Patents by Inventor Daniel Keith Van Ostrand

Daniel Keith Van Ostrand 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: 11922800
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 11916564
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Grant Howard McGibney, Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand
  • Patent number: 11914812
    Abstract: A current reference operative drive-sense circuit (DSC) includes a current source operably coupled to a load and a voltage-mode analog to digital converter (ADC). When enabled, the current source configured to drive a sinusoidal current reference signal to the load thereby generating a load voltage that is based on the sinusoidal current reference signal and an impedance of the load. The voltage-mode ADC is operably coupled the load and to the current source. When enabled, the voltage-mode ADC configured to perform digital sampling of the load voltage and to generate a digital signal that is representative of the load voltage. In some implementations, one or more processing modules configured to execute operational instructions to process the digital signal that is representative of the load voltage in accordance with determining impedance of the load and/or change of impedance of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Phuong Huynh
  • Publication number: 20240061540
    Abstract: A fingerprint imaging device incorporating a first plurality of electrodes, a second plurality of electrodes and drive-sense circuitry. The first plurality of electrodes and the second plurality of electrodes are separated by a dielectric material and arranged in a crossing pattern in a sensing area. In an embodiment, each of the drive-sense circuits is configured to drive a sensor signal on an electrode of the first plurality or second plurality of electrodes, the sensor signal including a drive signal component and a receive signal component. Each of the drive-sense circuits is further configured to generate, based on the receive signal component, a sensed signal representative of at least a first impedance of the electrode. For at least some of the drive-sense circuits, the sensed signal further represents a second impedance of the electrode in accordance with a drive signal component from a differing electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Richard Stuart Seger, JR.
  • Patent number: 11906564
    Abstract: A method includes providing, by a signal source circuit of a sensing circuit, a signal to a sensor via a conductor. When the sensor is exposed to a condition and is receiving the signal, an electrical characteristic of the sensor affects the signal. The signal includes at least one of: a direct current (DC) component and an oscillating component. When the sensing circuit is in a noisy environment, transient noise couples with the signal to produce a noisy signal. The method further includes comparing, by a transient circuit of the sensing circuit, the noisy signal with a representation of the noisy signal. When the noisy signal compares unfavorably with the representation of the noisy signal, supplying, by the transient circuit, a compensation signal to the conductor. A level of the compensation signal corresponds to a level at which the noisy signal compares unfavorably with the representation of the noisy signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Gerald Dale Morrison, Patrick Troy Gray, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11907484
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 11906587
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Michael Frederick David Olley, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11907450
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Michael Shawn Gray, Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Patent number: 11907471
    Abstract: A drive-sense circuit coupled to a variable current load. The drive-sense circuit includes an impedance reference circuit operable to generate an impedance reference signal. The drive-sense circuit further includes a regulated voltage source circuit operable to generate a regulated voltage signal based on an analog regulation signal, where the regulated voltage signal is provided on a line to the variable current load to keep a load impedance on the line substantially matching the impedance reference signal, and where a current of the variable current load affects the regulated voltage signal. The drive-sense circuit further includes a voltage loop correction circuit operable to generate a comparison signal based on the impedance reference signal and the load impedance, where the comparison signal represents the current, and where the analog regulation signal is representative of the comparison signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11899499
    Abstract: A device having a flexible touch screen display configured to display images in at least a first touch area and a second touch area. The first touch area is configured to rotate with respect to the second touch area along a folding axis. A first plurality of touch sensitive column and row electrodes are integrated into the first touch area and a second plurality of column and row electrodes are integrated into the second touch area of the flexible display. The device further includes a plurality of drive-sense circuits that drive sensor signals on the electrodes. A processing module senses, based on the sensor signals, an electrical characteristic of at least one row electrode and at least one column electrode of the first touch area or the second touch area and determines, based on the electrical characteristic, a proximal touch to at least one of the first touch area or the second touch area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Michael Shawn Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Patrick Troy Gray
  • Patent number: 11899867
    Abstract: A capacitive touch screen display operates by: providing a display configured to render frames of data into visible images; providing a plurality of electrodes integrated into the display to facilitate touch sense functionality based on electrode signals having a drive signal component and a receive signal component; generating, via a plurality of drive-sense circuits coupled to at least some of the plurality of electrodes, a plurality of sensed signals; receiving the plurality of sensed signals; generating a stream of capacitance image data associated with the plurality of cross points that includes capacitance variation data corresponding to variations of the capacitance image data from a nominal value within a temporal period; and processing the capacitance image data to determine a touchless gesture occurring within the temporal period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Timothy W. Markison
  • Patent number: 11899888
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20240048356
