Patents by Inventor Donald R. Schropp

Donald R. Schropp 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: 10572067
    Abstract: Sensing systems and methods that utilize lower-order zero row sum code division multiplexing (CDM) drive matrices to reduce or eliminate radiative emissions. Measurements corresponding to an input received at a sensing region of the input device are obtained by separately driving multiple subsets of transmitters of the input device, and obtaining measurement values corresponding to each separately-driven subset of transmitters via the receivers, wherein a plurality of measurement iterations are performed for each separately-driven subset of transmitters, the plurality of measurement iterations corresponding to a zero row sum CDM drive matrix for the separately-driven subsets of transmitters. An image of the input is generated based on the obtained measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald R. Schropp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10572065
    Abstract: Automotive acceleration compensation force sensing includes determining a total force value from the measurements from force sensors, obtaining, from an accelerometer, an environmental acceleration value, and calculating an input object force value on an input surface using a total force value and the environmental acceleration value. Automotive acceleration compensation force sensing further includes reporting the input object force value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald R. Schropp, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190302960
    Abstract: Sensing systems and methods that utilize lower-order zero row sum code division multiplexing (CDM) drive matrices to reduce or eliminate radiative emissions. Measurements corresponding to an input received at a sensing region of the input device are obtained by separately driving multiple subsets of transmitters of the input device, and obtaining measurement values corresponding to each separately-driven subset of transmitters via the receivers, wherein a plurality of measurement iterations are performed for each separately-driven subset of transmitters, the plurality of measurement iterations corresponding to a zero row sum CDM drive matrix for the separately-driven subsets of transmitters. An image of the input is generated based on the obtained measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventor: Donald R. Schropp, JR.
  • Publication number: 20190243508
    Abstract: Automotive acceleration compensation force sensing includes determining a total force value from the measurements from force sensors, obtaining, from an accelerometer, an environmental acceleration value, and calculating an input object force value on an input surface using a total force value and the environmental acceleration value. Automotive acceleration compensation force sensing further includes reporting the input object force value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventor: Donald R. Schropp, JR.
  • Patent number: 10324576
    Abstract: A method may include obtaining a capacitive image of various sensor pixels in an input device. The capacitive image may include various capacitive measurements resulting from the first input object and the second input object in a sensing region of the input device. The method may further include obtaining various pixel response functions corresponding to the sensor pixels. The method may further include determining, from the capacitive image and using a search method and the pixel response functions, various capacitive contributions of the first input object in the capacitive image and various capacitive contributions of the second input object. The method may further include determining, using the capacitive contributions of the first input object and the capacitive contributions of the second input object, a first location of the first input object and a second location of the second input object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald R. Schropp, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190163296
    Abstract: A method may include obtaining a capacitive image of various sensor pixels in an input device. The capacitive image may include various capacitive measurements resulting from the first input object and the second input object in a sensing region of the input device. The method may further include obtaining various pixel response functions corresponding to the sensor pixels. The method may further include determining, from the capacitive image and using a search method and the pixel response functions, various capacitive contributions of the first input object in the capacitive image and various capacitive contributions of the second input object. The method may further include determining, using the capacitive contributions of the first input object and the capacitive contributions of the second input object, a first location of the first input object and a second location of the second input object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventor: Donald R. Schropp, JR.
  • Publication number: 20180181251
    Abstract: A method of operating a plurality of electrodes, and a related processing system and input device are disclosed. The method comprises driving, within a first time period, a plurality of sensor electrodes with a first signal. A first portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes defines a first sensing region within a first region, and a second portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes defines a first border region within the first region. The method further comprises driving a plurality of mitigation electrodes with a second, opposite polarity signal to mitigate electromagnetic emissions resulting from driving the plurality of sensor electrodes. The plurality of mitigation electrodes defines a second region adjacent to the first border region. The method further comprises acquiring, responsive to driving the plurality of sensor electrodes, first capacitive measurements with the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Robert J. BOLENDER, Donald R. SCHROPP, JR.
  • Patent number: 9959002
    Abstract: In a method of input sensing and exclusion, an input is detected within a sensing region of an input device. It is determined that the input is along an edge of the input device. It is then determined whether the input satisfies exclusion criteria. Responsive to satisfaction of the exclusion criteria, the input is excluded from consideration as valid input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorprated
    Inventor: Donald R. Schropp
  • Publication number: 20180018046
    Abstract: In a method of input sensing and exclusion, an input is detected within a sensing region of an input device. It is determined that the input is along an edge of the input device. It is then determined whether the input satisfies exclusion criteria. Responsive to satisfaction of the exclusion criteria, the input is excluded from consideration as valid input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald R. Schropp, JR.
  • Patent number: 9804717
    Abstract: In a method of input sensing and exclusion, an input is detected within a sensing region of an input device. It is determined that the input is along an edge of the input device. It is then determined whether the input satisfies exclusion criteria. Responsive to satisfaction of the exclusion criteria, the input is excluded from consideration as valid input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald R. Schropp, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20160266674
    Abstract: In a method of input sensing and exclusion, an input is detected within a sensing region of an input device. It is determined that the input is along an edge of the input device. It is then determined whether the input satisfies exclusion criteria. Responsive to satisfaction of the exclusion criteria, the input is excluded from consideration as valid input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Donald R. SCHROPP, JR.
