Abstract: A circuit includes a reference voltage, a switched mode power supply (SMPS) loop filter circuit configured to provide an inductor current limit based on the reference voltage, and a trigger circuit configured to enable or disable the SMPS loop filter circuit. When the SMPS loop filter circuit is enabled, an output of the circuit is based on output of the SMPS loop filter circuit and output voltage of the SMPS. When the SMPS loop filter circuit is disabled, the SMPS current control circuit output is based on an estimated current limit that is increased when load current demand will increase and decreased when load current demand will decrease.

Abstract: Power consumption of a device having a resistive touch screen may be reduced if the resistive touch screen is not scanned unless a touch thereto is imminent, especially if the device can remain in a low power sleep mode during no-touch inactivity. Furthermore, detecting a potential touch earlier then an actual first touch may improve initial touch response time. The resistive touch screen may comprise top and bottom Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) coated planes. The top ITO coated plane may be used as a capacitive proximity detector and the bottom ITO coated plane may be used as a guard shield for the top ITO coated plane to significantly reduce parasitic capacitance thereof and enhance the sensitivity of capacitive proximity detection. The device may also remain in a low power sleep mode until a potential touch is detected thereby further saving device power consumption.

Abstract: A circuit includes a reference voltage, a switched mode power supply (SMPS) loop filter circuit configured to provide an inductor current limit based on the reference voltage, and a trigger circuit configured to enable or disable the SMPS loop filter circuit. When the SMPS loop filter circuit is enabled, an output of the circuit is based on output of the SMPS loop filter circuit and output voltage of the SMPS. When the SMPS loop filter circuit is disabled, the SMPS current control circuit output is based on an estimated current limit that is increased when load current demand will increase and decreased when load current demand will decrease.

Abstract: A force sensing touch sensor comprises a substrate having a plurality of conductive electrode rows and a plurality of conductive electrode columns substantially perpendicular to and over the plurality of conductive electrode rows on a surface of the substrate, and a force sensor at each corner of the substrate. When a touch is applied to the surface of the touch sensor, the capacitance value will change of a capacitor formed by an intersection of an electrode row and column proximate to the location of the touch to the surface of the touch sensor. These force sensors detect total and proportional force on the touch sensor substrate. This force information is then combined with the touch location(s) previously determined, and the individual touch force(s) can then be interpolated with sufficient resolution for three dimensional (3D) gesturing applications.

Abstract: Gesturing is used to enter a unique combination of hand positions and/or movements for accessing a secured device having a security entry system requiring that a correct code be entered before allowing access thereto. An authorized user places his/her hand(s) over a gesture sensing structure and executes a series of movement/gestures to unlock and gain access to the secured device. The gesture sensing structure may be placed inside of a visual shield so that visually intercepting the coded positions/movements may be prevented. Left and right gestures may be used to allow using traditional tumbler lock combinations to unlock and gain access to the secured device. A combination of gestures may be used to create a plurality of security combinations.

Abstract: A Class D peripheral is integrated with a microcontroller as a general purpose driver for providing many different Class D power applications such as motor and solenoid control, audio amplification, etc. Use of a simple triangle waveform (saw tooth) oscillator normally used for detecting changes in capacitance values in combination with a voltage comparator provides inexpensive generation of pulse width modulation (PWM) suitable for a wide range of Class D power applications. Selection of either an external audio input or an internal processor controlled analog reference provides for flexible adaptability to any Class D power driver requirement.

Abstract: A projected capacitive touch and force sensor capable of detecting multiple touches thereto and forces thereof is coupled with a digital device having multi-touch and force decoding capabilities. Once a touch has been established, a force thereof may be assigned to the touch based upon the magnitude of change of capacitance values determined during scans of the projected capacitive touch and force sensor. The touch forces applied to the touch sensor from the associated tracked touch points may be utilized in further determining three dimensional gesturing, e.g., X, Y and Z positions and forces, respectively.

