Resistive Patents (Class 178/18.05)
  • Patent number: 10527506
    Abstract: A pressure sensor includes: a base including an outer surface partially or entirely composed of a curved surface; a plurality of electrodes disposed on the outer surface of the base with spaces therebetween and including at least one signal electrode and at least one ground electrode; and at least one variable resistor made from conductive foam elastomer material and configured to be elastically compressed upon application of pressure and such that electric resistance between the signal electrode and the ground electrode decreases as the amount of the compression increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: KITAGAWA INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki Yamada, Yasuo Kondo
  • Patent number: 10503307
    Abstract: A flexible display device includes a flexible display panel to generate an image and a bending detection screen to detect a bending angle and a bending position. The bending detection screen includes an angle detection sensor and a position detection sensor. The angle detection sensor includes a material with a resistance that changes in correspondence to an intensity of an applied stress. The angle detection sensor has an area per unit length that is substantially constant on a base surface. The position detection sensor includes a material with a resistance that changes in correspondence to an intensity of the applied stress. The position detection sensor has an area per unit length that increases along a length direction on the base surface. Signal lines are connected to the angle and position detection sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-ki Hong, Beomshik Kim, Jongseo Lee
  • Patent number: 10500724
    Abstract: A teaching device is provided with a trajectory generating unit which generates a robot trajectory based on a start point and an end point, a determination unit which determines the advance direction of an operation tool with respect to a workpiece, and a correction unit which corrects the robot trajectory. The determination unit determines whether or not the advance direction of the operation tool is a predetermined direction with respect to the rotational direction of a tool. The correction unit corrects the robot trajectory by replacing the start point and the end point with each other when the advance direction of the operation tool is different from the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Oumi
  • Patent number: 10503960
    Abstract: Provided is a segment-based handwritten signature authentication system and method and, more specifically, to a segment-based handwritten signature authentication system and method, in which handwritten signature authentication based on segments is performed by using handwritten signature characteristics information based on segments disjointed by a user's signing behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignees: SECUVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki-Yoong Hong, Paul Hong
  • Patent number: 10474289
    Abstract: A touchscreen panel is configured to accept an input touch command. The touchscreen panel includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) layer. The touchscreen panel also includes a touch sensor having a receiving element and a transmitting element, each arranged on the LCD layer. The receiving element and the transmitting element together are configured to detect an impending touch of the touch sensor via a hover system and a touch event in a touch-detecting mode. At least one of the receiving element and the transmitting element is configured to operate in a heating mode, as a heating element, when the impending touch of the touch sensor is not detected. The resultant heating element generates a heat energy input to the LCD layer and accelerates responsiveness of the LCD layer to the touch event. A method of controlling a touchscreen panel is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Seder, James A. Carpenter, William E. Conway, Reno V. Ramsey, Davide Silvestri, George Degener
  • Patent number: 10404232
    Abstract: A piezoelectric actuation platform (1) including piezoelectric substrate (3) formed from a single crystal piezoelectric material, and at least one simple electrode (5) in contact with the piezoelectric substrate for applying an electrical signal to the substrate such that a lamb or surface acoustic wave can be generated within said substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Amgad Rezk, Leslie Yeo, James Friend
  • Patent number: 10396455
    Abstract: An antenna assembly may include a right hand circularly polarized (RHCP) antenna, a left hand circularly polarized (LHCP) antenna, an RF nuller operably coupling the RHCP antenna and LHCP antenna to a difference element, and a digital nuller operably coupled to the difference element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: AEROANTENNA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Joe Klein
  • Patent number: 10379658
    Abstract: The touch sensing apparatus includes a driving unit and a touch sensing unit, a scan region selecting unit, and a control unit. The driving unit and the touch sensing unit arranged at a touch panel are electrically connected to driving electrodes and sensing electrodes, respectively. The scan region selecting unit controls the driving unit and determines a narrowed scan region including a touched location by dividing a touch region of the touch panel into a plurality of scan regions, scanning each of the scan regions, and selecting a scan region including the touched location at least for once. The control unit controls the scan region selecting unit and the driving unit and determines the narrowed scan region including the touched location and sense the touched location by inputting signals in a time-division manner to a plurality of scan lines included in the narrowed scan region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-woo Kim, Young-jun Yun, Myoung-hoon Jung
