Capacitive Patents (Class 178/18.06)
  • Patent number: 10282028
    Abstract: A mobile device has a proximity sensor. A compensation value of the proximity sensor is determined. The compensation value is compared to a reference compensation value to determine validity of the compensation value. A capacitance of the proximity sensor is measured. A value of the capacitance of the proximity sensor is adjusted based on the compensation value. A coefficient defining a relationship between a capacitance of the proximity sensor and a temperature of the mobile device is calculated. A temperature sensor is coupled to the proximity sensor. The temperature of the mobile device is measured. A value of the capacitance of the proximity sensor is adjusted based on the coefficient and the temperature of the mobile device. The adjusted capacitance value is compared to a threshold capacitance value to determine proximity of an object to the mobile device. A radio frequency signal is adjusted by detecting proximity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Semtech Corporation
    Inventors: Chaouki Rouaissia, Jerald G. Ott, III
  • Patent number: 10261628
    Abstract: A display device having a built-in touchscreen and a driving chip, a circuit film, and a chip-on-film (COF) type driving circuit included in the display device. The COF type driving circuit performs data driving and touch driving in a combined manner. A source driving circuit outputs image data voltages through data channels. At least one touch driving circuit outputs touch driving signals through touch channels. The source driving circuit and the at least one touch driving circuit are mounted on an integrated circuit film. Data channel lines electrically connected to the data channels and touch channel lines electrically connected to the touch channels are disposed on the integrated circuit film. The noise avoidance line disposed on the integrated circuit film is located outward of an at least one outermost touch channel line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: KiYong Kim, Youngwoo Jo
  • Patent number: 10254890
    Abstract: A touch surface device having improved sensitivity and dynamic range is disclosed. In one embodiment, the touch surface device includes a touch-sensitive panel having at least one sense node for providing an output signal indicative of a touch or no-touch condition on the panel; a compensation circuit, coupled to the at least one sense node, for generating a compensation signal that when summed with the output signal removes an undesired portion of the output signal so as to generated a compensated output signal; and an amplifier having an inverting input coupled to the output of the compensation circuit and a non-inverting input coupled to a known reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Porter Hotelling, Brian Richards Land
  • Patent number: 10241603
    Abstract: There is provided a touch panel device including an advance key that is assuredly touchable by an operator with no cost increase. A touch panel device (1) includes a plurality of keys (3) to (13) each including an indication part on which a corresponding one of functions is indicated, and a plurality of touch detection areas provided over the respective indication parts of the plurality of keys (3) to (13). The touch panel device (1) recognizes an operation instruction in any of the touch detection areas that corresponds to a predetermined key when the indication part of the predetermined key is touched. The plurality of keys include at least an advance key (13). The touch detection area (13B) of the advance key (13) is larger than the indication part (13A) of the advance key (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Osamu Banno, Risa Tokairin, Masako Abe
  • Patent number: 10228793
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates the use of a portable electronic device. During operation, the system detects a coupling of a power supply to the portable electronic device through a set of wires. Next, the system uses the set of wires to identify a type of the power supply. The system then periodically determines a switching frequency of the power supply based on the type of the power supply and a current drawn from the power supply. Finally, the system uses the switching frequency to facilitate the operation of a touch control in the portable electronic device. For example, if the switching frequency corresponds to a sensing frequency of the touch control, the system may change the sensing frequency to an alternative sensing frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas A. Sims
  • Patent number: 10222914
    Abstract: A touch device including an array substrate, at least one gate driving circuit, an opposite substrate and a shielding pattern is provided. The array substrate has a display region and a peripheral region connecting to the display region. The gate driving circuit is disposed on the array substrate and located in the peripheral region. The opposite substrate is disposed opposite to the array substrate. The shielding pattern is disposed between the array substrate and the opposite substrate. The shielding pattern projected on the array substrate is formed a first projection, the gate driving circuit projected on the array substrate is formed a second projection, the first projection at least partially overlaps with the second projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Innolux Corporation
