Position Coordinate Determination For Writing (e.g., Writing Digitizer Pad, Stylus, Or Circuitry) Patents (Class 178/18.01)
  • Patent number: 9104279
    Abstract: A scan method for increasing frame rate of a touch panel having multiple driving lines, multiple sensing lines and a scan cycle with multiple detection cycles, has steps of generating multiple sets of asynchronous excitation signals within each detection cycle with each set of excitation signals outputted to a corresponding driving line, and receiving capacitance sensing values from the sensing lines corresponding to the driving lines. In contrast to conventional scan methods only outputting one set of excitation signals within each detection cycle, the time required to scan entire driving lines is greatly reduced and the frame rate is increased. Additionally, as the multiple sets of asynchronous excitation signals are asynchronous, the interference to the capacitance sensing values sensed by the sensing circuit in response to the multiple sets of excitation signals won't occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: ELAN MICROELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chia-Hsing Lin, Yi-Hsin Tao
  • Patent number: 9104248
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a portable computing device and a peripheral device. The portable computing device includes a control center and a first sensor, and whereas the peripheral device includes a base, a frame body and a lock set. An input module is located in the base and the frame body, having a closed position and an uncovered position with respect to the base, is pivotally connected to the base. The lock set, having a released position and a locked position, is located in the frame body and includes a second sensor. The control center detects a relative location between the first sensor and the second sensor and uses the relative location for controlling the statuses of the input module and the portable computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignees: INVENTEC (PUDONG) TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, INVENTEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ming-Hsien Hsu
  • Patent number: 9104251
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to increase a transmit (TX) signal generated by an active stylus without increasing the power consumption of the active stylus. In one aspect, the active stylus increases the amplitude of the TX signal. In another aspect, the active stylus increases the TX signal by providing the capacitance of a body of a user to the stylus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Ruslan Omelchuk, Mykhaylo Krekhovelskyy
  • Patent number: 9081456
    Abstract: A capacitance detection apparatus for a touch panel includes an N number of capacitors. The detection apparatus generates an N number of different input signals, and provides an ith input signal of the input signals to an ith capacitor. The N number of input signals correspond to a delayed sequence of a maximum length sequence or the maximum length sequence. The detection apparatus sums up an N number of response signals, which are generated after providing the N number of input signals to the N number of capacitors, to generate a summed signal. The summed signal is multiplied by the ith input signal and integrated to generate an ith integrated signal. The detection apparatus estimates capacitance values of the N number of capacitors according to the N number of integrated signals, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: MSTAR SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Yu-Che Su, Jia-Hong Huang, Wen-Chieh Yang, Tai-Lai Tung
  • Patent number: 9053652
    Abstract: A display control device includes a cabinet, a detection unit configured to detect an orientation of the cabinet, a display screen, and a display control unit configured to control display of the display screen in accordance with the orientation of the cabinet detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Tamura, Ikuya Sano, Yasushi Itoshiro, Yoshio Ito, Yoshiyuki Nida
  • Patent number: 9046945
    Abstract: Disclosed is a touch control device, comprising a substrate, a plurality of sensing units, an insulating layer, an electric bridge, a protection layer, a supporting part, an element layer and a glue part. A plurality of sensing units are disposed on the substrate in an interval between two of sensing units to expose portions of the substrate. The insulating layer covers the exposed substrate. The electric bridge covers the insulating layer, and two ends of the electric bridge are respectively connected to two sensing units among the plurality of sensing units. The protection layer covers the electric bridge and the sensing unit. The supporting part covers the protection layer. The element layer is disposed on the supporting part. As a result, an accommodating space is formed therebetween. The accommodating space is filled up with the glue part to glue the protection layer and the element layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: HannStar Display (Nanjing) Corp.
