Patents by Inventor Steven Leonard Sanders
Steven Leonard Sanders 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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Publication number: 20230176692Abstract: Methods are disclosed for dynamic assignment of possible channels in a touch sensitive device having rows and columns. In an embodiment, a method determines a first signal space in which to generate signals for use in the touch sensor. Signals are then generated in the first signal space on separate ones of the rows and a column signal is sensed on a column. The first signal space is replaced with a second signal space, and a second plurality of signals is generated for use in the touch sensor in the second frequency space. The second plurality of signals is sensed to identify a touch event in the touch sensitive device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2022Publication date: June 8, 2023Applicant: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Darren Leigh, Clifton Forlines, Daniel Wigdor, Steven Leonard Sanders
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Patent number: 11520450Abstract: A low-latency touch sensitive device provides a method for determining a location of a touch event thereon. The touch sensitive device row conductors and column conductors, the path of each of the row conductors crossing the path of each of the column conductors. Each of a set of orthogonal row signals are simultaneously transmitted on a respective one of at least some of the row conductors and an amount of each of the plurality of orthogonal row signals present on each of the plurality of column conductors is detected. A set of orthogonal column signals are simultaneously transmitted on a respective one of at least some of the column conductors. An amount of each of the orthogonal column signals present on each of the plurality of row conductors is detected. The detected amount of each of the plurality of orthogonal row signals and the detected amount of each of the plurality of orthogonal column signals is used to determine the location of a touch event on the device.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Clifton Forlines, Darren Leigh, Daniel Wigdor, Steven Leonard Sanders
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Publication number: 20220253185Abstract: A system for processing user input includes an input device, an input processing unit, a high-latency subsystem, a low-latency subsystem, input processing unit software for generating signals in response to user inputs, and an output device. The low-latency subsystem processes signals corresponding to at least some events and generates corresponding programmable low-latency output, the programmable output being based, at least in part, on state information being maintained by the high-latency subsystem. The high-latency subsystem processes signals corresponding to at least some events, and generates corresponding output, the output of the high-latency subsystem being higher latency than the output of the low-latency subsystem with respect to a given event.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2021Publication date: August 11, 2022Applicant: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Daniel Wigdor, Steven Leonard Sanders, Ricardo Jorge Jota Costa, Clifton Forlines
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Patent number: 11029843Abstract: A touch sensitive keyboard is disclosed. In one embodiment, a touch sensitive keyboard is provided that has a touchpad area separate from the keyboard keys. The keyboard is configured to disabled touchpad sensitivity when certain touch signals are received. In another embodiment, a touch sensitive keyboard is used as a controller. In a controller mode, keys on a touch sensitive keyboard are adapted to output a signal strength corresponding to a distance between the key and a finger operating as a control. In an embodiment, a touch sensitive keyboard includes a processor adapted to output a keystroke in response to one of the plurality of touch sensitive keys being pressed, and to output one or more touch points determined by interpolating signal strength for each of the plurality of touch sensitive keys on the keyboard.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2017Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Clifton Forlines, David Holman, Stephen Dennis, Ricardo Jorge Jota Costa, Steven Leonard Sanders, David Clark Wilkinson, Braon Moseley, Bruno Rodrigues De Araujo
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Patent number: 11009998Abstract: A close-range motion detector has at least one transmitter, at least one receiver, and at least one more transmitter or receiver. The transmitter(s) transmit, and the receiver(s) receive signals in one of the ultrasonic or mm-wave ranges. Multiple transmitters or receivers are spaced apart from one-another along a plane, and transmission of a signal takes place at a known time. Echos of the signal that bounce of a scatterer are received and digitized during a receive window, and the time-of-flight is determined using CAF. Time scaling may be determined as well, and may be determined using CAF. The determined time-of-flight is used to determine an X-Y-coordinate for the scatterer, and its motion (e.g., velocity) can be determined, which are output. In an embodiment, a such a close-range motion detector can be implemented on the side of a smart-watch, making a virtual writing surface on the back of a user's hand.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2020Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Darren Leigh, Kaan Duman, Steven Leonard Sanders
