Patents by Inventor Billy L. Weaver
Billy L. Weaver 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).
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Patent number: 10900766Abstract: Capacitive sensing devices are provided that include a sensing pattern of conductive traces disposed upon the surface of a substrate and a first passive circuit element that includes a metallic conductor disposed upon the same surface of the substrate. In some embodiments, the first passive circuit element is a component of an electronic circuit that can be, for example, a low pass filter. Provided capacitive sensing devices are useful, for example, when incorporated into projected touch screen display panels for use on electronic devices.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2014Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Billy L. Weaver, Matthew H. Frey, Lijun Zu, Cristin E. Moran
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Patent number: 10838559Abstract: An electrode layer has a plurality of substantially parallel electrodes disposed along a first direction. At least one electrode has a length along the first direction and a width from a first edge to a second edge along a second direction transverse to the first direction. At least one electrode comprises across its width at least one edge section, at least one intermediate section, and at least one central section, wherein an intermediate section is disposed along the electrode width between an edge section and the central section. At least one electrode edge section and intermediate section includes a plurality of electrically isolated regions arranged in a pattern along the electrode length. An electrode conductive area of the edge section is less than an electrode conductive area of the intermediate section.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2016Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Roger W. Barton, Billy L. Weaver, Matthew W. Gorrell, Brock A. Hable
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Patent number: 10620754Abstract: A conductive element in a touch sensitive device, such as an electrode in a mutual capacitive touch sensor, that includes conductors arranged in a location pattern that may be sensed and analyzed, and a position on the touch sensor determined therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2010Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Billy L. Weaver, Brock A. Hable
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Patent number: 10613668Abstract: A touch sensor is provided that includes a transparent, insulating substrate and at least one U-shaped electrically conductive micromesh that includes traces disposed on the substrate. The traces include an elemental metal or an alloy of elemental metal. The touch sensor may be configured to determine a location and a magnitude of a force of a touch.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Matthew H. Frey, Robert R. Kieschke, Billy L. Weaver
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Publication number: 20200089370Abstract: A continuously electrically conductive electrode including an electrically conductive first mesh repeating across the electrode to form a two-dimensional regular array of the first mesh is described. The first mesh includes a plurality of conductive closed cells, each closed cell including a plurality of vertices connecting a plurality of electrically conductive traces. The electrode may also include an electrically conductive second mesh different from the first mesh and including a plurality of conductive closed cells, each closed cell including a plurality of vertices connecting a plurality of electrically conductive traces. A majority of the closed cells in at least one of the first and second meshes have irregularly arranged vertices.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2017Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: Thomas Herdtle, Billy L. Weaver, Matthew H. Frey
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Patent number: 10430001Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 16, 2017Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Roger W. Barton, Billy L. Weaver, Bernard O. Geaghan, Brock A. Hable
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Patent number: 10019110Abstract: An electrode for a touch sensitive device includes micro-wire conductors arranged to define an electrically continuous electrode trunk area, and including branching elements which extend outward from the electrode trunk area. The electrically continuous trunk area is patterned coincident an underlying reference mesh pattern, as are the branching elements.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2016Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Billy L. Weaver, Roger W. Barton, Thomas Herdtle, Brock A. Hable
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Patent number: 10019119Abstract: A touch-sensitive device with stylus includes a touch panel, a stylus drive unit, a stylus sense unit, a touch panel drive unit, and a measurement unit. A touch by a stylus proximate to a touch panel electrode changes a capacitive coupling between the touch panel electrode and a stylus electrode. The amplitude of the response signal is responsive to the capacitive coupling between the touch panel electrode and the stylus electrode, and is measured to provide an indication of the position of the stylus electrode relative to the touch panel.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2010Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Thomas J. Rebeschi, Billy L. Weaver, Brock A. Hable
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Publication number: 20180157364Abstract: A touch screen display sensor is provided that includes a transparent touch-sensing element disposed upon the surface of a transparent substrate and a force-sensing element disposed within the transparent touch-sensing element. The force-sensing element includes two sets of bands of micromesh and can include a pressure-responsive material between the bands of micromesh. The bands of micromesh include traces of a metallic conductor. The sets of bands of micromesh are spaced apart and occupy substantially parallel planes.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2018Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Matthew H. Frey, Robert R. Kieschke, Billy L. Weaver
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Patent number: 9904393Abstract: A touch screen display sensor is provided that includes a transparent touch-sensing element disposed upon the surface of a transparent substrate and a force-sensing element disposed within the transparent touch-sensing element. The force-sensing element includes two sets of bands of micromesh and can include a pressure-responsive material between the bands of micromesh. The bands of micromesh include traces of a metallic conductor. The sets of bands of micromesh are spaced apart and occupy substantially parallel planes.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2011Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Matthew H. Frey, Robert R. Kieschke, Billy L. Weaver