    Inventors: Hao-Chieh Huang, Ting-Chen Chiu
  • Patent number: 9046947
    Abstract: A touch panel apparatus includes a touch panel (11), a piezoelectric element (12) disposed on the touch panel (11) and capable of expansion and contraction, and a plurality of support members (14a-14f) disposed on a fixing portion (13) and configured to support and allow for flexure vibration of the touch panel (11), such that the support members (14a-14f) are disposed in greater number in a direction orthogonal to an expansion and contraction direction of the piezoelectric element (12) than in the expansion and contraction direction so that a bending direction of the touch panel (11) due to a press matches a flexure direction of the touch panel (11) due to the expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Takeda, Kenji Kono, Tomotake Aono
  • Patent number: 9041418
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided that facilitate improved input device performance. The devices and methods utilize a first substrate with proximity sensor electrodes and at least a first force sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate. A second substrate is physically coupled to the first substrate, where the second substrate comprises a spring feature and an electrode component. The electrode component at least partially overlaps the first force sensor electrode to define a variable capacitance between the first force sensor electrode and the electrode component. The spring feature is configured to facilitate deflection of the electrode component relative to the first force sensor electrode to change the variable capacitance. A measure of the variable capacitance may be calculated and used to determine force information regarding the force biasing the input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Lin-Hsiang Hsieh, Richard R. Schediwy
  • Patent number: 9035899
    Abstract: Systems and methods for piezo-based haptic feedback are disclosed. For example, one described apparatus for piezo-based haptic feedback includes a polymer matrix, and a piezoelectric actuator at least partially embedded within the polymer matrix, the piezoelectric actuator configured to output a haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ali Modarres, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny Grant
  • Patent number: 9035907
    Abstract: A touch panel having a transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of the location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each of the multiple touches is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Hotelling, Joshua A. Strickon, Brian Q. Huppi
  • Patent number: 9035886
    Abstract: A computer program product for a multi-point touch-sensitive sensor user interface using distinct digit identification. The computer program product may include a relationship module, an assignment module, a receiving module, a determination module, and an initiation module. The relationship module may determine a relationship between at least two digits. The assignment module may assign a distinct digit identity to each digit of the at least two digits. The receiving module may receive a digit event comprising at least one digit interaction. The determination module may determine a digit identity for each digit involved in the digit event and a digit interaction associated with each digit of the digit event. Finally, the initiation module may initiate a digit event function associated with the determined digit identity and the digit interaction. Therefore, a user has greater control over a device through the interface with each digit having a distinct function and identity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Lisa A. Seacat
  • Patent number: 9035871
    Abstract: An apparatus, and an associated method, forms a user interface permitting input of input instructions to an electronic device. Input commands are evidence by tactile input forces applied to a force receiving surface. Force sensing elements are positioned to sense indications of the tactile input force. The force sensing element is caused to exhibit a selected input parameter value through application of a selected force thereto by application of a tightening torque to a fastener positioned in proximity to the force sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Patrick Clement Strittmatter, Marc Edward Holbein, Rene Pierre Marchand, Angela Dawn Usiski
  • Patent number: 9035891
    Abstract: For digit identification on a multi-point touch sensitive sensor, an assignment module assigns a digit identity to each digit of at least two digits in contact with a multi-point touch sensitive sensor during a learning phase. The digit identity includes a distinct representation of each digit. A receiving module detects a digit interaction of one or more particular digits of the at least two digits with the multi-point touch-sensitive sensor. A determination module recognizes the assigned digit identity for each particular digit involved in the digit interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Lisa Seacat Deluca
  • Patent number: 9030423
    Abstract: An operation instructing device includes a display unit that displays an image and a detecting unit that detects a touched position and thereby specifies a corresponding position of an image displayed on the display unit. While an image is displayed on the display unit, if the detecting unit detects that at least two points A and B are touched in a portion of the detecting unit corresponding to the image, assuming that the image is formed on a sheet of recording paper, a distance between two points of the image formed on the sheet of recording paper corresponding to the two touched points is calculated and displayed on a display panel. Thus, an error in operation instruction such as enlargement and reduction can be reduced, and hence, wasteful consumption of ink and recording paper can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryoh Hamada
  • Patent number: 9032292
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a touch screen electronic device to display two or more running applications simultaneously in a side-by-side layout in a split screen mode of the device. Two or more applications that are running on an operating system of the device can be easily displayed simultaneously in the split screen mode while maintaining one of the displayed applications as active so that the user can provide user inputs to the active application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Joshua John Lavallee
