With Variable Distance Between Capacitor Electrodes Patents (Class 324/661)
  • Patent number: 11967172
    Abstract: A device includes a touch-mode biometric sensor having a first side facing toward a user and a second side opposite to the first side, and a display arranged under the touch-mode biometric sensor and adjacent to the second side and configured to display an image in response to a sensing result, associated with a biometric feature of the user, of the touch-mode biometric sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: IMAGE MATCH DESIGN INC.
    Inventors: Chia-Ming Wu, Yan-Quan Pan, Yen-Kuo Lo, Yeh-Suan Yan
  • Patent number: 11954283
    Abstract: A sensor array (10) comprising a plurality of touch sensitive pixels, each pixel (12) comprising a capacitive sensing electrode (14) and a reference capacitor (16) connected in series with the capacitive sensing electrode (14) to provide an indicator voltage that is indicative of the proximity of a conductive object to be sensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TOUCH BIOMETRIX LIMITED
    Inventors: Henricus Derckx, Wilhelmus Van Lier, Michael A Cowin
  • Patent number: 11929744
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a moveable electrode which moves along an interstitial pathway defined by four fixed electrodes. The first and second fixed electrodes are separated by a first distance. The third and fourth fixed electrodes are separated by a second distance and adjacent to the first and second fixed electrodes, respectively. A capacitance sensing circuit coupled to the four fixed electrodes determines a first capacitance using the first and second fixed electrodes and a second capacitance using the third and fourth fixed electrodes. In some examples, the apparatus also comprises fifth and sixth fixed electrodes separated by a third distance and orthogonal to the first and second fixed electrodes and seventh and eighth fixed electrodes separated by a fourth distance and orthogonal to the third and fourth fixed electrodes. The fifth and seventh fixed electrodes are adjacent, and the sixth and eighth fixed electrodes are adjacent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Peter Spevak
  • Patent number: 11906372
    Abstract: The capacitance sensor 1 includes a self-capacitance electrode 5, first electrodes 3 (3(1) to 3(4)), and a second electrode 4 which are arranged being separated from each other in a thickness direction of an elastically deformable base material 2 formed by a dielectric. The self-capacitance electrode 5 is connected to a first connection portion 10a for measuring capacitance by a self-capacitance method and a grounded second connection portion 10b via a switch 10 so as to be selectively connected to the first connection portion 10a and the second connection portion 10b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Ryusuke Ishizaki, Mirza Saquib Sarwar, John D. W. Madden
  • Patent number: 11900879
    Abstract: A sensing circuit includes at least a first gain stage and a controller for controlling the operation of the first gain stage. The first gain stage includes an amplifier having at least one input and one output, and a feedback loop coupled between the input and the output of the amplifier. The feedback loop includes a first capacitor coupled between the input and the output of the amplifier, and a second capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the input of the amplifier through a first switch and a second terminal coupled to the output of the amplifier through a second switch. The second capacitor is configured to be coupled in parallel to the first capacitor during a first portion of a measurement cycle, and disconnected from the first capacitor during a second portion of the measurement cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Hasan Akyol, Xuebei Yang
  • Patent number: 11883768
    Abstract: A method for plugging a subset of cells of a honeycomb structure that includes: covering a first end face of the honeycomb structure with a mask that comprises a body and a plurality of openings, wherein the plurality of openings of the mask is coincident with a plurality of cells of the honeycomb structure; providing a plug of material upon a film material; applying a force to the film material with a piston to push the plug of material through the plurality of openings of the mask and into the plurality of cells of the honeycomb structure; and measuring a plurality of pressures within the plurality of cells of the honeycomb structure during the applying step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert John Locker, Robert Arthur McIntosh, Joel Andrew Schultes
  • Patent number: 11722137
    Abstract: The disclosed apparatus may include a capacitive proximity sensor that increases capacitance in response to proximity of an object; a reference capacitor in parallel with the capacitive proximity sensor; a switch that connects and disconnects the capacitive proximity sensor and the reference capacitor; and a capacitance sensing block that generates a capacitance signal based on a capacitance of the reference capacitor when the switch is in a disconnecting state and based on the capacitance of the reference capacitor and a capacitance of the capacitive proximity sensor when the switch is in a connecting state. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Robert Lee
