Using Capacitive Type Measurement Patents (Class 324/658)
  • Patent number: 9201107
    Abstract: A method for cell characterization with Miller capacitance includes characterizing input capacitance of an input of a first stage in a cell by considering a first current transition at the input of the first stage up to a first stop time. The first stop time occurs during the first current transition exhibits a substantial tail portion contributed by the later of a first input voltage transition and a first output voltage transition reaching a corresponding steady state voltage. The first input voltage transition is associated with the input of the first stage. The first output voltage transition is associated with an output of the first stage coupled to the input through a capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Nitesh Katta, Jerry Chang-Jui Kao, King-Ho Tam, Kuo-Nan Yang, Chung-Hsing Wang
  • Patent number: 9204540
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a capacitance touch panel module includes forming a plurality of first conductive patterns on a substrate comprising a touching area and a peripheral area along a first orientation, a plurality of second conductive patterns along a second orientation, and a plurality of connecting portions in the touching area; forming a plurality of insulated protrusions, in which each insulated protrusion covering one connecting portion, and forming an insulated frame on the peripheral area; and forming a bridging member on each insulated protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: INNOLUX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kai Meng, Lien-Hsin Lee
  • Patent number: 9204539
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a capacitance touch panel module includes forming a plurality of first conductive patterns on a substrate comprising a touching area and a peripheral area along a first orientation, a plurality of second conductive patterns along a second orientation, and a plurality of connecting portions in the touching area; forming a plurality of insulated protrusions, in which each insulated protrusion covering one connecting portion, and forming an insulated frame on the peripheral area; and forming a bridging member on each insulated protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: INNOLUX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kai Meng, Lien-Hsin Lee
  • Patent number: 9194971
    Abstract: Techniques related to making resistivity measurements of an underground formation surrounding a borehole involve using a tool having an insulating pad mounted on the conductive body of the tool. The pad has a current injector electrode and a current return electrode electrically isolated from each other and mounted on a face of the pad. The pad is positionable in use to be adjacent the wall of the borehole. At least two impedance ratios are determined. The first is the ratio of the electrical impedance between the current injector electrode and the tool body and the electrical impedance between the current return electrode and the tool body. The second is the ratio of the electrical impedance between the current injector electrode and the formation, and the electrical impedance between the current return electrode and the formation on the other hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Bloemenkamp
  • Patent number: 9182432
    Abstract: A differential amplifier has an output and differential first and second inputs. A switch disposed between a sensor electrode and the second input is opened to initiate a reset phase where the sensor electrode and the differential amplifier are decoupled. A feedback capacitance disposed between the second input and the output is reset to a first level of charge. The switch is closed to initiate a measurement phase where the second input and sensor electrode are coupled. In the measurement phase: charge is balanced between the sensor electrode and the feedback capacitance such that a sensor electrode voltage equals a voltage of the first input equals a voltage of the second input, and the sensor electrode is charged; and the differential amplifier is utilized to integrate charge on the sensor electrode, such that an absolute capacitance corresponding to a coupling between the sensor electrode and an input object is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Farzaneh Shahrokhi, Adam Schwartz, Shahrooz Shahparnia, Joseph Kurth Reynolds, Tracy Scott Dattalo
  • Patent number: 9170694
    Abstract: Disclosed is a touch sensor integrated type display device, that includes a plurality of gate lines and data lines which cross each other and form a plurality of pixel areas, a plurality of first electrodes arranged in parallel with one another in a first direction, a plurality of second electrodes which are formed on the same layer as the first electrodes and are arranged in parallel with one another in the first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction, and a plurality of pixel electrodes which are formed on a layer different from the first and second electrodes in the pixel areas and are positioned opposite the first and second electrodes. The first electrodes and the second electrodes arranged in parallel with one another in the first direction are alternately disposed every m electrode lines, where m is a natural number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Manhyeop Han, Cheolse Kim
  • Patent number: 9164640
