Patents by Inventor Joni Arola

Joni Arola 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).

  • Publication number: 20230136964
    Abstract: In one example, a display unit comprises a display panel that is configured to display digital images. The display unit further comprises an at least partially transparent protective layer that is arranged above the display panel. The display unit further comprises a controller that is communicatively attached onto an upper surface of the display panel. A biometric sensor pattern is integrated in the controller, and the controller is configured to control the biometric sensor pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Joni Arola, Aki Vänninen
  • Patent number: 11537224
    Abstract: In one example, a display unit comprises a display panel that is configured to display digital images. The display unit further comprises an at least partially transparent protective layer that is arranged above the display panel. The display unit further comprises a controller that is communicatively attached onto an upper surface of the display panel. A biometric sensor pattern is integrated in the controller, and the controller is configured to control the biometric sensor pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC.
    Inventors: Joni Arola, Aki Vänninen
  • Patent number: 10908742
    Abstract: A device is provided. The device comprises a conductive element comprising one or more grooves, a capacitive field measurement element coupled to the conductive element, and a controller coupled to the capacitive field measurement element. The grooves comprise material with conductivity lower than the conductivity of the conductive element. The capacitive field measurement element is configured to measure change in the capacitive field in proximity of the grooves caused by physical interaction or proximity between the grooves and an external object, and provide the measurement to the controller. The controller is configured to trigger at least one function assigned to the one or more grooves when a change in the capacitive field in proximity of the one or more grooves is measured. Methods of operation and manufacture are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jari Saukko, Joni Arola, Pertti Husu
  • Patent number: 10754478
    Abstract: A device is described. In an example, a device comprises a capacitance sensor layer and a conductive grounded layer. The conductive grounded layer is placed under the capacitance sensor layer in a direction opposite to a targeted sensing direction of the device. The distance between the capacitance sensor layer and the conductive grounded layer is configured to remain within a threshold over a range of deformation. In other examples, a method for manufacturing a device and a module are discussed along with the features of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Marko K. Heikkinen, Joni Arola
  • Patent number: 10528172
    Abstract: Technologies are described for pressure sensors used in display devices. In one embodiment, a reference ground layer and sensing pad can be positioned between a display substrate and a window substrate. Additionally, a compression region can be positioned between the display substrate and the window substrate. The compression region can be compressed so as to change a distance between the reference ground layer and the sensing pad. By placing the compression region between the window substrate and the display substrate, the air gap below the display substrate can be removed. In still another embodiment, the sensing pad is aligned over a frit layer, but it is divided into spaced-apart sub-regions that are serially coupled together. Gaps between the sub-regions are sized such that the laser can adequately penetrate through the sensor pad to melt the frit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Joni Arola, Marko Heikkinen
  • Patent number: 10310645
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The device comprises a display module comprising an active area configured to emit light, and a window layer attached to the display module. The window layer comprises: a transparent area positioned above at least the active area of the display module, an area extending outwards relative to the active area of the display module, and an optical pattern configured to direct the light emitted by the active area of the display module near the edges of the active area towards the area of the window layer extending outwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Joni Arola
  • Patent number: 10191600
    Abstract: A portable device is provided. The device comprises a controller, a touch sensing element, a capacitance measurement element integrated in the touch sensing element and coupled to the controller, and at least one mechanical pressing region coupled to the capacitance measurement element. The capacitance measurement element is configured to measure change in capacitance of at least one mechanical pressing region caused by proximity or physical interaction between the at least one mechanical pressing region and an external object. A system and method are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Joni Arola, Jari Saukko, Pertti Husu
  • Publication number: 20180039365
    Abstract: A sensor and a method for detecting a displacement are disclosed with one implementation having a force sensor on a display. The sensor reacts to a bend of a conductor, wherein a diameter of the bends corresponds to a self-capacitance that is measurable from the conductor. In one embodiment the bent conductor is placed between two circuit boards or between a circuit board and a display, wherein a force applied to either surface causes a change in the bend diameter and the force may be measured. The sensor may be digital with a processor or analog with discrete components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Joni Arola, Hiroshi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9886119
    Abstract: A sensor and a method for detecting a displacement are disclosed with one implementation having a force sensor on a display. The sensor reacts to a bend of a conductor, wherein a diameter of the bends corresponds to a self-capacitance that is measurable from the conductor. In one embodiment the bent conductor is placed between two circuit boards or between a circuit board and a display, wherein a force applied to either surface causes a change in the bend diameter and the force may be measured. The sensor may be digital with a processor or analog with discrete components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Joni Arola, Hiroshi Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20170371441
    Abstract: Techniques are described for pressure sensors used in display devices. In one embodiment, a capacitive shielding layer is used to block capacitive effects of user input from reaching sensor pads of the pressure sensor. In this way, the pressure sensor can extend into an active area of the display traditionally reserved for only touch sensors. The capacitive shielding layer can have gaps therein for allowing capacitive effects of touch input signals to pass to the touch sensors, while blocking the input signals from the pressure sensor. To reduce visibility of the pressure sensor in the active area, traces from both the pressure sensor and the capacitive shielding layer can be angled with respect to an edge of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Marko Heikkinen, Joni Arola
  • Publication number: 20170364189
