Patents by Inventor Thomas Mackin
Thomas Mackin 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: 20210034834Abstract: A module configured to perform processing as part of a device capable of performing contactless or contact communication with a terminal. The module comprises: a biometric sensor; one or more display screens; and one or more control units configured to: cause the biometric sensor to capture biometric data of a user which can be used to biometrically authenticate the user; obtain biometric authentication information indicating whether the user was biometrically authenticated based on the captured biometric data; and in response to the biometric authentication information indicating the user was biometrically authenticated, select one or more categories of authenticated information from a plurality of categories of authenticated information based on one or more detected conditions, and cause the one or more display screens to display the one or more selected categories of authenticated information.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2020Publication date: February 4, 2021Inventors: Thomas A. Mackin, Christopher A. Ludden, Imre Knausz, Alex Kucharczyk, Anne L. McAleer
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Patent number: 10088942Abstract: Techniques for obtaining force-based data of an input device are provided. The techniques include driving sensor electrodes in transcapacitive mode and in absolute capacitive mode, obtaining profiles for each of the modes, scaling the transcapacitive profile, and subtracting the scaled transcapacitive profile from the profile for absolute capacitive sensing. The result of this subtraction is force-based data that indicates the degree of force with that input object applies to the input device. These techniques may be used with an input device in which a plurality of sensor electrodes are divided into two or more segments. Independent sets of force-based data can be obtained for each segment, which allows for determination of a location associated with each set of force-based data.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Petr Shepelev, Thomas Mackin
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Patent number: 9939972Abstract: Disclosed herein include an input device, processing system and methods for touch sensing. In one embodiment, an input device is provided that includes a plurality of sensing elements arranged in a sensor pattern and a plurality of conductive routing traces. Each conductive routing trace is conductively paired with a respective one of the plurality of sensing elements. The sensor routing traces are configured to reduce an RC load of the corresponding paired sensing elements compared to a base RC load of a plurality of base electrodes arranged in a base pattern that is identical to the sensor pattern. Each base sensor electrode is conductively paired with a base routing trace. The base sensor electrode and paired base routing trace have a size that is identical to a size of the paired sensing elements and conductive routing trace. The base routing trace terminates at the base sensor electrode to which the base routing trace is paired.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2015Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Petr Shepelev, Joseph Kurth Reynolds, David Hinterberger, Thomas Mackin
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Publication number: 20170285835Abstract: Techniques for obtaining force-based data of an input device are provided. The techniques include driving sensor electrodes in transcapacitive mode and in absolute capacitive mode, obtaining profiles for each of the modes, scaling the transcapacitive profile, and subtracting the scaled transcapacitive profile from the profile for absolute capacitive sensing. The result of this subtraction is force-based data that indicates the degree of force with that input object applies to the input device. These techniques may be used with an input device in which a plurality of sensor electrodes are divided into two or more segments. Independent sets of force-based data can be obtained for each segment, which allows for determination of a location associated with each set of force-based data.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2016Publication date: October 5, 2017Inventors: Petr SHEPELEV, Thomas MACKIN
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Patent number: 9760194Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a processing system for a display device having an integrated sensing device. The processing system includes a driver module that includes driver circuitry, the driver module coupled to source lines and sensor electrodes. Each sensor electrode including one or more common electrodes configured for display updating and input sensing. The driver module is configured to select a first display line for display updating during a first display update period, drive the sources lines with first display update signals during the first display update period to update the first display line, drive a first sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes for capacitive sensing during a non-display update period, and operate the source lines in a restore mode during a restart period, wherein the restart period is after the non-display update period and before a second display update period.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2015Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Jeffrey S. Lillie, John Childs, Marshall J. Bell, Jr., Thomas Mackin
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Patent number: 9703411Abstract: A system comprising a display screen configured for displaying images, a touch sensor having a sensing region, a host processing system and a touch screen control system. The touch screen control system comprising touch sensor control circuitry configured to operate the touch sensor and display control circuitry configured to operate the display screen. The display circuitry comprising a first memory configured to hold a primary image and a second memory configured to hold a secondary image and display refresh circuitry. The display refresh circuitry configured to update the display screen, and in response to the user input and without requiring intervention by the host processing system, generate a blended image comprising the primary image and the secondary image, and update the display screen with the blended image.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2010Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Christopher A. Ludden, Thomas A. Mackin, Shawn P. Day, David W. Gillespie
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Patent number: 9652072Abstract: A display device having an integrated capacitive sensing device includes receiver electrodes disposed on a back side of a color filter glass. Transmitter electrodes of the capacitive sensing device are configured with a size and geometry that reduces the capacitive coupling between the transmitter and receiver electrodes. The transmitter electrodes may be made of one or more prongs or segments from a segmented common electrode.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2015Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Petr Shepelev, Thomas Mackin, David Hoch