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of driving barrier electrodes of a capacitive-sense array with an excitation signal are described. One apparatus includes a capacitance-sensing circuit coupled to a capacitive-sense array including multiple electrodes. The capacitance-sensing circuit includes multiple sensing channels. The capacitance-sensing circuit is operative to measure signals on a first subset of the multiple electrodes using the multiple sensing channels. Each of the sensing channels is selectively coupled to one of the first subset of electrodes. The capacitance-sensing circuit is further operative to drive a barrier electrode of the multiple electrodes with an excitation signal while measuring the signals on the first subset. The excitation signal is greater in magnitude than the measured signals. The barrier electrode is adjacent to an edge electrode of the first subset that is coupled to one of the sensing channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Andriy Maharyta
  • Patent number: 9164137
    Abstract: A method for compensating for panel capacitance the associated current is proposed, wherein the mutual capacitances of a capacitance sensing array are selectively coupled to drive voltages and to a self capacitance under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: PARADE TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Andrew Page, Timothy Williams, Rajiv Kumar Singh, Kaveh Hosseini, Jonathan Peterson, Andriy Maharyta
  • Patent number: 9152267
    Abstract: A display device with a touch screen includes a panel including a first area and a second area, wherein first electrode strings and second electrode strings crossing the first electrode strings are formed in the first area and the second area; a driving controller applying touch driving signals to the first electrode strings in order; and a sensing controller receiving touch sensing signals according to the touch driving signals through the second electrode strings, wherein a distance between adjacent first electrode strings in the first area is different from a distance between adjacent first electrode strings in the second area, or a distance between adjacent second electrode strings in the first area is different from a distance between adjacent second electrode strings in the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-Woo Seo, Jung-Hwan Lee
  • Patent number: 9151790
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of equalizing mutual capacitances of sense arrays using inactive electrodes disposed between or within transmit (TX) electrodes and aligned in relation to the receive (RX) electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: PARADE TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Oleksandr Hoshtanar
  • Patent number: 9134850
    Abstract: A reference data updating method and system for a capacitive multi-touch screen are disclosed. The method includes the steps of step A: one-frame sampling touch detection nodes, calculating a difference between sampled data of each touch detection node and corresponding current reference data and saving the difference as detection data to obtain a current detection data frame; step B: judging whether the current detection data frame is a damaged detection data frame; and step C: executing a touch screen reference update processing procedure under abnormal condition if the current detection data frame is a damaged detection data frame; otherwise, executing a touch screen reference update processing procedure under normal condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: SHENZHEN HUIDING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinchun Ye, Hua Zhong
  • Patent number: 9110551
    Abstract: An apparatus including distinct capacitive sensor electrodes irregularly configured across a sensing area, wherein each capacitive sensor electrode is an island associated with a unique combination of two positional components within the sensing area; and a plurality of conductive traces each of which is operatively connected to one of the distinct capacitive sensor electrodes and wherein at least some of the conductive traces extend over the sensing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventor: Janne Edvin Lesonen
  • Patent number: 9104283
    Abstract: A human-machine interface device is provided having a transparent detection zone and an access zone, and including a surface having electrodes made from a conductive transparent material in the detection zone, conductive connecting tracks arranged in the access zone and connected to the surface having electrodes, a first conductive surface in the transparent zone made from transparent material, and utilized as a guard for the surface having electrodes. The connecting tracks are arranged in a sandwich between a second and a third conductive surfaces utilized as second and third guards for these connecting tracks. Linking tracks are made from a transparent conductive material for linking the connecting tracks to electrodes of the surface having electrodes. The linking tracks are positioned between the electrodes when these linking tracks are situated on the detection surface; and positioned between the second and third guards when these linking tracks are in the access zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: FOGALE NANOTECH
    Inventors: Didier Roziere, Christophe Blondin
  • Patent number: 9097597
    Abstract: A detection unit includes a sensor that detects the presence of force and a force component separation mechanism that separates the magnitude and the direction of the force and a control unit that controls the detection action of the force component separation mechanism based on the detection result of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomo Ikebe, Sumio Utsunomiya
  • Patent number: 9082805
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reliable, non-invasive, electrical test method for predicting satisfactory performance of electrostatic chucks (ESCs). In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a parameter, e.g., impedance, of an ESC is measured over a frequency band to generate a parameter functions. This parameter function may be used to establish predetermined acceptable limits of the parameter within the frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Hong Shih, Saurabh Ullal, Tuochuan Huang, Yan Fang, Jon McChesney