  • Patent number: 9030421
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for adjusting characteristics of a touch sensing device in the presence of a wireless power field are disclosed. According to one aspect, the presence of a wireless power field may be detected, and a characteristic of a touch sensing device may be adjusted to reduce interference of the wireless power field with the touch sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ryan Tseng, Adam A. Mudrick
  • Patent number: 9030380
    Abstract: A method, system and an interactive device for interaction with the electric field of touch-sensitive electronic display of a computing device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: R2Z Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Richter, Faranak Zadeh
  • Patent number: 9030422
    Abstract: A method of transmitting and receiving data between a mobile terminal and a display device is provided. The method establishes network connection for communication with the mobile terminal, detects a touch location of the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal touches the display device, designates a first region corresponding to the touch location to the mobile terminal when the touch of the mobile terminal is ended, and transmits data corresponding to an object to the mobile terminal when the object displayed on a screen moves to the designated first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jongcheol Kim, Ranganathan Mohan Krishna, John Manayil Roshy, Jinyung Park
  • Patent number: 9024889
    Abstract: An information presenting device of present invention includes a conductive layer to which an AC voltage is applied, an insulating layer for covering the conductive layer and presenting a tactile sense when a part of a body of a user set to a ground potential is in contact with the insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ivan Poupyrev, Shigeaki Maruyama
  • Patent number: 9024888
    Abstract: In order to enable appropriate selection of one operational mode from a plurality of operational modes by the user, on a home screen image allowing selection of an operational mode of an image forming apparatus, displayed are: an icon for selecting a copy mode related to image formation at the center; an icon for selecting a FAX mode with priority as a frequently selected mode related to image transmission; and icons allowing direct selection of other operational modes related to image transmission. On a condition setting screen image of a mode related to image transmission, a software button or buttons allowing transition to another mode related to image transmission are displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Fukumoto, Naohiro Ando
  • Patent number: 9024909
    Abstract: An apparatus including a capacitance touch sensor arrangement configured to have a variable capacitance that varies when a user finger touches the capacitance touch sensor arrangement; and at least one variable resistor sensor integrated within the capacitance touch sensor arrangement wherein the variable resistor sensor has a variable resistance that varies with a sensed parameter; the apparatus including an input configured to receive an input signal including a time varying component and an output configured to provide an output signal that depends upon both the capacitance of the capacitance touch sensor arrangement and the resistance of the variable resistance sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Richard White, Jani Kivioja, Darryl Cotton, Samiul Md Haque, Piers Andrew, Tapani Ryhanen
  • Patent number: 9024890
    Abstract: A method of a mobile device comparing an applied gesture on a touch screen of a mobile device with a remotely stored security gesture is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of a mobile device includes determining that an applied gesture on a touch screen of a mobile device in a locked state is associated with a user-defined gesture, comparing the applied gesture on the touch screen of the mobile device with a designated security gesture stored in a remote computer server, and unlocking the mobile device when the applied gesture on the touch screen of the mobile device in a dormant state matches the designated security gesture stored in the remote computer server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Inventor: David H. Chin
  • Patent number: 9019219
    Abstract: Touch screen panels are provided. The touch screen panel may include a first hybrid electrode including first electrode cells arranged on a substrate in a first direction and first connection electrodes connecting the first electrode cells to each other in the first direction, and a second hybrid electrode spaced apart from the first hybrid electrode on the substrate. The second hybrid electrode may include second electrode cells arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction and second connection electrodes connecting the second electrode cells to each other in the second direction. The second electrode cells are disposed between the first connection electrodes. The first hybrid electrode may include a first lower transparent layer and a first metal layer which are sequentially stacked, and the second hybrid electrode may include a second lower transparent layer and a second metal layer which are sequentially stacked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Woo-Seok Cheong, Jaeheon Shin
  • Patent number: 9018547
    Abstract: A method for dynamically updating at least one pre-defined value of a parameter used to identify at least one operational mode of an object for user interaction with a digitizer sensor during interaction with the digitizer sensor comprises detecting signal outputs from a plurality of sensing elements of a digitizer sensor during user interaction with the digitizer sensor; characterizing a pattern formed by the signal outputs from the plurality of sensing elements; identifying a pre-defined event associated with an operational mode of the object based on the pattern; determining a value of the parameter from the signal outputs in response to identification of the pre-defined event; and updating the pre-defined value used to identify the operational mode based on the value of the parameter determined from the identified event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: N-trig Ltd.
