Patents by Inventor Patrick Troy Gray
Patrick Troy Gray 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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Publication number: 20240103652Abstract: A touch screen display includes a plurality of electrodes configured to facilitate touch sense functionality based on electrode signals having a drive signal component and a receive signal component, a plurality of drive-sense circuits coupled to at least some of the plurality of electrodes to generate a plurality of sensed signals, and a processing module. The processing module is configured to cause the touch screen display to receive the plurality of sensed signals. A stream of capacitance image data associated with the plurality of cross points is generated based on the plurality of sensed signals. The stream of capacitance image data is processed to detect a touchless gesture.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.Inventors: Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Timothy W. Markison
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Publication number: 20240103672Abstract: A capacitive touch screen display operates by: providing a display configured to render frames of data into visible images; providing a plurality of electrodes integrated into the display to facilitate touch sense functionality based on electrode signals having a drive signal component and a receive signal component; generating, via a plurality of drive-sense circuits coupled to at least some of the plurality of electrodes, a plurality of sensed signals; receiving the plurality of sensed signals; generating capacitance image data associated with the plurality of cross points that includes capacitance variation data corresponding to variations of the capacitance image data from a nominal value; and processing the capacitance image data to determine a touchless indication proximal to the touch screen display based on a touchless indication threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.Inventors: Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Timothy W. Markison
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Publication number: 20240103664Abstract: A current reference operative drive-sense circuit (DSC) includes a current source operably coupled to a load and a voltage-mode analog to digital converter (ADC). When enabled, the current source is configured to drive a sinusoidal current reference signal to the load thereby generating a load voltage that is based on the sinusoidal current reference signal and an impedance of the load. The voltage-mode ADC is operably coupled the load and to the current source. When enabled, the voltage-mode ADC configured to perform digital sampling of the load voltage and to generate a digital signal that is representative of the load voltage. In some implementations, one or more processing modules is configured to execute operational instructions to process the digital signal that is representative of the load voltage in accordance with determining impedance of the load and/or change of impedance of the load.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Phuong Huynh
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Patent number: 11940504Abstract: A Hall effect sensor system includes a Hall effect sensor and a drive-sense circuit (DSC). The Hall effect sensor includes an input port to receive a DC (direct current) current signal and generates a Hall voltage based on exposure to a magnetic field. The DSC generates the DC current signal based on a reference signal and drives it via a single line that operably couples the DSC to the Hall effect sensor and simultaneously to sense the DC current signal via the single line. The DSC detects an effect on the DC current signal corresponding to the Hall voltage that is generated across the Hall effect sensor based on exposure of the Hall effect sensor to the magnetic field and generates a digital signal representative of the Hall voltage.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2021Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Publication number: 20240094854Abstract: 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 a region 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 and other digital signals generated by other DSCs determine the region of the surface of the TSD that is associated with the overlay and to adapt sensitivity of the TSD within that region.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicant: 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
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Patent number: 11933607Abstract: A capacitive imaging glove includes electrodes implemented throughout the capacitive imaging glove and drive-sense circuits (DSCs) such that a DSC receives a reference signal generates a signal based thereon. The DSC provides the signal to a first electrode via a single line and simultaneously senses it. Note the signal is coupled from the first electrode to the second electrode via a gap therebetween. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the electrical characteristic of the first electrode. Processing module(s), when enabled, is/are configured to execute operational instructions (e.g., stored in and/or retrieved from memory) to generate the reference signal, process the digital signal to determine the electrical characteristic of the first electrode, and process the electrical characteristic of the first electrode to determine a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode, and generate capacitive image data representative of a shape of the capacitive imaging glove.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2023Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Shayne X Short, Timothy W. Markison
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Patent number: 11935397Abstract: A test system includes a test container array including a plurality of test containers and a plurality of electrodes integrated into the test container array. The test system further includes a plurality of drive-sense circuits coupled to the plurality of electrodes, where, when enabled, the plurality of drive-sense circuits detect changes in electrical characteristics of the plurality of electrodes. The test system further includes a processing module operably coupled to receive, from the drive-sense circuits, changes in the electrical characteristics of the plurality of electrodes, and interpret the changes in the electrical characteristics of the plurality of electrodes as impedance values representative of electrical characteristics of biological material present in the test container. The test system further includes a communication module operably coupled to communicate the electrical characteristics of the biological material.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2019Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Gerald Dale Morrison, Patrick Troy Gray, Phuong Huynh, Timothy W. Markison, Patricia A. Markison
