Patents Assigned to SIGMASENSE, LLC.
  • Publication number: 20240264710
    Abstract: An encoded data pattern includes a surface and a plurality of cells printed affixed to the surface. A cell of the plurality of cells includes at least one symbol representative of data. The cell includes at least one type of first electrical materials, and a combination of shape of the cell, size of the cell, and the at least one type of first electrical materials is interpretable by an encoded data pattern touchscreen sensing computing device as the symbol representative of the data. The encoded data pattern further includes one or more orientation markers affixed to the surface. The one or more orientation markers include at least one type of second electrical materials. The one or more orientation markers are positioned to assist the encoded data pattern touchscreen sensing computing device with correctly interpreting the plurality of cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Gerald Dale Morrison, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Timothy W. Markison, Patricia Markison Healy
  • Publication number: 20240264692
    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: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand
  • Patent number: 12056314
    Abstract: A data drive input circuit includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) module operable to generate a PWM signal based on input data and a clock signal. The data drive input circuit further includes a mode enable module operable to establish a light emitting diode (LED) transmit mode of a mode signal when the PWM signal is in a first state and establish an LED receive mode of the mode signal when the PWM signal is in a second state. The data drive input circuit further includes a transmit/receive drive module operable to generate a transmit data signal component of an analog input signal based on the PWM signal and the LED transmit mode generate a receive signal component of the analog input signal based on the PWM signal and the LED receive mode and output the analog input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Gerald Dale Morrison, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Timothy W. Markison
  • Patent number: 12056315
    Abstract: A method for determining for determining response for a touch display panel begins by receiving an analog input signal from a data drive input circuit that is operable to generate an analog input signal based on a digital input. The method continues by generating a reference signal voltage from the analog input signal, generating a data signal voltage from the analog input signal and using a difference detection circuit, outputting an analog output voltage. The method then continues by generating an error correction current based on the analog output voltage, where the error correction current adjusts the data signal voltage in order to keep inputs to the difference detection circuit substantially equal. Finally, the method finishes by generating a current representative of a light intensity for light received by a sensor cell associated with the touch display panel, converting the analog output signal into a digital representation of the current and producing information representative of light intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Gerald Dale Morrison, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Timothy W. Markison
  • Patent number: 12050740
    Abstract: A passive device includes a non-conductive housing including an upper and lower housing section, a conductive section housed in the upper housing section, and a pressure assembly housed in the lower housing section. The pressure assembly includes a compressible conductor, a mounting structure coupled to the compressible conductor and the upper housing section, a conductive contact coupled to the compressible conductor and the conductive section, and a firm spherical conductor. The firm spherical conductor includes an upper contact point for contact with the compressible conductor and a lower contact point for contact with the touchscreen. When z-direction pressure is applied on the firm spherical conductor, the compressive conductor compresses against the upper contact point. Compression of the compressive conductor increases surface area between the firm spherical conductor and the compressive conductor. The increase in surface area increases the capacitance of the passive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Kevin Joseph Derichs, Michael Shawn Gray, Grant Howard McGibney
  • Patent number: 12046214
    Abstract: A display control unit includes a data drive unit, a gate drive unit, a drive settle detection circuit, and a row enable module. The data drive unit generates data drive signals for driving data lines of a display. The gate drive unit drives gate lines of the display in an order based on a row enable signal. The drive settle detection circuit monitors a set of data drive signals for an activated gate line. The drive settle detection circuit also sets a settled signal for the activated gate line when each drive signal of the set of drive signals has reached a corresponding settling threshold. The row enable module ends, as part of the row enable signal, activation of the activated gate line based on the settled signal and activates, as part of the row enable signal, another gate line based on the settled signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventor: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand
  • Patent number: 12043113
    Abstract: A method includes receiving sensed signal data from at least one circuit based on a user in proximity to at least one electrode corresponding to the at least one circuit. Anatomical feature mapping data indicating a position of a hand detected in proximity to an interactable element in a first location within a vehicle is generated based on the sensed signal data. Button feedback display data visually depicting the position of the hand in spatial relation to the position of the interactable element is generated based on the anatomical feature mapping data, and the button feedback display data is displayed via a display device. A touch-based interaction with the interactable element is detected after facilitating display of the button feedback display data. Performance of a vehicle function is facilitated by a vehicle based on detecting the touch-based interaction with the interactable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Publication number: 20240241544