  • Patent number: 9041417
    Abstract: Embodiments of the subject method and apparatus relate to a sequence of noncontact Corona-Kelvin Metrology, C-KM, that allows the determination and monitoring of interface properties in dielectric/wide band gap semiconductor structures. The technique involves the incremental application of precise and measured quantities of corona charge, QC, onto the dielectric surface followed by determination of the contact potential difference, VCPD, as the material structure response. The V-Q characteristics obtained are used to extract the surface barrier, VSB, response related to the applied corona charge. The metrology method presented determines an intersection of the VCPD-QC characteristic obtained in the dark with the VOX-QC characteristic representing the dielectric response. The specific VSB-QC dependence surrounding the reference VFB value is obtained from this method and allows the noncontact determination of the dielectric interface trap density and its spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Elena I. Oborina, Andrew Hoff
  • Patent number: 9041418
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided that facilitate improved input device performance. The devices and methods utilize a first substrate with proximity sensor electrodes and at least a first force sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate. A second substrate is physically coupled to the first substrate, where the second substrate comprises a spring feature and an electrode component. The electrode component at least partially overlaps the first force sensor electrode to define a variable capacitance between the first force sensor electrode and the electrode component. The spring feature is configured to facilitate deflection of the electrode component relative to the first force sensor electrode to change the variable capacitance. A measure of the variable capacitance may be calculated and used to determine force information regarding the force biasing the input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Lin-Hsiang Hsieh, Richard R. Schediwy
  • Patent number: 9041416
    Abstract: Wireless sensors configured to record and transmit data as well as sense and, optionally, actuate to monitor physical properties of an environment and, optionally, effect changes within that environment. In one aspect, the wireless sensor can have a power harvesting unit; a voltage regulation unit, a transducing oscillator unit, and a transmitting coil. The voltage regulation unit is electrically coupled to the power harvesting unit and is configured to actuate at a minimum voltage level. The transducing oscillator unit is electrically coupled to the voltage regulation unit and is configured to convert a sensed physical property into an electrical signal. Also, the transmitting coil is configured to receive the electrical signal and to transmit the electrical signal to an external antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II S.à.r.l.
    Inventors: Jin Woo Park, Florent Cros, Mark G. Allen
  • Patent number: 9035664
    Abstract: A measuring method and a device that permit a better evaluation of bearing currents are disclosed. The method uses non-contact measurement of a bearing voltage. A non-contact voltage measurement is performed by means of a series circuit of capacitors. The bearing voltage can be detected especially well in this manner even in the high frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jörg Hassel, Gerd Michaelis, Carsten Probol
  • Patent number: 9035662
    Abstract: A device and a method for the capacitive detection of an object which is preferably arranged behind a flat article that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation or a wall, including a sensor incorporating sensor electrodes for the detection of the object, preferably for the detection of relative movements between the sensor and the flat article or a finger, where a control circuit serves for the control of the sensor electrodes and for the evaluation of the output signals of the sensor, and, due to the fact that the sensor comprises at least one sensor electrode which is surrounded by at least one further electrode, the surrounding further electrode is connected to the sensor electrode by the control circuit in such a manner that, in the event of a change of the potential of the sensor electrode, the potential of the surrounding further electrode is regulated in the opposite sense to the sensor electrode in such a way that the sensor electrode remains at a pre-determined or pre-definable potential, such th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventor: Gerd Reime
  • Patent number: 9035663
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises driving one or more drive electrodes formed on a substrate with one or more drive signals. A wiper comprising at least one arm is driven to a predetermined voltage. The wiper is electrically insulated from a plurality of sense electrodes formed on the substrate. For each sense electrode of the plurality of sense electrodes, a charge stored by the sense electrode is detected. A processor determines a position of the wiper based on the detected charges stored by the plurality of sense electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Carl Carley
  • Publication number: 20150132108