  • Patent number: 11693495
    Abstract: An active stylus including a pen housing, a pen core module disposed in the pen housing, a control module disposed in the pen housing, and an elastic member assembled to the control module and the pen core module is provided. The pen core module has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end is protruded out of the pen housing. The control module has a force sensing element, and an elastic force of the elastic member drives the second end of the pen core module to be abutted to the force sensing element seamlessly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: EMRight Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien Chia Lien, Ting-Cheng Lai
  • Patent number: 11685552
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for advancing a fuselage section of an aircraft. One embodiment is a system that includes a series of plates configured to be sequentially affixed along a length of the fuselage section, and a track configured to form a frictional fit with the plates. The track includes drive units configured to form nips retaining the series of plates, and that are configured to advance the fuselage section along the track in a process direction, and indexing elements that are configured to engage with indexing elements at the plates during pauses between operation of the drive units. The system also includes tools configured to perform work on the fuselage section while the indexing elements of the track are engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Alan Truess, Richard Calawa
  • Patent number: 11579726
    Abstract: A touch device, an electronic device and a driving method are provided. The touch device includes: a plurality of touch sensors arranged in an array; a plurality of touch lines connected to the plurality of touch sensors; and a controller connected to the plurality of touch lines, wherein the controller is configured to simultaneously send a plurality of first touch signals respectively to the plurality of touch sensors via the plurality of touch lines, and simultaneously receive via the plurality of touch lines a plurality of second touch signals generated by the plurality of touch sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignees: BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yilin Feng, Hong Yang
  • Patent number: 11543297
    Abstract: A sensing device is provided. The sensing device includes a plurality of infrared thermosensitive elements and a plurality of resistor-capacitor (RC) oscillators. The plurality of infrared thermosensitive elements are arranged in an array. Each of the plurality of infrared thermosensitive elements has a resistance value which changes with a temperature of the infrared thermosensitive element by absorbing infrared radiation and generates a sensing voltage corresponding to the resistance value. The plurality of RC oscillators are coupled to the plurality of infrared thermosensitive elements to receive the corresponding sensing values, respectively. Each of the plurality of RC oscillators generates a digital sensing signal according to the corresponding sensing value to indicate the temperature of the corresponding infrared thermosensitive element. Each of the plurality of RC oscillators is disposed under the corresponding infrared thermosensitive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Ying-Che Lo, Yu-Sheng Lin, Ting-Hao Hsiao, Bor-Shiun Lee
  • Patent number: 11456722
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement (10) for a vehicle (1) for detecting an activation action for activating a function on the vehicle (1), comprising: at least one sensor element (21) for sensing a change in a vicinity of the sensor element (21), a controlling arrangement (80) for an electric control of the sensor element (21) in order to provide a sensing signal (S), the frequencies of which comprise at least one predefined sensing frequency, an evaluation arrangement (90), which is interconnected to the sensor element (21) via a signal path (SP) in order to use the sensing signal (S) to repeatedly determine at least one parameter of the sensor element (21) specific to the sensing for detecting the activation action, a filter arrangement (40) in the signal path (SP) comprising at least one high-pass (41, 43) in order to at least reduce the frequencies of the sensing signal (S) lower than the at least one sensing frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Berthold Sieg
  • Patent number: 11448564
    Abstract: In an embodiment a sensor arrangement includes a pressure sensor realized as a capacitive pressure sensor, a capacitance-to-digital converter coupled to the pressure sensor and implemented as a delta-sigma analog-to-digital converter and a reference voltage generator having a control input configured to receive a control signal and an output configured to provide a reference voltage, wherein the output of the reference voltage generator is connected to an input of the capacitance-to-digital converter, wherein the reference voltage generator is configured to set a value of the reference voltage as a function of the control signal, and wherein at least two different values of the reference voltage have the same sign and different amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: SCIOSENSE B.V.
