Patents Issued in March 20, 2018
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Patent number: 9921658Abstract: A device and method in accordance with the present disclosure provide an input to an electronic device via a gesture performed by a user. A distortion of the user's skin surface due to a gesture performed on the user's skin surface is detected, and a characteristic of the detected distortion is determined. Based on the determined characteristic, the gesture performed on the user's skin surface is determined.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2014Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Sony Mobile Communications, Inc.Inventors: Magnus Midholt, Ola Thorn, David de Leon
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Patent number: 9921659Abstract: A user can make a symbol with their hand, or other such gesture, at a distance from a computing device that can be captured by at least one imaging element of the device. The captured information can be analyzed to attempt to determine the location of distinguishing features of the symbol in the image information. The image information is then compared to hand gesture information stored in, for example, a library of hand gestures for the user. Upon identifying a match, an input to an application executing on the computing device is provided when the image information contains information matching at least one hand gesture with at least a minimum level of certainty. The hand gesture could include a single “static” gesture, such as a specific letter in sign language, for example, or include two or more “static” gestures. The gesture could also include motion, such as hand movement.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2014Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jason R. Weber, Isaac S. Noble, Dong Zhou, Stephen M. Polansky, Guenael T. Strutt, Matthew P. Bell
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Patent number: 9921660Abstract: This document describes techniques using, and devices embodying, radar-based gesture recognition. These techniques and devices can enable a great breadth of gestures and uses for those gestures, such as gestures to use, control, and interact with computing and non-computing devices, from software applications to refrigerators. The techniques and devices are capable of providing a radar field that can sense gestures from multiple actors at one time and through obstructions, thereby improving gesture breadth and accuracy over many conventional techniques.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2014Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Google LLCInventor: Ivan Poupyrev
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Patent number: 9921661Abstract: A proximity sensor including a housing, light emitters mounted in the housing for projecting light out of the housing along a detection plane, light detectors mounted in the housing for detecting amounts of light entering the housing along the detection plane, whereby for each emitter-detector pair (E, D), when an object is located at a target position p(E, D) in the detection plane, corresponding to the pair (E, D), then the light emitted by emitter E is scattered by the object and is expected to be maximally detected by detector D, and a processor to synchronously activate emitter-detector pairs, to read the detected amounts of light from the detectors, and to calculate a location of the object in the detection plane from the detected amounts of light, in accordance with a detection-location relationship that relates detections from emitter-detector pairs to object locations between neighboring target positions in the detection plane.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Neonode Inc.Inventors: Thomas Eriksson, Alexander Jubner, Rozita Teymourzadeh, Håkan Sven Erik Andersson, Per Rosengren, Xiatao Wang, Stefan Holmgren, Gunnar Martin Fröjdh, Simon Fellin, Jan Tomas Hartman, Oscar Sverud, Sangtaek Kim, Rasmus Dahl-Örn, Richard Berglind, Karl Erik Patrik Nordström, Lars Sparf, Erik Rosengren, John Karlsson, Remo Behdasht, Robin Kjell Åman, Joseph Shain, Oskar Hagberg, Joel Rozada
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Patent number: 9921662Abstract: Provided are a task switching method capable of rapidly and easily accessing a task of interest by using a button that may receive a touch-based input and a device for executing the task switching method. The device includes a button configured to receive an input; a display configured to display task switching screens; and a processor configured to set a task switching mode in response to the button receiving a first input, and control the display to display the task switching screens in response to the button receiving a second input.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2017Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Joo-yoon Bae, Nam-wook Kang, Keum-koo Lee, Hye-won Lee, Yong-gook Park
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Patent number: 9921663Abstract: Even when a user is gazing at one point intentionally but the eyeball of the user is actually moving slightly, the slight movement is not reproduced as it is as the position of a cursor but a determination is made that the user is gazing at one point intentionally, that is, the eyeball is stopping. Thus, when a determination is made that the eyeball is stopping, the cursor is displayed still even when the gazing point is moving slightly depending on the slight movement. Furthermore, when a determination is made that the cursor is stopped, selection of an object such as other icon displayed at a position where the cursor is displayed is identified.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2017Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: OSAKA ELECTRO-COMMUNICATION UNIVERSITYInventor: Takuya Niikawa
