Patents Examined by Michael Pervan
  • Patent number: 11269450
    Abstract: An electrostatic capacitance sensor includes: at least one detection electrode; drive electrodes, capacitors being respectively formed between the drive electrodes and the at least one detection electrode; a driver capable of causing voltages of the drive electrodes to change independently from each other; a reference voltage generator that generates a reference voltage; a detection signal generator that transfers charge so that a voltage of the at least one detection electrode approaches the reference voltage and that generates a detection signal according to the transfer of the charge; and a controller that controls the driver. The driver is capable of applying the reference voltage to each of the drive electrodes. When the driver causes a voltage of one or more of the drive electrodes to change, the controller controls the driver so as to apply the reference voltage to the remaining drive electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Sasai, Kazufumi Naganuma
  • Patent number: 11262870
    Abstract: A touch sensing device and a driving method for driving the touch sensing device are provided. The touch sensing device includes a plurality of electrodes and a driving circuit. The electrodes includes a touch sensing electrode and a force sensing electrode. During a touch sensing driving period, the driving circuit provides a first driving signal to one of the touch sensing electrode and the force sensing electrode, provides a second driving signal to another one of the touch sensing electrode and the force sensing electrode or controls the another one of the touch sensing electrode and the force sensing electrode to enter a floating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Yi-Ying Lin, Chih-Chang Lai
  • Patent number: 11249557
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for gesture-based control of a device in a multi-user environment are described. The methods prioritize users or gestures based on a predetermined priority ruleset. A first-user-in-time ruleset prioritizes gestures based on when in time they were begun by a user in the camera FOV. An action-hierarchy ruleset prioritizes gestures based on the actions they correspond to, and the relative positions of those actions within an action hierarchy. A designated-master-user ruleset prioritizes gestures performed by an explicitly designated master user. Methods for designating a new master user and for providing gesture-control-related user feedback in a multi-user environment are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Zhou, Mona Hosseinkhani Loorak, Gaganpreet Singh, Xiu Yi, Juwei Lu, Wei Li
  • Patent number: 11249602
    Abstract: A pen detection system is provided which does not require an integrated circuit dedicated to a large display panel. A pen detection system 1 includes an integrated circuit 3a and an integrated circuit 3b. The integrated circuit 3a is connected to a first partial column electrode group 2xGa to acquire a first column level distribution indicating a level distribution of a pen signal in the first partial column electrode group 2xGa and is connected to a first partial row electrode group 2yGa to acquire a first row level distribution indicating a level distribution of the pen signal in the first partial row electrode group 2yGa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Kagami
  • Patent number: 11250234
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a display apparatus includes: forming first patterns of a semiconductor material on a base layer; forming a first insulating layer covering the first patterns; forming second patterns of a conductive material on the first insulating layer; removing at least a portion of at least one of the second patterns; and forming a second insulating layer on the second patterns. Each of the second patterns includes a first layer and a second layer disposed on the first layer, the first patterns include a semiconductor pattern, the second patterns include a control electrode pattern overlapping with the semiconductor pattern in a plan view and a sensing electrode pattern, the second layer of the control electrode pattern fully covers the first layer of the control electrode pattern, and the second layer of the sensing electrode pattern is partially removed in the removing of the at least a portion to partially cover the first layer of the sensing electrode pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ju-won Yoon, Moosoon Ko, Youngwoo Park, Seongjun Lee
  • Patent number: 11244587
    Abstract: A flexible display panel and a flexible display device are described. The flexible display panel includes a bending region, a non-bending region. A number of deformation detection units are disposed in the bending region. The deformation detection units each includes a first electrode, a piezoelectric (PZT) material function layer and a second electrode which are sequentially stacked in a direction perpendicular to a light-emitting surface of the flexible display panel. The density of the PZT units and PZT function layer thickness may vary depending on their distance from the bending axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI TIANMA AM-OLED CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junting Ouyang, Baiquan Lin, Kerui Xi, Xiangzi Kong
  • Patent number: 11243638
