Patents Assigned to Cypress Semiconductor
  • APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING A CONDUCTIVE OBJECT AT A LOCATION
    Publication number: 20120044201
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to detect a conductive object at a location determines a capacitance variation of a first sensor element and a capacitance variation of a second sensor element. The method and apparatus detects a touch at a first location if the capacitance variation of the first sensor element is greater than a reference value and the capacitance variation of the second sensor element is not greater than the reference value. The method and apparatus detects the touch at a second location if the capacitance variation of the first sensor element is not greater than the reference value and the capacitance variation of the second sensor element is greater than the reference value. The method and apparatus detects the touch at a third location if the capacitance variation of the first sensor element and the capacitance variation of the second sensor element are both greater than the reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jiang XiaoPing
  • Method and Apparatus For Sensing the Force With Which a Button is Pressed
    Publication number: 20120046104
    Abstract: An example method includes measuring a capacitance of an actuator and a conductive element when, responsive to a force applied to the actuator, the actuator is coupled to a reference voltage and deformed such that surface area of the actuator proximate to the conductive element increases. The example method includes determining the force applied to the actuator based on the measured capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: David Wright
  • Toothed Slider
    Publication number: 20120043141
    Abstract: An example method includes measuring a capacitance variation of a first conductive element and a capacitance variation of a second conductive element. The example method includes calculating a centroid position through the measured capacitance variation of the first conductive element and the measured capacitance variation of the second conductive element. A conductive sub-element of the first conductive element may be interleaved with a conductive sub-element of the second conductive element. The conductive sub-element of the first conductive element and the conductive sub-element of the second conductive element may each have a varying width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jiang XiaoPing
  • Automatic Tuning of a Capacitive Sensing Device
    Publication number: 20120043970
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for automatically tuning a capacitance sensor based on comparisons of measured capacitance values to expected values and ranges of values is described. Measured capacitance is converted to a digital value with a capacitance to digital converter. The digital value is use to adjust the range, resolution, baseline offset and thresholds of the capacitance sensor according to logic executed by a controller and stored in programs in a memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dana Olson
  • Capacitive Touch Screen
    Publication number: 20120044187
    Abstract: One embodiment in accordance with the invention can include a capacitive touch screen. The capacitive touch screen includes a substantially transparent substrate and a plurality of electrodes formed on the substantially transparent substrate. The plurality of electrodes are substantially parallel in a first direction and each of the plurality of electrodes includes a layer of light altering material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2009
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Igor Polishchuk, Edward Grivna
  • Touch Identification for Multi-Touch Technology
    Publication number: 20120044150
    Abstract: A method of operating a touch-sensing surface may include determining a first plurality of contact locations including a first contact location, determining a second plurality of contact locations including a second contact location, performing a first correlation process for correlating the second contact location with the first contact location when the number of contacts is less than or equal to a first threshold number, and performing a second correlation process for correlating the second contact location with the first contact location when the number of contacts is greater than a second threshold number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Oleksandr Karpin, Volodymyr Hutnyk
  • Capacitance Scanning Proximity Detection
    Publication number: 20120044199
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for scanning a first set of electrodes of a capacitive sense array using a first sensing mode to identify a presence of an object in proximity to the capacitive sense array, where scanning using the first sensing mode identifies objects not in physical contact with the capacitive sense array. The first set of electrodes is scanned using a second sensing mode to determine a location of the object in relation to the capacitive sense array, where rescanning using the second sensing mode determines locations of objects in physical contact with the capacitive sense array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Oleksadr Karpin, Andriy Maharyta, Andriy Ryshtun, Victor Kremin, Volodymyr Hutnyk
  • Mutual Capacitance Sensing Circuits, Methods and Systems
    Publication number: 20120043977
    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: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Victor Kremin, Andriy Maharyta, Patrick Prendergast
  • Capacitive Sensor Arrangement
    Publication number: 20120044197
    Abstract: An example capacitive sensor arrangement includes an integrated member residing within an interior region of a capacitive sensor element. The capacitive sensor element has a first resistance to a flow of current and the integrated member has a second resistance to the flow of current that is less than the first resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Igor Polishchuk, Vasyl Mandziy
  • SELF SHIELDING CAPACITANCE SENSING PANEL
    Publication number: 20120044198
    Abstract: A self-shielding capacitive sensor array may include a first plurality of sensor elements and a second plurality of sensor elements, where each of the second plurality of sensor elements intersects each of the first plurality of sensor elements, such that each of the first plurality of sensor elements may be capacitively coupled with each of the second plurality of sensor elements. The first plurality of sensor elements may be configured to shield each of the second plurality of sensor elements from a noise source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Min Chin Chai, Fred Keiser, Igor Polishchuk
  • Feedback mechanism for user detection of reference location on a sensing device
