Patents by Inventor Paul M. Walsh
Paul M. Walsh 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: 11973498Abstract: Front-end circuits that combine inductive and capacitive sensing are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a plurality of inductive elements, an inductive measurement circuit, and a frequency divider circuit. The inductive measurement circuit is to output a first signal with a first frequency. The first signal is associated with an inductance change of one of the inductive elements. A feedback circuit can maintain the sinusoidal operation of the first signal. The frequency divider circuit can generate a second signal with a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Paul M. Walsh, Kofi Makinwa, Matheus Pimenta, Ça{hacek over (g)}ri Gürleyük, Dermot Macsweeney, Daniel O'Keeffe, Dennis Seguine
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Publication number: 20230120634Abstract: An asynchronous capacitance-to-digital conversion is described that allows for very low-power operation when during inactive periods (when no conductive object is in contact or proximity to the sensing electrodes). Asynchronous operation of a capacitance-to-digital converter (CDC) provides for capacitance-to-digital conversion without the use of system resources and more power intensive circuit elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Applicant: Cypress Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Paul M. WALSH, Said HUSSAINI, Dermot MACSWEENEY, Hui JIANG, Kofi MAKINWA
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Patent number: 11552635Abstract: One inductive sensor is configured to maintain a fixed frequency in a resonant circuit. One apparatus includes an inductance-to-digital converter (LDC). The LDC includes a digital filter to measure an inductance change of a sensor and convert the inductance change to a digital value. The LDC further includes a digital control loop to maintain a fixed frequency in the sensor. The sensor forms an oscillator in the digital control loop. An output of the digital control loop is representative of the inductance change of the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2019Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Paul M. Walsh, Dermot MacSweeney, Daniel O'Keeffe, Kofi Makinwa, Matheus Pimenta, Dennis R. Seguine, Ça{hacek over (g)}ri Gürleyük
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Patent number: 11531424Abstract: An asynchronous capacitance-to-digital converter (CDC) is described that allows for very low-power operation when during inactive periods (when no conductive object is in contact or proximity to the sensing electrodes). Asynchronous operation of the CDC provides for capacitance-to-digital conversion without the use of system resources and more power intensive circuit elements.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2018Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Paul M. Walsh, Dermot MacSweeney, Said Hussaini, Hui Jiang, Kofi Makinwa
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Patent number: 11188183Abstract: A sense unit for inductive sensing or capacitive sensing is described. The sense unit may include a first terminal coupled to a first node, a first electrode coupled to the first node, and a second terminal. The sense unit may include a second electrode coupled to the second terminal. In a first mode, a first signal is received at the first terminal and a second signal is output on the second terminal, where the second signal may be representative of a capacitance of the sense unit. The sense unit may include an inductive coil. The sense unit may include a first capacitor. The inductive coil and the first capacitor are coupled in parallel between the first node and ground. In a second mode, a third signal is received at the first terminal and a fourth signal is output on the second terminal.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2019Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Markus Unseld, Cathal O'Lionaird, Paul M. Walsh, Oleksandr Hoshtanar
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Publication number: 20200373923Abstract: Maintaining a fixed frequency in a resonant circuit of an inductive sensor circuit is described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an inductance-to-digital converter (LDC). The LDC includes a digital filter to measure an inductance change of a sensor and convert the inductance change to a digital value. The LDC further includes a digital control loop to maintain a fixed frequency in the sensor. The sensor forms an oscillator in the digital control loop. An output of the digital control loop is representative of the inductance change of the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2019Publication date: November 26, 2020Applicant: Cypress Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Paul M. Walsh, Dermot MacSweeney, Daniel O'Keeffe, Kofi Makinwa, Matheus Pimenta, Dennis R. Seguine, Çagri Gürleyük
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Publication number: 20190302927Abstract: A sense unit for inductive sensing or capacitive sensing is described. The sense unit may include a first terminal coupled to a first node, a first electrode coupled to the first node, and a second terminal. The sense unit may include a second electrode coupled to the second terminal. In a first mode, a first signal is received at the first terminal and a second signal is output on the second terminal, where the second signal may be representative of a capacitance of the sense unit. The sense unit may include an inductive coil. The sense unit may include a first capacitor. The inductive coil and the first capacitor are coupled in parallel between the first node and ground. In a second mode, a third signal is received at the first terminal and a fourth signal is output on the second terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2019Publication date: October 3, 2019Applicant: Cypress Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Markus Unseld, Cathal O'Lionaird, Paul M. Walsh, Oleksandr Hoshtanar
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Patent number: 10268867Abstract: A method includes providing a differential signal and generating an in-phase component of the differential signal and a quadrature component of the differential signal. The method further includes generating an output signal representing a capacitance value using the in-phase component and the quadrature component.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2018Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Viktor Kremin, Paul M. Walsh, Kaveh Hosseini, Jaskarn Singh Johal, Erhan Hancioglu, Onur Ozbek
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Publication number: 20190072597Abstract: An asynchronous capacitance-to-digital converter (CDC) is described that allows for very low-power operation when during inactive periods (when no conductive object is in contact or proximity to the sensing electrodes). Asynchronous operation of the CDC provides for capacitance-to-digital conversion without the use of system resources and more power intensive circuit elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2018Publication date: March 7, 2019Applicant: Cypress Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Paul M. Walsh, Dermot MacSweeney, Said Hussaini, Hui Jiang, Kofi Makinwa