    Abstract: A touch assembly with a near-field communication (NFC) circuit comprises a substrate, a touch circuit, an NFC circuit, and an antenna. The substrate has a surface layer and a radiation pattern layer. The surface layer has an antenna installation area. The antenna installation area has a center position. The radiation pattern layer is made of conductive material. An orthogonal projection of the radiation pattern layer on the surface layer overlaps with the antenna installation area. The orthogonal projection extends between an outer edge of the surface layer and the center position. The touch circuit is disposed on the substrate and outside of the antenna installation area. The NFC circuit is disposed on the substrate. There is a safe distance between the NFC circuit and the touch circuit. The antenna is disposed on the substrate. The antenna is located in the antenna installation area and above the radiation pattern layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: SMART APPROACH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng-Tang Lin, Hsin-Lung Lin
  • Patent number: 11231850
    Abstract: The present invention provides a new and useful hybrid digital and physical interactive writing surface. A user writes on a physical writing surface using thermal ink. Underneath the physical writing surface is a heating layer. Once the heating layer is activated, the thermal ink disappears. Meanwhile, sensors capture a user's strokes while writing, and a computing device digitally stores the captured strokes. Therefore, there is zero-time delay or lag time between writing on the physical writing surface and its appearance. Finally, there is no need to erase any writing nor use other sheets or boards after one use because the writing is automatically erased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Ji Shen
  • Patent number: 11216114
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a touch sensing technology for sensing noise in order to avoid the noise, which allows previously prevent the possibility that a frequency of a driving signal is changed in a predetermined order or at random by changing the frequency of the driving signal in conformity with a frequency least affected by the noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: SILICON WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chan Hee Han
  • Patent number: 11216038
    Abstract: A mechanism is described for facilitating dynamic detection and intelligent use of segmentation on flexible display screens according to one embodiment. A method of embodiments, as described herein, includes detecting, via one or more touch sensors, alterations in current in and around one or more areas of a flexible display screen, where the alterations represent pressure being applied to cause at least one of bending, rolling, and curving of the flexible display screen at the one or more areas. The method may further include dividing the flexible display screen into a plurality of zones corresponding to the one or more areas, where the marking/dividing logic is further to mark a plurality of portions of the plurality of zones to serve as a plurality of segments. The method may further include facilitating displaying of contents via the plurality of segments of the flexible display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomer Rider, Ramon C. Olmo, Dor Levy, Shahar Taite
  • Patent number: 11216181
    Abstract: A device receives a user input that corresponds with a sequence of characters. In response to the user input, the device displays simulated handwritten text that includes varying the appearance of characters in the simulated handwritten text based on variations in handwritten text of a respective user. In response to receiving the user input and in accordance with a determination that a first criterion is met, a first character in the sequence of characters has a first appearance that corresponds to the appearance of the first character in handwritten text of the respective user. In accordance with a determination that a second criterion is met, the first character in the sequence of characters has a second appearance that corresponds to the appearance of the first character in handwritten text of the respective user. The second appearance of the first character is different than the first appearance of the first character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Daniel E. Gobera Rubalcava, Ryan S. Dixon
  • Patent number: 11209935
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method for updating an environmental threshold in touch sensing, a touch sensor, and a water outlet device. The method repeatedly collects a detection value until a difference obtained by comparing the detection value collected at an Nth repetition with a current environmental threshold is greater than a first threshold and a current value of a counter is greater than a second threshold and then updates the detection value collected at the Nth repetition to the current environmental threshold. In this way, the environmental threshold can be dynamically updated according to environmental changes, thereby reducing incorrect operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Xiamen Solex High-Tech Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sihua Lu, Jun Liu, Yuemin Wang
  • Patent number: 11209934
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a voltage driving method and device for a touch display panel, and a touch display panel, which includes a common electrode extending in a first direction and a plurality of columns of touch electrodes extending parallel to each other in a second direction. The voltage driving method includes: applying a first scanning voltage to two outermost columns of touch electrodes during a first period of a first touch cycle including a plurality of periods, the first scanning voltage being equal to a reference voltage; detecting a first output voltage output by the two outermost columns of touch electrodes during the first period; and adjusting, based on the detected first output voltage, the scanning voltage applied to the two outermost columns of touch electrodes during a first period of a second touch cycle immediately after the first touch cycle, to a second scanning voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignees: ORDOS YUANSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shaolei Zong, Jieqiong Wang, Jigang Sun, Yanfei Ren
