Patents by Inventor Eric Scott Bohannon

Eric Scott Bohannon 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: 9817502
    Abstract: A discrete-time harmonic rejection mixer, an input device, and methods for using the same are described herein. In one example, a discrete-time harmonic rejection mixer includes a switched-capacitor network and a switch controller. The switched-capacitor network includes first, second, and third switched capacitor sub-circuits, each including a pair of capacitors and a set of switches. The switch controller is coupled to the switched-capacitor network, and is configured to operate the sets of switches. More specifically, the switch controller is configured to operate the sets of switches in an out of phase manner to produce the harmonic rejection effect. Capacitance values for the first pair of capacitors are roughly equal to capacitance values for the third pair of capacitors. An input device, method, and harmonic rejection circuit exhibiting the above features are provided as examples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Eric Scott Bohannon, Steve Chikin Lo
  • Publication number: 20170090615
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include an input device, processing system, and method of performing capacitive sensing using an input device comprising a first plurality of sensor electrodes, a second plurality of sensor electrodes, and a plurality of display electrodes. The method comprises, during a first period, driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes with a first absolute capacitive sensing signal to receive first resulting signals, and driving the second plurality of sensor electrodes and the plurality of display electrodes with a first guarding signal. Each of the first plurality of sensor electrodes comprises at least one common electrode of a display, and wherein each common electrode is configured to be driven for display updating and for capacitive sensing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Eric Scott BOHANNON, Petr SHEPELEV, Jeffrey S. LILLIE, Thomas MACKIN
  • Publication number: 20170090610
    Abstract: This disclosure generally provides an input device that includes a matrix sensor that includes a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged in rows on a common surface or plane. The input device may include a plurality of sensor modules coupled to the sensor electrodes that measure capacitive sensing signals corresponding to the electrodes. Instead of measuring sensor electrodes that are in the same column, the embodiments herein simultaneously measure capacitive sensing signals on at least two sensor electrodes that are in the same row. In one example, the sensor electrodes in the row being measured are spaced the same distance from a side of a substrate coupling the electrodes to the sensor modules and may have approximately the same electrical time constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Petr SHEPELEV, Eric Scott BOHANNON, Kasra KHAZENI
  • Publication number: 20170075495
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include an input device with a plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes configured to receive a signal. The input device also includes a processing system coupled to the plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes. The processing system includes an analog front end (AFE). The AFE includes an anti-aliasing filter comprising a continuous time analog infinite impulse response (IIR) filter configured to filter out interference from the received signal at frequencies higher than a signal frequency of the processing system to produce an anti-aliased signal. The AFE also includes a charge integrator configured to integrate the anti-aliased signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Jeremy ROBERSON, David SOBEL, Farzaneh SHAHROKHI, Adam SCHWARTZ, Don SPECK, Eric Scott BOHANNON
  • Patent number: 9541588
    Abstract: The embodiments herein are generally directed to using a current-mode CBC circuit to maintain a voltage bias setting at a receiver when performing capacitive sensing. To do so, the CBC circuit may compensate for the change in voltage at a receiver by providing a current at the input of the receiver. Instead of using a passive CBC capacitor for each receiver, the input device may use a single CBC capacitor and a plurality of current mirrors to source and sink the current required to correct the input voltage at a plurality of receivers. As a result, the current-mode CBC circuit includes only one passive capacitor (or bank of capacitors) and a plurality of current mirrors which may provide space and cost benefits relative to a CBC circuit that uses a passive capacitor (or bank of capacitors) for each receiver channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Eric Scott Bohannon, Marshall J Bell, Jr., Kirk Hargreaves, Murat Ozbas, Jeffrey A. Small
  • Publication number: 20160190987
