Patents by Inventor Kenneth W. Knox
Kenneth W. Knox 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: 9817523Abstract: A capacitive touch panel includes elongated drive electrodes arranged next to one another and elongated sensor electrodes arranged next to one another across the drive electrodes. Together, the drive electrodes and the sensor electrodes define a coordinate system where each coordinate location comprises a capacitor formed at an intersection between one of the drive electrodes and one of the sensor electrodes. In implementations, the drive electrodes and/or the sensor electrodes are configured to block capacitance between a touch at a coordinate location and the drive electrodes during a floating condition for the panel. In other implementations, the drive electrodes and/or the sensor electrodes are configured to exaggerate capacitance between a touch at a coordinate location and the drive electrodes during a floating condition for the panel.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2012Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Rishi Mohindra, Guozhong Shen, Kenneth W. Knox
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Patent number: 9552102Abstract: A touch panel sensor system that can dynamically measure noise and automatically switch to a frequency with minimal noise is described. The touch panel sensor system includes a sensor configured to detect a change in capacitance associated with a touch upon a touch panel. The system also includes a drive module configured to generate a drive signal having a first waveform characteristic (e.g., signal having a periodic waveform characteristic) during a first phase (e.g., sensor phase) and a second drive signal having a second waveform characteristic (e.g., constant voltage signal) during a second phase (e.g., noise detection phase). The first and second drive signals are configured to drive the sensor. The system also includes a measuring module coupled to the sensor that is configured to measure noise having the first waveform characteristic (e.g., periodic waveform characteristic) during the second phase.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2014Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Guozhong Shen, Ozan E. Erdogan, Syed T. Mahmud, Kenneth W. Knox
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Publication number: 20150324061Abstract: A touch panel sensor system that can dynamically measure noise and automatically switch to a frequency with minimal noise is described. The touch panel sensor system includes a sensor configured to detect a change in capacitance associated with a touch upon a touch panel. The system also includes a drive module configured to generate a drive signal having a first waveform characteristic (e.g., signal having a periodic waveform characteristic) during a first phase (e.g., sensor phase) and a second drive signal having a second waveform characteristic (e.g., constant voltage signal) during a second phase (e.g., noise detection phase). The first and second drive signals are configured to drive the sensor. The system also includes a measuring module coupled to the sensor that is configured to measure noise having the first waveform characteristic (e.g., periodic waveform characteristic) during the second phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2014Publication date: November 12, 2015Inventors: Guozhong Shen, Ozan E. Erdogan, Syed T. Mahmud, Kenneth W. Knox
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Patent number: 9122361Abstract: A capacitive touch panel is tested for the presence or absence of short and open circuits in drive and sense lines without the use of a tool that touches the surface of the panel. During a first stage of testing, drive lines of the touch panel are sequentially driven while the remaining drive lines are floated. Sense lines are read to indicate whether a driven drive line is shorted to an adjacent drive line, an open circuit, or coupled to a sense line that is an open circuit. During a second stage of testing, drive lines are driven while alternate sense lines are floated or enabled. The signals on the enabled sense lines are acquired to indicate whether the enabled sense lines are shorted to adjacent sense lines. This second stage can be repeated, switching the roles of the sense lines, to determine the locations of short and/or open circuits.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2012Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Guozhong Shen, Bart DeCanne, Kenneth W. Knox, Muhammad Umair, Syed F. Ahmad
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Patent number: 9116582Abstract: A capacitive touch panel includes elongated drive electrodes arranged next to one another and having a characteristic spacing between adjacent drive electrodes. The capacitive touch panel also includes elongated sensor electrodes arranged next to one another across the drive electrodes and having a characteristic spacing between adjacent sensor electrodes. The drive electrodes and/or the sensor electrodes have protrusions into the spaces between adjacent electrodes. The characteristic spacing between the sensor electrodes may be at least substantially greater than the characteristic spacing between the drive electrodes. The sensor electrodes may have a pitch based upon a touch diameter of a finger, and the touch panel may be capable of sensing a stylus having a touch diameter substantially less than the touch diameter of the finger.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2012Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Rishi Mohindra, Guozhong Shen, Kenneth W. Knox
