Patents by Inventor Mihai Bulea
Mihai Bulea 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: 12182366Abstract: A processing system including an amplifier configured to generate, from multiple spatial-common-mode-processed signals, a spatial common mode estimate and multiple feedback signals. The processing system includes multiple charge integrators configured to obtain resulting signals from the capacitive sensor electrodes, each of the resulting signals including a spatial common mode component and a residual noise component. The charge integrators generate multiple spatial-common-mode-processed signals by mitigating the spatial common mode component and the residual noise component in the resulting signals using the feedback signals. The processing system includes a programmable gain amplifier configured to determine the spatial common mode estimate.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2024Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Chunbo Liu, Mihai Bulea
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Publication number: 20240152237Abstract: A processing system including an amplifier configured to generate, from multiple spatial-common-mode-processed signals, a spatial common mode estimate and multiple feedback signals. The processing system includes multiple charge integrators configured to obtain resulting signals from the capacitive sensor electrodes, each of the resulting signals including a spatial common mode component and a residual noise component. The charge integrators generate multiple spatial-common-mode-processed signals by mitigating the spatial common mode component and the residual noise component in the resulting signals using the feedback signals. The processing system includes a programmable gain amplifier configured to determine the spatial common mode estimate.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2024Publication date: May 9, 2024Inventors: Chunbo Liu, Mihai Bulea
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Patent number: 11914820Abstract: A processing system including an amplifier configured to generate, from multiple spatial-common-mode-processed signals, a spatial common mode estimate and multiple feedback signals. The processing system includes multiple charge integrators configured to obtain resulting signals from the capacitive sensor electrodes, each of the resulting signals including a spatial common mode component and a residual noise component. The charge integrators generate multiple spatial-common-mode-processed signals by mitigating the spatial common mode component and the residual noise component in the resulting signals using the feedback signals. The processing system includes a programmable gain amplifier configured to determine the spatial common mode estimate.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Chunbo Liu, Mihai Bulea
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Publication number: 20220261104Abstract: A processing system including an amplifier configured to generate, from multiple spatial-common-mode-processed signals, a spatial common mode estimate and multiple feedback signals. The processing system includes multiple charge integrators configured to obtain resulting signals from the capacitive sensor electrodes, each of the resulting signals including a spatial common mode component and a residual noise component. The charge integrators generate multiple spatial-common-mode-processed signals by mitigating the spatial common mode component and the residual noise component in the resulting signals using the feedback signals. The processing system includes a programmable gain amplifier configured to determine the spatial common mode estimate.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Applicant: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Chunbo Liu, Mihai Bulea
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Patent number: 10642428Abstract: A method includes obtaining a capacitive function of ground plane displacement and gap distance, and optimizing, using the capacitive function, an optimization function to obtain multiple slice lengths. The slice lengths correspond to multiple gap distances between a first sensor electrode and a second sensor electrode. The method further includes defining a sensor electrode shape using slice lengths and gap distances, defining a sensor electrode pattern based on the sensor electrode shape, and storing the sensor electrode pattern.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2018Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Synpatics IncorporatedInventors: Mihai Bulea, Felix Schmitt
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Publication number: 20190391684Abstract: A method includes obtaining a capacitive function of ground plane displacement and gap distance, and optimizing, using the capacitive function, an optimization function to obtain multiple slice lengths. The slice lengths correspond to multiple gap distances between a first sensor electrode and a second sensor electrode. The method further includes defining a sensor electrode shape using slice lengths and gap distances, defining a sensor electrode pattern based on the sensor electrode shape, and storing the sensor electrode pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2018Publication date: December 26, 2019Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Mihai Bulea, Felix Schmitt
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Patent number: 10444862Abstract: In an example, an input device includes a substrate and an elastomeric material. The substrate includes a plurality of sensor electrodes disposed thereon. The elastomeric material is mechanically coupled to the substrate and overlaps the plurality of sensor electrodes. The elastomeric material includes an inner portion disposed such that an area of contact between the inner portion and at least some of the plurality of sensor electrodes changes in response to at least one of a lateral force or a vertical force applied to the elastomeric material.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2014Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Richard Schediwy, Douglas M. Krumpelman, Mihai Bulea, Joseph Kurth Reynolds
