Patents by Inventor Richard P. Collins

Richard P. Collins 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: 11675462
    Abstract: A process includes receiving an associated input signal via a receiver electrode of a sensor array, the associated input signal indicative of an associated mutual capacitance of the receiver electrode; adding a balancing signal to the associated input signal to generate a balanced input signal at least partially responsive to a number of sensor nodes at the receiver electrode; generating a voltage signal indicative of the associated mutual capacitance of the receiver electrode at least partially responsive to a balanced input signal; and generating a digital value representative of the voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Collins, Samuel Daniel Brunet, Paul Heslop
  • Publication number: 20220155891
    Abstract: A process includes receiving an associated input signal via a receiver electrode of a sensor array, the associated input signal indicative of an associated mutual capacitance of the receiver electrode; adding a balancing signal to the associated input signal to generate a balanced input signal at least partially responsive to a number of sensor nodes at the receiver electrode; generating a voltage signal indicative of the associated mutual capacitance of the receiver electrode at least partially responsive to a balanced input signal; and generating a digital value representative of the voltage signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Richard P. Collins, Samuel Daniel Brunet, Paul Heslop
  • Publication number: 20220100309
    Abstract: Some disclosed embodiments relate, generally, to shaping a waveform of a reference signal used by a driver of a touch sensor to limit electromagnetic emissions (EME) emitted by a touch sensor during a sensing operation. Some disclosed embodiments relate, generally, to a DAC referenced touch sensor driver and controlling an amount of EME emitted at a touch sensor using shapes of reference signals used by a touch detector to detect touches at the touch sensor. Some disclosed embodiments relate, generally, to compensating for effects of foreign noise at a touch sensor. And more specifically, to changing a shape of a reference signal based on a change to a sampling rate made to compensate for foreign noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Fredrik Jonsson, Richard P. Collins, Lionel Nicolas Portmann
  • Patent number: 11221708
    Abstract: Some disclosed embodiments relate, generally, to shaping a waveform of a reference signal used by a driver of a touch sensor to limit electromagnetic emissions (EME) emitted by a touch sensor during a sensing operation. Some disclosed embodiments relate, generally, to a DAC referenced touch sensor driver and controlling an amount of EME emitted at a touch sensor using shapes of reference signals used by a touch detector to detect touches at the touch sensor. Some disclosed embodiments relate, generally, to compensating for effects of foreign noise at a touch sensor. And more specifically, to changing a shape of a reference signal based on a change to a sampling rate made to compensate for foreign noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Fredrik Jonsson, Richard P. Collins, Lionel Nicolas Portmann
  • Publication number: 20210026491
    Abstract: A device includes a touch sensor and a touch-sensor controller. The touch-sensor may receive a signal associated with an operation of the device; in response to the signal, determine that a detection mode of the touch sensor associated with the device is to be changed, and in response to the determination, increase sensitivity of a first portion, but not all, of the touch sensor. A first portion of increased sensitivity may be an area of the touch sensor associated with a button. A first portion of increased sensitivity may be the top right portion of the touch sensor. In other examples, sensitivity may be decreased when an operation is a game played by a user on the device, a voicemail operation on the device, or an operation requiring an ear or face of a user to contact the touch sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Samuel Brunet, Richard P. Collins, Luben H. Hristov, Steinar Myren, Trond J. Pedersen, Paul Stavely
  • Patent number: 10838549
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a controller includes a storage unit and a processor unit. The processor unit is coupled to the storage unit and configured to receive a signal associated with an operation of a device that includes a touch sensor. The touch sensor includes a first plurality of electrodes oriented in a first direction in a first portion of the touch sensor, a second plurality of electrodes oriented in the first direction in a second portion of the touch sensor, and a third plurality of electrodes intersecting the first and second plurality of electrodes. The processor unit is further configured to determine, in response to the signal, that a detection mode of the touch sensor is to be changed and in response to the determination, couple the second plurality of electrodes to a fixed voltage source to decrease a detection range in the second portion of the touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: NeodrĂ³n Limited
    Inventors: Samuel Brunet, Richard P. Collins, Luben H. Hristov, Steinar Myren, Trond J. Pedersen, Paul Stavely
  • Patent number: 10705651
