Patents by Inventor Michael Paul Coulson
Michael Paul Coulson 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).
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Patent number: 10126883Abstract: A capacitive touch sensor includes a sensor substrate and an array of electrode elements formed over the sensor substrate. Each electrode element of the array includes at least one of a first electrode group comprising at least two drive electrodes and at least one sense electrode, or a second electrode group comprising at least two sense electrodes and at least one drive electrode. The respective electrodes of the first or second electrode group are arranged to form multiple capacitances over different coupling distances. A controller is operatively coupled to the array of electrode elements, the controller configured to determine a distance of an object relative to the surface of the touch sensor based on variations in the multiple capacitances.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2012Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Michael Paul Coulson, Christopher James Brown, Dauren Slamkul
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Patent number: 9348470Abstract: A mutual capacitance touch panel device includes a substrate, and an array of electrode elements formed on the substrate. Each electrode element includes a drive electrode, a sense electrode and a reference electrode, the reference electrode arranged between the drive electrode and the sense electrode. A first mutual coupling capacitance is formed between the drive electrode and the reference electrode of each electrode element, wherein the drive electrode and reference electrode are configured such that the first mutual coupling capacitance is substantially insensitive to an object touching the surface of the touch panel.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2012Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Christopher James Brown, Michael Paul Coulson
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Patent number: 9182859Abstract: A capacitive type touch sensing device includes a first electrode array including a plurality of drive electrodes and a plurality of sense electrodes, and a second electrode array spaced apart from the first electrode array and including a plurality of discrete, electrically floating conductive regions. At least part of the second electrode array positionally overlaps with at least part of the first electrode array to define a separation distance therebetween, the separation distance varying with a force applied to a surface of the touch sensing device. Further, each conductive region is positioned relative to a respective drive electrode and sense electrode of the first electrode array so that a capacitance between certain pairs of drive and sense electrodes is more sensitive to a variation in the separation distance than a capacitance between other pairs of drive and sense electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2012Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Michael Paul Coulson, Christopher James Brown, Dauren Slamkul
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Patent number: 9158407Abstract: A capacitive touch panel includes a first substrate and a second substrate arranged relative to the first substrate. A plurality of drive electrodes are arranged on the first substrate, wherein each drive electrode comprises a first drive electrode section and a second drive electrode section. In addition, a plurality of sense electrodes are arranged on the second substrate, the plurality of sense electrodes including touch sensing electrodes and force sensing electrodes. At least part of a sense electrode of the plurality of sense electrodes forms a force sensitive coupling capacitance with a second drive electrode section and not with a first drive electrode section.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2012Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Michael Paul Coulson, Christopher James Brown, Dauren Slamkul
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Patent number: 8937607Abstract: A mutual capacitance touch panel device includes a substrate and an array of electrode elements formed on the substrate, each electrode element including a drive electrode and a pair of dual-function electrodes. In addition, the pair of dual-function electrodes of each electrode element are arranged substantially symmetrically around the drive electrode of the respective electrode element such that a first dual-function electrode of the pair is adjacent to the drive electrode and the second dual function electrode of the pair is separated from the drive electrode by the first dual-function electrode.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2012Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Christopher James Brown, Michael Paul Coulson
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Publication number: 20140062933Abstract: A capacitive touch panel includes a first substrate and a second substrate arranged relative to the first substrate. A plurality of drive electrodes are arranged on the first substrate, wherein each drive electrode comprises a first drive electrode section and a second drive electrode section. In addition, a plurality of sense electrodes are arranged on the second substrate, the plurality of sense electrodes including touch sensing electrodes and force sensing electrodes. At least part of a sense electrode of the plurality of sense electrodes forms a force sensitive coupling capacitance with a second drive electrode section and not with a first drive electrode section.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Michael Paul COULSON, Christopher James BROWN, Dauren Slamkul
