Patents Assigned to SIGMASENSE, LLC.
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Patent number: 11709204Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 29, 2022Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Michael Frederick David Olley, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Patent number: 11703975Abstract: A channel driver circuit includes a differential module and a driver module. In some examples, the channel driver circuit also includes a sigma-delta module. The differential module receives, via a single node of a load, a channel driving signal that is provided to the load at the single node (e.g., that is based on an electrical characteristic of the load) and generates an analog error signal that is based on the channel driving signal and a reference signal. The driver module is coupled to the differential module and generates the channel driving signal based on the analog error signal or a digital error signal corresponding to the analog error signal and transmits the channel driving signal via the single node to the load. The channel driver circuit simultaneously transmits the channel driving signal to the load at the single node and senses the channel driving signal at the single node.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2022Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Phuong Huynh
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Patent number: 11703962Abstract: 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/O 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: GrantFiled: December 13, 2021Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Michael Gray
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Patent number: 11703976Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 26, 2022Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventor: Kevin Joseph Derichs
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Publication number: 20230223951Abstract: An analog to digital converter (ADC) that is configured to service a photo-diode includes a capacitor and a self-referenced latched comparator. The capacitor produces a photo-diode voltage based on charging by a photo-diode current associated with the photo-diode and a digital to analog converter (DAC) source current and/or a DAC sink current. The self-referenced latched comparator generates a first digital signal that is based on a difference between the photo-diode voltage and a threshold voltage associated with the self-referenced latched comparator. Also, one or more processing modules executes operational instructions to process the first digital signal to generate a second digital signal and/or a third digital signal. An N-bit DAC generates the DAC source current based on the second digital signal, and an M-bit DAC generates the DAC sink current based on the third digital signal. The DAC source current and/or the DAC sink current tracks the photo-diode current.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2023Publication date: July 13, 2023Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventor: Phuong Huynh
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Patent number: 11700010Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 29, 2022Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventor: Phuong Huynh
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Patent number: 11693497Abstract: An e-pen includes e-pen sensor electrodes (including a first and a second e-pen sensor electrode) and drive-sense circuits (DSCs) (including a first DSC and a second DSC. The first DSC drives a first e-pen signal having a first frequency via a first single line coupling to the first e-pen sensor electrode and simultaneously senses, via the first single line, the first e-pen signal. Based on e-pen/touch sensor device interaction, the first e-pen signal is coupled into at least one touch sensor electrode of the touch sensor device. The first DSC process the first e-pen signal to generate a first digital signal representative of a first electrical characteristic of the first e-pen sensor electrode. Similarly, the second DSC drives a second e-pen signal having a second frequency via a second single line coupling to the second e-pen sensor electrode and simultaneously senses, via the second single line, the second e-pen signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2022Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Michael Shawn Gray, Kevin Joseph Derichs
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Patent number: 11695423Abstract: An analog to digital conversion circuit includes an analog to digital converter (ADC) circuit operable to convert an analog signal having an oscillation frequency into a first digital signal having a first data rate frequency. The analog signal includes a set of pure tone components. The first digital signal includes n 1-bit channels. The analog to digital conversion circuit further includes a digital decimation filtering circuit including n anti-aliasing filters operable to sample and filter the n 1-bit channels of the first digital signal to produce n second digital signals and n decimator circuits operable to decimate the n second digital signals to produce n third digital signals at a second data rate frequency. The analog to digital conversion circuit further includes a multiplexor operable to output the n third digital signals at the second data rate frequency on a single bus.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Grant Howard McGibney, Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand
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Publication number: 20230205344Abstract: A touchscreen display includes one or more display drivers coupled to an active matrix display and one or more touch controllers coupled to one or more touch sensor conductors. The one or more display drivers are coupled to the active matrix display via active matrix conductive components. When enabled, the one or more display drivers is configured to transmit a first signal to the active matrix display in accordance with display operation. A touch sensor conductor includes one or more segments of the active matrix conductive components. When enabled, a touch controller of the one or more touch controllers is configured to transmit a second signal via the touch sensor conductor in accordance with touchscreen operation that is performed concurrently with the display operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Michael Shawn Gray, Kevin Joseph Derichs
