Patents by Inventor Farzaneh Shahrokhi

Farzaneh Shahrokhi 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: 10365749
    Abstract: An example a processing system for a capacitive sensing device includes a reference transmitter coupled to a reference capacitance. The processing system further includes a charge accumulation circuit having an input coupled to the reference transmitter through the reference capacitance and configured to generate an integrated signal, a demodulator circuit having an input coupled to an output of the charge accumulation circuit and configured to demodulate the integrated signal to generate at least one demodulated signal, a sampling circuit having an input coupled to an output of the demodulator circuit and configured to sample the demodulated signal(s), a first reference buffer coupled to an output of the sampling circuit, the first reference buffer outputting a first voltage reference for the capacitive sensing device, and a second reference buffer coupled to the output of the sampling circuit, the second reference buffer outputting a second voltage reference for the capacitive sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Farzaneh Shahrokhi, Adam L. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 10228797
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include an input device with a plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes configured to receive a signal. The input device also includes a processing system coupled to the plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes. The processing system includes an analog front end (AFE). The AFE includes an anti-aliasing filter comprising a continuous time analog infinite impulse response (IIR) filter configured to filter out interference from the received signal at frequencies higher than a signal frequency of the processing system to produce an anti-aliased signal. The AFE also includes a charge integrator configured to integrate the anti-aliased signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jeremy Roberson, David Sobel, Farzaneh Shahrokhi, Adam Schwartz, Eric Scott Bohannon
  • Patent number: 9958488
    Abstract: A capacitance measurement circuit comprises a differential amplifier with first and second inputs and an output, first and second feedback capacitances, and a reset mechanism. The first input is coupled to a modulated reference voltage and the second input is coupled with a sensor electrode. A first feedback capacitance is coupled between the output and the second input. A second feedback capacitance is coupled between the output and the second input. The reset mechanism resets the first feedback capacitance to a first level of charge and the second feedback capacitance to a second level of charge. During an absolute capacitance measurement phase, the differential amplifier charges the sensor electrode while balancing voltages on the first and second inputs to a voltage level associated with the modulated reference voltage and integrates charge on the sensor electrode to measure capacitance corresponding to a coupling between the sensor electrode and an input object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Farzaneh Shahrokhi, Tracy Scott Dattalo, Joseph Kurth Reynolds, Adam Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20170285833
    Abstract: An example a processing system for a capacitive sensing device includes a reference transmitter coupled to a reference capacitance. The processing system further includes a charge accumulation circuit having an input coupled to the reference transmitter through the reference capacitance and configured to generate an integrated signal, a demodulator circuit having an input coupled to an output of the charge accumulation circuit and configured to demodulate the integrated signal to generate at least one demodulated signal, a sampling circuit having an input coupled to an output of the demodulator circuit and configured to sample the demodulated signal(s), a first reference buffer coupled to an output of the sampling circuit, the first reference buffer outputting a first voltage reference for the capacitive sensing device, and a second reference buffer coupled to the output of the sampling circuit, the second reference buffer outputting a second voltage reference for the capacitive sensing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Farzaneh SHAHROKHI, Adam L. SCHWARTZ
  • Patent number: 9762234
    Abstract: An interference determining circuit for a capacitive sensor device comprises an amplifier, absolute differential circuitry, and comparator circuitry. The amplifier is configured for receiving a reference voltage at a first input and for receiving a resulting signal at a second input. The resulting signal is from a sensor electrode of the capacitive sensor device. The absolute differential circuitry is coupled with an output of the amplifier and configured for outputting a difference signal. The difference signal represents an absolute differential between currents utilized in the amplifier. The comparator circuitry is coupled with the absolute differential circuitry and configured for generating a non-linearity indication based on a comparison of the difference signal with at least one reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Vivek Pant, Farzaneh Shahrokhi, Shahrooz Shahparnia
  • Patent number: 9740351
    Abstract: A capacitance measurement circuit cancels background capacitance while reducing charge leakage and supply ripples during reset phases and integrate phases. The capacitance measurement circuit operates a first switch into a linear mode causing a first resistance in the first switch, and after a delay, operates a second switch into a saturation mode causing a second resistance in parallel to the first resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Zheming Li, Saikrishna Ganta, Tae-Song Chung, Rafael Betancourt, John Michael Weinerth, Farzaneh Shahrokhi
  • Publication number: 20170075495
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include an input device with a plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes configured to receive a signal. The input device also includes a processing system coupled to the plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes. The processing system includes an analog front end (AFE). The AFE includes an anti-aliasing filter comprising a continuous time analog infinite impulse response (IIR) filter configured to filter out interference from the received signal at frequencies higher than a signal frequency of the processing system to produce an anti-aliased signal. The AFE also includes a charge integrator configured to integrate the anti-aliased signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Jeremy ROBERSON, David SOBEL, Farzaneh SHAHROKHI, Adam SCHWARTZ, Don SPECK, Eric Scott BOHANNON