  • Patent number: 11209919
    Abstract: A knob device is applicable to a touch panel. The touch panel includes a plurality of panel sensors. The knob device includes a knob cover, a sensing pad, a compensation sensor and a switch. The sensing pad is arranged between the knob cover and the touch panel. The switch is configured to selectively connect the sensing pad to the compensation sensor. When a move event of the knob device occurs, the switch is turned on and the sensing pad is electrically connected to the compensate sensor through the switch, such that a feedback loop is generated by the sensing pad, the compensation sensor and the touch panel to change a quantity of electric charge of at least one of the plurality of panel sensors. When a touch and rotation event of the knob device occurs, a location of the sensing pad controls a rotation sensing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Yu-Hsiang Lin, Chun-Jen Su, Wai-Pan Wu, Cheng-Hung Tsai
  • Patent number: 11204694
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and systems that enable a radar system facilitating ease and accuracy of user interactions with a user interface. The techniques and systems can be implemented in an electronic device, such as a smartphone, and use a radar field to accurately determine three-dimensional (3D) gestures that can be used in combination with other inputs, such as touch or voice inputs, to interact with the user interface. These techniques allow the user to make 3D gestures from a distance and enable seamless integration of touch and voice commands with 3D gestures to improve functionality and user enjoyment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Leonardo Giusti, Ivan Poupyrev, Patrick M. Amihood
  • Patent number: 11194429
    Abstract: An information display terminal includes a surface member, a touch panel, and an information terminal body. The surface member is to be fixed to a structure. The touch panel is configured to be curved and has a first surface and a second surface that are opposite to each other. The first surface is adhered to the surface member. The information terminal body is to be attached to the structure and is configured to receive an input from the touch panel. The second surface of the touch panel is apart from the information terminal body. The information terminal body is configured to be removable from the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Hatakeyama, Masaharu Matsumoto, Kaname Tomita
  • Patent number: 11194410
    Abstract: A pointer position detection method includes detecting one or more candidate touch positions by detecting one or more changes in capacitances in a touch sensor, detecting one or more candidate pen positions based on a level of a downlink signal in each of a plurality of sensor electrodes, and determining a pen position from the one or more candidate pen positions, in which each of the one or more candidate pen positions having a corresponding candidate touch position that has not been detected is not determined as the pen position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Nomura, Thilo Naoki Hornung
  • Patent number: 11194395
    Abstract: A display device includes a display panel, and a plurality of piezoelectric elements arranged on one surface of the display panel, wherein each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements includes a pressure sensor configured to detect pressure applied to a surface opposite to the one surface of the display panel, and a haptic device configured to generate vibration according to a driving voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon Hak Oh, Jae Been Lee, Byeong Hee Won
  • Patent number: 11188157
    Abstract: An input assembly comprises a plurality of visual indicators differentiating between key regions on a plane. The input assembly also comprises a plurality of sensors, each arranged behind one of the key regions, and configured to determine a linear distance of the object from each of the sensors when the object is coming into proximity with the plane. Processing circuitry is configured to, based on input from the sensors, determine a location of a selected key region that the object is approaching; instruct changing of a display of at least one of the plurality of visual indicators to highlight the selected key region with a first visual indication when an object approaches within the first predefined proximity of the selected key region; select, from among a plurality of values, a value that is associated with the selected key region, and output the selected value as a user-selected keypad value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Inventor: Meir Sneh
  • Patent number: 11181987
    Abstract: A vision sensor system is used for gesture recognition or another control system with a human-machine interface. In the vision sensor system, a vision sensor 1 is used in particular to check the presence, the orientation, the characteristics or the texture of an object 15. For this purpose, the vision sensor 1 has a housing 2 in which a light-receiving element 3 is arranged. At a distance from the light-receiving element 3 there is a cover made of a translucent carrier material 5 with a first surface 6 facing the light-receiving element 3 and a second surface 7 facing away from the light-receiving element 3, both located in the beam path 4 of the light-receiving element 3. The carrier material 5 has at least partially a translucent metallic coating 8, 9 on at least one of the first or second surfaces 6, 7 located in the beam path 4 of the light receiving element 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Motherson Innovations Company Limited
    Inventors: Mukesh Patel, Geon Young Choi