Capacitive Actuation Patents (Class 341/33)
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Patent number: 12159756Abstract: An apparatus comprising an array of electrical conductors connected to circuitry that determines data indicative of objects at particular locations based on capacitance at junctions of conductors in the array. The apparatus comprises a first set of conductors arranged on a first substrate and a second set of conductors arranged on a second substrate to form an array. The first and second substrates are separated by an air gap within which the electrical conductors are positioned. Each conductor may be independently addressable, having a proximal end connected to readout electronics and a distal end that is not. The apparatus may be cut, at the ends distal to where the conductors connect to the circuitry, to fit a desired location, such as on a store shelf, while remaining operational.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2022Date of Patent: December 3, 2024Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Andrew James Pierce, James Stephanick, Joshua Smith, Nathan P. O'Neill, Robert M. Riggs, Sergio Alfredo Phan Lung Li, Benjamin Hong Yee, Alan Akiyoshi Nonaka, Ali Rahimi, Graham Cyril Jordan, David Bryan Michelman
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Patent number: 12032801Abstract: Adjusting a cursor speed may include a sensor with at least one capacitance sense electrode, a controller in communication with the sensor, memory in communication with the controller, and programmed instructions stored in the memory and configured, when executed, to cause the capacitance controller to detect movement of an object moving proximate the sensor at an object speed, apply a cursor speed to a cursor depicted in a display based at least in part on a cursor-to-object speed relationship, detect a trigger event in the detected object movement, and change the cursor-to-object speed relationship in response to detecting the trigger event.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2022Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: Cirque CorporationInventors: Brian Monson, Todd Rich, Steven Varrato
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Patent number: 11888473Abstract: A capacitance type input apparatus includes a plurality of touch switches; and a determining unit configured to determine which one touch switch among the plurality of touch switches a touch operation is performed on, based on outputs of the plurality of touch switches. The determining unit performs a first comparison of comparing a first threshold used for determining whether the touch operation has been performed, with each of the outputs of the plurality of touch switches, performs a second comparison of comparing an output that is higher than the first threshold among the outputs of the plurality of touch switches, with a plurality of comparison thresholds that are greater than first threshold and that are different from each other, and determines which one touch switch among the plurality of touch switches the touch operation is performed on, based on a comparison result of the first or second comparison.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2022Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.Inventors: Takashi Fujiki, Kohei Kitagawa
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Patent number: 11620017Abstract: A touch controller coupled to a touch sensor panel and arranged to detect touch events on the touch sensor panel includes a sensing circuit. The sensing circuit includes an integrator circuit and a reference voltage controlling circuit. The integrator circuit includes a first input node coupled to a sensing node for receiving a sensing signal, a second input node coupled to a guard trace disposed adjacent to the touch sensor panel and an output node outputting an integrated signal. The reference voltage controlling circuit includes a switch coupled between the second input node of the integrator circuit and a voltage source providing a reference voltage. The switch is closed during a pre-charge period to charge a voltage on the guard trace to the reference voltage in beginning of a sensing period and is opened after the pre-charge period.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Jia-Ming He, Yaw-Guang Chang, Yi-Yang Tsai
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Patent number: 11599329Abstract: A networked speaker system automatically adjusts certain audio speaker system settings based on whether the system is inside a building or has been moved outside as may be sensed by one or capacitors on a speaker. Also, techniques are described for adjusting speaker driver direction based on walls or other barriers in a room or based on the location of a listener.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2018Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: James R. Milne, Allison Joi Burgueno, Gregory Peter Carlsson, Keith Resch
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Patent number: 11537229Abstract: A touch pad pressure detection method and apparatus, a storage medium and a computer device, wherein the method comprises: by means of an elastic wave sensor arranged below a touch pad, detecting a pressing operation on a touch pad to obtain a voltage signal; and determining pressure on the basis of the voltage signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2020Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: Beijing Taifang Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chaoliang Du, Hongfeng Guo