    Abstract: Technologies are described for pressure sensors used in display devices. In one embodiment, a reference ground layer and sensing pad can be positioned between a display substrate and a window substrate. Additionally, a compression region can be positioned between the display substrate and the window substrate. The compression region can be compressed so as to change a distance between the reference ground layer and the sensing pad. By placing the compression region between the window substrate and the display substrate, the air gap below the display substrate can be removed. In still another embodiment, the sensing pad is aligned over a frit layer, but it is divided into spaced-apart sub-regions that are serially coupled together. Gaps between the sub-regions are sized such that the laser can adequately penetrate through the sensor pad to melt the frit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Joni Arola, Marko Heikkinen
  • Patent number: 9835769
    Abstract: A method which may be used for forming an optical effect coating for a light transmission element configured to form a part of a cover of a device is disclosed. The method comprises: printing a first coating layer having a plurality of adjacent first elongated micro openings extending in a first direction in an aperture area, and printing a second coating layer having a plurality of adjacent second elongated micro openings extending in a second direction, the second direction differing from the first direction, in the aperture area. Thereby, an optical effect coating is formed, comprising micro holes formed at intersections of the first and the second elongated micro openings, the micro holes producing locally increased effective light transmittance through the optical effect coating in the aperture area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sasaki, Joni Arola
  • Publication number: 20170269742
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The device comprises a display module comprising an active area configured to emit light, and a window layer attached to the display module. The window layer comprises: a transparent area positioned above at least the active area of the display module, an area extending outwards relative to the active area of the display module, and an optical pattern configured to direct the light emitted by the active area of the display module near the edges of the active area towards the area of the window layer extending outwards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventor: Joni Arola
  • Publication number: 20170235427
    Abstract: A device is described. In an example, a device comprises a capacitance sensor layer and a conductive grounded layer. The conductive grounded layer is placed under the capacitance sensor layer in a direction opposite to a targeted sensing direction of the device. The distance between the capacitance sensor layer and the conductive grounded layer is configured to remain within a threshold over a range of deformation. In other examples, a method for manufacturing a device and a module are discussed along with the features of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Marko K. Heikkinen, Joni Arola
  • Patent number: 9671913
    Abstract: A device is described. In an example, a device comprises a capacitance sensor layer and a conductive grounded layer. The conductive grounded layer is placed under the capacitance sensor layer in a direction opposite to a targeted sensing direction of the device. The distance between the capacitance sensor layer and the conductive grounded layer is configured to remain within a threshold over a range of deformation. In other examples, a method for manufacturing a device and a module are discussed along with the features of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Marko K. Heikkinen, Joni Arola
  • Publication number: 20170123524
    Abstract: In one example, a display unit comprises a display panel that is configured to display digital images. The display unit further comprises an at least partially transparent protective layer that is arranged above the display panel. The display unit further comprises a controller that is communicatively attached onto an upper surface of the display panel. A biometric sensor pattern is integrated in the controller, and the controller is configured to control the biometric sensor pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Joni Arola, Aki Vänninen
  • Publication number: 20170115766
    Abstract: A device is provided. The device comprises a conductive element comprising one or more grooves, a capacitive field measurement element coupled to the conductive element, and a controller coupled to the capacitive field measurement element. The grooves comprise material with conductivity lower than the conductivity of the conductive element. The capacitive field measurement element is configured to measure change in the capacitive field in proximity of the grooves caused by physical interaction or proximity between the grooves and an external object, and provide the measurement to the controller. The controller is configured to trigger at least one function assigned to the one or more grooves when a change in the capacitive field in proximity of the one or more grooves is measured. Methods of operation and manufacture are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Jari Saukko, Joni Arola, Pertti Husu
  • Publication number: 20170115767
    Abstract: A portable device is provided. The device comprises a controller, a touch sensing element, a capacitance measurement element integrated in the touch sensing element and coupled to the controller, and at least one mechanical pressing region coupled to the capacitance measurement element. The capacitance measurement element is configured to measure change in capacitance of at least one mechanical pressing region caused by proximity or physical interaction between the at least one mechanical pressing region and an external object. A system and method are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Joni Arola, Jari Saukko, Pertti Husu
  • Publication number: 20160334900
    Abstract: A device is described. In an example, a device comprises a capacitance sensor layer and a conductive grounded layer. The conductive grounded layer is placed under the capacitance sensor layer in a direction opposite to a targeted sensing direction of the device. The distance between the capacitance sensor layer and the conductive grounded layer is configured to remain within a threshold over a range of deformation. In other examples, a method for manufacturing a device and a module are discussed along with the features of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Marko K. Heikkinen, Joni Arola
  • Publication number: 20160327689
    Abstract: A method which may be used for forming an optical effect coating for a light transmission element configured to form a part of a cover of a device is disclosed. The method comprises: printing a first coating layer having a plurality of adjacent first elongated micro openings extending in a first direction in an aperture area, and printing a second coating layer having a plurality of adjacent second elongated micro openings extending in a second direction, the second direction differing from the first direction, in the aperture area. Thereby, an optical effect coating is formed, comprising micro holes formed at intersections of the first and the second elongated micro openings, the micro holes producing locally increased effective light transmittance through the optical effect coating in the aperture area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sasaki, Joni Arola