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Patent number: 10871855Abstract: In an embodiment, a touch surface, such as a GUI is graphically divided into two or more input regions, and based on this division, input event paths from a single sensor can be integrated within an operating system to provide application developers with the ability to easily and effectively filter there-between. The graphical division allows an application developer to specify which elements of a given GUI take one path, versus another. In an embodiment, low-latency and high-latency event paths are provided; an algorithm takes into consideration input regions and, based on those regions, handles the low- and high-latency input event paths in a computer system, directing the appropriate inputs through the appropriate processing, and directing the output to the appropriate process or queue without creating constraints on the low-latency event processing due to the presence of higher-latency event paths for a given sensor.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2019Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Bruno Rodrigues De Araujo, Ricardo Jorge Jota Costa, Clifton Forlines, Steven Leonard Sanders
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Publication number: 20200387263Abstract: A close-range motion detector has at least one transmitter, at least one receiver, and at least one more transmitter or receiver. The transmitter(s) transmit, and the receiver(s) receive signals in one of the ultrasonic or mm-wave ranges. Multiple transmitters or receivers are spaced apart from one-another along a plane, and transmission of a signal takes place at a known time. Echos of the signal that bounce of a scatterer are received and digitized during a receive window, and the time-of-flight is determined using CAF. Time scaling may be determined as well, and may be determined using CAF. The determined time-of-flight is used to determine an X- Y-coordinate for the scatterer, and its motion (e.g., velocity) can be determined, which are output. In an embodiment, a such a close-range motion detector can be implemented on the side of a smart-watch, making a virtual writing surface on the back of a user's hand.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2020Publication date: December 10, 2020Applicant: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Darren Leigh, Kaan Duman, Steven Leonard Sanders
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Publication number: 20200319737Abstract: Methods are disclosed for dynamic assignment of possible channels in a touch sensitive device having rows and columns. In an embodiment, a method determines a first signal space in which to generate signals for use in the touch sensor. Signals are then generated in the first signal space on separate ones of the rows and a column signal is sensed on a column. The first signal space is replaced with a second signal space, and a second plurality of signals is generated for use in the touch sensor in the second frequency space. The second plurality of signals is sensed to identify a touch event in the touch sensitive device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2020Publication date: October 8, 2020Applicant: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Darren Leigh, Clifton Forlines, Daniel Wigdor, Steven Leonard Sanders
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Patent number: 10775899Abstract: Disclosed are keyboards and keyboard switches sensitive to touch, including, hover and pressure. The keyboard switches have transmit and receive antennae that are spaced apart such that no portion of the transmit antenna touches any portion of the receive antenna. The keyboard switches are arranged in logical rows and logical columns such that each of the keyboard switches is associated with one row and one column. Signal emitters are conductively coupled to the transmit antennae for each of the keyboard switches associated with each of the rows, and each of the signal emitters are adapted to cause each of the transmit antennae to transmit one or more source signals. Receivers are coupled to the receive antennae for each of the keyboard switches associated with each of the columns, and each of the receivers are adapted to capture a frame of signals present on the coupled receive antennae.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2019Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Braon Moseley, Steven Leonard Sanders, David Clark Wilkinson, Bruno Rodrigues De Araujo, Ricardo Jorge Jota Costa
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Publication number: 20200285332Abstract: A low-latency touch sensitive device provides a method for determining a location of a touch event thereon. The touch sensitive device row conductors and column conductors, the path of each of the row conductors crossing the path of each of the column conductors. Each of a set of orthogonal row signals are simultaneously transmitted on a respective one of at least some of the row conductors and an amount of each of the plurality of orthogonal row signals present on each of the plurality of column conductors is detected. A set of orthogonal column signals are simultaneously transmitted on a respective one of at least some of the column conductors. An amount of each of the orthogonal column signals present on each of the plurality of row conductors is detected. The detected amount of each of the plurality of orthogonal row signals and the detected amount of each of the plurality of orthogonal column signals is used to determine the location of a touch event on the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Applicant: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Clifton Forlines, Darren Leigh, Daniel Wigdor, Steven Leonard Sanders
