Patents Assigned to SIGMASENSE, LLC.
  • Patent number: 12292719
    Abstract: A rotating equipment system with in-line drive-sense circuit (DSC) electric power signal processing includes rotating equipment, in-line drive-sense circuits (DSCs), and one or more processing modules. The in-line DSCs receive input electrical power signals and generate motor drive signals for the rotating equipment. An in-line DSC receives an input electrical power signal, processes it to generate and output a motor drive signal to the rotating equipment via a single line and simultaneously senses the motor drive signal via the single line. Based on the sensing of the motor drive signal via the single line, the in-line DSC provides a digital signal to the one or more processing modules that receive and process the digital signal to determine information regarding one or more operational conditions of the rotating equipment, and based thereon, selectively facilitate one or more adaptation operations on the motor drive signal via the in-line DSC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20250130034
    Abstract: A capacitive imaging glove includes electrodes implemented throughout the capacitive imaging glove and drive-sense circuits (DSCs) such that a DSC receives a reference signal generates a signal based thereon. The DSC provides the signal to a first electrode via a single line and simultaneously senses it. Note the signal is coupled from the first electrode to the second electrode via a gap therebetween. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the electrical characteristic of the first electrode. Processing module(s), when enabled, is/are configured to execute operational instructions (e.g., stored in and/or retrieved from memory) to generate the reference signal, process the digital signal to determine the electrical characteristic of the first electrode, and process the electrical characteristic of the first electrode to determine a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode, and generate capacitive image data representative of a shape of the capacitive imaging glove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2024
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Shayne X. Short, Ph.D., Timothy W. Markison
  • Patent number: 12277312
    Abstract: A touch sensor system includes touch sensors, drive-sense circuits (DSCs), memory, and a processing module. A DSC drives a first signal via a single line coupling to a touch sensor and simultaneously senses, when present, a second signal that is uniquely associated with a user. The DSC processes the first signal and/or the second signal to generate a digital signal that is representative of an electrical characteristic of the touch sensor. The processing module executes operational instructions (stored in the memory) to process the digital signal to detect interaction of the user with the touch sensor and to determine whether the interaction of the user with the touch sensor compares favorably with authorization. When not authorized, the processing module aborts execution of operation(s) associated with the interaction of the user with the touch sensor. Alternatively, when authorized, the processing module facilitates execution of the operation(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12271548
    Abstract: A method includes generating, by a first drive-sense circuit of circuitry of an electronic pen, a first error signal corresponding to an electrical characteristic of a first orientation capacitor of the electronic pen; and generating, by a second drive-sense circuit of the circuitry, a second error signal corresponding to an electrical characteristic of a second orientation capacitor. The method further includes subtracting, by a first subtraction module, the first and second error signals to produce a first difference error signal; receiving, by the circuitry, a self-signal transmitted by one or more electrodes of a touch screen via a primary conductor of the electronic pen; transmitting, by the circuitry, a ring back signal to the touch screen via the primary conductor in response to the self-signal; and transmitting, by the circuitry, the first difference error signal to the touch screen via a secondary conductor of the electronic pen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand
  • Patent number: 12271550
    Abstract: A touch sensor device (TSD) includes a panel that includes electrodes and drive-sense circuits (DSCs). Different electrodes may be implemented in different directions. A first DSC is operably coupled via a first single line to a first electrode, and a second DSC is operably coupled via a second single line to the panel. The DSCs operate by providing respective signals via the respective single lines and simultaneously sensing the signals. For example, sensing of a first signal of a first DSC includes detection of a first electrical characteristic of the first electrode and/or a first change of the first signal. Sensing of a second signal of the second DSC includes detection of coupling of another signal into the panel in accordance with digital data communication from another device to the TSD. The DSCs also generate respective digital signals based upon what they sense.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventor: Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Publication number: 20250110481
    Abstract: An automated system includes transducers, at least one computing device, and at least one automated apparatus. The transducer(s) is/are driven and sensed using drive-sense circuit(s). A drives and senses drive and sense a transducer via a single line, generates a digital signal representative of a sensed analog feature to which the transducer is exposed, and transmits the digital signal to the computing device. The computing device receives digital signals from at least some of drive-sense circuits and process them in accordance with the automation process to produce an automated process command. The automated apparatus executes a portion of an automated process based on the automated process command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR.