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Publication number: 20230205355Abstract: A computing device includes signal generation circuitry and also includes a location on the computing device that is operative to couple a signal generated by the signal generation circuitry into a user. For example, the computing device includes signal generation circuitry that generates a signal that includes information corresponding to a user and/or an application that is operative within the computing device. The signal generation circuitry couples the signal into the user from a location on the computing device based on a bodily portion of the user being in contact with or within sufficient proximity to the location on the computing device that facilitates coupling of the signal into the user. Also, the signal may be coupled via the user to another computing device that includes a touchscreen display that is operative to detect and receive the signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Shayne X. Short, Ph.D., Timothy W. Markison
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Patent number: 11681275Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 30, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Patent number: 11681276Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 28, 2022Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Patent number: 11681641Abstract: A method for execution by a low voltage drive circuit (LVDC) operably coupled to a bus includes, when activated, setting data reception for a control channel of a plurality of channels on the bus, where the control channel is a sinusoidal signal having a known frequency. The method further includes receiving the control channel and capturing a cycle of the control channel when the control channel is void of a data communication. The method further includes comparing the cycle of the control channel with a cycle of a first receive clock signal of the LVDC and when the cycle of a first receive clock signal compares unfavorably to the cycle of the control channel, adjusting phase and/or frequency of the cycle of the first receive clock signal to substantially match phase and/or frequency of the cycle of the control channel to produce an adjusted first receive clock signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2022Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Gerald Dale Morrison, Timothy W. Markison
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Patent number: 11683045Abstract: A high resolution analog to digital converter (ADC) with improved bandwidth senses an analog signal (e.g., a load current) to generate a digital signal. The ADC operates based on a load voltage produced based on charging of an element (e.g., a capacitor) by a load current and a digital to analog converter (DAC) output current (e.g., from a N-bit DAC). The ADC generates a digital output signal representative of a difference between the load voltage and a reference voltage. This digital output signal is used directly, or after digital signal processing, to operate an N-bit DAC to generate a DAC output current that tracks the load current. In addition, quantization noise is subtracted from the digital output signal thereby extending the operational bandwidth of the ADC. In certain examples, the operational bandwidth of the ADC extends up to 100s of kHz (e.g., 200-300 kHz), or even higher.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2022Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventor: Phuong Huynh
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Publication number: 20230185393Abstract: A touchscreen display includes one or more display drivers coupled to an active matrix display and one or more touch controllers coupled to one or more touch sensor conductors. The one or more display drivers are coupled to the active matrix display via active matrix conductive components. When enabled, the one or more display drivers is configured to transmit a first signal to the active matrix display in accordance with display operation. A touch sensor conductor includes one or more segments of the active matrix conductive components. When enabled, a touch controller of the one or more touch controllers is configured to transmit a second signal via the touch sensor conductor in accordance with touchscreen operation that is performed concurrently with the display operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2023Publication date: June 15, 2023Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Michael Shawn Gray, Kevin Joseph Derichs
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Patent number: 11675323Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 22, 2021Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Publication number: 20230176549Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2023Publication date: June 8, 2023Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR.
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Publication number: 20230176666Abstract: An e-pen includes e-pen sensor electrodes (including a first and a second e-pen sensor electrode) and drive-sense circuits (DSCs) (including a first DSC and a second DSC. The first DSC drives a first e-pen signal having a first frequency via a first single line coupling to the first e-pen sensor electrode and simultaneously senses, via the first single line, the first e-pen signal. Based on e-pen/touch sensor device interaction, the first e-pen signal is coupled into at least one touch sensor electrode of the touch sensor device. The first DSC process the first e-pen signal to generate a first digital signal representative of a first electrical characteristic of the first e-pen sensor electrode. Similarly, the second DSC drives a second e-pen signal having a second frequency via a second single line coupling to the second e-pen sensor electrode and simultaneously senses, via the second single line, the second e-pen signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2023Publication date: June 8, 2023Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Michael Shawn Gray, Kevin Joseph Derichs
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Patent number: 11669062Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 30, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
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Patent number: 11669177Abstract: An e-pen includes e-pen sensor electrodes (including a first and a second e-pen sensor electrode) and drive-sense circuits (DSCs) (including a first DSC and a second DSC. The first DSC drives a first e-pen signal having a first frequency via a first single line coupling to the first e-pen sensor electrode and simultaneously senses, via the first single line, the first e-pen signal. Based on e-pen/touch sensor device interaction, the first e-pen signal is coupled into at least one touch sensor electrode of the touch sensor device. The first DSC process the first e-pen signal to generate a first digital signal representative of a first electrical characteristic of the first e-pen sensor electrode. Similarly, the second DSC drives a second e-pen signal having a second frequency via a second single line coupling to the second e-pen sensor electrode and simultaneously senses, via the second single line, the second e-pen signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Michael Shawn Gray, Kevin Joseph Derichs