    Abstract: An edge detector is provided for determining the axial position of the leading or trailing edge of a rotating blade within rotating machinery. The edge detector includes a set of axially spaced tip detection probes locatable within a casing of the machinery. Each probe is arranged to detect whether or not the blade tip passes over that probe. The edge detector determines the axial position of the edge of the blade as the position of the boundary between those tip detection probes which detect passage of the blade tip thereover and those tip detection probes which detect no passage of the blade tip thereover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Alan Richard JONES
  • Patent number: 9024642
    Abstract: An absolute position measurement capacitive grating displacement measurement method, a sensor, and an operating method of the sensor are provided. In the measurement method, a drive signal having wave properties is used to excite a transmission grating, and displacement of a measured position in each wavelength is transformed into an initial phase of a time fundamental wave. The displacement of the measured position in each wavelength is acquired through an addition counter. A signal having wave properties output by a drive signal generator of the sensor is connected to a transmission grating, the master clock of an oscillator is connected to each circuit, an output of a reception grating is connected to a synchronous capture circuit through a signal selection switch and an analog processing circuit; and the synchronous capture circuit is connected to a controller, an addition counter, and a Random Access Memory (RAM). The controller is connected to all components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Guilin Measuring Instrument Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Quhui Lu
  • Patent number: 9018963
    Abstract: A humidity sensor according to the present examples include a sensor portion for detecting humidity in the ambient environment, and a power supply portion for applying an AC voltage to the sensor portion, wherein the sensor portion is structured so as to have an impedance that is higher than a sensor portion of a conventional humidity sensor. As a result, it is possible to reduce the amount of power consumed in the sensor portion when compared to that of a conventional humidity sensor. Doing so makes it possible to reduce the amount of electrical power consumed in the humidity sensor as a whole in the present invention, including the sensor portion, when compared to that of a conventional humidity sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventors: Dongyoun Sim, Masaru Soeda
  • Patent number: 9018947
    Abstract: A pixel includes an organic light emitting diode, a first transistor that is connected to a first power source and that supplies a driving current according to a corresponding data voltage to the organic light emitting diode, a second transistor that is connected to a scan line and that transmits the corresponding data voltage from a data line to a driving transistor according to a scan signal transmitted from the scan line, and a first capacitor including one electrode connected to a gate electrode of the first transistor. The first capacitor stores the corresponding data voltage as a first voltage and a size of the first capacitor is in a range of about 2 times to about 4 times a size of a gate insulating layer of the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guang hai Jin, Jae-Beom Choi, Kwan-Wook Jung, June-Woo Lee, Moo-Jin Kim, Jee-Hoon Kim
  • Publication number: 20150109003
    Abstract: A method of using an absorptive sensor element includes: providing the absorptive sensor element, heating the absorptive sensor element to a temperature in a range of from 30° C. to 100° C., exposing the absorptive sensor element to an analyte vapor, and measuring a capacitance-related property of the absorptive sensor element and/or a spectral feature upon reflection of incident light. The absorptive sensor element comprises: a substrate, a first member disposed on the substrate, a second member, and a detection layer comprising a polymer of intrinsic microporosity disposed between and contacting the first member and the second member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael C. Palazzotto, Stefan H. Gryska, Myungchan Kang, Michael S. Wendland
  • Patent number: 9013195
    Abstract: A capacitance sensing system may include a first selection circuit that couples N electrodes of a first electrode set to a capacitance sense circuit; and a second selection circuit that couples M electrodes of a second electrode set, substantially simultaneously, to a signal generator circuit as a group to induce current in the N electrodes by mutual capacitance between the M and N electrodes; wherein N is at least one, and M>N.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Victor Kremin, Andriy Maharyta, Patrick Prendergast
  • Patent number: 9013196
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a first active part, which has a plurality of active part segments disposed one behind the other in a direction of movement of the electric machine, with each of the active part segments including a position measuring device, and a second active part with a measuring device for identifying the respective position measuring device. Each position measuring device has at least one position measuring unit having a dielectric constant, wherein the dielectric constant of the position measuring unit in one of the active part segments is different than the dielectric constant in an adjacent one of the active part segments. The measuring device includes at least one measuring unit to determine the dielectric constant of the position measuring units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiegesellschaft
    Inventor: Roland Finkler
  • Publication number: 20150103271
