Patents by Inventor Richard Stuart

Richard Stuart 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: 11714541
    Abstract: A touch sensor system includes touch sensors, drive-sense circuits (DSCs), memory, and a processing module. A DSC drives a first signal via a single line coupling to a touch sensor and simultaneously senses, when present, a second signal that is uniquely associated with a user. The DSC processes the first signal and/or the second signal to generate a digital signal that is representative of an electrical characteristic of the touch sensor. The processing module executes operational instructions (stored in the memory) to process the digital signal to detect interaction of the user with the touch sensor and to determine whether the interaction of the user with the touch sensor compares favorably with authorization. When not authorized, the processing module aborts execution of operation(s) associated with the interaction of the user with the touch sensor. Alternatively, when authorized, the processing module facilitates execution of the operation(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20230236557
    Abstract: A rotating equipment system with in-line drive-sense circuit (DSC) electric power signal processing includes rotating equipment, in-line drive-sense circuits (DSCs), and one or more processing modules. The in-line DSCs receive input electrical power signals and generate motor drive signals for the rotating equipment. An in-line DSC receives an input electrical power signal, processes it to generate and output a motor drive signal to the rotating equipment via a single line and simultaneously senses the motor drive signal via the single line. Based on the sensing of the motor drive signal via the single line, the in-line DSC provides a digital signal to the one or more processing modules that receive and process the digital signal to determine information regarding one or more operational conditions of the rotating equipment, and based thereon, selectively facilitate one or more adaptation operations on the motor drive signal via the in-line DSC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR.
  • Publication number: 20230236623
    Abstract: A programmable drive-sense unit (DSU) includes a drive-sense circuit operably coupled to a load, wherein the drive-sense circuit is configured to drive and simultaneously to sense the load via a single line, and produce an analog output based on the sensing the load. The programmable DSU also includes an analog to digital circuit operably coupled to the drive-sense circuit, where the analog to digital circuit is operable to generate a digital output based on the analog output and in accordance with one or more programmable operational parameters to achieve one or more of load sensing objectives associated with the sensing of the load and data processing objectives associated with the sensing of the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Patrick Troy Gray, Michael Shawn Gray, Timothy W. Markison
  • Publication number: 20230236579
    Abstract: An automated system includes transducers, at least one computing device, and at least one automated apparatus. The transducer(s) is/are driven and sensed using drive-sense circuit(s). A drives and senses drive and sense a transducer via a single line, generates a digital signal representative of a sensed analog feature to which the transducer is exposed, and transmits the digital signal to the computing device. The computing device receives digital signals from at least some of drive-sense circuits and process them in accordance with the automation process to produce an automated process command. The automated apparatus executes a portion of an automated process based on the automated process command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR.
  • Publication number: 20230234444
    Abstract: A sensor system operates by: communicating a first ID signal at a first frequency between a first passenger restraint and a first sensor circuit of a touch screen through a body of a first user in a first occupancy area; receiving first sensed signal data from the first sensor circuit indicating a possible interaction with a first interactable element at a first touch screen location based on changes in electrical properties of an electrode of the first sensor circuit; determining the first sensed signal data indicates detection of the first frequency; when permissions data for the first occupancy area indicates occupants of the first occupancy area can interact with the first interactable element, facilitate performance of a functionality associated with the first interactable element; when permissions data for the first occupancy area indicates occupants of the first occupancy area cannot interact with the first interactable element, foregoing performance of the functionality associated with the interaction
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Kevin Joseph Derichs, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand
  • Publication number: 20230236578
    Abstract: An automated system includes transducers, at least one computing device, and at least one automated apparatus. The transducer(s) is/are driven and sensed using drive-sense circuit(s). A drives and senses drive and sense a transducer via a single line, generates a digital signal representative of a sensed analog feature to which the transducer is exposed, and transmits the digital signal to the computing device. The computing device receives digital signals from at least some of drive-sense circuits and process them in accordance with the automation process to produce an automated process command. The automated apparatus executes a portion of an automated process based on the automated process command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20230234445