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Publication number: 20170090615Abstract: Embodiments described herein include an input device, processing system, and method of performing capacitive sensing using an input device comprising a first plurality of sensor electrodes, a second plurality of sensor electrodes, and a plurality of display electrodes. The method comprises, during a first period, driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes with a first absolute capacitive sensing signal to receive first resulting signals, and driving the second plurality of sensor electrodes and the plurality of display electrodes with a first guarding signal. Each of the first plurality of sensor electrodes comprises at least one common electrode of a display, and wherein each common electrode is configured to be driven for display updating and for capacitive sensing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2015Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Eric Scott BOHANNON, Petr SHEPELEV, Jeffrey S. LILLIE, Thomas MACKIN
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Patent number: 9576557Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device with display screens that periodically update (refresh) the screen by selectively driving common electrodes corresponding to pixels in a display line. In general, the input devices drive each electrode until each display line (and each pixel) of a display frame is updated. In addition to updating the display, the input device may perform capacitive sensing using the display screen as a proximity sensing area. To do this, the input device may interleave periods of capacitive sensing between periods of updating the display based on a display frame. For example, the input device may update the first half of display lines of the display screen, pause display updating, perform capacitive sensing, and finish updating the rest of the display lines. Further still, the input device may use common electrodes for both updating the display and performing capacitive sensing.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2015Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Jeffrey S. Lillie, John Childs, Christopher A. Ludden, Thomas Mackin, Petr Shepelev
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Patent number: 9552089Abstract: An electrode matrix that is used for capacitive sensing may be integrated into a display panel of an input device. In one embodiment, source drivers may be mounted on the display panel which drive the display signals and capacitive sensing signals into the display panel. In one embodiment, the capacitive sensing signals may be routed on traces or lines that are interleaved on the same layer as the source lines used for setting a voltage on the pixels in the display panel during display updating. Using the interleaved traces, the source drivers may drive the capacitive sensing signals in parallel to a plurality of the electrodes in the matrix in a predefined pattern that spans one or more sensing cycles.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2013Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Jeffrey Lukanc, Stephen L. Morein, Christopher A. Ludden, Greg P. Semeraro, Joseph Kurth Reynolds, Petr Shepelev, Thomas Mackin
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Publication number: 20160291721Abstract: Disclosed herein include an input device, processing system and methods for touch sensing. In one embodiment, an input device is provided that includes a plurality of sensing elements arranged in a sensor pattern and a plurality of conductive routing traces. Each conductive routing trace is conductively paired with a respective one of the plurality of sensing elements. The sensor routing traces are configured to reduce an RC load of the corresponding paired sensing elements compared to a base RC load of a plurality of base electrodes arranged in a base pattern that is identical to the sensor pattern. Each base sensor electrode is conductively paired with a base routing trace. The base sensor electrode and paired base routing trace have a size that is identical to a size of the paired sensing elements and conductive routing trace. The base routing trace terminates at the base sensor electrode to which the base routing trace is paired.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2015Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Petr SHEPELEV, Joseph Kurth REYNOLDS, David HINTERBERGER, Thomas MACKIN
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Publication number: 20160179232Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a processing system for a display device having an integrated sensing device. The processing system includes a driver module coupled to a plurality of source lines and a plurality of transmitter electrodes. Each transmitter electrode includes one or more common electrodes configured for display updating and input sensing. The driver module is configured for selecting a first display line for display updating and driving the sources lines with first display update signals to update the first display line. The drive module is further configured for driving a first transmitter electrode of the plurality of transmitter electrodes for input sensing during a non-display update period and driving the source lines with restore signals during a restart period. The processing system further includes a receiver module coupled to a plurality of receiver electrodes and configured for receiving resulting signals with the receiver electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2015Publication date: June 23, 2016Inventors: Jeffrey S. LILLIE, John CHILDS, Marshall J. BELL, JR., Thomas MACKIN
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Patent number: 9304625Abstract: Embodiments described herein synchronize a switching frequency of switched power supplies with timing events associated with updating a display screen or performing touch sensing. For example, a touch event may be the time needed for a touch controller to scan a plurality of sensing electrodes. Because noise is introduced each time switched power supplies switch between different stages, the touch controller may instruct a power management controller to switch between the stages (i.e., adjust the switching frequency) at the same time during each touch event. Even though the switched power supplies are permitted to introduce noise into the touch system, the noise happens at the same time during each touch event. Accordingly, the effect of the noise is the same for each touch event and is cancelled out. A similar process may be used for synchronizing the switching frequency to display events.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2013Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Imre Knausz, Christopher Ludden, Thomas Mackin, Murat Ozbas, Mark Pude