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is provided with a touch sensor, including: a window substrate; a first bezel layer formed at an edge portion of the window substrate and formed of at least one layer; and a resin layer disposed on the first bezel layer and the window substrate. The touch sensor further includes a second bezel layer disposed on the resin layer, at a position corresponding to the first bezel layer and the resin layer is made of a transparent material having a refractive index lower than that of the first bezel layer and the second bezel layer. As described above, the plurality of bezel layers and the resin layer are stacked together to form a difference in refractive index, thereby implementing a clear color even by the thinner bezel layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae Kyung LEE, Man Sub Shin, Beom Seok Oh, Kee Su Jeon, Deok Seok Oh, Ho Joo Lee
  • Publication number: 20150102826
    Abstract: Methods and design structures for extraction of transistor channel width are disclosed. Embodiments may include determining effective channel widths of transistors of a plurality of integrated circuits as a function of drawn channel widths of the transistors, and determining a target channel width for a target transistor based on the effective channel widths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Randy MANN, Sandeep PURI, Sonia GHOSH, Anuj GUPTA, Xusheng WU
  • Patent number: 9007072
    Abstract: There is provided a capacitor sensor capable of controlling sensitivity, wherein the capacitor sensor measures the magnitude and direction of a shear force applied to the sensor, as well as the magnitude of a normal force applied on the surface of the sensor, and consists of a single cell including a pattern electrode capable of varying its shape to control the sensitivity of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan University
    Inventors: Ja Choon Koo, Hyouk Ryeol Choi, Hyung Pil Moon, Young Kwan Lee, Jae Do Nam, Baek Chul Kim, Jin Ah Chung, Sung Gi Kim
  • Patent number: 9003898
    Abstract: Provided herein is a multi-axis sensor including: a pair of electrodes positioned such that at least partial areas thereof face each other; an elasticity member having one of the pair of electrodes installed in its upper portion and another of the pair of electrodes installed in a lower portion; and a sensor unit electrically connected with the pair of electrodes, and configured to detect a change of capacitance value between the pair of electrodes and a change of resistance value of the elasticity member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan University
    Inventors: Hyungpil Moon, Jachoon Koo, Hyouk Ryeol Choi, Seonggi Kim
  • Publication number: 20150098161
    Abstract: A power distribution cabinet includes a housing having walls that define an interior space for housing electric components. A capacitive sensor is located on an interior surface of one or more of the walls. The capacitive sensor includes a first conductive layer located proximate to the interior surface of the wall, a second conductive layer located distal from the interior surface of the wall, and a dielectric layer located between the first and second conductive layers. First and second output terminals are connected to the first and second conductive layers of the capacitive sensor to provide an output representative of displacement current within the power distribution cabinet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: John Horowy, Gary L. Galloway, Waleed M. Said, Debabrata Pal
  • Publication number: 20150097581
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a capacitance touch sensor arrangement configured to have a variable capacitance that varies when a conductive object approaches; and at least one variable impedance sensor configured to have a variable impedance that varies with a sensed parameter; an output node; and at least one switch configured to provide, in a first configuration,] an output impedance at the output node that depends upon the variable capacitance and configured to provide, in a second configuration, an output impedance at the output node that depends upon the variable impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Astley, Darryl Cotton, Jani Kivioja
  • Patent number: 9000779
    Abstract: A method of correcting the gain of a capacitive member having electrodes that are movable relative to each other including the steps of successively applying to one of the electrodes, reduced bias voltages having opposite signs and a common value below a threshold for which a remanent field generated by said reduced bias voltages can be measured, making corresponding measurements of the output signals from the capacitive member; taking an average, and correcting the gain of the capacitive member as a function of the measured output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Sagem Defense Securite
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Caron, Vincent Ragot
  • Patent number: 9000781
    Abstract: A device for non-destructive testing of an electrically conductive part including: an induction portion, a receiving portion, and a processor. The induction portion includes an inductor dissociated into n layers supplied at different frequencies f1, f2, . . . , fn, wherein the receiving portion includes plural magnetic receivers supplied at different frequencies f1?, f2?, . . . , fn? connected to one another in at least one column, each magnetic receiver being positioned under a layer, the indices n and m being integers >2, and wherein the processor makes it possible to know the magnetic field in each of the magnetic receivers of a column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Decitre
  • Publication number: 20150092175