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques related to a discrete-time harmonic rejection mixer. The discrete-time harmonic rejection mixer includes a switched-capacitor network and a switch controller. The switched-capacitor network includes first, second, and third switched capacitor sub-circuits, each including a pair of capacitors and a set of switches. The switch controller is coupled to the switched-capacitor network, and is configured to operate the sets of switches. More specifically, the switch controller is configured to operate the sets of switches in an out of phase manner to produce the harmonic rejection effect. Capacitance values for the first pair of capacitors are roughly equal to capacitance values for the third pair of capacitors. An input device, method, and harmonic rejection circuit exhibiting the above features are provided as examples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Eric Scott BOHANNON, Steve Chikin LO
  • Patent number: 9298314
    Abstract: Embodiments include a method (as well as an input device and processing system) that includes driving a display signal onto at least one of a plurality of display electrodes for updating a display, and driving an input sensing signal onto at least one of a plurality of sensor electrodes, where driving the input sensing and driving the display signal at least partially overlap in time. The method further includes receiving, using a coupling electrode disposed proximate to the at least one display electrode, a coupling signal that represents an effect of a signal on at least one of the display electrodes, on a signal on at least one of the sensor electrodes, acquiring resulting signals with at least one of the sensor electrodes, and adjusting the resulting signals based on the coupling signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Imre Knausz, Eric Scott Bohannon, Christopher A. Ludden
  • Publication number: 20150220206
    Abstract: Embodiments include a method (as well as an input device and processing system) that includes driving a display signal onto at least one of a plurality of display electrodes for updating a display, and driving an input sensing signal onto at least one of a plurality of sensor electrodes, where driving the input sensing and driving the display signal at least partially overlap in time. The method further includes receiving, using a coupling electrode disposed proximate to the at least one display electrode, a coupling signal that represents an effect of a signal on at least one of the display electrodes, on a signal on at least one of the sensor electrodes, acquiring resulting signals with at least one of the sensor electrodes, and adjusting the resulting signals based on the coupling signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Imre KNAUSZ, Eric Scott BOHANNON, Christopher A. LUDDEN
  • Publication number: 20150115977
    Abstract: The embodiments herein are generally directed to using a current-mode CBC circuit to maintain a voltage bias setting at a receiver when performing capacitive sensing. To do so, the CBC circuit may compensate for the change in voltage at a receiver by providing a current at the input of the receiver. Instead of using a passive CBC capacitor for each receiver, the input device may use a single CBC capacitor and a plurality of current mirrors to source and sink the current required to correct the input voltage at a plurality of receivers. As a result, the current-mode CBC circuit includes only one passive capacitor (or bank of capacitors) and a plurality of current mirrors which may provide space and cost benefits relative to a CBC circuit that uses a passive capacitor (or bank of capacitors) for each receiver channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Eric Scott BOHANNON, Marshall J. BELL, JR., Kirk HARGREAVES, Murat OZBAS, Jeffrey A. SMALL
  • Patent number: 8975962
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to improving the slew rate of an amplifier as the amplifier charges or discharges a capacitive load. In one embodiment, the amplifier is coupled to a slew-enhancing circuit which uses a control signal from the amplifier to aid the amplifier when charging or discharging the load. For example, the control signal may be an internal voltage used by the amplifier to control circuit elements within the amplifier. By routing the control signal to the slew-enhancing circuit, the control signal biases the circuit elements within the slew-enhancing circuit to source a boost current when charging the capacitive load or sink the boost current when discharging the capacitive load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Eric Scott Bohannon, Marshall J Bell
  • Publication number: 20140375384
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to improving the slew rate of an amplifier as the amplifier charges or discharges a capacitive load. In one embodiment, the amplifier is coupled to a slew-enhancing circuit which uses a control signal from the amplifier to aid the amplifier when charging or discharging the load. For example, the control signal may be an internal voltage used by the amplifier to control circuit elements within the amplifier. By routing the control signal to the slew-enhancing circuit, the control signal biases the circuit elements within the slew-enhancing circuit to source a boost current when charging the capacitive load or sink the boost current when discharging the capacitive load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Eric Scott BOHANNON, Marshall J. BELL
  • 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