Patents by Inventor Riccardo Micci
Riccardo Micci 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: 20240102871Abstract: A device (15) including a piezoelectric sensor (16). The piezoelectric sensor (16) includes a layer of piezoelectric material (7) disposed between a number of sensing electrodes (4, 12, 13) and at least one counter electrode (3). The device (15) also includes a controller (17) connected to the piezoelectric sensor (16). The sensing electrodes (4, 12, 13) are arranged to form one or more active regions (19). Each active region (19) includes one or more primary sensing electrodes (4,12) and one or more secondary sensing electrodes (4, 13). The secondary sensing electrodes (4, 13) are separated from the primary sensing electrodes (4, 12) by a perimeter (14). The controller (17) is configured, for each active region (19), to monitor primary piezoelectric charges induced on each primary sensing electrode (4, 12) and to monitor secondary piezoelectric charges induced on each secondary sensing electrode (4, 13).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2022Publication date: March 28, 2024Inventors: Constantinos Tsangarides, Michael Astley, Riccardo Micci, Jiahao Li
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Patent number: 11693504Abstract: A method of processing a number of force values is described. Each force value corresponds to a sensor location. The sensor locations are spaced apart along a direction. The method includes receiving the force values (S11). The method also includes determining whether the force values include one or more candidate peaks (S12). Each candidate peak corresponds to a local maximum of the force values. The method also includes, in response to at least one candidate peak exceeds a minimum force threshold (S13), interpolating the force values and estimating a number of peak coordinates and corresponding peak force values based on the interpolated force values and the candidate peaks (S14) which exceed the minimum force threshold.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Cambridge Touch Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Riccardo Micci, Arokia Nathan
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Patent number: 11556202Abstract: An apparatus (2, 22) is described which includes a touch panel (1, 21). The touch panel (1, 21) includes a layer of piezoelectric material (4) disposed between a number of sensing electrodes (5, 23, 24) and at least one counter electrode (6). The apparatus (2, 22) also includes a touch controller (3) connected to the touch panel (1, 21). The touch controller (3) is configured to determine, in response to receiving piezoelectric signals (7) from one or more of the sensing electrodes (5, 23, 24), a location (9) and an applied force (10) corresponding to a user interaction (11) with the touch panel (1, 21). The touch controller (3) is configured to determine a capacitance value (20) of one or more of the sensing electrodes (5). The touch controller is configured to operate in a force-based mode, a capacitance-based mode or a mixed force-capacitance mode depending on the type of input received.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2020Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: Cambridge Touch Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Arokia Nathan, Michael Astley, Constantinos Tsangarides, Paridhi Sharma, Riccardo Micci, Xiang Cheng, Jiahao Li
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Patent number: 11550418Abstract: An apparatus (73) for processing signals from a touch panel (10) is described. The touch panel (10) includes a layer of piezoelectric material (16) disposed between a number of sensing electrodes (14, 20) and at least one common electrode (15). The apparatus (73) includes a capacitive touch controller (69) for connection to the sensing electrodes (14, 20). The apparatus (73) also includes a switch network (74) including a number of inputs for connection to some or all of the sensing electrodes (14, 20), and an output connected to system ground or a common mode voltage (VCM). The apparatus (73) also includes a second circuit (24, 44) for connection to the at least one common electrode (15) and configured to generate, based on signals received from the at least one common electrode, a second pressure signal (30) indicative of a total pressure applied to the touch panel (10).Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2021Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Cambridge Touch Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Michael Astley, Babak Bastani, Riccardo Micci, Arokia Nathan, Paul Routley, Xiang Cheng, Jiahao Li
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Patent number: 11481061Abstract: An apparatus (73) for processing signals from a touch panel (10) is described. The touch panel (10) includes a layer of piezoelectric material (16) disposed between a number of sensing electrodes (14, 20) and at least one common electrode (15). The apparatus (73) includes a capacitive touch controller (69) for connection to the sensing electrodes (14, 20). The apparatus (73) also includes a switch network (74) including a number of inputs for connection to some or all of the sensing electrodes (14, 20), and an output connected to system ground or a common mode voltage (VCM). The apparatus (73) also includes a second circuit (24, 44) for connection to the at least one common electrode (15) and configured to generate, based on signals received from the at least one common electrode, a second pressure signal (30) indicative of a total pressure applied to the touch panel (10).Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2021Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: Cambridge Touch Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Michael Astley, Babak Bastani, Riccardo Micci, Arokia Nathan, Paul Routley, Xiang Cheng, Jiahao Li
