Patents by Inventor Steven A. Porter
Steven A. Porter 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).
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Patent number: 9760200Abstract: Displays with touch sensing circuitry integrated into the display pixel stackup are provided. An integrated touch screen can include multi-function circuit elements that can operate as circuitry of the display system to generate an image on the display, and can also form part of a touch sensing system that senses one or more touches on or near the display. The multi-function circuit elements can be, for example, capacitors in display pixels that can be configured to operate as storage capacitors/electrodes, common electrodes, conductive wires/pathways, etc., of the display circuitry in the display system, and that may also be configured to operate as circuit elements of the touch sensing circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2015Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steven Porter Hotelling, Marduke Yousefpor, Shih Chang Chang, John Z. Zhong
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Patent number: 9715306Abstract: A multi-stimulus controller for a multi-touch sensor is formed on a single integrated circuit (single-chip). The multi-stimulus controller includes a transmit oscillator, a transmit signal section that generates a plurality of drive signals based on a frequency of the transmit oscillator, a plurality of transmit channels that transmit the drive signals simultaneously to drive the multi-touch sensor, a receive channel that receives a sense signal resulting from the driving of the multi-touch sensor, a receive oscillator, and a demodulation section that demodulates the received sense signal based on a frequency of the receive oscillator to obtain sensing results, the demodulation section including a demodulator and a vector operator.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2016Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steven Porter Hotelling, Christoph Horst Krah, Marduke Yousefpor, Thomas James Wilson
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Patent number: 9632622Abstract: Ground detection of a touch sensitive device is disclosed. The device can detect its grounded state so that poor grounding can be selectively compensated for in touch signals outputted by the device. The device can include one or more components to monitor certain conditions of the device. The device can analyze the monitored conditions to determine the grounding condition of the device. The device can apply a function to compensate its touch signal outputs if the device determines that it is poorly grounded. Conversely, the device can omit the function if the device determines that it is well grounded.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2009Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steven Porter Hotelling, David T. Amm, Michael Lammers, John T. Orchard, Brian Michael King, Omar Leung, Deniz Teoman
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Patent number: 9547394Abstract: A multipoint touch surface controller is disclosed herein. The controller includes an integrated circuit including output circuitry for driving a capacitive multi-touch sensor and input circuitry for reading the sensor. Also disclosed herein are various noise rejection and dynamic range enhancement techniques that permit the controller to be used with various sensors in various conditions without reconfiguring hardware.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2009Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steven Porter Hotelling, Christoph Horst Krah, Brian Quentin Huppi
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Publication number: 20170010744Abstract: A multi-stimulus controller for a multi-touch sensor is formed on a single integrated circuit (single-chip). The multi-stimulus controller includes a transmit oscillator, a transmit signal section that generates a plurality of drive signals based on a frequency of the transmit oscillator, a plurality of transmit channels that transmit the drive signals simultaneously to drive the multi-touch sensor, a receive channel that receives a sense signal resulting from the driving of the multi-touch sensor, a receive oscillator, and a demodulation section that demodulates the received sense signal based on a frequency of the receive oscillator to obtain sensing results, the demodulation section including a demodulator and a vector operator.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2016Publication date: January 12, 2017Inventors: Steven Porter HOTELLING, Christoph Horst KRAH, Marduke YOUSEFPOR, Thomas James WILSON
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Publication number: 20170001469Abstract: A process provides two or more strands of rope formed of a fibrous matrix material. Further, the process threads the strands singly and in parallel under tension into a coating container. In addition, the process applies a curable fluid matrix to at least some of the strands. The process also draws the strands through a constricting orifice to bond them together along their length to form a composite rope. Further, the process cures the composite rope to form a rigid structure. An apparatus comprises an armature, a wire mesh that is operably attached to the armature, and an epoxy coated rope that is operably attached to the wire mesh. The epoxy coated rope comprises glass fiber.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2015Publication date: January 5, 2017Inventor: Steven Porter
