Patents by Inventor Nickolas FOTOPOULOS
Nickolas FOTOPOULOS 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: 11294514Abstract: Baseline update for input object detection includes determining raw measurements from resulting signals acquired for a sensing region, obtaining a masked region of the sensing region based on the raw measurements, and generating a baseline update value using a subset of the raw measurements corresponding to an unmasked region. A baseline value of the masked region is updated using the baseline update value to obtain an updated baseline. A location of an input object is detected using the updated baseline.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Katherine Kuan, Nickolas Fotopoulos
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Publication number: 20200401252Abstract: Baseline update for input object detection includes determining raw measurements from resulting signals acquired for a sensing region, obtaining a masked region of the sensing region based on the raw measurements, and generating a baseline update value using a subset of the raw measurements corresponding to an unmasked region. A baseline value of the masked region is updated using the baseline update value to obtain an updated baseline. A location of an input object is detected using the updated baseline.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2020Publication date: December 24, 2020Applicant: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Katherine Kuan, Nickolas Fotopoulos
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Patent number: 10795518Abstract: Baseline update for input object detection includes determining raw measurements from resulting signals acquired for a sensing region, obtaining a masked region of the sensing region based on the raw measurements, and generating a baseline update value using a subset of the raw measurements corresponding to an unmasked region. A baseline value of the masked region is updated using the baseline update value to obtain an updated baseline. A location of an input object is detected using the updated baseline.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2018Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Katherine Kuan, Nickolas Fotopoulos
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Patent number: 10705653Abstract: An input device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes and a processing system. The plurality of sensor electrodes is configured for capacitive sensing in a sensing region of the input device. The processing system is configured to receive first sensor information about the sensing region from the plurality of sensor electrodes, and to receive second sensor information about the sensing region from an auxiliary sensing device coupled to the sensing region. The processing system is further configured to dynamically calibrate the plurality of sensor electrodes based at least in part on the first sensor information and the second sensor information. In some aspects, the auxiliary sensing device may comprise one or more optical sensors.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2017Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventor: Nickolas Fotopoulos
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Publication number: 20200133412Abstract: Baseline update for input object detection includes determining raw measurements from resulting signals acquired for a sensing region, obtaining a masked region of the sensing region based on the raw measurements, and generating a baseline update value using a subset of the raw measurements corresponding to an unmasked region. A baseline value of the masked region is updated using the baseline update value to obtain an updated baseline. A location of an input object is detected using the updated baseline.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2018Publication date: April 30, 2020Applicant: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Katherine Kuan, Nickolas Fotopoulos
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Patent number: 10088954Abstract: A method of capacitive sensing that may include obtaining, from various sensor electrodes, a capacitive image of a sensing region. The capacitive image may describe changes in variable capacitance among the sensor electrodes. The method may further include identifying an object signal value within the capacitive image. The object signal value may be identified from an object response that is produced by an input object that is proximate to the sensor electrodes. The method may further include determining, using the object signal value of the object response, an artifact threshold that identifies an artifact response within the capacitive image. The method may further include excluding, using the artifact threshold, artifact information regarding the artifact response from a report to a computing system.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventor: Nickolas Fotopoulos
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Publication number: 20180232101Abstract: An input device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes and a processing system. The plurality of sensor electrodes is configured for capacitive sensing in a sensing region of the input device. The processing system is configured to receive first sensor information about the sensing region from the plurality of sensor electrodes, and to receive second sensor information about the sensing region from an auxiliary sensing device coupled to the sensing region. The processing system is further configured to dynamically calibrate the plurality of sensor electrodes based at least in part on the first sensor information and the second sensor information. In some aspects, the auxiliary sensing device may comprise one or more optical sensors.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2017Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventor: Nickolas Fotopoulos
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Patent number: 9952709Abstract: A processing system for hybrid rejection includes a sensor module coupled to sensor electrodes, and configured to acquire sensing data using the sensor electrodes. The system further includes a determination module configured to obtain a capacitive image of a sensing region based on the sensing data, determine a input object set in the sensing region using the capacitive image, obtain a profile of the sensing region based on the sensing data, and determine a contiguous region width of a contiguous region in the profile. The contiguous region corresponds to a input object in the input object set. The determination module is further configured to filter the input object from the input object set based on the contiguous region width satisfying a size threshold to obtain a filtered input object set, and process the filtered input object set.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2015Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Yi Ling, Sanjay Mani, Nickolas Fotopoulos
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Publication number: 20180046321Abstract: A method of capacitive sensing that may include obtaining, from various sensor electrodes, a capacitive image of a sensing region. The capacitive image may describe changes in variable capacitance among the sensor electrodes. The method may further include identifying an object signal value within the capacitive image. The object signal value may be identified from an object response that is produced by an input object that is proximate to the sensor electrodes. The method may further include determining, using the object signal value of the object response, an artifact threshold that identifies an artifact response within the capacitive image. The method may further include excluding, using the artifact threshold, artifact information regarding the artifact response from a report to a computing system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2016Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventor: Nickolas Fotopoulos