  • Publication number: 20160334902
    Abstract: A capacitance measurement circuit cancels background capacitance while reducing charge leakage and supply ripples during reset phases and integrate phases. The capacitance measurement circuit operates a first switch into a linear mode causing a first resistance in the first switch, and after a delay, operates a second switch into a saturation mode causing a second resistance in parallel to the first resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Zheming LI, Saikrishna GANTA, Tae-Song CHUNG, Rafael BETANCOURT, John Michael WEINERTH, Farzaneh SHAHROKHI
  • Patent number: 9442598
    Abstract: A method for detecting interference in an input device, the method involving: driving a transmitter signal onto a transmitter sensor electrode of the input device; receiving a resulting signal from a receiver sensor electrode of the input device; sampling a first value associated with the resulting signal during a first half of a sensing cycle; sampling a second value associated with the resulting signal during a second half of the sensing cycle; generating an interference value based on the first value and the second value; determining, based on the first value and the second value, an input in a sensing region of the input device; and comparing the interference value to a noise threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Petr Shepelev, Farzaneh Shahrokhi, Murat Ozbas, Tracy Scott Dattalo
  • Publication number: 20150323578
    Abstract: A capacitance measurement circuit comprises a differential amplifier with first and second inputs and an output, first and second feedback capacitances, and a reset mechanism. The first input is coupled to a modulated reference voltage and the second input is coupled with a sensor electrode. A first feedback capacitance is coupled between the output and the second input. A second feedback capacitance is coupled between the output and the second input. The reset mechanism resets the first feedback capacitance to a first level of charge and the second feedback capacitance to a second level of charge. During an absolute capacitance measurement phase, the differential amplifier charges the sensor electrode while balancing voltages on the first and second inputs to a voltage level associated with the modulated reference voltage and integrates charge on the sensor electrode to measure capacitance corresponding to a coupling between the sensor electrode and an input object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Farzaneh SHAHROKHI, Tracy Scott Dattalo, Joseph Kurth REYNOLDS, Adam SCHWARTZ
  • Patent number: 9182432
    Abstract: A differential amplifier has an output and differential first and second inputs. A switch disposed between a sensor electrode and the second input is opened to initiate a reset phase where the sensor electrode and the differential amplifier are decoupled. A feedback capacitance disposed between the second input and the output is reset to a first level of charge. The switch is closed to initiate a measurement phase where the second input and sensor electrode are coupled. In the measurement phase: charge is balanced between the sensor electrode and the feedback capacitance such that a sensor electrode voltage equals a voltage of the first input equals a voltage of the second input, and the sensor electrode is charged; and the differential amplifier is utilized to integrate charge on the sensor electrode, such that an absolute capacitance corresponding to a coupling between the sensor electrode and an input object is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Farzaneh Shahrokhi, Adam Schwartz, Shahrooz Shahparnia, Joseph Kurth Reynolds, Tracy Scott Dattalo
  • Publication number: 20140225856
    Abstract: A method for detecting interference in an input device, the method involving: driving a transmitter signal onto a transmitter sensor electrode of the input device; receiving a resulting signal from a receiver sensor electrode of the input device; sampling a first value associated with the resulting signal during a first half of a sensing cycle; sampling a second value associated with the resulting signal during a second half of the sensing cycle; generating an interference value based on the first value and the second value; determining, based on the first value and the second value, an input in a sensing region of the input device; and comparing the interference value to a noise threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Petr Shepelev, Farzaneh Shahrokhi, Murat Ozbas, Tracy Scott Dattalo
  • Publication number: 20140021966
    Abstract: A differential amplifier has an output and differential first and second inputs. A switch disposed between a sensor electrode and the second input is opened to initiate a reset phase where the sensor electrode and the differential amplifier are decoupled. A feedback capacitance disposed between the second input and the output is reset to a first level of charge. The switch is closed to initiate a measurement phase where the second input and sensor electrode are coupled. In the measurement phase: charge is balanced between the sensor electrode and the feedback capacitance such that a sensor electrode voltage equals a voltage of the first input equals a voltage of the second input, and the sensor electrode is charged; and the differential amplifier is utilized to integrate charge on the sensor electrode, such that an absolute capacitance corresponding to a coupling between the sensor electrode and an input object is measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Farzaneh SHAHROKHI, Adam SCHWARTZ, Shahrooz SHAHPARNIA, Joseph Kurth REYNOLDS, Tracy Scott DATTALO
  • Publication number: 20120206154
    Abstract: An interference determining circuit for a capacitive sensor device comprises an amplifier, absolute differential circuitry, and comparator circuitry. The amplifier is configured for receiving a reference voltage at a first input and for receiving a resulting signal at a second input. The resulting signal is from a sensor electrode of the capacitive sensor device. The absolute differential circuitry is coupled with an output of the amplifier and configured for outputting a difference signal. The difference signal represents an absolute differential between currents utilized in the amplifier. The comparator circuitry is coupled with the absolute differential circuitry and configured for generating a non-linearity indication based on a comparison of the difference signal with at least one reference signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Vivek Pant, Farzaneh Shahrokhi, Shahrooz Shahparnia