Abstract: A force sensing device for electronic device. The force inputs may be detected by measuring changes in capacitance, as measured by surface flex of a device having a flexible touchable surface, causing flex at a compressible gap within the device. A capacitive sensor responsive to changes in distance across the compressible gap. The sensor can be positioned above or below, or within, a display element, and above or below, or within, a backlight unit. The device can respond to bending, twisting, or other deformation, to adjust those zero force measurements. The device can use measure of surface flux that appear at positions on the surface not directly the subject of applied force, such as when the user presses on a part of the frame or a surface without capacitive sensors.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to piezoelectric based force sensing in touch devices are presented. One embodiment, for example, may take the form of an apparatus including a touch device having a deformable device stack and a piezoelectric element positioned relative to the deformable device stack such that the piezoelectric element deforms with the deformable stack. Deformation of the piezoelectric element generates a signal having a magnitude discernable as representative of an amount of force applied to the touch device.

Abstract: One innovative aspect is directed to heartrate data collection. In some implementations, a circuit includes a light detector for generating a detected signal based on received light. The circuit includes a switching circuit configured to receive a first signal based on the detected signal and to switch among a first and a second configuration. In some implementations, the circuit includes a first and a second sampling circuit for sampling a value of the first signal when the switching circuit is in the first configuration and second configurations, respectively. In some implementations, the circuit includes an ambient light cancellation circuit for countering a first component of the first signal while the first switching circuit is in the first configuration. In some implementations, the circuit includes an adjustable gain circuit for adjusting a gain of the first signal while the first switching circuit is in the first configuration.

Abstract: One innovative aspect is directed to heart rate data collection. In some implementations, a circuit includes a light detector for generating a first electrical signal based on received light. The circuit includes a switching circuit, having a first and a second configuration, configured to receive a first voltage signal based on the first electrical signal and to switch among the first and the second configurations. The circuit includes first and second sampling circuits for sampling a value of the first voltage signal when the switching circuit is in the first configuration and second configurations, respectively. The circuit includes an ambient light cancellation circuit for generating a current signal to counter a first component of the first electrical signal when the first switching circuit is in the first configuration.

Abstract: One innovative aspect is directed to heart rate data collection. In some implementations, a circuit includes a light detector for generating a first electrical signal based on received light. The circuit includes a switching circuit, having a first and a second configuration, configured to receive a first voltage signal based on the first electrical signal and to switch among the first and the second configurations. The circuit includes first and second sampling circuits for sampling a value of the first voltage signal when the switching circuit is in the first configuration and second configurations, respectively. The circuit includes an ambient light cancellation circuit for generating a current signal to counter a first component of the first electrical signal when the first switching circuit is in the first configuration.

Abstract: A noise suppression circuit for a power adapter is disclosed. The noise suppression circuit can reduce or eliminate adapter-induced noise that could interfere with an electronic device powered by the adapter. In one example, the noise suppression circuit can include an active circuit to detect and attenuate or cancel the induced noise. In another example, the noise suppression circuit can include an RLC circuit in parallel with the adapter choke to suppress the induced noise at the operating frequencies of the powered electronic device. In still another example, the noise suppression circuit can include a modified adapter Y capacitor connection so as to bypass the adapter choke, thereby reducing or eliminating the choke's induced noise.

Abstract: One innovative aspect is directed to heart rate data collection. In some implementations, a circuit includes a light detector for generating a first electrical signal based on received light. The circuit includes a switching circuit, having a first and a second configuration, configured to receive a first voltage signal based on the first electrical signal and to switch among the first and the second configurations. The circuit includes first and second sampling circuits for sampling a value of the first voltage signal when the switching circuit is in the first configuration and second configurations, respectively. The circuit includes an ambient light cancellation circuit for generating a current signal to counter a first component of the first electrical signal when the first switching circuit is in the first configuration.

Abstract: One innovative aspect is directed to heart rate data collection. In some implementations, a circuit includes a light detector for generating a first electrical signal based on received light. The circuit includes a switching circuit, having a first and a second configuration, configured to receive a first voltage signal based on the first electrical signal and to switch among the first and the second configurations. The circuit includes first and second sampling circuits for sampling a value of the first voltage signal when the switching circuit is in the first configuration and second configurations, respectively. The circuit includes an ambient light cancellation circuit for generating a current signal to counter a first component of the first electrical signal when the first switching circuit is in the first configuration.

Abstract: One innovative aspect is directed to heart rate data collection. In some implementations, a circuit includes a light detector for generating a first electrical signal based on received light. The circuit includes a switching circuit, having a first and a second configuration, configured to receive a first voltage signal based on the first electrical signal and to switch among the first and the second configurations. The circuit includes first and second sampling circuits for sampling a value of the first voltage signal when the switching circuit is in the first configuration and second configurations, respectively. The circuit includes an ambient light cancellation circuit for generating a current signal to counter a first component of the first electrical signal when the first switching circuit is in the first configuration.

Abstract: A touch sensor pattern with a secondary sensor formed substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern is provided. By forming the secondary sensor substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern, where the secondary sensor can be held at a steady state or ground during a touch scan cycle of the touch sensor, an overall thickness of the stackup at the area of the touch sensor where the secondary sensor is formed can be significantly reduced. The reduction in the thickness can allow more space for other hardware such as a device battery, for example. Moreover, grounding the secondary sensor can shield the touch sensor pattern at the area of the touch sensor pattern where the secondary sensor is formed, during a touch scan cycle.

