Patents by Inventor Paul Wickboldt

Paul Wickboldt 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).

  • Patent number: 9785299
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to electronic device displays which are constructed to withstand damage from an impact resistance test wherein a steel ball of 2 g having a diameter of 8 mm is dropped from a designated height greater than 1 ft, more preferably greater than 2 ft, even more preferably greater than 3 ft, still even more preferably greater than 4 ft, yet even more preferably greater than 5 ft and even more preferably greater than 6 ft. The displays are configured using, for example, ultrathin glass adhered to a base glass, wherein the adhesive layer is optimized for thinness and stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul Wickboldt, Eric Jones
  • Publication number: 20170286743
    Abstract: An optical biometric sensor includes an array of light sensing elements, an array of diverging optical elements, and an array of apertures disposed between the array of light sensing elements and the array of diverging optical elements. Light incident on the diverging optical elements within a limited acceptance angle passes through the apertures and towards the light sensing elements and light incident on the diverging optical elements outside of the limited acceptance angle diverges away from the apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Young Seen Lee, Paul Wickboldt, Robert John Gove, Bob Lee Mackey
  • Publication number: 20170220840
    Abstract: An optical sensor system having a compound aperture and collimator structure for collimating light includes: an input surface providing a sensing region for a biometric object; an aperture layer, disposed beneath the input surface; a plurality of light-blocking structures, disposed beneath the aperture layer, forming a plurality of collimators; and an image sensor, disposed beneath the plurality of light-blocking structures, wherein the image sensor is configured to detect light from the sensing region that has passed through the aperture layer and the plurality of collimators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Paul Wickboldt, Eric Jones
  • Publication number: 20170220837
    Abstract: It will be understood by those skilled in the art that there is disclosed in the present application a biometric sensor that may comprise a plurality of a first type of signal traces formed on a first surface of a first layer of a multi-layer laminate package; at least one trace of a second type, formed on a second surface of the first layer or on a first surface of a second layer of the multi-layer laminate package; and connection vias in at least the first layer electrically connecting the signal traces of the first type or the signal traces of the second type to respective circuitry of the respective first or second type contained in an integrated circuit physically and electrically connected to one of the first layer, the second layer or a third layer of the multi-layer laminate package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Brett Dunlap, Paul Wickboldt
  • Publication number: 20170220182
    Abstract: An input device includes a first sensor array having a first plurality of sensor electrodes disposed in a sensing area, wherein the first sensor array has a first pixel density, and a second sensor array having a second plurality of sensor electrodes disposed in the sensing area, wherein the second sensor array has a second pixel density different from the first pixel density. The input device also includes a processing system coupled to the second plurality of sensor electrodes and configured to electrically float a sensor electrode in the second plurality of sensor electrodes during a sensing period of the first sensor array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Adam L. Schwartz, Paul Wickboldt, Guozhong Shen, Patrick Smith, Marc Ostrowski
  • Publication number: 20170220844
    Abstract: An optical sensor system includes: an input surface providing a sensing region for a biometric object; a plurality of display elements, disposed beneath the input surface, configured to emit light to provide a display; an aperture layer, disposed beneath the plurality of display elements; a collimator layer, disposed beneath the aperture layer; and a plurality of light sensing elements, disposed beneath the collimator layer, wherein the plurality of light sensing elements are configured to detect light from the sensing region that has passed through the aperture layer and the collimator layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Eric Jones, Paul Wickboldt, Patrick Smith, Young Seen Lee, Alvin Jee, Richard Andrew Klenkler, Bob Lee Mackey
  • Publication number: 20170161543
    Abstract: Systems and methods for optical imaging are disclosed. An optical sensor for imaging a biometric input object on a sensing region includes a transparent layer having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; a first set of apertures disposed above the first side of the transparent layer; a reflective layer disposed below the second side of transparent layer configured to receive light transmitted through the first set of apertures and to reflect the received light; and a plurality of detector elements positioned to detect the reflected light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Patrick Smith, Arash Akhavan Fomani, Marek Mienko, Paul Wickboldt