  • Patent number: 10362199
    Abstract: An audio capture system for a sports camera includes at least one “enhanced” microphone and at least one “reference” microphone. The enhanced microphone includes a drainage enhancement feature to enable water to drain from the microphone more quickly than the reference microphone. A microphone selection controller selects between the microphones based on a microphone selection algorithm to enable high quality in conditions where the sports camera transitions in and out of water during activities such as surfing, water skiing, swimming, or other wet environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhinian Jing, Ke Li, Erich Tisch, Joyce Rosenbaum, Magnus Hansson
  • Patent number: 10353503
    Abstract: An integrated force sensing element includes a piezoelectric sensor formed in an integrated circuit (IC) chip and a strain gauge at least partially overlying the piezoelectric sensor, where the piezoelectric sensor is able to flex. A human-machine interface using the integrated force sensing element may include a conditioning circuit, temperature gauge, FRAM and a processor core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Wei-Yan Shih, Steve Kummerl, Mark Stephen Toth, Alok Lohia, Terry Lee Sculley, Seung Bae Lee, Scott Robert Summerfelt
  • Patent number: 10345164
    Abstract: A pressure sensing method and a system thereof are disclosed. The pressure sensing method includes following steps. Stored resistance values Rn are read and a differential resistance value ?Rn between resistance valises at adjacent moments are calculated. At least one ?Rn/Rn?1 is obtained. The at least one ?Rn/Rn?1 or a sum of plural ?Rn/Rn?1 is compared to at least one predefined database. A pressing force value Fn corresponding to the at least one ?Rn/Rn?1 or the sum of the plural ?Rn/Rn?1 is obtained, so as to detect and process a pressure sensing signal precisely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: TPK Touch Solutions (Xiamen) Inc.
    Inventors: Ho-Hsun Chi, Tsai-Kuei Wei, Caijin Ye, Huaibin Zheng
  • Patent number: 10303309
    Abstract: A display device includes a plurality of pixels disposed in a display area, a plurality of first touch electrodes disposed along a first direction in the display area, a plurality of second touch electrodes disposed along a second direction in the display area, a first touch key electrode disposed in a touch key area adjacent to the display area, and a touch controller configured to detect a touch and connected to the plurality of first touch electrodes, the plurality of second touch electrodes, and the first touch key electrode. The plurality of first touch electrodes and the plurality of second touch electrodes are disposed on a same layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung Mok Park
  • Patent number: 10303314
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a touch sensor comprising: a plurality of first sensing electrode patterns formed in a way that they are connected to each other along a first direction on a substrate; a plurality of second sensing electrode patterns formed in a way that they are separated from each other along a second direction on the substrate; insulating portions electrically insulating the first sensing electrode patterns and the second sensing electrode patterns; and bridge pattern portions electrically connecting the adjacent second sensing electrode patterns, wherein the bridge pattern portions comprise: contact portions which are respectively contacted to the adjacent second sensing electrode patterns, and connecting portions connecting the contact portions and having a narrower width than the contact portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: DONGWOO FINE-CHEM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byung Jin Choi, Jae Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 10296047
    Abstract: A case for an electronic device is disclosed. The case includes a body defining an interior volume configured to receive the electronic device therein. The body includes a user input region formed from a deformable material having an electrical resistance that decreases in response to a touch force on the deformable material, and an electrode pair in contact with the deformable material and configured to be operatively coupled to a sensing circuit configured to detect a change to the electrical resistance of the deformable material due to the touch force. The body also includes a connector configured to operatively couple the electrode pair to the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Kallman, Eric S. Jol, Timothy J. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 10248266
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting a presence of a conductive object on a sensing device, and recognizing three or more button operations performed by the conductive object using two sensing areas of the sensing device. The sensing device may include first, second, and third sensor elements. The third sensor element may include two electrically isolated portions coupled to the first and second sensor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Creator Technology B.V.