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a conductive holding part configured to hold an insulating material, and a capacitance sensor configured to generate an electric field between the capacitance sensor and the holding part. The apparatus determines a surface position of a surface of the insulating material based on information of an output value of the capacitance sensor obtained in a case where the insulating material is located in the electric field and information associated with capacitance of the insulating material, and then adjusts the surface position of the insulating material at a pattern formation position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Shinji Ohishi
  • Publication number: 20150091586
    Abstract: Embodiments of a capacitive sensor configuration for proximity detection by a playback device are provided. The playback device may include a capacitive proximity sensor configured to detect physical movement in a first direction, and a radio frequency (RF) antenna ground plane oriented at a relative angle to the capacitive proximity sensor. The capacitive proximity sensor may include a first metal electrode coupled to the RF antenna ground plane is coupled to the first metal electrode such that the capacitive proximity sensor may be further configured to detect physical movement in a second direction that is substantially the relative angle to the first direction. The playback device may be configured to determine based on a detection of physical movement by the capacitive proximity sensor, a physical approach of an entity towards the playback device from one or more of the first direction and the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas CALATAYUD, Carlo Van Niekerk
  • Publication number: 20150091587
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a display device having a capacitive sensing device, a processing system and a method for detecting presence of an input object using a capacitive sensing device. In one embodiment, the display device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes, a field shaping electrode, and a processing system. Each sensor electrode includes at least one common electrode. Dimensions of each sensor electrode correspond to dimension of pixel elements of the display device. The field shaping electrode is disposed between two of the plurality of sensor electrodes. Dimensions of the field shaping electrode correspond to the dimension of pixel elements of the display device. The field shaping electrode is laterally spaced apart from the two sensor electrodes a distance corresponding to dimensions of the pixel elements. The processing system is coupled to the sensor electrodes and the field shaping electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Petr SHEPELEV, Christopher A. LUDDEN, Jeffrey LUKANC, Stephen L. MOREIN
  • Patent number: 8994391
    Abstract: Various embodiments for detecting a high Intensity radiated field (HIRF) in a line replaceable unit are provided. In an embodiment, the internal detector comprises a receiving means for receiving HIRF and generating an AC signal proportional to the HIRF, an RF filter configured to sample the AC signal to create a DC signal; and a detecting section configured to compare the DC signal with a threshold and output a result of the comparison to a built-in test section. The internal detector may be used to test EMI filter pin connectors of a closed line replaceable unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: BAE Systems Controls Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Hart Heiland, Jr., Richard P. Quinlivan, Thomas Edward Guth, Zain Adam Horning, Peter Joseph Watson, Gustavo Enrique Melendez Velazquez
  • Patent number: 8994385
    Abstract: A plural-frequency capacitive occupancy sensing system comprises an antenna electrode and a detection circuit, which is configured to drive the antenna electrode at least with a first and a second signal at a first and a second frequency, respectively, so as to obtain at least a first and a second measurement value indicative of at least one of conductance, susceptance, resistance, reactance and capacitance between the antenna electrode and a reference node, at the first frequency and the second frequency, respectively. The detection circuit compares the capacitance between the antenna electrode and the reference node with a threshold capacitance, the threshold capacitance being derived from a difference between the first and second measurement values and/or the capacitance between the antenna electrode and the reference node being corrected based upon the difference between the measurement values. The detection circuit outputs an occupancy state signal depending on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
    Inventors: Michael Virnich, David Hoyer, Martin Thinnes, Michael Puetz, Thomas Meyers
  • Publication number: 20150084648
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor includes a capacitive sensor element and a conductor. The conductor includes a first end and a second end, the first end is coupled to the capacitive sensor element at a first location of the capacitive sensor element and the second end is coupled to the capacitive sensor element at a second location of the capacitive sensor element. The conductor includes a first conductivity that is higher than a second conductivity of the capacitive sensor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Igor Polishchuk, Vasyl Mandziy
  • Publication number: 20150084649
    Abstract: A system, method and device for capacitive sensing of a guarding application is provided. A capacitive sensing module is coupled to one or more features of a guard system having capacitive guard panels and protective grids. Based on a user contacting at least a portion of the guard system, a determined indication of contact and/or presence may trigger a corresponding response by the guard system via the capacitive sensing module. A baseline level of noise is calibrated over time to adjust for varying conditions that do not correspond to a triggered, user-detection measurement. Corresponding outputs are generated based on a type of detection information received and/or user identity associated with the received capacitance detection. A capacitive sensing module may be configured to receive one or more items of capacitance change data and determine an appropriate triggered response based on an amount of capacitance change and threshold detection duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: RYAN E. CHACON, JASON B. TURNER, JASON A. WYNNE