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Patent number: 11269467Abstract: A touch sensor panel having co-planar single-layer touch sensors fabricated on a single side of a substrate is disclosed. The drive and sense lines can be fabricated as column-like patterns in a first orientation and patches in a second orientation, where each column-like pattern in the first orientation is connected to a separate metal trace in the border area of the touch sensor panel, and all patches in each of multiple rows in the second orientation are connected together using a separate metal trace in the border area of the touch sensor panel. The metal traces in the border areas can be formed on the same side of the substrate as the patches and columns, but separated from the patches and column-like patterns by a dielectric layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2019Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steve Porter Hotelling, John Z. Zhong
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Patent number: 11231831Abstract: An electronic device displays a content region including first content that contains an image; and, while displaying the first content, detects an input at a location that corresponds to the location of the image. In response, the electronic device, in accordance with a determination that the input includes an intensity above a respective threshold and that the image is associated with a link to second content that is different from the first content, displays a preview of the second content while maintaining display of at least a portion of the first content in the content region; and, in accordance with a determination that the input includes an intensity above the respective threshold and that the image is not associated with a link to additional content, displays an enlarged version of the image while maintaining display of at least a portion of the first content in the content region.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2017Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Beth M. Dakin, Dean R. Jackson, Samuel M. Weinig, Jonathan J. Lee
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Patent number: 11143896Abstract: A touch display panel comprises a first substrate, a plurality of first sensing series and a plurality of second sensing series, wherein both the first sensing series and the second sensing series are above the first substrate, and the first sensing series and the second sensing series are crossly arranged to form a plurality of sensing series openings in between, a first insulating layer, covering the first sensing series and the second sensing series, a patterned black matrix layer, comprising a plurality of black matrix openings arranged in a matrix formation, a second insulating layer, covering the patterned black matrix layer; and a patterned common electrodes layer. The plurality of sensing series openings, the plurality of black matrix openings, and the patterned common electrode layer are overlapped.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2018Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: AU OPTRONICS CORP.Inventors: Tun-Chun Yang, Seok-Lyul Lee, Wei-Ming Huang
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Patent number: 11067714Abstract: A device for locating an object. The device includes a housing including a first hole. The device also includes a sensor carried by the housing and comprising two or more electrodes that are positioned next to each other to form a substantially circular configuration. The sensor includes a second hole formed in the center of the circular configuration, and the second hole is axially aligned with the first hole.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2019Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Bruce Eidinger, Yong Cushing, Michael Murray, Bianca L. Linay
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Patent number: 11011826Abstract: Example of a near-field electromagnetic induction (NFEMI) device, including: an NFEMI antenna, having a first conductive plate, a coil, a first signal feed connection, and a second signal feed connection; wherein the coil is configured to generate or respond to a magnetic field and is coupled to the first and second signal feed connections; wherein the first conductive plate is coupled to the first signal feed connection; and an electrical apparatus, having a ground plane, a first capacitor and a second capacitor; wherein the electrical apparatus is coupled to the first and second signal feed connections; wherein the first capacitor is coupled between the first signal feed connection and the ground plane; wherein the second capacitor is coupled between the second signal feed connection and the ground plane; and wherein the first conductive plate in combination with the ground plane is configured to generate or respond to an electrical field.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2017Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventors: Anthony Kerselaers, Liesbeth Gommé
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Patent number: 10998925Abstract: A communication interference rejection system comprising a relatively low-impedance voltage mode driver output which receives a signal from a sensor, the sensor near a user's skin, a receiver operatively connected to a device connected to a body of a user, wherein the receiver configured to receive a signal transmitted through the body of the user. The signal comprises a relatively substantially small constant amplitude component and a relatively large sinusoidal or modulated interference component, the interference component due to human body antenna effect, the receiver comprising a high-impedance termination to minimize channel loss, the receiver further configured to receive frequencies in the 10 KHz to 10 MHz range.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2019Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Purdue Research FoundationInventor: Shreyas Sen