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Patent number: 11353980Abstract: An apparatus for processing signals from a touch panel. The touch panel includes a layer of piezoelectric material disposed between a number of sensing electrodes and one or more common electrodes. The apparatus includes a capacitive touch controller for connection to the sensing electrodes and a switch network including inputs for connection to the sensing electrodes and an output connected to system ground or a common mode voltage. The apparatus includes a circuit for connection to the common electrodes and to generate, for each common electrode, a corresponding pressure signal indicative of a pressure applied to the touch panel proximate to that common electrode. The apparatus includes a controller to control the switch network to couple any connected sensing electrodes to system ground or the common mode voltage during a pressure measurement period, and to sample the one or more second pressure signals during the pressure measurement period.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Cambridge Touch Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Michael Astley, Babak Bastani, Riccardo Micci, Arokia Nathan, Paul Routley, Xiang Cheng, Jiahao Li
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Publication number: 20220171489Abstract: An apparatus (2, 22) is described which includes a touch panel (1, 21). The touch panel (1, 21) includes a layer of piezoelectric material (4) disposed between a number of sensing electrodes (5, 23, 24) and at least one counter electrode (6). The apparatus (2, 22) also includes a touch controller (3) connected to the touch panel (1, 21). The touch controller (3) is configured to determine, in response to receiving piezoelectric signals (7) from one or more of the sensing electrodes (5, 23, 24), a location (9) and an applied force (10) corresponding to a user interaction (11) with the touch panel (1, 21). The touch controller (3) is configured to determine a capacitance value (20) of one or more of the sensing electrodes (5). The touch controller is configured to operate in a force-based mode, a capacitance-based mode or a mixed force-capacitance mode depending on the type of input received.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2020Publication date: June 2, 2022Inventors: Arokia Nathan, Michael Astley, Constantinos Tsangarides, Paridhi Sharma, Riccardo Micci, Xiang Cheng, Jiahao Li
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Publication number: 20220164056Abstract: A method of processing a number of force values is described. Each force value corresponds to a sensor location. The sensor locations are spaced apart along a direction. The method includes receiving the force values (S11). The method also includes determining whether the force values include one or more candidate peaks (S12). Each candidate peak corresponds to a local maximum of the force values. The method also includes, in response to at least one candidate peak exceeds a minimum force threshold (S13), interpolating the force values and estimating a number of peak coordinates and corresponding peak force values based on the interpolated force values and the candidate peaks (S14) which exceed the minimum force threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2021Publication date: May 26, 2022Inventors: Riccardo Micci, Arokia Nathan
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Patent number: 11294492Abstract: A method includes receiving (S1), from a touch panel (1), force values (23) corresponding to a plurality of piezoelectric sensors (5,6, 7), Each piezoelectric sensor corresponds to a physical location (xm, yn) on the touch panel. The method also includes receiving (S2) one or more user touch locations corresponding to user touches, The method also includes excluding (S5) all force values (23) corresponding to physical locations within a distance of a user touch location, and setting the remaining force values (23) as valid force values (S5). The method also includes interpolating and/or extrapolating (S6), based on the valid force values, one or more reconstructed force values (25) corresponding to same physical locations (xm, yn) as the respective excluded force values (23).Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2021Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Cambridge Touch Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Riccardo Micci, Babak Bastani, Matteo Vit, Arokia Nathan, Paul Routley, Michael Astley
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Patent number: 11249575Abstract: A method of processing a number of force values is described. Each force value corresponds to a sensor location. The sensor locations are spaced apart along a direction. The method includes receiving the force values (S11). The method also includes determining whether the force values include one or more candidate peaks (S12). Each candidate peak corresponds to a local maximum of the force values. The method also includes, in response to at least one candidate peak exceeds a minimum force threshold (S13), interpolating the force values and estimating a number of peak coordinates and corresponding peak force values based on the interpolated force values and the candidate peaks (S14) which exceed the minimum force threshold.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Cambridge Touch Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Riccardo Micci, Arokia Nathan