    Abstract: A device includes a controller coupled to a touch sensor. The touch sensor includes a first array of capacitive nodes substantially aligned with a second array of capacitive nodes in a mechanical stack. The controller is configured, when in a self-capacitive mode of operation, to send a first drive signal to a plurality of the electrodes of the first array, send a shield signal to at least a portion of the electrodes of the second array at the same time as the first drive signal is sent to the plurality of electrodes of the first array, and sense touch inputs based on signals received from the plurality of electrodes of the first array while the first drive signal is being sent to the plurality of electrodes of the first array and the shield signal is being sent to the at least a portion of the electrodes of the second array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel Brunet, Richard P. Collins, Martin J. Simmons, Justin A. Church
  • Publication number: 20200210016
    Abstract: Some disclosed embodiments relate, generally, to shaping a waveform of a reference signal used by a driver of a touch sensor to limit electromagnetic emissions (EME) emitted by a touch sensor during a sensing operation. Some disclosed embodiments relate, generally, to a DAC referenced touch sensor driver and controlling an amount of EME emitted at a touch sensor using shapes of reference signals used by a touch detector to detect touches at the touch sensor. Some disclosed embodiments relate, generally, to compensating for effects of foreign noise at a touch sensor. And more specifically, to changing a shape of a reference signal based on a change to a sampling rate made to compensate for foreign noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Fredrik Jonsson, Richard P. Collins, Lionel Nicolas Portmann
  • Publication number: 20190369800
    Abstract: A device includes a controller coupled to a touch sensor. The touch sensor includes a first array of capacitive nodes substantially aligned with a second array of capacitive nodes in a mechanical stack. The controller is configured, when in a self-capacitive mode of operation, to send a first drive signal to a plurality of the electrodes of the first array, send a shield signal to at least a portion of the electrodes of the second array at the same time as the first drive signal is sent to the plurality of electrodes of the first array, and sense touch inputs based on signals received from the plurality of electrodes of the first array while the first drive signal is being sent to the plurality of electrodes of the first array and the shield signal is being sent to the at least a portion of the electrodes of the second array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Samuel Brunet, Richard P. Collins, Martin J. Simmons, Justin A. Church
  • Patent number: 10437382
    Abstract: A device includes a controller coupled to a touch sensor. The touch sensor includes a first array of capacitive nodes substantially aligned with a second array of capacitive nodes in a mechanical stack. The controller is configured, when in a self-capacitive mode of operation, to send a first drive signal to a plurality of the electrodes of the first array, send a shield signal to at least a portion of the electrodes of the second array at the same time as the first drive signal is sent to the plurality of electrodes of the first array, and sense touch inputs based on signals received from the plurality of electrodes of the first array while the first drive signal is being sent to the plurality of electrodes of the first array and the shield signal is being sent to the at least a portion of the electrodes of the second array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel Brunet, Richard P. Collins, Martin J. Simmons, Justin A. Church
  • Publication number: 20180307372
    Abstract: A device includes a controller coupled to a touch sensor. The touch sensor includes a first array of capacitive nodes substantially aligned with a second array of capacitive nodes in a mechanical stack. The controller is configured, when in a self-capacitive mode of operation, to send a first drive signal to a plurality of the electrodes of the first array, send a shield signal to at least a portion of the electrodes of the second array at the same time as the first drive signal is sent to the plurality of electrodes of the first array, and sense touch inputs based on signals received from the plurality of electrodes of the first array while the first drive signal is being sent to the plurality of electrodes of the first array and the shield signal is being sent to the at least a portion of the electrodes of the second array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Samuel Brunet, Richard P. Collins, Martin J. Simmons, Justin A. Church
  • Patent number: 10013101
    Abstract: A device includes a controller coupled to a touch sensor. The touch sensor includes a first array of capacitive nodes substantially aligned with a second array of capacitive nodes in a mechanical stack. The controller is configured, when in a self-capacitive mode of operation, to send a first drive signal to a plurality of the electrodes of the first array, send a shield signal to at least a portion of the electrodes of the second array at the same time as the first drive signal is sent to the plurality of electrodes of the first array, and sense touch inputs based on signals received from the plurality of electrodes of the first array while the first drive signal is being sent to the plurality of electrodes of the first array and the shield signal is being sent to the at least a portion of the electrodes of the second array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel Brunet, Richard P. Collins, Martin J. Simmons, Justin A. Church
  • Patent number: 9804722
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus for detecting a touch. The apparatus includes a touch sensor that includes a first plurality of electrode lines and a second plurality of electrode lines. The apparatus also includes a touch sensor controller coupled to the touch sensor. The touch sensor controller is operable to apply a respective voltage pulse simultaneously to each of the first plurality of electrode lines, measure a respective signal at each of the second plurality of electrode lines, and detect a touch based on the measurement of the respective signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel Brunet, Richard P. Collins, Luben H. Hristov, Steinar Myren, Trond J. Pedersen, Paul Stavely