    Abstract: A sensor system operates by: communicating a first ID signal at a first frequency between a first perimeter sensor and a first sensor circuit of a touch screen through a body of a first user in a first occupancy area; receiving first sensed signal data from the first sensor circuit indicating a possible interaction with a first interactable element at a first touch screen location based on changes in electrical properties of an electrode of the first sensor circuit; determining the first sensed signal data indicates detection of the first frequency; when permissions data for the first occupancy area indicates occupants of the first occupancy area can interact with the first interactable element, facilitate performance of a functionality associated with the first interactable element; when permissions data for the first occupancy area indicates occupants of the first occupancy area cannot interact with the first interactable element, foregoing performance of the functionality associated with the interaction wi
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Kevin Joseph Derichs, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand
  • Patent number: 11709563
    Abstract: A touch screen display includes a plurality of sets of electrodes facilitating touch sense functionality based on electrode signals having a drive signal component and a receive signal component. Each set of electrodes includes a corresponding proper subset of non-neighboring ones of a plurality of row electrodes and a corresponding proper subset of non-neighboring ones of a plurality of column electrodes. The row electrodes and the column electrodes form a plurality of cross points. The touch screen display further includes a plurality of sets of drive-sense circuits, where each set of drive-sense circuits is operable to generate a proper subset of a plurality of sensed signals indicating variations in capacitance associated with a proper subset of the plurality of cross points formed by a corresponding set of electrodes. The touch screen display further includes a processing module operable to process the plurality of sensed signals identify a user interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11709204
    Abstract: A battery characterization system includes a drive-sense circuit (DSC), memory that stores operational instructions, and processing module(s) operably coupled to the DSC and the memory. Based on a reference signal, the DSC generates a charge signal, which includes an AC (alternating current) component, and provides the charge signal to a terminal of a battery via a single line and simultaneously to senses the charge signal via the single line to detect an electrical characteristic of the battery based on a response of the battery. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the electrical characteristic of the battery. The processing module(s), based on the operational instructions, generate the reference signal to include a frequency sweep of the AC component of the charge signal (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Michael Frederick David Olley, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11709561
    Abstract: A computing device includes signal generation circuitry and also includes a location on the computing device that is operative to couple a signal generated by the signal generation circuitry into a user. For example, the computing device includes signal generation circuitry that generates a signal that includes information corresponding to a user and/or an application that is operative within the computing device. The signal generation circuitry couples the signal into the user from a location on the computing device based on a bodily portion of the user being in contact with or within sufficient proximity to the location on the computing device that facilitates coupling of the signal into the user. Also, the signal may be coupled via the user to another computing device that includes a touchscreen display that is operative to detect and receive the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Shayne X. Short, Timothy W. Markison
  • Patent number: 11709205
    Abstract: A battery characterization system includes a drive-sense circuit (DSC), memory that stores operational instructions, and processing module(s) operably coupled to the DSC and the memory. Based on a reference signal, the DSC generates a charge signal, which includes an AC (alternating current) component, and provides the charge signal to a terminal of a battery via a single line and simultaneously to senses the charge signal via the single line to detect an electrical characteristic of the battery based on a response of the battery. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the electrical characteristic of the battery. The processing module(s), based on the operational instructions, generate the reference signal to include a frequency sweep of the AC component of the charge signal (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Michael Frederick David Olley, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20230213465
    Abstract: A sensing device includes at least one vibration sensor that responds to sensed vibrations. At least one drive-sense circuit is coupled to the vibration sensor, wherein the at least one drive-sense circuit includes: a first conversion circuit configured to convert a receive signal component of a sensor signal corresponding to the at least one vibration sensor into the sensed signal, wherein the sensed signal indicates a change in an electrical characteristic associated with the at least one vibration sensor; and a second conversion circuit configured to generate, based on the sensed signal, a drive signal component of the sensor signal corresponding to the at least one vibration sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR.