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Patent number: 10976581Abstract: The present invention provides a display device that can improve the detection sensitivity for detecting the approach of a user's face, hand, or the like. The display device 10 includes a display substrate D and a bezel 4 that covers side surfaces and a rear surface of the display substrate D. The bezel 4 includes a conductive section 4a and an insulating section 4b. The insulating section 4b covers the side surfaces and the rear surface of the display substrate D and has insulating properties. The conductive section 4a is provided on a surface of the insulating section 4b covering the side surfaces of the display substrate D and has conductivity. The conductive section 4a is configured such that a predetermined voltage is applied thereto and a capacitance is formed between the conductive section 4a and a dielectric object.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2018Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shinichi Miyazaki
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Patent number: 10958826Abstract: An electronic apparatus comprising: a display controlling unit configured to control to display a group of candidates representing a plurality of candidates of settings with respect to a specific setting object in response to a first type of operation and to hide the group of candidates in a case where a prescribed condition is satisfied; and a control unit configured to change the specific setting object to a selected setting, by selecting one setting from a plurality of candidates including the group of candidates in response to the first type of operation, and in a case where the group of candidates is displayed, in response to a second type of operation, change the specific setting object to a specific setting associated with the second type of operation and update the display of the group of candidates so as to correspond to the changed setting.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2019Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daiyu Ueno, Takuro Miyajima, Koji Yoshida, Ryu Wakui, Eriko Sato, Takeshi Kikkawa
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Patent number: 10884557Abstract: A touch input device which detects a touch position and a touch pressure magnitude may be provided that includes: a display module; a first electrode and a second electrode which are disposed on the display module and are spaced apart from each other; a spacer layer which is formed on the display module and covers the first electrode and the second electrode; and a transparent ground electrode which is disposed on the spacer layer and is formed of a material having transparency. A distance between the transparent ground electrode and the display module is changed by inputting a touch on the transparent ground electrode, and a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode is changed by the distance change. The position of the touch and the pressure magnitude of the touch are detected based on the changed capacitance.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2018Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYInventors: Jun-Bo Yoon, Jaeyoung Yoo, Min-Ho Seo
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Patent number: 10852842Abstract: A computing device may include a keyboard, a switch in mechanical communication with an underside of a key arranged in the keyboard, a processor, a transmit line electrically connected to the processor, a sense line electrically connected to the processor, and the transmit line and the sense line are selectively connectable through the switch when the key is depressed, memory in communication with the processor, and programmed instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to measure at least one change in capacitance from the sense line, identify the at least one change as a capacitive characteristic indicative that the key is depressed, identify that logic configured to indicate that the key is depressed from measurements associated with a temporary connection made between the transmit line and the sense line failed to identify the key is depressed, and execute a command to indicate that the key is depressed.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2019Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: Cirque Corporation, Inc.Inventors: Brian Monson, Jared Bytheway, Jon Bertrand
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Patent number: 10768726Abstract: A touch device in spherical or other curved form includes a hollow spherical casing and at least one touch sensing layer. The spherical casing includes an inner surface and an outer surface, the touch sensing layer is attached to the inner surface of the spherical casing, the touch sensing layer includes a core portion and a touch portion. The touch portion extends and diverges outwardly from the core portion. The touch portion comprises a plurality of sub-touch portions, an area of each sub-touch portion is greater than an area of the core portion. The disclosure also includes a curved non-spherical touch device.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2018Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignees: Interface Technology (ChengDu) Co., Ltd., INTERFACE OPTOELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD., GENERAL INTERFACE SOLUTION LIMITEDInventors: Bo-Rong Lin, Hua-Yueh Hsieh, Hsuan-Yun Lee, Ching-Lin Li
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Patent number: 10754469Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a touch includes a touch panel configured to include an electrode constituting a self-capacitor together with an object, a charge-sharing unit configured to include a charge-sharing capacitor which is charge-shared with the self-capacitor, a differential signal generation unit configured to receive an output signal of the charge-sharing unit, generate a pair of pseudo differential touch signals, and detect a touch of the object, and a control unit configured to control the charge-sharing unit so that the charge-sharing unit may perform charge sharing and signal output.Type: GrantFiled: July 4, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: MELFAS INC.Inventors: Byung Sang Rhim, Jae Woo You, Min Suk Woo
