Responsive To Proximity Or Touch Patents (Class 327/517)
  • Patent number: 8289069
    Abstract: A touch apparatus including a touch capacitor and a touch control unit is provided. The touch control unit includes a signal sampling and saving unit, a switch unit, and a signal processing unit. The signal sampling and saving unit samples and saves a voltage on the touch capacitor during enable periods of a sample signal and a charge reset signal, so as to generate a touch voltage and a reset voltage respectively, and further generate an average voltage of the touch voltage and the reset voltage according to an equalization signal. The switch unit receives and transmits the touch voltage, the reset voltage, and the average voltage according to a first control signal. The signal processing unit couples the touch voltage, the reset voltage, the average voltage, and a common voltage according to a second control signal, so as to generate a first coupling voltage and a second coupling voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Himax Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Jen-Wen Cheng
  • Publication number: 20120242399
    Abstract: A mobile terminal and a method of writing protection for a memory card in the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal comprising a body, battery, and battery cover, at least part of the battery cover made of conductive material; the body comprising: a memory card socket configured to accommodate a pluggable memory card; at least one sensing member on a surface or internal of the body and spaced from the battery cover, and configured to face the part made of conductive material when the battery cover is closed; a capacitance sensor connected to the at least one sensing member and configured to sense capacitance between the sensing member and battery cover; and a write control unit configured to determine whether the battery cover is removed according to capacitance sensed by the capacitance sensor, and prohibit data being written into the memory card when the battery cover is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: SONY ERICSSON MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
    Inventor: Yinong LIU
  • Publication number: 20120229195
    Abstract: A capacitance type input device includes: a film base material; a driving electrode patterned at a sensor side of the film base material; and a detection electrode patterned to output capacitance between the driving electrode and the detection electrode, opposite to the driving electrode through a sensor side insulating layer, in which reference capacitor portions having reference capacitance for capacitance between the driving electrode and the detection electrode are patterned at the side of a circuit portion opposite to the sensor portion of the film base material. The reference capacitor portion includes a first conductive layer conductively connected with the detection electrode and a second conductive layer opposite to the first conductive layer through a circuit side insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventor: Hiroshi Shigetaka
  • Publication number: 20120229196
    Abstract: A detection electrode and an X-driving electrode (first driving electrode) are stacked through a sensor side insulating layer, at the side of a sensor portion of a film base material, and a Y-driving electrode (second driving electrode) is formed on the same forming surface as the detection electrode. The X-driving electrode is formed of a first conductive layer, the detection electrode and the Y-driving electrode are formed in a stacked structure of a second conductive layer having a resistance lower than the first conductive layer and a third conductive layer having a resistance higher than the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventor: Hiroshi SHIGETAKA
  • Publication number: 20120229194
    Abstract: A touch panel having non-integrated and securely attached portions of a substrate has a substrate and an extended portion. The substrate takes a regular form and has two opposite surfaces, multiple edge walls and a transparent electrode layer. The transparent electrode layer is formed on one of the opposite surfaces of the substrate. The extended portion has a thickness matching that of each edge wall and is securely attached to one of the edge walls. Accordingly, a substrate having a specific form can be formed by non-integrated parts without cutting off unnecessary material during a specific cutting process, thereby simplifying the fabrication process and saving the material cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: DERLEAD INVESTMENT LTD.
