Patents by Inventor Scott Bohannon
Scott Bohannon 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: 10831323Abstract: An input device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes and a processing system that is operable in at least a first mode or a second mode. The processing system is configured to receive an input current from a pair of the sensor electrodes. When operating the first mode, the processing system is configured to measure a capacitance across the pair of sensor electrodes based on the received input current. When operating the second mode, the processing system is configured to measure a resistance between the pair of sensor electrodes based on the received input current.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2018Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Eric Scott Bohannon, Steve Chikin Lo, Petr Shepelev
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Patent number: 10768762Abstract: A method and related processing system and input device are disclosed, the method comprising driving a first capacitive sensing signal with first sensing frequency onto a first group of a plurality of sensor electrodes, and acquiring first capacitive measurements of resulting signals received by a second group of the plurality of sensor electrodes. Acquiring first capacitive measurements comprises applying a first demodulation signal with a predefined first mixing period defined within a sensing period associated with the first sensing frequency. The method further comprises driving a second capacitive sensing signal having a second sensing frequency different than the first sensing frequency onto a third group of the plurality of sensor electrodes, and acquiring second capacitive measurements of resulting signals received by a fourth group of the plurality of sensor electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2019Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Eric Scott Bohannon, Marshall J. Bell, Jr.
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Patent number: 10725583Abstract: A processing system, and associated input device and method are disclosed suitable for reducing a receiver size within the input device. The processing system comprises a delta-sigma modulator comprising one or more input nodes configured to receive a signal based on a sensor signal received from at least a first sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes. The delta-sigma modulator further comprises an integrator coupled with the one or more input nodes and configured to produce an integration signal, a quantizer coupled with an output of the integrator and configured to quantize the integration signal, and a feedback digital-to-analog converter (DAC) controlled based by the quantizer. The processing system further comprises a digital filter coupled with an output of the delta-sigma modulator and configured to mitigate a quantization noise of the quantizer.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2018Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Eric Scott Bohannon, Marshall J. Bell, Jr., Yihong Yang
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Patent number: 10635236Abstract: Methods and associated processing systems are disclosed for acquiring gain mismatch values and offset mismatch values corresponding to a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). One method comprises coupling receiver circuitry of a processing system with a capacitive sensor comprising a plurality of sensor electrodes, the receiver circuitry comprising a plurality of ADCs, each ADC of the plurality of ADCs coupled with one or more respective sensor electrodes of the plurality of sensor electrodes. The method further comprises, while at least a portion of transmitter circuitry of the processing system is disabled, acquiring measurements using each ADC of the plurality of ADCs; and storing, using the acquired measurements, a plurality of offset mismatch values in a memory of the processing system. The processing system is operable to apply the plurality of offset mismatch values to capacitive measurements acquired using the plurality of ADCs.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2017Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Eric Scott Bohannon, Steve Chikin Lo, Keung Kwok Kwan
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Publication number: 20190361545Abstract: A method and related processing system and input device are disclosed, the method comprising driving a first capacitive sensing signal with first sensing frequency onto a first group of a plurality of sensor electrodes, and acquiring first capacitive measurements of resulting signals received by a second group of the plurality of sensor electrodes. Acquiring first capacitive measurements comprises applying a first demodulation signal with a predefined first mixing period defined within a sensing period associated with the first sensing frequency. The method further comprises driving a second capacitive sensing signal having a second sensing frequency different than the first sensing frequency onto a third group of the plurality of sensor electrodes, and acquiring second capacitive measurements of resulting signals received by a fourth group of the plurality of sensor electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2019Publication date: November 28, 2019Inventors: Eric Scott BOHANNON, Marshall J. BELL, JR.
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Patent number: 10382054Abstract: An analog front end (AFE) for an input device includes a current conveyor and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) switchably coupled to the current conveyor. The current conveyor is configured to receive an input signal from a plurality of sensor electrodes. The ADC generates an output value corresponding to a digital representation of the input signal when the ADC is coupled to the current conveyor. Further, the ADC may selectively adjust the output value based at least in part on a state of the ADC when the ADC is decoupled from the current conveyor. In some implementations, the ADC may include a delta-sigma modulator configured to generate an additional sample when the ADC is decoupled from the current conveyor. The ADC may determine an amount of quantization error in the output value based on the additional sample, and adjust the output value when the quantization error exceeds a threshold amount.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventor: Eric Scott Bohannon
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Patent number: 10372276Abstract: A method and related processing system and input device are disclosed, the method comprising driving a first capacitive sensing signal with first sensing frequency onto a first group of a plurality of sensor electrodes, and acquiring first capacitive measurements of resulting signals received by a second group of the plurality of sensor electrodes. Acquiring first capacitive measurements comprises applying a first demodulation signal with a predefined first mixing period defined within a sensing period associated with the first sensing frequency. The method further comprises driving a second capacitive sensing signal having a second sensing frequency different than the first sensing frequency onto a third group of the plurality of sensor electrodes, and acquiring second capacitive measurements of resulting signals received by a fourth group of the plurality of sensor electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2017Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Eric Scott Bohannon, Marshall J. Bell, Jr.
