Patents by Inventor Kevin Joseph Derichs

Kevin Joseph Derichs 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).

  • Publication number: 20230028217
    Abstract: A capacitive touch screen display operates by: receiving a plurality of sensed signals indicating variations in mutual capacitance associated with a plurality of cross points formed by a plurality of electrodes; generating capacitance image data associated with the plurality of cross points that includes positive capacitance variation data corresponding to positive variations of the capacitance image data from a nominal value and negative capacitance variation data corresponding to negative variations of the capacitance image data from the nominal value; determining, based on the positive capacitance variation data and the negative capacitance variation data, an upper threshold and a lower threshold; generating compensated capacitance image data, based on the upper threshold and the lower threshold, to compensate for noise in the capacitance image data; and processing the compensated capacitance image data to determine a proximal condition of the touch screen display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Michael Shawn Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Hans Howard Eilers, Kevin Joseph Derichs, Sarah Marie Derichs, Patrick Troy Gray, Phuong Huynh
  • Patent number: 11556298
    Abstract: A method includes transmitting, by a plurality of drive sense circuits of a primary interactive display device, a plurality of signals on a plurality of electrodes of the primary interactive display device. At least one change in electrical characteristics of a set of electrodes is detected by a set of drive sense circuits during a temporal period. A stream of user notion data is determined by a processing module of the primary interactive display device based on interpreting the at least one change in the electrical characteristics of the set of electrodes during the temporal period. The stream of user notation data is displayed via a display of the primary interactive display device during the temporal period. The stream of user notation data is transmitted, via a network interface of the primary interactive display device, to a plurality of secondary interactive display devices for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Patent number: 11543909
    Abstract: A touch sensor device includes a first panel, a second panel, and a drive-sense circuit (DSC). The first panel that includes first electrodes arranged in a first direction and second electrodes arranged in a second direction. The second panel includes third electrodes arranged in a third direction and fourth electrodes arranged in a fourth direction. The DSC is operably coupled via a single line to a coupling of a first electrode of the first electrodes and a first electrode of the third electrodes. The DSC is configured to provide the signal, which is generated based on a reference signal, via the single line to the coupling and simultaneously to sense the signal via the single line. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the at least one electrical characteristic associated with the first electrode of the first electrodes and/or the first electrode of the third electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventor: Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Patent number: 11543900
    Abstract: An e-pen includes e-pen sensor electrodes (including a first and a second e-pen sensor electrode) and drive-sense circuits (DSCs) (including a first DSC and a second DSC. The first DSC drives a first e-pen signal having a first frequency via a first single line coupling to the first e-pen sensor electrode and simultaneously senses, via the first single line, the first e-pen signal. Based on e-pen/touch sensor device interaction, the first e-pen signal is coupled into at least one touch sensor electrode of the touch sensor device. The first DSC process the first e-pen signal to generate a first digital signal representative of a first electrical characteristic of the first e-pen sensor electrode. Similarly, the second DSC drives a second e-pen signal having a second frequency via a second single line coupling to the second e-pen sensor electrode and simultaneously senses, via the second single line, the second e-pen signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Michael Shawn Gray, Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Publication number: 20220410705
    Abstract: A method includes receiving sensed signal data from at least one circuit based on a user in proximity to at least one electrode corresponding to the at least one circuit. Hover detection data indicating a detected hover in proximity to an interactable element of a vehicle is generated. Button feedback display data indicating the interactable element is generated based on the hover detection data. Display of the button feedback display data via a display device is facilitated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Publication number: 20220413596
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a first signal from a first button circuit in a first location indicating possible interaction with a corresponding interactable element by a user, and receiving sensed signal data from a first sensor circuit indicating changes in electrical properties of an electrode of the first sensor circuit The method includes determining whether the sensed signal data indicates detection of a first frequency identifying the first location based on receiving the first signal indicating the possible interaction with the corresponding interactable element. When the sensed signal data indicates detection of the first frequency identifying the first location, performance of a functionality associated with the corresponding interactable element is facilitated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Kevin Joseph Derichs, Timothy W. Markison
  • Publication number: 20220409092
    Abstract: A personal monitoring system includes one or more passive biometric sensors and a communication device. A passive biometric sensor is operable to sense a body condition of a body in accordance with a sense signal at a sense frequency to produce sensed data of a body condition. The passive biometric sensor is further operable to transmit an e-field signal via the body regarding the sensed data, wherein the e-field signal is in accordance with an e-field transmit/receive frequency. The communication device is operable to receive the e-field signal via the body. The communication device is further operable to recover the sensed data from the received e-field signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Michael Shawn Gray, Kevin Joseph Derichs, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Timothy W. Markison
