Patents by Inventor Christoph H. Krah
Christoph H. Krah 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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Publication number: 20230102507Abstract: A head-mounted device having a plurality of electrodes configured to detect optical events such as the movement of one or more eyes or coarse eye gestures is disclosed. In some examples, the one or more electrodes can be coupled to dielectric elastomer materials whose shape can be changed to vary contact between a user of the head-mounted device and the one or more electrodes to ensure sufficient contact and electrode signal quality. In some examples, the one or more electrodes can be coupled to pressure sensors and control circuitry to monitor and adjust the applied pressure. In some examples, the optical events can be used as triggers for operating the device, including transitioning between operational power modes. In some examples, the triggers can invoke higher resolution sensing capabilities of the head-mounted device. In some examples, the electrodes can be used as an on-head detector to wake-up and/or unlock the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2021Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Erdrin AZEMI, Ali MOIN, Christoph H. KRAH, Joseph Yitan CHENG, Kaan Emre DOGRUSOZ, Mohammad YEKE YAZDANDOOST
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Publication number: 20230094533Abstract: An electronic device can include integrated micro circuitry configurable for optical sensing and touch and/or proximity sensing. An integrated touch screen can include light emitting diodes or organic light emitting diodes and chiplets. In some examples, the LEDs/OLEDs and chiplets can be disposed in a visible area of the integrated touch screen. In some examples, some or all of the chiplets can be disposed outside of the visible area of the integrated touch screen. In some examples, the chiplets can include display driving circuitry and touch sensing circuitry, and can optionally perform optical sensing using the touch sensing circuitry. In some examples, the chiplets can include separate touch chiplets configured to perform touch sensing (and/or optical sensing) and display chiplets configured to perform display functionality (and optionally provide some switching functionality).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Christoph H. KRAH, Bin HUANG, Stanley B. WANG
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Patent number: 11614839Abstract: In some examples, a touch screen can include touch electrodes that can function as drive (Tx) electrodes and sense (Rx) electrodes during a touch sensing operation of the electronic device. The drive electrodes can include +Tx electrodes and ?Tx electrodes that can receive drive signals that can have the same amplitude and frequency and opposite phases, for example. In some examples, the surface areas of the +Tx electrodes and the ?Tx electrodes can be the same and the distances of the +Tx electrodes and ?Tx electrodes from the Rx electrodes can be different. In some examples, the total charge coupled to a proximate or touching object can be zero, which can mitigate problems associated with ungrounded or poorly grounded objects in contact with the touch screen.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2020Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: William Matthew Pender Paul, Christoph H. Krah, Bin Huang, Stanley Bo-Ting Wang
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Patent number: 11592948Abstract: A device that can autonomously scan a sensor panel is disclosed. Autonomous scanning can be performed by implementing channel scan logic. In one embodiment, channel scan logic carries out many of the functions that a processor would normally undertake, including generating timing sequences and obtaining result data; comparing scan result data against a threshold value (e.g., in an auto-scan mode); generating row count; selecting one or more scanning frequency bands; power management control; and performing an auto-scan routine in a low power mode.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Minh-Dieu Thi Vu, Thomas James Wilson, Christoph H. Krah
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Publication number: 20230040857Abstract: A switching circuit is disclosed. The switching circuit can comprise a plurality of pixel mux blocks, each of the pixel mux blocks configured to be coupled to a respective touch node electrode on a touch sensor panel, and each of the pixel mux blocks including logic circuitry. The switching circuit can also comprise a plurality of signal lines configured to be coupled to sense circuitry, at least one of the signal lines configured to transmit a touch signal from one of the respective touch node electrodes to the sense circuitry. The logic circuitry in each pixel mux block of the plurality of pixel mux blocks can be configured to control the respective pixel mux block so as to selectively couple the respective pixel mux block to any one of the plurality of signal lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Inventor: Christoph H. KRAH
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Publication number: 20220382409Abstract: Self capacitance touch circuits to cancel the effects of parasitic capacitance in a touch sensitive device are disclosed. One circuit can generate a parasitic capacitance cancelation signal that can be injected into touch sensing circuitry to cancel the parasitic capacitance. Another circuit can adjust the phase and magnitude of the parasitic capacitance cancelation signal based on characteristics of channels in the touch sensing circuitry so as to fine tune the parasitic capacitance cancelations. Another circuit can drive a guard plate and touch panel electrodes so as to cancel the parasitic capacitances between the panel and the plate and between the electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2022Publication date: December 1, 2022Inventors: Shahrooz SHAHPARNIA, Christoph H. KRAH