  • Publication number: 20170161544
    Abstract: Systems and methods for optical imaging are disclosed. An optical sensor for imaging a biometric input object on a sensing region includes a transparent layer having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; a set of apertures disposed above the first side of the transparent layer; a first set of reflective surfaces disposed below the second side of the transparent layer configured to receive light transmitted through the first set of apertures and to reflect the received light; a second set of reflective surfaces disposed above the first side of the transparent layer configured to receive the light reflected from the first set of reflective surfaces and to further reflect the light; and a plurality of detector elements positioned to receive the further reflected light from the second set of reflective surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Arash Akhavan Fomani, Patrick Smith, Marek Mienko, Paul Wickboldt
  • Patent number: 9651513
    Abstract: It will be understood by those skilled in the art that there is disclosed in the present application a biometric sensor that may comprise a plurality of a first type of signal traces formed on a first surface of a first layer of a multi-layer laminate package; at least one trace of a second type, formed on a second surface of the first layer or on a first surface of a second layer of the multi-layer laminate package; and connection vias in at least the first layer electrically connecting the signal traces of the first type or the signal traces of the second type to respective circuitry of the respective first or second type contained in an integrated circuit physically and electrically connected to one of the first layer, the second layer or a third layer of the multi-layer laminate package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Brett Dunlap, Paul Wickboldt
  • Publication number: 20170098115
    Abstract: A biometric imager may comprise a plurality of sensor element traces formed in or on a sensor substrate which may comprise at least a portion of a display screen defining a biometric sensing area and forming in-active pixel locations; an auxiliary active circuit formed in or on the sensor substrate on the periphery of the biometric sensing area and in direct or indirect electrical contact with the sensor element traces; and providing a signal processing interface to a remotely located controller integrated circuit. The sensor element traces may form a portion of one dimensional linear sensor array or pixel locations in a two dimensional grid array capacitive gap biometric imaging sensor. The auxiliary circuit may provide pixel location selection or pixel signal amplification. The auxiliary circuit may be mounted on a surface of the display screen. The auxiliary circuit further comprising a separate pixel location selection controller circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Paul WICKBOLDT, Gregory Lewis DEAN, Erik Jonathon THOMPSON, Jaswinder JANDU, Patrick SMITH, Steven MOLESA
  • Publication number: 20170091506
    Abstract: An electronic device including an optical sensor for optically sensing an image of an input object such as a user's fingerprint is provided. The electronic device includes a display layer, a detector, a pinhole layer, a cover layer and an illuminator. The display layer is configured to generate light within a visible light spectrum. The detector is configured to be sensitive to a wavelength of light. The pinhole layer is located above both the display layer and the detector. The cover layer is located above the pinhole layer, and the illuminator is configured to illuminate a sensing region of the cover layer with the wavelength of light. Further, the pinhole layer has an array of pinhole apertures formed in a material substantially transparent to the light generated by the display layer and substantially opaque to the wavelength of light from the illuminator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Supriyo Sinha, Pascale El Kallassi, Paul Wickboldt, Bob Mackey
  • Publication number: 20170083745
    Abstract: Disclosed are optical sensors, optical fingerprint sensor packages, and methods for forming same. An optical sensor comprises: a substrate; an image sensor disposed over the substrate; a light source disposed over the substrate; a light guide disposed over the image sensor; and, an encapsulant disposed over the light source, wherein the encapsulant is coupled to the light guide and comprises a surface positioned to reflect light emitted from the light source and direct the reflected light into the light guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Jason Goodelle, Paul Wickboldt, Young Seen Lee, Chien Lam, Bob Lee Mackey
  • Patent number: 9542589
    Abstract: A biometric imager may comprise a plurality of sensor element traces formed in or on a sensor substrate which may comprise at least a portion of a display screen defining a biometric sensing area and forming in-active pixel locations; an auxiliary active circuit formed in or on the sensor substrate on the periphery of the biometric sensing area and in direct or indirect electrical contact with the sensor element traces; and providing a signal processing interface to a remotely located controller integrated circuit. The sensor element traces may form a portion of one dimensional linear sensor array or pixel locations in a two dimensional grid array capacitive gap biometric imaging sensor. The auxiliary circuit may provide pixel location selection or pixel signal amplification. The auxiliary circuit may be mounted on a surface of the display screen. The auxiliary circuit further comprising a separate pixel location selection controller circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Khamvong Thammasouk, Young Seen Lee, Paul Wickboldt