    Abstract: A method includes generating, by a transmit digital to analog circuit of a low voltage drive circuit (LVDC), analog outbound data. The analog outbound data includes a direct current (DC) component and an oscillating component at a first frequency. The method further includes generating, by an analog transmit encryption signal generator of a transmit encrypt module of the LVDC, an analog transmit encryption signal having at least one frequency component, multiplying, by a mixer of the transmit encrypt module, the analog outbound data with the analog transmit encryption signal to produce an encrypted transmit signal having frequency components that differ from the first frequency. The method further includes generating, by a power source circuit of a drive-sense circuit of the LVDC, the encrypted analog outbound data as an analog transmit signal of a bus signal based on analog inbound data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Michael Shawn Gray, Timothy W. Markison
  • Publication number: 20240028172
    Abstract: A touch controller includes a processing module operably coupled to a plurality of sensing circuits, the processing module is operable to receive a sense signal regarding an electrical characteristic of a sensor of a plurality of sensors. The processing module is further operable to determine the sense signal indicates the electrical characteristic is affected by an identifying signal emitted by a finger. The processing module is further operable to determine a coordinate location of the sensor. The processing module is further operable to generate a proximal touch signal that includes the coordinate location of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Kevin Joseph Derichs, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Timothy W. Markison
  • Publication number: 20240019964
    Abstract: A method includes a processing module obtaining touch data at a touch data rate. The method further includes the processing module obtaining video data at a refresh rate, wherein the touch data rate is greater than the refresh rate. For a frame of the video data, the method further includes the processing module determining a touch movement trend based on the touch data. The method further includes the processing module determining a position offset for a graphical representation of the touch data based on the touch movement trend. When the position offset exceeds an offset threshold, the method further includes the processing module adjusting position of the graphical representation of the touch data within the frame of video data based on the position offset to produce an adjusted frame of video data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Kevin Joseph Derichs, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR.
  • Patent number: 11875005
    Abstract: A capacitive touch screen display operates by: providing a display configured to render frames of data into visible images; providing a plurality of electrodes integrated into the display to facilitate touch sense functionality based on electrode signals having a drive signal component and a receive signal component; generating, via a plurality of drive-sense circuits coupled to at least some of the plurality of electrodes, a plurality of sensed signals; receiving the plurality of sensed signals; generating capacitance image data associated with the plurality of cross points that includes capacitance variation data corresponding to variations of the capacitance image data from a nominal value; and processing the capacitance image data to determine a touchless indication proximal to the touch screen display based on a touchless indication threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Timothy W. Markison
  • Publication number: 20240010144
    Abstract: A sensor system is operable to: communicate a first ID signal at a first frequency between a first passenger restraint and a first sensor circuit through a body of a first user in a first vehicle chair; determine interaction with an interactable element corresponding to the first sensor circuit based on sensed signal data from a first sensor circuit indicating changes in electrical properties of an electrode of the first sensor circuit; determine the interaction is via the first user in the first vehicle chair when the sensed signal data indicates detection of the first frequency; and when the sensed signal data indicates detection of the first frequency, perform a first vehicle functionality of a set of vehicle functionalities based on configuration data corresponding to the first user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Kevin Joseph Derichs, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand
  • Publication number: 20240010145
    Abstract: A sensor system is operable to: communicate a first ID signal at a first frequency between a first perimeter sensor and a first sensor circuit through a body of a first user in a first vehicle chair, determine interaction with an interactable element corresponding to the first sensor circuit based on sensed signal data from a first sensor circuit indicating changes in electrical properties of an electrode of the first sensor circuit; determine the interaction is via the first user in the first vehicle chair when the sensed signal data indicates detection of the first frequency; and when the sensed signal data indicates detection of the first frequency, perform a first vehicle functionality of a set of vehicle functionalities based on configuration data corresponding to the first user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Kevin Joseph Derichs, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand
  • Patent number: 11868298
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining, by a first processing entity, first data communication capabilities of a first host device. The first host device and the first processing entity are associated with a first low voltage drive circuit. The method further includes obtaining, by a second processing entity, second data communication capabilities of a second host device. The second host device and the second processing entity are associated with a second low voltage drive circuit. The method further includes reconciling, by one or more of the first and second processing entities, the first and second data communication capabilities to produce reconciled data communication capabilities and determining a data conveyance scheme and a data communication scheme for a one-to-one communication between the first and second low voltage drive circuits based on the reconciled data communication capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Gerald Dale Morrison, Timothy W. Markison
  • Publication number: 20240004602
    Abstract: An interactive device is operable to receive a first plurality of sensed signals during a first temporal period. The first plurality of sensed signals indicate a first plurality of changes in electrical characteristics of a set of electrodes of the plurality of electrodes. A first impedance pattern identifying a writing passive device is detected based on interpreting the first plurality of changes in the electrical characteristics of the set of electrodes during the first temporal period. The writing passive device is detected based on detecting the first impedance pattern. Written user notion data is detected based on detecting movement of the writing passive device in relation to the interactive display device during the first temporal period. The written user notation data is processed for display in accordance with at least one display setting corresponding to the writing passive device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Kevin Joseph Derichs