that stores operational instructions, and processing module(s) operably coupled to the DSC and the memory. Based on a reference signal, the DSC generates a charge signal, which includes an AC (alternating current) component, and provides the charge signal to a terminal of a battery via a single line and simultaneously to senses the charge signal via the single line to detect an electrical characteristic of the battery based on a response of the battery. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the electrical characteristic of the battery. The processing module(s), based on the operational instructions, generate the reference signal to include a frequency sweep of the AC component of the charge signal (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2022Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Michael Frederick David Olley, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Patent number: 11971762Abstract: A power supply signal conditioning system includes a power supply, one or more loads, and a drive-sense circuit (DSC). The power supply is operably coupled to one or more loads. When enabled, the power supply configured to output a power supply signal having a DC (direct current) voltage component and a ripple voltage component that is based on conversion of an AC (alternating current) signal in accordance with generating the power supply signal. The DSC is operably coupled to the power supply. When enabled, the DSC is configured simultaneously to sense the power supply signal and, based on sensing of the power supply signal, adaptively to process the power supply signal in accordance with reducing or eliminating the ripple voltage component of the power supply signal to generate a conditioned power supply signal to service the one or more loads.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Patent number: 11971703Abstract: An automated system includes transducers, at least one computing device, and at least one automated apparatus. The transducer(s) is/are driven and sensed using drive-sense circuit(s). A drives and senses drive and sense a transducer via a single line, generates a digital signal representative of a sensed analog feature to which the transducer is exposed, and transmits the digital signal to the computing device. The computing device receives digital signals from at least some of drive-sense circuits and process them in accordance with the automation process to produce an automated process command. The automated apparatus executes a portion of an automated process based on the automated process command.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2023Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Patent number: 11971761Abstract: A power supply signal conditioning system includes a power supply, one or more loads, and a drive-sense circuit (DSC). The power supply is operably coupled to one or more loads. When enabled, the power supply configured to output a power supply signal having a DC (direct current) voltage component and a ripple voltage component that is based on conversion of an AC (alternating current) signal in accordance with generating the power supply signal. The DSC is operably coupled to the power supply. When enabled, the DSC is configured simultaneously to sense the power supply signal and, based on sensing of the power supply signal, adaptively to process the power supply signal in accordance with reducing or eliminating the ripple voltage component of the power supply signal to generate a conditioned power supply signal to service the one or more loads.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Patent number: 11971704Abstract: An automated system includes transducers, at least one computing device, and at least one automated apparatus. The transducer(s) is/are driven and sensed using drive-sense circuit(s). A drives and senses drive and sense a transducer via a single line, generates a digital signal representative of a sensed analog feature to which the transducer is exposed, and transmits the digital signal to the computing device. The computing device receives digital signals from at least some of drive-sense circuits and process them in accordance with the automation process to produce an automated process command. The automated apparatus executes a portion of an automated process based on the automated process command.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2023Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Patent number: 11966548Abstract: A touch sensor device (TSD) includes TSD electrodes associated with a surface of the TSD. Also, an overlay that includes marker electrode(s) is also associated with at least a portion of the surface of the TSD. The TSD also includes drive-sense circuits (DSCs) operably coupled to the plurality of TSD electrodes. A DSC is configured to provide a TSD electrode signal to a TSD electrode and simultaneously to sense a change of the TSD electrode signal based on a change of impedance of the TSD electrode caused by capacitive coupling between the TSD electrode and the marker electrode(s) of the overlay. Processing module(s) is configured to process a digital signal generated by the DSC to determine characteristic(s) of the overlay that is associated with the at least a portion of the surface of the TSD.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Kevin Joseph Derichs, Shayne X. Short, Timothy W. Markison
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Patent number: 11954321Abstract: A touch sensor system includes touch sensors, drive-sense circuits (DSCs), memory, and a processing module. A DSC drives a first signal via a single line coupling to a touch sensor and simultaneously senses, when present, a second signal that is uniquely associated with a user. The DSC processes the first signal and/or the second signal to generate a digital signal that is representative of an electrical characteristic of the touch sensor. The processing module executes operational instructions (stored in the memory) to process the digital signal to detect interaction of the user with the touch sensor and to determine whether the interaction of the user with the touch sensor compares favorably with authorization. When not authorized, the processing module aborts execution of operation(s) associated with the interaction of the user with the touch sensor. Alternatively, when authorized, the processing module facilitates execution of the operation(s).Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Patent number: 11953564Abstract: A Hall effect sensor system includes a Hall effect sensor and a drive-sense circuit (DSC). The Hall effect sensor includes an input port to receive a DC (direct current) current signal and generates a Hall voltage based on exposure to a magnetic field. The DSC generates the DC current signal based on a reference signal and drives it via a single line that operably couples the DSC to the Hall effect sensor and simultaneously to sense the DC current signal via the single line. The DSC detects an effect on the DC current signal corresponding to the Hall voltage that is generated across the Hall effect sensor based on exposure of the Hall effect sensor to the magnetic field and generates a digital signal representative of the Hall voltage.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLCInventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Patent number: 11953563Abstract: A Hall effect sensor system includes a Hall effect sensor and a drive-sense circuit (DSC). The Hall effect sensor includes an input port to receive a DC (direct current) current signal and generates a Hall voltage based on exposure to a magnetic field. The DSC generates the DC current signal based on a reference signal and drives it via a single line that operably couples the DSC to the Hall effect sensor and simultaneously to sense the DC current signal via the single line. The DSC detects an effect on the DC current signal corresponding to the Hall voltage that is generated across the Hall effect sensor based on exposure of the Hall effect sensor to the magnetic field and generates a digital signal representative of the Hall voltage.