    Inventor: JANE HSU
  • Publication number: 20120218028
    Abstract: A capacitive touch panel comprises: a substrate and a touch sensor. The touch sensor is disposed on the substrate and includes a plurality of conductive elements, an input bus, and an output bus. The conductive elements are arranged to form a sensing matrix on same surface of the substrate. The input bus is electrically connected to one end of a first axis of the sensing matrix. The output bus is electrically connected to one end of a second axis of the sensing matrix. By this means, the present disclosure can achieve the purpose of simplifying the architecture of the capacitive touch panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: TPK TOUCH SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: CHUN-HSUEH CHU, JUI-JUNG CHIU
  • Publication number: 20120218029
    Abstract: A touch switch including: a conductive member for which voltage is applied from a plurality of locations for detecting presence or absence of a touch and a touch position on the conductive member of a conductor to be detected based on an electrical conduction status of the conductive member; and a detection-level changing mechanism for changing a detection level of the electrical conduction status of the conductive member due to the touch of the conductor on the conductive member. The presence or absence of the touch and the touch position on the conductive member of the conductor is detected if the detection level meets a predetermined condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: TOKAI RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Norihiko FURUTA, Motoyuki FURUTA, Atsushi MURAMATSU, Tomonori HAYAKAWA
  • Patent number: 8248149
    Abstract: Embodiments of an electronic apparatus and method for are registering inputs from a user a generating corresponding output provided. The electronic apparatus may comprise a switching system and a monitoring system. The switching system may comprise a base surface, insulating blocks disposed on the base surface, an array of conductive pads, and conductive wires. The array of conductive pads comprises one or more rows and one or more columns of conductive pads that are provided with a first electric potential. The switching system may further comprise conductive wires suspended from the insulating blocks and may be suspended at a physical distance over the rows of conductive pads. The conductive wires are provided with a second electric potential. The inputs are registered when the user contacts the conductive wires with the conductive pads. Thereafter, the monitoring system analyzes the inputs to generate a corresponding output to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Incident Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Idan Beck
  • Publication number: 20120206189
    Abstract: A touch apparatus including a touch capacitor and a touch control unit is provided. The touch control unit includes a signal sampling and saving unit, a switch unit, and a signal processing unit. The signal sampling and saving unit samples and saves a voltage on the touch capacitor during enable periods of a sample signal and a charge reset signal, so as to generate a touch voltage and a reset voltage respectively, and further generate an average voltage of the touch voltage and the reset voltage according to an equalization signal. The switch unit receives and transmits the touch voltage, the reset voltage, and the average voltage according to a first control signal. The signal processing unit couples the touch voltage, the reset voltage, the average voltage, and a common voltage according to a second control signal, so as to generate a first coupling voltage and a second coupling voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventor: Jen-Wen Cheng
  • Publication number: 20120200337
    Abstract: A hybrid touch device includes a direct touch unit and an indirect touch unit disposed at two sides respectively. The direct touch unit includes a base layer, a sensing line layer, a driving line layer, a bonding layer, and a covering layer. The indirect touch unit includes a first conducting layer, a second conducting layer, and a plurality of spacers between the first conducting layer and the second conducting layer. An optically clear adhesive (OCA) layer is disposed between the direct touch unit and the indirect touch unit. The base layer of the direct touch unit is a conductive film. A shielding layer is disposed between the conductive film and the OCA layer. The second conducting layer of the indirect touch unit is a thin conductive glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: GETAC TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tzu-Chi Liu, James Hwang
  • Publication number: 20120194259
    Abstract: A touch panel with interference shielding ability mainly has a substrate with four edges and a transparent electrode formed on a top surface of the substrate. The substrate is rectangular and transparent. The transparent electrode has an active area with four edges. A routing region is defined between the edges of the active area and the edges of the substrate. A structure of compensating impedance is formed on the routing region. An anti-interference layer is formed on the top surface or a bottom surface corresponding to the routing region. The compensating impedance on the routing region forms a shield. The interference induced by directly touching the routing region is avoided for determination of coordinates of a touch point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: Jane Hsu
  • Publication number: 20120188004
    Abstract: An apparatus that provides switch signals includes an upper portion, a lower portion, compressible material disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, memory and a processor. The upper portion includes an outer surface having portions that define at least two different regions. At least one of the different regions has a switch function. The upper portion also includes a three-dimensional orientation sensor that generates three-dimensional orientation signals in response to movement of the upper portion. The lower portion has a bottom surface adapted to be placed against an immovable surface. The memory electronically stores information regarding the portions of the outer surface that define at least one region having a switch function. The processor includes processor logic that uses the electronically stored information in the memory and the orientation signals to detect whether a region having a switch function was pressed, and if so, outputs a switch signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventor: Benjamin Slotznick
