Patents Assigned to SIGMASENSE, LLC.
  • Patent number: 12197670
    Abstract: A method for comprises determining, for an interaction between a user computing device and the interactive computing device, an interaction type. The method further comprises determining a plurality of data types for supporting the interaction based on the interaction type. The method further comprises determining available communication types of a plurality of communication types for supporting the interaction. The method further comprises determining a first data type is restricted to transmitting via a screen to screen (STS) communication. The method further comprises determining a second data type of the plurality of data types is allowed for transmitting via a second communication type. When the available communication types include STS communication and the second communication type, facilitating execution of the interaction utilizing the STS communication for transmitting data having the first data type and utilizing the second communication type for data having the second data type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Gerald Dale Morrison, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Timothy W. Markison
  • Publication number: 20250014453
    Abstract: A method includes selecting, by a processing module, a drive-sense circuit to be a transmit drive-sense circuit at different times. At each time of the different times, the method further includes providing, by the processing module, a reference signal having a first frequency to the selected transmit drive-sense circuit, transmitting, by the selected transmit drive-sense circuit, an electrode signal to a corresponding selected test container electrode of a test container of a test container array of a test system and generating, by other drive-sense circuits, a set of sensed signals. The test container contains a content. The method further includes interpreting a plurality of sets of sensed signals as a plurality of impedance values and generating an impedance map based on the plurality of impedance values and with respect to positioning of the set of test container electrodes. The impedance map is representative of electrical characteristics of the content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Gerald Dale Morrison, Patrick Troy Gray, Phuong Huynh, Timothy W. Markison, Patricia M. Healy
  • Publication number: 20250014454
    Abstract: A test system includes a test container array including a plurality of test containers, and a plurality of electrodes integrated into the test container array. A test container contains a content. The test system further includes a plurality of drive-sense circuits coupled to the plurality of electrodes. When enabled, the set of drive-sense circuits transmit a set of electrode signals on the set of electrodes and generate a set of sensed signals. The test system further includes a processing module coupled to the plurality of drive-sense circuits that includes an analog reference signal generator operable to provide a set of analog reference signals to the set of drive-sense circuits, and a sensed signal processing unit operable to interpret the set of sensed signals as a set of impedance values. The set of impedance values are representative of electrical characteristics of the content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Gerald Dale Morrison, Patrick Troy Gray, Phuong Huynh, Timothy W. Markison, Patricia M. Healy
  • Publication number: 20250013329
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Phuong Huynh
  • Patent number: 12189555
    Abstract: A low voltage drive circuit (LVDC) includes a digital to analog input circuit to convert transmit digital data into combined analog outbound data, the transmit digital data has a data rate based on a host input clock, and a first portion of the combined analog outbound data has a first oscillation rate based on a first transmit channel clock and a second portion has a second oscillation rate based on a second transmit channel clock. The LVDC also includes a drive sense circuit to convert the combined analog outbound data into an analog transmit signal that is transmitted on a bus. The LVDC also includes a clock circuit to generate a transmit input clock to synchronize receiving the transmit digital data from a host, generate the first transmit channel clock based on the host input clock, and generate the second transmit channel clock based on the host input clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Gerald Dale Morrison, Timothy W. Markison
  • Patent number: 12181276
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Shayne X. Short, Timothy W. Markison
  • Patent number: 12182390
    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: June 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12181352
    Abstract: A low power force detection system includes variable capacitors, a drive sense module, and a processing module. A drive sense circuit of the drive sense module is operable to provide an analog and frequency domain signal to a variable capacitor. The drive sense circuit is further operable to detect a characteristic of the variable capacitor based on the analog and frequency domain signal and to generate a representative signal of the characteristic. The processing module is operable to generate a digital value based on the representative and to write the digital value to memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Michael Shawn Gray, Kevin Joseph Derichs, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Timothy W. Markison
  • Publication number: 20240427464
    Abstract: A no-ground plane differential touch screen display includes a display, a plurality of differential electrode pairs integrated into the display, a plurality of differential drive-sense circuits, and a processing module. When enabled, a set of differential drive-sense circuits of the plurality of differential drive-sense circuits is operable to provide a set of differential electrode signals to a set of differential electrode pairs of the plurality of differential electrode pairs and generate a set of sensed signals representative of electrical characteristic changes of the set of differential electrode pairs. The processing module is operable to interpret the electrical characteristic changes as one or more of a column mutual capacitance of a column differential electrode pair, a row mutual capacitance of a row differential electrode pair, and a cross mutual capacitance at a crossing between one or more row differential electrode pairs and column differential electrode pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventor: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand
  • Patent number: 12174618
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12175039
    Abstract: A method includes a processing module obtaining touch data at a touch data rate. The method further includes the processing module obtaining video data at a refresh rate, wherein the touch data rate is greater than the refresh rate. For a frame of the video data, the method further includes the processing module determining a touch movement trend based on the touch data. The method further includes the processing module determining a position offset for a graphical representation of the touch data based on the touch movement trend. When the position offset exceeds an offset threshold, the method further includes the processing module adjusting position of the graphical representation of the touch data within the frame of video data based on the position offset to produce an adjusted frame of video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Kevin Joseph Derichs, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12174770