    Inventor: Jiang XiaoPing
  • Patent number: 10209813
    Abstract: A self-capacitive touch sensor panel configured to have a portion of both the touch and display functionality integrated into a common layer is provided. The touch sensor panel includes a layer with circuit elements that can switchably operate as both touch circuitry and display circuitry such that during a touch mode of the device the circuit elements operate as touch circuitry and during a display mode of the device the circuit elements operate as display circuitry. The touch mode and display mode can be time multiplexed. By integrating the touch hardware and display hardware into common layers, savings in power, weight and thickness of the device can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Weijun Yao, Wei Hsin Yao, Yingxuan Li, Bingrui Yang, Marduke Yousefpor, Abbas Jamshidi-Roudbari, Ahmad Al-Dahle
  • Patent number: 10206609
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are described that can facilitate recognition of an engagement between an object and a touch screen in the absence of human contact. Upon the engagement, an electrically conductive path can be established that extends from a surface of the touch screen such that sufficient electrons flow from the touch screen through the electrically conductive path to enable the recognition of the object on the touch screen in the absence of human contact with the object during continued presence of the object on the touch screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: THE CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Jay L. Alberts, David D. Schindler
  • Patent number: 10180720
    Abstract: A method is performed in a virtual-reality system that includes a head-mounted display (HMD) and a hand-held controller. The hand-held controller includes a grip and a user-input key mounted at least in part on the grip. In the method, an image of a hand is displayed on the HMD. Pressure applied to the user-input key by a user holding the hand-held controller and wearing the HMD is sensed. A degree of closing of the image of the hand is displayed on the HMD in proportion to the pressure applied to the grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Andrew Higgins, Benjamin E. Tunberg Rogoza
  • Patent number: 10146391
    Abstract: A transparent conductive oxide film for sensing deformation has a length, and generates a deformation amount when an external force is applied thereto, so as to change a resistance value of the transparent conductive oxide film. A ratio of the deformation amount to the length ranges from about 5×10?5 to about 3.5×10?4, and a rate of change of the resistance value ranges from about 0.01% to about 3%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: TPK Touch Solutions (Xiamen) Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng-Chung Chiang, Feng Chen, Ho-Hsun Chi, Yuh-Wen Lee
  • Patent number: 10146351
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a sensor includes a voltage driver operable to provide an alternating voltage and an integrator circuit. The sensor further includes a first variable resistance element coupled to a first output of the voltage driver and an input of the integrator circuit. The integrator circuit is operable to measure a parameter of the first variable resistance element over a period of time. The sensor further includes circuitry operable to determine, based on the measured parameter, an amount of force applied to a touch sensing panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Sleeman, John Stanley Dubery
  • Patent number: 10120487
    Abstract: A method for hybrid touch sensing for detecting a normal touch and a force touch concurrently is provided. The method includes the following steps. Provide a first driving signal to a first capacitor, wherein the first driving signal is a periodic signal with a first frequency. Provide a second driving signal to a second capacitor, wherein the second driving signal is a periodic signal with a second frequency different from the first frequency. Generate a composite sensing signal by feeding the first driving signal and the second driving signal to a front-end circuit. Extract information from the composite sensing signal to calculate a first change in capacitance of the first capacitor and a second change in capacitance of the second capacitor to detect the normal touch and the force touch concurrently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: NOVATEK MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chih-Jen Cheng, He-Wei Huang, Tsen-Wei Chang
  • Patent number: 10120489
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a touch sensor includes a substrate and a mesh of conductive material formed on the substrate and configured to extend across a display. The mesh includes first lines of conductive material that are substantially parallel to each other. The first lines extend across at least a portion of the display at a first angle relative to a first axis. The first lines are separated from each other along the first axis by a sequence of separation distances having corresponding magnitudes, where magnitudes of more than one separation distance from among the sequence of separation distances are based on a phasor step ? and a phasor magnitude of at least one phasor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: David Brent Guard, Steven P. Emm, James Lyle
  • Patent number: 10082913
