Patents by Inventor Peter Spevak

Peter Spevak 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: 10068512
    Abstract: A modulator can include a common signal modulator that outputs a predetermined number of common signals to a multiplexer interface liquid crystal display (MUX LCD) based on an output state of a set of general purpose input/output (GPIO) pins of a controller, wherein each common signal has at least four bias levels. The modulator can also include a segment signal modulator that outputs a predetermined number of segment signals to the MUX LCD based on an output state of another set of GPIO pins of the controller, wherein each segment signal has at least three bias levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Peter Spevak
  • Publication number: 20180217190
    Abstract: Described example user interface control apparatus includes a first structure, with a first side, conductive capacitor plate structures spaced along a first direction on the first side, a movable second structure with an auxiliary conductive structure, and an interface circuit to provide excitation signals to, and receive sense signals from, the conductive capacitor plate structures to perform a mutual capacitance test and a self-capacitance test of individual ones of the conductive capacitor plate structures to determine a position of the second structure or a user's finger relative to the first structure along the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Peter Spevak
  • Publication number: 20180164902
    Abstract: Disclosed examples include optical and capacitive position detection systems and user interface control apparatus to detect relative positions of a stationary first structure and a movable second structure. The optical system includes pairs of optical source and sensor devices spaced along a first direction on the first structure and a reflector extending along the first direction on the second structure to selectively reflect light from one of the optical sources to the corresponding optical sensor of a given pair when the reflector is proximate the given pair. The capacitive sensing system includes capacitor plate structures on the first structure and a conductive structure on the second structure to move along the first direction to selectively modify a capacitance of a given group of two or more of the plate structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Peter Spevak
  • Publication number: 20170115822
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of capacitive sensors arranged in a matrix on a substrate. A measuring circuitry measures the capacitance of each of a plurality of row lines and a plurality of column lines in the matrix coupled to the capacitive sensors. A first electrode is on the substrate on a first edge of the matrix and is proximal to a first corner of the matrix. The first electrode is coupled to the measuring circuitry. A second electrode is on the substrate on the first edge of the matrix and is proximal to a second corner of the matrix, the second corner opposing the first corner on the first edge. The second electrode is coupled to the measuring circuitry. The measuring circuitry determines the positions of two touches to the touch pad. Methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventor: Peter Spevak
  • Publication number: 20170011675
    Abstract: A modulator can include a common signal modulator that outputs a predetermined number of common signals to a multiplexer interface liquid crystal display (MUX LCD) based on an output state of a set of general purpose input/output (GPIO) pins of a controller, wherein each common signal has at least four bias levels. The modulator can also include a segment signal modulator that outputs a predetermined number of segment signals to the MUX LCD based on an output state of another set of GPIO pins of the controller, wherein each segment signal has at least three bias levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventor: PETER SPEVAK
  • Patent number: 9369147
    Abstract: An analog to digital converter (ADC) core; a reference voltage generator coupled to an input of the ADC core; a bandgap reference coupled to the reference voltage generator; and a window comparator configured to control a selected reference voltage range generated by the reference voltage generator and received by the ADC core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Peter Spevak
  • Patent number: 9255781
    Abstract: A first sensor detects whether an object is within a first region that surrounds the first sensor. A second sensor detects whether the object is within a second region that surrounds the second sensor. The first and second sensors are omnidirectional capacitive electrodes. In response to the first sensor detecting that the object is not within the first region, a device determines that the object is not proximate to a particular side of the first and second sensors. In response to the first sensor detecting that the object is within the first region, and the second sensor detecting that the object is within the second region, the device determines that the object is not proximate to the particular side. In response to the first sensor detecting that the object is within the first region, yet the second sensor detecting that the object is not within the second region, the device determines that the object is proximate to the particular side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Peter Spevak
  • Publication number: 20160006449
    Abstract: An analog to digital converter (ADC) core; a reference voltage generator coupled to an input of the ADC core; a bandgap reference coupled to the reference voltage generator; and a window comparator configured to control a selected reference voltage range generated by the reference voltage generator and received by the ADC core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventor: Peter Spevak
  • Publication number: 20140292356
    Abstract: A first sensor detects whether an object is within a first region that surrounds the first sensor. A second sensor detects whether the object is within a second region that surrounds the second sensor. The first and second sensors are omnidirectional capacitive electrodes. In response to the first sensor detecting that the object is not within the first region, a device determines that the object is not proximate to a particular side of the first and second sensors. In response to the first sensor detecting that the object is within the first region, and the second sensor detecting that the object is within the second region, the device determines that the object is not proximate to the particular side. In response to the first sensor detecting that the object is within the first region, yet the second sensor detecting that the object is not within the second region, the device determines that the object is proximate to the particular side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Deutschland, GMBH
    Inventor: Peter Spevak