Patents by Inventor David L. Sandbach
David L. Sandbach 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: 20130241894Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for supplying input signals to a computer. A sensor having the form of a sphere has a touch sensitive surface for generating position data for touch events. The sensor includes orientation sensors that determine rotation with respect to the earth's magnetic and gravitational fields. Orientation data may be combined with position data to interpret the orientation of touch events on the surface with respect to the computer's display. Cursor movement or text may be generated from touch events. Preferably the sphere has a roughened surface that generates sound when touched. Position data is generated by processing signals from microphones under the sphere's surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2013Publication date: September 19, 2013Inventors: Christopher Chapman, David L. Sandbach, Anthony Hardie-Bick
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Patent number: 8436808Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for supplying input signals to a computer. A sensor having the form of a sphere has a touch sensitive surface for generating position data for touch events. The sensor includes orientation sensors that determine rotation with respect to the earth's magnetic and gravitational fields. Orientation data may be combined with position data to interpret the orientation of touch events on the surface with respect to the computer's display. Cursor movement or text may be generated from touch events. Preferably the sphere has a roughened surface that generates sound when touched. Position data is generated by processing signals from microphones under the sphere's surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2004Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Elo Touch Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Chapman, David L. Sandbach, Anthony Hardie-Bick
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Patent number: 7161084Abstract: The present invention relates to a detector constructed from electrically conducting fabric and configured to present a varying electrical characteristic in response to a mechanical interaction. The detector comprises a first conducting layer (401) which is displaced from a second conducting layer (402) such that conduction between the layers results when the layers are mechanically forced together. In addition, the first of the layers has a plurality of lengths of conductive yarn and a plurality of lengths of non-conductive yarn machined therein, such that at least one length of conductive yarn is electrically isolated from another of the lengths of conductive yarn and the conducting yarns in the first of the layers are electrically grouped to define a plurality of identifiable rows. Each identifiable row has a respective electrical conductor; and define specific regions of the detector.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2001Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: Electrotextiles Company LimitedInventor: David L Sandbach
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Patent number: 6891527Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for supplying input signals to a computer. A sensor having the form of a sphere has a touch sensitive surface for generating position data for touch events. The sensor includes orientation sensors that determine rotation with respect to the earth's magnetic and gravitational fields. Orientation data may be combined with position data to interpret the orientation of touch events on the surface with respect to the computer's display. Cursor movement or text may be generated from touch events. Preferably the sphere has a roughened surface that generates sound when touched. Position data is generated by processing signals from microphones under the sphere's surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2000Date of Patent: May 10, 2005Assignee: Soundtouch LimitedInventors: Christopher Chapman, David L. Sandbach, Anthony Hardie-Bick
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Patent number: 6714117Abstract: A position sensor is arranged to detect the position of a mechanical interaction, such as the application of manual pressure. A first fabric layer has electrically conductive fibers machined therein to provide a first conductive outer layer allowing conduction in all directions along the layer. A second fabric layer has electrically conductive fibers machined therein to provide a second conductive outer layer allowing conduction in all directions along the layer. A central layer is disposed between the first outer layer and the second outer layer. The central layer includes conductive elements. A first insulating separating element is disposed between the first conductive outer layer and the conducting elements. A second insulating separating element is disposed between the second conductive outer layer and the conducting elements. The conducting elements provide a conductive path between the first conducting outer layer and the second conducting outer layer at the position of a mechanical interaction.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2002Date of Patent: March 30, 2004Assignee: Eleksen LimitedInventor: David L. Sandbach
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Publication number: 20030037966Abstract: A position detector is constructed from fabric having electrically conductive elements incorporated therein. It includes at least a first electrically conductive plane and a second electrically conductive plane, each conductive plane having at least two respectively associated electrical connections attached thereto. An electric potential is applied across at least one of the planes to determine the position of a mechanical interaction. A second electrical property is also determined to identify additional properties of the mechanical interactions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2002Publication date: February 27, 2003Applicant: ELEKSEN LIMITEDInventor: David L. Sandbach
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Patent number: 6504531Abstract: A fabric-made position detector has a first fabric electrically conducting layer and a second fabric electrically conducting layer. The first electrically conducting layer has a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact and a second electrically conducting layer has a third electrically conducting contact and a fourth electrically conducting contact. Potential is applied across the first contact and the third contact to produce a first current and a potential is then applied across the second contact and the fourth contact to produce a second current. The first current is measured to produce a first current value and the second current is measured to produce a second current value. The first value and the second value are processed in combination to produce a property value indicating a property of the mechanical interaction.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2001Date of Patent: January 7, 2003Assignee: Eleksen LimitedInventor: David L. Sandbach
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Patent number: 6501465Abstract: A position detector is constructed from fabric having electrically conductive elements incorporated therein. It includes at least a first electrically conductive plane and a second electrically conductive plane, each conductive plane having at least two respectively associated electrical connections attached thereto. An electric potential is applied across at least one of the planes to determine the position of a mechanical interaction. A second electrical property is also determined to identify additional properties of the mechanical interactions.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2001Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: Eleksen LimitedInventor: David L. Sandbach
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Patent number: 6492980Abstract: A position detector is constructed from fabric and has electrically conductive elements. The detector is configured to produce electrical outputs in response to mechanical interactions, and is divided into several regions. Each of the regions includes a first conducting plane and a second conducting plane configured such that, in use, a mechanical interaction results in conducting planes of at least one of said regions being brought closer together. A potential is applied across at least one of said planes to determine the position of said mechanical interaction.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2001Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: Eleksen LimitedInventor: David L. Sandbach