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Publication number: 20220276738Abstract: An electronic device may have a touch sensitive display that is insensitive to the presence of moisture. An array of pixels in the display may be used to display images. A display cover layer may overlap the array of pixels. A light source may illuminate an external object such as a finger of a user when the object contacts a surface of the display cover layer. This creates scattered light that may be detected by an array of light sensors. The light source may supply light to an edge of the display cover layer at an angle that ensures total internal reflection within the display cover layer is sustained across the display cover layer even when the display cover layer is immersed in water or otherwise exposed to moisture.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2022Publication date: September 1, 2022Inventors: Mohammad Yeke Yazdandoost, Christoph H. Krah
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Publication number: 20220276739Abstract: An electronic device may have a touch sensitive display that is insensitive to the presence of moisture. An array of pixels in the display may be used to display images. A display cover layer may overlap the array of pixels. A light source may illuminate an external object such as a finger of a user when the object contacts a surface of the display cover layer. This creates scattered light that may be detected by an array of light sensors. The light source may supply light to an edge of the display cover layer at an angle that ensures total internal reflection within the display cover layer is sustained across the display cover layer even when the display cover layer is immersed in water or otherwise exposed to moisture.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2022Publication date: September 1, 2022Inventors: Mohammad Yeke Yazdandoost, Christoph H. Krah
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Patent number: 11409353Abstract: Self capacitance touch circuits to cancel the effects of parasitic capacitance in a touch sensitive device are disclosed. One circuit can generate a parasitic capacitance cancelation signal that can be injected into touch sensing circuitry to cancel the parasitic capacitance. Another circuit can adjust the phase and magnitude of the parasitic capacitance cancelation signal based on characteristics of channels in the touch sensing circuitry so as to fine tune the parasitic capacitance cancelations. Another circuit can drive a guard plate and touch panel electrodes so as to cancel the parasitic capacitances between the panel and the plate and between the electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2018Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Shahrooz Shahparnia, Christoph H. Krah
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Patent number: 11353994Abstract: An electronic device may have a touch sensitive display that is insensitive to the presence of moisture. An array of pixels in the display may be used to display images. A display cover layer may overlap the array of pixels. A light source may illuminate an external object such as a finger of a user when the object contacts a surface of the display cover layer. This creates scattered light that may be detected by an array of light sensors. The light source may supply light to an edge of the display cover layer at an angle that ensures total internal reflection within the display cover layer is sustained across the display cover layer even when the display cover layer is immersed in water or otherwise exposed to moisture.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2021Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Mohammad Yeke Yazdandoost, Christoph H. Krah
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Patent number: 11353985Abstract: A switching circuit is disclosed. The switching circuit can comprise a plurality of pixel mux blocks, each of the pixel mux blocks configured to be coupled to a respective touch node electrode on a touch sensor panel, and each of the pixel mux blocks including logic circuitry. The switching circuit can also comprise a plurality of signal lines configured to be coupled to sense circuitry, at least one of the signal lines configured to transmit a touch signal from one of the respective touch node electrodes to the sense circuitry. The logic circuitry in each pixel mux block of the plurality of pixel mux blocks can be configured to control the respective pixel mux block so as to selectively couple the respective pixel mux block to any one of the plurality of signal lines.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2020Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Christoph H. Krah
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Publication number: 20220057897Abstract: In some examples, a touch screen can include touch electrodes that can function as drive (Tx) electrodes and sense (Rx) electrodes during a touch sensing operation of the electronic device. The drive electrodes can include +Tx electrodes and ?Tx electrodes that can receive drive signals that can have the same amplitude and frequency and opposite phases, for example. In some examples, the surface areas of the +Tx electrodes and the ?Tx electrodes can be the same and the distances of the +Tx electrodes and ?Tx electrodes from the Rx electrodes can be different. In some examples, the total charge coupled to a proximate or touching object can be zero, which can mitigate problems associated with ungrounded or poorly grounded objects in contact with the touch screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2020Publication date: February 24, 2022Inventors: William Matthew Pender PAUL, Christoph H. KRAH, Bin HUANG, Stanley Bo-Ting WANG
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Publication number: 20220004284Abstract: A device that can autonomously scan a sensor panel is disclosed. Autonomous scanning can be performed by implementing channel scan logic. In one embodiment, channel scan logic carries out many of the functions that a processor would normally undertake, including generating timing sequences and obtaining result data; comparing scan result data against a threshold value (e.g., in an auto-scan mode); generating row count; selecting one or more scanning frequency bands; power management control; and performing an auto-scan routine in a low power mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Minh-Dieu Thi VU, Thomas James WILSON, Christoph H. KRAH
