Patents by Inventor Koji KOKUBU

Koji KOKUBU 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: 10496215
    Abstract: An input device described herein includes at least one dual purpose electrode that is used to perform both capacitive sensing to detect an input object (e.g., a finger or stylus) and force sensing to determine the force applied by the input object on the input device. During a first time period, the input device performs capacitive sensing using a first electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes. However, during a second time period, the input device excites the first electrode and measures a resistance corresponding to the first electrode. The input device determines a force applied by an input object on the input device based on the measured resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Tom Vandermeijden, Tetsuo Tanemura, Koji Kokubu
  • Patent number: 10146360
    Abstract: An input device described herein includes at least one hybrid electrode that is used to perform both capacitive sensing to detect an input object (e.g., a finger or stylus) and force sensing to determine the force applied by the input object on the input device. During a first time period, the input device drives a modulated signal on one more capacitive sensor electrodes to perform capacitive sensing. However, during a second time period, the input device drives a DC voltage across one or more of the capacitive sensor electrodes to perform force sensing. In one example, during the first time period, the input device drives the modulated signal on transmitter electrodes and measures resulting signals on receiver electrodes. During the second time period, however, the input device may drive the DC voltage across the transmitter or receiver electrodes to measure a force applied by the input object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Tom Vandermeijden, Tetsuo Tanemura, Koji Kokubu
  • Patent number: 9927832
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide an input device. The input device includes a first plurality of sensor electrodes disposed substantially parallel to each other and a second plurality of sensor electrodes disposed substantially perpendicular to the first plurality of sensor electrodes. An areal extent of the first and second sensor electrodes defines a sensor region. The input devices further includes a plurality of routing traces disposed within the sensor region of the input device. A first sensor electrode included in the first plurality of sensor electrodes is coupled to a first routing trace included in the plurality of routing traces, and the first routing trace is routed through a second sensor electrode included in the first plurality of sensor electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Tetsuo Tanemura, Koji Kokubu
  • Publication number: 20170315653
    Abstract: An input device described herein includes at least one hybrid electrode that is used to perform both capacitive sensing to detect an input object (e.g., a finger or stylus) and force sensing to determine the force applied by the input object on the input device. During a first time period, the input device drives a modulated signal on one more capacitive sensor electrodes to perform capacitive sensing. However, during a second time period, the input device drives a DC voltage across one or more of the capacitive sensor electrodes to perform force sensing. In one example, during the first time period, the input device drives the modulated signal on transmitter electrodes and measures resulting signals on receiver electrodes. During the second time period, however, the input device may drive the DC voltage across the transmitter or receiver electrodes to measure a force applied by the input object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Tom VANDERMEIJDEN, Tetsuo TANEMURA, Koji KOKUBU
  • Publication number: 20170315658
    Abstract: An input device described herein includes at least one dual purpose electrode that is used to perform both capacitive sensing to detect an input object (e.g., a finger or stylus) and force sensing to determine the force applied by the input object on the input device. During a first time period, the input device performs capacitive sensing using a first electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes. However, during a second time period, the input device excites the first electrode and measures a resistance corresponding to the first electrode. The input device determines a force applied by an input object on the input device based on the measured resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Tom VANDERMEIJDEN, Tetsuo TANEMURA, Koji KOKUBU
  • Publication number: 20150309531
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide an input device. The input device includes a first plurality of sensor electrodes disposed substantially parallel to each other and a second plurality of sensor electrodes disposed substantially perpendicular to the first plurality of sensor electrodes. An areal extent of the first and second sensor electrodes defines a sensor region. The input devices further includes a plurality of routing traces disposed within the sensor region of the input device. A first sensor electrode included in the first plurality of sensor electrodes is coupled to a first routing trace included in the plurality of routing traces, and the first routing trace is routed through a second sensor electrode included in the first plurality of sensor electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Tetsuo TANEMURA, Koji KOKUBU