Abstract: Detecting force and touch using FTIR and capacitive location. FTIR determines applied force by the user's finger within infrared transmit lines on a touch device. A pattern of such lines determine optical coupling with the touch device. Capacitive sensing can determine (A) where the finger actually touches, so the touch device more accurately infers applied force; (B) whether finger touches shadow each other; (C) as a baseline for applied force; or (D) whether attenuated reflection is due to a current optical coupling, or is due to an earlier optical coupling, such as a smudge on the cover glass. If there is attenuated reflection without actual touching, the touch device can reset a baseline for applied force for the area in which that smudge remains. Infrared transmitters and receivers are positioned where they are not visible to a user, such as below a frame or mask for the cover glass.

Abstract: A touch sensor panel configured to minimize the effect on touch or proximity event detection caused by a common mode noise event. The touch sensor panel includes circuitry that works to minimize the amount of time that the touch sensor panel is unable to accurately sense touch and proximity events due to a common mode noise event. The touch sensor panel can also re-acquire data that was collected during the time that the sensor panel was unable to accurately detect touch and proximity events, when a common mode noise event is detected.

Abstract: A noise suppression circuit for a power adapter is disclosed. The noise suppression circuit can reduce or eliminate adapter-induced noise that could interfere with an electronic device powered by the adapter. In one example, the noise suppression circuit can include an active circuit to detect and attenuate or cancel the induced noise. In another example, the noise suppression circuit can include an RLC circuit in parallel with the adapter choke to suppress the induced noise at the operating frequencies of the powered electronic device. In still another example, the noise suppression circuit can include a modified adapter Y capacitor connection so as to bypass the adapter choke, thereby reducing or eliminating the choke's induced noise.

Abstract: A touch sensor pattern with a secondary sensor formed substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern is provided. By forming the secondary sensor substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern, where the secondary sensor can be held at a steady state or ground during a touch scan cycle of the touch sensor, an overall thickness of the stackup at the area of the touch sensor where the secondary sensor is formed can be significantly reduced. The reduction in the thickness can allow more space for other hardware such as a device battery, for example. Moreover, grounding the secondary sensor can shield the touch sensor pattern at the area of the touch sensor pattern where the secondary sensor is formed, during a touch scan cycle.

Abstract: Touch pad structures are provided that gather touch sensor data. The data may be used to control a computer or other electronic device. The touch pad structures may be integrated into a computer or other computing equipment or may be provided as a stand-alone accessory. The touch pad structures may include a touch sensor array. The touch sensor array may include rows and columns of touch sensor electrodes, interconnect lines, and other conductive structures. The conductive structures on the touch sensor array may be formed from patterned layers of ink. Interconnect line segments in different layer of ink may be connected in rectangular contact regions. The touch sensor array may have a tail. A layer of insulator may be removed from the substrate across a tip portion of the tail to allow the line segments to be connected.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus of converting a stream of pixel data in space and time into a stream of bitplane data. In particular, the present invention converts the pixel data stream according to a predetermined output format. The apparatus of the present invention receives the pixel data in a “real-time” fashion, and dynamically performs predefined permutations so as to accomplish the predefined transpose operation. Alternatively, the pixel data are stored in a storage medium, and the apparatus of the present invention retrieves the pixel data and performs the predefined permutation to accomplish the predefined transpose operation. The methods and apparatus disclosed herein are especially useful for processing a high-speed stream of digital data in a flow-through manner and suitable for implementation in a hardware video pipeline.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus of converting a stream of pixel data in space and time into a stream of bitplane data. In particular, the present invention converts the pixel data stream according to a predetermined output format. The apparatus of the present invention receives the pixel data in a “real-time” fashion, and dynamically performs predefined permutations so as to accomplish the predefined transpose operation. Alternatively, the pixel data are stored in a storage medium, and the apparatus of the present invention retrieves the pixel data and performs the predefined permutation to accomplish the predefined transpose operation. The methods and apparatus disclosed herein are especially useful for processing a high-speed stream of digital data in a flow-through manner and suitable for implementation in a hardware video pipeline.

Abstract: A projection system, a spatial light modulator, and a method for forming a MEMS device is disclosed. The spatial light modulator can have two substrates bonded together with one of the substrates comprising a micromirror array. The two substrates can be bonded at the wafer level after depositing a getter material andlor solid or liquid lubricant on one or both of the wafers. The wafers can be bonded together hermetically if desired, and the pressure between the two substrates can be below atmosphere.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selectively updating memory cells of a memory cell array are provided. The memory cells of each row of the memory cell array are provided with a plurality of wordlines. Memory cells of the row are activated and updated by separated wordlines. In an application of display systems using memory cell arrays for controlling the pixels of the display system and pulse-width-modulation (PWM) technique for displaying grayscales, the pixels can be modulated by different PWM waveforms. The perceived dynamic-false-contouring artifacts are reduced thereby. In another application, the provision of multiple wordlines enables precise measurements of voltages maintained by memory cells of the memory cell array.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selectively updating memory cells of a memory cell array are provided. The memory cells of each row of the memory cell array are provided with a plurality of wordlines. Memory cells of the row are activated and updated by separated wordlines. In an application of display systems using memory cell arrays for controlling the pixels of the display system and pulse-width-modulation (PWM) technique for displaying grayscales, the pixels can be modulated by different PWM waveforms. The perceived dynamic-false-contouring artifacts are reduced thereby. In another application, the provision of multiple wordlines enables precise measurements of voltages maintained by memory cells of the memory cell array.