Patents by Inventor Stephen L. Morein

Stephen L. Morein 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: 10796400
    Abstract: A graphics processing architecture in one example performs vertex manipulation operations and pixel manipulation operations by transmitting vertex data to a general purpose register block, and performing vertex operations on the vertex data by a processor unless the general purpose register block does not have enough available space therein to store incoming vertex data; and continues pixel calculation operations that are to be or are currently being performed by the processor based on instructions maintained in an instruction store until enough registers within the general purpose register block become available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Stephen L. Morein, Laurent Lefebvre, Andrew E. Gruber, Andi Skende
  • Patent number: 10795471
    Abstract: This disclosure generally provides an input device that includes a reference voltage modulator that modulates reference voltage rails when performing capacitive sensing. In one embodiment, reference voltage rails are coupled to a DC power source which provides power to operate a panel that includes a display screen integrated with a touch sensing region. Before performing capacitive sensing, the input device may isolate the DC power source from the reference voltage rails and use the reference voltage rails to modulate the rails—e.g., VDD and VGND. The input device may include a receiver that simultaneously acquires resulting signals from a plurality of display and/or sensor electrodes when modulating the reference voltage rails. The resulting signals can then be processed to determine if an input object is interacting with the input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Joseph Kurth Reynolds, Stephen L. Morein
  • Patent number: 10770023
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for overdriving pixel elements to a desired voltage. A display device comprises a pixel array and overdrive circuitry to determine a current pixel value for a first pixel element of the pixel array and a target pixel value for the first pixel element. The overdrive circuitry is further configured to determine a first voltage to be applied to the first pixel element to cause the first pixel element to transition from the current pixel value to the target pixel value by a first instance of time. The first voltage is determined based at least in part on a position of the first pixel element in the pixel array. The display device further comprises a data driver to apply the first voltage to the first pixel element before the first instance of time and a backlight to illuminate the pixel array at the first instance of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephen L. Morein
  • Patent number: 10762866
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for updating pixel elements of a display device. The display device comprises a pixel array including a plurality of pixel elements and one or more light sources to illuminate the pixel array at a first instance of time. A data driver is configured to receive a frame of display data corresponding to an image to be displayed on the pixel array at a first instance of time. The data driver scans each row of the pixel array, during a pixel adjustment period prior to the first instance of time, to drive a plurality of first voltages onto the plurality of pixel elements, respectively, based on the received frame. The data driver further rescans a subset of rows of the pixel array, during the pixel adjustment period, to drive second voltages onto respective pixel elements in the subset of rows based on the received frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephen L. Morein
  • Publication number: 20200258482
    Abstract: A method of transporting foveal image data is disclosed. A host device receives image data from an image source and renders a full field-of-view (FFOV) image using the image data. The host device further identifies a foveal region of the FFOV image and renders a foveal image corresponding to the foveal region using the image data. More specifically, the foveal image may have a higher resolution than the foveal region of the FFOV image. The host device may then transmit each of the foveal image and the FFOV image, in its entirety, to a display device. For example, the host device may concatenate the foveal image with the FFOV image to produce a frame buffer image, and then transmit the frame buffer image to the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventor: Stephen L. Morein
  • Patent number: 10727214
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) device. A first IC wafer is diced to obtain a first superdie including a plurality of first die. A second IC wafer is diced to obtain a second superdie including a plurality of second die. The first superdie and the second superdie are placed on an interposer substrate to form at least part of a composite IC wafer, wherein each of the first die is aligned with a respective one of the second die in the composite IC wafer. The composite IC wafer is diced to obtain a plurality of IC devices, where each of the IC devices includes a respective one of the first die and the second die with which it is aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephen L. Morein
  • Patent number: 10665209
    Abstract: A method of transporting foveal image data is disclosed. A host device receives image data from an image source and renders a full field-of-view (FFOV) image using the image data. The host device further identifies a foveal region of the FFOV image and renders a foveal image corresponding to the foveal region using the image data. More specifically, the foveal image may have a higher resolution than the foveal region of the FFOV image. The host device may then transmit each of the foveal image and the FFOV image, in its entirety, to a display device. For example, the host device may concatenate the foveal image with the FFOV image to produce a frame buffer image, and then transmit the frame buffer image to the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephen L. Morein
  • Publication number: 20200075345
    Abstract: A system and method for thinning an integrated circuit (IC) wafer. The system includes a support structure to hold the IC wafer and a mechanism to operate on the IC wafer. The support structure includes one or more inductive coils configured to transmit a power signal to the IC wafer and receive a feedback signal from the IC wafer. The system further includes a process controller to control the operation based at least in part on the feedback signal received from the IC wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventor: Stephen L. MOREIN
  • Publication number: 20200074948
    Abstract: A system and method for updating a display device comprises a first charge pump configured to drive a first gate line of the display device with a first voltage during a first period, a second charge pump configured to transition the first gate line from the first voltage to a second voltage during a second period, a third charge pump configured to drive the first gate line with the second voltage during a third period, and a fourth charge pump configured to transition the first gate line from the second voltage to the first voltage during a fourth period, wherein the first period occurs before the second period, the second period occurs before the third period, and the third period occurs before the fourth period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventor: Stephen L. MOREIN
  • Publication number: 20200074949
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for updating pixel elements of a display device. The display device comprises a pixel array including a plurality of pixel elements and one or more light sources to illuminate the pixel array at a first instance of time. A data driver is configured to receive a frame of display data corresponding to an image to be displayed on the pixel array at a first instance of time. The data driver scans each row of the pixel array, during a pixel adjustment period prior to the first instance of time, to drive a plurality of first voltages onto the plurality of pixel elements, respectively, based on the received frame. The data driver further rescans a subset of rows of the pixel array, during the pixel adjustment period, to drive second voltages onto respective pixel elements in the subset of rows based on the received frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventor: Stephen L. Morein
