Patents by Inventor Eric Bohannon
Eric Bohannon 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: 11867814Abstract: A frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system that includes an optical source to generate light at a target frequency. The system also includes a first transistor to transmit a modulation current through a modulation path that includes the optical source and a modulation resistor. The system also includes electro optical circuitry coupled to the first transistor to produce a phase locked loop. The system also includes a second transistor to transmit a bias current through a bias path that includes the optical source and is separate from the modulation path, wherein the bias path is separate from the modulation path.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Aeva, Inc.Inventors: Eric Bohannon, Garret Phillips, Bryce Bradford
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Patent number: 11789131Abstract: A frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system that includes an optical source to transmit an optical beam and a drive circuit configured to drive a current through the optical source to transmit the optical beam at a frequency. The system also includes an operational amplifier comprising a plurality of inputs to produce an output voltage for receipt by the drive circuit as input to determine an amplitude of the current driven by the drive circuit through the light source. The system also includes electro optical circuitry coupled to a first input of the plurality of inputs to produce a phase locked loop to maintain the light at the frequency. The system also includes ramp control circuitry coupled to a second input the plurality of inputs to cause the output voltage of the operational amplifier to modulate the optical beam at the frequency.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2022Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Aeva, Inc.Inventors: Eric Bohannon, Garret Phillips, Bryce Bradford
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Publication number: 20230300478Abstract: A single exposure high dynamic range (HDR) analog front-end (AFE) for complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors. In one embodiment, a single exposure HDR AFE includes input signal circuitry, gain stage circuitry, a continuous-time filter, comparator circuitry, and counter circuitry. The input signal circuitry is configured to generate an input signal. The gain stage circuitry including two gain stages and one gain stage is configured to generate a high gain output signal based on the input signal. The continuous-time filter is configured to generate a filtered high gain output signal by filtering the high gain output signal. The comparator circuitry is configured to generate a high gain comparison signal by comparing the filtered high gain output signal to the ramp voltage. The counter circuitry is configured to generate a high gain digital output signal based on the high gain comparison signal and using the clock signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2022Publication date: September 21, 2023Inventor: Eric Bohannon
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Patent number: 11606524Abstract: An image sensor and pixel circuit therefor includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices, a zero-biased multiplexer connected to the plurality of photoelectric conversion devices, an amplifier including a first input terminal connected to the zero-biased multiplexer, and an output terminal, a capacitor disposed between the first input terminal and the output terminal, and a reset switch disposed between the first input terminal and the output terminal in parallel with the capacitor, the reset switch including a body terminal connected to a common reference voltage.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2021Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Sony Group CorporationInventor: Eric Bohannon
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Patent number: 11570391Abstract: A pixel circuit includes a photoelectric conversion device; an amplifier including a first amplifier transistor and a second amplifier transistor connected in series between a first voltage and a second voltage, wherein a gate terminal of the first amplifier transistor is connected to the photoelectric conversion device; a feedback capacitor connected between a first current terminal of the first amplifier transistor and the photoelectric conversion device; a first reset switch connected between the gate terminal of the first amplifier transistor and an anode voltage; and a second reset switch connected between a first current terminal of the second amplifier transistor and a gate terminal of the second amplifier transistor.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2020Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventor: Eric Bohannon
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Publication number: 20220353454Abstract: An image sensor and pixel circuit therefor includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices, a zero-biased multiplexer connected to the plurality of photoelectric conversion devices, an amplifier including a first input terminal connected to the zero-biased multiplexer, and an output terminal, a capacitor disposed between the first input terminal and the output terminal, and a reset switch disposed between the first input terminal and the output terminal in parallel with the capacitor, the reset switch including a body terminal connected to a common reference voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2021Publication date: November 3, 2022Inventor: Eric Bohannon
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Patent number: 11490042Abstract: An image sensor and pixel circuit therefor includes a photoelectric conversion device; an amplifier including a first input terminal connected to the photoelectric conversion device, and an output terminal; a capacitor disposed between the first input terminal and the output terminal; and a reset switch network disposed between the first input terminal and the output terminal in parallel with the capacitor, the reset switch network including at least a first reset transistor, a second reset transistor, and a third reset transistor.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Eric Bohannon, Hirotaka Murakami, Christopher Urban
