Patents by Inventor David William Burns
David William Burns 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: 10478858Abstract: A piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) includes a multilayer stack disposed on a substrate. The multilayer stack may include an anchor structure disposed over the substrate, a piezoelectric layer stack disposed over the anchor structure, and a mechanical layer disposed proximate to the piezoelectric layer stack. The piezoelectric layer stack may be disposed over a cavity. The mechanical layer may seal the cavity and, together with the piezoelectric layer stack, is supported by the anchor structure and forms a membrane over the cavity, the membrane being configured to undergo one or both of flexural motion and vibration when the PMUT receives or transmits ultrasonic signals.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2014Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Jon Bradley Lasiter, Ravindra Vaman Shenoy, Evgeni Petrovich Gousev, Hrishikesh Panchawagh, David William Burns, Nai-Kuei Kuo, Jonathan Charles Griffiths, Suryaprakash Ganti
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Patent number: 10438040Abstract: Some disclosed methods involve controlling an ultrasonic sensor system to transmit ultrasonic waves and receiving signals from the ultrasonic sensor system corresponding to ultrasonic waves reflected from a finger positioned on a platen. The methods may involve obtaining fingerprint image data corresponding to the signals and determining a change in a force of at least a portion of the finger on the platen corresponding to the signals.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Jessica Liu Strohmann, Yair Karmi, Yipeng Lu, Hrishikesh Vijaykumar Panchawagh, David William Burns
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Patent number: 10410034Abstract: A system may include a fingerprint sensor system and a control system. The system may be configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave including a first frequency. The control system may be configured to obtain dermis layer image data from a target object based on reflected portions of the ultrasonic waves received by the fingerprint sensor system. The dermis layer image data may correspond to ultrasonic waves received from the target object within a time interval corresponding with the dermis layer. The reflected portions of the ultrasonic wave corresponding to the dermis layer image data may include ultrasonic waves at a second frequency that is an integer multiple of the first frequency. The control system may be configured to determine whether a magnitude of the ultrasonic waves at the second frequency exceeds a harmonic threshold and, if the magnitude exceeds the harmonic threshold, the control system may perform an authentication process.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Jessica Liu Strohmann, Yipeng Lu, Ashish Hinger, David William Burns
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Patent number: 10366269Abstract: An apparatus may include an ultrasonic sensor array, a light source system and a control system. Some implementations may include an ultrasonic transmitter. The control system may be operatively configured to control the light source system to emit light that induces acoustic wave emissions inside a target object. The control system may be operatively configured to select a first acquisition time delay for the reception of acoustic wave emissions primarily from a first depth inside the target object. The control system may be operatively configured to acquire first ultrasonic image data from the acoustic wave emissions received by the ultrasonic sensor array during a first acquisition time window. The first acquisition time window may be initiated at an end time of the first acquisition time delay.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2016Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Yipeng Lu, David William Burns
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Publication number: 20190220642Abstract: An apparatus may include an ultrasonic sensor array, a light source system and a control system. Some implementations may include an ultrasonic transmitter. The control system may be operatively configured to control the light source system to emit light that induces acoustic wave emissions inside a target object. The control system may be operatively configured to select a first acquisition time delay for the reception of acoustic wave emissions primarily from a first depth inside the target object. The control system may be operatively configured to acquire first ultrasonic image data from the acoustic wave emissions received by the ultrasonic sensor array during a first acquisition time window. The first acquisition time window may be initiated at an end time of the first acquisition time delay.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: Yipeng Lu, David William Burns
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Publication number: 20190145871Abstract: A method for analyzing particles in an air stream includes concentrating the particles in an interior region of the air stream and deflecting the concentrated particles in the air stream with a generated thermal gradient. Smaller particles in the air stream may be selectively deflected away from the interior region and towards a periphery of the air stream at a different rate than larger particles in the air stream. The generated thermal gradient may be controlled to deflect particles in a selected particle size range onto a surface of a particle detector. An effective mass of the collected particles and an aerosol mass concentration estimate of the particles within the selected particle size range may be generated. Systems for analyzing particles are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2018Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: David Woolsey, David William Burns
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Publication number: 20190145873Abstract: A system for analyzing particles in an air stream includes a first heater element configured to deflect particles in an interior region of the air stream towards a peripheral wall of an air channel encompassing the air stream, a second heater element controllable to deflect the particles in a first lateral direction along the peripheral wall, and a third heater element controllable to deflect the particles in a second lateral direction along the peripheral wall. Thermal gradients in the air channel generated by the heater elements may thermophoretically force particles towards the peripheral wall in a direction perpendicular to the air stream to allow thermophoretic forcing and scanning of particles in either the first lateral direction or the second lateral direction along the peripheral wall and onto a surface of a particle detector. Systems and methods for scanning particles with thermophoretic forces are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2018Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: David Woolsey, David William Burns