  • Publication number: 20120176179
    Abstract: Integrated circuitry, comprising: a sampling terminal for connecting the integrated circuitry to an external capacitance; sampling means operatively connected to the terminal to take samples, each sample having a sample value; and control means configured, whilst said external capacitance is connected to the sampling terminal, to: internally connect the sampling terminal, or another terminal of the integrated circuitry to which the external capacitance is also connected, to a given voltage-potential source to effect a change in charge stored on the external capacitance, the given voltage-potential source being available within the integrated circuitry when it is in use; cause the sampling means to take a plurality of samples over a period whilst that external capacitance charges or discharges following and/or during said change in charge; and judge whether an event has occurred in dependence upon the plurality of samples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
    Inventors: Christian Harders, Wolf Fronauer, Shaoyun Cheng, Markus Vogel, Dirk Fischer
  • Publication number: 20120169401
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a touch sensor includes drive electrodes. The drive electrodes include drive electrode structures that are each coupled to an adjacent drive electrode structure by a first strip of conductive material. The touch sensor also includes sense electrodes. The sense electrodes include sense electrode structures that are each coupled to an adjacent sense electrode structure by a second strip of conductive material. The sense electrode structures are formed on a same layer as the drive electrode structures. The first or second strip of conductive material include one or more conductive crossovers that each couple two drive electrode structures to each other or couple two sense electrode structures to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Luben Hristov, Harald Philipp
  • Publication number: 20120169400
    Abstract: A dual mode touch sensing display includes a display module, and a dual mode touch sensing module disposed at the display module. The dual mode touch sensing module includes a plurality of first conductors, a plurality of second conductors, and a switch unit. The first conductors extend in a first direction. The second conductors extend in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The switch unit includes a first switch circuit coupled to the first conductors and capable of interconnecting at least a portion of the first conductors to form sensing loops, and a second switch circuit coupled to the second conductors and capable of interconnecting at least a portion of the second conductors to form sensing loops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventor: Hong-Da LIU
  • Publication number: 20120161846
    Abstract: A circuit for converting a measured variable capacitance to an output voltage signal includes a charge amplifier circuit selectively coupled to an integrator circuit. The charge amplifier circuit, in one implementation, is configured as a high pass filter. In another implementation, the charge amplifier circuit is configured as a combination high pass and low pass filter. The charge amplifier circuit is selectively coupled to the integrator circuit when the circuit forces a switch in voltage across a measurement capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
    Inventor: Kusuma Adi Ningrat
  • Publication number: 20120139618
    Abstract: A projected capacitive touch panel has an X-axis sensing layer and a Y-axis sensing layer. The X-axis sensing layer includes a plurality of sensing rows, each of which has two or more electrode sequences connected in parallel. The Y-axis sensing layer includes a plurality of sensing columns, each of which has two or more electrode sequences connected in parallel. Each electrode sequence has a plurality of Y-axis electrodes connected in series. Each of the Y-axis electrodes interposes or aligns with an X-axis electrode. The projected capacitive touch panel effectively reduces the impedance of each of the sensing columns and sensing rows, thus having higher sensitivity for a controller. The arrangement of the X-axis sensing layer and the Y-axis sensing layer is also useful for enlarging the size of the projected capacitive touch panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: DERLEAD INVESTMENT LTD.
    Inventor: Jane HSU
  • Patent number: 8179180
    Abstract: A device for detecting an approach or a touch related to at least one sensor element, in particular in an electrical appliance, the device comprising an input side and an output side, between which a first signal path with a first input and a first output and a second signal path with a second input and a second output are arranged, wherein the first signal path comprises a delay device with a delay, the delay device configured to delay a digital first input signal at the first input into a digital first output signal at the first output, wherein the delay is dependent on a capacitance value resulting from the approach or the touch related to the sensor element, and wherein the second signal path comprises an XOR-element, which is configured to generate an edge in a digital second output signal at the second output, when the digital first output signal outputted by the delay device exhibits an edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: PRETTL Home Appliance Solutions GmbH
    Inventor: Dieter Genschow
  • Publication number: 20120112817
    Abstract: A capacitance-to-digital converter for an extended range of capacitances includes a reference capacitor and one or more offset capacitors. Electrical charge accumulated in the offset capacitors is used to at least partially cancel the charge accumulated in a sensed capacitance to facilitate matching with a charge accumulated in the reference capacitor. The residual charge is passed to an integrator, the output from which is quantized and used to control switching of the capacitors. Immunity to tonal external noises and improved conversion speed are achieved by controlling the capacitor switching with a spread spectrum clock. The capacitance-to-digital converter may be used, for example, for sensing of the capacitances of capacitive elements in touch and proximity displays or other user interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS ASIA PACIFIC PTE LTD.
