Patents by Inventor Christopher A. Ludden

Christopher A. Ludden 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: 11409852
    Abstract: Biometric module configured to perform processing as part of a device configured to perform contactless or contact communication with a terminal, the module comprising: a biometric sensor; a display screen; and a control unit configured to: cause the biometric sensor to capture biometric data of a user which can be used to biometrically authenticate the user; obtain biometric authentication information indicating whether the user was biometrically authenticated based on the captured biometric data; and in response to the biometric authentication information indicating the user was biometrically authenticated, cause the display screen to display authenticated information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: IDEX Biometrics ASA
    Inventors: Imre Knausz, Christopher A. Ludden
  • Publication number: 20210034834
    Abstract: A module configured to perform processing as part of a device capable of performing contactless or contact communication with a terminal. The module comprises: a biometric sensor; one or more display screens; and one or more control units configured to: cause the biometric sensor to capture biometric data of a user which can be used to biometrically authenticate the user; obtain biometric authentication information indicating whether the user was biometrically authenticated based on the captured biometric data; and in response to the biometric authentication information indicating the user was biometrically authenticated, select one or more categories of authenticated information from a plurality of categories of authenticated information based on one or more detected conditions, and cause the one or more display screens to display the one or more selected categories of authenticated information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas A. Mackin, Christopher A. Ludden, Imre Knausz, Alex Kucharczyk, Anne L. McAleer
  • Publication number: 20210034726
    Abstract: Biometric module configured to perform processing as part of a device configured to perform contactless or contact communication with a terminal, the module comprising: a biometric sensor; a display screen; and a control unit configured to: cause the biometric sensor to capture biometric data of a user which can be used to biometrically authenticate the user; obtain biometric authentication information indicating whether the user was biometrically authenticated based on the captured biometric data; and in response to the biometric authentication information indicating the user was biometrically authenticated, cause the display screen to display authenticated information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Imre Knausz, Christopher A. Ludden
  • Patent number: 10311825
    Abstract: An LC display driver including a gamma reference circuit to generate N gamma-compensated reference voltages based on at least one pre-defined gamma curve divided into M regions defined by M+1 breakpoint voltages, each generated by a range-region DAC coupled to a subset of voltage taps of a range resistor string (some subsets overlapping). An output circuit generates the N gamma-compensated reference voltages, and includes a reference resistor string with N reference voltage taps, and M+1 breakpoint locations to receive respective breakpoint voltages, the N reference voltage taps divided into M subsets corresponding to the M regions of the gamma curve, each of the M subsets of reference voltage taps forming a voltage divider. N output selector circuits output a corresponding one of the N gamma-compensated reference voltages based on a respective reference voltage tap and the associated voltage divider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Ludden, Imre Knausz
  • Patent number: 10268313
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein mitigate the effect of a coupling capacitance between a sensor electrode in a touch sensor and a display electrode in a display screen. An input device, which includes the touch sensor and display screen, may transmit a guarding signal on the display electrodes when performing capacitive sensing. In one embodiment, the guarding signal may have similar characteristics as a modulated signal (e.g., similar amplitude and/or phase) driven on the sensor electrode to detect interaction between the input device and an input object. By driving a guarding signal that is similar to the modulated signal onto the display electrodes, the voltage difference between the sensor electrode and display electrode remains the same. Accordingly, the coupling capacitance between the sensor electrode and the display electrode does not affect a capacitance measurement used to detect the user interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Christopher A. Ludden
  • Patent number: 10133419
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a processing system for a display device comprising an integrated capacitive sensing device that includes at least one input/output pad that is selectable between providing source signals to the display device and operating a sensor electrode for capacitive sensing. Other embodiments include a display device having a capacitive sensing device, an input device having an integrated display and capacitive sensing device, and a method for operating an integrated display and capacitive sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Christopher A. Ludden, Jeffrey A. Small
  • Patent number: 10088951
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include an input device, a display device having a capacitive sensing device, a processing system and a method for detecting presence of an input object using a capacitive sensing device. In one embodiment, an input device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged in a planar matrix array. Each sensor electrode is coupled to unique routing trace and has an identical geometric plan form that is symmetrical about a center of area of the sensor electrode. The geometric plan form of each sensor electrode includes core and a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the core. The protrusions are configured to overlap with protrusions extending outward from each adjacent sensor electrode of the matrix array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Petr Shepelev, Christopher A. Ludden, Jeffrey Lukanc, Stephen L. Morein, Greg P. Semeraro, Joseph Kurth Reynolds