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Patent number: 9746975Abstract: Hybrid detection includes determining a first profiles based on multiple capacitive measurements, segmenting the first profiles into one dimensional intervals to obtain multiple segments, determining multiple regions of interest using the segments, and determining a set of contiguous regions based on multiple mutual capacitive measurements. Hybrid detection further includes selecting, from the set of contiguous regions, a set of valid contiguous regions using the regions of interest, and reporting positional information for each contiguous region in the set of valid contiguous regions.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Prakriti Chintalapoodi, Nickolas Fotopoulos, Drew Keppel
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Publication number: 20170168632Abstract: A processing system for hybrid rejection includes a sensor module coupled to sensor electrodes, and configured to acquire sensing data using the sensor electrodes. The system further includes a determination module configured to obtain a capacitive image of a sensing region based on the sensing data, determine a input object set in the sensing region using the capacitive image, obtain a profile of the sensing region based on the sensing data, and determine a contiguous region width of a contiguous region in the profile. The contiguous region corresponds to a input object in the input object set. The determination module is further configured to filter the input object from the input object set based on the contiguous region width satisfying a size threshold to obtain a filtered input object set, and process the filtered input object set.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2015Publication date: June 15, 2017Inventors: Yi Ling, Sanjay Mani, Nickolas Fotopoulos
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Patent number: 9569029Abstract: A method for face detection management includes determining, for a first time, a presence of an input object in a sensing region of a capacitance input device. The presence is determined for the first time using a first baseline, and the input object satisfies a size threshold. The method further includes suppressing a reporting of capacitance input device during a predefined time period based on the presence of the input object, determining a disabled state of a display of a host, wherein the disabled state is in response to determining the presence of the input object for the first time, and determining, in response to an elapse of the predefined time period and for a second time, an absence of the input object in the sensing region. The absence of the input object is determined for the second time using a second baseline to account for the disabled state of the display. The method further includes performing an action based on determining the absence of the input object.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2015Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Ying Wang, Tyler Moore, Vijay Venkatesh Mahalingam, Derek Solven, Earl Peng, Nickolas Fotopoulos
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Patent number: 9507472Abstract: In a method of managing baselines of a capacitive sensing input device, a transcapacitive baseline, a first absolute capacitive baseline, and a second absolute capacitive baseline are acquired with a plurality of sensor electrodes of the capacitive sensing input device. A transcapacitive image, a first absolute capacitive profile, and a second absolute capacitive profile are acquired with the plurality of sensor electrodes. The transcapacitive baseline, the first absolute capacitive baseline, and the second absolute capacitive baseline are managed based on a value of at least one of the first absolute capacitive profile and the second absolute capacitive profile.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2014Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Nickolas Fotopoulos, Joseph Kurth Reynolds, Tom Vandermeijden
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Publication number: 20160282980Abstract: Hybrid detection includes determining a first profiles based on multiple capacitive measurements, segmenting the first profiles into one dimensional intervals to obtain multiple segments, determining multiple regions of interest using the segments, and determining a set of contiguous regions based on multiple mutual capacitive measurements. Hybrid detection further includes selecting, from the set of contiguous regions, a set of valid contiguous regions using the regions of interest, and reporting positional information for each contiguous region in the set of valid contiguous regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2015Publication date: September 29, 2016Inventors: Prakriti Chintalapoodi, Nickolas Fotopoulos, Drew Keppel
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Publication number: 20160283017Abstract: A processing system for hybrid detection includes a sensor module and a determination module. The sensor module is coupled to sensor electrodes, and is configured to drive a first subset of sensor electrodes with transmitter signals, and receive, based on the transmitter signals, first resulting signals from a second subset of the sensor electrodes. The sensor module is further configured to receive second resulting signals from the second subset while the second subset are driven with modulated signals. The determination module is configured to determine a set of contiguous regions based on the first resulting signals, determine a number of unmatched contiguous regions in the set of contiguous regions based on measurements processed from the second resulting signals, and change an operating mode when the number of unmatched contiguous regions satisfies a threshold number.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2015Publication date: September 29, 2016Inventor: Nickolas Fotopoulos
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Publication number: 20160239139Abstract: A method for face detection management includes determining, for a first time, a presence of an input object in a sensing region of a capacitance input device. The presence is determined for the first time using a first baseline, and the input object satisfies a size threshold. The method further includes suppressing a reporting of capacitance input device during a predefined time period based on the presence of the input object, determining a disabled state of a display of a host, wherein the disabled state is in response to determining the presence of the input object for the first time, and determining, in response to an elapse of the predefined time period and for a second time, an absence of the input object in the sensing region. The absence of the input object is determined for the second time using a second baseline to account for the disabled state of the display. The method further includes performing an action based on determining the absence of the input object.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2015Publication date: August 18, 2016Inventors: Ying Wang, Tyler Moore, Vijay Venkatesh Mahalingam, Derek Solven, Earl Peng, Nickolas Fotopoulos
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Publication number: 20150015539Abstract: In a method of managing baselines of a capacitive sensing input device, a transcapacitive baseline, a first absolute capacitive baseline, and a second absolute capacitive baseline are acquired with a plurality of sensor electrodes of the capacitive sensing input device. A transcapacitive image, a first absolute capacitive profile, and a second absolute capacitive profile are acquired with the plurality of sensor electrodes. The transcapacitive baseline, the first absolute capacitive baseline, and the second absolute capacitive baseline are managed based on a value of at least one of the first absolute capacitive profile and the second absolute capacitive profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventors: Nickolas FOTOPOULOS, Joseph Kurth REYNOLDS, Tom VANDERMEIJDEN