    Inventors: Yannick Guedon, Kien Beng Tan
  • Publication number: 20120112818
    Abstract: An operator control apparatus for an electrical household appliance has an operator control panel on that side of the operator control apparatus that faces a user and defines an operator control area. A functional assembly is arranged on that face of the operator control panel that is averted from the user. The functional assembly has touch- and/or proximity-sensitive touch-operated switch. The at least one touch-operated switch of the functional assembly is positioned so as to correspond to operator control area of the operator control panel. A connecting apparatus is permanently connected to the operator control panel and releasably connected to the functional assembly, or in the alternative it is permanently connected to the functional assembly while it is releasably connected to the operator control panel. In this way, the functional assembly is releasably attached to the operator control panel but without play.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: DIEHL AKO STIFTUNG & CO. KG
    Inventors: UWE HEIMANN, MICHAEL PRINZ
  • Patent number: 8174304
    Abstract: A key module includes a key, a light emitting component, and a drive circuit. The key is operable between on and off states. The light emitting component is disposed adjacent to the key, and is capable of providing indicating light for the key. The drive circuit is electrically connected to the key and the light emitting component. The drive circuit is triggered upon switching of the key from the off state to the on state to provide a drive signal for driving the light emitting component to provide the indicating light. The drive signal has an intensity that gradually decreases over time once the key switches from the on state to the off state such that the indicating light provided by the light emitting component has a luminance that gradually decreases over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Lien-Fu Cheng, Wei-Chih Su, Jyh-Yu Chuang
  • Publication number: 20120105133
    Abstract: An input device includes a window, a transparent electrode disposed on each of a plurality of areas under the window, and a wire connected to the transparent electrode. The transparent electrode includes first and second electrodes. Each of the first and second electrodes includes at least two or more electrode parts and a connection part connecting the at least two or more electrode parts to each other. At least one electrode part of the first electrode is disposed between the electrode parts of the second electrode. The wire is connected to each of the first and second electrodes to extend outside an area which does not contact the other area contacting an area on which the transparent electrode is disposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Young Wook Kim, Ji Hoon Kim, Sung Won Kim, Young Moon Sonn
  • Publication number: 20120098588
    Abstract: For proximity detection, capacitance of a sensing element to ground is measured as one or more objects move into or out of proximity to the sensing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventor: Daniel Arthur UJVARI
  • Publication number: 20120092324
    Abstract: Use of a compliant, elastomeric layer between upper and lower substrates of the combination sensor can increase the sensitivity to applied pressure or force from a stylus, while increasing the lateral resolution for a given sensel pitch. The elastomeric material may have an index of refraction that is substantially similar to that of the upper and lower substrates. The elastomeric material may include open regions for the inclusion of force-sensitive resistors. With careful selection of the elastomeric and FSR materials, the loss of transmissivity that can accompany air gaps can be minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Ian Buchan, Srinivasan Kodaganallur Ganapathi, Kurt Edward Petersen
  • Publication number: 20120094071
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transparent electroconductive laminate suitable for use in combination with a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and a transparent touch panel having the transparent electroconductive laminate. The transparent electroconductive laminate comprises a transparent organic polymer substrate 33 having, on at least one surface thereof, a hardcoat (HC) layer 33h, an optical interference layer 32, and a transparent electroconductive layer 31 in this order. The transparent electroconductive laminate satisfies the following conditions: the refractive indexes n3 and n3h of the transparent organic polymer substrate and the HC layer satisfy the following formula: |na?n3h|0.02, the thickness of the HC layer is from 1 to 10 ?m, the thickness of the optical interference layer is from 5 to 500 nm, the thickness of the transparent electroconductive layer is from 5 to 200 nm, the total light transmittance is 85% or more, and the b* value is from ?1.0 to less than 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicants: TEIJIN CHEMICALS LTD., TEIJIN LIMITED
    Inventors: Haruhiko Itoh, Kouki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8154310
    Abstract: A capacitance sensing circuit may include a capacitive sensor configured to conduct a sensor current, a current source for supplying a compensation current to the capacitive sensor, and a current mirror that generates a mirror current based on a compensated sensor current, where the compensated sensor current represents a difference between the compensation current and the sensor current. A measurement circuit generates an output signal corresponding to the capacitance of the capacitive sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Andriy Maharyta, Andriy Ryshtun
  • Publication number: 20120068760