  • Patent number: 10067626
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure generally provide an integrated control system having an integrated controller that is configured to provide both display updating signals to a display device and a capacitive sensing signal to a sensor electrode that is disposed within the integrated input device. The internal and/or external signal routing configurations described herein can be adapted to reduce signal routing complexity typically found in conventional devices and reduce the effect of electrical interference created by the capacitive coupling formed between the display routing, capacitive sensing routing and/or other components within the integrated control system. Embodiments can also be used to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) on the display and touch sensing signals received, transmitted and processed within the integrated control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Christopher A. Ludden
  • Publication number: 20180004327
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure generally provide an integrated control system having an integrated controller that is configured to provide both display updating signals to a display device and a capacitive sensing signal to a sensor electrode that is disposed within the integrated input device. The internal and/or external signal routing configurations described herein can be adapted to reduce signal routing complexity typically found in conventional devices and reduce the effect of electrical interference created by the capacitive coupling formed between the display routing, capacitive sensing routing and/or other components within the integrated control system. Embodiments can also be used to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) on the display and touch sensing signals received, transmitted and processed within the integrated control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventor: Christopher A. LUDDEN
  • Patent number: 9857925
    Abstract: A display device having a capacitive sensing device, a processing system, and a method are provided for detecting presence of an input object using a capacitive sensing device having a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged in a matrix. The described technique programmatically combines multiple sensor electrodes into a larger sensor electrode for absolute capacitive sensing. The sets of sensor electrodes that are combined may be selectively coupled based a window size and a step size associated with a number of sensor electrodes in common between the sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Stephen L. Morein, Jeffrey A. Small, Christopher A. Ludden, Joseph Kurth Reynolds
  • Patent number: 9791990
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure generally provide an integrated control system having an integrated controller that is configured to provide both display updating signals to a display device and a capacitive sensing signal to a sensor electrode that is disposed within the integrated input device. The internal and/or external signal routing configurations described herein can be adapted to reduce signal routing complexity typically found in conventional devices and reduce the effect of electrical interference created by the capacitive coupling formed between the display routing, capacitive sensing routing and/or other components within the integrated control system. Embodiments can also be used to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) on the display and touch sensing signals received, transmitted and processed within the integrated control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Christopher A. Ludden
  • Patent number: 9778790
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include an input device, a display device having a capacitive sensing device, a processing system and a method for detecting presence of an input object using a capacitive sensing device. In one embodiment, an input device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged in a planar matrix array. Each sensor electrode is coupled to unique routing trace and has an identical geometric plan form that is symmetrical about a center of area of the sensor electrode. The geometric plan form of each sensor electrode includes core and a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the core. The protrusions are configured to overlap with protrusions extending outward from each adjacent sensor electrode of the matrix array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Petr Shepelev, Christopher A. Ludden, Jeffrey Lukanc, Stephen L. Morein, Greg P. Semeraro, Joseph Kurth Reynolds
  • Patent number: 9760212
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include an input device, a display device having a capacitive sensing device, a processing system and a method for detecting presence of an input object using a capacitive sensing device. In one embodiment, an input device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged in a planar matrix array. Each sensor electrode is coupled to unique routing trace and has an identical geometric plan form that is symmetrical about a center of area of the sensor electrode. The geometric plan form of each sensor electrode includes core and a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the core. The protrusions are configured to overlap with protrusions extending outward from each adjacent sensor electrode of the matrix array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORTED
    Inventors: Petr Shepelev, Christopher A. Ludden, Jeffrey Lukanc, Stephen L. Morein, Greg P. Semeraro, Joseph Kurth Reynolds
  • Patent number: 9703411
    Abstract: A system comprising a display screen configured for displaying images, a touch sensor having a sensing region, a host processing system and a touch screen control system. The touch screen control system comprising touch sensor control circuitry configured to operate the touch sensor and display control circuitry configured to operate the display screen. The display circuitry comprising a first memory configured to hold a primary image and a second memory configured to hold a secondary image and display refresh circuitry. The display refresh circuitry configured to update the display screen, and in response to the user input and without requiring intervention by the host processing system, generate a blended image comprising the primary image and the secondary image, and update the display screen with the blended image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher A. Ludden, Thomas A. Mackin, Shawn P. Day, David W. Gillespie
