Patents by Inventor Gregory Brillant

Gregory Brillant 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: 10955973
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes outputting a first current associated with a first electrode track of a self-capacitance touch sensor. The method also includes outputting a second current associated with a second electrode track of the self-capacitance touch sensor. The method also includes measuring a voltage associated with a difference between the first and second currents and determining a position of an object relative to the self-capacitance touch sensor based on the voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Brillant, Steinar Myren, Terje Saether
  • Patent number: 10338666
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a touch sensor, measurement circuits, and a monitoring circuit. The monitoring circuit is coupled to each measurement circuit. The monitoring circuit is configured to perform operations in a first power mode. The operations include receiving signals from the measurement circuits and generating an output signal that is proportional to a sum of the signals received from the measurement circuits. A value of the generated output signal indicates whether activity has occurred on the touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Brillant, Trond Jarle Pedersen
  • Publication number: 20180364789
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a touch sensor, measurement circuits, and a monitoring circuit. The monitoring circuit is coupled to each measurement circuit. The monitoring circuit is configured to perform operations in a first power mode. The operations include receiving signals from the measurement circuits and generating an output signal that is proportional to a sum of the signals received from the measurement circuits. A value of the generated output signal indicates whether activity has occurred on the touch sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Gregory Brillant, Trond Jarle Pedersen
  • Patent number: 10061375
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a touch sensor, measurement circuits, and a monitoring circuit. The measurement circuits are respectively coupled to electrodes of the touch sensor. Each measurement circuit includes a first component, a second component, and a third component. The first component of each measurement circuit is activated in a first power mode and the second and third components of each measurement circuit are deactivated in the first power mode. The monitoring circuit is coupled to the measurement circuits and includes a first component, a second component, and a third component. The monitoring circuit is configured to perform operations in the first power mode. The operations include receiving signals from the measurement circuits and generating an output signal that is proportional to a sum of the signals received from the measurement circuits. A value of the generated output signal indicates whether activity has occurred on the touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Brillant, Trond Jarle Pedersen
  • Publication number: 20180039319
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a touch sensor, measurement circuits, and a monitoring circuit. The measurement circuits are respectively coupled to electrodes of the touch sensor. Each measurement circuit includes a first component, a second component, and a third component. The first component of each measurement circuit is activated in a first power mode and the second and third components of each measurement circuit are deactivated in the first power mode. The monitoring circuit is coupled to the measurement circuits and includes a first component, a second component, and a third component. The monitoring circuit is configured to perform operations in the first power mode. The operations include receiving signals from the measurement circuits and generating an output signal that is proportional to a sum of the signals received from the measurement circuits. A value of the generated output signal indicates whether activity has occurred on the touch sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Gregory Brillant, Trond Jarle Pedersen
  • Patent number: 9152285
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes applying a drive signal to a first electrode of a sensor to generate an electric field extending at least in part from the first electrode toward a second electrode of the sensor. The electric field includes a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion extends farther away from a plane of the first electrode than the second portion. The method also includes shunting the second portion of the electric field away from the second electrode and receiving a sense signal from the second electrode produced at least in part by the first portion of the electric field. The sense signal indicates whether an object has come within proximity of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Brillant, Steinar Myren, Trond Jarle Pedersen, Terje Saether
  • Patent number: 9069423
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes modifying an amount of charge of a capacitance of a touch sensor resulting in a voltage at the capacitance being a reference voltage level. The method also includes modifying the amount of charge of the capacitance resulting in the voltage at the capacitance being a first pre-determined voltage level. The modified amount of charge of the capacitance induces a first amount of charge on an integration capacitor and the first amount of charge modifies the voltage at the integration capacitor from an integration-reference voltage level to a first charging voltage level. The method also includes modifying the amount of charge of the capacitance resulting in the voltage at the capacitance being a second pre-determined voltage level. The modified amount of charge of the capacitance inducing a second amount of charge on the integration capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Gregory Brillant
  • Publication number: 20150035783
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes applying a drive signal to a first electrode of a sensor to generate an electric field extending at least in part from the first electrode toward a second electrode of the sensor. The electric field includes a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion extends farther away from a plane of the first electrode than the second portion. The method also includes shunting the second portion of the electric field away from the second electrode and receiving a sense signal from the second electrode produced at least in part by the first portion of the electric field. The sense signal indicates whether an object has come within proximity of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Gregory Brillant, Steinar Myren, Trond Jarle Pedersen, Terje Saether
  • Publication number: 20140306923
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes outputting a first current associated with a first electrode track of a self-capacitance touch sensor. The method also includes outputting a second current associated with a second electrode track of the self-capacitance touch sensor. The method also includes measuring a voltage associated with a difference between the first and second currents and determining a position of an object relative to the self-capacitance touch sensor based on the voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Gregory Brillant, Steinar Myren, Terje Saether
  • Publication number: 20130234976
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes modifying an amount of charge of a capacitance of a touch sensor resulting in a voltage at the capacitance being a reference voltage level. The method also includes modifying the amount of charge of the capacitance resulting in the voltage at the capacitance being a first pre-determined voltage level. The modified amount of charge of the capacitance induces a first amount of charge on an integration capacitor and the first amount of charge modifies the voltage at the integration capacitor from an integration-reference voltage level to a first charging voltage level. The method also includes modifying the amount of charge of the capacitance resulting in the voltage at the capacitance being a second pre-determined voltage level. The modified amount of charge of the capacitance inducing a second amount of charge on the integration capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Gregory Brillant