Patents by Inventor Kirk Hargreaves

Kirk Hargreaves 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: 11899753
    Abstract: This disclosure provides methods, devices, and systems for low-light imaging. The present implementations more specifically relate to selecting images that can be used for training a neural network to infer denoised representations of images captured in low light conditions. In some aspects, a machine learning system may obtain a series of images of a given scene, where each of the images is associated with a different SNR (representing a unique combination of exposure and gain settings). The machine learning system may identify a number of saturated pixels in each image and classify each of the images as a saturated image or a non-saturated image based on the number of saturated pixels. The machine learning system may then select the non-saturated image with the highest SNR as the ground truth image, and the non-saturated images with lower SNRs as the input images, to be used for training the neural network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Omar Oreifej, Karthikeyan Shanmuga Vadivel, Patrick A. Worfolk, Kirk Hargreaves
  • Patent number: 11868555
    Abstract: A processing system configured to detect an input object proximate the processing system. The processing system includes sensor circuitry configured to make a determination, when the processing system is in a low ground mass (LGM) state, that a large object is proximate to sensor electrodes of the processing system. The sensor circuitry is further configured, in response to a determination that a large object is proximate the sensor electrodes while the processing system is in the LGM state, to drive a first group of sensor electrodes with one of an inverted signal or a non-inverted signal and drive a second group of sensor electrodes with a static DC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Kirk Hargreaves, Guozhong Shen, Ching-Hsung Wang, Guan-Hua Cao
  • Publication number: 20230176679
    Abstract: A processing system configured to detect an input object proximate the processing system. The processing system includes sensor circuitry configured to make a determination, when the processing system is in a low ground mass (LGM) state, that a large object is proximate to sensor electrodes of the processing system. The sensor circuitry is further configured, in response to a determination that a large object is proximate the sensor electrodes while the processing system is in the LGM state, to drive a first group of sensor electrodes with one of an inverted signal or a non-inverted signal and drive a second group of sensor electrodes with a static DC voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Kirk Hargreaves, Guozhong Shen, Ching-Hsung Wang, Guan-Hua Cao
  • Patent number: 11592925
    Abstract: A processing system configured to detect an input object proximate the processing system. The processing system includes sensor circuitry configured to make a determination, when the processing system is in a low ground mass (LGM) state, that a large object is proximate to sensor electrodes of the processing system. The sensor circuitry is further configured, in response to a determination that a large object is proximate the sensor electrodes while the processing system is in the LGM state, to drive a first group of sensor electrodes with one of an inverted signal or a non-inverted signal and drive a second group of sensor electrodes with a static DC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Kirk Hargreaves, Guozhong Shen, Ching-Hsung Wang, Guan-Hua Cao
  • Publication number: 20220366189
    Abstract: This disclosure provides methods, devices, and systems for low-light imaging. The present implementations more specifically relate to selecting images that can be used for training a neural network to infer denoised representations of images captured in low light conditions. In some aspects, a machine learning system may obtain a series of images of a given scene, where each of the images is associated with a different SNR (representing a unique combination of exposure and gain settings). The machine learning system may identify a number of saturated pixels in each image and classify each of the images as a saturated image or a non-saturated image based on the number of saturated pixels. The machine learning system may then select the non-saturated image with the highest SNR as the ground truth image, and the non-saturated images with lower SNRs as the input images, to be used for training the neural network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Omar OREIFEJ, Karthikeyan SHANMUGA VADIVEL, Patrick A. WORFOLK, Kirk HARGREAVES
  • Publication number: 20220357812
    Abstract: Low ground mass mitigation for pens includes sensing circuitry configured to transmit, during a first frame, a beacon signal on a first subset of sensing electrodes, the first subset being along a first axis of an input device, transmit, during a second frame, the beacon signal on a second subset of the sensing electrodes, the second subset being along the first axis and different from the first subset, and receive a pen signal transmitted responsive to the beacon signal. The processing circuitry is configured to detect a location of a capacitive pen using the pen signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Tom Vandermeijden, Kirk Hargreaves, Robert Bolender
  • Patent number: 11048367