    Inventors: Alberto Maccioni, Willem Frederik Adrianus Besling
  • Patent number: 11428592
    Abstract: A flexible sensor that includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a capacitive structure on the PCB, and mechanical coupling sites. The PCB includes a slot extending from an outer edge of the PCB to an inner portion of the PCB, and the slot defines a first edge and a second edge facing the first edge. The first and second edges are separated by a gap when the PCB is in an unflexed state. The slot is configured to permit the PCB to flex so as to vary a relative position of the first edge with respect to the second edge. The capacitive structure on the PCB includes a first edge electrode on a portion of the first edge of the PCB, and a second edge electrode on a portion of a second edge of PCB. The second edge electrode is aligned with the first edge electrode across the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventor: Alexander Shai Shafer
  • Patent number: 11408755
    Abstract: A resonant rotor, for use in an inductive position sensor, includes a rotor core, a first rotor coil, and a rotor capacitor. The first rotor coil includes a first twisted rotor loop drawn about the rotor core and the rotor capacitor is connected in series with the first rotor coil. For a second embodiment, the first rotor coil includes a second twisted rotor loop. The first rotor coil has a first symmetry and the inductive position sensor includes a stator. An excitation coil is drawn on the stator and has a second symmetry. The first symmetry substantially corresponds to the second symmetry. A method for determining a position of an object using an inductive position sensor includes generating three electromagnetic fields using respective excitation coils, inducing voltages, respectively, in three receive coils, and determining based on voltages a position of an object coupled to a resonant rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Jacques Jean Bertin
  • Patent number: 11356092
    Abstract: Capacitive door handle sensor comprising at least one transmission electrode and a reception electrode, an operational amplifier configured as a charge amplifier and connected to the reception electrode, a switch for charge transfer, a first and a second switch for discharging the two operational amplifier inputs and, a capacitor arranged between the output and the inverting input of the operational amplifier, and a control unit for controlling and evaluating the measurement, wherein the control unit comprises a reference potential switching output which is connected to a terminal of the switch and is configured to selectively control a capacitance measurement between the transmission electrodes and the reception electrode or between the reception electrode and ground. Furthermore, methods for setting different operating modes are claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: IFM ELECTRONIC GMBH
    Inventor: Jörg Schulz
  • Patent number: 11275045
    Abstract: A sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, a detector disposed above the semiconductor substrate and configured to output a signal in accordance with a physical quantity, an electrostatic discharge protection circuit including a metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor, and a dummy pattern formed above the semiconductor substrate and formed of a same material as a material of a gate electrode, the gate electrode being included in the electrostatic discharge protection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI Inc.
