Patents by Inventor Scott J. Shaw

Scott J. Shaw 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: 8669943
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an object position detector. The object position detector comprises a touch sensor formed as a closed loop and having a physical constraint formed on an upper surface of the touch sensor and coextensive with the closed loop. The touch sensor is configured to sense motion of an object proximate to the closed loop. The object position detector also comprises a processor coupled to the touch sensor and is programmed to generate an action in response to the motion on the touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Synaptics Incoporated
    Inventors: Raymond A. Trent, Jr., Scott J. Shaw, David W. Gillespie, Christopher Heiny, Mark A. Huie
  • Publication number: 20140015751
    Abstract: A device and method include an enclosure having a top layer with an external touch surface and an oppositely disposed back surface, a flexible substrate including a first portion affixed to the back surface, a second portion separate from the first portion, and an intermediate portion between the first second portions. An array of capacitive sensors is configured to sense objects proximate the external surface. A processor mounted to the second portion is configured to obtain signals from the sensors, determine object motion proximate the external surface using the signals, cause scrolling in response the object moving along a first axis, cause continued scrolling in response to the object lifting with a substantially non-zero speed along the first axis, and to not cause continued scrolling in response the object lifting with a substantially zero speed along the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: David W. Gillespie, Shawn P. Day, Raymond A. Trent, JR., Scott J. Shaw, Andrew M. Errington
  • Publication number: 20140009397
    Abstract: A capacitive sensing device and method include a touch surface, a capacitive touch sensor coupled to the touch surface and configured to measure finger motion along the touch surface, and a processor in operative communication with the capacitive touch sensor. The processor is configured to generate a scrolling command in response to finger motion along the touch surface, cease the scrolling command without substantially continuing generating the scrolling command upon the finger lifting from the touch surface when the finger is stationary prior to lifting from the touch surface, and continue generating the scrolling command for a time after the finger lifting from the touch surface to emulate coasting responsive to finger motion prior the finger lifting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: David W. Gillespie, Shawn P. Day, Raymond A. Trent, JR., Scott J. Shaw, Andrew M. Errington
  • Patent number: 8259076
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an object position detector. The object position detector comprises a touch sensor formed as a closed loop and having a physical constraint formed on an upper surface of the touch sensor and coextensive with the closed loop. The touch sensor is configured to sense motion of an object proximate to the closed loop. The object position detector also comprises a processor coupled to the touch sensor and is programmed to generate an action in response to the motion on the touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Raymond A. Trent, Jr., Scott J. Shaw, David W. Gillespie, Christopher Heiny, Mark A. Huie
  • Publication number: 20120161791
    Abstract: A system determines whether proximity events at different positions are produced by the same input object or by different input objects. One or more hover states (or proximity events with “non-contact” signatures) occurring near the two positions are used in making this determination. The proximity events are found to be produced by different input objects, for example, when the hover state occurs at approximately the first position within a first duration after a first time, or at approximately the second position within a second duration before the second time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Scott J. Shaw
  • Patent number: 8035616
    Abstract: A pointing device some or all of whose elements are made from capacitive sensors. Such elements may include a rotary motion detector which includes a rotating member and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; a rolling ball with patterned conductive surface and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; capacitive touch sensors or capacitive switches to serve as mouse buttons; and a scrolling wheel, knob, or touch surface built from capacitive sensors. The pointing device further includes a capacitance measuring circuit and processor to measure variations of capacitance on the various capacitive elements and to determine the movement of and other activations of the mouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott J. Shaw, Shawn P. Day, Raymond A. Trent, Jr., David W. Gillespie, Andrew M. Errington
  • Publication number: 20110001704
    Abstract: A pointing device some or all of whose elements are made from capacitive sensors. Such elements may include a rotary motion detector which includes a rotating member and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; a rolling ball with patterned conductive surface and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; capacitive touch sensors or capacitive switches to serve as mouse buttons; and a scrolling wheel, knob, or touch surface built from capacitive sensors. The pointing device further includes a capacitance measuring circuit and processor to measure variations of capacitance on the various capacitive elements and to determine the movement of and other activations of the mouse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Scott J. Shaw, Shawn P. Day, Raymond A. Trent, JR., David W. Gillespie, Andrew M. Errington
  • Publication number: 20110001703
    Abstract: A pointing device some or all of whose elements are made from capacitive sensors. Such elements may include a rotary motion detector which includes a rotating member and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; a rolling ball with patterned conductive surface and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; capacitive touch sensors or capacitive switches to serve as mouse buttons; and a scrolling wheel, knob, or touch surface built from capacitive sensors. The pointing device further includes a capacitance measuring circuit and processor to measure variations of capacitance on the various capacitive elements and to determine the movement of and other activations of the mouse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Scott J. Shaw, Shawn P. Day, Raymond A. Trent, JR., David W. Gillespie, Andrew M. Errington
  • Patent number: 7817135
    Abstract: A pointing device some or all of whose elements are made from capacitive sensors. Such elements may include a rotary motion detector which includes a rotating member and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; a rolling ball with patterned conductive surface and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; capacitive touch sensors or capacitive switches to serve as mouse buttons; and a scrolling wheel, knob, or touch surface built from capacitive sensors. The pointing device further includes a capacitance measuring circuit and processor to measure variations of capacitance on the various capacitive elements and to determine the movement of and other activations of the mouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott J. Shaw, Shawn P. Day, Raymond A. Trent, Jr., David W. Gillespie, Andrew M. Errington