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor device comprises a first sensor electrode, a second sensor electrode, and a processing system coupled to the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode. The processing system is configured to acquire a first capacitive measurement by emitting and receiving a first electrical signal with the first sensor electrode. The processing system is configured to acquire a second capacitive measurement by emitting and receiving a second electrical signal, wherein one of the first and second sensor electrodes performs the emitting and the other of the first and second sensor electrodes performs the receiving, and wherein the first and second capacitive measurements are non-degenerate. The processing system is configured to determine positional information using the first and second capacitive measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph Kurth Reynolds, Phillip Acker, Kirk Hargreaves, Shahrooz Shahparnia
  • Patent number: 11004883
    Abstract: A processing system for an optical sensing device may comprise receiver circuitry and a determination module. The processing system may also include drive circuitry configured to drive a light source to emit light. The receiver circuitry is coupled to a photodetector, and the receiver circuitry is configured to acquire a resulting signal from the photodetector, and generate a measurement of light received by the photodetector based on the resulting signal. The receiver circuitry includes high-pass filter circuitry configured to high-pass filter the resulting signal to generate a high-pass filtered signal based. The determination module is configured to generate a light measurement based on the high-pass filtered signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Kirk Hargreaves
  • Patent number: 10977987
    Abstract: Display systems, devices and methods that utilize one or more native display elements as photo-sensing elements to detect light. A display device includes a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) pixel elements arranged in an array having a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows, and a control circuit configured to selectively activate a first LED pixel element to emit light, and simultaneously activate a second LED pixel element to detect light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Kirk Hargreaves
  • Patent number: 10976432
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing operations based on acoustic locationing are described. An example device includes one or more microphones configured to sense sound waves propagating in an environment. The example device also includes one or more processors and one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors. The one or more memories store instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to recover sound wave information from the sensed sound waves, detect a presence of one or more persons in the environment based on the received sound wave information, determine an operation to be performed by one or more smart devices based on the detected presence of one or more persons, and instruct the one or more smart devices to perform the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Richard R. Schediwy, Patrick A. Worfolk, Kirk Hargreaves, Mihai M. Bulea
  • Publication number: 20200408906
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing operations based on acoustic locationing are described. An example device includes one or more microphones configured to sense sound waves propagating in an environment. The example device also includes one or more processors and one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors. The one or more memories store instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to recover sound wave information from the sensed sound waves, detect a presence of one or more persons in the environment based on the received sound wave information, determine an operation to be performed by one or more smart devices based on the detected presence of one or more persons, and instruct the one or more smart devices to perform the operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Richard R. SCHEDIWY, Patrick A. WORFOLK, Kirk HARGREAVES, Mihai M. BULEA
  • Patent number: 10816582
    Abstract: An input device includes a clocked comparator configured to actively drive a capacitive sensor electrode at a signal input of the clocked comparator with a first periodic reference voltage, and provide a digital representation of a sensing current resulting from driving the capacitive sensor electrode with the first periodic reference signal. The clocked comparator produces the digital representation of the sensing current based on a comparison of the signal input of the clocked generator with the first periodic reference signal. A feedback path provides negative feedback of the digital representation of the sensing current to the signal input of the clocked comparator. The input device further includes a demodulator configured to demodulate the digital representation of the sensing current using the first periodic reference signal to obtain a first digital measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Kirk Hargreaves
  • Publication number: 20200321377
    Abstract: A processing system for an optical sensing device may comprise receiver circuitry and a determination module. The processing system may also include drive circuitry configured to drive a light source to emit light. The receiver circuitry is coupled to a photodetector, and the receiver circuitry is configured to acquire a resulting signal from the photodetector, and generate a measurement of light received by the photodetector based on the resulting signal. The receiver circuitry includes high-pass filter circuitry configured to high-pass filter the resulting signal to generate a high-pass filtered signal based. The determination module is configured to generate a light measurement based on the high-pass filtered signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventor: Kirk HARGREAVES
