Patents by Inventor Davy J. Figaro

Davy J. Figaro 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: 9863867
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems apparatus for automatically updating hard iron and soft iron coefficients of a magnetic sensor of a device are disclosed. One method includes making measurements of a magnetic field by the magnetic sensor during rotations of the device, determining by at least a criterion whether to input the measurements of the magnetic field into a coefficient estimator, calculating, by the coefficient estimator, new hard iron and soft iron coefficients upon receiving the measurements of the magnetic field, determining a quality of the newly calculated hard iron and soft iron calculated coefficients, and updating existing hard iron and soft iron coefficients to the newly calculated hard iron and soft iron coefficients only if the quality of the newly calculated hard iron and soft iron coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: PNI Sensor Corporation
    Inventor: Davy J. Figaro
  • Publication number: 20150241390
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems apparatus for automatically updating hard iron and soft iron coefficients of a magnetic sensor of a device are disclosed. One method includes making measurements of a magnetic field by the magnetic sensor during rotations of the device, determining by at least a criterion whether to input the measurements of the magnetic field into a coefficient estimator, calculating, by the coefficient estimator, new hard iron and soft iron coefficients upon receiving the measurements of the magnetic field, determining a quality of the newly calculated hard iron and soft iron calculated coefficients, and updating existing hard iron and soft iron coefficients to the newly calculated hard iron and soft iron coefficients only if the quality of the newly calculated hard iron and soft iron coefficients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: PNI SENSOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Davy J. Figaro
  • Patent number: 9035648
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems of a magnetic sensor self-characterizing its magnetic properties are disclosed. One embodiment of the magnetic sensor apparatus includes a magnetic sensor and a current source for applying a current to the magnetic sensor. The magnetic sensor apparatus further includes control circuitry configured to control the current source, and characterize a magnetic property of the magnetic sensor based on the applied current. One method of a magnetic sensor self-characterizing its magnetic properties includes applying, by the magnetic sensor, an electrical signal, and characterizing a magnetic property of the magnetic sensor based on the applied electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: PNI Sensor Corporation
    Inventors: Davy J. Figaro, Joseph F. Miller, Andrew T. Taylor, George Hsu
  • Publication number: 20130009636
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems of a magnetic sensor self-characterizing its magnetic properties are disclosed. One embodiment of the magnetic sensor apparatus includes a magnetic sensor and a current source for applying a current to the magnetic sensor. The magnetic sensor apparatus further includes control circuitry configured to control the current source, and characterize a magnetic property of the magnetic sensor based on the applied current. One method of a magnetic sensor self-characterizing its magnetic properties includes applying, by the magnetic sensor, an electrical signal, and characterizing a magnetic property of the magnetic sensor based on the applied electrical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: PNI Sensor Corporation
    Inventors: Davy J. Figaro, Joseph F. Miller, Andrew T. Taylor, George Hsu
  • Publication number: 20120206350
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems of providing control of display content on a display with a device are disclosed. One method includes establishing a fixed reference on the display. A user input is received indicating that the device is at a user selected position corresponding to the fixed reference and capturing a position of the device in order to establish a corresponding reference position. The display content on the display is determined based on measured displacement of the device relative to the established reference position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: PNI SENSOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Davy J. Figaro, Andrew T. Taylor, George Hsu
  • Patent number: 8032324
    Abstract: A method and system for an interactive controller device comprising a two axis sensor in combination with one or more other sensors for hand-held devices operated in mid-air. A time sequence of measurements in three linearly independent directions is used to extract the angles of rotation around one or more distinct axes. A method is disclosed to approximately determine a transformation matrix, T, of a device orientation from a sequence of single vector measurements as a combination of rotations about specified axes. Calculated rotation angles can then be used to calculate changes in a controller or pointer position and a rate change thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: PNI Corporation
    Inventors: Tyler M Bryant, Andrew T. Taylor, Davy J. Figaro
  • Patent number: 7844415
    Abstract: The instant invention discloses a method for an orientation measuring instrument to isolate and separate gravitational and non-gravitational components of acceleration from accelerometer measurements by using an ambient magnetic field, typically the earth's magnetic field, as a fixed rotation reference. Using magnetic field measurements, one can track changes in orientation of a device and use that information to determine the gravitation direction, during periods when acceleration measurements include non-gravitational acceleration combined with gravitational acceleration components. In addition to determining orientation, a method and associated instrument provide a non-gravity acceleration vector of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: PNI Corporation
    Inventors: Tyler M. Bryant, Davy J. Figaro, Andrew T. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7826999
    Abstract: The instant invention utilizes two, optionally orthogonal and optionally slightly tilted, horizontal magnetic sensors and, optionally, a 2 or 3 axis accelerometer or inclinometer to calculate a pitch, roll and tilt compensated heading. A vertical, Z, component is relatively constant compared to X and Y components, the Z component can be abstracted from the X and Y sensor when pitch and roll is applied based on Z offset measured with X or Y sensor at high tilt angles. Additional sensors tilted at various ? degrees can be added with a different angle ? to X sensors when additional horizontal and magnetic coverage is desirable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: PNI Corporation
    Inventors: Anders Boeen, Andrew T. Taylor, Davy J. Figaro
  • Patent number: 5067682
    Abstract: A book holder utilizing an "L" shaped swinging-assembly as an adjustable support for the bottom of a book. The assembly can be swung out to adjust for thick books, and it automatically swings back to the correct position under the influence of gravity. A spring loaded page retainer presses the pages open, and the page retainer can be rotated down out of the path of the pages so that the pages can be turned. The page retainer stays down to allow for flipping through pages of a book.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Inventor: Davy J. Figaro