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Patent number: 10747379Abstract: An operating element for a vehicle interior is integrated in a flexible material and comprises an electroluminescent layer arranged between a first conducting layer and a second conducting layer. The arrangement of the first conducting layer, the second conducting layer and the electroluminescent layer is configured to be operable as a capacitive sensor.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2018Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventor: Guido Horsch
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Patent number: 10732773Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving one or more sense signals from a touch sensor of a device, comparing a value associated with the one or more sense signals to a first threshold, and determining, based on comparing the value to the first threshold, whether an object has come within a pre-determined proximity of a first pre-determined location at a surface of the device. The method further includes comparing the value associated with the one or more sense signals to a second threshold and determining, based on comparing the value to the second threshold, whether the object has come within a pre-determined proximity of a second pre-determined location at the surface of the device.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2018Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Neodrón LimitedInventors: Trond Pedersen, Steinar Myren, Vemund Bakken, Rune Watn
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Patent number: 10710455Abstract: A push-to-start ignition device measures biometric information of a driver to control activation of vehicle ignition. The push-to-start switch includes a touchpad that senses, using capacitive sensors, a vehicle driver's finger and provides signals using one or a combination of lights, audio, and haptic feedback to guide the vehicle driver into a suitable position for measuring the biometric characteristic. If the biometric measurement meets a predefined threshold, the vehicle ignition is activated. If the biometric measurement fails to meet a predefined threshold, the vehicle ignition is locked.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2014Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Automotive Coalition For Traffic SafetyInventors: Gilbert A. Todd, Chakravarthi M. Nagolu
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Patent number: 10698525Abstract: A smart valve positioner is provided with a local user interface with non-mechanical touch buttons and a display inside a positioner housing under a housing cover for locally operating the valve positioner. The touch buttons are user-operable by touching the touch buttons when the housing cover is open. The housing cover is arranged to make the touch buttons user-operable from outside the housing by touching the housing cover, when the housing cover is closed.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2016Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: METSO FLOW CONTROL OYInventors: Tero Ihalainen, Juha Yli-Petäys
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Patent number: 10699691Abstract: A head-mounted wearable device (HMWD) may incorporate bone conduction speakers (BCS) to generate audio output that is perceptible to a wearer. During operation, vibrations of the BCS may produce sound in the surrounding air that is perceptible to bystanders. An active noise cancellation module monitors the output and generates cancellation audio that is out of phase with the sound leaked by the BCS. An air conduction speaker emits the cancellation audio, producing destructive acoustic interference to the leaked sound. As a result, the user of the HMWD is able to hear audio clearly while bystanders are not.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2017Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Geng Ye, Zhen Xu, Haoxing Zhang, Bozhao Tan, Xuan Zhong, Jianchun Dong
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Patent number: 10656764Abstract: Disclosed are a touch device and a display device, where the touch device includes: an array substrate, a plurality of sensing elements arranged on the array substrate to recognize a fingerprint, and a plurality of filter structures arranged on a side of the plurality of sensing elements; the side is away from the array substrate: each of the plurality of filter structures comprises a plurality of filter layers arranged in a stack, each of the plurality of filter layers comprises light-transmitting areas and light-shielding areas on a periphery of the light-transmitting areas, orthographic projections of any two of the light-transmitting areas of the plurality of filter layers onto the array substrate have an overlapping area; the overlapping area is smaller than an area of an orthographic projection of any one of the light-transmitting areas of the plurality of filter layers onto the array substrate.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2018Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yanan Jia, Xue Dong, Haisheng Wang, Chun-Wei Wu, Yingming Liu, Rui Xu, Lijun Zhao, Changfeng Li, Yunke Qin, Yuzhen Guo, Pinchao Gu, Yanling Han
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Patent number: 10656762Abstract: A touch sensitive keyboard system, provided by the present invention, includes a touch sensitive input device and a touch sensitive processing apparatus coupled to the touch sensitive input device. The touch sensitive input device includes parallel first electrodes, parallel second electrodes, parallel third electrodes and an elastic dielectric layer between the second and third electrodes. There is at least one approximation intersection area of one of the first electrodes and one of the second electrodes and at least one pressing intersection area of one of the second electrodes and one of the third electrodes inside each key area. In case the touch sensitive processing apparatus determines there is an external object influencing signals of the approximation and pressing intersection areas of one of the key areas, a key sign is transmitted to a host.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2018Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: EGALAX_EMPIA TECHNOLOGY INC.Inventors: Shang-Tai Yeh, Chun-I Li