    Inventors: Ori Rimon, Ariel Kerner
  • Patent number: 9019216
    Abstract: Disclosed is a touch panel including an upper conductive layer; a lower conductive layer facing the upper conductive layer with an interval between the upper conductive layer; a capacitive sensing unit that detects a coordinate position by a capacitive coupling under a condition where a predetermined electric potential is applied to the upper conductive layer; and a resistive sensing unit that detects a coordinate position based on an electric potential at a position where the upper conductive layer and the lower conductive layer contact under a condition where a potential gradient is generated on either one of the upper conductive layer and the lower conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Sakurai, Nobuyoshi Shimizu, Shiro Hirota, Norio Endo
  • Patent number: 9013451
    Abstract: A touch-screen monitor is described. The monitor includes an ultrasonic sensor for detecting motion of an object that is placed in contact with the monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: John K. Schneider, Jack C. Kitchens
  • Patent number: 9013444
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes dividing a first amount of charge between a capacitance of a touch sensor and a compensation capacitor. The division of the first amount of charge results in a first voltage at an input node. The method also includes isolating the capacitance of the touch sensor from the compensation capacitor; and applying a reference voltage at the input node and a supply voltage at the compensation capacitor. 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 first difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Ingar Hanssen, Rian Whelan
  • Patent number: 9013446
    Abstract: A touch sensor mechanism for a touch display device, includes a cover lens made by a transparent material having a dielectric constant greater than 4.5 and a compression strength greater than 700 MPa for generating a finger's touching capacitance (CF) while a user's finger of a user touch thereon; and a sensor device module including a plurality of sensor devices having a sensor parasitic capacitance (CP). The cover lens and the sensor device module are disposed in the touch display device in such a manner that a ratio of a standard deviation value (?U) of the finger's touching capacitance (CF) of the cover lens to the sensor parasitic capacitance (CP) of the sensor device module is a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The SNR is adjusted along with the finger's touching capacitance (CF) by reducing the thickness of the cover lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Tera Xtal Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Jun-Wen Chung
  • Patent number: 9007325
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus including a controller configured to initiate an operation command based on a combination of a first moving operation on a first operation surface and a second moving operation on a second operation surface, wherein the first operation surface and the second operation surface are separately provided on a housing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Rekimoto
  • Patent number: 9007323
    Abstract: A haptic feedback device includes: a determination unit which calculates, as a path length, a length along which a user touches the touch panel; a display control unit which converts the path length into a rotation angle of a manipulation image, and display the rotated manipulation image on a display unit; and a vibration control unit which drives a vibration unit according to a drive waveform having a predetermined amplitude and a predetermined frequency upon starting rotation of the manipulation image, decreases the amplitude of the drive waveform with an increase in the path length, and performs control to cause the vibration unit to vibrate according to the drive waveform the amplitude of which is decreased to zero in a predetermined time after the rotation of the manipulation image stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shoichi Araki