  • Publication number: 20220410911
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a first signal from a button circuit and first sensed signal data from a sensor circuit in the first temporal period. A first occupancy area of a set of occupancy areas is identified based on the first sensed signal data. Performance of a first functionality associated is facilitated based on identifying the first occupancy area. A second signal from the button circuit and second sensed signal data is received in a second temporal period. A second occupancy area of the set of occupancy areas is identified based on the second sensed signal data. Performance of a second functionality is facilitated based on identifying the second occupancy area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Kevin Joseph Derichs, Timothy W. Markison
  • Publication number: 20220404927
    Abstract: A touch sensor device includes a first panel, a second panel, and a drive-sense circuit (DSC). The first panel that includes first electrodes arranged in a first direction and second electrodes arranged in a second direction. The second panel includes third electrodes arranged in a third direction and fourth electrodes arranged in a fourth direction. The DSC is operably coupled via a single line to a coupling of a first electrode of the first electrodes and a first electrode of the third electrodes. The DSC is configured to provide the signal, which is generated based on a reference signal, via the single line to the coupling and simultaneously to sense the signal via the single line. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the at least one electrical characteristic associated with the first electrode of the first electrodes and/or the first electrode of the third electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventor: Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Patent number: 11526230
    Abstract: A touch sensor device includes a first panel, a second panel, and a drive-sense circuit (DSC). The first panel that includes first electrodes arranged in a first direction and second electrodes arranged in a second direction. The second panel includes third electrodes arranged in a third direction and fourth electrodes arranged in a fourth direction. The DSC is operably coupled via a single line to a coupling of a first electrode of the first electrodes and a first electrode of the third electrodes. The DSC is configured to provide the signal, which is generated based on a reference signal, via the single line to the coupling and simultaneously to sense the signal via the single line. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the at least one electrical characteristic associated with the first electrode of the first electrodes and/or the first electrode of the third electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventor: Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Publication number: 20220390297
    Abstract: A low power force detection system includes variable capacitors, a drive sense module, and a processing module. A drive sense circuit of the drive sense module is operable to provide an analog and frequency domain signal to a variable capacitor. The drive sense circuit is further operable to detect a characteristic of the variable capacitor based on the analog and frequency domain signal and to generate a representative signal of the characteristic. The processing module is operable to generate a digital value based on the representative and to write the digital value to memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Michael Shawn Gray, Kevin Joseph Derichs, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Timothy W. Markison
  • Patent number: 11494006
    Abstract: An e-pen includes e-pen sensor electrodes (including a first and a second e-pen sensor electrode) and drive-sense circuits (DSCs) (including a first DSC and a second DSC. The first DSC drives a first e-pen signal having a first frequency via a first single line coupling to the first e-pen sensor electrode and simultaneously senses, via the first single line, the first e-pen signal. Based on e-pen/touch sensor device interaction, the first e-pen signal is coupled into at least one touch sensor electrode of the touch sensor device. The first DSC process the first e-pen signal to generate a first digital signal representative of a first electrical characteristic of the first e-pen sensor electrode. Similarly, the second DSC drives a second e-pen signal having a second frequency via a second single line coupling to the second e-pen sensor electrode and simultaneously senses, via the second single line, the second e-pen signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Michael Shawn Gray, Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Patent number: 11494032
    Abstract: A capacitive touch screen display operates by: receiving a plurality of sensed signals indicating variations in mutual capacitance associated with a plurality of cross points formed by a plurality of electrodes of a sensor layer adjacent to a compressible dielectric layer adjacent; generating capacitance image data associated with the plurality of cross points that includes positive capacitance variation data corresponding to positive variations of the capacitance image data from a nominal value and negative capacitance variation data corresponding to negative variations of the capacitance image data from the nominal value; and processing the negative capacitance variation data to determine a compressive touch condition of the touch screen display by a non-conductive object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Michael Shawn Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Hans Howard Eilers, Kevin Joseph Derichs, Sarah Marie Derichs, Patrick Troy Gray, Phuong Huynh
  • Publication number: 20220342513