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Patent number: 9921664Abstract: A keyboard device includes M driving circuits DC(1)˜DC(M), N transition circuits TC(1)˜TC(N), a control module, M column signal lines C(1)˜C(M), N row signal lines R(1)˜R(N) and M*N key units KU(1,1)˜KU(M,N). The control module performs a scanning process to sequentially scan the M column signal lines C(1)˜C(M) in M scan cycles scan(1)˜scan(M). If the key unit KU(k,x) connected with the k-th column signal line C(k) and the x-th row signal line R(x) is depressed, a scan voltage is transmitted from the k-th column signal line C(k) to the x-th row signal line R(x) through a switch sw(k,x) of the key unit KU(k,x). The transition circuit TC(x) connected with the x-th row signal line R(x) is turned on according to the scan voltage. Consequently, an output voltage Rout(x) from the transition circuit TC(x) has a first voltage level.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: DARFON ELECTRONICS CORP.Inventors: Chien-Hsin Lee, Wei-Chan Sung
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Patent number: 9921665Abstract: An input method editor (IME) provides a distributed platform architecture that enables associating multiple applications with the IME to provide extended functionalities. The presentations of the applications, such as skins, may be different from each other and that of the IME. The applications may be represented in a manifest file that is human-readable and editable. The IME collects multiple parameters relating to a user input into a host application including a query input by the user and a scenario of the host application, and selects one or more applications to provide candidates based on a score or ranking of the applications under the collected multiple parameters. Machine-learning may be used to improve the score or ranking. The candidates may include text candidates, rich candidates, and informative candidates.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2012Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Matthew Robert Scott, Huihua Hou, Xi Chen, Weipeng Liu, Rongfeng Lai, Xi Chen, Yonghong Shi
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Patent number: 9921666Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for operating a portable device based on an accelerometer are described. According to one embodiment of the invention, it is determined whether a portable device is moving using an accelerometer. It is determined a moving pattern of the portable device based on movement data provided by the accelerometer. A media content is selected based on the moving pattern of the portable device. The selected media content is played via the portable device. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2010Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Paul J. Wehrenberg, Aaron Leiba, Richard C. Williams, David R. Falkenburg, Louis G. Gerbarg, Ray L. Chang
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Patent number: 9921667Abstract: A method is provided for communication between a sensor controller and a host processor, wherein the sensor controller is coupled to a sensor configured to interact with an active stylus. The sensor controller supportive of a default descriptor of a defined set of stylus attributes transmits the default descriptor to the host processor. The sensor controller, when coupled with a first stylus capable of reporting on a first subset of the defined set of stylus attributes, transmits to the host processor a first stylus report that has fields of the first subset of stylus attributes filled with values reported from the first stylus. The sensor controller, when coupled with a second stylus capable of reporting on a second subset of the defined set of stylus attributes, transmits to the host processor a second stylus report that has fields of the second subset of stylus attributes filled with values reported from the second stylus.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.Inventor: David Charles Fleck
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Patent number: 9921668Abstract: A touch panel controller is disclosed herein. The controller includes output circuitry for driving a touch panel sensor and input circuitry for determining when an object performs a touch event over the touch panel sensor. The controller is configured to cause the output circuitry to generate drive signals having a different frequency characteristic when the controller determines noise present within the sensor is above a noise threshold. The controller communicates with a software device driver on a host processor to store signal baseline images for a range of frequencies during production test and power-up. The controller is configured to receive a signal baseline image from the host processor when the controller causes change to a different drive frequency. The controller is configured to cause change to the different drive frequency while the object is still performing the touch event over the touch panel sensor.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2013Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Qualcomm IncorporatedInventors: Trishabh Chadda, Guozhong Shen, Jon Pearson