  • Patent number: 9007326
    Abstract: This relates to an architecture of a receive channel circuit used during both a spectrum analysis phase and a touch panel detection phase. Various components of the receive channel can be used during both the spectrum analysis phase and the touch panel detection phase. For example, a plurality of digital signal mixers used in the receive channel circuit can be used to demodulate signals during both a spectrum analysis phase and a touch sensor panel detection phase. In addition, the number of digital mixers needed in the receive channel can be reduced by dividing groups of signals to be demodulated into multiple sets of signals and demodulating each set at different times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas James Wilson
  • Patent number: 9001029
    Abstract: A detector (110) for optically detecting at least one object (112) is proposed. The detector (110) comprises at least one optical sensor (114). The optical sensor (114) has at least one sensor region (116). The optical sensor (114) is designed to generate at least one sensor signal in a manner dependent on an illumination of the sensor region (116). The sensor signal, given the same total power of the illumination, is dependent on a geometry of the illumination, in particular on a beam cross section of the illumination on the sensor area (118). The detector (110) furthermore has at least one evaluation device (122). The evaluation device (122) is designed to generate at least one item of geometrical information from the sensor signal, in particular at least one item of geometrical information about the illumination and/or the object (112).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Ingmar Bruder, Felix Eickemeyer, Peter Erk, Rüdiger Sens, Stephan Irle, Haroun Al Mohamedi, Andreas Pelster, Erwin Thiel
  • Patent number: 9001070
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input devices. In one embodiment, an input device is configured to determine if a sensed object includes an occluded portion using an image representative of sensor values, determine a portion of the image corresponding to the sensed object, and approximate a boundary representation of the sensed object wherein if the sensed object does include the occluded portion, the boundary representation encompasses at least part of the occluded portion of the sensed object and at least part of a non-occluded portion of the sensed object. The determination of a boundary representation corresponding to a sensed object facilitates improved characterization of the sensed object. For example, the determined boundary representation may be used to more accurately track changes in the position of the sensed object as the sensed object moves out of the sensing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick Worfolk, Joel Jordan
  • Patent number: 9001088
    Abstract: A magnetic field shielding layer that does not affect an operation of a geo-magnetic sensor in a pointing input device of a touch screen type using an electromagnetic pen is provided. A magnetic field shielding layer is composed of magnetic metal powder. The magnetic field shielding layer is formed directly on the pointing input device without a need for a separate adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yu-Sheop Lee, Joo-Hoon Lee, Sun-Tae Jung
  • Patent number: 9001062
    Abstract: When a cube has been selected, and a touch operation has been canceled, a retouch determination area that is larger than the original selection area for selecting the cube is set based on a touch cancellation position. When a retouch operation has been detected within the retouch determination area after the touch operation has been canceled, it is determined that the same position as the touch cancellation position has been retouched, and the cube (object) is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: BANDAI NAMCO Games Inc.