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Patent number: 10649571Abstract: An electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface: displays a first user interface that includes a plurality of selectable objects; detects an input that includes detecting a contact on the touch-sensitive surface at a location that corresponds to a respective selectable object; and in response to detecting the input: in accordance with a determination that detecting the input includes detecting an increase in intensity of the contact that meets intensity criteria, displays a menu that includes contact information for the respective selectable object overlaid on top of the first user interface; and in accordance with a determination that detecting the input includes detecting a liftoff of the contact without meeting the intensity criteria, replaces display of the first user interface with display of a second user interface.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2018Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: P4TENTS1, LLCInventor: Michael S Smith
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Patent number: 10606427Abstract: A mutual capacitive touch panel includes a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer. The first electrode layer includes a plurality of electrode groups and a plurality of electrode groups arranged in an array. The first electrode groups located at the same column are electrically connected to a form a first electrode series, and the second electrode groups located at the same column are electrically connected to form a second electrode series. The second electrode layer includes a plurality of electrode strip groups insulated from one another and sequentially arranged along a column direction of the array, wherein each of the electrode strip groups extends along a row direction of the array and overlaps, a perpendicular projection direction, electrode groups of two adjacent rows, and two adjacent of the electrode strip groups overlap, in the perpendicular projection direction, the electrode groups of the same row.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2018Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: ILI TECHNOLOGY CORP.Inventors: Cheng-Hsien Hsu, Guo-Kiang Hung, Ching-Chun Chiang, Wei-Lun Kuo, Peng-Yun Ding
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Patent number: 10603576Abstract: An operating device includes: right and left hold sections to be held by a user, the right and left hold sections provided with first operating members; and a central section interconnecting the right and left hold sections. The operating device has a second operating member forming an upper surface of the central section. The second operating member includes a touch sensor located between the first operating members of the right and left hold sections, and is so supported as to be capable of vertical movement in response to a user's pressing-down operation. The second operating member is plate-like in shape, so that user's fingers can easily reach the second operating member in a condition where the user is holding the hold sections. As a result, operability of the operating device can be enhanced.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2017Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.Inventors: Takeshi Igarashi, Masaho Morita, Kazuyoshi Enomoto, Toshimasa Aoki
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Patent number: 10528179Abstract: The present disclosure provides a touch sensing system and a display device including the same.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2017Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kyu-Won Kyoung, Jeong-Woo Jang
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Patent number: 10530363Abstract: A method of capacitive sensing may include transmitting a first sensing signal along a first transmitter electrode among various transmitter electrodes of an input device. The method may further include obtaining, using various receiver electrodes in the input device, a first resulting signal in response to the first sensing signal being transmitted along the first transmitter electrode. The method may further include obtaining a second resulting signal from a second transmitter electrode among the transmitter electrodes. The method may further include determining, using the second resulting signal, interference along the second transmitter electrode. The method may further include adjusting, using the interference along the second transmitter electrode, the first resulting signal to produce an adjusted resulting signal. The method may further include determining, using the adjusted resulting signal, positional information regarding a location of an input object in a sensing region of the input device.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2017Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventors: Eric Bohannon, Steve Lo
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Patent number: 10474271Abstract: A touch input device capable of detecting a pressure of a touch on a touch surface may be provided that includes a substrate and a display module. The touch input device further includes an electrode which is disposed at a position where a distance between the electrode and a reference potential layer is changed by the touch on the touch surface. The distance may be changed depending on a magnitude of a pressure of the touch. The electrode outputs an electrical signal according to the change of the distance. A spacer layer is disposed between the reference potential layer and the electrode.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2015Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: HIDEEP INC.Inventors: Seyeob Kim, Sangsic Yoon, Sunyoung Kwon, Hojun Moon, Taehoon Kim, Bonkee Kim