    Inventor: Taketomo Nakane
  • Patent number: 11215516
    Abstract: Provided is a strain sensor that includes a fixing section and a measurement section that is supported by the fixing section and can expand and contract. The strain sensor includes a base material that has a first main surface and a second main surface, which face each other, and a conductor section provided on the first main surface. The conductor section includes a detection conductor that is provided in the measurement section and that has a resistance value that changes in accordance with expansion and contraction of the base material in the measurement section. The measurement section includes a detection section in which the detection conductor is provided and a low-elastic-modulus section that increases a deformation amount with respect to an external force in the detection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takayoshi Obata
  • Patent number: 11105676
    Abstract: In described examples, each node between adjacent capacitive elements of a stack of series-coupled capacitive elements is biased during a reset mode, where each of the capacitive elements includes piezoelectric material. A strain-induced voltage is generated across each of the capacitive elements. Each of the strain-induced voltages is combined to generate a piezoelectric-responsive output signal during a sensing mode at a time different from the time of the reset mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Zwerg, Sudhanshu Khanna, Steven C. Bartling, Brian Elies, Krishnasawamy Nagaraj, Wei-Yan Shih
  • Patent number: 11014194
    Abstract: Apparatus for distance gauging in laser material processing includes a source of laser-radiation, an electrically-conductive focusing assembly, a constant-current source, and a voltmeter. The focusing assembly focuses laser-radiation towards an electrically conductive workpiece being processed. The focusing assembly and the workpiece form a capacitive sensor. The constant current source provides a constant electrical current to the focusing assembly for a constant time. The focusing assembly and the workpiece are separated by a distance that is proportional to a change in voltage measured on the focusing assembly during the constant time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith Jefferies
  • Patent number: 10976927
    Abstract: A push button sheet and a touch panel having the push button sheet, by which different input results can be obtained, between when an operator touches the push button sheet and when the operator presses the same button sheet. The push button sheet has at least one convex reaction area configured to be bent in a predetermined press direction, a first electrode arranged on a convex surface of the reaction area, a second electrode arranged within the reaction area and below the first electrode with respect to the press direction and electrically connected to the first electrode, and a third electrode arranged within a second reaction area, wherein the second electrode and the third electrode are electrically communicated when the reaction area is bent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuuya Tateoka
  • Patent number: 10962498
    Abstract: A method for producing an insulated electric wire includes a step of preparing a conductor having a linear shape; a step of forming an insulating coating so as to cover a surface on an outer peripheral side of the conductor to obtain an insulated electric wire that includes the conductor and the insulating coating covering the conductor; and a step of measuring a first electrostatic capacity between the insulated electric wire and a first electrode disposed outside in a radial direction of the insulated electric wire so as to face an outer peripheral surface of the insulated electric wire while transporting the insulated electric wire in a longitudinal direction of the conductor, and inspecting a formation state of the insulating coating, the formation state including a formation state of a defective portion in the insulating coating, on the basis of a change in the first electrostatic capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignees: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC WINTEC, INC.
    Inventors: Shinya Ota, Masaaki Yamauchi, Jun Sugawara, Yasushi Tamura, Kengo Yoshida, Takao Inoue, Hiroji Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 10956703
    Abstract: An example system drives one or more transmit signals on first electrodes disposed in a first layer and propagating electrodes disposed in a second layer. The system measures a capacitance of sensors through a of second electrodes. Each second electrode crosses each first electrode to provide a plurality of discrete sensor areas, each discrete sensor area associated with a difference crossing and including a portion of at least one propagating electrode. Each second electrode is galvanically isolated from the first electrodes and the propagating electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Igor Kravets, Oleksandr Hoshtanar, Igor Kolych, Oleksandr Karpin
  • Patent number: 10915785
    Abstract: A sensor pixel includes a sensor electrode, a first transistor including a gate electrode connected to the sensor electrode and which controls a current output provided to an output line, a second transistor connected to a first voltage line and a first transistor, a third transistor connected to the first transistor and the output line, and a compensator unit which compensates a threshold voltage of the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki Seo Kim, Jae Kyoung Kim, Won Sang Park, Byeong Hee Won, Byung Han Yoo
  • Patent number: 10908057