  • Patent number: 9055841
    Abstract: A solid state thermite reaction composition is provided comprising a fuel component, an initiating oxidizer, a primary oxidizer, a fluxing agent and a thermal diluent. According to other aspects, a heating device, a heating element and an activation mechanism are provided. The heating device comprises a heating chamber defining an interior space for receiving and storing a substance to be heated, a reaction chamber disposed within the heating chamber, a solid state thermite reaction composition disposed within the reaction chamber such that it is physically isolated from and in thermal communication with the interior space of the heating chamber, and an activation mechanism having an actuator. The activation mechanism is in communication with the composition disposed within the reaction chamber and the reaction composition is inert until the activator mechanism is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: HEATGENIE, INC.
    Inventors: Brendan Coffey, Donald R. Schropp, Jr., Krzysztof Czeslaw Kwiatkowski
  • Patent number: 8864924
    Abstract: A solid state thermite reaction composition is provided comprising a fuel component, an initiating oxidizer, a primary oxidizer, a fluxing agent and a thermal diluent. According to another aspect, a heating device is provided comprising a heating chamber for receiving and storing a substance to be heated having at least two walls, a reaction chamber affixed to a wall of the heating chamber, a solid state thermite reaction composition located within the reaction chamber and an actuatable trigger mechanism affixed to the reaction chamber such that the trigger mechanism is in contact with the reaction composition. According to another aspect, a solid-state thermite reaction activation mechanism is provided comprising a first compound substantially in contact with a thermite reaction fuel, a second compound and a removable barrier located between the first and second compounds preventing any contact between the first and second compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: HeatGenie, Inc.
    Inventors: Brendan Coffey, Donald R. Schropp, Jr., Krzysztof Czeslaw Kwiatkowski
  • Patent number: 8512641
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and systems of modulating step function phenomena by varying nanoparticle size—particularly wherein a plurality of such nanoparticles are employed, and wherein said nanoparticles comprise a size distribution favorable for collectively smoothing the step function. Such methods and systems are particularly favorable for hydrogen sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Nanotech Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Zvi Yaniv, Donald R. Schropp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8309912
    Abstract: An ion trap instrument working at atmospheric pressure, which alleviates requirements of bulky, power consuming vacuum pumps. Traps can accumulate selected ion species, effectively concentrating the analyte of interest and allowing laser spectroscopy to be performed. This lowers the detection threshold of this instrument compared to others and increases the selectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Nanotech Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Schropp, Jr., Richard Lee Fink, Igor Pavlovsky
  • Patent number: 8117897
    Abstract: An elliptical photo-acoustic spectrometer chamber design will result in a larger intensity signal at the pick-up microphone and allow high frequency light modulation. This makes the spectrometer have a lower limit of detection threshold, and will increase the signal to noise ratio in general for the instrument, resulting in a more sensitive instrument allowing more precise measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Nanotech Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Schropp, Jr., Igor Pavlovsky, Richard Lee Fink
  • Publication number: 20100252023
    Abstract: A solid state thermite reaction composition is provided comprising a fuel component, an initiating oxidizer, a primary oxidizer, a fluxing agent and a thermal diluent. According to other aspects, a heating device, a heating element and an activation mechanism are provided. The heating device comprises a heating chamber defining an interior space for receiving and storing a substance to be heated, a reaction chamber disposed within the heating chamber, a solid state thermite reaction composition disposed within the reaction chamber such that it is physically isolated from and in thermal communication with the interior space of the heating chamber, and an activation mechanism having an actuator. The activation mechanism is in communication with the composition disposed within the reaction chamber and the reaction composition is inert until the activator mechanism is actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Ironbridge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brendan Coffey, Donald R. Schropp, JR., Krzysztof Czeslaw Kwiatkowski
  • Publication number: 20100255169
    Abstract: A heating device is provided comprising a heating chamber for receiving and storing a substance to be heated having at least two walls, a reaction chamber affixed to a wall of the heating chamber, a solid-state modified thermite reaction composition located within the reaction chamber and an actuatable trigger mechanism affixed to the reaction chamber such that the trigger mechanism is in contact with the reaction composition. According to another aspect, a heating device is provided comprising a heating chamber defining an interior space for receiving and storing a substance to be heated, a reaction chamber, a solid-state modified thermite reaction composition disposed within the reaction chamber such that it is physically isolated from and in thermal communication with the interior space of the heating chamber and an activator mechanism affixed to either reaction chamber or heating chamber such that the activator mechanism is in communication with the reaction composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Inonbridge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brendan Coffey, Robert John Gordon, Donald R. Schropp, JR., Krzysztof Czeslaw Kwiatkowski
  • Publication number: 20100252022
    Abstract: A solid state thermite reaction composition is provided comprising a fuel component, an initiating oxidizer, a primary oxidizer, a fluxing agent and a thermal diluent. According to another aspect, a heating device is provided comprising a heating chamber for receiving and storing a substance to be heated having at least two walls, a reaction chamber affixed to a wall of the heating chamber, a solid state thermite reaction composition located within the reaction chamber and an actuatable trigger mechanism affixed to the reaction chamber such that the trigger mechanism is in contact with the reaction composition. According to another aspect, a solid-state thermite reaction activation mechanism is provided comprising a first compound substantially in contact with a thermite reaction fuel, a second compound and a removable barrier located between the first and second compounds preventing any contact between the first and second compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Ironbridge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brendan Coffey, Donald R. Schropp, JR., Krzysztof Czeslaw Kwiatkowski
  • Publication number: 20100127167
    Abstract: An ion trap instrument working at atmospheric pressure, which alleviates requirements of bulky, power consuming vacuum pumps. Traps can accumulate selected ion species, effectively concentrating the analyte of interest and allowing laser spectroscopy to be performed. This lowers the detection threshold of this instrument compared to others and increases the selectivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: APPLIED NANOTECH HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Donald R. Schropp, JR., Richard Lee Fink, Igor Pavlovsky