Abstract: Gesturing is used to enter a unique combination of hand positions and/or movements for accessing a secured device having a security entry system requiring that a correct code be entered before allowing access thereto. An authorized user places his/her hand(s) over a gesture sensing structure and executes a series of movement/gestures to unlock and gain access to the secured device. The gesture sensing structure may be placed inside of a visual shield so that visually intercepting the coded positions/movements may be prevented. Left and right gestures may be used to allow using traditional tumbler lock combinations to unlock and gain access to the secured device. A combination of gestures may be used to create a plurality of security combinations.

Abstract: A Class D peripheral is integrated with a microcontroller as a general purpose driver for providing many different Class D power applications such as motor and solenoid control, audio amplification, etc. Use of a simple triangle waveform (saw tooth) oscillator normally used for detecting changes in capacitance values in combination with a voltage comparator provides inexpensive generation of pulse width modulation (PWM) suitable for a wide range of Class D power applications. Selection of either an external audio input or an internal processor controlled analog reference provides for flexible adaptability to any Class D power driver requirement.

Abstract: A force sensing touch sensor comprises a substrate having a plurality of conductive electrode rows and a plurality of conductive electrode columns substantially perpendicular to and over the plurality of conductive electrode rows on a surface of the substrate, and a force sensor at each corner of the substrate. When a touch is applied to the surface of the touch sensor, the capacitance value will change of a capacitor formed by an intersection of an electrode row and column proximate to the location of the touch to the surface of the touch sensor. These force sensors detect total and proportional force on the touch sensor substrate. This force information is then combined with the touch location(s) previously determined, and the individual touch force(s) can then be interpolated with sufficient resolution for three dimensional (3D) gesturing applications.

Abstract: A touch screen stylus has an electrode in its tip that is driven with a signal that provides graphical information to a touch screen device. When a user touches the touch screen with the tip of the stylus this graphical information is detected by a capacitive touch screen controller as a varying capacitance associated with the location where the stylus touches the touch screen. The signal may be turned on when pressure is applied at the tip of the stylus. Varying pressure on the tip of the stylus, tilt angle of the style and/or rotation of the stylus by the user may convey graphical line characteristic information. Input buttons and/or an input wheel on the stylus may be used to input commands or modify graphics on the touch screen. Feedback information may be transmitted back to the stylus by varying the scan rate of the touch screen controller.

Abstract: A force sensing X-Y touch sensor comprising a plurality of conductive electrode rows, a plurality of electrode columns substantially perpendicular to and over the plurality of conductive electrode rows, a flexible electrically conductive cover over the electrode columns and a plurality of deformable spacers between the cover and the electrode columns, wherein the deformable spacers maintains a distance between the cover and the electrode columns. When a touch is applied to the surface of X-Y touch sensor, the flexible cover is biased toward the electrode columns and rows and changes the capacitance value thereof at the location of the touch thereto. This change in capacitance value is proportional to the force of the touch on the surface of the flexible electrically conductive cover. Therefore the location of the touch and the force thereof may be determined by how much the capacitance value changes.

Abstract: Power consumption of a device having a resistive touch screen may be reduced if the resistive touch screen is not scanned unless a touch thereto is imminent, especially if the device can remain in a low power sleep mode during no-touch inactivity. Furthermore, detecting a potential touch earlier then an actual first touch may improve initial touch response time. The resistive touch screen may comprise top and bottom Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) coated planes. The top ITO coated plane may be used as a capacitive proximity detector and the bottom ITO coated plane may be used as a guard shield for the top ITO coated plane to significantly reduce parasitic capacitance thereof and enhance the sensitivity of capacitive proximity detection. The device may also remain in a low power sleep mode until a potential touch is detected thereby further saving device power consumption.