    Abstract: A submersible sensor comprising a fluid-tight shell, electrodes operatively coupled to the inner surface of the fluid-tight shell, and a processor disposed within the fluid-tight shell and operatively coupled to the electrodes. The processor is configured to detect capacitance changes at the electrodes, detect a first property of a first medium responsive to first detected capacitance changes of the detected capacitive changes, detect a second property of a second medium responsive to second detected capacitance changes of the detected capacitive changes, and activate one or more operational modes responsive to a difference between the first property and the second property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventor: Phillip Sebastian Olk
  • Patent number: 10825389
    Abstract: A pixel control circuit and control method, a pixel unit, a display substrate and device are provided. The pixel control circuit includes: a pressure detecting sub-circuit and a switching sub-circuit; the pressure detecting sub-circuit is connected to a control node, and configured to control a potential of the control node to be a first potential when a pressure signal is detected; and the switching sub-circuit is connected to a first power source terminal, a light-emitting sub-circuit in the pixel unit and the control node respectively, and configured to provide a first power source signal from the first power source terminal for the light-emitting sub-circuit when the potential of the control node is the first potential. The pixel control circuit effectively raises the speed of fingerprint detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaoliang Ding, Xue Dong, Haisheng Wang, Yingming Liu, Chihjen Cheng, Yuzhen Guo, Pengpeng Wang, Xueyou Cao, Yanling Han, Ping Zhang
  • Patent number: 10801984
    Abstract: A chip substrate, a manufacturing method thereof, a gene sequencing chip, and a gene sequencing method. The chip substrate includes a base substrate; first electrode, located on the base substrate in an array; an insulating layer, located at gaps between two adjacent ones of the first electrodes, and partially covering the two adjacent ones of the first electrodes to form containing spaces being in one-to-one correspondence with the first electrodes; a capacitive dielectric layer, located on a side of the first electrodes away from the base substrate, and located in the containing spaces; and second electrodes, located on a side of the capacitive dielectric layer away from the base substrate, the capacitive dielectric layer includes a first region and a second region, an orthographic projection of the second electrodes on the base substrate is overlapped with an orthographic projection of the first region on the base substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignees: BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yue Geng, Fengchun Pang, Peizhi Cai, Le Gu
  • Patent number: 10798492
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided wherein a sensor which comprises at least two electrodes and a movable part is alternately biased with at least two different voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Christoph Bernhard Wurzinger, Jose Luis Ceballos
  • Patent number: 10788522
    Abstract: A movement-sensitive capacitive sensor includes a first conductive element and a second conductive element positioned adjacent to the first conductive element. The sensor also includes a first protective insulator and a second protective insulator sealed to the first protective insulator with the first conductive element and the second conductive element positioned between the first protective insulator and the second protective insulator. The sensor further includes a circuit configured to calculate, over time while a person is occupying the movement-sensitive capacitive sensor and moving while occupying the movement-sensitive capacitive sensor, capacitance values between the first conductive element and the second conductive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Inventors: Samuel Alden Ridenour, Paul Michael Wempe, Mark Andrew Hanson, Adam T. Barth
  • Patent number: 10768410
    Abstract: A device is provided for detecting and/or regulating an amplitude of an oscillation of an oscillatory body about an oscillation axis, wherein a change in a capacitance between at least one electrode of the oscillatory body and a stationary electrode takes place during the oscillation of the oscillatory body. The device comprises a detection circuit for detecting a signal representing a measure of the change in capacitance; and an evaluation circuit for determining information from the signal, wherein the evaluation circuit is designed to calculate the amplitude of the oscillation of the oscillatory body from the determined information and an ascertained period of the oscillation of the oscillatory body and/or to regulate the amplitude of the oscillation of the oscillatory body using the determined information and the ascertained period of the oscillation of the oscillatory body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Christoph Steiner, Stephan Gerhard Albert, Franz Michael Darrer, Marcus Edward Hennecke, Hendrikus Van Lierop, Thomas Thurner
  • Patent number: 10679935
    Abstract: A method and structure suitable for, e.g., improving high voltage breakdown reliability of a microelectronic device such as a capacitor usable for galvanic isolation of two circuits. A first dielectric layer has a first dielectric constant located over a semiconductor substrate. A metal structure located over the first dielectric layer has a side surface. A second dielectric layer having a second different dielectric constant is located adjacent the metal structure. A dielectric structure located between the side surface of the metal structure and the second dielectric layer has the first dielectric constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. West, Byron Lovell Williams, David Leonard Larkin, Weidong Tian