    Inventor: Cheng-Min Wu
  • Patent number: 10216292
    Abstract: A position pointer includes a signal generation circuit, which generates at least one signal. The position pointer in operation transmits the at least one signal to a sensor of a position detector. The position pointer includes a first electrode arranged to protrude from one end portion of a pen-shaped housing along an axial center direction and a second electrode including at least three electrode pieces disposed near the first electrode in such a manner as to surround a central axis of the housing. The at least three electrode pieces are electrically isolated from each other. The position pointer has a signal supply control circuit, which, in operation, controls supply of signals to selectively supply the at least one signal to the second electrode that includes the at least three electrode pieces and to the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Munakata, Takashi Suzuki, Hideyuki Hara, Yoshihisa Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10209822
    Abstract: A touch sensor includes electrodes that are serially arranged and a processor with multiple input terminals. The electrodes are grouped into first, second and third groups of electrodes. Each electrode of the first group is coupled with a corresponding input terminal of the processor. The electrodes of the second group are sequentially coupled with the input terminals of the processor by way of odd numbered electrodes of the first group. The electrodes of the third group are sequentially coupled with the input terminals of the processor by way of even numbered electrodes of the first group. Each of the electrodes, other than the electrodes on the ends, is triggered simultaneously with at least one of its neighboring electrodes to provide sensed signals to the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Wangsheng Mei, Yonggang Chen, Ben Wang, Kun Wu
  • Patent number: 10209792
    Abstract: An apparatus and method wherein the apparatus comprises; a flexible display; a flexible touch sensitive module; and a first flexible coating overlaying the flexible display and a second flexible coating overlaying the touch sensitive module; wherein at least a portion of the touch sensitive module is mounted on the first flexible coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Esa-Sakari Määttä, Ilpo Kalevi Kauhaniemi
  • Patent number: 10203782
    Abstract: A touch sensing system comprises a touchscreen with a plurality of touch electrodes, to which a touchscreen driving signal is applied, and a stylus pen that generates a pen driving signal based on the touchscreen driving signal and sends the same to the touchscreen. The stylus pen comprises: an amplifier that amplifies the touchscreen driving signal to generate an amplified signal; a comparator that compares the amplified signal with a preset reference voltage to generate a comparator output signal; and a signal processor that measures the pulse width of the comparator output signal, adjusts an amount of delay based on a measurement, and determines an output timing of the pen driving signal based on an adjusted amount of delay to synchronize the pen driving signal with the touchscreen driving signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Doyoung Jung, Hyunguk Jang, Sungchul Kim, Sanghyuck Bae, Sungsu Han, Suyun Ju
  • Patent number: 10205895
    Abstract: A capacitive image sensor with noise reduction feature and a method operating the capacitive image sensor are provided. The capacitive image sensor includes: a number of capacitive sensing units, arranged in a form of an array, wherein each of the number of capacitive sensing units switches between three states: sensing state, idle state, and emitting state; a driving source, for providing a driving signal to an adjacent finger overlying the number of capacitive sensing units through the number of capacitive sensing units which are in the emitting state; a number of driving switches, each connected between one of the number of capacitive sensing units and the driving source; and a control and timing logic, connected to each of the number of driving switches, for controlling the state of each of the number of capacitive sensing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: SUNASIC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Chi Chou Lin, Zheng Ping He
  • Patent number: 10185442
    Abstract: A method for controlling display of a touchscreen, and a mobile device are presented, which relate to the field of electronic device technologies, so that the mobile device can control to zoom-in or zoom-out displayed content on the touchscreen according to received information about two touches. The method in the present disclosure includes receiving first touch information, where the first touch information comprises a first touch position; receiving second touch information, where the second touch information comprises a second touch position; determining zooming times according to a distance between the first touch position and the second touch position; and zooming displayed content on the touchscreen according to a position relationship between the first touch position and the second touch position and the zooming times. The present disclosure is applicable to a mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: HUAWEI DEVICE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinfeng Zhou, Yukun Guo, Wei Zhang, Zhengquan Wang