    Inventors: Shogo Ito, Takashi Nakagawa, Yoshihito Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8994691
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the invention, an in-cell capacitive contact panel and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The in-cell capacitive touch panel comprises an array substrate. The array substrate comprises a display pixel structure and a touch circuit, and the touch circuit comprises a sensing unit and an amplifying unit connected with each other. The sensing unit is connected to a gate line in the display pixel structure. A switch-on voltage is provided by the gate line in the display pixel structure to the sensing unit, a voltage is generated in the sensing unit after the sensing unit is switched on, the voltage generated in the sensing unit is changed by a touch operation, the amplifying unit amplifies the voltage change in the sensing unit and outputs the amplified voltage change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Beijing Boe Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Li, Dong Chen
  • Patent number: 8994657
    Abstract: Systems and methods according to the present invention address these needs and others by providing a handheld device, e.g., a 3D pointing device, which uses hand tremor as an input. One or more sensors within the handheld device detect a user's hand tremor and identify the user based on the detected tremor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Hillcrest Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew G. Liberty, Christopher D. Roller, Daniel S. Simpkins, Charles W. K. Gritton
  • Patent number: 8994667
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an L-shaped printed circuit board is connected to the periphery of a film sensor at a plurality of connection portions. Long holes are each formed in the periphery of a film sensor at the center of a portion of the film sensor located between a corresponding pair of adjacent connection portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Shigeki Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 8994680
    Abstract: A system for displaying images is provided. The system includes a touch sensor device including a transparent substrate having a sensing region and a non-sensing region adjacent to the sensing region. A sensing electrode pattern layer is on the transparent substrate in the sensing region. An inorganic dielectric material layer is on the transparent substrate. The inorganic dielectric material layer has a first portion in the non-sensing region and a second portion in the sensing region and partially covering the sensing electrode pattern layer. A method of forming a touch sensor device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: Innocom Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Innolux Corporation
    Inventors: Szu-Wei Lai, Yu-Ching Liu, Wan-Yu Ho
  • Patent number: 8988374
    Abstract: An interactive-type display window device comprises a receiving unit, a light-pervious panel, at least one sensor, at least a lighting module, and a processing unit. The receiving unit is provided with at least one display shelf for placing display commodities thereon. The light-pervious panel is provided on a front surface of the receiving unit and can be a transparent display panel with a touch control area. Each sensor is a photo sensor or a proximity sensor. Each lighting module is provided within the receiving unit for emitting light onto the display commodities. The processing unit is used for controlling the lighting module according to the sensor's detection results or the consumers' preference. Thereby, it is able to adjust the luminous intensity, luminous chromaticity, luminous color temperature, luminous frequency spectrum, and/or the rotation of the lighting module in order to achieve the desired luminous design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Promate Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Derchin Weng, Che-Ming Chang, Ying-Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 8988397
    Abstract: A display control apparatus which can prevent calibration caused by a user's erroneous operation in normal use, and correct for a coordinate deviation beyond the scope of assumption. Transformation of touch input is performed to obtain detected coordinates using a transformation coefficient. When the detected coordinates are obtained inside a first range defined in advance, the detected coordinates are obtained as calibration coordinates. When the detected coordinates are obtained outside the first range, the relationship between the previous detected coordinates and the present detected coordinates is obtained, and whether or not the relationship satisfies a specific condition determined in advance is determined. When the number of times the specific condition is satisfied reaches a predetermined number of times, a plurality of detected coordinates obtained outside the first range are obtained as calibration coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasutaka Naka
  • Patent number: 8988395
    Abstract: An architecture is described that can utilize photo-sensors embedded in a substantially transparent layer of a UI display for tracking objects that approach or hover over the UI display. The photo-sensors can be configured to detect light of certain wavelengths (e.g., visible light, infrared light) that are propagated toward the UI display, while ignoring light emanating from the UI display when displaying content. Accordingly, by examining various characteristics of the incoming light such as intensity, the architecture can identify a location of a shadow incident upon the display caused by an approaching or hovering selector object blocking portions of incoming light. Additionally or alternatively, the architecture can identify a location of higher intensity for light emanating from the selector object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Armstrong Soo, Bernard Ku, Jeffrey Brandt
  • Patent number: 8988361