  • Patent number: 12242699
    Abstract: A method for use in a touch-sensitive panel includes generating electric fields by applying drive signals to a plurality of row electrodes and a plurality of column electrodes included in the touch-sensitive panel, and sensing at least one information signal capacitively coupled to the touch-sensitive panel by detecting impedance changes associated with the plurality of row electrodes and the plurality of column electrodes. The impedance changes are converted to received data. Based on the received data a transmission pattern associated with the at least one information signal is determined. It is further determined that the transmission pattern corresponds to an identification code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Michael Shawn Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Patrick Troy Gray, Timothy W. Markison
  • Publication number: 20250068221
    Abstract: A power supply signal conditioning system includes a power supply, one or more loads, and a drive-sense circuit (DSC). The power supply is operably coupled to one or more loads. When enabled, the power supply configured to output a power supply signal having a DC (direct current) voltage component and a ripple voltage component that is based on conversion of an AC (alternating current) signal in accordance with generating the power supply signal. The DSC is operably coupled to the power supply. When enabled, the DSC is configured simultaneously to sense the power supply signal and, based on sensing of the power supply signal, adaptively to process the power supply signal in accordance with reducing or eliminating the ripple voltage component of the power supply signal to generate a conditioned power supply signal to service the one or more loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR.
  • Publication number: 20250060427
    Abstract: A Hall effect sensor system includes a Hall effect sensor and a drive-sense circuit (DSC). The Hall effect sensor includes an input port to receive a DC (direct current) current signal and generates a Hall voltage based on exposure to a magnetic field. The DSC generates the DC current signal based on a reference signal and drives it via a single line that operably couples the DSC to the Hall effect sensor and simultaneously to sense the DC current signal via the single line. The DSC detects an effect on the DC current signal corresponding to the Hall voltage that is generated across the Hall effect sensor based on exposure of the Hall effect sensor to the magnetic field and generates a digital signal representative of the Hall voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR.
  • Patent number: 12225979
    Abstract: A method includes determining, by a processing module of a foot force detection system, an athletic mode. The method further includes, when the athletic mode is active, determining, by the processing module, an athletic burst mode. The method further includes determining, by the processing module, a sampling rate for the foot force detection system based on the athletic burst mode for sampling foot force data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Michael Shawn Gray, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Timothy W. Markison, Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Patent number: 12226674
    Abstract: A foot force detection system includes variable capacitors, drive sense circuits, a processing module, and a power unit. A drive sense circuit supplies a reference signal to the variable capacitor. It then generates a sensed signal regarding a characteristic of the variable capacitor based on the reference signal. It then converts the sensed signal into a digital signal. The processing module generates a digital impedance value for the variable capacitor based on the digital signal and writes the digital impedance value in memory. The power unit include a battery and a power harvesting circuit, where the battery and/or the power harvesting circuit provide power for the foot force detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Michael Shawn Gray, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Timothy W. Markison, Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Patent number: 12223149
    Abstract: A pen for interacting with a touch screen of a computing device includes an alternating current coupling circuit and a sense-regulation circuit. The alternating current coupling circuit receives a sense signal from the touch screen. The alternating current coupling circuit transmits a transmit signal to the touch screen. The sense-regulation circuit receives the sense signal from the alternating current coupling circuit. The sense-regulation circuit receives a representation of transmit data. The sense-regulation circuit generates a comparison signal based on the sense signal and the representation of the transmit data. The sense-regulation circuit converts the representation of the transmit data into the transmit signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Michael Shawn Gray
  • Publication number: 20250044893
    Abstract: A touch sensor device includes a first panel, a second panel, and a drive-sense circuit (DSC). The first panel that includes first electrodes arranged in a first direction and second electrodes arranged in a second direction. The second panel includes third electrodes arranged in a third direction and fourth electrodes arranged in a fourth direction. The DSC is operably coupled via a single line to a coupling of a first electrode of the first electrodes and a first electrode of the third electrodes. The DSC is configured to provide the signal, which is generated based on a reference signal, via the single line to the coupling and simultaneously to sense the signal via the single line. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the at least one electrical characteristic associated with the first electrode of the first electrodes and/or the first electrode of the third electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventor: Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Patent number: 12216169
