Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Small

Jeffrey Small 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: 11106310
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a user's finger or other elements may be provided. In some embodiments, a system may include a plurality of electrode groups, and each electrode group may include a respective reference electrode for which a true signal value is a predetermined value. In some embodiments, the system may process signals received by the electrode groups by: (a) modulating the signals received from each electrode of the respective electrode group according to a modulation pattern; (b) demodulating the signals, or values derived therefrom, received from each electrode of the respective electrode group according to a demodulation pattern, thereby determining a set of demodulated values for the respective electrode group; and/or (c) using the predetermined value for the reference electrode of the respective electrode group, restoring a mean value to the signals, or values derived therefrom, received from each electrode of the respective electrode group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: IDEX Biometrics ASA
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Small, David Brent Guard
  • Patent number: 11042773
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a user's finger are provided. In some embodiments, a method may include applying a first electrical signal, applying a second signal, receiving a third electrical signal using a first electrode, receiving a fourth electrical signal using the first electrode, extracting the third and fourth electrical signals using a quadrature demodulator, and compensating for a phase delay between at least the first electrical signal and the third electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: IDEX BIOMETRICS ASA
    Inventors: Jeffrey A Small, Kenneth Jeffrey Stern
  • Publication number: 20210055822
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a user's finger or other elements may be provided. In some embodiments, a system may include a plurality of electrode groups, and each electrode group may include a respective reference electrode for which a true signal value is a predetermined value. In some embodiments, the system may process signals received by the electrode groups by: (a) modulating the signals received from each electrode of the respective electrode group according to a modulation pattern; (b) demodulating the signals, or values derived therefrom, received from each electrode of the respective electrode group according to a demodulation pattern, thereby determining a set of demodulated values for the respective electrode group; and/or (c) using the predetermined value for the reference electrode of the respective electrode group, restoring a mean value to the signals, or values derived therefrom, received from each electrode of the respective electrode group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: IDEX Biometrics ASA
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. SMALL, David Brent GUARD
  • Patent number: 10915724
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a user's finger or other elements may be provided. In some embodiments, the system may include a memory, a sensor area, and a processor. The sensor area may include a set of receiving electrodes which may be partitioned among a plurality of electrode groups. The system may be configured to process signals received by the electrode groups by modulating the signals received from each electrode of the respective electrode group according to a modulation pattern, and demodulating the signals, or values derived therefrom, received from each electrode of the respective electrode group according to a demodulation pattern. The electrode groups may be at least partially interleaved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: IDEX BIOMETRICS ASA
    Inventors: Jeffrey A Small, David Joseph Geoffroy, Alma Delic-Ibukic
  • Publication number: 20200226412
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a user's finger are provided. In some embodiments, a method may include applying a first electrical signal, applying a second signal, receiving a third electrical signal using a first electrode, receiving a fourth electrical signal using the first electrode, extracting the third and fourth electrical signals using a quadrature demodulator, and compensating for a phase delay between at least the first electrical signal and the third electrical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: IDEX ASA
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. SMALL, Kenneth Jeffrey STERN
  • Patent number: 10691258
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing noise in sensors are described. In some embodiments, measurement values for selected pixels may be processed to remove signals that are common to groups of pixels. In some embodiments, offset values between pixel groups may be determined. In some embodiments, the determined offset values may be used to remove or suppress artificial discontinuities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: IDEX Biometrics ASA
    Inventors: Jeffrey A Small, Kenneth Jeffrey Stern, Imre Knausz
  • Publication number: 20200065540
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a user's finger or other elements may be provided. In some embodiments, the system may include a memory, a sensor area, and a processor. The sensor area may include a set of receiving electrodes which may be partitioned among a plurality of electrode groups. The system may be configured to process signals received by the electrode groups by modulating the signals received from each electrode of the respective electrode group according to a modulation pattern, and demodulating the signals, or values derived therefrom, received from each electrode of the respective electrode group according to a demodulation pattern. The electrode groups may be at least partially interleaved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: IDEX ASA
    Inventors: Jeffrey A SMALL, David Joseph GEOFFROY, Alma DELIC-IBUKIC
  • Publication number: 20190220141
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing noise in sensors are described. In some embodiments, measurement values for selected pixels may be processed to remove signals that are common to groups of pixels. In some embodiments, offset values between pixel groups may be determined. In some embodiments, the determined offset values may be used to remove or suppress artificial discontinuities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: IDEX ASA
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Small, Kenneth Jeffrey Stern, Imre Knausz
  • Patent number: 10303919
    Abstract: An optical sensor for imaging an input object, such as a fingerprint, on a sensing region of a display is disclosed. The sensor includes a transparent substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. An array of detector elements is positioned above the first side of the transparent substrate and an angle limiting reflector is positioned below the second side of the transparent substrate. The angle limiting reflector is configured to reflect light incident on the angle limiting reflector within a limited acceptance angle towards the array detector elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Marek Mienko, Patrick Smith, Arash Akhavan Fomani, Jeffrey A. Small
  • Patent number: 10303458
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for multi-platform installers. In some embodiments, a computing system can launch a software package configured to perform a software installation at the computing system. The software package can then detect an underlying computing environment associated with the computing system, the underlying computing environment including a type of system, software characteristics, and/or hardware characteristics. Based on the detected underlying computing environment, the software package can select settings for a configuration update on the computing system. The settings can define network configuration parameters, system firmware parameters, drive configuration parameters, system boot drive configuration parameters, etc. Based on the settings, the software package can execute the configuration update on the computing system, and install a software application on the computing system, based on the configuration update.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT LP