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Patent number: 11456699Abstract: Oscillator circuits, electronic devices, and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an oscillator circuit includes a plurality of oscillator transistors comprising a plurality of gates, a plurality of adjustment transistors coupled to the plurality of gates, a differential output coupled to the plurality of oscillator transistors, a plurality of current transistors configured to receive one or more mixed bias current outputs, and generate a main current based on the one or more mixed bias current outputs, the one or more mixed bias current outputs and the main current being substantially constant over a range of temperatures, and one or more switches configured to set an oscillation frequency of the differential output by driving a first portion of a main current through at least one of the plurality of oscillator transistors, and driving a second portion of the main current through at least one of the plurality of adjustment transistors.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2021Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Eric Bohannon, Kevin Fronczak, Jason Inman
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Patent number: 11431931Abstract: An image sensor and pixel circuit therefor includes a plurality of pixels arranged in an array, a first pixel of the plurality of pixels including: a first photoelectric conversion device; a first amplifier including a first input terminal connected to the first photoelectric conversion device, and a first output terminal; a first capacitor disposed between the first input terminal and the first output terminal; and a first reset switch network disposed between the first input terminal and the first output terminal in parallel with the first capacitor, the first reset switch network including a first reset transistor with a first body terminal connected to a common reference voltage, a second reset transistor, and a third reset transistor.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2021Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventor: Eric Bohannon
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Publication number: 20220224854Abstract: An image sensor and pixel circuit therefor includes a plurality of pixels arranged in an array, a first pixel of the plurality of pixels including: a first photoelectric conversion device; a first amplifier including a first input terminal connected to the first photoelectric conversion device, and a first output terminal; a first capacitor disposed between the first input terminal and the first output terminal; and a first reset switch network disposed between the first input terminal and the first output terminal in parallel with the first capacitor, the first reset switch network including a first reset transistor with a first body terminal connected to a common reference voltage, a second reset transistor, and a third reset transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2021Publication date: July 14, 2022Inventor: Eric Bohannon
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Publication number: 20220191423Abstract: A pixel circuit includes a photoelectric conversion device; an amplifier including a first amplifier transistor and a second amplifier transistor connected in series between a first voltage and a second voltage, wherein a gate terminal of the first amplifier transistor is connected to the photoelectric conversion device; a feedback capacitor connected between a first current terminal of the first amplifier transistor and the photoelectric conversion device; a first reset switch connected between the gate terminal of the first amplifier transistor and an anode voltage; and a second reset switch connected between a first current terminal of the second amplifier transistor and a gate terminal of the second amplifier transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2020Publication date: June 16, 2022Inventor: Eric Bohannon
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Publication number: 20220191422Abstract: An image sensor and pixel circuit therefor includes a photoelectric conversion device; an amplifier including a first input terminal connected to the photoelectric conversion device, and an output terminal; a capacitor disposed between the first input terminal and the output terminal; and a reset switch network disposed between the first input terminal and the output terminal in parallel with the capacitor, the reset switch network including at least a first reset transistor, a second reset transistor, and a third reset transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2020Publication date: June 16, 2022Inventors: Eric Bohannon, Hirotaka Murakami, Christopher Urban
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Patent number: 10969894Abstract: An input device may include various sensor electrodes that define various sensor pixels. The input device may further include a processing system coupled to the sensor electrodes. The processing system may obtain a first resulting signal and a second resulting signal from the sensor electrodes. The processing system may determine, using the first resulting signal, an in-phase estimate of a phase delay at a sensor pixel among the sensor pixels. The processing system may determine, using the second resulting signal, a quadrature estimate of the phase delay at the sensor pixel. The processing system may determine, based at least in part on the in-phase estimate and the quadrature estimate, a phase baseline estimate of the sensor pixels.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2020Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Petr Shepelev, Eric Bohannon