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Patent number: 9921669Abstract: Operation display device includes a display, an operation part, and an arithmetic and control part. The arithmetic and control part includes: an analysis processing part analyzing an operation content of an operation object; and a display processing part determining a shape and a position of a figure for operation displayed on the display according to the operation content analyzed by the analysis processing part. The analysis processing part has a function of classifying the operation content of the operation object into a moving operation for changing the position of the figure for operation and an adjustment operation for adjusting a control amount. When a contact position to the operation part is out of a tracking range set in accordance with the position of the figure for operation, the display processing part displaces the figure for operation so that the contact position of the operation object is within the tracking range.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2013Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tomikazu Imai
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Patent number: 9921670Abstract: An organic light emitting display including a first substrate and a second substrate is described. The first substrate has a pixel divided into a light emitting area and a non-light emitting area. The first substrate has an organic light emitting diode disposed in the light emitting area. The second substrate has an infrared sensor disposed corresponding to the non-light emitting area. In the organic light emitting display, the organic light emitting diode emits visible light and infrared light, and the infrared sensor is disposed corresponding to the non-light emitting area.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2014Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Seong-Min Wang, Tae-Kyung Kim, Byeong-Hoon Cho, Mu-Gyeom Kim
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Patent number: 9921671Abstract: A touch projection screen including a first substrate, a plurality of first touch layers, a plurality of second touch layers, and a reflective projection film is provided. The first touch layers are disposed on the first substrate and at least two of the first touch layers are arranged adjacent to each other. Each of the first touch layers includes a first base layer and a first patterned electrode disposed on the first base layer. The second touch layers are disposed on the first touch layers and at least two of the second touch layers are arranged adjacent to each other. Each of the second touch layers includes a second base layer and a second patterned electrode disposed on the second base layer. The reflective projection film is disposed on the second touch layers. A manufacturing method of the touch projection screen is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Coretronic CorporationInventors: Kun-Rong Chang, Nan-Jiun Yin, Pen-Ning Kuo
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Patent number: 9921672Abstract: A first electronic device includes a display unit, a first conductive unit and a processing circuit. The first conductive unit is configured for transmitting a first signal to a second conductive unit of a second electronic device when the first conductive unit is in proximity with the second conductive unit. The processing circuit is configured for providing the first signal to the conductive unit. The first conductive unit includes a transmitting electrode and a receiving electrode.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2014Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.Inventor: Yu-Han Lin
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Patent number: 9921673Abstract: The present invention provides an in-cell touch display panel.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Yafeng Li, Xiangyi Peng
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Patent number: 9921674Abstract: The present invention provides a touch-sensing panel including a polarization plate and a patterned sensing electrode layer. The polarization plate has a first surface and a second surface, and the first surface and the second surface are disposed opposite to each other. The first patterned sensing electrode layer is disposed on the first surface, and the first patterned sensing electrode layer is directly attached on the first surface of the polarization plate.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: HannsTouch Solution IncorporatedInventors: Kuo-Hsiung Tung, Pin-Yu Hsu, Chuan-Hui Su
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Patent number: 9921675Abstract: A touch device includes a plurality of touch electrodes and a touch circuit. The touch electrodes are respectively connected with a plurality of interfaces on the touch circuit by touch detection lines and a switch is provided on the touch detection line corresponding to each of at least one of the touch electrodes. The switch has a first work state in which the switch is turned on and a second work state in which the switch is turned off.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignees: XIAMEN TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Qingjun Lai, Huimin Xie
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Patent number: 9921676Abstract: According to one embodiment, a lateral-electric-field liquid crystal display device includes a light-emitting display layer including OLEDs and a driving circuit controlling light emission of the OLEDs, a moisture impermeable film provided to be laminated on the light-emitting display layer to prevent infiltration of moisture into the light-emitting display layer, an optical substrate provided separately from the moisture impermeable film and subjecting light from the light-emitting display region to optical processing, a first touch electrode group serving as one electrode group of touch electrodes and provided on a back surface of the optical substrate, and an extraction electrode group formed to be laminated on the moisture impermeable film, the extraction electrode group and the optical substrate have an overlapping part in plan view, and electrodes of the first touch electrode group being electrically connected to electrodes of the extraction electrode group in the overlapping part.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Japan Display Inc.Inventors: Yoshiro Aoki, Takashi Nakamura, Masahiro Tada, Hirotaka Hayashi, Makoto Shibusawa, Yutaka Umeda, Miyuki Ishikawa