    Abstract: Embroidered sensor assemblies are described that are formed on a flexible substrate, such as a suitable fabric material. Conductive patterns are embroidered into the flexible substrate to form an array of sensors that can be configured in various ways and used in many different applications. A sensor assembly can implement touch sensitive sensors arranged to recognize input by measuring capacitance. The sensor assembly can also implement pressure and/or force sensitive controls for an input device, such as a keyboard. Other types of sensing are also contemplated such as detection of proximity, motion, flow, gestures, and/or strain. A conductive pattern can be formed in a single layer of material and/or via a single continuous run of conductive material. The embroidered sensor assembly is flexible and therefore can be shaped to conform to various different kinds of objects and form “smart” surfaces for those objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Christian Juland Moller, James David Holbery, John Guido Atkins Weiss, Aric A. Fitz-Coy, Stephanie Jo Rodgers-Ahnen
  • Patent number: 10081161
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of an electronic device includes a first stacking process of forming a first photosensitive adhesive on a surface on a second substrate side in a first substrate; and a second stacking process of forming a second photosensitive adhesive, which overlaps the first photosensitive adhesive, having a lower degree of cure than that of the first photosensitive adhesive; and a bonding process of bonding together the first substrate and the second substrate by curing the second photosensitive adhesive by heating, in a state in which the first photosensitive adhesive and the second photosensitive adhesive are interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Yoshiike, Tomoyoshi Saito
  • Patent number: 10067607
    Abstract: A touch window includes a substrate, and a sensor part provided on the substrate and performing a sensing process through a time domain reflectrometry. The sensor part includes a conductive pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Young Lee, Tae Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 10061448
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a touch screen panel includes: forming touch electrodes on a substrate; forming an insulating layer on the touch electrodes; disposing an adhesive layer on the touch electrodes and the insulating layer, the adhesive layer including an adhesive protection film adhered on one surface of the adhesive layer facing away from the touch electrodes; and forming a conductive layer on the adhesive protection film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Min Baek
  • Patent number: 10056205
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a cover for a portable device or other electronic equipment may have circuitry mounted in a housing. The housing may be formed from layers of material such as fabric and polymer layers. The fabric may be formed from woven polymer yarn. The fabric may be treated with chemicals to improve stain resistance and wear resistance, may be provided with a polymer backing layer, and may receive molded plastic structures. Patterned areas may be woven into the fabric, may be formed by placing coatings on selected portions of the fabric, or may be formed by embroidering or otherwise locally processing the fabric. The patterned areas may form labels for keyboard keys, logos, key trim patterns, and other features for an electronic device. Patterned areas may have locally enhanced light transmission characteristics and may be backlit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Siddhartha Hegde, Benjamin A. Cousins, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Samuel G. Smith, Melody Kuna
  • Patent number: 10042463
    Abstract: A touch sensing circuit including a plurality of touch sensing channels is provided. Each of the touch sensing channels includes at least one operational amplifier circuit and a demodulating circuit. The operational amplifier circuit is configured to receive a touch sensing signal, and amplify the touch sensing signal. The operational amplifier circuit includes an operational amplifier. The operational amplifier has an inverting end, and the inverting end is coupled to a direct-current voltage. The demodulating circuit is coupled to the operational amplifier circuit. The demodulating circuit is configured to demodulate the amplified touch sensing signal by mixing the amplified touch sensing signal with a demodulating signal. A waveform of the demodulating signal includes a flat region. In addition, a signal demodulating method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Hung-Cheng Kuo
  • Patent number: 10025440
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic device including a first touch circuit to be coupled to a first touch sensing unit, the first touch sensing unit having first drive lines and first sense lines intersecting the first drive lines. A second touch circuit is to be coupled to a second touch sensing unit, the second touch sensing unit having second drive lines and second sense lines intersecting the second drive lines. A touch force circuit is to be coupled to a touch force sensing unit, the touch force sensing unit having third drive lines and third sense lines intersecting the third drive lines. The first touch circuit, second touch circuit, and touch force circuit are configured to drive the first, second, and third drive lines as a function of a synchronization signal, and acquire data from the first, second, and third sense lines as a function of the synchronization signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
