Abstract: A touch pad module to implement user input functions to an electronic device. The touch pad module includes a sensor layer which, when used in conjunction with an insulative layer and contiguous conductive layer enable the touch pad module to sense both finger and stylus input data to the electronic device.

Abstract: A touch pad module to implement user input functions to an electronic device is disclosed. The touch pad module includes a sensor layer which, when used in conjunction with an insulative layer and contiguous conductive layer enable the touch pad module to sense both finger and stylus input data to the electronic device.

Abstract: A capacitive touch pad comprises a substrate material, such as a PC board type laminate material, having a plurality of first parallel conductive traces running in a first (X) direction disposed on a first face thereof, and a plurality of second parallel conductive traces running in a second (Y) direction, usually orthogonal to the first direction, disposed on an opposed second face thereof. A layer of pressure-conductive material is disposed over one of the faces of the substrate. A protective layer with a conductive coating on its back surface is disposed over the top surface of the pressure-conductive material to protect it. In an alternate embodiment, a capacitive touch sensor comprises a rigid substrate material having a conducting material disposed on one face thereof. A layer of pressure-conductive material is disposed over the conductive material on the substrate.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided making use of a touch pad module to implement user input functions. The electronic device includes a case having a region of thinner cross section than the remaining case side wall for receiving the touch pad module. The case is further provided with a through hole in the area of its thinner cross section for receiving control electronics of the touch pad module enabling the region of thinner cross section to physically support the touch pad module so that the module can be thinner than what is conventionally believed to be necessary to maintain its physical integrity while in use as an input device.

Abstract: A force sensing touchpad comprises a substantially rigid touch surface; a substantially rigid frame; a plurality of spring structures formed integrally with the touch surface and mechanically connected to the reference frame; and a circuit for deriving force information from capacitances proportional to the distances between predetermined portions of the touch surface and portions of the frame in response to a force applied to the touch surfaces.

Abstract: A bipolar phototransistor comprises both an Integrating photosensor and a switching element. The base terminal of the bipolar phototransistor is utilized as the switch-control node for the pixel and its emitter is the output node of the integrating photosensor. A plurality of integrating photosensors may be placed in an array of rows and columns, wherein the bases of all bipolar phototransistors in a row are capacitively coupled together to a common row-select line, and the emitters of all bipolar phototransistors in a column are connected together to a column sense line. The input of a sense amplifier is connected to the sense line of each column of integrating photosensors. An integrating sense amplifier according to the present invention includes an amplifying element having an inverting input connected to the sense line. A capacitor, preferably a varactor, is also connected between the inverting input and output of the amplifying element.

Abstract: A proximity sensor system includes a sensor matrix array having a characteristic capacitance on horizontal and vertical conductors connected to sensor pads. The capacitance changes as a function of the proximity of an object or objects to the sensor matrix. The change in capacitance of each node in both the X and Y directions of the matrix due to the approach of an object is converted to a set of voltages in the X and Y directions. These voltages are processed by circuitry to develop electrical signals representative of the centroid of the profile of the object, i.e, its position in the X and Y dimensions. Noise reduction and background level setting techniques inherently available in the architecture are employed.

Abstract: A synaptic array according to the present invention comprises a plurality of electrically-adaptable elements. Electrons may be placed onto and removed from a floating node in each electrically adaptable element associated with at least one MOS insulated gate field effect transistor, usually the gate of the transistor, in an analog manner, by application of first and second electrical control signals generated in response to an adapt signal. The inputs to all synaptic elements in a row are connected to a common row input line. Adapt inputs to all synaptic elements in a column are connected together to a common column adapt line. The current supplied to all amplifiers in a column is commonly provided by a sense line.

Abstract: A bipolar phototransistor comprises both an integrating photosensor and a switching element. The base terminal of the bipolar phototransistor is utilized as the switch-control node for the pixel and its emitter is the output node of the integrating photosensor. A plurality of integrating photosensors may be placed in an array of rows and columns, wherein the bases of all bipolar phototransistors in a row are capacitively coupled together to a common row-select line, and the emitters of all bipolar phototransistors in a column are connected together to a column sense line. The input of a sense amplifier is connected to the sense line of each column of integrating photosensors. An integrating sense amplifier according to the present invention includes an amplifying element having an inverting input connected to the sense line. A capacitor, preferably a varactor, is also connected between the inverting input and output of the amplifying element.

Abstract: A plurality of integrating photosensors is disposed in an array of rows and columns, with a given row select line connected to the gates of P-channel MOS transistors associated with that given row and a given column sense line connected to the drains of the P-channel MOS transistors associated with that given column. A sense amplifier is associated with each column. An integrating sense amplifier according to the present invention includes an amplifying element having an inverting input and a non-inverting input. The non-inverting input is connected to a source of reference voltage the inverting input is connected to a sense line. A P-channel balance transistor is connected between the inverting input and the output of the amplifying element and a capacitor is also connected between the inverting input and output of the amplifying element. A capacitor, preferably a varactor element, is connected between the output and the inverting input of the amplifying element.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for performing neighborhood processing operations on an n dimensional processing plane. In a simple, two dimensional, example, an M by N processing plane is successively scanned by rows. The output information from each row is presented on column lines. The analog data resulting from a fixed number of successive scans are temporarily held in a multi-stage analog buffer. A computing array is configured to perform the neighborhood operations or other limited co-operand operations on the shifted data. The computing array examines information from a slice made up of selected numbers of successive rows of the entire array, performs the operations on that portion, and provides a series of output signals representative of the result.

