Patents by Inventor Nigel Hinson
Nigel Hinson 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: 12189438Abstract: One or more examples relate to a knob-on-display. An apparatus of such a knob-on-display includes a touch surface, a dome switch pad, a dome switch, a rotation electrode pad, and an electrically conductive structure. The touch surface may include an electrically conductive material, the touch surface movable to a released position and to a depressed position. The dome switch may include an electrically conductive material. The dome switch may be physically mounted to and electrically connected to the dome switch pad. The rotation electrode pad may be in engagement proximity to a touch sensor of a touch screen device in both the released position and the depressed position.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2023Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Nigel Hinson, Gareth Michael Jones
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Publication number: 20240419286Abstract: A method includes: changing a geometry of a capacitive sensor design from a first geometry to a second geometry, the second geometry different than the first geometry; and obtaining executable instructions to transform a location identifier of a touch event from a first location identifier associated with the first geometry to a second location identifier associated with the second geometry.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2023Publication date: December 19, 2024Inventors: William J. Liddell, Nigel Hinson
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Patent number: 12164719Abstract: Base assemblies for knob on display (KoD) devices and related systems and devices are disclosed. A base assembly for a KoD device includes a base portion for positioning between one or more electrode pads and a touch screen of a touch screen device. The base portion includes electrically insulating material. The base portion further includes an exterior surface to face the touch screen, an interior surface to face the one or more electrode pads, and extender pads including electrically conductive material. The extender pads extend through the base portion from the interior surface to the exterior surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2021Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: AMTEL CORPORTATIONInventors: Nigel Hinson, Samuel Daniel Brunet
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Publication number: 20240062972Abstract: Annular knob-on-display (KoD) devices and related apparatuses. An apparatus includes a frame having substantially annular shape, a dome switch, a plurality of actuator members, and a plurality of pivot members. Respective pivot members of the plurality of pivot members secures an actuator member of the plurality of actuator members to the frame and transfers force applied to the actuator member to the dome switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventor: Nigel Hinson
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Publication number: 20230195185Abstract: One or more examples relate to a knob-on-display. An apparatus of such a knob-on-display includes a touch surface, a dome switch pad, a dome switch, a rotation electrode pad, and an electrically conductive structure. The touch surface may include an electrically conductive material, the touch surface movable to a released position and to a depressed position. The dome switch may include an electrically conductive material. The dome switch may be physically mounted to and electrically connected to the dome switch pad. The rotation electrode pad may be in engagement proximity to a touch sensor of a touch screen device in both the released position and the depressed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2023Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: Nigel Hinson, Gareth Michael Jones
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Patent number: 11579665Abstract: Knob on display (KoD) devices and related systems, methods, and devices are disclosed. A KoD device includes a touch surface including a conductive material. The touch surface is configured to be positioned in a released position and in a depressed position. The touch surface is configured to be positioned in the depressed position responsive to pressure applied to the touch surface. The KoD device also includes a push electrode pad configured to be positioned in engagement proximity to a touch sensor of a touch screen device in both the released position and the depressed position. The push electrode pad is electrically connected to the conductive material of the touch surface responsive to the depressed position and electrically isolated from the conductive material of the touch surface in the released position.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Nigel Hinson, Gareth Michael Jones
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Publication number: 20210173542Abstract: Base assemblies for knob on display (KoD) devices and related systems and devices are disclosed. A base assembly for a KoD device includes a base portion for positioning between one or more electrode pads and a touch screen of a touch screen device. The base portion includes electrically insulating material. The base portion further includes an exterior surface to face the touch screen, an interior surface to face the one or more electrode pads, and extender pads including electrically conductive material. The extender pads extend through the base portion from the interior surface to the exterior surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2021Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventors: Nigel Hinson, Samuel Daniel Brunet