  • Publication number: 20170199611
    Abstract: A device includes a controller coupled to a touch sensor. The touch sensor includes a first array of capacitive nodes substantially aligned with a second array of capacitive nodes in a mechanical stack. The controller is configured, when in a self-capacitive mode of operation, to send a first drive signal to a plurality of the electrodes of the first array, send a shield signal to at least a portion of the electrodes of the second array at the same time as the first drive signal is sent to the plurality of electrodes of the first array, and sense touch inputs based on signals received from the plurality of electrodes of the first array while the first drive signal is being sent to the plurality of electrodes of the first array and the shield signal is being sent to the at least a portion of the electrodes of the second array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Samuel Brunet, Richard P. Collins, Martin J. Simmons, Justin A. Church
  • Publication number: 20170097735
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a controller includes a storage unit and a processor unit. The processor unit is coupled to the storage unit and configured to receive a signal associated with an operation of a device that includes a touch sensor. The touch sensor includes a first plurality of electrodes oriented in a first direction in a first portion of the touch sensor, a second plurality of electrodes oriented in the first direction in a second portion of the touch sensor, and a third plurality of electrodes intersecting the first and second plurality of electrodes. The processor unit is further configured to determine, in response to the signal, that a detection mode of the touch sensor is to be changed and in response to the determination, couple the second plurality of electrodes to a fixed voltage source to decrease a detection range in the second portion of the touch sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Samuel Brunet, Richard P. Collins, Luben H. Hristov, Steinar Myren, Trond J. Pedersen, Paul Stavely
  • Patent number: 9542046
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for changing the detection range of a touch sensor includes receiving a signal associated with an operation of a device having a touch sensor, and in response to the signal, determining that a detection mode of the touch sensor associated with the device is to be changed. In response to the determination, decreasing sensitivity of a portion, but not all, of the touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel Brunet, Richard P. Collins, Luben H. Hristov, Steinar Myren, Trond J. Pedersen, Paul Stavely
  • Publication number: 20160291733
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus for detecting a touch. The apparatus includes a touch sensor that includes a first plurality of electrode lines and a second plurality of electrode lines. The apparatus also includes a touch sensor controller coupled to the touch sensor. The touch sensor controller is operable to apply a respective voltage pulse simultaneously to each of the first plurality of electrode lines, measure a respective signal at each of the second plurality of electrode lines, and detect a touch based on the measurement of the respective signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Samuel Brunet, Richard P. Collins, Luben H. Hristov, Steinar Myren, Trond J. Pedersen, Paul Stavely
  • Patent number: 9274656
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus for detecting a touch. The apparatus includes a touch sensor that includes a first plurality of electrode lines and a second plurality of electrode lines. The apparatus also includes a touch sensor controller coupled to the touch sensor. The touch sensor controller is operable to apply a respective voltage pulse simultaneously to each of the first plurality of electrode lines, measure a respective signal at each of the second plurality of electrode lines, and detect a touch based on the measurement of the respective signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel Brunet, Richard P. Collins, Luben H. Hristov, Steinar Myren, Trond J. Pedersen, Paul Stavely
  • Publication number: 20150002441
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for changing the detection range of a touch sensor includes receiving a signal associated with an operation of a device having a touch sensor, and in response to the signal, determining that a detection mode of the touch sensor associated with the device is to be changed. In response to the determination, decreasing sensitivity of a portion, but not all, of the touch sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Samuel Brunet, Richard P. Collins, Luben H. Hristov, Steinar Myren, Trond J. Pedersen, Paul Stavely
  • Publication number: 20150002444
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus for detecting a touch. The apparatus includes a touch sensor that includes a first plurality of electrode lines and a second plurality of electrode lines. The apparatus also includes a touch sensor controller coupled to the touch sensor. The touch sensor controller is operable to apply a respective voltage pulse simultaneously to each of the first plurality of electrode lines, measure a respective signal at each of the second plurality of electrode lines, and detect a touch based on the measurement of the respective signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Samuel Brunet, Richard P. Collins, Luben H. Hristov, Steinar Myren, Trond J. Pedersen, Paul Stavely