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Patent number: 11934608Abstract: A touch screen display is operable to operate in a first mode during a first temporal period based on activating exactly one set of drive-sense circuits of a plurality of sets of drive-sense circuits to generate a corresponding one set of sensed signals during the first temporal period, and processing the corresponding one set of sensed signals to generate first proximal interaction data for the first temporal period. The touch screen display is operable to operate in a second mode during a second temporal period after the first temporal period based on activating more than one set of drive-sense circuits of the plurality of sets of drive-sense circuits to generate a corresponding more than one set of sensed signals during the second temporal period, and processing the set of sensed signals to generate second proximal interaction data for the second temporal period.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2023Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Publication number: 20240085932Abstract: A drive-sense circuit module includes at least one regulated source circuit coupled to a load, and to a loop correction circuit. The regulated source circuit generates a drive signal, which has a regulated characteristic and a controlled characteristic. At least one reference circuit applies a reference signal to the loop correction circuit that establishes a reference value of the controlled characteristic. The loop correction circuit senses an effect of one or more load characteristics on a sensed value of the controlled characteristic of the drive signal and generates a comparison signal based on the sensed value and the reference value of the controlled characteristic. A regulation signal is generated based on the comparison signal and used to regulate the regulated characteristic of the drive signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Michael Shawn Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Timothy W. Markison
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Patent number: 11922800Abstract: A test system includes a testing base including a plurality of testing base containers, and a plurality of electrodes integrated into the plurality of testing base containers. The test system further includes a plurality of drive-sense circuits coupled to the plurality of electrodes, where, when enabled, the plurality of drive-sense circuits detect changes in electrical characteristics of the plurality of electrodes. The test system further includes a processing module operably coupled to receive, from the drive-sense circuits, changes in the electrical characteristics of the plurality of electrodes, and interpret the changes in the electrical characteristics of the plurality of electrodes as impedance values representative of electrical characteristics of biological material present in the test container. The test system further includes a communication module operably coupled to communicate the electrical characteristics of the biological material.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Gerald Dale Morrison, Patrick Troy Gray, Phuong Huynh, Timothy W. Markison, Patricia M. Healy
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Patent number: 11916564Abstract: A confined data communication system includes a reference generation circuit operable to produce one or more analog reference signals, an analog to digital converter circuit operable to process an analog signal to produce a digital representative signal, a digital filtering circuit operable to filter the digital representative signal to produce an affect value, a data processing module operable to interpret the affect value to produce processed output data, and a processing module operable to set frequency and waveform for each of the one or more analog reference signals, set digital filtering parameters for the digital filtering circuit, set a sampling rate for the analog to digital converter circuit, and set data interpretation parameters for the data processing module.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2023Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.Inventors: Grant Howard McGibney, Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand
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Patent number: 11914812Abstract: A current reference operative drive-sense circuit (DSC) includes a current source operably coupled to a load and a voltage-mode analog to digital converter (ADC). When enabled, the current source configured to drive a sinusoidal current reference signal to the load thereby generating a load voltage that is based on the sinusoidal current reference signal and an impedance of the load. The voltage-mode ADC is operably coupled the load and to the current source. When enabled, the voltage-mode ADC configured to perform digital sampling of the load voltage and to generate a digital signal that is representative of the load voltage. In some implementations, one or more processing modules configured to execute operational instructions to process the digital signal that is representative of the load voltage in accordance with determining impedance of the load and/or change of impedance of the load.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Phuong Huynh
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Publication number: 20240061540Abstract: A fingerprint imaging device incorporating a first plurality of electrodes, a second plurality of electrodes and drive-sense circuitry. The first plurality of electrodes and the second plurality of electrodes are separated by a dielectric material and arranged in a crossing pattern in a sensing area. In an embodiment, each of the drive-sense circuits is configured to drive a sensor signal on an electrode of the first plurality or second plurality of electrodes, the sensor signal including a drive signal component and a receive signal component. Each of the drive-sense circuits is further configured to generate, based on the receive signal component, a sensed signal representative of at least a first impedance of the electrode. For at least some of the drive-sense circuits, the sensed signal further represents a second impedance of the electrode in accordance with a drive signal component from a differing electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Richard Stuart Seger, JR.