  • Publication number: 20160254312
    Abstract: Methods and systems for integrating image sensor structures with collimator filters, including manufacturing methods and associated structures for forming collimator filters at the wafer level for integration with image sensor semiconductor wafers. Methods of making an optical biometric sensor include forming a collimator filter layer on an image sensor wafer, wherein a plurality of light collimating apertures in the collimator filter layer are aligned with a plurality of light sensing elements in the image sensor wafer, and after forming the collimator filter layer on the image sensor wafer, singulating the image sensor wafer into a plurality of individual optical sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Young Seen Lee, Paul Wickboldt, Patrick Smith, Robert John Gove, Jason Goodelle
  • Publication number: 20160224816
    Abstract: Systems and methods for optical imaging are disclosed. The optical fingerprint sensor includes an image sensor array; a collimator filter layer disposed above the image sensor array, the collimator filter layer having an array of apertures; and an illumination layer disposed above the collimator filter layer. The collimator filter layer filters reflected light such that only certain of the reflected light beams reach optical sensing elements in the image sensor array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Patrick Smith, Paul Wickboldt, Patrick A. Worfolk, Steve Molesa, Young Lee, Richard Klenkler
  • Patent number: 9400911
    Abstract: A fingerprint sensor which includes a conductive layer which is incorporatable within an electronic display is disclosed. The fingerprint sensor also includes a controller coupled to the conductive layer to capture a fingerprint image and can further be adapted to control the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard Alexander Erhart, Richard Brian Nelson, Paul Wickboldt
  • Publication number: 20160179263
    Abstract: A fingerprint sensor which includes a conductive layer which is incorporatable within an electronic display is disclosed. The fingerprint sensor also includes a controller coupled to the conductive layer to capture a fingerprint image and can further be adapted to control the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Richard Alexander Erhart, Richard Brian Nelson, Paul Wickboldt
  • Patent number: 9274553
    Abstract: A fingerprint sensor which includes a conductive layer which is incorporatable within an electronic display is disclosed. The fingerprint sensor also includes a controller coupled to the conductive layer to capture a fingerprint image and can further be adapted to control the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard Alexander Erhart, Richard Brian Nelson, Paul Wickboldt
  • Publication number: 20160034740
    Abstract: A biometric imager may comprise a plurality of sensor element traces formed in or on a sensor substrate which may comprise at least a portion of a display screen defining a biometric sensing area and forming in-active pixel locations; an auxiliary active circuit formed in or on the sensor substrate on the periphery of the biometric sensing area and in direct or indirect electrical contact with the sensor element traces; and providing a signal processing interface to a remotely located controller integrated circuit. The sensor element traces may form a portion of one dimensional linear sensor array or pixel locations in a two dimensional grid array capacitive gap biometric imaging sensor. The auxiliary circuit may provide pixel location selection or pixel signal amplification. The auxiliary circuit may be mounted on a surface of the display screen. The auxiliary circuit further comprising a separate pixel location selection controller circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Paul WICKBOLDT, Gregory Lewis DEAN, Erik Jonathon THOMPSON, Steven MOLESA, Jaswinder JANDU, Patrick SMITH
  • Patent number: 9195877
    Abstract: A sensing circuit and method is disclosed, which may comprise a plurality of transmitting or receiving elements each defining a pixel location defined by a gap between the respective one of the plurality of transmitting or receiving elements and a single element of the opposing type to the respective transmitting or receiving element, and a controller configured to provide or receive a probing signal to or from a group of at least two of the plurality of transmitting or receiving elements, at the same time, thereby increasing the effective area providing the transmitting of or the receiving of the probing signal for each pixel location imaged. The group of transmitting or receiving elements may form a symmetric pattern, which may be centered on the pixel location. The plurality of transmitting or receiving elements may form at least one linear pixel array with the respective single receiving or transmitting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard Alexander Erhart, Paul Wickboldt