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Patent number: 11231801Abstract: An apparatus (22) for processing signals from a touch panel (10) is described. The touch panel (10) includes a layer of piezoelectric material (16) disposed between a plurality of sensing electrodes (14, 20) and at least one common electrode (15). The apparatus (22) includes a first circuit (23) for connection to the plurality of sensing electrodes (14, 20). The first circuit (23) is configured to generate a plurality of first pressure signals (29). Each first pressure signal (29) corresponds to one or more sensing electrodes (14, 20) and is indicative of a pressure acting on the touch panel (10) proximate to the corresponding one or more sensing electrodes (14, 20). The apparatus also includes a second circuit (24) for connection to the at least one common electrode (15). The second circuit (24) is configured to generate a second pressure signal (30) indicative of a total pressure applied to the touch panel (10).Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2020Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Cambridge Touch Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Paul Routley, Babak Bastani, Riccardo Micci, Arokia Nathan
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Patent number: 11221703Abstract: An apparatus (22) for processing signals from a touch panel (10) is described. The touch panel (10) includes a layer of piezoelectric material (16) disposed between a plurality of sensing electrodes (14, 20) and at least one common electrode (15). The apparatus (22) includes a first circuit (23) for connection to the plurality of sensing electrodes (14, 20). The first circuit (23) is configured to generate one or more first pressure signals (29). Each first pressure signal (29) corresponds to one or more sensing electrodes (14, 20) and is indicative of a pressure acting on the touch panel (10) proximate to the corresponding one or more sensing electrodes (14, 20). The apparatus also includes a second circuit (24) for connection to the at least one common electrode (15). The second circuit (24) is configured to generate a second pressure signal (30) indicative of a total pressure applied to the touch panel (10).Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2019Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: Cambridge Touch Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Paul Routley, Babak Bastani, Riccardo Micci, Arokia Nathan, Michael Astley, Xiang Cheng, Jiahao Li
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Publication number: 20210373698Abstract: An apparatus (73) for processing signals from a touch panel (10) is described. The touch panel (10) includes a layer of piezoelectric material (16) disposed between a number of sensing electrodes (14, 20) and at least one common electrode (15). The apparatus (73) includes a capacitive touch controller (69) for connection to the sensing electrodes (14, 20). The apparatus (73) also includes a switch network (74) including a number of inputs for connection to some or all of the sensing electrodes (14, 20), and an output connected to system ground or a common mode voltage (VCM). The apparatus (73) also includes a second circuit (24, 44) for connection to the at least one common electrode (15) and configured to generate, based on signals received from the at least one common electrode, a second pressure signal (30) indicative of a total pressure applied to the touch panel (10).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Michael Astley, Babak Bastani, Riccardo Micci, Arokia Nathan, Paul Routley, Xiang Cheng, Jiahao Li
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Publication number: 20210263633Abstract: An apparatus (73) for processing signals from a touch panel (10) is described. The touch panel (10) includes a layer of piezoelectric material (16) disposed between a number of sensing electrodes (14, 20) and one or more common electrodes (105). The apparatus (73) includes a capacitive touch controller (69) for connection to the sensing electrodes (14, 20). The apparatus (73) also includes a switch network (74) including a number of inputs for connection to some or all of the sensing electrodes (14, 20), and an output connected to system ground or a common mode voltage (VCM). The apparatus (73) also includes a second circuit (24, 44) for connection to the one or more common electrodes (105) and configured to generate, for each common electrode, a corresponding a second pressure signal (30) indicative of a pressure applied to the touch panel (10) proximate to that common electrode (105).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2019Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Michael Astley, Babak Bastani, Riccardo Micci, Arokia Nathan, Paul Routley, Xiang Cheng, Jiahao Li
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Patent number: 11093082Abstract: An apparatus (73) for processing signals from a touch panel (10) is described. The touch panel (10) includes a layer of piezoelectric material (16) disposed between a number of sensing electrodes (14, 20) and at least one common electrode (15). The apparatus (73) includes a capacitive touch controller (69) for connection to the sensing electrodes (14, 20). The apparatus (73) also includes a switch network (74) including a number of inputs for connection to some or all of the sensing electrodes (14, 20), and an output connected to system ground or a common mode voltage (VCM). The apparatus (73) also includes a second circuit (24, 44) for connection to the at least one common electrode (15) and configured to generate, based on signals received from the at least one common electrode, a second pressure signal (30) indicative of a total pressure applied to the touch panel (10).Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2019Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Cambridge Touch Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Michael Astley, Babak Bastani, Riccardo Micci, Arokia Nathan, Paul Routley, Xiang Cheng, Jiahao Li
