Patents by Inventor Christoph Horst Krah

Christoph Horst 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).

  • Patent number: 9746967
    Abstract: A concurrent touch and negative pixel scan performed at a touch panel is disclosed. The concurrent scan can include sensing an object proximate to the touch panel and sensing a negative pixel effect, based the object's grounding condition, at the touch panel, at the same time. As a result, sense signals indicative of the proximity of the object and coupling signals indicative of the negative pixel effect's magnitude can be captured concurrently. Because the negative pixel effect can cause errors or distortions in the sense signals, the coupling signals can be used to compensate the sense signals for the negative pixel effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Horst Krah, Marduke Yousefpor
  • Publication number: 20170242544
    Abstract: A sensor panel device that can generate and use a stimulus signal having multiple different waveforms for detecting events on or near the sensor panel is disclosed. Among other things, such a stimulus signal can be used to reject environmental noise present in the device. In some embodiments, the stimulus signal has multiple waveforms having different frequencies. Logic circuitry can generate representative values from output of the different waveforms applied to one or more sensing nodes in the sensor panel device. From the representative values, a final value can be generated that represents whether an event occurred at or near the one or more sensing nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Christoph Horst KRAH, Minh-Dieu Thi VU
  • Patent number: 9715306
    Abstract: A multi-stimulus controller for a multi-touch sensor is formed on a single integrated circuit (single-chip). The multi-stimulus controller includes a transmit oscillator, a transmit signal section that generates a plurality of drive signals based on a frequency of the transmit oscillator, a plurality of transmit channels that transmit the drive signals simultaneously to drive the multi-touch sensor, a receive channel that receives a sense signal resulting from the driving of the multi-touch sensor, a receive oscillator, and a demodulation section that demodulates the received sense signal based on a frequency of the receive oscillator to obtain sensing results, the demodulation section including a demodulator and a vector operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Porter Hotelling, Christoph Horst Krah, Marduke Yousefpor, Thomas James Wilson
  • Patent number: 9582104
    Abstract: A sensor panel device that can generate and use a stimulus signal having multiple different waveforms for detecting events on or near the sensor panel is disclosed. Among other things, such a stimulus signal can be used to reject environmental noise present in the device. In some embodiments, the stimulus signal has multiple waveforms having different frequencies. Logic circuitry can generate representative values from output of the different waveforms applied to one or more sensing nodes in the sensor panel device. From the representative values, a final value can be generated that represents whether an event occurred at or near the one or more sensing nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Horst Krah, Minh-Dieu Thi Vu
  • Patent number: 9575610
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are liquid-crystal display (LCD) touch screens that integrate the touch sensing elements with the display circuitry. The integration may take a variety of forms. Touch sensing elements can be completely implemented within the LCD stackup but outside the not between the color filter plate and the array plate. Alternatively, some touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates with other touch sensing elements not between the plates. In another alternative, all touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates. The latter alternative can include both conventional and in-plane-switching (IPS) LCDs. In some forms, one or more display structures can also have a touch sensing function. Techniques for manufacturing and operating such displays, as well as various devices embodying such displays are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Porter Hotelling, Wei Chen, Christoph Horst Krah, John Greer Elias, Wei Hsin Yao, John Z. Zhong, Andrew Bert Hodge, Brian Richards Land, Willem Den Boer
  • Patent number: 9547394
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Porter Hotelling, Christoph Horst Krah, Brian Quentin Huppi
  • Publication number: 20170010744
    Abstract: A multi-stimulus controller for a multi-touch sensor is formed on a single integrated circuit (single-chip). The multi-stimulus controller includes a transmit oscillator, a transmit signal section that generates a plurality of drive signals based on a frequency of the transmit oscillator, a plurality of transmit channels that transmit the drive signals simultaneously to drive the multi-touch sensor, a receive channel that receives a sense signal resulting from the driving of the multi-touch sensor, a receive oscillator, and a demodulation section that demodulates the received sense signal based on a frequency of the receive oscillator to obtain sensing results, the demodulation section including a demodulator and a vector operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Porter HOTELLING, Christoph Horst KRAH, Marduke YOUSEFPOR, Thomas James WILSON
  • Publication number: 20160364078