  • Patent number: 7710407
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an object position detector. The object position detector comprises a touch sensor formed as a closed loop and having a physical constraint formed on an upper surface of the touch sensor and coextensive with the closed loop. The touch sensor is configured to sense motion of an object proximate to the closed loop. The object position detector also comprises a processor coupled to the touch sensor and is programmed to generate an action in response to the motion on the touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Raymond A. Trent, Jr., Scott J. Shaw, David W. Gillespie, Christopher Heiny, Mark A. Huie
  • Patent number: 7609253
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an object position detector. The object position detector comprises a touch sensor formed as a closed loop and having a physical constraint formed on an upper surface of the touch sensor and coextensive with the closed loop. The touch sensor is configured to sense motion of an object proximate to the closed loop. The object position detector also comprises a processor coupled to the touch sensor and is programmed to generate an action in response to the motion on the touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Raymond A. Trent, Jr., Scott J. Shaw, David W. Gillespie, Christopher Heiny, Mark A. Huie
  • Patent number: 7502016
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an object position detector. The object position detector comprises a touch sensor formed as a closed loop and having a physical constraint formed on an upper surface of the touch sensor and coextensive with the closed loop. The touch sensor is configured to sense motion of an object proximate to the closed loop. The object position detector also comprises a processor coupled to the touch sensor and is programmed to generate an action in response to the motion on the touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Raymond A. Trent, Jr., Scott J. Shaw, David W. Gillespie, Christopher Heiny, Mark A. Huie
  • Patent number: 7466307
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an object position detector. The object position detector comprises a touch sensor formed as a closed loop and having a physical constraint formed on an upper surface of the touch sensor and coextensive with the closed loop. The touch sensor is configured to sense motion of an object proximate to the closed loop. The object position detector also comprises a processor coupled to the touch sensor and is programmed to generate an action in response to the motion on the touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Raymond A. Trent, Jr., Scott J. Shaw, David W. Gillespie, Christopher Heiny, Mark A. Huie
  • Patent number: 7212189
    Abstract: A pointing device some or all of whose elements are made from capacitive sensors. Such elements may include a rotary motion detector which includes a rotating member and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; a rolling ball with patterned conductive surface and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; capacitive touch sensors or capacitive switches to serve as mouse buttons; and a scrolling wheel, knob, or touch surface built from capacitive sensors. The pointing device further includes a capacitance measuring circuit and processor to measure variations of capacitance on the various capacitive elements and to determine the movement of and other activations of the mouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott J. Shaw, Shawn P. Day, Raymond A. Trent, Jr., David W. Gillespie, Andrew M. Errington
  • Publication number: 20040252109
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an object position detector. The object position detector comprises a touch sensor formed as a closed loop and having a physical constraint formed on an upper surface of the touch sensor and coextensive with the closed loop. The touch sensor is configured to sense motion of an object proximate to the closed loop. The object position detector also comprises a processor coupled to the touch sensor and is programmed to generate an action in response to the motion on the touch sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: Synaptics, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Trent, Scott J. Shaw, David W. Gillespie, Christopher Heiny, Mark A. Huie
  • Publication number: 20030156098
    Abstract: A pointing device some or all of whose elements are made from capacitive sensors. Such elements may include a rotary motion detector which includes a rotating member and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; a rolling ball with patterned conductive surface and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; capacitive touch sensors or capacitive switches to serve as mouse buttons; and a scrolling wheel, knob, or touch surface built from capacitive sensors. The pointing device further includes a capacitance measuring circuit and processor to measure variations of capacitance on the various capacitive elements and to determine the movement of and other activations of the mouse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: Synaptics, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Shaw, Shawn P. Day, Raymond A. Trent, David W. Gillespie, Andrew M. Errington
  • Patent number: 6587093
    Abstract: A pointing device some or all of whose elements are made from capacitive sensors. Such elements may include a rotary motion detector which includes a rotating member and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; a rolling ball with patterned conductive surface and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; capacitive touch sensors or capacitive switches to serve as mouse buttons; and a scrolling wheel, knob, or touch surface built from capacitive sensors. The pointing device further includes a capacitance measuring circuit and processor to measure variations of capacitance on the various capacitive elements and to determine the movement of and other activations of the mouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott J. Shaw, Shawn P. Day, Raymond A. Trent, Jr., David W. Gillespie, Andrew M. Errington
  • Publication number: 20020063688
    Abstract: A pointing device some or all of whose elements are made from capacitive sensors. Such elements may include a rotary motion detector which includes a rotating member and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; a rolling ball with patterned conductive surface and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; capacitive touch sensors or capacitive switches to serve as mouse buttons; and a scrolling wheel, knob, or touch surface built from capacitive sensors. The pointing device further includes a capacitance measuring circuit and processor to measure variations of capacitance on the various capacitive elements and to determine the movement of and other activations of the mouse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott J. Shaw, Shawn P. Day, Raymond A. Trent, David W. Gillespie, Andrew M. Errington