  • Patent number: 10657357
    Abstract: Provided is a fingerprint identification panel comprising multiple first electrode strips, multiple second electrode strips, a scanning device, a sensing signal providing device and an identification device, wherein the first electrode strips and the second electrode strips are insulated from and intersected with each other; the scanning device is configured to provide driving signals to the plurality of first electrode strips in turn, the sensing signal providing device is configured to provide sensing signals to the second electrode strips, and a capacitor is formed between each first electrode strip and a second electrode strip adjacent thereto; the plurality of second electrode strips are connected with the identification device, and transmit signals that reflect quantities of the capacitors to the identification device, the identification device is configured to determine a morphology of a fingerprint based on the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., HEFEI BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Qing Yang
  • Patent number: 10651414
    Abstract: A metal nanowire according to an embodiment of the invention includes at least one bent portion. An angle (?) between an n-th wire portion and an (n+1)-th wire portion connected to the n-th wire portion through an n-th bent portion satisfies an inequation of 0°<?<180°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Duksan Hi-Metal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Zo Yoo, Yoon Soo Choi, Yeong Jin Lim
  • Patent number: 10636588
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shift operating element, specifically for a motor vehicle, having an actuation surface which can be moved by the manual application of force by means of an element, wherein the element is specifically the finger of a human hand. The shift operating element comprises a sensor which interacts with the actuation surface such that the sensor, upon the movement of the actuation surface by means of the element, generates a signal. The signal is specifically employed to shift and/or trigger a function, in the manner of a shift signal. A mechanical damping and/or restoring element is provided which interacts with the actuation surface upon the movement thereof. The mechanical damping and/or restoring element is a constituent of the sensor, specifically the mechanical damping and/or restoring element is integrated into the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Marquardt GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Mink, Roland Neitzel
  • Patent number: 10627967
    Abstract: An input sensing unit including a plurality of capacitive sensing electrodes, and a conductive layer disposed on at least a portion of the sensing electrodes, in which the conductive layer overlaps at least a portion of the sensing electrodes in a plan view, and the conductive layer includes a plurality of conductive patterns spaced apart from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung Seop Kim, Sang Youn Han, In Seo Kee, Jin Bo Shim, Gyeong Nam Bang
  • Patent number: 10579851
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a fingerprint processing system is provided, which comprises: a set of sensor plates; a measurement unit configured to measure one or more capacitances on the sensor plates; a processing unit configured to process the measured capacitances; wherein the measurement unit is configured to concurrently measure capacitances on subsets of the set of sensor plates; wherein the processing unit is configured to process the concurrently measured capacitances. According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of processing a fingerprint in a fingerprint processing system is conceived. According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding computer program is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: NXP B. V.
    Inventor: Thomas Suwald
  • Patent number: 10551219
    Abstract: An electrostatic encoder (40) detects the rotation angle of a rotor (42) with great accuracy based on the change in the capacitance between electrodes arranged on a stator (41) and the rotor (42). Detection electrodes (44a to 44d) and transmission electrodes (45a to 45d) are arranged circumferentially and alternately on the stator (41). Detection signals (phase A, phase B) amplitude-modulated based on the rotation of the rotor (42) and having a mutual phase difference of 90 degrees are output from adjacent ones of the detection electrodes. Modulated signals (V1, V2) are generated by demodulating the detection signals having a mutual phase difference of 90 degrees. Applying resolver-digital (RD) conversion processing to the modulated signals allows obtaining the rotation angle of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: ORIENTAL MOTOR CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Daiki Kondo
  • Patent number: 10534463
    Abstract: A touch input device may be provided that includes: a cover; a display module disposed under the cover; and a pressure sensing unit disposed under the display module. The pressure sensing unit includes a first elastic foam, a pressure sensor disposed on the first elastic foam, and a first adhesive layer disposed between the first elastic foam and the pressure sensor. A change amount of a stress of the first elastic foam required for the first elastic foam to be compressed to half of the thickness thereof from its original state is less than the change amount of the stress of the first elastic foam required for the first elastic foam to be compressed from half of the thickness thereof to the thickness to which the first elastic foam is able to be maximally compressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: HIDEEP INC.