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor for detecting a stimulus. The capacitive sensor includes an electrode and a processing unit electrically coupled to the electrode and configured to determine the presence of a stimulus based on the rate of change of the electrode capacitance. A substrate is positioned adjacent the electrode, wherein the stimulus corresponds to the placement of an object against the substrate. The processing unit is operative to determine a time rate of change based on successive measurements of the electrode capacitance. In addition, the processing unit is operative to determine the presence of a stimulus in response to the time rate of change being less than a reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: ALSENTIS, LLC
    Inventors: David W. Caldwell, William D. Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20120068759
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel contact sensors. The contact sensors disclosed herein include a conductive composite material formed of a polymer and a conductive filler. In one particular aspect, the composite materials can include less than about 10 wt % conductive filler. Thus, the composite material of the contact sensors can have physical characteristics essentially identical to the polymer, while being electrically conductive with the electrical resistance proportional to the load on the sensor. The sensors can provide real time dynamic contact information for joint members under conditions expected during use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Andrew C. Clark, David Topham
  • Publication number: 20120056662
    Abstract: Touch sensing can be accomplished using master/slave touch controllers that transmit drive signals to a touch surface and process sense signals including superpositions resulting from master/slave drive signals. The master/slave can drive and sense different sets of lines, respectively, of the touch surface. A communication link between master/slave can be established by transmitting a clock signal between master/slave, transmitting a command including sequence information to the slave, and initiating a communication sequence from the clock signal and sequence information. The slave can receive/transmit communications from/to the master during first/second portions of the communication sequence, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas James Wilson, Richard James Reeve
  • Publication number: 20120056664
    Abstract: A touch panel sensor for sensing a contact position of part of body comprises a substrate, a resist electrode part including resist electrodes formed on the substrate to have a capacitance changeable according to approaching of the part of body, and a signal electrode part including signal electrodes formed on the resist electrode having resistance coefficient less than the resist electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventor: Dong Sik Nam
  • Publication number: 20120056663
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a readout circuit for a touch sensor which can increase touch sensing sensitivity regardless of a process variation and a driving voltage of the touch sensor. The readout circuit includes a comparative circuit for setting an input range of a readout signal from the readout line as well as scaling the readout signal to be a required driving range and forwarding the readout signal scaled thus as a touch sensing signal, and an analog to digital converter for converting the touch sensing signal from the comparative circuit as a digital sensing signal and forwarding the digital sensing signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Seung-Seok OH, Min-Ho SOHN
  • Publication number: 20120050222
    Abstract: An electrostatic capacitance type touch sensor is provided. The touch sensor includes a substrate and a grid pattern formed on a surface of the substrate by a plurality of first linear wires and a plurality of second linear wires, the first linear wires being arranged parallel to each other at a predetermined interval, and the second linear wires being arranged parallel to each other at a predetermined interval and intersecting with the first linear wires. A separation portion is provided to the first linear wires and the second linear wires to form a sensor portion and a dummy sensor portion which are located next to each other and electrically separated from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Magami, Yoshiaki Washio, Yoshiteru Kawashima
  • Publication number: 20120044013
    Abstract: An electrostatic capacitance-type input device includes X driving electrodes and Y driving electrodes on an operation face operated by a finger. A correction electrode and a correction detection electrode are provided to be opposed at a place which is not affected by the finger operating the operation face. Driving voltage is sequentially applied to the X driving electrodes by an X driving unit, and the voltage is also applied to the correction electrode. An input detection signal for detecting a contact position of the finger and a correction detection signal obtained from the correction detection electrode changed on the basis of environmental changes are detected by the same detection unit, and the correction detection signal and the input detection signal are corrected in a data processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuo MURANAKA
  • Publication number: 20120032634
    Abstract: A proximity detection circuit suitable for use with an on-board vehicle charger, such as but not limited to the type of charges used within hybrid and hybrid electric vehicles, to facilitate current conservation during period of time when it is unnecessary or otherwise undesirable for the on-board charger to test for connection of a cordset or other connection used to connect the on-board charger to a charging station or other current source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: William Cavanaugh
  • Publication number: 20120013393
    Abstract: The method and device for analyzing position are disclosed. By analyzing sensing information with at least one zero-crossing, each position can be analyzed. The number of analyzed positions may be different from the number of zero-crossings. When the number of analyzed positions is different from the number of zero-crossing, the number of analyzed positions is more than one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: EGALAX_EMPIA TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: CHIN-FU CHANG, CHENG-HAN LEE, CHI-HAO TANG, SHUN-LUNG HO
