Patents by Inventor Tom R. Vandermeijden

Tom R. Vandermeijden 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).

  • Publication number: 20140002114
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein thus provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input devices. Specifically, the devices, systems and methods provide the ability to accurately determine user input using multiple different sensing regimes. The different sensing regimes can be used to facilitate accurate position determination of objects both at the surface and away from the surface. For example, the different sensing regimes can be used to determine position information for both ungloved and gloved fingers. In one embodiment the first sensing regime uses a first duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing and a first duty cycle of transcapacitive sensing. The second sensing regime uses a second duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing and a second duty cycle of transcapacitive sensing, where the second duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing is greater than the first duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Adam Schwartz, Joel Jordan, Tom R. Vandermeijden, Petr Shepelev
  • Publication number: 20130257784
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved sensor devices. In one embodiment, a capacitive input device is provided that includes a processing system, a plurality of sensing electrodes configured to sense objects in a sensing region, a conductor, and a shield layer comprising at least one shield electrode, where the at least one shield electrode is disposed between the plurality of sensing electrodes and the conductor. The processing system is configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode. When operating in the first mode the processing system is configured to determine position information for objects in the sensing region using the plurality of sensing electrodes. When operating in a second mode the processing system is configured to electrically float the at least one shield electrode and to determine force information for objects in the sensing region using the plurality of sensing electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Tom R. Vandermeijden, Jeffrey A. Small
  • Patent number: 8330474
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are described for determining positional information for objects using a sensing device. The various embodiments provide improved user interface functionality by facilitating user input with both objects that are at the surfaced and objects that are away from the surface. The sensor device includes a processing system and a sensor array of sensing electrodes adapted to capacitively sense objects in a sensing region. First, the processing system is configured to determine positional information for objects at the surface in a first portion of the sensing region. Secondly, the processing system is configured to determine positional information for objects that are away from the surface and in a second portion of the sensing region, where the first portion of the sensing region is between the surface and the second portion of the sensing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Tom R. Vandermeijden
  • Patent number: 8321572
    Abstract: In a technique for enhancing discoverability and increasing usage of a web browser in a mobile device on a wireless network, a server system coupled to the wireless network receives a signal representing initiation of a voice call from the mobile device. In response, the server system performs a lookup to determine whether a website is associated with the telephone number being called. If a website is associated with the telephone number being called and the mobile device has the capability to access and display the website, the server system sends an Alert to the mobile device, causing the mobile device to notify its user about the website. The user may then input a selection to either access the website instead of completing the call or to proceed with the voice call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Unwired Planet, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom R. Vandermeijden, James P. La Fleur
  • Publication number: 20120009911
    Abstract: In a technique for enhancing discoverability and increasing usage of a web browser in a mobile device on a wireless network, a server system coupled to the wireless network receives a signal representing initiation of a voice call from the mobile device. In response, the server system performs a lookup to determine whether a website is associated with the telephone number being called. If a website is associated with the telephone number being called and the mobile device has the capability to access and display the website, the server system sends an Alert to the mobile device, causing the mobile device to notify its user about the website. The user may then input a selection to either access the website instead of completing the call or to proceed with the voice call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Tom R. Vandermeijden, James P. La Fleur
  • Patent number: 8046433
    Abstract: In a technique for enhancing discoverability and increasing usage of a web browser in a mobile device on a wireless network, a server system coupled to the wireless network receives a signal representing initiation of a voice call from the mobile device. In response, the server system performs a lookup to determine whether a website is associated with the telephone number being called. If a website is associated with the telephone number being called and the mobile device has the capability to access and display the website, the server system sends an Alert to the mobile device, causing the mobile device to notify its user about the website. The user may then input a selection to either access the website instead of completing the call or to proceed with the voice call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Openwave Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Tom R. Vandermeijden, James P. La Fleur
  • Publication number: 20100167698
    Abstract: In a technique for enhancing discoverability and increasing usage of a web browser in a mobile device on a wireless network, a server system coupled to the wireless network receives a signal representing initiation of a voice call from the mobile device. In response, the server system performs a lookup to determine whether a website is associated with the telephone number being called. If a website is associated with the telephone number being called and the mobile device has the capability to access and display the website, the server system sends an Alert to the mobile device, causing the mobile device to notify its user about the website. The user may then input a selection to either access the website instead of completing the call or to proceed with the voice call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Tom R. Vandermeijden, James P. La Fleur
  • Publication number: 20100090712