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Publication number: 20020180578Abstract: A position sensor (101) is arranged to detect the position of a mechanical interaction. such as the application of manual pressure. A first fabric layer (201) has electrically conductive fibers machined therein to provide a first conductive outer layer allowing conduction in all directions along the layer. A second fabric layer (202) has electrically conductive fibers machined therein to provide a second conductive outer layer allowing conduction in all directions along the layer. A central layer (203) is disposed between the first outer layer (201) and the second outer layer (202). The central layer (203) includes conductive elements. A first insulating separating element (204) is disposed between the first conductive outer layer and the conducting elements. A second insulating separating element (205) is disposed between the second conductive outer layer and the conducting elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2002Publication date: December 5, 2002Applicant: Eleksen LimitedInventor: David L. Sandbach
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Patent number: 6452479Abstract: A position sensor is arranged to detect the position of a mechanical interaction, such as the application of manual pressure. A first fabric layer has electrically conductive fibers machined therein to provide a first conductive outer layer allowing conduction in all directions along the layer. A second fabric layer has electrically conductive fibers machined therein to provide a second conductive outer layer allowing conduction in all directions along the layer. A central layer is disposed between the first outer layer and the second outer layer. The central layer includes conductive elements. A first insulating separating element is disposed between the first conductive outer layer and the conducting elements. A second insulating separating element is disposed between the second conductive outer layer and the conducting elements. The conducting elements provide a conductive path between the first conducting outer layer and the second conducting outer layer at the position of a mechanical interaction.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2001Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Eleksen LimitedInventor: David L. Sandbach
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Publication number: 20020126100Abstract: A position detector is constructed from fabric having electrically conductive elements incorporated therein. It includes at least a first electrically conductive plane and a second electrically conductive plane, each conductive plane having at least two respectively associated electrical connections attached thereto. An electric potential is applied across at least one of the planes to determine the position of a mechanical interaction. A second electrical property is also determined to identify additional properties of the mechanical interactions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2001Publication date: September 12, 2002Applicant: ELECTROTEXTILES COMPANY LIMITED.Inventor: David L. Sandbach
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Publication number: 20020126101Abstract: A position detector is constructed from fabric having electrically conductive elements. The detector has at least two electrically conductive planes. An electrical potential is applied across one of the planes to determine the position to a mechanical interaction. In addition, second electrical property is determined to identify additional properties of the mechanical interactions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2001Publication date: September 12, 2002Applicant: ELECTROTEXILES COMPANY LIMITEDInventor: David L. Sandbach
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Patent number: 6437258Abstract: A position detector is constructed from fabric having electrically conductive elements. The detector has at least two electrically conductive planes. An electrical potential is applied across one of the planes to determine the position to a mechanical interaction. In addition, second electrical property is determined to identify additional properties of the mechanical interactions.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2001Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Eleksen LimitedInventor: David L. Sandbach
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Publication number: 20020096373Abstract: A position detector produces an output in response to a mechanical interaction. It includes a first electrically conductive fabric plane having electrically conductive elements incorporated therein and at least two electrical connections attached thereto. A second electrically conductive fabric plane is displaced from the first electrically conductive plane and has electrically conductive elements incorporated therein and at least two electrical connections attached thereto. An insulating fabric layer is disposed between the first conductive plane and the second conductive plane and is configured to enable electrical conduction between the first electrically conductive plane and the second electrically conductive plane at the position of a mechanical interaction. A mechanical interaction causes the first electrically conductive plane to be displaced towards the second electrically conductive plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2001Publication date: July 25, 2002Inventor: David L. Sandbach
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Patent number: 6369804Abstract: A detector is constructed from fabric having electrically conductive elements to define at least two electrically conducting planes and configured to produce an electrical output in response to a mechanical interaction. A potential is applied across at least one of the planes to determine the position of a mechanical interaction and the second electrical property is determined to identify additional properties of the mechanical interactions. A conductivity non-uniformity is included in at least one of the planes so as to modify an electrical response to a mechanical interaction.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1999Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: Eleksen LimitedInventor: David L. Sandbach
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Patent number: 6333736Abstract: The position of a mechanical interaction in a sensor constructed from fabric is detected. A substantially constant electric current is established through elements of the fabric. A first electrical potential developed in a first plane is measured in response to such current. A second electrical potential developed in a second plane is also measured in response to the current. Then the measurements are processed to identify a position of the mechanical interaction. A calibration circuit is connected to provide an alternative route for current flow through the first plane and through the second plane.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1999Date of Patent: December 25, 2001Assignee: Electrotextiles Company LimitedInventor: David L. Sandbach
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Publication number: 20010043200Abstract: A position detector is constructed from fabric and has electrically conductive elements. The detector is configured to produce electrical outputs in response to mechanical interactions, and is divided into several regions. Each of the regions includes a first conducting plane and a second conducting plane configured such that, in use, a mechanical interaction results in conducting planes of at least one of said regions being brought closer together. A potential is applied across at least one of said planes to determine the position of said mechanical interaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2001Publication date: November 22, 2001Applicant: ELECTROTEXTILES COMPANY LIMITEDInventor: David L. Sandbach
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Patent number: 5493320Abstract: In a print head for ink jet printing a nozzle plate with a nozzle array is gold plated. The gold plated nozzle array is bonded to the polymer ink barrier layer on an electronic chip by a thin layer of tantalum, zirconium, titanium or silicon dioxide. The thin layer greatly increases the ability of the surface to bond chemically to the polymer.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1994Date of Patent: February 20, 1996Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: David L. Sandbach, Jr., Lawrence R. Steward, Charles S. Whitman, Gary R. Williams, John D. Zbrozek