  • Publication number: 20150084650
    Abstract: A system for determining information regarding at least one object, comprising: a sensor sensitive to capacitive coupling; at least one object adapted to create a capacitive coupling with the sensor when at least one signal is input to the sensor; a detector adapted to measure at least one output signal of said sensor associated with the at least one object, wherein the output signal associated with the at least one object is an object information code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Rafi ZACHUT, Haim PERSKI, Ori RIMON, Amir KAPLAN
  • Patent number: 8988087
    Abstract: Touchscreen testing techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a conductor is placed proximal to a touchscreen device and the touchscreen device is tested by simulating a touch of a user by placing the conductor in a grounded state and lack of a touch by the user by placing the conductor in an ungrounded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Aleksandar Uzelac, David A. Stevens, Weidong Zhao, Takahiro Shigemitsu, Briggs A. Willoughby, John Graham Pierce
  • Publication number: 20150077343
    Abstract: An input device is provided in the present application. The input device includes a first panel and a second panel, the first panel is provided with multiple grooves; the second panel is located under the first panel or fused to a bottom of the first panel, and includes a sensing unit configured to sense a key. In the input device, each of the grooves is arranged to correspond to one key area, and a key command may be input by performing a touch key operation on a corresponding sensing unit under the groove. Compared with the conventional input device, in the input device of the present application, the input of the key command may be realized without key caps and scissor-shaped structures for supporting the key caps, thereby shortening the key travel and reducing the thickness of the input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicants: Lenovo (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing Lenovo Software Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiang Shao, Qing Liu, Jinping Yang, Qi Li
  • Publication number: 20150077139
    Abstract: Techniques for three dimensional capacitive sensing are described herein. The techniques include a system including a three dimensional transmitting electrode to emit charge having an electric field. The system may include a three dimensional receiving electrode to receive the charge creating a capacitance between the transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Min Liu, Steven L Pearce
  • Publication number: 20150077141
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor is configured for detecting an object, in particular for detecting a collision in the case of a movable vehicle part, and an anti-collision apparatus has such a sensor. The sensor has an electrode arrangement with at least one transmitting electrode and at least one or more receiving electrodes. The sensor has a signal generation circuit which is connected upstream of the at least one transmitting electrode. The signal generation circuit generates a transmission signal in the form of a square-wave pulse signal corresponding directly to a pseudo-random bit string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: DETLEF RUSS, HOLGER WUERSTLEIN, FLORIAN POHL, RALF DAIMINGER, JAN KAISER
  • Publication number: 20150077140
    Abstract: A proximity detecting apparatus for detecting a proximity event includes a capacitive sensing device, an auxiliary detecting device, and a controller. The capacitive sensing device is arranged for generating a capacitive sensing output. The auxiliary detecting device is arranged for detecting an operational status of an electronic device in which the capacitive sensing device is disposed and accordingly generating a status output. The controller is arranged for detecting the proximity event according to the capacitive sensing output and the status output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Chih-Pin Chu, Yu-Han Lin, Shu-Ching Chen
  • Publication number: 20150070306
    Abstract: A sensor device includes: a first sensor including a first electrode board including a plurality of first capacitive elements arranged in a matrix, a first conductor layer facing the first electrode board, a first support layer arranged between the first electrode board and the first conductor layer, the first support layer being deformable, and a first operation input surface provided on the first electrode board or the first conductor layer, the first electrode board and/or the first conductor layer being flexible; and a second sensor layered on the first sensor, the second sensor including a second electrode board including a plurality of second capacitive elements, a second conductor layer facing the second electrode board, and a second support layer arranged between the second electrode board and the second conductor layer, the second support layer being deformable, the second electrode board and/or the second conductor layer being flexible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Shogo SHINKAI, Hayato HASEGAWA, Hiroto KAWAGUCHI, Tomoko KATSUHARA, Fumihiko IIDA, Kei TSUKAMOTO, Takayuki TANAKA, Tomoaki SUZUKI, Taizo NISHIMURA, Hiroshi MIZUNO, Yasuyuki ABE