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Patent number: 9921677Abstract: A method for fabricating a touch display device is provided. The method includes: forming a sensor on a substrate, and forming a sensing signal line electrically connected to the sensor. The method of forming the sensor includes: forming a semiconductor layer including a semiconductor pattern of the sensor on the substrate, forming a gate insulation layer on the semiconductor layer, forming a first conductor layer on the gate insulation layer, forming an interlayered insulation layer on the gate insulation layer, performing an annealing process, removing the interlayered insulation layer on a gate predetermined region after the annealing process is performed, removing the first conductor layer on the gate predetermined region, forming a gate in the gate predetermined region, and forming a second conductor layer including a source and a drain of the sensor respectively electrically connected to the semiconductor pattern of the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2017Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Au Optronics CorporationInventors: Shin-Shueh Chen, Yi-Wei Chen
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Patent number: 9921678Abstract: A tactile sensor for sensing touch from a human finger includes a triboelectric layer and includes a material that becomes electrically charged after being in contact with the finger. The first side of a first conductive layer is in contact with the second side of triboelectric layer. The first side of a dielectric layer is in contact with the first conductive layer and the second side of the dielectric layer is in contact with a second conductive layer. When the triboelectric layer becomes electrically charged after being in contact with the finger, the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are subjected to an electric field, which has a first field strength at the first conductive layer and a second field strength, different from the first field strength, at the second conductive layer. A plurality of tactile sensors can be arranged as a keyboard.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Georgia Tech Research CorporationInventors: Zhong Lin Wang, Guang Zhu
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Patent number: 9921679Abstract: A force sensing touch screen input device is a solid assembly of multiple layers including a display with a touch-sensitive external surface, a first and second electrode layers separated by a compressible dielectric structure—forming a capacitive force-sensing array, and a rigid planar substrate. One or both electrode layers may be formed by metallizing a polymer surface of the rigid substrate or by creating a conductive electrode onto an internal surface of the display. To increase reliability, each layer is permanently adhered to or formed onto an adjacent layer over its entire surface, whereby preventing internal shifts therebetween. To increase response time, the cover glass flexibility, compressible dielectric structure and the gasket structure between the cover glass and the rigid planar substrates are selected to provide elastic compression and recovery during normal operating conditions.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Pressure Profile Systems Inc.Inventors: Jae S. Son, Sang Youl Han
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Patent number: 9921680Abstract: Techniques include receiving a pressure input from a user of a user device at a pressure-sensitive display of the device and determining that the display is covered (e.g., obscured from the user's view) using the device. The techniques further include, in response to receiving the pressure input and determining that the display is covered, receiving a search query from the user at the device via voice input, transmitting the query to a search system via a network using the device, and receiving search results from the system at the device subsequent to transmitting the query. The techniques also include performing one or more actions associated with the search results using the user device (e.g., displaying the results to the user at the display, providing a text-to-speech or playback output for the results to the user, and/or forwarding the results to another computing device for display and/or text-to-speech or playback output).Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Thomas Francis
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Patent number: 9921681Abstract: A display device includes a plurality of pixel electrodes, a plurality of drive electrodes and a touch detection electrode. A display function layer is controlled by a voltage generated between the plurality of pixel electrodes and the plurality of drive electrodes in a display period, and touch detection is performed by detecting a voltage of the touch detection electrode in a touch detection period. In the display period, the plurality of drive electrodes are connected to a first wiring, and in the touch detection period, selected drive electrodes of the plurality of drive electrodes are connected to the first wiring, and the other non-selected drive electrodes of the plurality of drive electrodes are connected to a second wiring.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Japan Display Inc.Inventors: Tadayoshi Katsuta, Hiroshi Mizuhashi, Daisuke Ito, Takafumi Suzuki