    Abstract: A battery characterization system includes a drive-sense circuit (DSC), memory that stores operational instructions, and processing module(s) operably coupled to the DSC and the memory. Based on a reference signal, the DSC generates a charge signal, which includes an AC (alternating current) component, and provides the charge signal to a terminal of a battery via a single line and simultaneously to senses the charge signal via the single line to detect an electrical characteristic of the battery based on a response of the battery. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the electrical characteristic of the battery. The processing module(s), based on the operational instructions, generate the reference signal to include a frequency sweep of the AC component of the charge signal (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Michael Frederick David Olley, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12216862
    Abstract: A current reference operative drive-sense circuit (DSC) includes a current source operably coupled to a load and a voltage-mode analog to digital converter (ADC). When enabled, the current source is configured to drive a sinusoidal current reference signal to the load thereby generating a load voltage that is based on the sinusoidal current reference signal and an impedance of the load. The voltage-mode ADC is operably coupled the load and to the current source. When enabled, the voltage-mode ADC configured to perform digital sampling of the load voltage and to generate a digital signal that is representative of the load voltage. In some implementations, one or more processing modules is configured to execute operational instructions to process the digital signal that is representative of the load voltage in accordance with determining impedance of the load and/or change of impedance of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Phuong Huynh
  • Publication number: 20250038761
    Abstract: A batteryless wireless sensor system includes a data acquisition system, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, and a batteryless wireless sensor device. The RF transceiver is in communication with the data acquisition system, transmits a RF signal, and receives sensor data and provide the sensor data to the data acquisition system. The batteryless wireless sensor device includes a RF transmitter, an analog to digital converter (ADC), and a sensor. The batteryless wireless sensor harvests energy from the RF signal and generates a DC signal based on the energy harvested from the RF signal, powers up and operates the ADC and the sensor based on the DC signal, and generates sensor data. The batteryless wireless sensor then transmits the sensor data via the RF transmitter to the RF transceiver. In certain examples, the ADC is implemented as a current mode ADC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventor: Phuong Huynh
  • Publication number: 20250036214
    Abstract: A pen apparatus with a pressure sensitive tip mechanism that internally generates pressure, tilt, and/or barrel rotation through the use of a multi-axis measurement scheme with simultaneous transmit, receive, and sensing driver capability operable in conjunction with a receiving system or in a relative stand-alone manner. Signaling schemes are provided for operating the pen apparatus to achieve improved function. Systems and methods are provided for operating a pen, and for operating a pen with a touch sensor system. Drive/receive circuitry and methods of driving and receiving sensor electrode signals are provided that allow digital I/0 pins to be used to interface with touch sensor electrodes. This circuitry may be operated in modes to sense various combinations of signals coupled within a pen, or from outside of a pen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Michael Gray
  • Patent number: 12207703
    Abstract: A foot force detection system includes first and second shoe force detection units. The first shoe force detection unit includes pressure sensors, a processing module, and a communication unit. The pressure sensors are operably coupled to produce first force data. The processing module is operably coupled to produce a first digital representation of the first force data. The second shoe force detection unit includes its own pressure sensors, a processing module, and a communication unit. The first and second shoe force detection units communicate with each other via the communication units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Michael Shawn Gray, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Timothy W. Markison, Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Patent number: 12203965
    Abstract: An impedance sensing circuit includes first and second current sources and first and second bias current sources that are appropriately coupled to first and second resistors. The impedance sensing circuit also includes a comparator that compares a first voltage based on the first terminal of the first resistor to a second voltage based on the first terminal of the second resistor to generate a comparator output signal. Either the comparator output signal or a digital signal based on the comparator output signal operates to regulate the current signals output from the first and second current sources so that the first voltage is same as the second voltage. The comparator output signal and the digital signal is representative of a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage that is based on an impedance difference between the first resistor and the second resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventor: Phuong Huynh
  • Patent number: 12194344
    Abstract: A force detection system includes first and second sets of pressure sensors, memory, and a processing module. The first set of pressure sensors are in an insole of a shoe and the second set of pressure sensors are in an outsole of a shoe. The processing module receives first data regarding the first set of pressure sensors and generates a first digital representation of the first data. The processing module also receives second data regarding the second set of pressure sensors and generates a second digital representation of the second data. The processing module also writes the first and second digital representations to the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Michael Shawn Gray, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Timothy W. Markison, Kevin Joseph Derichs