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Patent number: 9965105Abstract: A processing system for an input device includes a sensor module and a determination module. The sensor module includes sensor circuitry and is configured to acquire a first plurality of measurements of change in capacitive coupling between each sensor electrode of a first set of sensor electrodes and a second set of sensor electrodes. The sensor module is further configured to acquire a second plurality of measurements of change in capacitive coupling between each sensor electrode of the second set of sensor electrodes and an input object. The determination module is configured to determine a first combined measurement based on the first plurality of measurements, determine a second combined measurement based on the second plurality of measurements, and determine positional information for the input object based on a low ground mass parameter. The low ground mass parameter is based on the first combined measurement and the second combined measurement.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2011Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: David Hoch, Mihai Bulea
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Patent number: 9958994Abstract: An input device having a sensing region overlapping an input surface includes a first substrate, a second substrate physically coupled to the first substrate, and a sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate and configured to detect input objects in the sensing region. A first force sensor includes a first electrode disposed on the first substrate and a first conductive portion of the second substrate capacitively coupled with the first electrode. The first conductive portion is configured to move relative to the first electrode such that a first variable capacitance of the first force sensor changes in response to force applied to the input surface in a first direction parallel to the touch surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2015Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Mihai Bulea, Scott Shaw, Adam Schwartz
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Patent number: 9939966Abstract: A processing system for an input device includes a sensor module coupled to sensor electrodes. The sensor module includes sensor circuitry and configured to acquire first capacitive measurements when the input device is in a first state, and acquire second capacitive measurements when the input device is in a second state. The second state has an increased ground as compared to the first state. The processing system further includes a determination module configured to determine positional information for an input object based on the first capacitive measurements and the second capacitive measurements.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2014Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventor: Mihai Bulea
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Patent number: 9927887Abstract: An input device includes an input surface to contact a plurality of input objects. The plurality of input objects includes a first input object and a second input object. Further, the input device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes to determine positional information for the plurality of input objects on the input surface. The input device includes an actuator to move the input surface to provide haptic feedback to the first input object contacting the input surface and to isolate haptic feedback to the second input object contacting the input surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2015Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventor: Mihai Bulea
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Patent number: 9870109Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are described for operating an electronic system which includes a first plurality of sensor electrodes disposed in a first layer and configured to detect input objects at an input surface of the input device, the first plurality of sensor electrodes including a first subset of transmitter electrodes; a second plurality of sensor electrodes configured to detect a force imparted to the input surface and configured for capacitive coupling with the first subset of transmitter electrodes; and a compressible dielectric configured to compress in response to force applied to the input surface. The capacitive coupling between the transmitter electrodes and the second plurality of sensor electrodes is configured to vary in response to the applied force.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2015Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Mihai Bulea, Pascale El Kallassi
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Patent number: 9870096Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input device performance. Specifically, the devices and methods provide improved resistance to the effect of interference on input devices, and in particular, to the effect of unison noise on proximity sensors that use capacitive techniques to generate images of sensor values. The devices and methods provide improved resistance to the effects of interface by using images of sensor values and one or more profiles of sensor values. An image of sensor values is combined with one or more profiles of sensor values to produce a modified image of sensor values, the modified image having reduced errors due to noise. This reduction in errors due to noise can improve the accuracy and performance of the input device.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventor: Mihai Bulea
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Patent number: 9817533Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device that includes a plurality of sensing elements that are interconnected in desired way to acquire positional information of an input object, so that the acquired positional information can be used by other system components to control a display or other useful system components. One or more of the embodiments described herein, utilizes one or more of the techniques and sensor electrode array configuration disclosed herein to reduce or minimize the number of traces and/or electrodes required to sense the position of an input object within a sensing region of the input device.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Mihai Bulea, Derek Solven, Joseph Kurth Reynolds, David Hoch, Tracy Scott Dattalo