    Abstract: The use of multiple stimulation signals having one or more frequencies and one or more phases to generate an image of touch on a touch sensor panel is disclosed. Each of a plurality of sense channels can be coupled to a column in a touch sensor panel and can have one or more mixers. Each mixer in the sense channel can utilize a circuit capable generating a demodulation frequency of a particular frequency. At each of multiple steps, various phases of one or more selected frequencies can be used to simultaneously stimulate the rows of the touch sensor panel, and the one or more mixers in each sense channel can be configured to demodulate the signal received from the column connected to each sense channel using the one or more selected frequencies. After all steps have been completed, the demodulated signals from the one or more mixers can be used in calculations to determine an image of touch for the touch sensor panel at each of the one or more frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Christoph Horst KRAH, Steven Porter HOTELLING, Sean Erik O'CONNOR, Wayne Carl WESTERMAN
  • Patent number: 9444453
    Abstract: Measuring an effect of body capacitance in a touch sensitive device is disclosed. This effect can be caused by poor grounding of a user or other objects touching the device or of the device itself. The device can operate in a stray capacitance mode to measure a body capacitance effect and in a normal mode to detect a touch on the device. During the stray capacitance mode, the device can obtain a body capacitance measurement from the device. During the normal mode, the device can obtain a touch measurement from the device. The device can calculate a body capacitance factor based on a ratio between the body capacitance measurement and the touch measurement and use the body capacitance factor to compensate for erroneous or distorted touch output values from the device. Various components of the device can be switchably configured according to the particular mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Horst Krah, Steven Porter Hotelling, Marduke Yousefpor
  • Patent number: 9436315
    Abstract: A noise rejection circuit for a touch sensitive display is disclosed. The noise rejection circuit can reject noise introduced by the touch sensitive display's display device into its touch panel. The noise rejection circuit can be integrated into the touch circuitry of the touch sensitive display and can include a resistor to sense the noise and an amplifier to isolate the sensed noise for rejection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Christoph Horst Krah
  • Patent number: 9430087
    Abstract: The use of multiple stimulation signals having one or more frequencies and one or more phases to generate an image of touch on a touch sensor panel is disclosed. Each of a plurality of sense channels can be coupled to a column in a touch sensor panel and can have one or more mixers. Each mixer in the sense channel can utilize a circuit capable generating a demodulation frequency of a particular frequency. At each of multiple steps, various phases of one or more selected frequencies can be used to simultaneously stimulate the rows of the touch sensor panel, and the one or more mixers in each sense channel can be configured to demodulate the signal received from the column connected to each sense channel using the one or more selected frequencies. After all steps have been completed, the demodulated signals from the one or more mixers can be used in calculations to determine an image of touch for the touch sensor panel at each of the one or more frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Horst Krah, Steve Porter Hotelling, Sean Erik O'Connor, Wayne Carl Westerman
  • Publication number: 20160170558
    Abstract: A sensor panel device that can generate and use a stimulus signal having multiple different waveforms for detecting events on or near the sensor panel is disclosed. Among other things, such a stimulus signal can be used to reject environmental noise present in the device. In some embodiments, the stimulus signal has multiple waveforms having different frequencies. Logic circuitry can generate representative values from output of the different waveforms applied to one or more sensing nodes in the sensor panel device. From the representative values, a final value can be generated that represents whether an event occurred at or near the one or more sensing nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Christoph Horst KRAH, Minh-Dieu Thi VU
  • Patent number: 9348451
    Abstract: A channel scan architecture for detecting touch events on a touch sensor panel is disclosed. The channel scan architecture can combine drive logic, sense channels and channel scan logic on a single monolithic chip. The channel scan logic can be configured to implement a sequence of scanning processes in a panel subsystem without intervention from a panel processor. The channel scan architecture can provide scan sequence control to enable the panel processor to control the sequence in which individual scans are implemented in the panel subsystem. Type of scans that can be implemented in the panel subsystem can include a spectral analysis scan, touch scan, phantom touch scan, ambient light level scan, proximity scan and temperature scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas James Wilson, Christoph Horst Krah, Minh-Dieu Thi Vu
  • Publication number: 20160117023