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Publication number: 20190145872Abstract: A method for analyzing particles includes concentrating the particles in an interior region of an air stream, generating a thermal gradient to deflect the concentrated particles from the interior region of the air stream to a peripheral region of the air stream, receiving orientation information, and adjusting the thermal gradient in response to the received orientation information. The particles may be concentrated in the interior of the air stream with at least two heater elements positioned near a periphery of the air stream and configured to cooperatively force particles away from the periphery and towards the interior region of the air stream. The orientation information may include gravity vector component information or angular rate component information in one, two or three substantially orthogonal directions relative to the air stream. Various systems for airborne particle detection with orientation-dependent particle discrimination are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2018Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: David Woolsey, David William Burns
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Publication number: 20190145874Abstract: A system for detecting and analyzing particles in an air stream includes an inlet, a particle concentrator and a particle discriminator having an air channel with a cross-sectional geometry that changes within at least one of the inlet, particle concentrator and particle discriminator. The system may have a sheath air stage including a port for providing sample air, at least one sheath air inlet port for providing sheath air, and a sheath air combining region. The system may include an airflow compression stage having a varying air channel that narrows as the air stream traverses the airflow compression stage to pre-concentrate particles within an interior region of the air stream. The system may include an airflow expansion stage having an air channel that widens to slow the airstream and particle velocities. A portion of the air channel height may be narrowed to allow a larger thermophoretic force to be generated.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2018Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: David Woolsey, David William Burns
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Publication number: 20190145870Abstract: A system for concentrating particles in an air stream includes an air channel having a first open end and a second open end. The air channel may be enclosed by a channel wall extending from at least the first open to the second open end. Two or more heater elements may be positioned between the first open end and the second open end. The heater elements may be positioned near a periphery of the air channel and cooperatively configured to force particles in the air stream away from the periphery and towards an interior region of the air channel. Particles in the air stream may be thermophoretically forced towards the interior region of the air channel when the heater elements are heated and thermal gradients emanating from the heater elements are generated.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2018Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: Justin Black, David Woolsey, David William Burns
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Patent number: 10274590Abstract: Techniques describe structures and methods for generating larger output signals and improving image quality of ultrasonic sensors by inclusion of an acoustic cavity in the sensor stack. In some embodiments, an ultrasonic sensor unit may be tuned during manufacturing or during a provisioning phase to work with different thicknesses and materials. In some embodiments, a standing wave signal may be generated using an acoustic cavity in the ultrasonic sensor unit for capturing an ultrasonic image of an object placed on a sensor surface. In some implementations, the ultrasonic sensor may include an ultrasonic transmitter, a piezoelectric receiver, a thin film transistor (TFT) layer and a TFT substrate positioned between the transmitter and the receiver, one or more adhesive layers, and optional cover materials and coatings. The thickness, density and speed of sound of the sensor materials and associated adhesive attachment layers may be used to attain the desired acoustic cavity and improved performance.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2017Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Nai-Kuei Kuo, Kostadin Dimitrov Djordjev, Ranjith Ranganathan, Nao Sugawara Chuei, Ashish Hinger, David William Burns
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Patent number: 10235552Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for configuring a fingerprint sensor to operate in a capacitive sensing mode and an ultrasonic sensing mode are disclosed. A fingerprint sensor may be configured to operate in a capacitive sensing mode by driving a sensing electrode using a controller. In some implementations, an object positioned on or near the sensing electrode may be detected using the fingerprint sensor in the capacitive sensing mode, and the controller can drive electrodes of the fingerprint sensor differently to configure the fingerprint sensor to operate in an ultrasonic sensing mode. In some implementations, an applications processor may be instructed to authenticate a fingerprint of the object from image data obtained when the fingerprint sensor is operating in the ultrasonic sensing mode. In some implementations, a display of a mobile device containing the fingerprint sensor may be unlocked, or the mobile device may be woken up when the fingerprint is authenticated.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2017Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Sandeep Louis D'Souza, Vadim Winebrand, Ashish Hinger, Paul Penchin Pan, Meir Agassy, Yizhaq Abudi, Micah Timothy Lawrence, Jong Soo Kim, Sherman Sebastian Antao, Bo-Ren Wang, Masoud Roham, Lennart Karl Mathe, Nathan Felix Altman, Suryaprakash Ganti, David William Burns
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Patent number: 10235551Abstract: A biometric system may include an ultrasonic sensor array, a light source system and a control system. Some implementations may include an ultrasonic transmitter. The control system may be capable of controlling the light source system to emit light and of receiving signals from the ultrasonic sensor array corresponding to acoustic waves emitted from portions of a target object in response to being illuminated with the light emitted by the light source system. The control system may be capable of performing a user authentication process that is based, at least in part, on the signals from the ultrasonic sensor array.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2016Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Yipeng Lu, David William Burns
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Publication number: 20190076114Abstract: An apparatus may include an array of piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers (PMUTs) and a control system configured to communicate with the array of PMUTs. The control system may be configured to determine a target location within a human body and to control the array of PMUTs to focus ultrasonic waves at the target location.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2017Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Firas Sammoura, David William Burns, Ravindra Vaman Shenoy
