Patents by Inventor Clyde Washburn

Clyde Washburn 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: 8902202
    Abstract: A subsystem, system and method for sensing an input object relative to a sensing region of an ultrasound sensor device are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a subsystem for sensing an input object relative to a sensing region of an ultrasound sensor device includes a circuit, a switch coupled to an output of the circuit, and an integrating capacitor coupled to the output of the circuit. The circuit has an input for receiving a resulting signal comprising positive and negative polarities, the resulting signal having effects indicative of the input object relative to the sensing region. The integrating capacitor is also coupled to a substantially constant voltage source and to the switch. The circuit is operable to output a rectified signal to the first integrating capacitor indicative of the input object relative to a sensing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Synaptics, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Small, Clyde Washburn
  • Patent number: 8847899
    Abstract: An input device processing system comprises a sensor module that transmits a first transmitter signal with a transmitter electrode and receives a resulting signal with a receiver electrode. The first transmitter signal comprises a first transmitter frequency, and the resulting signal comprises effects corresponding to the first transmitter signal. A demodulation module demodulates the resulting signal to produce a first signal (e.g., an upper sideband signal) and a second signal (a lower sideband signal), selectably determines a first measurement of a change in capacitive coupling between the transmitter electrode and the receiver electrode based on at least one of the first and second signals, and determines positional information for an input object based on the first measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Clyde Washburn, Eric Bohannon, Imre Knausz, Kirk Hargreaves
  • Publication number: 20140225873
    Abstract: A subsystem, system and method for sensing an input object relative to a sensing region of an ultrasound sensor device are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a subsystem for sensing an input object relative to a sensing region of an ultrasound sensor device includes a circuit, a switch coupled to an output of the circuit, and an integrating capacitor coupled to the output of the circuit. The circuit has an input for receiving a resulting signal comprising positive and negative polarities, the resulting signal having effects indicative of the input object relative to the sensing region. The integrating capacitor is also coupled to a substantially constant voltage source and to the switch. The circuit is operable to output a rectified signal to the first integrating capacitor indicative of the input object relative to a sensing region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. SMALL, Clyde WASHBURN
  • Patent number: 8797094
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide generating a ZTC current using resistors that may be integrated into an IC, even if these resistors vary with temperature. Specifically, instead of applying a bandgap voltage across a ZTC resistor, the bandgap voltage may be applied to a temperature-dependent resistor to generate a first current that varies (either proportionally or complementary) with temperature. Additionally, a second current may be generated which compensates for the temperature variance of the first current. If the two currents change in the same manner relative to temperature (i.e., the respective slopes of the currents are the same when the underlying circuit elements are exposed to the same temperature variations), the difference between the currents remains constant. Thus, subtracting the two currents, regardless of the current temperature, results in a ZTC current—i.e., a current that is independent of temperature variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Clyde Washburn, Eric Scott Bohannon, Brian Mott
  • Patent number: 8743080
    Abstract: A processing system includes transmitter module, receiver module, and a demodulating module. The transmitter module comprises transmitter circuitry and is configured to simultaneously transmit a first transmitter signal with a first transmitter electrode and a second transmitter signal with a second transmitter electrode. The first transmitter signal includes a combination of a first heterodyne frequency and a carrier frequency. The second transmitter signal comprises a combination of a second heterodyne frequency and the carrier frequency. The receiver module comprise receiver circuitry and is configured to receive a first resulting signal with a receiver electrode, wherein the first resulting signal comprises first effects corresponding to the first transmitter signal and second effects corresponding to the second transmitter signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Kirk Hargreaves, Adam Schwartz, Joseph Kurth Reynolds, Clyde Washburn
  • Patent number: 8730204
    Abstract: An input device processing system comprises a sensor module that transmits a first transmitter signal with a transmitter electrode and receives a resulting signal with a receiver electrode. The first transmitter signal comprises a first transmitter frequency, and the resulting signal comprises effects corresponding to the first transmitter signal. A demodulation module demodulates the resulting signal to produce a first signal (e.g., an upper sideband signal) and a second signal (a lower sideband signal), selectably determines a first measurement of a change in capacitive coupling between the transmitter electrode and the receiver electrode based on at least one of the first and second signals, and determines positional information for an input object based on the first measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Clyde Washburn, Eric Bohannon, Imre Knausz, Kirk Hargreaves