  • Patent number: 9621135
    Abstract: A voltage level shifter including a voltage converting unit to convert an input voltage into a current; a voltage level shifting unit to drive a driving voltage based on the current and shift a voltage level of the driving voltage when a modulation voltage is applied at a first voltage level to a floating ground; a circuit driving voltage supply unit to supply a circuit driving voltage and further to generate a shifted voltage level of the circuit driving voltage when the modulation voltage is applied at the first voltage level; and an output unit to supply an output voltage based on the circuit driving voltage and the driving voltage, and further supply the output voltage at a second voltage level based on the shifted voltage level of the driving voltage and the circuit driving voltage when the modulation voltage is applied at the first voltage level is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Murat Ozbas, Christopher Ludden, Imre Knausz
  • Patent number: 9576557
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device with display screens that periodically update (refresh) the screen by selectively driving common electrodes corresponding to pixels in a display line. In general, the input devices drive each electrode until each display line (and each pixel) of a display frame is updated. In addition to updating the display, the input device may perform capacitive sensing using the display screen as a proximity sensing area. To do this, the input device may interleave periods of capacitive sensing between periods of updating the display based on a display frame. For example, the input device may update the first half of display lines of the display screen, pause display updating, perform capacitive sensing, and finish updating the rest of the display lines. Further still, the input device may use common electrodes for both updating the display and performing capacitive sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Lillie, John Childs, Christopher A. Ludden, Thomas Mackin, Petr Shepelev
  • Patent number: 9552089
    Abstract: An electrode matrix that is used for capacitive sensing may be integrated into a display panel of an input device. In one embodiment, source drivers may be mounted on the display panel which drive the display signals and capacitive sensing signals into the display panel. In one embodiment, the capacitive sensing signals may be routed on traces or lines that are interleaved on the same layer as the source lines used for setting a voltage on the pixels in the display panel during display updating. Using the interleaved traces, the source drivers may drive the capacitive sensing signals in parallel to a plurality of the electrodes in the matrix in a predefined pattern that spans one or more sensing cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lukanc, Stephen L. Morein, Christopher A. Ludden, Greg P. Semeraro, Joseph Kurth Reynolds, Petr Shepelev, Thomas Mackin
  • Patent number: 9542023
    Abstract: An electrode matrix that is used for capacitive sensing may be integrated into a display panel of an input device. In one embodiment, source drivers may be mounted on the display panel which drive the display signals and capacitive sensing signals into the display panel. In one embodiment, the capacitive sensing signals may be routed on wires or lines that are interleaved on the same layer as the source lines used for setting a voltage on the pixels in the display panel during display updating. Using the interleaved wires, the source drivers may drive the capacitive sensing signals in parallel to a plurality of the electrodes in the matrix in a predefined pattern that spans one or more touch cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lukanc, Stephen L. Morein, Christopher A. Ludden, Greg P. Semeraro, Joseph Kurth Reynolds, Petr Shepelev
  • Publication number: 20160364081
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein mitigate the effect of a coupling capacitance between a sensor electrode in a touch sensor and a display electrode in a display screen. An input device, which includes the touch sensor and display screen, may transmit a guarding signal on the display electrodes when performing capacitive sensing. In one embodiment, the guarding signal may have similar characteristics as a modulated signal (e.g., similar amplitude and/or phase) driven on the sensor electrode to detect interaction between the input device and an input object. By driving a guarding signal that is similar to the modulated signal onto the display electrodes, the voltage difference between the sensor electrode and display electrode remains the same. Accordingly, the coupling capacitance between the sensor electrode and the display electrode does not affect a capacitance measurement used to detect the user interaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventor: Christopher A. LUDDEN
  • Patent number: 9465482
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein mitigate the effect of a coupling capacitance between a sensor electrode in a touch sensor and a display electrode in a display screen. An input device, which includes the touch sensor and display screen, may transmit a guarding signal on the display electrodes when performing capacitive sensing. In one embodiment, the guarding signal may have similar characteristics as a modulated signal (e.g., similar amplitude and/or phase) driven on the sensor electrode to detect interaction between the input device and an input object. By driving a guarding signal that is similar to the modulated signal onto the display electrodes, the voltage difference between the sensor electrode and display electrode remains the same. Accordingly, the coupling capacitance between the sensor electrode and the display electrode does not affect a capacitance measurement used to detect the user interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Christopher A. Ludden