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Publication number: 20210232257Abstract: An apparatus (22) for processing signals from a touch panel (10) is described. The touch panel (10) includes a layer of piezoelectric material (16) disposed between a plurality of sensing electrodes (14, 20) and at least one common electrode (15). The apparatus (22) includes a first circuit (23) for connection to the plurality of sensing electrodes (14, 20). The first circuit (23) is configured to generate one or more first pressure signals (29). Each first pressure signal (29) corresponds to one or more sensing electrodes (14, 20) and is indicative of a pressure acting on the touch panel (10) proximate to the corresponding one or more sensing electrodes (14, 20). The apparatus also includes a second circuit (24) for connection to the at least one common electrode (15). The second circuit (24) is configured to generate a second pressure signal (30) indicative of a total pressure applied to the touch panel (10).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2019Publication date: July 29, 2021Inventors: Paul Routley, Babak Bastani, Riccardo Micci, Arokia Nathan, Michael Astley, Xiang Cheng, Jiahao Li
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Publication number: 20210165550Abstract: An apparatus (73) for processing signals from a touch panel (10) is described. The touch panel (10) includes a layer of piezoelectric material (16) disposed between a number of sensing electrodes (14, 20) and at least one common electrode (15). The apparatus (73) includes a capacitive touch controller (69) for connection to the sensing electrodes (14, 20). The apparatus (73) also includes a switch network (74) including a number of inputs for connection to some or all of the sensing electrodes (14, 20), and an output, connected to system ground or a common mode voltage (VCM). The apparatus (73) also includes a second circuit (24, 44) for connection to the at least one common electrode (15) and configured to generate, based on signals received from the at least one common electrode, a second pressure signal (30) indicative of a total pressure applied to the touch panel (10).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2019Publication date: June 3, 2021Inventors: Michael Astley, Babak Bastani, Riccardo Micci, Arokia Nathan, Paul Routley, Xiang Cheng, Jiahao Li
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Publication number: 20210141507Abstract: A method includes receiving (S1), from a touch panel (1), force values (23) corresponding to a plurality of piezoelectric sensors (5,6, 7), Each piezoelectric sensor corresponds to a physical location (xm, yn) on the touch panel. The method also includes receiving (S2) one or more user touch locations corresponding to user touches, The method also includes excluding (S5) all force values (23) corresponding to physical locations within a distance of a user touch location, and setting the remaining force values (23) as valid force values (S5). The method also includes interpolating and/or extrapolating (S6), based on the valid force values, one or more reconstructed force values (25) corresponding to same physical locations (xm, yn) as the respective excluded force values (23).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2021Publication date: May 13, 2021Inventors: Riccardo Micci, Babak Bastani, Matteo Vit, Arokia Nathan, Paul Routley, Michael Astley
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Patent number: 10928947Abstract: A method includes receiving (S1), from a touch panel (1), force values (23) corresponding to a plurality of piezoelectric sensors (5,6, 7). Each piezoelectric sensor corresponds to a physical location (xm, yn) on the touch panel. The method also includes receiving (S2) an identification of which, if any, of the force values (23) are influenced by coupling to external electric fields. The method also includes, in response to one or more force values (23) being identified as influenced by coupling to external electric fields (S3), setting the corresponding force values (23) as excluded force values (S5), and setting the remaining force values (23) as valid force values (S5). The method also includes interpolating and/or extrapolating (S6), based on the valid force values, one or more reconstructed force values (25) corresponding to same physical locations (xm, yn) as the respective excluded force values (23).Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2019Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Cambridge Touch Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Riccardo Micci, Babak Bastani, Matteo Vit, Arokia Nathan, Paul Routley
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Publication number: 20210011574Abstract: A method of processing a number of force values is described. Each force value corresponds to a sensor location. The sensor locations are spaced apart along a direction. The method includes receiving the force values (S11). The method also includes determining whether the force values include one or more candidate peaks (S12). Each candidate peak corresponds to a local maximum of the force values. The method also includes, in response to at least one candidate peak exceeds a minimum force threshold (S13), interpolating the force values and estimating a number of peak coordinates and corresponding peak force values based on the interpolated force values and the candidate peaks (S14) which exceed the minimum force threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Riccardo Micci, Arokia Nathan