  • Publication number: 20120001678
    Abstract: The invention provides a capacitive touching apparatus, which includes at least an equivalent capacitor module, a first comparator, a first reference current generator, a first detection capacitor module and a selection switch module. The equivalent capacitor module receives a periodic driving signal and produces an output voltage according to the driving signal. The first comparator compares the output voltage with a first reference voltage and thereby produces a first comparison result. The first reference current generator produces a first reference current and a second reference current according to a base current, in which the first reference current generator decides whether to respectively output the first reference current and the second reference current according to the first comparison result, and the first reference current is output to the equivalent capacitor module. The first detection capacitor module produces a first detection output signal according to the second reference current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: HOLTEK SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventor: Foma Feng
  • Publication number: 20110316567
    Abstract: One embodiment of a capacitive sensor array may comprise a first plurality of sensor elements and a second sensor element comprising a main trace, where the main trace intersects each of the first plurality of sensor elements to form a plurality of intersections. A unit cell may be associated with each of the intersections, and each unit cell may designate a set of locations nearest to the corresponding intersection. A contiguous section of the main trace may cross at least one of the plurality of unit cells. Within each unit cell, the second sensor element may comprise at least one primary subtrace branching away from the main trace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Min Chin Chai, Patrick Prendergast
  • Publication number: 20110304383
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (100) for detecting the passing of individuals in the form of a mat including: a printed circuit board (104), one of the surfaces which supports a plurality of contactors designed to change state under the pressure exerted by a foot or a wheel, and at least one of the surfaces of which supports at least one electronic component (112) not subject to any pressure from said foot: and for the or each surface supporting at least one electronic component (112), a protective layer (106) attached to said surface and incompressible under the weight of individuals/trolleys, the or each electronic component (112) being recessed in a hole (110) in said incompressible protective layer (106).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: ECO COMPTEUR
    Inventors: Christophe Milon, Jean-Claude Dubois
  • Publication number: 20110291743
    Abstract: A signal sample trigger apparatus (206) comprises an input (302, 304), a processing resource (300, 500) coupled to the input (302, 304), and an output (306) coupled to the processing resource (300, 500). The processing resource (300, 500) is arranged to generate, when in use, a trigger signal (400, 600) in response to location increment information. The location increment information (402, 404, 602, 604) is received via the input (302, 304), and the trigger signal (400, 600) is provided via the output for triggering execution of a sample of an analogue signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: Lein Applied Diagnostics Limited
    Inventor: Robin Taylor
  • Publication number: 20110285454
    Abstract: An inductive touch sensor is provided. The inductive touch sensor comprises a driving layer for generating a magnetic field, an induced layer facing to the driving layer for identifying at least one induced electrical signal representing a change, in inductance corresponding to at least one touch location on the inductive touch sensor and at least one inductive circuit connected to the driving layer and the induced layer for detecting at least one induced electrical signal to determine at least one touch location on the inductive touch sensor. Furthermore, a detecting method of detecting at least one touch location on the inductive touch sensor is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Gokalp Bayramoglu
  • Publication number: 20110279169
    Abstract: A projected capacitive touch sensor includes a substrate and sets of electrodes coupled to corresponding areas of the substrate. The areas are non-overlapping with respect to each other. The sets of electrodes include a horizontal sensing electrode that extends along a height of a first column within the area and vertical sensing electrodes that extend partially along the height of at least one column within the area. The at least one column includes at least two vertical sensing electrodes that are physically separate with respect to each other and electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Ricardo R. Salaverry
  • Publication number: 20110279170
    Abstract: A system for measuring a capacitor (CSENj) precharges a CDAC (23) in a SAR converter (17) to a reference voltage (VAZ) and also precharges a first terminal (3-j) of the capacitor to another reference voltage (GND). During a measurement phase, the CDAC is coupled between an output and an input of an amplifier (31) and the capacitor also is coupled to the input of the amplifier, so as to redistribute charge between the capacitor and the CDAC. The amplifier generates an output voltage (VAMP) representing the capacitance being measured. The output voltage is stored in the CDAC. The SAR converter converts the output voltage to a digital value representing the capacitance being measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Ronald F. Cormier, JR.