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are described for determining positional information for objects using a sensing device. The various embodiments provide improved user interface functionality by facilitating user input with both objects that are at the surfaced and objects that are away from the surface. The sensor device includes a processing system and a sensor array of sensing electrodes adapted to capacitively sense objects in a sensing region. First, the processing system is configured to determine positional information for objects at the surface in a first portion of the sensing region. Secondly, the processing system is configured to determine positional information for objects that are away from the surface and in a second portion of the sensing region, where the first portion of the sensing region is between the surface and the second portion of the sensing region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Tom R. Vandermeijden
  • Patent number: 7660870
    Abstract: In a technique for enhancing discoverability and increasing usage of a web browser in a mobile device on a wireless network, a server system coupled to the wireless network receives a signal representing initiation of a voice call from the mobile device. In response, the server system performs a lookup to determine whether a website is associated with the telephone number being called. If a website is associated with the telephone number being called and the mobile device has the capability to access and display the website, the server system sends an Alert to the mobile device, causing the mobile device to notify its user about the website. The user may then input a selection to either access the website instead of completing the call or to proceed with the voice call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Openwave Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Tom R. Vandermeijden, James P. La Fleur
  • Patent number: 7143043
    Abstract: An improved approach for resolving overloaded keys (i.e., ambiguous keys) in constrained data entry computing systems is disclosed. A combination of an ambiguous key entry and a corresponding voice input are used to particularly identify an entered key. Examples, of constrained data entry computing systems include palm-sized computers, mobile phones (including cellular), Portable Digital Assistants (PDAs), Internet appliances, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Openwave Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Tom R. Vandermeijden
  • Patent number: 7127238
    Abstract: A mobile telephone comprises a telephony unit to process wireless telephony signals and a browser to enable the user to navigate hypermedia information via a wireless network. The telephony unit receives a signal indicating an incoming telephone call with Caller-ID information. The telephony unit provides the Caller-ID information to the browser, which uses the Caller-ID information to identify an action or data previously associated with the Caller-ID information. In one embodiment, the browser looks up ring tone data associated with the Caller-ID information and provides the ring tone data to the telephony unit, which causes a ring tone to be generated based on the ring tone data. Distinctive ring tones may be associated with particular callers or groups of callers. The browser may request ring tone data from a remote server over the wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Openwave Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Tom R. Vandermeijden, Adam H. E. Eberbach
  • Patent number: 6804524
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for the acquisition of automobile traffic information through wireless data networks. In one embodiment, the method determines traffic conditions on roadways using a plurality of mobile communication devices. Traffic data is obtained from the mobile communication devices. The traffic data is provided to the server. The traffic data is analyzed to determine the traffic conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Openwave Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Tom R. Vandermeijden
  • Publication number: 20040132431
    Abstract: In a technique for enhancing discoverability and increasing usage of a web browser in a mobile device on a wireless network, a server system coupled to the wireless network receives a signal representing initiation of a voice call from the mobile device. In response, the server system performs a lookup to determine whether a website is associated with the telephone number being called. If a website is associated with the telephone number being called and the mobile device has the capability to access and display the website, the server system sends an Alert to the mobile device, causing the mobile device to notify its user about the website. The user may then input a selection to either access the website instead of completing the call or to proceed with the voice call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: Openwave Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Tom R. Vandermeijden, James P. La Fleur
  • Patent number: 6744422
    Abstract: A system and method of determining a dynamic cursor advance time delay for a multi-tap key is disclosed. First, an elapsed time between a selection of a first key and a selection of a second key is measured. The measured elapsed time is then compared to a current cursor advance time delay. The current cursor advance time delay is then adjusted. In one embodiment, measuring the elapsed time between the selection of the first key and the selection of the second key includes averaging the elapsed time with previously recorded elapsed times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Openwave Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Benoit Schillings, Tom R. Vandermeijden
  • Publication number: 20040067751
    Abstract: A mobile telephone comprises a telephony unit to process wireless telephony signals and a browser to enable the user to navigate hypermedia information via a wireless network. The telephony unit receives a signal indicating an incoming telephone call with Caller-ID information. The telephony unit provides the Caller-ID information to the browser, which uses the Caller-ID information to identify an action or data previously associated with the Caller-ID information. In one embodiment, the browser looks up ring tone data associated with the Caller-ID information and provides the ring tone data to the telephony unit, which causes a ring tone to be generated based on the ring tone data. Distinctive ring tones may be associated with particular callers or groups of callers. The browser may request ring tone data from a remote server over the wireless network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Tom R. Vandermeijden, Adam H.E. Eberbach
  • Publication number: 20040066920
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically populating a contact database in a mobile communication device configured to communicate voice and data over a wireless network are described. A telephone number associated with an incoming or outgoing voice call involving the mobile communication device is received by a browser in the mobile communication device. When a data connection is established between the mobile communication device and a remote processing system via the wireless network, the browser automatically obtains data associated with the telephone number from a remote processing system via the wireless network and stores the data in the contact database in association with the telephone number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventor: Tom R. Vandermeijden