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Publication number: 20210048845Abstract: Knob on display (KoD) devices and related systems, methods, and devices are disclosed. A KoD device includes a touch surface including a conductive material. The touch surface is configured to be positioned in a released position and in a depressed position. The touch surface is configured to be positioned in the depressed position responsive to pressure applied to the touch surface. The KoD device also includes a push electrode pad configured to be positioned in engagement proximity to a touch sensor of a touch screen device in both the released position and the depressed position. The push electrode pad is electrically connected to the conductive material of the touch surface responsive to the depressed position and electrically isolated from the conductive material of the touch surface in the released position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Inventors: Nigel Hinson, Gareth Michael Jones
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Publication number: 20210048846Abstract: Knob on display (KoD) devices and related systems, methods, and devices are disclosed. A KoD device includes at least one electrode including an electrically conductive material. The KoD device also includes a base assembly configured to be positioned between a touch screen of a touch screen device and the at least one electrode. The at least one electrode is configured to be positioned in engagement proximity to a touch sensor of the touch screen device through the base assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Inventor: Nigel Hinson
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Patent number: 10678366Abstract: An apparatus includes a force sensor circuit and a controller. The force sensor circuit includes first, second, third, and fourth electrodes disposed on a substrate. The first and second electrodes extend through first and second cells of a row of cells. The third and fourth electrodes extend through third and fourth cells of a column of cells. The first electrode occupies more area in the first cell than in the second cell. The second electrode occupies more area in the second cell than in the first cell. The third electrode occupies more area in the third cell than in the fourth cell. The fourth electrode occupies more area in the fourth cell than in the third cell. The controller detects a force and a position of the force based on signals communicated by the force sensor circuit.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2019Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: NeodrĂ³n LimitedInventor: Nigel Hinson
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Patent number: 10635248Abstract: Assemblies include a chassis having a first side configured to receive a force-sensitive surface, a support structure including first electrode portions, and resilient mounting elements attached to the chassis and to the support structure. The mounting elements include second electrode portions positioned adjacent to the first electrode portions. Force-sensitive systems include force sensors including portions of a support structure and portions of a mounting element that are adapted to relatively move responsive to one or more applied forces, and a controller configured to identify the one or more applied forces by determining movement between the support structure and the mounting element. Methods include detecting changes in capacitances of respective capacitors formed by first electrode portions on a support structure and second electrode portions defined by mounting elements coupling a chassis to the support structure.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2018Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Amtel CorporationInventors: Nigel Hinson, Paul Clements
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Publication number: 20190369793Abstract: An apparatus includes a force sensor circuit and a controller. The force sensor circuit includes first, second, third, and fourth electrodes disposed on a substrate. The first and second electrodes extend through first and second cells of a row of cells. The third and fourth electrodes extend through third and fourth cells of a column of cells. The first electrode occupies more area in the first cell than in the second cell. The second electrode occupies more area in the second cell than in the first cell. The third electrode occupies more area in the third cell than in the fourth cell. The fourth electrode occupies more area in the fourth cell than in the third cell. The controller detects a force and a position of the force based on signals communicated by the force sensor circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2019Publication date: December 5, 2019Applicant: NeodrĂ³n LimitedInventor: Nigel Hinson
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Patent number: 10372255Abstract: An apparatus includes a force sensor circuit and a controller. The force sensor circuit includes first, second, third, and fourth electrodes disposed on a substrate. The first and second electrodes extend through first and second cells of a row of cells. The third and fourth electrodes extend through third and fourth cells of a column of cells. The first electrode occupies more area in the first cell than in the second cell. The second electrode occupies more area in the second cell than in the first cell. The third electrode occupies more area in the third cell than in the fourth cell. The fourth electrode occupies more area in the fourth cell than in the third cell. The controller detects a force and a position of the force based on signals communicated by the force sensor circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2018Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: Nedron LimitedInventor: Nigel Hinson
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Publication number: 20190212842Abstract: Assemblies include a chassis having a first side configured to receive a force-sensitive surface, a support structure including first electrode portions, and resilient mounting elements attached to the chassis and to the support structure. The mounting elements include second electrode portions positioned adjacent to the first electrode portions. Force-sensitive systems include force sensors including portions of a support structure and portions of a mounting element that are adapted to relatively move responsive to one or more applied forces, and a controller configured to identify the one or more applied forces by determining movement between the support structure and the mounting element. Methods include detecting changes in capacitances of respective capacitors formed by first electrode portions on a support structure and second electrode portions defined by mounting elements coupling a chassis to the support structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2018Publication date: July 11, 2019Inventors: Nigel Hinson, Paul Clements