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Patent number: 10754476Abstract: A close-range motion detector has at least one transmitter, at least one receiver, and at least one more transmitter or receiver. The transmitter(s) transmit, and the receiver(s) receive signals in one of the ultrasonic or mm-wave ranges. Multiple transmitters or receivers are spaced apart from one-another along a plane, and transmission of a signal takes place at a known time. Echos of the signal that bounce of a scatterer are received and digitized during a receive window, and the time-of-flight is determined using CAF. Time scaling may be determined as well, and may be determined using CAF. The determined time-of-flight is used to determine an X-Y-coordinate for the scatterer, and its motion (e.g., velocity) can be determined, which are output. In an embodiment, a such a close-range motion detector can be implemented on the side of a smart-watch, making a virtual writing surface on the back of a user's hand.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Darren Leigh, Kaan Duman, Steven Leonard Sanders
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Patent number: 10691251Abstract: A system and method for distinguishing between sources of simultaneous touch events on a touch sensitive device are disclosed. The touch sensitive device includes row conductors and column conductors, the path of each of the row conductors crossing the path of each of the column conductors. Orthogonal row signals are generated on the row conductors and orthogonal column signals are generated on the column conductors. In an embodiment, an amount of each of the plurality of orthogonal row signals present on each of the plurality of row conductors is detected, an amount of each of the plurality of orthogonal column signals present on each of the plurality of column conductors is detected, and at least one of such amounts is used to associate each of the plurality of simultaneous touch events with a discrete source.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2017Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Darren Leigh, Clifton Forlines, Ricardo Jorge Jota Costa, Daniel Wigdor, Steven Leonard Sanders
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Patent number: 10691279Abstract: Methods are disclosed for dynamic assignment of possible channels in a touch sensitive device having rows and columns. In an embodiment, a method determines a first signal space in which to generate signals for use in the touch sensor. Signals are then generated in the first signal space on separate ones of the rows and a column signal is sensed on a column. The first signal space is replaced with a second signal space, and a second plurality of signals is generated for use in the touch sensor in the second frequency space. The second plurality of signals is sensed to identify a touch event in the touch sensitive device.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2019Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Darren Leigh, Clifton Forlines, Daniel Wigdor, Steven Leonard Sanders
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Patent number: 10620746Abstract: In an embodiment, a touch sensitive device includes a touch interface having rows and columns and a signal generator for generating unique orthogonal signals on a plurality of the rows, respectively. A touch processor identifies touch on the touch interface by processing touch signals present on the columns, and outputting a stream of touch events. A decimator receives the stream of touch events, selectively identifies one or more of the touch events in the stream and assembles information concerning one or more touch events in the stream, and outputs both the selectively identified touch events and the assembled information for use by the touch sensitive device.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2019Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Ricardo Jorge Jota Costa, Clifton Forlines, Daniel Wigdor, Steven Leonard Sanders, Bruno Rodrigues De Araujo
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Patent number: 10551985Abstract: A low-latency touch sensitive device provides a method for determining a location of a touch event thereon. The touch sensitive device row conductors and column conductors, the path of each of the row conductors crossing the path of each of the column conductors. Each of a set of orthogonal row signals are simultaneously transmitted on a respective one of at least some of the row conductors and an amount of each of the plurality of orthogonal row signals present on each of the plurality of column conductors is detected. A set of orthogonal column signals are simultaneously transmitted on a respective one of at least some of the column conductors. An amount of each of the orthogonal column signals present on each of the plurality of row conductors is detected. The detected amount of each of the plurality of orthogonal row signals and the detected amount of each of the plurality of orthogonal column signals is used to determine the location of a touch event on the device.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2018Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Clifton Forlines, Darren Leigh, Daniel Wigdor, Steven Leonard Sanders