  • Patent number: 8049518
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a capacitive sensor system provided for a moving object 21.The system comprises an antenna device with a first 26 and a second portion 39 which are movable in relation to each other, the two portions 26,39 being connected in parallel for capacitive influence from the surroundings. The first portion 26 constitutes in an electrical conductive part of said moving object 21 and the second section 39 constitutes in an electrical conductive device arranged at a rest position for the moving object 21.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Lars-Ake Wern, Jan Johansson
  • Publication number: 20110248773
    Abstract: A system for sensing human activity by monitoring impedance includes a signal generator for generating an alternating current (AC) signal, the AC signal applied to an object, a reactance altering element coupled to the AC signal, an envelope generator for converting a returned AC signal to a time-varying direct current (DC) signal, and an analog-to-digital converter for determining a defined impedance parameter of the time-varying DC signal, where the defined impedance parameter defines an electromagnetic resonant attribute of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc., a Delaware Corporation
    Inventors: Ivan Poupyrev, Zhiquan Yeo, Jonas Loh
  • Publication number: 20110241759
    Abstract: The invention relates to an operating unit for operation of household appliances, especially for operation of a hob or a washing machine. In this connection, operating elements are arranged on an electrically conductive operating plate, by which they are capacitively coupled with a receiving device that is located in or at the household appliance. Transmission of the operation of the operating elements to the receiving device takes place by detection a load change in the receiving device, the load change being caused by the operating elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventor: Hans Schwaiger
  • Publication number: 20110227633
    Abstract: The invention discloses a capacitive touch panel detection circuit and a boost circuit thereof, wherein the boost circuit comprises a plurality of charge pumps in series, a sequence circuit and a voltage-stabilizing circuit. The charge pump comprises a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, a fourth switch, a first capacitor and a second capacitor. The switches are controlled by the sequence circuit. During the first half of the working cycle of the charge pump, the first capacitor is charged. During the second half of the working cycle of the charge pump, the second capacitor is charged so that the voltage is two times of the power voltage, after the first capacitor is connected with the power supply in sequence. The boost circuit of the invention does not need an induction and a Schottky diode. All of the capacitors except a voltage-stabilizing capacitor can be integrated into a chip. Therefore, the number of off-chip ancillary components can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Lianghua Mo, Wenping Liu
  • Publication number: 20110221509
    Abstract: Touch-sensitive or User's finger movement-sensitive panel (1), applied to household appliances such as fridges, washing machines, microwave ovens and stoves, supplied with a touch sensor, capacitive or similar, allowing to control the equipment through the selection of specific functions and characteristics, without the need of gears with mobile pieces to detect the touch or its derivatives for such purpose. The said panel (1) is supplied with a capacitance measurement electronic circuit coupled with a sensitive element (4) conductor of electricity which allows the connection to the panel (1), which is supplied with a conductive element applied on its inner surface. This conductive element (6) allows the extension of the motion perception area next to the external surface or the touch on it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX DO BRASIL S.A.
    Inventors: Danilo Antonio Bergamo, Lilian Parol, Marcelo Campani Giesteira
  • Publication number: 20110175671
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided that facilitate improved input device performance. The devices and methods utilize a transmitter sensor electrode and a receiver sensor electrode that are capacitively coupled to form a transcapacitance for capacitively sensing input objects in a sensing region. A measure of the transcapacitance may be used to determine positional information for the input objects in the sensing region. In accordance with the various embodiments, the devices and methods include a floating electrode that is ohmically insulated from other electrical elements during operation. A first portion of the floating electrode overlaps a portion of the transmitter sensor electrode and a second portion of the floating electrode overlaps a portion of the receiver sensor electrode. The floating electrode additionally includes at least one aperture within the first portion of the floating electrode, where the at least one aperture at least in part overlaps the transmitter sensor electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Joseph Kurth Reynolds
  • Patent number: 7973589
    Abstract: This system is a no touch single pole single throw (spst) two wire electronic light switch that uses an Infrared Proximity Detector to create a working system designed to replace existing mechanical switches common in households. The use of a Micro Controller enables the system to adapt to different loads and load types while requiring a minimum number of parts to perform the necessary tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventor: David C. Rothenberger
  • Publication number: 20110156800
    Abstract: A sensor, a sensing method of the sensor, and a filter of the sensor are provided. The sensor includes a sensing data output unit configured to output sensing data that varies depending on touch or proximity of an object, and a determiner configured to compare a threshold value with the sensing data to recognize touch or proximity, vary a first strength value indicating the sensing data in a state of no touch or no proximity and a second strength value indicating the sensing data in a state of touch or proximity, vary the threshold value using the first and second strength values, and output an output signal indicating touch or proximity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: ATLab Inc.
    Inventors: Jei-Hyuk Lee, Ju-Min Lee, Jae-Surk Hong, Byung-Joon Moon, Duck-Young Jung