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Publication number: 20160364078Abstract: The use of multiple stimulation signals having one or more frequencies and one or more phases to generate an image of touch on a touch sensor panel is disclosed. Each of a plurality of sense channels can be coupled to a column in a touch sensor panel and can have one or more mixers. Each mixer in the sense channel can utilize a circuit capable generating a demodulation frequency of a particular frequency. At each of multiple steps, various phases of one or more selected frequencies can be used to simultaneously stimulate the rows of the touch sensor panel, and the one or more mixers in each sense channel can be configured to demodulate the signal received from the column connected to each sense channel using the one or more selected frequencies. After all steps have been completed, the demodulated signals from the one or more mixers can be used in calculations to determine an image of touch for the touch sensor panel at each of the one or more frequencies.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2016Publication date: December 15, 2016Inventors: Christoph Horst KRAH, Steven Porter HOTELLING, Sean Erik O'CONNOR, Wayne Carl WESTERMAN
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Patent number: 9444453Abstract: Measuring an effect of body capacitance in a touch sensitive device is disclosed. This effect can be caused by poor grounding of a user or other objects touching the device or of the device itself. The device can operate in a stray capacitance mode to measure a body capacitance effect and in a normal mode to detect a touch on the device. During the stray capacitance mode, the device can obtain a body capacitance measurement from the device. During the normal mode, the device can obtain a touch measurement from the device. The device can calculate a body capacitance factor based on a ratio between the body capacitance measurement and the touch measurement and use the body capacitance factor to compensate for erroneous or distorted touch output values from the device. Various components of the device can be switchably configured according to the particular mode.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2009Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christoph Horst Krah, Steven Porter Hotelling, Marduke Yousefpor
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Publication number: 20160216153Abstract: Remote control systems that can distinguish predetermined light sources from stray light sources, e.g., environmental light sources and/or reflections are provided. The predetermined light sources can be disposed in asymmetric substantially linear or two-dimensional patterns. The predetermined light sources also can output waveforms modulated in accordance with one or more signature modulation characteristics. The predetermined light sources also can output light at different signature wavelengths.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2016Publication date: July 28, 2016Inventors: Steven Porter Hotelling, Nicholas Vincent King, Duncan Robert Kerr, Wing Kong Low
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Publication number: 20160198785Abstract: An apparatus comprises a wire mesh that is shaped according to an artificial foliage pattern. The wire mesh is coated with a coating to match a characteristic of the artificial foliage pattern. The coating fills in spaces between the wire mesh to produce a translucent structure in the spaces that filters light. The mesh size, mesh materials, and the type of coating, e.g., type of paint, are selected so that the coating fills in the spaces to produce a translucent structure that is thin yet strong. The thin translucent structure allows light to filter through in a natural manner. A process performs the shaping and coating of the wire mesh.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2015Publication date: July 14, 2016Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Zsolt Hormay, Steven Porter
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Publication number: 20160154525Abstract: Capacitive touch panels may include a plurality of positive voltage lines that are driven at a first phase. These positive voltage lines may be used to provide the drive capacitance signal sensed by one or more sense regions. The touch panels may also include a plurality of negative phase voltage lines that are driven at a phase that is different than the first phase. Both the positive and negative voltage lines may cross-under one or more sense regions. The negative phase voltage lines are able to counter act and reduce the static capacitance in the sense regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2016Publication date: June 2, 2016Inventors: Steven Porter HOTELLING, Marduke YOUSEFPOR
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Patent number: 9335870Abstract: Clamping of a circuit element of a touch screen, such as a gate line of the display system of the touch screen, to a fixed voltage is provided. The circuit element can be clamped during a touch phase and unclamped during a display phase of the touch screen. A gate line system of a touch screen can include a first transistor with a source or drain connected to a first gate line, a second transistor with a source or drain connected to a second gate line, and a common conductive pathway connecting gates of the first and second transistors. A synchronization system can switch the first and second transistors to connect the first and second gate lines to a fixed voltage during a touch phase, and can switch the first and second transistors to disconnect the first and second gate lines from the fixed voltage during a display phase.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2010Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Marduke Yousefpor, Steven Porter Hotelling, Kevin J. White
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Patent number: 9329703Abstract: An intelligent stylus is disclosed. The stylus can provide a stylus condition in addition to a touch input. The stylus architecture can include multiple sensors to sense information indicative of the stylus condition, a microcontroller to determine the stylus condition based on the sensed information, and a transmitter to transmit the determined condition to a corresponding touch sensitive device so as to cause some action based on the condition.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2011Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: David R. Falkenburg, David I. Simon, Jonah A. Harley, Andrea Mucignat, Brian Richards Land, Christopher Tenzin Mullens, Steven Porter Hotelling
