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: 20220261095
    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: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: 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: 20220261372
    Abstract: A method for a low voltage drive circuit (LVDC) begins by receiving data from one or more other low voltage drive circuits (LVDCs) using a bus with varying loading at one or more frequencies and continues by sampling one or more data values of the data to produce a sampled digital data value, converting the sampled digital data value to a binary string and writing the binary string to a buffer. The method continues by writing one or more additional binary strings to the buffer to form a digital word, outputting the digital word to a digital converter circuit and formatting the digital word to create a formatted digital word. The method continues by writing the formatted digital word to a second buffer, writing additional formatted digital words to the second buffer to form a data packet and finally, outputting the data packet to a host device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Kevin Joseph Derichs, Timothy W. Markison
  • Publication number: 20220253171
    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: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventor: Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Patent number: 11397492
    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; and processing the positive capacitive data and the negative capacitance data to determine a shape of an object on the touch screen display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Kevin Joseph Derichs, Hans Howard Eilers, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Sarah Marie Derichs, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Phuong Huynh
  • Publication number: 20220179504
    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: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: 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: 20220151332
    Abstract: A foot force detection system includes first and second shoe force detection units. The first shoe force detection unit includes pressure sensors, a processing module, and a communication unit. The pressure sensors are operably coupled to produce first force data. The processing module is operably coupled to produce a first digital representation of the first force data. The second shoe force detection unit includes its own pressure sensors, a processing module, and a communication unit. The first and second shoe force detection units communicate with each other via the communication units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Michael Shawn Gray, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Timothy W. Markison, Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Publication number: 20220151330
    Abstract: A method includes determining, by a processing module of a foot force detection system, an athletic mode. The method further includes, when the athletic mode is active, determining, by the processing module, an athletic burst mode. The method further includes determining, by the processing module, a sampling rate for the foot force detection system based on the athletic burst mode for sampling foot force data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Michael Shawn Gray, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Timothy W. Markison, Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Publication number: 20220155897
    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: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Michael Shawn Gray, Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Publication number: 20220152455
    Abstract: An athlete monitoring system includes body position beacons, a localized radar system, a foot force detection system, and a processing module. The beacons are positioned at various locations on the body of the athlete. The localized radar system creates a localized radar coordinate system in which the athlete is positioned and, at a first sampling rate, produces frames of body position data based on determining location of the beacons within the localized radar coordinate system. The foot force detection system generates frames of left foot force data and frames of right foot force data. The processing module correlates the frames of body position data, the frames of left foot force data, and the frames of right foot force data to produce integrated ground-body interaction data and athletic movement data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Michael Shawn Gray, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Timothy W. Markison, Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Publication number: 20220152454
    Abstract: A force detection system includes first and second sets of pressure sensors, memory, and a processing module. The first set of pressure sensors are in an insole of a shoe and the second set of pressure sensors are in an outsole of a shoe. The processing module receives first data regarding the first set of pressure sensors and generates a first digital representation of the first data. The processing module also receives second data regarding the second set of pressure sensors and generates a second digital representation of the second data. The processing module also writes the first and second digital representations to the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Michael Shawn Gray, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Timothy W. Markison, Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Publication number: 20220152456
    Abstract: A foot force detection system includes variable capacitors, drive sense circuits, a processing module, and a power unit. A drive sense circuit supplies a reference signal to the variable capacitor. It then generates a sensed signal regarding a characteristic of the variable capacitor based on the reference signal. It then converts the sensed signal into a digital signal. The processing module generates a digital impedance value for the variable capacitor based on the digital signal and writes the digital impedance value in memory. The power unit include a battery and a power harvesting circuit, where the battery and/or the power harvesting circuit provide power for the foot force detection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Michael Shawn Gray, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Timothy W. Markison, Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Publication number: 20220147219
    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; and processing the positive capacitive data and the negative capacitance data to determine a shape of an object on the touch screen display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Kevin Joseph Derichs, Hans Howard Eilers, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Sarah Marie Derichs, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Phuong Huynh
  • Patent number: 11327917
    Abstract: A low voltage drive circuit includes a transmit digital to analog circuit (DAC), a receive analog DAC and a drive sense circuit configured to receive transmit digital data. The transmit DAC is configured to convert transmit digital data into an analog outbound data signal and the receive analog DAC is configured to convert an analog outbound data signal into an analog transmit signal. The drive sense circuit is configured to drive the analog transmit signal on to a bus coupled to the low voltage drive circuit as a signal that varies loading on the bus at a first frequency to represent the analog outbound data signal. The drive sense circuit is further configured to receive an analog receive signal from the bus at a second frequency, convert the analog receive signal into an analog inbound data signal, convert the analog inbound data signal into received digital data, and output the received digital data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Kevin Joseph Derichs, Timothy W. Markison
  • Publication number: 20220137782
    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: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    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
  • Publication number: 20220113836
    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: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventor: Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Publication number: 20220113815
    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: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: 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: 11269436
    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: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Michael Shawn Gray, Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Patent number: 11269455
    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; identifying noise in the capacitance image data based on the positive capacitance variation data and the negative capacitance variation data; determining, based on the noise, an upper threshold and a lower threshold; generating compensated capacitance image data, based on the upper threshold and the lower threshold, to compensate for the noise in the capacitance image data; and processing the compensated capacitance image data to determine a proximal conditio
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Kevin Joseph Derichs, Hans Howard Eilers, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Sarah Marie Derichs, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Michael Shawn Gray
  • Patent number: 11269456
    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; identifying a presence of water on the touch screen display based on the positive capacitance variation data, and the negative capacitance variation data; generating compensated capacitance image data to compensate for effects of the water on the touch screen display in the capacitance image data; and processing the compensated capacitance image data to determine a proximal condition of the touch screen display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Hans Howard Eilers, Kevin Joseph Derichs, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Sarah Marie Derichs, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Michael Shawn Gray
  • Publication number: 20220050552
    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: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 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, Ph.D., Timothy W. Markison