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Publication number: 20180196570Abstract: An apparatus includes a force sensor circuit and a controller. The force sensor circuit includes first, second, third, and fourth electrodes disposed on a substrate. The first and second electrodes extend through first and second cells of a row of cells. The third and fourth electrodes extend through third and fourth cells of a column of cells. The first electrode occupies more area in the first cell than in the second cell. The second electrode occupies more area in the second cell than in the first cell. The third electrode occupies more area in the third cell than in the fourth cell. The fourth electrode occupies more area in the fourth cell than in the third cell. The controller detects a force and a position of the force based on signals communicated by the force sensor circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2018Publication date: July 12, 2018Inventor: Nigel Hinson
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Patent number: 9927901Abstract: An apparatus includes a force sensor circuit and a controller. The force sensor circuit includes first, second, third, and fourth electrodes disposed on a substrate. The first and second electrodes extend through first and second cells of a row of cells. The third and fourth electrodes extend through third and fourth cells of a column of cells. The first electrode occupies more area in the first cell than in the second cell. The second electrode occupies more area in the second cell than in the first cell. The third electrode occupies more area in the third cell than in the fourth cell. The fourth electrode occupies more area in the fourth cell than in the third cell. The controller detects a force and a position of the force based on signals communicated by the force sensor circuit.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2016Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventor: Nigel Hinson
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Publication number: 20170357357Abstract: An apparatus includes a force sensor circuit and a controller. The force sensor circuit includes first, second, third, and fourth electrodes disposed on a substrate. The first and second electrodes extend through first and second cells of a row of cells. The third and fourth electrodes extend through third and fourth cells of a column of cells. The first electrode occupies more area in the first cell than in the second cell. The second electrode occupies more area in the second cell than in the first cell. The third electrode occupies more area in the third cell than in the fourth cell. The fourth electrode occupies more area in the fourth cell than in the third cell. The controller detects a force and a position of the force based on signals communicated by the force sensor circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2016Publication date: December 14, 2017Inventor: Nigel Hinson
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Patent number: 9465490Abstract: A touch sensor includes a flexible substrate, a plurality of sense electrodes and a plurality of drive electrodes disposed on the flexible substrate, a plurality of electrode branches, and a central spine. Each of the plurality of sense and drive electrodes includes electrode teeth, and electrode teeth of the sense electrodes are interdigitated with electrode teeth of the drive electrodes. Each particular electrode branch includes a portion of at least one of the drive electrodes and a portion of at least one of the sense electrodes. The central spine includes tracks that are coupled to the sense and drive electrodes. When the touch sensor is not formed into a three-dimensional shape, at least a portion of one of the electrode branches is separated from an adjacent electrode branch by a gap. When the touch sensor is formed into a three-dimensional shape, the gap is substantially eliminated, thereby forming a substantially continuous touch-sensitive surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2013Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventor: Nigel Hinson
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Patent number: 9389708Abstract: In one embodiment, an active stylus includes one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for wirelessly communicating with a device through a touch sensor of the device. The active stylus also includes a tip configured to receive an applied force and a force sensor configured to receive an inverse transferred force from a force-transfer element. The force-transfer element is mechanically coupled to the tip and configured to apply the inverse transferred force to the force sensor. The inverse transferred force is inversely correlated with the applied force when the applied force is less than a threshold force.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2014Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventor: Nigel Hinson
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Publication number: 20150324018Abstract: In one embodiment, an active stylus includes one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for wirelessly communicating with a device through a touch sensor of the device. The active stylus also includes a tip configured to receive an applied force and a force sensor configured to receive an inverse transferred force from a force-transfer element. The force-transfer element is mechanically coupled to the tip and configured to apply the inverse transferred force to the force sensor. The inverse transferred force is inversely correlated with the applied force when the applied force is less than a threshold force.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2014Publication date: November 12, 2015Inventor: Nigel Hinson