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Patent number: 9921682Abstract: In a touch panel in which a sensor electrode array, frame wiring set that is located outside the sensor electrode array and connected to the sensor electrode array, and a first outer ground wiring line located outside the frame wiring set are formed on a transparent substrate of the touch panel, shielding wiring covering the frame wiring set is provided, with an insulating layer placed between the frame wiring set and the shielding wiring, and a second outer ground wiring line is provided outside the shielding wiring. The shielding wiring is connected to a ground wiring line included in the frame wiring set through a hole formed in the insulating layer and is insulated from the second outer ground wiring line.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, LIMITEDInventors: Mitsunori Sato, Osamu Hirata, Daisuke Hiraoka, Joji Akizuki, Yutaka Takezawa, Hiroshi Okumura, Yutaro Kogawa
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Patent number: 9921683Abstract: Defects in a touch sensor are detected by coupling the sensor lines to a common signal line. Each of the sensor lines is tested by disconnecting the sensor line from the common signal line, connecting it to a voltage (e.g., ground) and comparing the voltage on the common signal line to a reference voltage. Detected defects include a short circuit between any two transmit and/or receive lines and a short between any transmit or receive line to ground.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2012Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.Inventors: Daniel J. Cooley, Jeffrey L. Sonntag
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Patent number: 9921684Abstract: 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: May 2, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: David R. Falkenburg, David I. Simon, Jonah A. Harley, Andrea Mucignat, Brian R. Land, Christopher Tenzin Mullens, Steven P. Hotelling
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Patent number: 9921685Abstract: An optical touch-sensitive device includes a planar optical waveguide structure having a top surface that includes tactile surface features. This produces a tactile effect experienced by the user using a finger or object (e.g., pen, stylus, or other instrument) on the surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Rapt IP LimitedInventor: Owen Drumm
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Patent number: 9921686Abstract: A learning method includes collecting, from a sensor that measures a distance and a direction to an object, measurement data regarding a plurality of points forming the object, generating, based on the measurement data, first shape data indicating a shape of the object, calculating a number of first cusps in the first shape data, the first cusps corresponding to cusps of the object, generating second shape data in which the shape is simplified by removing a part of the plurality of points from the measurement data, calculating a number of second cusps in the second shape data, and generating learning information based on the number of the first cusps and the number of the second cusps, the learning information classifying a type of the shape of the object into one of a plurality of types.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventor: Bin Chen
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Patent number: 9921687Abstract: A finger device initiates actions on a computer system when placed in contact with a surface. The finger device includes instrumentation that captures images and gestures. When in contact with a surface, the finger device captures images of the surface and gestures made on the surface. The finger device also transmits the images and gesture data to the computer system. An application on the computer system matches the images received from the finger device to a representation of the surface, identifies an action associated with the surface representation and gesture, and executes the action. Instrumenting the finger instead of the surface, allows a user to configure virtually any surface to accept touch input.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2013Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: AUTODESK, INC.Inventors: Xing-Dong Yang, Tovi Grossman, Daniel Wigdor, George Fitzmaurice
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Patent number: 9921688Abstract: An interactive display, including a cover glass having a front surface that includes a viewing area provides an input/output (I/O) interface for a user of an electronic device. An arrangement includes a processor, a light source, and a camera disposed outside the periphery of the viewing area coplanar with or behind the cover glass. The camera receives scattered light resulting from interaction, with an object, of light outputted from the interactive display, the outputted light being received by the cover glass from the object and directed toward the camera. The processor determines, from image data output by the camera, an azimuthal angle of the object with respect to an optical axis of the camera and/or a distance of the object from the camera.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: John Michael Wyrwas, Russell Wayne Gruhlke, Khurshid Syed Alam, Kalin Mitkov Atanassov, Vikas Ramachandra, Hasib Ahmed Siddiqui, James Wilson Nash, Robert Mitchell Kleiman, Albrecht Johannes Lindner, Evgeni Petrovich Gousev