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Publication number: 20190294258Abstract: A touch sensitive keyboard is disclosed. In one embodiment, a touch sensitive keyboard is provided that has a touchpad area separate from the keyboard keys. The keyboard is configured to disabled touchpad sensitivity when certain touch signals are received. In another embodiment, a touch sensitive keyboard is used as a controller. In a controller mode, keys on a touch sensitive keyboard are adapted to output a signal strength corresponding to a distance between the key and a finger operating as a control. In an embodiment, a touch sensitive keyboard includes a processor adapted to output a keystroke in response to one of the plurality of touch sensitive keys being pressed, and to output one or more touch points determined by interpolating signal strength for each of the plurality of touch sensitive keys on the keyboard.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2017Publication date: September 26, 2019Applicant: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Clifton Forlines, David Holman, Stephen Dennis, Ricardo Jorge Jota Costa, Steven Leonard Sanders, David Clark Wilkinson, Braon Moseley, Bruno Rodrigues De Araujo
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Publication number: 20190250744Abstract: Methods are disclosed for dynamic assignment of possible channels in a touch sensitive device having rows and columns. In an embodiment, a method determines a first signal space in which to generate signals for use in the touch sensor. Signals are then generated in the first signal space on separate ones of the rows and a column signal is sensed on a column. The first signal space is replaced with a second signal space, and a second plurality of signals is generated for use in the touch sensor in the second frequency space. The second plurality of signals is sensed to identify a touch event in the touch sensitive device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Applicant: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Darren Leigh, Clifton Forlines, Daniel Wigdor, Steven Leonard Sanders
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Publication number: 20190220139Abstract: In an embodiment, a touch sensitive device includes a touch interface having rows and columns and a signal generator for generating unique orthogonal signals on a plurality of the rows, respectively. A touch processor identifies touch on the touch interface by processing touch signals present on the columns, and outputting a stream of touch events. A decimator receives the stream of touch events, selectively identifies one or more of the touch events in the stream and assembles information concerning one or more touch events in the stream, and outputs both the selectively identified touch events and the assembled information for use by the touch sensitive device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Applicant: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Ricardo Jorge Jota Costa, Clifton Forlines, Daniel Wigdor, Steven Leonard Sanders, Bruno Rodrigues De Araujo
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Publication number: 20190220145Abstract: In an embodiment, a touch surface, such as a GUI is graphically divided into two or more input regions, and based on this division, input event paths from a single sensor can be integrated within an operating system to provide application developers with the ability to easily and effectively filter there-between. The graphical division allows an application developer to specify which elements of a given GUI take one path, versus another. In an embodiment, low-latency and high-latency event paths are provided; an algorithm takes into consideration input regions and, based on those regions, handles the low- and high-latency input event paths in a computer system, directing the appropriate inputs through the appropriate processing, and directing the output to the appropriate process or queue without creating constraints on the low-latency event processing due to the presence of higher-latency event paths for a given sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Applicant: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Bruno Rodrigues De Araujo, Ricardo Jorge Jota Costa, Clifton Forlines, Steven Leonard Sanders
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Publication number: 20190196681Abstract: A system for processing user input includes an input device, an input processing unit, a high-latency subsystem, a low-latency subsystem, input processing unit software for generating signals in response to user inputs, and an output device. The low-latency subsystem processes signals corresponding to at least some events and generates corresponding programmable low-latency output, the programmable output being based, at least in part, on state information being maintained by the high-latency subsystem. The high-latency subsystem processes signals corresponding to at least some events, and generates corresponding output, the output of the high-latency subsystem being higher latency than the output of the low-latency subsystem with respect to a given event.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2019Publication date: June 27, 2019Applicant: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Daniel Wigdor, Steven Leonard Sanders, Ricardo Jorge Jota Costa, Clifton Forlines