Search Patents
  • MULTI-MODAL SENSING TRANSDUCERS
    Publication number: 20210148770
    Abstract: A multi-modal sensing transducer may include a force concentrator having an external sensing surface. The multi-modal sensing transducer may also include at least one electrode coupled to the force concentrator. Further, the multi-modal sensing transducer may include at least one force sensitive element disposed adjacent to the at least one electrode. Moreover, the multi-modal sensing transducer may include at least one air gap disposed between the at least one electrode and the at least one force sensitive element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: INTERLINK ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Cheng Seong LEE, Chee Wai LU
  • Shape adaptable resistive touchpad
    Patent number: 7573464
    Abstract: A touchpad includes a first substrate and a second substrate, at least one of which is flexible. A resistor on the first substrate has a narrow shape dividing the first substrate into two regions. A set of conductors in electrical contact with the resistor extend from the resistor into the two regions. A second resistor and at least one second substrate conductor in electrical contact with the second resistor are on the second substrate. This construction allows the touchpad to have an outer shape is not restricted by the need for rectangular coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Interlink Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Baker, Michael Errico, Carlos Solis Sanchez
  • MULTI-MODAL SENSING ARRAY
    Publication number: 20190175107
    Abstract: An insole system includes a cushion layer configured to contact a human foot within an article of footwear and a sensing layer coupled to the cushion layer. The sensing layer may include a first sensing element and a second sensing element. The first sensing element and the second sensing element are one of: a force sensing element, a strain sensing element, or an environmental sensing element, wherein the first sensing element and the second sensing element are of a different type of sensing element. The insole system may also include a communications interface configured to couple the sensing layer with a host controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: INTERLINK ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chee Wai LU, Cheng Seong LEE, Wai Jye CHAN, Kok Keong LAW
  • Inclinometer
    Patent number: 5365671
    Abstract: A two-axis tilt sensor, or inclinometer (10), uses a spherical reference element (18) floating in an inert fluid (20) and including a magnet (42) to produce an asymmetrical weight distribution. The asymmetrical weight distribution maintains the spherical reference element at a constant orientation with respect to gravity, while the position of the magnet on the spherical reference element with respect to a housing (12) is detected by opposing pairs of Hall effect sensors (22) mounted on the housing. The outputs from opposing pairs of sensors are processed by differential amplifier circuits (80) to determine signals corresponding to the tilt of the inclinometer about the axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Interlink Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Stuart I. Yaniger
  • MULTI-MODAL SENSOR FUSION PLATFORM
    Publication number: 20190335843
    Abstract: A system may include a bottom layer and a sensing layer disposed on a first side of the bottom layer. The first sensing layer may include a first sensing element and a second sensing element. The first sensing element and the second sensing element may include one of: a force sensing element, a strain sensing element, a motion sensing element, or an environmental sensing element. The first sensing element and the second sensing element may be of a different type of sensing element. The system may also include a communications interface configured to couple the sensing layer with a host controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: INTERLINK ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chee Wai LU, Wai Jye CHAN, Kok Keong LAW, Cheng Seong LEE
  • Multi-modal vehicle door handle
    Patent number: 11767691
    Abstract: A door handle includes a handle body with an external surface, an internal portion, and a mounting feature configured to couple the handle body to a door. The door handle also includes a force sensing element disposed in the internal portion of the handle body. The first force sensing element is configured to measure a force applied to the external surface of the door handle. The door handle further includes a communication element coupled to the force sensing element. The force measured by the force sensing element is used to determine an output function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: INTERLINK ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chee Wai Lu, Cheng Seong Lee, Hock Cheng Ng, Wai Jye Chan
  • Multi-modal vehicle door handle
    Patent number: 11313158
    Abstract: A door handle includes a handle body with an external surface, an internal portion, and a mounting feature configured to couple the handle body to a door. The door handle also includes a force sensing element disposed in the internal portion of the handle body. The first force sensing element is configured to measure a force applied to the external surface of the door handle. The door handle further includes a communication element coupled to the force sensing element. The force measured by the force sensing element is used to determine an output function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: INTERLINK ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chee Wai Lu, Cheng Seong Lee, Hock Cheng Ng, Wai Jye Chan
  • Touch input device having interleaved scroll sensors
    Publication number: 20070146349
    Abstract: A touch input device includes two or more interleaved scroll sensors. A common area is interposed between two of the scroll sensors. A sense line snakes through the common area. Scrolling pressure applied to a sense layer causes the sense layer to contact and electrically connect the sense line to the scroll sensors thereby permitting the scrolling pressure position to be determined by measuring a voltage on the sense line. The scroll sensors are potentiometric and may be linear strip scroll sensors or rotary ring scroll sensors. The interleaved scroll sensors with the common area allow smooth scrolling action from one major leg to another major leg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: Interlink Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Errico, Jeffrey Baker