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Patent number: 11907484Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 30, 2021Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 11907450Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 1, 2023Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Michael Shawn Gray, Kevin Joseph Derichs
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Patent number: 11906564Abstract: A method includes providing, by a signal source circuit of a sensing circuit, a signal to a sensor via a conductor. When the sensor is exposed to a condition and is receiving the signal, an electrical characteristic of the sensor affects the signal. The signal includes at least one of: a direct current (DC) component and an oscillating component. When the sensing circuit is in a noisy environment, transient noise couples with the signal to produce a noisy signal. The method further includes comparing, by a transient circuit of the sensing circuit, the noisy signal with a representation of the noisy signal. When the noisy signal compares unfavorably with the representation of the noisy signal, supplying, by the transient circuit, a compensation signal to the conductor. A level of the compensation signal corresponds to a level at which the noisy signal compares unfavorably with the representation of the noisy signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Gerald Dale Morrison, Patrick Troy Gray, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Patent number: 11907471Abstract: A drive-sense circuit coupled to a variable current load. The drive-sense circuit includes an impedance reference circuit operable to generate an impedance reference signal. The drive-sense circuit further includes a regulated voltage source circuit operable to generate a regulated voltage signal based on an analog regulation signal, where the regulated voltage signal is provided on a line to the variable current load to keep a load impedance on the line substantially matching the impedance reference signal, and where a current of the variable current load affects the regulated voltage signal. The drive-sense circuit further includes a voltage loop correction circuit operable to generate a comparison signal based on the impedance reference signal and the load impedance, where the comparison signal represents the current, and where the analog regulation signal is representative of the comparison signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2021Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Patent number: 11906587Abstract: A battery characterization system includes a drive-sense circuit (DSC), memory that stores operational instructions, and processing module(s) operably coupled to the DSC and the memory. Based on a reference signal, the DSC generates a charge signal, which includes an AC (alternating current) component, and provides the charge signal to a terminal of a battery via a single line and simultaneously to senses the charge signal via the single line to detect an electrical characteristic of the battery based on a response of the battery. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the electrical characteristic of the battery. The processing module(s), based on the operational instructions, generate the reference signal to include a frequency sweep of the AC component of the charge signal (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Michael Frederick David Olley, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Patent number: 11899867Abstract: A capacitive touch screen display operates by: providing a display configured to render frames of data into visible images; providing a plurality of electrodes integrated into the display to facilitate touch sense functionality based on electrode signals having a drive signal component and a receive signal component; generating, via a plurality of drive-sense circuits coupled to at least some of the plurality of electrodes, a plurality of sensed signals; receiving the plurality of sensed signals; generating a stream of capacitance image data associated with the plurality of cross points that includes capacitance variation data corresponding to variations of the capacitance image data from a nominal value within a temporal period; and processing the capacitance image data to determine a touchless gesture occurring within the temporal period.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2022Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.Inventors: Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Timothy W. Markison
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Patent number: 11899499Abstract: A device having a flexible touch screen display configured to display images in at least a first touch area and a second touch area. The first touch area is configured to rotate with respect to the second touch area along a folding axis. A first plurality of touch sensitive column and row electrodes are integrated into the first touch area and a second plurality of column and row electrodes are integrated into the second touch area of the flexible display. The device further includes a plurality of drive-sense circuits that drive sensor signals on the electrodes. A processing module senses, based on the sensor signals, an electrical characteristic of at least one row electrode and at least one column electrode of the first touch area or the second touch area and determines, based on the electrical characteristic, a proximal touch to at least one of the first touch area or the second touch area.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2023Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Michael Shawn Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Patrick Troy Gray