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Patent number: 9921689Abstract: An information processing method including: storing sequential data relating to movements of a target object over a specified plane, sequentially estimating a plurality of first likelihoods of a position of the target object in a direction of the specified plane based on the sequential data, each of the plurality of first likelihoods associating with each hypothesis on the movements of the target object, sequentially estimating a plurality of second likelihoods of touch of the target object on the specified plain based on the sequential data, each of the plurality of second likelihoods corresponding to each of the plurality of first likelihoods, and updating the plurality of first likelihoods based on the plurality of second likelihoods.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventors: Bin Chen, Yoshihiko Murakawa, Yusuke Yasukawa
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System and method for contactless detection and recognition of gestures in a three-dimensional space
Patent number: 9921690Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the contactless detection and recognition of gestures in a three-dimensional movement space (3D gestures), wherein in an electrical near-field which defines the three-dimensional movement space, deformations of the electrical near-field are detected which can be performed by movements of at least one object, e.g. one or two fingers in the three-dimensional movement space, at least one movement path is generated from the detected deformations of the electrical near field, which corresponds to the movement of the at least one object in the three-dimensional movement space, and wherein during the generation of the movement path in the movement path a gesture start is determined, wherein beginning with the gesture start the gesture is extracted from the movement path. The invention also relates to a system for the contactless detection and recognition of gestures in a three-dimensional movement space.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2011Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBHInventors: Roland Aubauer, Artem Ivanov, Thomas Kandziora, Manfred Schacht -
Patent number: 9921691Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes applying a supply voltage across a compensation capacitor; dividing charge between a capacitance of a touch sensor and the compensation capacitor; and performing the application of the supply voltage and the dividing of charge a pre-determined number of times. A first amount of charge of the compensation capacitor results in a first voltage at an input node. The method also includes applying a reference voltage at the input node. The application of the reference voltage at the input node induces a second amount of charge proportional to a difference between the first voltage and the reference voltage on an integration capacitor. The method also includes determining a first difference between the first voltage and the reference voltage based on a second amount of charge on the integration capacitor; and determining whether a touch input to the touch sensor has occurred based on the difference.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2012Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Ingar Hanssen, Rian Whelan
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Patent number: 9921692Abstract: An input device for use with an electronic system includes a deflectable component having an input surface configured to be touched by input objects and a capacitive sensor layer configured to sense positional information of the input objects. A hinge pivotably mounts a first edge of the deflectable component to the electronic system and facilitates deflection of the deflectable component in response to force applied by an input object to the input surface. A spring mechanism is spaced apart from the hinge and configured to resiliently couple a second edge of the deflectable component to the electronic system and to provide a restoring force responsive to the applied force.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2013Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Yeh-Cheng Tan, Su-Chuan Chiu
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Patent number: 9921693Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for processing a multi-touch input, comprising the steps of: detecting whether an overlapping region exists between a first input region and a second input region when a multi-touch input occurs on a touch panel; computing a center point of the first input region, a center point of the second input region, and a center point of the overlapping region when an overlapping region exists; determining a first straight line passing through the center point of the first input region, a second straight line passing through the center point of the second input region, and a third straight line passing through the center point of the overlapping region; computing the sum of touch input forces of regions surrounding each of the first straight line, the second straight line, and the third straight line; and determining whether to merge the first input region and the second input region by comparing the sum of the touch input forces of the regions surrounding the firsType: GrantFiled: July 8, 2013Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: MELFAS INC.Inventor: Sungsik Nam