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Patent number: 9329723Abstract: Reconstruction of an original touch image from a differential touch image is disclosed. Reconstruction can include aligning columns of the differential touch image relative to each other and aligning the image to a baseline DC value. The column and baseline alignment can be based on the differential image data indicative of no touch or hover, because such data can more clearly show the amount of alignment needed to reconstruct the original image. The reconstruction can be performed using the differential image data alone. The reconstruction can also be performed using the differential image data and common mode data indicative of the missing image column average.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2012Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ari Y. Benbasat, William Matthew Vieta, Wayne Carl Westerman, Steven Porter Hotelling
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Patent number: 9316535Abstract: Remote control systems that can distinguish predetermined light sources from stray light sources, e.g., environmental light sources and/or reflections are provided. The predetermined light sources can be disposed in asymmetric substantially linear or two-dimensional patterns. The predetermined light sources also can output waveforms modulated in accordance with one or more signature modulation characteristics. The predetermined light sources also can output light at different signature wavelengths.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2014Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Steven Porter Hotelling, Nicholas Vincent King, Duncan Robert Kerr, Wing Kong Low
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Patent number: 9285909Abstract: Reduction of the effects of differences in parasitic capacitances in touch screens is provided. A touch screen can include multiple display pixels with stackups that each include a first element and a second element. For example, the first element can be a common electrode, and the second element can be a data line. The display pixels can include a first display pixel including a third element connected to the first element, and the third element can contribute to a first parasitic capacitance between the first and second elements of the first display pixel, for example, by overlapping with the second element. The touch screen can also include a second display pixel lacking the third element. The second display pixel can include a second parasitic capacitance between the first and second elements of the second display pixel. The first and second parasitic capacitances can be substantially equal, for example.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2010Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Shih Chang Chang, Steven Porter Hotelling, Cheng Ho Yu
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Patent number: 9268445Abstract: Capacitive touch panels may include a plurality of positive voltage lines that are driven at a first phase. These positive voltage lines may be used to provide the drive capacitance signal sensed by one or more sense regions. The touch panels may also include a plurality of negative phase voltage lines that are driven at a phase that is different than the first phase. Both the positive and negative voltage lines may cross-under one or more sense regions. The negative phase voltage lines are able to counter act and reduce the static capacitance in the sense regions.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2013Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steven Porter Hotelling, Marduke Yousefpor
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Publication number: 20150363032Abstract: Displays with touch sensing circuitry integrated into the display pixel stackup are provided. An integrated touch screen can include multi-function circuit elements that can operate as circuitry of the display system to generate an image on the display, and can also form part of a touch sensing system that senses one or more touches on or near the display. The multi-function circuit elements can be, for example, capacitors in display pixels that can be configured to operate as storage capacitors/electrodes, common electrodes, conductive wires/pathways, etc., of the display circuitry in the display system, and that may also be configured to operate as circuit elements of the touch sensing circuitry.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2015Publication date: December 17, 2015Inventors: Steven Porter HOTELLING, Marduke YOUSEFPOR, Shih Chang CHANG, John Z. ZHONG
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Patent number: 9201547Abstract: A touch sensor panel configured to detect objects touching the panel as well as objects that are at a varying proximity to the touch sensor panel. The touch sensor panel includes circuitry that can configure the panel in a mutual capacitance (near field) architecture or a self-capacitance (far field and super far field) architecture. The touch sensor panel can also include circuitry that works to minimize an effect that a parasitic capacitance can have on the ability of the touch sensor panel to reliably detect touch and proximity events.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2012Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: John Greer Elias, Steven Porter Hotelling
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Patent number: 9183799Abstract: With respect to liquid crystal display inversion schemes, a large change in voltage on a data line can affect the voltages on adjacent data lines due to capacitive coupling between data lines. The resulting change in voltage on these adjacent data lines can give rise to visual artifacts in the data lines' corresponding sub-pixels. Various embodiments of the present disclosure serve to prevent or reduce these visual artifacts by applying voltage to a data line more than once during the write sequence. Doing so can allow erroneous brightening or darkening caused by large voltage swings to be overwritten without causing additional large voltage swings on the data line.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steven Porter Hotelling, Marduke Yousefpor, Hopil Bae