  • Patent number: 10185864
    Abstract: A fingerprint sensing device and a method operating the fingerprint sensing device are provided. The fingerprint sensing device includes at least one sensing core, a system unit, at least one switching unit and a charge holding unit. The switching unit is connected between the sensing core and the system unit to provide four different operation states: a normal state; an isolation state; a drive-up state; and a drive-down state. A voltage shift between the finger and the sensing core is generated by controlling the switching unit to perform different operation states in various orders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: SunASIC Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Chi Chou Lin, Zheng Ping He
  • Patent number: 10180736
    Abstract: A processing system includes a sensor module and a determination module. The sensor module is coupled to sensor electrodes and is the sensor module configured to drive the sensor electrodes with sensing signals at a first resonance frequency of the pen. The determination module is configured to obtain, concurrently with the driving of the sensor electrodes, a measurements that are based on effects of the sensing signals, and a resonance of the pen in a sensing region. The determination module is further configured to determine positional information of the pen in the sensing region based on the measurements, and report the positional information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Doug Krumpelman, Tom Vandermeijden, Kirk Hargreaves
  • Patent number: 10180612
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an array substrate. The array substrate includes a display region and a plurality of control lines, the display region being divided into a plurality of sub-regions, each sub-region comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel including a common electrode. Common electrodes in pixels in a sub-region are electrically connected together; common electrodes in two sub-regions are connected by a switching unit; and a control line is connected with the common electrodes in the sub-region to provide a common voltage signal to the common electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD, HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Jian Zhao, Xuebing Jiang, Jinliang Liu
  • Patent number: 10173393
    Abstract: A transparent electrode-equipped substrate includes a metal oxide transparent electrode layer on a transparent substrate. The average maximum curvature Ssc of the surface of the transparent electrode layer is preferably 5.4×10?4 nm?1 or less. For example, if the transparent electrode layer is subjected to a surface treatment by low discharge-power sputtering after deposition, the Ssc of the transparent electrode layer can be reduced. This transparent electrode-equipped substrate excels in close adhesion between the transparent electrode layer and a lead-out wiring line disposed on the transparent electrode layer. The transparent electrode layer is obtained by, for example, performing a transparent electrode deposition step of through the application of a first discharge power and then performing a surface treatment step through the application of a second discharge power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironori Hayakawa, Shinya Omoto, Takashi Kuchiyama
  • Patent number: 10175801
    Abstract: Disclosed are a liquid crystal display device having touch and three-dimensional display functions and a method for manufacturing the same. The liquid crystal display device includes a touch and three-dimensional image display panel adhered to a liquid crystal panel through an adhesive layer, wherein the touch and three-dimensional image display panel includes a lower substrate provided with first and second electrodes for realizing a three-dimensional image, a upper substrate provided with third and fourth electrodes for sensing touch and a common electrode for realizing the three-dimensional image, and a liquid crystal display filled between the upper and lower substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: So-Hyung Lee, Byung-Koo Kang, Dong-Sup Kim, Jong-Hyun Han
  • Patent number: 10175814
    Abstract: Provided is a touch panel capable of operating without dependence on visual observation, or a command-input method thereof. Provided is a touch panel with low power consumption, or a command-input method thereof. A command-input method of a touch panel including a first touch sensor and a second touch sensor includes a first step of sensing an object by the first touch sensor, a second step of starting operation for enabling operation of the second touch sensor, a third step of sensing the object by the second touch sensor, a fourth step of executing a first command by the touch panel, and a fifth step of starting operation for disabling the operation of the second touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Fukutome
  • Patent number: 10175839