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Patent number: 9823785Abstract: A touch-sensitive device with stylus includes a touch panel, a touch panel drive unit, a stylus sense unit, and a measurement unit. A touch by a stylus proximate to a touch panel electrode changes a capacitive coupling between the touch panel electrode and a stylus electrode. The amplitude of the response signal is responsive to the capacitive coupling between the touch panel electrode and the stylus electrode, and is measured to provide an indication of the position of the stylus electrode relative to the touch panel.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2010Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Billy L. Weaver, Thomas J. Rebeschi, Brock A. Hable
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Publication number: 20170245785Abstract: A method for monitoring impairment indicators, the method includes measuring, with a movement sensor attached to the person, a first signal related to movement of a person during a first time window and electronically storing the at least one numerical descriptor derived from the first signal as reference data for the person. The method further includes measuring, with the movement sensor attached to the person, a second signal related to movement of the person during a second time window and comparing at least one numerical descriptor derived from the second signal to the reference data as a factor to identify an impairment indicator. The present disclosure also includes a device for monitoring impairment indicators.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2015Publication date: August 31, 2017Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Eric C. LOBNER, James W. HOWARD, Jennifer F. SCHUMACHER, Brian J. STANKIEWICZ, Billy L. WEAVER
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Publication number: 20170185189Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2017Publication date: June 29, 2017Inventors: Roger W. Barton, Billy L. Weaver, Bernard O. Geaghan, Brock A. Hable
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Patent number: 9639228Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 26, 2016Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Roger W. Barton, Billy L Weaver, Bernard O. Geaghan, Brock A. Hable
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Publication number: 20170060306Abstract: An electrode layer has a plurality of substantially parallel electrodes disposed along a first direction. At least one electrode has a length along the first direction and a width from a first edge to a second edge along a second direction transverse to the first direction. At least one electrode comprises across its width at least one edge section, at least one intermediate section, and at least one central section, wherein an intermediate section is disposed along the electrode width between an edge section and the central section. At least one electrode edge section and intermediate section includes a plurality of electrically isolated regions arranged in a pattern along the electrode length. An electrode conductive area of the edge section is less than an electrode conductive area of the intermediate section.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Inventors: Roger W. Barton, Billy L. Weaver, Matthew W. Gorrell, Brock A. Hable
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Publication number: 20160378260Abstract: An electrode for a touch sensitive device includes micro-wire conductors arranged to define an electrically continuous electrode trunk area, and including branching elements which extend outward from the electrode trunk area. The electrically continuous trunk area is patterned coincident an underlying reference mesh pattern, as are the branching elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2016Publication date: December 29, 2016Inventors: Billy L. Weaver, Roger W. Barton, Thomas Herdtle, Brock A. Hable
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Patent number: 9529481Abstract: An electrode layer has a plurality of substantially parallel electrodes disposed along a first direction. At least one electrode has a length along the first direction and a width from a first edge to a second edge along a second direction transverse to the first direction. At least one electrode comprises across its width at least one edge section, at least one intermediate section, and at least one central section, wherein an intermediate section is disposed along the electrode width between an edge section and the central section. At least one electrode edge section and intermediate section includes a plurality of electrically isolated regions arranged in a pattern along the electrode length. An electrode conductive area of the edge section is less than an electrode conductive area of the intermediate section.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2013Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Roger W. Barton, Billy L. Weaver, Matthew W. Gorrell, Brock A. Hable
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Patent number: 9459751Abstract: An electrode for a touch sensitive device includes micro-wire conductors arranged to define an electrically continuous electrode trunk area, and including branching elements which extend outward from the electrode trunk area. The electrically continuous trunk area is patterned coincident an underlying reference mesh pattern, as are the branching elements.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2015Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Billy L. Weaver, Roger W. Barton, Thomas Herdtle, Brock A. Hable
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Publication number: 20160253003Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2016Publication date: September 1, 2016Inventors: Roger W. Barton, Billy L. Weaver, Bernard O. Geaghan, Brock A. Hable
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Patent number: 9389724Abstract: A touch-sensitive device with stylus includes a touch panel, a stylus drive unit, a touch panel sense unit, and a measurement unit. A touch by a stylus proximate to a touch panel electrode changes a capacitive coupling between the touch panel electrode and a stylus electrode. The amplitude of the response signal is responsive to the capacitive coupling between the touch panel electrode and the stylus electrode, and is measured to provide an indication of the position of the stylus electrode relative to the touch panel.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2010Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Billy L. Weaver, Brock A. Hable, Thomas J. Rebeschi