Abstract: A projected capacitive touch and force sensor capable of detecting multiple touches thereto and forces thereof is coupled with a digital device having multi-touch and force decoding capabilities. Once a touch has been established, a force thereof may be assigned to the touch based upon the magnitude of change of capacitance values determined during scans of the projected capacitive touch and force sensor. The touch forces applied to the touch sensor from the associated tracked touch points may be utilized in further determining three dimensional gesturing, e.g., X, Y and Z positions and forces, respectively.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a user's touch in a capacitive touch sensor system is provided, including performing a series of potential touch detection tests for a plurality of sensors until a potential touch is detected and measuring a test frequency for one of the sensors, such that a potential touch may be detected when the measured test frequency deviates from a previously measured test frequency for the same sensor. After detecting a potential touch, the method may additionally include performing a series of baseline comparison tests for each of the sensors, for example, measuring a current frequency for one of the sensors, comparing the current frequency to a baseline frequency, and assigning a deviation value based on the comparison the current frequency and the baseline frequency. The method may identify the sensor with the largest deviation value as a touched sensor.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device inductive touch analog front end excites selected ones of a plurality of inductive touch sensors and provides analog output signals representative of voltages across the coils of the plurality of inductive touch sensors. Various characteristics of the inductive touch analog front end are programmable. A digital processor controls selection of each one of the plurality of inductive touch sensors and receives the respective analog output voltage signal from the inductive touch AFE. The digital processor may program the characteristics of the inductive touch analog front end. When a sufficient change in the coil voltage is determined by the digital processor, that inductive touch sensor is assumed to have been actuated and the digital processor takes action based upon which one of the plurality of inductive touch sensors was actuated (touched).

Abstract: An integrated circuit device inductive touch analog front end (AFE) excites selected ones of a plurality of inductive touch sensors, measures voltages across the coils of the plurality of inductive touch sensors, and provides analog output signals representative of these coil voltages. A physical displacement (touch) to the inductive sensor causes the inductance value of the inductive touch sensor to change with a corresponding change in a voltage across the coil of the inductive touch sensor. A digital processor controls selection of each one of the plurality of inductive touch sensors and receives the respective analog output voltage signal from the inductive touch AFE. When a sufficient change in the coil voltage is determined by the digital processor, that inductive touch sensor is assumed to have been actuated and the digital processor takes action based upon which one of the plurality of inductive touch sensors was actuated (touched).

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a user's touch in a capacitive touch sensor system is provided, including performing a series of potential touch detection tests for a plurality of sensors until a potential touch is detected and measuring a test frequency for one of the sensors, such that a potential touch may be detected when the measured test frequency deviates from a previously measured test frequency for the same sensor. After detecting a potential touch, the method may additionally include performing a series of baseline comparison tests for each of the sensors, for example, measuring a current frequency for one of the sensors, comparing the current frequency to a baseline frequency, and assigning a deviation value based on the comparison the current frequency and the baseline frequency. The method may identify the sensor with the largest deviation value as a touched sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for simulating the internal configuration of industry standard ROM and EPROM-type chips using other types of storage technologies, while still operating transparently with interfaces and mechanisms such as authentication devices adapted to EPROM-type media. The invention includes: an EPROM connector interface, a data presentation program; user access log display program; a user login/registration program; a software/data library; software/data selection program; and software/data loader program. These components work in conjunction to securely retrieve software images resident in mass storage media and to present them to an authentication device as if the images were resident in EPROM type media. The invention is particularly adapted to use in the gaming industry where regulation and fraud detection are performed using EPROM authentication techniques.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device inductive touch analog front end excites selected ones of a plurality of inductive touch sensors and provides analog output signals representative of voltages across the coils of the plurality of inductive touch sensors. Various characteristics of the inductive touch analog front end are programmable. A digital processor controls selection of each one of the plurality of inductive touch sensors and receives the respective analog output voltage signal from the inductive touch AFE. The digital processor may program the characteristics of the inductive touch analog front end. When a sufficient change in the coil voltage is determined by the digital processor, that inductive touch sensor is assumed to have been actuated and the digital processor takes action based upon which one of the plurality of inductive touch sensors was actuated (touched).