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Patent number: 9921694Abstract: Some forms relate to wearable computing devices that include a “touch pad” like interface. In some forms, the example wearable computing devices may be integrated with (or attached to) textiles (i.e. clothing). In other forms, the example wearable computing devices may be attached directly to the skin of someone (i.e., similar to a bandage) that utilizes any of the example wearable computing devices. The example wearable computing devices include a flexible touch pad that may allow a user of the wearable computing device to more easily operate the wearable computing device. The example wearable computing devices described herein may include a variety of electronics. Some examples include a power supply and/or a communication device among other types of electronics.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2014Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Sven Albers, Klaus Reingruber, Teodora Ossiander, Andreas Wolter, Sonja Koller, Georg Seidemann, Jan Proschwitz, Hans-Joachim Barth, Bastiaan Elshof
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Patent number: 9921695Abstract: A touch device is provided. The touch device includes a first insulating layer, a first sensing electrode layer, a second insulating layer, and a second sensing electrode layer. The first sensing electrode layer is located on the first insulating layer. The second insulating layer is located on the first sensing electrode layer. The second sensing electrode layer is located on the second insulating layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Sin-An Chen, Chih-Chia Chang
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Patent number: 9921696Abstract: Electrode configurations for reducing wobble error for a stylus translating on a surface over and between electrodes of a touch sensor panel is disclosed. In some examples, electrodes associated with a more linear signal profile are correlated with lower wobble error. In some examples, electrodes are coupled to adjacent electrodes via diffusing resistors such that the signal profile for each electrode is spread to be more linear. In some configurations, the value of the diffusing resistors and series resistance associated with an electrode is selected based on a desired signal profile for that electrode. In some examples, the series resistance can include a trace resistance and a compensating resistance. The compensating resistance can compensate for a variance in trace resistance between electrodes, thus making series resistance substantially equal for each of the electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steven P. Hotelling, Vivek Pant, Prathit Bugnait, Isaac Chan
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Patent number: 9921697Abstract: A touch sensor device including a first conductive pattern disposed on a substrate and a first polymer layer disposed on the first conductive pattern. The first polymer layer includes a first conductive region and a first non-conductive region. The touch sensor device also includes a second polymer layer disposed on the first polymer layer. The second polymer layer includes a second conductive region and a second non-conductive region.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Byeong-Jin Lee, Sung Ku Kang, Jung-Yun Kim
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Patent number: 9921698Abstract: The invention relates to a layer electrode for touchscreens, in particular one which is suitable for the construction of capacitive touchscreens. In the case of a growing number of pixels within the layer electrode, various possibilities are proposed for reducing the loss of surface area within an outer electrode array due to the passage of supply lines to inner electrode arrays. For this it is proposed to change the shape of the electrode arrays, the shape of the galvanic isolations between the electrode arrays and finally the arrangement of the supply lines for the electrode arrays.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2014Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: PolyIC GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Andreas Ullmann, Manfred Walter
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Patent number: 9921699Abstract: In one embodiment, a conductive line structure includes a substrate and a plurality of conductive lines thereon. The substrate has a first area and a second area, and the two areas are separated by at least one borderline. The plurality of conductive lines are disposed at the first area and the second area of the substrate, respectively. The at least one borderline may be a straight line, and the conductive lines disposed at the second area are inclined relative to the at least one borderline. A sensing device using the conductive line structure is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Sheng-Feng Chung, Chun-Ting Liu, Su-Tsai Lu
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Patent number: 9921700Abstract: A display module includes a front panel, a backlight panel, a pressure sensor and a panel frame. The front panel includes an array of display pixels. The backlight panel is disposed under the front panel. The pressure sensor is disposed under the backlight panel, and includes a top electrode layer, an interlayer and a bottom electrode layer. The bottom electrode layer includes plural sub-electrodes. If a first distance between a first sub-electrode and a geometric center of the bottom electrode layer is shorter than a second distance between a second sub-electrode and the geometric center, an area of the second sub-electrode is larger than an area of the first sub-electrode. The panel frame is disposed under the pressure sensor. When an applied pressure is received by the front panel, a magnitude of the applied pressure is sensed by the pressure sensor.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: FOCALTECH ELECTRONICS, LTD.Inventor: Chen-Pang Kung