    Abstract: A communication system comprises three low voltage drive circuits operable for coupling to a wired bus, wherein a low voltage drive circuit of the three low voltage drive circuits includes a transmit section operably coupled to convert transmit digital data into an analog transmit signal that includes one or more transmit frequency components. The communication system further comprises a receive section operably coupled to convert an analog receive signal that includes one or more receive frequency components into received digital data. The communication system further comprises a drive sense circuit for coupling to the wired bus and after the three low voltage drive circuits are operably coupled to the wired bus, each of the three voltage drive circuits is configured for communication among the three low voltage drive circuits, for one-to-one communication, for one-to-many communication, and for many-to-one communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Gerald Dale Morrison, Timothy W. Markison
  • Patent number: 12172006
    Abstract: An electrical stimulation system includes a sheath that includes conductive points that are operative to facilitate electrical stimulation to a bodily portion of a user. Drive-sense circuits (DSCs) generate electrical stimulation signals based on reference signals and provide those electrical stimulation signals via electrodes to the conductive points of the sheath. The electrical stimulation signal is coupled into respective locations of the bodily portion of the user that are in proximity to or in contact with the conductive points of the sheath. In addition, the DSCs sense, via the conductive points of the sheath and via the electrodes, changes of the electrical stimulation signals based on coupling of them into the respective locations of the bodily portion of the user. The DSCs provide digital signals that are representative of the changes of the electrical stimulation signals to one or more processing modules that includes and/or is coupled to memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: John Christopher Price, Shayne X. Short, Timothy W. Markison
  • Patent number: 12169614
    Abstract: A touch sensor device (TSD) includes TSD electrodes associated with a surface of the TSD. Also, an overlay that includes marker electrode(s) is also associated with a region of the surface of the TSD. The TSD also includes drive-sense circuits (DSCs) operably coupled to the plurality of TSD electrodes. A DSC is configured to provide a TSD electrode signal to a TSD electrode and simultaneously to sense a change of the TSD electrode signal based on a change of impedance of the TSD electrode caused by capacitive coupling between the TSD electrode and the marker electrode(s) of the overlay. Processing module(s) is configured to process a digital signal generated by the DSC and other digital signals generated by other DSCs determine the region of the surface of the TSD that is associated with the overlay and to adapt sensitivity of the TSD within that region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Kevin Joseph Derichs, Shayne X. Short, Timothy W. Markison
  • Publication number: 20240414455
    Abstract: An imaging device that generates image data includes: A plurality drive-sense circuits, wherein each of the plurality of drive-sense circuits is coupled to a corresponding one of a plurality of pixel sensors and generates a plurality of sensed signals, wherein each of the plurality of drive-sense circuits includes: a first conversion circuit configured to convert a receive signal component of a sensor signal corresponding to the corresponding one of the plurality of pixel sensors into a corresponding one of the plurality of sensed signals; and a second conversion circuit configured to generate, based on the corresponding one of the plurality of sensed signals, a drive signal component of the sensor signal corresponding to the one of the plurality of pixel sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventor: Michael Shawn Gray
  • Publication number: 20240411496
    Abstract: An interactive device is operable to receive a first plurality of sensed signals during a first temporal period. The first plurality of sensed signals indicate a first plurality of changes in electrical characteristics of a set of electrodes of the plurality of electrodes. A first impedance pattern identifying a passive device is detected based on interpreting the first plurality of changes in the electrical characteristics of the set of electrodes during the first temporal period. The passive device is detected based on detecting the first impedance pattern. Written user notion data is detected based on detecting movement of the passive device in relation to the interactive display device during the first temporal period. The written user notation data is processed for display in accordance with at least one display setting corresponding to the passive device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Publication number: 20240411398
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Shayne X. Short, Ph.D., Timothy W. Markison
  • Publication number: 20240411406
    Abstract: A capacitive touch screen display operates by: receiving a plurality of sensed signals indicating variations in mutual capacitance associated with a plurality of cross points formed by a plurality of electrodes; generating capacitance image data associated with the plurality of cross points that includes positive capacitance variation data corresponding to positive variations of the capacitance image data from a nominal value and negative capacitance variation data corresponding to negative variations of the capacitance image data from the nominal value; determining, based on the positive capacitance variation data and the negative capacitance variation data, an upper threshold and a lower threshold; generating compensated capacitance image data, based on the upper threshold and the lower threshold; and processing the compensated capacitance image data to determine a proximal condition of the touch screen display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Michael Shawn Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Hans Howard Eilers, Kevin Joseph Derichs, Sarah Marie Derichs, Patrick Troy Gray, Phuong Huynh
  • Patent number: 12164351
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12164382
    Abstract: A method for execution by an input/output (IO) control module of an integrated circuit (IC) includes determining whether a programmable IO interface module is for dynamic or static use. The programmable IO interface module includes a configurable front-end module and a configurable back-end module. When the programmable IO interface module is for the dynamic use, determining to configure the programmable IO interface module as the dynamic use of a configuration of a plurality of configurations. The plurality of configurations includes a bidirectional interface, an input, an output, a concurrent drive and sense interface, and a concurrent transmit-receive interface. The method further includes configuring the front-end module in accordance with the configuration, configuring the back-end module in accordance with the configuration, and determining whether to change the configuration to another configuration of the plurality of configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Patrick Troy Gray, Timothy W. Markison