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Patent number: 10425716Abstract: A user interface device useable with a wireless audio or audio/video device. The user interface device includes a layered configuration that includes a layer of sensors separated from an input plate by a compressible layer. Touch inputs from a user cause the input plate to be tilted or moved toward the sensors and to compress the compressible layer. The sensors are configured in an array such that variations in the tilt of the input plate and/or a distance between the input plate and the sensor is recognizable and useable to instruct operation of an associated device that is to be controlled via the touch inputs.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2018Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Piearcings, LLCInventors: Barrett Prelogar, Patsy Prelogar
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Patent number: 10408862Abstract: Relative capacitance of a plurality of capacitive sensors may be monitored by using only one ADC conversion. A plurality of capacitive sensors individually charges a sample and hold capacitor. After all of the plurality of capacitive sensors have charged the sample and hold capacitor, a digital conversion of the resulting analog on the sample and hold capacitor is made and stored in a memory. This stored digital collective voltage is compared to a previously stored one and if different then a proximity/touch event may have occurred. Therefore, an entire panel of capacitive sensors may be quickly monitored for a change in the “group” capacitance thereof, or portions of the capacitive sensors may be monitored for a change in the “subgroup” capacitance thereof. By knowing which subgroup of capacitive sensors has changed its collective capacitive value, a more focused and selective capacitive sensor measurement can be made that uses less power.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATEDInventor: Xiang Gao
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Patent number: 10402000Abstract: A touch sensitive device that can detect the amount of pressure being applied to a touch screen from a user or other external object is provided. A spacer of the touch screen can be coated with a layer of conductive material and the change in capacitance between the spacer and various circuit elements of the touch screen can be measured. The change in capacitance can be correlated to the amount of pressure being applied to the touch screen, thus providing a method to determine the pressure being applied. During operation of the device, the system can time multiplex touch, display and pressure sensing operations so as to take advantage of an integrated touch and display architecture.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2013Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Abbas Jamshidi-Roudbari, Shih Chang Chang, Cheng-Ho Yu, Ting-Kuo Chang
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Patent number: 10372284Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a capacitance variation detection circuit, a touch screen and a touch detection method. The method includes: connecting one terminal of a detection capacitor and one terminal of a denoising capacitor to a first power simultaneously, and connecting the other terminal of the detection capacitor and the other terminal of a denoising capacitor to a reference ground simultaneously; disconnecting the detection capacitor from the first power source and connecting it to the negative input terminal of the operation amplifier, switching the one terminal of the denosing capacitor from being connected to the first power source to being connected to the reference ground, and connecting the other terminal of the denoising capacitor to the negative input terminal of the operational amplifier; and acquiring an output result of the operational amplifier, and judging whether there is a touch operation according to the output result.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2018Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: SHENZHEN GOODIX TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventor: Shuo Fan
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Patent number: 10372273Abstract: A self-capacitive touch device includes a transparent substrate, multiple sensing electrodes and multiple trace lines. The sensing electrodes are alternately disposed on the transparent substrate, and each of the sensing units has a polygonal planar contour having M sides, where M is a positive integer equal to or greater than 4. A side of each of the sensing electrodes corresponds to sides of at least two of the remaining sensing electrodes. The trace lines are electrically connected to the sensing electrodes in a way that a part of segments of the trace lines are disposed in an active region of the self-capacitive touch device.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2015Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: ILI TECHNOLOGY CORP.Inventors: Peng-Yun Ding, Ping-Hwan Lee
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Patent number: 10331259Abstract: A touch panel having a transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of the location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each of the multiple touches is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2016Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steve Hotelling, Joshua A. Strickon, Brian Q. Huppi
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Patent number: 10289256Abstract: Methods are disclosed for dynamic assignment of possible channels in a touch sensitive device having rows and columns. In an embodiment, a method determines a first signal space in which to generate signals for use in the touch sensor. Signals are then generated in the first signal space on separate ones of the rows and a column signal is sensed on a column. The first signal space is replaced with a second signal space, and a second plurality of signals is generated for use in the touch sensor in the second frequency space. The second plurality of signals is sensed to identify a touch event in the touch sensitive device.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2015Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Tactual Labs Co.Inventors: Darren Leigh, Clifton Forlines, Daniel Wigdor, Steven Leonard Sanders