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Publication number: 20140062934Abstract: A capacitive type touch sensing device includes a first electrode array including a plurality of drive electrodes and a plurality of sense electrodes, and a second electrode array spaced apart from the first electrode array and including a plurality of discrete, electrically floating conductive regions. At least part of the second electrode array positionally overlaps with at least part of the first electrode array to define a separation distance therebetween, the separation distance varying with a force applied to a surface of the touch sensing device. Further, each conductive region is positioned relative to a respective drive electrode and sense electrode of the first electrode array so that a capacitance between certain pairs of drive and sense electrodes is more sensitive to a variation in the separation distance than a capacitance between other pairs of drive and sense electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Michael Paul Coulson, Christopher James BROWN, Dauren Slamkul
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Publication number: 20140009428Abstract: A capacitive touch sensor includes a sensor substrate and an array of electrode elements formed over the sensor substrate. Each electrode element of the array includes at least one of a first electrode group comprising at least two drive electrodes and at least one sense electrode, or a second electrode group comprising at least two sense electrodes and at least one drive electrode. The respective electrodes of the first or second electrode group are arranged to form multiple capacitances over different coupling distances. A controller is operatively coupled to the array of electrode elements, the controller configured to determine a distance of an object relative to the surface of the touch sensor based on variations in the multiple capacitances.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2012Publication date: January 9, 2014Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Michael Paul Coulson, Christopher James Brown, Dauren Slamkul
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Publication number: 20130257785Abstract: A mutual capacitance touch panel device includes a substrate and an array of electrode elements formed on the substrate, each electrode element including a drive electrode and a pair of dual-function electrodes. In addition, the pair of dual-function electrodes of each electrode element are arranged substantially symmetrically around the drive electrode of the respective electrode element such that a first dual-function electrode of the pair is adjacent to the drive electrode and the second dual function electrode of the pair is separated from the drive electrode by the first dual-function electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2012Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Christopher James BROWN, Michael Paul COULSON
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Publication number: 20130257786Abstract: A mutual capacitance touch panel device includes a substrate, and an array of electrode elements formed on the substrate. Each electrode element includes a drive electrode, a sense electrode and a reference electrode, the reference electrode arranged between the drive electrode and the sense electrode. A first mutual coupling capacitance is formed between the drive electrode and the reference electrode of each electrode element, wherein the drive electrode and reference electrode are configured such that the first mutual coupling capacitance is substantially insensitive to an object touching the surface of the touch panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2012Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Christopher James BROWN, Michael Paul COULSON
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Patent number: 8419273Abstract: An array element for a temperature sensor array circuit. The array element includes a switch transistor; and a temperature sensor element having an impedance which varies as a function of temperature, the temperature sensor element being connected in parallel with a source and drain of the switch transistor.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2010Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Benjamin James Hadwen, Jason Roderick Hector, Adrian Marc Simon Jacobs, Michael Paul Coulson
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Publication number: 20110268151Abstract: An array element for a temperature sensor array circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2010Publication date: November 3, 2011Inventors: Benjamin James Hadwen, Jason Roderick Hector, Adrian Marc Simon Jacobs, Michael Paul Coulson
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Publication number: 20110006311Abstract: A photosensitive structure comprises a plurality of photosenstivie regions (124) which are electrically in series. A light shading layer comprises a plurality of electrically conductive regions (501) disposed so as to shade the photosensitive regions (124) from light incident on a major surface of the structure. The conductive regions (501) are electrically isolated from each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2009Publication date: January 13, 2011Inventors: Benjamin James Hadwen, Michael Paul Coulson
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Publication number: 20100060562Abstract: A method is provided of compensating for stray light in a light sensor having a detection photosensor (7) and a reference photosensor (20), the reference photosensor (7) being for use in compensating for stray light falling on the detection photosensor (20). The method comprises using the reference photosensor (20) at least in part to determine a bias voltage applied to the detection photosensor (7). Based on this method, a display device is provided comprising a backlight and a light sensor for determining an ambient light level with the effects of stray light from the backlight substantially removed, with means provided for controlling the intensity of the backlight in dependence upon the determined ambient light level.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2008Publication date: March 11, 2010Inventors: Benjamin James Hadwen, Christopher James Brown, Michael Paul Coulson, Patrick Zebedee