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Publication number: 20180260600Abstract: A fingerprint sensing circuit, system, and method is disclosed. The fingerprint sensor maybe include a plurality of inputs coupled to a plurality of fingerprint sensing electrodes and to an analog front end. The analog front end may be configured to generate at least one digital value in response to a capacitance of at least one of the plurality of fingerprint sensing electrodes. Additionally, the analog front end may include a quadrature demodulation circuit to generate at least one demodulated value for processing by a channel engine. The channel engine may generate a capacitance result value that is based, in part, on the demodulated value and is stored in a memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2018Publication date: September 13, 2018Applicant: Cypress Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Viktor Kremin, Paul M. Walsh, Kaveh Hosseini, Jaskarn Singh Johal, Erhan Hancioglu, Onur Ozbek
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Patent number: 9923572Abstract: A circuit, system, and method for measuring capacitance are described. A current may be received at an input of a conversion circuit. The current may be converted to a voltage signal which may be used to create a negative feedback current to the input of the conversion circuit and which may be demodulated digitally to provide a static digital output representative of a capacitance.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Rishi Raghav Bacchu, Kaveh Hosseini, Dermot MacSweeney, Paul M. Walsh, Kofi Makinwa
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Patent number: 9864894Abstract: A fingerprint sensing circuit, system, and method is disclosed. The fingerprint sensor maybe include a plurality of inputs coupled to a plurality of fingerprint sensing electrodes and to an analog front end. The analog front end may be configured to generate at least one digital value in response to a capacitance of at least one of the plurality of fingerprint sensing electrodes. Additionally, the analog front end may include a quadrature demodulation circuit to generate at least one demodulated value for processing by a channel engine. The channel engine may generate a capacitance result value that is based, in part, on the demodulated value and is stored in a memory.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2017Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Viktor Kremin, Paul M. Walsh, Kaveh Hosseini, Jaskarn Singh Johal, Erhan Hancioglu, Onur Ozbek
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Publication number: 20170177920Abstract: A fingerprint sensing circuit, system, and method is disclosed. The fingerprint sensor maybe include a plurality of inputs coupled to a plurality of fingerprint sensing electrodes and to an analog front end. The analog front end may be configured to generate at least one digital value in response to a capacitance of at least one of the plurality of fingerprint sensing electrodes. Additionally, the analog front end may include a quadrature demodulation circuit to generate at least one demodulated value for processing by a channel engine. The channel engine may generate a capacitance result value that is based, in part, on the demodulated value and is stored in a memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2017Publication date: June 22, 2017Applicant: Cypress Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Viktor Kremin, Paul M. Walsh, Kaveh Hosseini, Jaskarn Singh Johal, Erhan Hancioglu, Onur Ozbek
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Publication number: 20170141787Abstract: A circuit, system, and method for measuring capacitance are described. A current may be received at an input of a conversion circuit. The current may be converted to a voltage signal which may be used to create a negative feedback current to the input of the conversion circuit and which may be demodulated digitally to provide a static digital output representative of a capacitance.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2016Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventors: Rishi Raghav Bacchu, Kaveh Hosseini, Dermot MacSweeney, Paul M. Walsh
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Patent number: 9542588Abstract: A fingerprint sensing circuit, system, and method is disclosed. The fingerprint sensor maybe include a plurality of inputs coupled to a plurality of fingerprint sensing electrodes and to an analog front end. The analog front end may be configured to generate at least one digital value in response to a capacitance of at least one of the plurality of fingerprint sensing electrodes. Additionally, the analog front end may include a quadrature demodulation circuit to generate at least one demodulated value for processing by a channel engine. The channel engine may generate a capacitance result value that is based, in part, on the demodulated value and is stored in a memory.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATIONSInventors: Viktor Kremin, Paul M. Walsh, Kaveh Hosseini, Jaskarn Singh Johal, Erhan Hancioglu, Onur Ozbek
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Publication number: 20160140376Abstract: A fingerprint sensing circuit, system, and method is disclosed. The fingerprint sensor maybe include a plurality of inputs coupled to a plurality of fingerprint sensing electrodes and to an analog front end. The analog front end may be configured to generate at least one digital value in response to a capacitance of at least one of the plurality of fingerprint sensing electrodes. Additionally, the analog front end may include a quadrature demodulation circuit to generate at least one demodulated value for processing by a channel engine. The channel engine may generate a capacitance result value that is based, in part, on the demodulated value and is stored in a memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2015Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: Viktor Kremin, Paul M. Walsh, Kaveh Hosseini, Jaskarn Singh Johal, Erhan Hancioglu, Onur Ozbek
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Patent number: 8610478Abstract: A delay cell architecture is provided herein with improved noise performance and increased output swing, while consuming less power and area than conventional delay cell architectures. In one embodiment, the delay cell described herein may include a pair of input transistors, a pair of cross-coupled transistors, a pair of current source transistors, at least one swing limiting transistor and an RC filter. The at least one swing limiting transistor is coupled between the output nodes of the delay cell for controlling the output swing and keeping the current source transistors in saturation. Phase-induced jitter is reduced by connecting the RC filter directly to the mutually-coupled source terminals of the current source transistors. Deterministic jitter is reduced by using a relatively large resistor and relatively small capacitor within the RC filter design. Such a design reduces the amount of area consumed by the delay cell without sacrificing noise performance.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2007Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor CorporationInventor: Paul M. Walsh
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Patent number: 8432170Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of an integrated capacitance model circuit are described. A capacitance model circuit is disposed on a common carrier substrate of an integrated circuit (IC) having a capacitance-sensing device. The capacitance model circuit is configured to model a capacitance of an external sense array. The capacitance model circuit is programmable.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2012Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Paul M. Walsh, Keith O'Donoghue