    Patent number: 8120584
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing an active feedback of a position of a conductive object, manipulated by a user on a sensing device, to allow detection of a reference location on the sensing device by the user. The apparatus may include a sensing device to detect a presence of a conductive object, manipulated by a user on the sensing device, a processing device coupled to the sensing device, the processing device to determine a position of the conductive object on the sensing device, and a feedback mechanism coupled to the processing device to provide an active feedback to the user to allow detection of a reference location on the sensing device by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Edward L. Grivna, David G. Wright, Ronald H. Sartore
  • Chirped surface acoustic wave (SAW) correlator/expander
    Patent number: 8121172
    Abstract: A surface acoustic wave (SAW) expander based transmitter and correlator based receiver comprises SAW devices that perform expander or correlator functions based on the types of signals inputted to the SAW devices. The SAW devices incorporate chirp with adaptive interference and programmable coding capabilities. The SAW devices and method of operating the devices allow the implementation of very low power radios that overcome problems with temperature drift, lithography constraints and interference and jamming suffered by prior art implementations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Whelan, Paul Beard
  • Oxide formation in a plasma process
    Patent number: 8119538
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes forming a dielectric layer using a high density plasma oxidation process. The dielectric layer is on a storage layer and the thickness of the storage layer is reduced during the high density plasma oxidation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Jeong Soo Byun, Krishnaswamy Ramkumar
  • Tapered capacitive sensing structure
    Patent number: 8121283
    Abstract: A touchpad has interleaved conductive traces across a touchpad surface. Each conductive trace has a first end and a second end. The width of the first end is larger than the width of the second end. The interleaved conductive traces have a first group of conductive traces alternated with a second group of conductive traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Tao Peng, Zheng Qin
  • Voltage controlled oscillator delay cell and method
    Patent number: 8120408
    Abstract: A delay cell circuit (200) is disclosed. The delay cell circuit may include a differential stage (202) and a cross-coupled stage (204). The cross-coupled stage can include resistors (210-0 and 210-1) the function to reduce a gain. The differential stage (202) and cross-coupled stage (204) can include variable currents sources (208 and 212), respectively. As frequency of operation increases, variable current source (208) provides a larger current to the differential stage (202) and variable current source (212) provides a smaller current to cross-coupled stage (204). Delay cell circuit (200) may be used in a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). By including gain attenuating devices such as resistors (210-0 and 210-1), a frequency tuning range of the VCO may be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Mohandas Palatholmana Sivadasan, Gajendar Rohilla
  • Monitoring devices, assemblies and methods for attachment to gauges and the like
    Patent number: 8112897
    Abstract: A monitoring device assembly and method may include a primary interface for attaching to a monitored device, and a monitoring device mechanically coupled to the primary interface that captures an image of the monitored device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Valoff, Marcus Kramer, Eric Gawehn
  • Signal connection device and method
    Patent number: 8112571
    Abstract: A device may include a first data path coupled between a first port and a data transfer section that enables data paths between the first data path and at least a second port and a third port. A second data path may be coupled between the first port and the second port that bypasses the data transfer section and is not coupled to the second or third ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Herve Letourneur
  • Addressing scheme to allow flexible mapping of functions in a programmable logic array
    Patent number: 8112551
    Abstract: A programmable processing device comprises a plurality of universal digital blocks (UDBs) in a UDB linear array. Each register in each UDB is associated with a plurality of memory addresses, where each memory address is from each of the different memory address spaces associated with different access mode widths of different digital peripheral functions. A digital peripheral function of an access mode width is mapped to one or more contiguous UDBs starting with a first UDB in the UDB linear array. Based on the access mode width, one of the associated memory addresses is chosen for the first UDB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Bert Sullam
  • System and a method for checking lock-step consistency between an in circuit emulation and a microcontroller
    Patent number: 8112267
    Abstract: A system and a method for checking consistency of a lock-step process while debugging a microcontroller code. The virtual microcontroller and the microcontroller simultaneously and independently run a microcontroller code. The microcontroller includes a first memory and the virtual microcontroller residing in the ICE includes a second memory. A host computer copies a content of the first memory and a content of the second memory in the host computer memory when the execution of the code is halted. The host device compares the content of the first memory and the content of the second memory for consistency. In case of a disparity between the content of the first memory and the content of the second memory, a user traces the execution of the code in a trace buffer residing in the ICE and debugs the faulty code accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Craig Nemecek
  • Device with reconfigurable continuous and discrete time functionality
    Patent number: 8111097
    Abstract: A programmable system includes a programmable analog device including an operational amplifier to generate an output voltage based on input voltages at terminals of the operational amplifier. The programmable system also includes a system controller to direct the programmable analog device to reconfigure analog circuitry providing the input voltages to the operational amplifier. The reconfiguration of the analog circuitry allows the programmable analog device to implement discrete-time or continuous-time functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Harold Kutz, Warren Snyder, Monte Mar, Dennis Seguine, Gajender Rohilla, Eashwar Thiagarajan