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Publication number: 20190073507Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for configuring a fingerprint sensor to operate in a capacitive sensing mode and an ultrasonic sensing mode are disclosed. A fingerprint sensor may be configured to operate in a capacitive sensing mode by driving a sensing electrode using a controller. In some implementations, an object positioned on or near the sensing electrode may be detected using the fingerprint sensor in the capacitive sensing mode, and the controller can drive electrodes of the fingerprint sensor differently to configure the fingerprint sensor to operate in an ultrasonic sensing mode. In some implementations, an applications processor may be instructed to authenticate a fingerprint of the object from image data obtained when the fingerprint sensor is operating in the ultrasonic sensing mode. In some implementations, a display of a mobile device containing the fingerprint sensor may be unlocked, or the mobile device may be woken up when the fingerprint is authenticated.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2018Publication date: March 7, 2019Inventors: Sandeep Louis D'Souza, Vadim Winebrand, Ashish Hinger, Paul Penchin Pan, Meir Agassy, Yizhaq Abudi, Micah Timothy Lawrence, Jong Soo Kim, Sherman Sebastian Antao, Bo-Ren Wang, Masoud Roham, Lennart Karl Mathe, Nathan Felix Altman, Suryaprakash Ganti, David William Burns
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Publication number: 20190057267Abstract: An apparatus may include an ultrasonic sensor array and a control system. The control system may be configured to acquire first image data generated by the ultrasonic sensor array corresponding to at least one first reflected ultrasonic wave received by at least a portion of the ultrasonic sensor array from a target object during a first acquisition time window. The control system may be configured to acquire second image data generated by the ultrasonic sensor array corresponding to at least one second reflected ultrasonic wave received by at least a portion of the ultrasonic sensor array from the target object during a second acquisition time window that is longer than the first acquisition time window. The control system may further be configured to initiate an authentication process based on the first image data and the second image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2018Publication date: February 21, 2019Inventors: Jack Conway Kitchens, II, John Keith Schneider, Stephen Michael Gojevic, Philip John Schneider, Evan Michael Breloff, Ashish Hinger, David William Burns, Muhammed Ibrahim Sezan
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Patent number: 10209072Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for making and using accelerometers. Some such accelerometers include a substrate, a first plurality of electrodes, a second plurality of electrodes, a first anchor attached to the substrate, a frame and a proof mass. The substrate may extend substantially in a first plane. The proof mass may be attached to the frame, may extend substantially in a second plane and may be substantially constrained for motion along first and second axes. The frame may be attached to the first anchor, may extend substantially in a second plane and may be substantially constrained for motion along the second axis. A lateral movement of the proof mass in response to an applied lateral acceleration along the first or second axes may result in a change in capacitance at the first or second plurality of electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2015Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: SNAPTRACK Inc.Inventors: Philip Jason Stephanou, David William Burns, Ravindra Vaman Shenoy
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Publication number: 20180369866Abstract: Implementations of the subject matter described herein relate to sensors including piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) sensor elements and arrays thereof. The PMUT sensor elements may be switchable between a non- ultrasonic force detection mode and an ultrasonic imaging mode. A PMUT sensor element may include a diaphragm that is capable of a static displacement on application of a force and is capable of a dynamic displacement when the PMUT sensor element transmits or receives ultrasonic signals. In some implementations, a PMUT sensor element includes a two dimensional-electron gas structure on the diaphragm. The sensors may further include a sensor controller configured to switch between a non-ultrasonic force detection mode and an ultrasonic imaging mode for one or more of the PMUT sensor elements, wherein an applied force is measured in the non-ultrasonic force detection mode and wherein an object is imaged ultrasonically during the ultrasonic imaging mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2017Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Firas Sammoura, David William Burns, Ravindra Vaman Shenoy
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Publication number: 20180373913Abstract: Disclosed are methods, devices, apparatuses, and systems for an under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. A display device may include a platen, a display underlying the platen, and an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor underlying the display, where the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is configured to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves via an acoustic path through the platen and the display. A light-blocking layer and/or an electrical shielding layer may be provided between the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and the display, where the light-blocking layer and/or the electrical shielding layer are in the acoustic path. A mechanical stress isolation layer may be provided between the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and the display, where the mechanical stress isolation layer is in the acoustic path.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Hrishikesh Vijaykumar Panchawagh, Ila Ravindra Badge, Yipeng Lu, Kostadin Dimitrov Djordjev, Suryaprakash Ganti, Chin-Jen Tseng, Nicholas Ian Buchan, Tsongming Kao, Leonard Eugene Fennell, Firas Sammoura, Jessica Liu Strohmann, David William Burns
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Patent number: 10146981Abstract: Techniques for associating environmental information with fingerprint images for fingerprint enrollment and matching are presented. The techniques may include capturing, using a fingerprint sensor of a mobile device, one or more images of a fingerprint. The techniques may include analyzing the one or more images to obtain fingerprint information associated with the fingerprint. The techniques may include obtaining, via an orientation sensor of the mobile device, environmental information indicating an orientation of the mobile device associated with the capturing of the one or more images. The techniques may additionally include generating, using the fingerprint information, an enrollment template for the fingerprint. The techniques may include associating the enrollment template with the environmental information.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2016Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Muhammed Ibrahim Sezan, Tao Sheng, Alwyn Dos Remedios, David William Burns