Patents by Inventor David Patrick BAXTER

David Patrick BAXTER 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).

  • Proximity detection apparatus and associated methods having single photon avalanche diodes for determining a quality metric based upon the number of events
    Patent number: 9316735
    Abstract: A proximity detector may include an array of single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) and an illumination source. Illumination from the illumination source may be reflected by a target to the array of single photon avalanche diodes. The SPADs may be operable to detect events. A number of events detected may be dependent on a level of illumination incident on the SPADs. The proximity detector may then determine a quality metric and calculate an output when the quality metric is at a predetermined level. A related method may include regulating the quality of the data on which such a proximity detector apparatus calculates its output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: David Patrick Baxter
  • Application using a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD)
    Patent number: 9058081
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a housing having a mousing surface, and a navigation device carried by the housing and comprising a proximity detector. The proximity detector may include a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) configured to detect movement of an activator adjacent the mousing surface. For example, the proximity detector may detect movement along three axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: David Patrick Baxter
  • PROXIMITY SENSOR AND ASSOCIATED METHOD, COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM AND FIRMWARE
    Publication number: 20140091206
    Abstract: A proximity detector may include an array of single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) and an illumination source. Illumination from the illumination source may be reflected by a target to the array of single photon avalanche diodes. The SPADs may be operable to detect events. A number of events detected may be dependent on a level of illumination incident on the SPADs. The proximity detector may then determine a quality metric and calculate an output when the quality metric is at a predetermined level. A related method may include regulating the quality of the data on which such a proximity detector apparatus calculates its output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventor: DAVID PATRICK BAXTER
  • Proximity sensor having an array of single photon avalanche diodes and circuitry for switching off illumination source and associated method, computer readable medium and firmware
    Patent number: 8610043
    Abstract: A proximity detector may include an array of single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) and an illumination source. Illumination from the illumination source may be reflected by a target to the array of single photon avalanche diodes. The SPADs may be operable to detect events. A number of events detected may be dependent on a level of illumination incident on the SPADs. The proximity detector may then determine a quality metric and calculate an output when the quality metric is at a predetermined level. A related method may include regulating the quality of the data on which such a proximity detector apparatus calculates its output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: David Patrick Baxter
  • PROXIMITY SENSOR AND ASSOCIATED METHOD, COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM AND FIRMWARE
    Publication number: 20120153120
    Abstract: A proximity detector may include an array of single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) and an illumination source. Illumination from the illumination source may be reflected by a target to the array of single photon avalanche diodes. The SPADs may be operable to detect events. A number of events detected may be dependent on a level of illumination incident on the SPADs. The proximity detector may then determine a quality metric and calculate an output when the quality metric is at a predetermined level. A related method may include regulating the quality of the data on which such a proximity detector apparatus calculates its output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: David Patrick Baxter
  • APPLICATION USING A SINGLE PHOTON AVALANCHE DIODE (SPAD)
    Publication number: 20120133955
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a housing having a mousing surface, and a navigation device carried by the housing and comprising a proximity detector. The proximity detector may include a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) configured to detect movement of an activator adjacent the mousing surface. For example, the proximity detector may detect movement along three axes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: David Patrick BAXTER