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Publication number: 20190149163Abstract: An analog front end (AFE) for an input device includes a current conveyor and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) switchably coupled to the current conveyor. The current conveyor is configured to receive an input signal from a plurality of sensor electrodes. The ADC generates an output value corresponding to a digital representation of the input signal when the ADC is coupled to the current conveyor. Further, the ADC may selectively adjust the output value based at least in part on a state of the ADC when the ADC is decoupled from the current conveyor. In some implementations, the ADC may include a delta-sigma modulator configured to generate an additional sample when the ADC is decoupled from the current conveyor. The ADC may determine an amount of quantization error in the output value based on the additional sample, and adjust the output value when the quantization error exceeds a threshold amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2017Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventor: Eric Scott Bohannon
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Publication number: 20190095002Abstract: An input device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes and a processing system that is operable in at least a first mode or a second mode. The processing system is configured to receive an input current from a pair of the sensor electrodes. When operating the first mode, the processing system is configured to measure a capacitance across the pair of sensor electrodes based on the received input current. When operating the second mode, the processing system is configured to measure a resistance between the pair of sensor electrodes based on the received input current.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2018Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Eric Scott BOHANNON, Steve Chikin LO, Petr SHEPELEV
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Patent number: 10228797Abstract: Embodiments described herein include an input device with a plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes configured to receive a signal. The input device also includes a processing system coupled to the plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes. The processing system includes an analog front end (AFE). The AFE includes an anti-aliasing filter comprising a continuous time analog infinite impulse response (IIR) filter configured to filter out interference from the received signal at frequencies higher than a signal frequency of the processing system to produce an anti-aliased signal. The AFE also includes a charge integrator configured to integrate the anti-aliased signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Jeremy Roberson, David Sobel, Farzaneh Shahrokhi, Adam Schwartz, Eric Scott Bohannon
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Publication number: 20190034027Abstract: Methods and associated processing systems are disclosed for acquiring gain mismatch values and offset mismatch values corresponding to a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). One method comprises coupling receiver circuitry of a processing system with a capacitive sensor comprising a plurality of sensor electrodes, the receiver circuitry comprising a plurality of ADCs, each ADC of the plurality of ADCs coupled with one or more respective sensor electrodes of the plurality of sensor electrodes. The method further comprises, while at least a portion of transmitter circuitry of the processing system is disabled, acquiring measurements using each ADC of the plurality of ADCs; and storing, using the acquired measurements, a plurality of offset mismatch values in a memory of the processing system. The processing system is operable to apply the plurality of offset mismatch values to capacitive measurements acquired using the plurality of ADCs.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2017Publication date: January 31, 2019Inventors: Eric Scott BOHANNON, Steve Chikin LO, Keung Kwok KWAN
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Publication number: 20180356914Abstract: A processing system, and associated input device and method are disclosed suitable for reducing a receiver size within the input device. The processing system comprises a delta-sigma modulator comprising one or more input nodes configured to receive a signal based on a sensor signal received from at least a first sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes. The delta-sigma modulator further comprises an integrator coupled with the one or more input nodes and configured to produce an integration signal, a quantizer coupled with an output of the integrator and configured to quantize the integration signal, and a feedback digital-to-analog converter (DAC) controlled based by the quantizer. The processing system further comprises a digital filter coupled with an output of the delta-sigma modulator and configured to mitigate a quantization noise of the quantizer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2018Publication date: December 13, 2018Inventors: Eric Scott BOHANNON, Marshall J. BELL, JR., Yihong YANG
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Patent number: 10133435Abstract: A method and related processing system and input device are disclosed, the method comprising driving a first capacitive sensing signal having a predefined first sensing frequency onto a first group of a plurality of sensor electrodes, and acquiring first capacitive measurements of resulting signals received by a second group of the plurality of sensor electrodes. Acquiring first capacitive measurements comprises applying a first demodulation signal having a predefined mixing period defined within a sensing period associated with the first sensing frequency. The method further comprises operating, based on the first demodulation signal, one or more switching elements coupled with one or more sensor electrodes of the first group or the second group, wherein the one or more switching elements are in a conducting state during the mixing period.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2017Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventor: Eric Scott Bohannon
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Patent number: 10126900Abstract: A method and related input device and processing system and are disclosed, the method comprising acquiring first capacitive measurements of first resulting signals responsive to driving a first sensing signal, wherein acquiring first capacitive measurements comprises receiving a predefined number of current pulses within a first burst period. The method further comprises acquiring second capacitive measurements of second resulting signals responsive to driving a second sensing signal having a greater sensing frequency. Acquiring the second capacitive measurements comprises inserting, based at least on the sensing frequency of the second sensing signal, one or more null time periods within the second burst period such that the same number of current pulses is received during the second burst period.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2017Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventor: Eric Scott Bohannon