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Patent number: 9720538Abstract: An input device is provided that facilitates improved user interface functionality by determining force information for each of multiple objects in a sensing region. The input device includes a processing system, a sensor configured to sense objects in a sensing region proximate a surface, and a plurality of force sensors. The plurality of force sensors are coupled to the surface to provide a plurality of measures of force applied to the surface. The processing system is configured to determine positional information for each the multiple objects sensed by the sensor in the sensing region. Furthermore, the processing system is configured to determine force information for each of the multiple objects from the positional information and the plurality of measures of force applied to the surface. Thus, device and method provides the ability to determine both positional information and force information for each of multiple objects in a sensing region.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventor: Mihai Bulea
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Publication number: 20170192541Abstract: An input device includes an input surface to contact a plurality of input objects. The plurality of input objects includes a first input object and a second input object. Further, the input device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes to determine positional information for the plurality of input objects on the input surface. The input device includes an actuator to move the input surface to provide haptic feedback to the first input object contacting the input surface and to isolate haptic feedback to the second input object contacting the input surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2015Publication date: July 6, 2017Inventor: Mihai Bulea
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Publication number: 20160274710Abstract: An input device is provided that facilitates improved user interface functionality by determining force information for each of multiple objects in a sensing region. The input device includes a processing system, a sensor configured to sense objects in a sensing region proximate a surface, and a plurality of force sensors. The plurality of force sensors are coupled to the surface to provide a plurality of measures of force applied to the surface. The processing system is configured to determine positional information for each the multiple objects sensed by the sensor in the sensing region. Furthermore, the processing system is configured to determine force information for each of the multiple objects from the positional information and the plurality of measures of force applied to the surface. Thus, device and method provides the ability to determine both positional information and force information for each of multiple objects in a sensing region.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventor: Mihai Bulea
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Publication number: 20160132184Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input device performance. Specifically, the devices and methods provide improved resistance to the effect of interference on input devices, and in particular, to the effect of unison noise on proximity sensors that use capacitive techniques to generate images of sensor values. The devices and methods provide improved resistance to the effects of interface by using images of sensor values and one or more profiles of sensor values. An image of sensor values is combined with one or more profiles of sensor values to produce a modified image of sensor values, the modified image having reduced errors due to noise. This reduction in errors due to noise can improve the accuracy and performance of the input device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2016Publication date: May 12, 2016Inventor: Mihai Bulea
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Publication number: 20160077638Abstract: An input device having a sensing region overlapping an input surface includes a first substrate, a second substrate physically coupled to the first substrate, and a sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate and configured to detect input objects in the sensing region. A first force sensor includes a first electrode disposed on the first substrate and a first conductive portion of the second substrate capacitively coupled with the first electrode. The first conductive portion is configured to move relative to the first electrode such that a first variable capacitance of the first force sensor changes in response to force applied to the input surface in a first direction parallel to the touch surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2015Publication date: March 17, 2016Inventors: Mihai Bulea, Scott Shaw, Adam Schwartz
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Patent number: 9280240Abstract: A processing system includes a transmitter module, a receiver module, and a determination module. The transmitter module is configured to drive a first contact, a second contact, and a third contact of a first transmitter electrode, wherein the first contact is disposed between the second contact and the third contact. This produces a first voltage gradient between the first contact and the second contact, and produces a second voltage gradient between the first contact and the third contact. The receiver module receives, with a first receiver electrode, a first resulting signal including effects of the first voltage gradient, and to receive, with a second receiver electrode, a second resulting signal comprising effects of the second voltage gradient. The determination module determines positional information for an input object located within a sensing region based on the first resulting signal and the second resulting signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2012Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: David Hoch, Mihai Bulea