Acoustical (e.g., Vibration, Ultrasonic, Etc.) Patents (Class 178/18.04)
  • Patent number: 11320938
    Abstract: A touch panel as thin or thick as desired has increased touch sensitivity and decreased sensitivity to water includes. The panel or sensor includes a substrate having first and second surfaces and an edge between the surfaces defining a thickness. First and second pluralities of echelons are arranged on the substrate in first and second arrays along first and second centerlines. Each echelon in the pluralities of echelons is formed at an angle relative to their centerlines. First and second shear transducers are mounted on the edge of the substrate and are configured to generate shear waves in a source wave mode in a direction along their centerlines. The shear waves are reflected at the angle by the one or more of the plurality of echelons in the arrays to a sensing wave or the shear wave is converted to a different wave mode than the source mode. The sensing waves are reflected off of an edge opposing the centerlines and are sensed by the transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Texzec, Inc.
    Inventor: Terence J. Knowles
  • Patent number: 11301082
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fingerprint recognition unit and a fabrication method thereof, a fingerprint recognition module and a display device. The fingerprint recognition unit includes: a bearing substrate; a receiving electrode layer on the bearing substrate; a piezoelectric material layer on a side of the receiving electrode layer away from the bearing substrate; and a driving electrode layer on a side of the piezoelectric material layer away from the receiving electrode layer. A density of the driving electrode layer is greater than 5 g/cm3, and a thickness of the driving electrode layer, a thickness of the piezoelectric material layer and a thickness of the bearing substrate are configured such that a vibration nodal plane of the piezoelectric material layer is within the piezoelectric material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenqu Liu, Qi Yao, Feng Zhang, Zhao Cui, Libo Wang, Dongfei Hou, Xiaoxin Song, Zhijun Lv, Liwen Dong, Detian Meng, Jalil Ryu, Yang Yue, Haitao Huang
  • Patent number: 11262864
    Abstract: A system for classifying touch events includes a touch screen configured to display an interactive element, one or more acoustic sensors coupled to the touch screen, a touch event detector configured to monitor the one or more acoustic sensors and to save acoustic signals sensed by the one or more acoustic sensors, wherein the touch event detector is further configured to detect touch events in which the interactive element is touched by a first or a second finger part of a user, and wherein the touch events result in generating the acoustic signals, and an acoustic classifier configured to classify the acoustic signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: QEEXO, CO.
    Inventors: Christopher Harrison, Julia Schwarz, Robert Xiao
  • Patent number: 11231816
    Abstract: An ultrasonic touch sensing system that uses both compressional and shear waves for touch and water detection is disclosed. When no touch or water is present, less shear and compressional wave energy is absorbed, so both shear and compressional wave reflections do not have significant amplitude decreases. When a finger is in contact with the sensing plate, both shear and compressional wave energy is absorbed, so both shear and compressional wave reflections have significant amplitude decreases. When water is in contact with the sensing plate, compressional energy is absorbed but little or no shear wave energy is absorbed, so while compressional wave reflections have significant amplitude decreases, shear wave reflections do not. From these amplitudes, a determination can be made as to whether no touch is present on the sensing plate, whether a touch is present on the sensing plate, or whether water is present on the sensing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ehsan Khajeh, Brian Michael King
  • Patent number: 11157115
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to one or more intermediate layers located on a surface of a cover material of an acoustic touch screen. In some examples, the one or more layers can include one or more intermediate layers. The one or more intermediate layers can include a first layer including a plurality of features and a second layer located between the first layer and the cover material. In a touch condition, the touch object can apply a force to the top surface of the acoustic touch sensor. The applied force can create one or more local bends causing the plurality of features to move closer to the cover material and causing one or more surface discontinuities in the cover material. The acoustic waves can undergo reflections (e.g., causing the signal to be attenuated) due to the discontinuities located in the path of the wave propagation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ehsan Khajeh, Brian Michael King, Marcus Yip, Aaron Scott Tucker, Mohammad Yeke Yazdandoost, Marduke Yousefpor, Giovanni Gozzini
  • Patent number: 11102572
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for drawing attention to an object are provided. The apparatus includes an information acquisition unit configured to acquire personal information of a person, a processor that determines a target object based on the personal information and identifies positional information of the target object, and an emitter for emitting at least one of ultrasound waves and light to the target object based on the positional information. The method includes the steps of acquiring personal information of a person, determining the target object based on the personal information and identifying positional information of the target object, and emitting at least one of ultrasound waves and light from an emitter to the target object based on the positional information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: ASAHI KASEI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shiro Kobayashi, Masaya Yamashita, Takeshi Ishii, Soichi Mejima
  • Patent number: 11086415
    Abstract: A method for emulating writing devices using a haptic pen is disclosed herein. The method may include receiving, by a first microcontroller unit of the haptic pen, a device configuration indicating a writing device to be emulated. The first microcontroller unit may cause transmitters of the haptic pen to transmit a beacon to a second microcontroller unit of a display. The first microcontroller unit may receive contextual inputs from the second microcontroller unit that indicate an orientation of the haptic pen in relation to the display. The first microcontroller unit may apply a respective weight to each of the contextual inputs based on the device configuration and may cause a haptic response based on the respective weights applied to each of the contextual inputs. The haptic response causes the haptic pen to emulate the writing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Keith M. Alfano, Michael S. Gatson, Thomas Lanzoni
  • Patent number: 11048902
    Abstract: An acoustic imaging system includes multiple transducers disposed to circumscribe a portion of substrate. An acoustic imaging system also includes a controller and an image resolver. The transducers convert electrical signals into mechanical energy and/or mechanical energy into electrical signals. The controller is adapted to apply an electrical signal to the transducers which, in response, induce a mechanical wave, such as a surface wave, into the circumscribed portion. The controller is also adapted to receive electrical signals from the transducers. The image resolver uses the electrical signals received by the controller in order to construct an image of an object in physical contact with the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Appple Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad Yeke Yazdandoost, Giovanni Gozzini, Brian Michael King, Marcus Yip, Marduke Yousefpor, Ehsan Khajeh, Aaron Tucker, Henry H. Yang
  • Patent number: 11023087
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes: a display; a bezel extended along at least a partial edge of the display and configured to cover the edge of the display; at least one signal transceiver configured to transmit a detection signal to the bezel and receive a reflection signal of the transmitted detection signal; and a controller configured to determine a touch position of a user on the bezel based on time taken from a point of time where the at least one signal transceiver transmits the detection signal to a point of time where the at least one signal transceiver receives the reflection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ho-june Yoo, Nam-su Ha, Eun-seo Kim, Byung-seok Soh, Min-sup Kim, Hyun-kyu Yun
  • Patent number: 10949029
    Abstract: A system for classifying touch events of different interaction layers includes a touch screen configured to display an interactive element, one or more vibro-acoustic sensors coupled to the touch screen, a touch event detector configured to monitor the one or more vibro-acoustic sensors and to save vibro-acoustic signals sensed by the one or more vibro acoustic sensors, wherein the touch event detector is further configured to detect touch events in which the interactive element is touched by a first or a second finger part of a user, and wherein the touch events result in generating the vibro-acoustic signals, and a vibro-acoustic classifier is configured to classify the vibro-acoustic signals and activate corresponding functions in the different layers dependent upon which finger part is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: QEEXO, CO.
    Inventors: Chris Harrison, Julia Schwarz, Leandro Damian Zungri
  • Patent number: 10942252
    Abstract: A tracking system includes a first device and a second device. The first device includes plural ultrasonic sources and an inertial measurement unit configured to detect inertial data. The second device includes at least one ultrasonic receiver and a processor. The processor is configured to receive the inertial data, estimate an orientation of the first device according to the received inertial data, determine a first ultrasonic transmitter from the ultrasonic transmitters according to the orientation of the first device and a location of the first device, and send an enablement command about the first ultrasonic transmitter to the first device. The enabled transmitter of the ultrasonic transmitters sends ultrasounds according to the enablement command, the at least one ultrasonic receiver is configured to receive the ultrasounds from the first ultrasonic transmitter, and the processor determines the location of the first device according to the received ultrasounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Yuan-Tung Chen, Kun-Chun Tsai
  • Patent number: 10908689
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a display receiving a user input, at least one piezoelectric element disposed adjacent to the display and vibrating based on a specified control signal, a memory storing information about the user input, and a processor electrically connected to the display, the at least one piezoelectric element, and the memory. The processor applies a control signal corresponding to the user input to the at least one piezoelectric element based on the information about the user input and allows the at least one piezoelectric element vibrating depending on the control signal to output at least one of a specified vibration or a specified sound, in a display adjacent to the at least one piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Je Heon Park, Jae Il Joo, Young Sup Shin, Ju Yeong Lee
  • Patent number: 10901526
    Abstract: An image display control device according to the present invention includes a display control unit, an obtaining unit, a drawing unit, a deleting unit, and an operating unit. The display control unit displays an image on a display device. The obtaining unit obtains contact position information or proximity position information of a drawing device, which is relative to a display area of the display device. The drawing unit generates a drawn image, compose a display image of an information processing apparatus with the drawn image, and displays the composite image on the display device. The deleting unit deletes the drawn image from the displayed image, and display on the display device. The operating unit operates the information processing apparatus. The drawing device switches and specifies a generation and deletion of the drawn image, and an operation of the information processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Omura
  • Patent number: 10877581
    Abstract: Detecting a touch input force is disclosed. A signal to be used to propagate a propagating signal through a propagating medium with a surface is sent. The propagating signal that has been disturbed by a touch input with an amount of force on the surface is received. The received signal is processed to determine an identifier associated with the amount of force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventors: Lapoe E. Lynn, Samuel W. Sheng, Shih-Ming Shih, Yenyu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 10795496
    Abstract: It is intended to provide a method for selecting a writing sheet for a touch panel pen that can accurately select a writing sheet with which the generation of unpleasant sounds during writing is suppressed. According to the method for selecting a writing sheet for a touch panel pen, a sheet satisfying condition 1-1 and condition 1-2 described below is selected as a writing sheet for a touch panel pen. <condition 1-1> Sound generated when writing is performed under predetermined conditions using a touch panel pen on the surface of a writing sheet for a touch panel pen is recorded. The sound pressure (dB/Hz) is calculated for each 1 Hz from the recorded sound by means of fast Fourier transform. The values of the dB/Hz at frequencies from 1 Hz to 20,000 Hz are normalized to have a maximum value of 100 and a minimum value of 0, and the normalized values of dB/Hz are adopted as rated sound pressures P.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shubou Taya, Yosuke Takayama, Tomohiro Ogawa, Jun Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 10756811
    Abstract: A target receives two signals of different modes in association with a first location and another two signals in association with a second location. The first two signals are assumed to have been emitted effectively simultaneously from the first location, and the second two signals are assumed to have been emitted effectively simultaneously from the second location. A first distance is calculated in view of a receipt time difference of the first two signals in view of differing rates of propagation assumed between these two signals; a second distance is calculated in view of another receipt time difference of these second two signals in view of differing rates of propagation assumed between each of these other signals. A possible location of the target is then calculated in view of the first distance and its associated first location and the second distance and its associated second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Inventors: Mohsen Sarraf, Xiaopeng Huang, Walid Khairy Mohamed Ahmed
  • Patent number: 10564790
    Abstract: A method of creating a haptic effect on a touch surface, the method including the steps of detecting a location of a first appendage and a second appendage on a touch surface, applying a mechanical force to the first and second appendages at the detected locations on the touch surface, modulating the amplitude of the mechanical force to adjust a friction force applied to the first appendage and second appendage to simulate a texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James Edward Colgate, Michael A. Peshkin, John Glassmire, Laura Winfield Alexander
  • Patent number: 10551973
    Abstract: A method of controlling a mobile device is described, the method comprising: receiving a time varying current or voltage of a signal generated on the terminals of an acoustic transducer of the mobile device, the time varying current or voltage being generated in response to a tapping and/or sliding motion on a surface of the mobile device performed by a user; comparing the time varying signal characteristics with a set of predetermined signal characteristics; and generating at least one user command in dependence of the comparison. The mobile device may reliably detect complex user commands using an acoustic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Jan Paulus Freerk Huijser, Deheng Liu, Min Li, Shawn William Scarlett, Jose Manuel Gil-Cacho Lorenzo
  • Patent number: 10534447
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a controller device and a method of detecting user inputs. According to at least one embodiment, an electronic controller device includes first and second button components, a processing circuit and a communication interface. The first and second button components respectively include first and second touch pads. The first and second button components are configured to register click operations by respectively first and second fingers of a user. The first and second touch pads are configured to register touch operations by fingers. The processing circuit is configured to convert the click operations and the touch operations into input signals. The communication interface is configured to transmit the input signals to at least one external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Inventor: Yinbo Li
  • Patent number: 10528136
    Abstract: An input apparatus has a touch sensor 11 configured to receive an input, a load detection unit 12 configured to detect a pressure load on a touch face 11a of the touch sensor 11, a tactile sensation providing unit 13 configured to vibrate the touch face 11a, and a control unit 15 configured to control drive of the tactile sensation providing unit 13, when the pressure load detected by the load detection unit 12 satisfies a standard to provide a tactile sensation, such that a click sensation is provided to an object (means) pressing the touch face 11a. Thereby, a realistic click sensation similar to that obtained when a push-button switch is operated is provided when an operator operates the touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Tomotake Aono
  • Patent number: 10503259
    Abstract: A vibrating device comprises: a first support configured to be deformed having a surface defined in a plane in directions X and Y; at least one actuator configured to generate plate modes propagated in the first support; the first support comprising: at least one defect with respect to the propagation of the plate modes; the defect being of geometrical nature or corresponding to a structural heterogeneity; comprising: a second support; at least one embedded mechanical reflector secured to the first support and in contact with the first support, configured to immobilize the first support in at least one direction Z at right angles to the directions X and Y, the mechanical reflector being secured to the second support and; the embedded mechanical reflector being configured to isolate a so-called active zone belonging to the surface defined in a plane in directions X and Y in which the plate modes are propagated, the active zone excluding the defect; the actuator being situated in the active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignees: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, STMICROELECTRONICS (CROLLES 2) SAS, UNIVERSITE GRENBOLE ALPES, INSTITUT POLYTECHNIQUE DE GRENOBLE
    Inventors: Cédrick Chappaz, Fabrice Casset, Skandar Basrour, Marie Gorisse
  • Patent number: 10481735
    Abstract: An optical touch-sensitive device is able to determine the locations of multiple simultaneous touch events. The optical touch-sensitive device includes multiple emitters and detectors coupled with an optical coupler assembly through a waveguide on the surface on the optical-touch sensitive device. Each emitter produces optical beams which propagate in the waveguide via total internal reflection and are received by the detectors. Touch events disturb the optical beams, and are determined based on the disturbances. The waveguide has at least one dead zone on its surface. The dead zone is formed with a cover layer having a top surface and a bottom surface where the bottom surface of the cover layer is directly coupled to the top surface of the waveguide. The cover layer preserves optical beam propagation in the waveguide and makes the dead zone insensitive to touches on the top surface of the cover layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Rapt IP Limited
    Inventors: Owen Drumm, Julien Piot, Robert Copperwhite
  • Patent number: 10466204
    Abstract: A welding state inspection method for ultrasonic-welded plate-like members includes the steps of measuring energy that has been transmitted to an anvil when ultrasonic-welding a plurality of plate-like members stacked on the anvil while pressing a horn that vibrates against the plate-like members; and determining a quality of a welding state of the plate-like members on the basis of the energy measured in the measuring step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignees: Automotive Energy Supply Corporation, Envision AESC Japan Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Kawamoto, Shuji Yoshida, Yutaka Suzuki, Takashi Matsuoka, Toshiharu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10444849
    Abstract: A control device is provided having multiple buttons with touch sensors attached on top of the buttons. The buttons and touch sensors may detect signals of finger movements and/or gestures. The detected signals may be used to control various operations in various operation modes of the controller. The control device may interface with multiple devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventor: Yinbo Li
  • Patent number: 10437384
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include systems, methods and/or devices used to enable touchscreen proximity sensing. An exemplary method is performed at a touch sensitive device and includes detecting the presence of water on a capacitive sense array (CSA). The method detects decreased electrode responses from at least a subset of a plurality of sensor electrodes of the CSA that satisfy one or more first trigger conditions. The method further includes: (1) normalizing the CSA based on the detected decrease in electrode responses to form a second baseline, (2) determining that the water is removed from the portion of the CSA based on one or more subsequent electrode responses from at least the subset of the plurality of sensor electrodes that satisfy one or more second trigger conditions, and (3) normalizing the CSA based on the detected one or more subsequent electrode responses to form a third baseline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: PARADE TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yesim Oral, Tayyar Guzel
  • Patent number: 10386968
    Abstract: A system for determining a user indication is disclosed. The system includes a communication interface configured to send a signal to be used to propagate a freely propagating signal through a propagating medium with a surface and receive the freely propagating signal that has been disturbed by a disturbance on the surface. The system also includes a processor coupled to the communication interface and configured to process the received signal to determine a user indication associated with the disturbance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Sentons Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel W. Sheng, Shih-Ming Shih, Yenyu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 10365729
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining at least one motion parameter of a freely-guided electronic device on a substrate, such as the velocity of the movement of the freely-guided electronic device, comprising: determining a measurement of a vibration signal, which is generated by the interaction between the freely-guided electronic device and the substrate, and a determination of the motion parameter of the freely-guided electronic device from the measured vibration signal of the freely-guided electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Juergen Loeschinger, Bernhard Kleiner
  • Patent number: 10352735
    Abstract: A magnetostrictive path-measuring device is provided, comprising a plurality of measuring sections, each having an extent in a longitudinal direction and being arranged parallel to one another at least in a measuring region, at least one magnetic position indicator which is coupled contactlessly to the measuring sections, a start signal application device by means of which start signals are providable to the measuring sections for the generation of excitation current pulses, and an evaluating device by means of which the position of the position indicator on the measuring sections is determinable by a transit time measurement of mechanical waves, wherein the start signal application device comprises a time control device which directs that in a measuring cycle, start signals are provided to different measuring sections at defined different time points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventor: Torsten Beutler
  • Patent number: 10330766
    Abstract: When the excitation frequency of a touch panel and the frequency of external noise match or are close, noise cannot be removed by a bandpass filter. In addition, when a touch detection operating period is limited to a short period such as the no addressing period, the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) decreases because frequency separation decreases and the noise removal effect by averaging is degraded. An electronic device of the present invention includes a sensor system (101), an excitation generator (102) that generates an intermittent sinusoidal signal and applies this signal to the sensor system, and a demodulator (105) that demodulates the amplitude modulated signal that is the output of the sensor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: NLT TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Haga, Hideki Asada
  • Patent number: 10331285
    Abstract: A method of creating a haptic effect on a touch surface, the method including the steps of detecting a location of a first appendage and a second appendage on a touch surface, applying a mechanical force to the first and second appendages at the detected locations on the touch surface, modulating the amplitude of the mechanical force to adjust a friction force applied to the first appendage and second appendage to simulate a texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James Edward Colgate, Michael A. Peshkin, John Glassmire, Laura Winfield Alexander
  • Patent number: 10325136
    Abstract: An acoustic imaging system includes multiple acoustic transducers disposed to circumscribe a portion of imaging surface. An acoustic imaging system also includes a controller and an image resolver. The acoustic transducers convert electrical signals into mechanical energy and/or mechanical energy into electrical signals. The controller is adapted to apply an electrical signal to the acoustic transducers which, in response, induce a mechanical wave, such as a surface wave, into the circumscribed portion. The controller is also adapted to receive electrical signals from the acoustic transducers. The image resolver uses the electrical signals received by the controller in order to construct an image of an object in physical contact with the imaging surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad Yeke Yazdandoost, Marduke Yousefpor, Brian Michael King, Ehsan Khajeh, Marcus Yip, Giovanni Gozzini, Aaron Tucker
  • Patent number: 10295657
    Abstract: A time of flight-based system is operable for ambient light measurements. A method of operation includes detecting, in at least one active demodulation detection pixel, a first particular wavelength and generating amplitude data of the first particular wavelength; and detecting, in at least one spurious reflection detection pixel, a second particular wavelength and generating amplitude data of the second particular wavelength. In a computational device that stores spectrum data corresponding respectively to a plurality of different ambient light source types, an ambient lighting condition is determined based on the amplitude data of the first particular wavelength, the amplitude data of the second particular wavelength and the spectrum data of a particular one of the ambient light source types associated with the amplitude data of the first particular wavelength and the amplitude data of the second particular wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Bernhard Buettgen, Jens Geiger, Michael Kiy, Oliver Chidley, Markus Rossi
  • Patent number: 10296144
    Abstract: A first transmitter transmits a first propagating signal to a receiver through a first region of a touch input medium corresponding. A second transmitter transmits a second propagating signal to the receiver through a second region where the second region is a subset of the first region. At least the first propagating signal and the second propagating signal are analyzed to identify, based on a determination that the first signal path was disturbed by a touch input while the second signal path was not disturbed by the touch input, the touch input on a part of the first region that is not part of the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Sentons Inc.
    Inventors: Lapoe E. Lynn, Stanislav Maximov
  • Patent number: 10275093
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a sensor, circuitry, and a display. The sensor measures a writing pressure of a user in response to handwriting input performed on an input device by the user. The circuitry determines a width of a line based on the measured writing pressure of the user. The display displays the line with the determined width as a trajectory of the handwriting input performed on the input device by the user. The circuitry sets a correction value for the width of the line at each of a plurality of predetermined positions of the trajectory of the handwriting input by the user in response to input from the user, and corrects the width of the line based on the set correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Hanada
  • Patent number: 10275633
    Abstract: An acoustic imaging system includes multiple acoustic transducers disposed to circumscribe a portion of imaging surface. An acoustic imaging system also includes a controller and an image resolver. The acoustic transducers convert electrical signals into mechanical energy and/or mechanical energy into electrical signals. The controller is adapted to apply an electrical signal to the acoustic transducers which, in response, induce a mechanical wave, such as a surface wave, into the circumscribed portion. The controller is also adapted to receive electrical signals from the acoustic transducers. The image resolver uses the electrical signals received by the controller in order to construct an image of an object in physical contact with the imaging surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marduke Yousefpor, Mohammad Yeke Yazdandoost, Brian Michael King
  • Patent number: 10275638
    Abstract: An acoustic imaging system includes multiple acoustic transducers disposed to circumscribe a portion of imaging surface. An acoustic imaging system also includes a controller and an image resolver. The acoustic transducers convert electrical signals into mechanical energy and/or mechanical energy into electrical signals. The controller is adapted to apply an electrical signal to the acoustic transducers which, in response, induce a mechanical wave, such as a surface wave, into the circumscribed portion. The controller is also adapted to receive electrical signals from the acoustic transducers. The image resolver uses the electrical signals received by the controller in order to construct an image of an object in physical contact with the imaging surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marduke Yousefpor, Mohammad Yeke Yazdandoost, Brian Michael King, Aaron Tucker, Marcus Yip, Ehsan Khajeh
  • Patent number: 10248262
    Abstract: Providing a user interface interaction is disclosed. A first set of one or more indicators associated with a first location on a touch input surface and a first force intensity of a touch input provided on the touch input surface is received. A user interface object associated with the first location is determined. A second set of one or more indicators associated with a second location on the touch input surface and a second force intensity of the touch input that has been in continuous contact with the touch input surface at least since the touch input was provided at the first location is received. The user interface interaction based at least in part on the user interface object, the first set of indicators, and the second set of indicators is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Sentons Inc.
    Inventors: Lapoe E. Lynn, Samuel W. Sheng, Shih-Ming Shih, Yenyu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 10241622
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of detecting user initiated movement by an input element handled by a user is disclosed. The method may include performing a calibration procedure that is initiated by the user via a physical movement performed by the user. The method may also include positioning at least one sensor to dynamically adjust a size of an effective workspace range capable of detecting the user's movement of the input element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Kevin Usey
  • Patent number: 10241597
    Abstract: An active stylus pen is insensitive to external noise and has enhanced sensing performance with respect to an uplink signal input from a touch screen. The active stylus pen includes a housing connected to a ground, a conductive tip protruding outwardly from one side of the housing and brought into contact with a touch screen, a conductor layer surrounding an outer surface of the housing with an insulator interposed therebetween, a pen driving circuit connected to the conductor layer, and a switch connecting the conductor layer and the pen driving circuit. The pen driving circuit is cased by the housing, receives an uplink signal and a touch sensor driving signal from the touch screen, generates a pen driving signal synchronized with the touch sensor driving signal and outputs the generated pen driving signal to the touch screen through the conductive tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Doyoung Jung, Cheolse Kim, Buyeol Lee, Hyunguk Jang, Sanghyuck Bae
  • Patent number: 10198097
    Abstract: Detecting a touch input force is disclosed. A signal to be used to propagate a propagating signal through a propagating medium with a surface is sent. The propagating signal that has been disturbed by a touch input with an amount of force on the surface is received. The received signal is processed to determine an identifier associated with the amount of force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Sentons Inc.
    Inventors: Lapoe E. Lynn, Samuel W. Sheng, Shih-Ming Shih, Yenyu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 10158361
    Abstract: A device for detecting a touch at a surface of a substrate comprises a piezoelectric element positioned at a back surface of the substrate to be touched. A drive circuit is configured to apply a frequency modulated drive signal to the piezoelectric element to detect resonance at the substrate. A first detector arrangement coupled to the piezoelectric element is configured to generate a first output signal indicative of a sensed touch or no touch condition according to detected voltage changes and responsive to the frequency modulated drive signal applied to the piezoelectric element. A second detector arrangement coupled to the piezoelectric element is configured to generate a second output signal indicative of a sensed touch or no touch condition according to a sensed strain on said piezoelectric element. A decision circuit including a processor is configured to identify a touch condition or no touch condition at the surface of the substrate according to the first and second output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Measurement Specialties, Inc.
    Inventors: Minoru Toda, Kyung- Tae Park
  • Patent number: 10133411
    Abstract: A mobile station and unattached work area is used with an electronic pen, which includes a transmitter, such as an acoustic transmitter. The mobile station includes a receiver that receives signals from the transmitter and orientation sensors that detect movement of the mobile station. The position of the receiver is calibrated with respect to the unattached work area. Data from the orientation sensors is received when the mobile station, and thus, the receiver is moved with respect to the work area. A transformation matrix is generated based on the data from the orientation sensors, which can be used to correct for the movement of the receiver. The position of the transmitter in the electronic pen is calculated and mapped based on received signals and the transformation matrix and the mapped position is then displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Baruch Eruchimovitch, Leonid Sheynblat
  • Patent number: 10133370
    Abstract: One embodiment relates to a haptic stylus includes: a stylus housing; a stylus tip attached to one end of the stylus housing, so as to be in contact with an interaction surface, such as a touchscreen; a stylus covering attached to a circumference of the stylus housing, so as to be movable with respect to the stylus housing along a longitudinal direction of the haptic stylus and so as to be gripped/held by user's fingers; and a first actuator configured to activate the stylus housing to thereby cause a stick-slip phenomenon between the stylus covering and the user's fingers gripping/holding the stylus covering thereby allowing the user's fingers to grip/hold the stylus covering while moving along the longitudinal direction of the haptic stylus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: Tampereen Yliopisto, FUKOKU CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Grigori Evreinov, Ahmed Farooq, Roope Raisamo, Arto Hippula, Daisuke Takahata, Kazuyuki Ikehama, Tetsuya Arasawa
  • Patent number: 10120478
    Abstract: Systems for detecting an amount and/or location of a force applied to a device using a piezoelectric film are provided. One example system can include a transparent piezoelectric film for generating an electric charge in response to a deformation of the film. Electrodes positioned on opposite surfaces of the piezoelectric film can be used to detect the generated electric charge and determine an amount and/or location of force applied to the film based on the generated electric charge. In another embodiment, the system can include a capacitive touch sensor for determining a location of a touch event on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sinan Filiz, Brian Q. Huppi, Christopher J. Butler, Martin P. Grunthaner, Shahrooz Shahparnia, Sunggu Kang, Kai Wang
  • Patent number: 10108268
    Abstract: A touch sensitive device including a panel capable of supporting bending waves, a user-accessible touch sensitive screen on or forming part of a face of the panel, the touch sensitive screen having a plurality of different sensing areas, a plurality of vibration exciters coupled to the panel to apply bending waves to the panel to provide tactile feedback at the plurality of sensing areas in response to the user touching a sensing area, and signal processing means arranged to apply signals to the vibration exciters so as to steer bending waves applied to the panel by the plurality of vibration exciters whereby the amplitude of the applied bending waves is maximized at the sensing area touched by the user and reduced or minimized at each other sensing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: NVF Tech Ltd
    Inventor: Neil John Harris
  • Patent number: 10088865
    Abstract: A modular computing system includes an electronic device and a case. The electronic device has a cavity formed by a thin portion and a thick portion. The case has an auxiliary portion that fits within the cavity of the electronic device when the electronic device is docked with the case. The electronic device has a device battery and the auxiliary portion of the case has a case battery that electronically couples with the electronic device when the electronic device is coupled to the case. The electronic device has a display assembly coupled to a cover glass, and the cover glass has two apertures providing two respective buttons within the apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Thomas Li, Gregory Turner Witmer, Prachi Avinash Pant, Bryan Dan Trinh
  • Patent number: 10088941
    Abstract: A touch control substrate and a display device. The touch control substrate includes a plurality of touch control electrodes for touch controlling, which are made of electric conductive material. The touch control electrodes are disposed in a same layer and intervals are provided between adjacent touch control electrodes. The touch control panel further comprises a vanishing layer, only disposed at the intervals between the adjacent touch control electrodes and edges of each of the touch control electrodes. The vanishing layer is made of transparent insulation material. The touch control substrate and the display device can provide good vanishing effects and have simple manufacturing processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignees: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd., Hefei Xinsheng Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tao Ma, Wenjie Shi, Yinhu Huang
  • Patent number: 10069987
    Abstract: A touch panel has a display region for an operation screen and senses an outer object touching the display region. A vibrator unit applies vibration to the display region. In response to the touch panel sensing the object, a response controller unit instructs the vibrator unit to apply to the display region vibration responsive to the object. The response controller unit checks whether an image processing unit is under waiting or operating condition at the time the touch panel senses the object, and when the image processing unit is under the operating condition, sets the responsive vibration to a level lower than when the image processing unit is under the waiting condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Mineo Yamamoto, Isao Watanabe, Toshikazu Higashi, Hiroshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10048811
    Abstract: A touch input provided by a touch input indicator device is received on a propagating medium of a receiving device. The touch input indicator device includes a transmitter that transmits a signal to the propagating medium when the touch input indicator device contacts the propagating medium. The signal encodes a digital binary data identifying the signal. The signal that has been propagated through the propagating medium is received at a receiver of the receiving device. The receiver is coupled to the propagating medium. The digital binary data is detected in the received signal. Based at least in part on the detection of the digital binary data, the touch input provided by the touch input indicator device is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Sentons Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel W. Sheng, Shih-Ming Shih, Yenyu Hsieh, Mark Hamblin, Lapoe E. Lynn
  • Patent number: 10042387
    Abstract: The present invention belongs to the field of control technology, particularly relates to a wearable touch device and a wearable touch method. A wearable touch device comprises a carrier, a projecting unit, a monitoring unit and a processing unit. The carrier is wearable, the projecting unit is used for projecting to a touch surface capable of being touched by a touch end, the monitoring unit is used for monitoring contact information between the touch end and the touch surface and sending the contact information to the processing unit, and the processing unit is used for processing the contact information to judge whether the touch end effectively contacts the touch surface. The wearable touch device and the corresponding wearable touch method can ensure the touch effectiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yanshun Chen, Tianyue Zhao, Yaohui Li, Qiushi Xu