  • Publication number: 20200258448
    Abstract: Display systems, devices and methods that utilize one or more native display elements as photo-sensing elements to detect light. A display device includes a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) pixel elements arranged in an array having a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows, and a control circuit configured to selectively activate a first LED pixel element to emit light, and simultaneously activate a second LED pixel element to detect light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventor: Kirk Hargreaves
  • Publication number: 20200141989
    Abstract: An input device includes a clocked comparator configured to actively drive a capacitive sensor electrode at a signal input of the clocked comparator with a first periodic reference voltage, and provide a digital representation of a sensing current resulting from driving the capacitive sensor electrode with the first periodic reference signal. The clocked comparator produces the digital representation of the sensing current based on a comparison of the signal input of the clocked generator with the first periodic reference signal. A feedback path provides negative feedback of the digital representation of the sensing current to the signal input of the clocked comparator. The input device further includes a demodulator configured to demodulate the digital representation of the sensing current using the first periodic reference signal to obtain a first digital measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Kirk Hargreaves
  • Patent number: 10430633
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe an input device that includes a rectangular array of sensor electrodes connected to sensor modules that measure capacitive sensing signals corresponding to the electrodes. When performing code division multiplexing (CDM), multiple sensor electrodes are coupled to the same sensor module. As such, the sensor module generates a measurement that represents the sum of the charges on the sensor electrodes rather than an individual charge on a single sensor electrode. By repeatedly sensing multiple sensor electrodes in parallel, the input device can determine a change of capacitance for each individual sensor electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kirk Hargreaves, Arash Akhavan Fomani, Patrick Smith
  • Patent number: 10216972
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe an input device that includes a rectangular array of sensor electrodes connected to sensor modules that measure capacitive sensing signals corresponding to the electrodes. During a charge stage, the input device applies a charging voltage to neighboring sensor electrodes in the array. The input device then drives the neighboring sensor electrodes to a reference voltage and measures the amount of charge accumulated on at least one of the sensor electrodes. Because of the parasitic capacitance between the neighboring electrodes, driving these electrodes (even the ones not being measured) to the same charging and reference voltages reduces the effect of the parasitic capacitance on the capacitive sensing measurement. Thus, during the read stage, the measured charge is affected primarily by the capacitance between the sensor electrodes and an input object (e.g., a finger).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Arash Akhavan Fomani, Kirk Hargreaves, Patrick Smith
  • Patent number: 10180736
    Abstract: A processing system includes a sensor module and a determination module. The sensor module is coupled to sensor electrodes and is the sensor module configured to drive the sensor electrodes with sensing signals at a first resonance frequency of the pen. The determination module is configured to obtain, concurrently with the driving of the sensor electrodes, a measurements that are based on effects of the sensing signals, and a resonance of the pen in a sensing region. The determination module is further configured to determine positional information of the pen in the sensing region based on the measurements, and report the positional information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Doug Krumpelman, Tom Vandermeijden, Kirk Hargreaves
  • Patent number: 10126867
    Abstract: A processing system that includes a sigma-delta converter and a filter unit that applies a matched filter to the output of the sigma-delta converter. The processing system drives sensor electrodes for capacitive sensing and receives resulting signals with the sensor electrodes in response. The processing system applies these resulting signals to sigma-delta converters. The matched filter boosts the signal-to-noise ratio of the signal received from the sigma-delta converter, thereby improving the ability to sense presence of an input object. The filter unit may apply different, customized matched filters for different capacitive pixels to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of each capacitive pixel in a customized manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kirk Hargreaves, Joseph Kurth Reynolds
  • Patent number: 10126874
    Abstract: A processing system for reducing interference. The processing system includes: a sensor module configured to: receive a noisy active pen signal associated with an active pen from a panel receiver; and receive a plurality of interference signals from a plurality of interference receivers; and a determination module configured to: determine an estimated interference signal based on a subset of the plurality of interference signals; and generate a filtered active pen signal by reducing interference in the noisy active pen signal based on the estimated interference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kirk Hargreaves, Sanjay Mani