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Patent number: 9280231Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a processing system for a display device having an integrated sensing device. The processing system includes a driver module coupled to a plurality of transmitter electrodes. Each transmitter electrode includes one or more common electrodes configured for display updating and input sensing. The driver module is configured for selecting a first display line set for display updating during a first display update period and driving the first display line set for display updating during the first display update period. The driver module is further configured for driving one or more transmitter electrodes of the plurality of transmitter electrodes for input sensing during a non-display update period and selecting a second display line set for display updating during a restart period.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Jeffrey A. Small, Petr Shepelev, Christopher Ludden, Thomas Mackin, Stephen Morein
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Publication number: 20160026330Abstract: A display device having an integrated capacitive sensing device includes receiver electrodes disposed on a back side of a color filter glass. Transmitter electrodes of the capacitive sensing device are configured with a size and geometry that reduces the capacitive coupling between the transmitter and receiver electrodes. The transmitter electrodes may be made of one or more prongs or segments from a segmented common electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2015Publication date: January 28, 2016Inventors: Petr SHEPELEV, Thomas MACKIN, David HOCH
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Patent number: 9152283Abstract: A display device having an integrated capacitive sensing device includes receiver electrodes disposed on a back side of a color filter glass. Transmitter electrodes of the capacitive sensing device are configured with a size and geometry that reduces the capacitive coupling between the transmitter and receiver electrodes. The transmitter electrodes may be made of one or more prongs or segments from a segmented common electrode.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2013Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Petr Shepelev, Thomas Mackin, David Hoch
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Patent number: 9041685Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device with display screens that periodically update (refresh) the screen by selectively driving common electrodes corresponding to pixels in a display line. In general, the input devices drive each electrode until each display line (and each pixel) of a display frame is updated. In addition to updating the display, the input device may perform capacitive sensing using the display screen as a proximity sensing area. To do this, the input device may interleave periods of capacitive sensing between periods of updating the display based on a display frame. For example, the input device may update the first half of display lines of the display screen, pause display updating, perform capacitive sensing, and finish updating the rest of the display lines. Further still, the input device may use common electrodes for both updating the display and performing capacitive sensing.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2012Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Synaptics IncorpoatedInventors: Jeffrey Lillie, John Childs, Christopher Ludden, Thomas Mackin, Petr Shepelev
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Publication number: 20150123944Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device with display screens that periodically update (refresh) the screen by selectively driving common electrodes corresponding to pixels in a display line. In general, the input devices drive each electrode until each display line (and each pixel) of a display frame is updated. In addition to updating the display, the input device may perform capacitive sensing using the display screen as a proximity sensing area. To do this, the input device may interleave periods of capacitive sensing between periods of updating the display based on a display frame. For example, the input device may update the first half of display lines of the display screen, pause display updating, perform capacitive sensing, and finish updating the rest of the display lines. Further still, the input device may use common electrodes for both updating the display and performing capacitive sensing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2015Publication date: May 7, 2015Inventors: Jeffrey S. LILLIE, John CHILDS, Christopher A. LUDDEN, Thomas MACKIN, Petr SHEPELEV
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Patent number: 8970577Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a processing system for a display device having an integrated sensing device. The processing system includes a driver module coupled to a plurality of source lines and a plurality of transmitter electrodes. Each transmitter electrode includes one or more common electrodes configured for display updating and input sensing. The driver module is configured for selecting a first display line for display updating and driving the sources lines with first display update signals to update the first display line. The drive module is further configured for driving a first transmitter electrode of the plurality of transmitter electrodes for input sensing during a non-display update period and driving the source lines with restore signals during a restart period. The processing system further includes a receiver module coupled to a plurality of receiver electrodes and configured for receiving resulting signals with the receiver electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Jeffrey S. Lillie, John Childs, Marshall J Bell, Thomas Mackin
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Publication number: 20150042600Abstract: An electrode matrix that is used for capacitive sensing may be integrated into a display panel of an input device. In one embodiment, source drivers may be mounted on the display panel which drive the display signals and capacitive sensing signals into the display panel. In one embodiment, the capacitive sensing signals may be routed on traces or lines that are interleaved on the same layer as the source lines used for setting a voltage on the pixels in the display panel during display updating. Using the interleaved traces, the source drivers may drive the capacitive sensing signals in parallel to a plurality of the electrodes in the matrix in a predefined pattern that spans one or more sensing cycles.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2013Publication date: February 12, 2015Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Jeffrey LUKANC, Stephen L. MOREIN, Christopher A. LUDDEN, Greg P. SEMERARO, Joseph Kurth REYNOLDS, Petr SHEPELEV, Thomas MACKIN