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Patent number: 10216322Abstract: A touch sensitive capacitive keypad system (300) is provided with a keypad sensing electrode (304) disposed within sensing proximity of multiple electrodes (E0-E9) and formed under a keypad touch panel having defined key areas, where the electrodes are respectively aligned with the defined key areas to facilitate touch detection at the keypad touch panel with a controller (310) that is configured to determine which of the plurality of defined key areas is being touched by detecting a predetermined signal characteristic at the keypad sensing electrode (304) before sequential scanning the plurality of capacitive key electrodes to identify which capacitive key electrode is aligned with a defined key area being touched.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2017Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.Inventor: Petr Cholasta
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Patent number: 10203797Abstract: The present disclosure proposes a force touch structure, a touch display panel and a display apparatus. The force touch structure comprises a base substrate, a light sensing device located on the base substrate, and a phosphorescence-emitting structure positionally corresponding to the light sensing device. The phosphorescence-emitting structure comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, a phosphorescent layer, and a flexible material layer. The first electrode receives a first voltage signal, the second electrode receives a second voltage signal, and the first electrode and the second electrode are used for forming a capacitor with a constant voltage value under the effects of the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal. The light sensing device is used for receiving phosphorescence emitted by the phosphorescent layer and comparing an intensity of the received phosphorescence with a light intensity detected without force touch to determine the magnitude of force touch.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2016Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Changfeng Li, Shengji Yang, Yingming Liu, Haisheng Wang, Xiaochuan Chen, Xiaoliang Ding, Lei Wang, Pengcheng Lu
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Patent number: 10185425Abstract: This organic electroluminescence module is provided with: an organic electroluminescent element in which an organic luminescence function layer is provided between a pair of electrodes; a luminescent element driving circuit unit that is connected to the pair of electrodes and controls luminescence of the organic electroluminescent element; and a touch position detection circuit unit connected to a detection electrode at both ends thereof, which is one of the pair of electrodes, in a touch position detection direction, wherein one of the both ends of the detection electrode is set as an input end and other is set as an output end, and the touch position detection circuit unit performs touch position detection by detecting, at the output end, electrical signals inputted from the input end.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Kazuyoshi Omata, Tsukasa Yagi
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Patent number: 10185427Abstract: A device and method for operating a capacitive input device configured to sense input objects and their applied force in a sensing region includes a pliable component having an input surface and a first substrate including a first plurality of sensor electrodes. The device also includes a support substrate spaced apart from the pliable component; a second substrate having a second plurality of sensor electrodes and a plurality of apertures; and a spacing layer disposed between the pliable component and the support substrate and having a plurality of raised features aligned with and facing away from the apertures of the second substrate.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2014Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventor: Lin-Hsiang Hsieh
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Patent number: 10168810Abstract: Provided is an organic electroluminescent module with: an organic electroluminescent device in which an organic luminescent functional layer is provided between a pair of electrodes; a luminescent-device driving circuit unit that is connected to the pair of the electrodes and controls the luminescence of the organic electroluminescent device; and a touch-position detection circuit unit that is connected to both ends of a detection electrode in a touch-position detection direction, which is either of the pair of electrodes, wherein the touch-position detection circuit unit performs the touch-position detection by detecting electrical characteristics at both ends of the detection electrode.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2016Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Kazuyoshi Omata, Tsukasa Yagi
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Patent number: 10133377Abstract: A smartphone includes: a cover layer; a display module, and comprises a component configured to cause the LCD panel to perform a display function; a pressure electrode which is located under the display module; and a shielding member which is located under the pressure electrode. At least a portion of a touch sensor which senses touch in a capacitive manner is located in the display module.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2015Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: HIDEEP INC.Inventors: Seyeob Kim, Sangsic Yoon, Hojun Moon, Taehoon Kim