  • Stannous oxide force transducer and composition
    Patent number: 5296837
    Abstract: A pressure transducer includes a base ply, a resistance ply disposed on the base ply and at least two spaced apart conductors juxtaposed in relation to the resistance ply whereby at least one of the conductors may be pressed against the resistance ply. The resistance ply is made by spraying or silk screening a mixture of a continuous matrix conductive resin and a stannous oxide particulate and then curing the composition to form a solid resistance ply having a surface with a multiplicity of micro-protrusions formed by the stannous oxide particulate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Interlink Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Stuart I. Yaniger
  • Touch input device having interleaved scroll sensors
    Patent number: 7791596
    Abstract: A touch input device includes two or more interleaved scroll sensors. A common area is interposed between two of the scroll sensors. A sense line snakes through the common area. Scrolling pressure applied to a sense layer causes the sense layer to contact and electrically connect the sense line to the scroll sensors thereby permitting the scrolling pressure position to be determined by measuring a voltage on the sense line. The scroll sensors are potentiometric and may be linear strip scroll sensors or rotary ring scroll sensors. The interleaved scroll sensors with the common area allow smooth scrolling action from one major leg to another major leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Interlink Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Errico, Jeffrey R. Baker
  • Digitizer pad
    Patent number: 4739299
    Abstract: A digitizer pad includes at least two sets of terminals where each set has at least a first and second terminal positioned to define a parameter dimension therebetween. A resistor ply is disposed between the terminals of each set. The resistor ply has an electrical contact surface with a resistance gradient profile between the terminals in each set. An output terminal is electrically interconnected to a selected location along the contact surface of the resistor ply. A voltage source is sequentially coupled, by suitable switching means, across a selected subset of terminals in each set of terminals whereby the voltage at the output terminal is a measure of the selected location along the parameter dimension defined by the terminals across which the voltage source is coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Interlink Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Franklin N. Eventoff, Tyrone Christiansen
  • Multifunctional scroll sensor
    Publication number: 20060028454
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for using a scroll sensor providing a touch sensitive control input surface for a plurality of control functions is provided. The input surface is divided into a plurality of regions. Each region is assigned to one of the plurality of control functions. At least one of these control functions accepts parametric control input. A first touch is received at one of the regions on the input surface. The control function assigned to the touched region is selected. If the selected control function is one of the control functions accepting parametric control input, a second touch on the input surface is received as parametric control input during an activation period for the selected control function. The second touch may be received as parametric control input at any point of the input surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Applicant: INTERLINK ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Branton, Jeffrey Baker, David Stallard, Dustin Luck
  • Wireless adapter having foldable geometrically loop-like antenna
    Patent number: 6758689
    Abstract: A system and a method for protecting a connector and a body of a wireless adapter with a geometrical loop antenna. The loop antenna folds over the body of the wireless adapter to protect the connector and the body. The wireless adapter may be used to connect a peripheral device to a host device. The body of the wireless adapter includes a body stop operable for receiving the loop antenna. The system may also include a cap for protecting the connector of the wireless adapter. In this instance, the loop antenna folds over the cap to lock the cap in place on the connector. A cap may also be integrated into the distal end of the loop antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Interlink Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Harold Bair, James Dexter Tickle, Lev Freidin, Carlos Solis Sanchez
  • Isometric pointing device with integrated click and method therefor
    Patent number: 6084572
    Abstract: A computer input device that has the click function incorporated into a pointing device, rather than as a separate switch. The pointing device implements the operations of pointing, clicking and dragging based solely upon an evaluation of the pressure applied thereto. An array of sensors is monitored. The cursor direction is determined by the difference or ratio of applied force between the arrayed sensors. Cursor velocity is determined by the magnitude of the applied force. When a click is desired, the pointing device is pressed downward. The transient nature of the top or its nearly vertical force nature causes the output of the pointing device to readly distinguish between pointing and clicking operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Interlink Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart I. Yaniger, Stewart M. Findlater
  • Remote control having a touch pad operable in a pad-to-screen mapping mode for highlighting preselected parts of a slide displayed on a display screen
    Patent number: 6538643