    Inventor: Kien Beng Tan
  • Patent number: 10025411
    Abstract: A touch screen and a pressure touch detection method thereof are disclosed and belong to a technical field of display. The touch screen includes a touch module including a plurality of sense electrodes and a plurality of touch electrodes, wherein the sense electrodes and the touch electrodes are respectively arranged in different layers. The touch screen has a display region and a non-display region, and at least one pressure sensor is arranged in the non-display region and includes a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the sense electrodes are arranged on a same layer, the second electrode and the touch electrodes are arranged on a same layer, and the pressure sensor detects a touch pressure according to a distance variation between the first electrode and the second electrode. The touch screen is applicable to a small-sized touch display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xuefei Wang, Jiayang Zhao
  • Patent number: 9999833
    Abstract: There is provided a hand-held controller for a virtual-reality system. The hand-held controller includes a user-input surface and a grip coupled to the user-input surface. The user-input surface includes a first user-input key situated on the user-input surface. The first user-input key includes a first capacitive touch sensor to detect a finger of a user hovering above the first user-input key and contacting the first user-input key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: OCULUS VR, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Andrew Higgins, Benjamin E. Tunberg Rogoza, Sharvil Shailesh Talati
  • Patent number: 10001894
    Abstract: A method of operating a contact sensor and a method of calibration of a contact sensor. The contact sensor comprises an array of discrete and spaced apart sensing elements (102, 202) connected to a resistive element (101, 201) with the location or size of a contact being detectable by measurement of one or more electrical parameter(s) relating to impedance steps along the resistive element (101, 201) is described. The method of operating involves determining a length of the sensing element between the contact and the resistive element and using this to compensate for a parasitic resistance present in the measured resistance of the resistive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: R&D CORE LIMITED
    Inventor: Thomas Papakostas
  • Patent number: 9983758
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal material sandwiched between the first and second substrate. The second substrate has a touch screen electrode directly on a front-side surface of the second substrate. The first substrate has a wiring line for supplying a position detection voltage. A conductive tape electrically connects between the touch screen electrode and a driver circuit. A polarization plate is disposed above the touch screen electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignees: JAPAN DISPLAY INC., PANASONIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Furuhashi, Norio Mamba
  • Patent number: 9965092
    Abstract: A force-responsive sensor incorporating a force-sensitive element is in communication with a power controller. The power controller changes one or more performance characteristics associated with the force-responsive sensor. A performance characteristic can include a bias voltage or current, a duty cycle, a sampling rate, and so on. The performance characteristic(s) can be changed in response to a touch event or based on an operational setting of the force-responsive sensor (or an electronic device incorporating the force-responsive sensor). Regulation of the performance characteristic(s) reduces power consumption of the force-responsive sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: John Stephen Smith
  • Patent number: 9911029
    Abstract: An underlay body includes a surface on which a writing medium is placed, and a sensor that detects a pressure distribution on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Munetake Ebihara, Hiroto Kawaguchi, Manabu Kodate
  • Patent number: 9904407
    Abstract: A touch sensor is disclosed. The touch sensor includes a touch panel including sensing nodes arranged in a matrix form and sensing lines connected to the sensing nodes, a touch sensing unit for providing driving signals for driving the sensing nodes, and a selector including a plurality of multiplexers for selectively providing the driving signals provided from the touch sensing unit to the sensing lines of the touch panels, wherein each of the multiplexers is selectively connected to two or more corresponding sensing nodes among the sensing nodes, and the two or more sensing nodes of the touch panel, selectively connected to each of the multiplexers, are positioned at different columns and rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: DB HITEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Won Cheol Hong, Yong In Han, Joon Song
  • Patent number: 9881977
