Patents Assigned to Cypress Semiconductor
  • TOUCH SENSING
    Publication number: 20120043140
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a plurality of capacitors, each having a first electrode and a second electrode. The apparatus includes charging circuitry coupled to the first electrodes and sensing circuitry coupled to the second electrodes, the sensing circuitry configured to detect changes in capacitance across the capacitors responsive to movement of an input object relative to the apparatus. Interpolating circuitry identifies which one of the capacitors is nearest to the input object according to the detected capacitance changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Peterson, Robert Birch
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Apparatus and method for recognizing a tap gesture on a touch sensing device
    Patent number: 8111243
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to recognize a tap gesture on a sensing device. The method may include detecting a presence of a conductive object on a sensing device, determining a velocity of the detected presence of the conductive object, and recognizing a tap gesture based on the velocity. The velocity may be determined by determining a differential of the capacitance over time on a sensing device. The sensing device may include a plurality of sensor elements to detect the presence of the conductive object, and a processing device may be used to determine the velocity of the presence of the conductive object, and to recognize a tap gesture based on the velocity of the presence of the conductive object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Tao Peng, Zheng Qin
  • Tri-stating a phase locked loop to conserve power
    Patent number: 8112054
    Abstract: In a system with an intermittently operating radio, the frequency of which is controlled by a Phase Locked Loop (PLL), a method and system for reducing the power consumed by the PLL by tri-stating the control capacitor in the PLL after the PLL has stabilized at a design frequency. After the capacitor is stabilized, power to some of the components in the PLL is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Mark R. Gehring, Nathan Moyal
  • 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