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Patent number: 11199933Abstract: Some touch screens can be formed by at least partially integrating touch sensing circuitry into a display pixel stackup. In some examples, noise can be introduced into touch sensor panel measurements, for example, from display data lines of a display device proximate to the touch sensor panel. In some examples, rows or columns of touch electrodes can be split and a first portion of the touch sensor panel can be stimulated to measure capacitance and noise and a second portion of the touch sensor panel can be unstimulated and measure noise. In some examples, both the first and the second portions of the touch sensor panel can be stimulated using orthogonal stimulation codes. In some examples, measurements from the first and/or second portions of the touch sensor panel can be subtracted from measurements from the other portion of the touch sensor panel to eliminate or reduce common mode noise.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2020Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christoph H. Krah, Du Chen
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Patent number: 11194423Abstract: A system and method for autonomously scanning a sensor panel device is disclosed. A sensor panel processor can be disabled after a first predetermined amount of time has elapsed without the sensor panel device sensing any events. One or more system clocks can also be disabled to conserve power. While the processor and one or more system clocks are disabled, the sensor panel device can periodically autonomously scan the sensor panel for touch activity. If one or more results from the autonomous scans exceed a threshold, the sensor panel device re-enables the processor and one or more clocks to actively scan the sensor panel. If the threshold is not exceeded, the sensor panel device continues to periodically autonomously scan the sensor panel without intervention from the processor. The sensor panel device can periodically perform calibration functions to account for any drift that may be present in the system.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2020Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christoph H. Krah, Minh-Dieu Thi Vu, Thomas James Wilson
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Publication number: 20210357063Abstract: An integrated touchscreen can include light emitting diodes or organic light emitting diodes (LEDs/OLEDs), display chiplets and touch chiplets disposed in a visible area of the integrated touch screen. For example, the LEDs/OLEDs, display chiplets and touch chiplets can be placed on a substrate by a micro-transfer tool. The integrated touchscreen can also include electrodes disposed in the visible area of the integrated touch screen. The electrodes can be capable of providing display functionality via the one or more display chiplets during display operation (e.g., operating as cathode terminals of the LEDs during the display operation) and capable of providing touch functionality via the touch chiplets during touch operation (e.g., touch node electrodes can be formed from groups of the electrodes and sensed). In some examples, the touch node electrodes can be formed and coupled to touch chiplets via the display chiplets.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2021Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventors: Christian M. SAUER, Christoph H. KRAH, Derek K. SHAEFFER, Hasan AKYOL, Henry C. JEN, Hopil BAE, John T. WETHERELL, Thierry S. DIVEL, Xiang LU
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Patent number: 11132097Abstract: A device that can autonomously scan a sensor panel is disclosed. Autonomous scanning can be performed by implementing channel scan logic. In one embodiment, channel scan logic carries out many of the functions that a processor would normally undertake, including generating timing sequences and obtaining result data; comparing scan result data against a threshold value (e.g., in an auto-scan mode); generating row count; selecting one or more scanning frequency bands; power management control; and performing an auto-scan routine in a low power mode.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2020Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Minh-Dieu Thi Vu, Thomas James Wilson, Christoph H. Krah
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Patent number: 11086463Abstract: A multi-modal touch controller configured to operate in different modes. In some examples, the multi-modal touch controller can be operated in a first mode corresponding to a guarded self-capacitance scan. In some examples, the multi-modal touch controller can be operated in a second mode corresponding to offset-compensated mutual capacitance scan. In some examples, the multi-modal controller can be operated in a third mode corresponding to a mutual and self-capacitance scan. The multi-modal touch controller can advantageously allow one touch sensing chipset to be used across different types of guarded touch sensor panels and across different modes of operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2018Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Christoph H. Krah
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Publication number: 20210240304Abstract: A multipoint touch surface controller is disclosed herein. The controller includes an integrated circuit including output circuitry for driving a capacitive multi-touch sensor and input circuitry for reading the sensor. Also disclosed herein are various noise rejection and dynamic range enhancement techniques that permit the controller to be used with various sensors in various conditions without reconfiguring hardware.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Inventors: Steven P. HOTELLING, Christoph H. KRAH, Brian Q. HUPPI
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Patent number: 11079878Abstract: Techniques for mitigating noise in a touch signal are disclosed. To reduce or eliminate noise in a touch signal, the touch activity can be filtered out of a touch signal, thus isolating the noise. In some examples, the noise is then provided to the non-inverting input port of a differential amplifier while the unfiltered touch signal is provided to the inverting input port of the differential amplifier. The noise, which is now common on both inputs, is automatically eliminated or reduced by the differential amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2020Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Christoph H. Krah