    Inventors: Seyeob Kim, Bonkee Kim
  • Patent number: 10486962
    Abstract: A force sensor comprises a first substrate, a second substrate, a third substrate, and a package body. The first substrate includes a fixed electrode, at least one first conductive contact, and at least one second conductive contact. The second substrate is disposed on the first substrate and electrically connected to the first conductive contact of the first substrate. The second substrate includes a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) element corresponding to the fixed electrode. The third substrate is disposed on the second substrate and includes a pillar connected to the MEMS element. The package body covers the third substrate. The foregoing force sensor has better reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: MIRAMEMS SENSING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Li-Tien Tseng, Yu-Hao Chien, Chih-Liang Kuo, Yu-Te Yeh
  • Patent number: 10426389
    Abstract: The double layer capacitance of a working electrode of a sensor may be measured with minimal disruption to the sensor equilibrium by open circuiting the working electrode and measuring the voltage drift on a periodic, or as-needed, basis. The values of the double layer capacitance may be monitored over time to determine, e.g., sensor age and condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventor: Wayne A. Morgan
  • Patent number: 10425079
    Abstract: Improved driven shield electrodes used with capacitance sensors are described in this application. Typical capacitance sensors suffer from parasitic capacitance that can make proximity sensing difficult. The driven shield described herein is divided into multiple portions and an increased drive voltage is applied to at least one of these portions. This increase voltage enhances the electric field of the capacitance sensor and increases the proximity sensitivity. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Cirque Corporation
    Inventor: Jared Bytheway
  • Patent number: 10416189
    Abstract: A physical quantity sensor includes a stationary electrode, an X-axis displaceable movable member, and a movable electrode. The stationary electrode includes first and second movable electrodes arranged side by side along the Y-axis direction. The first and second stationary electrodes respectively include first and second stationary electrode fingers extending from first and second trunks in the ±Y-axis directions. The movable electrode includes first and second movable electrodes arranged side by side in the Y-axis direction. The first and second movable electrodes respectively include first and second movable electrode fingers located on both sides in the Y-axis direction of the first and second trunks, and opposed to the first and second stationary electrode fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10352701
    Abstract: A physical quantity sensor includes a base substrate, a movable portion that is oscillatably provided around an axis while facing the base substrate and that is divided into a first movable portion and a second movable portion, a first fixed electrode that is disposed on the base substrate facing the first movable portion, and a second fixed electrode that is disposed on the base substrate facing the second movable portion. The first fixed electrode and the second fixed electrode are configured so as to offset at least a part of a difference between a first fringe capacitance, which is between the first movable portion and the first fixed electrode, and a second fringe capacitance, which is between the second movable portion and the second fixed electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10346666
    Abstract: The present invention, belonging to a field of fingerprint detecting technology, relates to a fingerprint detecting circuit including: a first conductive layer; a second conductive layer; an inverting amplifier, comprising a single input terminal coupled to the first conductive layer; and an output terminal coupled to the second conductive layer; and a switch, configured for establishing a DC operating point of the inverting amplifier, wherein a terminal of the switch is coupled to the input terminal, and another terminal of the switch is coupled to the output terminal. The present invention utilizes the inverting amplifier with single input single output and the switch to quickly and correctly establish the DC biasing point of the inverting amplifier, and convert the sensing capacitance into the output signal. No need for another biasing circuit. The circuit structure thereof is simple and the accuracy is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Shenzhen Goodix Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang Zhan
  • Patent number: 10345161