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention relates to the technical field of display. Particularly, there is provided a flexible screen and a bend identifying method thereof, as well as a flexible display apparatus. The flexible screen comprises a first flexible substrate and a second flexible substrate which are oppositely disposed; the flexible screen further comprises a first electrode which is disposed on one side close to the second flexible substrate of the first flexible substrate and a second electrode which is disposed on one side close to the first flexible substrate of the second flexible substrate, as well as a detection system connected with the first electrode or the second electrode; wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to be in positional correspondence; in a case where the flexible screen is bent, the first electrode and the second electrode are electrically connected. The present invention is used for fabrication of a display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Song Song
  • Patent number: 9830831
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile handwriting recording instrument for use in a lecture or classroom setting that includes a writing tablet, which has a writing surface, a transmitter and a receiver. Also included is a scanning device that is operably connected to the writing tablet. The scanning device is configured for capturing two or three dimensional indicia placed within the scanning device's field of view. The writing surface is configured to display handwritten indicia thereon while simultaneously displaying an image representing the handwritten indicia remotely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Pathway Innovations and Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ji Shen
  • Patent number: 9817436
    Abstract: A portable multifunction device identifies a plurality of user interface objects. If the user interface objects meet a first predefined condition, the device then displays at least two of the user interface objects on a touch screen display. If the user interface objects meet a second predefined condition, the device then divides the user interface objects into at least first and second groups of user interface objects and then displays a first group icon corresponding to the first group and at least one user interface object from the second group on the touch screen display. If the user interface objects meet a third predefined condition, the device divides the user interface objects into at least third and fourth groups of user interface objects. The device then displays a third group icon corresponding to the third group and a fourth group icon corresponding to the fourth group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Christie, Imran Chaudhri, Scott Forstall, Stephen O. Lemay
  • Patent number: 9811209
    Abstract: Touch sensitivity is enabled using a touch system that comprises a panel configured to conduct signals, e.g. by TIR, along detection lines across a touch surface. A signal processor operates to obtain observed values for the detection lines, and identify an interaction pattern on the touch surface as a solution to an optimization function that comprises an aggregation of differences, for each detection line, between the observed value and a projected value, which is given by a projection function that defines a functional relation between the interaction pattern and the projected value for each detection line. The signal processor implements a normalization to ensure that the interaction pattern indicates weak touches even in the presence of strong touches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: FLATFROG LABORATORIES AB
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Nicklas Ohlsson
  • Patent number: 9811226
    Abstract: There is provided a sensor device that includes a flexible first conductor layer and an electrode substrate. The electrode substrate includes a plurality of first electrode wires, a plurality of second electrode wires, capacity sensors being formed at capacitively coupled portions of the first and second electrode wires, and a flexible substrate that supports the first and second electrode wires. The sensor device also includes a first supporting body including a plurality of first structures that connect the first conductor layer and the electrode substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Itaya, Shogo Shinkai, Hiroto Kawaguchi, Fumihiko Iida, Hayato Hasegawa, Kei Tsukamoto, Takayuki Tanaka, Tomoko Katsuhara, Tomoaki Suzuki, Taizo Nishimura, Hiroshi Mizuno, Yasuyuki Abe
  • Patent number: 9778809
    Abstract: In a coordinate detection apparatus, a resistance-film is formed on a substrate made of an insulating material. A common electrode applies a voltage to the resistance-film, the common electrode extending along a plurality of a resistance-film removal areas formed by removing portions of the resistance-film. A voltage application part applies the voltage to the common electrode. The voltage is applied from the voltage application part to the resistance-film through the common electrode to generate a potential distribution in the resistance-film. A coordinate position of a contact position at which the resistance-film is contacted is detected by detecting a potential of the resistance-film at the contact position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Koichi Kondoh, Shozo Furukawa, Mitsuhiro Sekizawa, Takashi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9778805
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrostatic capacitance input device including: an input region of a substrate, in which a plurality of input position detection electrodes are provided; a plurality of wires that are electrically connected to the plurality of input position detection electrodes and extend outside the input region of the substrate; and a shield electrode that overlaps the wires on the input operation side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventor: Takeshi Kurashima