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Publication number: 20200349332Abstract: A hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor system includes: capacitive sensor electrodes; an optical image sensor having a plurality of image sensor pixels; light conditioning elements, configured to condition light from a sensing region of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor for detection by the optical image sensor; and a processing system having one or more controllers, configured to operate the capacitive sensor electrodes in a low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor, and to operate the optical image sensor to acquire an image from the sensing region of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2020Publication date: November 5, 2020Applicant: FINGERPRINT CARDS ABInventors: Jeffrey S. Lillie, Mark Pude, Eric Bohannon, Eric Moule, Erik Jonathon Thompson, Patrick Smith, Lynn Kern
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Patent number: 10719683Abstract: A hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor system includes: capacitive sensor electrodes; an optical image sensor having a plurality of image sensor pixels; light conditioning elements, configured to condition light from a sensing region of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor for detection by the optical image sensor; and a processing system having one or more controllers, configured to operate the capacitive sensor electrodes in a low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor, and to operate the optical image sensor to acquire an image from the sensing region of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2018Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: FINGERPRINT CARDS ABInventors: Jeffrey S. Lillie, Mark Pude, Eric Bohannon, Eric Moule, Erik Jonathon Thompson, Patrick Smith, Lynn Kern
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Publication number: 20200150811Abstract: An input device may include various sensor electrodes that define various sensor pixels. The input device may further include a processing system coupled to the sensor electrodes. The processing system may obtain a first resulting signal and a second resulting signal from the sensor electrodes. The processing system may determine, using the first resulting signal, an in-phase estimate of a phase delay at a sensor pixel among the sensor pixels. The processing system may determine, using the second resulting signal, a quadrature estimate of the phase delay at the sensor pixel. The processing system may determine, based at least in part on the in-phase estimate and the quadrature estimate, a phase baseline estimate of the sensor pixels.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2020Publication date: May 14, 2020Applicant: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Petr Shepelev, Eric Bohannon
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Patent number: 10606386Abstract: An input device associated with a sensing region is provided. The input device includes: a sensor electrode configured to receive a resulting signal associated with the sensing region; an auxiliary component configured to generate an output based on a differential current; a mixer circuit coupled to the sensor electrode and including: a current conveyor configured to generate a replica of the resulting signal; and a switch array, in series with the replica and the differential current, and configured to generate the differential current by demodulating the replica of the resulting signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2017Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Kevin Fronczak, Eric Bohannon
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Patent number: 10572048Abstract: An input device may include various sensor electrodes that define various sensor pixels. The input device may further include a processing system coupled to the sensor electrodes. The processing system may obtain a first resulting signal and a second resulting signal from the sensor electrodes. The processing system may determine, using the first resulting signal, an in-phase estimate of a phase delay at a sensor pixel among the sensor pixels. The processing system may determine, using the second resulting signal, a quadrature estimate of the phase delay at the sensor pixel. The processing system may determine, based at least in part on the in-phase estimate and the quadrature estimate, a phase baseline estimate of the sensor pixels.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2017Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Petr Shepelev, Eric Bohannon
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Patent number: 10540042Abstract: An input device associated with a sensing region is disclosed. The input device includes: a first sensor electrode associated with the sensing region and configured to propagate a resulting signal; an first auxiliary component configured to generate an output using a scaled signal; and a first impedance ratio-based current conveyor coupled to the first sensor electrode and including: a staging circuit configured to generate an input signal using the resulting signal and a ratio of a first impedance to a second impedance; and a set of current mirrors configured to generate the scaled signal from the input signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2017Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventor: Eric Bohannon
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Patent number: 10530363Abstract: A method of capacitive sensing may include transmitting a first sensing signal along a first transmitter electrode among various transmitter electrodes of an input device. The method may further include obtaining, using various receiver electrodes in the input device, a first resulting signal in response to the first sensing signal being transmitted along the first transmitter electrode. The method may further include obtaining a second resulting signal from a second transmitter electrode among the transmitter electrodes. The method may further include determining, using the second resulting signal, interference along the second transmitter electrode. The method may further include adjusting, using the interference along the second transmitter electrode, the first resulting signal to produce an adjusted resulting signal. The method may further include determining, using the adjusted resulting signal, positional information regarding a location of an input object in a sensing region of the input device.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2017Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Eric Bohannon, Steve Lo