    Abstract: A method and system for presenting slides and images includes a display screen for displaying the slides one at a time, and a software program operable for enabling an operator to associate highlighting with preselected parts of the slides. A remote control includes a touch pad operable with the software program and the display screen for mapping touch pad portions to the preselected parts of the slides. The touch pad is further operable with the display screen for highlighting a preselected part of a slide being displayed on the display screen in response to the touch pad portion corresponding to the preselected part of the slide being touched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Interlink Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamio Mori, William Allen Yates
  • Annular potentiometric touch sensor
    Publication number: 20060082556
    Abstract: The present invention determines angular position using a potentiometric touch sensor. The sensor has an annular pattern of resistive material on a portion of a bottom substrate top surface. Conductive drive lines and fixed potential conductive traces radially traverse the bottom substrate top surface and are electrically coupled to the resistive material. Conductive sense traces radially traverse the bottom substrate top surface. A conductive layer on a bottom surface of a top substrate is positioned above the bottom substrate top surface. A pressure applied to the top substrate and/or the bottom substrate electrically couples a portion of a conductive sense trace to a portion of the annular pattern and/or a fixed potential conductive trace. The angular position of the applied pressure is determined by measuring at least one electrical parameter between a conductive drive line and a conductive sense line having the conductive sense traces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Applicant: Interlink Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Baker, Carlos Sanchez
  • MULTI-MODAL SENSING FOR POWER TOOL USER INTERFACE
    Publication number: 20190344421
    Abstract: A method may include receiving data from one or more sensing elements associated with a power tool. The method may also include measuring the detected data. The method may further include computing one or more data parameters based on the measuring. The method may include determining whether to permit operation of the power tool based on the data parameters. The method may further include permitting operation of the power tool when the data parameters satisfy an operation condition. The method may also include altering operation of the power tool when the data parameters does not satisfy the operation condition by performing at least one of: generating an alarm, or preventing operation of the power tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: INTERLINK ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chee Wai LU, Wai Jye CHAN, Kok Keong LAW, Cheng Seong LEE
  • MULTI-MODAL SWITCH ARRAY
    Publication number: 20190006962
    Abstract: A system includes a first force sensing transducer being configured to enable force sensing detection of a first force input on a first contact interface, a memory, and a processor that is operatively coupled to the memory and the first force sensing transducer. The processor is configured to perform operations including detect the first force input on the first contact interface via the first force sensing transducer, measure at least one of a magnitude or a direction of the first force input detected by the first force sensing transducer, compute a force sensing data parameter based on the measured at least one of the magnitude or the direction of the first force input; determine an output function based on the force sensing data parameter; and cause an activation of the output function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: INTERLINK ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chee Wai LU, Cheng Seong LEE, Hock Cheng NG, Wai Jye CHAN
  • Annular potentiomentric touch sensor
    Publication number: 20050259085
    Abstract: The present invention determines angular position using a potentiometric touch sensor. The sensor has an annular pattern of resistive material on a bottom substrate top surface. Conductive drive lines radially traverse the resistive material so as to make electrical connection with the resistive material. A top substrate is spaced above the top surface of the bottom substrate. A conductive sense layer on a bottom surface of the top substrate is positioned above the resistive material. Pressure applied to either the top substrate or the bottom substrate, such as by the touch of a user, causes a portion of the conductive sense layer to contact a corresponding portion of the annular pattern of resistive material. The angular position of the applied pressure can be determined by measuring at least one electrical parameter between at least one of the conductive drive lines and the conductive sense layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Applicant: Interlink Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Baker, Carlos Sanchez
  • Systems and methods for press force detectors
    Patent number: 9574954
    Abstract: Certain example embodiments include a press sensor element that includes a piezoelectric layer having a first surface in communication with a first layer, the first layer including a first conductive region, where the first conductive region covers at least a central portion the first surface. The sensor element includes a second surface in communication with a second layer, the second layer including a second conductive region, a third conductive region, and a first non-conductive void region separating the second conductive region and the third conductive region. An area of the first conductive region is configured in size relative to an area of the third conductive region to substantially reduce a thermally-induced voltage change between two or more of the first, second, and third conductive regions responsive to a corresponding temperature change of at least a portion of the piezoelectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: INTERLINK ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Baker, Edwin Keshesh Yousafian, Declan Christopher Flannery
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