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Patent number: 11947746Abstract: An e-pen includes e-pen sensor electrodes (including a first and a second e-pen sensor electrode) and drive-sense circuits (DSCs) (including a first DSC and a second DSC. The first DSC drives a first e-pen signal having a first frequency via a first single line coupling to the first e-pen sensor electrode and simultaneously senses, via the first single line, the first e-pen signal. Based on e-pen/touch sensor device interaction, the first e-pen signal is coupled into at least one touch sensor electrode of the touch sensor device. The first DSC process the first e-pen signal to generate a first digital signal representative of a first electrical characteristic of the first e-pen sensor electrode. Similarly, the second DSC drives a second e-pen signal having a second frequency via a second single line coupling to the second e-pen sensor electrode and simultaneously senses, via the second single line, the second e-pen signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Michael Shawn Gray, Kevin Joseph Derichs
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Patent number: 11940504Abstract: A Hall effect sensor system includes a Hall effect sensor and a drive-sense circuit (DSC). The Hall effect sensor includes an input port to receive a DC (direct current) current signal and generates a Hall voltage based on exposure to a magnetic field. The DSC generates the DC current signal based on a reference signal and drives it via a single line that operably couples the DSC to the Hall effect sensor and simultaneously to sense the DC current signal via the single line. The DSC detects an effect on the DC current signal corresponding to the Hall voltage that is generated across the Hall effect sensor based on exposure of the Hall effect sensor to the magnetic field and generates a digital signal representative of the Hall voltage.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2021Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Publication number: 20240094854Abstract: A touch sensor device (TSD) includes TSD electrodes associated with a surface of the TSD. Also, an overlay that includes marker electrode(s) is also associated with a region of the surface of the TSD. The TSD also includes drive-sense circuits (DSCs) operably coupled to the plurality of TSD electrodes. A DSC is configured to provide a TSD electrode signal to a TSD electrode and simultaneously to sense a change of the TSD electrode signal based on a change of impedance of the TSD electrode caused by capacitive coupling between the TSD electrode and the marker electrode(s) of the overlay. Processing module(s) is configured to process a digital signal generated by the DSC and other digital signals generated by other DSCs determine the region of the surface of the TSD that is associated with the overlay and to adapt sensitivity of the TSD within that region.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Kevin Joseph Derichs, Shayne X. Short, Timothy W. Markison
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Patent number: 11935397Abstract: A test system includes a test container array including a plurality of test containers and a plurality of electrodes integrated into the test container array. The test system further includes a plurality of drive-sense circuits coupled to the plurality of electrodes, where, when enabled, the plurality of drive-sense circuits detect changes in electrical characteristics of the plurality of electrodes. The test system further includes a processing module operably coupled to receive, from the drive-sense circuits, changes in the electrical characteristics of the plurality of electrodes, and interpret the changes in the electrical characteristics of the plurality of electrodes as impedance values representative of electrical characteristics of biological material present in the test container. The test system further includes a communication module operably coupled to communicate the electrical characteristics of the biological material.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2019Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Gerald Dale Morrison, Patrick Troy Gray, Phuong Huynh, Timothy W. Markison, Patricia A. Markison
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Patent number: 11933607Abstract: A capacitive imaging glove includes electrodes implemented throughout the capacitive imaging glove and drive-sense circuits (DSCs) such that a DSC receives a reference signal generates a signal based thereon. The DSC provides the signal to a first electrode via a single line and simultaneously senses it. Note the signal is coupled from the first electrode to the second electrode via a gap therebetween. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the electrical characteristic of the first electrode. Processing module(s), when enabled, is/are configured to execute operational instructions (e.g., stored in and/or retrieved from memory) to generate the reference signal, process the digital signal to determine the electrical characteristic of the first electrode, and process the electrical characteristic of the first electrode to determine a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode, and generate capacitive image data representative of a shape of the capacitive imaging glove.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2023Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Shayne X Short, Timothy W. Markison
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Patent number: 11922800Abstract: A test system includes a testing base including a plurality of testing base containers, and a plurality of electrodes integrated into the plurality of testing base containers. The test system further includes a plurality of drive-sense circuits coupled to the plurality of electrodes, where, when enabled, the plurality of drive-sense circuits detect changes in electrical characteristics of the plurality of electrodes. The test system further includes a processing module operably coupled to receive, from the drive-sense circuits, changes in the electrical characteristics of the plurality of electrodes, and interpret the changes in the electrical characteristics of the plurality of electrodes as impedance values representative of electrical characteristics of biological material present in the test container. The test system further includes a communication module operably coupled to communicate the electrical characteristics of the biological material.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Gerald Dale Morrison, Patrick Troy Gray, Phuong Huynh, Timothy W. Markison, Patricia M. Healy
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Patent number: 11916564Abstract: A confined data communication system includes a reference generation circuit operable to produce one or more analog reference signals, an analog to digital converter circuit operable to process an analog signal to produce a digital representative signal, a digital filtering circuit operable to filter the digital representative signal to produce an affect value, a data processing module operable to interpret the affect value to produce processed output data, and a processing module operable to set frequency and waveform for each of the one or more analog reference signals, set digital filtering parameters for the digital filtering circuit, set a sampling rate for the analog to digital converter circuit, and set data interpretation parameters for the data processing module.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2023Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.Inventors: Grant Howard McGibney, Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand