Capacitive Switch Patents (Class 200/600)
  • Patent number: 11946294
    Abstract: A door handle including a capacitance sensor configured to detect an operation body is provided. The capacitance sensor includes a substrate formed of an insulator and having a surface, at least one first sensor electrode disposed on the surface of the substrate, a plurality of second sensor electrodes disposed on the surface of the substrate, and a controller. The number of the plurality of second sensor electrodes is greater than the number of the at least one first sensor electrode. The controller applies a voltage to the plurality of second sensor electrodes and detects a coordinate position of the operation body, in a case where a capacitance between the operation body and the at least one first sensor electrode is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhito Oshita, Daisuke Takai
  • Patent number: 11947762
    Abstract: A touch panel includes a base substrate and a touch function layer disposed on the base substrate. The touch function layer includes first and second touch units. Each first touch unit includes first touch electrodes, and each second touch unit includes second touch electrodes. The first touch electrodes and the second touch electrodes are insulated from each other. The base substrate has at least two mounting holes and has a gap region at a position corresponding to a region between two adjacent mounting holes. In a first touch unit passing through the gap region, first touch electrodes located in the gap region serve as a first gap electrode and a second gap electrode. In a second touch unit passing through the gap region, second touch electrodes located in the gap region serve as a third gap electrode located between the first and second gap electrodes and a fourth gap electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignees: CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lingran Wang, Jun Yan, Wenhui Gao, Gukhwan Song
  • Patent number: 11928300
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a touch display device and a display panel. The touch display device includes a display panel in which a plurality of X-touch electrode lines, which extend in a first direction and receive a touch driving signal through a plurality of X-touch lines, and a plurality of Y-touch electrode lines, which extend in a second direction and transmit a touch sensing signal through a plurality of Y-touch lines, are disposed, and a touch driving circuit configured to supply the touch driving signal to the plurality of X-touch electrode lines and receive the touch sensing signal from the Y-touch electrode line to sense a touch, wherein overlapping areas in which at least some of the plurality of X-touch lines overlap at least some of the plurality of Y-touch lines are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: KyungSu Ha, Wooram Oh
  • Patent number: 11909390
    Abstract: A button structure has a base having a slot and a sensing element inserted into the slot. A pressure concentration element is fixedly connected by bonding to the sensing element and a key cap is mounted to the base. The key cap has a core member fixedly connected to a lower surface of a top plate of the key cap. The lower surface of the core member can be brought into contact with the pressure concentration element on application of a pressure to an upper surface of the top plate, such that the applied pressure is transmitted to the sensing element through the core member and the pressure concentration part. The sensing element is a piezoresistive film sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Peratech Holdco Limited
    Inventors: You Dawei, Li Zefeng, Cao Jin, Xu Feng
  • Patent number: 11907457
    Abstract: An electronic device including an electronic module, a sensing unit divided into a hole area overlapping the electronic module, an active area surrounding the hole area, and a peripheral area adjacent to the active area. A first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode are disposed in the active area and insulated from each other. The first sensing electrode includes first main patterns, first neighboring patterns having a smaller area than the first main patterns, and a hole pattern connected to the adjacent first neighboring patterns. The second sensing electrode includes second main patterns, second neighboring patterns adjacent the hole area and having a smaller area than the second main patterns, second connection patterns connected to the second main patterns, and a routing pattern connected to the adjacent second neighboring patterns. The hole pattern is disposed in the hole area, and the routing pattern is disposed in the peripheral area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wonjun Choi, Il-Joo Kim, Deokjung Kim
  • Patent number: 11873952
    Abstract: A light ring assembly for a smart-home device may include a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a light guide, where the light guide may include a plurality of cutouts that receive the plurality of LEDs, and a plurality of transmissive sections between the plurality of cutouts where a thickness of the transmissive sections tapers as the transmissive sections extend away from the plurality of cutouts. The light ring assembly may also include an output surface that receives light emitted from the plurality of LEDs through the plurality of transmissive sections, where the output surface is substantially circular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Mark Kraz, Amber Volmering, Bryan Macomber, Jacobi Grillo, Adam Kilgore
  • Patent number: 11875004
    Abstract: A touch sensor has a first and a second set of tracks arranged on a substrate. The tracks have a small width of less than 10 micrometers that renders them invisible to the naked eye. At the same time, neighboring parallel tracks are located at less than 200 micrometers from each other for macroscopic uniformity. The two sets of tracks may include interrupted tracks to reduce mutual capacitance and to increase sensitivity. The tracks can be meandering for optical anisotropy. The touch sensor can be manufactured using electrohydrodynamic ejection printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Scrona AG
    Inventor: Patrick Galliker
  • Patent number: 11868574
    Abstract: A touch substrate is provided with a mounting hole, and has a hole edge region around the mounting hole, and a main touch region located outside of the hole edge region. The touch substrate includes a substrate a plurality of first touch units disposed on the substrate and a plurality of second touch units disposed on the substrate and insulated from the plurality of first touch units. Each first touch unit extends in a first direction and includes a plurality of first touch electrodes and a plurality of first connecting portions, and each first connecting portion is electrically connected to two adjacent first touch electrodes. Each second touch unit extends in a second direction and includes a plurality of second touch electrodes and a plurality of second connecting portions. Each second connecting portion being electrically connected to two adjacent second touch electrodes; and the first direction intersecting with the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignees: CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Yan, Lingran Wang, Erjin Zhao, Zhiliang Jiang, Gukhwan Song, Mingqiang Wang
  • Patent number: 11861110
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display with touch sensors. One or more shielding layers may be interposed between the display and the touch sensors. The shielding layers may include shielding structures such as a conductive mesh structure and/or a transparent conductive film. The shielding structures may be actively driven or passively biased. In the active driving scheme, one or more inverting circuits may receive a noise signal from a cathode layer in the display and/or from the shielding structures, invert the received noise signal, and drive the inverted noise signal back onto the shielding structures to prevent any noise from the display from negatively impacting the performance of the touch sensors. In the passive biasing scheme, the shielding structures may be biased to a power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Rungrot Kitsomboonloha, Donggeon Han, Jason N Gomez, Kyung Wook Kim, Nikolaus Hammler, Pei-En Chang, Saman Saeedi, Shih Chang Chang, Shinya Ono, Suk Won Hong, Szu-Hsien Lee, Victor H Yin, Young-Jik Jo, Yu-Heng Cheng, Joyan G Sanctis, Hongwoo Lee
  • Patent number: 11858155
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic razor, including: a frame; one or more razor blades detachable from the frame; a razor blade motor to drive the one or more razor blades; one or more sensors; a processor; and a suctioning mechanism positioned below the one or more razor blades, including: a suction fan; a suction fan motor to drive the suction fan; and a hair collection compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventor: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi
  • Patent number: 11853494
    Abstract: An electronic device including: a first pattern part including first mesh lines in which a plurality of first cut line parts are defined; and a second pattern part spaced apart from the first pattern part in a first direction and including a plurality of second cut line parts in which a plurality of second cut line parts are defined. A first reference region is defined in the first pattern part; a second reference region having a same width and area as the first reference region in a second direction crossing the first direction is defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-hwan Park, Nayun Kwak, Jongseok Kim
  • Patent number: 11847290
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are related to a touch display device. By differentiating a cutting shape of a boundary of a portion constituting a touch electrode or a touch routing line and a cutting shape of a boundary of a portion constituting a dummy electrode, a repair of a touch sensor structure can be performed easily in a process implementing the touch sensor structure in a display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: SuChang An, JiHyun Jung, DeukSu Lee, JaeGyun Lee, Ruda Rhe, Hyangmyoung Gwon
  • Patent number: 11836304
    Abstract: An example electronic device includes an active digital pen sensor surface to generate analog position information, wherein the active digital pen sensor surface includes a projective capacitive sensor layer with a variance of sheet resistance of less than plus or minus 20 percent. The electronic device also includes a controller, including a sigma-delta analog-to-digital (A-to-D) converter, to generate digital pen position information based on the analog position information, and perform a triangulation based on the digital pen position information to determine a pen position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Fred Charles Thomas, III, Paul Mazurkiewicz, Bruce Eric Blaho
  • Patent number: 11836297
    Abstract: An input device includes a keycap, a first electrode disposed to move in response to movement of the keycap, a planar array of electrodes extending at least partially under the keycap, and a sensor. The planar array of electrodes includes a second electrode, a third electrode, and a fourth electrode extending between the second electrode and the third electrode. The sensor is coupled to at least one of the second electrode or the third electrode and configured to generate a signal indicative of a change in capacitive coupling between the second electrode and the third electrode. The change in the capacitive coupling may result from movement of the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John Stephen Smith, David S. Graff, Nicolas M. Golzio, Shahrzad Pouryayevali, Wayne C. Westerman, Christophe Blondin
  • Patent number: 11809667
    Abstract: A transparent conductive substrate structure used for a thermoforming process includes a transparent cover plate and a touch sensing layer structure. The transparent cover plate includes a toughening layer on one side thereof. The touch sensing layer structure arranged on one surface of the toughening layer, and includes a first transparent conductive layer, a dielectric layer, a barrier layer, a second transparent conductive layer, and a buffer protective layer. Each transparent conductive layer is directly applied to the transparent cover plate, so that the thickness between the transparent conductive layers is below 1 ?m. The thickness between layers may be reduced to increase the sensitivity of the touch sensing layer structure. To prevent each transparent conductive layer and an electrode wire layer from breaking during the thermoforming process, the transparent conductive substrate structure is combined with the buffer protective layer to strengthen the structure of each transparent conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: NANOBIT TECH. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sheng-Chieh Tsai, Yao-Zong Chen, Yu-Yang Chang, Hsiou-Ming Liu
  • Patent number: 11782562
    Abstract: A touch panel includes first touch electrodes and second touch electrodes. At least one first touch electrode includes first sub-electrodes electrically connected to one another and first connecting sub-portions located between and electrically connecting every two adjacent first sub-electrodes. At least one second touch electrode includes second sub-electrodes electrically connected to one another and second connecting sub-portions located between and electrically connecting every two adjacent second sub-electrodes. At least one first connecting sub-portion at least partially overlaps at least one second connecting sub-portion so as to form a stacked structure as a connecting portion. The touch panel includes an opening area, and the connecting portions include at least one adjacent connecting portion adjacent to the opening area, where a center of an orthographic projection of the adjacent connecting portion does not overlap a first intersection point and is located outside the opening area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignees: CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mingqiang Wang, Hongjin Hu, Lixiang Yi, Junhui Yang, Zhenhua Zhang, Xin Bi, Bin Zhang
  • Patent number: 11782566
    Abstract: An electronic device including a display layer and a sensor layer including a plurality of sensing units. Each of the plurality of sensing units includes at least one sub sensing unit. The at least one sub sensing unit includes a first pattern including a first portion and a second portion, a first cross pattern including a first cross portion and a second cross portion, a second cross pattern, and a bridge pattern. The second portion extends in a first cross direction crossing the first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction to face the first cross portion, and the second cross portion extends in the first cross direction to face the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minsoo Kim, Jaeuk Choi, Yun-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 11768566
    Abstract: A touch screen panel including a substrate having an effective area and a pad area, sensing electrodes disposed in the effective area, pads disposed in the pad area, wirings connecting the sensing electrodes and the pads, respectively, the wirings each having different lengths, and an electrostatic dispersion pad disposed adjacent to a sensing electrode disposed closest to the pad area among the sensing electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In Cheol Kim, Il Ho Lee, Byoung Won Choi, Jin Woo Park
  • Patent number: 11754981
    Abstract: An electronic watch includes a housing, a display positioned at least partially within the housing, a cover covering at least part of the display, and a crown having a portion positioned along a side of the housing. The crown may include an inner member that is rotationally constrained relative to the housing and an outer member that is rotationally free relative to the inner member. The device may further include a rotation sensor configured to sense a rotation of the outer member relative to the inner member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan C. Perkins, Maegan K. Spencer, Brad G. Boozer
  • Patent number: 11755157
    Abstract: A pre-fabricated sensor assembly for an interactive object including an object substrate is provided. The pre-fabricated sensor assembly includes a touch sensor comprising a plurality of flexible sensing elements, a first electronics module comprising sensing circuitry in electrical communication with the plurality of flexible sensing elements, a communication interface comprising a first end portion coupled to the first electronics module and comprising a second end portion, a receptacle coupled to the second end portion of the communication interface, and one or more flexible retaining layers that define a housing for a first portion of the pre-fabricated sensor assembly. The first portion of the pre-fabricated sensor assembly can include at least a portion of each of the plurality of flexible sensing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Ivan Poupyrev, Kishore Sundara-Rajan, Tong Wu, Mustafa Emre Karagozler, Brendon Allen Beardsley
  • Patent number: 11698551
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a polarizer. The polarizer includes: a substrate provided with a first surface and a second surface that are opposite to each other; and a first triacetyl cellulose (TAC) film, a polyvinyl acetate (PVA) film and a second TAC film that are provided on the first surface of the substrate, where at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the substrate is further provided with a transparent conductive layer, which forms a touch electrode. The present disclosure further provides a touch-sensitive liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and module using the polarizer. The polarizer provided by the present disclosure can reduce the thicknesses of the touch-sensitive LCD panel and module, and simplify their production processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: BEIJING ZENITHNANO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Youzhi She, Shudong Zhong
  • Patent number: 11687203
    Abstract: Touch display device, touch display panel, touch module and forming method thereof are provided. The touch module includes a substrate, and a first shadow elimination layer, a touch electrode layer, a second shadow elimination layer, and a bridge layer that are sequentially located on a side of the substrate. The touch electrode layer includes a plurality of first touch electrodes. The bridge layer includes a plurality of bridges, and a bridge of the plurality of bridges connects two adjacent first touch electrodes through a via passing through the second shadow elimination layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: SHANGHAI TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haiquan Li, Yimiao Ding, Jun Zhou, Lihua Wang, Shanshan Zhang
  • Patent number: 11667175
    Abstract: Interior panels for interiors of vehicles, vehicles, and methods for making interior panels for interiors of vehicles are provided. In one example, the interior panel includes an outer covering having a first surface. A second surface is disposed opposite the first surface. The second surface has a pattern formed therein that is hidden from the first surface. A light source is operative to generate light and is disposed adjacent to the second surface generally aligned with the pattern. When the light source generates light, an illuminated pattern corresponding to the pattern is visible on the first surface. A capacitive sensor is configured to generate a capacitance change signal in response to change in capacitance of the capacitive sensor. A controller is in communication with the capacitive sensor to receive the capacitance change signal and is configured to generate a command signal in response to the capacitance change signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: John Bullock, Sean Thornton, John Marchetti, Josh Tatum, Stephen Spencer
  • Patent number: 11670469
    Abstract: A key structure which is adjustable in pressing force required and in duration of key pushback includes a circuit board, a keycap, a first magnetic member, an elastic member, a membrane switch, and a second magnetic member. The keycap includes an extending portion. The membrane switch is spaced apart from the first magnetic member, and the elastic member buffers the first magnetic member against the membrane switch. The second magnetic member is disposed between the membrane switch and the circuit board. When energized, the second magnetic member generates magnetic attraction or magnetic repulsion to the first magnetic member. A pressing force required on the key structure and a rebound force and a delay of rebound can be dynamically adjusted by a direction and magnitude of a current applied to the second magnetic member. A key device including the key structure is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignees: HONGFUJIN PRECISION ELECTRONS (YANTAI) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chih-Wei Chang
  • Patent number: 11648627
    Abstract: A touch display device is provided in some embodiments of the present disclosure, including a transparent cover, a patterned touch sensing film layer, a light-shielding layer, and a UV-blocking layer. The patterned touch sensing film layer covers a first surface of the transparent cover. The light-shielding layer is located between the transparent cover and the patterned touch sensing film layer. The UV-blocking layer prevents UV from irradiating the light-shielding layer. The UV-blocking layer is located between the light-shielding layer and the patterned touch sensing film layer and covers the light-shielding layer. A method of forming a touch display device is also provided. The touch display device and formation method thereof provided in some embodiments avoid the injury of the light-shielding layer caused by the laser by disposing of the UV-blocking layer in the single-side electrode structure, which replaces the wet etching steps and decreases the cost of the etching steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: TPK Advanced Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Zhang, Chen Hsin Chang, Liang Zhen Xu
  • Patent number: 11609320
    Abstract: A display device is provided. The display device includes a transparent substrate, a display, an antenna module, and a plurality of first conductive structures. The display emits image light to the transparent substrate. The antenna module emits a first beam to the transparent substrate. The plurality of first conductive structures is disposed on a first surface of the transparent substrate and a travel path of the image light, and forms a first conductive pattern. The plurality of first conductive structures change a direction of the first beam and generate a second beam to an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Chun-Yih Wu, Ta-Chun Pu, Yen-Liang Kuo
  • Patent number: 11588484
    Abstract: A detection device includes an upper detection electrode, a lower detection electrode disposed under the upper detection electrode in an overlapping manner, a proximity state detection unit configured to detect a proximity state of a detection target relative to a detection surface based on a change in at least one of electrostatic capacitances of the upper detection electrode and the lower detection electrode, and a switching unit configured to perform switching between a first state in which the upper detection electrode and the lower detection electrode are insulated from each other and a second state in which the upper detection electrode and the lower detection electrode are short-circuited to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventor: Keishi Abe
  • Patent number: 11573671
    Abstract: A touch sensing unit includes first sensing electrodes (FSEs), second sensing electrodes SSEs, first signal lines (FSLs), second signal lines (SSLs), and connection lines (CLs). The FSEs extend in a first direction (D1) and are arranged in a second direction (D2) intersecting the D1. The SSEs extend in the D2 and are arranged in the D1. The FSLs are connected to the FSEs, respectively. The SSLs are connected to the SSEs, respectively. The CLs are connected to the FSEs via the FSLs. The FSEs are grouped into blocks. Each of the blocks includes p FSEs of the FSEs, and p FSLs connected to the p FSEs, respectively, “p” being a natural number greater than one. A k-th CL of the CLs is connected to one of the FSEs of each of the blocks, “k” being a natural number. The FSEs connected to the k-th connection line have different sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Changho Hyun, Jeehyun Lee, Ahnho Jee
  • Patent number: 11560225
    Abstract: A combined hover and forward thrust control assembly for a dual-mode aircraft includes a support structure attached to an aircraft frame of an aircraft having at least a vertical thrust propulsor and at least a forward thrust propulsor a throttle lever rotatably mounted to the support structure, wherein rotating the throttle lever in a first direction increases power to at least a vertical thrust propulsor and rotating the throttle lever in a second direction decreases power to at least a vertical thrust propulsor and a linear thrust control mounted on the throttle lever, wherein movement of the linear thrust control in a first direction increases forward thrust of at least a forward thrust propulsor, and movement of the linear thrust control in a second direction decreases forward thrust of the forward thrust propulsor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Cody Spiegel, Dale Williams
  • Patent number: 11515874
    Abstract: A touch sensing device includes: an oscillation circuit including a sensing inductor disposed inside a touch member, a part of a cover of an electronic device, and generating an oscillation signal according to whether a touch has occurred through the touch member; a signal processor converting the oscillation signal into a digital sensing signal; a reference signal generator updating a reference signal based on the digital sensing signal; and a signal detector outputting a detection signal by detecting whether a touch has occurred through the touch member, using the reference signal and the digital sensing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung Joo Hong, Joo Yul Ko, Je Hyuk Ryu
  • Patent number: 11507223
    Abstract: A sensor panel is provided which is coupleable to a sensor controller for detecting the position of an active stylus in a detection area of the sensor panel. The detection area includes a plurality of linear electrodes extending in an x direction and arrayed in a y direction transverse to the x direction, and a plurality of routing traces associated respectively with the linear electrodes and connected respectively to the linear electrodes. The sensor panel includes a plurality of FPC (flexible printed circuit) connection terminals associated respectively with the routing traces and connecting the routing traces to the sensor controller. The routing traces have respective routing lines connected at an angle, which is not zero degrees, respectively to trunk lines that are directly connected to the corresponding linear electrodes. The trunk lines of the linear routing traces have substantially equal lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Kadowaki
  • Patent number: 11484182
    Abstract: A door assembly for an appliance includes a door frame having a top edge and a user interface board positioned at the top edge of the door frame. A console cover is positioned over the user interface board and has a top surface defining a plurality of touch buttons and a front surface defining a front indicator extending at least partially along the vertical direction adjacent the top edge of the door frame. A side-fire light source is mounted on the user interface board for selectively emitting light energy toward the front indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle James Brewer, Jason Allen Rowe, Timothy David Kaiser, Michelle Diana Gross
  • Patent number: 11460932
    Abstract: An input device includes a pressure sensitive unit and a sensing unit. The pressure sensitive unit includes a clicking part and a pressure sensor. The clicking part has a press surface and is configured to provide a sense of click to an operation body which applies pushing force to the press surface. The pressure sensor is disposed on an opposite side of the clicking part from the press surface. The sensing unit is aligned with the pressure sensitive unit when viewed from a front side of the press surface and is configured to sense that the operation body comes in proximity to or comes into contact with a second detection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Saito, Masaaki Yamabayashi, Ryo Nakae, Kenichi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11460967
    Abstract: An electronic device including a display layer and a sensor layer including a plurality of sensing units. Each of the plurality of sensing units includes at least one sub sensing unit. The at least one sub sensing unit includes a first pattern including a first portion and a second portion, a first cross pattern including a first cross portion and a second cross portion, a second cross pattern, and a bridge pattern. The second portion extends in a first cross direction crossing the first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction to face the first cross portion, and the second cross portion extends in the first cross direction to face the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minsoo Kim, Jaeuk Choi, Yun-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 11455065
    Abstract: A touch sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a base layer, a first electrode layer disposed on the base layer, and a second electrode layer disposed at an upper level of the first electrode layer. The first electrode layer includes a plurality of first sensing electrode rows extending in a first direction parallel to a top surface of the base layer, and first traces branched from each of the first sensing electrode rows and alternately distributed on both lateral portions of the base layer. The second electrode layer includes a plurality of second sensing electrode columns extending in a second direction that is parallel to the top surface of the base layer and intersects the first direction, and second traces branching from the second sensing electrode columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: DONGWOO FINE-CHEM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Soo Park, Sung Woo Yu, Jae Hyun Lee, Keon Kim, Ju In Yoon
  • Patent number: 11422665
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to touch display devices, and more particularly, to a touch display device capable of reducing the number of touch lines and touch channels through a structure in which touch electrodes are arranged in diagonal directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: CheolSe Kim
  • Patent number: 11418193
    Abstract: A key unit and a keyboard using the same are provided. The key unit includes a circuit board, an elastic element, a keycap, and a processing circuit. The circuit board includes a capacitance sensing circuit embedded therein, and the capacitance sensing circuit includes a pair of sensor electrodes. The elastic element is disposed on the circuit board. The keycap is moveably disposed above and spaced apart from the circuit board. The elastic element is disposed between the keycap and the circuit board so that the keycap moves between a non-depressed position and a depressed position with respect to the circuit board. The processing circuit is electrically connected to the pair of sensor electrodes to obtain a variation of a coupling capacitance between the pair of sensor electrodes and to determine whether the keycap is touched or depressed according to the variation of coupling capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Che-Chia Hsu, Yu-Han Chen, Chi-Chieh Liao
  • Patent number: 11384901
    Abstract: A safety cutting tool has an electrically conductive cutting element, an electrically controlled actuating motor drivingly connected to the cutting element, a gripping handle electrically insulated from the cutting element and adapted to receive a hand of an operator therein, a cutting trigger control electrically insulated from the cutting element and adapted to be actuated by the hand of the operator, and an emergency stop device that is able to respond to a contact of the operator with the cutting element. The emergency stop device includes a first manual contact, electrode and a second manual contact electrode with an electrical monitoring circuit connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Inventors: Roger Pellenc, Bernard Lopez
  • Patent number: 11360440
    Abstract: An electronic watch includes a housing, a display positioned at least partially within the housing, a cover covering at least part of the display, and a crown having a portion positioned along a side of the housing. The crown may include an inner member that is rotationally constrained relative to the housing and an outer member that is rotationally free relative to the inner member. The device may further include a rotation sensor configured to sense a rotation of the outer member relative to the inner member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan C. Perkins, Maegan K. Spencer, Brad G. Boozer
  • Patent number: 11360615
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a display panel, and an input sensor, in which a first region, a second region enclosing the first region, and a third region enclosing the second region are defined, on the display panel and including sensing electrodes including a first electrode including a first main electrode and a first subsidiary electrode, and a second electrode adjacent the first electrode, and including a second main electrode and a second subsidiary electrode between the first main electrode and the first subsidiary electrode in the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Wook Cho, Min-Hong Kim, Taejoon Kim, Jungmok Park
  • Patent number: 11360614
    Abstract: A method of detecting shift of a rotatable interface is disclosed. The rotatable interface has a fixed base with a conductive region on a bottom surface, the fixed base attached to a display screen of an input device. The method includes providing, during a first time period, a reference signal to first and second sets of electrodes of the input device that are each capacitively coupled to the conductive region. The method further includes, during a second time period, providing the reference signal to the first set of electrodes, providing a sensing signal to the second set of electrodes, and receiving, during the second time period, a resulting signal on the second set of electrodes. The method still further includes determining a translation of the rotatable interface relative to the display screen based, at least in part, on the resulting signal values received during the second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Kelvin Fong
  • Patent number: 11340745
    Abstract: A touch structure includes an insulating layer, first touch electrodes, second touch electrodes, and dummy electrodes that are insulated from each other. The second touch electrode includes second touch sub-electrodes and bridge portions, and every two adjacent second touch electrodes are electrically connected via a bridge portion. The second touch sub-electrodes and the bridge portions are disposed on two opposite sides of the insulating layer, and the second touch sub-electrodes and the first touch electrodes are disposed on a same side of the insulating layer. The dummy electrodes and the bridge portions are disposed on a same side of the insulating layer. Orthographic projections of the dummy electrodes on the insulating layer do not overlap with orthographic projections of the first touch electrodes and the second touch electrodes on the insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignees: CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yangpeng Wang, Benlian Wang, Weinan Dai
  • Patent number: 11307727
    Abstract: A touch control display panel is provided. The touch control display panel includes a base substrate; and a black matrix layer on the base substrate and in an inter-subpixel region of the touch control display panel. The black matrix layer includes a non-sensing portion, and a plurality of sensing portions spaced apart from the non-sensing portion. The touch control display panel further includes a first electrode layer including a plurality of first electrode blocks respectively between the plurality of sensing portions and the base substrate; and a second electrode layer including a plurality of second electrode blocks respectively on a side of the plurality of sensing portions away from the first electrode layer. A respective one of the plurality of sensing portions is configured to undergo a restorable change in electrical resistivity in response to a pressure from a touch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignees: Chengdu BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd., BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuedi He, Guoqiang Tang
  • Patent number: 11243648
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a touch panel, an array substrate and a display device. The touch panel includes a touch control electrode unit including a first electrode and a second electrode which are insulated from each other, and the second electrode surrounds the first electrode. In the touch panel in which the second electrode surrounds the first electrode in the touch control electrode unit, since the first electrode and the second electrode are provided independently, touch control driving and sensing are performed on the first electrode and the second electrode respectively when the touch panel is being touched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignees: BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xingyou Luo, Yue Li, Xi Chen, Yanchen Li, Jinyu Li, Dawei Feng, Yu Zhao, Shaojun Hou, Dong Wang, Mingyang Lv, Wang Guo
  • Patent number: 11237686
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided, which includes a substrate, a protruding pattern, a first conductive pattern, an insulating layer, and a second conductive pattern. The protruding pattern is disposed on the substrate. The first conductive pattern is disposed on the substrate and covers the protruding pattern. The insulating layer is disposed on the first conductive pattern. The insulating layer includes an opening overlapping at least a portion of the protruding pattern. The second conductive pattern is disposed on the insulating layer. The second conductive pattern is connected to the first conductive pattern through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hwan-hee Jeong, Yong-hwan Park, Yeontae Kim, Taejoon Kim
  • Patent number: 11205061
    Abstract: A fingerprint sensor includes a substrate, and a plurality of first electrodes disposed on the substrate, and including a plurality of first pattern parts and a plurality of first connectors. The plurality of first electrodes is repeatedly arranged in a second direction intersecting a first direction, and the plurality of first connectors connects the plurality of first pattern parts in the first direction. The fingerprint sensor further includes an insulating layer disposed on the plurality of first electrodes, and a plurality of second electrodes disposed on the insulating layer, and including a plurality of second pattern parts and a plurality of second connectors. The plurality of second electrodes is repeatedly arranged in the first direction, and the plurality of second connectors connects the plurality of second pattern parts in the second direction. The plurality of first connectors and/or the plurality of second connectors include a metal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seokwhan Chung
  • Patent number: 11188165
    Abstract: A touch screen panel includes a plurality of touch sensors, wherein each of the plurality of touch sensors includes a first touch electrode unit extending in a first direction, and a second touch electrode unit extending in a second direction different from the first direction, wherein the first touch electrode unit includes a plurality of first mesh pattern electrodes that are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in a sensing area where the first touch electrode unit and the second touch electrode unit intersect, and wherein the second touch electrode unit includes a plurality of second mesh pattern electrodes that are disposed between the plurality of first mesh pattern electrodes to be spaced apart from each other in the sensing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: ChangSeok Oh, Jonghyun Han
  • Patent number: 11184985
    Abstract: A touch structure and a method of manufacturing the touch structure are provided. The method includes: forming a first conductive layer on a base substrate; forming a second conductive layer on the first conductive layer; and patterning the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer to respectively form a first conductive layer pattern and a second conductive layer pattern; the first conductive layer pattern is formed after the second conductive layer pattern is formed, and the first conductive layer pattern and the second conductive layer pattern are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignees: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd., Hefei Xinsheng Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jing Wang, Zouming Xu, Xiaodong Xie, Lei Zhang, Xianlin Ding, Qitao Zheng, Tsung Chieh Kuo, Dong Li, Qicheng Chen, Ting Zeng, Ming Zhang, Seong Cho Lee, Lingyan Wu, Guiyu Zhang
  • Patent number: 11172892
    Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a sensor capable of detecting vital signs, setting acceptable limits for the vital signs, and includes structures for monitoring the vital signs and providing local and/or remote indications to caregivers if the vital signs fall outside of acceptable limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Zerhusen, Dan R. Tallent, Brandon P. Fisk, Aziz A. Bhai, Eric D. Benz, Robert D. Weitz, John Goewert, Frank Sauser, Nicholas C. Batta, Edward J. Koors, Jonathan D. Turner, Richard H. Heimbrock, John G. Byers, Nicholas A. Mann, Daniel McCoy
  • Patent number: 11154975
    Abstract: A tool includes a switch and a handle. The switch is configured to cause an electric component to operate. The handle is held by a hand to manipulate the switch. The switch includes a switch manipulation part to be manipulated, and a load sensor. The load sensor is configured to receive a pressing force through the switch manipulation part. The load sensor includes a pressure-sensitive conductive elastic member in which conductive particles are dispersed in a non-conductive elastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: MAX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohide Tsutsui, Tomohiko Serita