Patents by Inventor Bernard O. Geaghan

Bernard O. Geaghan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9448645
    Abstract: A digitizer system utilizing two location measurement techniques that operate in cooperation to improve the operation of the digitizer. The first location measurement technique provides an X-Y coordinate stylus location. The second location measurement technique provides a Z coordinate stylus location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Publication number: 20160253003
    Abstract: An electrode for a touch sensitive device includes micro-wire conductors arranged to define an electrically continuous area and to include interior regions that are electrically discontinuous. The electrically continuous area may be patterned according to a one pattern, and the interior pattern may be patterned according to another pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Roger W. Barton, Billy L. Weaver, Bernard O. Geaghan, Brock A. Hable
  • Publication number: 20160253019
    Abstract: A touch sensor comprises first and second patterned conductive traces, and an optically clear layer disposed between the first and second patterned conductive traces. The touch sensor is configured to determine a direction of a force applied to the touch sensor by determining an anisotropic change in a characteristic of the applied force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventor: Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Publication number: 20160200086
    Abstract: Touch sensor layer constructions and methods of making such constructions are described. More particularly, touch sensor constructions that utilize patterned conductive layers that may be applied by a sacrificial release liner, eliminating one or more glass and/or film substrate from touch sensor stacks, and methods of making such constructions are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Michael W. Dolezal, Robert R. Kieschke, Ta-Hua Yu, Mark A. Roehrig, Pradnya V. Nagarkar, Matthew S. Stay, Shawn C. Dodds, Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Patent number: 9360971
    Abstract: An electrode for a touch sensitive device includes micro-wire conductors arranged to define an electrically continuous area and to include interior regions that are electrically discontinuous. The electrically continuous area may be patterned according to a one pattern, and the interior pattern may be patterned according to another pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Roger W. Barton, Billy L. Weaver, Bernard O. Geaghan, Brock A. Hable
  • Patent number: 9354750
    Abstract: A multi-display system that uses back lights and light guides of an electronically addressable display to provide position-unique signals that both uniquely identify positions on a given display, but also uniquely identify displays within a multi-display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gordon F. Taylor, Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Publication number: 20160070413
    Abstract: Multiple close, temporally overlapping touches are resolved on a matrix-type touch sensitive panel by generating touch profiles based on the multiple touches, and comparing the touch profiles to a library pre-defined profiles, using correlative techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventor: Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Patent number: 9201556
    Abstract: Methods and devices for determining the location of a touch implement relative to a touch locating sensing device involve developing touch signals at a touch sensor in response to a touch implement on or near the touch surface. Data associated with the touch signals is fitted to a predefined curve. The predefined curve is preferably defined by a charged sphere near a conducting plane, the charged sphere representative of an end of the touch implement and the conducting plane representative of the touch surface. A location of the touch implement is determined relative to the touch surface using the predefined curve to which the data is fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: M. Benton Free, Bernard O. Geaghan, Karl P. Hauck, Billy Lee Weaver
  • Publication number: 20150277594
    Abstract: A digitizer system utilizing two location measurement techniques that operate in cooperation to improve the operation of the digitizer. The first location measurement technique provides an X-Y coordinate stylus location. The second location measurement technique provides a Z coordinate stylus location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventor: Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Publication number: 20150261317
    Abstract: A digitizer system including a substrate having a position-unique photoluminescent indicia pattern. A stylus component receives optical signals indicative of the indicia pattern and determines therefrom the position of the stylus relative to the substrate. Methods of disposing indicia on the substrate, and styli suitable for sensing photoluminescent indicia are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Bernard O. Geaghan, Michael Benton Free, Edward S. Hagermoser, Rachael P. Marino, Pradnya V. Nagarkar, Martin B. Wolk
  • Publication number: 20150234489
    Abstract: A multi-display system that uses back lights and light guides of an electronically addressable display to provide position-unique signals that both uniquely identify positions on a given display, but also uniquely identify displays within a multi-display system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Gordon F. Taylor, Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Publication number: 20150220167
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods of using a stylus that houses optics and a detector capable of receiving optical signals that are combined with a displayed image. Stylus position determination is made by analyzing received optical signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventor: Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Patent number: 9081448
    Abstract: A digitizer system utilizing two location measurement techniques that operate in cooperation to improve the operation of the digitizer. The first location measurement technique provides a first, or coarse, stylus location. The second location measurement technique provides a second, or fine, stylus location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Publication number: 20150193025
    Abstract: A pen configured for use with a touch sensor includes a pen tip that is configured to make contact with the touch sensor. The pen body includes an electrically conductive receiver portion and an electrically conductive emitter portion that is electrically insulated and electrostatically shielded from the receiver portion. The pen includes circuitry configured to receive a touch sensor drive signal applied to a drive electrode of the touch sensor through the receiver portion of the pen body. In response to the received signal, the pen circuitry generates a pen drive signal that is phase additive with the touch sensor drive signal and emits the pen drive signal through the emitter portion of the pen body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas J. Rebeschi, Craig A. Cordeiro, Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Patent number: 9068845
    Abstract: A digitizer system including a substrate having a position-unique photoluminescent indicia pattern. A stylus component receives optical signals indicative of the indicia pattern and determines therefrom the position of the stylus relative to the substrate. Methods of disposing indicia on the substrate, and styli suitable for sensing photoluminescent indicia are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bernard O. Geaghan, Michael Benton Free, Edward S. Hagermoser, Rachael P. Marino, Pradnya V. Nagarkar, Martin B. Wolk
  • Patent number: 9035912
    Abstract: A multi-display system that uses back lights and light guides of an electronically addressable display to provide position-unique signals that both uniquely identify positions on a given display, but also uniquely identify displays within a multi-display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gordon F. Taylor, Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Patent number: 9035911
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods of using a stylus that houses optics and a detector capable of receiving optical signals that are combined with a displayed image. Stylus position determination is made by analyzing received optical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Patent number: 9019209
    Abstract: Touch location determination approaches involving a plurality of touch location techniques are described. Each touch location technique is capable of independently determining a location of a touch within a touch area of the touch sensitive device. The touch location determination made by at least one touch location technique is enhanced using touch location information associated with the touch acquired from one or more other touch location techniques. One touch location technique may use a different type of sensor, signal, and/or algorithm from the one or more other touch location techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Publication number: 20140204059
    Abstract: Touch location determination approaches involving a plurality of touch location techniques are described. Each touch location technique is capable of independently determining a location of a touch within a touch area of the touch sensitive device. The touch location determination made by at least one touch location technique is enhanced using touch location information associated with the touch acquired from one or more other touch location techniques. One touch location technique may use a different type of sensor, signal, and/or algorithm from the one or more other touch location techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Publication number: 20140168089
    Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating a photoluminescent indicia-based digitizer system with a display, the photoluminescent indicia uniquely identifying local areas of a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Bernard O. GEAGHAN