    Inventors: Amine Ouarraoui, Hugh Jeffrey Small, Paul Cevoli, Junfeng Song
  • Patent number: 10133419
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a processing system for a display device comprising an integrated capacitive sensing device that includes at least one input/output pad that is selectable between providing source signals to the display device and operating a sensor electrode for capacitive sensing. Other embodiments include a display device having a capacitive sensing device, an input device having an integrated display and capacitive sensing device, and a method for operating an integrated display and capacitive sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Christopher A. Ludden, Jeffrey A. Small
  • Publication number: 20180225501
    Abstract: An optical sensor for imaging an input object, such as a fingerprint, on a sensing region of a display is disclosed. The sensor includes a transparent substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. An array of detector elements is positioned above the first side of the transparent substrate and an angle limiting reflector is positioned below the second side of the transparent substrate. The angle limiting reflector is configured to reflect light incident on the angle limiting reflector within a limited acceptance angle towards the array detector elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Marek Mienko, Patrick Smith, Arash Akhavan Fomani, Jeffrey A. Small
  • Patent number: 9934418
    Abstract: An optical sensor for imaging an input object, such as a fingerprint, on a sensing region of a display is disclosed. The sensor includes a transparent substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. An array of detector elements is positioned above the first side of the transparent substrate and an angle limiting reflector is positioned below the second side of the transparent substrate. The angle limiting reflector is configured to reflect light incident on the angle limiting reflector within a limited acceptance angle towards the array detector elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Marek Mienko, Patrick Smith, Arash Akhavan Fomani, Jeffrey A. Small
  • Patent number: 9865189
    Abstract: An example processing system for a display device includes driver circuitry and a control circuit. The driver circuitry is coupled to a plurality of source line nodes in the display device, each source line node of the plurality of source line nodes coupled to a plurality of subpixel columns through a demultiplexer having a plurality of switches. The control circuit is coupled to each demultiplexer. The control circuit is configured to operate each demultiplexer in a first mode by successively activating the respective plurality of switches, and in a second mode by concurrently activating the respective plurality of switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Imre Knausz, Jeffrey A. Small
  • Patent number: 9857925
    Abstract: A display device having a capacitive sensing device, a processing system, and a method are provided for detecting presence of an input object using a capacitive sensing device having a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged in a matrix. The described technique programmatically combines multiple sensor electrodes into a larger sensor electrode for absolute capacitive sensing. The sets of sensor electrodes that are combined may be selectively coupled based a window size and a step size associated with a number of sensor electrodes in common between the sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Stephen L. Morein, Jeffrey A. Small, Christopher A. Ludden, Joseph Kurth Reynolds
  • Patent number: 9830032
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a display device having a capacitive sensing device, a processing system and a method for providing an adaptive low-power mode. In one embodiment, the method includes generating a reference voltage with one or more reference voltage generators while a display device is in a grayscale mode. The method also includes driving subpixels in the grayscale mode with the reference voltage. The method further includes shutting down the one or more reference voltage generators and driving subpixels in a low power, binary mode with a VCOM voltage based on positive and negative supply rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Small, Imre Knausz
  • Patent number: 9785217
    Abstract: In a method of operating a touch screen, an object interaction is detected with the touch screen while in a first doze mode. It is determined if a detected object interaction with the touch screen is a valid input object interaction with the touch screen. In response to determining the object interaction is a valid input object interaction, the touch screen is transitioned from the first doze mode to a gesture recognition mode. The touch screen is transitioned from the gesture recognition mode to an active mode in response to a determination of a valid gesture interaction with the touch screen by the input object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Adam Schwartz, Joel Jordan, Joseph Kurth Reynolds, Jeffrey Small, Stepan Starchenko, Petr Shepelev
  • Publication number: 20170161540
    Abstract: An optical sensor for imaging an input object, such as a fingerprint, on a sensing region of a display is disclosed. The sensor includes a transparent substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. An array of detector elements is positioned above the first side of the transparent substrate and an angle limiting reflector is positioned below the second side of the transparent substrate. The angle limiting reflector is configured to reflect light incident on the angle limiting reflector within a limited acceptance angle towards the array detector elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Marek Mienko, Patrick Smith, Arash Akhavan Fomani, Jeffrey A. Small
  • Patent number: 9665214
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved sensor devices. In one embodiment, a capacitive input device is provided that includes a processing system, a plurality of sensing electrodes configured to sense objects in a sensing region, a conductor, and a shield layer comprising at least one shield electrode, where the at least one shield electrode is disposed between the plurality of sensing electrodes and the conductor. The processing system is configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode. When operating in the first mode the processing system is configured to determine position information for objects in the sensing region using the plurality of sensing electrodes. When operating in a second mode the processing system is configured to electrically float the at least one shield electrode and to determine force information for objects in the sensing region using the plurality of sensing electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Tom R. Vandermeijden, Jeffrey A. Small
  • Patent number: 9666108
    Abstract: A display device, a processing system, and a method are provided for updating a display device using self-refresh techniques. The described technique provides an indication to a host processor of whether a frame of display update data has been successfully compressed and stored entirely within a local frame buffer of the display. The host processor may invoke a self-refresh of the display for updating the display with a static display image, based on the received indications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Stephen L. Morein, Jeffrey A. Small