Patents by Inventor Richard Wei Kwang Lim

Richard Wei Kwang Lim 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: 9223436
    Abstract: Normalization of regions of a sensor panel capable of detecting multi-touch events, or a sensor panel capable of detecting multi-hover events, is disclosed to enable each sensor in the sensor panel to trigger a virtual button in a similar manner, given the same amount of touch or hover. Each sensor produces an output value proportional to the level or amount of touch or hover. However, due to processing, manufacturing and physical design differences, the sensor output values can vary from region to region or panel to panel for a given amount of touch or hover. To normalize the sensor output values across regions, gain and offset information can be obtained in advance, stored in nonvolatile memory, and later used to normalize the sensor output values so that all regions in the sensor panel can trigger virtual buttons similarly, providing a uniform “response function” at any location on the sensor panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Richards Land, Steve Porter Hotelling, Richard Wei Kwang Lim
  • Patent number: 8692777
    Abstract: The testing of a multi-touch sensor panel for opens and shorts on its drive and sense lines is disclosed by placing a substantially ungrounded conductor diagonally over the touch sensor panel so that at least a portion of every drive line and every sense line is covered by the substantially ungrounded conductor. Pixels under the substantially ungrounded conductor can have strongly positive pixels, while pixels outside the substantially ungrounded conductor can have negative pixels. With the substantially ungrounded conductor in place, a backdrop of negative pixels is formed, and an image of touch can be obtained. By analyzing the image of touch, any opens and shorts on the drive and sense lines, any shorts between a drive and a sense line, or any open drive and sense lines can be quickly identified against the backdrop of negative pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Lawrence Staton, Richard Wei Kwang Lim
  • Patent number: 8514203
    Abstract: The efficient calibration of multi-touch sensor panels that have non-flat surfaces is disclosed. The calibration of the sensor panels can be accomplished using a calibration device with a flexible calibration surface. The flexible calibration surface is particularly well-suited for curved or other non-flat touch sensor panels, such as those that might be present on a mouse or other device designed to be grasped by a user's hand. The flexible apparatus can conform to the non-flat touch sensor panel and apply the equivalent of a conductive touch over most or all of the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Lawrence Staton, Richard Wei Kwang Lim
  • Publication number: 20120154339
    Abstract: Normalization of regions of a sensor panel capable of detecting multi-touch events, or a sensor panel capable of detecting multi-hover events, is disclosed to enable each sensor in the sensor panel to trigger a virtual button in a similar manner, given the same amount of touch or hover. Each sensor produces an output value proportional to the level or amount of touch or hover. However, due to processing, manufacturing and physical design differences, the sensor output values can vary from region to region or panel to panel for a given amount of touch or hover. To normalize the sensor output values across regions, gain and offset information can be obtained in advance, stored in nonvolatile memory, and later used to normalize the sensor output values so that all regions in the sensor panel can trigger virtual buttons similarly, providing a uniform “response function” at any location on the sensor panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Brian Richards Land, Steve Porter Hotelling, Richard Wei Kwang Lim
  • Patent number: 8125464
    Abstract: Normalization of regions of a sensor panel capable of detecting multi-touch events, or a sensor panel capable of detecting multi-hover events, is disclosed to enable each sensor in the sensor panel to trigger a virtual button in a similar manner, given the same amount of touch or hover. Each sensor produces an output value proportional to the level or amount of touch or hover. However, due to processing, manufacturing and physical design differences, the sensor output values can vary from region to region or panel to panel for a given amount of touch or hover. To normalize the sensor output values across regions, gain and offset information can be obtained in advance, stored in nonvolatile memory, and later used to normalize the sensor output values so that all regions in the sensor panel can trigger virtual buttons similarly, providing a uniform “response function” at any location on the sensor panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Richards Land, Steve Porter Hotelling, Richard Wei Kwang Lim
  • Patent number: 8125455
    Abstract: Normalization of regions of a sensor panel capable of detecting multi-touch events, or a sensor panel capable of detecting multi-hover events, is disclosed to enable each sensor in the sensor panel to trigger a virtual button in a similar manner, given the same amount of touch or hover. Each sensor produces an output value proportional to the level or amount of touch or hover. However, due to processing, manufacturing and physical design differences, the sensor output values can vary from region to region or panel to panel for a given amount of touch or hover. To normalize the sensor output values across regions, gain and offset information can be obtained in advance, stored in nonvolatile memory, and later used to normalize the sensor output values so that all regions in the sensor panel can trigger virtual buttons similarly, providing a uniform “response function” at any location on the sensor panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Richards Land, Steve Porter Hotelling, Richard Wei Kwang Lim
  • Publication number: 20110037735
    Abstract: Normalization of regions of a sensor panel capable of detecting multi-touch events, or a sensor panel capable of detecting multi-hover events, is disclosed to enable each sensor in the sensor panel to trigger a virtual button in a similar manner, given the same amount of touch or hover. Each sensor produces an output value proportional to the level or amount of touch or hover. However, due to processing, manufacturing and physical design differences, the sensor output values can vary from region to region or panel to panel for a given amount of touch or hover. To normalize the sensor output values across regions, gain and offset information can be obtained in advance, stored in nonvolatile memory, and later used to normalize the sensor output values so that all regions in the sensor panel can trigger virtual buttons similarly, providing a uniform “response function” at any location on the sensor panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Brian Richards LAND, Steve Porter Hotelling, Richard Wei Kwang Lim
  • Publication number: 20090273584
    Abstract: The efficient calibration of multi-touch sensor panels that have non-flat surfaces is disclosed. The calibration of the sensor panels can be accomplished using a calibration device with a flexible calibration surface. The flexible calibration surface is particularly well-suited for curved or other non-flat touch sensor panels, such as those that might be present on a mouse or other device designed to be grasped by a user's hand. The flexible apparatus can conform to the non-flat touch sensor panel and apply the equivalent of a conductive touch over most or all of the pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Kenneth Lawrence Staton, Richard Wei-Kwang Lim
  • Publication number: 20090250268
    Abstract: The testing of a multi-touch sensor panel for opens and shorts on its drive and sense lines is disclosed by placing a substantially ungrounded conductor diagonally over the touch sensor panel so that at least a portion of every drive line and every sense line is covered by the substantially ungrounded conductor. Pixels under the substantially ungrounded conductor can have strongly positive pixels, while pixels outside the substantially ungrounded conductor can have negative pixels. With the substantially ungrounded conductor in place, a backdrop of negative pixels is formed, and an image of touch can be obtained. By analyzing the image of touch, any opens and shorts on the drive and sense lines, any shorts between a drive and a sense line, or any open drive and sense lines can be quickly identified against the backdrop of negative pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Kenneth L. STATON, Richard Wei Kwang LIM
  • Publication number: 20080158176
    Abstract: Normalization of regions of a sensor panel capable of detecting multi-touch events, or a sensor panel capable of detecting multi-hover events, is disclosed to enable each sensor in the sensor panel to trigger a virtual button in a similar manner, given the same amount of touch or hover. Each sensor produces an output value proportional to the level or amount of touch or hover. However, due to processing, manufacturing and physical design differences, the sensor output values can vary from region to region or panel to panel for a given amount of touch or hover. To normalize the sensor output values across regions, gain and offset information can be obtained in advance, stored in nonvolatile memory, and later used to normalize the sensor output values so that all regions in the sensor panel can trigger virtual buttons similarly, providing a uniform “response function” at any location on the sensor panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Richards Land, Steven Porter Hotelling, Richard Wei Kwang Lim