  • Patent number: 8711128
    Abstract: A subsystem, system and method for sensing an input object relative to a sensing region of an ultrasound sensor device are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a subsystem for sensing an input object relative to a sensing region of an ultrasound sensor device includes a circuit, a switch coupled to an output of the circuit, and an integrating capacitor coupled to the output of the circuit. The circuit has an input for receiving a resulting signal comprising positive and negative polarities, the resulting signal having effects indicative of the input object relative to the sensing region. The integrating capacitor is also coupled to a substantially constant voltage source and to the switch. The circuit is operable to output a rectified signal to the first integrating capacitor indicative of the input object relative to a sensing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Small, Clyde Washburn
  • Patent number: 8391352
    Abstract: A method and apparatus by which ATSC-receiver-compatible digital TV signals may be generated without most of the discrete and/or high-complexity components required by the ATSC specification, through the use of a precomputation of digital filter coefficients that consolidates multiple functions into a single step, and through the derivation of multiple required carrier frequencies using a single oscillator circuit. The resulting design meets all requirements of the ATSC specification, reducing significantly the cost of the necessary signal-processing functions, and in a manner compatible with the VLSI (very-large-scale-integrated) circuit technologies of the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Integre Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Clyde Washburn
  • Publication number: 20120326910
    Abstract: A processing system includes transmitter module, receiver module, and a demodulating module. The transmitter module comprises transmitter circuitry and is configured to simultaneously transmit a first transmitter signal with a first transmitter electrode and a second transmitter signal with a second transmitter electrode. The first transmitter signal includes a combination of a first heterodyne frequency and a carrier frequency. The second transmitter signal comprises a combination of a second heterodyne frequency and the carrier frequency. The receiver module comprise receiver circuitry and is configured to receive a first resulting signal with a receiver electrode, wherein the first resulting signal comprises first effects corresponding to the first transmitter signal and second effects corresponding to the second transmitter signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kirk Hargreaves, Adam Schwartz, Joseph Kurth Reynolds, Clyde Washburn
  • Publication number: 20120111119
    Abstract: A subsystem, system and method for sensing an input object relative to a sensing region of an ultrasound sensor device are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a subsystem for sensing an input object relative to a sensing region of an ultrasound sensor device includes a circuit, a switch coupled to an output of the circuit, and an integrating capacitor coupled to the output of the circuit. The circuit has an input for receiving a resulting signal comprising positive and negative polarities, the resulting signal having effects indicative of the input object relative to the sensing region. The integrating capacitor is also coupled to a substantially constant voltage source and to the switch. The circuit is operable to output a rectified signal to the first integrating capacitor indicative of the input object relative to a sensing region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Small, Clyde Washburn
  • Publication number: 20120068949
    Abstract: An input device processing system comprises a sensor module that transmits a first transmitter signal with a transmitter electrode and receives a resulting signal with a receiver electrode. The first transmitter signal comprises a first transmitter frequency, and the resulting signal comprises effects corresponding to the first transmitter signal. A demodulation module demodulates the resulting signal to produce a first signal (e.g., an upper sideband signal) and a second signal (a lower sideband signal), selectably determines a first measurement of a change in capacitive coupling between the transmitter electrode and the receiver electrode based on at least one of the first and second signals, and determines positional information for an input object based on the first measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Clyde Washburn, Eric Bohannon, Imre Knausz, Kirk Hargreaves
  • Publication number: 20120068966
    Abstract: An input device processing system comprises a sensor module that transmits a first transmitter signal with a transmitter electrode and receives a resulting signal with a receiver electrode. The first transmitter signal comprises a first transmitter frequency, and the resulting signal comprises effects corresponding to the first transmitter signal. A demodulation module demodulates the resulting signal to produce a first signal (e.g., an upper sideband signal) and a second signal (a lower sideband signal), selectably determines a first measurement of a change in capacitive coupling between the transmitter electrode and the receiver electrode based on at least one of the first and second signals, and determines positional information for an input object based on the first measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Clyde Washburn, Eric Bohannon, Imre Knausz, Kirk Hargreaves
  • Patent number: 7860189