  • Patent number: 9766742
    Abstract: A contact sensor apparatus comprises: a first insulative layer (100); a second insulative layer (200); a first resistor strip (101) on the first insulative layer; a second resistor strip (201) on the second insulative layer; a plurality of first conductive traces (102) provided on the first insulative layer and electrically connected to the first resistor strip; and a plurality of second conductive traces (202) provided on the second insulative layer and electrically connected to the second resistor strip. The first insulative layer and second insulative layer face each other such that the plurality of first conductive traces face the plurality of second conductive traces with each of the first conductive traces extending across the plurality of second conductive traces and each of the second conductive traces extending across the plurality of first conductive traces thereby forming an array of points of intersection of the first and second conductive traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: R&D CORE LIMITED
    Inventor: Thomas Papakostas
  • Patent number: 9769364
    Abstract: An audio capture system for a sports camera includes at least one “enhanced” microphone and at least one “reference” microphone. The enhanced microphone includes a drainage enhancement feature to enable water to drain from the microphone more quickly than the reference microphone. A microphone selection controller selects between the microphones based on a microphone selection algorithm to enable high quality in conditions where the sports camera transitions in and out of water during activities such as surfing, water skiing, swimming, or other wet environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhinian Jing, Ke Li
  • Patent number: 9747026
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for selecting a keyboard key based on a position of a presence of a conductive object on a sensing device and a pre-defined area of the keyboard key. The apparatus may include a sensing device and a processing device. The sensing device may include a plurality of sensor elements to detect a presence of a conductive object on the sensing device. Multiple keyboard keys are assigned to pre-defined areas of the sensing device. The processing device is coupled to the sensing device using capacitance sensing pins, and may be operable to determine a position of the presence of the conductive object, and to select a keyboard key based on the position of the conductive object and the pre-defined areas of the sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Creator Technology B.V.
    Inventors: Liu Hua, Jiang XiaoPing
  • Patent number: 9737242
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are described that can facilitate recognition of an engagement between an object and a touch screen in the absence of human contact. Upon the engagement, an electrically conductive path can be established that extends from a surface of the touch screen such that sufficient electrons flow from the touch screen through the electrically conductive path to enable the recognition of the object on the touch screen in the absence of human contact with the object during continued presence of the object on the touch screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
    Inventors: Jay L. Alberts, David D. Schindler
  • Patent number: 9740341
    Abstract: An combination interpolating force sensitive resistor (IFSR) array touch sensor and capacitive touch sensor, or a modified IFSR sensor, is configured to detect touches resistively and capacitvely. By comparing resistive and capacitive signals, touches may be accurately characterized. The IFSR array may also be used in conjunction with an active stylus to determine a position of the active stylus relative to the IFSR array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ilya D. Rosenberg, Julien G. Beguin
  • Patent number: 9727198
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for determining an input position of a touch object. An input signal is received from the touch object, and one or more sensing signals are output. A resistance of each of one or more sub-loops is measured, and a resistance information lookup table is generated with each resistance value of a corresponding sub-loop of the one or more sub-loops. The one or more sensing signals are corrected based on the resistance information lookup table. The input position of the touch object is determined based on the corrected one or more sensing signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Byung-Jik Kim, Kwang-Choon Kim
  • Patent number: 9710121
    Abstract: Systems and methods to determine locations for dual touch operations performed on a four-wire resistive touch screen. The systems and methods may include measuring signals from pairs of electrodes on each of a first and second resistive sheet of the resistive touch screen in two phases of operation. The systems and methods may further include determining touch screen segment resistances from the signal measurements. The systems and methods may determine locations corresponding to the dual touch operations from the resistances. The systems and methods may also determine locations from the signal measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Javier Calpe Maravilla, Italo Carlos Medina, Maria Jose Martinez, Alberto Carbajo Galve