  • Publication number: 20230214043
    Abstract: A method for comprises determining, for an interaction between a user computing device and the interactive computing device, an interaction type. The method further comprises determining a plurality of data types for supporting the interaction based on the interaction type. The method further comprises determining available communication types of a plurality of communication types for supporting the interaction. The method further comprises determining a first data type is restricted to transmitting via a screen to screen (STS) communication. The method further comprises determining a second data type of the plurality of data types is allowed for transmitting via a second communication type. When the available communication types include STS communication and the second communication type, facilitating execution of the interaction utilizing the STS communication for transmitting data having the first data type and utilizing the second communication type for data having the second data type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Gerald Dale Morrison, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Timothy W. Markison
  • Patent number: 11693497
    Abstract: An e-pen includes e-pen sensor electrodes (including a first and a second e-pen sensor electrode) and drive-sense circuits (DSCs) (including a first DSC and a second DSC. The first DSC drives a first e-pen signal having a first frequency via a first single line coupling to the first e-pen sensor electrode and simultaneously senses, via the first single line, the first e-pen signal. Based on e-pen/touch sensor device interaction, the first e-pen signal is coupled into at least one touch sensor electrode of the touch sensor device. The first DSC process the first e-pen signal to generate a first digital signal representative of a first electrical characteristic of the first e-pen sensor electrode. Similarly, the second DSC drives a second e-pen signal having a second frequency via a second single line coupling to the second e-pen sensor electrode and simultaneously senses, via the second single line, the second e-pen signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Michael Shawn Gray, Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Patent number: 11693811
    Abstract: A low voltage drive circuit includes a transmit digital to analog circuit that converts transmit digital data into analog outbound data by: generating a DC component; generating a first oscillation at a first frequency; generating a second oscillation at the first frequency; and outputting the first oscillation or the second oscillation on a bit-by-bit basis in accordance with the transmit digital data to produce an oscillating component, wherein the DC component is combined with the oscillating component to produce the analog outbound data, and wherein the oscillating component and the DC component are combined to produce the analog outbound data. A drive sense circuit drives an analog transmit signal onto a bus, wherein the analog outbound data is represented within the analog transmit signal as variances in loading of the bus at the first frequency and wherein analog inbound data is represented within an analog receive signal as variances in loading of the bus at a second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Gerald Dale Morrison, Timothy W. Markison
  • Publication number: 20230202299
    Abstract: A method includes receiving sensed signal data from at least one circuit based on a user in proximity to at least one electrode corresponding to the at least one circuit. Anatomical feature mapping data indicating a position of a hand detected in proximity to an interactable element in a first location within a vehicle is generated based on the sensed signal data. Button feedback display data visually depicting the position of the hand in spatial relation to the position of the interactable element is generated based on the anatomical feature mapping data, and the button feedback display data is displayed via a display device. A touch-based interaction with the interactable element is detected after facilitating display of the button feedback display data. Performance of a vehicle function is facilitated by a vehicle based on detecting the touch-based interaction with the interactable element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Michael Shawn Gray, Patrick Troy Gray, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Kevin Joseph Derichs
  • Publication number: 20230205355
    Abstract: A computing device includes signal generation circuitry and also includes a location on the computing device that is operative to couple a signal generated by the signal generation circuitry into a user. For example, the computing device includes signal generation circuitry that generates a signal that includes information corresponding to a user and/or an application that is operative within the computing device. The signal generation circuitry couples the signal into the user from a location on the computing device based on a bodily portion of the user being in contact with or within sufficient proximity to the location on the computing device that facilitates coupling of the signal into the user. Also, the signal may be coupled via the user to another computing device that includes a touchscreen display that is operative to detect and receive the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, JR., Shayne X. Short, Ph.D., Timothy W. Markison
  • Patent number: 11681323
    Abstract: A method executable by a low voltage drive circuit (LVDC) includes receiving an analog receive signal, converting the analog receive signal into analog inbound data, converting the analog inbound data into digital inbound data, filtering the digital inbound data to produce filtered digital data, sampling and holding an n-bit digital value of the filtered digital data to produce an n-bit sampled digital data value, adjusting formatting of the n-bit sampled digital data value to produce a formatted digital value, and generating a packet of received digital data from a plurality of formatted digital values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Gerald Dale Morrison, Timothy W. Markisen
  • Patent number: 11681402
    Abstract: A touch sensor device (TSD) includes TSD electrodes associated with a surface of the TSD. Also, an overlay that includes marker electrode(s) is also associated with a region of the surface of the TSD. The TSD also includes drive-sense circuits (DSCs) operably coupled to the plurality of TSD electrodes. A DSC is configured to provide a TSD electrode signal to a TSD electrode and simultaneously to sense a change of the TSD electrode signal based on a change of impedance of the TSD electrode caused by capacitive coupling between the TSD electrode and the marker electrode(s) of the overlay. Processing module(s) is configured to process a digital signal generated by the DSC and other digital signals generated by other DSCs determine the region of the surface of the TSD that is associated with the overlay and to adapt sensitivity of the TSD within that region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SigmaSense, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Kevin Joseph Derichs, Shayne X. Short, Timothy W. Markison
  • Patent number: 11681641
    Abstract: A method for execution by a low voltage drive circuit (LVDC) operably coupled to a bus includes, when activated, setting data reception for a control channel of a plurality of channels on the bus, where the control channel is a sinusoidal signal having a known frequency. The method further includes receiving the control channel and capturing a cycle of the control channel when the control channel is void of a data communication. The method further includes comparing the cycle of the control channel with a cycle of a first receive clock signal of the LVDC and when the cycle of a first receive clock signal compares unfavorably to the cycle of the control channel, adjusting phase and/or frequency of the cycle of the first receive clock signal to substantially match phase and/or frequency of the cycle of the control channel to produce an adjusted first receive clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Gerald Dale Morrison, Timothy W. Markison