Patents by Inventor Kazufumi NAGANUMA

Kazufumi NAGANUMA 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: 11269450
    Abstract: An electrostatic capacitance sensor includes: at least one detection electrode; drive electrodes, capacitors being respectively formed between the drive electrodes and the at least one detection electrode; a driver capable of causing voltages of the drive electrodes to change independently from each other; a reference voltage generator that generates a reference voltage; a detection signal generator that transfers charge so that a voltage of the at least one detection electrode approaches the reference voltage and that generates a detection signal according to the transfer of the charge; and a controller that controls the driver. The driver is capable of applying the reference voltage to each of the drive electrodes. When the driver causes a voltage of one or more of the drive electrodes to change, the controller controls the driver so as to apply the reference voltage to the remaining drive electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Sasai, Kazufumi Naganuma
  • Publication number: 20210294476
    Abstract: An electrostatic capacitance sensor includes: at least one detection electrode; drive electrodes, capacitors being respectively formed between the drive electrodes and the at least one detection electrode; a driver capable of causing voltages of the drive electrodes to change independently from each other; a reference voltage generator that generates a reference voltage; a detection signal generator that transfers charge so that a voltage of the at least one detection electrode approaches the reference voltage and that generates a detection signal according to the transfer of the charge; and a controller that controls the driver. The driver is capable of applying the reference voltage to each of the drive electrodes. When the driver causes a voltage of one or more of the drive electrodes to change, the controller controls the driver so as to apply the reference voltage to the remaining drive electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Kiyoshi SASAI, Kazufumi NAGANUMA