    Abstract: In some aspects of the present disclosure, a method for touch-panel processing is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of sensor signals from a touch panel, wherein each one of the plurality of sensor signals corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of channels of the touch panel. The method also includes, for each one of the received sensor signals, converting the received sensor signal into one or more respective digital values. The method further includes, for each one of the received sensor signals, performing digital processing on the one or more respective digital values using a respective one of a plurality of processing engines to generate one or more respective processed digital values. The method further includes performing additional processing on the processed digital values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ankit Srivastava, Mohamed Imtiaz Ahmed, Dustin Tarl Dunwell, William Martin Snelgrove, Ayaz Hasan, Matthew David James
  • Patent number: 10168894
    Abstract: A canvas (e.g., a digital page or sheet of paper) on which a user can input data is displayed on a display device of a computing device in response to the canvas being invoked. The canvas can be invoked in different manners, such as by the user activating a switch or button at an “eraser” end of a stylus that mimics a pen/pencil configuration. The user can input any digital data such as notes, drawings, and so forth on the canvas that he or she desires. In response to the canvas being dismissed (e.g., by the user again activating a switch or button at an “eraser” end of a stylus that mimics a pen/pencil configuration), display of the canvas ceases. The digital data input by the user is saved or otherwise processed by the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Sarah Graham Williams, Catherine N. Boulanger, Yann Florian Daniel Riche, Hua Wang, John G. A. Weiss, Anthony Christian Reed, Ralf Groene, Steven Nabil Bathiche, Vincent L. Ball
  • Patent number: 10168892
    Abstract: An electronic device and method in which an electronic device handles a hovering operation are provided. The electronic device includes a display including a first area at which an object is displayed and a second area adjacent to the first area, and a touch module configured to recognize a user input selecting the object and an operation in which the user input is hovering, wherein the touch module is further configured to determine that the selection of the object is maintained if the user input is hovering above a specific area. The method includes recognizing a user input selecting an object; recognizing that the hovering operation is performed above a specific area; and determining that a selection of the object is maintained, wherein a display of the electronic device comprises a first area at which the object is displayed and a second area adjacent to the first area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Sang Hyun Lee, Woo Kwang Lee
  • Patent number: 10168804
    Abstract: A user input system including a stylus and an electronic device. A user may manipulate the stylus across an input surface of the electronic device and the movement may be detected using axially-aligned electric fields generated by the stylus. The stylus may also include a force-sensitive structure that can be used to estimate a force applied to the electronic device by the stylus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Aidan N. Zimmerman, Wingshan Wong, Kevin Armendariz, Nathan Bohney, Christopher Pasma, Mahmoud Amini, Brenton A. Baugh, Ryan P. Brooks
  • Patent number: 10156948
    Abstract: A display device with a touch detection function including: a plurality of liquid crystal display elements performing display operation; a plurality of touch detection electrodes arranged side by side to extend in one direction, and each outputting a detection signal based on a change in an electrostatic capacitance caused by an external proximity object; a conductive film insulated from or connected with high resistance to the touch detection electrodes, and disposed to cover the touch detection electrodes; and a touch detection circuit detecting the external proximity object by sampling the detection signal. The conductive film has a sheet resistance equal to or smaller than a predetermined resistance value, and has a time constant larger than a predetermined minimum time constant defined by sampling timings in the touch detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
    Inventors: Koji Ishizaki, Koji Noguchi, Osamu Ishige
  • Patent number: 10152920
    Abstract: A current sensing unit can include a current sink circuit connected to a sensing line, which reduces a pixel current fed via the sensing line by an amount equal to a sink current; a current integrator connected to the sensing line, which accumulates an adjusted current from the sensing line and outputs an integrated value based on the pixel current minus the sink current; a sampling part that samples and holds the integrated value; and an analog-to-digital converter that converts the integrated value from an analog value to a digital sensed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chulwon Lee, Seungtae Kim
  • Patent number: 10152157
    Abstract: A touch display device for simplifying a signal transmission pattern and a circuit structure is disclosed. A timing controller supplies display information to a touch and data driver through a data transmission line during a data writing period and supplies touch voltage information to the touch and data driver through the data transmission line during a touch driving period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soon-Dong Cho, Hoon Jang