    Abstract: A writing apparatus includes: a voltage application unit that applies a voltage to a display medium whose display changes according to an irradiation of light and an applied voltage; an optical output unit that irradiates light toward the display medium; and a controller that (i) receives a position signal that has been output from an apparatus upon contact with an input device, the position signal indicating a position of the contact with the input device, (ii) specifies, based on the received position signal, a position on the display medium at which a display is to be changed, and (iii) controls the optical output unit so that light is irradiated toward the specified position on the display medium for a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruo Harada, Taijyu Gan, Hiroshi Arisawa, Yasunori Okano, Chisato Urano, Takashi Morikawa, Atsushi Hirano
  • Patent number: 8982087
    Abstract: A touch panel having a transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of the location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each of the multiple touches is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Hotelling, Joshua A. Strickon, Brian Q. Huppi
  • Patent number: 8982060
    Abstract: Compensation for sensors in a touch and hover sensing device is disclosed. Compensation can be for sensor resistance and/or sensor sensitivity variation that can adversely affect touch and hover measurements at the sensors. To compensate for sensor resistance, the device can gang adjacent sensors together so as to reduce the overall resistance of the sensors. In addition or alternatively, the device can drive the sensors with voltages from multiple directions so as to reduce the effects of the sensors' resistance. To compensate for sensor sensitivity variation (generally at issue for hover measurements), the device can apply a gain factor to the measurements, where the gain factor is a function of the sensor location, so as to reduce the sensitivity variation at different sensor locations on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Michael King, Omar Leung, Paul G. Puskarich, Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Andrea Mucignat, Avi E. Cieplinski, Muhammad U. Choudry, Praveen R. Subramani, Marc J. Piche, David T. Amm, Duncan Robert Kerr
  • Patent number: 8976142
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a touch event on a back-mounted touchpad of a computing device during display of a current user interface of an application executing on the computing device. The application includes a navigation hierarchy with a home user-interface layer, multiple sub user-interface layers, and multiple user-interface branches. The method includes determining a particular sub user-interface layer and user-interface branch that the current user interface corresponds to and determining a type of the touch event. When the type of the touch event is an upward touch event and there is a next sub user-interface layer in the particular user-interface branch of the current user interface, the method navigates to the next user-interface layer in the particular user-interface branch of the current user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Nicholas Papakipos, Matthew Cahill
  • Patent number: 8976133
    Abstract: Methods and devices for improving image quality in a display having multiple common voltage layers (VCOMs) are provided. In one example, a method may include maintaining a deactivation signal on pixels of the display after programming a frame of data onto the pixels of the display, but before a touch sequence. The method may also include supplying a first data signal to each pixel of a first set of pixels coupled to a first VCOM while maintaining the deactivation signal. The method may include supplying a second data signal to each pixel of a second set of pixels coupled to a second VCOM while supplying the first data signal. The first data signal is supplied to each pixel of the first set of pixels and the second data signal is supplied to each pixel of the second set of pixels to inhibit image distortion during the touch sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wei H. Yao, Ahmad Al-Dahle, Hopil Bae
  • Patent number: 8976121
    Abstract: A capacitive touch system uses two or more integrated circuits to simultaneously scan a touch panel in such a manner that each of the integrated circuits scans only a portion of the touch panel to retrieve a respective detected data by itself. All the detected data are used for computation by one of the integrated circuits or one other than the integrated circuits to determine a touch information. This approach enables axis intersect projected capacitance touch integrated circuits applicable to a large scale touch panel, without degrading the frame rate of a capacitive touch system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: ELAN Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Tse-Lun Hung, Jung-Shou Huang, Hsin-Shieh Tsai
  • Patent number: 8976127
    Abstract: A method for determining a touch point during a special touch object contacting with a touch screen, and a touch screen operating tool, in particular a touch pen. The method includes: installing a sensor on the special touch object, comparing the data of the special touch object obtained by the sensor with the corresponding data of the contact point on the screen, determining the corresponding touch point of the special touch object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Dingnan Han
  • Patent number: 8970540
    Abstract: An electronic device has a marking surface overlaid on a touch sensor. Marks made upon the marking surface create pressure that is transferred through the thickness of the marking surface to the touch sensor. Thus, the signals detected by the touch sensor correspond to the marks made on the marking surface. The marking surface may include a thin material that displays marks such as a pressure-sensitive cholesteric liquid crystal display or a conventional sheet of paper. The touch sensor may comprise a sensor capable of detecting an amount of incident force such as an interpolating force-sensitive resistance touch sensor. The electronic device may also have hardware and/or software to analyze the marks detected by the touch sensor and to communicate with other electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Hebenstreit, Amish Rajesh Babu