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are liquid-crystal display (LCD) touch screens that integrate the touch sensing elements with the display circuitry. The integration may take a variety of forms. Touch sensing elements can be completely implemented within the LCD stackup but outside the not between the color filter plate and the array plate. Alternatively, some touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates with other touch sensing elements not between the plates. In another alternative, all touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates. The latter alternative can include both conventional and in-plane-switching (IPS) LCDs. In some forms, one or more display structures can also have a touch sensing function. Techniques for manufacturing and operating such displays, as well as various devices embodying such displays are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Steve Porte HOTELLING, Wei CHEN, Christoph Horst KRAH, John Greer ELIAS, Wei Hsin YAO, John Z. ZHONG, Andrew Bert HODGE, Brian Richards LAND, Willem DEN BOER
  • Patent number: 9310916
    Abstract: A touch sensitive display capable of compensating for crosstalk in the display is disclosed. Crosstalk in display components can be reduced, eliminated, or otherwise compensated for by reducing or eliminating parasitic capacitances that cause the crosstalk. To do so, gate voltages to the display components, such as thin film transistors (TFTs), that introduce the parasitic capacitances can be reduced or otherwise adjusted. In one approach, the gate voltage can be set at multiple different low levels to generate respective sets of touch signals having different amounts of crosstalk. The different crosstalk amounts can then be used to determine and compensate for the crosstalk in the touch signals. In another approach, gate voltage can be modulated between multiple different low levels to push crosstalk out of band with the generated touch signals. The out-of-band crosstalk can then be used to compensate for the crosstalk in the touch signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Christoph Horst Krah
  • Patent number: 9310917
    Abstract: A touch input device configured to mitigate the effects of dynamic cross talk noise is provided. The touch input device can dither an effective resistance of a plurality of gate lines proximal to the touch sensor panel in order to determine if a phase of a touch signal demodulator needs to be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marduke Yousefpor, Christoph Horst Krah, Kevin J. White
  • Patent number: 9310931
    Abstract: A touch input device configured to mitigate the effects of dynamic cross talk noise is provided. The touch input device can dither an effective resistance of a plurality of gate lines proximal to the touch sensor panel in order to determine if a phase of a touch signal demodulator needs to be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marduke Yousefpor, Christoph Horst Krah, Kevin J. White
  • Patent number: 9268450
    Abstract: A sensor panel device that can generate and use a stimulus signal having multiple different waveforms for detecting events on or near the sensor panel is disclosed. Among other things, such a stimulus signal can be used to reject environmental noise present in the device. In some embodiments, the stimulus signal has multiple waveforms having different frequencies. Logic circuitry can generate representative values from output of the different waveforms applied to one or more sensing nodes in the sensor panel device. From the representative values, a final value can be generated that represents whether an event occurred at or near the one or more sensing nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Horst Krah, Minh-Dieu Thi Vu
  • Patent number: 9268429
    Abstract: Liquid crystal display (LCD) touch screens integrate touch sensing elements with display circuitry and may include in-plane-switching (IPS) LCDs. A method of operating the integrated touch sensing elements with the display circuitry includes dividing touch-sensing circuitry of the touch screen into a plurality of drive segments, each drive segment overlapping one or more display rows; updating the display at a predetermined refresh rate; stimulating the plurality of drive segments at a predetermined scan rate; and changing the sequence of stimulating the plurality of drive segments as required to prevent simultaneously stimulating a drive segment that overlaps a display row currently being updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Porter Hotelling, Wei Chen, Christoph Horst Krah, John Greer Elias, Wei Hsin Yao, John Z. Zhong, Andrew Bert Hodge, Brian Land, Willem den Boer
  • Patent number: 9244561
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are liquid-crystal display (LCD) touch screens that integrate the touch sensing elements with the display circuitry. The integration may take a variety of forms. Touch sensing elements can be completely implemented within the LCD stackup but outside the not between the color filter plate and the array plate. Alternatively, some touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates with other touch sensing elements not between the plates. In another alternative, all touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates. The latter alternative can include both conventional and in-plane-switching (IPS) LCDs. In some forms, one or more display structures can also have a touch sensing function. Techniques for manufacturing and operating such displays, as well as various devices embodying such displays are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Porter Hotelling, Wei Chen, Christoph Horst Krah, John Greer Elias, Wei Hsin Yao, John Z. Zhong, Andrew Bert Hodge, Brian Richards Land, Willem den Boer