  • Patent number: 10146382
    Abstract: An assembly has an array of first electrodes distributed across an active area of the touchscreen assembly such that the density of first electrodes increases in a first direction across the touchscreen. An array of second electrodes is distributed across an active area of the touchscreen assembly such that the density of second electrodes decreases in the first direction across the touchscreen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Harald Philipp
  • Patent number: 10140016
    Abstract: A user input apparatus is provided with user input means for the user to input data or a command by using the user's human body, and use-form detection means for detecting a form in which the user uses the user input means by the user's human body. A computer connected to the user input apparatus changes the operation of the application being executed by application execution means, according to a detection result obtained by the use-form detection means. Therefore, input operations can be performed without inconvenience even if the user cannot use one hand due to another work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Rekimoto
  • Patent number: 10140499
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for detecting a finger touch and/or finger press. A method includes: detecting presence of a finger on a fingerprint sensor; causing the fingerprint sensor to take measurements using multiple successive frames of the fingerprint sensor; for each measurement, computing a metric associated with the measurement at a given frame corresponding to the measurement; at a first particular frame, determining that the finger has settled on the fingerprint sensor, wherein determining that the finger has settled comprises determining that the metric at the first particular frame exceeds a settled value threshold; and, based on determining that the finger has settled, determining that a finger touch has occurred. A finger press can be further determined by monitoring whether the metric passes a press threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Adam Schwartz, Tom Vandermeijden, Igor Polishchuk, Michael Cornstock
  • Patent number: 10133376
    Abstract: A touch sensor integrated display device includes a plurality of common electrode blocks serving as touch-sensing regions and/or touch-driving regions. Conductive lines connected to the common electrode blocks are placed under the common electrode blocks and the pixel electrodes of the pixels, and they are routed across the active area, directly toward an inactive area where drive-integrated circuits are located. The conductive lines are positioned under one or more planarization layers, and are connected to the corresponding common electrode blocks via one or more contact holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byoungwoo Kim
  • Patent number: 10133339
    Abstract: An apparatus for driving a touchpad of a portable terminal including a second control unit controlling the touchpad in an active mode is provided. The apparatus includes a sensor unit for generating interrupt signals when pressure on the touchpad is sensed, a first control unit for outputting activating signals to activate the second control unit when the interrupt signals are input and a switching unit for transmitting the interrupt signals generated from the sensor unit to the first control unit when the second control unit is in an inactive mode. Accordingly, even though the multimedia processor embedded in the portable terminal is in an inactive mode, the multimedia processor is activated when a user presses the touchpad, thereby making it possible to process signals input by touching the touchpad, particularly, to keep the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Hyoung Jeon, Hark-Sang Kim, Seok-Hyo Park
  • Patent number: 10128840
    Abstract: A capacitive touch sensor (100) is provided. The capacitive touch sensor (100) includes an electrode (110) disposed between a plate (120) and a spring (130) wherein the spring (130) presses the electrode (110) towards the plate (120) in a direction that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal length (L) of the spring (130) and the electrode (110) has a flat sensing surface (112) parallel with the plate (120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Mei Zhang, Heng Zhao, Yingxue Xu, Kai Shen, Chengjun Liu, Meng Ge
  • Patent number: 10126874
    Abstract: A processing system for reducing interference. The processing system includes: a sensor module configured to: receive a noisy active pen signal associated with an active pen from a panel receiver; and receive a plurality of interference signals from a plurality of interference receivers; and a determination module configured to: determine an estimated interference signal based on a subset of the plurality of interference signals; and generate a filtered active pen signal by reducing interference in the noisy active pen signal based on the estimated interference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kirk Hargreaves, Sanjay Mani
  • Patent number: 10126883