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Patent number: 10126867Abstract: A processing system that includes a sigma-delta converter and a filter unit that applies a matched filter to the output of the sigma-delta converter. The processing system drives sensor electrodes for capacitive sensing and receives resulting signals with the sensor electrodes in response. The processing system applies these resulting signals to sigma-delta converters. The matched filter boosts the signal-to-noise ratio of the signal received from the sigma-delta converter, thereby improving the ability to sense presence of an input object. The filter unit may apply different, customized matched filters for different capacitive pixels to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of each capacitive pixel in a customized manner.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2018Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATEDInventors: Kirk Hargreaves, Joseph Kurth Reynolds
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Patent number: 10088975Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor of an electronic device having a touch-sensitive display, cause the processor to enable a user interface of the device, including presenting a list of items on the display, each item having content associated therewith, highlighting an item in the list by presenting a highlight marking on that item, translating the highlight marking within the list, in response to an object gliding along the display, and opening the content associated with the currently highlighted item, in response to a tap gesture on the display.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2014Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Neonode Inc.Inventor: Magnus Goertz
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Patent number: 10078396Abstract: An optical touch sensing device and a touch signal determining method thereof are provided. The optical touch sensing device includes a light source module, at least one image capturing element and a processing unit. The light source module disposed on a touch surface provides a detecting light to the touch surface. The image capturing element captures an optical touch data along the touch surface based on the detecting light. The processing unit recognizes the optical touch data according to a recognition threshold to obtain multiple touch signals. When a object spacing between the touch signals is no bigger than a palm spacing, the processing unit compares the covering parameters corresponding to the touch signals to select a largest covering parameter among the covering parameters, and determines whether to ignore the touch signal corresponding to the largest covering parameter according to the largest covering parameter and an area threshold.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2014Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: Wistron CorporationInventors: Chun-Chao Chang, Yu-Yen Chen
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Patent number: 10073557Abstract: A force sensing structure and a force sensing device including the same are provided. The force sensing structure is configured to detect a proximity of an object to the force sensor from an upside and a force applied by the object to the force touch sensor. The force sensing structure includes a first electrode and a first capacitance material layer. The first capacitance material layer is disposed adjacent to the first electrode. When the object approaches the force touch sensor, the force touch sensor is configured to detect the proximity of the object according to a first capacitance variation, and when the object contacts the force sensor and deforms of the first capacitance material layer, the force touch sensor is configured to detect the force applied by the object according to a second capacitance variation.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2016Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: Uneo IncorporatedInventors: Yann-Cherng Chern, Han-Ying Lei, Chih-Sheng Hou, Chia-Hung Chou
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Patent number: 10067602Abstract: A touch panel includes a substrate having a breaking section, a touch surface, and a back opposing the touch surface; an adhesive layer disposed on the back; an electrode layer having a cutting section and connected to the back through the adhesive layer; an insulating cement for covering the breaking section and the cutting section and filling a gap between the substrate and the electrode layer; and a control chip connecting with the electrode layer and exercising control over the electrode layer. Hence, the touch panel has special sizes, dispensing with the need for customization which is otherwise to be performed by touch panel suppliers to the detriment of time efficiency, manpower efficiency, cost control, and uses.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2017Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: LITEMAX ELECTRONICS INC.Inventor: Jung-Chi Lo
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Patent number: RE48799Abstract: A laser interlock system and allows laser radiation to be generated when an inspector and a subject correctly wear safety glasses and during use of a photo-acoustic imaging apparatus, thereby protecting the eyes of the inspector and the subject and preventing unnecessary power consumption. The laser interlock system includes a sensing unit to sense whether or not contact between a user and safety glasses occurs, a light source unit to generate a laser, and a control unit that determines, based on an output value from the sensing unit, whether or not the user is wearing the safety glasses normally, and generates an interlock signal to turn on or off the light source unit for selective laser generation according to the determination.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2018Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jung Teak Oh