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Publication number: 20180284917Abstract: A method and related input device and processing system and are disclosed, the method comprising acquiring first capacitive measurements of first resulting signals responsive to driving a first sensing signal, wherein acquiring first capacitive measurements comprises receiving a predefined number of current pulses within a first burst period. The method further comprises acquiring second capacitive measurements of second resulting signals responsive to driving a second sensing signal having a greater sensing frequency. Acquiring the second capacitive measurements comprises inserting, based at least on the sensing frequency of the second sensing signal, one or more null time periods within the second burst period such that the same number of current pulses is received during the second burst period.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2017Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventor: Eric Scott BOHANNON
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Patent number: 10061415Abstract: A processing system, and associated input device and method are disclosed suitable for reducing a receiver size within the input device. The processing system comprises a delta-sigma modulator comprising one or more input nodes configured to receive a signal based on a sensor signal received from at least a first sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes. The delta-sigma modulator further comprises an integrator coupled with the one or more input nodes and configured to produce an integration signal, a quantizer coupled with an output of the integrator and configured to quantize the integration signal, and a feedback digital-to-analog converter (DAC) controlled based by the quantizer. The processing system further comprises a digital filter coupled with an output of the delta-sigma modulator and configured to mitigate a quantization noise of the quantizer.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2016Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Eric Scott Bohannon, Marshall J. Bell, Jr., Yihong Yang
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Publication number: 20180196542Abstract: A method and related processing system and input device are disclosed, the method comprising driving a first capacitive sensing signal with first sensing frequency onto a first group of a plurality of sensor electrodes, and acquiring first capacitive measurements of resulting signals received by a second group of the plurality of sensor electrodes. Acquiring first capacitive measurements comprises applying a first demodulation signal with a predefined first mixing period defined within a sensing period associated with the first sensing frequency. The method further comprises driving a second capacitive sensing signal having a second sensing frequency different than the first sensing frequency onto a third group of the plurality of sensor electrodes, and acquiring second capacitive measurements of resulting signals received by a fourth group of the plurality of sensor electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2017Publication date: July 12, 2018Inventors: Eric Scott BOHANNON, Marshall J. BELL, JR.
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Publication number: 20180188845Abstract: A method and related processing system and input device are disclosed, the method comprising driving a first capacitive sensing signal having a predefined first sensing frequency onto a first group of a plurality of sensor electrodes, and acquiring first capacitive measurements of resulting signals received by a second group of the plurality of sensor electrodes. Acquiring first capacitive measurements comprises applying a first demodulation signal having a predefined mixing period defined within a sensing period associated with the first sensing frequency. The method further comprises operating, based on the first demodulation signal, one or more switching elements coupled with one or more sensor electrodes of the first group or the second group, wherein the one or more switching elements are in a conducting state during the mixing period.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2017Publication date: July 5, 2018Inventor: Eric Scott BOHANNON
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Patent number: 9971463Abstract: This disclosure generally provides an input device that includes a matrix sensor that includes a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged in rows on a common surface or plane. The input device may include a plurality of sensor modules coupled to the sensor electrodes that measure capacitive sensing signals corresponding to the electrodes. Instead of measuring sensor electrodes that are in the same column, the embodiments herein simultaneously measure capacitive sensing signals on at least two sensor electrodes that are in the same row. In one example, the sensor electrodes in the row being measured are spaced the same distance from a side of a substrate coupling the electrodes to the sensor modules and may have approximately the same electrical time constant.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2015Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Petr Shepelev, Eric Scott Bohannon, Kasra Khazeni
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Publication number: 20180004317Abstract: A processing system, and associated input device and method are disclosed suitable for reducing a receiver size within the input device. The processing system comprises a delta-sigma modulator comprising one or more input nodes configured to receive a signal based on a sensor signal received from at least a first sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes. The delta-sigma modulator further comprises an integrator coupled with the one or more input nodes and configured to produce an integration signal, a quantizer coupled with an output of the integrator and configured to quantize the integration signal, and a feedback digital-to-analog converter (DAC) controlled based by the quantizer. The processing system further comprises a digital filter coupled with an output of the delta-sigma modulator and configured to mitigate a quantization noise of the quantizer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2016Publication date: January 4, 2018Inventors: Eric Scott BOHANNON, Marshall J. BELL, JR., Yihong YANG