    Abstract: A capacitive touch sensor includes a sensor substrate and an array of electrode elements formed over the sensor substrate. Each electrode element of the array includes at least one of a first electrode group comprising at least two drive electrodes and at least one sense electrode, or a second electrode group comprising at least two sense electrodes and at least one drive electrode. The respective electrodes of the first or second electrode group are arranged to form multiple capacitances over different coupling distances. A controller is operatively coupled to the array of electrode elements, the controller configured to determine a distance of an object relative to the surface of the touch sensor based on variations in the multiple capacitances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michael Paul Coulson, Christopher James Brown, Dauren Slamkul
  • Patent number: 10126807
    Abstract: Switching of power modes for touch screens is disclosed. In example embodiments a touch detect mode may be activated for touchscreen operation. The touchscreen may be a projected capacitance screen that includes force sensing based on piezo electric sensors. The touch detect mode may be a low power mode in which at least one channel, but fewer than all channels of the touch screen are monitored. When is determined that a touch event has occurred a switch to a scan mode for touchscreen operation may be performed. Scan mode may be a higher power mode in which all channels of the touch screen are scanned at least for position sensing. The touch detect mode monitoring may be implemented by monitoring the total charge on the at least one channel and providing a voltage signal. When the voltage signal meets predetermined criteria an indication of a touch event may be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Cambridge Touch Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Arokia Nathan, Jackson Chi-Sun Lai, Suk-Bae Cha, Corbin Church
  • Patent number: 10126885
    Abstract: Disclosed is a capacitive touch panel having a circuitous conductor pattern structure. The capacitive touch panel contains a number of first axial conductor assemblies and a number of second axial conductor assemblies, wherein each second axial conductor assembly includes a number of second axial conductor cells which are composed of a number of bar shape figures with accordion shape or wave shape edges. Electrical fields and induced capacitors are generated between adjacent axial conductor assemblies with different directions when giving control signals. Then the touched position is detected. Circuitous conductor pattern increases the region of the first axial conductor assembly and the inducing range of electrical field, thus the amount of the axial conductor assemblies and conduction lines can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Hycon Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Hui-Min Wang, Yu-Jen Wang
  • Patent number: 10126872
    Abstract: A command device (6) for at least one function of a motor vehicle, the device comprising: —a touchpad (1) configured to receive a command of said at least one function, —at least one antenna (3,4) arranged around the touchpad (1) in such a way as to frame said touchpad (1), the antenna (3,4) being capable of forming a capacitor with at least one exterior element (2,5) in contact with the touchpad (1), —means for measuring (8) the capacitance of the capacitor formed by the antenna (3,4) and said at least one exterior element (2,5), and —a means of control of the command (9) configured so as to take account of the command received by the touchpad (1) when the capacitance measured by the measurement means (8) lies in a predetermined interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventor: Tan Duc Huynh
  • Patent number: 10126940
    Abstract: An approach is provided for establishing touch zones of soft keys of a soft keypad that is displayed on a touch-screen device. The approach identifies a fingertip size associated with a user of the touch-screen device. Touch zones of one or more keys are then established so that the size of the touch zones is based on the fingertip size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Aaron M. Stewart, Jeffrey E. Skinner, Jonathan J. Yu, Lance W. Cassidy
  • Patent number: 10126893
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a capacitive sensing apparatus, a manufacturing and operation method thereof and an electronic device including the capacitive sensing apparatus. An apparatus includes first capacitive sensing unit(s) and second capacitive sensing unit, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control periodic charging of the capacitive sensing units, determine first voltage change(s) for the first capacitive sensing unit(s) and second voltage change(s) for the second capacitive sensing unit(s), and calculate, for the first capacitive sensing unit(s), a signal-to-noise ratio value based on the first voltage change(s) and the second voltage change(s). Sensing results of first capacitive sensing unit(s) may be calibrated based on the sensing results of second capacitive sensing unit(s), thereby reducing influence of environmental changes on stability and sensitivity of a capacitive sensing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Zhanwei Mao, Jianfeng Zhu, Yu Wang, Jinjuan Liu
  • Patent number: 10120503