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Patent number: 8860432Abstract: A touch panel sensor system that can dynamically measure noise and automatically switch to a frequency with minimal noise is described. The touch panel sensor system includes a sensor configured to detect a change in capacitance associated with a touch upon a touch panel. The system also includes a drive module configured to generate a drive signal having a first waveform characteristic (e.g., signal having a periodic waveform characteristic) during a first phase (e.g., sensor phase) and a second drive signal having a second waveform characteristic (e.g., constant voltage signal) during a second phase (e.g., noise detection phase). The first and second drive signals are configured to drive the sensor. The system also includes a measuring module coupled to the sensor that is configured to measure noise having the first waveform characteristic (e.g., periodic waveform characteristic) during the second phase.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2012Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.Inventors: Guozhong Shen, Ozan E. Erdogan, Syed Mahmud, Kenneth W. Knox
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Publication number: 20130207924Abstract: A capacitive touch panel includes elongated drive electrodes arranged next to one another and elongated sensor electrodes arranged next to one another across the drive electrodes. Together, the drive electrodes and the sensor electrodes define a coordinate system where each coordinate location comprises a capacitor formed at an intersection between one of the drive electrodes and one of the sensor electrodes. In implementations, the drive electrodes and/or the sensor electrodes are configured to block capacitance between a touch at a coordinate location and the drive electrodes during a floating condition for the panel. In other implementations, the drive electrodes and/or the sensor electrodes are configured to exaggerate capacitance between a touch at a coordinate location and the drive electrodes during a floating condition for the panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2012Publication date: August 15, 2013Applicant: MAXIM INTEGRATED PRODUCTS, INC.Inventors: Rishi Mohindra, Guozhong Shen, Kenneth W. Knox
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Publication number: 20130207923Abstract: A capacitive touch panel includes elongated drive electrodes arranged next to one another and having a characteristic spacing between adjacent drive electrodes. The capacitive touch panel also includes elongated sensor electrodes arranged next to one another across the drive electrodes and having a characteristic spacing between adjacent sensor electrodes. The drive electrodes and/or the sensor electrodes have protrusions into the spaces between adjacent electrodes. The characteristic spacing between the sensor electrodes may be at least substantially greater than the characteristic spacing between the drive electrodes. The sensor electrodes may have a pitch based upon a touch diameter of a finger, and the touch panel may be capable of sensing a stylus having a touch diameter substantially less than the touch diameter of the finger.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2012Publication date: August 15, 2013Applicant: MAXIM INTEGRATED PRODUCTS, INC.Inventors: Rishi Mohindra, Guozhong Shen, Kenneth W. Knox
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Publication number: 20120293455Abstract: A capacitive touch panel is tested for the presence or absence of short and open circuits in drive and sense lines without the use of a tool that touches the surface of the panel. During a first stage of testing, drive lines of the touch panel are sequentially driven while the remaining drive lines are floated. Sense lines are read to indicate whether a driven drive line is shorted to an adjacent drive line, an open circuit, or coupled to a sense line that is an open circuit. During a second stage of testing, drive lines are driven while alternate sense lines are floated or enabled. The signals on the enabled sense lines are acquired to indicate whether the enabled sense lines are shorted to adjacent sense lines. This second stage can be repeated, switching the roles of the sense lines, to determine the locations of short and/or open circuits.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: MAXIM INTEGRATED PRODUCTS, INC.Inventors: Guozhong Shen, Bart DeCanne, Kenneth W. Knox, Muhammad Umair, Syed F. Ahmad
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Publication number: 20120217978Abstract: A touch panel sensor system that can dynamically measure noise and automatically switch to a frequency with minimal noise is described. The touch panel sensor system includes a sensor configured to detect a change in capacitance associated with a touch upon a touch panel. The system also includes a drive module configured to generate a drive signal having a first waveform characteristic (e.g., signal having a periodic waveform characteristic) during a first phase (e.g., sensor phase) and a second drive signal having a second waveform characteristic (e.g., constant voltage signal) during a second phase (e.g., noise detection phase). The first and second drive signals are configured to drive the sensor. The system also includes a measuring module coupled to the sensor that is configured to measure noise having the first waveform characteristic (e.g., periodic waveform characteristic) during the second phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2012Publication date: August 30, 2012Applicant: MAXIM INTEGRATED PRODUCTS, INC.Inventors: Guozhong Shen, Ozan E. Erdogan, Syed Mahmud, Kenneth W. Knox
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Patent number: 5931573Abstract: An emergency vehicle light bar which comprises a center mounting mechanism which is mounted on an exterior center point of a emergency vehicle roof and which provides a pivotal mounting mechanism for two extending adjustable light bars, which said light bars comprise a plurality of fixedly secured lighting means and audible sirens, wherein the pivotally mounted light bars may be pivoted about the center point mounting mechanism to provide maximum vehicle visibility by altering the angle of said light bars about the center mounting mechanism. Further wherein a control panel is provided within the interior of the vehicle for controlling all operational aspects of the emergency vehicle light bar and further wherein a portable transmitting device is provided with operates certain parameters of the emergency vehicle light bar.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1998Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Inventor: Kenneth W. Knox