  • Publication number: 20200075566
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) device. A first IC wafer is diced to obtain a first superdie including a plurality of first die. A second IC wafer is diced to obtain a second superdie including a plurality of second die. The first superdie and the second superdie are placed on an interposer substrate to form at least part of a composite IC wafer, wherein each of the first die is aligned with a respective one of the second die in the composite IC wafer. The composite IC wafer is diced to obtain a plurality of IC devices, where each of the IC devices includes a respective one of the first die and the second die with which it is aligned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventor: Stephen L. MOREIN
  • Patent number: 10573214
    Abstract: A hierarchical gate driver circuit for an array of pixel elements. The hierarchical gate driver circuit includes a shift register and two or more groups of gate lines drivers. The shift register is configured to activate a plurality of select lines based at least in part on a periodic clock signal. A first group of gate line drivers is configured to drive a plurality of first gate lines, each coupled to a respective row of first pixel elements in the array, when a first select line of the plurality of select lines is activated. A second group of gate line drivers is configured to drive a plurality of second gate lines, each coupled to a respective row of second pixel elements in the array, when a second select line of the plurality of select lines is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Stephen L. Morein
  • Publication number: 20200043127
    Abstract: A graphics processing architecture in one example performs vertex manipulation operations and pixel manipulation operations by transmitting vertex data to a general purpose register block, and performing vertex operations on the vertex data by a processor unless the general purpose register block does not have enough available space therein to store incoming vertex data; and continues pixel calculation operations that are to be or are currently being performed by the processor based on instructions maintained in an instruction store until enough registers within the general purpose register block become available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen L. Morein, Laurent Lefebvre, Andrew F. Gruber, Andi Skende
  • Patent number: 10504463
    Abstract: A system and method for updating a display panel having a plurality of display lines, a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of pixels. A first pixel pair of the pixels is coupled to at least three gate lines and two source lines. A display driver is coupled to the source lines, and is configured to drive the source lines to update the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Stephen L. Morein
  • Publication number: 20190371253
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for content adaptive backlight control (CABC) is disclosed. A display device comprises a display surface including a plurality of pixel elements and a backlight configured to illuminate the display surface. A display driver of the display device is configured to receive a frame of display data, including pixel data for displaying an image on the display surface and backlight configuration data for adjusting the backlight when displaying the image. The display driver is further configured to update the plurality of pixel elements using the pixel data, and update an intensity of the backlight using the backlight configuration data. More specifically, the updates to the backlight and the display surface are performed concurrently for the received frame of display data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventor: Stephen L. MOREIN
  • Publication number: 20190371258
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for overdriving pixel elements to a desired voltage. A display device comprises a pixel array and overdrive circuitry to determine a current pixel value for a first pixel element of the pixel array and a target pixel value for the first pixel element. The overdrive circuitry is further configured to determine a first voltage to be applied to the first pixel element to cause the first pixel element to transition from the current pixel value to the target pixel value by a first instance of time. The first voltage is determined based at least in part on a position of the first pixel element in the pixel array. The display device further comprises a data driver to apply the first voltage to the first pixel element before the first instance of time and a backlight to illuminate the pixel array at the first instance of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventor: Stephen L. MOREIN
  • Publication number: 20190371681
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a stacked wafer integrated circuit (IC) device. The method is performed by fabricating first circuitry on a top surface of a first IC wafer and depositing one or more electrical insulators, between the first circuitry, through a depth of the first IC wafer such that the one or more electrical insulators are not exposed on a bottom surface of the first IC wafer. Layers of semiconductor substrate are subsequently removed from a bottom surface of the first IC wafer until the one or more electrical insulators become exposed on the bottom surface of the first IC wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventor: Stephen L. MOREIN
  • Patent number: 10489876
    Abstract: A graphics processing architecture in one example performs vertex manipulation operations and pixel manipulation operations by transmitting vertex data to a general purpose register block, and performing vertex operations on the vertex data by a processor unless the general purpose register block does not have enough available space therein to store incoming vertex data; and continues pixel calculation operations that are to be or are currently being performed by the processor based on instructions maintained in an instruction store until enough registers within the general purpose register block become available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Stephen L. Morein, Laurent Lefebvre, Andrew E. Gruber, Andi Skende
  • Patent number: 10394391
    Abstract: In an example, a processing system for an integrated display device and capacitive sensing device includes driver circuitry and a driver module. The driver circuitry is configured for coupling to a plurality of source lines and a plurality of sensor electrodes, where each of the plurality of sensor electrodes comprises at least one common electrode configured for display updating and capacitive sensing. The driver module is coupled to the driver circuitry and configured to drive the plurality of sensor electrodes for capacitive sensing during a first non-display update period that occurs between first and second display line update periods of a display frame, where the non-display update period is at least as long as one of the first and second display line update periods. The driver module is further configured to operate each of the plurality of source lines to reduce display artifacts during the non-display update period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Joseph Kurth Reynolds, Stephen L. Morein, Prashant Shamarao
  • Publication number: 20190122642
    Abstract: A method of transporting foveal image data is disclosed. A host device receives image data from an image source and renders a full field-of-view (FFOV) image using the image data. The host device further identifies a foveal region of the FFOV image and renders a foveal image corresponding to the foveal region using the image data. More specifically, the foveal image may have a higher resolution than the foveal region of the FFOV image. The host device may then transmit each of the foveal image and the FFOV image, in its entirety, to a display device. For example, the host device may concatenate the foveal image with the FFOV image to produce a frame buffer image, and then transmit the frame buffer image to the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventor: Stephen L. Morein