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Patent number: 9921701Abstract: A touchscreen panel includes first and second electrode lines that cross each other with one of the first and second electrode lines being separated from the intersection of the first and second electrode lines, and the separated electrode line being connected to a bridge pattern via lower contact holes penetrating a first insulating film. The touchscreen panel includes a second insulating film covering the first insulating film; and a conductor rod pattern that is electrically connected to the separated electrode line via an upper contact hole penetrating the second insulating film and that overlaps the bridge pattern.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Namseok Lee, Junghwan Lee, Sunggon Hong, Dongjoong Cha
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Patent number: 9921702Abstract: A touch display apparatus is disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATIONInventors: Chien-Chuan Ko, Meng-Chieh Tsai
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Patent number: 9921703Abstract: A multi-layer conductive coating is substantially transparent to visible light, contains at least one conductive layer comprising silver that is sandwiched between at least a pair of dielectric layers, and may be used as an electrode and/or conductive trace in a capacitive touch panel. The multi-layer conductive coating may contain a dielectric layer of or including zirconium oxide (e.g., ZrO2) and/or silicon nitride, and may be used in applications such as capacitive touch panels for controlling showers, appliances, vending machines, electronics, electronic devices, and/or the like. The touch panel may further include a functional film(s) which may be one or more of: an index-matching film, an antiglare film, an anti-fingerprint film, and anti-microbial film, a scratch resistant film, and/or an antireflective (AR) film.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2017Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Guardian Glass, LLCInventors: Willem Den Boer, Alexey Krasnov, Jason Blush, Eric W. Akkashian
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Patent number: 9921704Abstract: A multi-layer conductive coating is substantially transparent to visible light, contains at least one conductive layer comprising silver that is sandwiched between at least a pair of dielectric layers, and may be used as an electrode and/or conductive trace in a capacitive touch panel. The multi-layer conductive coating may contain a dielectric layer of or including zirconium oxide (e.g., ZrO2), silicon nitride, and/or tin oxide in certain embodiments, and may be used in applications such as capacitive touch panels for controlling showers, appliances, vending machines, electronics, electronic devices, and/or the like.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2017Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Guardian Glass, LLCInventors: Alexey Krasnov, Willem Den Boer, Jian-gang Weng
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Patent number: 9921705Abstract: A resistive film type touch panel includes a transparent insulating film, a plurality of upper electrodes, and a plurality of routing wires. The plurality of upper electrodes are formed on the lower surface of the transparent insulating film and are arranged in a direction, and includes a group of the electrodes electrically connected with each other. The electrical combinations of the detection electrodes adjacent with each other in the direction of a planned simultaneous detection number are different from one another. The plurality of routing wires extend from the plural upper electrodes, and are formed in a frame area outside of the plurality of upper electrodes on the lower surface. Thus, the number of the electrodes is increased in order to improve the resolution, while also miniaturizing the touch panel.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Nissha Co., Ltd.Inventor: Junichi Shibata
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Patent number: 9921706Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking input positions via Electric Field Communication (EFC) are provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of receiving electrodes for EFC and a receiver unit. The receiving electrodes detect strengths of input electric fields. The receiver unit compares the strengths of the input electric fields with each other and generates position information regarding the input electric fields.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2010Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., LtdInventors: Sae Rome Kim, Jong Rim Lee, Chang Ryong Heo, Kyung Mo Park, Chul Jin Kim, Seong Jun Song
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Patent number: 9921707Abstract: A touch key of an operation console includes a circuit board (310) having a light source (312, 314), a light transmitting portion (322) transmitting light, a non-transparent light shielding portion (324) and a semi-transparent operation panel (300) covering upper surfaces of the light transmitting portion and the light shielding portion. The light transmitting portion accommodates the light source. The surfaces of light transmitting portion and light shielding portion in contact with each other are tightly sealed, and the circuit board (310) and the light shielding portion (324) cover the light transmitting portion (322) such that the light is emitted only from the surface in contact with the operation panel (300). Thus, leakage of light from around a figure indicating a touch key can be prevented, and the operation console comes to have a high-class look.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasushi Nakamura, Hidenobu Mandai, Kazuhiro Matsuyama, Hiroyuki Nagao, Kazuhisa Yoneda