    Abstract: A method executable by a touch screen processing module of a touch screen includes detecting, via one or more drive-sense circuits of the touch screen, one or more changes in electrical characteristics of one or more electrodes of the touch screen, determining an interface area of the touch screen based on location of the one or more electrodes, associating the interface area with a passive pen, and interpreting the one or more changes in the electrical characteristics as one or more impedance values. When the one or more impedance values is in a first range, the method further includes interpreting the one or more impedance values as a touch. When the one or more impedance values is in a second range, the method further includes interpreting the one or more impedance values as a pressure measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventor: Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Publication number: 20220342505
    Abstract: A passive pen for interaction with a touch screen, wherein the passive pen includes a housing, a conductive section, a fixed conductive z-direction mounting section coupled to the conductive section, a moveable conductive z-direction mounting section, a variable capacitor positioned between the fixed conductive z-direction mounting section and the moveable conductive z-direction mounting section, and a conductive tip coupled to the moveable conductive z-direction mounting section. When the user is in contact with the conductive section, a capacitive connection is established between the conductive section and the user's body. The variable capacitor has a compressive property. Pressure on the conductive tip creates a z-direction force operable to move the moveable conductive z-direction mounting section in the z-direction. Movement of the moveable conductive z-direction mounting section compresses the variable capacitor against the fixed conductive z-direction mounting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventor: Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Patent number: 11474634
    Abstract: A touch sensor device includes a first panel, a second panel, and a drive-sense circuit (DSC). The first panel that includes first electrodes arranged in a first direction and second electrodes arranged in a second direction. The second panel includes third electrodes arranged in a third direction and fourth electrodes arranged in a fourth direction. The DSC is operably coupled via a single line to a coupling of a first electrode of the first electrodes and a first electrode of the third electrodes. The DSC is configured to provide the signal, which is generated based on a reference signal, via the single line to the coupling and simultaneously to sense the signal via the single line. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the at least one electrical characteristic associated with the first electrode of the first electrodes and/or the first electrode of the third electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventor: Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Publication number: 20220326804
    Abstract: A touch sensor device includes a first panel, a second panel, and a drive-sense circuit (DSC). The first panel that includes first electrodes arranged in a first direction and second electrodes arranged in a second direction. The second panel includes third electrodes arranged in a third direction and fourth electrodes arranged in a fourth direction. The DSC is operably coupled via a single line to a coupling of a first electrode of the first electrodes and a first electrode of the third electrodes. The DSC is configured to provide the signal, which is generated based on a reference signal, via the single line to the coupling and simultaneously to sense the signal via the single line. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the at least one electrical characteristic associated with the first electrode of the first electrodes and/or the first electrode of the third electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventor: Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Publication number: 20220326799
    Abstract: A touchscreen display includes one or more display drivers coupled to an active matrix display and one or more touch controllers coupled to one or more touch sensor conductors. The one or more display drivers are coupled to the active matrix display via active matrix conductive components. When enabled, the one or more display drivers is configured to transmit a first signal to the active matrix display in accordance with display operation. A touch sensor conductor includes one or more segments of the active matrix conductive components. When enabled, a touch controller of the one or more touch controllers is configured to transmit a second signal via the touch sensor conductor in accordance with touchscreen operation that is performed concurrently with the display operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Michael Shawn Gray, Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Publication number: 20220291777
    Abstract: A touch sensor device (TSD) includes TSD electrodes associated with a surface of the TSD. Also, an overlay that includes marker electrode(s) is also associated with at least a portion of the surface of the TSD. The TSD also includes drive-sense circuits (DSCs) operably coupled to the plurality of TSD electrodes. A DSC is configured to provide a TSD electrode signal to a TSD electrode and simultaneously to sense a change of the TSD electrode signal based on a change of impedance of the TSD electrode caused by capacitive coupling between the TSD electrode and the marker electrode(s) of the overlay. Processing module(s) is configured to process a digital signal generated by the DSC to determine characteristic(s) of the overlay that is associated with the at least a portion of the surface of the TSD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Kevin Joseph Derichs, Shayne X. Short, Timothy W. Markison
  • Patent number: 11429218
    Abstract: A touchscreen display includes one or more display drivers coupled to an active matrix display and one or more touch controllers coupled to one or more touch sensor conductors. The one or more display drivers are coupled to the active matrix display via active matrix conductive components. When enabled, the one or more display drivers is configured to transmit a first signal to the active matrix display in accordance with display operation. A touch sensor conductor includes one or more segments of the active matrix conductive components. When enabled, a touch controller of the one or more touch controllers is configured to transmit a second signal via the touch sensor conductor in accordance with touchscreen operation that is performed concurrently with the display operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Michael Shawn Gray, Kevin Joseph Derichs