Abstract: A bipolar phototransistor comprises both an integrating photosensor and a switching element. The base terminal of the bipolar phototransistor is utilized as the switch-control node for the pixel and its emitter is the output node of the integrating photosensor. A plurality of integrating photosensors may be placed in an array of rows and columns, wherein the bases of all bipolar phototransistors in a row are capacitively coupled together to a common row-select line, and the emitters of all bipolar phototransistors in a column are connected together to a column sense line. The input of a sense amplifier is connected to the sense line of each column of integrating photosensors. An integrating sense amplifier according to the present invention includes an amplifying element having an inverting input connected to the sense line. A capacitor, preferably a varactor, is also connected between the inverting input and output of the amplifying element.

Abstract: A moving object classifier is integrated onto a single integrated circuit chip and includes a retina comprising a two-dimensional array of photosensors upon which the image of the object of interest is focused. A position classifier receives inputs from the retina and determines where in the retina the image of an object is located. An object classifier receives inputs from the portion of interest of the retina and computes the degree of membership of the image to each class to be classified and determines which class has the largest membership function. A scan controller controlled by the position classifier limits the object classifier data to the portion of the retinal image which contains the object. An interface controller interfaces the other elements on the integrated circuit chip with a microcontroller, which comprises a standard CPU, memory and input/output lines interfacing to the interface controller.

Abstract: An electronic circuit is disclosed having a sample/hold amplifier connected to an adaptive amplifier. A plurality of such electronic cicuits may be configured in an array of rows and columns. An input voltage vector may be compared with an analog voltage vector stored in a row or column of the array and the stored vector closest to the applied input vector may be identified and further processed.

Abstract: An integrating photosensor includes an NPN phototransistor having its collector connected to a source of positive voltage, a P-channel MOS transistor having its gate connected to row-select line, its source connected to the emitter of the phototransistor, and its drain connected to a column sense line. The NPN phototransistor has an intrinsic base-collector capacitance. An integrating sense amplifier according to the present invention includes an amplifying element having an inverting input and a non-inverting input. The non-inverting input is connected to a source of reference voltage the inverting input is connected to a sense line. A P-channel balance transistor is connected between the inverting input and the output of the amplifying element and a capacitor is also connected between the inverting input and output of the amplifying element. An exponential feedback element is connected between the output and the inverting input of the amplifying element.

Abstract: An electronic circuit is disclosed having a sample/hold amplifier connected to an adaptive amplifier. A plurality of such electronic circuits may be configured in an array of rows and columns. An input voltage vector may be compared with an analog voltage vector stored in a row or column of the array and the stored vector closest to the applied input vector may be identified and further processed.

Abstract: An electronic circuit is disclosed having a sample/hold amplifier connected to an adaptive amplifier. A plurality of such electronic circuits may be configured in an array of rows and columns. An input voltage vector may be compared with an analog voltage vector stored in a row or column of the array and the stored vector closest to the applied input vector may be identified and further processed. The stored analog value may be read out of the synapse by applying a voltage to a read line. An array of the readable synapses may be provided and used in conjunction with a dummy synapse to compensate for an error offset introduced by the operating characteristics of the synapses.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a method and apparatus for learning the characteristics of an event and for recognizing events which have been previously learned. The apparatus is comprised of forward and feedback matrices which process input signals characterizing events to be learned by comparing the convergence responses generated by the input signals at successively different levels of convergence threshold. The convergence threshold is altered until an acceptable range of convergence is reached, and then the pattern of convergence is learned. The pattern of convergence is stored for future reference. In recognition mode, the input signals are again processed at successively different convergence threshold levels until an acceptable range of convergence is reached. The pattern of convergence is then compared to the stored convergence patterns of known events to determine if the event is known.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an interface apparatus between a digital computer and an analog communication medium. The interface apparatus has a telephony apparatus for transmitting or receiving the voice signals and a modem for transmitting or receiving the data signals. A switch is interposed between the telephone line and the modem and the telephony apparatus. The switch can be alternatively switched such that the telephony apparatus is connected to the telephone lines and transmits and receives voice signals and the modem is connected to receive data carrier signals that precede digital data signals and follow the digital data signals to and from the medium, or in the second position wherein the modem is connected to transmit and to receive digital data signals. The interface apparatus further has an interrupt for interrupting the operation of the computer and for causing the computer to be in communication with the modem and for switching the switch to connect the modem with the medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a communication apparatus for transmitting and receiving analog voice and digital data signals to and from a telephone line or telephone lines to one or more users, in the same session. The apparatus has a telephony apparatus for transmitting or receiving the voice signals and a modem for transmitting or receiving the data signal. A switch is interposed between the telephone line and the modem and the telephony apparatus. The switch can be placed in a first position or in a second position. In the first position, the telephone apparatus is connected to the telephone lines and transmits and receives voice signals. In addition, the modem is connected to receive data carrier signals that precede digital data signals and follow the digital data signals to and from the medium. A control circuit comprising a microprocessor, controls the switch such that it can be switched automatically between the first position and the second position.