    Abstract: Disclosed are hybrid heterodyne transmitters and receivers for use in communications systems, or other systems, and the corresponding methods for hybrid heterodyne transmitting and receiving. A heterodyne receiver for converting a continuous time modulated signal to a discrete time digital baseband signal includes a sigma-delta modulator. The sigma-delta modulator is a sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter constructed and arranged to receive a modulated signal at an RF carrier frequency and provide a quantized output at a first intermediate frequency. The heterodyne receiver may also include a digital mixer constructed and arranged to receive a data stream quantized by the sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter and receive a signal at a second mixing frequency. The digital mixer then provides digital signals representative of a baseband signal suitable for digital signal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Intrinsix Corporation
    Inventors: Eugene M. Petilli, Brian Jadus, Clyde Washburn, John M. Alvermann
  • Publication number: 20090284663
    Abstract: A method and apparatus by which ATSC-receiver-compatible digital TV signals may be generated without most of the discrete and/or high-complexity components required by the ATSC specification, through the use of a precomputation of digital filter coefficients that consolidates multiple functions into a single step, and through the derivation of multiple required carrier frequencies using a single oscillator circuit. The resulting design meets all requirements of the ATSC specification, reducing significantly the cost of the necessary signal-processing functions, and in a manner compatible with the VLSI (very-large-scale-integrated) circuit technologies of the field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: Integre Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Clyde Washburn
  • Publication number: 20070001748
    Abstract: A bandgap reference voltage generating circuit includes a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) voltage generating means generating a PTAT voltage. A complementary to absolute temperature (CTAT) voltage generating means generates a CTAT voltage. A temperature coefficient determining means interconnects the PTAT voltage generating means and the CTAT voltage generating means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventor: Clyde Washburn
  • Patent number: 7113025
    Abstract: A bandgap reference voltage generating circuit includes a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) voltage generating means generating a PTAT voltage. A complementary to absolute temperature (CTAT) voltage generating means generates a CTAT voltage. A temperature coefficient determining means interconnects the PTAT voltage generating means and the CTAT voltage generating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Raum Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Clyde Washburn
  • Publication number: 20060111074
    Abstract: Disclosed are hybrid heterodyne transmitters and receivers for use in communications systems, or other systems, and the corresponding methods for hybrid heterodyne transmitting and receiving. A heterodyne receiver for converting a continuous time modulated signal to a discrete time digital baseband signal includes a sigma-delta modulator. The sigma-delta modulator is a sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter constructed and arranged to receive a modulated signal at an RF carrier frequency and provide a quantized output at a first intermediate frequency. The heterodyne receiver may also include a digital mixer constructed and arranged to receive a data stream quantized by the sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter and receive a signal at a second mixing frequency. The digital mixer then provides digital signals representative of a baseband signal suitable for digital signal processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: Eugene Petilli, Brian Jadus, Clyde Washburn, John Alvermann
  • Publication number: 20050231270
    Abstract: A bandgap reference voltage generating circuit includes a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) voltage generating means generating a PTAT voltage. A complementary to absolute temperature (CTAT) voltage generating means generates a CTAT voltage. A temperature coefficient determining means interconnects the PTAT voltage generating means and the CTAT voltage generating means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventor: Clyde Washburn
  • Patent number: 6606007
    Abstract: A circuit and method are disclosed herein for a crystal oscillator, wherein the Q of the resonant network is not reduced through the loading effects of the oscillator's resistive bias network. The oscillator is configured as an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) coupled to the resonant network. The OTA creates a negative resistance, which compensates for energy lost to resistance within the resonant network, thereby sustaining oscillation at the resonant frequency. Instead of using bias resistors to set and maintain the operating point of the oscillator, another OTA (with a high output impedance) injects a current into the resonant network to bias the oscillator. Advantageously, this technique avoids the reduction in Q that occurs when bias resistors are connected across the high effective parallel resistance of the resonant crystal. The higher Q benefits frequency stability and phase jitter characteristics of the oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation
    Inventor: Clyde Washburn
  • Patent number: 6593825
    Abstract: An oscillator provides output signals over a range of oscillating frequencies includes an resonant circuit, at least one active circuit device operatively coupled to the resonant circuit to supply energy to the resonant circuit, and at least one unidirectional device coupled to the active circuit device. The unidirectional device permits current to flow between the active circuit device and the resonant circuit when the active circuit device adds energy to the resonant circuit, and impedes a drain of energy from the resonant circuit due to increased output signal amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation
    Inventor: Clyde Washburn