    Abstract: A load-sensing device is arranged in a package forming a chamber. The package has a deformable substrate configured, in use, to be deformed by an external force. A sensor unit is positioned in direct contact with the deformable substrate and is configured to detect deformations of the deformable substrate. An elastic element within of the chamber is arranged to act between the package and the sensor unit to generate, on the sensor unit, a force keeping the sensor unit in contact with the deformable substrate. The deformable substrate may be a base of the package, and the elastic element may be a metal lamina arranged between the lid of the package and the sensor unit. The sensor unit may be a semiconductor die integrating piezoresistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Daniele Caltabiano, Mohammad Abbasi Gavarti, Bruno Murari, Roberto Brioschi, Domenico Giusti
  • Patent number: 10335056
    Abstract: A sensor for electrically measuring a force distributed unevenly across a measurement surface of the sensor includes a spring device between a measurement surface and a counter-surface. A first measuring element is arranged in or on the measurement surface and a second measuring element is arranged in or on the counter-surface, the elements substantially completely covering these surfaces in each case. The measuring elements include capacitor plates, and are designed such that the measuring signal can be generated from a distance between the measuring elements. The spring device has a large number of elastically designed spring members which are arranged spaced apart from each other by gaps so that each spring member upon loading by the force can deform into the gaps. This arrangement makes it is possible to measure unevenly distributed forces between bodies which may be of very different forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignees: Novel GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Seitz, Ahmad Dahrouj
  • Patent number: 10303914
    Abstract: An example system drives one or more transmit signals on first electrodes disposed in a first layer and propagating electrodes disposed in a second layer. The system measures a capacitance of sensors through a of second electrodes. Each second electrode crosses each first electrode to provide a plurality of discrete sensor areas, each discrete sensor area associated with a difference crossing and including a portion of at least one propagating electrode. Each second electrode is galvanically isolated from the first electrodes and the propagating electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Igor Kravets, Oleksandr Hoshtanar, Igor Kolych, Oleksandr Karpin
  • Patent number: 10282040
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a touch circuit pattern and a manufacturing method thereof. A capacitive touch circuit pattern in the present disclosure comprises a substrate, wherein at least two adjacent transparent first-axis electrode blocks, a transparent first-axis conductive wire, and at least two adjacent transparent second-axis electrode blocks are formed on the substrate. The first-axis conductive wire is formed between the two adjacent first-axis electrode blocks to connect the two adjacent first-axis electrode blocks and the two adjacent second-axis electrode blocks, respectively, at two sides of the first-axis conductive wire. The capacitive touch circuit pattern further comprises of a metal second-axis conductive wire, which stretches across the first-axis conductive wire and connects the two adjacent second-axis electrode blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: TPK Touch Solutions (Xiamen) Inc.
    Inventors: Chen-Yu Liu, Ching-Yi Wang
  • Patent number: 10260983
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for diagnosing a state of a capacitive sensor is provided. The apparatus comprises a measuring circuit for being electrically coupled to a capacitive sensor. The measuring circuit is configured to measure a first impedance of the capacitive sensor at a first frequency and to determine a first capacitance of the capacitive sensor at the first frequency based on the first impedance. The measuring circuit is further configured to compare the first capacitance of the capacitive sensor to a first threshold and to a second threshold to diagnose the capacitive sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Antoni Ferré Fàbregas, Federico Giordano
  • Patent number: 10254908
    Abstract: A touch panel including a substrate, first touch electrodes, each of the first touch electrodes including first mesh patterns disposed on the substrate, an insulation layer disposed on the first touch electrodes, second touch electrodes, each of the second touch electrodes including second mesh patterns disposed on the insulation layer, first auxiliary mesh electrodes disposed on the substrate, the first auxiliary mesh electrodes being electrically connected to at least a portion of the corresponding second mesh patterns, and second auxiliary mesh electrodes disposed on the insulation layer, the second auxiliary mesh electrodes being electrically connected to at least a portion of the corresponding first mesh patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyunjae Na, Sanghyun Jun, Gwang-Bum Ko, Joohyung Lee, Jigong Lee, Hyoungwook Jang, Soonsung Ahn