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a display device includes drive electrodes, sensing electrodes, a driver, a first sensor circuit, and a second sensor circuit, wherein the drive electrodes include first drive electrodes and second drive electrodes which are arranged between the adjacent first drive electrodes, and a first width of the first drive electrodes in a first direction is an integer multiple of a second width of the second drive electrodes in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Takafumi Suzuki, Yasuyuki Teranishi
  • Patent number: 10120513
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an integrator circuit, a compensation circuit, and a sense circuit. The compensation circuit applies a positive charge and a negative charge to the integrator circuit during a first time period and a second time period respectively. The integrator circuit integrates a signal and the positive charge to produce a first sense signal. The signal is based on a charge at an electrode of a touch sensor. The integrator circuit integrates the signal and the negative charge to produce a second sense signal. The sense circuit detects a touch based on the first sense signal and the second sense signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Trond Jarle Pedersen, Armin Prohaska, Torgeir Fenheim, Peter Kolb
  • Patent number: 10120516
    Abstract: A touch electrode, a display panel and a display device are provided. The touch electrode includes a plurality of first electrodes provided along a first direction, a plurality of second electrodes provided along a second direction, a first conductive portion, an insulation layer and a second conductive portion. Adjacent ones of the first electrodes are connected through the first conductive portion, on which the insulation layer is arranged; adjacent ones of the second electrodes are connected through the second conductive portion which is provided on the insulation layer; and the second conductive portion includes a plurality of wires, at least one wire has a width smaller than a first preset value, and the wire having the width smaller than the first preset value is configured for the release of static electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignees: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd., Hefei Xinsheng Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhun Wang, Lei Zhang, Jun Li
  • Patent number: 10108289
    Abstract: A touch panel, a display device and a method of driving the same are provided. The touch panel, the display device and the method of driving the same, in which at least two sub receiving electrodes respectively configuring receiving electrodes insulated from each other are disposed between two sub-driving electrodes configuring one driving electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Cheol Se Kim
  • Patent number: 10067622
    Abstract: An electronic device and a single-layer mutual-capacitance touch screen are provided. The touch screen includes multiple sensing electrode groups disposed in a first direction in parallel, multiple bonding pads, multiple first lead wires and multiple second lead wires. The sensing electrode group includes a first unit including multiple first electrodes and a second unit including multiple electrode pairs. The electrode pair includes a second electrode at a first side of the first unit and a third electrode at a second side of the first unit. The first lead wires and the second lead wires connect the first electrodes and the electrode pairs with corresponding bonding pads respectively. In any two adjacent electrode pairs, adjacent ends of both two second electrodes and two third electrodes are opposite to the first electrode in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: FOCALTECH SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Weijing Hou, Hui Liu, Chao Chen
  • Patent number: 10067603
    Abstract: A sensing method of a touch panel is provided. The touch panel includes N control lines, M groups of sense lines and a touch sensor array having a plurality of sensors arranged in M rows and N columns. The N control lines are coupled to N columns of sensors. The M groups of sense lines are coupled to M rows of sensors. The sensing method includes the following steps: alternately driving the N control lines to alternately enable the N columns of sensors to detect a touch event, wherein P control lines are driven at a time such that P sensors within each of the M rows of sensors are enabled simultaneously, and P is a positive integer greater than one; and receiving P sensing results generated by the enabled P sensors through a corresponding group of sense lines, and generating a sensing output according to the P sensing results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Chi-Hsuan Hsieh, Yaw-Guang Chang
  • Patent number: 10067619
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for determining the location of a touch on a touch sensor includes receiving input signals in response to a touch proximate to a location on the touch sensor. Each input signal may have a total capacitance that includes a first capacitance associated with the touch and a second capacitance that is parasitic capacitance. The parasitic capacitance of one or more of the input signals may be adjusted to result in the second capacitance of each of the input signals being substantially equal. An average capacitance of the adjusted input signals may be calculated. The location of the touch on the touch sensor may then be determined based on a comparison of the total capacitance of each of the input signals and the average capacitance of the input signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Vemund Kval Bakken, Steinar Myren, Trond Jarle Pedersen