    Abstract: A device having a flexible touch screen display configured to display images in at least a first touch area and a second touch area. At least a portion of the second touch area is located on an edge or side surface of the device. A first plurality of touch sensitive column electrodes and a plurality of row electrodes are integrated into the first touch area, and a second plurality of column electrodes and the plurality of row electrodes are integrated into the second touch area of the flexible display. The device further includes a plurality of drive-sense circuits that drive sensor signals on the electrodes. A processing module senses, based on the sensor signals, an electrical characteristic of at least one row electrode and at least one column electrode of the first touch area or the second touch area and determines, based on the electrical characteristic, a proximal touch to at least one of the first touch area or the second touch area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2024
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Michael Shawn Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Patrick Troy Gray
  • Patent number: 12039123
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventor: Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Patent number: 12032780
    Abstract: A method includes generating, by a drive sense circuit, an analog drive sense signal based on an analog reference signal, wherein the analog reference signal has a magnitude that is substantially less than a supply rail power of the drive sense circuit. The method further includes driving, by the drive sense circuit, a load with the analog drive sense signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12032772
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Shayne X. Short, Timothy W. Markison
  • Publication number: 20240220048
    Abstract: A touch screen display is operable to operate in a first mode during a first temporal period based on activating exactly one set of drive-sense circuits of a plurality of sets of drive-sense circuits to generate a corresponding one set of sensed signals during the first temporal period, and processing the corresponding one set of sensed signals to generate first proximal interaction data for the first temporal period. The touch screen display is operable to operate in a second mode during a second temporal period after the first temporal period based on activating more than one set of drive-sense circuits of the plurality of sets of drive-sense circuits to generate a corresponding more than one set of sensed signals during the second temporal period, and processing the set of sensed signals to generate second proximal interaction data for the second temporal period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2024
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Richard Stuart Seger, JR.
  • Patent number: 12025646
    Abstract: A method includes providing, by a signal source circuit of a sensing circuit, a signal to a sensor via a conductor. When the sensor is exposed to a condition and is receiving the signal, an electrical characteristic of the sensor affects the signal. The signal includes at least one of: a direct current (DC) component and an oscillating component. When the sensing circuit is in a noisy environment, transient noise couples with the signal to produce a noisy signal. The method further includes comparing, by a transient circuit of the sensing circuit, the noisy signal with a representation of the noisy signal. When the noisy signal compares unfavorably with the representation of the noisy signal, supplying, by the transient circuit, a compensation signal to the conductor. A level of the compensation signal corresponds to a level at which the noisy signal compares unfavorably with the representation of the noisy signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Phuong Huynh, Patrick Troy Gray
  • Patent number: 12021540
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventor: Phuong Huynh
  • Patent number: 12019821
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Shayne X. Short, Timothy W. Markison
  • Patent number: 12021541
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventor: Phuong Huynh
  • Patent number: 12018940
    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: June 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 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
  • Publication number: 20240204579
    Abstract: A device operative to transfer power and communicate wirelessly includes a drive-sense circuit (DSC), memory that stores operational instructions, and processing module(s). The DSC generates a drive signal based on a reference signal and provides the drive signal to a first coil via a single line and via a resonating capacitor, and simultaneously senses the drive signal via the single line, to facilitate electromagnetic coupling to a second coil to transfer power wirelessly to another device. The DSC also detects electrical characteristic(s) of the drive signal including whether a communication signal is transmitted from another device and generates a digital signal representative thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2024
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: John Christopher Price, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Phuong Huynh
  • Patent number: 12013360
    Abstract: A sensing device includes at least one vibration sensor that responds to sensed vibrations. At least one drive-sense circuit is coupled to the vibration sensor, wherein the at least one drive-sense circuit includes: a first conversion circuit configured to convert a receive signal component of a sensor signal corresponding to the at least one vibration sensor into the sensed signal, wherein the sensed signal indicates a change in an electrical characteristic associated with the at least one vibration sensor; and a second conversion circuit configured to generate, based on the sensed signal, a drive signal component of the sensor signal corresponding to the at least one vibration sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12008190
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Shayne X. Short, Timothy W. Markison