  • Patent number: 10061418
    Abstract: A display device with a touch detection function including a plurality of touch detection electrodes arranged in parallel to extend in one direction, formed with a predetermined electrode pattern including an electrode portion and aperture portions, and each outputting a detection signal based on a change of an electrostatic capacitance in response to an external proximity object, a plurality of display elements formed in a layer different from a layer provided with the touch detection electrodes, and arranged by a predetermined number in a width direction in a region corresponding to the touch detection electrode, and a plurality of dummy electrodes arranged in an inter-detection-electrode region of the plurality of touch detection electrodes. The aperture portions are provided to allow an arrangement area ratio of the touch detection electrode to be almost equal to an arrangement area ratio of the dummy electrodes in the inter-detection-electrode region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
    Inventors: Koji Ishizaki, Masanobu Ikeda, Yasuyuki Matsui
  • Patent number: 10048813
    Abstract: A capacitive sensing method includes detecting present measured values of plural reference points selected from plural sensing points, generating a present difference value according to the present measured values of the reference points and one or more reference measured values, obtaining a selected adjustment factor according to a relation setting and the present difference value, detecting present measured values of the sensing points, generating plural position signals of the sensing points according to the present difference values of the sensing points, adjusting the position signals according to the selected adjustment factor, and controlling the output of the adjusted position signals according to a reference signal. The sensing points are defined by electrodes intersected with one another and configured to form an array. The reference points are located at the periphery of the array. The relation setting is the relationship between signal difference values and adjustment factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignees: SALT INTERNATIONAL CORP., IMAGINATION BROADWAY LTD.
    Inventor: Shang-Li Lee
  • Patent number: 10048815
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide improved sensor devices and methods that facilitate improved sensor devices. Specifically, the devices and methods provide capacitive image sensors that require only two layers of conductive elements formed on a single substrate. The ability to provide an image sensor using only a single substrate with two layers of conductive elements may substantially reduce the cost and complexity of the capacitive image sensor. In one embodiment, an input device is provided that comprises a first substrate having a first and second side. Each of the second array of second sensor electrodes comprises a plurality of isolated components disposed on the first side and a plurality of connectors disposed on the second side. The connectors and isolated components of the second sensor electrodes are arranged such that adjacent pairs of connectors along the first direction are separated by a distance substantially greater than the first pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Tai-Wei Yau, Yeh-Cheng Tan
  • Patent number: 10042470
    Abstract: A touch sensing method, a touch sensing circuit, and a touch display device perform multifrequency touch driving by varying the frequencies of touch driving signals when sensing a touch or a touched position by outputting pulse-type touch driving by which one or more touch electrodes among a number of touch electrodes disposed on a display panel are driven sequentially. Undesired parasitic capacitance that would otherwise be caused by touch driving signals is prevented from occurring, and EMI influence is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: LG Display Co., LTD.
    Inventors: MyungHo Shin, SungUk Byun, YongWoo Choi, MinWoo Hwang, KiYong Kim, Youngho Kwon, Kyungjin Jang, JaeKyu Park
  • Patent number: 10037453
    Abstract: A capacitive fingerprint sensing module includes a flexible printed circuit board, a lower conductive adhesive layer, an upper conductive adhesive layer, and a positioning frame. The flexible printed circuit board has an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface has a finger pressing region and a first sensing layer. The lower surface has a second sensing layer. The lower conductive adhesive layer is formed on the second sensing layer and provided to cover second sensing electrodes mounted on the second sensing layer. The upper conductive adhesive layer is formed on the finger pressing region. The positioning frame has an opening facing upward and a slot. The flexible printed circuit board is inserted through the slot and embedded in the positioning frame. Accordingly, effects of conductivity enhancement and accuracy improvement of the capacitive fingerprint sensing module are produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Inventor: Wu-Hsu Lin